The Zapata Times 10/2/2010

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ZAPATA COUNTY

BORDER CRIME

Gutierrez steps up to replace constable

Falcon shooting Authorities suspect drug traffickers

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County accepted the resignation of Henry Martinez Jr. as constable for precinct 2 and appointed Julian Gutierrez, a long time peace officer and educator, in his place.

“I’m very happy about the position I was appointed to and I’m glad I took this job,” Gutierrez said. “I worked so hard for my license and I’m going to help a lot of people.”

Gutierrez was appointed and sworn in by County Judge Rosalva Guerra on Monday, Sept. 13, after the regular Commissioners Court meeting.

“I took over the office already. I did everything the same day,” Gutierrez said.

The reason Martinez resigned is still uncertain, but he was never certified as a peace officer, which is a requirement for the office, Gutierrez said.

“You have two years to get certified by TCLEOSE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education),” he said.

See CONSTABLE PAGE 10A

Photo by César G. Rodriguez | The Zapata Times

A jet ski driven by Tiffany Hartley, a tourist who said she was fired upon while boating on Falcon Lake, is shown in the parking lot of the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office.

The body of the man suspected cartel members shot in the back of the head while he jet skied in Mexican waters was not recovered as of Friday night, said Zapata County sheriff ’s deputies.

U.S. law enforcement officials are saying they have contacted their Mexican counterparts, yet the Secretaría de Marina, the Mexican Navy, released a brief

See SHOOTING PAGE 10A

COMMUNITY

HAWK FEST KICKS OFF NEW SCHOOL YEAR

FUGITIVE

Gulf Coast task force finds man in Lubbock Ramos faces multiple charges in Zapata, awaits extradition

By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A man wanted by authorities in Zapata was arrested last week and is awaiting extradition to face prosecution on multiple charges stemming from an incident that included running through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, authorities announced Monday.

Trinidad Ramos, 22, was arrested at a store in Lubbock by members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force and faces charges on three counts of aggravated assault against a RAMOS public servant, one count of possession of marijuana and one of evading arrest.

See RAMOS PAGE 10A

Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times

Children with ’Da Cowboys parade float get ready to participate in the 2010 Hawk Pride Parade as several organizations move down the street.

Zapata High students celebrate Homecoming

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Last week was open week for Zapata High School as students celebrated Homecoming with a Hawk Fest, a peprally, and a Homecoming dance.

Roads were blocked and spectators lined the streets as more than a dozen

local law enforcement agencies, school organizations, and community organizations gathered for a parade at the Zapata County courthouse early Thursday.

“This festival brings us back as a Hawk unit and it makes us come together,” said Miguel Rivera, a ZHS football player. “It brings a lot of family support . . . that’s what Hawk Fest is all about.”

“This is the start of a brand new season. We’re going to district,” Rivera said.

Rivera said Hawk Fest brought a feeling of Mexican culture to him.

After all the participating organizations got situated in their vehicles or

See HAWK FEST PAGE 10A

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

SUNDAY, OCT. 2 There will be a calf raffle drawing today at American Legion Post #486’s fall dinner. Tickets are $2 each or $5 for three tickets.

For more information, contact Beto Arambula at (956) 337-5117.

Funny man Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias returns to Laredo Energy Arena tonight, ready to knock the audience’s socks off with his Comedy Central Live, The Fluffy Shop Comedy Tour.

Tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations, including the LEA Box Office, various H-E-B stores or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Call (956) 791-9192 for more information.

The 40th Annual Ladies State Chili Championship and the Third Annual Open Barbeque Cookoff are scheduled from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. at Yett Memorial Park, 1813 US Hwy 281 S., in Blanco. Admission is free and proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Resource Center.

The event promises to be a day full of family fun as female chili cooks from all corners of Texas compete for the opportunity to claim the title of 2010 Texas Chili Queen. The top three winners qualify to cook at the prestigious Original Terlingua International Frank Tolbert – Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cookoff in November.

The barbeque competition is open to cooks of both sexes. The Girly Man Beauty Contest starts at 11 a.m. Chili samples for public tasting will be available at 1 p.m. Moby Slick will perform live at 7 p.m.

Call Susie Higgins at 512-558-1321 or visit ladiesstate.org for details and entry forms.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 6 Shakira will perform in Laredo tonight at the Laredo Energy Arena. She is one of the most exciting and successful global artists in recent history, and earned more than 214 global award nominations and sold more than 50 million albums worldwide.

For more information, call (956) 791-9192

SATURDAY, OCT. 9 The Laredo Firefighters Association proudly presents Firefest 2010 with scheduled performers Ramon Ayala, Solido and Duelo.

The event begins at 5 p.m. at the Laredo Energy Arena.

Tickets are $15 pre-sale and $25 at the door.

Tickets are available at the Laredo Energy Arena box office, Danny’s Restaurants, Tortamex Restaurant, La Roca locations, Central Fire Station and Casa Raul South.

For more information, call Roger Gonzalez at 956-744-5495.

SATURDAY, OCT. 9 The 36th annual Texas Renaissance Festival, featuring eight themed weekends, will be held in Plantersville, 50 miles northwest of Houston, and will continue through Nov. 28 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The event will take place at 21778 FM 1774.

For more information, visit www.texrenfest.com or contact the festival office at 1-800-458-3435.

SUNDAY, OCT. 10 As part of the Steinway Series, Texas A&M International University invites internationally acclaimed and prize-winning pianist Ning An to perform a piano recital featuring music by J. S. Bach, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Frederic Chopin today from 4 to 6 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Fritz Gechter at (956) 326-2639.

SUNDAY, OCT. 24 The Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra presents "Crossing the Oceans."

The event takes place on TAMIU grounds in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts recital hall from 3 to 6 p.m.

For more information or for tickets, call Brendan Townsend at 326-3039.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27 Texas A&M International University presents the Mariachi International Concert.

The event will be held at the College of Fine and Performing Arts theatre between from 7 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call TAMIU Information at 326-2001.

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

Photo by Jim Mahoney | AP

AirTran Airways Chairman, president and CEO Bob Fornaro (left), and Southwest Airlines Chairman, president and CEO Gary C. Kelly talk after a press conference Sept. 27, at Southwest Airlines headquarters in Dallas. Southwest Airlines announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of AirTran Holdings.

Southwest to buy AirTran

By SAMANTHA BOMKAMP ASSOCIATED PRESS

Southwest Airlines has agreed to buy AirTran in a $1.42 billion deal that will combine two of the nation’s biggest discount carriers.

The two airlines primarily overlap in the Baltimore and Orlando markets. Passengers traveling to and from those cities could face higher ticket prices because less competition traditionally means higher airfares.

The acquisition moves Southwest into 37 new cities. The largest of those is Atlanta, where Delta Air Lines is based. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International airport is the nation’s busiest, and a primary hub for business travelers, a group that Southwest has increasingly been targeting because they tend to pay higher fares.

The acquisition also gives Southwest a bigger slice of the market in cities like Boston

and New York, major East Coast cities, where it has been expanding. The deal is also a boost to Southwest’s plans to expand internationally. The Dallas carrier gains routes to Mexico and the Caribbean, where fellow discount airline JetBlue Airways has a big presence.

There is one change passengers will surely welcome: Southwest said it won’t keep AirTran’s bag fees when they fully combine in 2012. AirTran currently charges $20 for a passenger’s first checked bag, and $25 for the second. Major carriers like United and American charge $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second. Southwest claims it has lured passengers from those airlines by refusing to charge for bags, and has built a marketing campaign around the policy.

Southwest, based in Dallas, carries more passengers than any other airline in the U.S.

EPA fines BP $15 million for Texas City violations

DA to probe bullied Houston teen’s death

Hearing delayed for Tyler teacher stabbing suspect

HOUSTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice fined BP PLC $15 million on Thursday for Clean Air Act violations at its Texas City refinery, adding to the oil company’s troubles as it struggles to clean up the damage caused by its massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The fine, the largest civil Clean Air Act penalty given to a U.S. facility, resulted from a settlement between the EPA and BP and is subject to court approval.

BP’s Texas City refinery, the company’s largest in the United States, was also fined $87 million by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for problems found there after a March 2005 explosion killed 15 people and injured about 170 others.

More recently, the Texas attorney general and the environmental agency launched an investigation into a 40-day benzene leak at the facility.

HOUSTON — The Harris County District Attorney’s Office will be looking into what led to the suicide of a 13-year-old Houston area boy whose parents say had been relentlessly bullied at his middle school the last two years.

Asher Brown’s parents said Friday they hope justice will be served by the district attorney’s investigation.

The parents claim that school officials and administration ignored their pleas to help their son.

The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, where Brown’s school is located, has said no one reported the eighthgrader was being bullied.

Brown fatally shot himself on Sept. 23 in his family’s home.

His stepfather said Brown had been ridiculed by students because he was small, a Buddhist and didn’t wear designer clothes.

Brown had also been accused of being gay by fellow students.

AUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court has ordered a juvenile court to delay a hearing on whether a teenager accused in the 2009 fatal stabbing of his teacher in a Tyler classroom should be tried as an adult.

The state’s highest civil court ruled Friday that a mental health evaluation should be completed before the 17-year-old suspect is scheduled for a hearing that could move his case to adult court.

The suspect, who remains in custody, was 16 when authorities say he attacked special education teacher Todd Henry at John Tyler High School in Tyler, about 90 miles east of Dallas.

A defense attorney’s request for a writ of mandamus in the case was denied by an appeals court.

The state’s high court said it would issue a writ only if the juvenile court failed to comply with Friday’s order.

— Compliled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION Grand jury indicts accused California kidnappers

CONTACT US

PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A grand jury has indicted the couple accused of kidnapping and raping Jaycee Dugard, who was held captive for 18 years in Northern California, officials said Friday.

Phillip and Nancy Garrido were each indicted on 18 counts plus multiple special allegations in a process that will eliminate the need for a preliminary hearing where their alleged victim may have testified.

Feds try to save law punishing military phonies DENVER — The Justice Department will appeal decisions that said a federal law making it illegal to lie about being a war hero is unconstitutional.

Prosecutors said Friday they’ll appeal a Denver federal court ruling that the Stolen Valor Act

Today is Saturday, Oct. 2, the 275th day of 2010. There are 90 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 2, 1985, actor Rock Hudson died at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. at age 59 after battling AIDS. On this date: In 1780, British spy John Andre was hanged in Tappan, N.Y. during the Revolutionary War. In 1835, the first battle of the Texas Revolution took place as American settlers fought Mexican soldiers near the Guadalupe River; the Mexicans ended up withdrawing.

In 1869, political and spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a serious stroke at the White House that left him paralyzed on his left side.

In 1944, Nazi troops crushed the two-month-old Warsaw Uprising, during which a quarter of a million people were killed.

In 1950, the comic strip “Peanuts,” created by Charles M. Schulz, was syndicated to seven newspapers.

In 1958, the former French colony of Guinea in West Africa proclaimed its independence.

In 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court as the court opened its new term.

In 1970, one of two chartered twin-engine planes flying the Wichita State University football team to Utah crashed into a mountain near Silver Plume, Colo., killing 31 of the 40 people on board.

In 1990, the Senate voted 90-9 to confirm the nomination of Judge David H. Souter to the Supreme Court.

Ten years ago: In his first public address since a disputed election, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic (slohBOH’-dahn mee-LOH’-shuhvich) branded his opponents puppets of the West. (A wave of unrest aimed at driving Milosevic from power swept Yugoslavia, and the government responded by arresting dozens of strike leaders.)

Five years ago: A tour boat capsized on New York’s Lake George, killing 20 passengers.

Playwright August Wilson died in Seattle at age 60. Actorcomedian Nipsey Russell died in New York at age 87.

One year ago: The International Olympic Committee, meeting in Copenhagen, chose Rio de Janeiro to be the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics; Chicago was eliminated in the first round, despite a last-minute in-person appeal by President Barack Obama. A man accused of stalking ESPN reporter Erin Andrews and secretly videotaping her inside her hotel room was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. (Michael David Barrett later pleaded guilty to interstate stalking and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison.)

Today’s Birthdays: Country singer-musician Leon Rausch (Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys) is 83. Retired MLB AllStar Maury Wills is 78. Movie critic Rex Reed is 72. Singersongwriter Don McLean is 65.

Cajun/country singer Jo-El Sonnier (sahn-YAY’) is 64. Actor Avery Brooks is 62. Fashion designer Donna Karan is 62.

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Doreen Landry, mother of Matthew Landry, center, leans on her husband Robert after a guilty verdict is read during the trial of Ihab Maslamani at the Macomb County Court House in Mt. Clemens, Mich., on Friday. violates free speech.

Judge dismisses Drew Peterson weapons charge JOLIET, Ill. — A judge has dismissed a felony weapons charge

against former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson.

Peterson had been charged with possession of an illegal firearm after authorities learned he gave a short-barreled rifle to his son for safe keeping.

— 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.

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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, OCTOBER 2, 2010

Zlocal

PAGE 3A

YOUNG STUDENTS EXHIBIT GOOD BEHAVIOR

2 arrested in case of forged $20s at eatery YESENIA GARZA: Was arrested and charged with forgery.

By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Courtesy photo

Villarreal Elementary students Javier Guardian and Gabriela Aguilar were selected as the students of the month in PK-3 for September.

Both students display good character in Maria Nunez’s PK-3 class.

Man charged after chase Tuesday

By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A traffic stop that took place early Tuesday morning resulted in the arrest of a Zapata resident who is suspected of transporting six illegal immigrants and drugs in the trunk of his car, according to authorities.

Jose Luis Garcia-Salinas, 23, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, a third-degree felony, and evading arrest, a state jail felony, according to Zapata officials.

The incident took place around 3 a.m. Tuesday on Texas 16.

“The vehicle refused to stop and gave chase for about two miles before crashing into a fence,” according to a Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office report.

After catching up with Garcia-Salinas’ vehicle, officials discovered 43 pounds of marijuana

A Zapata woman and a Mission man were arrested Sept. 25 after authorities say they attempted to hand a cashier at a local McDonalds two fake $20 bills.

Yesenia Garza, 27, and Juan Dominguez Gutierrez IV, 20, were arrested and charged with forgery, a third-degree felony.

After an investigation into the matter, police believe the two were involved in an incident in which a customer who drove up to the fast food chain drive-through window tried to pay for an order with phony money.

Sheriff ’s deputies met with the store manager, who gave details about someone trying to hand the fake bills to the manager during the transaction, according to a report by the Zapata Coun-

JUAN DOMINGUEZ GUTIERREZ IV: Was charged with forgery. ty Sheriff ’s Office.

The suspect became nervous during the transaction and drove away from the store, according to the report.

Records show Garza was booked on a $25,000 bond, while Gutierrez was booked on a $15,000 bond.

Ten fraudulent $20 bills have been recovered from various businesses throughout Zapata and a report has been filed with the U.S. Treasury Department Secret Service office in McAllen, officials said.

(Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)

THE BLOTTER ASSAULT

Courtesy photo

Zapata deputies discovered six illegal immigrants in a pickup they chased Tuesday morning.

JOSE LUIS GARCIASALINAS: Charged with transporting marijuana. wrapped in packaging inside the truck, the report states.

The illegal immigrants were transferred to the Border Patrol. They had not been injured during the chase.

Garcia-Salinas was taken to Zapata County Regional Jail for booking and

processing.

Records state that he is currently pending magistration by the justice of the peace.

(Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)

Deputies responded to a domestic dispute incident at 9 p.m. Sept. 24 in the 400 block of Laredo Avenue in the Medina Addition. Deputies arrested Jose Eliseo Martinez and charged him with assault. An incident report states that Martinez slapped a woman in the face. He was taken to Zapata Regional Jail.

Eduardo Javier Gonzalez was arrested on charges of assault family violence at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the 2500 block of Fresno Street. An incident report states that he assaulted a woman during an argument.

The man was taken to Zapata Regional Jail.

Juventino Zapata Jr. was arrested and charged with assault with family violence at 10:45 p.m. Monday in the 1000 block of Jackson Street. He was taken to Zapata Regional Jail.

Deputies responded to an assault call at about 1 a.m.

Tuesday in the 1900 block of First Street. A woman told them that three women assaulted her on FM 496 Road.

THEFT Deputies responded to a theft call around noon Monday in the 200 block of Madison Avenue. A woman stated that someone stole mirror parts from her vehicle.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

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

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

Democrats bungled economics

By GARY ANDRES HEARST NEWSPAPERS

W

ASHINGTON — The 2010 federal fiscal year ended unceremoniously this week — a political and substantive fiasco for the Democrats. It included a cascade of miscalculations that could haunt the party in the Nov. 2 elections. But that pales in comparison to the serious harm they’ve inflicted on the American economy.

Never before has a party so bungled fiscal policy in the United States, leaving citizens, businesses, and investors with head-spinning uncertainty.

Failure to pass a budget earlier this year began the debacle, but the cavalcade of missteps continued this week with the passage of a so-called Continuing Resolution (CR) to avoid an Oct. 1 government shutdown.

Annual budget Let’s start with the annual budget plan — or lack thereof.

Facing one of the worst long-term debt and deficit crises in the past half century, Democrats in Congress decided to kick the can and skip developing a blueprint this year. This is truly unconscionable. How can the Democrats — with large majorities in the House and the Senate — look voters in the eye and say, “We have no plan — no long-term schematic to ensure America won’t become another Greece.”

The only thing more unbelievable is that they apparently got away with it because no one seems to notice.

Unprecedented This dereliction of duty is unprecedented. Never in the history of the modern process— dating back more than a quarter of a century— has both the House and the Senate failed to pass a budget resolution.

Investors would dump shares of a business that projected massive amounts of future debt but told shareholders, “Sorry, we don’t have a plan to deal with it.” It’s one of the reasons political markets put a strong “sell” signal on the Democratic majority.

The majority party’s “dog-ate-my-homework” approach means fiscal year 2011 spending bills languish; funding levels for all of next year’s programs are uncertain; and deficit projections rival faith healers in terms of their trustworthiness.

A CR Because Congress failed to pass a budget or enact any appropriations bills this year, lawmakers will have to rely on a CR to avoid a government shutdown.

But even a CR, which some will pitch as a “freeze at last year’s spending levels,” is a fiscal charade — the second act in this year’s budget fiasco.

Freezing spending Freezing spending at current levels sounds

good at first blush. But as the Heritage Foundation pointed out in an August report, nondefense discretionary spending already grew at 28 percent over the past two years. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nondefense discretionary spending is now at 4.5 percent of GDP — the highest level in 25 years. A CR just “freezes” spending at these already higher levels.

Today’s politics demands a “melt,” not a freeze. In other words, a CR should not just continue the status quo, but also acknowledge the public’s demand for a least some kind of fiscal belt-tightening.

Yet even modest cuts in spending offend many congressional Democrats’ ideological predispositions. Keynes is still king in their minds, particularly liberals in safe districts, insulated from distractions of viable Republican challengers or pesky swing voters concerned about the size of government.

Taxes The third act of the fiasco concerns tax policy’s future. The media focuses on whether or not income tax rates should snap back to their 2001 levels for everyone or only those for individuals earning over $200,000 or families making over $250,000.

Republicans say no one’s taxes should go up; Democrats want to increase rates on individual, family and small business income over $200,000 (individuals) or $250,000 (families). Why not schedule a vote to alleviate the uncertainty?

Well, it’s because the Republican position would likely prevail. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DCalif., and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., are using their unchallenged powers to sidestep a vote.

Ambiguity Democrats’ budget fiasco also caused an avalanche of other tax ambiguity. What are the taxes on inheritance (now zero because the old rates expired at the beginning of this year)?

How about rates on capitals gains and dividends? Then there is the issue of the Alternative Minimum Tax and child tax credits.

This fiscal indecision has harmed businesses, individuals and investors seeking certainty. No one knows what they will pay in future taxes — confusion that freezes needed capital investments and job creation decisions.

Democrats this year presided over a fiscal policy catastrophe. Their inability to craft a sensible budget plan, their failure to use the CR to signal spending restraint, and the sea of confusion they created over tax policy, provides voters with a host of reasons to pull the plug on a congressional majority already in critical condition.

(Gary Andres is vice chairman of research for Dutko Worldwide. E-mail him at gary.andres@dutkoworldwide.com)

COLUMN

The campaign disconnect O

ne in five American kids was living in poverty in 2009.

Across the country, once solidly middle-class families are lining up at food pantries and soup kitchens for groceries or a hot meal. In New York City, a startling indicator of the continuing economic stress is the rise in the number of homes that don’t have kitchens.

Election Day is approaching, but neither party cares to focus on the nightmare facing millions of Americans who have been laid low by unemployment, home foreclosures, personal bankruptcies, and jobs that offer only part-time work, lousy pay and absolutely no benefits.

In an era of extreme economic inequality (which is another way of saying economic unfairness), Wall Street can be on a roll and corporate profits can streak toward the moon at the same time that ordinary American families are stuck in Depression-like conditions with precious little hope of relief.

The Democrats are trying to put the best possible face on this terrible economic reality, imploring voters to give them a little credit for preventing matters from becoming much worse. No matter how valid, that’s a tough case to make to families whose properties are being plastered with foreclosure notices. Or to the breadwin-

“

BOB HERBERT

ners whose 99 weeks of unemployment insurance have been exhausted without anything in the way of a decent job materializing.

Or the former middle managers now working for peanuts at Home Depot or Wal-Mart.

But at least the Democrats are still rooted in the real world. The Republicans, when they aren’t behaving as though they’ve lost their minds completely (see O’Donnell, Angle, Paladino, et al.), are peddling a fantasy that has already damaged the country profoundly. The party’s ludicrous “Pledge to America” promises to reduce federal budget deficits while, among other things, making all of the Bush-era tax cuts permanent and jacking up already insanely high defense costs.

The pledge is as dangerous as it is transparent.

Economists have calculated that the tax cuts alone will cost nearly $4 trillion over the next decade.

These are the very same GOP operatives who have spent years frantically looting the U.S. Treasury on behalf of their corporate masters, and they can’t wait to get another crack at it. As John Boehner, one of the ringleaders, put it: “We are not

going to be any different than what we’ve been.”

What is especially weird is that while they are pushing plans guaranteed to increase budget deficits, the GOP is united in opposition to investments in the economy that would put Americans back to work, revitalize sagging industries and eventually provide the taxes that are crucial to actually getting a handle on deficits.

Weirder still is that even Democrats who should know better are buying into this self-defeating austerity posture.

More than 300 economists, including Robert Reich, the former labor secretary, have signed onto a public statement urging policymakers not to undercut any real chance at a recovery by focusing prematurely on deficit reduction. What are needed instead are prudent, sensible investments, especially in infrastructure, research and development, and green energy initiatives.

The statement, released by the liberal Institute for America’s Future, noted that President Barack Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform would like to reduce the federal deficit to 3 percent of the gross domestic product by 2015. That’s not realistic.

It’s not going to happen.

More important is the following point made by the institute in its statement: “At the end of World

War II, the U.S. was burdened with debt that totaled over 120 percent of GDP. But we made the investments vital to a new economy — the GI Bill, housing subsidies, the interstate highway system, the conversion of military plants, and the Marshall plan. We ran annual deficits over most of the next three decades and the debt grew in absolute size, but the economy and the broad middle class grew faster. By 1980, the debt had been reduced to barely 30 percent of GDP.” There is no doubt that the country, starved for revenues and still at war, will have to increase some taxes. Unnecessary spending should be attacked.

But the nation is still in the throes of an economic crisis. Poverty is growing and the middle class is shrinking, and more than 20 million Americans are out of work or underemployed.

We can pretend that all of this is not happening and that there won’t be grave consequences as a result. We can cling to the Ronald Reagan-George W. Bush fairy tale that handing over ever more riches to those who are already rich and powerful is the way to revitalize the American dream.

Or we can take our cue from the best moments in American history, when the nation rolled up its sleeves and placed the interests of ordinary people at the top of its agenda.

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

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

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

We want to assure our

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

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

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

PAGE 6A

Zentertainment

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

Iglesias in Laredo arena tonight

By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Photo by Charles Sykes | AP

Shakira performs in concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sept. 21. Tickets for her show in Laredo are still available.

Shakira performs Wednesday

By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES

South American superstar diva Shakira is returning to the arena stage on Wednesday,.

It won’t be the first time the Colombian mesmerizes a Laredo audience: in February 2003, Shakira sold out back-to-back shows on weekdays — the only act to score that achievement in Laredo.

Still one of the globe’s hottest acts, Shakira was invited to sing “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa),” the official 2010 World Cup anthem, to open the international soccer tournament.

Shakira, arguably the biggest female superstar in the music world — let alone the Latin scene — has the numbers to prove it and Laredo fans will get a chance to see her here once again,

seven years after her first stop.

According to a news release from Live Nation, the concert’s promoter, Shakira has received more than 214 global award nominations and has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide.

Known for her sexy, hipshaking shows, Shakira has only toured the United States twice, back in 20022003 and 2006.

The 2006 tour, promoting her album “Oral Fixation,” grossed more than $100 million, according to a press release.

That’s proof she has been on top of Latin music for almost the entire decade.

The Grammy-award-winning singer and songwriter has been pounding out hit after hit, most recently with her latest album “She Wolf,” released last November.

Hitmaker Born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, Shakira wrote her first song at the age of 8 and started her professional career at 13.

She first burst onto the scene in 1995 with the sing “¿Dónde Estás Corazón?” and followed up in 1996 with the hits “Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos” and “Estoy Aquí,” off her wildly popular album “Pies Descalzos.”

In 1998, Shakira cemented her stardom with the album “¿Dónde Están los Ladrones?,” which spawned the hit singles “Ojos Así,” “Si Te Vas,” “Ciega, Sordomuda,” “Tú,” “Inevitable” and “Moscas En La Casa.”

By then, Shakira had become a household name across the Americas and Laredo was no different.

Three years later, she

COMING UP Ayala at Firefest next Saturday The Laredo Firefighters Association hosts the 2010 edition of Firefest, the or-

ganization’s outdoor music fundraiser.

Grammy Award-winning Ramon Ayala will headline the event, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Laredo Energy Arena. Solido and Due-

lo also will play during the festival.

Presale tickets are $15 and tickets at the door will be $25 and available at the LEA box office.

— Laredo Morning Times

produced more hits: “Underneath Your Clothes,” “Objection” and “Wherever, Whenever” with her album “Laundry Service.”

Her latest, “She Wolf,” continues to grow in popularity with singles such as “Gypsy,” “She Wolf” and “Give It Up To Me,” a track that features rapper Lil Wayne.

Shakira will release a new album, “Sale el Sol,” on Oct. 19.

Tickets for Shakira’s Wednesday show are $39.50 to $149.50, plus fees, and available via Ticketmaster.

The stage will feature a catwalk across the floor seating.

For hardcore fans, Ticketmaster has Official Platinum Seats for $190 to $300 each.

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

Known for his funny side and his affinity for wearing Hawaiian shirts, comedian Gabriel Iglesias is poised to take the stage at the Laredo Energy Arena this Saturday.

“I think it’s going to be my third time in Laredo,” Iglesias told ¿Qué Pasa?

Wednesday, in between a lunch break with his mom during a stop from the tour circuit. “We thought it was going to be empty the last time and the last day 3,000 tickets (were) sold. It was a good show, so I hope it carries on to this one.”

Iglesias said the Lone Star State is his favorite touring stop, and added that he enjoys eating at Taco Palenque when he’s in town.

“I love Texas,” he said.

“I’ve been to almost every state. Texas is definitely my favorite state to perform in; it’s very homely.

People come out to the shows and I feel like I’m related to most of them.”

A comedian since he was 10, the 32-year-old Iglesias has been making people laugh since he performed at a school talent show in his home state of California.

Born in San Diego, Igelesias works his life experiences into his jokes, often taking jabs at his “fluffy” physique and telling the audience funny stories about his friends.

Despite having numerous comedy DVD’s and CD’s to his credit, his tremendous success as a comic hasn’t gotten to his head, Iglesias said.

“I think keeping my head on straight is my biggest accomplishment,”

Courtesy photo | Icon Entertainment

Gabriel Iglesias performs tonight at the Laredo Energy Arena. he said. “It’s easy to lose yourself. It’s easy to say screw everybody, I’m just going to be like this. And I think I can say I’ve managed to maintain some level of reality and know that this can all go away. I still care.”

Described as having a high-octane show by critics, the funnyman provides spot-on sound effects, parodies and characters throughout his set that he describes as being the best comedy show today.

“I’m on the road and I love what I do,” Iglesias said. “I’m not trying to have a movie career; I want to do stand-up. It’s one thing that I know how to do well. I want to keep this going. I get to call my own shots and get to go where I want to go and see who I want to see. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Tickets to the “Fluffy Shop Tour” stop at the LEA are $38.50, plus fees.

They are available at the arena’s box office. The show starts at 8 p.m.

(Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)

SÁBADO 2 DE OCTUBRE DE 2010

Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 2 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — Creater Southwest Texas presenta la CFC Trailride – Cabalgata de 6 millas.. Los registros serán a partir de las 7 a.m. en Hwy 59 rest Area. La salida será a las 9 a.m. para llegar al Life Downs. La donación es de 10 dólares por cabalgante y de 5 dólares por carreta.

LAREDO — El equipo de voliból de TAMIU recibe a Texas A&M University - Commerce a las 2 p.m. en las canchas de la Universidad.

Entrada general es de 5 dólares.

LAREDO — El comediante Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias regresa esta noche al Laredo Energy Arena a las 8 p.m. con su Comedy Central Live, The Fluffy Shop, Comedy Tour. Adquiera sus boletos en la taquilla de LEA. NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 6:30 p.m. la inauguración del Festival Internacional Tamaulipas con la presentación del Cuarteto de Cuerdas Sonata Siglo XXI en el CCNL. A las 7 p.m. la exposición “Orígenes de Luis Nishisawa” en el Museo Reyes Meza del CCNL; y a a las 8 p.m. a Guadalupe Pineda en concierto en el Teatro del CCNL. ZAPATA — Habrá una rifa de becerro durante la cena de otoño.

Donado por Chale Guerra, Comandante de la American Legion Post #486, los boletos tienen costo de 2 dólares cada uno y 5 dólares por tres boletos. Más información con Beto Arambula al (956) 337-5117.

El 40th Annual Ladies State Chili Championship y el 3er Concurso Annual de Barbeque sera hot de 11 a.m. a 11 p.m. en el Yett Memorial Park, 1813 US Hwy 281 S., Blanco, TX. La entrada es gratuita y las ganancias se destinarán al Breast Cancer Resource Center. Del certamen saldrá la Reina del Chili de Texas 2010.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

Investigan emboscada en Falcón ASSOCIATED PRESS

ZAPATA — Las autoridades de Texas solicitaron a México asistencia para encontrar el cadáver de un estadounidense al que personas que viajaban en botes emboscaron y balearon en la cabeza en aguas mexicanas.

El alguacil Sigifredo Gonzalez, del condado de Zapata, consideró posible que la víctima, David Michael Hartley, de 30 años, haya muerto. Hasta el cierre de esta edición el cuerpo de Hartley no había sido localizado.

Gonzalez dijo que Hartley y su esposa, Tiffany, paseaban en motos acuáticas y regresaban el jueves desde aguas de México en el lago Falcón cuando seis individuos armados se acercaron en dos botes.

La pareja emprendió la huida ante el ataque a tiros contra Hartley.

Según González, Tiffany Hartley trató de regresar a donde estaba el cuerpo de su esposo, pero retrocedió a aguas estadounidenses luego de que le dispararan de nuevo.

“Los vieron aproximarse (a los agresores) y se enfilaron al lado estadounidense”, dijo González.

Foto por César G. Rodriguez | Laredo Morning Times

En esta fotografía se aprecia un bote de la Patrulla Fronteriza sobre la presa Falcón en Zapata. Un hombre fue baleado a la altura de la nuca por parte de hombres armados. La Patrulla Fronteriza auxilió en la investigación.

“Los sujetos simplemente empezaron a dispararles”.

La esposa de la víctima resulto ilesa.

Gonzalez dijo al diario The Monitor de McAllen que los agresores “actuaron con mucha desfachatez” y persiguieron a la mujer hasta el lado de las aguas estadounidenses.

El alguacil dijo que Hartley se había mudado a McAllen hace unos cinco meses desde Reynosa, México.

González dijo que se puso en

contacto con el consulado mexicano y pidió que buscaran al hombre atacado. Agregó que no había nada más que pudiera hacer.

Sin embargo, ni la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores de México, ni la Procuraduría o la Secretaría estatal de Seguridad Pública en el estado de Tamaulipas tenían informes sobre el ataque a tiros.

El tiroteo ocurrió del lado mexicano del Lago Falcón, sobre la frontera. Ese lago es una presa

en el río Bravo, construida en 1954, que se extiende a ambos lados de la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos.

Este año varios pescadores fueron asaltados a punta de pistola en el lado mexicano del embalse. En esos robos, los pistoleros viajaban en botes pesqueros típicos de la región. No hubo ningún lesionado.

El tiroteo ocurrió alrededor de las 2:45 de la tarde, dijo Mike Cox, portavoz del Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Texas. Agregó que el departamento tiene dos botes con siete guardias armados en el lago.

González ha dicho anteriormente que las aguas de la presa se han vuelto peligrosas por la lucha entre cárteles rivales de narcotraficantes.

La violencia del lado mexicano del lago ha aumentado en los últimos meses luego de que se disolvió la sociedad entre el cartel del Golfo y los Zetas, lo cual sumió a muchas de las ciudades fronterizas de México en una espiral de violencia.

(Los periodistas de The Associated Press Paul J. Weber en San Antonio y Terry Wallace, en Dallas, contribuyeron a este reporte).

TAMAULIPAS UNIDO CON VERACRUZ

DOMINGO 3 DE OCTUBRE LAERDO — El equipo femenil de fútbol soccer de TAMIU recibe a University of Texas – Permian Basin a las 3 p.m. en la cancha de la Universidad. Entrada general es de 5 dólares.

LAREDO — El equipo varonil de fútbol soccer de TAMIU recibe a University of Texas – Permian Basin a las 5 p.m. en la cancha de la Universidad. Entrada general es de 5 dólares.

LUNES 4 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 8 p.m. a Alessandro Safina acompañado por la soprano Olivia Gorra y la Orquesta Filarmónica de Chihuahua en el CCNL.

MARTES 5 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 8 p.m. a Los Hermanos Vivanco en el teatro principal del CCNL. NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 7 p.m. a Celso Piña en el Foro de la Antigua Aduana.

MIÉRCOLES 6 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — Shakira, una de las artistas internacionales más reconocida, se presenta esta noche a las 8 p.m. en la Laredo Energy Arena.

NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 8 p.m. al Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán en el CCNL.

JUEVES 7 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 8 p.m. al Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández en el CCNL. NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 7:30 p.m. al Ballet Folklórico Andanzas de Paraguay en el Foto de la Antigua Aduana.

VIERNES 8 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 8 p.m. a Fernando de la Mora en “Canto a la Concordia” acompañado por la Orquesta y Mariachi de la UANL en el CNL. NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 7 p.m. a la danza folklórica de Colombia “Arac Macao” en el gran foro de la Antigua Aduana.

SÁBADO 9 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO — FIT presenta hoy a las 8 p.m. al Teatro Nacional Académico Bolshoi de Ópera y Ballet con “El Quijote” en el CCNL.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

En solidaridad con las familias veracruzanas que resultaron damnificadas por las inundaciones, el Gobierno del Estado, a nombre de los tamaulipecos, dio el banderazo de salida el 25 de septiembre a un convoy de unidades en la explanada del Centro de Convenciones y Exposiciones de Tampico. El convoy llevaba 90 toneladas de ayuda, consistente en alimentos, agua y utilitarios recolectados por el Sistema DIF Tamaulipas y los DIF Municipales, dentro de la campaña “Tamaulipas unido con Veracruz”. Debido a las intensas lluvias, Veracruz se encuentra actualmente inundada y sus habitantes carecen de artículos básicos.

Discuten plan de trabajo ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD VICTORIA — El 20 y 21 de septiembre se realizaron las primeras reuniones de trabajo entre el Gobernador Electo, Egidio Torre Cantú, y los ediles que lo acompañarán a partir del primero de enero.

El Gobernador Electo de Tamaulipas, Egidio Torre Cantú, presidió un encuentro de trabajo con alcaldes electos, abordando el alineamiento de políticas públicas y de la agenda del Estado con los Municipios.

Se abordaron las estrategias y objetivos del documento “Por el Tamaulipas que todos queremos 2011- 2016” en sus cuatro ejes: seguro, humano, competitivo y sustentable.

Del mismo modo visión de gobierno 2011 – 2013, estructura y compromisos, principios rectores, funcionalidad de las ciudades y centros de población, fortalecimiento institucional de los organismos operadores de agua, alcantarillado y saneamiento, además de trasporte público colectivo entre otros temas.

Durante las reuniones se observó el alineamiento de políticas públicas y de la Agenda Estado – Municipios.

En el encuentro, Torre Cantú destacó la importancia de contar con principios rectores que contemplen rendición de cuentas y transparencia, participación ciudadana, sustentabilidad y la cultura de la legalidad entre otros puntos.

Dividido en 2 sesiones, integraron la primera los próximos ediles de los municipios de Altamira, Pedro Carrillo Estrada; Ciudad Madero, Jaime Turrubiates Solís; Tampico, Magdale-

Repuntan remesas desde EU en agosto ASSOCIATED PRESS

Foto de cortesía | Egidio Torre Cantú

El Gobernador Electo de Tamaulipas Egidio Torre Cantú, al frente a la extrema derecha, encabezó dos días de reuniones de trabajo con los Presidentes Municipales electos de los 43 Municipios de la Entidad, con quienes empezará a trabajar a partir del 1 de enero. na Peraza Guerra; El Mante, Humberto Flores Dewey; y González, Manuel González Parreño.

Por Matamoros, Víctor Alfonso Sánchez Garza; Miguel Alemán, Ramón Edmundo Rodríguez Garza; Nuevo Laredo, Benjamín Galván Gómez; Reynosa, Everardo Villarreal Salinas; Xicoténcatl, Cesar Verasteguí Ostos; San Fernando, Tomás Gloria Requena; Valle Hermoso, Efraín de León; y Victoria, Miguel González Salum.

La segunda sesión fue con los alcaldes electos de Abasolo, Juan Antonio Curiel; Aldama, Ismael Hervert Bautista; Antiguo Morelos, Arturo Ibarra Torres; Burgos, Fernando López Pando; Bustamante, Juvencio Barrera Pérez; Camargo, Maria del Carmen Rocha Hernández; Cruillas, José Felipe García García; Gómez Farias, José Flores Castellanos; Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Humberto Roque Cuellar; Güe-

mez, José Lorenzo Morales Amaro.

De Guerrero, Luis Gerardo Ramos Gómez; Hidalgo, Gonzalo Walle Morales; Jaumave, Epigmenio Villarreal Valadez; Jiménez, Jorge Salazar Méndez; Llera, Mario Alberto Ortiz Cano; Mainero, Martín Irineo Tovar González; Méndez, Pedro García Palacios; Mier, Alberto Gonzalez Peña; Miquihuana, Matias Melendez Cruz; Nuevo Morelos, José Luís Nájera Cedillo; Ocampo, Abraham Pineda Díaz; Padilla, Edgar Eduardo Alvarado García.

Por Palmillas, Jorge Luís Monita Silva; San Carlos, Arnoldo Morales Meléndez; San Nicolás, Manuel Guadalupe González Villarreal; Soto La Marina, Edgar Edelmiro Gómez Gandaria; Tula, Rene Lara Cisneros; Villa de Casas, Santos Zurita Sánchez; y Villagrán, Luís Javier Hernández Juárez.

MÉXICO — Las remesas que envían los mexicanos desde el exterior repuntaron en agosto y contribuyeron a moderar la caída acumulada durante 2010, reportó el banco central.

Los envíos en agosto ascendieron a 1.946 millones de dólares, un crecimiento de 9,32% respecto al mismo mes del 2009, según la actualización mensual del Banco de México divulgada el viernes en su sitio de Internet.

En términos acumulados, la remesas entre enero y agosto sumaron 14.441 millones de dólares, una caída de 1.71% respecto al mismo periodo del año anterior.

Apenas en el primer semestre del 2010 las remesas se habían contraído un 4.07%.

Las remesas son enviadas casi en su totalidad desde Estados Unidos y son la segunda fuente de divisas del país después de la exportación de petróleo.

Los envíos de los emigrantes mexicanos han mostrado un comportamiento hacia la baja desde 2008. El banco central ha señalado que una de las razones es la desaceleración económica en Estados Unidos, donde radica la mayoría de los emigrantes mexicanos.

State

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

Grant to pay for 1,400 officers

By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Ralph Barrera/Austin-American Statesman | AP

Austin law enforcement officials, one holding a battering ram, center, head out to buildings surrounding the Perry-Castañeda Library on the University of Texas campus on Tuesday, where a man fatally shot himself. A man wearing a ski mask opened fire with an AK-47 inside the University of Texas library before his apparent suicide, police said.

Gunman opens fire at UT

By KELLEY SHANNON ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

AUSTIN — A student wearing a dark suit and a ski mask opened fire Tuesday with an assault rifle on the University of Texas campus before fleeing into a library and fatally shooting himself. No one else was hurt.

The shooting began near a fountain in front of the UT Tower — the site of one of the nation’s deadliest shooting rampages more than four decades ago, when a gunman ascended the clock tower and fired down on dozens of people.

Within hours of Tuesday’s gunfire, the school issued an all-clear notice, but the university remained closed, and the area around the library still was considered a crime scene.

“Our campus is safe,” school President Bill Powers said.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo expected the school to be “completely open and back to normal”

by Wednesday morning.

Authorities identified the gunman as 19-year-old Colton Tooley, a sophomore math major. Police declined to speculate on his motive.

Tooley’s parents did not immediately respond to a message left by The Associated Press. A man who said he was a relative of the family and would identify himself only as Marcus came out of their home late Tuesday and said Tooley’s parents were distraught over losing their child.

“I want you to understand how he lived. He was a very smart guy, very intelligent, excellent student.

He wouldn’t or couldn’t hurt a fly,” he said, reading from a prepared statement.

“This is a great shock to me and my family. There was nothing prior to this

JOSHUA TOOLEY: Opened fire in the UT library before killing himself. day, nothing that would lead any of us to believe this could take place.”

Tooley’s high school principal in Austin described him as an excellent student who excelled in every subject.

“All of us in the Crockett High School community are shocked and saddened by today’s tragedy at the University of Texas,” said principal Craig Shapiro.

Shapiro’s prepared statement said Tooley, a 2009 graduate, was remembered by teachers as being “brilliant,” “meticulous,” and “respectful.”

Police investigators went in and out of his family’s home in a middle-class Austin neighborhood Tuesday afternoon carrying bags and boxes. There was no immediate word on what was in the containers.

A neighbor said police arrived at the home about three hours after the campus shooting.

Before reaching the library, Tooley apparently walked for several blocks wearing a mask and dark clothing and carrying an automatic weapon, witnesses said.

Construction worker Ruben Cordoba said he was installing a fence on the roof of a three-story building near the library when he looked down and made eye contact with the suspect.

“I saw in his eyes he didn’t care,” Cordoba said.

The gunman continued down the street, firing three shots toward a campus church, then changed direction and fired three more times into the air, Cordoba said.

Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.

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

1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160

Photo by Derek Stout/The Daily Texan | AP

A police officer patrols the University of Texas campus in Austin early Tuesday morning, after a gunman opened fire at the PerryCastañeda Library. Police from several agencies searched the campus for a possible second suspect, but found no one. The UT clock tower is seen in the background.

HOUSTON — Nearly 1,400 law enforcement officers will be hired or retained across the country under the latest round of grants from a community policing program, U.S. Justice Department officials announced Thursday.

The grants totaling $298 million are being distributed by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS. They will help 379 police and sheriff ’s departments hire new officers or keep current ones on staff.

“There is almost nothing more effective in keeping the public safe than cops on the beat who have the equipment and resources they need,” Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli said at a news conference in Houston. “I stand here today to tell you that this administration and this attorney general stand behind you 100 percent and are doing everything we can to find the resources to help you continue to do your job.”

The grants will pay officers’ salaries for three years. Law enforcement agencies getting the awards will be required to pay for the positions for a fourth year.

Five law enforcement agencies around the country were assigned 50 new officers, the maximum under the program. They are: The Houston Police Department; the Tucson Police Department in Arizona; the Sacramento County Sheriff ’s Department in California; Metro-

politan Dade County in Florida; and Puerto Rico Police.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker thanked the Justice Department for the $9.8 million award the city’s police department received. She said Houston has struggled to preserve funding for the department during the recent economic recession.

“While we have not had to lay anybody off or have furloughs to balance the budget, it is something that is always in the back of my mind,” Parker said.

“It will be a significant challenge the next fiscal year to do that. But what we know today is we have secured funding for 50 additional police officers.”

Houston’s police department, which has 5,313 officers, was the only major law enforcement agency in Texas to receive a grant in this latest round of funding.

Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $11.3 billion to advance community policing. Those grants have gone to more than 13,600 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and have paid to hire 121,000 officers.

The COPS program was started during Bill Clinton’s administration.

President George W. Bush tried to trim the COPS budget, questioning the federal role in local law enforcement and the effectiveness of the program.

The program got a huge boost last year when it received $1 billion through the economic stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Javier J. Muñoz ZAPATA — Javier J. Muñoz 60, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010,at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Muñoz was preceded in death by his parents, Francisco and Elodia G. Muñoz, and his brothers, Francisco Muñoz, Jr. and Luis E. Muñoz.

Mr. Muñoz is survived by his wife, Maricela S. Muñoz; his son, Ricardo J. (Rocio) Muñoz; his grandsons, Ricky Muñoz and Rey Muñoz; his granddaughter, Paola Gomez; his nephews, Daniel (Nydia) Muñoz, David (Ana) Muñoz, Luis E. Jr. (Becky) Muñoz, Lori (Bud) Day, Francisco (Connie) Muñoz, and Luisana Muñoz and by numerous other relatives and friends.

Visitation hours were held Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Daniel Muñoz, David Muñoz, Frankie Muñoz, Judge Fernando Muñoz, Juan Medi-

By GENE JOHNSON

No word on alleged kingpin’s extradition

ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS

na, Carlos Guerra, Norberto Lopez and Juan Martinez.

The funeral procession departed Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at 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 Highway 83 Zapata, Texas.

Jaime Luis Ramirez ZAPATA — Jaime Luis Ramirez 50, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas.

Mr. Ramirez was preceded in death by his parents, Adrian Ramirez, Jr. and Celia G. Ramirez; his sister, Aida Ramirez Sanchez, and a niece, Edula Gutierrez.

Mr. Ramirez is survived by his son, Jaime L. Ramirez, Jr.; his daughter, Maria G. Ramirez (Ruben) Rodriguez; his sisters, Rosa Maria (Matias) Buentello, Celia (Abel Javier) Elizondo, Sylvia (Abelardo) Mendoza; his brothers, Jose L. (Ana) Ramirez, Adrian (Maria Elena) Ramirez, III; three grandchildren and by numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service was held Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at

Photos show soldiers posing with corpses

Rose Garden Funeral Home. A graveside service followed at 3 p.m. at Zapata County Cemetery.

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

Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.

SEATTLE — Those who have seen the photos say they are grisly: soldiers beside newly killed bodies, decaying corpses and severed fingers.

The dozens of photos, described in interviews and in e-mails and military documents obtained

by The Associated Press, were seized by Army investigators and are a crucial part of the case against five soldiers accused of killing three Afghan civilians earlier this year.

Troops allegedly shared the photos by e-mail and thumb drive like electronic trading cards. Now 60 to 70 of them are being kept tightly shielded from the public and even defense attorneys because of fears they could wind up in the news media and provoke anti-American violence.

“We’re in a powder-keg situation here,” said Eugene R. Fidell, president of the National Institute for Military Justice and a military law professor at Yale University.

Since the images are not classified, “I think they have to be released if they’re going to be evidence in open court in a criminal prosecution,” he said.

Maj. Kathleen Turner, a spokeswoman for Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle, where the accused soldiers are stationed, acknowledged that the images were “highly sensitive, and that’s why that protective order was put in place.”

She declined to comment further.

At least some of the photos pertain to those killings. Others may have been of insurgents killed

Photo courtesy of Winfield Family | AP

This undated photo shows U.S. Army Spc. Adam Winfield while on duty in Afghanistan. Winfield is accused of murdering civilians during his deployment to Afghanistan, a charge he and his family firmly refute. in battle, and some may have been taken as part of a military effort to document those killed, according to lawyers involved in the case.

Among the most gruesome allegations is that some of the soldiers kept fingers from the bodies of Afghans they killed as war trophies. The troops also are accused of passing around photos of the dead and of the fingers.

Four members of the unit — two of whom are also charged in the killings — have been accused of wrongfully possessing images of human casualties, and another is charged with trying to impede an investigation by having someone erase incriminating evidence from a computer hard drive.

“Everyone would share the photographs,” one of the defendants, Cpl. Jeremy Morlock, told investigators. “They were of every guy we ever killed in Afghanistan.”

After the first slaying, one service member sent urgent e-mails to his father warning that more bloodshed was on the way.

The father told the AP he pleaded for help from the military, but authorities took no action. A spokesman said Friday that the Army was investigating.

The graphic nature of the images recalled famous photos that emerged in 2004 from the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Those pictures stirred outrage against the United States at a critical juncture.

Mexican officials haven’t decided whether suspected drug kingpin Edgar “La Barbie” Valdez Villareal will faces trial in Mexico or the U.S., they said Thursday.

Valdez Villareal is a Laredo native.

The former United High School student was arrested Aug. 30 near Toluca, Mexico. On Sept. 4, a judge ordered him detained for 40 days, a period which will end Oct. 13.

In a news release issued by Mexico’s attorney general’s office, authorities stated that a representative from Ministerio Publico de la Federacion is responsible for determining the outcome of a petition for extradition filed by the United States.

In Mexico, Valdez Villareal faces charges of engaging in organized crime and possession of firearms.

He has not been charged in any homicides, but Mexican police have alleged that Valdez Villarreal is responsible for dozens of deaths during his bloody turf war with Hector Beltran-Leyva, following the dramatic killing of the cartel’s leader, Arturo Beltran-Leyva, by the Mexican Navy in December 2009.

Valdez Villarreal has also been indicted in Texas, Louisiana and Georgia on various drug trafficking charges. Authorities believe Valdez Villarreal smuggled thousands of pounds of drugs into the U.S., while smuggling millions of dollars back to Mexico.

BP names Bob Dudley as its first American CEO

By HARRY R. WEBER AND GREGORY KATZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW ORLEANS — They were both pivotal figures following the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history: one for angering Gulf residents with his ill-conceived comments about wanting his life back and by attending a weekend yacht race, the other for his ubiquitous presence along the crude-stained shores.

It seems fitting that both Tony Hayward and Thad Allen were officially re-

placed on the same day Friday. They are gone from their roles as BP PLC chief executive and national incident commander, respectively, but will not be soon forgotten as the damage from the spill endures and investigations continue.

Another round of federal investigative panel hearings is set to begin Monday.

The shakeup at BP, which owned the well that blew out on April 20 and was leasing the rig that exploded, didn’t end with Hayward. This week, Hayward’s replacement — Bob

Dudley, the first American to ever head the British oil giant — fired the executive responsible for deepwater wells like the one that blew out in the Gulf and announced a new unit to police safety practices throughout the company.

Dudley will be operating with a thin margin for error while trying to move BP past the Gulf disaster.

Besides covering a financial tab that’s around $10 billion and growing, Dudley must overcome the adversarial relationship between BP and Washington

and the citizens of the Gulf left behind by Hayward. BP has said it plans to recommend Hayward for a nonexecutive board position at its Russian joint venture, TNK-BP. Industry insiders agree Dudley will need patience and imagination to succeed. Good lawyers and good luck will also help.

BP has to be perfect in the safety arena. That’s no simple task for a company that drills for oil on every continent except Antarctica. Another mistake could jeopardize business in the

U.S., where BP has 40 percent of its oil and gas reserves.

And just because of the recommitment to safety, it doesn’t mean BP won’t be taking risks in the future.

Industrywide, offshore drilling is going into deeper and deeper waters and into politically unstable areas of the world.

Allen, the retired Coast Guard admiral, stepped aside as head of the national incident command. Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft succeeds him.

Both moves had already

been announced, but they became official on Friday.

Allen has said the timing was a coincidence.

Allen had always said he planned to go at sometime, and he wanted the transition to come at a time when the response to the disaster had shifted from shutting down the runaway well to recovery from the disaster.

The Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 workers and led to 206 million gallons of oil being released from BP’s well a mile beneath the Gulf.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

SHOOTING Continued from Page 1A statement denying a search for David Michael Hartley, 30.

“About the mentioned topic, we inform you that we do not have any information related to the incident,” a Mexican Navy email states.

The e-mail goes on to say, “We don’t have any comments to add. Have a good afternoon.”

Natividad Galicia Salazar, a first master with the Secretaría de Marina, insisted the military does not have information.

“We don’t have any information at all,” she said.

The sightseeing couple was attacked after taking pictures at the old church in Guerrero Viejo, Tamaulipas, in Mexico, about 9 miles away from Falcon Estates in Zapata. David Michael Hartley was shot in the back of the head, but his wife, Tiffany Hartley was unharmed, even though she was chased by armed men in boats into U.S. waters.

Meanwhile, officials on U.S. soil are unsure if there’s even a search for Hartley’s body.

“We’re not physically involved in the search because it happened in Mexico,” said Agent Narcizo Ramos, spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector. “We continue to work closely with our international liaison.

Sheriff ’s officials continued the investigation and are still trying to determine what led to the shoot-

ing of the couple. Capt. Aaron Sanchez, of the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office, said the investigation is in its preliminary stages.

Sanchez could not say why the gunmen shot at the Hartleys.

“We don’t have one jet ski. We don’t know if that was the motive,” Sanchez said.

He added that investigators will not know what they are dealing with until Mexican authorities make an arrest.

Through a Department of Public Safety news release, Texas law enforcement agencies are telling boaters on Falcon Lake to stay on the U.S. side of the lake.

DPS issued the same advisory in May. The release states that Texas Rangers are assisting the sheriff ’s office with the investigation, along with Game Wardens and DPS officers. DPS deployed its SWAT team, one of its helicopters and its river boat.

The news release goes on to say that at least four incidents have been reported to authorities regarding incidents at Falcon Lake.

On April 30, four heavily armed men boarded two boats near the Old Guerrero area demanding money.

The bandits were given $200 in cash, the DPS news release states.

On May 6, two armed men approached a boat near Marker 14 on the north side of Salado Island on top of the ruins at Old Guerrero and demanded

money.

On May 16, five armed men boarded a boat on the United States side of the lake near Marker 7. No other information was available on this incident, the DPS news release states.

On Aug 31, Falcon Lake pirates attempted to stop a Texas fisherman. They were in a small boat marked “Game Wardin” using duct-taped letters to possibly mimic Texas Parks and Wildlife vessels.

The misspelling of the word “Warden” alerted the fisherman that something was wrong and he outran the Mexican vessel to safety, according to the DPS release.

The alleged offenders are believed to be members of a drug trafficking organization or members of an enforcer group linked to a drug trafficking organization. They are heavily armed with AK-47s or AR-15 rifles to threaten their victims, the DPS news release states.

Anyone involved in an incident on Falcon Lake should call 911.

The Falcon Lake threat did not stop Roger vonRosenberg of Austin from fishing on the lake with a friend Friday afternoon.

The fisherman said he did know where Guerrero Viejo is, but it’s been two years since he last ventured into Mexican waters because he wants to avoid “problems,” vonRosenberg said.

“It’s too much trouble

RAMOS Continued from Page 1A and it’s too risky,” the man said. “If you are (in) U.S. waters and stay where you’re supposed to be, you (won’t) have any problems.”

VonRosenberg has fished at Falcon Lake for about six years.

He drives down from Austin at least twice a year.

Ever since the reported encounters with “pirates,” he noted fishermen stopped going to the lake.

“I hope people come back,” he said, noting that fishing is big for the community in Zapata. “If you stay on this side, you should be okay.”

Deputy Tomas Rodriguez was working on reports at the sheriff ’s office when he got the call with preliminary information that a man had been shot in the head and that the body was still in the water.

“Really … You don’t know what you’re getting into. I was thinking, ‘Should I go in with an assault rifle?’” Rodriguez said. “Most of the calls that we get, we go to them blinded.”

Rodriguez arrived at the scene on Falcon Estates lake banks and saw the caller standing next to Tiffany Hartley.

“She was holding on the jet ski, crying,” Rodriguez said.

According to the first responder, the woman stated, “I couldn’t lift him out of the water.”

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

HAWK FEST Continued from Page 1A floats, they began their journey to Hawk stadium, where beau and duchess nominees from every school organization were presented and the Homecoming King and Queen was announced.

Although every organization and every class had beau and duchess representatives, only seniors had the opportunity to be crowned Homecoming

King and Queen. There were three senior nominations for both King and Queen.

This year’s Homecoming King and Queen are Zapata High School seniors David Hinojosa and Marlen Garcia.

Garcia represented the cross-country team and Hinojosa represented the football team, both nominated and selected by their peers,

said Imelda Flores, Student Council sponsor.

Seniors also took their last walk as ZCISD students after the pep-rally.

“That was the highlight of the event,” Flores said.

This year’s Hawk Fest also doubled as Red Ribbon Week kick-off, Flores said.

Local law enforcement agencies encouraged students to remain drug-free during the week, with

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ZCISD P.O. BOX 158 ZAPATA, TEXAS 78076 (956)765-6546

Zapata County I.S.D. will be accepting proposals for the Demolition of South Elementary in Zapata, Texas. The RFP must be delivered by October 11, 2010 @ 2:00 PM. RFP must be delivered to Zapata County I.S.D. Administration Building, 17th & Carla Zapata, Texas 78076.

Zapata County I.S.D. will accept proposals marked Demolition of Old South Elementary Please feel free to call, Patricia Gonzalez, @ (956)765-6546 ext 2010, or Laura McCoy @ (956) 765-6546 ext 2006 for any assistance or schedule a walk thru of site.

The Zapata County I.S.D. reserves the right to accept or reject any or all quotes and pricing, and the right to accept the quote and pricing most advantageous to the district.

speeches of their own school experiences and mottos they live by, Flores said.

The ZHS cheerleaders and the Strutters performed. The school band capped the event with the fight song and the alma mater.

ZHS also held a Homecoming dance Friday.

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

Friday evening, Zapata Sheriff ’s Capt. Aaron Sanchez said Ramos should be in Zapata by Monday.

According to reports, Ramos “immediately sped away at a high rate of speed” Aug. 13 after a Zapata County deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on U.S. 83.

Authorities, according to the reports, were attempting to stop Ramos’ silver Dodge pick-up; however, Ramos eluded them and even struck two marked units along the way.

“The speed chase continued into Hebbronville before Ramos ran through the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in

complete disregard of the U.S. Border Patrol agents that were conducting inspections in the area and civilians,” according to a news release issued by the U.S. Marshals Service.

In Hebbronville, Ramos abandoned his pickup and got away from authorities. Officers found 56 pounds of marijuana hidden in a laundry bag inside the pick-up during a search.

U.S. Marshals heard Ramos was hiding out at a relative’s residence in Plainview, which is near Lubbock. He was arrested without incident.

(Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)

CONSTABLE Continued from Page 1A Ten years ago, Gutierrez ran for precinct 2 constable, but dropped out in favor of his uncle, Ricardo Gutierrez, who was elected.

Martinez was appointed as constable about six years ago, after Ricardo Gutierrez passed away.

Gutierrez has more than 16 years of law enforcement experience and obtained a master’s certification from T-CLEOSE. He is also only one of five to hold that certification in Zapata County.

He’s also the youngest person in the county to hold the certification.

“I got it three years ago when I was 34, and the others are in their 50s or 60s,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Texas A&M Interna-

tional University and minored in criminal justice.

Previously, Gutierrez worked for about four years as an investigator for Zapata County Attorney Said Figueroa.

“He was always an exemplary employee,” Figueroa said. “He was very knowledgeable in law enforcement, and his investigative reports were very detailed.”

An individual should not be held back from their ambitions, Figueroa said.

“We’re more than certain he will do an admirable job,” he said.

Gutierrez will only be working part-time as a constable, as he continues teaching criminal justice at Zapata High School.

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors CROSS COUNTRY

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Courtesy Photo

Zapata’s Cassie Peña, Erica Hernandez Gloria Jauregui and Alba Jasso compete at last weekend’s PSJA meet.

Flexible Hawks Zapata’s lineup shifts but results stay same

By CLARA SANDOVAL ZAPATA TIMES

The versatility of Zapata’s freshmen girls’ cross country team is displayed every weekend since it has not fielded the same team all year long.

The team is comprised of ten young, talented la-

dies who made a daring, but courageous, choice to join the sport.

This season’s freshman team has overcome a constant change in personnel due to three runners presently running at the varsity level.

See XC PAGE 2B

VOLLEYBALL

AP

Texas knocked Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford out of the game in the first quarter of last year’s rivalry game. Oklahoma looks for vengeance today after losing four of their last five to the Longhorns.

THE RIVER RUNS RED Sooners ready for Horns in annual game

By JEFF LATZKE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NORMAN, Okla. — The way Bob Stoops sees it, there is no Sooners slump in the Red River Rivalry.

Forget that in a series he once dominated, Stoops has headed home from Dallas in defeat four of the last five years while Mack Brown and Texas celebrated with the Golden Hat. It’s the kind of performance that might have landed another Oklahoma coach in hot water, but the Sooners have continued to win Big 12 titles

A win would bolster the Sooners’ case as a true national title contender, while Texas wants to halt its skid at one loss. And, of course, there’s the matter of bragging rights. and play for national championships despite the recent losses to the Longhorns.

Once again, Saturday’s game between the eighthranked Sooners (4-0) and No. 21 Texas (3-1, 1-0 Big

12) figures to play a role in determining a champion.

“The atmosphere and just playing on a big stage, these are the kind of games you dream about and watch on TV when

you’re little. And just the thought of playing in it, it sends chills through your body,” Texas receiver James Kirkendoll said. “I think everybody dreams about playing this kind of game.”

Surrounded by the pageantry of the State Fair of Texas and a crowd split evenly — along the 50yard line — with fans in Oklahoma crimson and Texas burnt orange, a rivalry that’s more than a century old takes up a larger place in the college football landscape.

See RED RIVER PAGE 2B

NFL

Wade feeling optimistic Coach’s personal team evaluation turns out OK

By JAIME ARON ASSOCIATED PRESS

Courtesy Photo

Kristina De Leon and the Zapata Lady Hawks are still storming through the 3A volleyball scene.

Hawks brush aside adversity

By CLARA SANDOVAL ZAPATA TIMES

The state-ranked Zapata Lady Hawks flexed their offensive muscle as they took on Port Isabel Tuesday night to open the second round of District 32-3A. The Lady Hawks (16-3), who are ranked No. 12 by the Texas Girls Coaches Association, did not skip a

beat as they easily swept the Lady Tarpons in three sets, 25-16, 25-16 and 25-18 to push their district record to a perfect 7-0 and continue to have a strong hold of first place.

The usual suspects filled out the stats sheets as they kept the Lady Hawks on pace for a district title.

See VOLLEYBALL PAGE 2B

IRVING — Checking the standings is a foolproof way to see how teams are doing. Cowboys coach Wade Phillips uses another test to gauge how good they really are.

Phillips finds the score of every game when it was truly decided to help decipher those wins and losses. His research is rooted in the notion that the best teams put games away early and, when they lose, they’re in it to the end.

By that measure, his club is doing just fine, even at 1-2 going into their bye weekend.

The Cowboys were driving for the go-ahead or tying touchdown on their last possession in both losses. In their win, last Sunday at Houston, they led 24-6 when all but diehard viewers lost interest.

While Phillips gladly would trade a close loss for a narrow win, the way Dallas won the last game leads him to believe things will fall into place.

Photo by David J. Phillip | AP

Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips signals the players in the second quarter of against the Houston Texans on Sunday, in Houston.

The defense made a goal line stand and finally came up with a turnover — three, actually; the offense had touchdown drives of 74, 80 and 90 yards; and kicker David Buehler had his first game without a miss, nailing field goals from 40 and 49 yards.

"That was our true identity," safety Gerald Sensabaugh said. "This

football team really can play."

After hearing all summer that they were favorites to win the NFC, the Cowboys came crashing down with back-to-back opening losses. Instead of chatter about whether Dallas could become the first team to play in the Super Bowl at home, the debates were about the team being overrated, the

players considered more talented than they really were.

So had they lost again and hit 0-3, they would’ve been reeling, no matter how Phillips might’ve tried to spin it. This open week would’ve been filled with finger-pointing.

Instead, the mood has been fine. Optimistic,

See COWBOYS PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

Dysfunctional family

XC Continued from Page 1B “Despite the constant and inevitable change, the girls continue to work hard and make waves at each and every meet,” Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said.

The Lady Hawks captured their second team title of the season with a big win at the PSJA Memorial meet last Saturday.

Zapata defeated schools like PSJA North, Edinburg North, Sharyland, Mission and Rio Grande City.

Joyce Garcia was edged out and came in second place overall. Sara Peña captured third place honors and was followed closely by fast-improving Daniella Soto (ninth), Alma Perez (13th) and Norma Cepeda (16th).

The junior varsity team battled similar tough valley competition to finish in fourth place.

Wendy Medina was the top runner, as she just missed setting her season goal of breaking 14 minutes in the 2-mile with a time of 14:03, good enough for ninth place.

The varsity team, fighting injury and illness, also fought its way to a close fourth place finish, just 30 points from a team title.

The field of over 130 runners was stacked with talented athletes; senior Marlena Garcia brought home a second place medal as she was outleaned at the finish.

Cassie Peña (13:04) and Erica Hernandez (13:07) each ran their personal records, while Kristina Garcia (13:12) had a season best.

Three varsity runners posted season-best and two personal records.

Cassie Peña (13:04) and Erica Hernandez (13:07) each ran their personal records, while Kristina Garcia (13:12) had a season best.

Earlier this week, the latest Class 3A state rankings had the Lady Hawks listed as the No. 4 team in the state of Texas.

“The girls are proud of their rankings, but understand nothing counts until district, regionals and state,” Villarreal said.

The team will be off next week and will spring back into action in the Third annual Meet Of Champions meet to be held in Harlingen on Oct. 9.

VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 1B Senior sensation Brandi King had another outstanding game where she put on a 17-kill performance to make a strong statement for the District MVP. King added four digs, three aces and one block for an overall performance.

Setter Estella Molina recorded 29 assists and did a great job of spreading the ball around to her offensive dynamos, led by King.

Shelby Bigler, Kristina De Leon, Selina Mata and Jackie Salinas all got into the offensive machine that has become a trademark for the Lady Hawks as they combined for 13 kills.

Zapata vs. RGC La Grulla The Lady Hawks took on first-year high school Rio Grande City La Grulla last Saturday to end the first round of district play.

Zapata swept La Grulla 25-7, 25-9 and 25-15.

King, who kicked off the weekend with 17 kills, led the Lady Hawks at the net.

Molina, who has become a master of controlling the offense and knows when to give the

Setter Estella Molina recorded 29 assists and did a great job of spreading the ball around to her offensive dynamos, led

by King. ball to King and when to utilize her as a decoy, in addition got the rest of the hitters involved in the offense.

Molina had 18 assists in the Lady Hawks’ victory over the Lady Gators.

Bigler and De Leon complemented King at the net, combining for six kills.

Cassie Quintanilla led the defensive unit with six digs.

In the subvarsity division, the freshmen team lost 25-19, 19-25 and 11-25 while the junior varsity team was successful in its quest for a victory with a 24-26, 26-24 and 25-4 decision.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

By JOHN LEICESTER ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS — For Lance Armstrong, it became a tradition.

On the triumphant last day of his Tour de France victories, the champion cyclist and his teammates celebrated by riding past chattering crowds and the leafy trees that line Paris’ most famous boulevard, the Champs-Elysees. They radiated bonhomie, smiling and sometimes waving star-spangled banners.

Armstrong and Co., the scene suggested, was one big and happy cycling family.

Reality, however, was not so cut-and-dried.

Even with riders who were integral to Armstrong’s unprecedented run of seven consecutive Tour wins, the singleminded Texan remained somewhat aloof. His teammates watched Armstrong’s back on France’s sun-seared roads, elbowed aside rival teams, carried his water bottles, shared meals, bus trips, and helped to construct the story of the cancer survivor who tamed cycling’s most mythic race. But, some of them also say, they never got to intimately know the man in the winner’s yellow jersey. After they and the crowds went home, some never had much contact with Armstrong again.

That contrast between the public and guarded sides of the man who revolutionized France’s storied race with his modern American ways could become a hurdle for U.S. investigators trying to corroborate allegations from Floyd Landis. One of 23 support riders without whom Armstrong might not have won so many Tours, Landis claims that doping was part-and-par-

Photo by Mark Lennihan | AP

Lance Armstrong, cyclist and Founder of Livestrong, attends the Clinton Global Initiative, Sept. 22, in New York. cel of being on his teams and that Armstrong cheated, too.

Armstrong has always insisted that he rode clean. He says Landis lacks credibility. After quitting Armstrong’s team, Landis won the 2006 Tour but was stripped of the title for doping. Having denied it for years, Landis now acknowledges that he cheated but says others did, too.

The elaborate and systematic doping Landis describes — he alleged, most notably, that Armstrong and his riders shot-up in full view of each other in 2004 — would have required considerable levels of trust, connivance and conspiracy to remain hid-

den. But that stands at odds with the way some riders recall life inside Armstrong’s U.S. Postal squads. Simply put, some say, Armstrong never let them get that close.

Steffen Kjaergaard rode at Armstrong’s side for his second and third wins, in 2000 and 2001. He remembers the victory parties and the one-starred Texas flag that Paris’ famous Crillon Hotel flew in Armstrong’s honor. But he says he is stumped by Landis’ allegations because coming “from a team that I was a member of, that is so far from what I have been a part of, or seen, or discovered myself.”

“If some of that is just a

little bit true, I must have been extremely naive,” he says.

“No, no,” he chuckles when asked if he ever saw Armstrong take performance-enhancing drugs.

“Floyd’s stories ... are hard to believe.”

Peter Meinert-Nielsen, a Dane who rode with Armstrong on his first Tour win in 1999 until he dropped out on stage 13 with a bad knee, says the Texan “was always friendly and a great person to be with” but that unlike in other sports, friendships rarely blossom in cycling because riders don’t often train together.

“You are more or less only together when you ride. You don’t get a close relationship,” he says.

“Cycling is a working place like any kind of working place. There are some people you get along with better than others.

Lance and I got along pretty well. He asked that I be on the team that rode the Tour de France. He knew he could rely on me as a helper. He knew that if I had been told something I would do it. He trusted me. He knew I would ride 100 percent for him.”

“He is the greatest personality I have ever been racing with. He had a great power. I am certain it was a strong will and authority that made him win. He’s a one of a kind,” Meinert-Nielsen says. Although he also adds that if there was any doping then he wouldn’t have been privy to it “because I wasn’t with him, I didn’t share a room with him.”

Says Colombian Victor Hugo Pena, another exPostal cyclist who rode the Tours of 2001-03 with Armstrong: “Some people want me to destroy Armstrong and try to affirm that everybody was doping.

RED RIVER Continued from Page 1B One of the two teams involved has played for the national title five of the last seven years, even if it’s not as simple as the winner being on track for a trip to Arizona this January. Oklahoma lost two years ago but still won a tiebreaker against the Longhorns to play for the Big 12 and BCS championships. Last year, Texas won again and played for the BCS title.

The last two losses combined with others in 2005 and 2006 don’t add up to a reason to panic for Stoops, who put together five straight wins in the series starting in 2000.

“You can look at it however you want. It’s two out of three or four out of five or us six out of 10,” Stoops said. “You can just keep going, however you want.

But in the end, it doesn’t matter. It’s each game. In my eyes, even when we had the five in a row, all

that matters is what you do this year.”

His Sooners have been just scraping by so far this season, earning three of their four wins by a touchdown or less. But while Texas is riding high in this series, the Longhorns will be trying to right what went wrong in a stunning 34-12 loss at home to UCLA last week.

“It doesn’t matter if they’ve lost all of their games, lost just one or won all of them,” Sooners running back Mossis Madu said. “They’re going to come in and play as hard as they can.”

This year marks a new chapter in the rivalry with the first meeting between quarterbacks Landry Jones and Garrett Gilbert.

Jones replaced 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford in Oklahoma’s 16-13 loss last year, as Texas’ Colt McCoy moved to 3-1 in the rivalry. Gil-

bert replaces McCoy this year and will try to become the latest newcomer to win his Red River debut.

Bradford and McCoy each pulled off the feat on their way to spectacular college careers. And like Bradford in 2007, Gilbert is coming off an upset loss a week earlier.

Jones, at least, won’t be dealing with the first-time jitters after committing three of Oklahoma’s five turnovers last year.

“It’s more difficult when you first walk out there because you know it’s just a huge, huge rivalry game that’s been going on for a long time ... and just the tradition of that game,” Jones said. “At first, it’s a little nerve-racking but then you just have to settle down and just do what you do out there.”

Neither team has been able to establish a consistent running game this

season and both have been unhappy with their defensive performances lately.

Texas expects to get the speedy D.J. Monroe more involved, either in the backfield or as a receiver, and both teams are hoping for improved tackling.

“We haven’t been playing our greatest football this season, we have a lot of doubters and a lot of people skeptical about what we can do,” Oklahoma safety Quinton Carter.

“So, we have a lot to prove.”

A win would bolster the Sooners’ case as a true national title contender, while Texas wants to halt its skid at one loss. And, of course, there’s the matter of bragging rights.

“You can work yourself into a frenzy but in the end that doesn’t cut it,” Stoops said. “It’s being prepared and it’s executing when you get the opportunity.”

straight and five of six after the break, lifting them from 3-2 and two games out of first place in the NFC East to 8-3 and atop the division.

The schedule gives them a chance to surge again.

Three of the next four are at home, starting with Tennessee (2-1).

Then comes a run of teams currently 1-2: at Minnesota (a rematch of last year’s playoff loss), then home for the New York Giants on a Monday night, followed by Jacksonville.

"To look at it and say, ’we’re one game or 1½ games out — or whatever it is — in our division,’ I think is the wrong way to think about it," Brooking said. "There’s a lot of ball to be played yet. We just have to continue to get better and obviously ap-

proach it the way we did last week. The rest will take care of itself."

This team also has a new rallying cry: Do we want to live?

Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis brought it up before the Houston game, speaking about his life-ordeath struggle when the team’s practice facility collapsed in May 2009. He broke his neck, underwent surgery and was back at work about two weeks later.

DeCamillis kept bringing it up during the game, too. Since it worked, expect to hear it again.

"It was good for him to say that because it was actually the first time he’s really ever talked about it," Spears said. "It caught us off guard, but it was the truth."

COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B even, because of the thorough win in Houston. The Cowboys know they’re only one game behind in the division race. A few more wins and they might even revive talk of playing in Cowboys Stadium on Feb. 6.

So far, the ugly start has only cost them their margin for error.

Dallas can lose again, but not many times, and certainly not many in a row. When those losses come will be crucial, too, because the Cowboys already have dropped two conference games and one in their division.

Yet, for this club, playing catch-up could be a good thing. They played their best in make-orbreak games last year and in their one such challenge this season.

"We have 13 games left — any relief is a set up for disaster," defensive end Marcus Spears said.

The immediate challenge is sustaining whatever momentum they have going.

Phillips proclaimed practice on Wednesday the best he’d seen from this club during a bye week.

Their reward: Thursday’s schedule was shuffled so players could be done early in the afternoon, giving them a head start on a three-day weekend.

How they perform when they return Monday could be a good barometer of whether the team has its kinks worked out.

"The leadership of this football team has to make sure that everybody sticks to this mentality — keep going forward, you can’t

“

We have 13 games left — any relief is a set up for disaster," DEFENSIVE END MARCUS SPEARS

lay down any," Sensabaugh said. "You have to keep making sure that we stay hungry."

That revives the notion the Cowboys were fat and happy the first two weeks.

Cornerback Terence Newman mentioned practice woes following the second loss — as if the result wasn’t evidence enough.

Phillips responded by mixing up the routine.

Linebacker Keith Brooking said their crisp performance against Houston was a byproduct of a good

week on the practice field.

"We were conscious of correcting the mistakes that we made the first couple of games," Brooking said. "We realized that as long as we don’t go out there and play undisciplined football and we execute every play ... there’s not a lot of teams in this league that can beat us."

The Cowboys had a similar, season-salvaging victory going into its bye last season, pulling out an overtime win in Kansas City. They won three

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

HINTS BY | HELOISE Dear Heloise: Thank you so much for the article recommending that people ADOPT SENIOR SHELTER PETS. My husband and I have five cats, seven dogs, a rabbit and a lovebird — all rescues. Most of them were adults when they came to live with us, and some were even seniors or special-needs animals. We did not pursue most of them; rather, they found us.

We spend a great deal of our time advocating for animals, volunteering at local shelters, helping them find the right homes, etc. If everyone were responsible with spaying/ neutering and adopting rather than buying and breeding, this huge problem would not exist. With millions of cats and dogs being put down in shelters every year, it is so wonderful to have someone as well-known as you to advocate for these poor animals that have no voice. -- Carole F. Edmonds, via e-mail You have a happy houseful of “found” and rescued pets that would otherwise be euthanized or die a tragic death. A big Heloise hug to you and your husband!

And here is another hint about adopting older pets, from Mary of Virginia: “Thank you for mentioning adopting older dogs. Please, though, don’t leave out cats. There are a lot of cats being brought to shelters because their owners lost their jobs or had to move to places that don’t allow pets.

“

HELOISE

“A cat is often a better pet for a lot of families. It is smaller and needs a lot less care and attention than does a dog. Also, if someone adopts two cats or kittens, the animals keep each other company and can be happy when left alone for long periods of time.”

-- Heloise P.S.: There are rescue groups for just about every type of animal you could possibly want — cats, dogs, rabbits and more are just waiting to be adopted.

Check out the rescue groups, made up of volunteers who care deeply for these animals.

PET PAL Dear Readers: Brian of San Antonio sent a photo of his Shiba Inu, Chloe, lying on some gaming gear.

Brian says: “She is an avid cartoon and video-game enthusiast. When she’s not watching the commotion on TV, she’s often found sleeping or flipping out ‘like a ninja.’ She is an absolute doll, even when she isn’t listening to a thing we say. She’s quick to defend, and adopting her is one of the best things I’ve ever done.”

To see the gamer girl, visit www.Heloise.com.

Brian is our computer guru who visits us in the office to tame the computer gremlins! -- Heloise

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Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

Tech faces long familiar Rhoad

By LUKE MEREDITH ASSOCIATED PRESS

AMES, Iowa — It’s easy to forget that Tommy Tuberville once hired a bright young assistant named Paul Rhoads to be his defensive coordinator at Auburn.

The union only lasted a year — and what’s happened since makes it hard to remember their brief time together with the Tigers.

Tuberville was axed by Auburn after finishing 5-7 and losing to rival Alabama 36-0. The Tigers then poached Iowa State’s Gene Chizik to replace Tuberville, leaving Rhoads without a job after one year in the SEC. So the Iowa-born Rhoads quickly moved into Chizik’s old spot in Ames. Tuberville has moved on, too, taking over at Texas Tech after Mike Leach’s much-publicized departure after last season.

The pair will meet for the first time as opposing head coaches on Saturday, when the Red Raiders (2-1, 0-1 Big 12) visit Iowa State (2-2, 0-1) in a matchup between two friends with very different personalities.

“Tommy’s heart rate

Photo by LM Otero | AP

Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts (12) throws during the first half of a football game against Texas in Lubbock, Sept. 18. might be about 48 beats a minute,” said Rhoads, whose fiery nature has defined his tenure at Iowa State.

“There’s nobody that’s more relaxed or cooler than he is.”

Texas Tech-Iowa State might seem not seem like a matchup for many outside of Big 12 country to get ex-

cited about, but it will serve as an important barometer for both programs.

The Red Raiders survived a difficult test against SMU in their opener and, as expected, throttled woeful New Mexico 52-17. But in its first test against a top defense, Texas Tech mustered just 144 total yards

and one offensive touchdown in losing at home to Texas, 24-14.

The Red Raiders had a week off to recover.

“We are still not hitting on all cylinders,” Tuberville said. “When you change everything you’ve done for the last few years it’s tough to pick up some of it. And

when you start playing against teams that start changing stuff around on the other side, very quickly, as they did in the Texas game, it kind of throws a wrench in all your work.”

Texas Tech is hoping to establish the running game against an Iowa State defense that’s so far been stronger against the pass.

The Cyclones rank 13th in the nation in pass efficiency defense and 10th in passing yards allowed.

They’ve been opportunistic, too, returning three interceptions for scores in the past two weeks.

But part of the reason Iowa State has only allowed 143.8 yards passing a game is that the two teams that beat them, No. 17 Iowa and Kansas State, ran the ball at will.

Texas Tech probably won’t do that. But the Red Raiders also don’t want to Iowa State’s linebackers free to drop into coverage because they’re not afraid of the run.

“They’re going to be trying to hit between zones and stuff like that, and we’ve got to have great pass coverage and run reads,” said Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott.

TCU begins MWC play

By PAT GRAHAM ASSOCIATED PRESS

FORT COLLINS, Colo.

— Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild is prepared to pony up for a partisan crowd.

With the Rams hosting fifth-ranked TCU in the Mountain West Conference opener for both schools Saturday, Fairchild has pledged to donate 10 cents for every fan who fills a seat at Hughes Stadium.

It’s a chance to help a lo-

cal food bank and possibly rustle up a raucous crowd for a game against one of the elite teams in the country.

“At TCU, you get the opinion that they don’t want to be just a good program; they want to win a national championship, and that’s what we aspire to do here is be a program like that,” said Fairchild, whose team snapped a 12game skid last weekend against Idaho. “They’re up and running.”

And possibly out to make a point.

The Frogs (4-0) beat SMU by 17 points last week, only to drop a spot in the AP poll. They’re heavily favored against CSU (1-3) and can’t afford to just win; they need to win big to prove they’re worthy of the national championship debate.

That runs contrary to coach Gary Patterson’s philosophy. He doesn’t believe in style points, just getting the job done.

Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP

TCU quarterback Andy Dalton (14) evades a tackle by SMU’s Taylor Reed, bottom, as the Horned Frogs Ed Wesley (34) looks on in the first half of a football game Sept. 24, in Dallas.

Mexico calls on boycotting players ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — Mexico has called up 11 players for a friendly against Venezuela despite the players asking not be considered for international duty because of an argument about discipline.

The 11 players were fined by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) for breaches of discipline during a party held after a friendly with Colombia in September.

The players sent a letter to the FMF saying they were unhappy the incident had been made public and that the punishments were unfair, asking not to be considered for international duty until directors’ attitude changed.

It is unclear whether they will report for duty.

Absent from the list are Arsenal forward Carlos Vela and Celtic defender Efrain Juarez who were suspended for six months after the incident.

Vela and Juarez received the toughest punishment, while the other players, including World Cup captain Rafael Marquez, Javier Hernandez, Giovani Dos Santos and Guillermo Ochoa, were fined $3,900.

Also fined were Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado, Gerardo Torrado, Pablo Barrera, Hector Esqueda and Hector Moreno.

In the letter, the players expressed their dissatisfaction with the national team director Nestor De La Torre.