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DRUG SEIZURE
SHOOTING SUSPECT
Deputies seize pot Ton of marjuana is valued at $88K By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Due vigilance led deputies to seize approximately 1 ton of marijuana in the Siesta Shores Subdivision on Thursday, said Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. According to Gonzalez, a deputy was parked in front of a house watching traffic. Moments later, the deputy received a report of people running. Thinking the report could’ve been related to criminal activity,
deputies responded and detained three men. Gonzalez said the deputy recognized one of the detainees. According to Gonzalez, the deputy last saw the detainee in the vicinity of an abandoned house in the 5300 block of Davis Lane. There, a fourth person was detained. Gonzalez said deputies found 86 bundles inside the abandoned home. A sheriff ’s office news release states the contraband weighed ap-
See SEIZURE PAGE 10A
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Demond Bluntson is seen in court in Laredo on Thursday for a bond reduction hearing. Courtesy photo
Shown are the 86 bundles found inside an abandoned home, weighing about 2,080 pounds, with a street value of about $880,000.
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
HISPANIC HERITAGE
Judge denies bond request By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The county could incur higher costs if water levels at Falcon Lake rise before the relocation gets underway. So by approving Monday’s measure, county officials hope to expedite the move because it
LAREDO — The suspect in a fatal June shooting remains behind bars as a state district judge denied Friday his request for a release or bond reduction. But that petition is not dead. The attorneys of Demond Bluntson, 36, accused of killing his girlfriend’s 2- and 6-year-old sons in a Laredo Holiday Inn hotel room, intend to re-file the motion requesting his release, on personal recognizance, or a reduction in his approximately $3.5 million bond with the 49th District Court, which now has jurisdiction over the case. In the ruling, Judge Joe Lopez states he does not have jurisdiction to make a decision on Bluntson’s bond because his indictment was handed down in the 49th District Court. “Even though it was heard that day, it was something the court could not rule on,” said Lisa Rogerio, court administrator. “Any motion to be heard has to be heard under the jurisdiction of the 49th District Court with the new cause number.” Lopez is the 49th District Court judge but heard the motion Thursday in the capacity of the 111th District Court judge. Judge Monica Notzon, 111th District Court judge, was absent due to a prior engagement, she said. Cases are assigned randomly, and the petition was filed in the 111th District Court before the indictment was returned in the 49th. Bluntson was indicted Wednesday on two counts of capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant. The Webb County District Attorney’s Office, representing the prosecution, has argued that the handing down of Bluntson’s indictment and the seriousness of the alleged crimes renders his
See BRIDGE PAGE 9A
See BOND PAGE 10A
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Members of the Combined U.S. Border Patrol and CBP Honor Guard prepare to present the colors Tuesday morning at the CBP National Hispanic Heritage Month event at the San Agustin Ballroom at La Posada Hotel/Suites, in Laredo.
Fed workers commemorate with music, food and fun By RICARDO R. VILLARREAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
LAREDO — U.S. Customs and Border Protection commemorated National Hispanic Heritage Month on Tuesday with music, poetry, a video and a brunch menu including flautas, empanadas, flan and fresh fruit at La Posada’s San Agustin Ballroom.
Troy Meredith, director of marine operations for Laredo Sector air and marine support for CBP, served as emcee. Keynote speaker was 49th District Judge Joe Lopez. Ysela Arechiga, director of mission support of the Laredo Sector Border Patrol, read a proclamation from President Obama, declaring Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as National
Hispanic Heritage Month. Gabriela Medina, director of policy and compliance at Laredo Sector Border Patrol, invited CBP personnel to share their story. “Hispanic culture is everchanging as is the agency we all work for,” Medina said. Lopez was introduced by Greg Zitkiewicz, from the CBP Office of Assistant Chief Coun-
sel, who outlined the judge’s biography, including his birth in Roma, family life, his education in Laredo and Austin, and his careers in finance and law. The biography noted how Lopez spent several summers of his youth working with his family as a migrant worker in the Dakotas.
See HERITAGE PAGE 10A
ZAPATA COUNTY
Commissioners OK utility line move By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata commissioners approved a tentative measure Monday to move forward with the relocation of utility lines at the site of a future TxDOT project.
The Texas Department of Transportation’s spring 2014 project to construct a bridge crossing Valeño Creek could cost the county more than $1 million for construction because of the relocation of sewer and water lines it would require.
The bridge would be adjacent to the current one that crosses the creek, but utility lines are in the way of the project’s designs, County Judge Joe Rathmell said. The lines will have to be moved several hundred feet, he said.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
FRIDAY, SEPT 28
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Sun Country Fishing Tournament concludes.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 29 The Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium at Texas A&M International University hosts “The Age of the Universe and Dark Energy” at 6:30 p.m. in Spanish and 7:30 p.m. in English, featuring Texas A&M astronomer Lucas Macri. A free star party will follow the talk. There will be a Make-Your-Own-Telescope activity available for $5. The activity space is limited. For more information, contact Claudia Herrera at 956-326-2463 or claudia.herrera@tamiu.edu. Presale tickets for an Epoca de Oro dance event will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 800 Garden St. Presale tickets are $20. The social dance club will hold the event from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Civic Center Ballroom. Proceeds from the event benefit scholarships. The Rio Grande International Study Center invites you to the Loving Laredo Hike #11. We will explore lovely river scenery and birds in South Laredo at España Park. The hike is free. It will start at 8 a.m. To get to the park, head south on Zapata Highway, turn right on Prada Machin Drive, left on Castro Urdiales Road and right on Rio Ason Street. For more information, call 718-1063. LULAC Council No. 7 will conduct a voert’s registration drive fro 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Walmart on South Zapata Highway. For more information, call Joe Gonzalez at 949-7685.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 30 This is the last day to view “Pureza de Sangre – A History of Crypto Jews in New Spain,” a historical exhibit of 18th century books and documents, at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free on Tuesdays. For more information, contact the Webb County Heritage Foundation at 956-727-0977 or www.webbheritage.org.
TUESDAY, OCT. 2 The Alzheimer’s support group will meet at 7 p.m. in Meeting Room 2, Building B of the Laredo Medical Center, 1700 E. Saunders St. The support group is for family members and caregivers taking care of someone who has Alzheimer’s. For more information, call Melissa L. Guerra at 956-6939991.
FRIDAY, OCT. 12 The Southeast Texas Bass Federation will host a tournament through Saturday, Oct. 13.
SATURDAY, OCT. 13 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Planets Quest” at 2 p.m.; “Star Signs” at 3 p.m.; “Wonders of the Universe” at 4 p.m.; and “Ancient Skies, Ancient Mysteries,” at 5 p.m. It will be Girls and Boys Scouts Day. General admission is $4 for children and $5 adults. For more information, call 956-326-3663.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17 Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of the Americas and Americas Society in Washington, D.C., will speak as part of the International Bank of Commerce 2012-2013 Keynote Speaker Series, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the TAMIU Student Center Ballroom. Farnsworth will be presenting "Reviving Hemispheric Policy: An Agenda for the Next Administration." This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 326-2820.
THURSDAY, OCT. 18 The Anglers Quests tournaments begin, to run through Sunday, Oct. 21.
SATURDAY, OCT. 27 The Bass Champs South Region Championship takes place today and Sunday, Oct. 28.
SATURDAY, NOV. 17 The Bud Light Tournament Fall 2012 San Antonio Division tournament returns to Falcon Lake.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21 The Falcon Slam Bassmaster Elite Tournament returns to Falcon Lake. The tournament will run through Sunday, March 24.
Photo by Juanito M. Garza/San Antonio Express-News | AP
In this Monday photo, Casey McColley works on pirate ship on Grayson in San Antonio. Nightmare on Grayson is closing after 24 years to make room for retail and loft development there. “I was shocked when I heard the news,” said superfan Sean Nations.
Haunted house to close By VALENTINO LUCI SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
SAN ANTONIO — Out with the ghouls and in with the new. Nightmare on Grayson, which bills itself as San Antonio’s longest-running haunted house, will close after this Halloween to make room for a mixed-use development. “I was shocked when I heard the news,” said Sean Nations, 43, known as a Nightmare on Grayson superfan. “It’s a Halloween staple in San Antonio.” Nations said he has been attending the haunted house since the beginning. Though he’s hard to scare, he still visited the Grayson attraction multiple times each season. The haunted house has been in operation for 24 years, but a struggling economy, increased competition and high expenses also have pushed ownership to close up shop,
said Gordon Wise, director of operations. Nightmare on Grayson will have its last run through Oct. 31. Brayco Partnership, which owns the haunted house, is drafting plans for loft and retail space at the building at 201 E. Grayson St., Wise said. He said he’ll miss the haunted house and the quirky things that have happened there over the years, such as proposals; marriages, including the one with the bride and the groom dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Frankenstein; and a visit by the Insane Clown Posse, which drew hundreds of the band’s eccentric fans. Although the ownership group enjoyed operating the haunted house, Wise said that when the building was bought about a decade ago, there were already plans to develop the property when the area turned around.
Bomb hoaxes get man 3-plus years in prison
Man arrested in 3 Houston slayings outside club
Corpus Christi’s Harbor Ferry has record usage
CORPUS CHRISTI — A South Texas man has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for persuading a relative to make phony bomb threat calls to a Valero Energy Corp. refinery in Corpus Christi last year. Erasmo Luna, of Robstown, also was ordered Friday by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to pay $145,700 in restitution to Valero. Luna pleaded guilty in June.
HOUSTON — Houston police have arrested a man suspected of killing three people and wounding three others in a fight after a dance floor argument. Police on Friday announced 31-year-old Harold "Scooby" Brown has been charged with capital murder and remains in custody. Police say Brown was arrested Thursday. The incident began early Sept. 2 inside Club ICU.
CORPUS CHRISTI — The Harbor Ferry in Corpus Christi has set a usage record with more than 80,000 passengers already this season. The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority announced the record Thursday. The 90-foot ferry operates from March through November with increased operations during the summer.
Komen board’s ex-chairman retires
Prison officer reinstated after FB flap
DALLAS — Susan G. Komen for the Cure says the former chairman of the breast cancer charity’s board of directors will retire from the panel and two new members have been elected. Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall Jr. stepped down as chairman in March, not long after the foundation’s decision to stop giving grants to Planned Parenthood.
AUSTIN — A fired Texas corrections officer has his job back after state prison officials determined his friendship on Facebook with an inmate didn’t violate policy or raise security concerns. The sergeant at the TDCJ’s Huntsville Unit was reinstated following an internal affairs investigation.
Dallas police investigate slaying of bar doorman DALLAS — Dallas police say a bar doorman has been shot in a confrontation in a parking lot. Police on Friday did not immediately have information on a suspect in the attack outside the La Esquina Corner Lounge. Police say 51-year-old Juan Soto was shot by one or more assailants at about 11 p.m. Soto died after transport to a hospital. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION No sign of remains in new Mich. search for Hoffa ROSEVILLE, Mich. — Jimmy Hoffa is presumed dead and missing for the past 37 years. Patricia Szpunar just hopes that if the former Teamsters boss’ remains do turn up, they’re not in her backyard. The latest search led police to Szpunar’s brick ranch-style home in Roseville. Police in the mostly workingand middle-class community north of Detroit recently received a tip from a man who claimed he saw someone buried there about 35 years ago and that the body possibly belonged to Hoffa.
Warning signs seen before actor’s violent end LOS ANGELES — An attorney for an actor who killed his landlady before plunging to his death believes a drug-induced psychosis was responsible for his
Today is Saturday, Sept. 29, the 273rd day of 2012. There are 93 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Sept. 29, 1862, Prussia’s newly appointed ministerpresident, Otto von Bismarck, delivered a speech to the country’s parliament in which he declared the issue of German unification would be decided “not through speeches and majority decisions” but by “iron and blood (Eisen und Blut).” (Some references give the date of this speech as Sept. 30, 1862.) On this date: In 1789, the U.S. War Department established a regular army with a strength of several hundred men. In 1829, London’s reorganized police force, which became known as Scotland Yard, went on duty. In 1902, William Topaz McGonagall, affectionately remembered as one of Britain’s worst poets (if not the worst), died in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1907, the foundation stone was laid for the Washington National Cathedral, which wasn’t fully completed until this date in 1990. In 1912, movie director Michelangelo Antonioni was born in Ferrara, Italy. In 1938, British, French, German and Italian leaders concluded the Munich Agreement, which was aimed at appeasing Adolf Hitler by allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland. In 1957, the New York Giants played their last game at the Polo Grounds, losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-1. (The Giants moved to San Francisco.) In 1962, Canada joined the space age as it launched the Alouette 1 satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The musical “My Fair Lady” closed on Broadway after 2,717 performances. In 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his Vatican apartment just over a month after becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1982, Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide claimed the first of seven victims in the Chicago area. In 1987, Henry Ford II, longtime chairman of Ford Motor Co., died in Detroit at age 70. In 2005, John G. Roberts Jr. was sworn in as the nation’s 17th chief justice after winning Senate confirmation. Ten years ago: Israel bowed to U.N. demands and U.S. pressure, pulling troops and tanks out through the barbed wire encircling Yasser Arafat’s West Bank headquarters. West Coast longshoremen were ordered off their jobs for a second time in a costly labor dispute with shipping lines. Europe beat the Americans to win the Ryder Cup, 15 1/2-12 1/2. Today’s Birthdays: Actress Lizabeth Scott is 90. Actress Anita Ekberg is 81. Singer Jerry Lee Lewis is 77. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is 76. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., is 70. Lech Walesa, the former president of Poland, is 69. TV personality Bryant Gumbel is 64. Rock singer-musician Mark Farner is 64. singer Alvin Crow is 62. Former child actor Ken Weatherwax (TV: “The Addams Family”) is 57. Thought for Today: “Wars teach us not to love our enemies, but to hate our allies.” — W.L. George, English writer (1882-1926).
CONTACT US Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Business Manager, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 324-1226 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Copy Editor, Nick Georgiou ....................... 728-2565 Managing Editor, Mary Nell Sanchez........... 728-2543 Sports Editor, Adam Geigerman..................728-2578 Spanish Editor ........................................ 728-2569 Photo by Steve Helber | AP
This Wednesday photo shows Tappahannock Children’s Center administrator Ina Minter removing coats from the front of a mural painted by rapper Chris Brown as part of his community service at the center in Tappahannock, Va. former client’s violent outburst. Authorities on Friday searched for a motive behind the slaying by Johnny Lewis, who once worked on the TV drama "Sons of Anarchy." Investigators found Catherine Davis and Lewis dead Wednes-
day morning after neighbors reported a woman screaming inside her home. Police said Lewis is the only suspect in the slaying. Attorney Jonathan Mandel says Lewis had struggled with mental health issues. — Compiled by 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 29, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
THE BLOTTER ASSAULT An aggravated assault was reported at 10:13 p.m. Sept. 20 in the 1800 block of Third Street at Bravo Avenue.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT A disorderly conduct incident was reported at 12:03
p.m. Sept. 19 at Zapata High School.
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ
THEFT
THE ZAPATA TIMES
A theft was reported at 3:34 p.m. Sept. 19 in the 5400 block of South Siesta Lane. A theft was reported at 6:53 p.m. Sept. 20 in the 17000 block of Diaz Avenue.
A search warrant at a suspected drug house in the Medina Addition yielded two arrests, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and an assault rifle on Wednesday. Raul Herrera, 53, and Hector Martinez Salas, 32, were charged with possession of a controlled substance, a first-degree felony punishable with either life or five to 99 years in prison in addition to a $10,000 fine. On Wednesday, Zapata County sheriff ’s investigators executed a search warrant in the 700 block of Ramireño Avenue, where they arrested Herrera and Salas.
HISPANIC HERITAGE WEEKEND
Courtesy photo
IBC Bank showed its support of Texas A&M University-Kingsville athletics on Hispanic Heritage Weekend, at the university’s football game on Sept. 22. Present were, from left, IBC Bank-Zapata CEO Renato Ramirez, the IBC Free Bee, Commercial Lending Officer Rene Yzaguirre and Senior VP Ramiro Torres.
7 die in violence LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Seven men died in gang-related incidents Thursday, in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. An anonymous federal source said the killings were vengeance crimes between gangs. With this latest information, the number of victims attributed to violence has increased to 118 in the last 25 days of September. “It is the war for control on the border, between the Gulf Cartel and the Caballeros Templarios (Templar Knights), against the Zetas,” said the source Friday morning, who was not able to confirm the location of the incidents. On Thursday, Mexican Army soldiers took down five banners around town. The content of the banners showed off the arrest of Ivan Velazquez Caballe-
Medina house yields coke
ro, alias “El Taliban,” by the Mexican Navy. The federal source stated that the banners’ content, placed on the pedestrian bridges, “was indecent and excessive.” Likewise, on Thursday at 8:05 a.m., what seemed to be grenade detonations were heard western Nuevo Laredo, on Guatemala and Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez streets. The Simon Bolivar school was deserted in an area where a bomb threat was reported. “The school was left empty,” said school personnel under anonymity. “All the students had to go home.” School activities were back to normal on Friday. The federal source said the Army, Marines, federal police, and Seguridad Tamaulipas will be patrolling around the city.
Courtesy photo
Shown are items confiscated from a suspected drug house in the Medina Addition which resulted in the arrest of two suspects. While searching the home, authorities recovered 10 plastic baggies containing suspected co-
caine, weighing about 7.2 grams. According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, the contraband had an estimated
street value of $200. Investigators also seized weighing scales, an SKS asHERRERA sault rifle and $288. Justice of the Peace Juana Maria Gutierrez set a $75,000 bond for each MARTINEZ SALAS man. Court records show Herrera and Martinez Salas were at the Zapata Regional Jail on Friday evening. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Jury: Cartel manager is guilty By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
BROWNSVILLE — A federal jury seated just across the Rio Grande from the Mexican Gulf cartel’s historic base of power convicted one of its bosses Friday on charges of conspiring to import and distribute marijuana and cocaine. Juan Roberto RinconRincon, 41, had risen from the cartel boss’ right-hand man to plaza boss, controlling a lucrative stretch of smuggling routes across the Rio Grande from Texas. He is the second of the cartel’s plaza bosses to be convicted in Texas this year. He faces 10 years to life in prison for each of the two counts when sentenced Jan. 7. Rincon-Rincon did not testify, and his lawyers did not call any witnesses in his defense. “It’s an important verdict,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Young said. “I
think it shows that we’re certainly looking at individuals on both sides of the border involved in drug trafficking.” Authorities in the U.S. and Mexico have been making headway against the cartel since its leader, Osiel Cardenas Vela, was extradited to the U.S. in 2007. His brother, Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, also known as “Tony Tormenta,” was killed by Mexican marines in 2010. And more recently, another brother, Mario Cardenas, was arrested in Mexico earlier this month.
Another leader Also this month, Mexican authorities captured Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, who took over as cartel leader after Cardenas and was Rincon-Rincon’s boss. Rincon-Rincon is one of three Gulf cartel plaza
bosses arrested in the U.S. last year. Mexican authorities captured yet another alleged boss this week. Jurors deliberated for two hours in Rincon-Rincon’s case Friday after prosecutors closed their case by highlighting incriminating statements he made shortly after he was captured last October. “I am a commander of the Gulf cartel,” Young told jurors in Spanish at the start of his closing argument, adding that it was the same response RinconRincon eventually gave agents when they asked for his identity. Rincon-Rincon explained how much of a cut he got from each kilogram of marijuana that crossed the border from his territory and said he had one smuggler working for him who moved 500 kilograms per week into the U.S. Those statements, which the defense tried to suppress before trial, made the
case difficult, said Richard Zayas, Rincon’s attorney. “None of these guys really have an idea of how the U.S. justice system works at all,” Zayas said of cartel members. “They’re confused.” Testimony from cooperating witnesses described the cartel as the ultimate authority in its territory across the Texas border. Rincon-Rincon and three other men were captured by Border Patrol last October near the river. He told authorities he was fleeing cartel infighting. Prosecutors alleged that in his time as plaza boss, he oversaw the smuggling of 1,100 pounds of marijuana per week into Texas and collected taxes from those moving additional loads. Zayas, during his closing argument, emphasized to jurors that the government had not presented any evidence definitely linking Rincon-Rincon to loads of drugs that entered the U.S.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
OTHER VIEWS
SAT scores show a need for change By LINDSEY BURKE THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
SAT scores among the nation’s test-takers are at a 40-year low. As The Washington Post reports, “Reading scores on the SAT for the high school class of 2012 reached a four-decade low, putting a punctuation mark on a gradual decline in the ability of collegebound teens to read passages and answer questions about sentence structure, vocabulary and meaning on the college entrance exam.” The decline over the decades has been significant. The average reading (verbal) score is down 34 points since 1972. Sadly, the historically low SAT scores are only the latest marker of decline. Graduation rates have been stagnant since the 1970s, reading and math achievement has been virtually flat over the same time period, and American students still rank in the middle of the pack compared to their international peers. On the heels of the news about the SAT score decline, President Obama filmed a segment with NBC’s Education Nation. The president notably praised the concept of charter schools and pay for performance for teachers. But those grains of reform were dwarfed by his support of the status quo. During the course of the interview, Obama suggested hiring 100,000 new math and science teachers and spending more money on preschool. He also stated that No Child Left Behind had good intentions but was “under-resourced.” NCLB is about as “under-resourced” as the New York Yankees. The $25 billion, 600-page law (technically, a reauthorization and
revision of 1965 legislation signed by President Lyndon Johnson) has been on the receiving end of significant new spending every decade since it was originally passed nearly half a century ago. In fact, if more “resources” (read: spending) were the answer, we should have seen SAT scores triple over the past 40 years. That’s what happened with spending over the same time period. Taxpayers have financed a near tripling of inflationadjusted federal education spending since the 1970s. President Obama was also pressed on the issue of education unions by host Savannah Guthrie: “Some people think, President Obama gets so much support from the teachers’ unions, he can’t possibly have an honest conversation about what they’re doing right or wrong. Can you really say that teachers’ unions aren’t slowing the pace of reform?” Obama responded: “You know, I just really get frustrated when I hear teacherbashing as evidence of reform.” If we ever hope to move the needle on student achievement — or see SAT scores turn in the right direction again — we’ll need to implement many of those exact reforms, particularly school choice. And as he has in the past, Obama stated that his administration wants to “use evidenced-based approaches and find out what works.” We know what works: giving families choices when it comes to finding schools that best meet children’s needs. Instead of continuing to call for more spending and more Washington intervention in education, let’s try something new: choice and freedom.
COLUMN
Akin had a bad week By CHRIS CILLIZZA THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — It’s official: Todd Akin is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Missouri. Cue the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which had made abundantly clear to Akin, and everyone else, that it would not spend a dime for him if he stayed in the race after his comments in August about “legitimate rape.” After the deadline passed for Akin to leave the contest, the NRSC put out a statement this past week asserting that “as with every Republican Senate candidate, we hope Todd Akin wins in November and we will continue to monitor this race closely in the days ahead.” Rewarding the committee’s confidence, Akin told The Kansas City Star on Thursday that his opponent, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D), had acted more “ladylike” during her 2006 Senate campaign. (Yes, he really said that.) Further adding to the
NRSC’s agita, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) — someone who seems to take great pleasure in making committee Chairman John Cornyn’s life more difficult (though he did send $100,000 to the NRSC this past week) — endorsed Akin, joining former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.). Worth noting: Weeks before Akin won the Missouri primary in August, a top DeMint political adviser said that the congressman was the weakest nominee “because he’s too liberal on spending and earmarks.” The Akin imbroglio put the NRSC’s top aides, who are given the task of being political pragmatists in every possible situation, in an impossible spot — stuck between walking away from a badly damaged candidate and giving up on what should have been a very winnable race. The NRSC, for watching Missouri go from a sure thing to a long shot, you had the worst week in Washington. Congrats, or something.
COLUMN
Higher ed’s future is online By JULEYKA LANTIGUA-WILLIAMS MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
As a teacher at a community college, I welcome the transformation in higher education that online technology brings. For my courses, I post handouts, useful links, research supplements and study guides online. I no longer accept printed papers, only document files uploaded to our course site. And I no longer administer tests in the classroom, but create them online, allowing students a larger window in which to complete them. Maximizing the online possibilities in my classroom optimizes my teaching in multiple ways. The cost of the reading material has evaporated in the ether. Students are also less likely to make excuses for missed work after an absence, since materials are usually posted the same day we meet. I have more time in class to
spend teaching. And online discussion boards help continue the conversation long after they file out of class. My classroom is a microcosm of what’s possible. Places like Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Harvard, UCLA-Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are embarking on ambitious and transformative online education projects. The latter three launched EdX, a nonprofit that offers hundreds of courses free of charge online. Already, more than 10 percent of all college students are enrolled in fully online degree programs, according to the Department of Education. The next crucial step is to move toward offering entirely free online degrees. We don’t have much of an alternative. Only 40 percent of adults in the United States between the ages of 25 and
34 had earned an associate, bachelor’s or graduate degree in 2010, as reported by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. We ranked 16th in the number of young adults with college degrees, trailing countries like Russia, Canada and Japan. As tuition keeps going up faster than inflation, and federal financial aid is not enough to assist every college-ready student, we’re likely to fall further and further behind. Other superpowers are already ahead of us. China’s government gives grants to universities to put undergraduate teaching materials online. The Ministry of Education gives professors incentives to post course materials online. India keeps its focus on students, asking its most rigorous technology universities to post videos of lectures so millions of students across the country
can access them. President Obama has proposed increasing the amount of campus-based financial aid to $10 billion annually. That’s good news for students who qualify. But millions more will accrue debt in the form of student loans. It would better serve students, and the country, to make a multibillion dollar investment in offering entirely free online degrees through existing programs. By offering free online degrees, colleges here could open wide the doors of higher education. In doing so, they would help the United States become truly competitive in the international race for talent. (Juleyka Lantigua-Williams teaches writing at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, Conn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune News Service.)
Bill shows how Congress acts KANSAS CITY STAR
Congress seems to be doing little other than deciding not to decide, as was the case with the farm bill. House Speaker John Boehner said the measure won’t be considered until after the election. Yet maybe that was best. The versions approved by the Senate and
House agriculture panels only nibbled at the goal of real reform of the nation’s farm programs. In perhaps the worst provisions, annual cash payments would be scrapped and replaced with another layer of potentially costly crop insurance. Critics have rightly pointed out that this “shallow loss” policy would encourage farmers
to plow marginal or environmentally sensitive acreage, knowing that even if there’s no crop they’d be guaranteed a certain income. Government-subsidized insurance would remove much of farming’s risk. The corrosive effects aren’t hard to imagine. Farming is an endeavor still associated with the virtues of independence
and self-reliance — values that don’t long survive in no-risk businesses. Surely Congress can do better. With the nation facing a budgetary crisis, one can hope that after the election — with lawmakers facing the automatic cuts that are part of the “fiscal cliff ” — Congress will be in a mood more conducive to serious reform.
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National
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Mask-wearing teen was shooter’s son By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW FAIRFIELD, Conn. — A small Connecticut town was sent reeling in grief and confusion Friday after a popular fifth-grade teacher shot and killed a knife-wielding prowler in a black ski mask, only to discover it was his 15-year-old son. No immediate charges were brought against the father, Jeffrey Giuliano, in the slaying of his son, Tyler, who was gunned down in his aunt’s driveway next door to his own home around 1 a.m. Thursday. “It’s something out of a Hollywood script,” said John Hodge, the first selectman, or top elected official, in the town of nearly 14,000 people about 50 miles from New York city. He said he couldn’t recall another killing in his eight years on the job. State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said the boy had never been in trouble with the law, and some of those who knew him described him as a good kid with an easygoing personality. Investigators and acquaintances said they were at a loss to explain what he was doing outside dressed all in black and carrying a weapon. “Certainly, that is the major question we are trying to answer at this point,” Vance said. State police said the shooting happened after Jeffrey Giuliano got a call from his sister next door saying
that someone might be trying to break into her home in their neighborhood of attractive colonial-style houses. Giuliano grabbed a handgun and went outside to investigate, troopers said. He confronted someone in a ski mask and opened fire when the person came at him with something shiny in his hand, police said. When police officers arrived, Tyler was lying dead in the driveway with a knife in his hand, and his father, in T-shirt and shorts, was sitting on the grass. Detectives informed the elder Giuliano several hours later that he had shot his son, Vance said. “All in all it’s a tragedy,” Vance said. Police were investigating whether the father’s gun was registered. No one answered the door at Giuliano’s home or his sister’s. Tyler was a student at New Fairfield High School and a Civil Air Patrol cadet. Some of those who knew him said he enjoyed spending time with his family and flying gliders and small planes. He was adopted by
Photo by Jessica Hill | AP
Visitors arrive at the home of Jeffrey Giuliano in New Fairfield, Conn., on Friday. Giuliano fatally shot a masked teenager in self-defense during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Thursday morning, then discovered that he had killed his son, state police said. Giuliano and his wife a few years ago, friends said. One classmate said many students couldn’t make sense of what happened. “I just thought it was so weird when I heard because I knew Tyler, not very well, but he was just a sweet person and he always made everyone laugh. I met him in the chorus room, actually, and he just wasn’t the type to do what happened,” said Erin Pallas, 16. “So it didn’t make sense to us.” Brett Rasile, a 14-year-old friend, said he and Tyler were playing an online game called Minecraft while talking and laughing together via Skype until about 10 p.m. Wednesday, when Tyler said he had to go to bed.
Brett said Tyler wasn’t in any trouble at home that he knew about, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. “Same old Tyler. He was perfectly fine,” Brett said. “He didn’t really leave any evidence, any hints toward what he would do.”
Alicia Roy, New Fairfield superintendent of schools, said the elder Giuliano grew up in the town, holds summer music and zoology camps for his students and plays guitar in a local rock band that raises a lot of money for charity. He was
affectionately known as “Mr. G” around Meeting House Hill School. “He was the teacher you requested in the fifth grade. He was a great teacher. All the kids loved him,” said Rosemary Rasile, Brett’s mother.
National
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
Fired man kills 5, hurts 3 By PATRICK CONDON AND AMY FORLITI ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS — A man fired from his job at a Minneapolis sign-making business pulled out a handgun and began shooting up its offices, fatally wounding the owner and four others before turning the gun on himself, police said Friday. Andrew Engeldinger, 36, injured at least three others in the attack Thursday at Accent Signage Systems. Police Chief Tim Dolan said the attack lasted no more than 10 or 15 minutes, and said Engeldinger may have chosen to spare some former coworkers. “It’s clear he did walk by some people, very clear,” Dolan said. Police gave no details about why Engeldinger was fired. The company has declined to give any information since the attack. Investigators who searched En-
geldinger’s house Thursday night in south Minneapolis found another gun and packaging for 10,000 rounds of ammunition in the house. In the shooting, Engeldinger used a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol he had owned for about a year, Dolan said. “He’s obviously been practicing in how to use that gun,” Dolan said. Among those killed were Accent Signage System owner Reuven Rahamim, 61, and Keith Basinski, a UPS driver who had made deliveries and pickups at the business for years. “He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Dolan said of Basinski. The other victims weren’t immediately identified. Police Sgt. Stephen McCarty said the fifth victim died at Hennepin County Medical Center sometime Friday. Two other people remained at the
hospital, one in serious condition and one critical. “It was a hellish time,” Dolan said of the attack. Police received multiple 911 calls from inside the business. When they arrived, Dolan said, they heard no shots. He described Accent, a business that includes both offices and manufacturing, as a large building with many rooms branching off to the sides. It took tactical units a long time to thoroughly search the building, and they found two people hiding “a very long time” after the attack began, Dolan said. There was no security at the building, he said. Engeldinger’s uncle, Joe Engeldinger of New Germany, Minn., called his nephew a “good kid” who seemed normal and well-adjusted until about two years ago when he broke off contact with his entire family.
Photo by Craig Lassig | AP
Minneapolis Police Inspector Mike Martin, center, hugs Minneapolis City Council member Barb Johnson, right, on Friday after a news conference at a church near the scene of a mass shooting in which a gunman shot several people. “When I would see his family, I would ask them about Andy and
nobody could ever tell me anything,” Joe Engeldinger said.
SÁBADO 29 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2012
Agenda en Breve CIUDAD MIER, MÉXICO 09/29— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta a la agrupación folklórica chilena “Manka Saya” a las 7 p.m. en la Plaza Principal.
LAREDO 09/29— El Concilio No. 7 de los LULAC realizará una campaña para registro de votantes de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. en Walmart, South Zapata Highway. Informes con Joe González al 949-7685. 10/01— Como parte del Día del Río 2012, la bibliotecaria Jeanette Hatcher presentará libros históricos y mapas del Río Grande en la Biblioteca Sue and Radcliffe Killam de TAMIU, en el área de Colecciones y Archivos Especiales. 10/05— Baloncesto: Toros vs Pioneros en Laredo Energy Arena a las 7:30 p.m. Más información en (956) 717-TORO.
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO 09/29— Bazar de arte a las 12 p.m. en Sala Gabriel García Márquez en Estación Palabra. 09/29— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta: “Punto de Encuentro” de Tamaulipas, a las 5:30 p.m. en la Explanada de la Independencia. Instalación/Arte a cargo de Mauricio Sáenz; danza con el “Circo Estatal de Moscú sobre hielo” (de Rusia) a las 6 p.m. en la Plaza de Toros Lauro Luis Longoria; “Encanto” de México, a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural. 09/30— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta: “Programa Mixto Compañía de Danza Nuevo Laredo” a las 5 p.m. en la Explanada de la Independencia; “Broadwayland Onda Urbana” a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural. 10/01— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta música con “Patita de Perro” a las 10:30 a.m. Escuela Primaria Profr. Abdón Rodríguez; evento de literatura “Apetitos Literarios” de México a las 11 a.m. en Estación Palabra; ‘Gran Gala de Ballet” con el Ballet de Montreal de Eddy Toussaint, a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural; música con “Salev Setra” de Tamaulipas a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del Pueblo de Expomex. 10/02— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta: “Exposición de Pintura de Calle” en la Explanada Esteban Baca Calderón; “N otra Vida” de México a las 7 p.m. en la Sala Sergio Peña de la Antigua Aduana. Música a cargo de Edgar Oceransky. 10/03— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta: “Exposición de Pintura de Calle” en la Explanada Esteban Baca Calderón; “Música para los Ojos” con la Compañía Seña y Verbo de México, a las 10:30 a.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural; música con “Las Jaivas” de Chile a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del Pueblo de Expomex. 10/04— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta: “Exposición de Pintura de Calle” en la Explanada Esteban Baca Calderón; Concierto Infantil a las 10:30 a.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural; música con “180 GRA2 Ensamble Baile” a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura; “El Reinado del Requinto” con Los Tres Reyes y Gilberto Puente” a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro de la Ciudad Adolfo López Mateos. 10/05— Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta teatro, música y danza con “Viva Tamaulipas” a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural; música con “Magda Castillo” a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro de la Ciudad Adolfo López Mateos.
Zfrontera BM: Gasto firme
PÁGINA 7A
REMESAS DE INMIGRANTES SIGUEN SÓLIDAS
POR JAIME MEJIA
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Las remesas de los inmigrantes en todo el mundo han aguantado la crisis global con firmeza y seguirán siendo una fuente importante de ingresos de los países en desarrollo en los próximos años. Tal es la conclusión de un libro que acaba de publicar el Banco Mundial denominado Migration and Remittances during the Global Financial Crisis and Beyond (migración y remesas durante la crisis financiera global y más allá). De acuerdo con Dilip Ratha, gerente de la unidad de migración y remesas del Banco Mundial y coautor del libro, desde 2008, cuando empezó la crisis global, los flujos de remesas cayeron solo 5% en 2009 pero luego se recuperaron rápidamente
y se espera que este año los giros a países en desarrollo alcancen los 400.000 millones de dólares. De acuerdo con las cifras del Banco Mundial, las remesas cayeron de 324.000 millones de dólares a 308.000 millones de dólares entre 2008 y 2009. Luego volvieron a crecer hasta llegar a 372.000 millones en 2011. El banco proyecta que el flujo de remesas a países en desarrollo alcance los 467.000 millones de dólares en el año 2014. La historia de los giros a América Latina y el Caribe es similar. Entre 2008 y 2009, los giros pasaron de 64.000 millones de dólares a 57.000 millones de dólares, lo que representó una caída de un 11%. En los años siguientes los giros se recuperaron hasta llegar a 66.000 millones este año y se prevé que para 2014 la cifra de América Latina y el Caribe
llegue a 77.000 millones de dólares. ¿Por qué se sostienen las remesas a países en desarrollo en medio de una crisis económica global? “La primera razón es que se esperaba que con la crisis se frenaran las corrientes migratorias y se produjera un retorno masivo de inmigrantes a sus países de origen, pero eso no ha sucedido”, dice Ratha. Otra razón importante, dice, es que como resultado de la crisis el dólar se fortaleció frente a monedas de países en desarrollo y esto generó un efecto positivo para las remesas porque los inmigrantes podían enviar menos dólares. Por la misma razón, al devaluarse las monedas frente al dólar las inversiones se volvieron más baratas. Por otro lado, “inmigrantes como los hispanos en Estados Unidos, han compensado los efectos de la
crisis sobre sus ingresos con recortes de gasto en otros rubros para mantener las remesas”, dice Ratha. Se sabe desde hace tiempo que las remesas son parte fundamental de muchas economías en desarrollo. De hecho, en algunos países de Centroamérica las remesas pueden llegar a representar más del 15% de la producción total de bienes y servicios o producto interno bruto (PIB). Por ejemplo, en El Salvador las remesas representan el 16% del PIB y en Honduras el 19%, según el Banco Mundial. La importancia económica de las remesas se ha mantenido en la crisis. Otro hallazgo del estudio reciente del Banco Mundial es que las remesas, como fuente de capital, son tan importantes en los países en desarrollo como la inversión extranjera directa.
GOBIERNO
SALUD
MAYOR ATENCIÓN
Iniciativa invita a eliminar medicinas ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
El Secretario de Salud, Norberto Treviño García Manzo, tuvo a su cargo la ceremonia de clausura de los trabajos de la segunda reunión de coordinadores y responsables de Salud Reproductiva de las 12 jurisdicciones sanitarias de la entidad.
Estado busca mejorar alcance de servicios TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
C
D. VICTORIA, México — El esfuerzo desplegado por el gobierno del estado para mejorar la salud reproductiva de los tamaulipecos, permitió que en los primeros 20 meses de la actual administración se incorporarán a más de 40.000 mujeres al programa de planificación familiar, efectuar más de 90.000 detecciones de cáncer cérvico uterino y exploraciones mamarias, así como reducir la mortalidad materna por debajo de la media nacional. “(Tamaulipas) es promotor de una sociedad generadora de
oportunidades que atienda las principales necesidades de las familias”, dijo el Secretario de Salud, Norberto Treviño García Manzo, al clausurar los trabajos de la segunda reunión de coordinadores y responsables de Salud Reproductiva de las 12 jurisdicciones sanitarias. “La salud es una inversión para un desarrollo con oportunidades”, dijo García Manzo.Durante el encuentro se hizo entrega de constancias de certificación de dos módulos de vasectomía sin bisturí que a partir de esta fecha inician operaciones en las jurisdicciones sanitarias de Matamoros y Miguel Alemán, así como recono-
cimientos a los participantes. Se acordó incrementar las exploraciones de mama y referir a segundo nivel para la realización de mastografías; realizar un mayor número de citologías de primera vez a mujeres de 25 a 34 años; ingresar un mayor número de usuarios a los métodos de planificación familiar, entre otros acuerdos. García Manzo informó que para ello se desarrollaron cinco talleres de trabajo y se abordaron temas como nutrición en el embarazo, violencia familiar y sus implicaciones legales, consejería en vasectomía sin bisturí, vacunación de VPH y prueba de híbridos, prevención primaria de cáncer de mama y cérvico uterino, entre otros.
El sábado 29 de septiembre, de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. se llevará a cabo la iniciativa “Drug Take Back” que encabezan la U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) y la Coalición Comunitaria del Condado de Webb. El objetivo es invitar a las familias a que entreguen aquellos medicamentos que ya no utilizan en casa, sean que hayan expirado, que no tengan uso o que no deban conservar. En Zapata, el servicio se proveerá en Zapata County Courthouse, 200 East 7th Street. Las ubicaciones para hacerlo en Laredo serán en United Middle School, 700 Del Mar Blvd. y en Ryan Elementary School, 2401 Clark Blvd.
Peligro “Muchas personas desconocen que las medicinas en casa muchas veces son utilizadas de forma incorrecta o se abusa de ellas”, explicó la Directora de la Coalición, Melissa B. Cavazos. Dijo que en EU ha habido un incremento alarmante en la tasa de accidentes por envenenamiento (con medicinas) y sobredosis. “Tirar las medicinas por el inodoro, o en la basura, se traduce en un potencial riesgo de salud y peligro”, agregó Cavazos. La Iniciativa Nacional “Drug Take Back” no cuestiona a las personas llevando los medicamentos, ni tampoco les cobra por el servicio.
COLUMNA
Por Brazos de Santiago: Los Juárez Maza POR RAÚL SINENCIO CHÁVEZ ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Raudo, bamboleante, el modesto carruaje traspuso las goteras de Monterrey, Nuevo León. Detrás corretearon algunos huercos por corto tramo, uniéndoseles los perros del rumbo con escandalosos ladridos. El vehículo pronto se perdió de vista. Avanzaba hacia el vecino estado de Tamaulipas. Iba a bordo Margarita Maza de Juárez. México vivía momentos terribles. Por los Tratados de la Soledad, quedó Napoleón III comprometido a que los expedicionarios franceses retomaran sus posiciones iniciales en caso de romper hostilidades contra la República. Con absoluta desfachatez, el compromiso fue desatendido. Francia estaba resuelta a imponernos el imperio de Maximiliano de Habsburgo, sirviéndoles los conservadores de alcahuetes. Como
mordieran el polvo de la derrota en Puebla, las huestes invasoras recibieron tremendos refuerzos. Disparejos los bandos, ocuparon la Ciudad de México y salieron en persecución del presidente Benito Juárez. Sin dudarlo ni desfallecer, don Benito les hizo frente. “La autoridad […] es […] un depósito que la Nación me ha confiado […] para su honor […], y no lo pondré jamás a discreción del […] extranjero, antes bien sostendré […] la guerra […], hasta obligarle a reconocer la justicia de nuestra causa”, manifestó el valiente mandatario. Por supuesto, era más fácil decir estas palabras que sostenerlas. Casi mediaba el verano de 1864 cuando los Juárez Maza lograron reunirse en la capital nuevoleonesa. Vivían a salto de mata, hostigados por tropas intervencionistas. Aun en medio de tantos sinsabores, la fami-
lia tuvo motivos para alegrarse con dos nuevos integrantes: el último hijo del presidente, nacido el 13 de junio, y su nieto primigenio, llegado el 12 de julio. No obstante, don Benito debió reconcentrarse en asuntos bastante graves. El adversario le pisaba los talones pese a la resistencia de valientes patriotas. Apoderadas de gran parte del territorio nacional, las hordas imperiales se lanzaron sobre el noreste, asiento del gobierno legítimo y codiciado enclave. Complejo de por sí el panorama, Juárez todavía encaró numerosos problemas en las fuerzas republicanas. Aunque hubo defecciones, rebeldías y enfrentamientos internos, cada reto lo resolvió con proverbial astucia. Quizás Tamaulipas le haya dado las mayores preocupaciones. Lejos de amilanarse, el patricio mantuvo su presidencia errante. Las circunstancias,
por desgracia, determinaron una dolorosa separación de la familia, alejándola del conflicto todo lo posible. En consecuencia, doña Margarita abandonó la Sultana del Norte el miércoles 27 de julio de 1864. Partiría acompañada de hijas e hijos. Consigo llevó a José “El Negrito”, que rondaba los 12 meses de edad, y Antonio, venido al mundo en Saltillo, Coahuila, pocas semanas atrás. Pedro Santacilia, el yerno, se encargaría de cuidarlos mientras permanecieran exiliados. Gente del general Jesús González Ortega compuso la escolta. Envueltos por secos calores que preludiaban la temporada de lluvias, tomaron el incierto camino a Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Allá cruzarían el caudaloso río Bravo para alcanzar Brazos de Santiago e internarse en los EU. Muy a tiempo. Bloqueado primero, el puerto fronterizo cayó al
fin en manos enemigas. Llena de carencias, la familia del presidente se refugiaría en Nueva York. Siguieron días amargos, difíciles. Revés tras revés, escaso de ejército y falto de fondos, don Benito recorrió desérticos territorios. Al comenzar 1865 supo que en la Unión Americana había fallecido José “El Negrito”, luego de penosa enfermedad. Replegado Juárez al Paso del Norte, Chihuahua, sobrevino el fallecimiento de Antonio. “Mi corazón está destrozado con golpes tan rudos como los que hemos recibido con la pérdida de nuestros hijos”, le escribe a doña Margarita el 21 de septiembre. Cualquiera hubiese desistido. Benito Juárez en cambio restauró la República y consolidaría la independencia de México. (Cortesía de Raúl Sinencio Chávez, según publicación en La Razón, Tampico, Tamps).
National
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
Both campaigns shift focus to raising money By STEVE PEOPLES AND KEN THOMAS ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — For a day, the presidential contest was almost all about money — money to wage the presidential contest, that is. Mitt Romney promised to help Americans earn more, but he and President Barack Obama focused mostly on private fundraisers and big checks to fuel their 40-day sprint to Election Day. Obama courted donors in Washington on Friday, while his Republican challenger did the same in Philadelphia and Boston, both men trading swing-state rallies for fundraising in places unlikely to play a significant role in the election of the next president on Nov. 6. Romney admitted as
much during a fundraiser at Philadelphia’s exclusive Union League Club. The former Massachusetts governor said it would surprise everyone if he carried Pennsylvania, a state that hasn’t supported a Republican presidential candidate in nearly a quarter century. “We really would shock people if early in the evening of Nov. 6 it looked like Pennsylvania was going to come our way and actually did come our way. That can happen,” Romney told about 200 donors who paid between $2,500 and $50,000 to hear his remarks. “My priority is job creation and growing incomes,” Romney continued. “My priority is not trying to punish people who have been successful.” The former business-
man’s remarks came at the first of three private fundraisers sandwiched around a midday rally. Obama kept close to Washington with a schedule of three fundraisers of his own. As the candidates asked for cash, their campaigns prepared for next week’s high-stakes meeting on the debate stage — the first of three presidential debates and perhaps Romney’s best chance to reverse the recent Obama gains suggested by opinion polls. Both men worked international affairs into their politicking Friday with separate telephone calls to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Romney criticized Obama for not meeting with Netanyahu this week during his visit to the United Nations, where the prime
Officials explain attack By KIMBERLY DOZIER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence officials sought to explain Friday why the Obama administration’s understanding of the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is “evolving.” Facing a barrage of Republican criticism about what the administration knew and when about the attack, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a statement Friday that laid out how officials came to understand the assault that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. At the same time, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations issued a statement explaining her early descriptions of the attack. In the days immediately
after the attack, the administration said it believed it was a spontaneous reaction to an anti-Islamic video that ridiculed Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and ignited mob protests on U.S. embassies around the Middle East and in North Africa. Now, the administration has begun to call it a terrorist attack carried out by al-Qaida-linked militants and explain that it was a planned attack distinct from the mob protests in the region. Republicans have seized on the Obama administration’s changing narrative, saying the administration was too slow to label it a terrorist attack because, they said, the White House did not want to admit its policies had failed to defeat al-Qaida, and quell anti-American sentiment in the Muslim
world. “Throughout our investigation we continued to emphasize that information gathered was preliminary and evolving,” DNI spokesman Shawn Turner’s statement said. “It remains unclear if any group or person exercised overall command and control of the attack, and if extremist group leaders directed their members to participate. However, we do assess that some of those involved were linked to groups affiliated with, or sympathetic to al-Qaida,” he said. At the same time, a spokeswoman for U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice also sought to explain comments that Rice made early in the investigation saying there was no evidence the Benghazi attack was premeditated.
minister declared the world has only until next summer to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. Aides to both candidates did not mention that dire declaration in their reports of the calls. But money was largely the focus of the day. In an election where the two sides already have collected more than $1 billion, each campaign has committed millions more they haven’t yet raised to help blanket key states with television ads, drive national voter turnout operations and support massive teams of paid staff and consultants. Private events at places like the Union League Club, where dress codes prohibit wrinkled clothes and huge crystal chandeliers hang from ceilings, are regular occurrences
Photo by Terry Renna | AP
Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at the Century Village Clubhouse in Boca Raton, Fla. on Friday. for campaigns seeking the modern-day lifeblood of presidential politics. Romney and the Republican Party had raised about $536 million through
the end of August, the most recent reporting data available. Obama and the Democratic Party had collected about $655 million through the same period.
Researcher says flaw in Android creates risk By RICHARD LARDNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Cellphones using Google’s Android operating system are at risk of being disabled or wiped clean of their data, including contacts, music and photos, because of a security flaw that was discovered several months ago but went unnoticed until now. Opening a link to a website or a mobile application embedded with malicious code can trigger an attack capable of destroying the memory card in Androidequipped handsets made by Samsung, HTC, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, rendering the devices useless, computer security researcher Ravi Borgaonkar
wrote in a blog post Friday. Another code that can erase a user’s data by performing a factory reset of the device appears to target only the newly released and top selling Galaxy S III and other Samsung phones, he wrote. Borgaonkar informed Google of the vulnerability in June, he said. A fix was issued quickly, he said, but it wasn’t publicized, leaving smartphone owners largely unaware that the problem existed and how they could fix it. Google declined to comment. Android debuted in 2008 and now dominates the smartphone market. Nearly 198 million smartphones using Android were sold in the first six months of 2012, according to the re-
search firm IDC. About 243 million Android-equipped phones were sold in 2011, IDC said. Versions of Android that are vulnerable include Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, according to Borgaonkar. He said the Honeycomb version of Android, designed for tablets, needs to be tested to determine if it is at risk as well. Samsung, which makes most of the Android phones, said only early production models of the Galaxy S III were affected and a software update has been issued for that model. The company said it is conducting an internal review to determine if other devices are affected and what, if any, action is needed.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
GLORIA R. VELA Gloria R. Vela passed away Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas. Ms. Vela is preceded in death by her husband, Octavio Vela; and sons, Octavio Vela, Jr. and Juan Angel Vela. Ms. Vela is survived by her sons, Carlos Omar (Maricruz) Vela and Mario Humberto Vela; daughters, Leticia Belia (Roel Ivan) Guzman and Liliana Vela; grandchildren, Gloria Estela Vela, Leslie Ann Vela, Carla Yvette (Sergio Jr.) Vidal, Carlos Omar Vela Jr., Gabriela Marie Vela, Humberto Jr. (Melissa) Barrera and Daniel James Barrera; great-grandchildren, Amira Marie Juarez, Genevieve Faye Humburt, Kaidalee Gean Humburt and Jacob Thomas Barrera; and niece, Herminia “Mine” Hernandez; and by numerous nephews, nieces and friends. Visitation hours were held Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at
Talkin’ like Texans is fadin’ By SCOTT FARWELL THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. 83, Zapata, TX.
DALLAS — Do you talk Texan? Say these sentences: “I pulled open a drawer to find a banana. Then, I peeled it.” Did your “pull” have an “oooh sound, as in pool? Did your “peel” come out more like pill? Probably not. Most Texans no longer sound like stereotypical Texans, according to researchers at the University of Texas at Austin. The twang, they say, is fading. “What’s so striking is that 30 years ago, about 80 percent of all speakers had clear Texas accents,” said Lars Hinrichs, an assistant professor of English and director of the Texas English Project. “Nowadays, the recordings my students bring back of people who grew up in Texas hardly ever have a strong accent.”
Population shift
LOTS OF RAIN HAS FALLEN
The reasons are predictable — immigration, urbanization, gentrification — and the shift is most noticeable in people who live in a city, or are younger than 25. Today, people who live in Texas cities sound more like accent-neutral Midwesterners. But Hinrichs and other researchers said they dis-
covered something surprising when they began studying Texans’ use of their native tongue. We haven’t abandoned the y’alls and drawls, we just use them when the time is right. So, when a city-dwelling saleswoman is working in East Texas, she’ll often slip into the hyper-polite “thank you kindly” mode. Or when a Texas-born man is speaking to an elderly woman, he’ll default to the respectful “yes, ma’am.” “It builds rapport, it’s quaint, it’s friendly,” said Hinrichs. “When you hear someone talking with a Texas twang, you feel like you’re talking to a good person.” Think of it like a faded and oh-so-comfortable denim shirt. You wouldn’t wear it to a job interview, any more than you’d greet your prospective bosses with a hearty “howdy do.” But at a barbecue and beer joint on a lazy Saturday afternoon, an untucked denim shirt feels just right. None of this is unique to Texas. Language is ever-evolving, shaped by the creeping and receding tides of regional dialects.
The New Yawk ‘r’ Consider
what
hap-
pened to the use of the letter “r” in New York in the 1960s. European immigrants flooded into the city after World War II and eventually washed over the middle class. They brought with them a British sense of hierarchy and an accent. So, when they moved up to a new apartment, they’d say “It’s on the fawth floawh (fourth floor)” — an r-less accent that persists today. Similar trends can be heard in accents around the country. Think Boston: “The cah (car) is in the pahking laht (parking lot).” Or the Appalachians: “We grow taters (potatoes), maters (tomatoes) and baker (tobacco) on our farm.” Regional accents are mainly identified by word choice, phrases and pronunciation. In Texas, colloquialisms such as polecat (for skunk) and mosquito hawk (for dragonfly) have already fallen out of favor, while others such us “might could” and “fixin’ to” are in the twilight of usage. Bob Tallman makes his living with his booming baritone and no-nonsense Cowboy persona as an announcer for the Mesquite Rodeo. To him, it is heresy to think of Texas without its twang. “I’m a big believer that you should take pride in
who you are, what you do, what you look like and what you sound like,” the 65-year-old said. Tallman said that means if you live in Texas, you should sound like a Texan, or learn how right quick. “And if you don’t like it,” he said, “move back to California.” Researchers say Tallman’s loyalty to his local language isn’t unusual. “People always use their language as a touchstone of their identity,” said graduate student Kate Shaw Points, whose research focuses on Texasborn Latinos in Austin. “They want to say something and have part of who they are in what they’re saying.” She said that’s especially true for young Latino women, who may be straddling an identity that is Mexican-American and traditional Texan, all while embracing a hip form of slang common in California. Linguists call it style shifting. “Young women tend to drive these changes because they are said to be more attuned to prestige in language than men,” Points said. “So women will hear something and think it sounds prestigious or cool, and then they’ll imitate it. That’s how it spreads throughout the population.”
Drowned bear scientist punished By BECKY BOHRER ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo by Mark Sterkel/Odessa American | AP
High water along University Boulevard in Odessa backs up traffic where several vehicles stalled Friday morning due to heavy rains. The National Weather Service reported nearly 2.5 inches of rain fell overnight at Odessa’s Schlemeyer Airport and the forecast calls for continued chance of rain through the weekend.
BRIDGE Continued from Page 1A is unknown if lake levels will rise. When lake levels are low, it is easier to dig a trench into the ground, whereas if done when they are higher, the trenching would have to be done underwater, causing a significant rise in cost. “It would be cost-effective to do it now instead of waiting for the lake to fill up,” Rathmell said. Officials have said sewer and water services won’t be affected by construction. The county is looking into the possibility of salvaging the existing bridge, possibly eliminating some
of the costs. Rathmell said the bridge could be used as a tourist spot, serving as an area for fishermen to set up shop. “I think the court sees a lot of value in that bridge not just to save money,” he said. “When the lake is full it is excellent for fishing habitat.” But, because TxDOT owns the bridge, the agency will have to decide what is done with it. For now, plans are to demolish it once the new bridge is built, Rathmell said. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2579 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
JUNEAU, Alaska — An Alaska scientist whose observations of drowned polar bears helped galvanize the global warming movement has been reprimanded for improper release of government documents. An Interior Department official said emails released by Charles Monnett were cited by a federal appeals court in decisions to vacate approval by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of an oil and gas company’s Arctic exploration plan. The official, Walter Cruickshank, deputy director of BOEM, said in a memo that an inspector general’s investigation contained findings that Monnett had improperly disclosed internal government documents, which he said were later used against the agency in court. He also said the investigation made other findings in regards to Monnett’s conduct, but he
wasn’t taking action on those. He would not specify those findings. Cruickshank called Monnett’s “misconduct very serious,” and said any future misconduct may lead to more severe discipline, including removal from federal service. Monnett was briefly suspended last year during an inspector general’s investigation into a polar bear research contract he managed. Jeff Ruch, executive director of the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which has been involved in the matter on Monnett’s behalf, said Friday that the issue of the document release did not even come up in investigators’ questioning of Monnett. He called the outcome “completely unexpected,” and said Monnett is confused by it. “We think he’s owed an apology, but we’re not going to hold our breath until he gets one,” Ruch said.
PEER, in a news release, said the email disclosure had nothing to do with polar bear research but that it embarrassed the agency. The group said it expects the inspector general’s report to be released soon. Federal investigators have said that Monnett helped a polar bear researcher prepare a proposal even though he was the government official who determined whether the proposal met minimum qualifications. PEER has said Monnett’s handling of the study was proper and that Monnett, instead, was being targeted for a 2006 article on drowned polar bears. The article was based on observations that Monnett and a fellow scientist made in 2004 while conducting an aerial survey of bowhead whales. They saw four dead polar bears floating in the water after a storm. In the article, they said they were reporting, to the best of their knowledge, the first observa-
tions of the bears floating dead and presumed drowned while apparently swimming long distances. They wrote that while polar bears are considered strong swimmers, long-distance swims may exact a greater metabolic toll than standing or walking on ice in better weather. They said their findings suggested that drowning-related deaths of polar bears may increase in the future “if the observed trend of regression of pack ice and/ or longer open water periods continues.” The article and related presentations helped to make the polar bear a symbol for the global warming movement. A BOEM spokeswoman, Theresa Eisenman, said the findings do not support a conclusion that the scientists involved engaged in “scientific misconduct.” Monnett’s reprimand could be removed from his record in two years or less.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
SEIZURE Continued from Page 1A proximately 2,080 pounds, with an approximate street value of $880,000. Authorities did not release the name of the four individuals detained. Federal court records did not show arrests this week in Zapata County as of Friday evening. Given the amount of the load seized, Drug Enforcement Administration agents took over the investigation. “In this case, there was good observation by the deputy,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez said he has noticed a recent increase in narcotics seizures. His office is doing its best with resources available to deter the criminal element, he said. “I commend my employees for the great job they’re doing to maintain the safety of all Zapata County residents,” Gonzalez said. Anyone with information on this case or any other suspicious activity is asked to call the sheriff ’s office at 7659960 or Crime Stoppers at 765TIPS (8477). All callers may remain anonymous. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
HERITAGE Continued from Page 1A “Judge Lopez is only the eighth person to serve in his current position since it was created in 1892,” Zitkiewicz added. Lopez acknowledged the men and women of CBP, his family and staff. He said that in his profession, because of the number of cases staffers handle, they may lose sight of the positive changes they can make in people’s lives. “We can do that by changing the system and that takes time, but we have an obligation to leave things better than we found them,” Lopez said. He pointed out the important contributions Hispanics have made in the United States in the sciences, arts, sports, the economy and the armed forces. He reiterated Obama’s statement that “the story of Hispanics is the story of America itself.” Also, he stressed the importance of education. “Educate yourself and give yourself more opportunities,” Lopez said. He added that statistics show that Hispanics are improving in the areas of education and that continuing to fund programs in that field along with the areas of health and human services ultimately help people to help themselves.
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
A U.S. Border Patrol officer is reflected in the background as Troy Meredith, director of the Office of Air and Marine Operations for CBP in Laredo, speaks at the CBP National Hispanic Heritage Month festivites Tuesday morning at the San Agustin Ballroom at La Posada Hotel/Suites, in Laredo. “Our contributions are great and they will be greater,” Lopez
said. (Rick
Villarreal
may
be
reached at 728-2528 or rvillarreal@lmtonline.com)
BOND Continued from Page 1A petition for a reduced bond moot. “The fact that Mr. Bluntson was indicted doesn’t cure anything, so the argument is still there for us to make,” said Hugo D. Martinez, Bluntson’s public defense attorney. Blunston’s attorneys have argued that because he was not indicted within a 90-day window, he is entitled to either a release or a reduced bond. More than 90 days passed between his June 19 arrest by local law enforcement and his indictment. “We still maintain the position that there has been no harm done to Mr. Bluntson and that he should still be held with no bond or a high bond,” said Isidro Alaniz, Webb County District Attorney.
The 90-day window is a provision against unconstitutional incarceration, but Alaniz said he believes Bluntson’s rights were not violated in this case. Martinez said he expects to re-file the petition sometime early next week. The district attorney’s office has said it plans to seek the death penalty against Bluntson — accused in the June 19 slayings of two boys, one of whom was his son, in a central Laredo Holiday Inn, and his girlfriend, Brandy Cerny, in El Campo. He is also alleged to have fired shots at Laredo Police Department officers as they were attempting to detain him. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2579 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Demond Bluntson is escorted out of the 49th District Court during a bond reduction hearing Thursday afternoon.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Hawks start strong Zapata wins to open defense of district title By CLARA SANDOVAL
Athletes should not be punished
H
igh school sports teach athletes many life-long lessons that they carry on for the rest of their
THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata volleyball team started the defense of their title on the right note as they came home victorious in the first twodistrict game. Zapata beat Kingsville on Sept. 22 in the district opener for both teams. The Lady Hawks downed the Lady Brahmas 3-0 (25-4, 25-22, 25-23). Senior hitter Kristina De Leon pounded the ball for 28 kills and was Zapata’s main offensive weapon that was not slowed down by Kingsville’s defense. Celia Rathmell is coming around for Zapata at the net and recorded seven kills while Vanessa Martinez finished with four kills to add another dimension to Zapata’s offensive attack. Feeding the ball to the Lady Hawks was setter Sessy Mata, who amassed 28 assists on the night. Coming in and also doing a great job at the setter position for Zapata was Gabby Gutierrez, who ended the night with nine assists. Zapata (15-2, 2-0) was not a one-dimensional team as the defense really stepped up in the game and frustrated Kingsville. When Rathmell was not busy cramming the ball down Kingsville’s throat, she was at the net blocking any hopes for the Lady Brahmas. Rathmell ended the game with three blocks and Martinez helped out with one block. The back row was lead by libero Abby Aguilar, who had a team-high 11 digs while De Leon helped out with eight digs and Rathmell had six digs. Zapata vs. Raymondville Zapata continued their quest to defend their district title as it headed to play Raymondville. The Lady Kats took Zapata to four games as the Lady Hawks won 3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-18) for their second consecutive district win. Once again, De Leon had a monster game, recording 21 kills after Saturday’s 28-kill performance. Rathmell was steady on offense, contributing with five kills.
See VOLLEYBALL PAGE 2B
“
CLARA SANDOVAL VAL
Courtesy Photo
life. Athletes are taught to overcome adversity and work together as a team with integrity and honesty. So what happens when the person who is supposed to be a shinning example of integrity compromises all these attributes? What happens when the coach is deceitful because he or she breaks UIL rules to gain an advantage? By now you might have heard what is going on with 4A powerhouse football team Edcouch-Elsa which has been given the death sentence by the DEC Committee. Coach Joe Solis was accused of having the Yellowjackets practice 16 hours in a week, breaking UIL rules, which allow only eight hours per week. A parent of a football player brought these accusations forward and apparently had enough proof that it prompted the DEC Committee to force Edcouch-Elsa to forfeit the entire 2012 season. Of course Edcouch-Elsa is going to appeal. They have continued to practice and prepare and headed out to play Roma last night in the first district game of the season, not knowing if they are going to forfeit the game or be allowed play out the season. The question is, should the athletes be punished for what a coach did? What fault did these athletes have after following an order by the head coach? NONE! I think the best avenue to take is suspending the head coach for the season and not punishing the athletes, because that is who is
Abby Aguilar recorded a team-high 27 digs for Zapata’s defense in the past two games. See SANDOVAL PAGE 2B
MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
PRO FOOTBALL
Officials make season debut ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
The eighth grade Zapata boys cross country team won at the Ramiro Barrera Middle School Invitational while both girls teams came in second.
Zapata Middle School teams place at invitational By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata Middle School Merlins headed to Roma for the annual Ramiro Barrera Middle School Invitational last Saturday. The eighth grade boys brought home some heavy hardware as the Merlins took home first place at the cross country meet.
The Merlins’ top-five runners placed in the top 13 at the meet and were paced by Isauro Sanchez with his fifth-place finish. Luis Rodriquez (seventh place), Joan Zuniga (ninth place), Jorge Garcia (10th place), and Albert Hinojosa (13th place) rounded out the team for the Merlins and were vital in the
See MERLINS PAGE 2B
BALTIMORE — No one is complaining that the refs cost the Cleveland Browns the game. That mere fact is a major victory for the NFL and the seven-man crew led by referee Gene Steratore, who brought official harmony back to the nation’s most popular league. Cheered from the moment they walked onto the field, the men in stripes ran a smooth and efficient game Thursday night as the NFL’s lockout of officials came to an end with the Baltimore Ravens’ 23-16 win over the Browns. “To just be applauded by 50,000 people prior to anything happening, it was something that kind of chokes you up,” Steratore said. “It was a very special feeling.” Sure, there were calls that made both sides unhappy. Browns coach Pat Shurmur drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing an intentional grounding call, and Ravens left tackle Michael Oher could be heard raising all kinds of beef about a holding call. But, overall, the officials kept the game in control, curtailing the chippy play and choppy pace — not to mention the inconsistent calls — that had marred the three weeks of games with re-
Photo by Nick Wass | AP
Referee Gene Steratore talks with Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden before a game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore on Thursday.
placement officials. An agreement to end the lockout was reached late Wednesday after marathon negotiations, two days after a “Monday Night Football” finish brought debate over the use of the replacements to a fevered pitch nationwide. That game ended when a 24yard desperation pass on the last play was ruled a touchdown — even though replays appeared to show it should have been an interception — giving the Seattle Seahawks a disputed 14-12 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The stage was set for something eerily similar Thursday. A
fourth-down unnecessary roughness penalty on Baltimore’s Paul Kruger — a good call, given the way he shoved Cleveland’s Joe Thomas after the whistle — gave the Browns one final play from the 18-yard line. But Brandon Weeden’s 18-yard pass sailed high as time expired. No controversial ending this time. “I thought they handled (the game) great,” Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. “I had all the confidence in the world that this was going to be officiated in the
See OFFICIALS PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
Texas ready to face Cowboys By MIKE FINGER SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
AUSTIN — Regret comes in a multitude of forms, and often they can all apply to the same event. Some Texas players reflect on last year’s loss to Oklahoma State and tell themselves they could have done just a little bit more. Longhorns quarterback David Ash looks back and says just the opposite. “I remember trying to do too much,” Ash said. Tonight at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., the No. 12 Longhorns will find out if the past year has taught them the right balance between doing more and doing less. OSU, the team that beat UT 38-26 in Austin last October, making it clear the Longhorns were still far from finished in their efforts to rebuild, once again stands as a test. This time, the Cowboys loom as UT’s toughest opponent of the season to this point, and how the Longhorns fare will speak volumes as to where they’re headed over the next few months. “I want to see our toughness,” UT coach Mack Brown said. “I want to see how good we are nationally. We’re going to find out soon.” Both teams are markedly different than they were when they last met. OSU (2-1) remains an offensive juggernaut, leading the nation in yards and points per game, but stars Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon are in the NFL. In their place, the Cowboys will use a freshman at quarterback (either the injured Wes Lunt or mobile backup J.W. Walsh) and a bevy of speedy, but unproven, receivers.
Photo by Edward A. Ornelas | San Antonio Express-News
Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson falls after being tripped up by Texas A&M’s Sean Porter during the 2011 Southwest Classic.
A&M can relate to Arkansas By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Austin McAfee | AP
Texas quarterback David Ash makes a handoff during the first quarter of on Sept. 15 in a won 66-31 win over Ole Miss. The changes for the Longhorns (3-0) are less about personnel and more about experience. Most of the players who endured last year’s loss to the Cowboys remain, but by now they have a much better idea of what to expect from Big 12 play, as well as themselves. Last October against OSU, Ash completed just 22 of 40 passes and
threw two interceptions due to, in his words, “trying to squeeze balls into tiny little windows.” So far in 2012, however, he’s been much better, making smart decisions and completing 76.4 percent of his passes with no interceptions. In UT’s last game at Ole Miss, Ash was 19 of 23 for 326 yards and four touchdowns.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — If anyone can relate to what Arkansas is going through this season, it’s Texas A&M. A year ago, the Aggies entered the season with a top-10 record and national championship aspirations before early losses sent A&M barreling toward a mediocre finish. This year, it’s the Razorbacks who are dealing with disappointment after starting the season ranked No. 8 before a shocking overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe — the first loss of a threegame skid that Arkansas
brings into Saturday’s game against the Aggies. Both teams are looking for their first Southeastern Conference victory in this one, and harboring memories of last year’s meeting with one another. The Aggies led 35-17 at halftime in 2011 before a second-half collapse led to a 42-38 Arkansas win. It was the start of a seven-game winning streak for the Razorbacks. Wilson was sensational in that victory, throwing for a school-record 510 yards to help beat the Aggies for the third straight time. That performance is something the Aggies vividly remember.
Astros hire Bo Porter as new manager By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON— Bo Porter was hired as Houston’s manager on Thursday, and the Astros hope he can help orchestrate a turnaround with this team similar to the one he’s been a part of in Washington. Porter, who was the Nationals third base coach this season, replaces Brad Mills, who was fired last month. Porter will remain with the postseason-bound Nationals for the remainder of their season. “I think he’s going to push us to get better, he’s going to push us to get better quickly, and he’s going to shorten the time that it
takes for us to get to where we want to be as an organization which is where the Houston Astros are competing year in and year out for division titles and championships,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. Tony DeFrancesco has served as interim manager and will finish the season in that role. Porter will lead the rebuilding effort of a young team that has the worst record in the majors, wrapping up its second straight 100-loss season. The Astros are in their first season under new owner Jim Crane and moving from the National League to the American League next year.
Luhnow and Crane flew to Philadelphia on Wednesday to offer Porter the job. He was not in Houston for the announcement because the Nationals play on Thursday night. “He’s putting together a great leadership team and I’m just honored to be a part of that leadership team,” Porter said of Crane on a conference call. Porter has been part of the quick reversal in Washington. The Nationals were 69-93 in 2010 and enter Thursday’s games with the best record in the majors at 94-61. “He’s been part of the Nationals’ ascent, and that’s a model that we look at as the Astros to say we’d
VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 1B Zapata also saw the emergence of Clari Villarreal and Jeana Jasso, who combined for 10 kills. De Leon has been Zapata’s offensive weapon all season long. Now that she is getting help from the rest of the team, it can only mean the Lady Hawks will be a force down the road. Zapata picked apart the Lady Kats defense as Mata and Aguilar
combined for seven aces. Mata had 27 assists, with the majority going to De Leon, while Gutierrez ended up with seven. The defense was led by Aguilar that had 16 digs and De Leon with nine digs. Rathmell picked up two blocks. Zapata plays today against Lyford at 1 p.m. and travels to Rio Grande on Tuesday to take on La Grulla.
Photo by Douglas Bovitt | AP
The Washington Nationals third base coach Bo Porter (center) at their game against the Phillies on Sept. 27 in Philadelphia. like to get to that point where we can go from a team that has a losing re-
turned on his microphone to greet the captains for the pre-game coin toss, the crowd heard him say: “Good evening, men. It’s good to be back.” The stadium erupted in a roar. “You know we always pride ourselves in being a face without a name,” Steratore, a 10-year league veteran, told The Associated Press about an hour before kickoff. “This will be a little different, but I don’t expect it to last too long. And that’s the goal — is that we can let them get through that portion of this. It’s happy to be back, it’s happy to be appreciated. But then as soon as the game starts, it’s happy to disappear again and let the entertainers entertain.” The deal to end the lockout is only tentative — it must be ratified by 51 percent of the union’s 121 members in a vote scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Dallas — but both sides nevertheless went forward with the plan to
like the Nationals are in a position to do this year,” Luhnow said.
MERLINS Continued from Page 1B victory at the cross country meet. The seventh grade boys did not fare as well but had a few who came home with some medals. Jesus Guerrero took home fifth place while Erik Resendez finished right behind him in sixth place. On the girls side, the Lady
Merlins came home with a pair of second place trophies. The seventh and eighth grade Lady Merlins both finished second as a team behind rival La Grulla. Yulitiza Mendiola won the eighth grade girls division for the second time this season. Abby Zuniga finished a close second, Mariela Hernandez
OFFICIALS Continued from Page 1B right way.” The newfound love for the refs was evident all evening. About an hour before kickoff, they made their first appearance on the field and heard cheers from the early arrivals. A few minutes later, Steratore was shaking hands with Shurmur near midfield and getting a hug from Ravens face-of-thefranchise Ray Lewis at the 30-yard line. Later, when the crew returned, they received a standing ovation and doffed their caps to the crowd. One fan held up a sign that read: “Finally! We get to yell at real refs! Welcome back!” “It was very chaotic with the replacement refs,” said Karen Riley, a 44-year-old fan wearing a Rice jersey. “They couldn’t control the players on either side. There were bad calls, constantly, and in some cases refs making different calls at the same time.” When Steratore then
cord to a team that can win a division and compete for a championship
have the regulars back for Thursday’s game. So Steratore hustled to Baltimore, making the 31/2-hour drive Thursday morning from his home in the Pittsburgh area. He’s usually in place the day before a game, but none of his regular pregame meetings had to be changed because the Browns-Ravens game was at night. “We’ve had a few weeks to actually realize that this was the first September that I was home for multiple Saturdays and Sundays for almost 30 years of my life, continuously. ... It just feels completely different,” Steratore said. “To be away from something that is involved with this level of professional sport, just to come back and feel that again, it doesn’t take long to realize why you were missing it as much as you were missing it.” Steratore, who is a basketball official in the Big East Conference among others, also was fully aware he would be jeered
took fifth and Daniela Guzman finished in seventh place. Ashley Rodriquez led the seventh graders in fifth place, followed by Jolissa Paredes in seventh and Julie Alaniz in eighth place. The boys and girls will be competing this Saturday in Zapata when ZMS hosts their meet early this morning.
SANDOVAL Continued from Page 1B the first time his crew made a questionable call — just like always. “Without a question,” he said. “I’ve been yelled at by my own children many times, so this won’t be any different.” Sure enough, the same fans that cheered the coin toss let out a full chorus of boos when line judge Jeff Seeman tossed his yellow flag some 20 yards to whistle Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard for a personal foul in the third quarter. Replays showed it was a good call: Pollard led with his helmet to make contact with a defenseless receiver, costing the Ravens 15 yards in a drive that led to a field goal for the Browns. The league’s new agreement with the officials runs for eight years. Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the ending of the Seahawks-Packers game “may have pushed the parties further along” in the talks.
going to hurt. How about all those seniors football players who might have already played their last game of the season? No one wants to remember it as their senior year that was never played. Better yet, fire Solis and all the coaching staff because apparently they were in on it also, and start with a clean slate. Will all this happen? Probably not, because you have to understand the atmosphere of Edcouch-Elsa football…it comes first above all other things in town. They breathe and eat football, because it is the main attraction in town every Friday night. People will travel to go see the team even if they do not know anyone playing for the Yellowjackets. Come on, the football team had a $40,000 budget at one point, and whatever they needed they received. Solis can do no wrong in people’s eyes, because he wins football games and
that is all that people care about. It does not matter if he was breaking UIL rules and giving his guys extra time on the field...what coach would not want to have some extra time preparing? A town like Zapata could actually pull something like this, practice over the eight hour limit, and no one would know. But coach Mario Arce runs his program with integrity and the Hawks will win the right way, not cheating. When a school gets turned in, it is always by someone in town. It is a rarity for someone lese to do it, but it has been done before. In the Edcouch-Elsa case, it was a parent of a football player that had some sort of friction with Solis. Eyes will always be watching what teams do and will not hesitate to turn people in, so at the end it is not worth it. Run programs clean, because in the end, what are you teaching your athletes?
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: Is there a way to keep DISHCLOTHS CLEAN? They are stained and look yucky even straight from the dryer. Should I just toss them and start with new ones, or can you help me? — R. Smythe in Pennsylvania If the cloths are bleachable, try this: Put 1 gallon of hot water, 1 cup of powdered dishwasher detergent and 1/4 cup of household liquid chlorine bleach into the washing machine. Add the cloths and let the machine agitate for a few minutes, then let them soak in the machine for at least 30 minutes. Next, add the regular amount of laundry detergent and let the cycle finish. This washing should remove the smell and any stains, too. For nonbleachable dishcloths, just wash them with like items in the washing machine. Wash dishcloths frequently to keep them clean and smell-free. After using the cloth, rinse in cold water, leave a little bit of soap in it and lay it someplace so it can dry between uses. — Heloise MOM’S HINT Dear Heloise: My mother said that her mother told her to go around the house after everyone is in bed and
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HELOISE
pick up items that are “dragging” — our way of saying not in their right place — and put them up. Then in the morning, everything is ready to start another day with a lot less work. Also, when my children were young, they weren’t allowed to go out to play, watch TV, etc., until I checked their rooms to make sure they had made their beds and picked up their things. They turned out to be very neat grownups. — P.M., via email ICE-CUBE STORAGE Dear Heloise: I have so many pairs of earrings, and I have found that by keeping them in plastic ice-cube trays, I am able to keep the pairs together for easy access and loss prevention. Plus the trays are stackable and fit in most dresser drawers. — Pat K. in Louisville, Ky. And the trays are cheap, cheap, cheap! Many times you can find them 3 for $1 on sale! You can stock up for all the earrings you have! — Heloise
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NFL
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
Connor Barwin aims Carr to help at safety to increase sack total after injury to Church By JOHN MCCLAIN
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — This is a good time for outside linebacker Connor Barwin to have a breakout game. The coaches say Barwin has been playing well, but he doesn’t have a sack in three games. He’s supposed to be the team’s best pass rusher after leading the defense with 11/61/2 sacks last season. And that’s not counting the three he had called back. Sunday could be Barwin Time. And it’s about time. The Texans play the Tennessee Titans at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. Because the Titans are so bad at running — averaging 39 yards rushing and 2.6 per carry — and the Texans are so good at stopping the run — allowing 67 yards — it figures that quarterback Jake Locker is going to have to throw a lot. In the Titans’ 44-41 overtime victory over Detroit, Locker was 29 of 42 for 378 yards and two touchdowns. And he didn’t throw an interception. He also ran for 35 yards. When Locker drops back or when he takes off, expect Barwin to harass him. “Connor has played the run extremely well, which has helped us a lot,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “As long as you win and you play well, then that’s fine. Sacks or not sacks, doesn’t make any difference. The pressure is important.” That’s easy for Phillips to say, but he doesn’t have millions and millions at stake. Players who make the kind of money Barwin wants in his new contract don’t get it by just playing the run well. Barwin (6-foot-4, 268 pounds) is playing in his
IRVING, Texas— The safety valve for the Dallas Cowboys defense could be Brandon Carr — their $50 million cornerback. Carr was the prized free-agent signee for the Cowboys, who wanted to improve their secondary. He has been everything they wanted at cornerback, but the Cowboys have needed him elsewhere. He has stepped in at safety, a position he hadn’t played since high school a decade ago. “If we get in trouble and don’t have other options, we can say let’s go back and do that again,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We obviously want him to play corner. That’s what we feel like he’s best at. But to be able to do that with a guy to absorb an injury, that’s a good thing to have in your hip pocket going forward.” The Cowboys (2-1) may need more of Carr at safety when Monday night against Chicago, even if only in passing situations. Carr started at free safety Sunday in place of injured Gerald Sensabaugh (strained calf), who said he expects to be back in the lineup against the Bears. But even if Sensabaugh is back, starting strong safety Barry Church was lost for the season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained in the 16-10 win over Tampa Bay when he started opposite of Carr. “It’s all about the team right now. We have corners behind me that can get the job done. We have four corners that could start for pretty much any team in the NFL right now,” Carr said. “For us to all be on the field at the
Brett Coomer | Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith (94) and outside linebacker Connor Barwin (98) pressure Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) during the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Denver. fourth season. It’s the last year of his contract. Before the season, he swapped proposals with the Texans. Ultimately, Barwin turned down their final offer, and they signed quarterback Matt Schaub to an extension instead. “Yeah, it was a lot of money, and that was really hard to do,” Barwin said about turning down the offer. “That was a tough time. But I know what kind of season I’m capable of having, and I plan to have it. “I definitely want to stay here. We’ve got a good thing going. We’ve got a good locker room. We’ve got some great guys on this team. We have great chemistry. Everybody works hard and wants to win.” So Barwin turned down millions and plugs along making a base salary of $565,000. He won’t go hungry, of course. “I’m not worried about it,” he said. “It’s not an easy thing to go through, but when it didn’t happen, I focused on the season.” Barwin is certain that his contract negotiation had nothing to do with him not having a sack. “That’s got nothing to do
with it,” he said. Phillips agreed. “He’s played against three of the top tackles in the league (Miami’s Jake Long, Jacksonville’s Eugene Monroe and Denver’s Ryan Clady), and he’s given them all they wanted,” Phillips said. Phillips and Barwin know sacks can come in bunches. Last season, Barwin had four sacks and 10 tackles in the victory at Jacksonville. He’d like another game like that. Sooner rather than later. The primary problem is the defense doesn’t stay on the field much. The offense leads the league in average time of possession with 36 minutes and 34 seconds. That means the defense is on the field for only 23:26. Sunday night not be the right time because the Titans are last in time of possession with 23:18. If Barwin gets close to Locker, he better take advantage of the opportunity because there may not be that many. “Connor’s playing very well,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “He plays with tremendous effort. We know what we’re going to get from him every week. ”
Tim Sharp | AP
Dallas Cowboys strong safety Barry Church (42) is helped from the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. same time, to be able to give different looks, it could be hand full for teams this year. ....Wherever duty calls, that’s where I’ll be.” Of course, Mike Jenkins is still on the roster. Jenkins, the former Pro Bowl cornerback who lost his starting role with the offseason additions of Carr and first-round draft pick Morris Claiborne, started at left corner against the Buccaneers when Carr moved to safety. Orlando Scandrick is the team’s primary nickel corner. Even though Jenkins skipped voluntary workouts during the summer to remain home in Florida while rehabilitating from offseason shoulder surgery, and is in the last year of his contract, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has repeatedly expressed his excitement about the defen-
sive possibilities with skilled corners. Jones said he had no intention of let Jenkins go. That decision can clearly pay off now. Jenkins, who had disputed reports he asked to be traded, didn’t play in the preseason and missed the opener before seeing action in nickel and dime packages in the second game at Seattle. The Cowboys signed free-agent safety Eric Frampton this week, but he has been primarily a special teams player in his five NFL seasons. He will likely fill that same role in Dallas with third-year player Danny McCray taking over a starting safety spot. Rookie safety Matt Johnson, a fourth-round pick, still isn’t an option while recovering from hamstring and back issues.