The Zapata Times 10/10/2009

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SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2009

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EDUCATION

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Big bucks for the kids

Guilty in oil case

Zapata TMC facilities will see badly needed upgrades, expansion

By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES

For several years, the facilities of a longstanding Zapata County community service provider have been in dire need of upgrades and additional space.

“There are safety issues that we just cannot accept,” said Mary Capello, chief executive officer for Teaching and Mentoring Communities, formerly known as the Texas Migrant Council. “Roofs are leaking in some areas. We have to get them corrected so the children

feel comfortable.”

But some of those poor conditions shouldn’t last for much longer thanks to $10 million in federal stimulus funds for TMC’s local tricounty area, which includes Webb, Zapata and Starr.

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, announced the funding at a news conference Friday.

“This funding will have a tremendous impact on the lives of the many people TMC serves,” Cuellar stated in a news release.

“I have always been a firm believer that education is the greatest

equalizer and I applaud the efforts of TMC for instilling the importance of education to our students at a very young age.”

The money will be used for a variety of purposes, from buying four additional buses to transport students to school to renovating existing facilities and buying modular buildings. Another use of the money will be to purchase playground and kitchen equipment, education materials, video cameras and computers, Capello said.

But a large chunk of the funds, she said, will go the hiring of ad-

ditional staffers and moving some part timers to full timers. Also, TMC’s hundreds of employees will get about a 3 percent cost of living salary increase.

Because of this expansion, the organization will be able to serve an additional 102 families and children in Zapata and Starr counties, Capello said. But there’s several hundred more on the waiting list.

Currently, TMC, headquartered in Laredo, serves more than 15,000

See TMC PAGE 14A

YOUNG SPIRIT

By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — The head of a San Antonio energy business on Friday became the third man in two weeks to plead guilty for his role in brokering the sale of stolen petroleum products from Mexico.

Valley Fuels Ltd. President Stephen Pechenik helped receive and coordinate the movement of stolen petroleum products, according to federal prosecutors in Houston.

His guilty plea is part of a binational investigation into smuggled oil that is stolen from Mexico’s state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, transported across the border and sold to U.S. refineries.

Blame cartels

Photos by César Rodriguez | Laredo Morning Times

TOP: Members of the Cowboys team kneel down before their names are called during the inauguration of the Zapata Youth Football League at Hawk Stadium last week. The Cowboys are the defending champions. BELOW LEFT: Nikole Gutierrez, 7, shows off her pink cleats. BELOW RIGHT: Texans player Madison Guerra, 8, adjusts her mouthpiece before the game against the Aggies on Oct. 3 at Hawk Stadium. The Cowboys are the defending champions.

The Mexican government says drug cartel members and other criminals are responsible for many of the oil thefts by tapping remote pipelines, sometimes building pipelines of their own, and siphoning off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of oil each year.

Pechenik faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on Jan. 22 for one count of conspiracy to receive and sell stolen petroleum products, such as condensate. Condensate is a liquid hydrocarbon that refiners can blend with crude oil as they produce fuel and other products.

“Stephen Pechenik, who has been in business for many, many years, regrets his misconduct and is very remorseful about it and entered a plea of guilty because he knew that he did something wrong and wants to make amends by admitting to it,” said Dennis Kainen, Pechenik’s attorney.

Kainen declined to comment on why Pechenik got involved in the scheme.

According to court documents that were unsealed in the case, Pechenik helped coordinate the transport of stolen petroleum condensate by tanker trucks from Mexico to the United States and arranged in February and March for eight tanker trucks filled with the product to be delivered to an unidentified U.S. company.

Civil action

Youngsters brimming with Hawk Pride

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Players suited up in helmets and pads. Their faces appeared aggressive enough to scare off the best defensive line in the NFL, yet they are just children

in the Zapata Youth Football League.

The league kicked off Oct. 3 with a purpose of providing children a distraction and teaching discipline to young players.

Everything started with a

bang. First, around 15 floats full of little football players and tiny cheerleaders gathered at Zapata County Courthouse to begin the fifth annual parade. The destination was Hawk Stadium.

Upon arrival, children, ages 5 to 11, sprang out of the vehicles

and ran toward the field.

Sada Burnham, board member of the Zapata Youth Football League, said the children gain experience and learn the basics of football.

See PRIDE PAGE 14A

Kainen said a civil action from May in which the U.S. government seized $102,525 from Valley Fuels as proceeds from the sale of the stolen condensate is still pending.

Pechenik was the third person in the last two weeks to plead guilty to the same charge in the investigation.

Arnoldo Maldonado, 45, who worked for Y Gas & Oil, a South Texas company based in Edinburg, arranged for 22 tanker trucks filled with stolen petroleum condensate to be delivered to unidentified U.S. companies between January and March, according to unsealed court documents. He

See GUILTY PAGE 14A

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

AROUND THE NATION

TODAY IN HISTORY

SATURDAY, OCT. 10 The Sun Country Bass Association will be having a Championship Fishing tournament at Falcon Lake starting today, lasting through the week. The tournament will end Friday, Oct. 16. For more information please call the Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871. To fill out an entry form visit www.suncountrybass.com Trail riders and their horses will don pink to bring awareness to breast cancer at the Fourth Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Trail Ride today. The Brush Country Trail Riders are organizing the event to benefit Mercy Ministries of Laredo’s Cancer Program. Mercy Clinic uses the funds for cancer patient assistance. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at Las Lomas. The ride begins at 9 a.m. The donation for participation is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Children may also participate by riding in the hayride. After the ride, dinner will be served at LIFE Downs and attendees will be entertained by Destino. For the first time, there will also be a roping contest. Registration for the contest begins at 6 p.m. at the LIFE Downs arena. For more information, call Brush Country President Fernandina Garcia at 231-7067 or visit www.brushcountrytrail riders.org.

The Texas A&M International University’s Alumni Association presents its annual Autmus Fest today starting at 3 p.m. Presale tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at the following Laredo Pocket Communication locations: 5108 McPherson Road, 2905 S Zapata Hwy., Mall Del Norte, 5603 San Dario Avenue, 1508 San Bernardo Ave., 1219 Chihuahua St., 9114 McPherson Road, 3620 Arkansas Street, 819 New York Avenue or $30 at the door. For a complete list of performances, visit www.autmusfest.com or for more information, contact TAMIU at 326-2100.

Texas A&M International University is hosting “Write Winning Grants,” a training seminar presented by David C. Morrions, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center, Room 116. The event is free and open to TAMIU faculty, staff and students. Registration is $30 for the public. To register, visit www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/grant/seminarform.

For more information, call Linda M. Garay, grant resources support assistant, at 326-3025.

Texas A&M International University will celebrate its 40th birthday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the TAMIU Quad. To celebrate, carnival-style games and activities will be available for children ages 3 – 10. Also, food will be sold. Activities will include face painting, free photo opportunities with the Dustdevil, moonwalks, a Guitar Hero competition for older kids and Nintendo Wii games. For more information, call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 326-4483.

Texas A&M International University will host the fifth annual AutMus Fest on the TAMIU Lawn facing University Boulevard. AutMus Fest is a celebration of music and offers a variety of artists and genres. Gates open at 2 p.m. The fun continues until midnight.

Food and refreshments will be available, as will games and activities for children. For additional information, call Veronica González, TAMIU director of Alumni Relations for the Office of Institutional Advancement, at 326-2171 or visit http://www.autmusfest.com/.

SUNDAY, OCT. 11 The Festival de Teatro Chicano ends Sunday. It is being hosted by the The Institute of Mexican American Studies at Laredo Community College and is being held at Laredo Little Theater, 4802 Thomas Ave. Admission is $5 per day. Today’s dramatic performances begin run from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Jessica at (956) 721-5445 or cflores@laredo.edu.

MONDAY, OCT. 12 A new mobile medical unit that will provide services to veterans in Zapata County will be unveiled today at noon at American Legion Post 486, 2213 North U.S. 83. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be present. Tours of the medical unit will be offered.

TUESDAY, OCT. 13 Zapata County Independent School District will have a public meeting at 6 p.m. at the PDC Building, 17th and Carla streets to discuss the district’s rating in the state’s financial accountability system.

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

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Alex Brandon | AP

President Barack Obama speaks about winning the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Prize ‘A call to action’

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — A beaming President Barack Obama said Friday he was both honored and humbled to win the Nobel Peace Prize and would accept it as a “call to action” to work with other nations to solve the world’s most pressing problems.

Obama told reporters in the White House Rose Garden that he wasn’t sure he had done enough to earn the award, or deserved to be in the company of the “transformative figures” who had won it before him.

But, he said, “I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century.”

Obama will travel to Oslo, Norway, in December to accept the award, including a $1.4 million prize. The White House said Obama will donate the entire amount to charity.

Obama, 48, is the third U.S. president to win the prize while in office, after Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Former President Jimmy Carter won the prize in 2002. In its surprise choice, the Norwegian Nobel Committee cited the president’s creation of a “new climate in international politics” and his work on nuclear disarmament, even though he is just nine months into his presidency.

“These challenges cannot be met by any one leader or any one nation,” the president said. “That’s why my administration wants to establish a new era of engagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the world we seek.”

He said he was working to end the war in Iraq and “to confront a ruthless adversary that directly threatens the American people and our allies” in Afghanistan.

Sheriff: Bones at home buried long ago

2 die, 19 overcome at retreat sweat lodge

Lawsuit: Teacher tried to sicken autistic boy

ANTIOCH, Calif. — The Contra Costa County Sheriff ’s office says bone fragments dug up from the backyard of kidnapping suspect Phillip Garrido’s home and a neighboring property probably belonged to American Indians buried a long time ago.

Sheriff ’s spokesman Jimmy Lee said Friday that while scientists at a state forensics lab were unable to pull DNA from the bones, an anthropologist concluded the fragments were likely human.

PHOENIX — A sauna-like sweat lodge at an Arizona resort meant to provide spiritual cleansing became a crime scene Friday after two people died and others became ill during a twohour session inside the crude structure.

In all, 21 of the 64 people crowded inside the sweat lodge Thursday evening were transported to hospitals. Four remained hospitalized Friday evening — one in critical condition and the others in fair condition.

INDIANAPOLIS — The mother of an 8-year-old autistic boy with severe peanut allergies filed a lawsuit that claims his Indianapolis teacher gave her son a peanut-filled candy bar so he wouldn’t go a zoo field trip.

Trinda Barocas was accused of telling a classroom aide that the boy would likely misbehave, and “maybe he could be sick enough not to attend and we won’t have to deal with it,” according to the suit.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE TEXAS Limos bog down at swank benefit ball DALLAS — One of the most glittering events on the Dallas social calendar turned into a trial by mud for its black-tie crowd.

Heavy rain Saturday night left about 1,000 cars and limos of revelers at the Cattle Baron’s Ball mired in mud up to their axles.

The ball at a ranch near Kaufman, 32 miles southwest of Dallas, was a benefit for the Dallasbased American Cancer Society.

The rain left many partygoers drenched and offering up to $1,000 to have their cars pulled from the mud.

Feds: State needs food stamp chief AUSTIN — A top regional federal food stamps official says Texas should appoint one official to fix eliminating food stamp application backlogs and high error rates.

William Ludwig is a Dallasbased regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.

Ludwig told the Austin American-Statesman that the recession is hurting food-stamp programs in all states, but he’s unaware of any state having as much trouble as Texas.

Photo by Alberto Martinez/Austin American-Statesman | AP

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison speaks at Red’s Indoor Range in Pflugerville about a court case involving Second Amendment issues. The senator says she plans to file an amicus brief in a Supreme Court case urging individual gun rights.

Tasered woman takes county’s offer

Spanish-era aqueduct gets refurbished

AUSTIN — A 72-year-old central Texas woman whose Tasering by a deputy constable was shown on video nationwide has accepted Travis County’s $40,000 settlement offer.

Kathryn Winkfein was Tasered after she dared the deputy to do so during a May traffic stop. At one point, she sought more than $135,000 for pain and suffering, medical expenses and humiliation. County leaders countered Sept. 29 with a $40,000 as their “firm” counteroffer.

SAN ANTONIO — After nearly three centuries, even the walls of history can use an occasional power wash.

That’s among the many treatments the Espada Aqueduct is getting in a months-long restoration and drainage project overseen by the National Parks Service.

It includes repairing severe cracks and holes in the aqueduct walls, plus rerouting water to reduce erosion.

— Compiled from AP reports

Today is Saturday, Oct. 10, the 283rd day of 2009. There are 82 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 10, 1913, the Panama Canal was effectively completed as President Woodrow Wilson sent a signal from the White House by telegraph, setting off explosives that destroyed a section of the Gamboa dike.

On this date: In 1813, composer Giuseppe Verdi was born in Le Roncole, Italy.

In 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Md. In 1935, George Gershwin’s opera “Porgy and Bess” opened on Broadway.

In 1938, Nazi Germany completed its annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland.

In 1967, the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the placing of weapons of mass destruction on the moon or elsewhere in space, entered into force.

In 1970, Quebec Labor Minister Pierre Laporte was kidnapped by the Quebec Liberation Front, a militant separatist group. (His body was found a week later.)

In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, accused of accepting bribes, pleaded no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion, and resigned his office.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a bill authorizing the Susan B. Anthony dollar.

Ten years ago: Six college students getting out of their cars or walking along a highway on their way to a fraternity party at Texas A&M University were struck and killed by a pickup truck whose driver had fallen asleep.

Five years ago: Christopher Reeve, the “Superman” of celluloid who became a quadriplegic after a May 1995 horse riding accident, died in Mount Kisco, N.Y. at age 52. Ken Caminiti, the National League’s 1996 MVP who later admitted using steroids during his major league baseball career, died in New York at age 41.

One year ago: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the government had decided to go forward with a plan to buy a part ownership in a broad array of American banks in response to the financial meltdown.

Today’s Birthdays: Former Illinois Sen. Adlai Stevenson III is 79. Actor Peter Coyote is 68.

Entertainer Ben Vereen is 63.

Singer John Prine is 63. Actor Charles Dance is 63. Rock singer-musician Cyril Neville (The Neville Brothers) is 61. Actress Jessica Harper is 60. Author Nora Roberts (aka “J.D. Robb”) is 59. Rock singer David Lee Roth (Van Halen) is 55. Country singer Tanya Tucker is 51.

Actress Julia Sweeney is 50.

Actor Bradley Whitford is 50.

Musician Martin Kemp is 48.

Rock musician Mike Malinin (Goo Goo Dolls) is 42. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is 40. Actor Mario Lopez is 36. Actress Jodi Lyn O’Keefe is 31. Singer Mya is 30. Singer Cherie is 25.

Thought for Today: “The imperceptible process of age has a point which, once passed, cannot be retraced. I knew I had passed that point and was getting old the day I noticed that all the cops looked so young.” — Harry Lewis Golden, American author, editor and publisher (1903-1981).

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

Zlocal

PAGE 3A

THE BLOTTER

Force makes arrest

ASSAULT Tarek Y. Aly, 31, was arrested on charges of assault family violence around 1 a.m.

Sunday in 32 Las Palmas Drive.

He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail pending magistration.

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Zapata Task Force investigators seized approximately 125 pounds of pot at a residence outside of Zapata on Monday.

Oscar Salinas Jr., 46, was arrested around 6 a.m. on charges of possession of marijuana, a second-degree felony.

Zapata County Sgt. Mario Elizondo said investigators kept a close eye on this case.

“Investigators have been working on that for a while,” Elizondo said.

An anonymous caller reported suspicious activity to the Sheriff ’s Department in a residence located outside north of Zapata off U.S. 83.

Elizondo said surveillance was set up. Later, investigators got consent to conduct a search in the residence.

Investigators located four bundles of marijuana inside a storage shed in the backyard of Salinas’ home. The approximate weight was 125 pounds with a street value of $16,250.

Salinas was booked, processed and transported to Zapata regional jail under $50,000 bond set by Justice of the Peace Juana Maria Gutierrez.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF A 40-year-old man reported that somebody broke the passenger side of his 2006 Dodge pickup truck around 4:15 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of Glenn Street.

Courtesy photo/USCBPBP | Special to the Times

CBP Border Patrol agents from the Zapata Stations seized these bundles of marijuana Monday.

BP stops pot smuggling try SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Agents assigned to the United States Border Patrol station in Zapata stopped an attempt to smuggle 365 pounds of marijuana earlier this week.

While patrolling near Zapata, agents observed a pickup truck involved in some suspicious activity at a ranch gate last Monday.

released to the public.

Agents searched the truck and discovered several cellophane-wrapped bundles.

The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 365 pounds and an estimated street value of $292,000.

The suspect, truck and marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

A 25-year-old man reported around 10:30 a.m. Monday that his wallet was missing in the 200 block of First Street.

The victim had $100 in it.

A 53-year-old man reported around 1:30 p.m. Monday that unknown subjects broke into his Chevrolet truck and stole a pocket knife and spare change in the 1000 block of Glenn Street.

DWI Eloy Ramirez Jr., 60, was arrested on charges of driving

THEFT A 61-year-old man reported that his 2004 Basscat Cougar boat was stolen around 4:45 p.m. Oct. 2 at Redwood Lodge on 178 South U.S. 83.

The Boat was valued at $40,000.

A 35-year-old woman reported around 4:45 p.m. Oct. 3 that two garbage cans were stolen from her front yard in the 2000 block of Carla Street.

Cans were valued at $50 each.

A 71-year-old woman reported that an extension ladder and four fishing rods were stolen around 11:35 a.m. Sunday in the 2100 block of North Siesta Lane. Items were valued at $285.

Officials celebrate Hispanic Heritage month

By DORA MARTINEZ Each year Hispanic Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribean and Centeral America.

The observance started

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Agents followed the truck as it drove toward Laredo and eventually turned onto a road that leads to El Cenizo.

Before reaching El Cenizo, the driver abruptly turned the truck into an open lot, jumped from the moving vehicle and attempted to flee on foot into the brush.

Agents captured the driver; his name was not

BURGLARY

while intoxicated around 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 in the intersection of U.S. 83 and Mendoza Road. He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail under $5,000 bond.

Eliel V. Pena, 45, was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated around 11 p.m.

Oct. 6 in the intersection of Seventh Street and Laredo Avenue. He was transported to Zapata Regional Jail under a $10,000 bond.

7 6 5 - 3 7 0 0

COLUMN in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100402.

The day of Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniverary of independence for Latin America countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independance days on Sept. 16. And Columbus Day is Oct. 12. El Dia de La Raza falls within this 30 days.

This year’s theme was submitted by Jeorge Ponce, director of the policy and evaluation division at the office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. The National Coucil extended its contributions and sincere thanks to Mr. Ponce for his participation and contribution of this year’s theme. For more in-

formation on the National Endowment for Humanities write to: 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue N. M. Room 511; Washington, D.C. 20506 Their phone number is (202) 606-8337.

(Dora Martinez is a native of Zapata who was publisher of Hispanic News in San Antonio for 21 years.

She can be reached at thezapatatimes@att.net)

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

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

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

Just like Woodstock

By JOHN KELSO COX NEWSPAPERS

A

USTIN — The Austin City Limits Music Festival had one thing in common with Woodstock.

At Woodstock, the word from the stage was, “Don’t take the brown acid.”

Eerily similar, at ACL, the words of caution should’ve been, “Don’t roll in the brown fertilizer.”

Some music fans played in the mud at ACL last weekend. Actually, mud’s what they thought they were playing in. If they had known they were also playing in treated sewage, it might have been different.

The soil at Zilker Park was fortified with Dillo Dirt, a City of Austin compost made from yard trimmings and treated sewer sludge. According to the city’s Web site, it won’t hurt you if you ingest a little. On the other hand, it ain’t supposed to be your choice in pancake makeup. But when you’re partying ...

This was a special moment, one so unusual in Austin’s live music history that it should be captured in perpetuity.

Why doesn’t the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department collect samples of the mud instead of hosing it away?

Put it in small, attractive commemorative perfume bottles and sell it at outrageous prices by the ounce as a scent.

(Years ago, a young reporter asked me if anyone ever acted on any of my creative suggestions. “No,” I enthused.)

When the revered Treaty Oak was poisoned, pieces of it were cut up and resold as gavels, pens, pen boxes and other items.

Why not do the same with the Zilker Park Dillo Dirt sludge?

Seriously, market it as the official city scent. Yes, I know Dillo Dirt is, uh, aromatic.

So the question is, what would you call this scent?

How about Eau Brother?

Or Evening at Zilker? Or Essence of Roadie?

Or maybe Was That You, or Was It the Dog? Or simply Upwind.

Sure, a few details will need to be worked out.

“The mud out there is actually a part of the soil the park is made of, and there’s an ordinance that says you cannot sell parkland without a public referendum,” said Stuart Strong, assistant director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “So if you bag it up, ounce by ounce, it’s the same thing.

So we’re actually prohibited by ordinance from the selling of the park bag by bag.”

So change the ordinance. I’m figuring $99.95 an ounce for this eau de toilette out at Nordstrom.

(To reach John Kelso, who writes for the Austin American-Statesman, send an e-mail to jkelso@statesman.com)

COLUMN

The moral of Nickleby

By CASEY SEILER ALBANY TIMES UNION

B

y the time you read this, my son and I will have finished reading Charles Dickens’ “Nicholas Nickleby” — unless we’ve once again fallen prey to the traps and snares of postmodern family life, chief among them cable TV, Xbox, the Internet and non-digital distractions such as Little League games.

We’re about 20 pages from the end of the 926page paperback edition I bought in Berkeley, Calif., while on vacation in the early 1990s. (I have an almost spooky ability to remember where a book was purchased. It’s one of my many low-income skills.)

This might not be a big deal for you, but getting to the end of the last page will be a great relief for my 9-year-old, who has been listening to me read from “Nickleby” for more than half his life.

It’s true: I have spent the past five years reading Dickens’ 1839 novel out loud at bedtime, biting off small chunks of the story in four- or five-page installments. Why so long?

There are several reasons: We would sometimes go for weeks without dipping back into the book; quite often, he would zonk out at some point during a night’s reading, forcing me to double back the next time I picked it up; also, I encouraged him to stop me whenever we got to a word he didn’t understand, which could occur every few sentences but

ultimately made him one of the few kids in his age group who knows what “melancholy” means.

While it has more characters and subplots than a 1970s disaster film, the novel’s basic story is simple: A young man whose father’s death has left his family almost destitute struggles to find a secure place in the world without losing his principles.

But that description fails to capture the feel of the book, which is a raucous series of comic set pieces taking aim at every strata of British society, interwoven with scenes of great cruelty — most of it doled out by Nicholas’ miserly uncle, Ralph Nickleby, and his accomplice, the hideous schoolmaster Wackford Squeers.

As we plowed through the book, I developed voices for the different characters: an imperious growl for Ralph, a porcine wheedle for Squeers. Nicholas’ mother began to sound like my own. The two Brothers Cheeryble, goodhearted businessmen who take Nicholas under their wing, ended up with pretty much the same voice, a variation on Walter Huston’s prospector’s cackle in “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” I derived much hammy pride from this performance.

In the end, I hope “Nickelby” reinforces the overriding moral lesson I want to pass along to my son: There is nothing lower than a bully. The corollary might be that those who attract a vibrant cast of friends and loved ones build a bulwark against evil and despair.

COLUMN

SS e-mail fails the smell test

By TOM BLACKBURN COX NEWSPAPERS

W

EST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It has come to our attention, via e-mail, that “the Democratic Congress” decreed that Social Security recipients will not get a cost-of-living increase next year.

Truly, there will be no increase in Social Security payments in 2010. Just about every newspaper reported that probability months ago. The current Congress, however, has nothing to do with it.

The e-mail doesn’t pass the smell test. Democrats started Social Security over Republican opposition. Democrats expanded it to the point of insolvency. Republicans decried it, except once when they passed a drug benefit in the middle of the night in a bill no one had time to read. Why would Democrats suddenly, in 2009, abandon senior citizens?

The dull, old facts: In 1975, Congress gave up control over Social Security payment increases.

Democrats voted for change because they saw how nutty they get in election years, Republicans because they don’t like Social Security. The new law tied increases to the inflation rate, the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This year, for the first time since then, the CPI fell.

The law provides that in

A lot of money is raised for political campaigns by ratcheting up hatred toward people and symbols of the other side. The anger industry takes stereotypes and biases and magnifies them to make our country a nastier place. such cases Social Security payments remain unchanged in the following year.

But does Congress love you? It does. Social Security recipients have a co-pay for Medicare Part B. The co-pay is deducted from their Social Security.

This year, despite the overall inflation rate falling, the cost of medical care continues to rise because the American health care system is impervious to downward pressure on prices. So the co-pay is due to increase.

That would give seniors lower Social Security benefits.

The House overwhelmingly voted not to collect that increase next year.

The Senate will agree, never fear.

It is worth noting that the CPI is based on spending by the general population, but expenses are not alike for young and old.

Youngsters shop at a mall; seniors shop at a pharmacy. Because nothing holds

down the cost of medications, seniors usually are hit harder than the CPI would indicate. The AARP has lobbied Congress for a separate CPI for seniors, to no effect.

Having it, I can tell you that old age doesn’t make a heckuva lot of sense. But I can also tell you that, next only to investment bankers and professional athletes we are the most coddled group in America.

Children get lip service; we get monthly checks.

With 15.1 million people paying for the recent financial follies by being unemployed, and after 21 straight months of rising unemployment, it would be ungracious for seniors to gripe about not finding a little extra in their checks next January.

The e-mail going around tries to get them to gripe. It is written to inflame rather than explain.

It is another product or byproduct of what Melinda Henneberger, editor-inchief of politicsdaily.com,

named “the anger industry.”

A lot of money is raised for political campaigns by ratcheting up hatred toward people and symbols of the other side. The anger industry takes stereotypes and biases and magnifies them to make our country a nastier place.

E-mail needs to be recognized as mass gossip. It must be treated accordingly and not swallowed whole. It is used for propaganda because the users know people are prone to believe gossip and pass it on.

Now that you know the facts, though, ask yourself: Who first put out that email about Social Security? He knew that there would be no cost-of-living increase next year. How did he know? Does he know the law? Did he read about it in a newspaper?

But if he knew, why did he blame “the Democratic Congress” for something it had no part in?

And ask yourself why whoever forwarded the email to you found it “frightening” or “informative,” as he failed to smell it, much less check it out, before passing it on. Be sure to tell the forwarder your answer to that question.

(To reach Tom Blackburn, a former member of The Palm Beach Post editorial board, send an e-mail to tom_blackburn@juno.com)

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 10, 2009

Zlifestyle

A possible dream

By KIRSTEN CROW

“Sometimes it’s staged as a beating of Aldonza, and sometimes it’s a modern dance, very stylized. Ours wasn’t graphic, but it was really intense, and I don’t think people were used to that.”

Other roles for the young actors quickly followed — for Arciniega, those included “The Mousetrap,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Fantastiks.”

For Staggs, it was “Godspell” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”

But “La Mancha” stuck with them.

“For me, I think this show kind of set the bar,” Staggs said. “It’s funny, it has heart, a beautiful score… it reaches people.

Everything is kind of compared to ‘Man of La Mancha.’”

LAREDO MORNING TIMES

For actors Joe Arciniega and Raul Staggs, the upcoming debut of the Laredo Theatre Guild International’s production of “Man of La Mancha” could be described as the fruition of what was once an “impossible dream.”

The duo, lifelong friends and colleagues, played their first roles on stage together as teenagers 33 years ago, igniting a passion for the dramatic arts that neither had foreseen.

More than three decades later, they’ll reunite on the stage again — this time not at the Laredo Little Theatre, but instead at the new theater at Texas A&M International University, and not as novice thespians, but as veteran actors — in the roles where they first cut their teeth.

‘Man of La Mancha’ 1976 Arciniega and Staggs, friends and classmates, were “discovered” in the Blessed Sacrament Church youth choir by Brother Robert “Bob” Warren, who recruited them to audition for the play.

“We sort of accidentally discovered that we could sing,” Staggs said.

But aside from stumbling upon raw vocal talent, Arciniega believes that Warren also saw something else — that the dynamic between the two would translate well on stage.

“He knew Raul and I were friends, and he cast us as two (people) who had a

Photo by Ricardo Segovia | The Zapata Times

Raul Staggs and Joe Arciniega pose for a picture at the TAMIU Center of Fine and Performing Arts. deep friendship,” he said. “I think he leveraged those (relationships) on stage brilliantly.”

It would seem he used real-life relationships as a consideration in casting of the rest of the actors as well: Veronica Ramirez, a friend of Staggs and Arciniega and now the LTGI vocal coach, performed as Aldonza, while Arciniega’s younger brother, Gabriel, appeared as Dr. Carasco, “his nemesis.”

The material was all they could have asked for in a starter show, if a bit overwhelming.

The show — which in-

cluded some “intense” scenes — had a palpable effect on its audience, who often wept during the performance. In one instance, a woman rushed the stage upon Quixote’s death scene, a tale that “was told in theater circles for a long time after,” Arciniega said.

But like many powerful works, it wasn’t without controversy.

Some audience members expressed concern about a scene referred to as “the abduction,” which, while interpreted several ways, is often depicted as a rape scene. “(Abduction) is a nice euphemism,” Arciniega said.

‘Man of La Mancha’ 2009 About four years ago, 27 years since he bid farewell to his hometown, Arciniega returned to Laredo to be near his family. He quickly reentered the local theater scene with roles in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “The Best Man” and, most recently, Laredo Musical Theatre International’s production of the Broadway hit, “The Wiz.” But the iconic “Man of La Mancha” clung to his consciousness. He wanted to not only perform the classic piece again, he wanted to perform it beside his best friend and original partner in crime, Staggs, in the roles that had introduced one to a hobby and a career to the other.

PAGE 5A

MISS MANNERS BY JUDITH MARTIN

What’s in a name?

DEAR MISS MANNERS — I discovered a Bible that belonged to my great-greatgrandmother, and, as I have an avid interest in our family genealogy, I was thrilled! I am curious, however, about the form of her name engraved on the cover of the bible, “Mrs. Catharine Bowers.”

My understanding of traditional methods of address would lead me to believe that she was divorced by using her given name and husband’s last name.

A friend suggests that she may have been widowed when she received the Bible. Then I would have expected to see “Firstname Maidenname Marriedname.” Is there a different protocol or style for engraving on the cover of family Bibles? I am fairly certain that she and my great-great-grandfather did not divorce. They lived during the early 1800s.

GENTLE READER — People tend to forget that tradition is a moving target. You are accurate about today’s tradition, from which, Miss Manners notes, the no-frills crowd is now fleeing, abandoning the use of honorifics altogether. But your greatgreat-grandmother would never have heard of the tradition of a divorcee’s combining her maiden and married surnames, which was invented in the mid-20th century. Before that, a divorce was always considered to be the husband’s fault and the lady continued to be styled Mrs. Orville Witherspoon.

For your ancestress to be traditional, she would have had to look back to

“

JUDITH MARTIN

the 18th century, when “Mrs.” was simply an abbreviation for “Mistress,” a then-respectable term that was used for the married and unmarried alike.

There is no telling when the lady’s husband died, because there has never been a special form for widows, nor is there now. I hope you enjoy your heirloom without being troubled by the thought that your great-great-grandparents’ marriage was unhappy.

DEAR MISS MANNERS — Frequently, people prefer to be known by a middle name. I happened to find that someone I will be meeting prefers to be known by his middle name. The problem is that he has been knighted. As a further complication, I know that he is a retired army officer. Thus, he is (I will substitute names) Colonel Sir John Philip Smith. Would it be better to call him “Sir John” or “Sir Philip”? He will probably introduce himself to me as “Philip Smith,” but I feel I should know the appropriate form of address.

GENTLE READER — Chances are that the gentleman didn’t interrupt the ceremony to say to the queen, “Oh, call me Phil; all my friends do.” Thus, when you address him formally, you call him Sir John. It is then up to him, if he wishes, to say “Oh, call me Phil...”

PAGE 6A

Zentertainment

AutMus takes it to 11 at TAMIU LAREDO MORNING TIMES

In its fifth year, the Texas A&M International University’s Autumn Music Festival, colloquially known as AutMus Fest, isn’t pulling any punches.

The festival, a scholarship fundraiser organized by the Texas A&M International University Alumni Association, is pulling out all the stops for this year’s festival, slated to be held on the TAMIU grounds from 3 p.m. to about midnight Saturday.

At the beginning of the day, the focus will be on the kiddos and families as TAMIU celebrates its 40th anniversary with moonwalks, games and showings at the planetarium. (see below) But by night, the grounds will be swamped with a band lineup that caters to nearly every rock and Tejano palate.

Among the groups confirmed to play are Vince Neil of Motley Crue fame, the everlasting Toadies, L.A.-based genre-mixers Nico Vega, hard-rockin’ youngsters Crooked X and Austin’s Love At War. New additions to the lineup include homegrown talent Hannia, The Morning After and The Shazz, and Tejano/norteño heavyweights Zenzible and Bobby Pulido.

DJs Kash Kasanova and Laidback Lou will be mixing between sets.

Also, film crews from VH1 will be on site to capture the goings-on, including interviews with the bands and possibly, some audience members.

In addition to the music lineup, the festival will feature, as always, a kids’ ar-

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

‘Couples’ not romantic

By CHRISTY LEMIRE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — “Couples Retreat” suggests what life might have been like if the guys from “Swingers” had grown up, moved to the suburbs and turned into lame, sitcommy cliches.

REVIEW

Courtesy photo

Quintessential rocker Vince Neil headlines Saturday’s AutMus Fest. ea, plenty of games, tons of food vendors, barrels of beer and the ever-popular Brontosaurus ribs cooking contest.

Tickets for the show will be available at Pocket Communications locations until 6 p.m. tonight.

Presale tickets are $20, and admission at the gate is $25. Children 12 and younger get in free.

Proceeds benefit TAMIU student scholarships.

THE 411 What: AutMus Fest 2009 When: 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday Where: Texas A&M International University Cost: Presale tickets for $20 are available at Pocket Communications locations. Admission at the gate is $25. Children 12 and younger get in free.

Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn team up again, on screen and on the script, for this broad comedy about four couples who go on a tropical vacation together.

In theory, they’re all there to support their friends Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell) as they try to save their marriage through the couples’ counseling the resort offers.

Little do they know they’ll get sucked into agonizing therapy sessions that reveal their own rifts.

For example: Vaughn’s character, Dave, doesn’t care about picking out tile to redo the kitchen. His wife, Ronnie (Malin Akerman), does. It’s a laugh riot if you think Paul Reiser’s “Couplehood” is funny — and we haven’t even gotten to their painfully cute young son.

Under the direction of Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from “A Christmas Story”), another longtime Vaughn friend and collaborator making his first feature, “Couples Retreat” veers back and forth in a jarring way between crude sexual humor and supposedly poignant moments.

The couples endure forced nudity and a wildly erotic yoga class; Fav-

Photo by John Johnson/Universal Pictures | AP

In this film publicity image released by Universal Pictures, Carlos Ponce, left, Vince Vaughn, center, and Malin Akerman are shown in a scene from "Couples Retreat." reau’s character, Joey, and his wife, Lucy (Kristin Davis), who married right after high school, each try to get it on with their respective massage therapists. But all must also bare their souls, which feels wedged-in and unconvincing compared to the proliferation of physical humor.

Faizon Love rounds out the group as the divorced Shane, who brings along his 20-year-old girlfriend, Trudy (Kali Hawk), a shrill party girl who likes to call him “Daddy” and pour hot wax on his naked chest.

Each of these characters is exactly the same person the whole way through, until one night when they all magically experience an epiphany

that makes them more communicative, patient and loving. During such moments, a distracting, feel-good score — surprisingly from “Slumdog Millionaire” Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman — pipes in early and often.

A few funny lines and ideas emerge here and there — the rigid Jason’s fondness for PowerPoint presentations is vaguely amusing — but “Couples Retreat” mostly feels repetitive and overlong at nearly two hours. You wouldn’t mind getting voted off this island.

“Couples Retreat,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and language. It is playing at Cinemark Mall Del Norte and Hollywood Theaters.

10 OCTUBRE DE 2009 DE DE2009

Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 10 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO - Hoy es el evento anual de AutMust Fest de Texas A&M International University, desde las 3 p.m. y hasta la medianoche.

Entre los artistas invitados están Bobby Pulido, Motley Crue, Crooked X, Nico Vega y Toadies de Fort Worth. El evento será en terrenos de TAMIU y lo recaudado se destinará a becas estudiantiles. Los boletos en preventa tienen costo de 20 dólares.

En la puerta será de 30 dólares.

CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta Inauguración del FIT, con la presentación del Ballet Folklórico de Antioquía (Colombia) a las 8:30 p.m. en la Plaza Juárez. Además arranca el XX Festival Cultural del Cántaro que concluye hasta el 18 de octubre.

DOMINGO 11 DE OCTUBRE CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta Tambores de Feu. Luz, sonido, danza y pirotecnia desde España, a las 8:30 p.m. en la Plaza Juárez.

LUNES 12 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO - Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta concierto “Todo buen niño debe cantar” de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Sinaloa con Angélica Aragón a las 8:30 p.m. en el Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo.

CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta al cantante Luis Eduardo a las 8:30 p.m. en la Plaza Juárez.

MARTES 13 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO - El Consulado General de México, el Instituto Cultural Mexicano de Laredo y la Orquesta Filarmónica de Laredo, en coordinación con el Club Rotario Gateway de Laredo y gracias al patrocinio del Banco Wells Fargo, presentan el Concierto del Cuarteto de Bellas Artes, hoy a las 7 p.m. en la Sala de Conciertos de TAMIU. CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta la obra infantil “Camilo y Canela” en la Plaza Juárez a las 8 p.m.

MIÉRCOLES 14 DE OCTUBRE CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta el espectáculo teatral circense “Caras, Gestos y Juegos” a las 10:30 a.m. en la Escuela Primaria Club de Leones No. 1 CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta la danza contemporánea “Doca” a las 8 p.m. en la Capilla de San Juan.

CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta Homenaje a Servando Cano dentro del II Festival Norteño “Eleazar García ‘Chelelo’ y Ramón Ayala”. A las 8 p.m. en la Capilla de San Juan.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

FIT acerca cultura al público ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

El Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores y su esposa, Adriana González de Hernández, inauguraron la décimo primera edición del Festival Internacional Tamaulipas en Nuevo Laredo, el 7 de octubre.

Ante más de 12 mil espectadores que abarrotaron el estadio de béisbol de la Nueva Ciudad Deportiva.

La ceremonia, por primera vez, fue transmitida a más de un millón de suscriptores del sistema SKY y a partir del 10 de octubre se televisará a toda la República Mexicana y 143 países una serie de cápsulas informativas sobre turismo, cultural e inversión.

“De esta manera se abrió el telón de la décimo primera edición de uno de los movimientos culturales más importantes del país, un Festival multitemático que permitirá a los tamaulipecos y a aquellos que visiten cualquiera de los cuarenta y tres municipios de este estado ser testigos de la fiesta y la diversidad cultural que ofrecerán los artistas y agrupaciones de los 12 países participantes: México, Estados Unidos, Guinea, Argentina, Colombia, China, Irlanda, Hungría, Cuba, Polonia, Rusia”, indica un comunicado de prensa.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

De izquierda a derecha, el Gobernador de Veracruz Fidel Herrera Beltrán y su esposa Rosa Borunda de Herrera; la Primera Dama de Tamaulipas Adriana González, el Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores; la Primera Dama de Nuevo Laredo Rebeca Canales de Garza y el Jefe de Gobierno Ramón Garza Barrios, el 7 de octubre en el Estadio de la Universidad Deportiva durante la inauguración del Festival Internacional Tamaulipas.

La inauguración incluyó la participación de 15 artistas de la talla de Fernando de la Mora, Francis´ alessio, Yuco Céspedes, Lupita D ri, Mijares, Guadalupe Pineda, Carlos Cuevas, Reik, Celso Piña, Martín Urieta, Edith Márquez y Playa Limbo, realizando un recorrido por la historia musical de México, interpretando temas de

Agustín Lara, Armando Manzanero, Roberto Cantoral, José Alfredo Jiménez y Juan Gabriel entre otros.

Todo con la presencia de grupos que han estado presentes en diferentes foros del mundo y que han representado a su país en eventos y festivales de gran trascendencia como el Ballet Folklóri-

FAMILIAS DE MIER RECIBEN BENEFICIOS Autoridades entregan becas y ayudas TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD MIER – El 2 de octubre se llevó a cabo la entrega de 85 tinacos para almacenamiento de agua y 900 focos ahorradores de energía.

Las familias, que residen en la Colonia Riveras del Álamo, fueron designadas mediante previo estudio socioeconómico, por medio del programa Unidos Avanzamos Más.

El Presidente Municipal José Iván Mancías encabezó la entrega de los beneficios con inversión de 1 millón de pesos.

El Coordinador Municipal del programa Jesús Guerra Ríos informó que el objetivo de este programa social es realizar la mayor cantidad de pavimentaciones, entrega de focos energéticos, despensas, tinacos, entre otros beneficios.

Becas

El 7 de octubre la Presidenta del Sistema para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia Municipal Isabel Cristina Treviño hizo entrega de 15 becas a estudiantes que actualmente cursan los talleres de capacitación en la Casa de la Cultura del municipio.

La Directora del DIF Emilia Higareda fue destacada como una de las principales promotoras para que las becas fueran otorgadas por el Gobierno del Estado a nivel local.

Oportunidades El 6 de octubre fueron entregados los apoyos del programa de desarrollo humano “Oportunidades” siendo beneficiadas 54 familias.

“El programa se concibe como un instrumento de desarrollo humano al propiciar el incremento de las capacidades en educación,

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Ciudad Mier

Jóvenes recibieron becas en Ciudad Mier el 6 de octubre. Observan Rosa Iseala Fernández Balleza, enlace municipal, segunda de derecha a izquierda, y la Presidenta del DIF Isabel Cristina Treviño. salud y alimentación en los hogares mas necesitados”, dijo Rosa Isela Fernández Balleza, enlace municipal del programa.

Oportunidades genera

VIERNES 16 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO - Hoy es el primer día, de dos, de la Carrera Binacional en río de Canotaje y Canoa sobre el Río Grande, organizado por el Laredos RioFest 2009.

CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta “¿Quién dijo miedo?” con Lucrecia Cuevas a las 5 p.m. en la Capilla de San Juan.

CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta “Sonno” de Escenario Azul a las 8 p.m. en la Plaza Juárez.

— -Compilado por Tiempo de Zapata

incentivos para que las familias y las personas, mediante su esfuerzo. Fernández dijo que para el mes de noviembre serán incorporadas totalmente in-

corporadas al programa 24 familias que están aún en el proceso.

Estas familias empezarían a recibir su apoyo a partir de enero del 2010.

Condados tienen acceso a apoyos ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

JUEVES 15 DE OCTUBRE CIUDAD MIER- Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta la obra musical “Anita la Huerfanita” a las 8 p.m. en la Plaza Juárez.

co de Antioquia, Colombia, que ha sido considerado como patrimonio cultural de esa nación. O Edwin Marton de Hungría quién en 1996 ganó por medio de un concurso el derecho de tocar el violín Stradivarius de Paganini para el resto de su vida.

Participarán también grandes compañías de danza como El Ballet del Teatro Nacional de Belgrado, con el espectáculo Queen Margot, basado en la historia de Alejandro Dumas. La compañía de Danza Kukai quien a través de los bailes folklóricos vascos crea espectáculos adaptados a los formatos actuales. La compañía Nacional de Irlanda que desde su creación ha cautivado a más de 3 millones de espectadores en 33 países.

En la ceremonia de Nuevo Laredo participaron el Gobernador de Veracruz Fidel Herrera Beltrán y su esposa Rosa Borunda de Herrera; y del alcalde anfitrión, Ramón Garza Barrios y su esposa, Rebeca Canales de Garza.

Ciudad Mier, Pueblo Mágico, tendrá también una serie de actividades dentro del Festival Internacional Tamaulipas.

Puede ver la agenda de actividades en la Agenda de esta sección ó bien accesando a la página web del FIT en www.fit.gob.mx

Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo

El Jefe de Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo Ramón Garza Barrios, el Secretario de la SEDEEM Alfredo R. Gonzáles Fernández y el Director General de Comercio Exterior José Aquiles Garza Barrios, durante la junta del Fideicomiso del Puente Nuevo Laredo III.

Nueva empresa aérea TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Inició operaciones la aerolínea “Viva-Aerobus” que cubre la ruta ReynosaVeracruz.

El Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas en conjunto con el municipio de Reynosa, OMA, Cámaras de Comercio y empresarios de la región, expresaron que de esta manera se atrae la inversión y se generan empleos.

“Viva-Aerobus” inició la nueva ruta con un costo promocional de 700 pesos

vuelo redondo e incluyendo impuestos. La tarifa, cabe aclarar, aplica con un tiempo aproximado de un mes de anticipación de compra.

Puente III Fue llevada a cabo el 29 de septiembre la “L Reunión del Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso del Puente Internacional Nuevo Laredo III” en el Hotel Hilton Garden Inn. En la reunión se revisa-

ron los avances de la construcción del alumbrado en la vialidad de acceso al puerto fronterizo, se presentó un informe sobre el avance del proyecto ejecutivo para obtener el permiso para el cruce de materiales peligrosos.

Durante el evento participaron el Jefe de Gobierno Ramón Garza Barrios, el Secretario de DEEmpleo Alfredo González; el Regente de Laredo Carlos Villarreal; y el Director General de Comercio Exterior Aquiles Garza.

AUSTIN — La Contralora de Texas Susan Combs anunció que más de mil pequeñas ciudades y 200 condados en Texas son elegibles a recibir subvenciones para ayudar con proyectos en el uso eficiente y conservación de energía. Cerca de 45 millones de dólares en fondos del estímulo federal pueden ser utilizados para proyectos que incluyen la modernización de edificios públicos y el alumbrado eficiente en las calles.

El programa de subvenciones para mejoras en el uso y la conservación de la energía (EECBG, por sus siglas en inglés) será administrado a través de la Oficina para la Conservación de Energía de la Contralora (SECO, por sus siglas en inglés). La lista de las ciudades y condados al igual que las cantidades de las subvenciones distribuidas a los mismos se encuentran en www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/arra/ eecbg/index.php.

Según el sitio de Internet el condado de Starr puede tener acceso a una subvención estimada de 100.000 dólares, en tanto que Webb puede ser elegi-

ble a 50.000 dólares. Como ciudades, ni Zapata ni Laredo están en la lista.

“Las pequeñas ciudades y condados no tienen que subastar para obtener estas subvenciones ya que el dinero está previamente asignado si desean utilizarlo” dijo Combs. “Deseamos asegurar que cada ciudad y condado utilice estas subvenciones y brindaremos toda la ayuda necesaria.

Las sumas asignadas son de 20.000 hasta 150.000 dólares”.

SECO distribuirá las subvenciones a ciudades con 35,000 habitantes o menos y a los condados con poblaciones menores de 200,000 basado en los cálculos del censo del 2007. Existen 1,127 ciudades y 244 condados en dicha categoríaLas ciudades y condados cuentan con 45 días preliminares para aceptar el dinero asignado y continuar con el proceso de la solicitud. Si alguna ciudad o condado no acepta la subvención, los fondos serán distribuidos a otros gobiernos locales.

Ciudades más grandes trabajan directamente con el Departamento de Energía para obtener bloques de subvenciones.

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

Aging parents: Forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s?

By JOSEPH P. CAMERO SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

As a parent or loved one grows older, mild memory lapses are natural and common. People often become more forgetful as they age – and these episodes are sometimes endearing, but more often worrisome for family members.

It’s important to distinguish between occasional forgetfulness and memory problems which may signal a serious health condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Typical symptoms of mild forgetfulness include difficulty remembering familiar words or names, misplacing items, or taking longer to learn a new fact or skill, according to the

DR. JOSEPH P. CAMERO: Physician at Laredo Medical Center.

National Institute on Aging.

Memory lapses can be caused by depression, lack of sleep, dehydration, a poor diet, an adverse reaction to certain medications, thyroid problems or minor head injuries. These forms of memory problems are treatable and generally temporary.

Many times when a loved one exhibits memory problems, family members naturally fear it is possibly Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, memory loss is one of the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s, an incurable progressive brain disease and the

most common cause of dementia among seniors. The Alzheimer’s Association has published a list of 10 warning signs which indicate the possibility of Alzheimer’s disease (www.alz.org/10signs).

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Causes of the disease are still unknown, but researchers have found that changes in the brain begin as early as 10 to 20 years before people exhibit symptoms.

Most people begin to show signs of the disease after age 60. This is known as “late-onset” Alzheimer’s disease. A more rare form of Alzheimer’s disease is caused by three genes

Health screening important during Golden Years

By GILBERT GARZA-LOZANO SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

By age 70, many Americans have completed their working lives and moved into the golden years of retirement. After decades of hard work and planning, those in later life should enjoy peace of mind rather than worry about their health.

Health screenings are as individual and unique as the person involved. Personal and family health history and other factors will influence the schedule of testing recommended by your physician. Whether caring for yourself or a loved one, it can be beneficial to understand the generally recommended screenings for people in this age group.

Certain tests should be done regularly regardless of gender. People over the age of 70, just like their children in their 40s, should regularly have their blood pressure checked and a cholesterol, thyroid, dental, hearing and vision exam every year or two.

The vision exam should include a check for glaucoma, a condition which can damage the optic nerve but has few noticeable symptoms. General blood screens can effectively detect many conditions and your physician can determine how often a screening should be performed.

Tests done on a person’s stool and a colonoscopy can identify certain types of cancer. Anyone over the age of 45 should seriously consider being tested for type 2 diabetes. Physicians may also check for physical abilities such as walking and balancing to make sure a person can safely navigate everyday activities.

Some types of screening are gender-specific. By this age, men should be having a prostate exam regularly.

These exams take only a

LIST OF KEY SCREENINGS VISION Every 2-4 years: American Association of Opthamology DENTAL Annual (teeth, tongue, gums): American Dental Association HEARING Every 1-2 years: Centers for Disease Control CHOLESTEROL Lipid test every 5 years: Mayo Clinic BLOOD PRESSURE Every 2 years: Mayo Clinic TYPE 2 DIABETES Every 3 years, possibly more often depending on certain risk factors: American Diabetes Association VACCINATIONS Pneumonia shot around age 65; annual flu shot; tetanus booster every 10 years: Centers for Disease Control THYROID Annual thyroid hormone test: Web site WebMD CERVICAL CANCER Annual PAP test (women only): American Cancer Society BREAST CANCER Regular self exams; annual clinical breast exam and mammogram (women only): American Cancer Society OSTEOPOROSIS Bone density scan around age 65 (women only): Mayo Clinic PROSTATE Annual (men only): Mayo Clinic DR. GILBERT GARZALOZANO: Family practitioner at Laredo Medical Center. few minutes and are helpful in detecting a number of conditions.

Women should continue to have clinical breast exams, mammograms and pap tests every year or two until otherwise directed by their physician.

They should also have a bone density scan as bone health is highly important for women in their 70s.

Along with these tests, people in later life should remain current on their

vaccinations.

Risk factors and previous conditions will influence the frequency of screening.

The golden years should be relaxing and enjoyable.

While they will never be entirely free of health-related issues, appropriate and timely health exams can help ensure the highest quality of life possible.

Contact your physician to determine an individualized schedule of health screening.

To learn more, call Laredo Medical Center at (956) 796-3223 or visit us online at www.laredomedical.com.

which are inherited from family members, causing individuals to develop Alzheimer’s disease as early as their 30s and 40s (known as “early-onset” Alzheimer’s disease).

The stage between normal age-related memory decline and the development of Alzheimer’s disease is known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI sometimes advances to Alzheimer’s disease and sometimes remains the same – or can even improve.

Research is continually uncovering new clues about the causes of Alzheimer’s – as well as potential treatments and prevention.

While there is no cure for the disease, there are certain drugs and treatments which can help with pa-

tients’ symptoms and quality of life. Recent industry research has focused on identification of certain proteins linked to memory loss, body chemistry changes which could predict the development of Alzheimer’s disease, and risk factors which appear to be shared between Alzheimer’s and other chronic conditions, from heart disease to obesity.

If you or a loved one is concerned about memory problems, see your doctor.

There are cognitive tests which can be administered to check memory and skills such as problem solving, counting and language.

To learn more, call Laredo Medical Center at (956) 796-3223 or visit us online at www.laredomedical.com.

EXERCISE FOR YOUR BRAIN Want to keep your mind in shape?

Try these few tips from the National Institute on Aging to keep your mind sharp: Find a challenging hobby or learn a new skill.

Eat well daily.

Exercise regularly.

Get plenty of rest.

Volunteer at your hospital, church, a school or community organization.

Limit your alcohol consumption.

Put your purse or wallet, keys and glasses in the same place, every day.

Use memory aids like calendars, to-do lists, and notes.

Sources: The Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org; National Institute on Aging, www.nia.nih.gov; Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

White Mass scheduled Common types of for Oct. 21 arthritis are treatable SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

By CARLOS H. ORCES SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Arthritis affects more than 46 million Americans and is the No. 1 cause of disability in the United States.

Defined as inflammation of a joint, arthritis is a broad term applied to a range of joint disorders.

In most cases, arthritis is characterized by stiffness, swelling and discomfort of the joints.

Osteoarthritis While there are a variety of types of arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are most prevalent, affecting millions of Americans.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease resulting from the gradual wearing away of the protective cartilage found at the end of bones.

Osteoarthritis is particularly common in the elderly and most commonly affects the hands and weightbearing joints of the knees, hips and spine. Previously

DR. CARLOS ORCES: Rheumatologist at Laredo Medical Center. injured joints are also susceptible to developing the condition. While physicians do not know the specific cause of osteoarthritis, factors such as obesity, genetics and joint overuse are frequently associated with the disease.

Of the 27 million Americans diagnosed with osteoarthritis, many experience no serious symptoms.

Some, however, experience significant pain, which greatly impacts physical activity and lifestyle.

Rheumatoid arthritis Whereas osteoarthritis most commonly affects the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis affects more than two million Americans ages 25 to 55.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease which generally begins as inflammation of wrists, hands ankles and feet and progresses to larger joints such as shoulders, elbows,

knees and hips.

Unlike osteoarthritis, which involves the wearing away of cartilage, with rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks itself resulting in pain, inflammation and extensive joint damage.

In addition to joint pain, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis often experience, fatigue, sleeplessness and severe discomfort after long periods of inactivity.

Juvenile arthritis Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common type of childhood arthritis and is characterized by joint pain, swelling and stiffness often accompanied by fever and a rash.

As with adult rheumatoid arthritis, physicians believe JRA is also an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues, resulting in joint inflammation.

JRA treatment focuses on helping children maintain normal physical activity by relieving pain and swelling and preserving full joint movement.

Boosters available for baby boomers

By DIEGO MENCHACA SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Americans are constantly redefining what is considered “old.” Sixty is the new 50, 70 is the new 60 and we all live longer than ever before.

But as we age, we become more susceptible to illness and disease. For adults over the age of 60, these illnesses can be very serious. The good news is that many illnesses can be prevented through proper immunization.

In fact, adults over 60 can lower their risk of developing influenza, pneumonia, shingles and tetanus through a simple injection. For older adults, vaccines are a preventable measure toward a healthier future.

Get vaccinated With flu season just around the corner, it is important for older adults to make getting the flu vaccine a top priority.

According to the National Institute on Aging, the flu vaccine reduces hospitalizations by about 70 percent and death by about 85 percent among older adults.

The flu vaccine is recommended for adults age 65 and older, as well as persons of any age with chronic medical conditions, such as chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases.

Pneumonia is a severe

DR. DIEGO MENCHACA: Physician at Laredo Medical Center. infection or inflammation of the lungs which, when combined with the flu, is the seventh leading cause of death in our country.

According to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, more than half of pneumococcal cases and nearly all deaths in adults could have been prevented with the vaccine.

Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus which causes chickenpox.

The shingles vaccine, which was approved in 2006, is recommended for anyone over the age of 60 and for patients who have had shingles in the past.

When we think of tetanus, we often think of rusty nails. However, tetanus is much more than that.

Tetanus is caused by bacteria which enter the body through wounds or cuts exposed to soil. Most people who develop tetanus infections are over the age of 65.

It is recommended that children and adults receive the tetanus vaccine every 10 years.

Vaccinations are the best defense against illness.

A White Mass is the customary description for a liturgy for health care workers. Traditionally, health care workers wore white attire. In the Catholic Church, white symbolizes hope and comfort to the ill and hospitalized.

The Diocese of Laredo invites the public and all health care professionals, in Laredo and surrounding counties, to participate in the eighth annual White Mass at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at San Agustin Cathedral.

The White Mass is sponsored by the Diocese of Laredo. This event is being held in conjunction with the Feast of St. Luke, patron saint of health care workers, celebrated on Oct. 18.

All medical personnel

Courtesy photo | Doctors Hospital of Laredo

Members of the White Mass Committee are left to right, standing, Chaplain Sergio Rodriguez, Ethel Ike, Laura Villarreal and Javier Compean; left to right, sitting, are Leti Gonzalez, Dolores Boswell, Rachel Rodriguez and Gilda Villarreal. and health care workers in the diocese are welcome to attend, as well as priests and men and women religious in health care ministry. All health care professionals of different religious denominations are invited to attend.

A reception will follow immediately after the Mass at La Posada Hotel.

Parking is available in the San Agustin Cathedral parking lot and La Posada.

For more information, call Chaplain Sergio Rodriguez at (956) 796-3657.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

Courtesy photo

Zapata South Elementary School students troop past a fire truck during a visit by the Zapata County Fire Department. The visit was part of the activities for Fire Prevention Week. Students were instructed about fire safety by Firefighter Ike Gutierrez and Roel Gonzalez. After watching a video, students got to see the firefighters in their complete gear and they also went outside to see the fire truck. Students also discussed fire awareness, fire prevention, fire safety, fire escape plans and smoke detectors.

Firefighters visit Zapata school kids First-graders from Villarreal Elementary School wear their red "fire hats" after visiting with Zapata Fire Department firefighters in October 2009.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

During National Fire Prevention Week, the Zapata County Fire Department visited Villarreal Elementary School, along with several other schools in the district.

Firefighters Ike Gutierrez and Billy Butterfield presented the Villarreal students with a vital message on fire safety. They told the students about the importance of: Not playing with matches Having smoke detectors Having an emergency plan Knowing their physical address in case of an emergency Knowing 911

Courtesy photo

The firefighters also showed the children the technique of Stop, Drop and Roll — if someone catches fire, he or she should stop moving, drop to the ground and roll to extinguish the flames.

They also spoke to the students about the advantages of staying in school.

To be a firefighter, they said, students need to learn reading, writing and math.

Local

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

VILLARREAL HONORS TOP KIDS

THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A

Gonzalez takes new job SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Courtesy photo/Villarreal Elementary

Villarreal Elementary School recently honored its Students of the Week. Shown, left to right, in the bottom row are: Naian Garza, Perla Garza, Yesenia Montalvo, Jessica Barrera, Amy Cardenas, Miichael Garcia, Ricky Ruiz, Kaylah Jackson and Gisela Benavides; middle row, Melanie Cantu, Sebastian Valadez, Lily Toscano, Angelica Alvarez, Amber Bello, Daniel Kimble, Oscar Garcia, Angelika Salazar, Ernesto Martinez, Jasmine Piña and Hazel Rocha; top row, Ana Laura Gonzalez, Clarissa Reyna, Kristopher Hinkel, Mateo Mendoza, Julissa Garcia, Andrea Garza, Carlos Martinez, Osiris Carmona and Mariana Martinez.

Dia del Rio festivities set SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

This year, Dia del Rio celebrates its 15th anniversary in los dos Laredos with a full week of celebrating the Rio Grande-Rio Bravo.

This year, a Rio GrandeRio Bravo Watershed Alliance is being formed to preserve, protect and foster respect for the river we depend on for our existence.

The Río Grande International Study Center will be joined by the Cities of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo with a bi-national ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at Los Dos Laredos park on the banks of the river.

Día del Río was established as a celebration of the environment and cultures of the Río Grande watershed, which stretches from the river’s mouth below Brownsville through New Mexico and north into Colorado, and includes por-

tions of the five Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango and Chihuahua.

It has traditionally been observed by cleaning up and planting native vegetation in natural areas along the Río Grande, as well as regional cultural events.

Monday’s observance will be presided over by Tim Gutierrez of KGNS Pro 8 News as Master of Ceremonies. The Mayors of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, Raúl Salinas and Ramón Garza Barrios, will welcome participants.

The Laredo Police Department Color Guard will present the colors. Tricia Cortez will sing the National Anthem. Joey Diaz de León, a Native American spiritual leader, and members of his group will give the invocation, a traditional shell ceremony.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, the

1st Rio Grande-Rio Bravo Watershed Alliance Conference will be held at the Martinez Fine Arts Center at Laredo Community College from noon to 5 p.m.

Master of Ceremonies will be Pastor Mike Barrera.

The conference will be followed by a reception at the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center. At the reception, the Laredo Art League will present works reflecting the cultures and environment of the Rio Grande-Rio Bravo watershed. Several pieces will be available at a hush auction. Proceeds will support the Study Center.

Saturday, Oct. 17, will culminate in the 15th annual clean up and trail work at the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center starting at 8:30 a.m. and this year’s special feature, the Laredos Rio Fest kayak and canoe race.

Wally Gonzalez of San Ygnacio has retired from Union Pacific Railroad after 42 years service.

But there’s little time for relaxation; Gonzalez will keep busy as he was elected vice president of public relations for Union Pacific Employee Clubs at the organization’s 85th annual UPEC Convention in Austin, held at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino in Reno, Nev. As part of UPEC, Gonzalez was in Reno a week early for this year’s convention, doing preliminary work.

In his new duties as VP of public relations, Gonzalez will be responsible for all aspects involved with the UPEC organization’s quarterly newsletter. He also will organize all

tours for convention attendees, handle publicity and promotion of the orGONZALEZ ganization and compile reports for the employee clubs for the 2010 UPEC Convention, which will be in North Little Rock, Ark., on Aug. 3-5, 2010.

Founded in 1924, in Cheyenne, Wyo., UPEC is a community service and social organization with memberships open to current and retired Union Pacific Railroad employees.

There are 56 employee clubs with more than 9,000 members in the 23state area where Union Pacific Railroad operates.

They have volunteered more than 100,000 hours of community service.

12A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

Border-fence amendment dropped

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Members of Congress have stripped a provision requiring 300 more miles of tall fencing along the U.S.Mexico border from a Department of Homeland Security appropriation bill, saying the funds needed to build the barrier would be better spent on alternative security measures.

If the amendment by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint had remained in the bill, tall fencing to stop illegal immigrants and smugglers on foot would have been installed along 700 miles of border — a plan that many officials and residents along the Southwest border have opposed.

Photo by Joel Martinez/McAllen Monitor | AP

Protesters rally against the border fence in this December 2007 file photo. A provision calling for 300 more miles of fencing has been dropped from an appropriations bill.

DeMint’s provision, which was dropped this week, said 300 miles of lowrise vehicle barriers and virtual fencing planned for

the area could not count toward the 700 miles of barrier the U.S. government had promised to build. Virtual fencing includes tech-

nologies such as cameras and sensors.

“The DeMint amendment represented an unproductive and inefficient border security strategy,” U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said in a prepared statement Thursday. “We need to invest and secure our border and our land ports without being tied down to an amendment that is out of touch with border needs.”

Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, said DeMint’s proposal would have cost $6.5 billion, money Cuellar said was better spent on other border security measures.

Among those who voted for the DeMint amendment in July were Texas’ Republican senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Hutchison is running for

Texas governor.

The provision by DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, was not included in the House version of the $42.8 billion spending bill and had been expected to be stripped during conference when the two bills were melded.

Seven border state congressmen asked the House leadership in July to strip the amendment from the final bill.

The General Accounting Office reported last month that maintaining the border fence would cost $6.5 billion during the next 20 years. That would be on top of the $2.4 billion spent to build it.

DeMint voiced his disappointment Friday.

“Democrats are gutting

Sotomayor inquisitive on cases

By ADAM LIPTAK NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — Justice Sonia Sotomayor may be new, but she is not shy.

She quickly established herself this week as a significant force in Supreme Court arguments, asking clipped, pointed and sometimes impatient questions.

Her predecessor, EQUALJustice HOUSING David H. Souter, was also OPPORTUNITI ES

an active questioner. But his inquiries tended to be elaborate and beautifully calibrated.

Sotomayor’s questions sometimes sounded more like a crossexamination.

In the first argument on Monday, in a case about when questioning may resume after a criminal suspect asks for a lawyer, she fired nine questions in a row at Attorney General

Douglas F. Gansler of Maryland. The questions methodically cut Gansler’s argument down to its essence.

“He said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you without a lawyer,’ correct?” Sotomayor said of the suspect.

Gansler said yes.

“And the state doesn’t provide him with a lawyer, correct?” Sotomayor went on.

Body found hanging from bridge ASSOCIATED PRESS

TIJUANA, Mexico — The mutilated body of a state official who authorities said was suspected of giving fake driver’s licenses to drug gang members was found hanging from a bridge Friday in the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Relatives identified the man as Rogelio Sanchez, a Baja California state official in charge of driver’s licenses, said Prisma Perez, a spokeswoman for the

state Attorney General’s Office. Sanchez, 44, was kidnapped Wednesday as he left his home in Tijuana.

“The investigation indicates he had been giving licenses to organized crime,” Perez said.

His body was found hanging from the Morelio bridge at 5:30 a.m. in an industrial zone of Tijuana, just as factory workers were beginning to arrive for work.

Mexico’s brutal drug gangs often dump mutilat-

ed victims in public places.

Gang violence has killed more than 13,800 people since President Felipe Calderon launched a nationwide crackdown on drug cartels in December 2006.

Many have been police and other government officials who are often attacked near their homes or inside their cars.

Calderon has acknowledged that rampant corruption is a major obstacle in his fight against drug trafficking.

FBI video showcases tsunami terror

By JAYMES SONG ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU — The FBI has released video footage showing the power and destruction of last week’s tsunami that hit American Samoa.

The dramatic video released Friday was taken on the morning of Sept. 29 from a stationary security camera at the FBI office in Pago Pago. It shows water rushing through the

parking lot and tossing around several cars and trucks.

The two-minute clip also shows a couple of people standing in the parking lot shortly before the wave arrived.

The FBI says because of its second-floor location at

Pago Plaza, the office had only minimal damage. No agents were there at the time.

At least 183 people were killed in the Sept. 29 tsunami, including 142 in Samoa. Another 32 people were killed in American Samoa and nine in Tonga.

Falcon Lake Nursing Home

Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.

“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health” 1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160

PUBLIC NOTICE Water Rate Increase from

Zapata County Waterworks 605 North Highway 83 - Suite D - Box 2824 Stop 28B Zapata, Texas 78076-2837 Telephone: (956) 765-9975

Fax: (956) 765-9974

The utilities has held rates steady for many years, despite a steady increase in the costs of electricity, chemicals and all other variable costs.

As a result, current rates are among the lowest in the state.

In order to address service improvements and state/federal water quality standards, Zapata County Waterworks is in the process of borrowing approximately $20 million in zero-interest funds. These funds will be used to expand and improve the current level of water and sewer service.

In order to pay this debt and comply with the loan agreements, a series of rate increases is required, the first of which will begin in April 2007 and subsequently in October 2008, October 2009 and October 2010.

Even after all forecast rate increases are in place, Zapata County will still have low rates compared to other border cities.

However, Zapata will have an infrastructure in place that can accommodate growth and economic development over the next 20 to 30 years.

Thank You For Your Cooperation

“That’s correct,” Gansler said.

“All right,” Sotomayor said, having cleared away the factual underbrush.

“So what gives him an understanding that one will be provided the next time he’s questioned?”

Gansler did not respond directly, and Sotomayor had made her point: The defendant should not be made to ask for a lawyer a

second time when his first effort had yielded nothing.

Sotomayor’s attire was consistent with her businesslike attitude. She had shed the elaborate white judicial collar she wore at her investiture and at a special session of the court in September. Now she wore a plain black robe.

Many of her questions concerned the factual record.

the best tool we have to secure our borders,” DeMint said in a prepared statement Friday. “Virtual fencing won’t solve the problem and we need a real fence to deter the real problems of illegal immigration, terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking.”

On Friday, a federal judge in Brownsville said he sympathized with property owners whose land condemnation cases have dragged on as the government continues to tweak its plans for the border fence.

Attorneys for some of the more than 200 South Texas landowners who have not settled their condemnation cases with the government complained that each change in the government’s plans costs their clients .

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES 13A

ROGELIO BURUATO Rogelio Buruato 65, passed away Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, at Laredo Medical Center.

Mr. Buruato is preceded in death by his parents, Wenceslao (Rebecca) Buruato.

Mr. Buruato is survived by his wife, San Juana Buruato; sons, Rogelio (Rosa B.) Buruato, Reynaldo (Claudia) Buruato, Rolando Buruato, Ricardo (Kristina) Buruato, Roel (Liza) Buruato, daughter, Rose Nelda Buruato; 12 grandchildren; sisters, Francisca (Emeterio) Guardian, Nita (Manuel R.) Garza, Yolan-

da (Mario) Gonzalez; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends.

Visitation hours were held Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. with a chapel service at 3 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

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,

Helping Your

funeral director, 2102 Hwy. 83, Zapata.

www.ibc.com

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14A THE ZAPATA TIMES

Couples retreat canceled SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Perseverance Retreat for Couples in Zapata has been canceled because not enough people have signed up for the event, according to Reynaldo Montemayor Jr., director of Adult Religious Education and Pastoral Institute for the Diocese of Laredo, which includes Zapata County.

“We have scheduled other retreats of this kind (for) Feb. 13, 2010, and May 1, 2010, hopefully in the Central or San Agustin deaneries and up in the Northern deanery,” he said in an e-mail announcing the cancellation.

“The places will be confirmed in time.”

For more information, call Montemayor’s office at 764-7835.

GUILTY Continued from Page 1A is set to be sentenced Jan. 8.

Jonathan Dappen, 29, of McAllen, who worked for Petro Salum, helped deliver 17 tanker trucks filled with stolen petroleum condensate to Continental Fuels, which has an office in Houston, court documents said. The deliveries were made between January and March.

He is set to be sentenced Jan. 15.

In May, Donald Schroeder, president of Houston-based Trammo Petroleum, became the first person to plead guilty in the investigation.

He agreed to pay a $2 million fine to the U.S. government while he awaits sentencing on Dec. 18.

TMC Continued from Page 1A children and adults in the tri-county area. Many of the families and children served in Webb County live in the colonias off Texas 359. And many others live in El Cenizo and Rio Bravo.

Capello said TMC is not done applying for stimulus funds. The organization expects to receive another $2 million in the near future, she said.

“Every bit helps. We have a great working relationship with the government and Cuellar,” she said. “I can’t thank him enough for everything he does.”

Despite the much needed boost in funding, Capello said it’s going to take a number of years and additional funding to bring TMC’s programs to the standard they are expected to be at.

“There’s been a big push for quality education,” she said. “They are asking us to provide the same quality of education that public schools provide at the (prekindergarten) level,” she said. “They have had the dollars forever. So we’re trying to catch up.

“We are all being very creative and innovative in stretching dollars to put into staff development and college courses and salaries. But we’ve got a long way to go to compete with the schools.”

(Nick Georgiou may be reached at 728-2582 or nickg@lmtonline.com)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

PRIDE Continued from Page 1A “They really feel they’re important,” Burnham said.

Games are in full pads, and those who had the misconception that football is man’s game are wrong.

The Texans had two girls in their roster, Nikole Gutierrez, 7, and Madison Guerra, 8.

Gutierrez’s pink cleats proved she has not lost her femininity.

Her mother, Rachel Gutierrez, has been a Dallas Cowboys fan for countless years.

She encouraged her daughter to play football. Nikole Gutierrez faced a tough choice between cheerleading and playing football.

“Coach needed an extra player,” the mother said.

Nikole Gutierrez and Guerra are friends off the field, but they wanted to continue that on the field. Both convinced each other to play.

“And there goes the other girl on the team,” Gutierrez said.

Guerra plays tackle while Ni-

“

“They really feel they’re importent. It’s something for the kids to stay off the streets and get involved in the community” SADA BURNHAM, BOARD MEMBER OF THE ZAPATA YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE

kole Gutierrez is a guard.

“If ‘tio’ Ronnie had a football team, I wanted to be in it,” Nikole said, granting her mother’s wishes.

A community organization such as the youth football league brings families together, according to Burnham.

“It’s something for the kids to stay off the streets and get involved in the community,” he said.

Texans coach Ronnie Guerra said the sport teaches responsibil-

ity and dedication while kids have a joyful time.

This is Guerra’s first year as a coach. He foresees a good season for the team, but his major ambition is to have no injuries.

“But winning is always a plus,” Guerra said.

Board members of the youth league also want to encourage youngsters to begin playing at a young age to later use the skills learned.

Cesar Ramos, 14, a Zapata High School student, played for the

Longhorns back when the league started five years ago.

“It teaches you discipline and respect for coaches,” Ramos said.

Networking with people in the community while playing was a plus for him.

“The best was playing football,” Ramos admitted, adding he looks forward to playing high school and college football.

Some parents such as Esmeralda Castañeda, mother of 6-year-old Andy Castañeda, received other benefits from the league.

She said her son spends his extra energy and goes to bed early as a result of the kids’ enthusiastic peformance.

Cowboys’ assistant coach Luis Lopez said the league serves to scout new players for the future.

“Children in the league can later become Hawk players,” Lopez said.

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors Fighting it out to the finish Lady Hawks still alive in playoff race

By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Zapata Lady Hawks are on a quest to grab one of the playoff spots in District 32-3A but currently stand at fourth place in the district standings with a 5-3 district record.

Leading the district is La Feria, followed

by Hidalgo and Lyford.

Zapata (14-12 overall) got closer to a playoff spot on Tuesday night, soundly beating Progreso on the road in three games, 25-9, 25-17 and 25-19.

The sub-varsity groups also came home with a victory in their hands as they swept the Lady Red Ants in three games.

Courtesy photo

Brandi King of the Zapata Lady Hawks jumps up to hit the ball as her teammates prepare for their next move during their District 32-3A victory over the Progreso Lady Red Ants this past Tuesday in Progreso. Zapata won the match in three straight games.

sheets with big games on the court.

Brandi King and Adriana Peña had their way on the court as they combined for 28 kills.

Kat Garcia added four kills for the Lady Hawks’ dominant offense.

Setting up King, Peña and Garcia was setter Lexi Graza, who recorded 27 assists.

Zapata jumped out to a lead in all three games and never fell behind as they dominated on the offensive end.

“In all three games, we had the lead throughout the sets,” Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal said.

Putting up a fight The Lady Red Ants did not go away without a fight as they battled back to

Usual suspects The usual suspects filled out the stat

See VOLLEYBALL PAGE 2B

RUNNING AT THE MEET OF CHAMPIONS Zapata girls hit the course again today

By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

T

he Zapata Lady Hawk cross country team continues to navigate through its pre-district meets as it hits the course this morning at the Rio Gande Valley Meet of Champions.

“We will run the meet of champions in the Valley, and our goal is to run fast, race well, and close our gap even more,” Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said.

The Lady Hawks ran well at the McNeil Invitational in Round Rock last weekend, competing with over 300 runners and 38 teams from all classifications.

Zapata placed seventh overall and were led by Marlena Garcia who broke in the top 20 at the meet.

Breaking barriers

Courtesy photo

Zapata cross country runner Michelle Garcia returned to the course last week at the McNeil Invitational in Round Rock after missing several meets with an injury.

Garcia and the the rest of the Lady Hawks are looking to get back in the rankings after dropping out of the Top 10 for the first time since 2005. They will begin that quest today as they compete at the Rio Grande Valley Meet of Champions.

No. 10 TCU staying focused on present

By PAT GRAHAM ASSOCIATED PRESS

To keep the soaring confidence of his players in check, TCU coach Gary Patterson simply makes practice a little more spirited.

His logic is that a tired player can’t think too far ahead, just on the task at hand.

The No. 10 Horned Frogs have risen to rare heights, just the second time in 50 years they have reached the top 10 during the season.

Ego pushing That’s reason enough for overconfidence. So are all the national accolades

and articles that bill the Frogs, and No. 6 Boise State, as the best possible BCS busters this season.

While that might frighten some coaches, Patterson nudged his players toward a little more preparation for their Mountain West Conference opener Saturday at Air Force.

“I’ve always believed that if you work hard and you’re tired enough, you don’t have time to think about it,” Patterson said.

“So, we’re just going to keep working hard.”

Video evidence Patterson has ways of getting his players to fo-

See TCU PAGE 2B

The Lady Hawks had several runners on the brink of breaking the 13-minute barrier, which is a goal they have been working toward all season long.

“We had several girls on the verge of breaking 13 minutes, and we should accomplish that (goal) this coming Saturday at the Meet of Champs in the val-

See GIRLS XC PAGE 2B

’Horns face hungry Buffs Texas looks to continue dominating Colorado

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — Four years ago, Texas handed Colorado a crushing 70-3 defeat in the Big 12 championship game that had to feel like the absolute bottom for Buffaloes fans.

The Longhorns went on to win the 2005 national championship. Back up in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado coach Gary Barnett was forced out, fiery Dan Hawkins was hired to replace him and good times were supposed to follow. They’re still waiting.

Struggling Colorado (1-3) is headed back to Texas tonight to face a No. 2 Longhorns (4-0) team again in the hunt for the national title, not to mention the Big 12.

“Winning the Big 12 is one of the premiums on the list,” said the eternally optimistic Hawkins. “It starts now.”

Opposite directions Hawkins, who was 53-11 in five seasons at Boise State, is 14-27 with three losing seasons at Colorado.

He tried to inject some life into the program when he said the goal for 2009 was “10 wins, and no excuses,” but that is already out of reach after just four games.

The Longhorns have won at least 10 games eight seasons in a row, several of them including blowout wins over the Buffaloes.

Texas has outscored Colorado 18141 in the last four meetings and the Longhorns are 321/2-point favorites to make it a rout again.

No looking ahead That’s exactly why coach Mack Brown has issued a warning to his team to avoid looking ahead to next week’s showdown with Oklahoma in Dallas.

“They’re desperate,” Brown said

of Colorado. “When you come in against a team desperate for a win, you have to expect anything.”

Texas has cruised through the early part of its schedule, briefly stepping into Big 12 play for a 34-24 win over Texas Tech on Sept. 19.

Then came a 64-7 whipping of TexasEl Paso before an open date to rest up for the big push over the next eight weeks. After Colorado, four of Texas’ next seven opponents are ranked in the Top 25.

“We’re going to start the toughest stretch of the year,” Texas quarterback Colt McCoy said. The Longhorns’ defense, anchored by a betterthan-expected defensive line, seems to be improving every week. Texas forced five turnovers, including four interceptions, against UTEP.

Scrambling Buffs Colorado quarterback Cody Haw-

See UT PAGE 2B

Zscores

PAGE 2B

FOOTBALL National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct Jets ................... 3 1 0 .750 Patriots ........... 3 1 0 .750 Dolphins .......... 1 3 0 .250 Bills .................. 1 3 0 .250 South ............... W L T Pct Colts ................. 4 0 0 1.000 Jaguars ............ 2 2 0 .500 TEXANS ........... 2 2 0 .500 Titans ............... 0 4 0 .000 North ................ W L T Pct Ravens ............. 3 1 0 .750 Bengals ........... 3 1 0 .750 Steelers ........... 2 2 0 .500 Browns ............ 0 4 0 .000 West ................. W L T Pct Broncos ........... 4 0 0 1.000 Chargers ......... 2 2 0 .500 Raiders ............ 1 3 0 .250 Chiefs .............. 0 4 0 .000 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct Giants ................... 4 0 0 1.000 Eagles .................. 2 1 0 .667 COWBOYS ........... 2 2 0 .500 Redskins .............. 2 2 0 .500 South .................... W L T Pct Saints ................... 4 0 0 1.000 Falcons ................. 2 1 0 .667 Panthers .............. 0 3 0 .000 Buccaneers ......... 0 4 0 .000 North .................... W L T Pct Vikings ................. 4 0 0 1.000

PF 74 87 81 74 PF 106 97 94 75 PF 124 84 85 49 PF 79 101 42 64

PA 57 71 79 110 PA 62 86 92 108 PA 80 76 78 118 PA 26 102 86 112

PF PA 107 64 94 72 96 78 56 62 PF PA 144 66 57 53 37 87 54 107 PF PA 118 80

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

Bears at Falcons, 7:20 p.m.

Open: Colts, Dolphins, COWBOYS, 49ers Monday, Oct. 19 Broncos at Chargers, 7:30 p.m.

Bears .................... 3 1 0 .750 105 78 Packers ................ 2 2 0 .500 104 93 Lions ..................... 1 3 0 .250 83 134 West ..................... W L T Pct PF PA 49ers ..................... 3 1 0 .750 102 53 Cardinals ............. 1 2 0 .333 57 68 Seahawks ............ 1 3 0 .250 74 82 Rams .................... 0 4 0 .000 24 108 Sunday’s Games Steelers at Lions, noon Raiders at Giants, noon Browns at Bills, noon COWBOYS at Chiefs, noon Vikings at Rams, noon Bengals at Ravens, noon Redskins at Panthers, noon Buccaneers at Eagles, noon Falcons at 49ers, 3:05 p.m.

Jaguars at Seahawks, 3:15 p.m.

TEXANS at Cardinals, 3:15 p.m.

Patriots at Broncos, 3:15 p.m.

Colts at Titans, 7:20 p.m.

Open: Chargers, Bears, Packers, Saints Monday’s Game Jets at Dolphins, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 18 Lions at Packers, noon Giants at Saints, noon Browns at Steelers, noon TEXANS at Bengals, noon Chiefs at Redskins, noon Panthers at Buccaneers, noon Rams at Jaguars, noon Ravens at Vikings, noon Cardinals at Seahawks, 3:05 p.m.

Eagles at Raiders, 3:05 p.m.

Bills at Jets, 3:15 p.m.

Titans at Patriots, 3:15 p.m.

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Div. W L Pct Philadelphia ................... 2 0 1.000 New York ........................ 1 0 1.000 Boston ............................. 0 1 .000 New Jersey ..................... 0 1 .000 Toronto ............................ 0 2 .000 Southeast Div. W L Pct Orlando ............................. 2 0 1.000 Atlanta ............................... 1 0 1.000 Washington ...................... 1 0 1.000 Charlotte ........................... 1 1 .500 Miami ................................. 0 2 .000 Central Div. W L Pct Chicago ........................

2 0 1.000 Detroit ........................... 2 0 1.000 Cleveland ..................... 1 0 1.000 Indiana .......................... 1 1 .500 Milwaukee ...................

0 2 .000 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Div. W L Pct Houston ............................. 2 0 1.000 Memphis ............................ 1 1 .500 Dallas ................................. 0 1 .000 San Antonio ...................... 0 1 .000 New Orleans ..................... 0 2 .000 Northwest Div. W L Pct Portland .............................. 2 0 1.000 Minnesota .......................... 1 0 1.000

GB — 1 ⁄2 11⁄2 11⁄2 2 GB — 1 ⁄2 1 ⁄2 1 2 GB — — 1 ⁄2 1 2 GB — 1 11⁄2 11⁄2 2 GB — 1 ⁄2

Utah ..................................... 1 1 .500 1 Denver ................................ 1 2 .333 11⁄2 Oklahoma City .................. 0 1 .000 11⁄2 Pacific Div. W L Pct GB L.A. Lakers ...................... 1 0 1.000 — 1 Golden State ................... 1 1 .500 ⁄2 1 Phoenix ............................ 0 0 .000 ⁄2 L.A. Clippers ................... 0 1 .000 1 Sacramento .................... 0 2 .000 11⁄2 THURSDAY’S GAMES Indiana 126, Denver 104 Utah 109, Real Madrid 87 Charlotte 108, New Orleans 101 FRIDAY’S GAMES Houston at Orlando, 6 p.m Dallas at Washington, 6 p.m New Jersey at Philadelphia, 6 p.m New York at Boston, 6:30 p.m Toronto at Minnesota, 7 p.m Olympiacos at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 0 p.m Portland at L.A. Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAMES Oklahoma City at New Orleans, 1 p.m Cleveland vs. Charlotte at North Charleston, S.C., 6:30 p.m Chicago vs. Milwaukee at Green Bay, Wis., 7:30 p.m Golden State vs. Phoenix at Palm Springs, Calif., 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES Indiana vs. Denver at Beijing, Midnight New Jersey at Boston, noon Washington at Toronto, 2 p.m San Antonio at Miami, 5 p.m Atlanta at Detroit, 5 p.m Memphis at Dallas, 6 p.m.

TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American League CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Announced OF Dewayne Wise refused his outright assignment to Charlotte (IL), making him a free agent.

DETROIT TIGERS: Announced coach Andy Van Slyke has decided to pursue other opportunities and will not return to the staff in 2010.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS: Sent P Kevin Cameron, RHP Dan Giese and RHP Edgar Gonzalez and C Eric Munson outright to Sacramento (PCL).

TORONTO BLUE JAYS: Fired director of player development Dick Scott, Las Vegas (PCL) manager Mike Basso and scout Rob Ducey.

Named Charlie Wilson director-minor league operations, Doug Davis minor league field coordinator, Andrew Tinnish director amateur scouting, Perry Minasian director of professional scouting and Jon Lalonde professional scout National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Acquired INF Tony Abreu from the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete an earlier trade.

FLORIDA MARLINS COACHES: Agreed to terms hitting coach Jim Presley, bench coach Carlos Tosca, and bullpen coordinator Pierre Arsenault on one-year contracts. Announced third base-outfield coach Bo Porter and bullpen coach Steve Foster declined offers to return. Released RHP Scott Proctor and LHP Dave Davidson. Sent 2B Andy Gonzalez and RHP Dallas Trahern outright to New Orleans (PCL).

American Association LINCOLN SALTDOGS: Traded RHP Justin Knoff and OF Josh Burrus to Sussex (Can-Am) to complete an earlier trade.

FOOTBALL NFL NFL: Fined Tennessee DL Tony Brown $10,000 for helmet-to-helmet contact with Jacksonville QB David Garrard; Dallas DT Jay Ratliff $7,500 for helmet-to-helmet contact with Denver QB Kyle Orton; New England DT Mike Wright $5,000 for hitting Batlimore QB Joe Flacco in the head; Baltimore DT Haloti Ngata $5,000 for hitting New England QB Tom Brady in the head; Chicago DE Adewale Ogunleye $7,500 for a horse-collar tackle against Detroit, and Detroit CB Anthony Henry $7,500 for a horse-collar tackle against Chicago.

HOCKEY NHL NHL: Fined Edmonton coach Pat Quinn $10,000 for inappropriate public comments made following an Oct. 8 game against Calgary.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Reassigned LW Bryan Bickell to Rockford (AHL).

DALLAS STARS: Activated C Warren Peters from injured reserve and assigned him to Texas (AHL).

ST. LOUIS BLUES: Placed D Barret Jackman on injured reserve. Assigned LW D.J. King to Peoria (AHL).

TCU Continued from Page 1B cus.

Namely, by pulling out video of last year’s game at Utah. The Frogs (4-0, 0-0) dominated the Utes everywhere but the scoreboard, losing 13-10.

There went any hope of a BCS berth, which went to the Utes as they capped off an undefeated season with a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

“The Utah game from last year has had a lot of carry-over for us of understanding how fine that line can be,” Patterson said. “To outgain somebody (416 yards to 275) like we did and still lose, there’s no answer to it.

“It doesn’t matter how well you play, you’ve got to be able to finish.”

If Patterson wants even more motivation, all he has to do is mention how the Frogs stumbled at Air Force in 2007. The Falcons overcame a 14-point fourthquarter deficit to win in overtime.

said of his offense. “A lot of times what you do is you build layers to get to a point where you’re more productive.”

Defensive scoring

Tricky formations Not only that, but Air Force’s triple option has always been tricky. The Falcons (3-2, 2-0) have the second-ranked rushing attack in the country, averaging nearly 292 yards a game.

“They can also line up in a 100,000 different formations,” Patterson said.

“They run a lot of plays very well, including reverses and any kind of option pass or drop-back pass you can Photo by Tom Pennington | AP name.

“You’ve got to tackle well, In this Oct. 3 file photo, TCU punt returner Jeremy Kerley (85) runs past SMU linebacker Aaron Davis (55) to score a touchdown during play leverage well and keep their game in Fort Worth. your eyes in the right defense has been priding itThe Falcons are coming They’re also struggling concern for coach Troy place.” self on all season. The off a bitter overtime loss at to find the end zone.

Calhoun.

Frogs boast one of the top Navy, giving the MidshipAir Force hasn’t scored “We have to make sure run defenses in the nation, men a leg up on winning an offensive touchdown in we stick ... to our ground allowing very little on the another Commander-In- the last nine quarters, a work of what we’re trying That’s something TCU’s ground.

Chief ’s Trophy. trend that’s becoming a to instill in guys,” Calhoun

Pride in tackling

UT Continued from Page 1B kins, the coach’s son, has thrown seven picks this season as the Buffaloes have scrambled to play catchup in their three losses.

The Texas offense looks to be getting rolling at the right time. After struggling early in their first three games, McCoy and the Longhorns have seemed to find their groove in the second half against Texas Tech and the blowout of UTEP. McCoy has not been quite

as sharp as he was last season when his 77 percent completion rate set an NCAA record. He is completing 71 percent so far, but has been better over the last two games.

Heisman factors In the second half against Texas Tech and the game against UTEP, McCoy was 43-of-53 passing (81 percent) with five touchdowns. Those are

the kinds of numbers Heisman Trophy voters will be looking for. They’ll also be looking for wins.

A slip-up against Colorado would cost McCoy and the Longhorns dearly in the chases for the Heisman and national championship. Texas players say they won’t take anything for granted against the Buffaloes.

“You can’t do that,” said defensive end Sam Acho, “or it will bite you in the butt.”

VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 1B within a few points in every game.

The Lady Hawks did an excellent job of keeping their composure and were able to weather all that Progreso thought at them.

“In Games 2 and 3, they came close a few times, but the girls stayed focused and played their game,” Villarreal said. “Everyone did their part, keeping each other focused.”

Zapata also sprinkled the win with a great defensive effort on the net as they patrolled back and forth to deny Progreso any offensive momentum.

The Lady Hawks’ standouts in the match included:

King (18 kills, two assists, 12 digs, three blocks), Peña (10 kills, two service aces, one assist, eight digs), Garcia (four kills, three aces, four digs, one block) and Garza (27 assists, three digs).

Tough opponents The Lady Hawks now have the daunting task of facing two of the top teams in the district in back to back games.

First on the agenda were the undefeated league-leading Lionettes (8-0) on Friday night in Zapata.

The road does not get

any easier for Lady Hawks, as they will have to turn around to face Hidalgo on Tuesday night.

The Lady Pirates are in second place and are only one game behind La Feria.

In the first round, the Lady Pirates and Lionettes each enjoyed a victory over Zapata.

King and company hope that there will be no repeat performances, as they know losses would push them further from their playoff goal.

“We just need to keep playing our game, and things will take care of themselves,” Villarreal said.

Air Force’s defense has been picking up the scoring slack, tallying five touchdowns this season.

Defensive back Anthony Wright has two interception returns for scores in as many games.

However, the Falcons were recently dealt a blow when they lost starting inside linebacker Ken Lamendola to a season-ending knee injury. Just when the Falcons’ defense was rounding into shape, too.

Asked if his defense was where he wanted it to be, Calhoun simply said, “Close.”

TCU will provide the ultimate gauge.

The Frogs rotate in a steady stream of fresh tailbacks and have one of the nation’s most efficient passers in quarterback Andy Dalton.

“I think this group is greased up,” Calhoun said.

“There aren’t many teams in the country that are rushing for over 200 yards and throwing for over 200 yards a game. So I think we know it’s a different test all the way around the block.

It’s our offense versus their defense.”

With a little inclement weather thrown in for good measure. The forecast for Saturday is calling for cold and rainy conditions.

Might that be an equalizer? Patterson doesn’t think so. The weather always seems to be unpleasant when TCU plays Air Force.

“I’ll start to get scared when we get sunshine,” Patterson said.

GIRLS XC Continued from Page 1B ley,” Villarreal said.

Zapata continues to close the gap between their runners, and they came very close to their goal at the meet.

“We ran well, just not fast,” Villarreal said. “We have been working all season on improving our gap between our runners, and we did a good job of that in Round Rock.”

Zapata had under a 30second gap between our No. 2 and No. 5 runner.

“That is great,” Villarreal said. “We just need to get faster.”

Moving ahead The Lady Hawks ran into some problems when their fifth runner was caught in traffic and fell down.

“She placed 93rd out of 308 runners, after falling down,” Villarreal said. “We ran well.”

Zapata welcomed the return of Michelle Garcia, who had been out six weeks nursing some injuries.

Garcia made the most of her return, as she ran a 13:12 at Round Rock.

“Michelle was able to run Saturday (Round Rock), and used it as a workout.” Villarreal said.

“After six weeks, she still

managed a 13:12. She was supposed to be taking it easy, not pushing it.”

The Lady Hawks also utilized the meet to correct some course mistakes that were made at the UTSA meet, where they got boxed in at the inception of the race.

“We also corrected a lot of the mistakes we made at the UTSA meet,” Villarreal said. “The girls got out faster, maneuvered the course better and stayed out of traffic.

“We are on pace to break out when it counts, district, regionals and state.”

Aches and pains The Lady Hawks are not immune to the aches and pains that come along with a state qualifying team.

“We do have little aches and pains and discomforts that come with a long season and vigorous training,” Villarreal said. “We had a recovery week this past week to deal with such issues.”

Zapata also had to deal with falling out of the state ranking since the first time since the 2005 cross country season, despite beating some notable competition at Round Rock.

“For the first time since the 2005 season, our girls

failed to make the top 10 rankings in the coaches poll,” Villarreal said. “We beat three AAA-ranked teams including two state medalist from 2008.

“We also beat the No. 1ranked 2A school, Wall, and other top 10 2A teams.”

Badge of honor Instead of looking at their drop as a negative, the Lady Hawks will wear it as badge of honor that has inspired them to get back in the state rankings.

“Ranking don’t mean a thing, but the girls were pretty fired up about being left off,” Villarreal said.

“Our workouts have changed as we near the post season.

“We have slowly begun to lower our work load while steadily increasing out intensity. We are working to get faster with race pace and speed work.”

Runners of the week honors go to Kristy Garcia for consistency the last two meets and senior Maritza Garcia for grabbing the leadership role.

“The last two weeks, (Kristy) seems to step it up at each meet she competes in,” Villarreal said. “Maritza took the leadership role and is getting us on track.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

HINTS FROM HELOISE Feeder Goes Out on a Limb Dear Heloise: Some time ago, I remember seeing an article on how to make a BIRD FEEDER from a cut tree limb. Could you please print this again? I thought it was a great idea! -- Bea James, via e-mail This is a simple thing to do, and it makes a great family or youth project also! Start with a dry, cut tree limb long enough to make several perches (10 to 15 inches) and wide enough (about 3 to 4 inches) to drill holes to put food in. Drill several holes, making them about an inch wide and deep.

They can be spaced around the trunk of the limb.

To make a perch for the birds, cut a small dowel rod into pieces long enough for a bird to perch on. Drill a hole for the dowel just below the larger hole. Using a dab of wood glue, insert the dowel.

This will be a great place for birds to sit and enjoy a meal!

To hang the feeder, attach a sturdy cup hook on the top. Using a chain or straightened coat hanger, hang the feeder on a tree in your yard, or any other convenient spot.

For the food, combine 1 cup of cheap peanut butter with 1 cup of lard. Mix in a little cornmeal to thicken so the mixture will stay in the holes.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B

“

HELOISE

You can add some birdseed and/or raisins. Put about 1/4 cup in each hole. If you have any left, store it in the fridge. It should last for a couple of feedings, so don’t make too large a batch at one time.

Try this, and your birds will love you for it! -- Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Jerri Boni and Steve Nolte of Pierre, S.D., sent a photo of Willie (English pointer/ setter) sitting on Maggie (yellow Lab) to get a better view. Jerri says: "We take our dogs fishing with us. Willie decided to get a better view of the lake, so he sat on Maggie. She didn’t seem to mind, so he stayed there for quite a while. Gave us a good laugh!"

To see Willie and Maggie, visit www.Heloise.com. -- Heloise FISH MARBLES Dear Heloise: We bought our daughter a betta fish with a pretty bowl. I wasn’t sure what to put in the bottom. I found lots of pretty colored marbles and flat stones at a craft store.

My daughter picked out marbles that matched her room. -Melissa Hebert, via e-mail

DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:

FAMILY CIRCUS

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4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

A&M won’t have Bradford ready for another comeback to contain Bryant

By JEFF LATZKE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

By CHRIS DUNCAN

NORMAN, Okla. — Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford came back to Oklahoma with a clean slate, hoping for a shot at another championship.

Time for Take 2.

Instead of the national championship, Bradford returns from a shoulder injury this week as the Sooners (2-2) turn their sights toward a fourth straight Big 12 title.

It’s not the goal Bradford and three other stars had in mind when they skipped a shot at the NFL draft to come back to college, but who knows what lies ahead if Oklahoma

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M can check off one major concern heading into today’s Big 12 opener against No. 15 Oklahoma State.

Dez Bryant, the Cowboys’ All-America wide receiver, was ruled ineligible this week amid allegations he lied to the NCAA about interacting with NFL players. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior had 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns in Oklahoma State’s first three games before sitting out their last game with a hamstring injury.

The Cowboys (3-1) are hoping to get back running back Kendall Hunter (ankle) and cornerback/kick returner Perrish Cox (shoulder), though coach Mike Gundy would only say this week that each injured player was “day to day.”

Regardless, the Aggies (3-1) will have to contend with quarterback Zac Robinson, and that should be enough to make them worry. Robinson threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more scores in the Cowboys’ 56-28 rout of A&M in Stillwater last year.

Dual-threat prep A&M faced dual-threat quarterbacks in its first three games, good preparation for Robinson, who ranks eighth in the Big 12 in total offense (224 yards per game). Robinson is second in the league in pass

can run the table in conference play as it has done three other times under coach Bob Stoops?

Battling Bears First up is Baylor (3-1), which is 0-18 in the alltime series and comes to Norman without injured star quarterback Robert Griffin.

Third-stringer Nick Florence started Baylor’s 31-15 win against Kent State last week, when backup Blake Szymanski was out with a bruised right shoulder.

Bradford’s return could provide a boost for Oklahoma, which has lost onepoint games against BYU

and Miami and won its only two home games by a combined score of 109-0.

The Sooners are still without star tight end Jermaine Gresham, who had season-ending knee surgery, and top receiver Ryan Broyles.

The main concern for Bradford is whether his shoulder can hold up to the stress of playing in a full game, or if his shoulder will grow weak over time.

“It’s all a matter of how my arm reacts,” Bradford said. “Until I get out there, until I practice, until I make all the throws and until I play in a game, then I’m not going to know.”

Potts doubtful for Tech

By BETSY BLANEY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Brody Schmidt | AP

In this Sept. 19, file photo, Rice safety Travis Bradshaw, right, watches as Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant, runs down field during the first half of a game in Stillwater, Okla. efficiency (155.3) and leads the league in yards per completion (14.1).

“He does a lot of different things,” A&M defensive coordinator Joe Kines said.

“When the water hits the wheel in a game, when it’s really down to crunch time, he’s always there to make a play.”

Oklahoma State’s overall offensive numbers are down from last season, but

the Cowboys are again remarkably balanced, averaging 203 rushing yards and 217 passing yards per game.

Hunter, the Big 12’s leading rusher in 2008, hurt his ankle in the Cowboys’ Sept.

12 loss to Houston and hasn’t returned. Senior Keith Toston is Oklahoma State’s leading rusher, with 280 yards and four touchdowns.

LUBBOCK — Mike Leach won’t need to tweak Texas Tech’s offense should his backup quarterback start against Kansas State tonight.

Taylor Potts, the nation’s No. 2 passer, is doubtful. He was hospitalized overnight with a concussion following the Red Raiders’ win over New Mexico last week.

Steven Sheffield, a former walk-on, came in late in the first half after Potts was sacked twice in three plays.

Sheffield, who threw for 238 yards and three scores, brought a spark to Tech’s offense.

“I don’t change anything with him. I don’t have to change anything,” Leach said. “Of our quar-

terbacks we have right now, he creates the best tempo for the group, and I think it’s something everybody feeds off of.”

Impressive defense The Red Raiders’ highoctane offense will face one of the nation’s best passing defenses. The Wildcats are ranked seventh nationally and first in the Big 12, allowing just 153 yards per game.

“We know that they are a very pass-heavy team so we have to focus on getting a better pass rush then we have done all season,” defensive lineman Jeffrey Fitzgerald said.

“We just have to stay fundamentally sound and stick with our keys.”

Texas Tech offensive

lineman Brandon Carter, suspended by Leach for an undisclosed violation of team rules after a 29-28 loss to then-No. 17 Houston two weeks ago, is back with the team.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder is well aware of the Red Raiders’ quickstrike potency — no matter who is taking snaps.

Keeping Texas Tech’s offense off the field and hurrying it’s quarterback are paramount, he said.

“They are a team that knows how to make you pay for your mistakes,” he said. “We are going to get more opportunities to make big plays. It will be a major test for us and all I can hope for is that our team can get more pressure on their quarterback and force him to make some mistakes.”

SATUDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

ZAPATA TIMES | 1B

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190

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200

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