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GOVERNMENT
FLOOD OF 2010
County eyes less income
Too much water
By STEPHANIE M. IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES
Conservatism continues to mark Zapata County’s financial planning for next year as officials aim to maintain the current tax rate while running county business on a smaller budget. While setting county preliminary values at $3 billion – about $62 million less than the 2009 values – planners may end up settling to accommodate the needs of various county departments with less funding. Official numbers will be released July 20 for the appraisal review board to approve. Then, the appraisal district has five days to certify. Taxing entities will receive notice of certification by July 25. Property protests and corrections have altered initial values, said Amada Gonzalez, chief appraisal officer for the Appraisal District. “We have to check every property that files protest, and then corrections, if any, have to be made,” explained Gonzalez, adding, “A bulk of change is due to mineral valuation. Anytime adjustments are made at the top, it trickles down to all owners that hold royalties.” According to the company that does the mineral valuation, the preliminary
See INCOME PAGE 7A
Photo by Zapata County Treasurer Romeo Salinas
This aerial view shows flooding in Falcon Lake Estates East. The photo was taken Thursday from a plane flown by Zapata County Airport Director Charles Avaritt.
Falcon hits record-breaking levels; may crest at 310 feet By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ
Gonzalez said. “That’s going to affect a lot of people.” According to the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, the record of 308.1 feet was established Oct. 19, 1958. On Wednesday, mandatory evacuations were issued by Zapata County Judge Rosalva Guerra for residents living in areas
THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Falcon Lake reservoir water level has reached record-breaking numbers, at 308.9 feet as of Friday morning, and is expected to continue rising slowly, officials said. “We may crest at 310 feet by Sunday,” Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo
below the 314-foot mark. “We intend to keep (the lake) below the 314 mark,” said Sally Spencer, International Boundary and Water Commission spokeswoman. “All of these forecasts are just projections. We expect it to happen within the next few days. … With the increases (of Falcon Dam releases), it’s decreasing the inflow, so we’re not
going to see the rapid rises anymore.” According to calculations by Zapata County Fire Department Chief Juan Jose Meza, the lake level will cap at 311 feet. Also, as some roads have become isolated, several subdivisions including Los Lobos, Linda Vista, and Lake Front have been given another order to
evacuate, he said. “A lot of homes have been affected,” he said. “Water has covered the roads and people won’t be able to go through.” According to a National Weather Service advisory, the high water levels have affected low-lying residences and businesses, and
See LAKE PAGE 7A
ZAPATA COUNTY SCHOOLS
COUNTY
Temporary help for school registration
Chamber of Commerce faces fiscal trouble again
Board OKs temporary help to sign-up 3,000 students for the new year By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County School Board of Trustees approved several temporary positions to help alleviate the workload during school registration for students, at the last regular school board meeting Tuesday.
“We need all the help we can get,” Zapata County Chief Personnel Officer Jose L. Morales said. Morales said the district needs at least 10 extra employees to help during the registration period of more than 3,000 students from four elementary schools, a middle school and high
school. They will be getting paid $12.50 per hour from 8 to 5 p.m. for the three days they are needed. Regular registration is scheduled for July 26, 27, and 28. “We don’t have any clerical assistants at the time,” Morales said. “They don’t come in until sometime in August.” Also, after former A.L. Benavides Principal Jerry Montes was promoted to bi-
See SCHOOLS PAGE 7A
By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
In a cost-cutting effort, the Zapata County Commissioners Court is considering having the staff of the Zapata Chamber of Commerce double as the staff for the new museum, set to open in September. No decision was reached at the commissioners’ meeting earlier this week, but the court did approve appropriating $35,000 to the cash-
strapped chamber to prevent it from closing for the second time in two years. According to ZC Chamber of Commerce Director Jose F. “Paco” Mendoza, the funds will cover Chamber of Commerce employee salaries and operational costs after a fall off of tourism attributed to the Falcon Lake pirate scare and two failed fundraisers. “We’ll be fine for the remainder of the year after the $35,000 that was
awarded to us,” Mendoza said. The chamber had to close temporarily in April 2008 due to a lack of funding. Last year, the Chamber of Commerce requested $250,000 in funding, but was granted only $140,000, all of which was expected to come from the hotel-motel tax. The chamber also generates income from membership dues, events
See CHAMBER PAGE 7A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, JULY 17
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce presents the second Annual Fishing Tournament for Life Extravaganza March of Dimes on Falcon Lake. Take off time is at 7 a.m. with weigh-in at 3 p.m. at the Oso Blanco Lodge Boat Ramp. Prize awards will be based on 100 teams. For more information, call Melissa Ramirez at (956) 7654444 or Juan Gamez at (956) 2857225.
THURSDAY, JULY 22 In preparation for its farmer’s market, Laredo Main Street will host a free gardening workshop, sponsored by AEP, at El Pasillo de San Agustin, 912 Grant St. downtown, today from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Topics include composting, soil, tools, plant varieties and irrigation. Master gardeners will be available for questions. Call Laredo Main Street at 523-8817 for registration. The South Texas Food Bank Empty Bowls IV jail and bail lockup of Laredo celebrities at Embassy Suites, 110 Calle del Norte, is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. For more information, call Alma Gloria Hinojosa at South Texas Food Bank, (956) 726-3120. The American Red Cross will conduct a babysitter training session for youths ages 11-15 who want the knowledge, skills and confidence to care for infants and children Thursday and Friday. The class will be a two-day session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants must bring their own lunch. The session costs $55. Call (956) 726-4778 to register or visit www.saredcross.org
SATURDAY, JULY 24 The Hoop It Up For Hunger basketball tournament fundraiser is today at the TAMIU gym, 5201 University Blvd. The fundraiser will benefit the South Texas Food Bank. Teams playing are Laredo Police, Sheriff and Fire departments, Border Patrol, media and elected officials. Games are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is $3. For more information, call Webb County Commissioner Frank Sciaraffa at (956) 523-4660. A special showing of Despicable Me at Cinemark at Mall del Norte will be catered for children with autism and their family members. During the show, the lights will not be completely turned off and the sound will not be too loud. Tickets are $7 per person. For more information, contact Ramon Orduno at (967) 763-6044.
SUNDAY, JULY 25 Today is the last day to catch Texas A&M International University and the Laredo Theater Guild International’s presentation of “The Sound of Music” at 3 p.m. in the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre. General admission is $15, $10 discounted admission for students with ID and seniors. Call (956) 319-8610 or visit www.laredotheaterguild.com
SATURDAY, JULY 31 Knights of Columbus and Colubian Squires host a 5k Run and 2 mile walk today. Registration begins at 7 a.m., with the start of the race at 8 a.m. The first 100 to register will receive a free t-shirt. Registration forms are available at the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce. Call Homer Carrizales at (956) 285-0220 for more information.
Photo by L.M. Otero | AP
Cargo screener Paolo Tosi uses a swab to check for explosives during a demonstration at the American Airline cargo processing warehouse at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, on Friday. Airlines are buying new machinery to meet an Aug. 1 deadline to begin screening all cargo that goes on passenger planes.
Air cargo checks near By DAVID KOENIG ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH — Airlines are buying giant X-ray machines and other machinery to meet an Aug. 1 deadline to begin screening all cargo that goes on passenger planes. Federal officials say the new rules will close a large security gap. Just four years ago, only half of all cargo was inspected. But the system to guard against terrorists getting a bomb on a plane is far from airtight. Cargo coming into the U.S. from other countries is still often not inspected. In a warehouse next to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Friday, American Airlines workers were being trained in the use of a 12-foot-high black box, an X-ray machine that was installed just two weeks ago. Nearby, another airline employee traced a wand over boxes, looking for traces of explo-
sives. The worker said fertilizer sometimes triggers an alarm. To reduce the load on airlines, about half of all domestic cargo is being screened at more than 800 facilities run by companies certified by the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA relies on those operators to ensure that cargo isn’t opened before reaching the airport. Without those 800 centers taking half the load, it would take American hours longer to screen cargo shipments. It also would force shippers to deliver their goods to the airport several hours earlier, defeating the advantage of speedy air freight, said Dave Brooks, president of American’s cargo division. For cargo that American screens, the airline is raising its charge and forcing shippers to get to the airport two hours earlier, starting Aug. 1.
Cop appeals excessive force suspension
Shrimpers open new season with worries
Job rate drops to 8.2 percent in June
DALLAS — Disciplinary action is pending against an east Texas police officer who is shown on a dashboard camera video slamming a handcuffed suspect face first onto the hood of a squad car. Officer Jeremy Massey served a two-day suspension for a November incident in which he was shown on dashcam video slamming 18-year-old Cornelius Gill face first into a police car’s hood.
HOUSTON — Texas shrimpers concerned about what the BP oil spill means for them are preparing for what could be a shaky season and watching for changes that could bring more shrimpers from Louisiana. The commercial brown shrimp season opened Thursday, but state waters could close if oil spreads to Texas slowly or with a fast push from a hurricane.
AUSTIN — The unemployment rate in Texas dropped to 8.2 percent in June, a one-tenth point decline from May. The Texas Workforce Commission said the unemployment rate stayed below the national seasonally adjusted rate of 9.6 percent. The jobless rate had risen to 8.3 percent in April and May after holding steady at 8.2 percent in the first three months of 2010.
US oil, gas rig count increases by 4
About 1,000 animals rescued from house
HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by four this week to 1,571. Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday that 979 rigs were exploring for natural gas and 580 for oil. Twelve were listed as miscellaneous. Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost five, and Alaska lost four.
CROSBY — A tip led animal rescue personnel to about 1,000 dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds in dirty, cramped conditions in northeast Harris County. The home in the Crosby area was raided Thursday night. The animals, allegedly for sale to pet stores, were in cages or in storage sheds. Many did not have adequate food and water. — Compiled from AP reports
Hunter’s body found in Rio Grande EL PASO — Mexican authorities have recovered the body of a New Mexico man from the Rio Grande after he had been hunting and went into the water to retrieve a duck. The body of Ezequiel Roman Lesa, from the Las Cruces area, was found Thursday. The cause of death is pending, but rescue crews believe Lesa drowned.
MONDAY, AUGUST 2 Imaginarium of South Texas hosts Dirty Science Chemistry Camp, Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this week. Kids will study the different states of matter and get messy in the kitchen chemistry. Breakfast and lunch is provided. Visit www.imaginariumstx.org for more information.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4 AgriLIFE Extension of the Texas A&M System in cooperation with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association presents Ranch Estate Planning at College Station Conference Center, 1300 George Bush Drive today from 1 to 5 p.m.. Dr. Hayenga will give a thorough analysis of income and estate tax rules as they affect families and agricultural business. Also, join the Animal Science Department at the Beef Cattle Short Course. For more information on the Beef Course contact Jason Cleere at (979) 845-6931 and for more information on the Ranch Estate Seminar, call (979) 845-2226. To submit an item for the calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com
AROUND THE NATION Ariz. spends $77K to defend law
CONTACT US
PHOENIX — The state is paying approximately $77,000 to private lawyers for the first 12 days of work defending Arizona’s new immigration enforcement law. Attorneys for a Phoenix law firm billed for 240.8 hours of work from May 20-30. Brewer refused to allow the state’s Attorney General to participate in the defense of the law.
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‘Barefoot Bandit’ soon headed to Wash. MIAMI — Without saying a word, the teenager accused in a two-year string of sometimes shoeless burglaries and other crimes that helped him gain international notoriety as the “Barefoot Bandit” agreed Friday to return to Washington state to face federal charges. Harris-Moore waived his right to a hearing on whether he
Today is Saturday, July 17, the 198th day of 2010. There are 167 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On July 17, 1918, Russia’s Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks. On this date: In 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States. In 1936, the Spanish Civil War began as right-wing army generals launched a coup attempt against the Second Spanish Republic. In 1935, the entertainment trade publication Variety ran its legendary headline, “Sticks Nix Hick Pix” (which might be translated as, “Rural audiences reject rural-themed movies”). In 1944, during World War II, 320 men, two-thirds of them African-Americans, were killed when a pair of ammunition ships exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California. In 1955, Disneyland had its opening day in Anaheim, Calif. In 1959, influential jazz vocalist Billie Holiday, known to her fans as “Lady Day,” died in a New York City hospital at age 44. In 1968, a coup in Iraq returned the Baath Party to power, five years after it was ousted. In 1975, an Apollo spaceship docked with a Soyuz spacecraft in orbit in the first superpower link-up of its kind. In 1981, 114 people were killed when a pair of walkways above the lobby of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed, one atop the other, during a tea dance. In 1996, TWA Flight 800, a Paris-bound Boeing 747, exploded and crashed off Long Island, N.Y., shortly after leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 230 people aboard. Ten years ago: Bashar Assad, son of Hafez Assad, began a seven-year term as Syria’s 16th head of state. A jet smashed into two homes in Patna, India, killing 60 people on board and on the ground (three passengers survived). Five years ago: The Iraqi Special Tribunal filed its first criminal case against Saddam Hussein for a 1982 massacre of Shiites. Tiger Woods closed with a 2-under 70 to win the British Open for his tenth career major. Today’s Birthdays: Comedian Phyllis Diller is 93. Jazz singer Jimmy Scott is 85. Actor Donald Sutherland is 75. Actress-singer Diahann Carroll is 75. Rock musician Spencer Davis is 68. Rock musician Terry “Geezer” Butler is 61. Actress Lucie Arnaz is 59. Actor David Hasselhoff is 58. Rock musician Fran Smith Jr. (The Hooters) is 58. Singer Phoebe Snow is 58. Television producer Mark Burnett (“Survivor,” “The Apprentice”) is 50. Actress Nancy Giles is 50. Singer Regina Belle is 47. Country singer Craig Morgan is 46. Rock musician Lou Barlow is 44. Contemporary Christian singer Susan Ashton is 43. Actor Andre Royo is 42. Actress Bitty Schram is 42. Actor Jason Clarke is 41. Singer JC (PM Dawn) is 39. Thought for Today: “Dreams have as much influence as actions.” — Stephane Mallarme, French essayist and poet (1842-1898).
Photo by Dave Martin | AP
Drilling rigs and workboats operate at the site of the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday. The wellhead has been capped and BP is continuing to test the integrity of the well before resuming production. should be transferred to Seattle.
Minor earthquake shakes US capital WASHINGTON — Earthquakes are so rare in the Wash-
ington area even a geology student wasn’t sure what happened when a minor one hit Friday. A 3.6-magnitude earthquake rattled windows and jostled dishes but apparently caused no serious damage. — 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, JULY 17, 2010
Zlocal
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ROTARY HELPS KINGS WAY PANTRY
BP agents seize pot, ammunition SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Rev. Roger Miller, fourth from left, of the Kings Way Church in Zapata who administers the Kings Way Pantry, was presented with a grant from members of the Laredo Gateway Rotary during an awards dinner Monday at the Embassy Suites. Rotary Club representatives include, from left, Bill Green, Alejandro Cabezut, Lucy Quintanilla and Lisa Rogerio.
Flooding halts fishing tournament By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Farmer’s Insurance Group has postponed the second annual Fish for Life Extravaganza at Falcon Lake until further notice due to flooding in the area.
The event was scheduled for Saturday, July 17 at the Oso Blanco Lodge Boat Ramp and would have benefited the March of Dimes’ March for Babies. Take off time was scheduled for 7 a.m. and weigh in time at 3 p.m. Registration fee was a $100 per person per team of two. The tournament would
have consisted of a three fish bag limit, and first place would take home $5,000, $2,000 for second, and $900 for third. Other places included fourth thru 10th ranging from $600 to $100. “Basically we’re sending a mass e-mail notifying that it’s been postponed for the safety of all partici-
pants,” ZC Chamber of Commerce Membership Services Coordinator Celia Balderas said. “It’s our first priority.” A postponement date has not been determined because of unexpected rising water levels, she added. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)
THE BLOTTER ASSAULT Deputies responded to an assault call at about 4:30 p.m. July 10 in the 1900 block of Del Mar Street. An incident report states a man assaulted a known woman with a knife. Deputies responded to an aggravated assault call with deadly weapon at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the intersection of 18th Avenue and Brazos Street. The complainant reported
a woman in a black Ford Expedition attempted to ram her vehicle while she was traveling south on Brazos. Deputies responded to a fight in progress call at about 2 a.m. Thursday at El Rey RV Park on Roma Street. A man stated two people chased him into a residence and attempted to assault him and another person.
FRAUD
Deputies responded to a fraud call on Wednesday in the 300 block of Cerrito Drive. The complainant stated a contractor did not finish remodeling his house.
HIT AND RUN Deputies responded to hitand-run incident at about 10:30 p.m. Monday, 7 miles south of Zapata on U.S. 83. An incident report states a Swift Transport
trailer damaged the left side rear view window and door of a mobile home.
TERRORISTIC THREAT Deputies responded to a terroristic threat call at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the nutrition center at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Del Mar Street. An incident report states the complainant received a threat on a personal e-mail.
Border Patrol agents assigned to the Zapata Station seized 676 pounds of marijuana and several thousand rounds of ammunition in two separate seizures Tuesday. The seizures occurred with combined efforts between the Office of Air and Marine, Laredo Air Branch and Border Patrol agents from the Zapata Station while patrolling near San Ygnacio. Agents seized 9,000 rounds of 5.56 mm, 150 rounds of 8 mm, 150 rounds of .38 Super, and 2,240 rounds of 7.62-by-39 mm from a vehicle near
San Ygnacio. Agents also encountered 30 bundles of marijuana with a total weight of 676 pounds. The bundles were found abandoned along the river banks in San Ygnacio by Office of Air and Marine, Laredo Air Branch air unit and agents walking along the river banks. The marijuana had an estimate street value of $500,000. The marijuana has been turn over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, while the ammunition has been turn over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Two university orientations remain SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The fall semester at Texas A&M International University is just around the corner and new students and first-time freshmen are reminded of participation in New Student Orientation, Dusty Camp, scheduled Thursday-Friday and Aug. 5-6. The Dusty Camp experience focuses on giving students information that sets the stage for a timely and purposeful transition to university life, said Miguel Treviño, associate director of Student Affairs. “This is a required program for all first-time entering TAMIU freshmen and is designed to give them the necessary tools to be successful as they begin their studies here,” he explained. “Students
have the opportunity to meet their fellow classmates, learn about expectations, and spend the night at the Residential Learning Community to absorb university life to its fullest. The experience also enables them to interact with professors and students in a collaborative setting that provides valuable insight on success inside and outside the classroom,” Treviño noted. Among activities scheduled are private concert performances by TAMIU president Ray Keck and a special TAMIU-style BarB-Q. Dusty Camp is free to student participants and includes overnight accommodations and meals. Online registration is available at www.tamiu.edu/studentaffairs/ orientation.shtml.
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Zopinion
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
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OTHER VIEWS
The politics of the debt debate By GARY ANDRES HEARST NEWSPAPERS
W
ASHINGTON — Do budget deficits matter? In one sense the answer is unequivocally yes. Experts agree that when the federal government spends more than it takes in for a sustained period and borrows to make up the difference, the result is severe economic consequences. Hyperinflation, currency devaluation, and default are the haunting ghosts of fiscal imbalance. Just ask Greece. Yet, in the shorter term, the political waters surrounding the issue are a little murkier. Indeed, an important debate about the politics of debt is now unfolding in Washington. Republicans hope to capitalize on the issue by arguing that the Obama administration and the Democrats in Congress facilitated a debt crisis in the last two years. They will contend the level of red ink is now so deep it will drown future generations and choke off the next generation’s dreams of prosperity. Democrats will dispute these claims by arguing that voters don’t care about deficits in the abstract, as long as policymakers can pay down some debt and manage its size before we plunge off the fiscal cliff.
Tough politics Moreover, both sides know that the medicine required to reduce the debt also includes some serious side effects. Cutting spending on the big cost drivers — Medicare, Social Security, and Veterans’ benefits — is tough political sledding. Too strong a dose of austerity might kill the doctor administering the treatment. In other words, once voters face the inevitable trade offs associated with cutting the budget, the wings of the deficit hawks get clipped. Ruy Teixeira, a senior fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress, weighed in on the debate this week, writing: “Conservatives argue that the public is in full deficit-reduction mode and there’s nothing more important to them than cutting government spending. The grain of truth here is that the public is in fact concerned about the size of the deficit. But everything else is wrong. There are many more important things to the public than cutting the deficit.” Teixeira backs up his point with a June 2010 Gallup poll that showed the public supports (60 percent support/38 percent oppose) additional spending to “create jobs and stimulate the economy,” and a June 2010 Pew survey that indicated a majority of Americans say they oppose cutting public safety, transportation, and education programs to balance state budgets. One might argue whether these questions, posed in the abstract, really support Teixeira’s conclusion. He says that when they suggest voting against more spending in
the name of deficit reduction, it “is really not doing the public’s bidding.” I will grant him this: Polls can and do show the public is crosspressured on these spending issues. Ezra Klein wrote a piece in the Washington Post this week hoping to embolden big spenders with another set of data. Citing a host of well-respected political scientists, Klein argues that there is no historical correlation between deficit spending and electoral outcomes.
Consequences George Washington University’s John Sides, a prominent political scientist, agrees. Writing at the blog, The Monkey Cage, Sides concludes, “the president and his party are not punished for running up the debt. They are punished for a weak economy.” It’s hard to argue with that conclusion about the economy, particularly based on the historical data. Yet I wonder if only looking backwards masks some important recent changes in the political consequences of the deficit. I agree with Sides that when it comes to political implications, perceptions about the economy matter a lot. But I also believe that the historic levels of debt — and the attention the issue has received in the media this year and from the Tea Party movement — might factor into people’s political thinking more this year than in past cycles. A Democratic pollster told a group recently that he sees more of a connection between debt and worries about the economy than ever before. It’s as if people are projecting their concern about the economy on to the debt issue. There is anger about the economic meltdown, and that has debt implications. We even see national security concerns related to China owning too many Treasury bonds, he said. Much of this is either new or at least more intense. Other data support these points. A Democracy Corps poll from June asked voters what they were thinking of when they said they disapproved of Obama’s job as president. For those who cited negative policies, the highest percent referenced “fiscal irresponsibility.” A Gallup poll from June found “federal debt” and terrorism as the most worrisome issues to Americans when they consider threats to the future well-being of the U.S. Among independents, “federal debt” stood alone as the most worrisome issue. Voter perceptions of the economy will no doubt remain a key determinant in the November election. What may have changed, however, is the perceived connection between rising debt and economic performance. Scholars may not have been able to find much of a connection between deficits and election results in the past, but 2010 might change that equation.
EDITORIAL
Put passenger safety at top NEW YORK TIMES
L
ast year’s crash of a commuter plane near Buffalo, N.Y., which killed 50 passengers, highlighted the need for more stringent pilot training and tougher rules about how long pilots can fly before they are required to rest. Those reforms have been irresponsibly sidetracked by one of Capitol Hill’s nastiest and most expensive lobbying fights over the un-
related issue of unionization rules at the rival delivery companies, FedEx and United Parcel Service. The complex bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration would require more hours in training for commercial pilots and a closer watch on their flight schedules. The House and Senate have passed versions of the reauthorization with the sensible new safety rules. But the legislation has
stalled as the two corporations and their lobbyists battle over whether the unionization standards for UPS package deliverers should also be applied to FedEx’s ground workers. The nation is fortunate the standoff has galvanized a less dollar-driven lobbying force — the families of the victims in last year’s tragedy. They are asking lawmakers: What’s happening with passenger safety? The House’s aviation bill
would finally put the two companies on the same footing. Rep. James Oberstar argues adamantly that a Republican Congress unfairly allowed FedEx special anti-union protections in 1996. The Senate-passed measure has no such provision. Both sides remain unyielding on the union fight. Congress needs to rise above this to serve the one special interest most at stake: air passenger safety.
COLUMN
Secure border is safer one By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
B
order security is national security. The latest confirmation of what should be an obvious statement came last week from Uganda. What does the East African nation have to do with America’s porous borders? Terrorists struck in the capital Kampala as fans watched the World Cup championship. Suicide bombers set off lethal charges at a mass viewing party and a crowded restaurant. Seventy-six people were killed. The group claiming responsibility for the deadly attacks is al-Shabab, an Islamist group not well-known in the United States, but one that is waging an insurgency against the Somali government. Ugandan troops are the backbone of an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia. “Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy,” Sheik Yusuf Sheik Issa, an al-Shabab commander in Mogadishu, told the Associated Press. “May Allah’s anger be upon those who are
against us.” Twelve summers ago, another little-known Islamist group carried out simultaneous suicide attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, leaving more than 200 dead. The group responsible for the 1998 bombings was al-Qaida, and the East African operation was the first sign of its lethal international reach and a prelude to the plot — executed three years later — to attack the United States. Al-Shabab is al-Qaida’s subsidiary in Somalia and a familiar name to readers of this column. As I discussed recently, the Department of Homeland Security in May warned Texas law enforcement officials of the potential illegal entry from Mexico of Mohamed Ali, a suspected member of alShabab. FBI and Homeland Security authorities are focusing on the threat posed by some 20 Somali-Americans who left the Minneapolis area in 2007 and 2008 to join al-Shabab. Last month, two New Jersey men bound for the Middle East were arrested at John F. Kennedy Interna-
tional Airport on charges of planning to join al-Shabab and carry out attacks against Americans. A Homeland Security intelligence assessment produced before the Uganda bombings and obtained by the Associated Press warned, “We cannot exclude the possibility that U.S. persons aligned with al-Shabab in the Horn of Africa may return to the U.S., possibly to carry out acts of violence.” How might they enter the United States undetected? Just like Mohamed Ali, following the same routes and with the same human smugglers that millions of other illegal immigrants have used to surreptitiously cross the border. My colleague Guillermo Contreras reported in March that a federal grand jury in San Antonio indicted Ahmed Muhammed Dhakane, a suspected member of another Somali jihadist group with ties to alQaida, on charges of running a large-scale human smuggling operation. The indictment alleges Dhakane brought or attempted to bring hundreds of people
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
from Brazil through Mexico to the United States, including Somali members of terrorist organizations. Let’s acknowledge that the overwhelming number of illegal immigrants entering the United States are simply seeking better lives and economic opportunity. Let’s also acknowledge that in most cases, they are compelled to break the law because of insanely restrictive U.S. immigration policies. Those are arguments in favor of reforming immigration. They are not reasons to ignore the federal government’s responsibility to secure the border. And they are certainly not reasons to legally challenge states that act to remedy the federal government’s delinquency. In most cases, illegal immigrants come here to cut American lawns, make American beds and pick American crops. But some of them want to come here to cut American throats. And there’s no way to turn a blind eye to the former without also enabling the latter. (E-mail: jgurwitz@express-news.net)
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
Zentertainment
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‘The Sound of Music’ fills TAMIU stage SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Laredo Theater Guild International, which successfully opened its 20092010 season last October with “Man of La Mancha,” is set to complete its inaugural season with “The Sound of Music,” directed by Vernon Carroll and produced by Joe Arciniega. Joining will be musical director and conductor Brendan Townsend and choreographer Bede Leyendecker. “The Sound of Music” started performances Thursday, and will continue through Saturday, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, at 3 p.m. at Texas A&M International University’s 500-seat Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theater. The production picks up again next weekend – Friday, and Saturday, July 24 – at 8 p.m. The finale is scheduled for Sunday, July 25, at 3 p.m. LTGI’s “The Sound of Music” is being presented in cooperation with TAMIU. “The Sound of Music” is
Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning Times
Kristelle Liana Martin runs during a rehearsal Tuesday at TAMIU. She is playing the role of Liesl in the production “The Sound of Music.” a still-popular 1965 musical film that features songs written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. A musical book was writ-
ten by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. A screen play was also written by Ernest Lehman.
Cast makes the play “If you’ve seen the movie, as millions throughout the world have, be prepared to
Laredoan Ferreyro defends championship Aug. 6 at LEC SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Yet another boxing event has been added to the Laredo Energy Arena schedule. Laredo boxing champion Hector “The Hurricane” Ferreyro will be defending his IBC World Title against Kingville’s Homero “El Oso” Fonseca at the arena in August. LEA officials announced that Recon Garza Promotions and Los Dos Laredos Boxing Production are presenting the event on Friday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. Five other bouts will be added, including a match featuring Matt Hicks of Las Vegas and others featuring Laredo boxers Gino Escamilla, Reyes Esqueda, Martin “El Mares” Herrera and Emmanuel Sanchez, who will be making his professional debut. Los Dos Laredo’s Boxing Production will also bring the excitement of Mixed Martial Arts fighting. Two professional MMA bouts will be scheduled for the night — the first MMA matches at the arena. Ticket prices will be $8 for arena bowl seats, including facility fees, and tables are available through Los Dos Laredos Boxing Production. Hernan
be surprised as well as delighted,” said Carroll, who is director on this project. “Quite simply, the play has more meat on it than the movie, the absorption of Austria by Germany, the growing Nazi dominance, even the personal triangle between Captain von Trapp, Maria and Elsa ‘the Baroness’ are all much more evident in the play.” As with all great theater, the play is indeed the thing, but it is the cast that makes it come alive. This summer, LTGI’s special guest performer is former Laredoan Melissa Barrera Gonzalez, who is repeating the role of Elsa, the glamorous Baroness. It’s a role she originally played in a San Pedro Playhouse production in San Antonio. Melissa is joined by LTGI veterans Veronica Ramirez, John Maxstadt, Alex Lopez, Arciniega, Carroll and others. Additionally, the play will introduce some exciting, young talent to Laredo. Newbies on stage will be Sandra Rendon as Maria;
Kristelle Liana Martin as Leisl; and Jacob Rathmell as the Nazi Herr Zeller. The seven von Trapp children, from littlest Brianna Maldonado to Allie Howland, are the true stars of the show. All are supported by one of the finest chorus teams of any recent Laredo musical stage production. Much more prominently featured in the stage version than in the movie version, “The Sound of Music” Nun’s Chorus, enhanced by several members of the Laredo Philharmonic Chorale, will thrill you with unforgettable choral renditions throughout the show. Tickets for production are $15 general admission and $10 for seniors and students. They are available at Foster’s, 1202 E. Del Mar Blvd.; at Blue Top, 101 W. Hillside Road (Hillside and Springfield); and at the TAMIU Bookstore. They will also be available at the theater’s box office before shows. For more information, call 319-8610 or visit www.laredotheaterguild.com.
Arena to host major title fight Televised worldwide, event pins Kim against Vasquez for IBF belt
DETAILS
When: Saturday, Aug. 14 Time: Doors open at 6 p.m.; first fight at 8 p.m. Tickets prices: $20-$80, plus facilty SPECIAL TO THE TIMES fees, available at all Ticketmaster locations. The Laredo Energy Arena is Table prices: $300 (four-seat cocktail tahosting an internationally-fla- ble); 10-seat tables available for $700 (third vored boxing event on Saturday, row); $1,000 (second row), $1,500 (ringside) Aug. 14. The featured fights will be TV: TV Azteca and Fox Sports
Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning Times
Laredoan Hector ‘The Hurricane’ Ferreyro, right, will defend his IBC World Title at the Laredo Energy Arena on Aug. 6. The event will feature five more bouts and two MMA fights, and starts at 8 p.m. Ferreyro, Hector’s brother, is the contact person for the table seating. He can be reached at 337-2720.
Regular tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, including the LEA box office and ticketmaster.com.
televised live on Mexico’s TV Azteca, Fox Sports, and several other international channels. Boxers from South Korea, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil will get into the ring, while announcers from South Africa, Mexico and Brazil call the action. Presented by Art Pelullo/ Banner Promotions, Rodney Berman/Golden Gloves and Zanfer Promotions, the main event will crown a new International Boxing Federation lightweight champion — a title that is currently vacant. IBF No. 1-ranked Ji-Hoon “Volcano” Kim, of Goyang City, South Korea, will face No. 3ranked Miguel Angel “Titere” Vasquez, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, in a 12-round match for the
title. It’s the third time Kim fights in Laredo; last time he won by TKO in the first round in a May event. Banner Promotions president Art Pelullo says “this will be the first major world title fight in Laredo since the great International Boxing Hall of Famer Orlando Canizales defended the IBF bantamweight world title against Sergio Reyes in October 1994.” Other featured fighters will include Hekkie Budler, of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Jackson Junior, of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Also appearing on the card will be local favorite Rodolfo Gomez Jr., the son of Manuel “Shotgun” Gomez. Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.
COMING UP Papagallos USA hosts several events Papagallos USA is hosting the popular La Sonora Tropicana on Saturday night. The 10-piece group will perform “Amor de Mis Amores” and “El Hombre Que Yo Amo,” and others. This month’s upcoming shows at the venue include Aniceto Molina and Bronco-El Gigante de America.
No ‘Licha’ for Pedro Fernandez show Laredo Energy Arena officials announced Wednesday that former Límite singer Alicia ‘Licha’ Villarreal will not be performing alongside Pedro Fernandez. Originally scheduled to share the stage with Fernandez on Friday, Aug. 13., Villarreal will be replaced by Pilar Montenegro, another artist from Mexico..
Home and Garden show in September The Laredo arena is hosting The Laredo Home and Garden Show in September. Tickets are $8, and children 15 and under are free. — Emilio Rábago III
“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health”
1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve
SÁBADO 17 DE JULIO DE 2010
Falcon Lake tiene nivel record POR LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
SÁBADO 17 DE JULIO LAREDO — Hoy se presenta “The Sound of Music”, una producción de TAMIU y el Laredo Theater Guild International, a las 8 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada general es de 15 dólares. LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “Attack of the Space Pirates” a las 6 p.m., “Stars of the Pharaohs” a las 7 p.m., y “Rock on Demand” a las 8 p.m. La entrada general es de 5 dólares, el día de hoy. NUEVO LAREDO — Cine Club Infantil “Nocturna” se presenta en Estación Palabra a las 12 p.m. y 4 p.m. Entrada libre.
DOMINGO 18 DE JULIO LAREDO — Hoy se presenta “The Sound of Music”, una producción de TAMIU y el Laredo Theater Guild International, a las 3 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada general es de 15 dólares.
MIÉRCOLES 21 DE JULIO LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “Star Signs” a las 3 p.m. y “Kaluoka’hina: The Enchanted Reef” a las 4 p.m. La entrada general es de 3 dólares, el día de hoy.
El nivel de agua en la reserve de Falcon Lake ha alcanzado una cifra récord en los 308.9, hasta el viernes por la mañana, y seguirá subiendo lentamente, dijeron oficiales. “Quiza llegue la creciente a 310 pies para el domingo”, dijo el Alguacil del Condado de Zapata Sigifredo Gonzlaez. “Eso afectará a muchas personas”. De acuerdo a la Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas de EU, la última cifra récord de 308.1 que fue establecida el 19 de octubre de 1958. Las órdenes de evacuación siguen siendo voluntarias pero siendo que el agua ha alcanzado status de inundación moderada se conmina fuertemente a las personas a abstenerse de llevar sus botes al lago debido a la basura flotando y que las líneas de energía están cubiertas, dijo Gonzalez. También conforme algunos caminos han quedado aislados, varias subdivisiones como Los Lobos, Linda Vista y Lake Front han recibido otras órdenes de evacuación, dijo él. “Muchas casas han sido afectadas”, dijo él. “El agua ha cruzado los caminos y las personas no podrán cruzarlos”. De acuerdo a un mensaje del Servicio Meteoro-
Foto por Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Residentes del Condado de Zapata, tales como los que viven en Beacon Lodge, que se encuentra debajo de los 314 pies del nivel del agua de Falcon Lake, fueron evacuados desde el 14 de julio por oficiales del condado y el estado ante la creciente en el lago. lógico Nacional, los niveles altos de agua han afectado las residencias y negocios en sectores bajos y ahora los caminos y carreteras del condado localizados cerca de la reserva están en riesgo de ser cerradas. Hasta que el agua fluya del Rio Grande y afluentes alrededor río arriba empiecen a descender, los niveles de la reserva alta seguirán persistiendo. “Tenemos algunos problemas viniendo, pero los
estamos atendiendo”, dijo Gonzalez.
Ribereña Del lado mexicano, el Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores dijo el jueves que los flujos de agua por la cuenca del Río Grande están totalmente controlados, por lo que no hay amenaza para los municipios de Miguel Alemán, Guerrero y Mier.
LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “Secrets of the Sun” a las 3 p.m. y “Black Holes” a las 4 p.m. La entrada general es de 3 dólares, el día de hoy.
VIERNES 23 DE JULIO
SÁBADO 24 DE JULIO LAREDO — Hoy es el 2nd Anual Fish for Life Extravaganza de 8 a.m. a 1 p.m. en el Lago Casa Blanca. LAREDO — Hoy se presenta “The Sound of Music”, una producción de TAMIU y el Laredo Theater Guild International, a las 8 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada general es de 15 dólares. LAREDO — Rihanna, acompañada por Ke$ha, se presentan hoy a las 8 p.m. en la Laredo Energy Arena a las 8 p.m.
DOMINGO 25 DE JULIO LAREDO — Hoy se presenta “The Sound of Music”, una producción de TAMIU y el Laredo Theater Guild International, a las 3 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada general es de 15 dólares; estudiantes y adultos mayores pagan 10 dólares. Más información en www.laredotheaterguild.com.
MIÉRCOLES 28 DE JULIO LAREDO — WWE regresa al Laredo Energy Arena hoy a las 7 p.m. Algunas de las superestrellas anunciadas son: The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, The Big Show, Kane. Los boletos van de 15 dólares a 60 dólares.
Reynosa. De igual forma, resaltó la necesidad de extremar precauciones en otros municipios como Camargo y Matamoros, donde las inundaciones también pueden causar daños a la infraestructura pública, así como a los habitantes que habitan en partes bajas y zonas de riesgo de estas comunidades. (Con información del Gobierno de Tamaulipas. Localice a Lorraine L. Rodriguez en el (956)728-2557)
Apoya Zapata a Cámara de Comercio
JUEVES 22 DE JULIO
LAREDO — Hoy se presenta “The Sound of Music”, una producción de TAMIU y el Laredo Theater Guild International, a las 8 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada general es de 15 dólares. LAREDO — Jenni Rivera se presentará en la Laredo Energy Arena hoy a las 8 p.m. También se presentará Iman. Los boletos varían de 42 a 97 dólares, más la cuota por las instalaciones.
Aseguró que se continuará monitoreando el nivel del agua que procede de las presas Falcón, El Cuchillo, Cerro Prieto y La Amistad, a fin de descartar posibles daños a las familias que habitan en estas comunidades de la zona ribereña. El mismo jueves, tras sobrevolar los poblados asentados en la cuenca, Hernández anunció la alerta de inundación para los municipios de Díaz Ordaz y las partes bajas de
POR LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | La del Miernes
La Presidenta de la Fundación Apoyo y Defensa Ciudadana Ofelia Margot Fuentes García y el Jefe de Gobierno de Ciudad Mier José Iván Mancías Hinojosa hacen entrega de una de las 800 despensas distribuidas a familias afectadas por la creciente del Río Grande y el Río Salado, el 14 de julio.
Brindan ayuda a familias ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD MIER — La Fundación Apoyo y Defensa Ciudadana hizo entrega de 800 despensas a los habitantes de esta ciudad, que resultaron afectados por la creciente del Río Salado y Río Grande. El 14 de julio, la Presidenta de la Fundación Ofelia Margot Fuentes García y elementos de la Marina entregaron las despensas en un evento llevado a cabo en el Parque Deportivo Mier, contando con el apoyo del Presidente Municipal José Iván Mancias Hinojosa. Fuentes también realizó un recorrido por los sectores que han sido más
(Se) realizó un recorrido por los sectores que han sido más afectados. afectados, como la Colonia Riberas del Álamo que carecía de servicio de agua. Ahí Fuentes hizo entrega de agua purificada en galones. Mancias agradeció el apoyo recibido.
70 y Más Unos 300 beneficiados del Programa Federal 70 y Más recibieron apoyos el 14 de
julio. María Silvia Ramos, Enlace del programa de la Secretaría de Desarrollo Social estuvo a cargo de la entrega de los recursos. Igualmente, los adultos mayores recibieron, cada uno, seis botellas de agua embotellada enviada por el Gobierno Federal a Protección Civil, ya que debido al Huracán Alex las familias carecían de agua purificada y potable.
MEDALLA A LA EXCELENCIA El alumno de la Escuela Primaria México 70 Amador Emilio Garza Ramos, a la derecha, recibió la Medalla a la Excelencia, el 9 de julio, en ceremonia llevada a cabo en la institución. Estuvieron con él, de izquierda a derecha, la Responsable de Vinculación Educativa Blanca Delia Alanís Barrera y el Jefe de Gobierno de Ciudad Mier José Iván Mancias Hinojosa. Mancias fue además el padrino de generación. Foto de cortesía | La del Miernes
El lunes la Corte de Comisionados del Condado de Zapata aprobaron un pago cuatrimestral de 35.000 dólares a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata conforme la organización cívica estuvo a punto de cerrar sus puertas. La cámara ha estado sufriendo para lograr sus metas desde la salida de la industria del gas del área en enero, y enfrenta mayor dificultades por el menguante negocio turístico. Por el momento, el grupo continua en servicio: el Director de la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata Jose F. “Paco” Mendoza dijo que los cuatro pagos cuatrimestrales cubrirían los salarios restantes de empleados y los costos operativos. “Estaremos bien por lo que resta del año, tras los 35.000 dólares que se nos otorgaron”, dijo Mendoza. Hace dos años, la cámara fue obligada a cerrar debido a la falta de fondos, dijo el ex director de la Cámara de Comercio Hildegardo Flores, Ph.D. Aunque la cámara recauda dinero a través de membresías, eventos y campañas, su supervivencia se basa mayormente en impuestos de hotel-motel, dijo Mendoza. Cuando Conoco-Phillips disminuyó la exploración a inicios de este año, también las ganancias, y Zapata se hizo más dependiente del turismo para sobrevivir. “La economía local ha sido impactada ampliamente con el abandono de la industria del gas natural”, dijo él. “La industria del gas era nuestro principal consumidor y generó una amplia porción de nuestros impuestos de hotel-motel”. Hoy, los impuestos son derivados de los turistas visitando. Pero conforme la recesión continúa afectando los presupuestos de los vacacionistas, progre-
sivamente también tiene un efecto en la economía del condado. Pese al desarrollo de nuevas atracciones, incluyendo un museo histórico por abrir en septiembre y un Santuario de Aves, el Lago Falcón sigue siendo el principal punto de destino en Zapata. Pero el turismo del lago sufrió un gran golpe tras que un comunicado de prensa emitido por el Departamento de Seguridad Pública reportó que varios pescadores fueron retenidos a punta de pistola por hombres que se cree eran integrantes de organizaciones de tráfico de drogas. El mensaje advertía de tomar precauciones adicionales mientras se pescada y sugería a los clientes permanecer del lado de EU en el Lago Falcón. El lago siempre ha sido un destino popular, pero desde la amenaza de piratas, no ha sido lo mismo, dijo Mendoza. “Se salió de proporción… la intención no era, ‘No es seguro’”, dijo Mendoza. “Los medios presentaron a Zapata como inseguro y las personas empezaron a cancelar sus viajes… “Residentes locales siguen pescando y esquiando. Sigue siendo el lago rompe récord, no una zona de guerra… No estamos solicitando permanecer del lado americano”. Tras que la Corte de Comisionados solicitó a la cámara buscar nuevos recursos, el grupo intentó realizar el Torneo Rovalo Grande. Fue cancelado dos días antes debido a la falta de inscripciones al torneo. La cámara también intentó el South Texas Bow Hunting Shoot Out para promover la cacería en Zapata, pero también falló. Los eventos de promoción y publicidad sumaron una deuda de casi 15.000 dólares.
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
LAREDO MORNING TIMES 7A
CHAMBER Continued from Page 1A and fundraisers. But the county has collected barely a third of the money it expected to get from the hotel-motel tax this fiscal year; Zapata County Treasurer Romeo Salinas said the projected income had been $305,000 but as of the end of June, only $133,000 had come in. “After transferring all the money from the Hotel/ Motel to the general fund on Monday the Hotel/Motel balances will stand at a negative balance of $93,640.74 including the $35,000 issued to the Chamber of Commerce on Monday,” Salinas said. Because there wasn’t enough money in the hotelmotel fund to make the chamber’s regular quarterly payment, the money to make up the difference had to be pulled from the general fund. The appropriated funds will be replaced as hotel-motel taxes are collected, he added. Officials remain optimistic that the county’s fiscal situation will improve in the future. Tourism has become a major focus for the county, which hopes to draw more visitors with the opening of the new museum in Sep-
“
It’s still the record-breaking lake, not a war zone” ZAPATA COFC DIRECTOR JOSE F. “PACO” MENDOZA
tember and the proposed bird sanctuary now in development. Falcon Lake is still Zapata’s main attraction and brings in the majority of the revenue. “Locals are still fishing and skiing,” Mendoza said. “It’s still the record-breaking lake, not a war zone.” Zapata has been the site of world-class bass fishing tournaments and is a favorite of internationally renowned fishing experts. While several people cancelled stays after hearing reports that a couple of fishermen had been robbed at gunpoint earlier this year, Mendoza said the main fiscal trouble comes from a slowdown in the oil and gas industry. It’s the workers in the oil and gas industry that make up the bulk of hotel stays, and the reduction in those work forces has had a significant adverse impact.
“The gas industry was our biggest customer and generated a large portion of our hotel-motel tax,” Mendoza said The Commissioners Court has urged the chamber to look for new funding sources, but the Grande Bass Tournament had to be cancelled due to a lack of participants just two days before the tournament and the South Texas Bow Hunting Shoot Out also failed to attract enough participants to take place. The two failed events accumulated a $15,000 debt in advertisement and hosting fees. “We invested so much and did not make money on any part of the event,” Mendoza said. “Bow hunting is becoming a very popular method of hunting, but people don’t have the financial security to splurge on their hobbies anymore.” (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2557.)
INCOME Continued from Page 1A values will decrease by 20 to 25 percent by the certification date. “Were losing value because we don’t have any new wells that are being drilled here and what we currently have, their values are declining. We are
going to experience a loss here unless trends change,” Gonzalez said, emphasizing future trends. The county has more than $170 million in protests yet to be settled. Meanwhile, this year’s preliminary appraised val-
ues for Zapata Independent School District are estimated at just under $3 billion, about $198 million short of last year’s certified values. (Reach Stephanie M. Ibarra at 728-2567 or sibarra@lmtonline.com)
SCHOOLS Continued from Page 1A lingual director, the principal position vacancy was filled by Norma Arellano, former assistant principal of Zapata Middle School. “I have big shoes to fill, but I’ve been trained by the best,” Arellano said. “We will continue to maintain the school of excellence at the exemplary level.” In other business, the board has also approved the final reading of the BED (local) policy that requires guests or parents to put topics they wish to
discuss on the regular school board agenda. “They have to notify the superintendent or a board member to be placed in the regular agenda,” Morales said. Previously, guests would show up at the regular school board meeting and only had to sign in. They had five minutes to voice their concerns, Morales said. Morales said the policy change is for the benefit of the board and the parents. Board members would be
better prepared to discuss an item they have had time to get more informed about. In case of a large group needing to confront the board the district would schedule an additional public forum. Also included in the policy: No signs or protesting will be allowed in the board room, but are allowed outside of the building. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)
LAKE Continued from Page 1A now county roads and highways located near the reservoir are at risk of being closed. Until the water flow from Rio Grande and tributaries upstream start to diminish, high reservoir levels will persist. “We have some problems coming up, but we’re addressing them,” Gonzalez said. As of 2 p.m. Friday, the reservoir elevation had surpassed its record level to 308.72 feet, with the reservoir anticipated to continue rising as floodwaters gushed from the Rio Grande and Salado River. In Oct. 1958, Falcon Lake reached its previous record level, 308 feet, just five years after the dam was constructed. Discharges from Falcon Dam — located 30 miles southeast of Zapata — remain at 60,000 cubic feet per second. In the meantime, a shelter has been opened at the Showbarn at
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Texas Game Warden Steven Ramos, left and Mark Shipman, second from left, seated, of DPS, meet with Zapata County officials Wednesday at the offices of Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez, right, to discuss plans for the evacuation of county residents. Also shown are EMT Leroy Ramirez; Mario Gonzalez Davis, project coordinator; Manuel Gonzalez of Premier Engineering; and Fire Chief Juan J. Meza. the Zapata County Fair Grounds, located between 24th and 25th avenues. Water use, according to Zapata Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez, should be restricted. He said the water
pumps would stop working after the lake reaches 310 feet. Excessive water use, Gonzalez said, could diminish water pressure. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors MLB
TOUR DE FRANCE
Bombs away Ramirez helps Cubs get past Phillies By RICK GANO ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Aramis Ramirez homered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth Friday for his third hit of the game and the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Ramirez appears to be coming out of a seasonlong slump. His 11th homer came off Ryan Madson (2-1). It cleared the bleachers in left field and gave him 14 RBIs in his last eight games. Sean Marshall (6-2) pitched the eighth in relief of Ted Lilly and Carlos Marmol struck out the side in the ninth for his 17th save in 20 chances. Ryan Howard hit his 20th homer with two outs in the sixth, a drive onto the roof of a batter’s eye seating section in straightaway center. It was his third home run in two games and it put the Phils up 3-1.
Photo by Laurent Rebours | AP
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver of Spain greets spectators on the podium after the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 210.5 kilometers (130.8 miles) with start in Bourg-de-Peage, and finish in Mende, France, Friday.
Contador closing in By JAMEY KEATEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Nam Y. Huh | AP
Chicago Cubs’ Aramis Ramirez hits a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, in Chicago. The Cubs won 4-3. After Howard’s blast, the Cubs rallied for two in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally of their own off Joe Blanton as Ramirez doubled and Marlon Byrd
followed with his 10th homer, tying it at 3. Shane Victorino also homered for the Phillies off Lilly on a 90-degree day at Wrigley Field.
Blanton pitched seven innings and gave up five hits and three runs with three walks while tying a
See CUBS PAGE 2B
MENDE, France — Alberto Contador sent a message Friday to Tour de France leader Andy Schleck: Here I come. The two-time Tour champion dropped the Luxembourg rider on the steep final climb of the 12th stage, the Spaniard’s first bold attack of the race gaining him crucial sec-
onds in the title chase. Joaquin Rodriguez, a Spaniard with the Katusha team, got stage-win glory by edging Contador in a two-man sprint at the finish of the 131-mile course from Bourg-de-Peage to Mende. Contador was content to cut 10 precious seconds from his deficit to Schleck and was 31 seconds behind
See TOUR PAGE 2B
GOLF
WORLD SOCCER
NEW DAY, NEW LEADER
Brazil is in no hurry ASSOCIATED PRESS
for the senior circuit, was closest to Oosthuizen among those in the clubhouse. The 50-year-old American shot a 67 that left him at 137, with Lee Westwood and Paul Casey another shot behind. Woods held on in wind that was gusting more than 30 mph even after play resumed. He bogeyed the first two holes, but a fortunate break at the par-5 fifth helped him pick up his first birdie of the day. His second shot was sailing right, toward the treacherous rough, but the ball struck a golf cart loaded with television equipment and stopped in the
SAO PAULO — Brazil is taking its time to choose a new coach, the man who will face the hard task of leading the team at home in the 2014 World Cup. After firing coach Dunga following the disappointing elimination by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in South Africa, the Brazilian football federation is carefully considering its options before deciding who will be in charge of the five-time champions four years from now. The federation took a chance in picking Dunga, who had no coaching experience, but this time it may adopt a different approach. Experience will likely be the main requirement, as the pressure for Brazil to succeed at home will be unprecedented. “To lose in 2010 was justifiable, but to lose in Brazil will be like repeating 1950,” federation president Ricardo Teixeira said recently, referring to the team’s 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final in Brazil, when the country hosted the tournament for the first — and last — time. The federation said it will make the announcement of the new coach by the end of the month, and the main names touted for the job include World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari, former Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, and
See GOLF PAGE 2B
See BRAZIL PAGE 2B
Photo by Alastair Grant | AP
Tom Watson of the U.S. stands on the Swilken Burn bridge and gives the thumbs up on his final round at St. Andrews, during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday.
Oosthuizen in the lead and Watson bids farewell By PAUL NEWBERRY ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Fierce wind wreaked more havoc than any player Friday at the British Open, even causing a rare weather delay. South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen surged to a five-stroke lead in the morning, then watched from the comfort of his hotel as first-round leader Rory McIlroy and plenty of others stumbled in the blustery conditions. The flags flapped wildly, caps blew down the fairways and there were 80s all over the scoreboard, including one by McIlroy’s name.
The 21-year-old hotshot from Northern Ireland went from the lowest score ever in a major championship to an 8-over 80. No other player has ever taken a bigger tumble after shooting 63 in one of golf ’s biggest events. It left him with an 11-shot deficit heading to the weekend. Despite sunny skies mixed with puffy white clouds, officials decided the Old Course was unplayable because the wind was gusting to 41 mph, causing balls to wobble on some of the exposed greens, especially those along St. Andrews Bay. Second-round play was suspended 1 hour, 5 minutes at midafternoon,
shortly after Phil Mickelson finished his round in brutally tough conditions and Tiger Woods had teed off. The last wind delay at the British Open was at Royal Birkdale in 1998, when gusts reached 40 mph, forcing a 38-minute stoppage during the second round. No one seemed more hurt by it than McIlroy, who had parred the first three holes. After the delay, he bogeyed No. 4 — and three of the next four holes, as well. “It was just very, very difficult out there,” McIlroy said. “I just let it get away from me a little bit.” During the break, players returned to their
lounge near the first tee to wait for conditions to calm. Caddies sprawled on a grassy knoll, munching on sandwiches and bananas. Some fans claimed a patch of ground and caught a nap. Oosthuizen (WUHST’-hyzen), a 27-year-old from Mossel Bay whose given name is Lodewicus Theodorus, shot a 5-under 67 for a 12-under 132 at the midway point of the tournament. He was done before McIlroy teed off, hoping to put up another solid round after tying the major-championship record with a 63 on Thursday. Not in these conditions. Mark Calcavecchia, trying to strike another blow
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
Brown leads college HOF class By TOM COYNE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Tim Brown never considered himself a standout collegiate football player until Lou Holtz convinced him of it. Brown was ready to accept the role of regularly contributing wide receiver at Notre Dame until Holtz arrived after the 1985 season. During the second day of spring practice, following Brown’s sophomore season, Holtz called him over and asked why he hadn’t been on the field more for the Fighting Irish during his first two seasons. Brown told him it was a decision by the previous coaching staff. Holtz didn’t believe him. “He yelled at me, ’Son, there’s no way a coach could be so dumb as to not play you,”’ Brown recalled him saying. Holtz told Brown the only way he wasn’t going to get the ball during the upcoming season was if the defense intercepted the snap from center. “He not only said it, but he was putting me in that
confidence in me to make that play when he needed it to be made just really fueled my fire to make things happen,” he said. Although his junior year was his best statistically, the game he most remembers and gets asked about by fans was during his senior season. That’s when Brown returned back-to-back punts for touchdowns against Michigan State. Brown said he was only trying to score on the first one, a 71-yard return. The Irish were trying to block the second punt, and Brown just wanted to get out of bounds. “I was running to the AP Photo sideline and one of their FILE - This is a 1987 file photo showing Notre Dame football player Tim Brown. Brown leads a class of defenders made me cut inside. I didn’t want to be24 players and coaches being enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. cause I was still tired He heads a class of 24 Harris; and John Robin- from the last punt reposition time after time after time,” Brown said. players who will be en- son, who coached South- turn,” he said. “When he “The more I succeeded, shrined into the College ern California and UNLV. did that, there was nobody Brown, who touched there.” the more he kept putting Football Hall of Fame on Fans frequently ask the ball 79 times for 1,240 me in that position and Saturday. Among the others being all-purpose yards and six him what it felt like to rethe more confidence I honored are former Mia- touchdowns his first two turn back-to-back punts got.” Brown turned that con- mi quarterback Gino Tor- seasons at Notre Dame, for touchdowns. His reply: “Tiring.” fidence into an outstand- retta, who won the Heis- touched the ball 131 times “If you see it, you can ing final two years with man in 1992; Penn State as a junior, setting a the Irish, becoming the running back Curt War- school record with 1,937 see I’m so tired that once I last Notre Dame player to ner; Ohio State linebacker all-purpose yards and nine get to the end zone I just flip the ball. I’m about to win the Heisman Trophy Chris Spielman; West Vir- touchdowns. “Knowing that Lou had pass out,” Brown said. ginia quarterback Major in 1987.
CUBS Continued from Page 1B season-high with eight strikeouts. Lilly, who can be a free agent after the season, has been the subject of numerous trade rumors and met Thursday with general manager Jim Hendry to discuss his Cubs’ future. “He wants to stay here.
... And we’d like for him to stay here,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said before Friday’s game. “At the same time, you never know what is going to happen.” And after two shaky starts in which he gave up 14 earned runs and 18 hits,
Lilly retired the first 10 batters he faced before surrendering Victorino’s career-best 15th homer with one out in the fourth. Lilly’s final line was similar to Blanton’s. He surrendered three runs and four hits in seven innings with a walk and a
season-high 10 strikeouts. Cody Ransom and Carlos Ruiz had back-to-back singles with one out in the fifth before Lilly got called third strikes past Wilson Valdez and Blanton. Chicago tied the game in the fifth when Blanton walked Lilly, who was hit-
less in 26 at-bats this season, on a 3-2 pitch with two outs and the bases loaded. Ramirez singled and Soriano walked before Blanton intentionally walked Geovany Soto to load the bases and face Lilly.
TOUR Continued from Page 1B after the stage. Samuel Sanchez of Spain was a distant third, 2 minutes, 45 seconds. The race has shaped up as a duel between Contador and Schleck, who are seemingly unparalleled in the climbs — and the Pyrenees await as the arena where their rivalry will play out beginning Sunday. Schleck knows that Contador is stronger in the time trial, and wants to have the biggest lead possible before the final race against the clock on the eve of the July 25 finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Friday’s stage finish was destined for drama. In the final miles, the pack scaled the La Croix Neuve pass, which ascends nearly 2 miles at an average gradient of more than 10 percent. Contador and Rodriguez burst out of the pack near the midpoint of that steep final climb, dusting Schleck and overtaking several
breakaway riders. Rodriguez then outsprinted Contador in the last few hundred yards to get his first stage win in his first Tour. Both were given a time of 4 hours, 58 minutes, 26 seconds, while Contador’s Astana teammate Alexandre Vinokourov was third, 4 seconds back. Schleck, the Saxo Bank team leader, was fifth, while Sanchez crossed in sixth. Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, who has ruled himself out of contention in his final Tour, lost time to the leader for a third straight day — crossing in 57th place, 3:35 back of Rodriguez. He’s 32nd overall, 21:16 behind Schleck. Armstrong didn’t speak to reporters after the stage. Vinokourov and three other breakaway riders were the first at the foot of the climb. Initially, he and Belarus rider Vasil Kiry-
ienka slugged it out before the Kazakh star rode out alone, seeking a stage win in his first Tour since being kicked out of the 2007 race for blood doping and serving a two-year suspension. Then with just over a mile to go, Contador caught Schleck off-guard by racing out wide and mustering a burst of speed. As the Spaniard rose up out of his saddle, his bike rocking side to side, Schleck couldn’t or wouldn’t match the acceleration, staying seated and pedaling in a steady rhythm. “I saw that a rider came out and Andy didn’t respond,” Contador said. “He’s a rather ambitious rider, and that could be a symptom of weakness.” Contador and Rodriguez quickly overtook Vinokourov and battled it out to the end. “I knew this was going to be a really tough climb,” Schleck said of La Croix
Neuve. “I don’t like this climb, it doesn’t fit me. It’s short and steep and you have to be explosive — not right for the kind of rider that I am. “I’m happy I lost only 10 seconds in the end. I was not so surprised I couldn’t stay with him in this climb.” Contador had hoped to gain more time on Schleck, but was satisfied to seize a mental edge. “I like this climb a lot. I felt good. I attacked too late, and I didn’t know what state Andy was in,” Contador said. “I was able to get a few seconds, it’s good — it shows I’m in form.” “I didn’t know whether to go for it or not, I was on Andy’s wheel and saw him looking weak for a moment and decided to go for it. It’s an important psychological blow.” Tour organizers said U.S. sprint specialist Tyler Farrar of the Garmin-Transi-
tions team dropped out of the race. He had been riding with a broken left wrist from one of numerous crashes on rain-slicked roads in Stage 2. “You never want to leave any race but especially the Tour,” said Farrar, who became the third Garmin rider to quit the race this year. “It’s the event we work for all year. I’ve been suffering since my crash on Stage 2 and today, the pain was just too much. “I couldn’t push through.” Saturday’s 13th stage takes riders on a 121.8-mile run from Rodez to Revel that features five low-level climbs. Sunday marks the race’s entree into the Pyrenees — where riders will be challenged by four punishing stages. Schleck says he’s not worried about losing time to Contador. “I know my best day will come in the Pyrenees,” he said. “I’m ready to fight.”
BRAZIL Continued from Page 1B three-time Brazilian league champion Muricy Ramalho. Other names reportedly on the list include former player Emerson Leao, Paulo Autuori, and less-experienced coaches such as former AC Milan coach Leonardo, Sao Paulo manager Ricardo Gomes and Corinthians commander Mano Menezes. Scolari led Brazil to the World Cup title in 2002 and is the favorite for fans, local media and even President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who recently said the former Chelsea manager has a “huge advantage over the other candidates” because of his triumph at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Even some other local coaches are behind the return of Scolari. “He is the right coach because of all he has achieved so far,” Santos’ Dorival Junior said. “He is a great person and has the kind of a profile that everyone in football likes.” But Scolari just signed a two-year contract to coach four-time Brazilian champion Palmeiras and hinted he would not be available to the national team until 2012. He said the federation has not made him an offer so far, but he did leave open the possibility of eventually taking the job. Teixeira may not be willing to wait too long for Scolari, however, and may need to look for alternatives. He could go with established coaches Luxemburgo and Ramalho, who are highly respected by Brazilian fans and media for their success locally. Luxemburgo, currently with Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, coached Brazil from 1998-2000. He led the team to the 1999 Copa America title, but off-field problems with the revenue service and Brazil’s elimination in the 2000 Olympics eventually cost him the job. He has won five Brazilian league titles with four different teams. Ramalho became a wellregarded name after leading Sao Paulo to three consecutive Brazilian league titles from 2006-2008. He is currently in charge of Rio de Janeiro club Fluminense. Menezes led Corinthians to the Brazilian Cup title last year, while Gomes has coaching experience abroad with Paris SaintGermain and Monaco and led Sao Paulo to the semis of the Copa Libertadores. Leonardo, who as a player helped Brazil win the 1994 Cup, had only a brief coaching experience with AC Milan last season and his hiring would mean taking another chance, which Teixeira may not be willing to do.
GOLF Continued from Page 1B short grass. Woods was able to get up and down from there, leaving him 4 under for the tournament as he approached the midway point of his round. Woods nearly finished with a flourish, driving the green — the ball skidding about a foot wide of the flag — on the par-4 18th hole. He missed the 20-footer for eagle but tapped in for birdie at a 73 that kept him in contention for the weekend, though eight strokes behind Oosthuizen. Woods is trying to win his third straight Open at St. Andrews, having romped to victories in 2000 and 2005. Before he putted out, Tom Watson made what was likely his final walk over Swilcan Bridge. The 60-year-old who nearly won last year at Turnberry was likely to miss the cut after shooting 75, but he paused to kiss the famous stone walkway and posed atop it long enough for everyone to get a picture. The weather made it a typical British Open roller-
coaster of a day. The early starters found blue skies when they arrived, but heavy rains rolled in shortly after the start of the round. The sun peeked through the clouds again, then more showers struck just before noon. “I got up this morning and it wasn’t looking real pretty at 4:30,” said Calcavecchia, who played in the first group. “It was actually beautiful when we teed off. Then we saw a little bit of everything.” Oosthuizen wasn’t worried about any of that, and he was already done when the wind started to blow around lunchtime. “I’m very confident with the way I’m playing,” he said. “It’s probably the position anyone wants to be in playing a major on the weekend, and I think it’s what we work to achieve, and I’m just very happy with the two rounds I put together.” There was nothing to indicate he might contend at golf ’s oldest major cham-
pionship. He missed the cut this year at the Masters and the U.S. Open, and did the same at last week’s Scottish Open. This is only the second time he’ll make the cut in nine major appearances. The other time, at the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, he finished last among those playing on the weekend. But he did claim his first win on the European Tour this year, earning a spot at Augusta National. With the wind at his back, Oosthuizen went with shorter clubs off the tee to keep the dreaded pot bunkers out of play. He got a bit wild on the back nine, starting out birdie-bogeybirdie-bogey-birdie before he settled down with a couple of pars and a 15-foot birdie at the final hole to leave him with a good feeling going to a weekend that will be like none he’s ever experienced before. Oosthuizen strung together three birdies in a row beginning at the par-5
fifth, where a driver and a 4-iron left him with a chip that he left 5 feet from the flag. Maybe if he’s walking up the 18th fairway with the claret jug in his grasp come Sunday, someone will break out the vuvuzelas, those South African horns that made the World Cup sound as though it was under attack from swarming bees. Until then, he said, leave ’em at home. “On the golf course? No, not on the golf course,” Oosthuizen said. Westwood gave no indication that he’s bothered by a ruptured muscle in his right calf. The world’s No. 3 player, generally recognized as the best player without a major title, followed an opening 67 with a solid 71. Casey managed a 69 despite a triple-bogey at No. 17, the famed “Road Hole.” A drive into the thick rough left of the fairway led to big trouble; even aiming sideways, he needed two whacks to get out,
then he came up short on the approach and two putted for a 7. Calcavecchia? Nothing new about a senior holding lofty status at this event. The American will try to finish what was started by 53-year-old Greg Norman (the 54-hole leader in 2008) and Watson (who had a potential winning putt on the 72nd hole last year at age 59). Both came up short of becoming the oldest major champion in golf history, a title that still belongs to Julius Boros, who was 48 when he captured the 1968 PGA. “You see a guy like Tom Watson last year, almost winning when he was almost 60, and you realize that it doesn’t really matter how old you are,” said Calcavecchia, relishing his best round ever at St. Andrews. “The old guys can hang with the young guys.” Mickelson, who made only one birdie in his opening round of 73, went out with hopes of getting back into the mix —
or at least to avoid going home. He didn’t make much of a charge, finishing with a 71, but that was likely to be good enough to at least get him to the weekend. But his sense of timing at this Open was terrible. He played Thursday with a more unfavorable afternoon tee time, and caught the worst of the wind before the suspension. “It’s very difficult,” Lefty said. “Every hole is a tough par in these conditions.” Perhaps the biggest surprise of the opening round was 1995 Open winner John Daly, who pulled off a stunning 66 while wearing the flashiest outfit on the course: lavender paisley pants, pink shirt, sky blue sweater and turquoise cap. Daly didn’t tone it down Friday, donning pink paisley pants, a lime green cap and a neon shirt as he got in six holes before play was halted. But he, too, was bedeviled by the wind and tumbled to a 76.
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HINTS BY | HELOISE WHEN A PET PASSES Dear Readers: When a PET DIES, it can be like losing a member of the family for many of us. Here are some good suggestions to help you and your family through the grieving process, courtesy of our friends at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Heloise Central. For children, creating a scrapbook with pictures can be therapeutic. Include a lock of the pet’s hair, if possible, the label from the pet’s favorite snack or pet food, and even a favorite toy. Many children will find this helpful; others may not. So, don’t push the project. It will take time to heal. It may be a few days, weeks or months. We all are different. You can hold a funeral or memorial service, or plant a tree or bush in memory of the pet. Keep something of the animal if you think it will add comfort. A collar, sweater, dish or well-loved, frayed chew or squeaky toy. It also may help a child to draw a picture of the pet and write a letter to the animal, including favorite memories. Try to keep your regular schedule as much as possible, but make time to sit as a family and discuss your fond memories. There are some
REAL ESTATE
“
HELOISE
excellent books on this subject. Call your local library. The pain of your loss may fade eventually or stay awhile. Having lost several furry friends through the years, I can tell you they each have a special spot in my heart and mind. -- Heloise P.S.: Visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets,” then “Heloise’s Pets” to read about our animal friends now in “Pet Valhalla.” It’s difficult to make the decision to euthanize a beloved pet. I’ve had to do it, and hope my writing will help you with the process. PET PAL Dear Readers: Karen Yoder of Colorado Springs, Colo., sent a photo of her miniature schnauzer, Chester, kicking back and chewing on his squeeze toy. Karen says: “Since I know you have a soft spot for miniature schnauzers, I’m sending you this photo. Chester is full of energy and spunk. He is my first dog!” To see Chester with a bottle, visit www.Heloise.com. -Heloise
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Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010
NFL suspends Jolly ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Ed Andrieski | AP
FILE - In this June 10, 2009, file photo Lenroy Thompson, right, and Michael Hunter, left, exchange blows during their super heavyweight fight at the U.S. Boxing Championships in Denver. The 21-yearold super-heavyweight fighter who is seeking his second title at the USA boxing national championships Saturday night July 17, has found a unique way to promote both himself and the fight against breast cancer. He fights his opponents decked out in light pink headgear, trunks with the cause’s signature pink ribbon and a T-shirt that reads "Fighting is a lot easier when your opponent isn’t cancer."
“Cam” is gritty in pink By ARNIE STAPLETON ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Call him pretty in pink and Lenroy “Cam” Thompson will just smile. Heckle him for wearing pink trunks, pink headgear and a pink T-shirt in the boxing ring and he’ll laugh. The 21-year-old superheavyweight from Lenexa, Kan., is seeking his second title at the USA boxing national championships Saturday night and has found a unique way to promote both himself and the fight against breast cancer. He fights his opponents decked out in light pink trunks adorned with the cause’s signature pink ribbon, pink headgear and a pink T-shirt that reads “Fighting is a lot easier when your opponent isn’t cancer.” He sells shirts outside the ring to raise funds and he also goes to mixed martial arts fights and sets up shop hawking T-shirts that have all the fighting disciplines from jujitsu to kick boxing listed on one side with a giant pink X over them and the M.M.A. ini-
tials standing for Much More Awareness written on the other side. Beneath, is his motto: “Team CAM: Get a mam, ma’am.” He’s adding black tank tops with pink writing to his clothing line for guys who don’t dare don the pink. Thompson doesn’t have any relatives who have had breast cancer. He said he was inspired to go pink after fighting at a breast cancer awareness tournament in Tampa, Fla., a few years ago. His awareness campaign has drawn both dollars and dispute. He was admonished at the national championships to cover up another of his sayings, this one stitched into his shorts that reads “I (heart) boobs.” The officials allowed Thompson to put white athletic tape over the last word during his semifinal win over O’Jayland Brown on Thursday night, and he’ll do the same when he fights Danny Kelly of Washington D.C., in the finals. “Every woman knows what the breast cancer symbol is,” Thompson said. “Now, the guys, I put some-
thing on my shorts to draw more attention. I’ve never had a problem with it before. I figure guys will find that funny and women will know what I’m doing, so I’ve got everything covered.” Except for the children. Angel Villarreal, national chief of officials for USA Boxing, said minors in the stands might not understand the nuance of Thompson’s message and mistake it as misogynistic. “Everybody in the sport knows he’s bringing great awareness to the breast cancer cause and we support him, but the kids in the audience might not get it and their parents might find it offensive,” Villarreal said. Ultimately, Thompson said he didn’t mind the flap. “If I wear all pink, I draw attention and what I want is attention,” Thompson said. His pink attire has been a big hit with fans. “This is kind of a doubleedged sword because you can make fun of me because I’m wearing pink, but then you have a mother,” Thompson said.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The NFL suspended Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly without pay for the upcoming season and perhaps beyond for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Jolly’s suspension begins immediately and will continue through at least the 2010 season. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after the Super Bowl. Jolly is facing drug charges in Houston after his July 2008 arrest outside a club for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. If convicted, Jolly faces up to 20 years in prison. “Johnny is a good player that loves everything about the game of football,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson said in a statement. “We appreciate the contributions he has made to the Packers the past four seasons. His focus and priorities now lie elsewhere — our thoughts are with him during this difficult personal time.” The Packers said team officials would have no further comment. It’s a significant blow to a team that will go into the 2010 season expected to make a run at the playoffs and perhaps even the Super Bowl. A defensive end in Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme, Jolly played a key role as the Packers allowed a league-low 83.3 yards rushing per game. Perhaps anticipating the
Photo by Mike Roemer | AP
FILE - This Dec. 27, 2009, file photo shows Green Bay Packers’ Johnny Jolly reacting during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Green Bay, Wis. The NFL has suspended Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jolly without pay for the upcoming season and perhaps. possibility of losing Jolly to a suspension, the Packers used a second-round draft pick on Purdue defensive lineman Mike Neal in April. Jolly, 27, was a sixthround draft pick in 2006 and worked his way into a starting role the past two seasons. A restricted free agent, Jolly signed before an offseason deadline the would have allowed the team to reduce the amount of its tender offer. But Packers coach Mike McCarthy excused Jolly from the team’s minicamp in June to deal with his offfield problems. “There’s a lot going on, and he needs to focus and make sure he has everything in line,” McCarthy said last month. “These decisions that are going to be made legally will affect ev-
ery aspect of his life, most importantly his personal life and then his professional life.” Fellow defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said last month that he expects Jolly, a friend, to learn from the experience. “If this stuff doesn’t cause you to change, what will?” Pickett said. “All this stuff he’s going through — you’re missing practice, you can’t be around your teammates, that’ll make you feel isolated from the team. So if this stuff doesn’t change, then that’s an issue. I’m expecting him to be changed.” Already facing a prolonged trial with potentially serious consequences, Jolly got in more trouble in May after flyers appeared advertising a party he allegedly hosted at a Houston nightclub.