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Balancing act More cuts, tax hike may solve deficit By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County commissioners will hold a budget hearing Monday, which will be followed immediately by a regular commissioner’s court meeting during which the budget and tax rate will have to be approved. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and will last about 30 min-
utes, giving commissioners a short window to review each department’s budget requests before making a final decision and adopting the budget and tax rate for the next fiscal year. After a decrease in the valuation of county properties and a subsequent shortfall in revenue, commissioners are considering transferring $4 million from the county reserve fund to the operat-
ing budget, according to Commissioner Jose E. Vela. More cuts and an increased tax rate will have to be considered, he said. “I can look at more cuts, an increased tax rate of three or four cents, and taking only $1 million from the reserves. Not more than that,” Vela said. “We can run into
See ZAPATA PAGE 10A
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Time
TERRORIST ATTACKS
Zapata South Elementary student Caleb Guerra, 3, shares some time with his grandfather Clyde as they read a book at the school’s library Friday morning. The school hosted an event marking Grandparent’s Day.
Grandparents have their day By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County ISD elementary and middle school celebrated Grandparent’s Day by inviting all the students’ grandparents to read a book of their choice to their grandchildren in
their school libraries. Visiting the school and reading to grandchildren on Grandparent’s Day helps children understand the importance of school and education, said Commissioner Jose E. Vela.
See BOOKS PAGE 9A
UNITED WAY Photos by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
ABOVE: The Zapata County Fire Department was among the agencies that visited Zapata South Elementary Friday morning for an event to mark the ninth anniversary of 9-11. BELOW: A Zapata County Sheriff’s deputy and a Border Patrol agent shake hands with Zapata South Elementary students on Friday morning as they participated in an event to mark the ninth anniversary of 9-11.
REMEMBERING 9-11 Children observe ninth anniversary By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Z
apata South Elementary students paraded around their campus Friday waving U.S. flags to observe the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In doing so, they not only honored the people who lost their lives that day, but also the local heroes who risk their lives everyday to protect the community. “This is one of the schools that commemorate that event that changed our lives forever,” Interim Superintendent Norma Garcia said. “This has been awareness and at the same time a big thank you to all the law enforcement officers
See PARADE PAGE 10A
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Guest speaker Robert L. Harris speaks during the United Way of Laredo, Inc. campaign kick-off breakfast at the Laredo Civic Center on Friday morning.
Fundraiser starts annual collection By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
For years, Angie Osterman went through dialysis treatments as an end-stage renal disease patient. Her kidneys were functioning at 8 percent, and she was told in 2006 she would be on the wait-list for a kidney for six to eight years if she couldn’t come up with a donor
on her own. She had little hope as her mother and brother struck out as potential matches. During the process, she turned to the Kidney Foundation of Laredo for support and information. “In Laredo, the information in regards to transplants or organ donation is really limited,”
See UNITED WAY PAGE 10A