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TEXAS
EDUCATION
Slowing economy
Data: More finish school
Officials eye more cuts despite increasing tax revenues By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Robust oil and gas drilling has the Texas economy humming, but state budget officials said Friday a slowdown is likely on the horizon for 2013. Top Republicans are already signaling that lawmakers will need to carve out another lean budget when they
meet next year. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, back at the Capitol after his failed bid for U.S. Senate, called estimates the state will need to spend $9.4 billion more in the state’s next two-year budget to keep pace with Texas’ rising population and demand for services “sobering.” Most of that money is needed to cover the escalating cost of
education, Medicaid and prison health care. “We’ll see if we can cut taxes again in 2013, but it looks like it’s going to be a challenge just to balance our budget,” Dewhurst said. Predictions of more cost-cutting coming during the next legislative session are nothing new. In June, the Legislative Budget Board told all state
agencies to hold the line on spending for the next two years and to find ways to shave costs by another 10 percent. Those orders came despite growing tax revenues that had raised hopes of restoring public services and government jobs cut by lawmakers last year.
while secretly maintaining their Jewish faith and culture. Included will be a history of the influence of crypto Jews in this region as illustrated by 17th century genealogies of families living in New Spain (Mexico) at the time. Documented family trees were proof of pure Christian blood-lines during a time when the Spanish Inquisition sought to ban Jews from territories controlled by the Spanish crown. “On display will be 16th and
Texas high school students graduated at a record rate in 2011, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. And Hispanics represented the ethnicity that made the largest jump, from 78.8 percent in 2010 to 81.8 percent in 2011. Ed Bueno, a retired educator and volunteer with the League of United Latin American Citizens, has worked on increasing high school graduation rates for years. Bueno said he was encouraged by the results, but more work remains. “Hopefully, we can continue in this direction and improve at a faster rate because some of the students and parents need this,” he said. “This community needs this.” Overall, the state graduation rate improved by 1.6 percentage points, to 85.9 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year. Since the 1980s, Bueno said he has led efforts along with his LULAC colleagues to increase parent involvement in the schools. While he feels that aspect still has a way to go, he said other factors may have led to the bump in the number of students graduating. “Students are starting to realize, especially with the economy right now, that they do need to stay in school, graduate and then go on to college or university because of their financial future, for one,” he said. “Two, it’s a better way of life for them. Three, if they decide to get married, they need to have enough finances to support their family.” A. Marcus Nelson, Laredo Independent School District superintendent, said the district aims to create a college-going environment. That culture, he said, is one factor driving LISD’s push to graduate more students. “For us it is about creating a system (in which everybody) is focused on getting students to graduate,” Nelson said. “We are not going to stop until they go to college or go work.” He said that rising graduation rates, in the face of increased testing standards on the state level, are an encouraging sign. But David Hinojosa, regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, questioned whether the numbers bear any meaning. “(The data) potentially could be a sign that public schools are doing really good work with students and getting them to graduate within four years,” Hinojosa said. He cautioned, however, that some Texas school districts du-
See ROOTS PAGE 9A
See SCHOOL PAGE 9A
See BUDGET PAGE 9A
WEBB COUNTY HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Courtesy photo
Shown is an illustration of a 17th century genealogy of families living in New Spain (Mexico). Documented family trees were proof of pure Christian blood-lines during a time when the Spanish Inquisition sought to ban Jews from territories controlled by Spain. Similar examples will be on display at the Webb County Heritage Foundation’s “Pureza de Sangre,” exhibit opening Friday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m.
SETTLERS’ JEWISH ROOTS Exhibit: Jews became Catholics to avoid Inquisition By MARK WEBBER THE ZAPATA TIMES
LAREDO — The Webb County Heritage Foundation will present an exhibit featuring the founding and settling of deep South Texas and Northern Mexico at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St., Laredo. Included will be images and discussion of possible links to the settlers’ Jewish faith. Titled “Pureza de Sangre,” the exhibit opens Friday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m., and will feature the
villas, haciendas and ranchos of the Sephardim in Northeast Mexico (Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas) and South Texas including the unique history, worldview, cuisine, language, impact and influence of the Sephardim in the area. The exhibit will run through the end of September. It will feature hand-painted books and documents, shown for the first time in the U.S. “This regional exhibit is significant for the area,” Webb County Heritage Foundation Executive Director Margarita Arai-
za told The Zapata Times “Historical evidence suggests early settlers of (the South Texas) region were Crypto Jews. This has had an impact on the traditions and culture of the area, not to mention the historical connection to the Jewish faith. This is something worth investigating.” A press release from the heritage foundation explained “Crypto Jew” is a term used to describe those of the Jewish faith who, in the face of unrelenting and systematic oppression and finally expulsion, chose to convert to Catholicism
By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
ENTERTAINMENT
Intocable to collect school supplies at free concert By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
After the group was rained out of its headlining performance at the Zapata County Fair, Intocable is making good on its promise to play a free make-up concert.
And as students gear up for a new school year, the Tejano band with local roots will ask for donations in the form of school supplies from the concertgoers. On Thursday, Aug. 16, the acclaimed musicians return to the Zapata County Fairgrounds,
where the band in March played six songs before the weather proved too inclement for the group to go on. Intocable announced the makeup concert on Facebook, the same method they used to apologize to their fans who had expected to
see the homegrown musicians. “It’s totally free, but we’re collecting school supplies to help the children with few resources,” the band wrote on its Facebook page. Intocable’s manager, Oscar Carrasco, did not return phone calls as of press time Friday.
WHAT: Intocable’s free back-toschool concert WHERE: Zapata County Fairgrounds WHEN: Thursday, August 16 (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2579 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, AUG. 4
ASSOCIATED PRESS
First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave., will hold a used book sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hardback books are $1, paperback books 50 cents, and magazines and children’s books 25 cents.
Today is Saturday, Aug. 4, the 217th day of 2012. There are 149 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Aug. 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were axed to death in their home in Fall River, Mass. Lizzie Borden, Andrew’s daughter from a previous marriage, was accused of the killings, but acquitted at trial. On this date: In 1735, a jury found John Peter Zenger of the New York Weekly Journal not guilty of committing seditious libel against the colonial governor of New York, William Cosby. In 1790, the Coast Guard had its beginnings as the Revenue Cutter Service. In 1830, plans for the city of Chicago were laid out. In 1914, Britain declared war on Germany while the United States proclaimed its neutrality. In 1916, the United States reached agreement with Denmark to purchase the Danish Virgin Islands for $25 million. In 1936, Jesse Owens of the U.S. won the second of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics as he prevailed in the long jump over German Luz Long, who was the first to congratulate him. In 1944, 15-year-old diarist Anne Frank was arrested with her sister, parents and four others by the Gestapo after hiding for two years inside a building in Amsterdam. (Anne died the following year at Bergen-Belsen.) In 1964, the bodies of missing civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney were found buried in an earthen dam in Mississippi. In 1972, Arthur Bremer was convicted and sentenced in Upper Marlboro, Md., to 63 years in prison for his attempt on the life of Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace (the sentence was later reduced to 53 years; Bremer was released from prison in 2007). In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a measure establishing the Department of Energy. In 1987, the Federal Communications Commission voted to abolish the Fairness Doctrine, which required radio and television stations to present balanced coverage of controversial issues. In 1991, the Greek luxury liner Oceanos sank in heavy seas off South Africa’s southeast coast; all 402 passengers and 179 crew members survived. Ten years ago: A Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a bus in northern Israel during rush hour, killing himself and nine passengers. Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada won the presidency of Bolivia for a second time. Today’s Birthdays: Journalist Helen Thomas is 92. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is 57. Actorscreenwriter Billy Bob Thornton is 57. Actress Kym Karath (“The Sound of Music”) is 54. Track star Mary Decker Slaney is 54. Actress Lauren Tom is 53. President Barack Obama is 51. TV producer Michael Gelman (“Live! With Kelly”) is 51. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens is 50. Actress Crystal Chappell is 47. Actor Daniel Dae Kim is 44. Actor Michael DeLuise is 43. Thought for Today: “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” — Plato, Classical Greek philosopher.
TUESDAY, AUG. 7 Les Amies will have their monthly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, 800 Garden St. The honorees are Maria Olivia Salinas, Hercilia Camina and Carmen Santos, The hostesses are Thelma Sanchez, Cristina Garza and Herminia Molina.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 8 Voz de Niños/Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will present a brief introduction to the nonprofit today at 6:30 p.m. The volunteer orientation session will take place at the Voz de Niños office, 902 East Calton Call 956-727–8691 for more information and to RSVP.
Photo by Mona Reeder/The Dallas Morning News | AP
Artist Jim Phillips carves a sculpture of the legendary James Bowie into a dead tree that was once a live oak tree in front of Bowie Elementary School in Greenville on July 27. The Bowie tree has a history of its own. It was planted in front of the school in 1963.
SATURDAY, AUG. 11 The Back To School Kids Fishing Tournament takes place from 8:30 a.m. through 3 p.m. at Bravo Park, Children ages 3 through 12 can fish. Children must be accompanied by their parent during the tournament hours. Parent can help cast, but cannot reel in any fish. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 956-765-4871. Registration forms can be emailed to customercare@zapatachamber.com or faxed to l956-765-5434 or dropped off at the Chamber office, 601 U.S. 83 North. LCC will host an Enrollment Open House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first floor of Memorial Hall at the Fort McIntosh Campus. Students can get advised, get registered and apply for financial aid. The college will also offer free meningitis vaccines to students who need and qualify for the state-mandated vaccine. For more information, call 956-721-5109.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 15 The “How to Become a Better Communicator” workshop will be today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 101 of the De La Garza Building on the Laredo Community College Fort McIntosh Campus. For more information call 721-5110.
FRIDAY, AUG. 17 The Webb County Heritage Foundation will host a reception for the exhibit “Pureza de Sangre – A History of Crypto Jews in New Spain” 6-8 p.m., at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St. Author and archivist Richard G. Santos will speak on the influence of crypto Jews in northern Mexico and South Texas; and Armando Ceballos, exhibit curator, will speak in Spanish on the exhibit and the Spanish Inquisition. For more information, call 956-727-0977.
FRIDAY, AUG. 24 The Bethany House Gala is today from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center, 2400 San Bernardo Ave. For more information, contact Elia M. York at 956-724-7141 or elia@killamcompanies.com.
MONDAY, AUG. 27
Oak becomes sculpture By EDEN STIFFMAN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
GREENVILLE — After spending almost 50 years watching over students at Bowie Elementary, the mighty oak succumbed to the withering heat of the 2011 drought. But this live oak will live on — as the school’s namesake, Texas hero Jim Bowie. Working on a ladder under a shade tent in front of the Greenville school, Houston artist Jim Phillips has transformed the dead tree into a sculpture of Alamo defender Bowie. The Bowie tree has a history of its own. It was planted in front of the school in 1963. "It’s right in front of the school and we always had kids who sat in front of it. Teachers took kids out there to read books and eat snacks," said Christa Jones, an alumna who now teaches at the school and who conceived the project.
She had been to Galveston and seen the wood sculptures carved from trees destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Galveston allowed a few artists to use wood from destroyed trees, leading to about 50 carvings. Phillips, whose gallery was destroyed by the storm, created about 20 of those. Jones contacted him and asked if he would come to Greenville. The artist and a committee came up with several ideas. James Bowie was one suggestion, as was the school’s mascot, a bulldog. A committee of former teachers, students and principals voted, and Bowie won. News spread quickly throughout town, but once it was posted on Facebook, donations came in from as far as Tacoma, Wash., and Ohio. Dairy Manor, the local bed and breakfast, donated Phillips’ stay, and the sculptor has been wined and dined every night.
Man gets life for deaths of Second woman dies from parents, brother July 26 crash
Educator gets life without parole in sex assaults
HEMPSTEAD — A 23-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to capital murder for the fatal shootings of his parents and brother in their Southeast Texas home in March. Trey Sesler was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole during a court hearing Thursday in Hempstead. He was arrested after police found the bodies of his family members at their home in Waller.
MANSFIELD, La. — A second woman has died from injuries sustained in a July 26 crash east of Mansfield that claimed the life of a Coushatta woman. Nineteenyear-old Georgia Wilson, also of Coushatta, died at 6:38 p.m. Thursday. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 23-year-old Carly Deemer, who died at the scene.
FORT WORTH — A former computer assistant in a North Texas school district has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for having sexual contact with two students in the computer lab. Sixty-year-old James Carroll Glawson was sentenced Thursday after being convicted the day before of continuous sexual assault of children.
Lamar University president to retire
HOUSTON — A longtime Phoenix airport official has been appointed general manager of Houston’s largest airport as it undergoes a $1 billion renovation. Houston Airport Systems said Friday it has selected Carl Newman to lead George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The statement says Newman began working at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in 1980.
BEAUMONT — Lamar University President James M. “Jimmy” Simmons has announced he’ll retire early next year. Simmons announced Friday that he’ll retire Jan. 31. He spent more than 40 years with the university, serving as president the last 14.
Houston airport hires new general manager
Armed lifeguards on patrol on Galveston Island GALVESTON — Lifeguards who are armed after becoming certified police officers are patrolling Galveston Island’s seawall and beach this year. Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis says they want visitors to “have a safe and enjoyable experience.” Six officers were trained, but only two patrol at a time 10 months out of the year. — Compiled from AP reports
First day of school for Zapata County Independent School District.
AROUND THE NATION
FRIDAY, SEPT. 21 The Sun Country Fishing Tournament begins and runs through Friday, Sept. 28, at Falcon Lake.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 The Bud Light 2012 San Antonio Division tournament takes place at Falcon Lake.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 The Anglers Quests tournaments begin, to run through Sunday, Oct. 21.
SATURDAY, OCT. 27 The Bass Champs South Region Championship takes place today and Sunday, Oct. 28.
SATURDAY, NOV. 17 The Bud Light Tournament Fall 2012 San Antonio Division tournament returns to Falcon Lake. 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.
US rig count increases by 6 to 1,930 HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by six this week to 1,930 from the previous week. The count had fallen for three weeks. Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,429 rigs were exploring for oil and 498 were searching for gas. Three were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 1,920 rigs.
Men floating Alaska river save drowning bear KENAI, Alaska — Three Alaska men are being credited with saving a bear from drowning. The Peninsula Clarion reports that Dustin Klepacki was floating the Kenai River with his father and their friend last weekend when they came upon a cub
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A northern fur seal from the Aleutian Islands is seen in a cage in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Northern fur seals live in waters around the Aleutian Islands and California, but NOAA officials found one on Oahu’s North Shore on Tuesday. drowning in a whirlpool. They tried to bump the bear out of the whirlpool, but the water caught their boat and they turned in circles as the bear became more frantic. Finally, the current brought the boat up against the bear, and
Dustin’s father, Mike Polocz, nudged the bear to slower-moving water. The bear swam to shore. Another friend, Charlie Mettiale, filmed the rescue on his iPhone. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
12 scouts finish academy SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Twelve Explorer Scouts from Zapata and Hebbronville graduated a threeweek law enforcement academy during a celebration held July 27 at the Hebbronville Border Patrol Station. The Explorers included Josephine Arrendondo, Abran Gomez, Alan Gomez, Florencia Gonzalez, Jorge Gutierrez, Leandro Hinojosa, Alyssa Martinez, Candice Medellin, Vanessa Perez, Jesus Resendez, Mo-
nique Singleterry and Mario Solis. The academy was the first ever for both the Hebbronville and the Zapata stations. The Explorers underwent a rigorous academic, filed and physical curriculum to show how federal agents are trained and the standards they are held to, according to a press release from the Border Patrol. Explorer advisors include Supervisory Agent Maria Rivera and agents Tracy Anderson, Jason
Wells, Gilbert Munoz, Miguel Lopez, Ruth Hernandez, Jesse Sanchez, William Torres, Roberto Lopez and Jose Garza. In addition, the Jim Hogg County Sheriff ’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, the Drug Enforcement Agency and Customs Enforcement contributed to the academy. Hebbronville Acting Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge Juan “Vinny” Barberena, who is a former Border Patrol Explorer, gave a keynote address in
which he spoke of career opportunity, leadership, life skills, citizenship and character development. The academy graduation was led by the Laredo Sector Honor Guard, with Acting Division Chief Darren Matthews, Hebbronville Patrol Agent in Charge Dion Ethell and Zapata Acting Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge Adrian Reyes doing the pinning. A flag retirement ceremony with the Hebrronville American Legion Post completed the day’s events.
Kids get to fish SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Courtesy photo
Organizers at the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce say they expect about 300 local children to participate in this year’s Back to School “Kids” Fishing Tournament. The tournament and other activities will take place at Bravo Park next Saturday. It is open to children ages 3-12. In addition to prizes for the largest, smallest and most fish caught,
registrants in the tournament will receive t-shirts and goodie bags filled with school supplies, as well as food, refreshment, fishing poles and bait. Other activities will include hair and face painting, waterslide, door prizes and a season-ticket giveaway by the Laredo Lemurs. The t-shirts given to registrants will feature the winning drawing from a contest earlier this year by the Zapata County Boys & Girls Club.
A child, 12, driving a car Monday, hit Dollar General, 1104 Texas 16. Police arrested the child’s mother, Rosa Nelda De Leon, 41.
Child hits wall; mom arrested SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
A 41-year-old woman was arrested by Zapata County deputies on Monday after a 12-year-old child drove her car into a storefront. Deputies responded at 7:47 p.m. to Dollar General, 1104 Texas 16, and found that the child had driven a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe into the front wall of the store. Upon further investigation, deputies arrested Rosa Nelda De Leon for the Class C misdemeanor of permitting an unauthorized person to drive. She was taken to the Zapata County Jail.
Screenings, school supplies at fun fest SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The third annual Community Health Care Fun Fest will take place from 8 a.m. through noon today at the Zapata Civic Center, at U.S. 83 and Ninth Street. The fair will feature health information, services and screening. The first 100 children at the fair will receive
free backpacks filled with school supplies. Fairgoers also will be able to participate in a talent contest and win prizes. For more information, call Isela Cortez at 7186226 or Nadia González at 718-6222. The fair is a partnership between Gateway Community Health Center and Buckner.
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
THE BLOTTER ASSAULT An assault was reported at 10:20 a.m. July 26 in the intersection of Fourth Street and Bandera Avenue. Ricardo Perez, 59, was arrested and charged with assault after deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at 2:11 a.m. Monday at Third Street and Mier Avenue. He was given time already served.
Kelly Jeanne Bartley, 17, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana at about 4:45 p.m. July 25 in the 1300 block of Medina Avenue. She had a $3,000 bond at the Zapata Regional Jail.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION Eliel Vidal Peña, 47, was arrested and charged with public intoxication at about 2:15 a.m. July 28 in the 2200 block of Carla Street. He was fined $300.
BURGLARY A burglary of habitation was reported at 3:08 p.m. July 25 in the Siesta Shores area. A burglary of habitation was reported at 6:30 a.m. July 26 in the 300 block of Gonzalez Street. A burglary of habitation was reported at 6:17 p.m. July 26 in the 5200 block of Cuellar Lane.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT Ysenia Campos-Martinez, 29, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct at about 6:30 p.m. July 28 in the 100 block of Texas 16 after deputies were dispatched to a fight. She was later released to appear in court.
TERRORISTIC THREAT A terroristic threat against a deputy was reported at 1:02 a.m. July 27 in the 1700 block of Third Street. An investigation is ongoing.
THEFT A 31-year-old man reported at 8:16 p.m. Thursday in the 5300 block of Atwood Lane that he gave a $2,500 down payment for a car. He never received the vehicle or his money back. At 9 a.m. July 27, deputies responded to Wolverine Construction in the 100 block of First Avenue. A woman stated that someone stole property from the business.
POSSESSION
Police accuse man of weed eater theft By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Authorities on July 28 arrested a man accused of stealing a weed eater from a local shop. Joel Arnulfo Vargas, 41, was charged with theft, a Class B misdemeanor which carries a punishment of up to 180 days in jail and/or a $2,000 fine. According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, the case began about two weeks ago when deputies responded to the D&D Shop in the 1300 block of North U.S. 83. The
complainant told deputies someone had stolen a Troy-Bilt 6-HP Weed Eater from the back garage. After further investigation, Elizondo said investigators found enough probable cause to arrest Vargas and charged him with the theft. Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Juana Maria Gutierrez set a $2,000 cash or surety bond for Vargas. Vargas is out on bond from the Zapata Regional Jail. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
OTHER VIEWS
Some play not thought of as sports A “
USTIN — We’re more than a week into the Olympics; so, it’s time for my always eagerly anticipated rulings on what’s a sport and what isn’t. During the 2010 Winter Games, I ruled figure skating not a sport. In general, men agreed with me and women did not. Lots of stuff in life, including the Three Stooges, divide us largely along gender lines. Here’s the rule: To be a sport, an athletic activity substantially has to be objectively timed, measured or scored. Yes, balls and strikes can be subjective in baseball, but the overall activity is objectively scored. Activities do not qualify as sports if there is nothing other than subjective judging. And there is immediate disqualification for anything done to music or involving costumes, as opposed to uniforms. (See why figure skating isn’t a sport?) These are not my rules. They are found in the sacred texts of all of the world’s great religions and some of its crummier ones. Similar to figure skating, gymnastics is athletic and requires peak conditioning and hours of practice. So does ballet. Hence, gymnastics, like figure skating, is not a sport. Gymnastics also falls short of sport because the women’s floor exercise (amazing tumbling runs connected by dancing and making faces) is done to music. Overall, gymnastics suffers from too much posing, too much packaging and, for the ladies, too much makeup. The only makeup OK in sports is the black stuff football players wear under their eyes to look cool. My suspicions about gymnastics judging are reinforced every four years when we savor TV’s finest moment — Bela Karolyi’s my-heart-is-going-to-attackme tirade against the judges. (This guy’s lived near Houston for 30 years. How come he still sounds like he vants to suck my blood?) NBC force feeds us gymnastics and figure skating because men will watch anything Olympics and many women who won’t watch any other event will watch gymnastics and figure skating.
KEN HERMAN
Memo to gymnasts and parents: I enjoy gymnastics and watched hours of it this week. It’s amazing. One more thing for gymnastics fans: In your emails telling me I’m an idiot, please let me know if it’s OK to use your name in the paper. And now, the rulings. The decision of the judge is final. Track: First one to the tape wins. A sport. Field: Furthest or highest wins. A sport. Swimming: First one to the wall wins. A sport. Diving: Subjectively judged (and weird in that smaller splashes are rewarded, contrary to what you strive for when you dive). Not a sport. Synchronized diving: Subjectively judged and includes the word “synchronized,” an automatic disqualification. Not a sport. Riflery, archery, fencing: Objectively scored and derived from warfare. Sports. Opening ceremony: As much a sport as gymnastics and figure skating. Badminton: A sport (but not the way you play it at picnics). And how cool is it that we had a badminton scandal? Look for an attempt to rehab the sport’s image by changing name to goodminton. Team handball: A sport, though a foreign one. (Hey, am I the only one whose women’s handball brackets were screwed up when Croatia beat Angola?) Boxing: Surprisingly, not a sport because of subjective, crooked judging. (It is a sport when somebody gets knocked out.) Table tennis: A sport, but only when devoid of the words “ping” and “pong.” Equestrian: Would be a sport (only for the horse) if they jettisoned dressage, which is French for “horse dancing.” Trampoline: You’re kidding, right? Rhythmic gymnastics: Disqualification for many reasons, including music, makeup, posing, use of hula hoops and ribbons — and the words “rhythmic” and “gymnastics.” Synchronized swimming: Have you been paying attention at all?
Olympic-level sandbagging MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
The Olympics audience came to see the best in the world play badminton. Yes, it is an Olympic sport. Instead they saw athletes serving into the net and duffing shots out of bounds, just like, well, backyard amateurs. A sudden case of Olympics nerves? Nope. Just cynical strategy. Several two-women teams were trying to lose preliminary matches so they could jockey for a better spot — against a weaker opponent — in the later rounds. That way, they’d gain a better
shot at a gold medal. But spectators jeered and officials tossed four pairs of women for trying to throw their games. IOC Vice President Craig Reedie, the former head of the international badminton federation, welcomed the tossing of the badminton teams. "Sport is competitive," Reedie told the AP. "If you lose the competitive element, then the whole thing becomes a nonsense. You cannot allow a player to abuse the tournament like that, and not take firm action. So good on them." Now tell us why badminton is an Olympic sport.
COLUMN
USA-born mayor is slippery By LLEWELLYN KING HEARST NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON — He is a dazzling politician, a conservative, a witty speaker, and there is no question about his birth. He entered this world in New York City in 1964. He comes from a large family of successful academics, diplomats and politicians. His wife is half Sikh and he has English, Turkish and German ancestry. He has four children and is still married. He has committed almost every political sin possible. And he has used career-sinking disasters as stepping stones to wherever he is going. People love him. He collects money and votes when another politician would earn opprobrium. Should Mitt Romney be reaching for the phone? Yes, but this guy has a job. He is mayor of London and the man of the hour in that city. He may one day be a Conservative Party prime minister. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, known throughout the British Isles simply as Boris, has a classic English education, including the most celebrated of boys schools, Eton and Balliol College Oxford. His family is one of those of sprawling, gifted ones with success in acade-
mia, art, journalism and politics, rather like the Auchinclosses, Cabots and Lowells of American dynastic fame. Johnson left Oxford and soared into journalism and controversy. By one account, he has survived 13 major career-ending controversies. Some of these: He was investigated by the police for allegedly stealing a cigar case that had belonged to Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein’s deputy. He lambasted the City of Liverpool in an editorial, while he was both editor of the Spectator magazine and a member of the leadership in the House of Commons. He accused the people of Liverpool of “wallowing in a vicarious victimhood” and having a “deeply unattractive psyche.” The then-leader of the Conservatives, Michael Howard, made Johnson travel to Liverpool to apologize. Eventually, Howard fired Johnson from the Tory leadership for lying about an affair with a Spectator columnist, Petronella Wyatt. Johnson and Wyatt were reported to have carried on in taxis after getting the drivers to play tapes of Wyatt singing Puccini. Johnson said of the matter that these reports were “an inverted pyramid of
piffle.” He did not deny them. The elected position of mayor of London is a comparatively new office. The Lord Mayor of London — of Dick Whittington fame — was an honorific office only representing the financial district. The first elected mayor was a leftwinger and Labor renegade, Ken Livingstone. Johnson was victorious in 2008. The mayor, who has a full head of totally white hair, rides around London on a bicycle in a very egalitarian way for a city that puts pomp on a pedestal. But it was an issue of buses that helped Johnson ride into office, specifically, the double-decker bus so loved by Londoners. The Livingstone administration planned to phase out the old buses, known as Routemasters, in favor of one-level buses that bend in the middle. These are favored by cities around the world and are common in the United States. No way, said Johnson, the traditionalist, even if the old design was more expensive to build and operate. Well, Londoners didn’t care about the economics. Now there’s a new version of the double-deckers, with great creative use of glass and the return of the hopon, hop-off rear platform. Like the taxis, these buses
are part of what makes London London. Johnson may be the most articulate British politician since Churchill. When the Olympic Torch arrived at the Tower of London, the traditional place of beheadings, Johnson said, “As Henry VIII discovered, with at least two of his wives, this is the perfect place to bring an old flame.” Said the BBC, “In just 22 words, he had stolen show.” Then there was Johnson’s unintentional highwire act. While riding a zip line, as part of the Olympics in Victoria Park in East London, the device failed and the mayor was suspended in midair for 10 minutes, joking with the crowds while clutching two Union flags. Images of the mayor aloft flashed around the world from cell phones. Political disaster, after all he was theoretically responsible for the ride? Hell no! David Cameron, the prime minister said, “For any other politician in the world, it would be a disaster. For Boris it’s an absolute triumph.” One headline read, “High Wire Act Boris Johnson Defies Political Gravity.” Now if only Romney in his search for a running mate can find a golden pol who also is lighter than air. (Email: lking@kingpublishing.com.)
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Crime & More
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
3 arrested, accused of murder ABRAHAM PARRA: Jailed on capital murder charge.
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A 15-year-old male juvenile authorities say was involved in a murder-kidnapping in Brownsville was detained in the Falcon Lake Estates subdivision, a Zapata County sheriff ’s spokesman said Friday. U.S. marshals, assisted by deputies, served the murder warrant to the juvenile at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Willow Cove Drive, Zapata sheriff ’s Sgt. Mario Elizondo said Friday afternoon. Billy Killebrew, a Brownsville Police Depart-
ment spokesman, said authorities identified the juvenile from surveillance video that captured the daytime kidnapping of 22-year-old Reyes Bocanegra at Mariscos Playa Azul in Brownsville. Killebrew said the motive behind the killing is “drugrelated, possibly stealing drugs from someone.” On Tuesday in Laredo, U.S. marshals arrested Abraham Parra, 25, of Laredo, and served him with a
FRANCISCO JAVIER FLORES: Charged with capital murder. capital murder warrant. Federal authorities coordinated with their counterparts in Brownsville to track Parra to a home in the 2200 block of Santa Barbara Street in South Laredo, off U.S. 83. Parra has been extradited to the Cameron County Jail, where he was denied bond, Killebrew said. According to the San Antonio Express-News, Francisco Javier Flores, 29, of Brownsville, was arrested
Monday when he reported to the Cameron County probation office. He was charged with capital murder. Flores and Parra are U.S. citizens with ties to the Texas-based Partido Revolucionario Mexicano prison gang, the Express-News reported. On July 18, armed men went into Mariscos Playa Azul and abducted Bocanegra. Authorities said U.S. Border Patrol agents later found Bocanegra’s body with a gunshot wound to the head. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Man gets life for killing family By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — A man who authorities say studied serial killers and mass shootings, and hoped to commit his own act of public violence, will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to the fatal shootings of his parents and brother in their Southeast Texas home. Trey Sesler, 23, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to capital murder during a court hearing Thursday.
He was arrested in March after police found the bodies of his family members — 58-year-old Lawton Ray Sesler; his wife, Rhonda, 57; and their son, Mark, 26 — at their home in Waller. “This is a great tragedy and there was no good outcome. So Trey felt comfortable with the (sentence) and the survivors of the victims can now have closure. The community will be protected. That seemed like the best outcome,” Franklin Blazek, Sesler’s attorney, said Friday. In a statement, Waller County Dis-
trict Attorney Elton R. Mathis thanked investigators who helped find Sesler and later obtained his confession. “In my six years as district attorney I have never seen law enforcement come together and work toward a common goal like they did the week following the Sesler murders,” Mathis said. The Waller County district attorney’s office said Sesler’s family members indicated at Thursday’s hearing that they hope Sesler can get treatment in prison.
Ex-Mexican gov. guilty in money-laundering case ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Mario Ugarte/file | AP
Mario Villanueva, center, pleaded guilty in New York to conspiring to launder millions of dollars in cocaine bribe payments.
NEW YORK — A former state governor of Mexico has pleaded guilty in New York to conspiring to launder millions of dollars in cocaine bribe payments. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Mario Ernesto Villanueva Madrid pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy Thursday in federal court. Authorities say
Villanueva Madrid conspired to launder the money from the Juarez Cartel through bank accounts in the U.S. Bharara said Friday the Juarez Cartel is one of Mexico’s most violent cocaine cartels. Villanueva Madrid is the former governor of Quintana Roo, where Cancun is located. He was extradited from Mexico in 2010 and initially pleaded not guilty
to drug-related charges. The 64-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison. He’ll be sentenced Oct. 26. His attorney hasn’t returned an email seeking comment.
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Woman is accused of jewelry theft By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County sheriff ’s officials served a felony theft warrant to a 22-year-old woman for allegedly stealing about $10,000 worth of jewelry, a sheriff ’s office spokesman said Friday. Aleida Castillo-Moran, 22, was charged Wednesday with theft. If convicted of the state jail felony, she faces 180 days to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine. Castillo-Moran remains at the Zapata County Jail on a $25,000 bond. Recently, a 60-year-old woman reported to deputies that she had some jewelry — bracelets and earrings, among other items — missing from her home in the 300 block of Fresno Street. Sgt. Mario Elizondo
ALEIDA CASTILLOMORAN: Charged with theft of jewelry. said “apparently,” the complainant knew the suspect. The complainant said she had a woman, identified as Castillo-Moran, working at her home for the last couple of years. An investigation showed no forced entry into the home, according to Elizondo. After an investigation, authorities arrested Castillo-Moran after finding enough probable cause to charge her with the crime, Elizondo said. Reports did not specify if the jewelry was recovered, he added. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Texas
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
Air Force instructor gets 30 days in jail ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — A military jury on Thursday sentenced a Texas Air Force basic training instructor to 30 days of confinement and reduction in rank for his part in a sex scandal surrounding instructors at the base. Tech. Sgt. Christopher Smith received his punishment after the seven-member jury deliberated for five hours, according to Oscar Balladares, spokesman for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The sentencing, which capped a three-day
court-martial at the base, includes a reduction in rank to airman first class. Smith was convicted Wednesday of wooing one female trainee and fraternizing with another at Lackland. He was acquitted of making sexual advances on the female trainee he wooed and of obstructing justice. Investigators say at least 38 female trainees were victimized and 15 instructors implicated. Last month, a military jury sentenced Staff Sgt. Luis Walker to 20 years in prison after the former instructor was convicted of
Beard again gets suspect court fine By ANGELA K. BROWN ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT HOOD — A military judge on Friday once again held the Fort Hood shooting suspect in contempt of court for showing up to a pretrial hearing with a beard he had been ordered to shave. Maj. Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, was fined $1,000 for a second time. The judge, Col. Gregory Gross, then sent Hasan to a nearby trailer to watch the rest of the hearing on closed-circuit television, as he has done since showing up with a beard at a June hearing. Beards are a violation of Army regulations. Hasan’s attorneys say he keeps declining to shave because he believes that doing so would violate his Muslim faith.
Last week, the judge held Hasan in contempt and fined him $1,000. Gross said Hasan would be forcibly shaved at some point before his Aug. 20 trial if he doesn’t shave the beard himself. He said he wants Hasan in the courtroom during the court-martial to prevent a possible appeal on the issue if he is convicted. Hasan is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the November 2009 attack on the Texas Army post. Hasan, 41, faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted. Gross on Friday also ordered a pretrial hearing next week to hear from a prosecution witness and determine if he will testify during the trial.
rape and sexual assault. The counts against Walker were the most severe in the investigation. Lackland is where all Air Force recruits go through basic training. It has about 500 instructors for about 35,000 airmen who graduate every year. While one in five recruits are women, most instructors are men. Six of the 15 instructors being investigated have been charged, with Walker and another instructor, Staff Sgt. Peter Vega-Maldonado, already having been court-martialed. Vega-Maldonado admitted in
June to having sex with a female trainee and he was given 90 days of confinement as part of a plea deal. Courts-martial have been set for three more trainers, with Master Sgt. Jamey Crawford scheduled for trial Sept. 5. He stands accused of having a wrongful sexual relationship with a trainee, wrongfully providing and consuming alcohol with a trainee and committing adultery with the trainee. A two-star general, Maj. Gen. Margaret H. Woodward, has launched a separate, independent probe.
Nearly 80 members of Congress have called for a hearing. Meanwhile, a Republican senator had blocked a vote on the White House pick for Air Force chief of staff over the service’s response to the scandal. In a statement last week, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said he put a hold on the nomination of Gen. Mark Welsh “until I feel the Air Force is adequately addressing the unacceptable situation at Lackland and taking corrective steps to reform their training program to prevent this from happening again.”
However, Cornyn rescinded the hold Thursday after meeting with Welsh to discuss the Lackland scandal. Welsh succeeds Gen. Norton Schwartz as head of the Air Force. The sexual misconduct at the base apparently began in 2009, but the first woman didn’t come forward until last year. The first allegations were levied against Walker. The Air Force has permanently removed Walker and 35 other instructors for a variety of reasons that include misconduct, failure to meet standards and medical issues.
Dewhurst stays quiet on future By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has an idea about what doomed his U.S. Senate run that burned up $20 million of his own fortune and wilted against a tea party darling who vaulted from underdog to superstar among restless Republicans. But back at work Friday, he wasn’t ready to tell. Dewhurst also remained mum on what his political future holds in 2014, when his latest term as the state’s second-in-command expires. Following a legislative hearing in the Capitol just three days after a stunning loss to Ted Cruz in the Republican runoff, Dewhurst declined to publicly dissect his campaign. But he vaguely acknowledged missteps and the anti-government frustration among GOP voters that an entrenched political mainstay who’s served 14 years in office couldn’t reverse. “To me, this is pretty simple. There were decisions made in my campaign that going forward I will do different,” Dew-
Photo by Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle/file | AP
Former Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has kept quiet on his plans for the future. hurst said. “Two, there are a lot of Texans who are so mad and angry at Washington — and I’m mad and angry at Washington, too — they have a hard time understanding how any other form of government, such as state government, could cut taxes, which we did, and cut spending.” Cruz clobbered Dewhurst by about 13 percentage points in Tuesday’s runoff. Although the end
result was hailed as an upset, Dewhurst for months had watched Cruz and his impassioned supporters chip away at his once-commanding lead, partly thanks to outside groups that spent millions of dollars attacking him. In the May primary, Cruz trailed Dewhurst by 10 points. The lieutenant governor since 2003, Dewhurst pushed through some of
the state’s most conservative legislation as leader of the Texas Senate. He also piggybacked on the same themes Gov. Rick Perry used during his failed presidential bid, touting the state’s strong economy and fiscal discipline. Cruz, however, had success in painting Dewhurst as an occasional moderate and attacking him from the right. “I think that we, and in particular myself, did a poor job in explaining that we have cut taxes here in Texas,” Dewhurst said. “I think people are so mad at Washington, they don’t believe any part of government ... can actually tighten the belt.” Dewhurst had been undefeated in elections since his first run for Texas Land Commissioner in 1998. His successor as commissioner, fellow Republican Jerry Patterson, announced this week that he would run for Dewhurst’s seat in 2014. Dewhurst, as he did in his concession speech earlier this week, took the high road in his first meeting with reporters since losing the runoff.
SÁBADO 4 DE AGOSTO DE 2012
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 4 DE AGOSTO Sexto Torneo anual “Pulling for Kids Sporting Clay” (Tiro al Plato) a partir de las 7 a.m. en Complejo de Tiro South Texas, Hwy 359, 9 millas al este del crucero de Loop 20 y Hwy 359. Costo: 150 dólares (adultos) y 125 dólares (de 18 años y menores). Interesado de llevar equipo. Recursos beneficiarán a la organización Voz de Niños. Informes en el (956) 7278691. U.I.S.D. invita al segundo evento anual ‘Stuff the Bus’ (Llenar el Autobús) de 9 a.m. a 12 a.m. en H-E-B en Del Mar Blvd. y McPherson y en H-E-B Plus!, sobre Bob Bullock Loop. El objetivo es llenar el camión con artículos escolar, uniformes nuevos y poco usados para estudiantes de PK-12. Las donaciones beneficiarán a estudiantes de UISD. First United Methodist Church, 1220 avenida McClelland, invita a la venta de libros usados de 8:30 a.m. a 1 p.m. Libros de pasta dura a 1 dólar, de pasta blanda a .50 centavos, revistas y libros infantiles a .25 centavos. UISD organiza el evento “Stuff the Bus” (Llena el autobús) de 9 a.m. a las 12 p.m. en HE-B, Del Mar y McPherson Road, y en H-E-B Plus! de Bob Bullock. El evento es para donar artículos escolares nuevos o semi-usados y uniformes escolares para los grados PK-12. Todas las donaciones beneficiaran a los estudiantes de UISD. Para más información llamar al 473-6283. Producciones LITE y Laredo Center for the Arts presentan “beat. a play on words” de Kelly Groves en Laredo Center For the Arts, 500 avenida San Agustin a las 8 p.m. NUEVO LAREDO, México — Proyecto Teatro presenta “Malas Palabras” de Perla Szuchmacher a las 5 p.m. en Teatro del IMSS. Costo: 20 pesos (menores de 5 años entran gratis). Función a beneficio de Centro Recreativo del IMSS.
DOMINGO 5 DE AGOSTO Hoy debe recogerse la comida de ‘Angel Food’ de 8 a.m. a 9:30 a.m. en el Fellowship Hall, First United Methodist Church, 1220 avenida McClelland. Más información en 722-1674. Producciones LITE y Laredo Center for the Arts presentan “beat. a play on words” de Kelly Groves en Laredo Center For the Arts, 500 avenida San Agustin a las 3 p.m.
MIÉRCOLES 8 DE AGOSTO El Programa “Viviendo Mejor” de la Ciudad de Laredo invita a las sesiones gratuitas de Grupos de Apoyo de Diabetes, durante cinco miércoles, a partir de hoy a las 6 p.m., en el Centro de Aprendizaje de Salud del Departamento de Salud de la Ciudad de Laredo, 2600 avenida Cedar. El tema de hoy es: Diabetes y Enfermedad del Riñón.
MARTES 14 DE AGOSTO Concierto de “Evanescence con Chevelle, Halestorm, New Medicina y Cavo, a las 6:30 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena, 6700 Arena Blvd.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 7A
TAMAULIPAS
Útiles escolares gratuitos TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
En los 43 municipios de Tamaulipas y en cada aula se entregarán útiles escolares como parte del programa de apoyar a la economía familiar. Se impulsará la igualdad de oportunidades educativas, principalmente por los alumnos de nuevo ingreso a cada nivel por la oficina del Gobernador Egidio Torre Cantú. “Se ha cumplido con la asignación, recepción, distribución y entrega de paquetes de útiles escolares a planteles educativos en toda la entidad”, dijo el Secretario de Educación, Diódoro Guerra Rodríguez. “De los 100 por ciento del material quedó asignado el 80 por ciento”. Los paquetes de útiles escolares para Centros de Atención Múltiple, nivel preescolar, primaria y secundarias generales. Los paquetes restantes serán entregados durante el
inicio del ciclo escolar. “Tenemos casi en su totalidad los útiles que se están destinando a los alumnos de Tamaulipas, principalmente los de nuevo ingreso a cada nivel educativo. En este sentido, podemos adelantar que ya empezamos a distribuir esos materiales de apoyo pedagógico y al momento tenemos un 80 por ciento de paquetes entregados a través de los centros regionales en cada centro escolar”, explicó Guerra Rodríguez. Los paquetes de útiles están compuestos de cuadernos con diferente trazado de hojas, lápices, tijeras, adhesivo, goma de borrar, acuarelas y plastilina para alumnos de preescolar. Para los alumnos de primaria, el paquete de útiles contiene cuadernos profesionales, cuadernos de forma italiana, lápices, goma de borrar, sacapuntas, regla, bicolores. A nivel secundaria, los estudian-
Foto Cortesía Gobierno de Tamaulipas
Los paquetes de útiles escolares para Centros de Atención Múltiple, nivel preescolar, primaria y secundarias generales. Cientos de alumnos los recibirán al inicio del ciclo escolar. tes recibirán cuadernos profesionales, block de notas, lápices, bolígrafos, goma de borrar y regla. Para mayor información, todas
las listas con el material y las cantidades de los mismos para cada nivel, están accesibles al público en la página
TAMAULIPAS
EDUCACIÓN
FRENAN EL DENGUE EN TAMAULIPAS
Seminarios mandatorios para educadores TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto Cortesía Gobierno de Tamaulipas.
Norberto Treviño García Manzo, afirmó que en Tamaulipas el dengue se mantiene bajo control epidemiológico y los 252 casos registrados a la fecha fueron atendidos con oportunidad y se encuentran todos restablecidos, sin ninguna defunción.
Se reúnen para prevenir enfermedades TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
E
l esfuerzo para frenar la cadena de transmisión del dengue en territorio tamaulipeco y evitar muertes por esta causa están en constante revisión. En la reunión del Consejo Nacional de Salud se le dio seguimiento para continuar los programas de prevenció. Durante la Reunión de Evaluación de Acciones de Prevención y Control del Dengue, el Secretario de Salud estatal, Norberto Treviño García Manzo, afirmó que en Tamaulipas la enfermedad se mantiene bajo control epidemiológico y los 252 casos registrados a la fecha fueron atendidos con oportunidad y se encuentran todos restablecidos, sin ninguna defunción por esta
causa. En el encuentro al que asistieron representantes de las instituciones que conforman el Sector Salud, de Protección Civil, autoridades municipales, instituciones educativas y la sociedad civil, el Secretario informó que las jurisdicciones que más casos han presentado son Tampico-Madero con 42, Altamira con 74 y Reynosa con 83. Explicó que en Matamoros se han confirmado a la fecha 8 casos de dengue, de los cuales 6 son clásicos y 2 del tipo hemorrágico. Al respecto, Treviño García Manzo dijo que esta situación no representa ningún tipo de alerta ni estado de epidemia. Sin embargo, al pasar por el periodo de mayor peligrosidad (julio a octubre) para la transmi-
sión de la enfermedad, urgió a la población a prevenirla con acciones tan sencillas como limpiar sus patios y techos, manteniéndolos libres de objetos que puedan acumular agua. El dengue es además de un grave problema de salud pública, un problema de tipo social que por más recursos humanos o materiales que se inviertan, sin la participación decidida de la sociedad no podrá controlarse. “La prevención es la clave para disminuir esta y muchas enfermedades que afectan a los tamaulipecos”, subrayó el Secretario de Salud. Gracias a un esfuerzo conjunto entre los tres órdenes de gobierno se ha logrado una cobertura del 100 por ciento en las acciones de nebulización espacial.
Los educadores de cada municipio de Tamaulipas habrán de participar en seminarios de actualización para cumplir con los mandatos de la reforma educativa. Se busca cambios sustanciales y ofrecer una educación de calidad, anunció la Secretaría de Educación de Tamaulipas (SET). Se impartirá el curso básico de formación continua denominado “La Transformación de la Práctica Docente”, informó Blanca Anzaldúa Nájera, directora de Superación Profesional de los Docentes. Indicó que entre los propósitos del curso formativo es que los docentes, directivos y asesores técnico-pedagógicos reflexionen sobre las prácticas educativas que a diario realizan en su comunidad escolar y que a partir de la actual reforma, sitúen como un referente fundamental el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. “Estamos conscientes que Tamaulipas demanda mejores y más preparados docentes, nosotros queremos contribuir para impulsar la educación de calidad como uno de los baluartes del Estado, todos tenemos que hacer nuestra parte y comprometernos por el bien de la educación en la entidad”, agregó. El curso se lleva a cabo a través de la Dirección General de Formación Continua de Maestros en Servicio con la participación de 29,600 personas entre docentes, directivos y asesores técnico-pedagógicos, quienes recibirán el taller del 6 al 10 de agosto. Este curso se aplicará a los docentes de educación básica frente a grupo del 13 al 17 de agosto. “En este programa de formación, un punto de partida es la reflexión de la práctica docente y el análisis de los procesos de pensamiento complejo que permiten a los docentes crear situaciones de aprendizaje que sean para los estudiantes retos intelectuales al saber indagar, cuestionar, seleccionar y descubrir nuevos conocimientos a lo largo de su vida”, expresó Anzaldúa Nájera. El propósito del curso es desarrollar en los docentes competencias, enriqueciendo su práctica en la escuela a través de la reflexión sobre el desarrollo del pensamiento complejo, así como la comprensión de la importancia de atender los programas de relevancia social que inciden en su contexto.
ECONOMÍA
Pymes rurales mejoran calidad de vida TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Los programas “Comunidades Rurales Fuertes” y “Pymes Rurales Emprende Fuerte”, que buscan generar mayores ingresos a las familias campesinas a través del mejoramiento de los procesos de producción en el sector agrícola de Tamaulipas.
Norma Dueñas Pérez, directora de Pymes Rurales, dependiente de la Secretaría de Desarrollo Rural (SDR), dijo que se trabaja para superar las metas alcanzadas en 2011, cuando se beneficiaron más de 4 mil familias campesinas y se impulsaron unas 300 empresas en este sector. “A través del programa
Comunidades Rurales Fuertes, que promueve acciones y proyectos integrales, se otorgaron subsidios para la creación de pequeñas empresas, fomentando el arraigo y el autoempleo entre la población dentro de un marco de trabajo y regionalización”, señaló. Comentó que se han beneficiado a 4 mil familias
con paquetes de semillas para huertos familiares y granjas de especies menores de traspatio, mejorando así su calidad de vida. “Este año buscamos superar esas metas para seguir garantizando a más familias campesinas mejores condiciones de vida y una estabilidad económica que les brinde la seguridad de un mejor futuro”,
apuntó. A través de estas acciones se conformó un catálogo de empresas ya existentes, a quienes se les apoyó en su constitución legal y registro, otorgándoles sustento jurídico que les permitió accesar a fuentes de financiamiento y mejorar sus procesos productivos, logrando apoyar a más de 300 empresas.
Nation
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
GOP prepares for convention By TAMARA LUSH ASSOCIATED PRESS
TAMPA, Fla. — The Republican National Convention and the peak of hurricane season collide in Tampa this month. And though planners are banking on years of data that a major storm won’t hit, they also have laid out worse-case scenarios that include canceling if it’s clear the 70,000 expected delegates, officials, journalists and protesters would be in harm’s way. Tampa is one of the places in the region most vulnerable to storm surge. In a major hurricane, floodwaters could reach some 3 miles inland — Tampa is on a bay, not directly on the Gulf of Mexico — and storm surge could reach as much as 17 feet. The Tampa Bay Times Forum, the convention’s home, is in an area that would be re-
quired to evacuate if winds exceeded 96 mph. But that doesn’t seem likely, say experts, whose studies determined storms usually don’t hit Florida’s Gulf coast at the end of August. More of a worry is that people will suffer problems during the hot and steamy Tampa summer. “It is brutally hot down here,” said Steve Huard, spokesman for Hillsborough County Health Department. “We’re trying to do everything we can to keep people from passing out.” In May, Florida officials held a four-day mock hurricane drill. Officials laid out a worst-case scenario for the emergency planners: what if (fake) Hurricane Gispert — a (fake) Category 3 storm — struck Tampa on the second day of the RNC? Under that scenario,
state leaders canceled the convention. RNC organizers have been asked repeatedly to talk about what will happen if a hurricane threatens the convention. While they acknowledge the possibility, like many security issues, they are close-mouthed about any evacuation plans. Political conventions have been held before in cities where hurricanes and the heat are summertime threats, though none has been in Florida for 40 years. The RNC was in Houston in 1992, New Orleans in 1988 and in Miami Beach in 1968 and 1972 — all cities that have been hit by storms, and during a time when hurricane forecasts weren’t as accurate as they are today. Forecasters say that fortunately, most Gulf storms emerge earlier or later in the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to
Report: poor behavior By LOLITA C. BALDOR ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A dozen U.S. service members brought women, likely prostitutes, to their hotel rooms in Colombia and also allowed dogs to soil bed linens and building grounds shortly before President Barack Obama arrived in the country for an April summit, according to a military investigation that followed the announcement of punishments for the men. The report provided to The Associated Press on Friday revealed new details about the conduct of the service members in the prostitution scandal that engulfed both military and Secret Service personnel. Seven Army soldiers and two Marines have received administrative punishments for what the report described as misconduct consisting “almost exclusively of patronizing prostitutes and adultery.” Three of the service members have requested courts martial, which would give them a public trial to contest the punishments. One Air Force member was reprimanded but cleared of any violations of the U.S. military code of justice, and final decisions are pending on two Navy sailors, whose cases remain under legal review. According to the investigator’s report, the problems involving the servicemen came to light when hotel staff complained to U.S. officials that military members had female guests in their rooms after 6 a.m., a violation of hotel policy. They also complained that dog handlers allowed their dogs to sleep in beds, soil hotel linens and soil other public areas around the building. It’s not clear, the report said, whether the dog problems were limited to military handlers, but officials said those issues were corrected right away.
The wider scandal involving the Secret Service erupted after a public dispute over payment between a Secret Service agent and a prostitute at a Cartagena hotel. The Secret Service and the military were in the Colombian coastal resort to prepare for Obama’s participation in a Latin American summit. Twelve Secret Service employees were implicated, eight of them ousted, three cleared of serious misconduct and one is being stripped of his security clearance. The military report concluded that “the combination of unstructured free time, the prevalence of legalized prostitution and military members’ individual choice to commit misconduct” were the primary causes of the transgressions. It also found that there was no evidence that the interaction with prosti-
tutes presented any risk to national security, and that no sensitive materials were compromised. Prostitution is legal in Colombia but is a violation of the U.S. military code of justice. Hotels in Cartagena require that any guests, including prostitutes, must be signed in, must pay a guest fee and must arrive after 11 p.m. and leave by 6 a.m. The time constraints, the report said, are largely because the hotel doesn’t want families or other guests to witness the prostitutes’ presence. U.S. Southern Command, headed by Gen. Douglas Fraser, conducted the investigation into the military members’ involvement in the April incident, which brought shame to the elite presidential protection force and unearthed revelations of other episodes of misconduct.
Nov. 30. In late August, “the majority of the activity shifts to the Atlantic. But it’s not impossible, of course,” said Anthony Reynes, a forecaster at the National Weather Service. The last major storm to hit Florida’s west coast was Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 packing 150 mph winds. The Aug. 13, 2004, storm was small yet powerful — and was initially forecast to strike the Tampa Bay area before it turned and slammed Port Charlotte, about 100 miles south. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn points out a major hurricane hasn’t hit the area in more than 90 years and that even if one were to threaten, everyone would have several days’ notice. Not only would convention-goers be in danger, so would some of Tampa’s 4 million residents. “Hurricanes don’t occur
Photo by Charles Dharapak | AP
Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to reporters in North Las Vegas, Nev., on Friday. The Republicans are preparing for their convention in Tampa, Fla. this month. overnight,” he said. Heat is another story, however. Officials worry that the tens of thousands of convention visitors won’t understand that danger and some could wind up in
the hospital or worse. The convention in downtown Tampa from Aug. 2730 will be squarely during the swampy summertime when tourists usually avoid the Sunshine State.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
ANGELA CABAÑAS DE ALVARADO Angela Cabañas de Alvarado, 89, passed away Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas. Mrs. Alvarado is preceded in death by her grandsons Adrian R. Alvarado, Juan F. Alvarado and Juan A. Guzman Jr.; and a son-in-law, Faustino Buentello. Mrs. Alvarado is survived by her husband, Raymundo Alvarado; sons: Javier (Manuela) Alvarado, Antonio Alvarado, Eloy (Irma) Alvarado and Raymundo Alvarado; daughters: Natividad (Jesus) Campos, Matiana Buentello and Maria De Los Angeles (Luis Eduardo) Martinez; grandchildren Carmen (Ruben) Olivo, Leticia (Roel) Melgoza, Marisol (Mario) Del Bosque, Griselda (Isac) Acuña, Edith Alvarado, Rosio (Leopoldo) Rodriguez, Javier Jr. (Lucia) Alvarado, Marcos R. (Irene) Alvarado, Jose Luis (Alta Gracia) Alvarado, Veronica (Venancio) Hernandez, Linda (Luis) Garcia, Brenda (Jorge) Ventura, Victor E. Alvarado, Irma G. Alvarado, Magda K. Al-
varado, Cristobal Alvarado, Lupita Alvarado, Raymundo Alvarado, Daniela G. (Rogelio) Rodriguez, Karla M. Campos, Mayra A. (Josue) Lopez, Maria De Los Angeles Sanchez, Mario Alberto Buentello, Adalia A. (Lauro), Diana L. Martinez and Lizbeth Martinez; two greatgrandchildren; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends. Visitation hours will be held Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession will depart Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, at 9 a.m. to Guerrero, Tamaulipas. Committal services will follow at Panteon Municipal in Guerrero, Tamaulipas. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. 83 Zapata.
By ELLIOT SPAGAT ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO — The Obama administration said Friday that it will begin charging $465 this month for temporary work permits for many young illegal immigrants as it laid out details of one its signature new policies on immigration. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications Aug. 15 for permits, which are subject to renewal for two years. It will consider a limited number of fee exemptions but expects costs to be shouldered by applicants, not taxpayers. The agency said the number of applications will determine how many employees it hires, and it
did not provide an estimate for the total cost of the program. The Associated Press reported last month that Homeland Security Department internal documents estimated hundreds of employees may be hired and that the total cost could top $585 million. Under the program, which President Barack Obama announced in June, immigrants must have arrived in the United States before their 16th birthday, be 30 or younger, lived in the U.S. at least five years and be in school, graduated or served in the military. They are ineligible if convicted of a felony, three misdemeanors or one “significant” misdemeanor. Significant misdemeanors, as defined by Home-
By JASON KEYSER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hinojosa said that the passing standard on the TAKS is lower than the STAAR’s guessing standard — which means that if a student guessed on every question, he or she could answer 25 percent of them correctly. “We need to be very careful at how we look at these results,” Hinojosa said of the graduation rate. More detailed graduation rate data, containing statistics specific to each district, will be released at a later date. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2579 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
CHICAGO — It turns out lawyers and opera singers have more in common than booming voices and a love of melodrama. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is among the jurists who have looked for legal lessons in arias, and she got a chance Friday to indulge both passions at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting in Chicago. Ginsburg took part in an unusual panel discussion of the intersection of opera and the law, listening to a few live performances of some of opera’s greatest works. They mused about such issues as original intent, in both interpreting the law and operas such as Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Weighing in, Ginsburg said she’s “certainly an originalist,” but that law —
Photo by Kiichiro Sato | AP
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg participates in a panel discussion Friday during the American Bar Association’s meeting in Chicago. Ginsburg and other panelists listened to arias in a discussion of the lessons operatic performance can bring to the law. like opera — could “grow with society.” “The founders of our country were great men with a vision,” she said. “They were held back from realizing their ideas by the times in which they lived. But I think their notion
ROOTS Continued from Page 1A 17th century genealogies. These family trees were used by Crypto Jews to show they had pure Christian blood lineages, to show that they were not Jewish. This kept the Spanish Inquisition off their backs,” Araiza explained, adding it was “alive and kicking throughout Mexico for a long time,” into the late 1700s. Richard G. Santos, former archivist of Bexar County and author of numerous historical publications, will make a presentation on the Spanish-Portuguese Sephardic Jews and the colonization of Northeast Mexico and South Texas.
land Security, include driving under the influence and gun and sex offenses. Driving without a license is not considered a significant misdemeanor, an important point because most states do not grant licenses to illegal immigrants. Applicants, who must attend an appointment and submit to background checks, may have to wait several months for a ruling. The wait will depend on the backlog. Agency Director Alejandro Mayorkas said in a conference call with reporters that fee exemptions will be granted “in limited circumstances.” He wasn’t more specific, but the administration signaled exemptions are expected to be used sparingly, such as for the home-
less, significantly disabled or people living in deep poverty. The agency said it will not use information gathered during the applications to begin deportation proceedings, with some exceptions for certain criminal convictions and public safety threats. Mayorkas said anyone who lies on their applications will be subject to criminal prosecution and deportation. The internal documents obtained by the AP estimated that the number of applicants might top 1 million in the first year, or more than 3,000 a day. It will cost between $467 million and $585 million to process applications in the first two years, with revenues from fees paid by immigrants estimated at $484 million.
Ginsburg weighs lessons of opera
SCHOOL Continued from Page 1A biously identify students as “leavers” instead of dropouts. The category, Hinojosa said, can be broadly applied and only requires paperwork for a student to be marked as such. One way schools identify a “leaver” is if the student returns to Mexico, but students aren’t required to prove that, he said. He also pointed to the standards of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS, which is being phased out in favor of the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.
Fee set for work permits
“Spain suspended its rules on immigration because lots of Jews were escaping to the new world,” Ariaza said. “Eventually the Spanish authorities needed people to settle Northern Mexico, so it relaxed rules on immigration, and allowed the Crypto Jews to settle in the area to face the harsh environment and heat of the area.” She said such settlements ran the length of Texas and up into New Mexico. “Ninety-nine percent of people are not aware of this Jewish link to their past. This is a unique opportunity to see the exhibit and lis-
ten to speakers discuss the exhibit and items on display,” Araiza said. In addition, Ricardo Backal and Armando Ceballos, exhibit curators, will make a presentation in Spanish on the exhibit and the Spanish Inquisition in Mexico. A press release stated the event is co-sponsored by Congregation Agudas Achim and the Les Norton family. For more information contact the Webb County Heritage Foundation at www.webbheritage.org or (956) 727-0977. (Contact News Editor Mark Webber at 728-2584.)
was that society would evolve and the meaning of some of the grand clauses in the Constitution ... would grow with society, so that the Constitution would always be in tune with the society that law is meant to serve.”
Turning to Benjamin Britten’s tragic opera “Billy Budd,” the panelists were asked to consider whether the character of a ship captain might have found a way to spare the life of a sailor who was doomed to hang after being wrongfully accused of organizing a mutiny and killing his accuser out of frustration. Accompanied by piano, a singer performed “I Accept Their Verdictsung by Captain Vere after Billy Budd is court-martialed and sentenced to death. “Well, I think there was” a way the captain could have saved him, Ginsburg said. “He didn’t have to impanel the court martial on a ship. He could have kept Billy and could have had the trial occur on British soil, but there was this tremendous fear of mutiny.” Verrilli said the captain’s dilemma was not unlike those faced by many lawyers and judges.
BUDGET Continued from Page 1A Tax revenues are still on the rise. Testifying before the state budget board, Associate Deputy Comptroller Mike Reissig handed Dewhurst and other lawmakers a report showing that tax revenues for the current fiscal year are up by nearly 14 percent. Reissig said the state’s Rainy Day Fund is also likely to be stocked with an additional $2 billion, upping the balance to $8.1 billion. Budget officials did not project how much money lawmakers will have to spend in general revenue in 2014
and 2015. That number, called the biennial revenue estimate, will be released by the comptroller’s office in January. A thriving oil and gas industry are keeping the Texas economy and revenues strong. Reissig said that oil and gas accounted for 17 percent of the state’s economy last year, “driving the positive revenue picture more than any other sector.” He cautioned, however, that Texas might start tapping the brakes next year. He said the national economy and
the European debt crisis are likely to begin impacting Texas. Gross product growth is projected to fall from 3.1 percent this year to 2.8 percent in 2013. “What we see is a slowing economy over the next year,” Reissig said. Dewhurst was back to work at the Capitol just three days after a stinging loss in his U.S. Senate runoff to tea party darling Ted Cruz. He declined to say following a Legislative Budget Board meeting what his political future holds.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
Book traces trail of murder, mayhem By ALLAN TURNER HOUSTON CHRONICLE
BUDA — Deep in the heart of Texas lurks larceny. By 1926, workers at Buda’s twice-robbed Farmers National Bank should have been wise enough to be wary. But Becky Rogers, the coquettish newspaper reporter with a lopsided grin, could charm the eagle off a silver dollar. She grilled the men about the cotton business and made them feel like the brainiest guys in town. Rogers, though, was no newshound. She was just a University of Texas student-cum-bank robber out to pay her off her education. The “interview” ended with a pointed pistol, the theft of nearly $1,000 and the two bankers locked in their own vault. Buda, a hamlet 15 miles south of Austin, is a key stop in T. Lindsay Baker’s “Gangster Tour of Texas,” a 330-page Texas A&M Press travel guide to Texas mayhem. The book highlights the exploits of Rogers, the socalled “Flapper Bandit,” as well as Galveston gambling bosses Sam and Rose Maceo, San Antonio moonshine king Lynn Stephens, and even George Barnes — better known to Depression-era Americans as “Machine Gun Kelly.” Train robbers, dope dealers and a rogue doctor who beefed up clients’ sagging libidos with goat-gland implants round out the lot, along with crime summaries, maps and tips for further reading. “I grew up hearing those stories,” said Baker, a Texas history professor at Stephenville’s Tarleton State University. “One of my father’s uncles supposedly shaved Machine Gun Kelly. ... There were all manner of stories about Bonnie and Clyde. It’s difficult to deter-
Photo by Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle | AP
Shown is the outside of Raby’s Roots antique store in Buda, which formerly was a bank held up by the “Flapper Bandit.” Buda, a hamlet 15 miles south of Austin, is a key stop in T. Lindsay Baker’s "Gangster Tour of Texas," a Texas A&M Press travel guide to Texas mayhem. The book highlights the exploits of Becky Rogers, the so-called "Flapper Bandit," as well as Galveston gambling bosses Sam and Rose Maceo. mine if the stories are true, but people definitely believed them.” Barnes, who changed his name to “George Kelly” as he gained notoriety as a bootlegger and bank robber, is best known for the kidnapping of oil tycoon Charles Urschel, a crime that brought the thug to Paradise, a tiny North Texas farm town. Urschel was abducted at gunpoint from his Oklahoma City home on July 23, 1933, and taken to the Wise County farm owned by the gangster’s father-in-law. He was freed in exchange for $200,000 in used $20 bills. Though he had been blindfolded, Urschel provided authorities with important clues, including the taste of the water at the hideout, the variety of animals on the farm and the fact that an airplane flew over the site at specific hours. Agents located the farm, where they found Urshel’s fingerprints, which
he had deliberately planted throughout the building. Barnes was arrested in Memphis, Tenn., on Sept. 26, 1933, and sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 1954. “These crimes were absolutely tawdry,” Baker said. “It’s the passage of time that has given them an appealing aura.” Among the bloodiest was the case of Lynn Stephens, a San Antonio liquor retailer-turned-prohibition bootlegger. By summer 1929, federal agents were closing in. On Sept. 24, they raided a distillery hidden in the brush near Pleasanton, capturing two gang members. Worried the prisoners would talk, the bootlegger plotted an ambush. That night, federal agents leaving the raid site were surprised to find cars parked on a bridge on the narrow road leading to San Antonio. As they slowed, Stephens, hidden in the bush-
es with his gang, leaped onto the car carrying the lead agent and two arrested men and opened fire. One agent and a bootlegger died in the battle. The next day, agents raided Stephens’ home. The bootlegger had fled, but they found the house filled with booze. As they emptied the illicit alcohol, a spark ignited a fire. Ruben Lara, today’s occupant of the restored, twostory, limestone house, said he had puzzled over burned rafters in the attic. “I thought maybe it had been something electrical,” the architectural intern said. “I knew nothing of its history ... but I love it.” Stephens never was apprehended, but in 1949, the former bootlegger, broke and sick, returned to surrender. He was tried for the agent’s murder, convicted and sentenced to 38 years in prison. Closer to home, Baker examines the Maceos’
booze-and-gambling mecca that flourished in Galveston for more than five decades. Starting out as bootleggers, brothers Sam and Rose Maceo ran a series of island city nightclubs that featured gambling and toptier entertainment. The empire’s decline began in the early 1950s with the birth of Las Vegas casinos and the Maceos’ deaths. Police raids in 1957, resulting in injunctions but no convictions, finished it off. Baker directs tourists to the Hotel Galvez, where Sam Maceo worked as a barber, and the seawall site of the Balinese Room, later destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Secretly married to a UT law student, Becky Rogers led a fairly routine life as a history student until her newly unemployed mother moved in with her. Faced with increased expenses — she was pursuing a master’s degree — Rogers
stepped up her part-time job. Her jumbled bookkeeping practices, which likely brought her illicit cash, cost her the position. Inspired by a rash of highly publicized bank robberies, Rogers posed as a newspaper reporter to scope out targets in Round Rock, north of Austin. Torching a vacant house as a diversion, she ran to the bank to raise the alarm, but the employees and customers did not budge. Then, on Dec. 11, 1926, Rogers turned her attention to Buda, again posing as a reporter working on a story about cotton prices. “She was beautiful and they were taken with her beauty,” Buda town historian Mary Giberson said. “They would have given her anything. She asked them if she could use their typewriter, then she said, ‘Stick ‘em up!’?” Fleeing, her car became mired in a mud hole until a farmer pulled it out. Back in Austin, she mailed her pistol and the cash to a post office box, then went to have her car cleaned. Police spotted it and arrested her. Rogers’ arson trial ended in a hung jury. Then she was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 14 years. An appeal by her attorney husband resulted in a reversal, but left open the door for renewed prosecution. The second robbery trial ended when an impartial jury could not be seated; the third in another split jury. Authorities then dropped all charges. “I have a lot to live down,” Rogers later observed, “but not as much as those men back there who let a little girl hold them up with an empty gun.” She died in 1950. The Buda bank closed shortly after the robbery. Today an antique shop occupies the building.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
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Sports&Outdoors MARTIAL ARTS
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CLARA SANDOVAL VAL
Learning to Fight
Zapata sports begin soon
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Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Rick Guerra Jr. trains with one of his students at the Boys and Girls Club of Zapata.
Students are able to learn martial arts in Zapata By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
LAREDO — The Lamar Bruni Vergara Boys and Girls Club of Zapata offers a variety of activities for the youth of Zapata but few people do not realize they also offer mixed martial arts classes every Friday. For the past five years, Rick Guerra’s Academy of Martial Arts-Zapata has been making the Boys and Girls Club of Zapata its home and has 30 students enrolled.
In 2007, then-county Commissioner Angel Garza was concerned for the youth of Zapata and wanted to bring in some different activities. Karate was high on Garza’s list. Garza contacted Shihan Rick Guerra Sr. of Rick Guerra’s Academy of Martial Arts in Laredo with the idea of bring karate to Zapata. Garza was able to put a group of 25 students together, but the lack of facilities concerned the elder Guerra. The problem was solved with a phone call. Viola and Ram Torres stepped in and
offered the Boys and Girls Club as a location. Rick Guerra’s Academy of Martial Arts-Zapata was born and has been going strong ever since. Guerra Sr. taught the class for the first two years and Rick Guerra Jr. took over the last three years and makes a weekly trek to Zapata to teach the class every Friday. From the original group that started out five years ago, only three remain and one, Ram Torres III, has obtained his
he time has come for high school sports to kick off a new school year — and there is plenty in store for Zapata. The cross-country teams have gotten a jump-start on the competition and have racked-up miles since the middle of June. It takes a dedicated individual to go out every day during the summer and run. All the crosscountry runners across the state of Texas should be lauded for their effort that they put forward. These athletes give up their summer along with the football and volleyball players because they are always in the gym to get ready for the upcoming season. Parents sometimes have to schedule their summer vacations around the summer workout schedule. Football and volleyball start on Monday. Everyone knows this is an exciting time for Zapata as they return a Texas tradition in football. Interest in volleyball has grown in Zapata since the arrival of coach Rosie Villarreal. With temperatures so high in the past few years, football coach Mario Arce does a fantastic job of making sure that the athletes’ health comes first. He has been taking precautions to ensure there is plenty of water available and usually conducts workouts early in the morning. The Hawks will be tested early and I really like the fact that Arce has a tough pre-district schedule. It will only prepare the Hawks for their district’s newcomers, Kingsville and Raymondville. People have been whispering
See GUERRA PAGE 2B See SANDOVAL PAGE 2B
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
Arce ready for a 2012 season that promises intrigue
Zapata cross country looks to continue to improve
By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Hawks football team starts early Monday as high school football players are required to report at 7:30 p.m. to the gym for the official start of the 2012 season. “Football at Zapata is an exciting time of the year,” Zapata coach Mario Arce said. “We have been looking forward to this date since the end of the football season last year. “Every year our expectations are high and we work towards winning a district title.” The Hawks will jump into football, and the athletes know what type of program to expect since it is run in the same fashion at the high school and middle school. “We are very fortunate to be able to teach to our middle schools what we teach at the high school,” Arce said. “The athletes know what is going on and we expect the kids to pick up from where we left off in May and not skip a beat.”
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata coach Mario Arce In the afternoon, the Hawks will go through a walkthrough to keep in line with the UIL rules that does not allow teams to have two-a-days during the four-day acclimation period. “We have always monitored the kids and have taken precautions when it comes to their health in the hot sun,” Arce said. “Our athletes always have access to water and we take frequent water breaks.” Zapata will work hard to get
See FOOTBALL PAGE 2B
By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata boy’s cross-country team is busy getting ready for the season. They are right on track for where they want to be at this point in August. Zapata hosts its annual crosscountry meet on August 18. “Practice has been going great; we just had our second mile time trial and most of our kids improved,” Zapata coach Roel Ibañez said. “We also started doing our hill workouts and we are about to move on to phase two.” The Hawks have been pushing the pace in practice, and a few runners have already started to separate themselves from the rest of the group. “Jose Garcia, Romy Morales, Heri Martinez, Carlos Rodriguez and Luis Garza have been looking good in practice,” Ibañez said. Zapata has also had a setback when Jerome Cabugos suffered an injury that derailed his progress. Cabugos is on the comeback trail and is slowly overcoming his injury as his progress is closely monitored. This past week the Hawks
Courtesy Photo
Zapata hosts its annual cross-country meet on August 18. went through a time trial and Ibañez expected more from the team. “It’s early to tell but by looking at their times in the mile we are OK,” Ibañez said. “As a coach you always want to have your team as prepared as possible but it takes time and patience. We don’t want to rush and risk injuries.” Ibañez is likes the commit-
ment that this team has made to be successful and their work ethic that they display every single day. “I like their commitment and work ethic,” he said. “I had a training that I had to attend as the math department head and the kids continued to train and meet on their own. They are focused and they want to make it to state.”
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Zscores
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
Witten hopes this is Cushing wants to year Dallas wins be Texans’ leader By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
OXNARD, Calif. — Jason Witten has let it be known that things have to be different this time. Only minutes after the Dallas Cowboys’ plane landed in California for training camp, the seventime Pro Bowl tight end said this year “can’t be the same old story.” Going into his 10th season, matching him with quarterback Tony Romo as the longest-tenured Cowboys, Witten knows there might not be too many more chances for him to be part of an NFL champion. “It goes fast and I will be damned if I let this opportunity slip away and not come away with a championship,” Witten said this week, expanding on his initial comments. “It has been a heck of a run. But it’s time we grab it. That goes for all of us, the core group of us. That is what coach (Jason) Garrett has talked about. This group is trying to do it.” Dallas (No. 15 in the AP Pro32) had its weekly day off Thursday, a day after the first practice in pads. The Cowboys are a fivetime Super Bowl champion, but Witten and his good friend Romo have been in the playoffs only three times. Their only postseason victory came in
2009, 13 years after the team had last won a playoff game, and they have missed the playoffs the two seasons since then. Last season, the Cowboys lost four of their last five games and finished 8-8. That included the regular season finale that determined the NFC East title. The New York Giants beat Dallas 31-14 on New Year’s Day, clinched the division title at 9-7 and went on to win their second Super Bowl in five years. In little more than a month, the Cowboys open their new season against those same Giants. “Our actions have to speak louder than our words. None of y’all are believing it. Why should you be?” Witten said. “The approach we are taking is if we are going to be the team we think we can we have to go show it. What a great opportunity we got coming up Sept. 5. So that’s the focus of this team.” Garrett thinks it is good for young players to hear things like that from a leader like Witten who understands how close the Cowboys have been at different times without getting the job done. Dallas goes on the road for four of its first six games before playing the Giants again at home Oct. 28. New York is 3-0 at Cowboys Stadium since it
opened in 2009. “I believe in the men we have. I believe we work the right way,” Witten said. “But ultimately we didn’t make the playoffs last year. That is what I was trying to say. That is what our message has been so far. ... We have to go earn it. Nobody is going to give us anything. That is the approach that we are taking.” That break-even record last season came after the Cowboys blew leads in the fourth quarter five times. Part of the team’s message during camp is to finish strong. There are even reminders of that with sprints at the end of practice, including Garrett calling for a do-over during one session when he didn’t like what he saw. “He called us back,” Witten said. “We didn’t finish enough games where we had a chance to win, we let them slip. This is just one area. These are long practices, a lot of running, but you have to be able to gut it out. That is what the fourth quarter is going to be line. A lot of that is physical, but it is also mental.” Witten said the sprints after a practice are a great way for the Cowboys to work together and have the kind of shared commitment they talk about. “Hopefully it will pay off for us come the fourth quarter,” Witten said.
By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Brian Cushing has always tried to be a leader for the Houston Texans. That role is undisputed for the linebacker now that defensive stalwarts DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams are gone. “There are a lot more eyes looking at you now and that’s fine,” Cushing said. “I learned from some of the best guys and they taught me a lot. It’s something I accept and going into this year I could say it was pushed on me, but it was also earned. So I feel good about it.” Cushing was drafted in the first round in 2009 and piled up 133 tackles to earn the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Instead of building on the momentum gained from his terrific first season, Cushing was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and had 76 tackles. Last year was a bounceback campaign for him, and he led the team with 114 tackles and had four sacks, two interceptions and forced two fumbles. His statistics far surpassed those of Ryans, a fellow linebacker who had
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I feel I’m playing a lot more space; I’m a lot freer in some situations.” BRIAN CUSHING
64 tackles, but the more veteran Ryans remained the most visible leader of the defense. Cushing was unhappy that Ryans was traded to Philadelphia in the offseason, but realized that the departure meant the team would need even more from him. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said. “I believe you can never stop improving physically and mentally. So I’m going to try to take it as far as I can and try to help this team win as best that I can.” Cushing devoured the teachings of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who joined the team before last season, to help the group become one of the best in the NFL. The 285.7 yards a game the Texans allowed in 2011 were second only to Pittsburgh and their tough defense helped propel the team to its first playoff berth and win despite injuries to several key piec-
es of the offense. Cushing is excited to see what the unit can accomplish in its second season under Phillips. “We can obviously get better,” he said. “We feel that. We’re just looking forward to it. And any time you have an opportunity like this to go into a season and improve upon what you did the year before, it’s going to be fun.” The coaching staff isn’t putting any extra pressure on Cushing this season because they know how much he expects from himself. “He is kind of a lead by example guy, obviously he’s a fiery guy,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “But Cush is going to play hard all the time, and guys can count on him. I think he’s been a leader. I think he was last year and I think he’s probably even more so (now).” Houston added depth at inside linebacker with the addition of veteran Bradie James.
Federer beats del Potro in thrilling match By STEVEN WINE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer leaned on the net, exhausted but exhilarated after winning the final set 19-17 to earn his first Olympic singles medal. “It has been a long time coming,” he said. The wait included an Olympic marathon Friday, when Federer played for four hours, 26 minutes to beat Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 3-6, 7-6 (5), 1917. It was the longest threeset men’s match of the Open era. “I definitely got a sense that it was something special,” the top-seeded Federer said. “The deeper we went into the match, the more I thought, ‘Wow, this is so cool to be part of a match like this.”’ Federer converted only two of 13 break-point chances, the second coming in the next-to-last game, and had several nervous
moments. But he held serve 12 times in the final set to stay in the match. With the comeback victory, the four-time Olympian is assured at least a silver. On Sunday he’ll play in the final against No. 3 Andy Murray of Britain, who beat No. 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-5, 7-5. Federer and Swiss teammate Stanislas Wawrinka won the gold in doubles in 2008. But Federer had been 0 for 3 in Olympic singles, the biggest blemish on a resume that includes a record 17 Grand Slam championships. His latest title came at Wimbledon a month ago against Murray, who relishes the shot at a rematch on the same court. “I hope it’s a great match,” Murray said, “because the way the matches went today, I think the tournament deserves a great final. I hope we can provide that.” Serena Williams also clinched her first Olympic
Photo by Elise Amendola | AP
Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Friday. singles medal, beating No. 1-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2. On Saturday, the No. 4-seeded Williams will face first-time Olympian Maria Sharapova, who beat
Russian teammate Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-3. Williams teamed with sister Venus to win the gold in doubles in 2000 and 2008. They have a chance to
clinch at least a silver in the semifinals Saturday. Americans Bob and Mike Bryan are assured at least a silver after beating Julien Benneteau and Rich-
ard Gasquet of France 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals of men’s doubles. Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond advanced to the first Olympics mixed doubles final since 1924 by beating Del Potro and Gisela Dulko 6-2, 7-5. For duration, Federer’s latest victory didn’t rival John Isner’s 70-68 final-set win at Wimbledon in 2010, or even Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s 25-23 win in the third set at the Olympics this week. But the match offered epic drama magnified by the setting and the stakes for Federer. He improved to 12-0 this summer at the All England Club, including a record-tying seventh Wimbledon title a month ago. There were no match points until the final game. After a couple of wobbly moments by Federer, including a double fault, he sealed the victory when Del Potro dumped a backhand in the net. Federer lifted his arms in jubilation.
FOOTBALL Continued from Page 1B ready for the upcoming season that has a tough preseason and the Hawks would not have it any other way. “This is a great opportunity to those type of schools to get us ready for our district season,” Arce said. “We are happy to play those types of schools. I know that there is a concern about them (Laredo schools) playing a 3A school but I know that we can hold our own and it is a great experience for our athletes.” Zapata will have their hands full with their preseason schedule as they play formidable opponents from Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley to get ready for the district season.
Zapata takes part in a tri-scrimmage on Aug. 18 with Hebbronville and Agua Dulce. The Hawks’ last scrimmage is Aug. 24 when Laredo United South visits Hawk Stadium. The Hawks open the season against Cigarroa and new head coach Jesse Esparza on Aug. 31 at Hawk Stadium. Zapata will have no breathing room when they travel to Laredo on September 6 in week two to take on Laredo powerhouse Alexander, which went three rounds deep in the playoffs last year. “In playing Alexander we get a picture of what we are going to get in district,” Arce said. Week three features the Hawks hosting Mission Veterans at 7:30
p.m. “Mission always has tough teams, and they have the majority of the kids coming back,” Arce said. “They are a caliber team and it will get us ready.” Zapata’s next three weeks features Laredo Nixon at Shirley Field, Crystal City at Hawk Stadium and old district foe Port Isabel. Zapata opens their district run on Oct. 12 when they host Kingsville, which moved down to 3A after playing in 4A for many years. The Hawks play at Raymondville on Oct. 19. On Oct. 26, Zapata meet Lyford at Hawk Stadium. The Hawks finish the district season Nov. 2 against La Grulla in Rio Grande City.
SANDOVAL Continued from Page 1B it was crazy to schedule Laredo Alexander because of what the Bulldogs did last year. Alexander, which was 13-1 last year, brings back Xavier Skaggs, one of the best running backs in South Texas. The Bulldogs are no stranger to Zapata as the
Hawks faced them in the summer 7-on-7 league so they know what to expect and fared better then they had in previous years. Zapata is going to pit their ground game against Alexander’s air attack. The volleyball team will also be hitting the court
on Monday in a quest for their third consecutive district title. Villarreal really does a fantastic job with the team and always manages to put a championship caliber team on the court year in and year out. It is hard to climb up that hill and be the No. 1
team in the district. To do it for two years in a row is remarkable and to stay at the top is even harder. Now the Lady Hawks are attempting to make it three in a row and it will test the team to no end as they attempt to find that magic. Let the games begin!
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Ram Torres, left, and Rick Guerra Jr. train at the Boys and Girls Club of Zapata
GUERRA Continued from Page 1B black belt. Angel Abel Garza and Jesus “J.J.” De Jesus are brown belts who will be testing in December or June for their black belts. Now that Torres obtained his black belt he assists in the classes that are taught by Guerra junior. “These classes offer the students self confidence and self defense,” Guerra Sr. said. “It also enhances their education or anything that they want to do in life.
“The younger students look up to Ram as a mentor because he has accomplished one of his goals of obtaining a black belt.” The academy runs all year and anyone between the ages of four and 17 can enroll in the class. They meet once a week from 5-7 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club, 302 6th Avenue West. For more information on how to enroll call 956726-4493 or stop by the Boys and Girls Club.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: A friend once informed me that TOILET TISSUE should always be placed on the roller with the paper cascading over the top like a waterfall. Apparently, this made an impression on me, because I’ve always done it that way. As I observe other people’s bathroom rolls, I find the majority put their rolls on so they fall close to the wall — cascading off the back of the roll, so to speak. Is there a right and wrong way to place paper on the roller? — Pat in Arkansas Oh, Pat, here we go! There is no right or wrong way to put the toilet tissue on the roll. However, people can be very picky about this subject. Some say the paper is easier to grab if it is out and over the roll. Others say you use less if the roll goes back and around. Readers, what do you say? Let us know at Heloise@Heloise.com; at Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; or via fax, 210-HELOISE. — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Carol in Mansfield, Ohio, sent a pic-
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HELOISE
ture of her gorgeous black schnauzer, Inky, cuddling with her stuffed likeness. Carol says Inky always has her head or “arm” on the toy! To see Inky and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com, and click on “Pets” on the left side of the page. — Heloise HAIR BANDS Dear Heloise: My linen closet has “bundles” of sheets. I take a sheet set and neatly “bundle” it with a fabric-coated elastic hair band. It keeps sets together and prevents sheets from falling out when retrieving others. — Denise, via email CLEAN DRAIN Dear Heloise: I noticed in my shower that the drain cover looked like it had mold around it. I removed it and couldn’t believe what was there! I got my rubber gloves, bleach, brush and soap, and proceeded to clean the gunk and yuck from the drain. I hope this can help others. — Ann in New Jersey
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4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
Hooker leads USA to sweep of Serbia By ANNE M. PETERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Matt Slocum | AP
United States gold medallist Michael Phelps, front, walks with South Africa’s silver medallist Chad le Clos behind him after the medal ceremony for the men’s 100-meter butterfly swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Friday.
Phelps wins record 17th gold medal By PAUL NEWBERRY ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Seventh at the turn, an Olympic champion at the end. Make it 17 gold medals for Michael Phelps. Was there any other way to go out in the final individual race of his career? With those long arms whirling through the water, Phelps was next-to-last when he touched the wall at the far end of the pool in the 100-meter butterfly but in a familiar position when he made the touch that counted Friday — his name atop the leaderboard, a smile on his face, another gold medal around his neck. “I’m just happy that the last one was a win,” Phelps said. “That’s all I really wanted coming into the night.” He claimed his third gold of the London Games and 17th of his career, adding to an already absurd re-
cord total that should be twice as much as anyone else by the time he swims the final race of his career, the 4x100 medley relay Saturday night. The Americans are huge favorites in a race they have never lost, and it’s unfathomable to think the Phelps era could end with anything less than a performance that puts him atop the podium one last time. In what might be viewed as a symbolic changing of the guard from America’s retiring swimming star to the next big thing, 17-yearold Missy Franklin set a world record in the 200 backstroke, her third gold in London, just minutes before Phelps took center stage at the Olympic Aquatics Centre. Another American teen, 19-year-old Elizabeth Beisel, claimed the bronze in that race. “I can’t believe what just happened,” said Franklin, who had dedicated her
Olympics to victims of the theater shooting not far from her Colorado home. “In that last 25, I knew I was giving it everything I had because I couldn’t feel my arms and legs and I was just trying to get my hand to the wall as fast I could.” Right after Phelps was done, 15-year-old Katie Ledecky — the youngest member of the U.S. team — nearly broke the world record to win gold in the 800 freestyle, denying Britain’s Rebecca Adlington a repeat before her home fans. Adlington settled for bronze in a race Ledecky dominated from start to finish, falling off record pace only in the last 15 meters. But no one has dominated like Phelps, who increased his career overall medal total to 21. “He’s the king of the Olympics Games,” said his butterfly rival, Serbia’s Milorad Cavic.
LONDON — Destinee Hooker scored 19 points and the U.S. women’s volleyball team clinched the top spot in its pool with a preliminary-round victory over Serbia in straight sets on Friday at the Olympics. The top-ranked U.S. has won all four of its matches in London, dropping just two sets. The team, which has never won Olympic gold in volleyball, is among the favorites to medal in London. Logan Tom had 12 points as the Americans posted a 25-17, 25-20, 25-16 sweep. The team will wrap up the preliminary round with a match against Turkey on Sunday. There are two six-team pools in the preliminary round. The top four in each advance to the quarterfinals. The U.S. women brought the silver home from Beijing after falling in the final to Brazil. In an early round rematch in London, the U.S. came away with a 3-1 victory over the second-ranked Brazilians. Coach Hugh McCutcheon, who led the American men to the gold medal in Beijing before shifting to the women’s team, led the U.S. to the top spot in the international rankings late last year to end Brazil’s four-year run at No. 1. “I know we’ve clinched, but we look at it as another step. We’re on a roll and if we can continue the roll it will be amazing,” U.S. captain Lindsey Berg said. China, Serbia, Turkey and South Korea are also in the pool with the U.S.
Photo by Jeff Roberson | AP
Team USA’s Lindsey Berg, left, Nicole Davis, center, and Foluke Akinradewo celebrate during a match against Serbia on Friday. and Brazil, which is unexpectedly fighting to advance to the quarterfinals. Japan, Russia, Italy, Algeria, the Dominican Republic and Britain make up the other pool. The U.S. team was workmanlike in its victory over seventh-ranked Serbia, which finished fifth in Beijing. It was eliminated with the loss. McCutcheon says he likes what he has seen from his team. “They understand it’s the Olympic Games. Every set, every point, every play matters,” he said. “They treat the game with the right amount of respect and that’s important too.” Brazil stayed alive in the preliminary round with a 3-2 victory over China on Friday morning. Now 2-2, Brazil has one match left against lastplace Serbia on Sunday. “It was a difficult match, but we knew the difficulties,” Brazilian captain Fabiana Oliveira said after the 25-16, 20-25, 25-18, 28-30, 15-10 victory. “We had a lot of pressure because we knew that if we lose, we could have been
out of the Olympic Games.” The Chinese women, who are also 2-2 but have the points advantage over the Brazilians because of sets won, were hampered by an injury to 6-foot-2 spiker Wang Yimei, who hurt her ankle during the games and played just the opening set against Brazil. Brazil wasn’t helped by Turkey’s 3-2 victory over South Korea in a later match on Friday. Neslihan Darnel had 27 points to lead Turkey, which improved to 2-2 and edged ahead of Brazil in the points standings for the fourth spot in Pool B. Turkey won despite missing middle blocker Eda Erden, who injured her ankle earlier in the competition. Making its first Olympic appearance in women’s volleyball, Turkey faces a challenge against the U.S. in its final match of the preliminary round Sunday. Russia defeated Japan 27-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-19 to improve to 4-0 in Pool A. Japan falls to 2-2. Ekaterina Gamova had 29 points.