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HEALTH CARE
UTILITIES
New clinic gets the nod New law Zapata man back after 25 years will operate facility By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata Commissioners Court agreed to contract with a former resident to take over its medical clinic Oct. 1. Dr. Edmundo Garcia grew up in Zapata, but has been living in San Antonio since he received his medical degree 25 years ago. Garcia said when he was a child, the primary reason for becoming a doctor was a desire to serve Zapata residents. When he recently began helping out at the clinic, Garcia said he “realized that there was a little certain part of me missing in the medical world.
“It’s probably the biggest challenge I’ve had in my career, short of starting my practice 25 years ago,” Garcia added. “I think it’s going to be good for the townspeople. I think it’s going to be good for everyone.” Garcia’s staff will include Dr. Miguel Vasquez, who has more than 20 years experience as a family physician in San Antonio, and Dr. Ernesto Cabrera, who was a partner in the Zapata Medical Group. Garcia’s budget will be $1.7 million. The current contract with Zapata Medical Group, which also had an original budget of about $1.7 million, expires at the end of the month. The court received four proposals to run the clinic, including one
for the medical group. The other two proposals were from Ernie Domenech, a former Doctors Hospital administrator and Laredo Medical Center. Dr. Larry Sands, with Zapata Medical Group, came under fire in July when most of the staff walked out because they were told they would not be getting paid as scheduled. In a written statement, Guerra said Sands’ proposal was considered along with the other three, and he was not included on a summary sheet distributed to the court because he was not available to answer additional questions.
See CLINIC | PAGE 8A
READYTO RUMBLE
may stop water reselling By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata County Commissioners Court is looking to stop those in the business of reselling water from tapping into the county’s waterlines. The court aims to include a provision allowing for commercial buyers to solely purchase water at the water plant in the wastewater ordinance county officials are drafting. “The county does not have a policy or an ordinance that deals with water tapping,” said County Judge Rosalva Guerra in a written statement Friday. “There are presently some people that tapped into the county water supply and use our valuable source for profit.” During Commissioners Court on Monday, Guerra noted the tapping occurred between 26th and 27th avenues, an area that has been experiencing low water pressure. County officials said only one or two of the remaining taps have been there for years. Commissioner Gabriel Villarreal said the people tapping into the system have been “getting water from a land that doesn’t provide enough water for the area.” Guerra said Monday she hopes to increase the cost for people to fill up their tankers. Currently, it costs $45 to fill up a 3,000-gallon tank. “If it’s for commercial resale, I wouldn’t recommend it,” Guerra said.
See WATER | PAGE 7A
INFRASTRUCTURE
Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times
W
eigh-ins took place Friday night at Tonic Bar and Patio in Laredo for tonight’s Ultimate Battle No. 1: Extreme Cage Fighting beginning at 8 p.m. at Laredo International Fair and Exposition grounds. Top: Matthew Caleb Esch, left, faces off with Matt “The Hammer” Holland during their weighin. Esch is the son of “Butterbean,” Eric Scott Esch. Right, Butterbean gets weighed by Greg Alvarez. See related story, photo on page 6.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
verbal agreement with the county to contract for five years. He said he has borrowed $650,000 to help pay for the equipment to service Zapata, adding that not every penny has gone to Zapata equipment. Hernandez said he’d need the full five years to pay it off.
Zapata County schools would get $807,000 in federal funds to improve facilities under a bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week. “Every dollar spent from this funding will go towards enhancing the learning environment in our local schools,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar, whose 29th Congressional District includes Zapata. “Just as people renovate their homes, our schools need modernizations, too. “This funding will help Zapata’s students now and in the fuCUELLAR ture,” Cuellar said. “These are the kind of investments which last for decades, and the benefits here are immeasurable.” The funding is part of the 21st Century Green High-performing Public School Facilities Act, approved by the House in May. The act was incorporated into a major student aid bill that passed the House on Thursday. Total funding for Texas for the facilities improvements is $529 million. “In light of the economy, now more than ever $807,000 will have a big impact in Zapata County,” Cuellar said. Zapata students also stand to gain from the main part of the measure approved by the House, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, HR 3221, which reforms the federal student loan system. Supporters say it will save taxpayers $87 billion over the next 10 years while putting $77 billion of savings back into education. “At a time when American families need it most, we’ve taken an unprecedented step towards helping more students pay for college,” Cuellar said. “By enhancing the system we already have in place, we can save taxpayer dollars and reinvest that money back into education. There’s no better place for these dollars to go.” Beginning July 1, 2010, new federal student loans will originate through the federal
See BIDS | PAGE 7A
See SCHOOLS | PAGE 7A
ZAPATA
Trash contract up for new bids By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County is canceling the current contract with its trash collection agency and will soon be seeking bids. County Judge Rosalva Guerra placed the item on Monday’s Commissioners Court agenda, seeking to send a termination notice to Grande Garbage Col-
Schools in line for fed grant funds
lection Company. The contract, which is up for renewal in April, requires 180-days notice for termination. “We are happy that our landfill has finally opened; however, I do believe that it is a good policy to seek bids and/or proposals at least every two years, which will give the county the opportunity to upgrade any issues affecting the county,” Guerra said
in a written statement Friday. Grande Garbage, owned by Patricio Hernandez, began servicing the county in 2006. Prior to that, the county had been picking up its own trash. A written agreement was not signed until June 2007. The contract was for a year, with the option to extend it year-to-year for five years. Hernandez said he made a