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HIGHER EDUCATION
COUNTY
LCC eyes outreach into county
Zoning awaits next move
By JOE RUTLAND THE ZAPATA TIMES
Laredo Community College’s Light Manufacturing Institute is looking to expand its outreach into Zapata County. “Zapata County is one of our NAAMREI consortium members and simply by that, yes, we will have a presence in Zapata,” said Saul Gonzalez Jr., LMI manufacturing training instructor, Thursday. “Maybe not right now, but when we launch our full program we will have classes available in Zapata.” Gonzalez said the LMI, part of LCC’s Economic Development Center, is looking forward to a full launch of its instructional program in 2010. He added a major part of working in Zapata will involve taking advantage of a new technology center opening there next week. In time, “We also will be able to hold classes in Hebbronville and Jim Hogg County, too,” Gonzalez said. So how do you rebuild a workforce in need? Gonzalez points toward training, teaching and re-training a current workforce. “We are on a three-year timeline,” he said, “and we just started our second year.” Gonzalez said the first year was devoted to outreach, finding and identifying manufacturers in the Laredo and Nuevo Laredo area. “We surveyed their immediate needs,” he said. Some of those Los Dos Laredos region manufacturing companies currently involved in LMI’s efforts include Rheem, Emerson and Branson. “Laredo’s manufacturing base is less than two percent,” Gonzalez said. “In the Rio Grande Valley, between 16-18 percent of
By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Falcon Lake Planning Commission has turned its recommendation for zoning regulations over to the Zapata Commissioners Court, and the court must now make the next move. Commissioners Court first formed the commission in 2007, to conduct a study on the need for regulations in Zapata County, and the county was recently granted the power to create zoning ordinances. “I think the Falcon Lake Plan-
ning commissioners knew that there was a need for zoning, but the commissioners wanted to be sure that they lent their ear to the community,” said Hector Uribe, attorney contracted to work with the commission. The planning commission conducted public hearings, held a workshop and considered the 2008 Vision Plan for Zapata County, which was coordinated by the Zapata County Economic Development Center, in developing its report. County Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela said the commis-
sion’s recommendations will help the court define “things that we need to do to make it more attractive and business ready for the Zapata area. “I feel that it’s something that’s important to our community, our county,” Vela said. “Other counties are lucky because they have incorporated cities within the county — we don’t.” A report submitted to the Commissioners Court at its August meeting recommended zoning regulations as described in the vision plan. However, the commission recommended that
the U.S. 83 hazardous truck bypass detailed in the plan merge south of the bridge crossing the Falcon Lake Reservoir. Also, the commission recommended streets that intersect the major arterial routes — U.S. 83 and Texas 16 — within the town core be extended or linked to permit vehicular access to local residential areas within the town of Zapata. Another recommendation was that the county link the downtown area to Falcon Lake with walking, biking and jogging
See ZONING | PAGE 10A
EXPANDING THE SPACE
See LCC | PAGE 10A
SCHOOLS
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Border Patrol agent and EMT A. de Luna, left, talks about the emergency equipment he carries in his vehicle with Zapata residents, from left, Josie Perez, Pepe torres, Fire Chief Juan J. Meza and Roel Perez on Thursday morning following the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the expansion of the Zapata Station.
New BP station addition will support 130 agents By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES
W Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Zapata County ISD personnel were putting the finishing touches Thursday on the new Arturo L. Benavides Elementary School in San Ygnacio.
College prep is next goal By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES
This year’s ZCISD theme is “cultivating hearts and minds” and ensuring students are prepared for college, said Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez. According to the Texas Education Agency, 22 percent of Zapata County Independent School District’s class of 2007 was considered college-ready. That’s 5 percentage points below the region average and 15 percentage points below the state average. To help improve college readiness, part of the school district’s initiative this year includes a dual-credit program with Laredo Community College, where qualified ZCISD students will be bussed twice a week to take basic courses. “We want students to graduate with a minimum of 18 college credit hours,” Rodriguez said Friday. “Ultimately, by 2013, that’s the
See COLLEGE | PAGE 10A
hen Ramiro Cerrillo was relocated to the Border Patrol’s Zapata Station about two and a half years ago, he joined a team consisting of about 15 agents, a mission support assistant and a couple supervisors. The team’s job was to cover 939 square miles of land and 61 square miles of water. Also, its operational boundaries extended along the border for a distance of about 75 miles. In all, the Zapata Station’s expansive area of responsibility proved tough to cover for a team of 15 agents. But because of the nationwide buildup of 6,000 additional Border Patrol agents, the number assigned to the Zapata Station has increased to more than 130. And not only has the number of agents increased, but the station continued to expand. Wednesday mor ning, the station, 105 Kennedy St., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony signifying the completion of a 5,200-square-foot trailer, which contains office space, a large meeting room, lockers rooms and a muchneeded gym, said Cerrillo, agent in charge. Joining Cerrillo at the event was District Attorney Isidro “Chilo” Alaniz, Zapata County Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela, Sheriff Sigifredo “Sigi” Gonzalez and members of the Chamber of Commerce. William Jenkins, Laredo Sector acting
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Zapata Chamber of Commerce representatives Celia Balderas and Sylvia Dodier look on as Bill Jenkins, acting deputy chief patrol agent for the Laredo Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, cuts the ribbon Thursday mornign for the expansion of the Zapata Station.Also in the photo are Webb/Zapata counties District Attorney Isidro “Chilo”Alaniz and Rick Mendez, deputy chief for the district attorney. deputy chief patrol agent, also attended and addressed the crowd. “This highlights another milestone in securing borders,” Jenkins said. “I always enjoy coming to Zapata. “Sometimes we don’t do it enough.” The $1.4 million structure, completed on time and within budget, was needed to facilitate the station’s growing roster of employees and agents. “It’s a critical need for us,” Cerrillo said. When Jenkins first came to Laredo in
1985 as a Border Patrol trainee at the South Station off U.S. 83., a Zapata Station did not exist. So, agents stationed in Laredo had to extend themselves outside their jurisdiction to cover places like San Ygnacio, Jenkins said. That ended on Oct. 1, 1990, when the Zapata Station opened at 2785 U.S. 83. On April 1, 2005, the station relocated to 105 Kennedy St. (Nick Georgiou may be reached at 7282582 or nickg@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 2A
Zin brief
CALENDAR
SATURDAY,AUGUST22,2009
TODAY IN HISTORY
AROUND THE NATION
SATURDAY,AUG.29
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Laredo Food for Thought Foundation, along with health students,will be conducting a food drive for local food banks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the H-E-B plus! parking lot, 1911 Bob Bullock Loop. Five donated nonperishable food items will get you a voucher that partially qualifies you to receive a ticket to listen to Sonia Nazario at the Laredo Civic Center on Sept. 24. Blood pressure and other health-related tests will be available free.We will also be distributing information on health, education, and the One City, One Book initiative. This year’s book is “Enrique’s Journey,” by Sonia Nazario. Nazario visited Laredo when she was writing the Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction book. At the same time, we are asking that you remember the hungry of Laredo and donate food.
SATURDAY,AUGUST 15
The Aztec District of Boy Scouts of America invites the public to participate in their first-ever Don Murphy Memorial Pinewood Derby Invitational. Registration and inspection of cars will take place on Friday, Aug. 14, at the Imaginarium. Limited spaces are available. For a complete schedule of events, contact the BSA Aztec Office at 7444499 or Toni Ruiz at 763-9325 for applications and further information. Texas A&M International University and the Laredo Public Library will be hosting the first book discussion for Sonia Nazario’s book, “Enrique’s Journey,” from 3 to 5 p.m. today in the TAMIU Great Room, third floor of the Killam Library. Nazario is this year’s One City, One Book author, and she will be visiting the city on Sept. 24. To get a ticket, to be held at the Laredo Civic Center, one must attend at least one book discussion or film screening and donate at least five nonperishable food items for local food banks. For more information, contact Pam Burrell at the Laredo Public Library at 795-2400, extension 2268.
THURSDAY,AUG.20
The Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center will be hosting a Pediatric Orthopedic Clinic for patients needing to consult with a specialist today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are interested in consulting with Dr. Earl Stanley, call Maribel Cruz at (956) 722-2431. The Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center will be hosting a Wheelchair Clinic today from 8 a.m to 1 p.m. If you are interested in consulting with Ken Healy, call Aurora Sanchez at 1-866-832-9770.
SATURDAY,AUG.22
There will be an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED class todayat 9 a.m.at 1200 Washington St.Call (956) 726-4778 to register. The class costs $55.The deadline to payis Aug.19.
Photo by The Ledger-Enquirer | AP
Former Army Lt.William Calley poses for a photo Wednesday at the Kiwanis Club in Columbus, Ga. where he spoke publicly for the first time about the infamous My Lai massacre in Vietnam in 1968.
Former US soldier apologizes for Vietnam massacre ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Georgia — Speaking in a soft, sometimes labored voice, the only U.S. Army officer convicted in the 1968 slayings of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai made an extraordinary public apology while speaking to a small group near the military base where he went on trial. William L. Calley has long shied away from publicity and routinely turned down journalists’ requests for interviews about My Lai. But he broke his long silence Wednesday after accepting a longtime friend’s invitation to speak at a meeting of a local community club. “There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai,” Calley told members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported Friday. “I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers
involved and their families. I am very sorry.” Calley, 66, was a young Army lieutenant when a court-martial, a military trial, at nearby Fort Benning convicted him of murder in 1971 for killing 22 civilians during the infamous massacre of 500 men, women and children in Vietnam. Frustrated U.S. troops came to My Lai on a “search and destroy” mission, looking for elusive Vietcong guerrillas. Although there were no reports of enemy fire, the U.S. troops began mowing down villagers and setting fire to their homes. The incident shocked Americans and undermined support for the war. Though sentenced to life in prison, Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest after President Richard Nixon later reduced his sentence. After his release, Calley stayed in Columbus and settled into a job at a jewelry store owned by his father-in-law before he moved to Atlanta a few years ago.
Schools families spar over service dogs
Bill threatens U.S. coast,Bermuda
Grasshoppers affecting ranchers
CHICAGO — Like seeing-eye dogs for the blind, trained dogs are now being used to help autistic children. But some schools want to keep the animals out, and families are fighting back. Two autistic elementary school students recently won court orders in Illinois allowing their dogs to accompany them to school. At issue is whether the dogs are “service dogs” or companions.
HAMILTON, Bermuda — The skies darkened ominously over Bermuda as Hurricane Bill approached Friday on a path to brush the Atlantic island with high surf and gusty winds while spreading dangerous waves and riptides along the eastern U.S. shore. The Category 2 storm’s maximum sustained winds lost a little strength Friday to near 110 mph from 125 mph late Thursday.
WASTA, S.D. — Grasshoppers are eating grass and other forage grown for livestock in such proportions that some U.S. ranchers are selling cattle because they won’t have feed for the animals this winter. Rancher Mark Tubbs plans to sell about a third of his cows this fall after putting up a sixth of the hay he usually does. He had been expecting a decent cutting — until the grasshoppers started chomping. — Compiled from AP reports
THURSDAY,AUG.27
Members of the J.W. Nixon Class of 1989 are invited to attend the Nixon-Martin game at the Student Activity Center, Loop 20 and Texas 359, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased through the Laredo Independent School District athletic department. For more information, e-mail Teri H. Ramos at jwnixon1989@yahoo.com. n The Monte Carlo, 6415 McPherson Road, will host a comedy show and dinner from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. benefiting Casa de Misericordia. Comedian Anand Chulani, who has written for “The Simpsons”and performs regularly at the Hollywood Comedy Store, will perform with his Laugh Out Loud Improv Troupe. Tickets are $75 and available at TalkTime and four IBC locations, including the mall. For more information, call 722-4690.
WEDNESDAY,SEPT.2
The USS Missouri (BB-63) Association is a nonprofit organization made up of sailors, marines, officers and midshipman that have served aboard this famous battleship. Shipmates that served aboard the battleship USS Missouri (BB63) will hold their annual reunion in Norfolk, Va. starting today, and lasting until Sept. 8.All veterans and interested parties, along with their familyand friends are invited.For more information,call Bill Morton,vice president of the association,at (803) 469-3579 or e-mail him at Mo63@ftc-i.net. Members of the J.W. Nixon Class of 1989 are invited to attend a reunion planning event at 6:30 p.m. today at Laredo Salsa’s, 9902 McPherson Road. For more information, e-mail Teri H. Ramos at jwnixon1989@yahoo.com. Also, prepayment for Nixon reunion events may be made out to jwnixon1989 and sent via check or money order to PO Box 430274, Laredo, TX 78043-274.
AROUND TEXAS Fans crowd stadium for first game ARLINGTON — Nearly two hours before kickoff of the Dallas Cowboys’ first game in their new nearly $1.2 billion stadium, Jon Thompson and his wife stood along the rail with an unobstructed view of the field. The lifelong Cowboys fan and his wife, Brittany, were on one of the plaza decks where they purchased $29 party passes. And they had no plans to give up their spots Friday night. Jimmy Larson and his buddies, who paid $60 to park about a mile away, stood nearby. They pondered whether to stay there instead of going way up to their seats in one of the stadium’s highest sections while sending pictures on their cell phones for others to see.
Dallas police using new photo lineups DALLAS — Frustrated with a string of wrongful convictions, the Dallas police department is now the nation’s largest force to use sequential blind photo lineups — a widely praised technique designed to reduce mistakes made by witnesses trying to identify suspects. Experts hope that by using it in the county that leads the nation in exonerating wrongly convicted inmates, Dallas will inspire other departments to follow suit. In sequential blind lineups, mug shots are shown one at a time. Detectives displaying the photos also don’t know who the suspect is.
Today is Saturday, Aug. 22nd, the 234th day of 2009. There are 131 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Aug. 22, 1485, England’s King Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, effectively ending the War of the Roses. Henry Tudor succeeded Richard to become King Henry VII. On this date: In 1787, inventor John Fitch demonstrated his steamboat on the Delaware River to delegates from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea, which remained under Japanese colonial rule until 1945. In 1922, Irish revolutionary Michael Collins was shot to death, apparently by Irish Republican Army members who were opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty that Collins had co-signed. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon were nominated for second terms in office by the Republican national convention in San Francisco. In 1959, the New York Philharmonic orchestra, led by conductor Leonard Bernstein, opened a concert tour of the Soviet Union with a program in Moscow featuring works by Samuel Barber, Mozart and Shostakovich. In 1968, Pope Paul VI arrived in Bogota, Colombia, for the start of the first papal visit to South America. In 1978, President Jomo Kenyatta, a leading figure in Kenya’s struggle for independence, died; Vice President Daniel arap Moi was sworn in as acting president. In 1989, Black Panthers cofounder Huey P. Newton was shot to death in Oakland, Calif. (Gunman Tyrone Robinson was later sentenced to 32 years to life in prison.) Ten years ago: Hurricane Bret rumbled ashore on the Texas Gulf Coast with winds of over 100 miles-an-hour. A China Airlines jet landing in stormy weather at Hong Kong’s new airport flipped over and burst into flames, killing three people and injuring more than 200. Five years ago: As shocked spectators watched, armed thieves stole one of four versions of the Edvard Munch masterpiece “The Scream” and a second Munch painting, “Madonna,” from the Munch museum in Oslo, Norway. One year ago: The U.S. carried out airstrikes in western Herat province in Afghanistan; according to a later U.S. estimate, the raid resulted in the deaths of 33 civilians and 22 militants. Usain Bolt helped Jamaica win the 400-meter relay final in 37.10 seconds for his third gold medal and third world record of the Beijing Olympics. Today’s Birthdays: Author Ray Bradbury is 89. Heart surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley is 89. Baseball Hallof-Famer Carl Yastrzemski is 70. Actress Valerie Harper is 69. Football coach Bill Parcells is 68. CBS newsman Steve Kroft is 64. Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor is 53. Country singer Holly Dunn is 52. Country singer Collin Raye is 49.Singer Tori Amos is 46. Country singer Mila Mason is 46. R&B musician James DeBarge is 46. International Tennis Hall of Famer Mats Wilander is 45. Rapper GZA is 43. Actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is 42. Rap-reggae singer Beenie Man is 36. Singer Howie Dorough (Backstreet Boys) is 36. Comedian-actress Kristen Wiig is 36. Actress Jenna Leigh Green is 35. Rock musician Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan) is 31. Actress Aya Sumika (TV: “Numb3rs”) is 29. Thought for Today: “Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.” — Claude Debussy, French composer (born this date in 1862, died 1918).
CONTACT US Photo by Donna McWilliam | AP
Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Carey DePasquale, center, dances on the sideline at Cowboys Stadium during a preseason NFL football game between the Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, on Friday, in Arlington, Texas.
Kennel owners face cruelty charges
Southwest Airlines to expand Wi-Fi
KAUFMAN — An East Texas couple has been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after a raid 10 days ago in which more than 500 puppies and about 12 cats were seized. Kaufman County sheriff ’s deputies arrested Margaret and James Boyd on Friday. That’s after investigators and Humane Society representatives raided the Klassie Kennel on Aug. 11. Investigators say some of the puppies from the kennel near Mabank were ill or dying. A Kaufman County Jail officer said James Boyd is free on bond, but Margaret Boyd remains in custody. If convicted, the Boyds could each be sentenced to up to a year in jail and fined up to $4,000.
DALLAS — Southwest Airlines Co. says it’s finished testing Wi-Fi Internet access on four aircraft and plans to expand the service to all its planes beginning early next year. The airline said Friday that the test has generated raves among passengers. Southwest said it would continue testing prices for the service through the end of the year. Dave Ridley, the discount carrier’s senior vice president of marketing, said the company is happy with the technical performance of the in-flight service and the response of customers. During the test, passengers have used the service for e-mail, streaming video and other content using laptop computers and smart phones. — Compiled from AP reports
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SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of Laredo Morning Times and those who buy LMT at newstands.The Zapata Times is inserted inside. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by 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. Highway 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2; Zapata, TX, 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes@att.net
The Zapata Times
PAGE 3A
Zlocal
SATURDAY,AUGUST22,2009
Food bank board notes Zapatans’ assistance By SALO OTERO SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Zapata residents got a pat on the back from the South Texas Food Bank board of directors. The recognition came at the monthly meeting of the South Texas Food Bank board, held at the Laredo Entertainment Center, one day before the food bank’s Empty Bowls fundraiser at the LEC. “Zapata came through big time,” food bank Board President Erasmo Villarreal said. Villarreal was referring to Zapatans who purchased tickets for table seats. They included the Joe Rathmell family, International Bank of Commerce-Zapata, Zapata National Bank and Adrian Martinez. Romeo Salinas, Zapata County treasurer and member of the South Texas Food Bank board, was instrumental in getting Zapata involved in Empty Bowls. The event featured a dinner honoring Laredo businessman and philanthropist Arturo N. Benavides Sr. for his contribution to the food bank’s Kids Cafés and a concert by 1970s and ‘80s Grammy Award-winning rock group America. There also was a silent auction of autographed and artwork bowls, including one signed by Zapata Tejano music group Intocable. Empty Bowls attracted almost 4,000 attendees, including 3,000-plus for the concert. The reason for the fundraiser was evident in the service figures presented at the August monthly meeting of the board.
“
The need is greater than ever, and because of the farm bill and Feeding America, we’re getting more food, which, in turn, helps a lot more people.” EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH TEXAS FOOD BANK ALFREDO CASTILLO
Alfredo Castillo, executive director of the South Texas Food Bank, reported that the food bank distributed 780,978 pounds of product in July, bringing the 2009 total to 4,832,688 pounds, a 20 percent increase over last year. “We’re on target to exceed 8 million pounds for the year. The need is greater than ever, and because of the farm bill and Feeding America, we’re getting more food, which, in turn, helps a lot more people,” Castillo said. The food bank served 20,921 families in June, including 20,069 children, 33,328 adults and 53,972 meals. The programs include 785 families served in Adopt-AFamily, but with 705 on the waiting list; 6,336 in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (elderly), with 918 on the waiting list; and 15,926 meals served at 12 Kids Cafés. Also, the food bank signed up 551 families via food stamp outreach in July. It brings the 2009 food stamp outreach to 2,418 applications this year, assisting 3,306 adults and 3,147 chil-
dren. “That’s $2 million worth of food product bought in the community,” Castillo noted. The South Texas Food Bank serves Zapata at five pantries. They are: Helping Hands, 8th and Del Mar Boulevard, 765-9327. Boys and Girls Club, 6th and Lincoln, 765-3892. Concilio el Buen Pastor, Hawk Street and Falcon Meza, 765-1300. Iglesia Pentecostes Emmanuel, 302 East Highway 16, 765-5440. Shepherd’s Pantry, 305 Hawk St., 765-0123. “We’re hoping Zapatans continue to support the food bank’s mission of feeding the hungry. Laredo and Zapata have always had close ties and this crucial issue of hunger brings us even closer together. It’s people helping people and feeling good about it,” Castillo said. The food bank can be reached at (956) 726-3120, on the Web site www.southtexasfoodbank.org or by mail, PO Box 2007, Laredo, 78044. (Salo Otero is director of development for the South Texas Food Bank)
back of the store Wednesday Unknown subjects gained around 9:35 a.m. A man reported two bicycles entry to a complainant’s residence through the restroom window stolen from his home Sunday Wednesday between 11:23 p.m.and around 8:35 a.m. A woman left her wallet in a Thursday around midnight. Subjects stole a wristwatch from com- shopping cart of Super S Foods and plainant’s room. Complainant sus- an unknown individual took it. The pects her juvenile son of being the incident occurred Monday between 12:10 p.m. and 1:06 p.m. on U.S. 83 person responsible. and 10th Street.
BURGLARY OF HABITATION
SEXUALASSAULT CHILD
ASSAULT BYTHREAT
Courtesy photo
Members of the Zapata community celebrated The Zapata Times’ first anniversary. From left, Judge Rosalva Guerra, Julieta Martinez Guerra, Dora Martinez, Rosalinda Palacios and Mary Palacios.
Two arrested on conduct charges By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Two Zapata men were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct Monday morning. According to the Sheriff ’s Department, Jose Carlos Ramirez, 19, and Roberto Nuñez, 19, dragged two trashcans around a Zapata neighborhood and dropped them off close to the 25th Avenue and Hidalgo Boulevard intersection at around 2 a.m. Monday.
THE ZAPATA TIMES
day around 6 p.m. Subjects caused damage to the driver-side door key holes. The incident occurred outside the Border Patrol station, 1st Avenue and Kennedy Street.
DISODERLY CONDUCT/ ASSAULT Alice Medina, 21, and Irene Sonia Sanchez, 23, were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct/assault in the 1600 block of Kennedy Street on Aug. 15 around 2:52 a.m. Both were charged with disorderly conduct and transported to the Zapata County Jail.
Osiel Peña Sanchez, 42, was arrested for threatening a complainant Tuesday around 10 p.m. in the 2000 block of Redwood Street. Peña Sanchez was THEFT ACCIDENT A man reported Wednesday charged with assault by threat A vehicle was reversing and around 11:12 a.m. his trash can was and transported to the Zapata Rehit another vehicle in the parking lot stolen from his residence by un- gional Jail. of a Stripes convenience store loknown subjects . CRIMINAL MISCHIEF cated on the 100 block of U.S. 83. An employee of Pepe’s Exxon Unknown subjects attempt- The incident occurred Aug. 15 on U.S. 83 in San Ygnacio reported a trash trailer was missing from the ed to break into two vehicles Mon- around 11:32 p.m.
They were transported to the Zapata Regional Jail, according to Sheriff ’s Department Captain Aaron Sanchez. The Sheriff ’s Department received a call about unknown subjects dragging trashcans from homes and dropping them a block away earlier in the night. Sanchez said Ramirez and Nuñez were probably trying to confuse residents. A deputy was patrolling the area on 25th Avenue and Hidalgo Boulevard when he
Gun incident under investigation By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ
THE BLOTTER
Wednesday around 10:36 p.m., a female made an outcry to her mother about an incident that happened eight months ago.
FIRSTANNIVERSARY
The Zapata County Sheriff ’s Department is still investigating an incident where two men pulled a gun on another man Aug. 10 around 1 p.m. The suspects are 17 years old. According to Sheriff ’s Department Capt. Aaron Sanchez, a 2004 black Jaguar drove to the victim’s residence while the victim was sitting inside his truck, parked outside his residence. He said one of the men tried to pick a fight with the victim,
who kept ignoring them. The victim told the offender he did not want problems and told him to leave, according to Sanchez. A second offender got out of the Jaguar and suddenly pulled a silver black revolver at victim, Sanchez said. “They verbally threaten his life and left the area,” Sanchez said. The two men are at large. Warrants have been issued for deadly conduct and terroristic threat for two suspects, Sanchez said. The Zapata Sheriff ’s Department is investigating.
Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.
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saw a truck in the 2300 block of Hidalgo Boulevard that was dragging a trashcan, Sanchez said. Nuñez was driving the truck while Ramirez dragged a trashcan from the passenger side, Sanchez said. Asked about the incident, Nuñez and Ramirez responded they were trying to drag the trashcan for a friend who lived a block away, Sanchez said. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonlime.com)
NOTE Dora Martinez’s column will resume next week.
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Zopinion
SATURDAY,AUGUST 22,2009
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
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OTHER VIEWS
Vick must show sincerity SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS
M
ichael Vick did his time. Having served a 20-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction, he paid his debt to society. Now he’s just like everyone else, his supporters will be tempted to say. He deserves the second chance the Philadelphia Eagles have given to him. Yes, Vick does deserve a second chance. But no, he’s not just like everyone else. As a high-profile and highly compensated player in what may be the most lucrative professional sports league in the world, Vick is more than a public figure. He’s also a role model, whether he chooses to be or not. What the Pro Bowl quarterback says and does has an impact on millions of fans — young, impressionable fans. The horrific details of his dogfighting days can’t simply be dismissed as a closed chapter. To his credit, Vick does not seem to be treating it that
way. In a mea culpa on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Vick appeared sincere in accepting blame and expressing disgust for his own actions. More than that, he has pledged to use his celebrity status to work with the Humane Society of the United States to reach young, impressionable fans with a message about the evils of dogfighting. Vick grew up steeped in the dogfighting culture. Now he’s in a position to help end it. Vick’s rehabilitation is a work in progress. Until his pledge is translated into action, there’s ample reason to be skeptical. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Eagle’s owner Jeff Lurie ought to be the chief skeptics. There’s also reason to hope, however, that Vick can redeem himself to a skeptical public. That would be good for him and good for the dogs that would be saved from the abuse of dogfighting.
EDITORIAL
Country needs to take better care of troops SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS
COLUMN
Let’s set priorities for schools, health By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE
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t a time when we Americans may abandon health care reform because it supposedly is “too expensive,” how is it that we can afford to imprison people like Curtis Wilkerson? Wilkerson is serving a life sentence in California — for stealing a $2.50 pair of socks. As The Economist noted recently, he already had two offenses on his record (both for abetting robbery at age 19), and so the “three strikes” law resulted in a life sentence. This is unjust, of course. But considering that California spends almost $49,000 annually per prison inmate, it’s also an extraordinary waste of money. Astonishingly, many politicians seem to think that we should lead the world in prisons, not in health care or education. The United States is anomalous among industrialized countries in the high proportion of people we incarcerate; likewise, we stand out in the high proportion of people who have no medical care — and partly as a result, our health care outcomes such as life expectancy and infant mortality are unusually poor. It’s time for a fundamental re-evaluation of the criminal justice system, as legislation sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb has called for, so that we’re no longer squandering money that would be far better spent on education or health. Consider a few facts: The United States incarcerates people at nearly five times the world average. Of those sentenced to state prisons, 82 percent were convicted of nonviolent crimes, according to one study. California spends $216,000 annually on each inmate in the juvenile justice system. In contrast, it spends only $8,000 on each child attending the troubled Oakland public school system, according to the Urban Strategies Council. For most of American history, we had incarceration rates similar to those in other countries. Then with the “war on drugs” and the focus on law and order in the 1970s, incarceration rates soared. One in 10 black men ages 25 to 29 were imprisoned last year, partly because possession of crack cocaine (disproportionately
used in black communities) draws sentences equivalent to having 100 times as much powder cocaine. Black men in the United States have a 32 percent chance of serving time in prison at some point in their lives, according to the Sentencing Project. Look, there’s no doubt that many people in prison are cold-blooded monsters who deserve to be there. But overall, in a time of limited resources, we’re overinvesting in prisons and underinvesting in schools. Indeed, education spending may reduce the need for incarceration. The evidence on this isn’t conclusive, but it’s noteworthy that graduates of the Perry Preschool program in Michigan, an intensive effort for disadvantaged children in the 1960s, were some 40 percent less likely to be arrested than those in a control group. Above all, it’s time for a rethink of our drug policy. The point is not to surrender to narcotics, but to learn from our approach to both tobacco and alcohol. Over time, we have developed public health strategies that have been quite successful in reducing the harm from smoking and drinking. If we want to try a public health approach to drugs, we could learn from Portugal. In 2001, it decriminalized the possession of all drugs for personal use. Ordinary drug users can still be required to participate in a treatment program, but they are no longer dispatched to jail. “Decriminalization has had no adverse effect on drug usage rates in Portugal,” notes a report this year from the Cato Institute. It notes that drug use appears to be lower in Portugal than in most other European countries, and that Portuguese public opinion is strongly behind this approach. A new U.N. study, World Drug Report 2009, commends the Portuguese experiment and urges countries to continue to pursue traffickers while largely avoiding imprisoning users. Instead, it suggests that users, particularly addicts, should get treatment. Webb has introduced legislation that would create a national commission to investigate criminal justice issues — for such a commission may be the best way to depoliticize the issue and give feckless politicians the cover they need to institute changes.
T
he suicide rate among Army personnel is rising at an alarming pace. According to Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric B. Schoomaker, the Army’s surgeon general, the suicide rate has nearly doubled in the last five or six years, the Express-News reported. Through the first seven months of 2009, 141 activeduty and reserve soldiers had committed suicide. During all of 2008, there were 140 confirmed suicides. Why are Army suicides rising? No one yet knows with certainty. The Army and the National Institute of Mental Health have launched a fiveyear study of the problem.
It doesn’t require a scientific study, however, to know that repeated deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq over nearly eight years are taking a high toll on military personnel and their families. Most Americans have carried on since 2001 as though the nation were not at war. But the community of active-duty and reserve military personnel that constitutes about 1 percent of the U.S. population has been engaged in two wars. The stress and horrors of war are always terrible. Many soldiers have served five and six tours in the war zone, some as long as 15 months. The constant interruptions of normal life damage relationships and squeeze finances, adding to the stress.
The Army recognizes the problem and has taken steps to address it — more post-deployment screenings, more counseling and transition programs, more emphasis on reducing strain when soldiers are at their home station. And it has partnered with civilian organizations such as United Way and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to provide services for military personnel and their families. Those measures address symptoms. The underlying problem is too few men and women being asked to do too much. The Obama administration requested that Congress reprogram $1 billion from the current military appropria-
tion to recruit and train an additional 15,000 soldiers. That’s part of a two-year plan of Defense Secretary Robert Gates to increase troop strength. That increase is long overdue. A nation cannot fight wars on the cheap. That means creating defense budgets that buy the equipment and weapons our personnel need instead of wasting it on frivolous military pork-barrel spending. More fundamentally, it means an obligation to invest in those personnel and ensure that their patriotic commitment to serve doesn’t become an intolerable burden. It shouldn’t require a suicide crisis in the Army to make our nation’s civilian political leaders aware of that obligation.
COLUMN
‘Dancing’ next stop for politicians By GAIL COLLINS NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE
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lthough this has certainly been a tough August on many counts, it is important to remember the little moments of pure joy. One of which was hearing the news that Tom DeLay is going to be a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars.” I know. It takes very little to make some people happy. Reality TV plus politics — this could be the start of something big. Right now in Congress we have six senators who are supposed to be coming up with a health care plan, and all we’ve got is conference calls and gridlock. What if we locked them in a house together and made them compete every day for valuable prizes? Don’t miss the final episode, where the winner gets to decide whether or not there’s a public option. DeLay’s entry into the world of competitive TV dancing is also the answer to two critical problems facing the American economy. One is a serious celebrity shortage. This is something I really didn’t see coming. But the proliferation of low-cost reality shows on television has drained the nation’s hitherto-robust supply of
slightly famous people to the point that last year’s “Celebrity Apprentice” featured a woman whose claim to fame was opening briefcases on “Deal or No Deal.” It’s understandable that the producers of, say, “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” might have to make certain compromises in their quest to find people who are willing to go on camera during cocaine withdrawal. But under normal circumstances, when I hear the word “celebrity” on television, I am expecting to see at minimum the co-star of a canceled situation comedy or a lesser Baldwin brother. Yet on the new lineup for “Dancing With the Stars,” the alleged stars include a professional snowboarder and the son of George Hamilton. Entertainment industry, you can do better. Eliot Spitzer seems to have time on his hands, and I’m sure Mark Sanford will be available soon. Then we’ll be ready for “The Boys of Prayer House,” in which the philandering congressmen who used to hold Bible study classes in that C Street row house hold a reunion, and vie to see who can achieve spiritual rebirth while hanging from a pole in a backyard endurance test.
Turn enough disgraced politicians into reality show contestants and you also solve the looming crisis over what to do with the nation’s large supply of repudiated elected officials. This is a serious matter. Within the next year I’ll bet you that in New York alone, we will have enough state senators under indictment to fill a small stadium, and none of them have any marketable job skills whatsoever. As I see it, it’s going to be “Wipeout” or food stamps. DeLay, you may remember, had to quit his job as majority leader when he was charged with conspiring to violate campaign finance laws. He does not seem interested in returning to his former career as a bug exterminator, and he refers to himself as “president of a strategic political consulting firm,” a Washington synonym for semi-employed. But I understand he is a really nifty dancer. DeLay first entered the “Dancing With the Stars” culture back in 2006, when he urged fans to wipe out the evil that was a fox-trotting Jerry Springer and vote for the country singer Sara Evans as a representative of “good American values.” This was shortly before
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
Evans quit the show in order to devote more time to her new divorce suit against her husband, a former Republican congressional candidate who she claimed cheated on her, drank excessively and watched porn in the family home. Evans has since found happiness with a former University of Alabama quarterback. But this does bring us to an important tip: When citing someone as a potential role model, always keep your commendations narrow. “Sara Evans’s last album is an example of good American values.” “John Edwards’ comment about poverty on Dec. 10, 2005, is an example of good American values.” “Rod Blagojevich’s hair is an example of good American barbering.” We are bringing up the former governor of Illinois because of his pioneering role in the melding of disgraced politicians and reality television. Unfortunately, Blagojevich’s attempt to compete on “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here” was quashed by an unsympathetic judge who apparently did not appreciate the fact that the man was only a half-step away from making a living as an Elvis impersonator.
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Zlifestyle
SATURDAY,AUGUST22,2009
ADVICE
Tread carefully asking married man for help
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Flamenco dancers and musicians include, from left, Illeana Gomez, Alejandro Pais Iriart, Carlos “Curly” Castillo and Bianca Rodriguez-Aker.
OLD-WORLD ART Flamenco a dueling dance By KIRSTEN CROW LAREDO MORNING TIMES
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potent mix of power and sensuality, coordination and assertion, dueling and dancing, flamenco in the hands of La Juerga is a complex, emotive experience. As the music of the guitar and cajón builds from the first tentative, clear notes and palm thumps to a more confident, rapid wash of audio-fencing, the dancers contribute their own percussion with their hands and feet before taking to the floor with sharp-hipped and serpentine arm movements, punctuated by twirls and hard-striking heels in their precise maneuvers. The musicians’ hands and body language, as much as the music they produce, is as large a part of the performance as the dancers’ movements — as is the traditional singing that accompanies its artistic counterparts. While the dancers and musicians perform in the ambiance of Gallery 201, the lights from above cast shadows, obscurely reflecting the movements of the dancers against the stone walls and floor. It’s a tribute to an ancient art. And for the dancers, Bianca Aker-Rodriguez and Illeana Gomez, who recently performed for the first time in the Gateway City, it’s a tribute to their hometown and heritage.
A moment in time For Rodriguez and Gomez, both born and raised in Laredo but now living and training in Albuquerque, N.M., flamenco really has more in common with im-
provisational jazz than with other popular Spanish dance forms as, say, salsa or the tango. It’s a common misconception, explained Rodriguez. “They say less rehearsal makes a better show,” she mused. “It’s a lot of collaboration. …there’s a relationship between the dancers and musicians and the audience.” Indeed, as the musicians — this week, it’s Alejandro Pais Iriart on guitar and Carlos “Curly” Castillo on the cajón — begin their own flow of rhythm, the dancers do appear to be tacitly communicating with them. The old-world art combining the gypsy, Moroccan, Jewish and Spanish cultures in a spectacular collision, said Illeana Gomez, referring to the improvisation as its “purest form.” “That moment in time will never happen again,” she said. “It can’t be duplicated.” Gomez, who has been studying dance since she was child, is drawn to the complexity of flamenco, she noted. “I feel very connected to it,” she said. “It calls me to it. … there’s always something to learn — the music, the rhythm, it builds and builds, and then there’s a release.” As for Rodriguez, she is particularly attracted to the outpouring of emotion during the dance. “Since there are several types of dances, it can be performed happy or joyful, while others are more internal or convey some kind of struggle,” she said. “I definitely love the fun ones. The others — it’s sometimes harder to go there.”
A difficult dance Both women started training in Laredo with some of the city’s best known dance instructors — Rodriguez with Mina Gutierrez, and later Cristina Greco, and Gomez with Alta Gracia Azios Garcia, and later with Mina Gutierrez. They both moved on to Albuquerque to continue their studies. Learning its form requires intense training — a bulk of which involves harnessing rhythm, Rodriguez said. “That’s what dancers struggle with,” she said. “In case they don’t have musicians — sometimes it’s just people clapping and dancing. They try to sing as well … It can be very formal or very spontaneous.” A graduate of the University of New Mexico with a degree in flamenco, Rodriguez is continuing her training at the National Institute of Flamenco Conservatory under the tutelage of Joaquin Ensinias, while also performing with Yjastros, a flamenco repertory. In the meantime, she’s hoping to one day travel to study in Spain. She is also pursuing a certification in teaching yoga, another old art that she says enables her to dance flamenco better. “Flamenco is very harsh,” she said. “There’s a lot of stomping and twisting your body … (learning yoga is) cross-training.” As for Gomez, following a six-month sojourn to Spain to learn from the teachings of flamenco artists such as Maria Juncal and Carmela Greco and absorb the “aire,” she is now pursuing a master’s degree at the Universi-
ty of New Mexico — and like Rodriguez, she also dances with Yjastros, giving the women a link from both their pasts and their present. And for now, that also means coming home and giving Laredo a taste of what they’ve absorbed in their travel and training, bestowing their artistic gifts on the community that raised them. (Kirsten Crow may be reached at 728-2543 or by e-mail at kirsten@lmtonline.com)
DEAR MISS MANNERS — I have been friends with a fellow for several years, even before he was married. My husband and I have recently divorced, and I now find myself in need of guy help on occasion. Is it proper for me to contact him directly to ask his help, or do I need to contact his wife? We have not been really close since his marriage, and so I do not know the wife very well. GENTLE READER — Nor are you likely to using the tactics you suggest. Miss Manners has always considered it outrageous that divorcees are often automatically assumed to be predators. And she is not suspicious of every friendship between ladies and gentlemen. But do you seriously imagine that the following is a reasonable scenario? Husband: I’ll be out this afternoon — an old friend needs my help. Wife: Really, dear, who’s that? Husband: Prudence Priestly. You don’t know her — I haven’t really seen her since we were married. Wife: And she’s inviting us over? Husband: No, just me. She just got divorced and wants me to go over occasionally. She didn’t exactly say what for, but she said guy things. Wife: Oh, sure. Have fun. Miss Manners rather doubts it. If you want to resume your friendship with the husband, you make friends with the wife. But it has to become a very warm
“
JUDITH MARTIN Miss Manners
and reciprocal friendship before you ask anyone to do your chores when he should probably be doing his own. DEAR MISS MANNERS — My friend and I scored some tickets off eBay for the Michael Jackson Memorial Concert. It cost a lot of money, but we heard it was THE place to be. Two etiquette issues came up, and we hope you’ll resolve them. We liked the first performance a lot, and started clapping. Then my friend started yelling, “Encore!” Now personally, I didn’t think it was proper to do this at a memorial service. Who knows if the singer even had time to prepare a second song? But later, a guy came out who was obviously just phoning it in. I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy was lip-syncing. So I started boo-ing. I paid good money for this and felt I deserved better. Now my friend shushed me, saying it wasn’t polite to boo at a memorial service. I think she was just trying to get even with me for earlier. GENTLE READER — Some manners debate that was. You shushed her for yelling for an encore, which you think she resented, and then you yelled boos and resented her shushing you.
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Zentertainment
A big brawler TNA’s Hernandez represents his Latino roots in wrestling By JOE RUTLAND LAREDO MORNING TIMES
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ernandez knows wrestling … at least when it comes to sticking up for fans in South Texas and Mexico. And he’ll be there, proudly defending his fans as part of TNA Wrestling’s big card at the Laredo Entertainment Center, starting at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Other Total Nonstop Action wrestlers scheduled to appear include “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles, Scott Steiner, Samoa Joe and Booker T.
A dream Hernandez spent a few years wrestling in Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Reynosa, so he brings a proud Hispanic heritage and b a c k ground into his matches. As a young
kid growing up near Houston, Shawn Hernandez really wanted to be a pro wrestler. He was influenced by seeing matches in person or on TV run by longtime Houston promoter Paul Boesch. But his father, a career military man, didn’t feel the same way. “Up until 6 years old, I wanted to convince my parents that I wanted to go into pro wrestling,” Hernandez said. “Dad joined the Army when he was 15 and did 30 years in there, so his deal was that he wanted his kids to get an education first.” Hernandez followed Dad’s orders. He attended Kingwood High School, then went on to Kilgore Junior College and played football at Texas A&I-Kingsville, now Texas A&M-Kingsville. From there, Hernandez, who currently lives in Spring north of Houston, went into the Arena Football League and played as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Texas Thunder (based in Houston) in 1995-96. But after his AFL career ended, Hernandez felt he still had something athletically to offer people.
Into the ring Hello, pro wrestling. Hernandez first trained in Houston, then officially entered the business in 1999. One of the more interesting parts of Hernandez’s career has been his six wrestling tours in Japan. “It’s a very different experience because you go into the arena and they (fans) are dead silent,” he said. “They treat it like a sport, like they are actually
studying it. It’s way different from the American style of pro wrestling.” Between 2003-05, Hernandez wrestled in Mexico in the lucha-style which is beloved in the country. In 2006, he joined Orlando, Fla.-based TNA. At first, Hernandez was part of “The Latin American Exchange” made up of three wrestlers. Recently, he’s been out of action because of neck surgery performed last April 30. Hernandez was supposed to be out of action 6-8 months; he rejoined TNA in July. Hernandez hasn’t lost touch with his Texas roots at all. He’s part-owner of Reinagel Championship Wrestling (formerly River City Wrestling), a small promotion in San Antonio that puts on cards twice a month. Hernandez said he’s been a part of it since 2005. “I’m getting a chance to be a role model and hero for Hispanic kids,” he said. “There’s never been a Hispanic world heavyweight champion.”
A nonstop career What’s the life of a pro wrestler like? Consider Hernandez’s story about last weekend. “So I wrestled Saturday night in San Antonio for River City. I took a quick shower, hopped in a car, drove to Houston and caught a flight back to Orlando for Sunday night’s pay-per-view,” he said. Hernandez scored a quick victory Sunday. Now he’s setting his sights on Laredo and his match with Eric Young, who represents Canada and spends most of his time running down the United States. Hernandez said he’s not putting up with any of it Saturday night. “I’m pretty sure he won’t have many nice things to say about Mexican-Americans down in Laredo,” Hernandez said, “so this Mexican-American is coming down there to set him straight.”
SATURDAY,AUGUST22,2009
‘Man of La Mancha’ auditions continue SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Laredo Theater Guild is excited to announce upcoming auditions for “Man of La Mancha,” the thrilling Broadway musical depicting the iconic Spanish characters Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and featuring the beloved song classic, “The Impossible Dream.” This debut production of Laredo Theater Guild’s launch season at Texas A&M International University will formally inaugurate TAMIU’s newly completed 500-seat theater within its Center for the Fine and Performing Arts with a gala premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, and will continues its run through Sunday, Oct. 18.
The production will feature American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni, Joe Arciniega, in the dual role of Don Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quixote, and Raul C. Staggs in the role of Sancho Panza, his faithful sidekick, reuniting in roles they played together prior to leaving for Los Angeles in the late 1970s. Staggs has since repeated his role in a production in Hollywood, where he currently resides and is an actor and casting director. All other roles for this very special reunion revival are open for auditioners at the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Band Hall on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 27 and 28, also from 7 to 10 p.m.
‘500 Days of Summer’ a clever spin on classic boy-meets-girl By CHRISTY LEMIRE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy tries to win girl back: It’s a tale you’ve heard a million times before. But it’s told in such a relatable, inventive way in “500 Days of Summer,” it almost feels like the first time. It is the first time for director Marc Webb, who puts his music video and commercial background to good use with stylish tactics that are lively — a cheeky dance sequence, perfect song choices, a clever use of split screen — but never feel gratuitous. And the script from Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber keeps things moving by jumping back and forth in time between Day 500, Day 1 and everywhere in between; the structure also creates a feeling of curiosity throughout, because we know this relationship is doomed, we just don’t know how it falls apart. We watch it all unfold with bemusement and dread through the lovelorn eyes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tom Hansen, a would-be architect
Photos by Chuck Zlotnick/Fox Searchlight | AP
In this film publicity still released by Fox Searchlight, Joseph GordonLevitt, left, and Zooey Deschanel are shown in a scene from “500 Days of Summer.” toiling away at a greeting card company. (So maybe it’s a bit convenient that Tom, who has immature, idealistic notions about love, should make his living writing facile platitudes on the subject. Surely an education is in store for him.) Tom thinks he’s found the perfect woman in Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), his boss’ beautiful new assistant
who’s just arrived in Los Angeles. One look at those big, blue eyes and he’s instantly smitten; this is the lovely Deschanel, after all, so who could blame him? Her alluring, mysterious presence is just the right fit here. “500 Days of Summer,” a Fox Searchlight release, is rated PG-13 for sexual material and language. It is playing at Cinemark Mall Del Norte.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2009
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 7A
Johnson to display his ‘Views’ at LCC SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
As a professional photographer, Mark Johnson has a special talent for making the ordinary into something unordinary. Johnson, who teaches art at Laredo Community College, will present a collection of recent photographs as part of a new art exhibition opening Monday, Aug. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Yeary Library on LCC’s Fort McIntosh Campus. The reception, which will include refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artist and view his work, is free and open to the campus body and the public. The exhibit will feature six to eight photographs, ranging in size from 16-by-20 inches to 12-by-18 inches. The photos were produced by Johnson within the last three years. Johnson said that his photographs highlight his “particular vision of a time and place that is part of an always changing landscape.” “I like my photographs to provoke a sense of wonder and give the feeling of looking at a view that has not been seen before,” he added. Johnson, whose works have been featured in art shows and exhibitions since 1989, began his career in photography with black and white film and the traditional tools — lenses, light and paper selections — to produce the final print. As the digital revolution emerged and began making an impact on the field of photography, Johnson joined in by exploring its unlimited wonders through the use of digital cameras and Adobe Photoshop software to digitally distort images and created photographic collages. After spending some time creating images through this modern-day process, Johnson has returned to producing traditional nonaltered photographs with a technological twist.
Photo by Francois Duhamel/The Weinstein Co. | AP
In this film publicity image released by The Weinstein Co., Brad Pitt, right and Eli Roth are shown in a scene from “Inglourious Basterds.”
‘Inglourious Basterds’ has its glorious moments By CHRISTY LEMIRE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Courtesy photo
“Cactus Flower” will be among the selection of photographs by LCC art instructor and professional artist Mark Johnson that will be on display at Laredo Community College’s Yeary Library, beginning on Monday, Aug. 24. “With the use of a digital camera, the technology has changed,” Johnson said. “But with the careful selection of light, angles and placement, I capture common objects and landscapes in my unique perspective.” At LCC, Johnson is an instructor of photography, digital photography and digital art. He has taught at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. His experience as a photographer includes stints working in the sports information departments of the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Texas at Arlington. He also has served as a
photographer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Fort Worth. Johnson’s photographs have been featured in many exhibitions throughout the country, including Texas, Florida, Ohio, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, New Mexico and Louisiana, as well as internationally in Cuba and England. The “Views” exhibit at the LCC library will be on display through Sunday, Sept. 10. It may be viewed Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact LCC librarian Bill Wisner at 721-5281.
LOS ANGELES — If only Quentin Tarantino the director weren’t so completely in love with Quentin Tarantino the writer, “Inglourious Basterds” might have been a great movie rather than just a good movie with moments of greatness. Everything that’s thrilling and maddening about his films co-exists and co-mingles here: the visual dexterity and the interminable dialogue, the homage to cinema and the self-glorifying drive to redefine it, the compelling bursts of energy and the numbingly draggy sections. And then there is the violence, of course: violence as a source of humor, as sport, violence merely because it looks cool on camera, and because the 46-year-old Tarantino still has the sensibilities of a 12-year-old boy. “Inglourious Basterds” also reflects the discipline, or lack thereof, of an adolescent — one who’s never been told “no.” Certain scenes of his wildly revisionist World War II saga have a wonderfully pal-
pable tension, but then he undermines them by allowing them to go on too long. You expect talkiness in a Tarantino film, but rather than whisking you away in waves of poetry, as he did with the Oscar-winning “Pulp Fiction” screenplay he co-wrote, too often here his talk lacks snap. As for the plot ... well, it might be in there somewhere among the many meandering threads. In one of them, “Inglourious Basterds” follows a band of Jewish American soldiers, led by twangy Tennessean Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), who hunt Nazis with the goal of not just killing them but scalping them and sometimes carving swastikas into their foreheads. Pitt is a hoot, by the way, in the tradition of his best comic supporting work in films like “Snatch” and “Burn After Reading.” He’s pretty much doing a bad impression of George W. Bush — campy but irresistible — and it is always such a joy to watch him let go and goof off. Among his “Dirty Dozen”style crew are “Hostel” director Eli Roth as a Boston native who likes to take a
baseball bat to the enemy’s skull as if he were Ted Williams facing a fastball. But Pitt isn’t the star, despite being the biggest name and marketing focal point. “Inglourious Basterds” also intertwines the stories of Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent in a subtle and intense performance), a young Jewish woman who fled to Paris and opened a movie theater after Nazis killed her family; Hans Landa (a commanding Christoph Waltz), the cool but cruelly conniving Nazi colonel who orchestrated that attack; German movie star Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger, oozing old-school glamour), who’s an undercover agent for the Brits; and Nazi war hero Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Bruhl), who’s about to become a star by playing himself in a propaganda flick about his exploits. “Inglourious Basterds,” a Weinstein Co. and Universal Pictures release, is rated R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality. It is playing at Cinemark Mall Del Norte and Hollywood Theaters.
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Zfrontera
Entregan libros de texto gratuitos ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Tamaulipas.- El Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas, a través de la Secretaría de Educación en Tamaulipas, distribuyó más de 8 millones de ejemplares de libros de textos gratuitos para el próximo ciclo escolar 2009-2010. El último día de entrega fue el viernes, informó José Manuel Assad Montelongo, Secretario de Educación. Expresó que el objetivo del programa de distribución es entregar los libros de texto que se requieren cada zona escolar de los niveles educativos de inicial, especial, preescolar, primaria y telesecundaria en el domicilio oficial del área urbana. Así mismo, también se entregarán libros de texto a los centros escolares de educación primaria en las comunidades rurales participantes del programa “Escuela por Escuela” y a las secundarias oficiales, esto antes del inicio del ciclo escolar. “El objetivo central del programa es garantizar la entrega oportuna y suficiente de libros de texto gratuitos, de tal forma que el gobierno del Ing. Eugenio Hernández Flores, cumple su compromiso para con la sociedad tamaulipeca mejorando los programas que favorecen la equidad y justicia entre los sectores apoyando la distribución de libros de texto gratuitos”. Destacó que uno de los programas estatales más importantes, es el Programa de Inglés en la Escuela Primaria, en el cual se imparte esta asignatura para los alumnos de primero a sexto grado por lo que se les entregará libro y cuaderno de trabajo junto a su paquete de libros de texto el primer día de clases, contribuyendo fundamentalmente en su desarrollo y formación.
Pérez: Se trabajó por la región ribereña POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
MIGUEL ALEMÁN. TAMPS- Elodia Pérez Moreno, diputada federal suplente, gestora en el 1er. Distrito Electoral y representante del diputado del PRI Horacio Garza Garza, dijo que hay mucho que hacer por la región. A unos días de concluir el periodo constitucional legislativo, muestra su satisfacción de haber cumplido con el encargo oficial. Garza Garza dejó de viajar a esta región después del atentado perpetrado el 18 de febrero de 2007. El atentado ocurrió sobre el kilómetro 10 de la carretera hacia el aeropuer-
Centros de acopio del DIF: Oficinas del DIF Nuevo Laredo, Maclovio Herrera 2244, Sector Centro. Albergue MECED, Maclovio Herrera y Jesús Carranza. Casa Hogar “Mi Casa DIF”, Maclovio Herrera y Jesús Carranza.
resentación en la región. “Estoy agradecida por la oportunidad de representar al Diputdo Garza en los cinco municipios”, dijo Pérez PÉREZ Moreno. “Ser parte de este gran equipo de trabajo del Gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores. El desempeño que asumí como diputada federal suplente fue en la gestoría de los temas, buscar fondo para los municipios”. Dijo que ser enlace con el diputado federal que daba trámite en las diferentes instancias del gobierno. “También fuimos el enlace para
los grupos de nuestra región para tener acercamiento con el Diputado Garza”, dijo Pérez Moreno. “Se lograron buenos resultados, se bajaron recursos y se atendió a miles de personas”. Después de este trabajo legislativo de campo, dijo estar bien. En cuanto la situación que prevalece en el Municipio de Miguel Alemán, dijo que se trabaja intensamente con el presidente municipal Servando López Moreno, es cierto que existen temas donde una sola administración no podrá resolverlo, pero siempre existe un buen sentido de responsabilidad para responder a las demandas ciudadanas.
ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD VICTORIA Tamaulipas.- Para el próximo lunes, cuando inicie el período educativo, se retomará la instalación de los filtros escolares, por lo que se recomienda que desde el hogar se establezca un filtro para checar que el alumno no presente
JOSE M. ASSAD: Secretario de Eduación de Tamaulipas.
Foto Cortesía | Universidad Politécnica
La universidad es de nueva creación, dará fuerte impulso a la región evitando que la juventud deba emigrar a otras ciudades a cursar una carrera profesional. Es la maqueta presentada a las autoridades.
U. Politécnica es opción regional El 10 de agosto abrió sus puertas en Cd. Miguel Alemán
Reparten agua en C colonias NUEVO LAREDO -Tres mil litros de agua purificada fueron distribuidos a residentes del fraccionamiento ITAVU y las colonias Primavera, Palmares, Capulín, Granjas Regina, Valles Elizondo, Vamos Tamaulipas, así como asentamientos en los kilómetros 14 y 15. La remesa es resultado de la campaña de recolección de agua “Vive un verano DIFerente” que el DIF Nuevo Laredo inició el 3 de agosto y en la que obtuvieron 17,000 litros para el jueves 20 de agosto. La presidenta del patronato, Rebeca Canales de Garza informó que la colecta se extenderá tres semana más, pues se unirá a esta noble causa el sector educativo una vez iniciado el ciclo escolar 2009-2010. “Agradezco de antemano a toda la gente que ha colaborado en esta noble causa y los invito nuevamente a que vayan a los diferentes centros de acopio, ya que extendemos esta campaña hasta el 11 de septiembre”, agregó Rebeca Canales. La próxima entrega de agua se hará en el ejido Miguel Alemán.
to internacional ‘Quetzalcóatl’, de Nuevo Laredo. El diputado federal fue trasladado de emergencia al Hospital de Especialidades en Nuevo Laredo ya que presentaba tres impactos de bala en el cuello, pierna y brazo izquierdos. En el lugar murió el chofer del diputado federal Héctor Morales Juárez, ex policía municipal que viajaban en una camioneta con placas de Tamaulipas. Desde ésa fecha Garza Garza, que fue dos veces presidente municipal de Nuevo Laredo, dejó de representar el distrito electoral. De tal manera que la profesora Elodia Pérez Moreno, asumió la rep-
Aplican filtros
POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV
ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
SÁBADO 22 DE AGOSTO DE 2009
TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
IUDAD MIGUEL ALEMÁN, TAMPSLa Universidad Politécnica de la Región Ribereña inició ofreciendo dos carreras en Ingeniería Industrial y Tecnologías de la Información. Desde el pasado 10 de agosto abrió sus puertas oficialmente en esta ciudad, dijo el director Guadalupe Acosta. Mientras que se construye el edificio oficial de UP, operan en una propiedad aportada por el gobierno local, informó Acosta. “Tenemos el total apoyo del Presidente Municipal Servando López Moreno”. En el proyecto se invertirán 30 millones de pesos, donde el jefe de gobierno López Moreno, destacó que
“
El esfuerzo, el trabajo y la preparación serán premiados por el éxito”. PRESIDENTE MUNICIPAL SERVANDO LÓPEZ MORENO
este proyecto de educación superior “es el parteaguas de un gran futuro que transformará el rostro de la región ribereña en una tierra de oportunidades para todos. “El esfuerzo, el trabajo y la preparación serán premiados por el éxito”, dijo López Moreno. “Hemos dado un importante paso en la vida educativa de esta región”. Maestros, alumnos y padres de familia de toda la región ribereña han mostrado su apoyo a la Universidad Polititenica y
brinda a sus hijos la oportunidad de estudiar carreras que reclama el sector productivo. El subsecretario de Educación Media Superior y Superior, Vladimir Martínez Ruíz, le dio un valor agregado a la comunidad ribereña. Dijo que después de un estudio de factibilidad, la Ciudad de Miguel Alemán cumplía con esquemas de instalación de UP. La universidad permanecerán en instala-
ciones temporales mientras se concluye la primer etapa de esta universidad esperando que para el siguiente ciclo escolar 20112012, los alumnos estén tomando sus clases en el nuevo edificio. Martínez Ruiz, destacó que la Universidad Politécnica de la Región Ribereña es producto de la gestión en conjunto encabezada por el Gobernador de Tamaulipas, Eugenio Hernández Flores, y aprovechó la oportunidad de este momento histórico para anunciar a los jóvenes y padres de familia presentes que por instrucciones del mandatario estatal todos los alumnos que se inscriban podrán contar con beca PRONABE para sustentar sus estudios, al igual que lo hiciera con los alumnos del recién creado Tecnológico de Ciudad Mante.
ningún síntoma de la enfermedad de influenza para que evite asistir a clase. En conferencia de prensa los Secretarios de Salud y Educación, Juan Guillermo Mansur Arzola y José Manuel Assad Montelongo, determinaron los detalles para restablecer los filtros para este regreso a clases, de igual manera durante la reunión del Consejo General de Salud llevada a cabo minutos antes, se presentó la situación actual de influenza humana y lo más importante, el plan integral de protección a la salud que se aplicará en los próximos meses. El Secretario de Educación refirió que el personal docente y administrativo esta preparado para recibir a los más de 900,000 alumnos que iniciarán el ciclo escolar el próximo lunes y que en coordinación con los padres de familia se establecerán los filtros escolares, a lo que subrayó que en caso de que algún alumno tenga la necesidad de faltar por presentar algún síntoma de influenza ó se tenga que regresar a su casa, esto no afectará en su actividad escolar, debido a que lo principal es proteger la salud del alumno y la de sus compañeros. Por su parte el Secretario de Salud, destacó que lo principal es enfrentar la situación que se registra en el estado y que se esta trabajando para la protección de toda la población sin bajar la guardia, como lo ha instruido el gobernador del estado Eugenio Hernández Flores y lo que se pretende es mitigar el riesgo que pude provocar este padecimiento a los tamaulipecos.
Dramático panorama en Tamaulipas, pero no sucumbirán POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE LAREDO
NUEVO LAREDO –La crisis financiera, recorte presupuestal, el índice de desempleo sincronizado con la sequía, fue el panorama dramático que presentó el gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores el miércoles por la mañana en conferencia de prensa. El comportamiento de la recesión económica continuará por un año y medio más, sin embargo, se buscará el flujo financiero para infraestructura y crear empleos. “Tenemos un plan de infraestructura bien diseñado que permitirá crecimiento y abatir el desempleo”, dijo Hernández Flores. “El recorte presupuestal de 2.500 millones de pesos para Tamaulipas, nos obligará a eficientizar nuestro entorno en el gobierno y anular inversiones y programas no
EUGENIO HERNÁNDEZ: “Estamos en conversaciones con Banobras y otros ...”.
prioritarios”. No obstante, continuarán las gestiones ante el Secretario de Hacienda del gobierno federal para enfrentar la crisis. “Estamos en conversaciones con Banobras y otros organismos financieros para mantener el ritmo de inversiones en infraestructura”, dijo el Gobernador Hernández. “Nuestro estado ha logrado más recursos del fondo nacional de infraestructura que otras entidades en el país”.
Sequía El gobernador habló acerca de los efectos que ha dejado la sequía en áreas rurales y otras entidades. “Los efectos se están presentando en el sector
agropecuario, donde están reportadas mas de 1,000 cabezas de ganado perdidas”, dijo el gobernador. “Las más de 3,000 hectáreas que estaban destinadas a la producción se mantienen erosionadas”. El gobierno quiere asegurar que el abasto de agua para los municipios del estado no enfrente problemas. “Es un esfuerzo conjunto con los presidentes municipales de los 43 municipios, estamos garantizando el suministro de agua”, dijo el Gobernador Hernández. “Nosotros quisimos garantizar que pudiera resarcirse los daños de la sequía contratando el seguro agropecuario del estado”. Este recurso podrá ayudar en parte a los efectos de esta crisis de agua en el estado. El 2008 fue un año donde las presas captaron agua a su capacidad, lo cual ha
permitido seguir satisfaciendo la demanda del servicio en los municipios de la entidad. El gobernador fue entrevistado después de la inauguración del Instituto Regional Catastral de Nuevo Laredo.
Oficina El miércoles por la mañana fue inaugurado el Instituto Regional Catastral de Nuevo Laredo. Éste centro evitaró en el futuro que trámites referentes a las propiedades de esta ciudad no demoren mas de dos días en su procesamiento. En cuanto a los efectos de la crisis, el secretario de Finanzas Oscar Almaraz Smer, avaló lo declarado por el gobernador respecto a que el recorte presupuestal a los gobiernos estatales y municipales obedece al desplome en la captación de recur-
sos petrolíferos que puede afectar a Tamaulipas al finalizar este año con una reducción del orden de los 2.500 millones de pesos. “En este momento, el recorte presupuestal representa el 23 por ciento menos, unos 1.500 millones de pesos, y para los municipios, este descuento es del orden del 21 por ciento de sus presupuestos”. En consecuencia los efectos se ven como su peor caída desde la postguerra y el volumen de comercio internacional, por primera vez en 27 años, registrará una disminución. A su vez, los precios de las materias primas, incluído el petróleo y otros hidrocarburos, registran disminuciones significativas respecto a su nivel máximo observado hacia mediados del año pasado, antes del agravamiento de la crisis global.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2009
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 9A
Pilot pleaded to evacuate Vote could force boat firm out stranded passengers By ROBERT IMRIE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
By JOAN LOWY ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The pilot of an airliner stranded overnight on an airport tarmac in Minnesota pleaded unsuccessfully for her 47 passengers to be allowed to get off and go inside a terminal. “We just need to work out some way to get them off ... We can’t keep them here any longer,” she said. The Transportation Department on Friday released recordings of the repeated appeals by the pilot and her airline’s dispatchers earlier this month while passengers were kept waiting for about six hours in the cramped plane amid crying babies and a smelly toilet before they were allowed to deplane. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said a preliminary investigation by his de-
partment found that ExpressJet, the regional carrier which operated Continental Express Flight 2816 for Continental Airlines, wasn’t at fault in the tarmac stranding. Instead, blame for the incident, which has revived calls for greater consumer protections for airline passengers, belongs with Mesaba Airlines, whose representative incorrectly told ExpressJet that the passengers couldn’t be allowed inside the terminal because Transportation Security Administration personnel had left for the day, LaHood said. Actually, security regulations allow for deplaning passengers to be kept in a separate “sterile” area until they are ready to board, he said. “We have determined that the Express Jet crew was not at fault. In fact, the flight crew
repeatedly tried to get permission to deplane the passengers at the airport or obtain a bus for them,” LaHood said Friday in a statement. “There was a complete lack of common sense here,” the secretary said. “It’s no wonder the flying public is so angry and frustrated.” Mesaba was the only airline with staff still at the Rochester, Minn., airport that Friday night. The plane left Houston at 9:23 p.m. local time on Aug. 7, but was diverted by thunderstorms to Rochester. Passengers were kept waiting on the tarmac only 50 yards from a terminal. In the morning, they were allowed to deplane. They spent about 2½ hours inside the terminal before reboarding the same plane. They arrived in Minneapolis, their destination, at 9:15 a.m. CDT.
WAUSAU, Wis. — The labor union representing 850 workers at Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac votes Sunday on a package of wage and benefit concessions that the boat engine maker says it needs or the jobs will be moved to a nonunion plant in Oklahoma. Everyone in town will be watching. “There is immense interest in this. It affects virtual-
ly every person in the city of Fond du Lac,” City Manager Thomas Herre said. “The workers have a difficult decision to make.” Mercury Marine, the city’s largest employer and the world’s largest manufacturer of boat and recreational marine engines, wants changes in a fouryear contract it signed a year ago. The company says that under its proposal, workers would see no wage decreases, but the union says workers would give up
2 percent pay raises in each of the last two years of the contract. The average hourly wage now is about $20, the union said. Scott Swick, a real estate agent and homebuilder in town, called the vote “one of the most critical crossroads” in the city’s history. He urged thousands of community members to show up at the high school where the union meets Sunday and show their support for keeping Marine Mercury.
Attention Landowners –Ranchers - Hunters USDA-APHIS-VS Zapata County Fever Tick Eradication Program will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 6:00 p.m. at the Zapata County Pavilion Discussions on the deer populations and possibility of a deer survey in the area from Tigre Grande to Burro Creek along the Rio Grande River. Strategies to eradicate fever ticks on Burro wildlife. Creek Local Texas Parks & Wildlife Biologist will be available to discuss voluntary TPWD deer management programs available to landowners. For more information call 765-4911 – office 763-2666 Teofilo Vela III
Tigre Creek
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2009
10A | THE ZAPATA TIMES
LCC | Continued from Page 1A its economy is manufacturing based. There’s very little here in Laredo for people to assemble.” Gonzalez emphasized it is important to have high-tech manufacturers here in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo to fill job roles.
Key needs This region’s key needs fall into two categories, according to Gonzalez’s research: one, workplace literacy and two, high-tech skills. “What good is it to train people when they don’t understand English?” he asked. “They need to have a contextual meaning on the key terms which are used in high-tech manufacturing. “As for high-tech skills, they need to know how to operate a CNC (computer numerical control) or PCC (programmable logic control) machine.” Gonzalez said as far as what’s happening right now with the LMI, he said instructors have taught incumbent employees (those already in the workforce) skills like welding, forklift operation and safety. “We’ve enhanced the current workforce serving our manufacturing industry,” he said. “Also, we’ve taught leadership skills along with more advanced production planning systems, quality control and NIMS (National Institute of Metal-forming Skills).”
Finding support The LMI has been going to the manufacturers themselves and asking them what they need. “Classes and courses are currently offered only for the
manufacturing industry,” Gonzalez said. “The economic collapse put the brakes on 200 workers taking classes last February.” Gonzalez said the LMI is really about establishing a pipeline for workers to provide solid work service to manufacturers. In the future, “We want to bring everyone together,” he said. “That includes Laredo and United independent school districts, which we’ve reached out to for this work.” Gonzalez said the LMI wants people to know there are two academic options available at LCC. “One is earning an associates degree, which takes two years, and receiving a certification, which takes one year,” he said. For an example on how the LMI helps students and people already working, Sanchez said consider a forklift operator. “This person might be currently making $8 an hour,” he said. “After training here and producing a certificate, that hourly rate goes between $10-$14 an hour.” Gonzalez it costs $90 for the LMI forklift instruction program, which takes up two weekends. Manufacturers have been very receptive to Gonzalez’s efforts. “If not for the economy, you’d hear about the LMI every day,” he said. “We are becoming more committed in our partnerships with the school districts. LMI has identified both industrial and commercial needs. We are bringing them together to increase prosperity for both the industry and workforce.”
CHECK PRESENTATION Congressman Henry Cuellar announced recently $1,429,192 in combined federal funding for law enforcement in Zapata County.The Zapata County Sheriff’s Department will receive $1,413,737 million from the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Stonegarden and $15,455 from the Edward Byrnes JAG Program. Pictured at left at the check presentation: County Attorney Said Alfonso Figueroa, Commissioner Joe Rathmell, County Judge Rosalva Guerra, Cuellar, Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez and Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela. Courtesy photo
ZONING | Continued from Page 1A trails. The commission added the downtown area should be “developed as an arts, theater, entertainment, shopping, lodging and marina district.” Vela said the court’s next step should be giving the commission’s recommendations some priority. Commissioner Gabriel Villarreal said the regulations, particularly for building codes, would improve housing standards. “If somebody’s going to build a house and you bring a certified electrician or anybody that would have the credentials to do the job, I think they would do a better job if they were certified,” Villarreal said. Uribe said the regulations would
“help developers determine appropriate places for commercial, retail or residential structures. “It would avoid what we now have in parts of Zapata, and that is people putting in commercial and retail establishments in what are primarily residential areas,” he added. The regulations would redefine where downtown Zapata should be located in the future, Uribe said. “Also, it would help confirm the rich legacy that we have here in San Ygnacio, by establishing San Ygnacio as a historic district, worthy of preservation,” he added. While Uribe has drafted a 70-page “skeletal” document to get started on the zoning regulations, he said, “we
still haven’t gotten to the specifics of land use. “All we’ve come up with is some very broad zones that are geographically zoned,” Uribe said. Now, he said, the commissioners will hold hearings to determine if they should adopt some or all of the recommendations suggested by the commission. Vela said the court’s next step should be giving the commission’s recommendations some priority. Members of the planning commission could be named to a future Planning and Zoning Commission or Board of Adjustments, Uribe said. (Julie Daffern may be reached at 728-2565 or jdaffern@lmtonline.com)
COLLEGE | Continued from Page 1A goal. It may sound lofty, but it’s attainable.” Also this year, Benavides Elementary School students will return to a brand new campus in San Ygnacio. The old school was demolished about a year and half ago. In its place is a building that cost about $4.2 million to construct. “Right now that is our pride and joy,” Rodriguez said. ZCISD has other construction
projects underway as well, including the remodeling of Zapata County Middle School. “We’ll be in remodeling/demolishing mode for the next two or three years,” Rodriguez said. “And we’re doing all this without passing a bond.” The construction and facilities money is coming from the school district’s general operations fund, which has a healthy fund balance, he said. This year’s proposed budget
stands at $42 million and will be voted on by the school board at its meeting Tuesday. Other focuses for ZCISD administration and staff this school year will be on the special education and Limited English Proficiency students, who are struggling with the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Of particular focus will be Zapata County Middle School, which will undergo Stage 2 sanctions be-
cause its LEP students did not meet required improvement on the TAKS math exam for the third consecutive year. Administration will be keeping a close eye on Zapata County High as well. Though the school made required improvement on the math portion of the 2009 TAKS, the campus will remain under Stage 1 Adequate Yearly Progress sanctions because “it takes two years to get in,
two years to get out.” Rodriguez said earlier this month that to improve state test scores and get out of the sanctions, administration and teachers will have to “differentiate the instruction and do a better job of monitoring students.” The district will also have to ensure teachers have the support and training they need. (Nick Georgiou may be reached at 728-2582 or nickg@lmtonline.com)
Welcome to the family! Welcome UnitedHealthcare and Aetna members. Now you, too, have a choice! Laredo Medical Center believes that you should be able to choose your hospital. We’ve partnered with all of these health plans – most recently UnitedHealthcare and Aetna – so members have the option to choose our network of skilled physicians, hospital services and health programs. We offer a full range of advanced services, from maternity care to orthopedics to surgical weight loss. And we are this area’s preferred choice for cardiac and emergency services.* So, for quality care, choose Laredo Medical Center. To learn more, visit laredomedical.com. Blue Cross Blue Shield Mercy Health Plans Aetna UnitedHealthcare CIGNA PPO Healthnet Humana PPO Mutual of Omaha PPO Texas True Choice Great West PPO Principal Financial Mail Handlers PPO Beech Street PPO Unicare PPO Healthsmart PPO
Humana Gold GEHA Benefit Plan PPO Multiplan PPO First Health PacifiCare Humana HMO Unicare Not PPO Universal Healthcare Co. CIGNA Healthcare Bakers Benefit Adm PPO Prudential PPO Texas Municipal League PPO The Guardian/PHCS Fortis PPO Aetna TRS Care PPO
Quality Care. Close to Home. *Strategic Marketing Concepts’ Service Area Consumer Survey, July 2007.
The Zapata Times SATURDAY,AUGUST22,2009
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors Cross country season opens Teams ready to host today’s South Texas Stampede By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Hawks will officially open the season this morning as hosts of the South Texas Stampede. The team looks like a well-oiled machine that is ready to display all their hard work. “The cross-country team looks good. I could have not asked for a better commitment from the boys,” Zapata boys cross-country coach Luis Escamilla said. “They have put in the work and we are ready to redefine new standards. Seniors Omar Hernandez
and Albert Chapa have transitioned very well into the program. They were in the chase pack for most of our training but they have emerged to be part of the varsity division.” On Thursday, Escamilla had a meeting with the team to outline all the expectations for today’s meet. “I told them that in our sport, as long as you give your best on race day the outcome will motivate you to get up the next day to become a better individual and athlete,” he said. “Just go out there and leave every footprint on the course. It’s our season opener, not the state meet. We have all season to learn
from our mistakes to be error free when it counts the most.” The Hawks have trained in triple digit weather but the team reminds true to itself. “We had a great session on Wednesday, and I’m very excited to run down some teams and get up the next day, no matter the outcome,” Escamilla said. Escamilla has the luxury of having a self-driven team that leads in many ways. “I have a couple of seniors but everyone is a leader out there. Some led by example, others are vocal who put a jump-start on you if
you’re have a sluggish day,” he said. “Everyone is an essential variable to our Hawk formula. I’ll never miss a day of practice. I’ve been here for two complete summers without a vacation because I believe in commitment, dedication and perseverance.” The Hawks will test and push their bodies to the limit but through their daily training have been able to handle more than the average person. “Getting into the specifics of our training could probably make
See CROSS COUNTRY | PAGE 2B
GETTING READY FOR THE SEASON
Courtesy photo
Junior Kristina Garcia was a varsity runner in 2008 but missed running the regional and state meets due to injury.
Coach to get feel for summer training By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
from the tournament and were doing everything they needed to win the set. They were getting after the ball and picking up everything (United) South sent to them.” The Lady Hawks ran out of steam during the fourth game as United South stretched its lead. “South jump on a lead from the beginning and we just froze,” Villarreal said. “The setter was chasing after the ball to try to set the hitters because our passes again were not there. We were not moving to the ball. There was no communication on the floor and the girls were getting frustrated with themselves and it carried to the rest of the team.” Villarreal noted the play of King and Selina Mata who carried the team throughout the game. “Brandi and Selina were the two players that stood out in this match,” she said. “What can I say about Brandi? She is a heck of a player and continues to dominate on the court. Selina is also doing a great job for us.”
The Lady Hawks cross-country team is eager to display all their hard work from the summer. Zapata will host The South Texas Stampede this morning at the high school. Twelve teams that include Tuloso-Midway, La Joya Palmview, Rio Grande City, Pharr-San JuanAlamo North, Falfurrias, San Diego, Hebbronville, St. August, Martin, Eagle Pass, Eagle Pass C.C. Winn and Edinburg along with Zapata will compete in the boys or girls divisions. “Many teams like to compete early simply to get a feel for how effective their summer training was and to evaluate young talent,” Zapata girls cross-country coach Mike Villarreal said. “Also, it allows teams to take a week off from time to time to take a rest from too much racing.” Zapata’s varsity team for today will consist of seniors Maritza Garcia and Melissa Martinez and juniors Marlena Garcia, Alba Jasso, Gloria Jauregui and Kristy Garcia. Today the Lady Hawks will be without the services of last year’s top cross-country runner Michelle Garcia, who is nursing an injury. Villarreal will hold Garcia so she will not aggravate her injury. “I believe our girls will still run well enough to compete for one of the top spots,” Villarreal said, despite not having Garcia in the line up. On a positive note, Villarreal welcomes back Kristy and Melissa back who battled injuries throughout the season. “Kristina Garcia missed running the regional and state meet due to injury and Melissa who missed the 2008 season with an injury, will be a key runner for us to return to state,” Villarreal said. “Its good to have both these girls back running again.” The Lady Hawks will utilize today’s meet as a stepping stone towards their goal of the season — state champions. “We don’t focus on pre-season meets. We focus on three meets: district, regionals and state,” Villarreal said. “These early meets are tune-ups and are treated more as workouts. Yes, it is nice to win one here or there, but we have other things we focus on during these competitions.” The Lady Hawks are ahead of their training schedule in comparison to last year’s pace, thanks to Villarreal’s meticulous record keeping of last year’s workouts.
See SOUTH | PAGE 2B
See COACH | PAGE 2B
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
The Zapata Hawks’ offense lines up against the United South Panthers’ defense during their scrimmage on Friday at the United South practice field.
Coach likes what he sees as Friday’s first game looms By JOY LINDSAY
chance to fine-tune their starting lineup and look ahead to what they hope will be a strong campaign.
THE ZAPATA TIMES
T
he Zapata Hawks got their final warmup for the 2009 season when they scrimmaged the United South Panthers on Friday morning in Laredo. With their non-district opener against District 30-5A La Joya-Palmview just a week away, the 32-3A Hawks were looking to improve on their faults and get an idea of what they’ll need to be prepared for when the season begins. The District 29-5A Panthers proved to be a perfect test for Zapata, giving the Hawks a
Friday’s showing “We still need to work on a few things, but we saw some very, very good things, especially on the offensive side,” head coach Mario Arce said. “We were able to move the ball, not easily, but we were able to do the things that we do well against a very quick United South defense. “We were able to convert on third down, we were able to convert on fourth down
once… we just need to work on throwing the ball a little bit.” Zapata scored twice during the series exchange portion of the scrimmage and once during the game-type running clock portion while allowing South to score three times in each. “We went out there and played with our hearts, played as hard as we could,” senior guard Marco Regalado said. “This was only our second scrimmage. We have a lot of upand-coming people who don’t have the varsity experience, but they’re going to gain it.
See SEASON | PAGE 2B
Volleyball team falls to United South By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
After a great showing at the Zapata tournament last weekend — where the Lady Hawks captured second place — coach Rosie Villarreal was confident they were on the right track. They had a great practice on Monday and Villarreal felt the team was ready to take on United South. Despite having home court advantage Zapata let the Lady Panthers jump out to a big lead as they fell to United South 25-21, 25-23, 1525, 25-17 Tuesday night. “I do not believe that the girls played to my expectations. After this past weekend I set a higher goal for them and maybe I expect too much right now,” Villarreal said. “I just believe that we have a great team and if I do not push pass their limits they will never achieve their potential. I need to push them so that they can peak by district,” The Lady Hawks defense was visibly missing as the defensive specialists were having a hard
BRANDI KING: Last season’s 32-3A Newcomer of the Year continues to dominate on offense.
time passing the ball to the setters. Villarreal noted the defense needs to instill more trust in their teammates in order to come out of the slump. “Our defense still needs a lot of work. I don’t think that my defense is confident enough to believe in each other and to trust each other,” she said. “They expect the other person to pick up the dig or the pass. My defense is a work in progress. My team just needs to believe in themselves as well as with each other so that their defense can come together.” United South jumped out to a 161 after a few side-outs but junior Brandi King, who has been the offensive force for the Lady Hawks, scored four points to close the gap at 18-18. “We were moving in slow motion, reacting to the ball late,” Villarreal said. “My passers were hav-
ing a hard time passing the ball to the setter so it was hard to set the ball to the hitters.” South was up 22-21 when Rhodale Covington (five kills, four blocks) finished the set by adding the three points needed to win the first set. The Lady Hawks had 15 passing errors in the first game. Zapata was unable to recover and the second was a continuation of the first game. The scoring went back and forth at the beginning of the set then tied at nine. United South’s Lillie Lopez scored four points due to Zapata’s passing errors to put the Lady Panthers in a 13-9 advantage and didn’t look back as they stayed ahead the rest of the set, winning 25-23. “Again our passing did not help as we had 16 bad passes,” Villarreal said. In the third game the Lady Hawks finally woke up and led right from the beginning of the match to win 25-15. “The passing was more precise so the setter was able to set the ball to the hitters,” Villarreal said “The team looked like the team
PAGE 2B
Zscores
ULB All Times EDT W L Pct. GB San Angelo 45 24 .652 — Edinburg 39 30 .565 6 Amarillo 38 30 .559 6 ½ Harlingen 34 35 .493 11 ½ Coastal Bend 30 38 .441 14 ½ Laredo 21 48 .304 24 Tuesday’s Games San Angelo 3, Amarillo 2 Edinburg 2, Coastal Bend 1 Harlingen 2, Laredo 1 Wednesday’s Games Amarillo 2, San Angelo 1 Edinburg 10, Coastal Bend 4 Harlingen 12, Laredo 1 Thursday’s Games Edinburg 5, Laredo 3 Harlingen 7, Coastal Bend 6 Amarillo 8, San Angelo 7 Friday’s Games Coastal Bend at Harlingen, 8:05 p.m. San Angelo at Amarillo, 8:05 p.m. Laredo at Edinburg, 8:05 p.m. Saturday’s Games Coastal Bend at Harlingen, 8:05 p.m. San Angelo at Amarillo, 8:05 p.m. Laredo at Edinburg, 8:05 p.m.
MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB New York 76 45 .628 — Boston 69 51 .575 6½ Tampa Bay 65 55 .542 10 ½ Toronto 55 64 .462 20 Baltimore 49 72 .405 27 Central Division W L Pct GB Detroit 64 56 .533 — Chicago 62 59 .512 2½ Minnesota 58 63 .479 6 ½ Cleveland 52 68 .433 12 Kansas City 47 73 .392 17 West Division W L Pct GB Los Angeles 73 46 .613 — Texas 68 52 .567 5 ½ Seattle 62 59 .512 12 Oakland 53 67 .442 20 ½ Wednesday’s Games Chicago White Sox 4, Kansas City 2 L.A. Angels 3, Cleveland 0 Seattle 3, Detroit 1 Boston 6, Toronto 1 Tampa Bay 3, Baltimore 1 Minnesota 5, Texas 4 N.Y. Yankees 3, Oakland 2 Thursday’s Games Detroit 7, Seattle 6 Cleveland 11, L.A. Angels 3 Boston 8, Toronto 1 Baltimore 8, Tampa Bay 7 Texas 11, Minnesota 1 Friday’s Games Seattle (French 2-3) at Cleveland (D.Huff 7-6), 7:05 p.m. L.A. Angels (O’Sullivan 3-1) at Toronto (Rzepczynski 1-3), 7:07 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Pettitte 9-6) at Boston (Penny 7-7), 7:10 p.m. Texas (Nippert 4-1) at Tampa Bay (Kazmir 7-7), 7:38 p.m. Minnesota (Blackburn 8-8) at Kansas City (Hochevar 6-6), 8:10 p.m. Baltimore (Guthrie 7-12) at Chicago White Sox (G.Floyd 10-7), 8:11 p.m. Detroit (E.Jackson 9-5) at Oakland (G.Gonzalez 4-3), 10:05 p.m. Saturday’s Games L.A. Angels (E.Santana 6-6) at Toronto (Richmond 6-6), 1:07 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (A.Burnett 10-6) at Boston (Tazawa 1-2), 4:10 p.m. Baltimore (Da.Hernandez 4-5) at Chicago White Sox (Danks 10-8), 7:05 p.m. Seattle (Fister 1-0) at Cleveland (Laffey 7-3), 7:05 p.m. Texas (Tom.Hunter 6-2) at Tampa Bay (Garza 7-8), 7:08 p.m. Minnesota (Duensing 0-1) at Kansas City (Davies 4-8), 7:10 p.m. Detroit (Galarraga 6-10) at Oakland (Cahill 6-12), 9:05 p.m. Sunday’s Games Seattle at Cleveland, 1:05 p.m. L.A. Angels at Toronto, 1:07 p.m. Texas at Tampa Bay, 1:38 p.m. Baltimore at Chicago White Sox, 2:05 p.m. Minnesota at Kansas City, 2:10 p.m. Detroit at Oakland, 4:05 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Boston, 8:05 p.m. NATIONAL LEAGUE All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 69 49 .585 — Florida 64 57 .529 6 ½ Atlanta 64 57 .529 6½ New York 56 65 .463 14½ Washington 43 78 .355 27½ Central Division W L Pct GB St. Louis 70 53 .569 — Chicago 61 58 .513 5 Houston 59 62 .488 10 Milwaukee 58 62 .483 10 ½ Cincinnati 51 69 .425 17 ½ Pittsburgh 49 70 .412 19 West Division W L Pct GB Los Angeles 72 50 .590 — Colorado 68 53 .562 3 ½ San Francisco 66 55 .545 5 ½ Arizona 54 68 .443 18 San Diego 51 72 .415 21½ Wednesday’s Games Philadelphia 8, Arizona 1 Colorado 5, Washington 4 Pittsburgh 3, Milwaukee 1 Atlanta 15, N.Y. Mets 2 San Francisco 1, Cincinnati 0 Houston 6, Florida 3
Chicago Cubs 7, San Diego 1 St. Louis 3, L.A. Dodgers 2 Thursday’s Games Cincinnati 2, San Francisco 1, 10 innings Philadelphia 12, Arizona 3 Colorado 4, Washington 1 Atlanta 3, N.Y. Mets 2 Houston 4, Florida 1 St. Louis 5, San Diego 1 L.A. Dodgers 7, Chicago Cubs 2 Friday’s Games Cincinnati (Owings 6-11) at Pittsburgh (Morton 2-6), 7:05 p.m. Milwaukee (Looper 10-6) at Washington (J.Martin 2-2), 7:05 p.m. Philadelphia (Hamels 7-7) at N.Y. Mets (Pelfrey 8-8), 7:10 p.m. Florida (A.Sanchez 1-4) at Atlanta (J.Vazquez 10-8), 7:35 p.m. Arizona (Y.Petit 2-7) at Houston (Oswalt 6-4), 8:05 p.m. San Francisco (J.Sanchez 5-10) at Colorado (Cook 10-5), 9:10 p.m. St. Louis (Lohse 5-7) at San Diego (Richard 2-0), 10:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs (R.Wells 9-5) at L.A. Dodgers (Wolf 7-6), 10:10 p.m. Saturday’s Games Chicago Cubs (Lilly 9-7) at L.A. Dodgers (Haeger 0-1), 4:10 p.m. Arizona (Scherzer 7-7) at Houston (Moehler 7-9), 7:05 p.m. Cincinnati (Lehr 2-0) at Pittsburgh (Duke 9-11), 7:05 p.m. Milwaukee (Burns 3-4) at Washington (Lannan 8-9), 7:05 p.m. Florida (Volstad 9-9) at Atlanta (Hanson 8-2), 7:10 p.m. Philadelphia (Happ 9-2) at N.Y. Mets (Redding 1-4), 7:10 p.m. San Francisco (J.Martinez 3-1) at Colorado (De La Rosa 11-8), 8:10 p.m. St. Louis (C.Carpenter 13-3) at San Diego (Correia 8-9), 10:05 p.m. Sunday’s Games Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m. Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 1:35 p.m. Florida at Atlanta, 1:35 p.m. Milwaukee at Washington, 1:35 p.m. Arizona at Houston, 2:05 p.m. San Francisco at Colorado, 3:10 p.m. St. Louis at San Diego, 4:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs at L.A. Dodgers, 4:10 p.m. Team-by-Team Disabled List (Provided by Major League Baseball) (x-60-day all others are 15-day) Through Aug. 21 AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore RHP Brad Bergesen, July 31 LHP Rich Hill, July 29 OF Luis Montanez, May 23 RHP Dennis Sarfate, May 2 RHP Alfredo Simon-x, April 15 RHP Koji Uehara, June 24 Boston 1B Jeff Bailey, July 5 OF Rocco Baldelli, Aug. 6 RHP Miguel Gonzalez-x, March 27 C George Kottaras, July 30 SS Jed Lowrie, Aug. 7 RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka-x, June 20 RHP Tim Wakefield, July 18 Chicago RHP Bartolo Colon, July 25 INF Chris Getz, Aug. 12 RHP Jake Peavy, June 9 Cleveland LHP Scott Lewis-x, April 11 RHP Anthony Reyes-x, May 23 RHP Jake Westbrook-x, March 26 Detroit RHP Jeremy Bonderman, June 9 RHP Alfredo Figaro, June 28 LHP Nathan Robertson, June 27 C Matt Treanor-x, April 24 LHP Dontrelle Willis, June 15 RHP Joel Zumaya, July 18 Kansas City SS Mike Aviles-x, May 24 OF Coco Crisp-x, June 13 RHP Juan Cruz, Aug. 8 RHP Kyle Farnsworth, June 25 OF Jose Guillen, July 23 RHP Doug Waechter, Aug. 12 Los Angeles RHP Kelvim Escobar-x, June 7 CF Torii Hunter, July 8 RHP Dustin Moseley-x, April 18 LHP Joe Saunders, Aug. 8 C Scott Shields-x, May 27 Minnesota RHP Boof Bonser-x, March 27 RHP Pat Neshek-x, Feb. 21 LHP Glen Perkins, Aug. 9 RHP Kevin Slowey-x, July 4 New York OF Brett Gardner, July 26 LHP Damaso Marte-x, April 26 OF Xavier Nady-x, April 15 RHP Chien-Ming Wang-x, July 5 Oakland 1B Daric Barton, July 27 LHP Dallas Braden, Aug. 1 3B Eric Chavez-x, April 25 RHP Joey Devine-x, April 4 RHP Justin Duchscherer-x, March 27 RHP Dan Giese-x, May 16 LHP Josh Outman-x, June 20 Seattle LHP Erik Bedard, July 26 OF Endy Chavez-x, June 20 LHP Ryan Feierabend-x, March 15 LHP Cesar Jimenez-x, March 29 RHP Carlos Silva-x, May 7 Tampa Bay RHP Chad Bradford, July 23 RHP Jason Isringhausen-x, June 14 INF Akinori Iwamura-x, May 25 RHP Troy Percival-x, May 22 CF Fernando Perez-x, March 27
Texas RHP Joaquin Benoit-x, April 5 RHP Jason Grilli, Aug. 2 LHP Matt Harrison-x, June 24 RHP Eric Hurley-x, April 5 2B Ian Kinsler, July 29 RHP Brandon McCarthy-x, June 5 Toronto C Michael Barrett, April 18 LHP Scott Downs, Aug. 2 RHP Jesse Litsch, April 14 RHP Shaun Marcum, March 27 RHP Dustin McGowan, March 27 RHP Robert Ray, May 22 NATIONAL LEAGUE Arizona OF Eric Byrnes, June 26 1B Conor Jackson-x, May 12 LHP Scott Schoeneweis, Aug 11 OF Justin Upton, Aug. 6 RHP Brandon Webb-x, April 7 Atlanta RHP Jorge Campillo-x, May 29 RHP Tim Hudson-x, Feb. 24 Chicago SS Andres Blanco, Aug. 4 RHP Chad Fox, May 10 OF Reed Johnson, July 30 LHP Ted Lilly, July 21 RHP David Patton, July 5 RHP Carlos Zambrano, Aug. 6 Cincinnati OF Jay Bruce, July 12 C Wilkin Castillo-x, June 21 C Ramon Hernandez, July 17 RHP Mike Lincoln, June 13 RHP Micah Owings, July 27 INF Danny Richar, July 2 3B Scott Rolen, Aug. 8 RHP Edinson Volquez, June 2 Colorado RHP Taylor Buchholz-x, March 27 RHP Manuel Corpas, July 21 LHP Alan Embree-x, July 11 LHP Jeffrey Francis-x, March 27 RHP Juan Rincon, July 31 Florida SS Alfredo Amezaga-x, May 17 RHP Burke Badenhop, Aug. 2 LHP David Davidson-x, May 23 RHP Scott Proctor-x March 27 RHP Anibal Sanchez-x, June 3 Houston 3B Aaron Boone-x March 27 RHP Doug Brocail, Aug. 5 2B German Duran, July 2 Los Angeles 1B Doug Mienkiewicz-x, April 17 LHP Eric Milton-x, June 28 LHP Will Ohman-x, May 28 OF Xavier Paul-x, May 21 RHP Jason Schmidt, Aug. 6 Milwaukee RHP Dave Bush, June 21 OF Corey Hart, Aug. 2 RHP Seth McClung, July 25 RHP David Riske-x, April 10 RHP Jeff Suppan, July 28 2B Rickie Weeks-x, May 18 New York OF Carlos Beltran, June 22 1B Carlos Delgado-x, May 11 RHP John Maine, June 7 OF Fernando Martinez, July 9 INF Ramon Martinez-x, June 3 LHP Jonathon Niese-x, Aug. 6 RHP Fernando Nieve, July 20 RHP J.J. Putz-x, June 5 SS Jose Reyes, May 21 LHP Billy Wagner-x, March 27 Philadelphia LHP Antonio Bastardo, June 26 RHP Clay Condrey, July 23 RHP Brett Myers-x, May 28 LHP J.C. Romero, July 23 Pittsburgh LHP Phil Dumatrait-x, March 27 RHP Craig Hansen-x, April 20 RHP Evan Meek, Aug. 12 LHP Don Veal II, Aug. 4 RHP Tyler Yates-x, May 16 St. Louis LHP Jaime Garcia, March 27 3B Troy Glaus, March 27 RHP Todd Wellemeyer, Aug. 5 San Diego RHP Cha Seung Baek-x, March 30 OF Cliff Floyd-x, June 19 OF Brian Giles-x, June 19 INF Edgar Gonzalez, July 19 RHP Shawn Hill-x, April 26 RHP Jake Peavy, June 9 RHP Mark Worrell-x, April 1 RHP Chris Young-x, June 15 San Francisco INF Rich Aurilia, July 21 LHP Randy Johnson-x, July 6 LHP Noah Lowry-x, March 26 RHP Kelvin Pichardo-x, June 28 RHP Henry Sosa-x, Aug. 5 OF Andres Torres, July 31 Washington CF Roger Bernadina-x, April 19 C Jesus Flores, May 10 OF Austin Kearns, Aug. 4 LHP Scott Olsen, July 11 1B Dmitri Young, April 1 RHP Terrell Young-x, March 27 RHP Jordan Zimmermann, July 19
NFL Preseason Glance All Times EDT AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA Miami 1 0 0 1.000 12 9 Buffalo 1 1 0 .500 45 41 New England 1 1 0 .500 33 32 N.Y. Jets 0 1 0 .000 20 23 South W L T Pct PF PA Tennessee 2 0 0 1.000 48 38 Houston 1 0 0 1.000 16 10 Indianapolis 1 1 0 .500 26 28 Jacksonville 0 1 0 .000 9 12
Baltimore Pittsburgh
North W L T Pct PF PA 1 0 0 1.000 23 0 1 0 0 1.000 20 10
Cincinnati Cleveland
1 1 0 .500 14 23 0 1 0 .000 0 17 West W L T Pct PF PA Oakland 1 0 0 1.000 31 10 Denver 0 1 0 .000 16 17 Kansas City 0 1 0 .000 10 16 San Diego 0 1 0 .000 14 20 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA N.Y. Giants 1 0 0 1.000 24 17 Dallas 0 1 0 .000 10 31 Washington 0 1 0 .000 0 23 Philadelphia 0 2 0 .000 40 50 South W L T Pct PF PA New Orleans 1 0 0 1.000 17 7 Atlanta 0 1 0 .000 26 27 Carolina 0 1 0 .000 17 24 Tampa Bay 0 1 0 .000 20 27 North W L T Pct PF PA Detroit 1 0 0 1.000 27 26 Green Bay 1 0 0 1.000 17 0 Minnesota 1 0 0 1.000 13 3 Chicago 0 1 0 .000 20 27 West W L T Pct PF PA St. Louis 1 0 0 1.000 23 20 San Francisco1 0 0 1.000 17 16 Seattle 1 0 0 1.000 20 14 Arizona 0 1 0 .000 10 20 Thursday’s Games Cincinnati 7, New England 6 Indianapolis 23, Philadelphia 15 Friday’s Games Tennessee at Dallas, 8 p.m. Atlanta at St. Louis, 8 p.m. Kansas City at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Saturday’s Games Carolina at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Detroit at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Washington, 7:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m. Buffalo at Green Bay, 8 p.m. New Orleans at Houston, 8 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Chicago, 8 p.m. Oakland at San Francisco, 8:15 p.m. San Diego at Arizona, 10 p.m. Denver at Seattle, 10:30 p.m. Monday’s Game N.Y. Jets at Baltimore, 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27 Jacksonville at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. St. Louis at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. Miami at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 New England at Washington, 8 p.m. Green Bay at Arizona, 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 Indianapolis at Detroit, 1 p.m. New Orleans at Oakland, 4 p.m. Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. Tennessee at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. San Diego at Atlanta, 8 p.m. Baltimore at Carolina, 8 p.m. N.Y. Jets at N.Y. Giants, 8 p.m. San Francisco at Dallas, 8 p.m. Seattle at Kansas City, 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30 Chicago at Denver, 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31 Minnesota at Houston, 8 p.m. Final 2008 Glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA x-Miami 11 5 0 .688 345 317 New England11 5 0 .688 410 309 N.Y. Jets 9 7 0 .563 405 356 Buffalo 7 9 0 .438 336 342 South W L T Pct PF PA z-Tennessee 13 3 0 .813 375 234 y-Indianapolis124 0 .750 377 298 Houston 8 8 0 .500 366 394 Jacksonville 511 0 .313 302 367 North W L T Pct PF PA x-Pittsburgh 12 4 0 .750 347 223 y-Baltimore 11 5 0 .688 385 244 Cincinnati 411 1 .281 204 364 Cleveland 412 0 .250 232 350 West W L T Pct PF PA x-San Diego 8 8 0 .500 439 347 Denver 8 8 0 .500 370 448 Oakland 511 0 .313 263 388 Kansas City 214 0 .125 291 440 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA z-N.Y. Giants12 4 0 .750 427 294 y-Philadelphia9 6 1 .594 416 289 Dallas 9 7 0 .563 362 365 Washington 8 8 0 .500 265 296 South W L T Pct PF PA x-Carolina 12 4 0 .750 414 329 y-Atlanta 11 5 0 .688 391 325 Tampa Bay 9 7 0 .563 361 323 New Orleans 8 8 0 .500 463 393 North W L T Pct PF PA x-Minnesota 10 6 0 .625 379 333 Chicago 9 7 0 .563 375 350 Green Bay 610 0 .375 419 380 Detroit 016 0 .000 268 517 West W L T Pct PF PA x-Arizona 9 7 0 .563 427 426 San Francisco7 9 0 .438 339 381 Seattle 412 0 .250 294 392 St. Louis 214 0 .125 232 465 x-clinched division y-clinched playoff spot z-clinched conference Sunday’s Games Atlanta 31, St. Louis 27 Houston 31, Chicago 24 Green Bay 31, Detroit 21 Minnesota 20, N.Y. Giants 19 Carolina 33, New Orleans 31 Pittsburgh 31, Cleveland 0 New England 13, Buffalo 0 Oakland 31, Tampa Bay 24 Indianapolis 23, Tennessee 0
SATURDAY,AUGUST22,2009 Cincinnati 16, Kansas City 6 Miami 24, N.Y. Jets 17 Philadelphia 44, Dallas 6 Baltimore 27, Jacksonville 7 Arizona 34, Seattle 21 San Francisco 27, Washington 24 San Diego 52, Denver 21
MLS All Times EDT EASTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GA Columbus 10 3 9 39 34 24 Chicago 9 5 8 35 30 25 Toronto FC 8 7 6 30 30 31 D.C. 6 510 28 34 34 New England 6 7 6 24 20 25 Kansas City 5 8 6 21 20 27 New York 216 4 10 16 39 WESTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GA Houston 11 6 6 39 30 20 Seattle 9 5 8 35 29 21 Los Angeles 8 410 34 27 23 Colorado 8 6 6 30 32 24 Chivas USA 9 7 3 30 21 19 Real Salt Lake 7 8 6 27 29 24 FC Dallas 610 5 23 29 32 San Jose 411 5 17 25 38 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. Wednesday’s Games Los Angeles 2, Chicago 0 Thursday’s Games Seattle FC 1, New England 0 Saturday’s Games Los Angeles at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. Kansas City at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. Toronto FC at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m. Sunday’s Games FC Dallas at New York, 3 p.m. Colorado at Chicago, 6 p.m. Real Salt Lake at New England, 6 p.m. Seattle FC at Houston, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 26 Chivas USA at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. Saturday, August 29 Toronto FC at Seattle FC, 4 p.m. San Jose at New England, 7:30 p.m. D.C. United at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. Chivas USA at Los Angeles, 11 p.m. Sunday, August 30 Houston at Colorado, 3 p.m. Columbus at New York, 6 p.m.
World Cup 2010 Qualifying Glance All Times EDT NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN FINALS Top three qualify Fourth-place team advances to play off vs. South America fifth-place team GP W D L GF GA Pts Costa Rica 6 4 0 2 9 9 12 Honduras 6 3 1 2 11 7 10 United States 6 3 1 2 11 8 10 Mexico 6 3 0 3 8 9 9 El Salvador 6 1 2 3 7 9 5 Trinidad 6 1 2 3 7 11 5 Wednesday’s Games At Mexico City Mexico 2, United States 1 At Port-of-Spain, Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago 1, El Salvador 0 At San Pedro Sula, Honduras Honduras 4, Costa Rica 0 Saturday, Sept. 5 At Sandy, Utah United States vs. El Salvador, 7:57 p.m. At Tegucigalpa, Honduras Honduras vs. Trinidad and Tobago, 9:30 p.m. At San Jose, Costa Rica Costa Rica vs. Mexico, 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9 At San Salvador, El Salvador El Salvador vs. Costa Rica, 9 p.m. At Mexico City Mexico vs. Honduras, 9 p.m. At TBA Trinidad and Tobago vs. United States EUROPE Winners qualify Top eight second-place teams advance to European playoffs GROUP THREE GP W D L GF GA Pts Slovakia 6 5 0 1 17 6 15 N. Ireland 7 4 1 2 12 6 13 Slovenia 7 3 2 2 10 4 11 Poland 6 3 1 2 18 7 10 Czech Rep. 6 2 2 2 6 4 8 San Marino 8 0 0 8 1 37 0 Wednesday’s Game At Maribor, Slovenia Slovenia 5, San Marino 0 GROUP FOUR GP W D L GF GA Pts Germany 7 6 1 0 20 4 19 Russia 6 5 0 1 12 3 15 Finland 6 3 1 2 8 10 10 Wales 7 3 0 4 5 7 9 Azerbaijan 6 0 1 5 0 7 1 Liechtenstein 6 0 1 5 1 15 1 Wednesday’s Game At Baku, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 0, Germany 2 GROUP SIX GP W D L GF GA Pts England 7 7 0 0 27 5 21 Croatia 7 4 2 1 15 7 14 Ukraine 6 3 2 1 9 6 11 Belarus 6 3 0 3 15 10 9 Kazakhstan 7 1 0 6 7 22 3 Andorra 7 0 0 7 2 25 0 Wednesday’s Game At Minsk, Belarus Croatia 3, Belarus 1
GROUP SEVEN GP W D L GF GA Pts Serbia 7 6 0 1 15 5 18 France 6 4 1 1 8 6 13 Lithuania 7 3 0 4 6 6 9 Austria 6 2 1 3 7 8 7 Romania 6 2 1 3 7 10 7 Faeroe Islands6 0 1 5 1 8 1 Wednesday’s Game At Torshavn, Faeroe Islands France 1, Faeroe Islands 0 GROUP NINE GP W D L GF GA Pts q-Netherlands7 7 0 0 16 2 21 Macedonia 6 2 1 3 4 7 7 Scotland 6 2 1 3 4 10 7 Norway 6 1 3 2 6 5 6 Iceland 7 1 1 5 6 12 4 q-qualified Wednesday’s Game At Oslo Norway 4, Scotland 0
CONCACAF Champions League Glance All Time EDT PRELIMINARY ROUND First Leg Tuesday, July 28 D.C. United (United States) 1, Firpo (El Salvador) 1 Pachuca (Mexico) 3, Jalapa (Guatemala) 0 Wednesday, July 29 Toronto FC (Canada) 0, Puerto Rico Islanders 1 San Francisco (Panama) 2, San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago) 0 Liberia (Costa Rica) 3, Real Espana (Honduras) 0 Thursday, July 30 W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago) 2, New York Red Bulls (United States) 2, tie Cruz Azul (Mexico) 6, Herediano (Costa Rica) 2 Olimpia (Honduras) 2, Arabe Unido (Panama) 1 Second Leg Tuesday, Aug. 4 Puerto Rico Islanders 0, Toronto (Canada) 0, Islanders advanced on 1-0 aggregate Jalapa (Guatemala) 1, Pachuca (Mexico) 7, Pachuca advanced on 10-1 aggregate Firpo (El Salvador) 1, D.C. United (United States) 1, OT; 2-2 aggregate; D.C. United advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks Wednesday, Aug. 5 W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago) 2, New York Red Bulls (United States) 1, W Connection advanced on 43 aggregate Cruz Azul (Mexico) 0, Herdiano (Costa Rica) 0, Cruz Azul advanced on 6-2 aggregate Thursday, Aug. 6 Arabe Unido (Panama) 1, Olimpia (Honduras) 0, Arabe Unido advanced on 1-0 away goals San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago) 3, San Francisco (Panama) 0, San Juan Jabloteh advanced on 3-2 aggregate Real Espana (Honduras) 6, Liberia (Costa Rica) 0, Real Espana advanced on 6-3 aggregate FIRST ROUND GROUP A GP W D L GF GA PTS Arabe Unido 1 0 0 0 4 0 3 Houston 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Metapan 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Pachuca 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 Wednesday, Aug. 19 Houston Dynamo (United States) 1, Metapan (El Salvador) 0 Arabe Unido (Panama) 4, Pachuca (Mexico) 1 Tuesday, Aug. 25 Pachuca (Mexico) vs. Metapan (El Salvador), 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 Arabe Unido (Panama) vs. Houston Dynamo (United States), 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 Metapan (El Salvador) vs. Arabe Unido (Panama), 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 Pachuca (Mexico) vs. Houston Dynamo (United States), 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Houston Dynamo (United States) vs. Arabe Unido (Panama), 10 p.m. Metapan (El Salvador) vs. Pachuca (Mexico), 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 Arabe Unido (Panama) vs. Metapan (El Salvador), 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 Houston Dynamo (United States) vs. Pachuca (Mexico), 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 Pachuca (Mexico) vs. Arabe Unido (Panama), 8 p.m. Metapan (El Salvador) vs. Houston Dynamo (United States), 10 p.m. GROUP B GP W D L GF GA PTS Marathon 1 1 0 0 3 1 3 Toluca 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 San Juan 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 D.C. United 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 Tuesday, Aug. 18 Marathon (Honduras) 3, D.C. United (United States) 1 Thursday, Aug. 20 Toluca (Mexico) 1, San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago) 0 Wednesday, Aug. 26 D.C. United (United States) vs. Toluca (Mexico), 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27 Marathon (Honduras) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago), 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. D.C. United (United States), 8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 Toluca (Mexico) vs. Marathon (Honduras), 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 Toluca (Mexico) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago), 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 D.C. United (United States) vs. Marathon (Honduras), 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 D.C. United (United States) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago), 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 Marathon (Honduras) vs. Toluca (Mexico), 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 Toluca (Mexico) vs. D.C. United (United States), 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. Marathon (Honduras), 8 p.m. GROUP C GP W D L GF GA PTS Columbus 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 Cruz Azul 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 P.R. Islanders1 0 0 1 0 2 0 Saprissa 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 Tuesday, Aug. 18 Columbus Crew (United States) 2, Puerto Rico Islanders 0 Wednesday, Aug. 19 Cruz Azul (Mexico) 2, Saprissa (Costa Rica) 0 Tuesday, Aug. 25 Saprissa (Costa Rica) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders, 10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 Cruz Azul (Mexico) vs. Columbus Crew (United States), 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Cruz Azul (Mexico)-Herediano (Costa Rica) winner, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 Saprissa (Costa Rica) vs. Columbus Crew (United States), 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Saprissa (Costa Rica), 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 Columbus Crew (United States) vs. Cruz Azul (Mexico)-Herediano (Costa Rica) winner, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 Columbus Crew (United States) vs. Saprissa (Costa Rica), 8 p.m. Cruz Azul (Mexico) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders, 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Columbus Crew (United States), 8 p.m. Saprissa (Costa Rica) vs. Cruz Azul (Mexico)-Herediano (Costa Rica) winner, 10 p.m. GROUP D GP W D L GF GA PTS UNAM 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 R Espana 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Com 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 W Conn 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Tuesday, Aug. 18 Pumas UNAM (Mexico) 1, Comunicaciones (Guatemala) 0 Thursday, Aug. 20 Real Espana (Honduras) 1, W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago) 0 Thursday, Aug. 27 W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. Comunicaciones (Guatemala), 8 p.m. Real Espana (Honduras) vs. Pumas UNAM (Mexico), 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. Pumas UNAM (Mexico), 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 Comunicaciones (Guatemala) vs. Real Espana (Honduras), 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 Comunicaciones (Guatemala) vs. W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago), 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 Pumas UNAM (Mexico) vs. Real Espana (Honduras), 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 Pumas UNAM (Mexico) vs. W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago), 8 p.m. Real Espana (Honduras) vs. Comunicaciones (Guatemala), 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. Real Espana (Honduras), 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 Comunicaciones (Guatemala) vs. Pumas UNAM (Mexico), 10 p.m.
Fight Schedule Aug. 22 At Toyota Center, Houston (HBO), Malcolm Klassen, South Africa, vs. Robert Guerrero, Gilroy, Calif., 12, for Klassen’s IBF super featherweight title; Juan Diaz, Houston, vs. Paul Malignaggi, Brooklyn, N.Y., 12, light welterweights; Daniel Jacobs, Brooklyn, N.Y., vs. Ishe Smith, Las Vegas, 10, for the NABO middleweight title. Aug. 28 At Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Fla. (ESPN2), Juan Urango, Cooper City, Fla., vs. Randall Bailey, Miami, 12, for Urango’s IBF light welterweight title; Tavoris Cloud, Tallahassee, Fla., vs. Clinton Woods, Britain, 12, for the vacant IBF light heavyweight title. Aug. 29 At Halle, Germany, Victor Emiliano Ramirez, Argentina, vs. Marco Huck, Germany, 12, for Ramirez’s WBO cruiserweight title; Karo Murat, Germany, vs. Lorenzo Di Giacomo, Italy, 12. At Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, Brian Viloria, Waipahu, Hawaii, vs. Jesus Iribe, Mexico, 12, for Viloria’s IBF light
flyweight title. At Quik Trip Park, Grande Prairie, Texas, Jesus Soto-Karass, Mexico, vs. Edvan Dos Barrios, Miami, 10, welterweights; Mikey Garcia, Oxnard, Calif., vs. Carlos Rivera, Oldsmar, Fla., 10, featherweights. Sept. 5 At Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (PPV), Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Mexico, vs. Jason LeHoullier, Portland, Maine, 10, super welterweights; Manuel Vargas, Mexico, vs. Donnie Nietes, Philippines, 12, for Vargas’ WBO mini flyweight title. Sept. 12 At MCH Messecenter, Herning, Denmark (SHO), Mikkel Kessler, Denmark, vs. Gusmyl Perdomo, Venezuela, 12, for Kessler’s WBA super middleweight title. At Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, Calif. (SHO), Andre Ward, Oakland, Calif., vs. Shelby Pudwill, Mandan, N.D., 10, super middleweights. At San Juan, Puerto Rico (PPV), Ivan Calderon, Puerto Rico, vs. Rodel Mayol, Philippines, for Calderon’s WBO and Ring Magazine titles; Roman Martinez, Puerto Rico, vs. Michael Lozada, Mexico, 12, for Martinez’s WBO junior lightweight title. Sept. 19 At MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather, Las Vegas, vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, Anaheim, Calif., 12, welterweights; Chris John, Indonesia, vs. Rocky Juarez, Houston, 12, for John’s WBA featherweight title; Vicente Escobedo, Woodland, Calif. vs. Michael Katsidis, Thailand, 12, for vacant interim WBO lightweight title; Zab Judah, Las Vegas, vs. Antonio Diaz, Coachella, Calif., 10, welterweights. At Neubrandenburg, Germany, Giovanni Lorenzo, New York, vs. Sebastian Sylvester, Germany, 12, for vacant IBF middleweight title. Sept. 26 At Staples Center, Los Angeles, Vitali Klitschko, Los Angeles, vs. Chris Arreola, Riverside, Calif., 12, for Klitschko’s WBC heavyweight title. At UIC Pavilion, Chicago, David Diaz, Chicago, vs. Jesus Chavez, Austin, Texas, 10, lightweights. Sept. 3 At Tokyo, Nobuo Nashiro, Japan, vs. Hugo Cazares, Mexico, 12, for Nashiro’s WBA junior bantamweight title. Oct. 10 At Madison Square Garden, New York (PPV), Yuriorkis Gamboa, Miami, vs. Whyber Garcia, Panama, 12, for Gamboa’s WBA featherweight title; Odlanier Solis, Miami, vs. Kevin Johnson, Atlanta, 12, heavyweights. At Tokyo, Toshiaki Nishioka, Japan, vs. Ivan Hernandez, Mexico, 12, for Nishioka’s WBC junior featherweight tile; Jorge Linares, Tokyo, vs. Juan Carlos Salgado, Mexico, 12, for Linares’ WBA junior lightweight title.
Transactions BASEBALL MLB—Suspended New Yor Mets RHP Santiago Valdez (Gulf Coast) for 50 games testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. American League BOSTON RED SOX—Recalled RHP Michael Bowden from Pawtucket (IL). Activated OF Rocco Baldelli from the 15-day DL. Optioned OF Brian Anderson to Pawtucket. Designated RHP Fernando Cabrera for assignment. American Association EL PASO DIABLOS—Signed RHP Max Limonick. Released RHP Yury Santana. GRAND PRAIRIE AIRHOGS— Signed INF Joseph Spiers. LINCOLN SALTDOGS—Acquired OF Argelis Nunez and RHP Gregorio Martinez from Laredo (United) for cash and two players to be named. PENSACOLA PELICANS—Signed RHP Kieran Mattison. SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS—Acquired OF Norm Hutchins from Lincoln for a player to be named. WICHITA WINGNUTS—Signed C John C. Martin. FOOTBALL National Football League NFL—Fined Carolina RB Mike Goodson $7,500 for making a throat slash gesture after scoring a touchdown in a Aug. 17 game against the New York Giants. BUFFALO BILLS—Signed DE Aaron Maybin to a five-year contract. NEW YORK JETS—Re-signed QB Chris Pizzotti. HOCKEY National Hockey League NASHVILLE PREDATORS— Signed F Marcel Goc to a one-year contract. COLLEGE GANNON—Named Dave Patronik men’s golf coach and Jason Willow women’s golf coach. JACKSONVILLE STATE—Suspended QB Ryan Perrilloux for one game for violating team rules. SHENANDOAH—Named Renee Summerson and Emily Wheelock womens assistant soccer coaches.
SEASON | Continued from Page 1B “We’re going to have a hard practice week, and I think by next week when we have our first game we’ll be ready.”
something else happens. If someone else has to go in there, it’s going to be a quarterback.”
Steady improvement
Securing a QB As of Friday, Arce was fairly confident his search for a starting quarterback had been narrowed down to one candidate: junior Luis Gonzalez. The other two candidates for the job, junior Andrew Magee and sophomore Manuel Salinas, are expected to start at other positions. “Manuel can play anywhere,” Arce said. “He’s a sophomore, and he’ll get his chance out there. He’s going to be our starting corner, and he can also play as one of our slot backs. “In our offense, the quarterback has to know every single position in case of injury or if
Though Friday’s game was technically the Hawks’ second scrimmage loss, Arce noticed a lot of improvement since last week’s clash with Class 4A Tuloso-Midway. “Moving the ball on the ground, of course, that’s our forte, but moving the ball on the ground with our quarterback, I think we did a lot better than last week,” Arce said. “Defensively, other than a few big plays by their good athletes, it would have been a lot closer. The second group looked good when they got in there, so we know we have some good backups.” One area that Arce said could still use
work is defensive assignments, but he believes that is to be expected for such a young, inexperienced team. “We’re almost there, you can see it, but every once in a while, we’ll blow an assignment,” he said. “It’s a lot of things that are correctable.” Added Regalado, “Every week, everyone’s improving. They’re learning to play, adjusting to the speed of varsity. It’s just a whole new level.”
Tough opponents Regalado noted being a 3A school against a 5A made things a bit harder on his team, something Arce hopes will benefit his players. “It’s really hard when you go up against a 5A
school because they’re ready to go right away, and we kind of have to slow it down a little bit because a lot of our kids play on both sides of the ball,” Arce said. “We always try to go against good competition so we can be ready and prepared to go when we start district. “Our district in the Valley is, in my opinion, one of the toughest in the whole state just because of the competition. These schools are big-time football, and we’d like to be included in that. I think by playing these 5A schools and 4A schools maybe helps us. “We’re not going to shy away from anyone; we’re going to come up, line up and do the best we can to beat you.” The Hawks open their non-district season Friday against Palmview in Zapata at 7:30 p.m.
SOUTH | Continued from Page 1B The Lady Hawks are playing at the Valley View Tournament. They went 3-3 and split with Lyford, lost two to Valley View and defeated Santa Rosa in two. The Lady Hawks will be playing in the silver division bracket Saturday and do not
know who their opponent is because pool C & D played Friday. NOTE: Seventh and eighth graders interested in playing volleyball should attend a meeting Monday after school in the gymnasium UNITED SOUTH STATS: Samantha De La
Cruz (six kills), Lesli Campos (nine kills), Rhodel Convington (five kills, four blocks), Mariana Gallegos (eight assists), Melina Sanchez (20 assists, nine points), Jessica Contreras (nine digs) and Linda Resendez (two kills, four digs, 12 assists, six points).
ZAPATA STATS: Brandi King (19 kills, two blocks, eight aces, 10 digs), Kat Garcia (five kills, one block, eight digs), Selina Mata (eight kills, six aces, eight digs), Adriana Peña (three kills, two aces, 10 digs), Lexi Garza (20 assists) and Lauren Mendoza (16 assists).
COACH | Continued from Page 1B “All runners are slightly ahead of their progress from a year ago at this time,” he said. “Marlena had a great track season and hopes to repeat the feat in cross-country. Gloria and Alba are leaps and bounds ahead of last year’s practice times. The Lady Hawks are the defending district champions, and have a
big target on their backs every time they get on the course. “The team that most wants to dethrone the Lady Hawks is La Feria. They were the perennial district champions of that district until we came along and claimed that spot last year,” Villarreal said. La Feria just hired a new coach
and is working hard to make the Lady Lions better. The Lady Hawks’ success can also be attributed to the strong parental support that is displayed at every meet. It is not unusual to find Lady Hawk cross-country parents, hitting the road on a Saturday morn-
ing to show support for their daughter at the meet. “When a parent is 100 percent behind the program, like in anything else it is very beneficial. Having parental support and backing up the coach’s efforts can go a long way,” Villarreal said. “I am truly thankful for the
parents that have supported ZHS cross-country during my tenure here. It has been an honor and a privilege to coach their children. It is a great feeling at the end of the season to have parents say thank you for all you have done to make their child the best they can be.”
CROSS COUNTRY | Continued from Page 1B you feel sorry for the runners but I never feel sorry for them,” Escamilla said. “Why? Because the human body can do anything that you want it to go through and the main reason why I do not feel sorry for them is because when it’s time to put the
body to test, it will prevail.” Escamilla implement a smart program rather than hard program. “A lot of coaches preach to practice hard, I implement smart training. Our strength has improved dramatically. We have only done two of my staple sessions,” he said
“We follow a simple program that consists of 5-6 different workouts. We do not get on the track until we approach the post season, but we do get our work done on specific terrain to simulate races.” The Hawks have a secret trail
that is found around Zapata, that no one knows around. “We run on a ranch that has some nice dirt trails. We have a secret trail that no one knows about but champions are made when no one is watching,” Escamilla said.
Escamilla also noted that the community plays a big part in the teams success. “The Zapata cross-country teams would like to thank the community for supporting the program by sponsoring our annual cross-country meet,” he said.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2009
ADVICE | HELOISE Dear Heloise: My first pet was a Siamese fighting fish (also known as a betta). I got a turquoise one and named it “Blue.” I took good care of him, always washing and changing the rocks and feeding him. I just wanted to tell you that anyone who gets a betta might think it can just live in a small bowl without oxygen or a bubble machine. If you want your BETTA TO LIVE LONGER, you should treat it like a regular fish in an aquarium. — Amy M., via e-mail Amy, how right you are! Taking care of Siamese fighting fish does require some effort. The fish need: —Special betta food (not just plant roots, or the fish will slowly starve to death). —Fresh water every few days or a “bubbler” in the tank. (It is true that bettas will swim to the surface to gulp air, but a bubbler puts much more oxygen in the water.)
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HELOISE
—Gravel or colored rocks to hide in. Make sure to clean the rocks in running tap water before you put them in the tank. (Don’t use soap.) —Dechlorination drops (or tablets) for the tank water, which take out the chlorine. —A light is not necessary, but if you get one, use it only a few hours per day so algae don’t grow like crazy. Betta fish don’t need a large habitat, but they do like to swim around and hide in their plants and rocks — something the size of a large goldfish bowl is best. Remember, don’t ever put two betta males together, since they will fight to the death! — Heloise
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2009