The Zapata Times 9/11/2010

CONTROVERSY MARKS 9-11

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

FREE

GROUND ZERO MOSQUE SPAT DETRACTS FROM NINTH ANNIVERSARY, 9A

DELIVERED EVERY SATURDAY

TO 4,000 HOMES

A HEARST PUBLICATION

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

COMMISSIONERS

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Webb County Domestic Violence Coalition will be hosting a luncheon at the Laredo Medical Center, Tower B, Community Center, 1st floor at 12 to 1 p.m. LMC is located at 1720 E. Saunders. Advocates and victims of domestic violence wanting to learn more about resources available to help women and children are invited to attend the free luncheon. Call Sister Rosemary Welsh at 718-6810 or Priscilla Salinas at 796-3223.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 19 The 2nd Annual International Cycling Circuit will be meeting from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Laredo Energy Arena.

With over $3,400 in cash prizes being offered, this race is perfect for professional and amateur bike enthusiasts alike. The circuit is a 3.6 mile loop beginning at the Laredo Energy Arena and continuing on Loop 20. Various categories means that anyone interested in participating can find one that fits their age and competitive category. Registration is $30 and can be done by signing up at www.cityoflaredobikerace.com.

Contact Ramon Aviata at 774-3638 or Jose Gonzalez at 728-7636.

A Tire Round-Up will be held at the U. I. S. D. Student Activity Complex, 5208 Santa Claudia from 9 to 4 p.m.

Citizens will be paid up to $20 for bringing in discarded tires. Citizens must have a valid Texas driver’s license. Individuals will be paid $1.00 per regular sized tire, limit 20 tires per vehicle. Nonprofit organizations can use this event as a fundraiser and bring in as many tires as they can. No large commercial or tractor tires will be accepted. Contact the City of Laredo Environmental Services Department at 794-1650.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 25 Monte Mucho Audubon bird watching trip will be taking place at the Corpus Christi Hawk Watch in Hazel Bazemore Park, north of Robstown, from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The annual hawk migration is a true spectacle of the natural world. A car pool will depart from Laredo, call for details. Visit www.meetup.com/montemucholaredo/calendar/14479839/ or call Raul Delgado at 763-7624.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 24 Billboard’s Number 1 recording artist Daddy Yankee will perform at the Laredo Energy Arena as part of his Mundial Tour. Concert is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Visit learena.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 25 The Women’s City Club will host “Dancing with the Stars, Laredo Style” today at the Laredo Country Club, 1415 Country Club Drive. For reservations, call Esther Degollado at (956) 337-2523, Nancy de Anda at (956) 763-9960, Cindy Reyes at (956) 220-3187 or Molly Martinez at (956) 724-2300.

Unitrade presents Asian Night 2010 “Moon Festival.” This year’s spectacular event will feature music, a fashion show, live and silent auctions, cultural dances, traditional Asian food, and artistic performances. Moon Festival will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Laredo Energy Arena. For ticket information, call 251-4351.

SUNDAY, OCT. 2 There will be a calf raffle drawing to be held today at the fall dinner. Donated by Chale Guerra, Commander of American Legion Post #486, tickets are $2 each or $5 for three tickets. For more information, contact Beto Arambula at (956) 337-5117.

Funny man Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias returns to Laredo Energy Area tonight, ready to knock audience socks off with his Comedy Central Live, The Fluffy Shop, Comedy Tour. Tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations, including the LEA Box Office, H.E.B. stores or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Call (956) 791-9192.

40th Annual Ladies State Chili Championship and 3rd Annual Open Barbeque Cookoff at Yett Memorial Park, 1813 US Hwy 281 S., Blanco, from 11 to 11 p.m. Admission is free and proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Resource Center. The event promises to be a day full of family fun as women chili cooks from all corners of Texas compete for the opportunity to wear the crown and claim the title of 2010 Texas Chili Queen. Call Susie Higgins at 512-558-1321 or visit ladiesstate.org for details and entry forms.

To submit an item for the calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com

Photo by Jack Plunkett | AP

This aerial photo shows farmland near Temple, on Thursday, flooded by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hermine. Gov. Rick Perry toured parts of the state Thursday and issued a disaster declaration for 40 counties.

Hermine death toll at 6

By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN ANTONIO — The bodies of two men found Friday in swollen Texas waterways pushed the death toll caused by remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine to six, while a scaled-back search resumed for another woman swept away in flooding caused by a record drenching.

Five in Texas and one in Oklahoma have died in flooding caused by Hermine, which proved more deadly and devastating this week while dissolving over land than it did after coming ashore in Mexico on Monday.

Hermine’s weakening march north through Texas flooded homes, set off tornadoes and led to more than 100 high-water rescues. Only one search continued Friday — for an Austin woman who drove around a police barricade and into a fast-moving

creek Tuesday night.

Divers were pulled from the search for the woman, who disappeared after her sport utility vehicle was washed down Bull Creek.

Hermine set rainfall records for the calendar day up and down the Interstate 35 corridor, including nearly 16 inches in Georgetown, according to the National Weather Service. Other cities from Austin to Denton received upward of 10 inches of rain over Tuesday and Wednesday.

“These records pretty much smashed the old ones,” National Weather Service meteorologist Ted Ryan said.

Search teams recovered the bodies of two men missing in separate, swollen waterways.

One was the second of two swimmers killed in flooding in the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, a day after authorities found the first body.

State triples reward for fugitive sex offender

Homeless man questioned after Bush home search

Distressed pig rescued from hot car

AMARILLO — State authorities have tripled the reward for an Amarillo man accused of sex crimes against young children.

The reward for 50-year-old Jose Manuel Vasquez has jumped to $3,000 as the investigation has grown to include more than one child.

Vasquez fled his Amarillo home in July when confronted about the allegations.

DALLAS — Secret Service agents have questioned a homeless man who was knocking on doors in search of former President George W. Bush near his Dallas home, police said Friday.

Both the Secret Service and Dallas police said the man never made it within the security gates that limit access to the cul de sac in the upscale neighborhood where the Bushes live.

Condemned Mexican man gets OK for appeal

Feds reject request for $830M for schools

BROWNSVILLE — A little piggy just wanted out of the hot car.

Authorities rescued a distressed pot-bellied pig outside the Cameron County Courthouse after finding the pet owner, who unlocked the car.

An online video showed authorities trying to unlock the car before the woman arrived. Animal control officers took the pig and say they cited the woman for animal cruelty.

HOUSTON — A Mexican national condemned for fatally shooting a security guard in Houston in 1994 has won court permission for an appeal.

Thirty-four-year-old Felix Rocha argues his lawyers did a poor job developing and presenting evidence that could have influenced jurors to spare his life.

Rocha has been on death row since 1998.

AUSTIN — The U.S. Department of Education has rejected Texas’ application for $830 million in federal money for schools and asked the state to resubmit its request without conditions.

The rejection was based on a line in the state’s application that said Texas’ constitution and laws supersede any assurances made by the governor in the application.

Police: Woman pulls gun after volleyball match SAN ANTONIO — Police say a woman believed to be a suburban San Antonio middle school parent pulled a gun on members of an opposing volleyball team after her school lost a match.

School police were reviewing videotape of the Thursday night incident to try to identify the woman.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION New rules would mean fewer hours for pilots

CONTACT US

WASHINGTON — Work hours would be shortened for pilots who fly at night while some pilots who fly during the day could spend more time in the cockpit under a government proposal to help prevent dangerous fatigue.

The Federal Aviation Administration plan is an attempt to overhaul pilot work rules to reflect scientific understanding of how fatigue impacts human performance.

Fire fully contained after deadly Calif. blast SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Fire crews have fully contained the blaze ignited after a gas line ruptured and a massive fireball engulfed a neighborhood.

Four people have been confirmed dead in the Thursday night blast. Authorities still need to search about a quarter of the

Today is Saturday, Sept. 11, the 254th day of 2010. There are 111 days left in the year.

This is Patriot Day. Today’s Highlight in History: On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed on America’s worst day of terrorism. Hijackers seized four jetliners, two of which smashed into New York’s World Trade Center, causing the twin towers to fall; one jetliner plowed into the Pentagon; and the fourth was crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania.

On this date: In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

In 1814, an American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.

In 1857, the Mountain Meadows Massacre took place in present-day southern Utah as a 120-member Arkansas immigrant party was slaughtered

by Mormon militiamen aided

by Paiute Indians.

In 1885, author D.H. Lawrence was born in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England.

In 1941, groundbreaking took place for the Pentagon, now headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. In an address to an America First rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Charles A. Lindbergh charged that “the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration” were pushing the United States toward war.

In 1954, the Miss America pageant made its network TV debut on ABC; Miss California, Lee Meriwether, was crowned the winner.

In 1960, the Rome Summer Olympics ended.

In 1970, Ford Motor Co. introduced the Pinto, a compact that would become caught up in controversy over the safety of its gas tank. (The Pinto was discontinued in 1980.)

In 1973, Chilean President Salvador Allende died in a violent military coup.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Betsy Drake is 87. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) is 86. Actor Earl Holliman is 82. Newspaper columnist David S. Broder is 81. Movie director Brian De Palma is 70. Rock singer-musician Jack Ely (The Kingsmen) is 67. Rock musician Mickey Hart (The Dead) is 67. Singermusician Leo Kottke is 65. Actor Phillip Alford is 62. Actress Amy Madigan is 60. Rock singer-musician Tommy Shaw (Styx) is 57. Sports reporter Lesley Visser is 57. Actor Reed Birney is 56. Singer-songwriter Diane Warren is 54. Musician Jon Moss (Culture Club) is 53. Actor Scott Patterson is 52. Rock musician Mick Talbot (The Style Council) is 52. Actress Roxann Dawson is 52.

Actor John Hawkes is 51. Actress Anne Ramsay is 50. Actress Virginia Madsen is 49.

Actress Kristy McNichol is 48.

Musician-composer Moby is 45. Business reporter Maria Bartiromo is 43. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 43. Rock musician Bart Van Der Zeeuw is 42. Actress Taraji (tuh-RAH’jee) P. Henson is 40. Actress Laura Wright is 40. Rock musician Jeremy Popoff (Lit) is 39. Blogger Markos Moulitsas is 39. Thought for Today: “This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” — Elmer Davis, American news commentator (1890-1958).

Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Business Manager, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 324-1226 Chief Accountant, Thelma Aguero .............. 728-2553 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Retail Adv. Manager, Raul Cruz................... 728-2511 Classified Manager, Sandra Valderrama....... 728-2525 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Editor, Diana Fuentes ................................728-2581 City Editor, Kirsten Crow .......................... 728-2543 Sports Editor, Dennis Silva II......................728-2579 Business Journal Editor, Joe Rutland .......... 728-2529 Entertainment Editor, Emilio Rábago III ....... 728-2564 Online Editor, Julie Daffern ....................... 728-2565 Photo by David Bauaman/The Press-Enterprise | AP

A railroad worker stands on a Union Pacific locomotive in Fontana, Calif. on Friday. Doctors amputated the arm of a conductor Friday to free him from the wreckage of a locomotive that struck a slow-moving freight train Thursday. homes in the affected area.

Man accused of posing as vet to scam money INDIANAPOLIS — A man masquerading as a down-on-his-

luck soldier needing travel funds scammed good Samaritans out of nearly $500 before police caught up with him.

James Schuder, 43, faces seven misdemeanor counts each of deception and panhandling.

— Compiled from AP reports

SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted.

The Zapata Times is free.

The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500.

The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

Zlocal

PAGE 3A

Veterans are focus of University program seeks health care enrollment winter jacket donations

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System is focusing on the expansion of benefits for veterans in Zapata and the area through a chain of Veteran Enrollment Fairs.

One will be held today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the South Texas College-Starr County Campus auditorium, 145 FM 3167, Rio Grande City.

The purpose of the fair is to get as many new veterans to register in the Veterans Affairs system to receive services and healthcare benefits, said Froy Garza, Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System public affairs officer.

“The more that are enrolled the more we’re able

to provide,” Garza said. “At times they are too proud to seek help. This is free healthcare they are already entitled to.”

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, Jeff Milligan of the VA Texas Coastal Bend Healthcare System, and retired Gen. Ricardo Sanchez will be on hand to emphasize the importance of veterans enrollment and benefits, Garza added.

The Starr and Hidalgo County Veterans Service Department will be on hand to help veterans in the VA benefits enrollment process. Veterans will be required to bring DD214 discharge papers, identification, social security number and tax return.

According to Garza, all veterans are encouraged to attend the enrollment fairs to have the opportunity to

qualify for more or new benefits.

Eligibility depends on income threshold . Congress relaxed the income restriction in 2009 and increased the national income threshold by 10 percent, Garza said.

“That allowed more veterans to enroll,” he said.

Veterans get discouraged when their income is very high or when they already have private insurance, Garza added.

“You never know with the economic instability, you may lose your job or other circumstances may happen,” he said. “Just fill out the form that takes 10 minutes to fill out and submit it to have your name in the system.”

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)

THE ZAPATA TIMES

After last year’s recordbreaking frigid weather, Texas A&M-College Station, through the Colonias Program, is looking to keep Zapata warm with a coat drive.

“This is new to Zapata, but I’ve seen an increase in the need,” said outreach worker Adriana Barrera.

Residents were not prepared for last year’s winter, and when they would visit the office with their children, they were not

dressed appropriately for the weather, Barrera said.

“I’ve seen the need,” she said.

The program began the first week of September and will continue through the end of October.

Barrera is asking everyone to look in their closets and bring new or gently-used jackets or sweaters of all sizes to the Zapata County treasurer’s office. Other clothing items are also accepted, Barrera added.

“Some people are bringing in clothing and I

do accept clothing throughout the year, but this is a specific project I’m working on,” she said. “I hope our residents can give back to the community and help these needy families.”

For more information, contact Barrera at (956) 765-9809 or via e-mail at nanabarrera22@gmail.com.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)

THE BLOTTER BURGLARY Deputies responded to a vehicle burglary call at about 6 p.m. Sept. 3 in the 600 block of Cerrito Drive. A male complainant said he lent his pickup to a known relative. An incident report states that when the complainant picked up the truck, he noticed that its Kenwood radio was missing.

EVADING ARREST Deputies arrested Robert Julian Boatright at about 2 a.m.

Sept. 4 in the vicinity of Seventh and 10th streets on Diaz Avenue in the Medina Addition. An inci-

dent reports states that a deputy attempted to stop a man, identified as Boatright, for reckless driving. The man refused to stop and evaded deputies until he was stopped in the 900 block of Diaz Avenue.

Boatright was charged with evading arrest and detention. He was booked and taken to Zapata Regional Jail.

Deputies arrested Francisco Vasquez, III, 17, and charged him with evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle. Deputies responded to a chase in progress call at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Vasquez was stopped in an allterrain vehicle in the Siesta Shores Subdivision. Authorities

arrested him and took him to the Zapata Regional Jail.

INDECENT EXPOSURE Deputies responded to an indecent exposure call at 12:51 p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of Diaz Avenue. A complainant stated that a known person had exposed his penis.

THEFT Officials responded to a theft call at about 4 p.m. Sept.

4 at La Palmyra Facility No. 1 in Falcon. A complainant said someone stole condensate from the facility.

ZAPATA COUNTY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

ZAPATA COUNTY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

JOB POSTING

JOB POSTING

Position: Bus Aide (s) Salary: $8.31/Hour $12.09/Hour Minimum Maximum Pay Grade: Auxilary Pay Ranges Minimum Duty Days: 180 Days 20 Hours Per Week Minimum Requirements: High school diploma or GED or 12 years of a combination of education and work experience.

Special Knowledge/Skills: Demonstrate ability to work effectively and harmoniously with administrators and other staff; treat all people with dignity and respect; ability to communicate effectively; ability to follow and convey verbal and written instructions; ability to work as a member of a team; knowledge of student discipline procedures; ability to manage student behavior; ability to operate safety equipment and adaptive equipment; and ability to work well with special needs children.

Position: Elementary Bilingual Teacher Salary: $41,000.00 $58,920.00 Minimum Maximum Pay Grade:

Salary Schedule for Classroom Teachers & Full Time Librarians Minimum Duty Days: 187 Days Minimum Requirements: Valid Texas Teaching Certificate in area of assignment with required endorsements for subject and level assigned/HQ; Bachelor’s degree from accredited university; and at least one year of student teaching or approved internship.

Special Knowledge/Skills: Ability to employ strategies that lead to student academic success; treat all people with dignity and respect; demonstrate ability to work effectively and harmoniously with administrators, other teachers, students, parents and other staff; knowledge of assigned subjects; general knowledge of curriculum and instruction; ability to instruct students and manage their behavior; and strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.

DEADLINE FOR APPLYING:

Monday, September 13, 2010 Applications May Be Obtained From:

DEADLINE FOR APPLYING: UNTIL POSITION IS FILLED Applications May Be Obtained From:

Human Resources Department 17th & Carla Streets - PO Box 158 Zapata, Texas 78076 (956) 765-6858 - Fax (956) 765-5940 or visit www.zcisd.org

Human Resources Department 17th & Carla Streets - PO Box 158 Zapata, Texas 78076 (956) 765-6858 - Fax (956) 765-5940 or visit www.zcisd.org

We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, marital or veteran status, the presence of a medical condition, disability or any other legally protected status.

We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, marital or veteran status, the presence of a medical condition, disability or any other legally protected status.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

An Equal Opportunity Employer

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

Stimulus spending misses target

By GARY ANDRES HEARST NEWSPAPERS\

WASHINGTON — Earlier this week, President Obama proposed another round of stimulus spending, aiming to boost the sagging economy and — he vainly hopes —his party’s slumping political fortunes.

The $50 billion ‘little brother’ of the $787 billion enacted two years ago is more of a campaign talking point for hemorrhaging Democratic candidates than a serious economic stimulus plan — and with good reason.

If the Democratic-controlled Congress spreads the proceeds around the same way it did with the first spending plan, the results will benefit powerful legislative leaders and savvy Washington insiders more than people who really need it.

At least that was the outcome of the first stimulus bill, according to some new research unveiled last week. And there is no reason to believe this smaller sibling would produce different results.

Three political scientists, James G. Gimpel and Frances E. Lee of the University of Maryland, and Rebecca U. Thorpe of the University of Washington, presented a devastating critique of the first stimulus bill at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association in Washington, D.C. last week.

Their paper, titled “The Distributive Politics of the Federal Stimulus: The Geography of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009,” finds that the funding allocated under last year’s massive spending measure was poorly targeted.

Washington at work Additionally, the way the funds were allocated fits with a lot of Americans’ negative preconceptions of how Washington really works.

Gimpel and his colleagues ask an important question. Did the stimulus money flow disproportionately to the areas with high unemployment and large numbers of mortgage foreclosures?

The simple answer: No. To the contrary, the study reveals the severity of the recession had little bearing on allocation of the dollars.

Yet distribution decisions were far from random. Gimpel and his colleagues write: “Clearly the ARRA did target federal resources to particular locations, just the wrong ones from a need standpoint.”

So how did the money get targeted? The research supports two other explanations. The first is known in political science circles as “distributive theory.”

This approach posits that members of Congress in key institutional positions — such as legislative leaders or lawmakers seated on committees of jurisdiction — steered resources disproportionately in their own direction. Why? Because they had the ability to do so.

In other words, instead of allocating stimulus dollars where people need it most, distributive

theory maintains that politicians apportion it in ways that help themselves, their political party, or their own electoral constituencies.

Call it the “pork barrel” approach to politics.

The second explanation concerns how policymakers exploit “windows of opportunity” during policy debates. Based on research, the windows rationale received even stronger support.

In colloquial terms, this explanation is a manifestation of the saying, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”

Gimpel and his colleagues show that circumstances like an economic emergency create a wave like effect that pull a lot of unrelated — and even ineffective — ideas along.

The logic of these “policy windows” can be summed up like this, according to the paper: “Rather than public policy being the product of decisions rationally designed to solve problems, it is a ‘garbage can’ shaped by chance and contingency, depending on which participants are present, which later alternatives are available, and even what catches people’s eyes.”

Not really stimulus Policy ideas advanced by the Obama administration, such as promoting clean energy, fostering medical and scientific research, and subsidizing state and local government services, are examples of policy alternatives that rode the wave created by the stimulus bill.

The policy window thesis maintains that lawmakers and administration officials — acting like entrepreneurs — attach their ideas to legislative vehicles like the stimulus, even if these proposals had little to do with creating jobs or addressing economic hardship.

The paper finds support for both theories, but more for the “policy windows” argument. “We find some support for both theories,” Gimpel and his co-authors write, “but policy window effects were more important than ’pork barrel politics’ in explaining why funds were mismatched to need.”

Could this happen again when it comes to the new $50 billion stimulus bill? You bet. Especially because the policy window appears open again as Democrats face a mounting economic and political turmoil and may need to move some legislative vehicle.

Using the ARRA as a template, Democrats in Congress might use their institutional positions to direct pork barrel spending — and the stubborn economy as a “policy window” — but will once again probably miss the mark of growing the economy and creating jobs.

As the political scientists conclude, “Rather than a uniquely egregious exercise in pork barreling, the ARRA brightly illuminates the politics of making the most of a crisis.” After all, from the Democrats’ perspective, more stimulus is a terrible thing to waste.

COLUMN

Japan has its own stimulus TOKYO — “Japan’s problems now are the same as they were in the 1990s, when you were writing about them. It’s depressing.”

So declared one economist I spoke to here. “But the Japanese don’t seem all that depressed,” objected another. Both were right — and the conversation crystallized some thoughts I’ve been having about Japan’s situation, and ours.

A decade ago, Japan was a byword for failed economic policies: Years after its real estate bubble burst, it was still suffering from chronic deflation and slow growth. Then America had its own bubble, bust and crisis. And these days, Japan’s record doesn’t look that bad to an American eye.

Why not? For all its flaws, Japanese policy limited and contained the damage from a financial bust. And the question in America now is whether we’ll do the same — or whether we will take a hard right turn into economic disaster.

In the 1990s, Japan conducted a dress rehearsal for the crisis that struck much of the world in 2008. Runaway banks fueled a bubble in land prices; when the bubble burst, these banks were weakened, as were the balance sheets of everyone who had borrowed in the belief land prices would stay

“

PAUL KRUGMAN

high. The result was protracted economic weakness.

And the policy response was too little, too late. The Bank of Japan cut interest rates and took other steps to pump up spending, but it was always behind the curve and persistent deflation took hold. The government propped up employment with public works programs, but its efforts were never focused enough to start a self-sustaining recovery. Banks stayed afloat, but were slow to face up to bad debts and resume lending.

Yet the picture is grayish rather than pitch black. Japan’s economy may be depressed, but it’s not in a depression. The employment picture has been troubled, with a growing number of “freeters” living from temporary job to temporary job.

But thanks to those government job-creation plans, the country isn’t suffering mass unemployment. Debt has risen, but despite constant warnings of imminent crisis — and even downgrades from rating agencies back in 2002 — the government is still able to borrow, long term, at an interest rate of

only 1.1 percent.

In short, Japan’s performance has been disappointing but not disastrous.

And given the policy agenda of America’s right, that’s a performance we may wish we’d managed to match.

Like their Japanese counterparts, American policy makers initially responded to a burst bubble and a financial crisis with half-measures. I’ve lamented that fact, but now it’s water under the bridge. The question is: What happens now?

Republican obstruction means that the best we can hope for in the near future are palliative measures — modest additional spending like the infrastructure program President Barack Obama proposed this week, aid to state and local governments to help them avoid severe further cutbacks, aid to the unemployed to reduce hardship and maintain spending power.

Even with such measures, we’ll be lucky to do as well as Japan did at limiting the human and economic cost of the economy’s financial woes. But it’s by no means certain that we’ll do even that much. It’s hard to overstate how destructive the economic ideas offered earlier this week by John Boehner, the House minority leader, would be if put into practice. Basically, he pro-

poses two things: large tax cuts for the wealthy that would increase the budget deficit while doing little to support the economy, and sharp spending cuts that would depress the economy while doing little to improve budget prospects. Fewer jobs and bigger deficits — the perfect combination.

More broadly, if Republicans regain power, they will surely do what they did during the Bush years: They won’t seriously try to address the economy’s troubles; they’ll just use those troubles as an excuse to push the usual agenda, including Social Security privatization. They’ll also surely try to repeal health reform, which would be another twofer, reducing economic security even as it increases long-term deficits.

So I find myself almost envying the Japanese. Yes, their performance has been disappointing. But things could have been worse. And the case Democrats now need to make — the case the president finally began to make in Cleveland this week — is that if Republicans regain power, things will indeed be worse. Americans, understandably, are disappointed over, frustrated with and angry about the state of the economy; but disappointment is better than disaster.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters.

To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The

phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication.

We want to assure our

readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms.

Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-call-

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

6A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

SÁBADO 11 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2010

Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 11 DE SEPTIEMBRE LAREDO — Hoy es la Jornada Sabatina organizada por el Consulado de México en Laredo, de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. para quienes requieran documentos pero carezcan de tiempo en días hábiles.

Puede hacer cita con MEXITEL, de EU al 1-877-6394835 y desde México al 01800-900-0773.

LAREDO — El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU invita a explorar “One World, One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure” a las 5 p.m., “Star Signs” a las 6 p.m., y “Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Cosmos” a las 7 p.m. Entrada general es de 5 dólares. Más información en el 326-DOME. NUEVO LAREDO — Festival Infantil de la Independencia “Festejando el Bicentenario” tendrá la visita de Leona Vicario y La Corregidora, a las 2 p.m. en Estación Palabra. Entrada libre.

NUEVO LAREDO — Sábados de Museos para Niños presenta “Héroes Mexicanos” en el Museo Reyes Meza a las 4 p.m. Entrada libre.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

Migrantes podrán presentar quejas ASSOCIATED PRESS

MÉXICO — El Congreso aprobó el jueves una reforma legal por la que se permitirá a los migrantes indocumentados presentar quejas por violaciones a sus derechos humanos en México y les da garantías para recibir atención médica sin que sea revelada su situación migratoria.

Previamente avalada por la Cámara de Diputados, el Senado aprobó por 79 votos a favor y ninguno en contra la modificación a la Ley General de Población, que a decir de algunos legisladores cobra especial relevancia luego de la reciente masacre de 72 migrantes centro y sudamericanos presuntamente a manos de

La Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos reportó en 2009 que cerca de 10.000 migrantes eran secuestrados al año, sobre todo por bandas organizadas. un cartel del narcotráfico.

La reforma establece que “no se podrá negar o restringir a los extranjeros que lo requieran, cualquiera que sea su situación migratoria, la atención de quejas en materia de derechos humanos y la procuración de justicia en todos los niveles, siempre y cuando cumplan con los requisitos establecidos en las disposiciones legales aplicables”.

Antes de la modificación, la ley sólo señalaba que los

extranjeros podían realizar trámites siempre y cuando comprobaran su estancia legal en el país.

La reforma fue enviada al Ejecutivo para su promulgación.

“A raíz de la masacre de los 72 indocumentados ocurrida en San Fernando hace unos días, esta modificación a la Ley de Población es sumamente importante”, dijo el senador Ricardo Monreal, del Partido del Trabajo.

El asesinato de los migrantes en la municipalidad de San Fernando, en el estado norteño de Tamaulipas, reavivó el debate sobre los riesgos que enfrentan los indocumentados al cruzar el país en busca de llegar a Estados Unidos.

La Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos reportó en 2009 que cerca de 10.000 migrantes eran secuestrados al año, sobre todo por bandas organizadas.

Un ecuatoriano que so-

IV INFORME DE GOBIERNO

Atacan a ‘piojos’ en escuelas Programa ‘Educación y Salud’ motiva la higiene entre los menores

DOMINGO 12 DE SEPTIEMBRE NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy se presentan Pinturas de la Independencia “Nuestra Independencia” a las 4 p.m. en el Museo de Historia Natural. Entrada libre.

NUEVO LAREDO — El Grupo Expresión presenta “Cero Iván Tres” en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura a las 7 p.m. Entrada libre.

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

LUNES 13 DE SEPTIEMBRE NUEVO LAREDO — La Comunidad Cristiana invita al evento “Oremos por México” hoy a las 7:30 p.m. en la Explanada Esteban Baca Calderón. Habrá alabanzas, adoración, oraciones, panderistas y danzas.

MARTES 14 DE SEPTIEMBRE NUEVO LAREDO — Lectura dramatizada “Sueños de Libertad” en el Archivo Histórico a las 7 p.m. Entrada libre.

MIÉRCOLES 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE LAREDO — El Consulado de México en Laredo y el Instituto Cultural Mexicano invitan a celebrar el Día de la Independencia con una tradicional “Fiesta Mexicana” hoy a las 7 p.m. en la Plaza San Agustín.

NUEVO LAREDO — La tradicional Carrera de la Independencia “15 de Septiembre” es hoy a las 7 p.m.

Las inscripciones son gratuitas. Más información en el (011-51-867) 719-4782.

SAN ANTONIO — Diversos organismos celebrarán hoy el Bicentenario de la Independencia de México con un programa artístico a partir de las 6:45 p.m. en el Auditorio Municipal de San Antonio (100 Auditorio Circle). La entrada es gratuita.

VIERNES 17 DE SEPTIEMBRE LAREDO — Shrine Circus estará en la Laredo Energy Arena en una presentación a las 7:30 p.m. Los precios varían de 14 a 27 dólares, según la edad y el lugar. Más información en learena.com, Ticketmaster ó en el 1-800-745-3000.

NUEVO LAREDO — Lectura dramatizada “Sueños de Libertad” en el Palacio Federal a las 7 p.m. Entrada gratuita.

SÁBADO 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE LAREDO — Shrine Circus estará en la Laredo Energy Arena en tres presentaciones, a las 11 a.m., 3:30 p.m. y 7:30 p.m. Los precios varían de 14 a 27 dólares, según la edad y el lugar.

brevivió a la masacre dijo que los asesinos se identificados como sicarios del cartel de Los Zetas. Hasta ahora han sido detenidos ocho presuntos perpetradores de la matanza.

Las reformas avaladas por el Congreso también señalan que “los extranjeros tendrán derecho a ser auxiliados en el caso de desastres, así como a recibir la atención médica que requieran en enfermedades o accidentes que pongan en riesgo su vida, independientemente de su situación migratoria”, Añade que los funcionarios que atiendan a los migrantes “no estarán obligados a dar el aviso” a las autoridades sobre su situación migratoria.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

El Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores, al centro, saluda al Presidente de México Felipe Calderón, tras la lectura del IV Informe de Gobierno en la Ciudad de México, el 2 de septiembre en la Ciudad de México.

Hernández: Tamaulipas está con el presidente Calderón ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, México — Durante su mensaje a los mexicanos, con motivo de su IV Informe de Gobierno, el Presidente de México Felipe Calderón habló de cinco ejes fundamentales, sobre todo en materia de Estado de Derecho y Seguridad, como objetivo fundamental para garantizar la supremacía de la ley en el territorio nacional.

Al evento que tuvo como escenario el patio central de Palacio Nacional, asistieron invitados especiales entre los que destacaron los gobernadores de los estados, legisladores, representantes del Poder Judicial y representantes de los diversos sectores sociales y productivos del país.

El Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores dijo que en esta lucha frontal contra el crimen es inaplazable modernizar las leyes y las instituciones y compartió plenamente la iniciativa presidencial que se entregó al Congreso de la Unión para aprobar las reformas constitucionales necesarias para dotar de mejores herramientas y recursos a las instituciones encargadas de la seguridad e impartición de justicia.

“Considero de gran relevancia el llamado hecho por el Presidente Calderón para enfrentar

todos los retos que tenemos, como el desafío de deshacer a la delincuencia organizada”, dijo Hernández. “Él cuenta con Tamaulipas, cuenta con el gobernador, cuenta con todo el apoyo de la ciudadanía para poder abatir este flagelo que ha dañado tanto a nuestro país”.

Indicó que ante la grave situación de inseguridad que vive el país y en particular Tamaulipas, la iniciativa de un nuevo modelo de policía a través del desarrollo de sistemas y procedimientos homologados con estándares internacionales para los tres órdenes de gobierno, puede ser la respuesta a esta problemática que estamos enfrentando.

Reforma migratoria Hernández también se sumó también al reclamó enérgico que hizo el Presidente Felipe Calderón a las medidas unilaterales tomadas en los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica que exacerba la persecución y el trato vejatorio en contra de los trabajadores mexicanos no documentados.

Agregó que debe acompañarse de una reforma migratoria integral entre ambos países, que garantice no solo a nuestros compatriotas sus derechos en territorio estadounidense, sino

también, en un acto de corresponsabilidad tenemos que garantizar los derechos de quienes emigran desde Centro y Sudamérica a través de nuestro territorio y son objeto de vejaciones y en algunos otros deplorables casos, pierden la vida.

Plataforma mundial Respecto al eje de Economía Competitiva y Generadora de Empleos expuesto por el Presidente de la República, el gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores convino en que la única vía para crecer y generar empleos es la inversión que detone el crecimiento y permita generar los empleos que tanto se necesitan.

En este renglón, puntualizó que Tamaulipas promociona a nivel nacional y en el extranjero las ventajas competitivas mediante un programa de infraestructura multimodal que consolida a la entidad como una plataforma logística mundial, a través de sus puertos marítimos y múltiples cruces internacionales.

De igual manera, aplaudió los esfuerzos que se realizan en los temas de Igualdad de Oportunidades, Desarrollo Sustentable y Democracia Efectiva y Política Exterior Activa y Responsable.

De acuerdo a informes de la Secretaría de Salud, sólo en un 0.2 por ciento de los más de 5,000 planteles de educación básica en Tamaulipas, llegan a registrar menores contagiados de pediculosis (piojos).

Aunque la cifra no es alta, la Secretaría de Salud y la Secretaría de Educación, mantienen una campaña permanente de detección y aplicación de medicamento en el cabello el cual elimina este tipo insectos denominada “Escuela y Salud”.

Escuela y Salud enfoca sus actividades a orientar a los menores sobre las medidas de higiene universales que deben desarrollar y también contempla la aplicación del tratamiento para la eliminación de los piojos.

El Secretario de Salud Juan Guillermo Mansur Arzola dijo que con las altas temperaturas, estos animalitos suelen presentarse principalmente entre los menores de edad.

“Aun y cuando (los piojos) no son peligrosos y no transmiten alguna otra enfermedad, las actividades de prevención se realizan en los planteles educativos para evitar el contagio”, dijo Mansur.

Como una medida preventiva y para evitar el contagio con otros menores, se realiza la aplicación de tratamiento curativo para los piojos entre la población escolar principalmente, el cual es a base de un shampoo que contiene líndanos que elimina a estos insectos que con frecuencia se llegan a presentar en los niños.

Actualmente este tratamiento se aplica a los menores de varios planteles educativos del estado, para los cual existe una coordinación con los directivos de los mismos, debido a que se trabaja de manera permanente en campañas de prevención y son los maestros quienes identifican la presencia de estos insectos en el menor reportándolo a las autoridades sanitarias para reforzar las acciones.

Mansur explicó que los piojos son insectos parasitarios que proliferan en el cabello de los seres humanos principalmente entre los menores de 3 a 12 años de edad y se alimentan de cantidades muy pequeñas de sangre que extraen del cuero cabelludo y son un problema sumamente habitual, sobre todo entre las niñas que entre los niños, por lo que “es de suma importancia y primordial la higiene personal para erradicarlos”.

Promueven ideas artísticas en el Estado POR IMELDA CÁZARES ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Creadores y artistas tamaulipecos están siendo convocados a presentar proyectos en todas las disciplinas del desarrollo artístico.

El evento es organizado por el Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas, a través del

Instituto Tamaulipeco para la Cultura y las Artes y el Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, mediante la Dirección General de Vinculación Cultural.

Los trabajos deberán realizarse en el transcurso de un año, recibiendo, de ser seleccionados, estímulos económicos que les pro-

curen mejores condiciones para continuar con su labor.

Los estímulos se ofrecerán en las categorías de: Jóvenes creadores, creadores con trayectoria, desarrollo artístico individual (ejecutantes o interpretes), desarrollo artístico colectivo (grupos artísticos), formación artística (estu-

diante de arte), difusión del patrimonio cultural y creador emérito.

Para desarrollar las siguientes disciplinas: Patrimonio cultural, danza, letras, música, teatro, artes visuales, artes plásticas e interdisciplinas.

La fecha límite para presentar los proyectos es 29 de octubre de 2010 en hora-

rio de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m.

Las solicitudes deben ir acompañadas de la documentación completa, firmada, y el material de apoyo .

Para mayor información los interesados podrán comunicarse al teléfono, (834) 15-343-12 extensión 112 o bien enviar un correo electrónico a proyectos.itca@tamaulipas.gob.mx.

PAGE 8A

Zentertainment A BIG WIN FOR LAREDO

Ana Christina Rodriguez, 24, made history last Sunday by becoming the first Laredo-born contestant to win the Miss Texas USA title for Laredo. The 2004 United High School graduate has been competing for the crown for four years and finally won — becoming the fourth Hispanic to earn the title.

She is a preschool teacher in Austin, where she studied at Concordia University Texas.

Read a full-length Q&A with Rodriguez and Chelsey Morgensen, who crowned Rodriguez Sunday and is the current Miss Teen Texas USA, at LMTonline.com.

Country music artist Wes Hayden, whose popularity skyrocketed after he was featured on ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” will be in Laredo on Friday, Oct. 1.

Hayden, of Austin, will perform at Rumors Country Bar and Patio, to promote his third album, “Full Circle.”

He started his professional career at 16, playing around the Lone Star State.

He won the Fox “Really Award” in 2009, as “America’s Favorite Bad Boy” for his controversy on “The Bachelorette.” Recently, Hayden has been featured on a spinoff series called “The Bachelor Pad.” Tickets are $10 for a couple.

Circus Spectacular at LEA next weekend

Young performers excited for Music Life Festival

By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES

A crowd of about 100 young aspiring artists anxiously waited for their names to be called Tuesday at the tdK store inside Mall del Norte.

They were eager to know when they would get to perform at the first Music Life Festival, which will take place at the Laredo Civic Center on Saturday, Sept. 18. There, young dance crews, cheer squads, hip-hop and rap artists, DJs and MCs will compete for a chance to perform before global superstar Daddy Yankee during his concert at the Laredo Energy Arena on Friday, Sept. 24.

“Nothing but positive vibes,” exclaimed Paul Magee of Global Groove London, which is promoting both the competition and concert.

The enthusiatic performers — most of whom are still in their teens or early 20s — were wide-eyed as names were called out.

Some threw fist pumps in the air, others screamed “yes!”, and others were just a bit shy.

A total of 36 groups (or artists), ranging from amateurs to semi-experienced singers — some have released CDs and mixtapes, while others are just starting up — will compete for

COMING UP Wes Hayden to perform at Rumors

Photo by Arthur Garcia/Select Studios | Miss Texas USA

the chance to perform in front of thousands on the biggest stage Laredo has to offer. The music will include everything from rap to dance to reggeaton. Tickets to the Civic Center concert are free, and the winners will be voted on by the audience.

“You are part of history,” yelled out DJ 2 Dope Dave, also the owner of the clothing store. “When do you see mean-looking rappers excited like little kids?

Look, everyone is supporting each other.”

If the applause was any indication, then yes, the diverse crowd will be pulling for each other come competition time.

Entrance fee was $35 per group, but that didn’t seem to matter for these folks.

All they wanted to know was when the spotlight was going to shine on them.

(Emilio Rábago III may be reached at 728-2564 or erabago@lmtonline.com)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

The Shriners Circus is returning to the Laredo Energy Arena next weekend.

Dubbed the “2010 Laredo Circus Spectacular,” the circus will feature elephants, sheepdogs, liberty ponies, BMX Cycle Champion Karoly Zeman and Princess Elayne, who will be shooting an arrow with her feet.

Showtimes are Friday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 pm; Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for children, $16 for adults and $25 for VIP seats. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

Gallery 201 hosts ‘Fotoseptiembre-Passages’ Located in downtown Laredo, Gallery 201 will present a new exhibit, “Fotoseptiembre-Passages,” on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. The exhibit features photography by Rosie Cuellar-Castillo, Beatriz Palazuelos Quiroz and Dr. Alessandro Vallone.

Known as “Beache,” Palazuelos Quiroz

Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.

“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health”

1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160

was born in Mexico City and has worn many hats as an accomplished businesswoman, mother, world traveler and, now, photographer.

Vallone was born and raised in Laredo, and was educated in Austin and Dallas.

He is a local dentist, yet he makes time to pursue his other passion, photography.

Cuellar-Castillo has donated her photographs to the Boys & Girls Clubs and Asian Night Scholarship Fundraiser. Cuellar-Castillo was born and raised in Laredo and graduated from Nixon High School.

The Sept. 16 opening reception will feature art, music and tapas. For more information, call 237-0627 or 725-4278.

Sesame Street Live coming to arena Sesame Street Live’s “Elmo’s Green Thumb” is coming to the Laredo Energy Arena in late October.

Although it has not been announced, “Elmo’s Green Thumb” is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 31.

Ticket prices will range from $12 to $48, with the most expensive tickets including a meet-and-greet session. Tickets go on sale next week.

LCA plans October tequila party The Laredo Center for the Arts is working on “Tequila at Twilight,” a fundraiser for the arts center.

It is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The street party will feature local band Little Sister and a cash bar.

Artwork from 18 local artists will be raffled off that night.

Tickets are $30 presale and $35 at the door and already are on sale at the LCA, 500 San Agustin Ave. For more information, call 725-1715.

— The Zapata Times

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Three jailed after bar fight

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A bar fight landed three people in jail with various charges early Thursday, northeast of Zapata.

Deputies identified the arrestees as Adrian Ramirez IV, 44; Oscar Carlos Prezaz, 33, and Omar Prezaz Jr., 37.

Ramirez was charged with disorderly conduct.

Oscar Carlos Prezaz was charged with assault of a

ADRIAN RAMIREZ IV: Fined $250 in connection with bar fight. public servant, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

Omar Prezaz Jr. was charged with two counts of assault of a public servant and resisting arrest. According to deputies, other changes may be pending.

Deputies responded to a fight in progress call at

OSCAR CARLOS PREZAZ: Bond set at $70,000 after bar fight. about 2:30 a.m. Thursday at Longhorn Bar & Grill, 1313 Ninth Street.

Reports did not indicate what led to the fight among the three men. It was also unclear how the men assaulted the deputies.

Authorities arrived on scene and took all three men into custody. They

OMAR PREZAZ JR.: Bond set at $105,000 after bar fight. were booked and taken to Zapata Regional Jail.

Ramirez was fined $250.

Oscar Carlos Prezaz had a combined $70,000 bond.

Omar Prezaz was held in lieu of a combined $105,000 bond.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

LORENZA V. CANALES ZAPATA — Lorenza V. Canales 81, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at Regent Care Center in Laredo.

Mrs. Canales is preceded in death by her parents, Catarino (Maria Virginia) Valadez; brothers, Gumecindo Valadez, Fernando (Mariana) Valadez, Juan de Dios Valadez and a brother-in-law, Ramiro Veliz.

Mrs. Canales is survived by her husband, Alberto Canales; sons, Alberto Jr. (Norma) Canales, Armando (Griselda) Canales; daughter, Rosa Belia (Armando) Ortiz; grandchildren, Armando Jr. (Claudia) Canales, Brianna Canales, Alberto Y. Canales, Armando Ortiz, Jr., Saraie Ortiz, Miriam E. Ortiz; great-granddaughter, Aimee C. Canales; sisters; Elida (Maurillo) Sanchez, Perta Valadez, Elena Veliz; sister-in-law, Genoveva Valadez; and by numerous relatives and friends.

Visitation hours were held on Monday, Sept. 6, 2010, from 6 to 9 p.m. with a wake at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

The funeral procession departed on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, at 9 a.m. to Zapata County Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 Hwy. 83 Zapata.

Photo by Amy Sancetta | AP

A piece of steel from the World Trade Center and a helmet signed by surviving members of New York City Fire Department Station 4 sit front and center at the City of Cleveland Patriot Day Ceremony, this year honoring in particular those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in Cleveland on Friday. Saturday marks the 9th anniversary of the attacks.

9/11 events sidetracked by dispute

By BETH FOUHY ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — They will read the names, of course, the names of every victim who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. The bells will ring.

And then that moment of unity will give way to division as activists hoist signs and march, some for and some against a planned mosque two blocks from ground zero.

This 9/11 is more political and contentious than the eight before it, with grieving family members on opposite sides of the mosque battle.

The debate became so heated President Barack Obama felt the need to remind Americans: “We are not at war against Islam.”

Still, there were signs Friday that religious tensions were abating, and that hushed tones would replace the harsh rhetoric that threatened to overshadow the commemoration of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washing-

ton and Shanksville, Pa. The son of an anti-Muslim pastor in Florida confirmed that his father would not — at least for now — burn copies of the Quran, a plan that inflamed much of the Muslim world and drew a stern rebuke from Obama.

Activists in New York insisted their intentions were peaceful.

“It’s a rally of remembrance for tens of thousands who lost loved ones that day,” said Pamela Geller, a conservative blogger and host of the anti-mosque demonstration. “It’s not a political event, it’s a human rights event.”

The site of the proposed mosque and Islamic center is already used for services, but it was padlocked Friday, closed until Sunday. Police guarded the block, and worshippers were redirected to a different prayer room 10 blocks away.

Some supporters planned a vigil near the Islamic center’s site Friday evening instead of Saturday, saying they wanted to

avoid entangling the mosque controversy and the Sept. 11 observance.

Organizers “believe that tomorrow is a day for mourning and remembrance,” said Jennifer Carnig, a spokeswoman for the New York Civil Liberties Union, one of the vigil’s sponsors.

For Terry Jones, pastor of a 50-member Pentecostal church in Florida, it was to be a day to burn the Quran. He backed off that threat after drawing angry protests across the Muslim world, a call from the secretary of defense and impassioned pleas to call it off from religious and political leaders and his daughter.

“There will be no Quran burning tomorrow,” Jones’ 29-year old son, Luke Jones, told reporters outside his father’s Gainesville church Friday. He added he could not predict what might happen in the future.

Terry Jones had previously said he would cancel his plan if the leader of the New York Islamic center, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf,

would agree to move the project to another location.

Jones claimed Thursday that an imam in Florida had told him the mosque would be moved. That imam later said Jones was mistaken, that he had only arranged a meeting with Rauf on Saturday.

Rauf, however, said that wasn’t true, either, that he had no plans to meet with Jones, although he added in a statement Friday that he is open to seeing anyone “seriously committed to pursuing peace.”

The carefully worded text seemed to leave open the possibility of a meeting, but only if Jones proved himself to be a serious peacemaker. With that caveat, it would seem unlikely that the imam would meet with a man whose threat to desecrate the Muslim holy book stirred anger and protest and even some bloodshed in the Islamic world.

But an associate of Jones, K.A. Paul, said Friday night that the pastor was headed to New York.

Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times

Martha Donaho visited Zapata South Elementary School on Friday morning to read to her grandchildren Kelsey Cooper, 3, Christopher Cooper, 4, and Eryn Granger, 8, as part of Grandparent’s Day.

BOOKS Continued from Page 1A “I think it’s something beautiful,” Vela said after reading “How Dinosaurs Say Goodnight” to his grandson, Rogelio Gonzalez Jr. “It bonds everybody and gives school a very high priority.”

Vela was accompanied by his wife, Maria Elena Vela.

Grandparents slowly started gathering at the library and sat with their grandchildren after posing for pictures and selecting books to read.

Martha Donaho, grandmother of Zapata South Elementary pre-K 3 student Kelsey Brooke Cooper and fourth-grade student Kaleb Cooper, and also great-grandmother of Christopher and Eryn Granger, read “The Magic School Bus Got Cold Feet.”

“It’s very good for them,” Donaho said. “You read to them at night and you’d be surprised how much they pick up.”

Grandmother Yolanda Lopez was surrounded by

her grandchildren, including Samantha Sanchez, Mario Garcia, and the Granger children. All are students at Zapata South Elementary from pre-K 3 to fifth grade. Since her grandchildren are a little older, they read to her instead.

“The grandmother should really read to the grandkids, but I’m checking their comprehension and fluency and they’re doing very well,” Lopez said. “They’re reading ‘What Cat Is That’ and the ‘Eensy Weensy Spider.’”

There are nearly 700 students at Zapata South Elementary and about 300 grandparents were expected, said Rosie Bigler, the school’s librarian.

“If their grandparents live out of town or if deceased, an aunt or an uncle (can) show up to represent them. Someone always shows up,” she said.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

UNITED WAY Continued from Page 1A Osterman said. “You really have to either go to a nephrologist (a doctor who is trained to treat kidneys) or somebody who went through the experience. So that was primarily the reason, to inform myself not only about the transplant, but about the condition itself.”

By chance, she met Border Patrol agent Travis Osterman at a restaurant in 2008. At the time, she worked for the city and as the two discussed law enforcement, they found they had a lot in common. The couple became fast friends and began dating five months later. When Travis learned about Angie’s plight and discovered he was the same blood type, he volunteered to test to see if he was a match. He was.

United Way The Ostermans’ story was highlighted in a video shown by United Way in a campaign kickoff Friday morning. United Way of Laredo helps fund the Kidney Foundation, as do 25 other nonprofit agencies. Adalberto Nava, United Way president, announced at the breakfast that the “pacesetters” in the community have already pledged

$1,156,000, which is about 62 percent of this year’s goal of $1,860,000.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but we look forward to the challenge,” Nava said.

Chief Border Patrol agent Robert Harris, the featured speaker at the event, said he’s not concerned about Laredo meeting its goal because of the generosity he’s seen in the community.

“I’m a very competitive person and I think we ought to try and exceed that goal,” he said.

He only half-jokingly added that the Border Patrol quest was to beat the El Paso sector.

As for Angie and Travis, their love story is a true fairytale.

“Yea, we were an organ match, but we are also soul mates,” Travis stated in the United Way video.

Friday afternoon, Angie said she felt bad about taking the kidney “because I was taking something from him — an organ, not like a dollar; it’s an organ.”

But, she said, his family was very supportive.

“He even told me, ‘Don’t think of it as something I’m doing for you, think of it as something I’m doing for both of us,’ ” she added.

A rough road But the organ donation wasn’t an easy process.

In order to be cleared for the donation, Travis had to pass a urinalysis. He sent three separate tests to Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi. The results of all three tests showed that Travis had too much protein in his system. The Ostermans eventually went to a nephrologist, who said Travis’ levels were suitable, but he had incorrectly obtained the samples, which had been sent by mail back to the hospital.

The Ostermans then turned to the Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, which approved the transplant.

The Ostermans ultimately got the call to schedule the appointment for the transplant just months before their April wedding this year, but Angie didn’t want to put off the nuptials.

“I was thinking we already planned this and I’ve been waiting all this time for the kidney; it can wait a few months,” she said. The transplant took place less than a month after the wedding.

Travis said he didn’t notice how much of a toll the condition had taken on Angie until after the surgery.

“It has really given her a

ZAPATA Continued from Page 1A second chance at life,” he said.

Angie said the whole experience has been special. “(It was) definitely a miracle, definitely something God sent because I had been waiting all this time,” Angie said. “I had never really had hope like I had when (Travis) came into my life and he offered to do this. I definitely felt like God loves me. Everything has a time for happening. It was the time that I was going to meet not only my donor, but also my husband.”

Organizers of this year’s United Way of Laredo campaign, themed “Taking Care of the Community,” aim to raise funding for local agencies that perform a variety roles for people in need in the community.

Agencies that benefit include Bethany House, Boy Scouts, Casa de Misericordia, Gateway Community Health Center and Sacred Heart Children’s Home.

Last year, the agency met its goal of $1,850,000.

“Every dollar you give to United Way is going to help someone,” Angie Osterman said.

For more information on the United Way of Laredo, call (956) 723-9113 or visit, www.unitedwaylaredo.org.

(Julie Daffern may be reached at 728-2565 or jdaffern@lmtonline.com)

PARADE Continued from Page 1A that make sure our lives are as safe as possible.”

Zapata is a safe community, but in worldwide terms things are very different, Garcia added.

“I’m very happy to see that Zapata South Elementary is making sure that our children are aware that our world is changing and we need to bring up a group of children into this world understanding that from now we will have to think differently,” she said.

The day is placed in historical context for the children at the school. Speakers also address misconceptions about the Muslim religion, Garcia said.

“They … need to know that not all Muslims are bad people,” Garcia said.

“We have a lot of work to do with our kids. They are only used to a particular culture.”

As part of the day’s activities, each classroom was visited by representatives of several public safety agencies, including the Border Patrol, Parks and Wildlife game wardens, Zapata County sheriff ’s deputies, paramedics, and representatives from the U.S. Army and the district attorney’s office.

“It’s been six years that we’ve been doing this and they really go all out show-

ing patriotism and remembering all law enforcement agencies,” said deputy sheriff Gregory Gutierrez.

“It’s nice that they do this for us because it’s not only the military, it is everyone in general, and we work together as a team to make this country a great one.”

According to the Patrol Agent in Charge of the Zapata Border Patrol station, Ram Cerrillo, the Sept. 11 attack was not an attack on a certain person or a different culture, but an attack on the American way of life.

“We try to emphasize the American way of life and we talk to the kids about

the choices they have and the freedom to make simple decisions,” Cerrillo said.

The agencies refrain from making graphic presentations and keep things simple by reassuring the students that all agencies are here to protect the American way of life, Cerrillo added.

“That’s part of our community policing,” he said.

“If we encourage (the students) to have confidence in us right now as children, they will grow with that same attitude and maybe they’ll choose that career.”

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)

problems if we don’t take the correct measures and as it is, we’re looking at a lower mineral value next year.”

The shortfall has affected all departments and prevented the Zapata County Museum of History from opening. Commissioners have been considering transferring the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce staff to the museum to save money, but the museum board has not been receptive to the idea.

“The museum board has worked very hard to get the museum going and will not go along with the idea,” Vela said.

The museum budget calls for three regular employees and a curator, and since the news of the shortfall, no one has been hired. Vela sided with the museum board that the chamber of commerce and museum should be separate entities.

“I would fund a curator and they could very well get volunteers until other funds or sources are found,” Vela said. “We would save money, but what about the museum board? I don’t think its right.”

In another agenda item, Commissioner Eddie Martinez requested an immediate hiring freeze. He was unavailable for comment.

According to Vela, the freeze would affect all county jobs, but it would be difficult to control.

Most department heads are elected officials and have a budget they control, he said.

“They will not abide by it and do what they want,” Vela added. “We cannot get into their business.”

In other business, Vela is asking for a five-member committee to manage the cemetery and set a burial policy for the Lopeño community. Lourdes Lopez, Alonso Lopez, Mario Martinez, Jerica Sanchez, and Belia Sanchez are being considered for the committee.

Lopeño is experiencing a problem similar to that faced by the Falcon community, because the cemetery does not have a committee overlooking operations nor a policy with a burial plot fee, Vela said.

Both the budget hearing and regular commissioners court meeting will be held in the Zapata County Courthouse, 200 East 7th Ave., Suite 108.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors NFL

VOLLEYBALL

Photo by Clara Sandoval | Zapata Times

Zapata senior Brandi King has led the way for the Lady Hawks early in the district race.

AP Photo

Felix Jones and the Dallas Cowboys kick off their 2010 season Sunday in Washington.

COWBOYS KICKOFF Super Bowl run begins Sunday in Washington

By JOSEPH WHITE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LANDOVER, Md.— The last two times Donovan McNabb played a game that counted, he was trying to beat Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

And it didn’t end well.

McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles lost 24-0 to end the regular season, then 34-14 to the Cowboys in the first round of the NFC playoffs in January. McNabb had only one touchdown pass in the two games combined, and Eagles fans might never let him live down his air-guitar entrance at Texas Stadium before the playoff game, which turned out to be his last in a Philadelphia uniform.

It’s time to try, try again.

McNabb’s new team, the Washington Redskins, is hosting the Cowboys on

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage for the Cowboys is that they’re facing something unfamiliar, while the Redskins know what to expect from a Dallas team coached by Wade Phillips.

Sunday night to open the 2010 season, making him the first quarterback since the 1970 merger to face the same team for three straight games.

Asked if he has any special gig planned as he runs out of the tunnel on prime time television, McNabb sounded like someone who is ready to turn the page.

“I may have retired the guitar. I may bring the drums out, bring the

cymbals,” he said with a laugh. “It’s funny, anything I do I guess is a big story, huh? It’s something that we had been doing all year. We had our formal band. So it was a way for us to kind of have fun and relax and then go out and play. Obviously if we would’ve won that game, people would’ve been looking for the air guitar and maybe I would’ve had my

See COWBOYS PAGE 2B

Another go at the Colts

By CHRIS DUNCAN

See TEXANS PAGE 2B

Port Isabel falls in first 31-3A win

By CLARA SANDOVAL ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata Lady Hawks continue to tear through District 31-3A volleyball with one goal in mind.

Win district.

Zapata (12-3, 2-0) opened district against Port Isabel (10-7, 0-1) last Saturday and quickly took care of the Lady Tarpons, 26-6, 25-23 and 25-12, for its first district win on the season.

“I know that we have the team to win district,” Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal said. “This was a great way to start district, but we need to continue to stay focused.”

The usual suspects filled out the stat sheet. Estella Molina controlled the offense with 28 assists, while Brandi King had a 25-kill performance to lead the Lady Hawks at the net.

Newcomers Shelby Bigler and Kristine De Leon chipped in with eight kills to help out King on the offensive end.

See VOLLEYBALL PAGE 2B

CROSS COUNTRY

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans are looking at their game against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts as more than a season opener.

Coming off the first winning season in their brief history, the Texans are about to find out if they are good enough to be considered playoff contenders.

“We’ll find out if we’re ready to take that next step or not,” Texans’ All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson said.

“Playing against the Colts, we’ll find that out.”

Houston takes on the defending AFC champions Sunday in a series dominated by the Colts, who have won 15 of the 16 meetings and the last six in a row. The Texans have had their chances, though, blowing 17-point leads in the last two games in Houston and giving up second-half leads in the last four meetings overall.

A poster above the entrance to the Texans’ locker room reads “One Focus,” with pictures of the helmets of the two teams.

“The key for us is to play our football,” Houston coach Gary Kubiak said, “and not get consumed with who we are playing, but play the way that we know how to play to be successful.”

Houston has lost its last two season openers, while Indianapolis has won nine of their last 11 season

Goal: district

Break means Lady Hawks could come on strong

By CLARA SANDOVAL ZAPATA TIMES

Photo by Pat Sullivan | AP

In this file photo Texans’ Arian Foster (23) avoids being tackled by a Cowboys defender. If the Texans are to make another jump this season they’ll have to pass their first test against the Colts on Sunday.

After taking a week off to rest their legs, the Zapata girls’ cross country team is ready to get back on the course early this morning.

Zapata travels to the Falfurrias Invitational, which consists of teams from every classification.

The Lady Hawks are familiar with the course, and the last time they were in Falfurrias they left with a second-place trophy.

Calallen, the 4A powerhouse from the Coastal Bend, went home with the first place trophy.

“We ran with a skeleton team due to injuries and ACT tests last season in Falfurrias,” Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said.

The week off from racing could not have come at a better time for the Lady Hawks.

“We are a bit banged up with some minor injuries that we need to proceed with caution,” Villarreal said.

See CROSS COUNTRY PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

Mourning Cowboys face Longhorns in Austin

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — On Saturday night, Ruben Narcisse’s photo will grace the giant scoreboard screen at Royal-Texas Stadium and 98,000 fans will honor him with a moment of silence.

A Wyoming teammate will don his No. 12 jersey and the Texas band will play a tribute song.

Then the Cowboys will be asked to somehow tuck away the emotions sur-

rounding the death of their freshman teammate and go play the No. 5 Texas Longhorns for the next three hours.

Narcisse, who was from Miami, was killed and three other Cowboys players were injured Monday in a single-vehicle accident in Colorado.

“It’s a tough time right now, but when you have tough times you come together as a team and a family,” senior receiver and team captain David

Leonard told the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. “His spirit will be with us. We don’t have a choice. We’re going to go out there and play in his honor.”

Wyoming has organized a campus memorial service for Narcisse on Monday back in Laramie, but Texas coach Mack Brown felt his program needed to show support with a tribute of its own.

“From all people in the state of Texas, not just football fans, our thoughts

and prayers go out to the Wyoming football family for their loss,” Brown said. “We have been through that. We know how hard it is.

Texas defensive lineman Cole Pittman was killed in a 2001 in a single-car accident, which Brown calls one of the worst days of his life. When Texas paid tribute to Pittman at a game that season, Brown said he was nearly overwhelmed with emotion.

“I still have the video of

A&M wants to threaten downfield

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLLEGE STATION — Jerrod Johnson had three completions of more than 25 yards in his 322-yard, two touchdown performance in Texas A&M’s easy season-opening win over Stephen F. Austin.

Johnson insists that isn’t good enough as he and the Aggies prepare for Saturday’s meeting with Louisiana Tech.

“We have to have more downfield throws,” Johnson said. “We didn’t have many last game, but I missed some. We came in knowing we’d try to play it safe and take what they gave us. We really wanted to stress the running backs getting the ball and getting the balls to receivers in space. It worked out well for us, but we have to complete more deep balls and that starts with me.”

Coach Mike Sherman said the defense Stephen F. Austin played was designed to take away the deep throws, but he too believes Johnson can do better.

“We didn’t challenge them much down there, but we missed on a couple we should have completed,” Sherman said. “I think because we preached conservatively, Jerrod may have waited a little too long to see if (the deep ball) was there. Normally he’d just throw out there.”

With 347 yards passing

Photo by Dave Einsel | AP

Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson, right, rushes against Stephen F. Austin’s Kenneth Charles (97) during the fourth quarter of a game Sept. 4, in College Station. and 192 yards rushing in the 48-7 win, the Aggies showed more balance than they have in the past. Of course, some of the 106 yards receiving gained by Ryan Swope, a high school running back, could just as well have been counted as yards rushing, as he routinely gains extra ground after screen passes.

Sherman is hoping to balance his offense as the season goes on and would love to see about 250 yards each from the running and

passing games.

“We talked about needing our running backs if we wanted to win games,” Johnson said. “They are such a vital part of our offense.”

Louisiana Tech is also looking for improvement after a 20-6 win over Grambling in the head coaching debut for Sonny Dykes, son of former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes.

“It will be a great test for us to go on the road,” Dykes said. “I always enjoy

VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 1B King even found time to record two blocks at the net.

Cassy Quintanilla was sensational in the back row, along with Abby Aguilar. The pair combined for 16 digs. King helped out with nine digs.

Zapata also did a great job on the serving line with 10 aces.

Zapata verses Progreso The Lady Hawks (12-3, 2-0) played an unusual Thurday night district volleyball game, but Zapata did not lose any steam

“

This was a great way to start district, but we need to continue to stay focused.”

ROSIE VILLARREAL, ZAPATA COACH

when it travelled to Progreso.

The Lady Hawks made a dramatic comeback to win the opening game before going on for the sweep. 2516, 25-11, 25-13.

“We started out slow, but we were able to recover and take the lead,” Vil-

larreal said. “The girls showed character when they were able to come back.”

The freshmen and junior varsityteams also picked up victories.

Zapata will play this afternoon against Donna IDEA.

going to Kyle Field because I think it’s a special environment and it’s a neat place to play. We just need to go out and play better.”

Ross Jenkins and Colby Cameron split time at quarterback last week for Tech. Dykes said he’ll decide what to do on Saturday depending on how practice goes this week.

“This offense is different than what they’ve played in the past,” Dykes said of his quarterbacks. “Before it had been a kind of manage-the-game type of offense. It’s just a little different philosophy. We need our quarterback to make plays. We wanted to see how those guys responded to game situations. We felt like it was important to play both of them.”

Lennon Creer, a transfer from Tennessee, led Louisiana Tech with 69 yards rushing last week and Myke Compton had just 10 yards rushing but scored two touchdowns.

The new 3-4 defense of Texas A&M’s first-year coordinator Tim DeRuyter did well against Stephen F. Austin, but the unit still has much to prove after finishing among the nation’s worst last season.

The Aggies allowed just 13 first downs and 266 total yards last week after giving up an average of 426 yards a game last season.

DeRuyter has a challenge this week in preparing for a team that could use two quarterbacks.

Cole’s funeral in a drawer behind my desk,” Brown said. “I haven’t been able to watch it.”

Wyoming players will wear decals with Narcisse’s initials on their helmet and a different player will wear his jersey each game. On Saturday, it will be safety Shamiel Gary. No name will be on the jersey.

For Wyoming (1-0), the challenge will be finding the energy to play a game 1,000 miles from home af-

ter such an emotional week. The trip to Austin and the chance to play in a stadium three times bigger than their own was supposed to be a highlight of the season.

Gilbert had a modest starting debut, passing for 172 yards against Rice with no touchdown or interceptions.

“It’s going to be cool running out of the tunnel knowing it’s my first (home) game,” Gilbert said.

COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B own little PlayStation game.

“But, you know what? That was back then. Obviously we need a little focus. Let’s get out here and play football.”

So it’s McNabb vs. Romo once again, only now with McNabb in burgundy. Romo and the Cowboys look much like the same team they were a year ago and have designs on hosting the Super Bowl in their own stadium in February. The Redskins, meanwhile, are overhauled completely with a new front office, new schemes on offense and defense, and, of course, new coach Mike Shanahan.

It’s all a bit odd for Romo, who went to Eastern Illinois — the same college as Shanahan — and was close to signing to play for the coach at Denver before deciding on Dallas as a free agent in 2003.

“I rooted for Mike from afar, just because we know each other a little bit, and he’s a great guy,” Romo said.

“It’s funny, I thought if Donovan got traded, I could start to root for him again, but now I’ve got to stop rooting for him again. Same with Mike. They’re really good guys, and you’d root for them if they weren’t in your division.”

Romo holds the edge 5-2 over McNabb when the quarterbacks have gone head-to-head, and he’s favored to win this one as well as Shanahan attempts to rebuild a team that went 4-12 last year. As if this edition of the storied rivalry didn’t have enough subplots, everyone will also be watching how the Redskins use troublesome defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who has been in Shanahan’s proverbial woodshed for months and is still listed as a backup nose tackle.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage for the Cowboys is that they’re facing something unfamiliar, while the Redskins know what to expect from a Dallas team coached

by Wade Phillips.

“They’re going to show a lot of stuff that they didn’t show in the preseason,” Romo said. “You have to guess a little bit as to what you’re going to see. We expect them to come after us, and you have to be prepared for that.”

But McNabb, at least, is a known quantity. Very much so. The Cowboys have surely seen enough of him lately, right?

“Absolutely not, not tired of seeing him,” Dallas defensive lineman Marcus Spears said. “You usually get tired of seeing guys that hurt you a lot. We’ve had some success against him and he’s had some success against us, so we’ll see who has the best success Sunday.”

CROSS COUNTRY Continued from Page 1B The varsity will take on a slightly different look this morning with the addition of another freshman, Cassie Peña.

Peña earned a spot on the varsity with a great run at the Nikki Rowe meet.

“We will be without the services of senior Kristina Garcia, who is sitting out this meet as a precaution with a slight leg injury,” Villarreal said. “We are six weeks out of district and nine weeks out of state, so our workouts are about to go into a different phase.”

From a coaching standpoint, Villarreal is seeing a lot of good things.

Peña earned a spot on the varsity with a great run at the Nikki Rowe meet.

“The majority of our athletes are running faster then they ever have at this point. They are anxious to race again and I am anxious to see them compete, because they always give gutsy performances,” he said. “They begged me to attend a meet last week, but taking a break from racing can be a good thing, and it allowed us to stay home and train instead.”

After the Falfurrias meet, Zapata will attend the UTSA and Texas A&M Corpus Christi meets, where there will be plenty of competition to help the Lady Hawks drop their times.

“The next three meets will help us discover exactly where we stand as a team, in our district, our region and of course at the state level,” Villarreal said.

TEXANS Continued from Page 1B openers.

Manning says his team’s opening-game success and the Colts’ dominance in the series has no bearing on this game.

“I can’t speak for what’s happened in the past, it’s been different players, different teams, all different types of games,” Manning said. “It’s a new season, and that’s how we’re approaching it. I’m sure that’s how they’re approaching it, and I’m sure it will be a tough test.

That’s all we know.”

The Texans and Colts had the top two passing offenses last season, but both also ranked near the bottom in rushing. Indianapolis, though, made it to the Super Bowl even after finishing last in rushing yards per game at 80.9.

“Obviously, we’ve fo-

cused in on it,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said.

“This is where you get a shot to really take a look and see how good you are.

That’s our goal and aim.

We’ve improved, but we’ll see.”

The Colts have concerns up front. Center Jeff Saturday (right knee) and left tackle Charlie Johnson (right foot) missed all four preseason games but practiced Wednesday.

Caldwell said Saturday was “day to day,” while Johnson seemed more questionable. The Colts placed Tony Ugoh on the waived-injured list Wednesday, so if Johnson can’t go, undrafted rookie Jeff Linkenbach could start at left tackle.

Houston has questions on defense.

Linebacker Brian Cush-

ing, last year’s defensive rookie of the year, will start serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy. Xavier Adibi will replace Cushing after missing a chunk of training camp with a groin injury.

Glover Quin begins his second season at cornerback, and No. 1 draft pick Kareem Jackson will be the other cornerback. One of them will shadow Reggie Wayne, who has topped 1,000 yards receiving the past six seasons.

Manning said he’s been impressed with both Texans cornerbacks.

“I don’t take a lot into account how many years they’ve been playing,” Manning said. “Either the guys can cover and run, or they can’t. All their guys can cover and run, and

they’re quick, and you see them making plays on the ball and making plays in the running game.”

Quin is still looking for his first career interception, and he’s got special plans if he gets one against Manning, the four-time MVP. “I tell my wife, I say, ’Baby, I’m going to tell you right now, if I pick Peyton Manning off to get my first career interception, I might go to him after the game and ask him to autograph the ball,” Quin said.

“She said, ’He’s not going to sign it.’ I said, ’He might, he might.”’

The Colts’ defense, meanwhile, will have its hands full with Johnson, who led the league in yards receiving for the second straight season. Since 2006, Johnson leads the

NFL in yards receiving per game (90.2).

“He’s continued to get better,” Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden said. “He’s like a fine wine, he’s gotten better as he’s gotten older. I think the game has slowed down for him, and you can really see that in the way he plays.”

Houston will also welcome back tight end Owen Daniels, who will see his first action since tearing a knee ligament in the eighth game of last season.

In 2008, Daniels caught 70 passes for 862 yards and earned an invitation to the Pro Bowl.

The Texans have sold a record number of season tickets (64,355), another sign of the high hopes for this year. The team has drawn a capacity crowd to all 82 of its preseason and

regular-season home games, and is encouraging fans to wear white Sunday to create an intimidating atmosphere.

The Colts aren’t likely to be fazed. They’ve won 73 of their last 89 regular-season games and Manning said they’ve developed an attacking mentality against teams who consider them a marquee opponent.

“We talk about being the hunters and going after teams and trying to do the things that we want to accomplish,” he said. “We feel like our opponents have a bull’s eye on their chests, and that’s who we’re chasing and going after. We don’t feel that responsibility or pressure.

It’s opening day and it’s at Houston. We want to win very badly and I know they do, too.”

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

HINTS BY | HELOISE MEMORIAL TREE Dear Heloise: I saw your recent column on CREATIVE MEMORIALS TO PETS loved and lost. I wanted to mention that I have planted trees in honor of pets, and placed some of their ashes in the hole before I put the tree in. Every time I look at the trees, I think of the dog or cat being part of the living tree now.

I also knew someone who, through the years, saved all the cute little neck scarves her groomer put on her dog before sending him home.

When the dog died, she used those squares to make a special quilt as a way to remember him. — Rosemary George in Virginia Ohhh ... how heartwarming! A tree or plant is a lovely and lasting way to honor a beloved pet. -- Heloise MISSING DOG Dear Heloise: When you put up a poster about a found dog, hold back some identifying marks. My golden retriever has two teeth out of alignment that are obvious, but unique to her. My oldest dog has a triangle cut in her ear after a tussle. Every loving owner knows the unique markings that can’t be guessed at by a potential dog thief. -- Donna, via e-mail GUINEA PIG TEST Dear Readers: Did you know: Guinea pigs can live up to seven years, and they need big cages -- the larger, the better!

Guinea pigs need an assortment of food, such as hay, pellets, fruits and vegetables.

“

HELOISE

Older guinea pigs need to be on a controlled diet, but younger ones should have as much food as they want.

Guinea pigs should to go to the vet like your other pets.

Guinea pigs can get lonely if you don’t play with them daily. They should be in pairs so they have company.

-- Heloise CAT SPRITZING Dear Heloise: My cat had the habit of jumping on the kitchen table while I was eating. I have read that it is often recommended that you deter cats with a quick spritz from a water bottle. I am usually reading the newspaper or a magazine with my breakfast, and I’m left with wet pages. I’ve found an effective “dry” alternative to be the compressed air sprays I use for cleaning cameras and computer keyboards.

One quick “psst” and my cats are off the table like a shot! -- Gregg in New York UNIQUE NAME Dear Heloise: When I was a kid, we had a dog named Nickie. Found out later that the dog cost $19.95, so my dad got a nickel back from his $20 and thus the name, Nickie! Today, she’d probably go for $49.95, but we’d still get the nickel back, unless we charged her on a credit card! -- Julie in Texas

DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:

ACREAGE FOR SALE

FAMILY CIRCUS

76

1 acre in Pueblo Nuevo HWY359, 5min. from Laredo. $30,000 nego.

724-7561

PETS & SUPPLIES

PETS & SUPPLIES

128

Female Yorkie puppy,3 months $550 693-9447

DENNIS THE MENACE

MISCELLANEOUS

ARTICLES FOR SALE

136

Insulated Patio Doors $150 call: 726-0883

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS

TRUCKS FOR SALE Silla de ruedas marca Invacare uso 4 meses, costo $570 se va por $150 Call:251.1065

male shih-tzu 1.5 year old, very small first shots $225 ph: 251-0652 LIVESTOCK & SUPPLIES

130

1 caballo de silla $500 Call 754-4030 Longhorn Cattle for Sale. $350 & up Call 956-285-2222

TRANSPORTATION ARTICLES FOR SALE

136

Bedroom set,King & full,with mattress $1800 OBO Call 763-2594 boys rase car 4 p. bedroom set $250 (956)645-3757

194

1 brand new Bridgestone dueler A/T tire, 255/70/18, $95 Call: 286-6558

198

93’ Chev Pick up, single cab, california styel, $1,500 call (956)771-2937 or 285-1682

an idea that SELLS.

Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

Romo: strong season start is essential

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

IRVING— Tony Romo insisted all summer that everything would be fine.

Whatever problems the Dallas Cowboys had moving the ball in preseason games, he was confident of working them out because, he said repeatedly, he treats practices as if they’re games, even in training camp.

Considering the success Romo has had as a starter in September the past three seasons, maybe there really is nothing to worry about for the Cowboys.

Romo, the undrafted free agent turned record-setting quarterback and three-time Pro Bowler, knows the significance of a strong start.

“I just think it’s important to the season,” Romo said. “You know how it goes if you don’t start off winning football games.”

Especially when there are Super Bowl expectations and the unique opportunity to become the first host team to play in the championship game, though Romo insists that doesn’t really change anything.

“There’s pressure to perform every year,” Romo said.

Romo is 9-2 in September games since 2007, his first full season as a starting quarterback. He has won all three of his season openers.

Only Brett Favre has won that many openingmonth games in that span, falling to 9-3 after Minnesota’s 14-9 loss to New Orleans in the NFL kickoff Thursday night.

Both of Romo’s September setbacks have been twopoint losses at home against NFC East rivals. He is 5-0 the first month of the season on the road, and

Photo by LM Otero | AP

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (standing) has been a fast starter in September. It’s the late season push, however, that he needs to worry about. that’s where Dallas opens the season Sunday night — in Washington against Donovan McNabb and the Redskins.

“Romo is an elite quarterback. I like Romo’s game,” McNabb said. “He’s been successful in these last three years or so. So I think Romo has made a name for himself, where when you talk about the Dallas Cowboys, obviously you start with Tony Romo.”

New Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was still in Denver in 2003 when Romo was an undrafted quarterback out of FCS school Eastern Illinois. That is the same college attended by Shanahan and Sean Payton, then the Cowboys offensive coordinator and

now the Super Bowl-winning head coach for the New Orleans Saints.

“It still doesn’t seem right,” Shanahan said with a chuckle this week. “I was bragging to my coaches, I’ve got an Eastern Illinois tie. ... Sean steals him from me. I still give Sean a hard time about that.”

That hasn’t changed Shanahan’s appreciation for Romo and how the quarterback handles himself on and off the field.

“He’s just got a great feel for the game, he’s got a great sense of timing. He can escape the rush, he can make plays when there’s nothing there,” Shanahan said. “I love his personality, his leadership. I think the world of him.”

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

S