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ZAPATA COUNTY ISD
Garcia hired She wants her schools to be ‘exemplary’ By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Carlos Jasso | AP
Soldiers guard the crime scene where Prisciliano Rodriguez, mayor of the Doctor Gonzalez municipality, was shot dead by gunmen at his ranch 31 miles east of Monterrey, Mexico, on Thursday. Rodriguez is the fourth mayor in northern Mexico to be murdered in little more than a month.
Gangs target small-town mayors By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS
SANTIAGO, Mexico — Bladimiro Montalvo has one of the most dangerous jobs in this colonial town, and in all of Mexico. He’s the mayor. The soft-spoken 67-year-old teacher distributes school supplies, organizes a job fair and works on improving the library. He also tries to avoid ending up like his predecessor, who authorities say was kidnapped and shot to death last month by his own police officers, linked to the Zetas drug gang. Three other small-town mayors in northeastern Mexico have been killed in the last month — the latest on Thursday, raising the total number
killed in border states this year to at least seven. On Friday, the mayor-elect of Gran Morelos, a town the border state of Chihuahua, was shot and critically wounded. Mexican drug cartels have increasingly targeted such officials as they fight the government and each other, seeking control of drug markets and routes to the United States. They use isolated, lightly patrolled towns to hide and to stash kidnap victims, weapons and drugs. They must co-opt or eliminate authority figures like mayors to assert control over both residents and police. Santiago, a scenic town of 40,000 nestled against the Sier-
Zapata County ISD board of trustees selected Dr. Norma Garcia as superintendent Tuesday, and have now entered a mandatory waiting period before signing a contract with her. Since the resignation of Romeo Rodriguez, the previous ZCISD superintendent, Garcia has been carrying the responsibilities of interim superintendent
and as chief instructional officer. “It has been a tough act to balance, (but) I have managed quite well because I have excellent leaders to rely on,” Garcia wrote in e-mails to The Zapata Times. “I will continue to lead the district in curriculum, instruction, and assessment, especially since this is a critical year for all Texas districts.” Garcia will have to wait 21 days to sign a contract, as required by state law, attorney
FOOD, FUN AND GAMES Students enjoy probaditas, dancing By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
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See MAYORS PAGE 10A
Museum duties clarified THE ZAPATA TIMES
After the decision to merge the Zapata County Museum of History with the Chamber of Commerce, both entities were still uncertain as to who would be responsible for specific duties, and to resolve the issue Commissioners Court signed a resolution at a special meeting Tuesday, assigning duties to start in January. “It very well explains the duties of each of the entities and gives clarification, real concrete guidelines on how to operate the museum,” Commissioner Jose E. Vela said. The resolution may be modi-
fied by the Commissioners Court at a later time, Vela added. The resolution addressed concerns both the Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer, Jose F. “Paco” Mendoza, and the museum board of directors president, Hildegardo Flores, presented as priorities before the grand opening of the museum. “It’s good to have something on paper stating what our responsibilities are,” Mendoza said. “My greatest concern was our (staffing), but I was very happy and satisfied with the resolution. It’s going to help keep
See MUSEUM PAGE 9A
See GARCIA PAGE 10A
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
ZAPATA COMMISSIONERS
By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ
Juan Cruz said. “The contract will be negotiated and on Oct. 19, the next regular school board meeting, (school board members) will agree on the terms and approve employment,” he said. Garcia wrote in the e-mails to The Times that she created systems and procedures in order to communicate effectively with all departments, as well as with the
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
A variety of Mexican food items and desserts awaits students in a kindergarten class at A. L. Benavidez Elementary in San Ygnacio Friday afternoon as they participate in Hispanic Heritage Month activities.
.L. Benavides Elementary and other Zapata County ISD campuses celebrated Hispanic Heritage month by adding traditional food and games to the curriculum last week. “We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage month by bringing ‘probaditas’ and dancing to Mexican music,” said Leticia Muñoz, a kindergarten teacher at the school. “Probaditas” are small portions of traditional Mexican food and pastries. “Some parents brought tamales, enchiladas, flautas, cemitas, aroz de leche, ojarascas, and beans,” Muñoz said. Before savoring the traditional treats, students danced to “la vibora de la mar,” la bamba, and other Mexican music. When dancing “la vibora de la mar” (the snake of the sea), two students will hold hands to make a bridge and other students will hold hands to make a snake and travel under the human bridge. Muñoz also taught her class about the Hispanic culture by explaining to her students the meaning of the word “Hispanic,” she said. “I told them Hispanic is for people that come from countries where the Spanish language is
See HERITAGE PAGE 10A