The Zapata Times 10/15/2011 by The Zapata Times

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OBITUARY

County nixes broker’s bid

Town says goodbye

By MIKE HERRERA IV

Hundreds pay final respects to Rathmell

By STEPHANIE IBARRA

JACOB G. RATHMELL JR.: Funeral for well-respected engineer, rancher, coach.

THE ZAPATA TIMES

Jacob G. Rathmell Jr., a wellrespected professional engineer and land surveyor, died in his home Oct. 7. He was 61. Hundreds from the community poured in through the Hillside Funeral Home doors to pay their respects during a visitation and vigil Monday night.

Even in his battle with cancer, Rathmell never allowed it to define his life, said James Murray, a longtime friend. “I saw a heroic struggle in his last year, and it really was im-

pressive how he took it: very stoically, without complaints and (he) never gave up either,” said Murray. Born in Laredo on Feb. 3, 1950, to Maria Rathmell and the late Jacob G. Rathmell of Zapata, Rathmell Jr. had a reputation as a hard worker and a community leader.

See RAHTMELL PAGE 10A

THE ZAPATA TIMES

Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza almost became a health insurance broker for Zapata County, according to reports from Tuesday’s Commissioners’ Court meeting. An item on the meeting’s agenda asked the court to assign Garza and Mario Treviño as Zapata County’s service representative agents to Blue Cross & Blue Shield, but visitors expressed concern during the public comments portion of the meeting. Speaking to The Zapata Times on Friday, Precinct 1 Commissioner Jose Vela explained the concern. “The concern was ‘Why didn’t we go out for bids?’” he said. “There was concern over why we were simply going to award this to Mr. Garza and Mr. Treviño.” At issue was whether Zapata County needed to go through a competitive bidding process before selecting an insurance broker. County Attorney Alfonso Figueroa was out of town most of the week and did not know the circumstances surrounding the agenda item. He did say, however, that not all agreements entered into by Texas counties have to go through competitive bidding. “There are exemptions in the law for professional services,” he said, adding that the only thing the item might have violated was county practice. “Zapata County established its own policy of always seeking the most advantageous agreement for the county,” he said. “There may be some question as to whether that county policy was followed.” Commissioners voted to deny the item when it came time to vote Tuesday; in fact, Precinct 4 Commissioner Norberto Garza voted to deny it despite his name being listed as the item’s requester. Garza said he could not speak with The Zapata Times on Thursday. Follow up calls made Friday were not returned. For his part, Jerry Garza, an insurance broker since 2002, said he’s been after the Zapata account for some time and spoke with Norberto Garza about it recently. He said he wanted to be on the meeting’s agenda only to “start a dialogue and discussion.” “It was a legal and legitimate option that could have been explored,” he said, adding that Webb County does not currently have a broker. Webb and Zapata are among the 191 of Texas’ 254 counties participating in the Texas Associ-

See COUNTY PAGE 10A

WAR ON DRUGS

THE END OF 42 TONS OF MARIJUANA

Courtesy photos

ABOVE: Some 42.7 tons of marijuana meets a fiery end in Reynosa, Tamaulipas state, on Thursday. BELOW: Soldiers heap bales of pot upon the flames.

74 investigations wind up in a mountain of flames By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Mexico’s attorney general’s office announced Thursday it incinerated approximately 42 tons of drugs in Reynosa, Mexico. The Procuraduría General de la República, known as PGR, stated in a report that the narcotics burned is the end result of 74 investigations initiated in the northern Tamaulipas towns of Matamoros, Miguel Alemán and Reynosa. All cities sit across the river from Brownsville, Roma and McAllen respec-

tively. PGR and the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, Mexico’s army, worked the cases together. Mexican federal officials seized approximately 42.7 tons of marijuana, 279 grams of cocaine, 576 grams of methamphetamine and 324 marijuana plants. PGR representatives from Tamaulipas along with several Mexican officials and agents witnessed the incineration at the Campo de Tiro y Pesca in Reynosa. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

Saturday, Oct. 15 The 27th annual Update in Medicine Conference ends with a session from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the UT Health Science Center Laredo Regional campus, 1937 E. Bustamante St. It provides the latest medical information about treatment, diagnostic modalities and research. The registration deadline is today for the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America’s Personal Fitness Trainer Certification, to be held in the Texas A&M International University Rec Center from Nov. 4 to 6. The workshop will include lectures, practical demonstration and exams. Participants will earn 15 CEUs. Weight room and weight training experience is strongly recommended for participants. The workshop fee is $499. To register, call 1-877-9687263. For more information, contact Lisa Reyes at (512) 506-9923 or lisa_texaspac@att.net. The Texas A&M International University Teachers’ Club will host Saturday Story Hour from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Laredo Public Library main branch, 1120 E. Calton Road. Today’s story is “Food.” Saturday Story Hour is for children ages 3 to 8. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact club faculty adviser Sandra Garrett at 326-2678 or sandra.garrett@tamiu.edu. The first annual 10-mile mountain bike race along the scenic Rio Grande is at 8:30 a.m. today. It starts at Los Dos Laredos Park, downtown. For more information, call CicloMania at 717-1660. The first annual Kids Fun Run is at 9 a.m. today at Los Dos Laredos Park. Part of Laredos RioFest, it is open to children of all ages. The first 75 participants receive a drawstring bag, participation certificate and postrace refreshments. It is free. For more information, visit www.laredosriofest.com. Laredos RioFest 2011 - Family Outdoor Adventures is today. The event will include free sports clinics, bubble blowing and a kids fun run. The event is free. For more information, contact Julie at julie.tijerina@gmail.com or 2064946.

Sunday, Oct. 16 Life on the U.S.-Mexico border takes center stage from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. today as Laredo Community College’s Teatro Chicano de Laredo presents two original plays at the Laredo Little Theatre, 4802 Thomas Ave. Tickets to watch both plays are $5 per person. Mature audiences only.

Saturday, Oct. 22 Former Laredo Community College student and current LCC art instructor Gerardo Castillo will showcase a half-dozen bronze, plaster and castiron pieces of sculpture during a threeweek show titled “All About Me,” to be shown in the Harold R. Yeary Library, Room 117, of the Fort McIntosh campus. The exhibit will run through Nov. 3.

Wednesday, Oct. 26 The “Customer Service: A Key to Business Success in Zapata, Texas” workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m,. through noon at the Zapata County Courthouse, Suite 248. Fee for the seminar is $20. Contact the TAMIU Small Business Development Center for more information.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Pat Sullivan | AP

In this Sept. 23 photo, a worker cuts down a pine tree in Houston. Thousands of trees in the Houston area are dead or dying due to the months-long drought. Though this particular tree was not dead, its owner was worried that the drought-induced stress made it susceptible to high winds.

Dead trees mar Texas By JAMIE STENGLE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS — Pockets of brown, sickly trees mar the traditionally majestic pine woods in East Texas. Leafless oaks can be seen across the state. Even native drought-resistant cedars are dying off in some areas after proliferating during the last century. These are the effects of a historic dry spell that is forecast to grip Texas well into 2012 and could alter the state’s landscape for years. Already, the lack of rain and extreme heat have taken a brutal toll on forests and city parks. State foresters are watching insects ravage acres of drought-weakened trees while city officials are facing millions of dollars in costs to haul away fallen limbs and debris from parks. “This is just so unprecedented,” said Jim

Houser, Texas Forest Service’s forest health coordinator for Central and West Texas. “We’re seeing so many trees die that it’s going to affect the forest in a major way.” Although much of Texas is prairie and desert land, forests are abundant in the central and eastern regions. The undulating, wooded Hill Country spreads out from Austin and the dense Piney Woods covers the area along the Louisiana border. Texas forests are home to a variety of recreation and to a multi-billion-dollar timber industry. But through September, the state has averaged only 8.5 inches of rain, nearly 13 inches less than normal. The past year is now the driest on record in the state. Forestry experts won’t know the long-term impact until next spring when it becomes clear how many trees are dead and how many became dormant.

Perry: Creating jobs as easy as booting Obama

Caravaggio exhibit opens in Fort Worth

H-E-B chairman donates $20M to S.A. museum

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — Gov. Rick Perry on Friday said unleashing America’s energy resources is key to curing the economy, promising some 1.2 million new jobs and scaled-back federal regulations if he is elected president. Perry said he would overhaul the nation’s energy policy through executive orders and, in the process, reduce America’s reliance on foreign energy sources.

FORT WORTH — Works by Italian artist Caravaggio will be displayed along with pieces by those influenced by him in an exhibit opening in Fort Worth on Sunday at the Kimbell Art Museum. The exhibit, previously on display at the National Gallery of Canada, is making its only U.S. stop in Fort Worth.

SAN ANTONIO — The chairman of one of the nation’s largest independent food retailers has pledged $20 million for a new complex for the San Antonio Children’s Museum. Nearly half of the $45 million project cost will be covered by a personal donation from Charles Butt, the CEO of H-E-B. The plan unveiled Thursday calls for a structure with nearly double the current exhibit space.

Leader of San Angelo drug ring gets prison LUBBOCK — A man accused of leading a West Texas drug trafficking ring must serve nearly 21 years in prison. A federal judge in Lubbock on Friday sentenced Rodney Pena Mendez. He was the head of a methamphetamine and marijuana trafficking organization based in San Angelo, prosecutors said.

Cleared East Texas county judge returns to work GILMER — A county judge will return to his duties after being cleared of an official oppression charge over a protester removed from a meeting. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has lifted the suspension of Upshur County Judge Dean Fowler, allowing him to resume his duties Friday. A grand jury Dec. 29 indicted Fowler and two other county officials, who still face trial.

Police: Texas man killed mother, brother, himself ABILENE — Police say a 40year-old West Texas man fatally shot his mother and brother before turning the gun on himself. The scene was discovered Thursday evening when another brother stopped by the home because he hadn’t been able to reach the family members. — Compiled from AP reports

Friday, Oct. 28 The first day of the three-day 2011 Pro/Am Event sponsored by the Couples Association of Sport Tournaments fishing tournament takes place today. For more information or to register, call 281-796-7486 or check the website at www.fishcast.com.

Saturday, Oct. 29 The second day of the three-day 2011 Pro/Am Event sponsored by the Couples Association of Sport Tournaments fishing tournament takes place today. For more information or to register, call 281-796-7486 or check the website at www.fishcast.com.

Sunday, Oct. 30 The third day of the three-day 2011 Pro/Am Event sponsored by the Couples Association of Sport Tournaments fishing tournament takes place today. For more information or to register, call 281-796-7486 or check the website at www.fishcast.com. To submit an item for the calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com.

AROUND THE NATION iPhone launch turns into remembrance for Jobs

Dow turns positive for 2011; Google soars NEW YORK — Stronger retail sales and surging profits from Google sent stocks higher Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average turned positive for the year and the S&P 500 index had its best week in two years. Retail sales increased 1.1 per-

Today is Saturday, Oct. 15, the 288th day of 2011. There are 77 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 15, 1951, the classic situation comedy “I Love Lucy” premiered on CBS with the episode “The Girls Want to Go to the Nightclub.” On this date: In 1858, the seventh and final debate between senatorial candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas took place in Alton, Ill. In 1860, 11-year-old Grace Bedell of Westfield, N.Y., wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, suggesting he could improve his appearance by growing a beard. In 1917, Dutch dancer Mata Hari, convicted of spying for the Germans, was executed by a French firing squad outside Paris. In 1928, the German dirigible Graf Zeppelin landed in Lakehurst, N.J., completing its first commercial flight across the Atlantic. In 1945, the former premier of Vichy France, Pierre Laval, was executed for treason. In 1946, Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering (GEH’-reeng) fatally poisoned himself hours before he was to have been executed. In 1964, it was announced that Soviet leader Nikita S. Khrushchev (KROOSH’-chef) had been removed from office. In 1969, peace demonstrators staged activities across the country as part of a “moratorium” against the Vietnam War. In 1976, in the first debate of its kind between vice-presidential nominees, Democrat Walter F. Mondale and Republican Bob Dole faced off in Houston. In 1991, despite sexual harassment allegations by Anita Hill, the Senate narrowly confirmed the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, 52-48. Ten years ago: Officials announced that a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle had tested positive for anthrax, and that the infant son of an ABC News producer in New York had developed skin anthrax. Bethlehem Steel Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Today’s Birthdays: Singer Barry McGuire is 76. Rock musician Don Stevenson (Moby Grape) is 69. Actress-director Penny Marshall is 68. Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Palmer is 66. Tennis player Roscoe Tanner is 60. Singer Tito Jackson is 58. Actor-comedian Larry Miller is 58. Actor Jere Burns is 57. Actress Tanya Roberts is 56. Movie director Mira Nair is 54. Britain’s Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, is 52. Chef Emeril Lagasse is 52. Rock musician Mark Reznicek (REHZ’-nihchehk) is 49. Singer Eric Benet is 45. Actress Vanessa Marcil is 43. Singer-actress-TV host Paige Davis is 42. Actor Dominic West is 42. Rhythm-andblues singer Ginuwine is 41. Actor Chris Olivero is 32. Christian singer-actress Jaci (JAK’-ee) Velasquez is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer Keyshia Cole is 30. Tennis player Elena Dementieva is 30. Actor Vincent Martella (“Everybody Hates Chris”) is 19. Thought for Today: “A friend to all is a friend to none.” — Aristotle, Greek philosopher (384 B.C.-322 B.C.).

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The Rev. Kathryn Cartledge, left, listens on the shoulder of partner Elizabeth Eve before they marched on the Buncombe County Register of Deeds where they were arrested during a protest of North Carolina’s laws prohibiting gay marriage. cent in September, the biggest gain in seven months. Retail sales are a key barometer of consumer spending, which helps drive economic growth. It was the latest positive report on the U.S. economy and added to a growing body of evidence that

another U.S. recession isn’t as likely as many had feared. The Dow rose 166.36 points, or 1.4 percent, to close at 11,644.49. The average of 30 large companies has shot up 9.3 percent after hitting 10,655 on Oct. 3. — Compiled from AP reports

SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

Zlocal

PAGE 3A

2 arrested after pot found By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A traffic stop led officials to arrest a couple of men after deputies say the men possessed small amounts of marijuana. The traffic violation occurred at 1:01 a.m. Thursday on Pedernal Road, along U.S. 83, near the Zapata and Starr county lines. A Zapata County sheriff’s deputy pulled over a blue Ford F150.

GARZA

SEPULVEDA

Authorities identified the two male occupants as Juan Daniel Garza Jr., 20, and Michael Sepulveda, 27, both from Rio Grande City. Marijuana found in the vehicle amounted to 10.1 grams. Garza and Sepulveda

were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Each man was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail, where they were held on $10,000 bonds set by Justice of the Peace Anna Guerra. The charge is Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable with a maximum fine of $2,000 and confinement for no more than 180 days. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

Educational seminar coming on October 22 SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

An opportunity for students and families to explore higher education and brighter futures will take place Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Laredo Civic Center with the presentation of the Fiesta for Educational Excellence.

Free admission, food

Arts grants now available SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Students in eighth through 11th grades may qualify for a grant program geared to help those with a passion for the arts to enhance their skills and to pursue their dreams. Students who apply, fit the necessary criteria and display outstanding artistic talent may be awarded grants of up to $2,500 per year for two years to further their advanced studies in art disciplines. The Young Masters grant program, administered by

the Texas Commission on the Arts every other year since 2002, is funded through the efforts of the Texas Cultural Trust, a nonprofit group whose mission is to inspire, integrate and illuminate the arts in Texas. The intent of the program is to advance Texas by investing in the future of the arts. Eligible students must be in eighth to 11th grade, must be involved in a dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theater or visual arts school-based program and must maintain passing grades in all academic ar-

eas. In addition, they must be legal United States and Texas residents. Deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 15. Past Young Masters award recipients have used the grants to attend summer programs at Juilliard, the Joffrey School of Ballet, the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference and the Digital Media Academy, among other national institutions. For more information and for a printable copy of the application, visit the Texas Commission on the Arts website at http:// www.arts.state.tx.us/.

The Fiesta takes place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Admission is free of charge and open to all. Free hotdogs and refreshments will be available for attendees. Siobhan Rosales, associate director of the hosting P-16 Council for Educational Excellence, said the effort is intended to encourage going to college for lasting career success. “Our effort targets encouraging students to pursue higher education and the brighter futures that education makes possible. We’ll be joined by local and regional

education partners and supporters who will provide information about admission, assistance programs, scholarships and career options,” Rosales explained.

Much information Among partners who will join the initiative are representatives of Laredo Independent School District and United Independent School District elementary, middle and high schools, Laredo Community College, Texas A&M International University, Texas A&M University, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations and Workforce Solutions, among others. Rosales said the Fiesta for Educational Excellence is part of the statewide Generation TX project. “Generation TX is a project of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that was funded through a federal Col-

lege Access Challenge Grant. It launched two years ago in San Antonio and Fort Worth and has expanded across Texas. “The key goals are to develop a commitment among stakeholders to create a college-going culture in Texas public schools that prepares all students for a post-secondary education; to clarify the processes of applying for admission and student financial aid, and to increase awareness of and build support for the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards,” Rosales explained. She noted that while Generation TX targets young people of today, it also encourages others to help advance its important message. “We’re all about welcoming students, parents, educators, businesses and community leaders to become part of the movement and to support this generation of Texas students. Generation TX can really change the future of Texas,” she said.

THE BLOTTER ASSAULT Leroy Cruz was arrested and charged with assault at about 7:45 p.m. Oct. 8 at Super S Foods, 909 U.S. 83. Deputies wrote on the incident report that Cruz assaulted his girlfriend. He was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail. Joe Rodriguez Jr. was arrested and charged with assault family violence at about 11:15 p.m. Monday in the 1800 block of Del Mar Street. The man was taken to

the Zapata Regional Jail. Deputies responded to a fight in progress call just before midnight Monday near Fourth and Miraflores streets. A man was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail.

THEFT

FM 496. The complainant stated A hit-and-run accident was that someone broke into the tool reported at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday shed. The victim told deputies he near Third Street and Ramireño Noe Guadalupe Vela was believes he knows the suspect. cited for theft of fuel at about 4:45 Avenue. a.m. Oct. 7 near the intersection of Carla and West 21st streets. Deputies responded to a theft call at 6:04 p.m. Oct. 8 at LaA hit-and-run accident was A portable radio was report- keview Inn & Suites, 178 S. U.S. reported at 3:38 a.m. Oct. 8 in the ed lost at 2:17 p.m. Oct. 7 at the 83. The complainant stated that a 700 block of Bravo Avenue. A Zapata County Fire Station, 1207 person he knows stole a televiA burglary of a building man claimed a person he knows Kennedy St. sion from a hotel room. An inciwas reported at 8:24 a.m. Oct. 10 collided with his vehicle while at dent report states there’s video at Zapata Monuments Co., 641 the Aqua Bar. footage of the alleged crime.

BURGLARY

HIT AND RUN

LOST RADIO

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

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

OTHER VIEWS

Best not to sway with symbolism G

round zero in Lower Manhattan is a mass grave. So when it came time to rebuild the World Trade Center, the whole enterprise was enshrouded with passion and symbolism. The developers wanted a project that would proudly assert the American spirit. They wanted to send a message that the terrorist damage would not last. They wanted it to commemorate the tragedy and celebrate the revival. Everything, therefore, had to be big: the country’s tallest building, the most expensive commuter rail station, the costliest memorial.

Problems arise Born in grief and passion, the whole enterprise was soon plagued by furious discord. Personalities clashed. Practicalities were ignored. Building budgets didn’t mesh with the deadlines. There were arguments about the memorial and the proper definition of the word “patriot.” There was a lot of planning but not much execution. Symbolism eclipsed reality. During his brief tenure, Gov. David Paterson hired Chris Ward, formerly Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s environmental protection commissioner, to take over the Port Authority and rescue the shambolic ground zero project. Ward quickly understood his mission: to take a sacred cause and turn it into a building project. That is to say, to demystify it, to see it as it really is and not through the gauze of everybody’s emotions surrounding 9/ 11. Ward set prosaic priorities — what would be built first, which parts of the project could wait. He cut costs by doing things like putting columns in the design of the transportation hall. He changed the name of Freedom Tower to One World Trade Center. He divided the construction deals into manageable chunks.

Getting to the guts Ward gave me a tour of the site this week, and what I liked best was that it wasn’t all that moving. It was mostly about infrastructure, not pathos. Ward spoke as much about the internal guts of the project as the outer meaning. He praised the memorial fountains, which occupy the land of the original towers, for their dignity and restraint. They don’t tell future generations what to think. It’s still an enormous project, but Ward distinguishes between “myopic monumentalism” and monumental projects done right. Myopic projects are designed in a rush. They are simple and brutal and single-purposed. They lack the cross tensions and quiet paradoxes that accrete on a project when it evolves patiently and over time. Robert Moses’ dream of building an expressway through the heart of Manhattan was myopic monumentalism. Frederick Law Olmsted’s Central Park, with its complex blend of neighborhoods,

“

DAVID BROOKS

was not. Ward (who is inexplicably being replaced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo) rescued the ground zero project by disenchanting it, by seeing it as it is, not through shrouds of symbols — by attending closely to all the practical complexity. American politics in general could use that sort of disenchantment.

COLUMN

Pass the symbols Many issues that were once concrete and practical are distorted because they have become symbolic and spiritual. Tax policy isn’t just about how to raise revenue anymore. Liberals see it as a way to punish the greedy and redress the iniquities of capitalism. Conservatives see tax increases as an assault on the enterprising class perpetrated by arrogant central planners. A tax rate could be seen as just a number signifying an expense, but now it’s a marker in a culture war. Gun policy isn’t about what specific weaponry should be in private hands. It’s seen as an assault on or defense of the whole rural lifestyle, so to compromise on any front is to court dishonor. President Barack Obama’s Green Tech initiative has become a policy disaster — not only at Solyndra but at one program after another — because its champions ignored basic practical considerations. They were befogged by their own visions of purity and virtue.

Personal wars Maybe it’s part of living in a postmaterialist economy, but nearly every practical question becomes a values question. You get politicians and commentators whose views are entirely predictable because they don’t care about the specifics of any particular issue. They just care about the status war against their social enemies and the way each issue functions as a symbol in that great fight. It would be nice if there were more leaders like Ward inclined to disenchant problems and stare directly at specific contexts. Sometimes circumstances compel you to raise taxes, sometimes circumstances allow you to cut them. Sometimes government can promote innovation; in most cases it can’t. Walker Percy once wrote, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” Translated into policy terms, that means it takes a lot of little zigs and zags over the terrain to get where you want to go. Mayors, governors and local officials do this all the time as they respond practically to circumstances. At the national level anybody who tries to zig and zag gets regarded as weak and traitorous by the economic values groups. There are rewards for those who fight over symbols, few for those who see the thing itself.

Mass targets those in medicine I

n just a few days, I’ll celebrate a special Mass honoring all those who serve and care for us in the medical profession. Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., I’ll serve as principal celebrant of the 10th annual White Mass at San Agustín Cathedral. This Mass honors St. Luke, the patron saint of physicians, along with all those who care for us in the medical profession. This includes all physicians, nurses, medical students and health care professionals, as well as family and friends. All people of faith and goodwill are invited to attend. The purpose of this gathering is to pray with and pray for all those in the healthcare profession to find fulfillment in their professional and personal lives. Through this Mass, we pray God will bestow his

“

JAMES TAMAYO

healing upon all who apply the principles of science and medical ministry for the well being of their patients. As I prepare for the White Mass, I am reminded of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). In this personal reflection by our beatified Holy Father, he states that a unique responsibility belongs to health care personnel and that their profession calls for them to be guardians and servants of human life. Blessed Pope John Paul II’s encyclical refutes the notion popular in the secular society, which believes that there must always be a separation between the application of faith and moral principles and the application of

reason and science. As healthcare professionals who believe in God and follow his teachings, it is possible to unite our faith lives with our professional lives. Therefore, it’s truly right and proper to acknowledge God’s healing and life-giving touch present to all those touched by the science, art, knowledge, skill and experience of our healthcare professionals. I firmly believe that our health care providers can uphold the principles of faith and Judeo-Christian morality while using the findings of modern medical science. The finest example of this in practice is Jesus Christ, who is known as the divine physician and the eternal healer. Our Savior identified himself as one who extends his compassion and healing to all and has a special pref-

erence for those who are weak and in need of his healing. “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,” the Bible tells us in Genesis 1:1. God created all. God gives life to all. And each day is a renewal of God’s steadfast love and concern for all creation, especially human creation from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. So Wednesday night is a wonderful opportunity for the community to pray for those who share in God’s gift of healing. We pray that their spirit be renewed and that their profession be characterized by his compassion and healing. Join me this Wednesday night as we gather in God’s name and ask His blessing upon those who bring God’s healing touch to our community Todo Con Amor.

EDITORIAL

BlackBerry suffers bad week By CHRIS CILLIZZA THE WASHINGTON POST

WASHINGTON — Hell, the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said, is other people. People learned that the hard way this past week when — horror of horrors — their beloved BlackBerrys stopped working. The problem — or so our overlords at Research in

Motion, BlackBerry’s parent company, told us — began in Europe (no surprise there) and spread to Africa, the Middle East, India and, finally and most importantly, Washington. Capitol Hill, the center of the BlackBerry universe and a symbolic Alamo standing against an overwhelming iPhone army, ground to a halt. Congressional staffers, used to us-

ing their BlackBerrying as a sign of their importance in the political food chain, were left peering at their tiny black devices, hoping against hope that some message might appear. Research in Motion apologized for the three-day disruption, but the damage was done. The company’s stock tumbled 2.5 percent in the wake of the troubles. And perhaps most im-

pactfully, for many BlackBerry users, those of us who have long fought the good fight against the cultural coolness of all things Apple, the outage amounted to a final indignity. That, and the fact the new iPhone 4s came out on Friday, of course. Research in Motion, for forcing us to actually talk to one another, you had the worst week in Washington.

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 15, 2011

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Cities combine to celebrate Rio Grande By MIKE HERRERA IV THE ZAPATA TIMES

Laredo and sister city Nuevo Laredo are joining forces to throw the biggest outdoor party on either side of the border. Saturday marks the return of the RioFest and Rhythms on the Rio, two parts of a day of sports, music and binational brotherhood — fun with a mission, according to Sandra Lopez. “Our mission is to revitalize downtown by putting on these fun, family events,” said Lopez, assistant manager of Laredo Main Street, a nonprofit organization founded to revitalize the economy and preserve the history of the downtown area and just one of the entities involved in organizing Rhythms on the Rio, a free outdoor music festival. “And we’re very happy that the city of Nuevo Laredo cleared out an area (of brush) on their side of the river almost across from El Portal,” she added. “The festival will really be enjoyed by people on both sides.” Music will be provided by Fractura 22, Umano Ache and Banda Revolución. As the evening’s closing act, Banda Revolución, a cover band with a growing reputation on both sides of the river, promises unique renditions of Mexican and American favorites, said the band’s founder and manager Jose Villa. “Radio Head, Journey, those are some of the American acts we like to cover,” Villa said, adding that his group also enjoys performing internacional music. “Some of the Latin artists

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For Saturday, we plan on doing some American favorites.” BANDA REVOLUCION’S JOSE VILLA

we do include Shakira, Mana,” he said. “For Saturday, we plan on doing some American favorites. Think Grease.” Revolución’s lead vocalist Lizeyda Villa, Jose’s sister, looks forward to the group’s first-ever Rhythms on the Rio. “We’ve performed other community events, but never this one,” she said. “I’m really excited to see how the people respond to our show. We do this thing at the end where we give out surprises.” In addition to the music, attendees can sample a variety of food and drink. For the early birds there’s RioFest, a day of kayaking featuring a 33-mile professional kayak race. Organized by the Laredo Hotel and Lodging Association, the cities of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo and The Big River Foundation, the race begins at the Camino Columbia and ends at the riverbanks downtown. “We have at least 20 Mexican racers so far,” Big River’s Eric Ellman said. Perhaps known best as Laredo’s kayaking guru, he related a story exemplifying how the sport of kayaking

brings people together. “Four hours north (of Laredo) there was a team that competed in the Texas Water Safari, billed as one of the world’s toughest races,” he said, adding that eight hours south of the border was a team renowned for its performance in a grueling three-hour Mexican race. “Until we started having Rio Fest, these two teams never heard of each other.” Spectators are welcome to watch the competitors vie for $30,000 in prize money. But the wild water fun is not just for professionals. Big River is also sponsoring an eight-mile community kayak race beginning at Father McNaboe Park and ending at the same finish line as the professionals. The winner of the community race earns $250 for the cause of his or her choice. Other events throughout the day include the Family Outdoor Adventure Expo, the Kids Fun Run, the Rio Grande Mountain Bike Classic, Farmer’s Market and Bubble Rally on the Rio. The 2011 Laredo RioFest gets underway at Los Dos Laredos Park. The kayak race starts at 8:30 a.m. Registration for the community race is $30 and includes kayak, gear and a T-shirt. To register, stop by the Rio Grande Plaza Hotel, e-mail Steve@BigRiverFoundation.org or call Ellman at 209-1879. Located at El Portal, Rhythms on the Rio is 5 p.m. to midnight, with the music starting at 7 p.m. For more information call 7952200. (Mike Herrera IV can be reached at 728-2567 or mherrera@lmtonline.com)

Courtesy photo

The king of Spanish-language pop, Enrique Iglesias, is at the Laredo Energy Arena on Sunday. Lionel Richie and Wisin and Yandel also will perform.

Iglesias at LEA Sunday By MIKE HERRERA IV THE ZAPATA TIMES

The king of Spanishlanguage pop, Enrique Iglesias, makes his way to the Laredo Energy Arena on Sunday. The LEA performance is one stop in Iglesias’ current tour, named after his album “Euphoria,” which features collaborations with Top 40 familiars Akon, Nicole Scherzinger and Usher. Legendary singer and songwriter Lionel Richie and Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin and Yandel appear as well. Iglesias’ ninth studio album, “Euphoria,” breaks his career pattern of alternating between English and Spanish albums. This one’s bilingual, with four English tracks and six in Spanish. Though most Latin crossover artists release a single in Spanish and then a translated sin-

gle in English, Iglesias earlier this year told the music magazine Base, “I always wanted to combine completely different songs, rather than translate them.” Sunday’s show will feature what fans have come to expect from Iglesias: pop and dance beats, his distinguished vocals and noted showmanship. Songs from “Euphoria” to be performed include chart toppers “I Like It” and “Tonight.” The artist will also perform an array of fan favorites from his other popular albums. Special guests Prince Royce and Pitbull will join Iglesias on the stage as well. “I’m so excited to go out in the states, and this time with my good friends Pitbull and Prince Royce. It’s going to be a great show, and we hope to see all of you there,” Iglesias stated in a news release.

In July all three of these artists came up big at Univision’s Premios Juventud (Youth Awards). Iglesias and artist Juan Luis Guerra won the La Combinacion Perfecta (The Perfect Combo) award for the song “Cuando Me Enamoro,” while Pitbull took home the My Ringtone, My Urban Artist and Catchiest Tune awards. For Royce, it was four on the floor as he won the Ret Hot Artist, My Favorite Video, the genre award My Tropical Artist and the El Súper Tour award recognizing outstanding tour performance. Ticket prices are $86.50, $66.50, $36.50 and $16.50 (not including facility fee). Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com or the Laredo Energy Arena. (Mike Herrera IV can be reached at 728-2567 or mherrera@lmtonline.com)

Nation

6A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

Fed. court blocks Ala. from checking student status By GREG BLUESTEIN AND JAY REEVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In a blow to Alabama’s strict immigration law, a federal appeals court ruled Friday that public schools must stop checking the immigration status of students and said police can’t charge immigrants who are unable to prove their citizenship. The decision from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also upheld parts of the toughest-in-the-nation immigration law, allowing both sides of the debate to claim partial victories. The decision was only temporary and a final decision isn’t expected for months, after judges can review more arguments. Unlike crackdowns in other states, Alabama’s law was left largely in effect for about three weeks, driving some Hispanics to flee the state. Construction businesses said Hispanic workers had stopped showing up for jobs and schools reported that Latino students stopped coming to class. While the long-range implications of the decision remain to be seen, immigrants celebrated the judges’ ruling. Word spread quickly through the state’s Hispanic community as Spanish-language radio stations aired the news. “When I listened to that, I started crying. I called my friends and said, ‘Listen to the radio.’ We’re all happy,” said Abigail, an illegal immigrant who didn’t want her last name used because she feared arrest. The judges let stand parts of the law, including allowing police to check a person’s immigration status during a traffic stop. Courts can’t enforce contracts involving illegal immigrants, such as leases, and it’s a felony for an illegal immigrant to do business with the state for basic things like getting a driver’s license, the judges ruled. The three-judge panel blocked a portion of the law that made it a crime for the “willful failure to complete or carry” proper immigra-

Photo by Tamika Moore/The Birmingham News | AP

People listen to others voice concerns about Alabama House Bill 56 at a town hall meeting Thursday in Birmingham, Ala. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that public schools must stop checking the immigration status of students. tion documents. The law does not require students show proof of citizenship to enroll, and students who do not have the right documents would not be prevented from attending school. The Obama administration and a group of immigrant advocates such as the ACLU sued the state of Alabama after the law was passed in June. A federal judge upheld much of it late last month, and the Obama administration and the groups appealed to the 11th Circuit. Alabama Republicans said the law was needed to protect the jobs of legal residents. House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who championed the measure, praised the panel for allowing the “most effectual parts” of the law to remain in place. “We’ve said from the beginning that Alabama will have a strict immigration law and we will enforce it.

Alabama will not be a sanctuary state for illegal aliens, and this ruling reinforces that,” he said. Republicans in the state have long sought to clamp down on illegal immigration and passed the law earlier this year after gaining control of the Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed the measure, saying it was crucial to protect the jobs of legal residents amid the tough economy and high unemployment. “Unfortunately, by failing to do its job, the federal government has left the problem of dealing with illegal immigration to the states,” Bentley said in a statement. “Alabama needed a tough law against illegal immigration. We now have one. I will continue to fight to see this law upheld.” Advocacy groups who challenged the law said they

Wall Street protesters thwart eviction attempt By MEGHAN BARR AND KAREN MATTHEWS ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Anti-Wall Street protesters exulted Friday after beating back a plan to clear them from the park they have occupied for the past month, saying the victory will embolden the movement across the U.S. and beyond. “We are going to piggyback off the success of today, and it’s going to be bigger than we ever imagined,” said protester Daniel Zetah. The showdown in New York came as tensions were rising in several U.S. cities over the spreading protests. The owners of Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan had announced plans to temporarily evict the hundreds of protesters at 7 a.m. Friday so that the grounds could be power-washed. But the protesters feared it was a pretext to break up the demonstration, and they vowed to stand their ground, raising the prospect of clashes with police. Just minutes before the appointed hour, the word came down that the park’s owners, Brookfield Office Properties, had postponed the cleanup. A boisterous cheer went up among the demonstrators, whose numbers had swelled to about 2,000 before daybreak in response to a call for help in fending off the police. In a statement, Brookfield said it decided to delay the cleaning “for a short period of time” at the request of “a number of local political leaders.” It gave no details. Brookfield said it would negotiate with protesters about how the park should be used. But it was unclear when those discussions

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We are going to piggy-back off the success of today, and it’s going to be bigger than we ever imagined.” PROTESTER DANIEL ZETAH

would occur. Over the past month, the protest against corporate greed and economic inequality has spread to cities across the U.S. and around the world. Several demonstrations are planned this weekend in the U.S., Canada and Europe, as well as in Asia and Africa. In Denver, police in riot gear herded hundreds of protesters away from the Colorado state Capitol early Friday, arresting about two dozen people and dismantling their encampment. Organizers in Des Moines, Iowa, warned of a possible “big conflict” Friday night after the state denied their permit to continue overnight protests at the Capitol. Demonstrators in San Diego formed a human chain around a tent in a downtown plaza and ignored police orders to take it down. In New York City, police arrested 15 people, including protesters who obstructed traffic by standing or sitting in the street, and others who turned over trash baskets, knocked over a police scooter and hurled bottles. In one case, a defense attorney marching with the group refused to move off the street for police and his foot was run over by an officer’s scooter. He fell to the ground screaming and writhing and kicked over

the scooter to free his foot before police flipped him over and arrested him. Though the park is privately owned, it is required to be open to the public 24 hours per day. Brookfield, a publicly traded real estate firm, had announced plans to powerwash the plaza section by section over 12 hours and then allow the protesters to return. But it said it would begin enforcing the park’s rules against tents, tarps and sleeping bags, complaining the grounds had become unsanitary and unsafe. The New York Police Department had said it would make arrests if Brookfield requested it and laws were broken. As the morning deadline drew near, some protesters rushed to scrub and sweep the park and pick up trash in hopes of preventing a crackdown. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose girlfriend is on Brookfield’s board of directors, said his staff was under strict orders not to pressure the company one way or the other. He noted that Brookfield can still go ahead with the cleanup at some point. “My understanding is that Brookfield got lots of calls from many elected officials threatening them and saying, ... ‘We’re going to make your life more difficult,”’ he said on his weekly radio show.

were hopeful the judges would eventually block the rest of it. “I think that certainly it’s a better situation today for the people of Alabama today than it was yesterday,” said Omar Jadwat, an attorney for the ACLU. “Obviously we remain concerned about the remainder of the provisions, and we remain confident that we will eventually get the whole scheme blocked.” It’s not clear exactly how many Hispanics have fled the state, but earlier this week many skipped work to protest the law, shuttering or scaling back operations at chicken plants and other businesses. Alabama’s law is in the spotlight because it’s the only state where some of the strictest provisions were allowed to play out. Arizona led the nation in April 2010 when it passed a tough crackdown, but a

judge blocked parts of it before it could take effect. Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the justices have yet to decide whether to take up the case. A similar measure adopted in Utah earlier this year was put on hold by a federal judge in May after civil rights groups challenged it. Ditto for parts of new immigration laws passed by Georgia and Indiana. South Carolina became the latest flashpoint Wednesday when civil rights groups sued the state to block a law that takes effect in January, requiring police to check suspects’ immigration status and mandating that all businesses check their hires through a federal online system. The Justice Department called the Alabama law a “sweeping new state regime” and urged the appeals court to forbid states from

creating a patchwork of immigration policies. Thomas Perez, head of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, said he was particularly concerned about the school requirement. “We’re hearing a number of reports about increases in bullying that we’re studying,” said Perez, who said the government is trying to determine how many absences and withdrawals are linked to the law. Some critics say the damage has already been done. Nelly Tadeo, a legal U.S. resident from Mexico, said she notices icy stares in Walmart and feels like whites and blacks are wondering if she is legal and pays taxes. “Even if the law gets canceled, Alabama is not going to be the same. Now, people are just looking at you like, ‘You’re an illegal immigrant,”’ said Tadeo. “I think that’s permanent.”

SÁBADO 15 DE OCTUBRÉ DE 2011

Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 15 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — Laredos RioFest 2011 – Aventuras Familias en el Exterior, es hoy. El evento incluirá clínicas deportivas gratuitas y diversión para niños, de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m. Más información en www.laredosriofest.com. LAREDO — El Mercado Agrícola El Centro de Laredo de Laredo Main Street celebra un año. Vendedores estarán establecidas de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. en la Plaza Jarvis. LAREDO — Consulado de México en Laredo anuncia su Jornadas Sabatinas de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. LAREDO — Big River Foundation invita a Carrera en Kayak/Canotaje a partir de las 10 a.m., con salida en el Parque Father McNaboe y meta en el Parque Los Dos Laredos. Costo: 30 dólares. LAREDO — El primer evento anual Concierto Ritmos sobre el Rio será gratis en El Portal Plaza. Inicia a las 5 p.m., la música a las 7 p.m. Habrá venta de comida y bebidas. Actuarán: Factura 22, Umano Aché y Banda Revolución. LAREDO — TAMIU presenta al barítono Scott LaGraff, el pianista Andrew Hudson, Friedrich Gechter y Dana Crabtree, en el Salón de Recitales del CFPA a las 7:30 p.m. Evento gratuito. LAREDO — Guns-NHoses en Laredo Energy Arena presenta “Pound for Pound Boxing – Round 3” a las 7 p.m. Costo: 13 dólares; 15 dólares al lado del ring, mesa para 10 a 200 dólares. NUEVO LAREDO, México — Compañía Teatral Amigos invita a disfrutar la Comedia Musical “Vaselina” a las 6 p.m. en el Teatro del Seguro Social. Costo: 100 pesos.

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PÁGINA 7A

EX ZAR ANTIDROGAS CULPA A EU DE FALTA DE CONTROL EN FRONTERA SUR

Comentario y crítica POR LUIS ALONSO LUGO

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — El ex zar antidrogas Barry McCaffrey exhortó el viernes al gobierno estadounidense a ganar el control de su frontera sur ante el asedio del crimen organizado desde México mediante el aumento de fondos a la Iniciativa Mérida. El funcionario presentó el viernes ante el Congreso un reporte de su autoría que los demócratas denunciaron como inconsistente y mal argumentado. Compareció a una audiencia sobre las amenazas narcoterroristas a la frontera sur de Estados Unidos celebrada por el Subcomité de supervisión, investigaciones y gerencia de la cámara baja. McCaffrey señaló que México “no libra una batalla contra el narcotráfico sino por mantener el estado de derecho. Damos 10.000 millones de dólares men-

Para Estados Unidos, los dos países más importantes deben ser México y Canadá” EX ZAR ANTIDROGAS BARRY MCCAFFREY

suales a Afganistán y apenas 1.400 millones a México en tres años. Para Estados Unidos, los dos países más importantes deben ser México y Canadá”. Culpó al gobierno federal de no haber logrado un control operativo efectivo sobre gran parte de la frontera con México y que las autoridades locales estén “frecuentemente desbordadas por las actividades de los carteles mexicanos. No tienen el personal para preservar el estado de derecho ni los presupuestos para lidiar con las consecuencias de actividades criminales”. El general retirado basó sus comentarios en un reporte militar estratégico sobre la frontera de Texas

que elaboró recientemente junto al también general retirado Robert Scales, y que sirvió de tema central para la audiencia y para la intervención del presidente del subcomité, el republicano Michael McCaul. El reporte, encargado por el departamento de Agricultura de Texas, fue difundido en Austin en septiembre. McCaul insistió en la necesidad de revisar las iniciativas de seguridad fronteriza tras el desmantelamiento esta semana de un presunto complot para asesinar al embajador saudí en Estados Unidos, con la participación de un presunto sicario de un cartel mexicano. El líder demócrata en el

subcomité, el representante William Keating, descalificó el viernes el reporte porque sus conclusiones “parecen estar más basadas en anécdotas, rumores y opiniones personales de un grupo pequeño en lugar de base científica real”. Keating citó estadísticas de FBI según las cuales la tasa de homicidios en las ciudades fronterizas estadounidenses ha disminuido 14% durante los últimos tres años, pero advirtió que la tendencia podría cambiar si se concretan propuestas legislativas para recortar 350 millones de dólares y 1.000 efectivos a la Patrulla Fronteriza. La subcomandante de la policía de El Paso, Sylvia

POR CONCLUIRSE OBRA PARA Marina UNIR EL TOMASEÑO E HIDALGO mata a OPERATIVO

once en frontera Capturan a 36 presuntos narcos ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOMINGO 16 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — Teatro Chicano de LCC presenta dos obras originales en Laredo Little Theatre, 4802 avenida Thomas, a las 3 p.m. y 4:30 p.m. Costo: 5 dólares. Audiencia madura. LAREDO — “Tonight” es el título del concierto que ofrecen hoy Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull y Prince Royce en Laredo Energy Arena a las 7 p.m. Costos: 86.50, 66.50, 36.50, 16.50 dólares, más la cuota de las instalaciones. NUEVO LAREDO, México — Grupo de Teatro Expresión invita a la bra “Mi Viuda Ya no me Llora” a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura. Evento gratuito.

MIÉRCOLES 19 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — El Centro Binacional de TAMIU invita a una Conversación con Jorge Castañeda, autor de “Mañana Forever, México and the Mexican” de 7 p.m. a 9 p.m. en el aula 236 del Student Center Theater. Más información con Maria Isabel Salazar al 326.2834. LAREDO — El Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) de TAMIU presente el Recital de Mediados de Semestre Voice Studio de 7:30 p.m. a 9:30 p.m. en el CFPA Recital Hall. Evento gratuito. NUEVO LAREDO, México — Se invita a la conferencia “La Mujer y el Cáncer de Mama” en la sala de usos múltiples número 3 del Centro Cívico Municipal, a partir de las 9 a.m.

JUEVES 20 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO, México — Así soy y leo presenta a boxeadores locales en el Auditorio de Estación Palabra a las 7 p.m.

Aguilar, calificó como una “exageración extrema” la aseveración de McCaffrey de que la vida en un condado fronterizo de Texas es “equivalente a vivir en una zona de guerra”. “El condado de El Paso no es una zona de guerra, es una de las comunidades más seguras y las áreas metropolitanas con mejor desempeño en el país”, agregó Aguilar. La audiencia mostró el desacuerdo entre los dos partidos sobre el tema de seguridad fronteriza. Mientras el gobierno demócrata del presidente Barack Obama sostiene que la seguridad fronteriza cuenta con más personal y tecnología que en otro momento de la historia reciente, los republicanos plantean que no se ha hecho suficiente para contener el ingreso de los carteles mexicanos, cuya presencia se extiende a todo el país. (Luis Alonso Lugo está en Twitter como @luisalonsolugo)

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

Un nuevo puente está por concluirse en el área para unir a las comunidades de Hidalgo y El Tomaseño, en Tamaulipas. El puente fue derribado por el Huracán Alex el año pasado, dejando incomunicadas a las citadas comunidades. ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

urante esta semana fue constatado el avance físico que registra la construcción del puente sobre el Río San Antonio, que comunicará a las poblaciones de El Tomaseño y la cabecera municipal de Hidalgo. La obra deberá quedar concluida para el 30 de septiembre, beneficiando a más de 5,000 habitantes de esa región. “Actualmente el puente lleva un avance del 70 por ciento y se estima concluir al finalizar el próximo mes”, dijo el Secretario de Obras Públicas del Gobierno del Estado, Manuel Rodríguez Morales. “La inversión final es de 26.7 millones de pesos”.

La obra tiene una longitud de 78 metros, un ancho de cortina de 7 metros y dos banquetas de 1.50 metros de ancho, además de una cimentación a base de pilotes de 1.20 de diámetro y una profundidad promedio de 10 metros, con un total de 24 piezas, explicó Rodríguez. Para los habitantes de Hidalgo, damnificados por el huracán Alex también se anunció la entrega 130 viviendas con inversión de 30 millones de pesos. En un comunicado de prensa del Gobierno del Estado se asegura que la relevancia social de la obra representa las demandas de los habitantes de Hidalgo y comunidades circunvecinas. “El puente es un acceso que prop-

icia el desarrollo económico y turístico, mientras que las viviendas se convierten en acciones (humanas)”, agrega le comunicado. El puente, que unía a ambas comunidades, dejó parcialmente incomunicadas a 1,500 familias como consecuencia del paso del fenómeno meteorológico “Alex” en el 2010, que provocó la crecida del Río San Antonio en niveles críticos, arrasando con este acceso. Ante ello el Gobierno del Estado construyó una vía alterna provisional que ha permitido el flujo de vehículos y personas en ambas direcciones y se espera que antes de finalizar este año, se ponga en operación el nuevo puente sobre el Río San Antonio.

MÉXICO

Existe declive en flujo de migrantes Enfrentan riesgos crecientes como la trata, extorsión y el secuestro ASSOCIATED PRESS

MÉXICO — El flujo de migrantes centroamericanos que cruzan México ha caído 70% en cinco años, afirmó el comisionado del Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), Salvador Beltrán del Río. El funcionario dijo que el cálculo de reducción en el flujo se basa en la caída del número de migrantes retenidos en México, que pasó de 433.000 en el año 2005 a 140.000 en 2010. Beltrán del Río dio a conocer las cifras durante

un foro sobre movilidad internacional en una universidad privada. Refirió que sólo entre enero y agosto de 2011 han sido retenidos 46.914 extranjeros, en su mayoría centroamericanos, lo cual refleja también una reducción del flujo migratorio de 9% respecto al mismo periodo del 2010. Beltrán del Río añadió que en los últimos años los migrantes enfrentan riesgos crecientes como la trata, extorsión y el secuestro debido a una mayor incursión del crimen organizado en el fe-

nómeno migratorio. Una de las peores agresiones ocurrió en agosto de 2010, cuando presuntos miembros de un cartel de las drogas secuestraron y asesinaron a 72 migrantes en Tamaulipas. Desde entonces, también se ha reportado el secuestro de decenas de migrantes presuntamente a manos de narcotraficantes, aunque en algunos casos también han sido detenidos agentes del INM por presuntamente participar en los plagios. El comisionado refirió que con base en datos de una encuesta sobre migración en la frontera sur de México, los centroamericanos que entran al

país prácticamente no trabajan en el territorio mexicano y su estancia es menor a un mes, según fue citado en un comunicado del INM divulgado el martes sobre su intervención en el foro. Dijo que la misma encuesta les ha revelado que seis de cada 10 migrantes utilizaron a un traficante, conocido como “pollero” o “coyote”, para cruzar a Estados Unidos. Beltrán del Río refirió que el gobierno tiene previsto ampliar la infraestructura migratoria en la frontera sur, que incluye el establecimiento de nuevos puntos de internación en los límites con Guatemala y Belice.

MÉXICO — La Marina mexicana anunció a inicios de semana la muerte de 11 presuntos narcos y la captura de 36, a quienes vinculó con el cartel del Golfo durante varias operaciones realizadas la semana pasada en Tamaulipas. El vocero de la Marina, contralmirante José Luis Vergara, informó a la prensa que entre los detenidos se encuentran el presunto jefe local del cartel del Golfo en Miguel Alemán y una mujer considerada la contadora del grupo.

Decomisos El portavoz naval señaló que las operaciones de infantes de Marina realizadas entre el 5 y el 9 de octubre permitieron también el decomiso de poco más de cuatro toneladas de marihuana y la incautación de diverso armamento, incluidas 65 armas largas, 251 granadas de mano, 35 lanzagranadas y más de 18.000 cartuchos de diferentes calibres. En una de las operaciones, realizada en Miguel Alemán, los marinos fueron agredidos por pistoleros lo que derivó en un enfrentamiento que dejó 10 presuntos narcotraficantes muertos y 22 detenidos, entre ellos Ricardo Salazar Pequeño, considerado el jefe local del cartel del Golfo.

Segundo caso También en Miguel Alemán, aunque en otra acción, fue abatido un presunto narcotraficante más y se detuvo a otros siete. En Reynosa, Tamaulipas, fueron detenidos otros siete, entre ellos Gabriela Gómez Robles, considerada una contadora del cartel. El vocero de la Marina dijo que también en Reynosa, personal naval localizó en dos lugares distintos más de 400 paquetes que contenían más de cuatro toneladas de marihuana.

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

Texans debate ‘drug war zone’ By STEWART M. POWELL HOUSTON CHRONICLE

WASHINGTON — Texans in the House waged a bitter partisan fight on Capitol Hill on Friday over conclusions in an $80,000 security report by two retired Army generals that living and working in Texas’ rural border counties remains “tantamount to living in a war zone” due to the onslaught of Mexican drug cartels. The 59-page report entitled “Texas Border Security: A Strategic Military Assessment” had been commissioned by two allies of Texas Gov. Rick Perry — Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples and Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw. Republicans accepted the generals’ alarming conclusions that cartels are creating sanctuaries one county deep in rural areas along the entire Texas-Mexico border, enlisting foot soldiers from Texas prisons and forging transshipment routes across Texas to reach 1,000 cities across the United States. Texas law enforcement officers say they are confronting spillover violence from cartels. “I don’t see this as a Republican issue or as a Democratic issue — I see this as a bipartisan issue,” insisted Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, as the four-term lawmaker tried in vain to steer the fractious debate toward common ground. “I’m not going to try to spin this into a political theater event,” said McCaul, a prominent supporter of Perry’s GOP presidential campaign. Staples testified that cartel-related attacks on farmers and ranchers along the Texas-Mexico border have increased, underscoring that ”we have a violently insecure, porous border with a lack of operational control.” Staples added: ”And our president indicates this is OK by saying we are more secure today? Members of Congress, please do not rest until we convince the president that an insecure border is an insecure America.” But Democrats challenged the report’s anecdotal evidence, stark language and the limited number of personal interviews relied upon by retired four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey, a former head of U.S. Southern Command with responsibility for Central and South America, and retired twostar Gen. Robert Scales, former head of the Army

Many ideas but little time for debt panel By ANDREW TAYLOR ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images | AP

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) says he backs a report that states the Texas border is a war zone in the battle against drugs. War College. ”Using language that living and conducting business along the border is tantamount to living in a war zone — I don’t think that rhetoric helps and I don’t think it presents a real picture,” said Rep. William Keating, D-Mass. ”We don’t want to give the impression that the whole area is like that.” Border district lawmaker Rep. Henry Cuellar, DTexas, led the assault on the report’s conclusions with such insistent questioning about the fee Texas officials paid the defense consulting firm Colgen that McCaffrey erupted in indignation. “Are you suggesting that this report had political or monetary motivation?” demanded McCaffrey, a legendary Army field commander who served in Vietnam and led the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division in the pincer movement that cut off fleeing Iraqi Republican Guards at the end of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. That line of questioning was ”an ad hominem attack on my motivations for this study,” McCaffrey declared. Cuellar said he was merely asking for the cost of the study — $80,000 according to information he had received. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-

Texas, a career Border Patrol agent, said he took ”umbrage” at the generals’ conclusion that there was ”no security” along the U.S.-Mexico border and vowed to write a detailed rebuttal to the report’s conclusions. ”Whether or not the document is looked at as a political document or not,” Reyes said, ”I do think there are huge holes in some of the conclusions.” Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, asked McCaffrey whether his report was designed to fault efforts by the Obama administration along the border. “Absolutely not,” McCaffrey replied, adding that three successive heads of the Department of Homeland Security under President Bush and President Obama have worked to expand border security operations. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, said border security could only be achieved by balancing law enforcement measures along the border with immigration reform that would provide undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship and authorities a fix on exactly who is inside the country. It has been ”shameful” that Congress won’t take up the two-track ap-

proach, said Green. “Will we take responsibility to secure this country not only with the component of a secure border but with comprehensive immigration reform?” Green demanded. The report praised Perry’s border security efforts, including his use of Texas Rangers, Texas National Guard and $400 million in taxpayers’ funds to buy off-the-shelf equipment and boost manpower. “Texas has been the most aggressive and creative in confronting the threat of what has come to be a narco-terrorist military-style campaign being waged against (Texans),” the report said. Five years of state-level operations by Texans ”have yielded valuable lessons and insights that can improve the border security operations of states and U.S. federal agencies,” the report concluded. ”The success of border operations by the Texas Rangers should serve as a template for the future.” McCaul, a former federal prosecutor and potential U.S. Senate candidate in Texas, called the fastmoving exchanges ”a very spirited and lively debate,” adding: ”We need to have this as a country.” (Email: stewart.powell@hearstdc.com)

WASHINGTON — Conservative senators are urging the debt-cutting supercommittee to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and require many retirees to pay more. The top Senate Republican on defense is endorsing some of President Barack Obama’s proposed benefit curbs for the military. Even farm state lawmakers are offering cuts to subsidies and food programs. Friday’s deadline for lawmakers to offer ideas to Congress’ bipartisan 12-member panel brought out a flood of advice. Some lawmakers offered up sacred cows. Others just restated political talking points. What appears clear is that the fundamental disputes remain the same: Democrats and Republicans remain at loggerheads on taxes and proposals to cut benefit programs such as Medicare. Republicans are, so far, standing fast against tax increases; Democrats won’t touch Medicare without them. It’s not at all certain that the panel, due to act by Nov. 23, will find success in reaching its goal of generating at least $1.2 trillion in deficit savings over the coming decade. “It’s impossible to do it in the next month,” said Joseph Minarik, research director for the businessled Committee for Economic Development, citing the technical complexities of crafting such a measure as well as the political challenges of enacting it. “Deficit reduction is doing things you don’t want to do. The political pressures are awful.” Panel members, too, are hedging their bets. “Whether we’re able to overcome some of the ob-

“

Deficit reduction is doing things you don’t want to do. The political pressures are awful.” JOSEPH MINARIK, COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

stacles is still unclear,” panel member Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told a Washington audience Friday morning. Beyond the politically incendiary issues of taxes lies a minefield of other difficult topics. The Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee — save for moderate Olympia Snowe of Maine and supercommittee member Jon Kyl of Arizona — leapt into the fray Friday with recommendations such as raising the Medicare retirement age for future beneficiaries and shifting costs to current retirees by reworking deductibles and copayments. In one of the few bipartisan letters to the supercommittee, the Democratic chairman and top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee “with regret” proposed extending the current freeze on federal civilian workers’ salaries for another year for $32 billion in 10-year savings, boosting the contribution civil servants must make to their pensions and curbing the government’s use of private contractors by 15 percent.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Obama ends part of health law By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration Friday pulled the plug on a major program in the president’s signature health overhaul law — a longterm care insurance plan dogged from the beginning by doubts over its financial solvency.

Political casuality Targeted by congressional Republicans for repeal, the program became the first casualty in the political and policy wars over the health care law. It had been expected to launch in 2013. “This is a victory for the American taxpayer and future generations,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., spearheading opposition in the Senate. “The administration is finally admitting (the long-term care plan) is unsustainable and cannot be implemented.” Proponents, including many groups that fought to pass the health care law, have vowed a vigorous effort to rescue the program, insisting that Congress gave the administration broad authority to make changes. Long-term care includes not only nursing homes, but such services as home health aides for disabled people.

Kennedy priority Known as CLASS, the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program was a longstand-

ing priority of the late Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Although sponsored by the government, it was supposed to function as a selfsustaining voluntary insurance plan, open to working adults regardless of age or health. Workers would pay an affordable monthly premium during their careers, and could collect a modest daily cash benefit of at least $50 if they became disabled later in life. The money could go for services at home, or to help with nursing home bills.

Perhaps a bailout? But a central design flaw dogged CLASS. Unless large numbers of healthy people willingly sign up during their working years, soaring premiums driven by the needs of disabled beneficiaries would destabilize it, eventually requiring a taxpayer bailout. After months of insisting that could be fixed, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius finally admitted Friday she doesn’t see how. “Despite our best analytical efforts, I do not see a viable path forward for CLASS implementation at this time,” Sebelius said in a letter to congressional leaders. The law required the administration to certify that CLASS would remain financially solvent for 75 years before it could be put into place. But officials said they discovered they could not make CLASS both affordable and financially solvent

while keeping it a voluntary program open to virtually all workers, as the law also required.

Hefty premiums Monthly premiums would have ranged from $235 to $391, even as high as $3,000 under some scenarios, the administration said. At those prices, healthy people were unlikely to sign up. Suggested changes aimed at discouraging enrollment by people in poor health could have opened the program to court challenges, officials said. “If healthy purchasers are not attracted ... then premiums will increase, which will make it even more unattractive to purchasers who could also obtain policies in the private market,” Kathy Greenlee, the lead official on CLASS, said in a memo to Sebelius. That “would cause the program to quickly collapse.” That’s the same conclusion a top government expert reached in 2009. Nearly a year before the health care law passed, Richard Foster, head of long-range economic forecasts for Medicare, warned administration and congressional officials that CLASS would be unworkable. His warnings were disregarded, as Obama declared his support for adding the longterm care plan to his health care bill. The demise of CLASS immediately touched off speculation about its impact on the federal budget. Although no premiums are likely to be collected, the

program still counts as reducing the federal deficit by about $80 billion over the next 10 years. That’s because of a rule that would have required workers to pay in for at least five years before they could collect any benefits. “The CLASS Act was a budget gimmick that might enhance the numbers on a Washington bureaucrat’s spreadsheet but was destined to fail in the real world,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Administration officials said Obama’s next budget would reflect the decision not to go forward. Even without CLASS premiums, they said the health care law will still reduce the deficit by more than $120 billion over 10 years. Kennedy’s original idea was to give families some financial breathing room. Most families cannot afford to hire a home health aide for a frail elder, let alone pay nursing home bills. Care is usually provided by family members, often a spouse who may also have health problems. “We’re disappointed that (Sebelius) has prematurely stated she does not see a path forward,” AARP, the seniors’ lobby, said in a statement. “The need for long-term care will only continue to grow.” Sebelius said the administration wants to work with Congress and supporters of the program to find a solution. But in a polarized political climate, it appears unlikely that CLASS can be salvaged. Congressional Republicans remain committed to its repeal.

Bishop charged in child porn case By BILL DRAPER ASSOCIATED PRESS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City’s Catholic bishop has become the highest-ranking U.S. Catholic official indicted on a charge of failing to protect children after he and his diocese waited five months to tell police about hundreds of images of child pornography discovered on a priest’s computer, officials said Friday. Bishop Robert Finn, the first U.S. bishop criminally charged with sheltering an abusive clergyman, and the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese have pleaded not guilty to one count each of failing to report suspected child abuse. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Finn and the diocese were required under state law to report the discovery to police because the images gave them reason to believe a child had been abused.

“

Now that the grand jury investigation has resulted in this indictment, my office will pursue this case vigorously.” JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR JEAN PETERS BAKER

“Now that the grand jury investigation has resulted in this indictment, my office will pursue this case vigorously,” Baker said. “I want to ensure there are no future failures to report resulting in other unsuspecting victims.” The indictment, handed down Oct. 6 but sealed because Finn was out of the country, says the bishop failed to report suspicions against the priest from Dec. 16, 2010, when the photos were discovered, to May 11, when the diocese turned them over to police.

Finn denied any wrongdoing in a statement Friday and said he had begun work to overhaul the diocese’s reporting policies and act on key findings of a diocese-commissioned investigation into its practices. “Today, the Jackson County Prosecutor issued these charges against me personally and against the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph,” said Finn, who officials said was not under arrest. “For our part, we will meet these announcements with a steady re-

solve and a vigorous defense.” Finn faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor. The diocese also faces a $1,000 fine. After the Catholic sex abuse scandal erupted in 2002, grand juries in several regions reviewed how bishops handled claims against priests. However, most of the allegations were decades old and far beyond the statute of limitations. Until Finn was indicted, no U.S. Catholic bishop had been criminally charged over how he responded to abuse claims, although some bishops had struck deals with local authorities to avoid prosecution against their dioceses. A former secretary for clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Monsignor William Lynn, was charged in February with child endangerment.

ROBERT STANLEY MOORE Robert Stanley Moore, 52, passed away Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at Doctor’s Hospital in Laredo. Mr. Moore was preceded in death by his mother, Mabel Doris Gillis; and his father, Robert Moore. Mr. Moore is survived by his children: Sabrina Ann Moore and Robert Kyle Moore; brothers and sisters: Jim Crow (Connie), Larry Crow (Nancy), John (Dyanne), David Crow, Steve K. Crow, Mark Lee Moore and Jane and Grady Sample; and by 11 nieces and nephews. Visitation was Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a chapel service at 6 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org in

memory of Robert Stanley Moore. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 Highway 83, Zapata.

Store killings accomplice dies in Conn. prison By STEPHANIE REITZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARTFORD, Conn. — A California woman who moved across the country to follow the lure of heroin with her new boyfriend, then joined him in a string of robberies that left three East Coast jewelers dead, has died in a Connecticut prison. Nicole Pearce was 30. She died of cervical cancer Oct. 7 at York Correctional Center in Niantic, her attorney and prison officials said Friday. She was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in late 2010, but chemotherapy slowed its progress long enough for her to testify on videotape from her hospital room and help convict her accomplice, Christopher DiMeo, who is in prison for life. Her death ends a tumultuous life of drug addiction, imprisonments and participation in two “Bonnie and Clyde”-style crime partnerships with men in her life — first her former husband and, later, with DiMeo. In the end, though, her attorney says Pearce was so remorseful that her last words to him were to thank the Connecticut jewelry store victims’ adult children for showing her the compassion she had denied their parents. “She got caught up. She was a horrible addict and got caught up in that severe addiction and this relationship,” her attorney,

Robert Berke, said Friday of Pearce and DiMeo. “They used drugs to unlimited amounts and ultimately made some rather significant decisions that affected her and others forever.” Pearce met DiMeo in September 2004 in San Marcos, Calif., where she was living with her mother and was on parole after serving prison time for burglaries she had committed with her previous husband. She’d once talked of becoming a dental hygienist, but had not pursued it. DiMeo, a Long Island native, had moved to California to live with his grandparents while serving parole for burglary and robbery convictions in New York. He met Pearce through a friend at a bar. They quickly bonded over their shared addiction to heroin, and when DiMeo stole his grandparents’ car and decided to return to the East Coast, Pearce joined him. She testified they were only friends when they left, but by the time they reached the East Coast, they were a couple — and they were quickly running out of money for their voracious drug habit. That’s when they launched a robbery spree over several weeks in the New York area, running through their ill-gotten gains with bags of heroin each day and setting out, dopesick, for new scores when they ran low.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

RATHMELL Continued from Page 1A Throughout high school, Rathmell excelled in various sports, including football, baseball and basketball. His involvement in athletics would continue into his later years when he would preside as president of the Optimist Little League Club from 1999 through 2009, proudly coach both his sons as head coach of the St. Augustine High School baseball team from 2002 through 2006 and serve as a member on the Texas A&M International University Athletic Council. While he had an enthusiasm for athletics, Rathmell also had a passion for engineering. Rathmell graduated from Zapata High School in 1968 and in 1972 he earned his degree in civil engineering from Texas A&I University at Kingsville. Straight out of college, employed by Zachry Inc. as an engineer, he aided in the construction of DFW Airport. Eventually, Rathmell went to work for Region 11 Texas Department of Health as a regional engineer, where he served for 28 years. Rathmell’s many accom-

plishments include organizing the first health fair in the colonias during his time as head of the Laredo Border Health Office, bringing water to the City of Bruni, having engineered a water line project for the city, and, more recently, designing and constructing the new water plant in Zapata County. A self-proclaimed “old cowboy,” Rathmell also jointly managed Rathmell Land and Cattle with his brothers and personally managed his own cattle company. “Ranching, he loved his cattle — and, of course, his wife. His passion was his wife and children — that’s what grounded Jake,” said sister-in-law Gina Rathmell. “He had this presence in our family. He was very well-respected, a man of very few words — very quiet. But when he spoke, we all listened. … We’re going to miss him.” Services were held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Interment was at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo. (Stephanie Ibarra may be reached at sibarra@lmtonline.com 7282547.)

German music New iPhone off performance at to hot opening TAMIU tonight By CHIP CUTTER

ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Prepare for an evening of German art song at the upcoming Song on the Rio Grande Vocal Series Liederabend today at 7:30 p.m. in the Texas A&M International University Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Baritone Scott LaGraff and pianist Andrew Hudson will perform songs by several Romantic composers — Franz Schubert, Carl Loewe, Hugo Wolf and Robert Schumann. “My colleagues, Suzanne Ramo-Gechter and Friedrich Gechter, and I are thrilled to present another opportunity for our students and all of Laredo to hear performances of some of the most celebrated Lieder ever written, and from exemplary interpreters like Scott LaGraff and Andrew Hudson,” said Dana Crabtree, vocal instruc-

tor. “There is also a crossdisciplinary interest in that our students will get to hear a specialist in collaborative piano, Andrew Hudson,” Crabtree added. The guest artists will also hold a master class today at noon with four TAMIU voice students. LaGraff is a graduate of the Tri-Cities Opera Resident Artist Training Program in Binghamton, N.Y., where he sang the title roles in Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro, The Villains in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and Capulet in Roméo et Juliette — among others — and was a recipient of the Richard F. Gold Career Grant. He appears frequently with Opera East Texas and has performed the roles of Schaunard in La Bohème and Dick Deadeye in H.M.S. Pinafore. LaGraff has also sung roles with the Syracuse, and Pensacola opera companies..

COUNTY Continued from Page 1A ation of Counties’ (TACS) health insurance pool, according to representatives from the association. To Zapata County Treasurer Romeo Salinas, this renders a broker’s services unnecessary at best. “Absolutely not,” Salinas said when asked if he thought Zapata County needed a health insurance broker. “All the (TACS) members are self-insured. We actually got a credit this year of $50,000-plus from annual premiums. No broker is going to bring in a credit.” When elected treasurer in 2003, Salinas set his sites on the county’s health and lia-

bility insurance expenses and thought the county paid way too much. He believes the broker used back then added substantially to the county’s costs because he collected a commission and didn’t shop around for the best deals, something Salinas did as treasurer. “I’m licensed as an insurance agent, so I know something about this,” he said. “After I shopped around, I was able to bring the county building deductible down from $50,000 to $5,000. It’s higher now because we’re in a new building.” Salinas added that in small counties, it’s not unusual for an auditor, trea-

surer, or other elected official to perform insurancerelated tasks. Jerry Garza, however, thinks alleviating county officials of these responsibilities is the chief advantage to having a broker. “It alleviates officials and other staff of having to handle claims, questions, things like that,” he said. As far as costs, Garza said county insurance contracts typically include a fee akin to a broker’s commission in place. This is paid by the county whether anyone performs duties or not. If the county appoints a broker, that broker collects that fee. “The commission is already included in the premi-

um whether you have (a broker) or not.” Though he doesn’t know the specifics for Zapata, he said he would only have collected that fee. Since the fee is already set, he said Zapata could select a broker based on factors like experience and proven competence. He understands the concern of having only one candidate for a public responsibility and invites others to join the fray. “If there are other agencies involved, you can open it up, and may the best agency win.” (Mike Herrera IV can be reached at 728-2567 or mherrera@lmtonline.com)

NEW YORK — It wasn’t just the latest iPhone that drew people to Apple stores Friday. Many consumers waited in lines for hours — sometimes enduring chilly temperatures and overnight thunderstorms — to remember Steve Jobs, Apple’s visionary who died last week. The company’s first iPhone release since Jobs’ death turned into another tribute. Some customers even joked that the new model 4S stood “for Steve.” Tony Medina, a student from Manhattan, stood outside Apple’s flagship store on New York’s Fifth Avenue for nine hours, waiting through rain. He had originally planned to order the phone online but decided to join a crowd of about 200 people to honor Jobs. “For loyalty, I felt I had to do the line,” he said. “I had to say thank you.” The new phone, which went on sale Friday in seven countries, is faster than the previous model and comes with better software and an improved camera. Yet the unveiling comes at a time when Apple is finding it difficult to maintain the excitement of previous iPhone introductions. For starters, the phone is more widely available than in the past. In addition to Apple stores, it’s also sold by three wireless carriers: AT&T Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless. Some Best Buy, Target and Walmart stores also carry the phones, as do authorized resellers. Buyers were also able to preorder the phone on Apple’s website and have it shipped to their homes or offices.

Many die-hard Apple fans and investors were disappointed that Apple did not launch a more radically redesigned new model — an iPhone 5. It’s been more than a year since Apple’s previous model was released. That also may have contributed to smaller gatherings at some Apple locations. “People are not as excited about this version as they might have been” if an iPhone 5 came out,” said Charles Prosser, a retired teacher and computer technician from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Even so, hundreds of buyers camped out in front of stores for hours to be among the first to get an iPhone 4S. Steve Wozniak, who created Apple with Jobs in a Silicon Valley garage in 1976, was first in line at a store in Los Gatos, Calif., having arrived on his Segway the afternoon before. Wozniak, who typically waits in line for new Apple products, said he barely slept Thursday night as he was busy chatting with Apple fans, taking photos and giving autographs. Wozniak pre-ordered two new iPhones. He bought two more Friday. “I just want to be part of an important event, so I feel it more deeply,” he said. Many said the event resembled a remembrance to Jobs, who died a day after Apple Inc. announced the new phone. Emily Smith, a Web designer, checked in to the line in New York on the location-centric social network Foursquare. She got a virtual Steve Jobs badge that read: “Here’s to the crazy ones. ThankYouSteve.” Apple and phone companies started taking orders for the iPhone 4S last Friday.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors CROSS COUNTRY

Merlin magic

The Zapata Middle Merlins prepare for their final races of the season after racking up honors all throughout the season.

Zapata Middle runs with purpose, earning accolades along way By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

Courtesy photo

The Zapata Middle cross country teams ran at Ramiro Barrera Middle School Invitational last Saturday. The 8th Grade girls brought home their second team championship of the season, with Norma Rami-

rez continuing to shine, placing second behind rival from La Grulla. Behind Ramirez were teammates Raquel Almaguer (third), Alexa Alvarez (fourth), Andrea Garza (seventh), and Alondra Lara (eighth), while just missing a medal were Tatiana Lopez and newcomer Alys-

sa Alaniz. The 8th grade boys finished in second place and were led by last year’s district runner-up Robert Salinas, who ran away with a first place finish. Following were teammates Leandro Hinojosa

See MIDDLE PAGE 2B

HAWKS SWOOP INTO UISD

Lady Hawks eye more

ZHS faces 5A powers By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

Garcia leads ZHS toward goals By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata has only one week left, and they’re counting on their effort all season long to help them capture another district title. Zapata hosts the District 32-3A cross country meet at Zapata with initial races starting at 6 p.m. followed by the junior varsity and freshmen teams. It’s finally the moment that the Lady Hawks have been waiting for, and they’re confident they have the right athletes in place to capture another title. The Lady Hawks have been led by state qualifier Jazmine Garcia as she placed well in big meets in the Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio. Now Garcia must help take the team back to the regional meet, eventually send them on their way to a state meet, but things have not been as promising as in the past when the Lady Hawks were state ranked. Zapata must prove that they belong at the state meet, but the Lady Hawks must first get through

Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times

The Zapata Hawks look to compete with Eagle Pass and Laredo Martin this weekend at the UISD meet before they take on the District 32-3A meet.

he last tune up before the District 32-3A cross country meet next Saturday takes place this morning in Laredo at the annual UISD Invitational. “The UISD meet will be very competitive with Eagle pass joining in. It’s their pre-district meet and course,” Zapata coach Luis Escamilla said. “I see us along with Eagle Pass and Martin running for the UISD title. “I don’t think they want to lose to a 3A school, but I see them as the perfect caliber we need to compete with to simulate a championship race.” The Hawks plan to fight it out on the course with those two best 5A teams in District 29-5A. Zapata is back in full force with the return of Carlos Rodriguez, who was out due to an injury at the UTSA meet in San Antonio a few weeks ago. With the return of Rodriguez, Zapata regains their old form just in time to put all their hard work to the test when district rolls around in a week. “Carlos is back in the line up,” Escamilla said. “The team is content with his progress.” The meet will show where the Hawks stand, time-wise, and how they measure up against the Laredo competition. “I honestly believe this meet is more of a preparation. I’m not

See UISD PAGE 2B

See GIRLS PAGE 2B

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

Lady Hawks glide back to action Keep it in the stands, Zapata fans

By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

It has been a while since the Lady Hawks have taken the court for a district game, an unusual situation, especially with the season winding down. Zapata’s last game was against PSJA Southwest, and they were scheduled for an October 8 match against Rio Hondo, but the game was rescheduled because it conflicted with a 3A band event that many schools —including Zapata — participated. With the game pushed back to this Friday, the Lady Hawks found themselves striving to keep their competitive edge for the past two weeks by going hard during practice. Zapata is still on a mission for a district championship and it’s not going to just fall into their

See VOLLEYBALL PAGE 2B

Courtesy photo

The Zapata Lady Hawks volleyball team looks to keep their tight grasp on the District 32-3A race while maintaining their perfect record.

Zapata has become a championship town with successes in all the fall sports — volleyball, boys’ and girls’ cross country, and football. Every high school in the nation would love to boast that resume, but few can accomplish just one success, and fewer still see all of them. With all the current success Zapata is experiencing, true fans have been there all along. Many parents count themselves as

See SANDOVAL PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

NFL ready for HGH testing By FREDERIC J. FROMMER ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Two key congressman emerged from an hour-long meeting with the NFL and players union and announced a deal to begin blood-testing players for human growth hormone. Minutes later, union officials would commit only to testing when a fair and safe system is in place — what they’ve been saying all along. After Friday’s high-profile mix of sports and politics, HGH testing in pro football didn’t seem closer to reality. “We’re not guaranteeing any outcomes except

there was an agreement to begin testing immediately,” Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told reporters after the meeting. “The other aspects of what you do with the tests will be resolved over the next many weeks, and we’ve agreed on a bipartisan basis to have the committee play a role if necessary” to bring the sides together again. Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the committee, said he felt the two sides benefited from being called in. “Because I think they had their own

disputes, and it seemed like they just could not move quite past a certain point,” he said. He stressed that the lawmakers wanted action now: “Not get there next year — we were clear that the ball has to move down the field immediately.” But the NFL Players Association didn’t seem inclined to move off its previous position: That it wants questions answered before moving ahead with a blood-testing program. “We believe that we have to report back to our players, make sure that the protocol and the testing protocols are safe,” union spokesman George Atallah said, standing in

the same spot as the lawmakers shortly after their news conference. “Once we feel that way, which we hope will be as soon as possible — obviously the chairman and Congressman Cummings can help us facilitate that — we’ll be in a position to start testing as soon as possible.” Asked if the union agreed to testing this season, he responded, “We will begin implementing testing as fast as possible.” Later, he tweeted, “The challenge for us as a league and a sport is to ensure that we have a clean game, but a fair system.”

Big East wants expansion By RALPH D. RUSSO ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — The Big East plans to invite Boise State, Air Force and Navy as football-only members, and Central Florida to compete in all sports, after it doubles the exit fee for current members to $10 million. An official in the Big East, speaking on condition of anonymity because the conference had not authorized anyone to speak publicly about its plans, told The Associated Press the invitations could go out as soon as next week. The official also said Commissioner John Marinatto was in Cincinnati on Friday meeting with UCF’s president and its athletic director. Conferences do not publicly invite new members unless they are confident those invitations will be accepted. CBS Sports first reported the Big East would invite Boise State, Air Force, Navy and UCF. The Big East announced earlier this week it wanted to expand to 12 football schools.

Lusting after Boise Big East officials made protecting the league’s automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series their expansion priority. That pushed Boise State, which is in its first season in the Mountain West Conference after a decade in the Western Athletic Conference, to the top of the Big East’s

The Texas schools would replace the presence in the state the Big East thought it was going to have with TCU, and help make the move to the Big East more palatable to Boise State. most wanted list, along with the service academies. The Broncos are 71-5 since 2006, finished 10th in the final BCS standings last season and at 5-0 seem on their way to a top-10 finish. Big East officials believe putting Boise State’s record on the Big East’s ledger when the BCS reviews which leagues should have automatic bids beyond 2013 should allow the conference to make the cut. Right now, the Big East has only six schools committed to play football in the league beyond this season.

members has been tricky for the Big East because its remaining members might also be looking for new conference homes. Louisville and West Virginia are possible targets for the Big 12 if it needs to replace Missouri, which is pondering a move to the Southeastern Conference, or decides to expand back to 12 teams. Connecticut has interest in joining the ACC if it expands again, and there has been speculation about Rutgers moving, too.

Runaways

By raising the exit fee, the Big East is trying to show the schools it is recruiting that the conference will be viable in the long run. Boise State, Air Force, which also competes in the MWC, and Navy, an independent in football, all had reservations about the Big East’s long-term health. The Big East is still considering adding Temple, and UCF’s Conference USA rivals SMU and Houston. Temple, which was kicked out of the Big East in 2005, plays football in the MidAmerican Conference. The Texas schools would replace the presence in the state the Big East thought it was going to have with

Pittsburgh and Syracuse have announced they will move to the Atlantic Coast Conference, though Big East rules require them to stay in the league for the next two seasons and Marinatto has said he will hold the Panthers and Orange to that. However, that seems unlikely if the league can grow to 12 teams for next season without them. TCU was slated to join the Big East in 2012, but the Horned Frogs reneged on that commitment and accepted an invite to the Big 12 last week. Trying to recruit new

High costs

TCU, and help make the move to the Big East more palatable to Boise State. Boise, Idaho, is nearly 1,900 miles from the closest current Big East member, Louisville. Though the trip to Houston is about as far, having a presence in Texas is alluring to Boise State. Boise State and Air Force would have to find a conference to house their other sports. A return to the WAC is possible for both, though WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said Friday that he has only had hypothetical conversations with Boise State and Air Force officials about those schools joining as non-football members. The Big East also has eight members that do not compete in football: Villanova, Georgetown, St. John’s, Providence, Seton Hall, Marquette, DePaul and Notre Dame. Notre Dame’s goal is to remain a football independent, but if the Big East crumbles the Fighting Irish could end up with no place for their basketball, baseball and Olympic sports to compete. That could force Notre Dame to finally give up football independence and put its storied program in a conference, because it’s unlikely another league will give the Irish the same deal they have in the Big East.

VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 1B hands. La Feria is still a thorn in their side, and fittingly, they are the first team to greet Zapata this Tuesday. The Lionettes are in second place wanting nothing more than to knock off Zapata, but the Lady Hawks are vying to keep their eyes on their prize, including a

district championship and unblemished record. Zapata has home court advantage and invites the entire community to come and support them for a 6:30 p.m. contest. “This is a very important game for us and it will definitely determine the district champion,” Zapata coach

Rosie Villarreal said. “We still have three games left and this one is big for us.” Zapata relies on the offensive muscle of Kristina De Leon and Shelby Bigler while the defense will be taken care of by Jackie Salinas, Abby Aguilar and the rest of the backrow. Setter Estella Molina al-

ways does a great job of distributing the ball among the hitters, knowing where they are on the court at all times. Now all the Lady Hawks have to do is put it all together when they meet La Feria. (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com)

GIRLS Continued from Page 1B a tough district before setting their sights on the next level. “‘You are only as good as your last performance,’ is a running quote that we look at deeply at ZHS,” Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said. “Basically it states that you cannot rest on what you have done. You must continue to work to achieve your goals. “Our goal at ZHS has been clearly defined all season long; return to state. It has become an expectation from our athletes and with a young group of runners with very little varsity experience, this year’s quest takes on a whole new meaning.” The road to the post sea-

son continued last weekend in Donna at the annual Meet of Champs, with Garcia running in the elite division and turning in an impressive 11:54 time to earn her seventh place finish. The rest of the Lady Hawks ran in the 4A-5A division and turned in a solid third place finish. With Garcia running in the elite division, another Lady Hawk stepped up to lead them on the course. Cassie Peña is no slouch when it comes to running; she has been steadily running second the majority of the season to Garcia. Peña turned in a 12th place finish and was clocked at 13:05 while teammate Joyce Garcia

ran her way into a 19th place to be the surprise of the team. Garcia’s performance earned the No. 3 spot for the district meet. Zapata turned in a total of six personal records, two season-best performances to give an indication of where the team is heading in a week. Rounding out the 4A-5A varsity team were Erica Hernandez, Angela Darnell, Jannet Chapa, Maria Rodriguez, Brianna Gonzalez, Alex Garcia and Sara Peña. The JV and the freshman girls ran in the 3A varsity division and placed in the top ten as a team with solid races from Norma Cepeda, Bianca Ponce, Daniela Vela,

Corii Martinez and Alma Perez. “This was the final race for our girls as they prepare for the district meet on October 22 at 9 a.m. in Zapata at the High School,” Villarreal said. “Everyone is invited (free of charge) to see out boys’ and girls’ teams in action. Do not pass on this opportunity to witness these XC races they will be exciting. “Thanks again to all those parents who traveled to support our teams. Also, a special thanks to Daniella Soto, who has been a tremendous help each and every week to me and our program.” (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com)

The latest collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players includes a provision to begin testing players for HGH — contingent on the union agreeing to the testing methods. The NFLPA has asked for more scientific data to prove the most popular test is reliable. Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth, who attended the meeting, said the union has a responsibility to players to make sure the test is accurate, so “we can look them in the eye and say this is a safe and fair process.” If the issue isn’t resolved shortly, both sides can

expect a quick return visit to Capitol Hill. Issa said he wants another meeting in 30 days to review progress, but if testing doesn’t start soon, he’ll ask for a quicker followup, perhaps in two weeks. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saw things the way the lawmakers did, saying that Issa was clear he wanted testing to begin within the next two weeks. Did the players agree to that? “Everyone around the table agreed to that,” the commissioner said. He added that the league could have testing in place within seven to 10 days.

UISD Continued from Page 1B gunning down a victory. Win or lose, I’m looking at how much are we improving? And what we need to work on for the post season?” Escamilla said. “My eyes and mind are focused on regional and state. District is a qualifier where we run just to keep our district championship streak alive. “It’s hard to articulate but district is more important for the JV and freshmen. It ensures the program to keep building success on success.” Escamilla has been

closely keeping tabs on his team, tailoring his workouts to the top 10 in state. “I have a staple workout where other guys that have placed top 10 at state have done,” he said. “We did the workout and they ran as good as my former runners or a tad better. I’m not saying that they will all place top 10 at state, but I believe this session is a great performance indicator for the post season.” (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com)

MIDDLE Continued from Page 1B (eighth), Jacob Villarreal (ninth), and earning his first medal of the season Austin Brandon (13th), proving that hard work and dedication really does pay off. The 7th grade girls and boys also came home with second place finishes. Leading the way for the Lady Merlins and capturing her third straight first place finish was Abby Zuniga. Mariela Hernandez (second), Yulitza Mendiola

(fifth), Gaby Gonzalez (ninth), Daniella Santos (11th), and also earning her first medal Vanessa Guerra in 15th. On the boys’ side, the 7th grade Merlins were led once again by Joan Zuniga (second), Jorge Garcia (fourth), Kris Hinkle (fifth), and Joe Avila (sixth). The teams have a bye week today, but finish up the season in Zapata on October 22 when they vie for the district title.

SANDOVAL Continued from Page 1B their children’s No. 1 fan and will be out in a gym, a stadium, or on the side of a cross country course cheering loudly for their child and the team. What happens when your child is doing bad out there? Most parents yell encouraging words, but what happens when some one else is yelling at your child because they are messing up? There is a fine line that some spectators fail to understand: that player is someone’s child. No one likes for anyone else to be yell at their baby. I’ve seen parents refuse to sit in the stands because of the negative comments that people say about children, and those that are quick to point out mistakes. Some parents even refuse to attend games to save conflict. Fights have broken out in the stands and people have been injured — badly — in games because of negative comments made toward their child. It’s necessary to understand that fans are there to encourage the players; the coaches are the ones that will make adjustments if a play is not working or a player is not playing to their full potential. Leave the coaching to the coaches. Be there to support the team. That is your role when you attend games or go to a cross country meet. I love it when the stands are filled, but the criticizers stay home. If you are that type of person then there is no room for you in the stands. Support your child and the team the right way.

The noise in the crowd is what makes a team mount a comeback or keep the momentum going, oftentimes. You are the 12th man (football), the seventh player (volleyball) or that eighth runner (cross-country). Fans are important to the game, and I’ve seen it during my coaching days. Things have gotten so out of control in the stands and caused officials to remove everyone from the gym. All fans were asked to leave and there was an hour-and-a-half delay in a basketball game. Everything was started because an opposing fan came out the stands to assault one of my players after she pushed his girlfriend chasing a ball. Our fans left their seats and were going after the opposing fan. After everyone was told to leave, the game resumed it was so silent in the gym that you could hear the other team breathing. It was one of those crazy situations that I personally experienced. Fans, especially parents, learn to be great supporters for their teams and shout encouraging words — not obscenities — and put the players from any team down. Remember that UIL states that it is not a right to be at games, but a privilege, and you can be removed at any time. Stadiums can even ban you for a season — or even life — if you are one of those volatile fans that cannot control yourself. Go be a great fan Zapata. (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

HINTS BY | HELOISE Dear Heloise: I am getting tired of pouring more and more detergent in my laundry to get some SUDS. After buying a bottle of detergent that was supposed to do 32 loads of laundry and having to put in 1/4 of the bottle but still getting minimal suds, I called the company and was told that suds are bad and ruin clothes (and the environment — should have guessed that one!), and that’s why there aren’t any suds. But I was assured that “your clothes are getting clean with the recommended amount of detergent.” I’m having a really hard time feeling like our clothes are clean when I see zero suds. Do you know the real story about this? Thank you. — Dale H., New Windsor, N.Y. Dale, in this case, more is not better! The manufacturers told you the truth. It is very difficult to rinse too much detergent or liquid fabric softeners out. So, dirt also will remain behind! Pretreaters for stains add extra detergent into the wash, which again needs to be rinsed out. Soft water requires less detergent. So, while I get that you want to see suds, relax — your clothes are getting clean! Use the amount recommended on the package. — Heloise

PET PAL Dear Readers: Sandra in New Hampshire sent a picture of her black Lab mix, Kaylee, snuggling with her “baby,” a stuffed dog that makes a great chew toy and a comfy pillow! To see Kaylee, go to www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise

STORAGE HINT Dear Readers: If you shop at those big warehouse stores, at some point you probably have purchased items that come in a sturdy cardboard box,

“

HELOISE

which turns into a self-dispensing container. After the item is used, you can store all the extra packets (salt, pepper, ketchup, mayo, etc.) from fast-food restaurants inside. Keeps them contained and organized! — Heloise

SAFE KITTY Dear Heloise: Because I travel often, my cat had an automated, self-scooping litter box, but it was not doing a good job. I decided to use a large, rectangular, plastic underbed storage tray with rollers instead. I filled it with litter (three large boxes), and now my cat can be left unattended for a long weekend or several days. The tray fits behind my laundry-room door and can be rolled out to vacuum around it. — Gwen Spiess, Brenham, Texas

SIT UP Dear Heloise: After my low back pain kept getting worse, I began to be aware of what could be causing it. When I was a passenger in the car, my left lower back became sore, and when I drove, my right side. Now, when sitting in the car, I place both palms on the seat, lift myself up a bit and sit down straight. Works for me, and my family also. Your helpful hints are read here in the Cecil (Md.)Whig. Thank you for sharing. — Joan in Chesapeake City, Md. Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.

DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:

FAMILY CIRCUS

DENNIS THE MENACE

Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011

Cowboys, Texans face tests ASSOCIATED PRESS

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots have watched plenty of film of each other. They’ve pored over their own playbooks, probing for ways to gain an advantage.

TEXAS NFL PREVIEW ROUNDUP

Photo by Brandon Wade | AP

Texas A&M defensive back Trent Hunter (1) knocks Arkansas wide receiver Cobi Hamilton (11) into the air last Saturday. This week, A&M faces Baylor.

Big 12 battles kickoff today ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLLEGE STATION — Baylor hasn’t beaten Texas A&M at Kyle Field since 1984 and its last chance to snap the skid may have arrived.

TEXAS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW ROUNDUP The Aggies are leaving for the Southeastern Conference in July and there is no guarantee the old rivals will meet again any time soon. Texas A&M’s rivalry with Texas has more buzz, but the one against Baylor also spans more than a century. The teams first met in 1899 and Saturday’s game will be the 108th between the pair. No. 20 Baylor (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) is coming off a 4926 win over Iowa State. And No. 21 Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) knocked off Texas Tech 45-40 last week. Beyond the history, some in the Texas A&M community were annoyed that the school’s move to the SEC brought a threat of legal action. Many thought it came from Baylor, adding some additional heat to Saturday’s matchup. “I know this is a game they look forward to,” Texas A&M defensive back Terrence Frederick said. “It’s big. You want to win every game (but) it’s good to play them one more time and make sure we win this one, because it’s probably the last time we’re going to play them.” The players shied away from talking about how worked up the fans will be for this one, but players from both sides acknowledged that issues beyond the football field could add a bite to the game this year. The Aggies have won two in a row over Baylor after scoring 28 straight points to rally for a 42-30 win last season. Baylor coach Art Briles wants his team to remember what happened last year. Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III has faced A&M twice in his career, but he’s never played the Aggies in College Station because of a knee injury that caused him to miss most of the 2009 season. He hopes that dealing with the crowd in a 36-35 loss to Kansas State two weeks ago will help the Bears handle the noise at Kyle Field. The No. 1 concern for the Aggies and their nation’s-worst pass defense will be making sure they account for Griffin. Texas A&M is yielding almost 348 yards passing per game and Griffin is fifth in the country in averaging 360 yards of total offense. Griffin has thrown 19 touchdowns this season with just one intercep-

tion.

No. 6 Oklahoma State vs. No.22 Texas AUSTIN — It used to be Texas could count on a long winning streak against Oklahoma State to all but guarantee the Longhorns would again beat the Cowboys. Texas had made a 12-year habit of beating the Cowboys with all sorts of routs and rallies. But the old saying that “old habits die hard” does allow for habits to, well, die. The winning streak finally did when Oklahoma State joined the legion of teams that rolled into Austin and beat Texas last season. The No. 6 Cowboys (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) return to Austin on Saturday and the No. 22 Longhorns (4-1, 1-1) are again flipping through the record book looking for some kind of an edge in a game where they are a rare home underdog. How about this? Texas coach Mack Brown is 13-0 the first game after playing big rival Oklahoma, a streak that includes six wins over ranked opponents. But even that streak doesn’t seem very solid anymore. Not after Texas gave up 300 yards passing in the first half of a 55-17 loss to No. 3 Oklahoma last week. Oklahoma State ranks first in the nation in scoring (51 ppg) and second in passing (431 ypg) and comes in with the confidence of having already broken its long losing streak to Texas last year. And coming back to Austin after a rough road trip to Dallas isn’t necessarily the best thing for Texas. The Longhorns were just 2-5 at Royal-Memorial Stadium last season. They haven’t played at home since needing a second-half rally to beat BYU 17-16 back on Sept. 11. The 10-team format in the Big 12 required some scheduling quirks, including sending the Cowboys on the road to Texas two years in a row. Oklahoma State coaches and players don’t seem to mind. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy noted how good it felt to win here last season. Oklahoma State roared to a 26-3 halftime lead. “I’m sure it had some effects in our recruiting and maybe the way we’re perceived across the country in our football program,” Gundy said. “Texas is maybe one of the top five tradition-rich football programs in the country, and so it’d be good to win another game against Texas.” Another win also would let the Cowboys keep pace with Oklahoma and No. 17 Kansas State in the race for the Big 12 title. Those are the only unbeaten teams in the league.

That’s fine, but there’s nothing like facing each other on the field to get a real feel for their strengths and weaknesses. And that hasn’t happened in four years. “We’ve got a crash course going here on the Cowboys,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “I think this would be a lot easier team to prepare for if you were playing them twice a year.” Instead, they’ve met 10 times in 51 years since 1960 when Dallas entered the NFL as an expansion franchise and New England started as a charter member of the AFL. Sunday’s game will be the first between the teams since 2007 when both were 5-0 before the Patriots, behind Tom Brady’s five touchdown passes, won 4827 en route to an undefeated regular season. They finally lost in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. Both teams are much different now. The Patriots (4-1) have six active players who were on the 2007 team. Jason Garrett is in his first full season as coach of the Cowboys (2-2). “We don’t know each other that much, but we’re kind of going into the game the same way. We both have the same kind of look at each other. Certainly, they’ve been a marquee franchise in this league for the last decade,” Garrett said. “They’re a team that everyone in this league has studied over the last 10 years, so even though we haven’t played them, we’ve watched them. ... Hopefully, we can gain some advantage that way.” They may need it to control Wes Welker, who leads the NFL with 45 catches and 740 yards receiving. And running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is coming off a career-high 136-yard rushing performance in last Sunday’s 30-21 win over the New York Jets. But the Cowboys have the stingiest run defense in the league and will be rested after a bye week. They are 16-6 after having a weekend off and have won their last five road games following a bye. The Patriots have their bye after Sunday’s game and don’t want to go into the break with a loss. “You never want to lose one,” guard Logan Mankins said, “but that would make it tough.” The Cowboys will have cornerback Orlando Scandrick back from a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for all but the opener. He generally covers the slot receiver, Welker’s position. “It’s the fastest team we’ve played this year,” Belichick said. “You look at plays and you stop the film and you say, ‘Looks like this is going to be a good play,’ and then it just collapses. ... They haven’t given up very many plays, period, run or pass.” They did in their last game, a 34-30 loss to the Detroit Lions in which they squandered a 24-point, third-quarter lead and Romo threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. “You never want that to happen,” said Romo, who may have better luck Sunday against the NFL’s lowest-ranked defense. “You have to minimize turnovers in key situations. We did that for two of the games and two of the games we didn’t.” Brady had a different problem against the Jets. He was sacked four times and the pressure is likely to continue against DeMarcus Ware, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and a defense tied for eighth in the league with 13 sacks.

Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo hopes to lead the Cowboys to victory against the powerful Patriots this Sunday.

“He doesn’t let the pressure rattle him. His composure is not like any other quarterback,” Ware said. “You’ve got to do some things on defense to take them off kilter.” Brady has thrown six interceptions, but four came in a 34-31 loss at Buffalo. The Patriots have one fumble all season, but recovered it. “They are always doing everything right,” Ware said. Not quite, but they have won 19 straight regular-season games at home and scored at least 30 points in the last 13 regular-season games, one less than the record set by the St. Louis Rams in 1999-2000 The last team to hold New England below that total was Cleveland in a 34-14 win last Nov. 7. Rob Ryan was the Browns’ defensive coordinator, a position he holds now with the Cowboys. That gives them some extra insight into the Patriots, although Ryan is coaching different players. “If you have an experience where you played against a team before, you certainly go back and watch that game to see if there is anything that continues to relate to what that offense or defense is doing,” Garrett said. “I think we get more focus on what’s happening in 2011.” The Patriots knowledge of the Cowboys could get a boost from defensive end Andre Carter, who faced them 10 times in the last five years as a member of the Washington Redskins. “I have made a few pointers,” Carter said, “but I just think as regards to our study, we’ve been just dead on, constantly learning what they’re trying to do.” Both teams did plenty of preparation for each other long before this past week. “It wasn’t like we walked in here (last) Monday morning and were like, ‘Who are we playing this week? Let’s go to work on them,’ “ Belichick said. But once the game starts, both teams must adjust to what the unfamiliar players on the other side of the line of scrimmage are doing. “They change their scheme based on who they’re playing,” Belichick said. “What we get and what they did last (game) are probably two different things.”

Texans vs. Ravens BALTIMORE — Beating the Baltimore Ravens on the road is a difficult task, even for a healthy team riding a crest of momentum. So here come the Houston Texans, limping into town Sunday without their two best players and bringing a sore-armed quarterback whose final throw last week sealed a maddening loss to Oakland. The Texans (3-2) listed 18 players on their midweek injury report. Andre Johnson, Houston’s leading receiver, is recovering from surgery on his right hamstring; Mario Williams, Houston’s sack leader, is gone for the season with a torn pectoral muscle; and Matt Schaub saw limited practice time because of a tender shoulder. A year ago, Johnson had nine catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns in Houston’s 34-28 overtime loss to Baltimore. Williams never got to quarterback Joe Flacco, but the Ravens yielded four sacks while trying to nullify the big defensive end. Baltimore (3-1) is delighted both won’t be around for the rematch. “We know they’re going to have guys come in,” running back Ray Rice said. “But when you think about the next man up, you cannot replace an Andre Johnson, you cannot replace a Mario Williams. Those guys are names in the NFL that everyone knows. If we were playing them, we would have to account for those two guys.” Flacco, who’s been sacked eight times in four games thus far, won’t have to look over his shoulder for an oncoming Williams. “They’ve got a lot of good guys over there on defense, but anytime you take a guy like that out of the game, I don’t want to say it makes it easier, but it will definitely help us out a little bit,” Flacco said. Baltimore has won 12 of its last 13 home games — including blowouts this year over Pittsburgh and the New York Jets by a combined 69-24 score. And now, following a bye, the rested Ravens face a depleted Houston team coming off a 25-20 defeat to the Raiders in which Schaub threw an interception in the end zone as time expired.

“The more you think about it and the more you dwell on it, the more you’re hurting yourself for this week,” Schaub said. “So we’ve got to continue on and go to the next play.” Which very well might be handoff to Arian Foster, who ran for 100 yards last season against Baltimore. No one has done it since. “You have to hit him. He’s one of the most complete backs you can see,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. “We know with Andre being out and them going through some things offensively, they’re going to run the ball on us. I think we’re up for the challenge.” A year ago, Foster won the NFL rushing title while running behind Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach. Now, after signing as a free agent with Baltimore in August, Leach is blocking for Rice. “He’s one of my better friends in the NFL today,” Foster said of his former leading man. “I can’t wait to see him.” Leach was replaced in Houston by James Casey, who has a chest injury and might be forced to sit out Sunday’s game. “Well, next guy steps up,” said offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, a line that just might turn out to be the theme of Houston’s 2011 season. “It’s like anybody else — if we have somebody go down, we’re going to miss them, but somebody’s got to go out there and compete. Maybe our versatility isn’t what it was before, but we’ll make do.” Schaub threw for 416 yards last week, but he realizes nothing will come easy against a defense that features Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed and Lewis, who’s having another standout season at age 36. “He’s still Ray Lewis. He still plays instinctive, reacts to what he sees. He’s seen virtually everything that you can throw at him,” Schaub said. “You just have to know where he is, much like No. 20 (Reed) back end. You’ve got to know where he’s at and 55 (Suggs) up front. They have a ton of playmakers, and you’ve got to account for them wherever they are.” Baltimore scored three defensive touchdowns against the Jets and has forced 14 turnovers, tied for second in the league behind Buffalo (16).