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County considers pay issue
ZCISD school earns top ranking from state By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES
For the first time in its history, a Zapata County ISD campus earned an exemplary rating by the state. That campus is Benavides Elementary, where the school’s approximately 50 students had at least a 90 percent passing rate in all areas of the 2009 Texas Assessment
of Knowledge and Skills. “I attribute that to the fact that they have a very and RODRIGUEZ tenured dedicated staff,” said ZCISD Superintendent Romero Rodriguez. “Therefore, there’s been a lot of consistency.”
The Texas Education Agency rated the rest of ZCISD’s schools as academically acceptable. But one of the campuses test scores did not meet the federally mandated and ever-increasing Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards. According to official AYP ratings released Thursday, Zapata County Middle will undergo Stage 2 sanctions in
2009-2010 because its Limited English Proficiency students did not meet required improvement on the TAKS math exam for the third consecutive year. Meanwhile, even though students at Zapata County High made required improvement on the math portion of the 2009 TAKS, the
See ZCISD | PAGE 10A
By ZACH LINDSEY THE ZAPATA TIMES
Some employees of the Zapata County Medical Clinic who lost wages because of a recent cut to their salaries want to see action from the Zapata County Commissioners Court at Monday’s meeting. Also at the meeting, some management details of the new San Ygnacio Municipal Landfill will be clarified. In regard to employees of the Zapata County Medical Clinic, it’s unclear exactly what the county can do to help. Last week, the non-profit clinic reduced the salaries of many of its 20 employees and cut health insurance altogether, citing financial difficulties. But the clinic’s employees do not work for the county.
According to the Commissioners Court agenda, former employees of the clinic want disVELA cussion regarding unpaid wages. While the Zapata Medical Group, which runs the clinic, has a contract with the county to provide indigent health care at the facility, paying the clinic’s employees is the responsibility of the group, not the county. The clinic also provides services for those with insurance and those who pay cash. Many of the clinic’s employees saw their salaries reduced to minimum wage, $7.25 per hour; for some, it
See COUNTY | PAGE 10A
RECREATION
Photos by Ricardo Segovia | The Zapata Times Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times
CAN YOU SPARE A LANE? LEAGUES ROLL STRIKES FOR MANY BOWLERS
B
owlers from Zapata County and beyond flock to Falcon Lanes, 2604 U.S. 83 North, for family-oriented recreation. The facility, which opened in April 2006 with 12 lanes, is sanctioned by the U.S. Bowling Congress. Participation in leagues
is a popular pasttime for many. ABOVE: Ricky Ramirez Jr. takes aim at pins on lane two for his Hawks team on a recent Saturday. BELOW: Ricky Ramirez Jr., left, and Amanda Garcia, holding ball, are members of a children’s league at Falcon Lanes.
Joey Zuniga fishes during last the 2nd Annual Whiskers and Tails Children Fishing Tournament at the Zapata Public Boat Ramp last Saturday morning.
Tourney reels in 200 kids By JULIETA CHIQUILLO THE ZAPATA TIMES
Sitting on a folding chair on the Falcon Lake shore, 11-year-old Eddie Hurtado reeled in the line in his fishing pole. It had become entangled with the line of another child. “No wonder!” he said. Eddie’s cousins, 11-yearold Monique Hurtado and 8-year-old Carlos Hurtado, also were sitting by the lake waiting for a tug on their lines.
‘Until they bite’ “You wait until they bite,” Monique said about the catfish the children were hoping to catch. The kids were enjoying the second annual Whiskers & Tails Kids Fishing Tournament at the Zapata County boat ramp, which proved to be a rousing success. About 200 children
showed up at Falcon Lake on Saturday, Aug. 1, for the event, nearly doubling the number who showed up for it last year.
Participating Children between ages 5 and 13 participated in the tournament at no charge. Fred Calderas, one of the event organizers, said children were divided in three age groups. The goal is for children to catch three fish, and the child in each group whose total catch is the heaviest wins a bicycle and a trophy. Other prizes included fishing rods, sleeping bags and water guns. “Everyone is going to walk away with a prize,” Calderas said, noting that several local sponsors contributed about $6,000 for the prizes. Last year, 113 children showed up for the tournament, Calderas said.