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Zaffirini urges unity By JOE RUTLAND THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
State Sen.Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, is congratulated by 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez after her speech at the annual business meeting of the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at the Zapata Community Center on Thursday.Also pictured are Mario Garcia, foreground, and Jose F.“Paco”Mendoza Jr., executive director of the chamber.
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini encouraged the revitalized Zapata County Chamber of Commerce to continue working with other local organizations for the benefit of the community. Zaffirini, D-Laredo, who was the keynote speaker during the chamber’s annual business meeting earlier this week, said the chamber, Zapata County Economic Development Center, and Convention and Visitors Bureau can support the city’s vital business connections. “I strongly believe the leaders of Zapata know about the strength of working together,”
“We have plans to build the chamber and make it stronger, helping our community to move forward.” EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOSE F.‘PACO’ MENDOZA JR.
she told the gathering of local officials and business leaders at the Zapata County Community Center. “I especially like the fact that you reach out to your neighbors in Webb, Jim Hogg and Starr counties, among others.” Jose F. “Paco” Mendoza Jr., new executive director of the Zapata County Chamber of Com-
merce, told the crowd that “the chamber serves a vital role within the community. “We have plans to build the chamber and make it stronger, helping our community to move forward,” Mendoza said. Back in April, the then-board of directors made a call to close the Chamber of Commerce’s doors and lay off employees due
to lack of funds in the bank. Former Chamber of Commerce Chairman Boyd Carter said at the time that expenses connected to fishing tournaments on Falcon Lake had drained most of the organization’s finances. Hildegardo Flores, president of the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Center, said that the new board is ready to go to work. New board members include Flores, Yvonne Trapp, Sylvia Dodier, Aurelio Villarreal, David Schmidt, Rodney Cooper, John Rathmell, Norma Amaya and Avon Hatfield.
See CHAMBER | PAGE 13A
2 eye Pct. 4 board seat By TARYN WHITE THE ZAPATA TIMES
Diego Gonzalez, 54, is running against incumbent Zachary Garza, 58, for the precinct four position on the Zapata ISD school board. “I have been part of Zapata all my life and I care about the students and teachers in this district,” Gonzalez said. This is the only position in Zapata up for re-election where the incumbent is running opposed. According to Garza, that someone is running against him at all is a suprise. “I have been a school board
member for approximately 16 years, and this is the first time anyone has ever challenged me,” Garza said. Garza is from Roma and came to Zapata in 1974. He said he originally ran for school board as a favor to a friend, who, due to health reasons, could no longer serve on the board. All three of Garza’s children have graduated from the Zapata Independent School District. He said it is because of them and because of his love for the community that he wants to continue to
See ELECTIONS | PAGE 12A
Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times
Auctioneer Gary Lovett searches for bidders during an auction by ConocoPhillips to benefit United Way on Wednesday morning at Zapata’s convention center.
A LAKE VIEW
HOT BIDDING AT AUCTION
Monterrey reader enlightens story A
By ZACH LINDSEY THE ZAPATA TIMES
Bustamante reader of this Zapata publication recently communicated with some border residents, providing an online narrative about a land recipient tied to Laredo area historical figure, Tomas Sanchez de la Barrera. Sanchez, given the rank of a military captain through the offices of the viceroy of Nueva España, is credited with founding the Villa de San Agustin de Laredo. Villa de San Agustin de Laredo was one of the last of 21 villages emerging out of the Revilla-Zapata region on the Rio Grande frontier. Sanchez was a contemporary of another commissioned captain, Jose Borrego, who settled Revilla (Villa del Señor San Ignacio de
onocoPhillips employees and contractors raised $248,000 for the United Way of Laredo earlier this week during the COP annual auction, held this year at the Zapata Community Center. United Way of Laredo assists several Zapata agencies, including Helping Hands Food Pantry, Communities and Schools, the Boys and Girls Club of Zapata, and programs offered here by SCAN. Among the items auctioned Wednesday were four-wheelers, big-screen TVs, hunting and fishing trips, San Antonio Spurs tickets and a pie that went for $2,000.
C
See AUCTION | PAGE 12A
ODIE ARAMBULA Loyola de Revilla, 1750, years later renamed Guerrero) years before Tomas Sanchez had any notions about Villa de San Agustin de Laredo. According to archived material discovered in Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, the land grant cited by
See LAKE VIEW | PAGE 13A
San Ygnacio native marks 100 By ZACH LINDSEY THE ZAPATA TIMES
In his 100 years of living on the border, Ricardo Rodriguez has seen bandits attack and fought cancer, lived under the administration of 18 presidents, built highways and worked the railroads. Work has been his life. According to Rodriguez, it’s what got him through his first 100 years. “Quit your vices and put yourself to work like I have done,” the
still-active Rodriguez counseled in Spanish during an interview earlier this week. “Work honestly and eat well. I worked all my life.” The San Ygnacio native’s work record is a record of the history of the border and of the United States. He grew up working as a cowboy, building fences and rounding up cattle at ranches in and around Zapata County. In the 1930s, he worked for the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal agency that em-
ployed millions as part of relief aid to those affected by the Great Depression. He helped build U.S. 83, which connects Zapata and Laredo. Before the highway was built, Rodriguez said, the trip from San Ygnacio to Laredo took about a day and a half by horse. If the Arroyo Dolores was flooded, it would tack on another two or three days to the trip. In 1942, he moved to Laredo, where he lives today. He started working for H.B. Zachry at the Laredo Gunnery School. After
World War II, Rodriguez went back to ranch life, still working for Zachry. “I made good money,” Rodriguez recalled. And how much money was that? “I made 40 cents an hour, and our wages went up little by little,” he said proudly. In the 1950s, he began working for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, travelling around Texas. As Laredo modernized in the
See RODRIGUEZ | PAGE 12A
Courtesy photo
On Oct. 20, Ricardo Rodriguez, center, celebrated his centennial in the company of Mayor Raul Salinas,left,and the Laredo City Council,including Councilman Johnny Rendon,right.
Zin brief
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
AROUND THE NATION | IN BRIEF
55TH ANNIVERSARY OF GUERRERO CELEBRATION
U.S.training Pakistani forces to fight Taliban ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — U.S. special forces have begun teaching a Pakistani paramilitary unit how to fight the Taliban and al-Qaida, hoping to strengthen a key front-line force as violence surges on both sides of the border with Afghanistan. The sensitive mission puts rare American boots on the ground in a key theater in the war against extremist groups, but it risks fanning anti-U.S. sentiment among Pakistani Muslims already angry over suspected CIA missile attacks on militants in the same frontier region.
7 a.m.: Pesca de Lobina International Fishing Tournament, Parque Nuevo Amanecer 9 a.m.: Trailride,El Jaujal Ranch,km. 131 8 p.m.: La Bala Super Show
SUNDAY,OCT.26 10 a.m.: Parade 1 p.m.: Fishing tournament awards presentation 8 p.m.: Monterrey Ballet Folklorico; Mariachi Alegria End of anniversary celebration.
U.N.aids Iraqi Christians chased from Mosul
WHAT’S GOING ON MONDAY,OCT.27
TUESDAY,OCT.28 Texas-Oklahoma Shootout fishing tournament continues at Falcon Lake. For more information, call 765-4871. The global economic crisis will be discussed a town hall meeting at Texas A&M International University from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Western Hemispheric Trade Center Fernando A. Salinas Room, WHTC 111. Admission is free and open to all.
WEDNESDAY,OCT.29 A flu clinic will be held today at Zapata Middle School,17th and Carla streets, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring your Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP cards. The fee is $10 per person.
THURSDAY,OCT.30 It’s the last day of the Texas-Oklahoma Shootout fishing tournament at Falcon Lake. For more information, call 765-4871.
THURSDAY,NOV.6 A Drug Free Pep Rally will be held today at 6 p.m. at the Zapata County Courthouse. County Judge Rosalva Guerra will give the welcome; County Attorney Said A. Figueroa and Eddie Torres will be speakers.
FRIDAY,NOV.7 Zapata’s three-day sesquicentennial celebration begins at 9 a.m. today with a flag ceremony, park dedication, a tribute to veterans and a brief history of Zapata County in addition to several performances. A carnival and other events open in the event at the Zapata County Fair grounds. For more information, call 765-9920.
SATURDAY,NOV.8 A parade kicks off the day’s sesquicentennial events.The carnival and festival, including food booths, team roping and a cook-off,open at noon at the Zapata County Fair grounds. A fireworks display is scheduled for the evening, with a concert by Los Intocables.
SUNDAY,NOV.9 The Lopeño Festival gets underway at 8 a.m. in Lopeño with an almuerzo regional (regional breakfast) and historical reminiscing. At 9 a.m., it’s the Falcón Festival at Falcón with a visual historical presentation, exhibits, a continental breakfast, dedication of the Falcón Community Park (showcasing the antique bridge), followed by a Mass at Santa Ana Mission and lunch with musical entertainment.
Photo by Mark Lennihan | AP
A man watches stock prices at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square on Friday in New York. Wall Street joined world stock markets in a precipitous plunge Friday, with the Dow Jones industrials dropping more than 300 points and all the major indexes falling more than 3 percent.
Stocks dive on belief that global recession is at hand By TIM PARADIS ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Wall Street joined world stock markets in a selloff Friday, with the Dow Jones industrials dropping more than 300 points and all the major indexes falling more than 3 percent. The growing belief that a punishing economic recession is at hand had investors abandoning stocks. The pullback on Wall Street wasn’t quite as steep as some had feared despite the increased selling pace in afternoon trading. The massive declines began overseas after another round of grim corporate news stirred fears about the world’s economy. Investors also grew nervous after a decline in index futures before the market opened was so steep that selling halts were imposed. The anxiety Friday — demonstrated by the limits on futures and gyrations in everything from gold to the dollar — un-
derscored the fear and uncertainty that has gripped markets since the mid-September bankruptcy of investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the subsequent lockup in the world’s credit markets. The past month’s urgency to resuscitate lending was aimed at avoiding some of the problems that have nonetheless spread around the world. The latest reasons to worry about the economy came Friday — a profit warning from electronics maker Sony sent its shares sharply lower in Japan overnight and was only the latest example that companies are girding for a slowing economy and a pullback among consumers worried about falling housing values and losses in their investments. And in Germany, Daimler’s stock fell sharply after the automaker reported lower third-quarter earnings and abandoned its 2008 profit and revenue forecast.
Chrysler to cut 25 percent of salaried work force
to lose their jobs, although the company would not say how many contract workers it has.
DETROIT — Chrysler LLC, whose owner has been in talks to sell the automaker to General Motors Corp., said Friday it will cut 25 percent of its salaried work force starting next month and warned that it will make more restructuring announcements soon. CEO Robert Nardelli said the moves are being made as the company “works to find new ways to operate.” Chrysler, which has about 18,500 white-collar workers, said Friday it also will cut a quarter of its contract employees — those who work for other companies under contract with the automaker. About 5,000 people are likely
Execution delayed for convict in ’89 Ga.killing ATLANTA — A federal appeals court gave a last-minute reprieve Friday to a Georgia man set to be executed for the 1989 killing of an off-duty police officer even though several witnesses have changed their accounts of the crime. Troy Davis, 40, was scheduled to be executed Monday for the murder of Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail. But the three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered attorneys to draft briefs that address whether Davis can meet “stringent requirements” to pur-
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SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of Laredo Morning Times and those who buy LMT at newstands.The Zapata Times is inserted inside. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, PO Box 2129, Laredo,Texas 78044. Phone (956)728-2500 The Zapata office is at 1309 N. US Highway 83 at 14th Avenue,Suite 2; Zapata,TX,78076.Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes@att.com
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Today is Saturday, Oct. 25, the 299th day of 2008. There are 67 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 25, 1854, the “Charge of the Light Brigade” took place during the Crimean War as an English brigade of more than 600 men, facing hopeless odds, charged the Russian army and suffered heavy losses. On this date: In 1400, author Geoffrey Chaucer died in London. In 1760, Britain’s King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II. In 1939, the drama “The Time of Your Life,” by William Saroyan, opened in New York. In 1951, peace talks aimed at ending the Korean War resumed in Panmunjom after 63 days. In 1957, mob boss Albert Anastasia of “Murder Inc.” notoriety was shot to death in a barbershop inside the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York. In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly voted to admit mainland China and expel Taiwan. In 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of
President Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there. Ten years ago: Vice President Al Gore participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial dedicated to victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Five years ago: Thousands of anti-war protesters rallied in the nation’s capital and delivered a scathing critique of President Bush and his Iraq policy. The Florida Marlins won the World Series in Game 6 against the New York Yankees, 2-0. Trainer Richard Mandella won a record four races at the Breeders’ Cup. One year ago: President Bush visited Southern California, telling residents weary from five days of wildfires: “We’re not going to forget you in Washington, D.C.” The Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 2-1 at Fenway to take a 2-0 World Series lead. Today’s Birthdays: Former baseball player Bobby Thomson is 85. Former American League president Dr. Bobby Brown is 84. Actress Jeanne Cooper is 80. Actress Marion Ross is 80. Country singer Jeanne Black is 71. Author Anne Tyler is 67. Rock
BAGHDAD — The U.N. refugee agency said Friday that it was rushing aid to thousands of Christians who fled a northern Iraqi city, while a prominent Shiite cleric appealed for unity as lawmakers consider a U.S.Iraq security deal. Some 13,000 Christians have
been chased away by threats and extremist attacks in Mosul this month, said Ron Redmond, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. That number is over half the community in a city where Christians have lived since the early days of the religion.
Iraqis have money but lack know-how in spending it BAGHDAD — Iraq’s government has an unusual money problem as much of the world grapples with a credit crunch — it can’t spend its oil riches fast enough. The U.S. is trying to change that by training Iraqi bureaucrats struggling to emerge from a centralized system in which nearly all decisions — from where to build a water treatment plant to which workers would do the job — came from the top. Money also was scarce for more than a decade after the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions to punish Saddam Hussein’s regime for the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. —Compiled from AP reports
AROUND TEXAS | IN BRIEF
Photo by Matt Slocum | AP
Jacquline McClelland poses with a photo of her son Brandon McClelland on Friday in Paris,Texas. Brandon, a black man,was on a late-night beer run across state lines to Oklahoma with two white friends last month and ended up dead on a rural Texas road. Authorities say he was run over by a pickup and then dragged as far as 70 feet beneath the truck. Two white men have been charged with murder in the case.
Police: McCain volunteer made up robbery story
Russians,plus American tourist,return from space
PITTSBURGH — A McCain campaign volunteer made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter “B” scratched on her face in a politically inspired attack, police said Friday. Ashley Todd, 20-year-old college student from College Station, Texas, admitted Friday that the story was false and was being charged with making a false report to police, said Maurita Bryant, the assistant chief of the police department’s investigations division. Police doubted her story from the start, Bryant said.
MOSCOW — Soon after he touched down Friday, American space tourist Richard Garriott got a pat on the head and an admiring question from his astronaut father. Garriott, a 47-year-old computer game designer who lives in Austin, Texas, and created the Ultima game series, paid $30 million for trip to the International Space Station. When he lifted off Oct. 12, he became the first American to follow his father into space. Friday’s landing went perfectly — a relief to space officials. In the last two Soyuz landings, the craft went into “ballistic descent” — free fall — subjecting the occupants to high G-forces and sending one of the capsules far off target. —Compiled from AP reports
sue the next round of appeals.
Prominent former priest convicted of abusing boy CHICAGO — A prominent former Roman Catholic priest was convicted Friday of taking a boy on religious retreats to have sex with him. Donald McGuire, 78, was convicted after jurors deliberated less than three hours Thursday and Friday in the 2½-week trial. The federal charge involved taking a minor across state lines for sex. The white-haired former priest sat stoically in his wheelchair as U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer read the verdict that could result in a 30-year sentence. —Compiled from AP reports
TODAY IN HISTORY CONTACT US
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AROUND THE WORLD | IN BRIEF
SATURDAY,OCT.25
The four-day Texas-Oklahoma Shootout fishing tournament begins at Falcon Lake.For more information,call 765-4871.
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
ATTHE APOLLO singer Jon Anderson (Yes) is 64. Singer Taffy Danoff (Starland Vocal Band) is 64. Rock musician Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest) is 61. Actor Brian Kerwin is 59. Movie director Julian Schnabel is 57. Rock musician Matthias Jabs is 52. Actress Nancy Cartwright (“The Simpsons”) is 51. Country singer Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) is 50. Rock musician Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 46. Actress Tracy Nelson is 45. Actor Michael Boatman is 44. Actor Kevin Michael Richardson is 44. Singer Speech is 40. Actor Adam Goldberg is 38. Actor-singer Adam Pascal is 38. Rock musician Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies) is 38. Country singer Chely Wright is 38. Violinist Midori is 37. Actor Craig Robinson is 37. Actor Michael Weston is 35. Actor Mehcad Brooks (“Desperate Housewives”) is 28. Actor Ben Gould is 28. Rhythm-and-blues singer Young Rome is 27. Singer Ciara is 23. Thought for Today: “It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in.” — Lord Chesterfield, English author and statesman (1694-1773).
Photo by G. Marshall Wilson/Ebony Collection | AP
In this 1955 file photo, trumpeter Clark Terry walks with his son Rudolph under the Apollo Theater marquee after Terry’s first stage show with Duke Ellington’s band in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Columbia University and the Apollo Theater Foundation on Thursday announced a joint project to create an oral history of the famed Harlem theater that launched the careers of Ella Fitzgerald,Sarah Vaughan, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and other music legends.
Zlocal
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
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Jury finds plaintiff at fault; no money coming By JASON BUCH THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy photo
Laredo Police Officer Jorge A. Benavides recently was honored with a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Laredo for saving the life of Romeo Rodriguez, the Zapata County ISD superintendent. Shown left to right at the recognition ceremony are: Council members Gene Belmares, Cindy Liendo Espinoza and Jose Valdez Jr.; Police Chief Carlos Maldonado; Councilman Johnny Rendon; Officer Benavides; Mayor Raul Salinas; and Councilmen Hector “Tito” Garcia and Mike Garza.
Police officer keeps ZCISD superintendent from choking By ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES
A Laredo police officer is earning praise as a hero after he saved the life of Zapata CISD Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez at a Laredo restaurant. Rodriguez said that he was enjoying lunch with his son at Logan’s Roadhouse recently when he suddenly began to choke. Unable to breathe, he started looking around for help and spotted a uniformed police officer standing at the entrance. Officer Jorge Benavides was working on an unrelated case when Rodriguez suddenly approached, signaling that he was choking. “I just knew exactly what to do,” said Benavides, “I proceeded to get behind him and (perform) the Heimleich.” Rodriguez recalled receiving the life-giving maneuver, which involves thrusts to exert pressure on the diaphragm, with the goal of
“On the eighth attempt, I felt a flow of air reach deep into my lungs, feeling a great sense of relief.” ZAPATA CISD SUPERINTENDENT ROMEO RODRIGUEZ
expelling whatever is blocking the airway. “On the eighth attempt, I felt a flow of air reach deep into my lungs, feeling a great sense of relief,” the superintendent said. Benavides, who has been with the Laredo Police department for more than nine years, wasn’t looking for any accolades. “I was just doing my duties as a police officer,” he said. Joe Baeza, spokesman for the Laredo Police Department, said Benavides was in the right place at the right time. Whatever the case, Rodriguez is grateful for Benavides’ quick action.
“My family and I would like to express our most heart-felt thanks to Officer Benavides and his act of service to his fellow man,” said Rodriguez in a letter of commendation to the police department. “We realize that most of the communications received from citizens are usually complaints, but this is a letter of commendation to the men in blue.” Benavides was honored with a special recognition during a Laredo City Council meeting Monday. (Erika Lambreton can be reached at 728-2567 or e-mail at erika@lmtonline.com)
A Zapata County jury awarded no damages to a man who suffered severe injuries in a vehicle collision more than four years ago. Francisco Antonio Mendez claimed that Arturo Canales was at fault in a wreck that caused Mendez severe injuries. Mendez was driving an 18wheeler southbound on U.S. 83 in 2003 when he sideswiped the
smaller commercial truck Canales was driving on the northbound lane, testimony showed. Canales was driving from the Rio Grande Valley to deliver produce in Roma and Zapata. Mendez claimed Canales had come into his lane to avoid a pickup truck on the side of the road, and asked for $1 million in past and future damages, including more than $150,000 in medical bills.
Both sides presented testimony that the other was at fault, but a police report entered by a nowdeceased state trooper held Mendez at fault. The jury in the 49th District Court ruled that Mendez was at fault, so no damages were awarded. State District Judge Joe Lopez was is Zapata to preside over the case. (Jason Buch may be reached at 728-2547 or jbuch@lmtonline.com)
THE BLOTTER AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLYWEAPON A man who allegedly threw a pair of shears at a woman Thursday was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (family violence). Agustin Valadez-Valadez was booked and taken to Zapata County jail. According to the offense report, the assault happened at about 11 a.m. at a residence in the 200 block of Lozano Street,which is where Valadez-Valdez lives with the victim.
ASSAULT Sheriff’s deputies charged a man with Class C misdemeanor assault at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday following a domestic disturbance near U.S.83 and Davis Lane. Arnoldo Martinez was booked and taken to Zapata County jail. According to the offense report, deputies were attempting to arrest Martinez for the assault charge when he began to resist and make terroristic threats against sheriff’s deputies.
POSSESSION OFA CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE Sheriff’s deputies detained a male juvenile at about 3 p.m. Thursday at Zapata Middle School on the charge of possession of marijuana in a drug-fee zone. According to the offense report, au-
thorities seized the cigarette, which contained the marijuana. Two men were arrested Oct.18 near the intersection of 10th Street and Guerrero Avenue on the charge of possession of a controlled substance. Arnoldo Garza, of the 1500 block of Ramireño Street, and Jose Ernesto GarzaVillanueva, of the 400 block of Falcon Lane, were booked and taken to the Zapata County jail. According to the offense report, the two men were pulled over at about 1 a.m. for failure to use a turn signal.Upon search of the vehicle and its driver and passenger, authorities said they found about 2 grams of crack cocaine. Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man Oct.18 near the intersection of 10th Street and Medina Avenue on the charge of possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony,and possession of marijuana, a class-B misdemeanor. Sandalio Ramos, of the 1000 block of Villa Avenue,was booked and taken to the Zapata County jail at about 2:30 a.m. following the traffic stop. Authorities arrested two men at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday after a traffic stop near the intersection of 3rd and Roma streets. According to the offense report, Juan Jose Garcia, of the 300 block of Gonzalez Street, and Alexander Theodore Cuellar, of the 1100 block of Fresno Street, were
found to be in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. Both were booked and taken to Zapata County jail.
WARRANT SERVED A man wanted by the Harris County Sheriff’s Department was arrested Tuesday after being detained by U.S.Border Patrol agents. Ricardo Davalo Gonzales of Houston was turned over to sheriff’s deputies, booked and taken to the Zapata County jail, where he awaits extradition.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT Police arrested a 17-year-old student at about 12:15 p.m. Oct. 17 at Zapata High School on the charge of disorderly conduct. According to the offense report, Jose Armando Galvan,of the 1800 block of Diaz Street, was arrested after he became aggressive toward others and used vulgar language in the classroom.
HIT-AND-RUN Sheriff’s deputies responded to an alleged hit-and-run Oct. 17 at the intersection of 16th and Bravo. According to the offense report, an unidentified suspect driving a white pickup collided with a woman’s vehicle and fled the scene. It happened at about 5:30 a.m.
08/09 Season Concert Series
Heroes of Stage and Screen CONCERT 2
Sunday, October 26, 2008 • 3 pm Laredo Community College Underwritten by the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Foundation Soloists: Ayodele Casal (Tap Dance), Danrich, (Soprano), Martin Canavati (Tenor) Adrienne Danrich Overture "Die Zauberflöte" Wolfgang A. Mozart Paddywak - Concerto for Tap Dance Robert Kapilow Peter Grimes -Four Sea Interludes Benjamin Britten Act II Duet - Un Ballo in Maschera\ Guiseppe Verdi Celeste Aida Guiseppe Verdi Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves - Nabucco Guiseppe Verdi Finale Act 1 La Boheme Giacomo Puccini Un Bel Di - Madame Butterfly Giacomo Puccini Nessun Dorma-Turandot Giacomo Puccini
SEASON TICKET Adults: $100 Seniors: (62+) $85 INDIVIDUAL TICKET Adults: $25 Seniors: (62+) $17
For tickets and more information, call the Laredo Center for the Arts 956-725-1715.
Zopinion
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
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OTHER VIEWS
EDITORIAL
Congress must protect species SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
t’s a time of maximum danger for the environment. The clock is winding down on the Bush administration, leaving little time to fulfill its long-cherished dreams of weakening endangered species protections. Not known for worrying about manipulating the rules, facts or common sense, the administration appears ready to go to absurd lengths to rush through damaging changes. Consider how the Department of the Interior is hurrying to cement into federal policy the administration’s highhanded disdain for scientific advice, with a proposed rule that would exclude greenhouse gases and the advice of federal biologists from decisions about whether dams, power plants and other federal projects could harm endangered species. According to an Associated Press report, agency officials will review — so to speak — the 200,000 comments on the policy at a pace of one every nine seconds. Somewhat similarly, the Na-
I
tional Marine Fisheries Service is working on a rule to expedite all environmental reviews of fisheries decisions. After scheduling only three public hearings around the country, the agency then cut short a July hearing in Seattle, the only West Coast opportunity to comment. U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott last month requested an extension of the comment period. The National Resources Defense Council questions whether Interior’s policy will even meet legal requirements. It’s particularly disappointing to see blatant politicization in Interior, where we have admired Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and thought of him as someone who could serve well in a McCain administration. Kempthorne’s aim apparently is to finish work early enough so the devastation of environmental protections can’t be undone by the next administration without a years long formal review. There is an alternative that doesn’t require waiting for a new administration. Congress should put an immediate stop to this nonsense.
COLUMN
Polls may not tell the whole story t this juncture, I wouldn’t want to bet even a subprime mortgage on this presidential election. As perhaps never before, multiple hidden factors could alter the outcome. Judging by polls, it would seem that Barack Obama will be our next president. Last week’sWashington Post-ABC tracking poll, for example, showed Obama even winning 22 percent of conservatives and getting 12 percent support among Republicans. But polls only reflect what people say they think, not what they really think. Which is to say, we have both an election and a shadow election in progress. The latter, in which unconscious motivations come into play and buried prejudices surface in the privacy of one’s voting space, is the one that counts — and that can’t be quantified in advance. The 2008 election may prove to be history’s highest stakes game of Liar’s Dice. Among the hidden factors is the so-called Bradley Effect, meaning that whites lie to pollsters about their support for a black candidate. It is cited as the reason Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley lost to George Deukmejian in the 1982 California governor’s race, despite polls showing him up to seven points ahead. But equally significant this time may become known as the Reverse-Bradley Effect: whites who would never admit to voting for a black man, but do. And, expanding the definition somewhat, Republicans and conservatives who would never admit to voting for a Democrat, especially one so liberal. Whether these dynamics are in balance won’t be known for a while — or perhaps ever. That’s because the crux of the reverse syndrome is a code of omerta. No one talks. While some have minimized the impact of a Bradley effect in this election, we’d be wrong to discount it. Anti-black has morphed to some degree into anti-foreigner and anti-Muslim. “Palling around with terrorists,” as Sarah Palin said of Obama, gets to an underlying xenophobic, anti-Muslim sentiment. Using surrogates who strategically use Obama’s middle name, Hussein, feeds the same dark heart. This tactic, denied but undeniable, has been effective with target audiences, some of whom can be viewed on YouTube entering a Palin rally in Pennsylvania. One cherubic older fellow totes a stuffed Curious George monkey wearing an Obama sticker as a hat. “This is little Hussein,” he says, holding the monkey up to the camera and cackling as he walks away. To McCain’s credit, he has tried to correct his audience — when,
A
KATHLEEN PARKER for example, a woman said she couldn’t trust Obama because he’s an Arab. Gosh, wonder where she ever got that idea? But the McCainPalin bad cop-good cop routine is what it is. The hot babe lathers the crowd; the noble soldier hoses them down. This isn’t a campaign; it’s a sideshow. Nevertheless, it is fair to concede that a few fruitcakes — those who yell epithets or make racial slurs — are not representative of Republicans, any more than those now Photoshopping ugly (and violent) depictions of Palin should be considered typical of Democrats. One can hope that the uglies will cancel each other out. That leaves an X Factor of possibly exponential proportions that includes not just the Bradleys, but the Reverse-Bradleys. I’ve received too many e-mails and had too many conversations that began, “Just between you and me,” and ended with, “I wouldn’t want anyone at work to know,” to believe that this is an insignificant trend. Sitting quietly at their desks are an unknown number of discreet conservatives who surprise themselves as they mull their options. Appalled by McCain’s erratic behavior, both in dealing with the financial crisis and his selection of an unsuitable running mate, they will quietly (and with considerable trepidation) vote for Obama. Are they are worried about higher taxes, a premature withdrawal from Iraq, and Obama’s inexperience in matters executive? You betcha. But they do not want to vote for a divisive, anti-intellectual ticket headed by a man who, though they admire him, lately has made them embarrassed to be Republicans. Should Obama win, it will be in part because some quiet, mostly white-collar men and women who speak Republican in public voted Democratic in private. Whatever the final tally, Obama should not interpret his victory as a mandate. Many of the Reverse-Bradley ballots won’t have been votes cast for Obama, but against a campaign turned ugly. They also will have been delivered with solemn prayers that Obama will govern as the centrist, pragmatic leader he is capable of being. (Reach Kathleen Parker at kparker@kparker.com)
YOUR OPINION Zaffirini has experience,intelligence and is an articulate champion for South Texas To the editor: Louis Bruni has already made a fool of himself by his arrogant attack on Senator Zaffirini, topped off by insulting his hosts at the Webb County Republican Women’s event by telling the people there to “get the hell out of here” if they didn’t like what he was saying — and that was in someone else’s home where he was a guest speaker.
How do you think Bruni would be accepted in the Texas Legislature with such a rude, arrogant attitude? It makes one wonder if he is playing with a full deck. Now, I understand that he is trying to buy the senate seat by enormous, expensive politicking in the heavily populated areas of our 2lst senatorial district in and around San Antonio. That means we all must get out
the vote for Judith Zaffirini’s reelection to continue her fight to help the great people of South Texas. She is a highly successful advocate for our children’s education and numerous health care programs for the poor and the elderly, as well as the young. She has the most outstanding record for attendance in the Texas Senate for several terms. Now, I ask you simply: Do
you want to keep an experienced, articulate, highly intelligent champion as our spokesperson in the State Senate or do you want to waste your vote on an arrogant loser? The answer is a no-brainer: A vote for Zaffirini is a winner for the future of all Texans; a vote for Bruni is like betting on a horse with no rider. ’Nuff said? Signed, Clifford A. Gibeaut
Obama more of a leader than Bush; McCain was one of the Keating Five To the editor: Barack Obama is the right person for the times. Obama is more of a leader then Bush junior. Where were those that are crying about everything is wrong with Obama in the 1970s during the Savings & Loan scandal? Does any one remember the Keating Five? Those were the five senators, including John McCain, who intervened with federal regulators to help Charles Keating, who was later convicted of fraud in that scandal, which ended up costing taxpayers
more than $2 billion. Keating was stealing — of course, when it’s the rich, they say “manipulating” — taking money from his savings and loan company for his family and for political campaigns. McCain, a good friend of Keating’s, took vacations at Keating’s expense and accepted more than $100,000 dollars from Keating in campaign contributions. The Senate Ethics Committee investigated all five senators, and McCain was criticized for poor judgement. McCain is a
hero but he is no angel. In a letter to the editor published by Leon Ramirez in Laredo Morning Times on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, Mr. Ramirez writes as if the world will fall apart if Obama is elected president. Well, I would like to know if Mr. Ramirez has been under a rock not to see what is happening now with the Republican leadership. They want to blame everything on the Democrats when Republicans have been in charge for six years out of the last seven years. They act like little kids, saying
“it’s your fault if you do not clean it up,” then they try to block everything by distorting any good intentions the Democrats have. In Laredo, we know even some of those who say they are Democrats are Republican. Go by the Democrats’ campaign headquarters and you will not see any Obama signs on the yard. A week ago, I put a sign in the yard, I went by four days later, and did not see the sign anymore. Signed, Avelino Juarez
Race should not be a deciding factor this election; studies show human life started in Africa To the editor: With our nation in crisis and a few days from the most historic and socially significant election in American history, let me address a little discussed factor that cannot be ignored. We may never know how many of our fellow citizens will cast their ballots this November based solely on the basis of one candidate’s skin color. Is it conceivable that more than a few of my brother Latinos, members of one of the largest minorities in the U.S., may choose to vote against someone because of a “funny” name or darker pigmentation? Race relations have improved considerably since 1964, when the Civil Rights Act was
passed and helped Blacks and Latinos register to vote and state sanctioned discrimination was abolished. Racial prejudice has existed for thousands of years and slaves in most countries were almost always black. One is hard pressed to find a group of our population, save for the Jews, throughout history who has suffered more persecution because of who they were at birth than our darker-skinned brethren. When we identify a person of being of the Negro race, what does it really signify? According to Stanford University geneticists, Spencer Wells and Luca Cavalli Sforza, a 15-year research study confirmed that every human being
alive today is the direct descendant of a small tribe of Bushmen in Namibia in Central Africa. The results are in a book and film entitled “The Journey of Man.” Their investigation concluded that approximately 50,000 - 80,000 years ago modern humans totaled only about 10,000 in number and were in danger of extinction. Using DNA and mitochondrial evidence, they were able to trace the earliest family back 2,000 generations to the aforementioned Sun Bushmen. Another documentary and book, “The Real Eve” by Stephen Oppenheimer, confirms that our earliest direct ancestors left Africa and migrated to India, Australia, Europe,
Asia, and eventually into North and South America. The differences in height and pigmentation were caused by evolutionary factors such as climate and exposure to the sun. Both studies conclude that we are all Africans under the skin. Faced with such evidence, I have to marvel at thousands of years of “racial” prejudice when in reality all men share the same Y chromosome. Instead of discriminating based on skin color, we should be thanking our black brothers and sisters for our very existence. The study proves conclusively that we are all of one race — the human race. Signed, David Almaraz
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 isn’t published in the paper; it is used solely to verify identity and to
clarify content, if necessary. People who want to air their opinions publicly must do so openly. We want to assure our readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter; pseudonyms are not accepted. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility.
No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day. We do publish “thank you” letters, but due to limited space, we ask writers to list no more than 10 names in such letters. Letters with more than 10 names will
SHOE | BY CHRIS CASSATT
not be published. Send letters to Letters to the Editor; 111 Esperanza Drive; Laredo, TX 78041. Or send via email to editorial@lmtonline.com Letters also may be dropped off at the office during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
LOCAL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 5A
Leave a local legacy by giving to the LACF
STUDENTS OF THE WEEK
By PATI GUAJARDO SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Courtesy photo
In the bottom row, left to right, are: Lupito Garcia,Anissa Chapa, Cherokee Medina,Juan Zapata, Orlando Chapa,Angelica Alvarez, Francisco Tovar, David Chapa, Natalia Amaro and Yahaira Navarro; middle row, left to right, are: Angel Torres,Jocelyn Guzman,Andrea Martinez, Heather Hernandez, Karime Nino, Larissa Salinas, Pedro Lopez, Mateo Mendoza, Ailed Gutierrez and Mariela Hernandez; top row, left to right, are: Natalie Mendoza, Roberto Olivares, Herman Guzman, Francisco Guzman, Carlos Leal,Andrea Garza, Isabel Gonzalez, Diana Camacho, Gissell Ramirez. Not pictured Kristopher Hinkle, Isabel Lerma and Joseph Gamez.
We do the work. You get the credit. Do you write a lot of checks to charity? If you answered “yes,” then simplify your life by establishing a charitable fund at the Laredo Area Community Foundation, or LACF. We’ll handle the details. At the end of the year, you will receive a letter documenting your charitable contribution. In addition, you can take the charitable deduction this year and decide how to invest in your community anytime in the future.
Helping out More importantly, you’ll get the joy of knowing you’re helping the charities you care about most. That is the beauty of the Donor Advised Fund. The Donor Advised Fund allows families to become philanthropic with an initial investment of $10,000 to establish the fund. Let us show you how easy it can be to become a philanthropist in the community you call home. The community foundation can help you plan and carry out your charitable giving. It’s easier than you think. Another benefit of the advised fund is that fund advisers and successor advisers may be named to recommend grants to local nonprofits from the fund. In addition, grants may be made anonymously if the donor so chooses. Lastly, there is no need
HITTING A HOME RUN
Courtesy photo
2008 Villarreal Elementary School PTO officers led a fundraiser, using the proceeds to purchase a backstop for a playgroup. Pictured, left to right, are Lea Cruz, Leonor Guzman, Miriam Chapa, Olga Elizondo, Cynthia Morales, Connie Winkler and Beverly Ruiz.
Another benefit of the advised fund is that fund advisers and successor advisers may be named to recommend grants to local nonprofits from the fund. to draft trust instruments or file separate tax returns for your fund. A Donor Advised Fund agreement is simple and straightforward. Throughout the United States, donor advised funds are lowering the barriers to family philanthropy by offering a cost effective method to create a legacy of giving. The Donor Advised Fund can also assist a family with the administration of a private foundation. It cannot get any easier than that.
A gift of charity If you have been thinking about a family legacy of giving, then a charitable bequest could be the most important gift you ever make. A gift in your will can establish an endowed fund at LACF that will do good work forever in your name. If this sounds appealing to you and your family, then a permanent endowment could be in your future. The foundation’s “Legacy Society” is composed of individuals who decided to leave a legacy to a cause they care about deeply. Another benefit of belonging to the Legacy Society is the satisfaction of
For medical information, read The Zapata Times’ monthly Salud
knowing that your long-range plans will help the nonprofit community serve those in need for generations to come.
Joining a legacy Membership in the Legacy Society is one way in which the Community Foundation expresses its appreciation to these visionaries. To learn more about the services of the community foundation, call the foundation office at 796-1700. Or speak with any of the foundation board members. The officers of the board are Irving Greenblum, president; Richard P. Perez, vice president; Nancy de Anda, treasurer; and Elizabeth Sames, secretary. Board members include Ray M. Keck, Barbara A. Kazen, Melissa Peters, James B. Harrell, William B. Green, Robert H. Summers, Nancy N. de Anda, Diane D. Gates, Mercurio Martinez Jr., Priya Vaswani, Fernando Zuñiga III, Adriana McKendrick, Adrienne Treviño and Rosie Glassford. (Pati Guajardo is the executive director of the Laredo Area Community Foundation, which includes Zapata)
NATIONAL
6A | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
Starving cattle amid high 2 Greenhouse gas prices for feed in Neb. levels worry scientists By NATE JENKINS
By SETH BORENSTEIN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BUTTE, Neb. — The dead were stacked in two piles, 70 cows in one, 30 in another, hidden away in the crevices of this scenic, hilly ranch country where cattle outnumber people. Carl Schuman, a former county prosecutor who owned the cattle with his two brothers, says he knows what happened: They died “mostly of old age, and some younger ones got pneumonia.” But state investigators have another theory about what happened earlier this year on the Schuman ranch, where pastures this summer were nearly stripped bare from overgrazing while grass in adjoining pastures was about a foot high. They think the animals might have starved to death. Investigators haven’t had to go out of their way to find dead cattle in Nebraska, where 6.5 million head roam. Since early this year, three cases of alleged starvation deaths involving a total of about 240 cattle have been reported in Nebraska — more than some officials can recall. The state attorney general has been investigating the Schuman ranch deaths since shortly after the piles were found March 15. No charges have been filed. The latest case of alleged neglect surfaced earlier this month in southeastern Nebraska near Fairbury. Officials said they found many of the cows in a herd of about 80 near death at a defunct dairy farm. The third case came in late April, when 25 cattle carcasses were found in a Merrick County pasture just outside of Grand Island. Ted Robb and Dustin Dugan pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of improper disposal of carcasses after felony animal neglect charges were dropped. They now face fines instead of jail time. And in January, 111 cattle were found starved to death and another 140 emaciated in Red Willow County. Charges were never filed against the owner. “Neglect cases are on the rise,
WASHINGTON — Carbon dioxide isn’t the only greenhouse gas that worries climate scientists. Airborne levels of two other potent gases — one from ancient plants, the other from flat-panel screen technology — are on the rise, too. And that’s got scientists concerned about accelerated global warming. The gases are methane and nitrogen trifluoride. Both pale in comparison to the global warming effects of carbon dioxide, produced by the burning of coal, oil and other fossil fuels. In the past couple of years, however, these other two gases have been on the rise, according to two new studies. The increase is not accounted for in predictions for future global warming and comes as a nasty surprise to climate watchers. Methane is by far the bigger worry. It is considered the No. 2 greenhouse gas based on the amount of warming it causes and the amount in the atmosphere. The total effect of methane on global warming is
Photo by Merrick County Sheriff’s Office/file | AP
This undated file photo provided by the Merrick County Sheriff’s oOffice shows what may be a starving cow from a herd that investigators say lost 25 head to starvation, near Grand Island, Neb. This year, about 240 head of cattle died of starvation in Nebraska. Officials say neglect cases are on the rise, and some suspect the higher price of feed has something to do with it. and what’s causing it, I’m not sure,” said Steven Stanec, executive director of the Nebraska Brand Committee, a state agency that helps police the cattle industry. “We’re having whole herds of hundreds of cattle being neglected.” Stanec and others say the cases from early this year don’t share a clear-cut cause. But, he said, “I would say the higher price of feed has something to do with it.” In recent months the per-ton cost of hay has risen by about 80 percent, adding to the already high costs of other feed caused by lofty corn prices, which have slipped recently. High commodity and fuel prices have encouraged farmers to stop raising hay, which is mostly used to feed cattle in the winter and early spring, said Neil Tietz,
editor of Hay & Forage magazine. Tietz said hay prices are “certainly the highest I’ve ever seen.” And even with the recent drops in oil and commodity prices, Tietz expects hay prices to creep higher this coming winter, which could cause even more cases of starvation. Livestock experts and those who track animal abuse cases nationally, including the Humane Society of the United States, say they don’t know whether livestock neglect cases are on the rise across the country. But they predict high hay prices will lead to more cattle herds slowly wasting away from starvation in remote pastures. “We are going to have more cases of this,” said Temple Grandin, professor of animal science at Colorado State University.
Young train fans can pose dangerous distraction By MICHAEL TARM ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — For young fans of trains, getting an up-close look at the massive machinery can be a dream fulfilled. For train workers, indulging the kids’ fantasies can be an ego boost. To rail officials, it’s distressing, forbidden and potentially deadly. A series of recent incidents suggests some engineers are crossing the line and putting passengers at risk by giving fawning young admirers too much access to trains. An engineer in Chicago was recently suspended after reports that he let a teen operate a commuter train, a ride that the 18-year-old boasted about on his MySpace page. And a crash between a freight train and a commuter train that killed 25 people last month in Los Angeles allegedly occurred seconds after the commuter-train engineer sent a text message
to some young train buffs. These and other incidents have unnerved passengers and railway officials alike, and they’ve raised questions about whether oversight and safety rules are adequate. Passengers entering locomotive cabs and driving trains “is not an epidemic,” said Matthew Melzer, a spokesman for the National Association of Railroad Passengers. “But what it brings into focus is that there are human safety factors.” The crux of the issue is concentration — ensuring engineers keep their attention on the controls and on the tracks ahead. As commuter trains barrel along increasingly congested tracks, some sharing lines with freight trains, an accident is at least a possibility at any second, said Judy Pardonnet, a spokeswoman for Chicago’s Metra. Among the potential hazards are car drivers who foolishly try to slip around crossing gates.
“This is a heads up. We’re seeing smoke. It remains to be seen whether this is the fire we’re really worried about.” MIT ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTIST RON PRINN
about one-third that of manmade carbon dioxide. Methane comes from landfills, natural gas, coal mining, animal waste, and decaying plants. But it’s the decaying plants that worry scientists most. That’s because thousands of years ago billions of tons of methane were created by decaying Arctic plants. It lies frozen in permafrost wetlands and trapped in the ocean floor. As the Arctic warms, the concern is this methane will be freed and worsen warming. Scientists have been trying to figure out how they would know if this process is starting. It’s still early and the data are far from conclusive, but scientists say they are concerned that what they are seeing could be the start of the release of the
Arctic methane. After almost eight years of stability, atmospheric methane levels — measured every 40 minutes by monitors near remote coastal cliffs — suddenly started rising in 2006. The amount of methane in the air has jumped by nearly 28 million tons from June 2006 to October 2007. There is now more than 5.6 billion tons of methane in the air. “If it’s sustained, it’s bad news,” said MIT atmospheric scientist Ron Prinn, lead author of the methane study, which will be published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters Oct. 31. “This is a heads up. We’re seeing smoke. It remains to be seen whether this is the fire we’re really worried about.”
Guantanamo Bay guards struggle with hunger striker By BEN FOX ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Three years ago, the man known as Internment Serial Number 669 stopped eating. Ahmed Zaid Zuhair, a compact 43-year-old with 10 children in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, had been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2002 without charges and decided to join a mass hunger strike in protest. The U.S. military was determined not to let him succeed. Since then, according to court documents reviewed by The Associated Press, guards have struggled with him repeatedly, at least once using pepper spray, shackles and brute force to drag him to a restraint chair for his twice-daily dose of a liquid nutrition mix force-fed through his nose. The documents, filed in federal court in Washington, are a rare look at the military tactics used on hunger strikers, which have sparked international condemnation but remained hidden from view, with officials refusing to even confirm the identity of the men taking part in the protest. Zuhair’s attorney, Yale Law School lecturer Ramzi Kassem, says the tactics described in the documents amount to “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.” The military says the only reason it uses such tactics is that Zuhair is violent and dangerous. “ISN 669 has a very long history of disciplinary violations and noncompliant, resistant and combative behavior,” according to Army Col. Bruce Vargo, com-
Photo by Zuhair family | AP
This picture released by attorney Ramzi Kassem and made available Thursday shows Guantanamo Bay detainee Ahmed Zaid Zuhair in an undated family picture taken in Saudi Arabia. mander of Guantanamo Bay’s guards. Zuhair’s protest is the remnant of a mass hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay that began in the summer of 2005, with prisoners celebrating the 10 Irish Republican Army and Irish National Liberation Army militants who starved themselves to death in Britain’s Maze prison in 1981 while demanding political-prisoner status. At its peak, 131 prisoners were refusing meals at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba. The U.S. began force-feeding prisoners, but some were regurgitating the liquid-nutrient mix. In January 2006, commanders adopted a
practice borrowed from American civilian prisons of strapping detainees into a special restraint chair for the feedings, and the number of strikers quickly dropped off. Eventually there were just two: Zuhair and another Saudi, Abdul Rahman Shalabi. The number has since fluctuated; 12 were participating Friday. A number of prisoners have alleged brutal treatment during the hunger strike, and lawyers and human rights groups have accused guards of using unnecessary force. Kassem and other attorneys say their clients have mostly complied with the forcefeeding, and that the U.S. has used rough treatment in an effort to break the strike. Physicians for Human Rights, the World Medical Association and the United Nations, among others, have condemned the use of restraint chairs and other tactics. In a 2006 protest, Physicians for Human Rights said “the infliction of pain and suffering to discourage a hunger strike violates U.S. law and basic principles of human rights.” The U.S. military has denied any abuse, though it has offered few if any details about what happens between guards and prisoners behind the coiled-razor wire. Navy Cmdr. Pauline Storum, a spokeswoman for the detention center, said Friday that the military was required “under federal law and Department of Defense policy, to preserve the health and well-being of all detainees under our control.” “When a detainee refuses to
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 7A
Zentertainment
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
8A
‘Pride and Glory’ a formulaic cop thriller By CHRISTY LEMIRE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Courtesy photo
Pictured here are “apes with shapes,” a few of the members of the international cast of Cirque Dreams’“Jungle Fantasy.”
Of Cirque Dreams to come SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Direct from Broadway, Cirque Dreams’ “Jungle Fantasy” has been proclaimed “the grandest circus spectacle east of Vegas” by New York Magazine. The show, which debuted at the Broadway theater in June 2008, is the first ever of its kind to perform on the Great White Way. This groundbreaking theatrical, acrobatic and musical adventure was this past summer’s must-see Broadway entertainment sensation for audiences of all ages. Cirque Dreams’ “Jungle Fantasy” now soars into the Laredo Entertainment Center on Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. for one special performance. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday. Created and directed by Neil Goldberg, Cirque Dreams’ “Jungle Fantasy” is an exotic encounter inspired by nature’s unpredictable creations, which are brought to life by an international cast of 25 soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, ac-
“Cirque Dreams’ ‘Jungle Fantasy’ remains true to my original Cirque Dreams vision, which began with the company in 1993 ... .” “JUNGLE FANTASY” CREATOR NEIL GOLDBERG
Everything about this dirtycop thriller is formulaic and forgettable, even down to its generic title. “Pride and Glory” could be an uplifting drama about a basketball team breaking racial barriers, or it could be about an elite squadron of World War II fighter pilots. You’d never know the difference and it wouldn’t matter anyway. Instead, it’s an overlong saga of good and bad New York police officers battling for control, one that that plays out both in back alleys and quiet suburbs. Edward Norton and Colin Farrell star as brothers-in-law and brothers in blue. When a cop killer takes down four of their comrades, years of schemes and resentments come bubbling to the surface. It’s no secret who’s on which side: Norton’s Detective Ray Tier-
Photo by Warner Bros. | AP
In this image released by Warner Bros., Edward Norton is shown in a scene from “Pride and Glory.” ney is the honorable one and Farrell’s Jimmy Egan, who’s married to Ray’s sister (Lake Bell), is on the take. But Ray’s older brother, Francis (Noah Emmerich), whose men were killed in the ambush,
ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
robats, jugglers and musicians. The astounding feats performed in this action-packed Cirque Dream are enhanced with more than 150 spectacular costumes and set in a fantastical jungle ignited by striking visual effects. From the breathtaking aerial ballet of butterflies to the balancing giraffes, gigantic flowers and trees, this world-class explosion of athleticism, theater and imagination will be an exhilarating experience for the entire family. “Jungle Fantasy” is the latest brainchild of Goldberg’s theatrical imagination and Cirque Productions, creators of international performance and touring sensations Cirque Ingenieux,
Cirque Dreams Pandemonia, Cirque Dreams Coobrila, Cirque Dreams Illumination and Cirque Dreams Holidaze. More than 1 million fans throughout the U.S. have attended a Cirque Dreams show in the last year. “Cirque Dreams’ ‘Jungle Fantasy’ remains true to my original Cirque Dreams vision, which began with the company in 1993 — to blend European artistry with circus and Broadway theatrics in a dramatic fashion that transcends imagination and leaves its narration to the eyes of the beholder,” Goldberg said. The New York Daily News hails “Jungle Fantasy” as “colorful, imaginative and expertly performed … a fantasy worth indulging.”
is also a factor, as is patriarch Francis Tierney Sr. (Jon Voight), the head of the detective division. These are Irish cops, and just to pile on the cliches, Ray and Jimmy have a climactic, knockdown-drag-out brawl in an Irish
‘Heroes’return The award-winning Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra will continue its 29th season with its second concert Sunday at 3 p.m. at Laredo Community College’s Guadalupe and Lilia Martínez Fine Arts Center. Featured soloists include Ayodele Casal performing a tap dance and soprano Adrienne Danrich and local tenor Martin Canavati, who will perform excerpts of “Barber of Seville.” Individual concert tickets are $25 for adults and $17 for seniors, and students with school ID get in free.
‘Tintas’to shine Gallery 201, 513 San Bernardo Ave., will once
again welcome Armando Meza, from Saltillo, Coahuila, and Ginger Richter, of Laredo, for their new exhibit, “Tintas de Cristela,” on Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. The public is invited to meet the artists and view their work. For more information, call 2370627 or 725-4278.
Recital de poesía,música y danza Celebrate Hispanic culture at Texas A&M International University as the Club de Español Siglo XXI delivers its “Recital de poesía, música y danza” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the TAMIU Student Center Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. The work will show the vast cultures found in Hispanic countries, including ballet folklórico performances, Spanish dance, music performances with original songs by students and a poetry recital with works by Hispanic poets.
Zlife
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
MISS MANNERS | BYJUDITH MARTIN
Emergency: Neighbor needs her beauty sleep DEAR MISS MANNERS — Our neighborhood has a listserve where people discuss and post issues from yard sales to neighborhood functions. The following was posted: “Hi Neighbors, Does anyone know whether there are any regulations in place MARTIN regarding the use of emergency sirens during the night/early morning hours? “While I recognize the need for sirens when emergency vehicles are traveling, with the purpose of alerting other vehicles and/or pedestrians, the sirens can also be extremely loud especially when used constantly rather than intermittently. Both this morning and yesterday morning, my children (and my husband and I) were awoken between 6:30 and 6:45 am by very loud sirens. Before moving here, we never had this problem.” Wondering if you could publish just what exactly is wrong with this scenario. It is rather humorous, albeit disturbing! GENTLE READER — Indeed. One wouldn’t think that respectable people needed to be reminded to have their heart attacks and house fires at a decent hour. Miss Manners certainly hopes that is the case with this neighbor. As the lady is new in the neighborhood, she has the opportunity to serve as an example of those who are generous enough to value others’ slumber over their own life, limb and property. DEAR MISS MANNERS — My husband has always let our son, who is now 3, play with various items on the table when we go out to eat. These items include sugar packets, creamers, jelly packets and things of that nature. I think it’s gross that they are
playing with things that other people will actually use for their food and drink, but my husband thinks it’s no big deal because these items are wrapped. I chose to let it go several times in the past in an attempt to not be controlling and let him do his thing. However, when my son and I went out to lunch with his aunt and her children, my son went to grab for these items, to which his aunt immediately said “no, no” because she was closest to him. I want to make this a consistent rule that he not be allowed to play with these items to avoid confusion in the future. Although my husband is willing to back me up on this rule, we still are curious as to the manners aspect of it. GENTLE READER — The reason is that it revolts other people. In better days, when children were routinely taught table manners (and conversation) every night at the family dinner table, the most frequently heard admonition was “Don’t play with your food.” Intermixed with “Tell us about your science project” and “Pay attention to what your father is saying; you might learn something” were specific instructions, such as “Stop making a volcano out of your mashed potatoes and gravy,” “Stop blowing bubbles in your milk” and “Stop throwing peas at your sister.” And so on, about everything on the table, including the candles, the napkins and certainly including all foods. If anyone questions this, Miss Manners can supply a cautionary tale about an American ambassador in Europe who lost his job for not obeying. At a state dinner, he bet his dinner partner that he could shoot a pea across the table into the decolletage of the lady seated opposite him. Won the bet but lost the job.
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The makings of a monster By ZACH LINDSEY LAREDO MORNING TIMES
f you’re ready to shell out some big bucks on a Halloween costume, there are some tips and tricks the pros have to keep the price of your costume from turning scary. “The No. 1 mistake people make when they buy a cheap mask … is most masks are not designed to be worn by a particular person,” said Joe Ceballos, a professional makeup artist working at The Asylum, a haunted house at 9420 Polaris St. Applying a little bit of black makeup around the eyes will work wonders to make the mask look a little less cheap and a little more intimidating.
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Cutting corners Ceballos has worked from here to Hollywood on movie sets and in haunted houses, and one thing he’s learned is how to cut corners while still keeping makeup application a fine art. “Don’t buy the expensive makeup,” he said. “The cheap stuff tends to work just as good as the expensive stuff.” The key to using the cheap makeup is in the mix. “Never use makeup straight out of the bottle,” Ceballos says. “White looks too white, black looks too black. Don’t be afraid to mix. I always buy the primary colors, and I mix as I go along.”
Getting scary Kal Ismail, the producer of La Hacienda’s Haunted Mansion, says it’s the subtle touches that make a costume scary. “If you go with devil horns and big chins, people are like, ‘Wow, that’s a mask.’ But if you have an eye that’s kind of shifted over a little bit, things of that nature, that’s what usually gets people good,” he said. If precision and realism are important, hit up the Internet or
Photos by Mayra Flores | The Zapata Times
Edna Salas, an actress featured in The Asylum, undergoes her horrific transformation. Black cream makeup is applied to the eyes to make them seem hollow,while black and red cream makeup are blended together along the face and neck to get a realistic “blood”color. Then, Latex Stipple, used to create wrinkles, is applied to the face. anatomy books for some gruesome deformities. “The quality of the work speaks for itself when people look at it really close and think, ‘Oh my god, that looks real,’ ” Ceballos said. “A little bit of research and design will help.” Ceballos stresses safety, as well. “Never use anything on your face other than a hypoallergenic makeup,” he said. “A mistake people make is they glue stuff on with Krazy Glue.” Halloween is about dressing up. If a reveler has real red blotches on his or her face from an allergic reaction to a costume, that’s a different kind of fright. Whether it’s a mother applying makeup to a row of young trick-ortreaters or a person thinking about getting into the makeup industry, be sure to clean your makeup brushes. This not only makes applying the makeup easier, it also keeps the makeup germ-free. Ceballos has a motto in the makeup business. “We make beautiful women look better, and we make monsters look even worse,” he said. (Zach Lindsey may be reached at 728-2538 or zach@lmtonline.com)
The final touch-ups and details are added, and this Bloody Mary is done.
ZFrontera AGENDAEN BREVE SERVICIO SOCIAL LAREDO — El sábado es la Jamaica de St. Patrick Church de 2 p.m. a 10 p.m. Habrá comida, premios, subastas silenciosas, música y actuaciones infantiles. La jamaica anual es para toda la familia. Inclusive hay una rifa, siendo el primer premio una Ford Escape 2008, el segundo unas vacaciones en Disney para 4 con valor de 3.000 dólares, el tercer lugar una televisión Sony de Plasma de 42”. El boleto de la rifa es de 5 dólares. Más información llamando al 337-5284.
CULTURA NUEVO LAREDO — Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta el sábado Pareja Abierta en el Teatro Lucio Blanco a las 7 p.m.; Lesly Rivas en Concierto en la Explanada Esteban Baca Calderón a las 7 p.m.; Jazz con Stringfever en la Antigua Aduana a las 7 p.m.; Concierto de Reagetton (BTP,The Family Union) en el Foro de la Colonia La Joya a las 8 p.m. y Concierto de Aleks Syntek a las 8:30 p.m. en el Teatro del Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo. CIUDAD MIER — Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta el sábado “Salón Victoria” en la Plaza Juárez a las 8 p.m. LAREDO — “Heroes of Stage and Screen” es el título del concierto de la Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra que se presenta el domingo a las 3 p.m. en el Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Laredo Community College. Los boletos individuales tienen costo de 25 dólares para adultos y 17 dólares para adultos mayores. La entrada es gratuita con una identificación escolar válida. NUEVO LAREDO — Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta el domingo “Salón Victoria” a las 7 p.m. en la Explanada Esteban Baca Calderón; la música de Alejandro Vázquez en la Plaza de la Colonia El Campanario a las 7 p.m.; y, Blanca Marroquín a las 8:30 p.m. en el Teatro del Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo. CIUDAD MIER — Festival Internacional Tamaulipas presenta el domingo Stringfever a las 8 p.m. en la Plaza Juárez, como clausura del FIT 2008. LAREDO — El Laredo Community College invita a una muestra de danza el domingo 2 de noviembre. Se presentarán danzas modernas, jazz y ballet, así como bailes tradicionales de México, España y mucho más. El conicerto de Otoño 2008 ‘Dance in Concert’ de LCC iniciará a las 3 p.m. en el teatro del Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center. El evento es patrocinado por el Departamento de Artes Escénicas de LCC y el objetivo será recabar fondos para becas para estudiantes de danza. Los boletos tienen costo de 5 dólares por adulto, 3 por estudiante y adultos mayores. Más información llamando al 721-5330.
DEPORTES LAREDO — El equipo de vóleibol de Texas A&M International University recibe el sábado a St. Mary’s a las 2 p.m. en instalaciones de TAMIU. La entrada general es de 5 dólares, 3 dólares para estuduiantes, y gratis para cualquiera con identificación de TAMIU. Más información llamando al 326-2891. LAREDO — El equipo de vóleibol de Texas A&M International University recibe el lunes a Texas A&M-Kingseville a las 7 p.m. en instalaciones de TAMIU. La entrada general es de 5 dólares, 3 dólares para estuduiantes,y gratis para cualquiera con identificación de TAMIU. Más información llamando al 326-2891.
ENTRETENIMIENTO
SÁBADO 25 DE OCTUBRE DE 2008
EN INTERNET: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
10A
Celebra cien años de vida y trabajo Por ZACH LINDSEY ZAPATA TIMES
¿Qué te enseñan cien años en la frontera? Ricardo Rodriguez nació en San Ygnacio hace 100 años el 20 de octubre. Él ha visto ataques de bandidos y ha peleado contra el cáncer, ha vivido bajo la administración de 18 presidentes, ha construido carreteras y ha trabajado en ferrocarriles El trabajo ha sido su vida. De acuerdo a él, es lo que le ha permitido llegar a los cien años. “Aléjense de los vicios y pónganse a trabajar como yo lo he hecho. Trabajar y comer bien. He trabajado toda mi vida”, dijo Rodriguez. Su recuerdos laborales son un registro de la historia fronteriza, y de los Estados Unidos. Creció trabajando como vaquero, construyendo muros y acarreando ganado en rancherías en y alrededor del Condado de Zapata. En la década de los 30, trabajó para el Worker’s Progress Administration, una agencia que emplea a
millones como parte de la ayuda de alivio para aquellos afectados por la Gran Depresión. Él ayudó a construir la Carretera 83, la cual conecta a Zapata y Laredo. De acuerdo a Rodriguez, antes de la carretera, el viaje de San Ygnacio a Laredo tomaba aproximadamente un día y medio a caballo. Si el Arroyo Dolores estaba desbordado, tomaría otros dos ó tres días de viaje. En 1942, se cambió a Laredo, donde trabajó para H.B. Zachry y la Laredo Gunnery School. Tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Rodriguez regresó a la vida ganadera, trabajando aún para H.B. Zachry. “Hacía buen dinero”, dijo Rodríguez. ¿Y cuánto dinero? “Ganaba 40 centavos la hora, y nuestros salarios subieron poco a poco”. En la década de los 50, trabajó para el Missouri Pacific Railroad, viajando alrededor de Texas. Conforme Laredo se modernizó en la década de los 60, él dejó los días de ranchero detrás para trabajar en el departamento de mantenimiento en el Laredo Civic Center. Se retiró a los 79 años de edad.
“No me meto con nadie y nadie se mete conmigo”, dijo Rodriguez. Una de las pocas ocasiones en que alguien sí se metió con Rodriguez fue en 1916, cuando bandidos mexicanos cruzaron la frontera cerca de Corralitos para hurtar las mercancías de los terratenientes ricos en San Ygnacio. Rodriguez tenía ocho años en ese momento, y tuvo que ocultarse bajo su cama. Una unidad de ejército del Fort McIntosh fue desplegada para capturarlos, y, en la batalla subsiguiente, cuatro bandidos murieron y 11 soldados americanos resultaron lesionados. Rodriguez casó en 1931 con Manuela “Mela” Salinas. Ellos tuvieron cuatro hijos. Mela falleció en el 2003. Ella era el amor de su vida, de acuerdo al hijo de Rodriguez, Reynaldo. Los cuatro hijos de Rodriguez le dieron 10 nietos, esos 10 nietos le han dado a Rodriguez 12 bisnietos. El 20 de octubre de este año, Rodriguez celebró cien años en
Foto de cortesía/archivo | Gabriel Castillo
Ricardo Rodriguez, al centro, fue homenajeado el 20 de octubre por el Cabildo de la Ciudad de Laredo. A la izquierda el Alcalde Raul Salinas le hace entrega de un reconomiento, en tanto que a la derecha, el Regidor Johnny Rendon, del Distrito V, da lectura a una placa conmemorativa. compañía del Cabildo de la Ciudad de Laredo, recibiendo una serenata de parte de un guitarrista y recibiendo varios premios.
Él simplemente se sonrió. (Puede localizar a Zach Lindsey llamando al 728-2538 o escribiendo a zach@lmtonline.com)
Notarios están de luto Por VICENTE RANGEL HERNÁNDEZ ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Miguel Alemán
El presidente municipal de Miguel Alemán, Servando López Moreno pasea sobre una moto en calles de la ciudad. López invita a un paseo en motocicleta el domingo.
Fomentan turismo de frontera chica en moto ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
MIGUEL ALEMÁN — A fin de estrechar lazos con los Municipios de la frontera tamaulipeca, se anunció que habrá un paseo en motocicleta el domingo. A partir de las 10 a.m. los participantes partirán de la Plaza Principal a la Presa Falcón en Nueva Ciudad Guerrero. Podrán participar todos ciudadanos que cuenten con una motocicleta o cuatrimoto en buenas condiciones mecánicas, ya que el recorrido es de poco mas de 30 kilómetros. El presidente municipal de Miguel Alemán, Servando López Moreno dijo que realizará un recorrido en motocicleta del patinadero a la presa a manera de entrenamiento para el rally que organiza anualmente el Gobernador de
Tamaulipas, Eugenio Hernández Flores.
NUEVO LAREDO — El miércoles abogados y notarios públicos continuaban de duelo por el fallecimiento, la tarde del martes, de cuatro Notarios Públicos en una cerranía cercana al Aeropuerto Pedro J. Méndez en Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. El piloto también murió. El martes, los profesionistas abordaron una avioneta bimotor particular tipo Cessna con matricula XBKPF y se dirigían a esta ciudad para estar presentes en la toma de protesta del nuevo presidente Colegio de Notarios Publicos, Reynaldo Eduardo Flores Villarreal, cuando la avioneta se desplomó. El cambio de la mesa directiva local estaba programa para el martes a las 8 p.m. La tragedia ocurrió a las 5 p.m. del mismo martes. De acuerdo a los informes que se brindaron por parte de la Procuraduría General de Justicia en el
Estado, Carlos Gerardo Bello Cano, 34 años, presidente estatal del Colegio de Notarios en Tamaulipas; Norma Eliud Díez Cuán; el Secretario General Pedro Mier Reyna, y Vicente Leal Rosales, originarios de Ciudad Victoria, así como Billy Estrella (piloto de la aeronave y originario de Nuevo Laredo), fallBELLO ecieron en el lugar de los hechos. Según reporte de la PGJE, Estrella reportó problemas con la avioneta, realizó algunas maniobras e intentó regresar la nave a la pista, sin éxito. “El Notariado, no sólo de Nuevo Laredo sino en el Estado, se encuentra de luto con la muerte del Presidente del Colegio de Notarios Publicos en Tamaulipas”, aseguró el Presidente saliente de este gremio en la ciudad, Leopoldo Lara Salinas. Lara Salinas comentó que se solidariza con el momento por el que atraviesa la familia de Bello Cano.
Common Sense Leadership
Rally del Gobernador El rally de este año será el 7, 8 y 9 de noviembre donde se esperan participen unos tres mil motociclistas de todo el estado. Partirán de Nuevo Laredo, pasando por Guerrero, Mier y Miguel Alemán, donde se recorrerán las principales calles y habrá comida en instalaciones de la feria de esta ciudad. El recorrido continuará el día ocho hasta llegar a Reynosa donde se ofrecerá un concierto musical y concluirá el día nueve en la ciudad de Matamoros. López dijo que de esta forma se aprovechan los espacios para plantear temas de importancia para beneficio de la región, independientemente de que se fomenta el turismo y se reactiva la economía.
CIUDAD MIER: INVERSIÓN
LAREDO —Pase la tarde del sábado en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de Texas A&M International University y explore “The Future is Wild” a las 6 p.m.,“Seven Wonders”a las 7 p.m. y“The U2 Fulldome Experience”a las 8 p.m.La entrada general es de 5 dólares; niños, estudiantes, personal y exalumnos de TAMIU pagan 4 dólares. Más información llamando al 326-2444. LAREDO — Participe en una clase de Hip Hop Master en TAMIU el sábado de 12 p.m. a 2 p.m. en el Fine and Performing Arts, aula 108.Jose Rosas dará la clase que está abierta a estudiantes y el público en general. Pese a que es gratis, se sugieren donaciones de 2 dólares por estudiante y de 5 dólares para otros.Más información llamando a Courtney Mulcahy en el 326.2625 ó escribiendo a cmulcahy@yahoo.com. LAREDO — El lunes a las 10 a.m. salen a la venta los boletos para el evento de ‘Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy” que se presentará en el Laredo Entertainment Center el viernes 21 de noviembre a las 8 p.m. Compre sus boletos en la taquilla de LEC. Llame gratis al 888.512.BWAY(2929) ó visite la página www.BroadwayinLaredo.com
Foto de cortesía/archivo | Gobierno de Ciudad Mier
Para informar acerca de eventos y actividades envíe el nombre, fecha, hora y dirección, y un número de contacto a tiempo@lmtonline.com
El presidente municipal de Ciudad Mier, José Iván Mancías Hinojosa realiza el rompimiento oficial de tierra donde se construirá la Gasolinería “Gasa Express”, el 17 de octubre. Al fondo invitados y representantes de los inversionistas. Mancías reconoció el esfuerzo y visión para emprender esta inversión privada.“(Esta obra) vendrá a detonar la generación de empleos, además de ofrecer a los vistantes un servicio de calidad”, dijo Mancías.
Endorsed Endorsed by: Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND US Chamber of Commerce National Rifle Association VFW of the United States PAC American Federation of Teachers Texas Medical Association
www.HenryCuellar.com 956.724.1212
Zbusiness
Oil falls to $64 per barrel By MARK WILLIAMS ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Crude prices tumbled Friday and a gallon of gasoline fell below year-ago levels for the first time in 2008, even as OPEC announced a huge production cut in an attempt to halt the declines. Crude prices have now fallen 56 percent from the highs reached in July and more than $41 per barrel in just the last month. Gathered in Vienna, Austria, on Friday to stanch plunging oil prices, OPEC announced it would slash oil production by 1.5 million barrels a day. Oil prices plunged more than 5 percent. Investors paid little heed to OPEC attempts to limit supply, instead focusing on global demand as financial markets spiraled downward in Asia, Europe and then the United States. Light, sweet crude for December delivery fell $3.69 to settle at $64.15 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices had fallen as low as $62.85 earlier in the day. The continuing decline in oil prices, even in the face of OPEC production cuts, only cemented bearish sentiment on the oil market. “All OPEC confirmed for the market is how weak demand is,” oil trader and analyst Stephen Schork said. Supporting that view was a report released Friday by the U.S. Department of Transportation that showed the largest monthly decline in miles driven in 66 years. In the month after gas prices peaked at $4.11 per gallon, Americans drove 5.6 percent less, or 15 billion fewer miles, in August 2008 compared with August 2007 — the biggest single monthly decline since the data was first collected regularly in 1942. Americans have drastically altered driving habits, if they are driving at all, amid a severe economic downturn. They have cut discretionary trips and are carpooling and using public transportation more. A Labor Department report released this month showed that the number of people who have become unemployed over the last year has risen by 2.2 million to 9.5 million. From November through August, Americans drove 78.1 billion fewer miles than they did over the same 10-month period a year earlier. The decline is most evident in rural interstate travel, where travel is down more than 4 percent, compared with a 2 percent decline in urban miles
A Labor Department report released this month showed that the number of people who have become unemployed over the last year has risen by 2.2 million to 9.5 million. traveled, according to the agency. The Transportation Department said the biggest decline in driving was in Florida where miles traveled fell by 9.7 percent. Driving in the south Atlantic region, including Florida, fell 7.4 percent, the most of any region in the country. And the latest weekly report from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that demand for crude has fallen in 38 of the past 42 weeks. U.S. demand is down nearly 10 percent during the past four weeks compared with last year. That has translated into rapidly declining prices at the pump. On Friday, for the first time this year, the average retail price of gasoline fell below what it was on the same day in 2007. A gallon of regular gas fell 4 cents overnight to a new national average of $2.78, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s nearly a dollar less than what was paid last month and 4 cents below gas prices one year ago on Oct. 24. Gas prices are off from their July peak by about a third compared with the price of crude, which has been more than halved. There is a lag between the two prices as oil being traded now will not be delivered until next month. That oil must be refined, or turned into gasoline, and then shipped to filling stations. As for the oil being priced on markets today, oil traders are increasingly gauging future demand on dour financial markets. Gasoline prices are all but certain to follow that downward trend. Fred Rozell, retail pricing director at Oil Price Information Service, said prices have room to drop another 20 to 30 cents. Schork said he could see oil prices falling to $50 a barrel, even though he believes prices will eventually stabilize between $70 and $90.
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
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As U.S. economy sours, some migrants return south By ELLIOT SPAGAT ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO — After struggling just to pay his $300 monthly rent and send money to his wife and two children back in Honduras, Dionisio Urbina has given up. The day laborer is saving for a one-way plane ticket home. “I lost hope about finding work,” the 54-year-old illegal immigrant said outside a Home Depot store as he entered his fourth straight week without a job. “I’m homesick. It’s best to leave.” Thousands of Latin American immigrants both legal and illegal are going back home as the economic crisis in the U.S. causes jobs to dry up in the construction, landscaping and restaurant industries. The f low of immigrants back across the border tends to be cyclical, with many people going back home for the Christmas holidays. But some authorities say they are seeing a bigger-than-usual reverse-immigration effect this year. Mexico City’s municipal government predicts between 20,000 and 30,000 immigrants above the usual number will return from the U.S. in the next few months because they cannot find work. Mexican consulates in California and Chicago report that around 4,000 more Mexican immigrants than usual have already left for Mexico City because of the economic crisis. There are other signs the U.S. is no longer the magnet it was a few years ago, when the economy was thriving and the housing boom produced plenty of work:
“They would be condemning themselves to a lower standard of living.” DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA WAYNE CORNELIUS
Fewer immigrants are getting caught crossing U.S. borders illegally. The Border Patrol said it made 723,825 apprehensions in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, down 18 percent from last year and down 39 percent from nearly 1.2 million in 2005. Immigrants are sending less money home. Remittances by Mexicans living in the United States registered their biggest drop in August since recordkeeping began 12 years ago. Mexico’s central bank said they fell 12 percent from August 2007. With an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., the number returning home is relatively small. The vast majority of Mexican immigrants who have lived in the U.S. a few years will stay put because the job prospects are far worse back home and they have family in this country, said Wayne Cornelius, director of the University of California, San Diego’s Center for Comparative Immigration Studies. “They would be condemning themselves to a lower standard of living,” Cornelius said. Karina Corona, who came to the U.S. on a fake passport in 1995, is struggling to make ends meet but said she won’t go home to Culiacan, Mexico, because there is no work there and her hometown is a hotbed of drug violence.
The single mother had to quit a second job as a seamstress to care for her children, leaving her to live on about $1,500 a month as a delicatessen cashier. She stopped taking graphic design classes at a San Diego community college and fell behind on rent. But Mexico “would be even worse than here,” said Corona, 34. “We’re going to stick it out.” At a day laborer site in Laguna Beach, south of Los Angeles, Juan Pacheco, 48, said he planned to return to Oaxaca, Mexico, in January, about two years after he came north to work construction. On an earlier stint in the U.S., he sent home $200 a week to his wife and children and bought a house in Mexico, where his family grows corn and beans. Pacheco has worked only one or two days a week in the past year, barely enough for food and the $200 monthly rent. His voice cracks when he talks about phone calls to his 5-year-old daughter. “She says she doesn’t remember me, that she wants me to go home so she can meet me,” he said. Ramon Lopez has lived north of the border for 36 years, working in hotels and restaurants. But he recently returned to Mexico with his wife and mother-in-law because he could not find work or pay his bills.
12A | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
ELECTIONS | Continued from Page 1A
BUCKS WINNER
be a board member. “I am excited to continue working with the board to do good for the district,” Garza said. Garza said Zapata ISD has a truancy problem, which he hopes to continue working on solving. “I will keep working with the board and parents and teachers to do everything we can to get kids back in school,” Garza said. Gonzalez, who is originally from Zapata and graduated from Zapata High School in 1974, said his work experience and his strong community ties make him the better man for the job. “I plan on being a good school board member through learning by example of what the other board members do. I love this community, and I am eager to serve it,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez has lived in Zapata his entire life. He cur-
rently works in the oil and gas industry as an operator and previously worked in the banking industry. “My years working in the banking industry give me a good business sense and a strong handle on finances,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez says he has no one thing he wants to change on the school board, just that he plans to serve the district to the best of his ability. Early voting in Zapata began at the County Court House, 200 E. Seventh Ave., on Oct. 20 and will end Oct. 31. Other positions up for re-election, running unopposed, are sheriff, county attorney, tax assessor collector, county commissioner precinct one, county commissioner precinct three, justice of the peace precinct one, constable precinct one, constable precinct two, constable precinct three and constable precinct four.
AUCTION | Continued from Page 1A
Times staff photo
Alejandra Martinez of M&S Liquors, left, receives tickets to the Laredo Bucks’ Sunday game from Dora Martinez, business manager of The Zapata Times. Alejandra Martinez, who’s not related to the business manager, won the tickets in a contest sponsored by The Zapata Times, 1309 N. U.S. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2.
RODRIGUEZ | Continued from Page 1A 1960s, Rodriguez put the ranch days behind him for good to work at the maintenance department at the Laredo Civic Center. He retired in 1979. Respecting others’ rights is the path to a peaceful life, he said, echoing a famous quote from Mexican President Benito Juarez. “I don’t mess with anybody and nobody messes with me,” Rodriguez said. But Rodriguez has seen his share of conflicts. He was just 8 years old when Mexican bandidos crossed the border near Corralitos in 1916 to pilfer the goods of rich landowners in San Ygnacio. Rodriguez remembers the attack vividly, and says he hid under his bed. An Army unit from Fort McIntosh in Laredo was deployed to protect the area, and, in the ensuing battle, four bandits were killed and 11 American soldiers were injured. Rodriguez is particularly proud of the fact that he went to
school all the way through the fourth grade, a notable achievement for a working family at the time. “I studied in Spanish in San Ygnacio,” he said. During the interview, Rodriguez repeatedly emphasized the importance of doing a day’s honest work. He believes strongly that’s one of the main reasons he’s healthy today. “I feel fine,” he said. “The only thing you have to do is work honestly, eat and live peacefully as I am doing now.” He was operated on successfully for colon cancer in 1986, and makes it a point to get annual checkups, which he said everyone should do. He made it a point to thank God and his doctors for his health, and then quickly rattled off the name of his four doctors: Dr. Manuel Gonzalez, Dr. Cesar J. Tula, Dr. Antonini and Dr. Carlos Casas at Laredo Medical Center. In talking about a long life and staying active, Rodriguez said he’s
looking forward to voting in this year’s election. Rodriguez was married in 1931 to Manuela “Mela” Salinas. They had four children together. Mela died in 2003. She was the love of his life, according to Rodriguez’s son, Reynaldo. Rodriguez’s four children went on to produce 10 grandchildren, and those 10 grandchildren have given Rodriguez 12 great-grandchildren. On his birthday, Oct. 20, 2008, Rodriguez celebrated his centennial in the company of the Laredo City Council, including Councilman Johnny Rendon, to whom he is related by marraige. He had a cake, was serenaded by guitarist Ricardo Mireles with the traditional birthday song, “Las Mañitas” and the classic “El Rey.” The entire council sang “Happy Birthday,” and he was presented with awards. Surrounded by family and friends, the centenarian took it all in, a gentle smile on his face.
It’s no surprise about the pie. It was a high-pressure auction, not from the auctioneers but from other employees, who were enthusiastic about the bidding. When one employee didn’t seem confident about bidding $4,000 on an ATV, his fellow employees howled, “Come on, man, come on!” “A lot of vendors will donate the prize and raffle it again,” said this year’s United Way campaign president, Jerry Leal. He said it’s not always about the prize itself but about raising funds for a good cause. This is the 11th annual ConocoPhillips auction for the United Way. Previously, the auction has been held in Mirando City. “Mirando’s done a great job, but I think we had more items and more space, and I think that
we get better at it,” said Randy Black, ConocoPhillips South Texas operations manager. This is the largest single fundraising effort the United Way of Laredo sees a year, according to Black. Some of the attendants were contractors, and others were ConocoPhillips employees. In all, there were 73 registered contractors and about 120 registered employees. The auction ends ConocoPhillips’ season of fundraising for the United Way. The season begins with a roping event in Hebbronville and includes bake sales and giveaway from August to October. “It’s employee-driven; we strongly believe that we are a part of our community and that we have an obligation to give back to our community,” Black said.
Although ConocoPhillips’ part of the auction is over, the United Way of Laredo’s yearly campaign is still in full swing. They are trying to raise $1.8 million for the year. “If this can be a reminder to influence people to keep giving, the United Way campaign is still going on, and we’ve still got a long way to meet our goal,” Black said. Besides the auction, ConocoPhillips also had two 50-50 giveaways. “However much money is raised, the United Way gets half, the winner gets the other half,” Black said. The two 50-50 giveaways garnered $5,000, meaning $2,500 to the United Way and $1,750 for each winning employee. (Zach Lindsey can be reached at 728-2538 or zach@lmtonline.com)
Who couldn’t use a little more love. Gifts and new services for moms and new babies New! Lactation Counselor, at bedside while you’re here or by phone after you leave, to assist with breastfeeding. New! New Mommies Sharing support group gives moms and babies (from birth to three months) a place to exchange experiences and information. For details, New Mommies Sharing schedule, hospital preregistration and Special Deliveries list of discounts, log onto IchooseDoctorsHospital.com. Or phone 956.523.2530 and we’ll send you a package of info.
10700 McPherson Rd. Laredo, TX 78045 956-523-2000 www.IchooseDoctorsHospital.com Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Doctors Hospital of Laredo. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
THE ZAPATA PAGES | 13A
CHAMBER | Continued from Page 1A
MIGHTY HAWK PRIDE
Courtesy photo
The Zapata High School Mighty Hawk Band was in Robstown for its first University Interscholastic League competition, on Oct. 18. They earned a one overall score, which is the highest score required to advance to area competition. This photo depicts some of the trumpet section, along with some flags and woodwinds, while the band members are actually competing and marching.
The nationally recognized “Mariachi Halcon,” from Zapata County High School, performed during lunch at the business meeting Thursday. Zaffirini, who represents Zapata in the Texas Senate, said having a unified voice from Zapata and surrounding counties is important. “Today, I hope you will discuss what issues you want brought forth at the next legislative session in Austin starting in January,” Zaffirini said. She reminded chamber leaders of how their efforts toward tick eradication made a difference. “Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) passed a bill for landowners to ask for reappraisal of their land which is struggling with ticks,” Zaffirini said. “They need a chance to rehabilitate both their land and animals. “Because of your hard work and voices, a bill that arrived too late … ended up being passed from one (Senate) committee to another one, reviewed, voted upon, passed back to the House and ended up being signed.
“Now, that effort was because of your voices coming together and being heard.” She also talked about the importance of higher education, and emphasized her support for education in general, including Texas Migrant Council. “Also, if you want to reach out to TAMIU and LCC for help, then you can do so,” Zaffirini said. “Remember, there’s LCC South just up the road, so it’s not too far away from Zapata.” Texas A&M International University and Laredo Community College have been working with local leaders to develop a higher education center in Zapata. Former Zapata Chamber President Peggy Umphres-Moffett, who recently resigned to focus her attention on the Zapata County Economic Development Center, spoke about her abilities in overcoming obstacles to success. “I did what I thought was best for the Chamber of Commerce,” said Umphres-Moffett, president of the Zapata County Economic Development Center. “Zapata is
blessed for being a destination event point with its bass fishing tournament out on Falcon Lake.” Umphres-Moffett said she took over the chamber leadership role in 2003 with no staff and no salary, yet enhanced the chamber’s budget by 400 percent and developed a successful legislative agenda — including an increased motel tax. “Through our abilities to leverage new technology, develop a staff and have a steady budget, all these things enabled the chamber to be more effective,” she said. “For that, I am thankful.” Anita Medina, another invited speaker, reminded those gathered about Zapata’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8. Chamber staff members include administrative assistant Teresa Hinojosa, membership service coordinator Celia Balderas and office assistant Amelda Garcia. (Joe Rutland can be reached at 728-2529 or jrutland@lmtonline.com)
LAKE VIEW | Continued from Page 1A the Bustamante reader connected two tracts, Palafox and Balconcitos, to Joaquin Cayetano Galan. Genealogical research discovered that an elder daughter of Tomas Sanchez, Maria Josepha (Josefa) Sanchez, was married to Joaquin Cayetano Galan. Maria Josepha married Joaquin Cayetano in Candela, Nuevo Leon. Details and circumstances of the Galan land grant surfaced in court evidence at a district court hearing in Laredo before a visiting judge, Solomon Casseb. The court heard witnesses for the petitioners and declared the plaintiffs, some 300 men and women, to be heirs of the Galan land grant, estimated to hold more than 300,000 acres. It gave rise to interest of other potential heirs in the region as a result of a Monterrey reader’s submitting other pieces of the Joaquin Cayetano story and the thousands of acres he was granted by the Spanish Crown in the upriver regions of Palafox and Balconcitos.
The Monterrey reader’s narrative found space in a genealogy link format that invited others to submit additional information. The Monterrey reader’s submission advised that the information dated to the years of “twelve great grandfathers ago.” According to the narrative, Joaquin Cayetano Galan came to Mexico in possession of documents supporting a land grant that he had received from the Crown of Spain. “He settled in what is now Monterrey about the time the Mexican government elected to make good for settlers on land grants lost individuals in Texas after the Texans won independence from Mexico,” the reader wrote. History tells that these developments were in the making prior to the initial Texan rebellion against the government of Santa Anna that led to the events at the Alamo (San Antonio de Bejar) and San Jacinto. “My great grandaunts went to
Spain in search of documents to support their claims in Texas,” the Monterrey heir apparent to the Galan grant wrote in a genealogy forum. The interested party informed that the family managed to develop a dated family tree from marriage licenses and certificates, death and baptismal records and other documents “that would prove we were indeed legitimate heirs.” Unfortunately, organizing the material in time for the use in the 2007 court hearing took much longer than expected. The documents, nevertheless, according to Nuevo Leon historians, they did manage to gather information on the family that date to the mid1600s. The research showed that Joaquin Galan was married three times and that the third wife was of Italian descent with the name of Regnier. Other names surfaced in the search, like Ancira, Villarreal, Ramos, Flores Del Castillo and Verduzco.
“My grandfather was Facundo Villarreal Ramon,” the Galan heir apparent wrote. “His father was Sostenes Villarreal. I have to revisit the family tree to get the names of the other grandfathers. My great grandfather was one of around eleven children.” In this segment of Galan family data, the interested Galan heir cites some physical characteristics. “The side of my grandfather’s family is blond and blue eyed. My grandfather was one of six children and he was the only male in the family. My mother was the oldest child and she was raised like a princess. She was blond, blue eyes and very fair, and she was the only girl for about six years with only boys in between.” The writer told that the sisters lived in different parts of the country, including Monterrey, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Ciudad Aleman (near Ciudad Mier and Guerrero Nuevo), Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Villaldama (near Sabinas Hidalgo) and Mexico City. “One of my uncles was a gov-
ernment official (diputado) and another was a state superintndent of schools at the national level. All my aunts were teachers. I noticed the name of Renier on one of the postings. My aunt told us that the story that was handed down through generations, that the third wife of Joaquin Galan had been sold from a pirate ship and that he had bought her. She was very beautiful. We like to think that his intentions were honorable since he ended falling in love with her. His other two wives died and left him with two sons.” The writer quotes the story that Joaquin’s third wife outlived the other two. She lived to see her and his children grow. “One of Joaquin’s grandchildren married an Indian woman (named Julia), which probably explains the Indian blood in many of us.” The writer wrote that she is happy to have found the online genealogy link and is “anxious to receive emails from any and all of you.” To get a clear view of the his-
tory of Spanish and Mexican land grants, as they relate to the original grantees and their heirs, readers are encouraged to examine the material in a recent book by Jose Maria Peña (“Inherit the Dust from the Four Winds of Revilla,” 2006). Peña’s material delineates the history of land grants and their dispositions on both sides of the Rio Grande frontier. The material delves into the porciones (tracts of land by measurements) distribution land grants and examines how numerous grantees lost their lands during Texans’ fight for independence from Mexico (1836), the developments during the years before and after the Mexican-American War, and how the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) and the Protocol of Queretaro were put in place to settle a boundary dispute (Rio Grande vs. Nueces) prior to the Republic of Texas being admitted to the Union (United States of America). (To reach Odie Arambula, email, oarambula@stx.rr.com)
14A | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
The Zapata Times SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors Gridders hope to do well in 32-3A Hawks lose to Port Isabel; drop to 2-3 in district
Senior player stars at quarterback, defensive back By NINO CARDENAS LAREDO MORNING TIMES
By KEITH MARTIN THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata Hawks lost their third consecutive game in District 32-3A play, falling to Port Isabel, 34-25, at home Friday night. After starting the district season 2-0, the Hawks fell to 2-3 with the loss, 5-3 overall. Port Isabel, which had entered the game having lost its last four
games, improved to 1-4 in district play, 2-6 overall. The Hawks jumped out quickly in the first quarter, building a 14-0 lead on Meliton Trejo’s 48yard run and David Solis’ 75-yard run. But Port Isabel would outscore Zapata, 34-11 the rest of the way, thanks to running back Joe Vega,
See LOSE | PAGE 2B
MELITON TREJO
Playing for the Zapata Hawks of District 32-3A usually means suiting up for both offense and defense. It all depends on your athletic ability, because clearly height and weight are not atop the list of consideration for the Hawks’ coaching staff. This explains why senior Meliton Trejo, a three-year starter and
WINNING BOY’S TEAM
a defensive back, standing all of 5 feet 5 inches and tipping the scales at 135 pounds, has one of the keys to the Zapata Hawks’ bulldozing offense. Last season, teams would look at their offensive options and more often than not decide to attack the area Trejo was covering. Much to the surprise of opposing coaches and the delight of Trejo, the decision turned out to be the wrong one. Trejo stepped up to the chal-
lenge and intercepted 10 passes, returning two for touchdowns, helping make his case to be an All-District selection, but falling short of All-State. That’s something coach Mario Arce finds hard to believe, being as Trejo led all of class 3A. “They like going to my side, which I welcome,” Trejo said. This season, while still roaming the secondary, Trejo finally
See TREJO | PAGE 2B
Lady Hawks victors over Rio Hondo By KEITH MARTIN THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy Photo
The Zapata Hawks’ boys’ cross country team has performed well during the 2008 season.
Both cross country teams looking forward to meets By KEITH MARTIN THE ZAPATA TIMES
he Zapata High School cross country teams ended their 2008 seasons last Saturday in Laredo and now look toward the postseason. The boys’ varsity team finished fourth in Laredo, while coach Michael Villarreal rested his girls’ varsity squad, as both teams get ready for this year’s district meet. That meet will take place Monday.
T
Leading the Hawks all season long has been senior Raul Serna, who qualified for regionals and state as an individual last year and hopes to repeat this year. “This year, my goal at the start of the season was to help get my team past district. From all the many long hours we all put into practice and preparations for the season, we feel that we can get past that first level. It’s all up to us now, to get the job done,” Serna said. The Lady Hawks’ Michelle and Mar-
itza Garcia led a young girls’ varsity team, which also looks toward advancing to both regionals and state. The Garcia girls have been running great all season long and hope that success can carry them into the postseason. With the Hawks and the Lady Hawks now in the same district as teams such as La Feria and Rio Hondo, making the postseason is going to be a big challenge, but coaches Escamilla and Villarreal seem to have their teams ready.
Win to be a big boost for Oklahoma’s big dreams By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — When oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens gave $165 million to Oklahoma State athletics, part of his dream was to lift his alma mater from the backwaters of Big 12 football into national championship contention. Rising all the way to No. 7 heading into Saturday’s game at
No. 1 Texas, the Cowboys and their benefactor have a chance to take a huge step toward that goal. The question now is whether they can avoid a meltdown similar to the one that has socked the economy and Pickens’ investment in OSU. It’s boom or bust time for the Cowboys (7-0, 3-0 Big 12).
“The vision has always been there,” Oklahoma State safety Quinton Moore said. “I’ve always had the vision of being a big-time football team, a No. 1ranked football team.” But investments sometimes take a few losses on the way to bigger things. Oklahoma State’s big plans to build new facilities and revital-
ize old ones with Pickens’ money have taken some big hits. The economic downturn has cost Pickens more than $1 billion in his pers onal fortune and slashed the hedge fund that held OSU’s money. Anything less than a near-perfect game against the streaking Longhorns (7-0, 3-0), and the
See BOOST | PAGE 2B
The Zapata Lady Hawks, still looking and fighting for a playoff birth, got a much-needed victory over Rio Hondo on Tuesday in Zapata. With their 3-0 win, (25-17, 25-14, 27-25) over Rio Hondo, the Lady Hawks now need to win their next match against Port Isabel on Friday to give themselves a shot at the playoffs. “We’re finally clicking now as a team. With only two games left in the season, we know what we have to do, and we feel confident about our chances to make the playoffs,” senior captain Lynda Leyva said. Now 7-5 in district following their win against Rio Hondo, Zapata is fourth. Hidalgo is first,
LEYVA
MOSS
with La Feria second and Port Isabel third. “Our girls did a great job against a tough Rio Hondo team. They stayed focused on what they had to do to win, they played very well offensively and now if we can win over Port Isabel this Friday, we’ll be tied for third place,” coach Rosie Villarreal said. In the match against Rio Hondo, Sophomore Brandi King
See LADY | PAGE 2B
Romo-less Cowboys hope turnaround starts By JAIME ARON ASSOCIATED PRESS
IRVING — Watching from the sideline Sunday, injured Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is bound to have all sorts of things running through his mind. Seeing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Texas Stadium is sure to trigger memories of their last visit, on Thanksgiving 2006. In only his fifth career start, Romo threw five touchdown passes, tying a club record and proving to a national audience he was the real deal. He also began a move toward pop-culture fame, getting to
know halftime act Carrie Underwood and impressing another country singer in the stands, Jessica Simpson. But Romo prides himself on being an in-the-moment sort of guy, so he probably won’t dwell on all that, especially not with the way things are going for his club. Dallas (4-3) wasn’t clicking on offense even before Romo broke the pinkie on his throwing hand, and now 40-yearold backup Brad Johnson is being asked to get things going. The Cowboys are hoping rust was to blame for his ugly
See COWBOYS | PAGE 2B
Zscores CHL NORTHERN CONFERENCE Northeast Division W L OTL Pts GF GA Bossier-Shreveport 3 0 0 6 13 4 Oklahoma City 3 0 0 6 13 4 Mississippi 1 2 0 2 7 12 Tulsa 0 1 1 1 5 15 Northwest Division W L OTL Pts GF GA Colorado 3 0 0 6 17 11 Rapid City 0 0 2 2 10 12 Rocky Mountain 0 3 0 0 4 19 Wichita 0 3 0 0 4 13 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE Southeast Division W L OTL Pts GF GA Corpus Christi 1 0 0 2 12 3 Rio Grande Valley 1 0 0 2 7 2 Laredo 1 1 0 2 8 3 Texas 1 1 0 2 5 7 Southwest Division W L OTL Pts GF GA Odessa 2 0 0 4 10 3 New Mexico 2 1 0 4 15 8 Arizona 1 2 0 2 8 13 Amarillo 0 2 0 0 3 12 NOTE: Two points are awarded for a win, one point for loss in overtime or shootout. Overtime or shootout losses are only denoted in the OTL column, not the loss column. Thursday’s Games No games scheduled Friday’s Games Texas at Amarillo Rapid City at Corpus Christi Mississippi at Oklahoma City Laredo at Rio Grande Valley Arizona at Colorado Wichita at Rocky Mountain Odessa at New Mexico Saturday’s Games Colorado at Amarillo Mississippi at Bossier-Shreveport Laredo at Corpus Christi Odessa at Texas Rapid City at Rio Grande Valley Oklahoma City at Tulsa Arizona at Rocky Mountain Wichita at New Mexico Sunday’s Games Colorado at Oklahoma City Rapid City at Laredo
MLB All Times EDT DIVISION SERIES (Best-of-5) AMERICAN LEAGUE Boston 3, Los Angeles 1 Wednesday, Oct. 1: Boston 4, Los Angeles 1 Friday, Oct. 3: Boston 7, Los Angeles 5 Sunday, Oct. 5: Los Angeles 5, Boston 4, 12 innings Monday, Oct. 6: Boston 3, Los Angeles 2, Boston wins series 3-1 Tampa Bay 3, Chicago 1 Thursday, Oct. 2: Tampa Bay 6, Chicago 4 Friday, Oct. 3: Tampa Bay 6, Chicago 2 Sunday, Oct. 5: Chicago 5, Tampa Bay 3 Monday, Oct. 6: Tampa Bay 6, Chicago 2, Tampa Bay wins series 3-1 NATIONAL LEAGUE Los Angeles 3, Chicago 0 Wednesday, Oct. 1: Los Angeles 7, Chicago 2 Thursday, Oct. 2: Los Angeles 10, Chicago 3 Saturday, Oct. 4: Los Angeles 3, Chicago 1, Los Angeles wins series 3-0 Philadelphia 3, Milwaukee 1 Wednesday, Oct. 1: Philadelphia 3, Milwaukee 1 Thursday, Oct. 2: Philadelphia 5, Milwaukee 2 Saturday, Oct. 4: Milwaukee 4, Philadelphia 1 Sunday, Oct. 5: Philadelphia 6, Milwaukee 2, Philadelphia wins series 3-1 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best-of-7) AMERICAN LEAGUE Tampa Bay 4, Boston 3 Friday, Oct. 10: Boston 2, Tampa Bay 0 Saturday, Oct. 11: Tampa Bay 9, Boston 8, 11 innings Monday, Oct. 13: Tampa Bay 9, Boston 1 Tuesday, Oct. 14: Tampa Bay 13, Boston 4 Thursday, Oct. 16: Boston 8, Tampa Bay 7 Saturday, Oct. 18: Boston 4, Tampa Bay 2 Sunday, Oct. 19: Tampa Bay 3, Boston 1, Tampa Bay wins series 4-3 National League Philadelphia 4, Los Angeles 1 Thursday, Oct. 9: Philadelphia 3, Los Angeles 2 Friday, Oct. 10: Philadelphia 8, Los Angeles 5 Sunday, Oct. 12: Los Angeles 7, Philadelphia 2 Monday, Oct. 13: Philadelphia 7, Los Angeles 5 Wednesday, Oct. 15: Philadelphia 5, Los Angeles 1, Philadelphia wins series 4-1 WORLD SERIES Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia Wednesday, Oct. 22 Philadelphia 3, Tampa Bay 2 Thursday, Oct. 23 Tampa Bay 4, Philadelphia 2, series tied 11 Saturday, Oct. 25 Tampa Bay (Garza 11-9) at Philadelphia (Moyer 16-7), 8:35 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 Tampa Bay (Sonnanstine 13-9) at Philadelphia (Blanton 4-0), 8:29 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, 8:29 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 8:35 p.m., if necessary Thursday, Oct. 30 Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 8:29 p.m., if necessary
NFL All Times EDT AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA Buffalo 118 New England 116 N.Y. Jets 146 Miami 130
5
1
0 .833
149
4
2
0 .667
130
3
3
0 .500
154
2
4
0 .333
120
T Pct
PF
South W L PA Tennessee 66 Jacksonville 128 Indianapolis 131 Houston 179
6
0
0 1.000
149
3
3
0 .500
124
3
3
0 .500
128
2
4
0 .333
140
T Pct
PF
0 .833
141 105
North W L PA Pittsburgh 89 Baltimore 100 Cleveland 106 Cincinnati 182
5
1
3
3
0 .500
2
4
0 .333
92
0
7
0 .000
98
West W L T Pct PF PA Denver 4 3 0 .571 173 195 San Diego 3 4 0 .429 192 162 Oakland 2 4 0 .333 97 148 Kansas City 1 5 0 .167 75 165 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA N.Y. Giants 5 1 0 .833 170 101 Washington 5 2 0 .714 140 128 Dallas 4 3 0 .571 189 175 Philadelphia 3 3 0 .500 167 123 South W L T Pct PF PA Tampa Bay 5 2 0 .714 161 107 Carolina 5 2 0 .714 147 104 Atlanta 4 2 0 .667 139 127 New Orleans 3 4 0 .429 179 163 North W L T Pct PF PA Chicago 4 3 0 .571 196 150 Green Bay 4 3 0 .571 194 159 Minnesota 3 4 0 .429 154 167 Detroit 0 6 0 .000 97 187 West W L T Pct PF PA 0 .667 177 Arizona 4 2 144 St. Louis 2 4 0 .333 96 178 San Francisco 2 5 0 .286 158 196 Seattle 1 5 0 .167 110 171 Sunday’s Games Buffalo at Miami, 1 p.m. Washington at Detroit, 1 p.m. San Diego vs. New Orleans at London, 1 p.m. Tampa Bay at Dallas, 1 p.m. Oakland at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Kansas City at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. St. Louis at New England, 1 p.m. Arizona at Carolina, 1 p.m. Atlanta at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Cincinnati at Houston, 4:05 p.m. Cleveland at Jacksonville, 4:05 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Pittsburgh, 4:15 p.m. Seattle at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m. Open: Denver, Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota Monday’s Game Indianapolis at Tennessee, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 Detroit at Chicago, 1 p.m. Houston at Minnesota, 1 p.m. Green Bay at Tennessee, 1 p.m. N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Arizona at St. Louis, 1 p.m. Baltimore at Cleveland, 1 p.m. Tampa Bay at Kansas City, 1 p.m. Jacksonville at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. Miami at Denver, 4:05 p.m. Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m. Atlanta at Oakland, 4:15 p.m. Philadelphia at Seattle, 4:15 p.m. New England at Indianapolis, 8:15 p.m. Open: San Diego, Carolina, New Orleans, San Francisco Monday, Nov. 3 Pittsburgh at Washington, 8:30 p.m. Injury Report NEW YORK — The updated National Football League injury report, as provided by the league: SUNDAY ARIZONA CARDINALS at CAROLINA PANTHERS — CARDINALS: OUT: TE Leonard Pope (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: WR Anquan Boldin (head), S Aaron Francisco (thigh), DE Travis LaBoy (groin), TE Ben Patrick (knee). PANTHERS: DOUBTFUL: C Ryan Kalil (ankle), T Jeff Otah (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: WR D.J. Hackett (knee). PROBABLE: LB Thomas Davis (shoulder), S Chris Harris (not injury related). ATLANTA FALCONS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — FALCONS: QUESTIONABLE: T Sam Baker (hip), CB Brent Grimes (knee), CB David Irons (achilles), DT Grady Jackson (knee). PROBABLE: DT Jason Jefferson (ankle), DT Kindal Moorehead (ankle), RB Ovie Mughelli (hamstring), WR Laurent Robinson (knee). EAGLES: OUT: G Shawn Andrews (back). QUESTIONABLE: WR Reggie Brown (groin). PROBABLE: DE Juqua Parker (knee), CB Lito Sheppard (hamstring), T Tra Thomas (foot), RB Brian Westbrook (rib, ankle). BUFFALO BILLS at MIAMI DOLPHINS — BILLS: OUT: G Brad Butler (knee), LB John DiGiorgio (knee), DE Aaron Schobel (foot). QUESTIONABLE: C Melvin Fowler (elbow), CB Terrence McGee (knee), CB Ashton Youboty (foot). PROBABLE: TE Derek Fine (hand). DOLPHINS: OUT: RB Casey Cramer (ankle), CB Michael Lehan (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: DT Jason Ferguson (oblique). CINCINNATI BENGALS at HOUSTON TEXANS — BENGALS: OUT: WR Andre Caldwell (foot), RB Reagan Maui’a (hamstring), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow). DOUBTFUL: CB Jamar Fletcher (hamstring), LB Corey Mays (ankle), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle), TE Ben Utecht (chest). QUESTIONABLE: TE Nate Lawrie (back). PROBABLE: WR Antonio Chatman (ankle), K Shayne Graham (right groin), S Kyries Hebert (ankle), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (ankle), CB David Jones (knee), DE Frostee Rucker (shoulder). TEXANS: OUT: S Dominique Barber (hamstring), WR Andre Davis (finger). PROBABLE: DE Mario Williams (shoulder). CLEVELAND BROWNS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — BROWNS: OUT: DT Shaun Smith (hand). DOUBTFUL: LB Shantee Orr (foot), G Ryan Tucker (knee). QUESTIONABLE: S Mike Adams (hamstring), DE Corey Williams (shoulder). PROBABLE: TE Steve Heiden (pectoral). JAGUARS: OUT: WR Mike Walker (knee). PROBABLE: DT John Henderson (hamstring), DT Rob Meier (knee), G Tutan Reyes (knee). KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at NEW YORK JETS — CHIEFS: QUESTIONABLE: P Dustin Colquitt (left groin). PROBABLE: LB Donnie Edwards (ankle). JETS: OUT: K Mike Nugent (right thigh). DOUBTFUL: TE Bubba Franks (hip). QUESTIONABLE: TE Chris Baker (back), WR Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder), T Damien Woody (calf). PROBABLE: WR Laveranues Coles (head, thigh), DT Kris Jenkins (back), G Brandon Moore (foot), LB Calvin Pace (foot), S Eric Smith (head). NEW YORK GIANTS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS — GIANTS: OUT: LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee). PROBABLE: WR Plaxico Burress (shoulder), T David Diehl (back), LB Antonio Pierce (quadricep). STEELERS: OUT: LB Keyaron Fox (hamstring), CB Bryant McFadden (forearm), T Marvel Smith (back). DOUBTFUL: RB Willie Parker (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DE Aaron Smith (not injury related). OAKLAND RAIDERS at BALTIMORE RAVENS — RAIDERS: DOUBTFUL: LB Jon Alston (foot), DE Derrick Burgess (tricep). QUESTIONABLE: RB Darren McFadden (toe), QB Andrew Walter (calf), DT Gerard Warren (ankle). RAVENS: OUT: S Dawan Landry (neck), CB Samari Rolle (shoulder, neck), T Adam Terry (knee). DOUBTFUL: WR Yamon Figurs (knee). QUESTIONABLE: WR Mark Clayton (thigh), WR Derrick Mason (illness), CB Chris McAlister (knee), S Ed Reed (thigh), WR Demetrius Williams (ankle). PROBABLE: T Jared Gaither (neck), CB Derrick Martin (shoulder), RB Willis McGahee (knee), CB Fabian Washington (back). SAN DIEGO CHARGERS vs. NEW OR-
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SATURDAY,OCTOBER 25,2008
LEANS SAINTS as London — CHARGERS: OUT: WR Craig Davis (groin). QUESTIONABLE: WR Chris Chambers (ankle), CB Antonio Cromartie (hip), LB Jyles Tucker (hamstring). PROBABLE: RB LaDainian Tomlinson (toe). SAINTS: OUT: RB Reggie Bush (knee). DOUBTFUL: C Jonathan Goodwin (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DT Brian Young (knee, foot). PROBABLE: G Jahri Evans (ankle), CB Mike McKenzie (knee), TE Jeremy Shockey (hernia), DE Will Smith (abdomen). SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — SEAHAWKS: OUT: QB Matt Hasselbeck (back), TE Will Heller (knee). QUESTIONABLE: WR Deion Branch (heel). PROBABLE: WR Koren Robinson (knee), LB Lofa Tatupu (concussion), T Floyd Womack (illness). 49ERS: OUT: S Dashon Goldson (knee), T Jonas Jennings (shoulder), DE Ray McDonald (knee). PROBABLE: CB Nate Clements (ribs), S Michael Lewis (knee), WR Josh Morgan (groin), S Mark Roman (groin), CB Allen Rossum (groin). ST. LOUIS RAMS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — RAMS: OUT: WR Drew Bennett (foot), S Todd Johnson (kidney). QUESTIONABLE: DT Adam Carriker (ankle), CB Tye Hill (knee), RB Steven Jackson (thigh), WR Derek Stanley (concussion). PROBABLE: T Orlando Pace (thigh), RB Antonio Pittman (calf). PATRIOTS: DOUBTFUL: LB Eric Alexander (hamstring), LB Shawn Crable (shin), RB LaMont Jordan (calf), RB Sammy Morris (knee), CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: DE Jarvis Green (ankle), T Nick Kaczur (ankle), WR Matt Slater (ankle). TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at DALLAS COWBOYS — BUCCANEERS: DOUBTFUL: RB B.J. Askew (hamstring), WR Maurice Stovall (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: RB Warrick Dunn (back), WR Joey Galloway (foot), QB Brian Griese (right elbow), WR Ike Hilliard (head). PROBABLE: K Matt Bryant (right hamstring), LS Andrew Economos (shoulder), LB Barrett Ruud (knee), G Arron Sears (back). COWBOYS: OUT: RB Felix Jones (hamstring), G Kyle Kosier (foot), CB Terence Newman (abdomen), QB Tony Romo (right finger), LB Anthony Spencer (hamstring). PROBABLE: LB Kevin Burnett (calf), LB Greg Ellis (calf), LB Bradie James (elbow), DT Tank Johnson (ankle), S Pat Watkins (neck). WASHINGTON REDSKINS at DETROIT LIONS — REDSKINS: OUT: RB Ladell Betts (knee), DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder), WR Malcolm Kelly (knee), CB Shawn Springs (calf). QUESTIONABLE: S LaRon Landry (hamstring), RB Clinton Portis (hip), DE Jason Taylor (calf). PROBABLE: S Chris Horton (ankle), G Pete Kendall (knee), CB Carlos Rogers (calf), T Chris Samuels (not injury related), CB Fred Smoot (groin), TE Todd Yoder (thigh). LIONS: OUT: S Dwight Smith (foot). DOUBTFUL: LB Jordon Dizon (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: DT Shaun Cody (elbow), DT Chuck Darby (calf), TE Michael Gaines (knee). PROBABLE: LB Gilbert Gardner (knee), WR Brandon Middleton (hamstring), DT Cory Redding (knee). MONDAY INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at TENNESSEE TITANS — COLTS: DOUBTFUL: WR Roy Hall (knee). QUESTIONABLE: RB Joseph Addai (hamstring), CB Kelvin Hayden (knee), CB Marlin Jackson (shoulder), S Bob Sanders (knee), TE Jacob Tamme (knee). TENNESSEE TITANS: QUESTIONABLE: LB Colin Allred (groin), WR Justin Gage (knee), WR Justin McCareins (hamstring), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin). PROBABLE: DT Tony Brown (ankle), CB Nicholas Harper (knee), CB Reynaldo Hill (illness).
NHL All Times EDT EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L OT Pts GF GA N.Y. Rangers 6 2 1 13 23 18 Pittsburgh 5 2 1 11 22 17 New Jersey 5 1 0 10 15 9 N.Y. Islanders 2 4 0 4 14 21 Philadelphia 0 3 3 3 20 29 Northeast Division W L OT Pts GF GA Buffalo 6 0 1 13 26 13 Montreal 5 0 1 11 23 11 Boston 2 2 3 7 20 23 Toronto 2 2 3 7 15 23 Ottawa 2 3 1 5 17 18 Southeast Division W L OT Pts GF GA Carolina 3 2 1 7 18 19 Washington 3 3 1 7 22 21 Florida 3 3 0 6 15 18 Atlanta 2 2 2 6 16 17 Tampa Bay 1 2 3 5 11 15 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division W L OT Pts GF GA Detroit 4 1 1 9 20 17 St. Louis 4 2 0 8 25 19 Chicago 3 2 2 8 20 18 Columbus 3 3 0 6 20 23 Nashville 3 4 0 6 24 27 Northwest Division W L OT Pts GF GA Minnesota 4 0 1 9 18 11 Edmonton 4 2 0 8 14 16 Colorado 4 3 0 8 28 23 Calgary 3 3 1 7 21 26 Vancouver 3 4 0 6 22 25 Pacific Division W L OT Pts GF GA San Jose 6 1 0 12 25 18 Dallas 3 4 1 7 23 32 Phoenix 3 3 0 6 14 18 Los Angeles 2 3 0 4 14 14 Anaheim 2 5 0 4 16 22 Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss or shootout loss. Thursday’s Games Dallas 5, N.Y. Islanders 3 Toronto 4, Boston 2 Pittsburgh 4, Carolina 1 Calgary 5, Nashville 3 Buffalo 4, Minnesota 3, OT Colorado 4, Edmonton 1 Phoenix 2, Washington 1 Friday’s Games Anaheim at Ottawa, 7 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Columbus, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. San Jose at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s Games New Jersey at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Anaheim at Montreal, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m. Ottawa at Toronto, 7 p.m. Carolina at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. San Jose at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Nashville, 8 p.m. Columbus at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Washington at Dallas, 8 p.m. Detroit at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Florida at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m. Buffalo at Colorado, 9 p.m. Calgary at Phoenix, 10 p.m. Edmonton at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Sunday’s Games No games scheduled Monday’s Games Ottawa at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Anaheim at Columbus, 7 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Boston at Edmonton, 9 p.m. Detroit at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W L Pct GB Boston — Philadelphia 1½ New York 2 Toronto 2½ New Jersey 3
GB Orlando — Atlanta 1 Washington 3 Miami 4 Charlotte 6
Wake Forest (4-2) at Miami (4-3), Noon Boston College (5-1) at N. Car. (5-2), Noon Kentucky (5-2) at Florida (5-1), 12:30 p.m. San Diego (6-0) at Jacksonville (3-3), 1 p.m. Delaware St. (3-3) at Morgan St. (4-3), 1 p.m. Florida A&M (5-2) at Norfolk St. (2-5), 1 p.m. Ga. Southern (3-4) at W. Carolina (2-6), 1 p.m. R.I. (2-6) at William & Mary (4-2), 1 p.m. VMI (3-3) at Gardner-Webb (3-4), 1:30 p.m. Howard (0-5) at N. Car. A&T (2-6), 1:30 p.m. Hampton (5-1) at S. Carolina St. (5-2), 2 p.m. Bethune-Cookman (4-2) at Winston-Salem (1-5), 2 p.m.
4
3
.571
Texas Southern (1-5) at Alcorn State (2-6), 3 p.m. E. Illinois (3-4) at E. Kentucky (4-3), 3 p.m. Wofford (5-1) at Elon (7-1), 3 p.m.
3
3
.500
Sam Houston St. (2-3) at Northwestern St. (4-3), 3 p.m.
6
2
.750
Southeast W L
Pct
5
.833
Georgetown (1-5) at Richmond (5-3), 3 p.m. The Citadel (3-4) at Samford (3-3), 3 p.m. Rice (4-3) at Tulane (2-4), 3 p.m. Duke (3-3) at Vanderbilt (5-2), 3 p.m. Alabama A&M (3-5) vs. Alabama St. (1-5) at Birmingham, Ala., 3:30 p.m. Furman (6-2) at App. St. (5-2), 3:30 p.m. Va. Tech (5-2) at Fla. St. (5-1), 3:30 p.m. Virginia (4-3) at Ga. Tech (6-1), 3:30 p.m. Charleston Southern (3-4) at Liberty (6-1), 3:30 p.m.
3 2
4 4
1
.429 .333
5
3
.625
2
4
.333
1
5
.167
0
8
.000
Central W L
Pct GB Detroit 6 2 .750 — Indiana 4 4 .500 2 Chicago 3 4 .429 2½ Cleveland 2 5 .286 3½ Milwaukee 1 6 .143 4½ WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest W L Pct GB New Orleans 7 0 1.000 — Houston 5 2 .714 2 Dallas 4 4 .500 3½ San Antonio 3 3 .500 3½ Memphis 2 6 .250 5½ Northwest W L Pct GB Denver 5 1 .833 — Minnesota 6 2 .750 — Portland 4 3 .571 1½ Utah 4 3 .571 1½ Oklahoma City 1 5 .167 4 Pacific W L Pct GB Golden State 4 2 .667 — L.A. Lakers 4 2 .667 — Phoenix 5 3 .625 — L.A. Clippers 3 3 .500 1 Sacramento 1 7 .125 4 Wednesday’s Games Orlando 101, Memphis 90 Philadelphia 118, New Jersey 100 Detroit 97, Cleveland 79 Chicago 85, Minnesota 75 Washington 100, San Antonio 95 Portland 87, L.A. Clippers 75 Thursday’s Games Atlanta 88, Detroit 87 Minnesota 95, Milwaukee 76 Indiana 114, Dallas 91 New Orleans 100, Miami 80 Utah 100, Portland 89 Houston 110, Sacramento 97 Phoenix 102, Oklahoma City 93 L.A. Lakers 88, Charlotte 77 Friday’s Games New Jersey at New York, 7:30 p.m. Washington vs. Cleveland at Columbus, Ohio, 8 p.m. Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Miami at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. Denver at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City vs. L.A. Lakers at Ontario, Calif., 10:30 p.m. of Preseason
NCAA Football Top 25 Schedule All Times EDT (Subject to change) Friday, Oct. 24 No. 13 Boise State at San Jose State, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25 No. 1 Texas vs. No. 7 Okla. St., 3:30 p.m. No. 2 Alabama at Tennessee, 7:45 p.m. No. 3 Penn St. at No. 10 Ohio St., 8 p.m. No. 4 Oklahoma at Kansas St., 12:30 p.m. No. 5 Florida vs. Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. No. 6 Southern Cal at Arizona, 10:15 p.m. No. 8 Texas Tech at No. 19 Kansas, Noon No. 9 Georgia at No. 11 LSU, 3:30 p.m. No. 14 S. Florida at Louisville, 3:30 p.m. No. 15 TCU vs. Wyoming, 7 p.m. No. 16 Missouri vs. Colorado, 6:30 p.m. No. 17 Pittsburgh vs. Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. No. 18 BYU vs. UNLV, 2 p.m. No. 20 Ball St. vs. Eastern Mich., Noon No. 21 Ga. Tech vs. Virginia, 3:30 p.m. No. 23 Boston College at N. Car., Noon No. 24 Florida St. vs. Va. Tech, 3:30 p.m. No. 25 Minnesota at Purdue, Noon Sunday, Oct. 26 No. 22 Tulsa vs. UCF, 8 p.m. Tuesday’s Score EAST Temple 14, Ohio 10 Thursday’s Scores EAST West Virginia 34, Auburn 17 SOUTH Tenn.-Martin 31, Jacksonville St. 30 FAR WEST Air Force 23, New Mexico 10 Schedule All Times EDT (Subject to change) Friday, Oct. 24 FAR WEST Boise St. (6-0) at San Jose St. (5-2), 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 EAST Cincinnati (5-1) at Connecticut (5-2), Noon Northeastern (2-5) at Maine (4-3), Noon Towson (3-4) at N.H. (5-1), Noon Cornell (3-2) at Brown (3-2), 12:30 p.m. Penn (3-2) at Yale (3-2), 12:30 p.m. Louisiana Tech (3-3) at Army (2-5), 1 p.m. Colgate (5-2) at Bucknell (4-2), 1 p.m. Sacred Heart (6-1) at Duquesne (2-4), 1 p.m. Lafayette (5-1) at Fordham (3-3), 1 p.m. Lehigh (2-4) at Holy Cross (3-3), 1 p.m. Iona (3-4) at Marist (2-5), 1 p.m. Bryant (4-3) at Massachusetts (4-3), 1 p.m. Cent. Conn. St. (5-2) at Monmouth (4-3), 1 p.m.
Harvard (4-1) at Princeton (2-3), 1 p.m. Robert Morris (2-5) at Wagner (3-4), 1 p.m. Delaware (2-5) at Hofstra (3-4), 3 p.m. SMU (1-7) at Navy (4-3), 3:30 p.m. Rutgers (2-5) at Pittsburgh (5-1), 3:30 p.m. James Madison (6-1) at Villanova (5-1), 3:30 p.m. St. Francis (0-7) at Albany (4-3), 4 p.m. Dartmouth (0-5) at Columbia (0-5), 4 p.m. SOUTH
S. Fla. (6-1) at Louisville (4-2), 3:30 p.m. N.C. St. (2-5) at Maryland (5-2), 3:30 p.m. Georgia (6-1) at LSU (5-1), 3:30 p.m. MVSU (2-4) at Jackson St. (3-4), 5 p.m. Tenn. Tech (3-5) at Austin Peay (0-7), 7 p.m. Stony Brook (2-5) at Coastal Car. (4-4), 7 p.m. Fla. Atlantic (2-5) at La.-Monroe (2-5), 7 p.m. Middle Tenn. (2-5) at Miss. St. (2-5), 7 p.m. Alabama (7-0) at Tenn. (3-4), 7:45 p.m. Nicholls St. (0-4) at McNeese St. (4-2), 8 p.m. Southern Miss. (2-5) at Memphis (3-5), 8 p.m. MIDWEST E. Michigan (2-6) at Ball St. (7-0), Noon Northwestern (6-1) at Indiana (2-5), Noon Texas Tech (7-0) at Kansas (5-2), Noon Minnesota (6-1) at Purdue (2-5), Noon Cent. Michigan (5-2) at Toledo (2-5), Noon Illinois (4-3) at Wisconsin (3-4), Noon Oklahoma (6-1) at Kansas St. (4-3), 12:30 p.m. Baylor (3-4) at Nebraska (4-3), 12:30 p.m. Morehead St. (2-4) at Butler (5-1), 1 p.m. Valparaiso (2-4) at Dayton (6-1), 1 p.m. Davidson (2-4) at Drake (3-4), 2 p.m. Tenn. St. (6-1) at SE Missouri (2-5), 2 p.m. S. Dakota St. (3-4) at Ind. St. (0-7), 2:05 p.m. N. Dakota St. (3-4) at Ill. St. (2-4), 2:30 p.m. S. Ill. (4-2) at Missouri St. (3-3), 2:30 p.m. Kent St. (1-6) at Miami (Ohio) (2-5), 3:30 p.m. Mich. St. (6-2) at Michigan (2-5), 3:30 p.m. Bowling Green (3-4) at N. Ill. (4-3), 4 p.m. N. Iowa (5-2) at Youngstown St. (2-6), 4 p.m. Colorado (4-3) at Missouri (5-2), 6:30 p.m. Texas A&M (2-5) at Iowa St. (2-5), 7 p.m. Penn St. (8-0) at Ohio St. (7-1), 8 p.m. SOUTHWEST Texas State (3-3) at Stephen F.Austin (4-3), 3 p.m. Lincoln, Mo. (2-5) at Ark.-Pine Bluff (0-7), 3:30 p.m. Okla. St. (7-0) at Texas (7-0), 3:30 p.m. Wyoming (2-5) at TCU (7-1), 6 p.m. Mississippi (3-4) at Arkansas (3-4), 7 p.m. SE La. (4-3) at Cent. Ark. (6-1), 7 p.m. Troy (4-2) at North Texas (0-7), 7 p.m. Southern U. (4-3) vs. Prairie View (6-1) at Houston, 7 p.m. FAR WEST UNLV (3-4) at BYU (6-1), 2 p.m. Montana (6-1) at N. Colorado (1-5), 2:05 p.m. Fresno St. (4-2) at Utah St. (1-6), 3 p.m. UCLA (3-4) at California (4-2), 3:30 p.m. Idaho St. (0-7) at Portland St. (2-4), 4:05 p.m. New Mexico St. (3-3) at Idaho (1-7), 5 p.m. Montana St. (3-4) at Sacramento St. (3-4), 5:05 p.m. Weber St. (6-2) at N. Arizona (6-1), 6:05 p.m. Notre Dame (4-2) at Washington (0-6), 8 p.m. North Dakota (5-1) at UC Davis (4-4), 9 p.m. S. Utah (3-4) at Cal Poly (4-1), 9:05 p.m. Colorado St. (3-4) at San Diego St. (1-6), 9:30 p.m. Oregon (5-2) at Arizona St. (2-4), 10 p.m. Southern Cal (5-1) at Arizona (5-2), 10:15 p.m. Nevada (4-3) at Hawaii (3-4), 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 SOUTHWEST UCF (2-4) at Tulsa (7-0), 8 p.m.
World Cup 2010 Qualifying Glance AFRICA FINAL ROUND Winners qualify Top three in each group qualify for the 2010 African Cup of Nations GROUP A GP W D L GF GA Pts Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gabon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Morocco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Togo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Saturday, March 28, 2009 Morocco vs. Gabon Togo vs. Cameroon Saturday, June 6, 2009 Cameroon vs. Morocco Gabon vs. Togo Saturday, June 20, 2009 Gabon vs. Cameroon Morocco vs. Togo Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 Cameroon vs. Gabon Togo vs. Morocco Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 Cameroon vs. Togo Gabon vs. Morocco Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 Morocco vs. Cameroon Togo vs. Gabon GROUP B GP W D L GF GA Pts 0 0 0 0 Kenya 0 0 0 Mozambique 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Saturday, March 28, 2009 Kenya vs. Tunisia Mozambique vs. Nigeria Saturday, June 6, 2009 Tunisia vs. Mozambique Nigeria vs. Kenya Saturday, June 20, 2009 Kenya vs. Mozambique Tunisia vs. Nigeria Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 Mozambique vs. Kenya Nigeria vs. Tunisia Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 Nigeria vs. Mozambique Tunisia vs. Kenya Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 Kenya vs. Nigeria Mozambique vs. Tunisia GROUP C GP W D L GF GA Pts 0 0 0 0 Algeria 0 0 0 Egypt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rwanda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zambia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Saturday, March 28, 2009 Egypt vs. Zambia Rwanda vs. Algeria Saturday, June 6, 2009 Algeria vs. Egypt Zambia vs. Rwanda Saturday, June 20, 2009 Egypt vs. Rwanda Zambia vs. Algeria Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 Algeria vs. Zambia Rwanda vs. Egypt Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 Algeria vs. Rwanda Zambia vs. Egypt Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 Egypt vs. Algeria Rwanda vs. Zambia GROUP D GP W D L GF GA Pts Benin 0 Ghana 0 Mali 0 Sudan 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
Saturday, March 28, 2009 Ghana vs. Benin Sudan vs. Mali Saturday, June 6, 2009 Benin vs. Sudan Mali vs. Ghana Saturday, June 20, 2009 Mali vs. Benin Sudan vs. Ghana Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 Benin vs. Mali Ghana vs. Sudan Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 Benin vs. Ghana Mali vs. Sudan Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 Ghana vs. Mali Sudan vs. Benin GROUP E GP W D L GF GA Pts Burkina Faso 0 0 0 0 0 Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 0 0 0 0 0 Malawi 0 0 0 0 0 Saturday, March 28, 2009 Burkina Faso vs. Guinea Ivory Coast vs. Malawi Saturday, June 6, 2009 Malawi vs. Burkina Faso Guinea vs. Ivory Coast Saturday, June 20, 2009 Burkina Faso vs. Ivory Coast Guinea vs. Malawi Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso Malawi vs. Guinea Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 Guinea vs. Burkina Faso Malawi vs. Ivory Coast Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 Burkina Faso vs. Malawi Ivory Coast vs. Guinea
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fight Schedule National TV in parentheses Oct. 25 At Dusseldorf, Germany, Mikkel Kessler, Monaco, vs. Danilo Haussler, Germany, 12, for Kessler’s WBA super middleweight title. Oct. 30 At Panama City, Panama, Anselmo Moreno, Panama, vs. Rolly Matsushita, Philippines, 12, for Moreno’s WBA bantamweight title. Nov. 1 At Oberhausen, Germany, Felix Sturm, Germany, vs. Sebastien Sylvester, Germany, 12, for Sturm’s WBA middleweight title. At Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nonito Donaire, Philippines, vs. Moruti Mthalane, South Africa, 12, for Donaire’s IBF-IBO flyweight title. At The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. (SHO), Cristian Mijares, Mexico, vs. Vic Darchinyan, Armenia, 12, for the WBA-WBCIBF flyweight titles; Andre Dirrell, Flint, Mich., vs. Victor Oganov, Russia, 10, super middleweights. At Chihuahua, Mexico, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Huntington Park, Calif., vs. Damian David Marchiano, Argentina, 10, superbantamweights; Marcos Reyes, Mexico, vs. Saul Duran, Mexico, 10, super middleweights; Efren Hinojosa, Mexico, vs. Javier Castro, Mexico, 10, lightweights. Nov. 8 At Bucharest, Romania, Adrian Diaconu, Canada, vs. Silvio Branco, Italy, 12, for Diaconu’s WBC light heavyweight title. At Bayern, Germany, Arthur Abraham, Germany, vs. Raul Marquez, Houston, 12, for Abraham’s IBF middleweight title.
Transactions BASEBALL American League CLEVELAND INDIANS—Sent RHP Brian Slocum outright to Columbus (IL). KANSAS CITY ROYALS—Claimed RHP Jairo Cuevas off outright waivers from the Atlanta Braves. Requested unconditional release waivers on RHP Kip Wells. TORONTO BLUE JAYS—Signed 1B/OF Adam Loewen to a minor league contract. Claimed RHP Bryan Bullington off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. National League Washington Nationals—Named Jim Riggleman bench coach, Marquis Grissom first base coach, Pat Listach third base coach, Rick Eckstein hitting coach and Randy Knorr bullpen coach. Can-Am League WORCESTER TORNADOES—Exercised the 2009 option on RHP Eddie Pena, INF Chris Colabello, RHP Anthony Sullivan, RHP John Birtwell and OF Josh Farkes. BASKETBALL National Basketball Association CHICAGO BULLS—Exercised contract options for the 2009-10 season on F Tyrus Thomas, G Thabo Sefolosha and C Joakim Noah. NEW JERSEY NETS—Waived F Keith Van Horn, G Eddie Gill, G Julius Hodge and F Brian Hamilton. FOOTBALL National Football League CINCINNATI BENGALS—Signed LB-DE Eric Henderson from the practice squad. Placed FB Reagan Maui’a on the reserve/injured list. MIAMI DOLPHINS—Placed CB Michael Lehan on injured reserve. HOCKEY NHL LOS ANGELES KINGS—Announced they have reached an official partnership and affiliation agreement with Ontario (ECHL). AHL HARTFORD WOLF PACK—Announced F Joe Barnes and F Andreas Jamtin have bee reassigned to Charlotte (ECHL). ECHL VICTORIA SALMON KINGS—Announced D Travis Ramsey has been assigned to the team by Manitoba (AHL). Signed F Olivier Filion. LACROSSE National Lacrosse League EDMONTON RUSH—Signed F Andy Secore and T Chris Seller to two-year contracts and F Ryan Campbell to a one-year contract. MINNESOTA SWARM—Re-signed F Colin Achenbach to a two-year contract. Signed F Kevin Buchanan to a one-year contract. TORONTO ROCK—Signed D Dan Ladouceur, F Kasey Beirnes and G Mike Attwood to one-year contracts. Xtreme Soccer League DETROIT IGNITION—Agreed to terms with F Mike Apple, MF Miodrag Djerisilo and MF Ryan Mack. COLLEGE NEVADA—Suspended G Brandon Fields, G London Giles and F Ahyaro Phillips from the men’s basketball team indefinitely for a shoplifting incident. SOUTH CAROLINA—Signed baseball coach Ray Tanner to a one-year contract extension through 2013 and football defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson through the 2011 season. WRIGHT STATE—Named Trevor Doll director of compliance.
BOOST | Continued from Page 1B Cowboys’ bubble of good fortune on the field could burst as well. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is the guy holding the needle. The junior established himself as the midseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy with a 29-of-32 passing performance last week in a 56-31 win over Missouri. He is completing 81 percent of his passes and after seven games still ranks as the Longhorns’ top rusher with 371 yards and six touchdowns. Even Florida QB Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman last season, said if he was voting this week, he’d vote for McCoy. “I just want to win. That’s the most important thing,” McCoy said. “If we win all our games, then maybe some awards will come.” Finding a way to contain McCoy is just one of Oklahoma State’s problems.
The bigger one may be mental. Oklahoma State is 7-0 for the first time since 1945, but Texas has won 10 in a row in the series thanks in part to some gut-wrenching collapses by the Cowboys in recent years. In 2004, Oklahoma State led 35-7 in the second quarter and lost 56-35. In 2005, the Cowboys led 28-9 at halftime and lost again. Last year, Texas rallied from 21 down in the fourth quarter to win 38-35. Add the 98,000 screaming fans that will pack refurbished Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and the Cowboys would seem to be dancing on the razor’s edge psychologically. Texas coach Mack Brown dismisses the past. “This is by far their best team,” Brown said. “We’re not talking about a 4-7 Oklahoma State team that got up
on us. We’re talking about an Oklahoma State team that is undefeated and has a chance to play for a national championship.” In a league full of top-notch quarterbacks, OSU’s Zac Robinson might be the most under-appreciated. Robinson is completing 70 percent of passes, but what makes the Cowboys really difficult to stop is their rushing attack that grinds out 283 yards per game. When the Cowboys throw, it’s usually to Dez Bryant, the sophomore who has 809 yards and 11 touchdowns on 45 catches. Bryant also has two punt returns for TDs. Texas, which gives up an average of 48 yards rushing, has yet play a team that has tried to push them around at the line of scrimmage. “With all these spread teams we
2B
SPORT SHORTS 29th annual Guajolote 10K Run Registration for the 29th annual Guajolote 10K Run is being held now through Thanksgiving morning. This year’s race will take place on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 27, at 9 a.m. in front of Hamilton Trophies. If you have any questions, please call Hamilton Trophies at (956) 724-9990 or (956) 722-9463 or come by 1320 Garden. Registration will also be taking place at Hamilton Jewelry at 607 Flores or call them at (956) 722-9015.
LADY | Continued from Page 1A had impressive stats once again, as she led her team in kills (10) and blocks (two). She also had 11 digs and two aces. Tessa Moss had 12 kills and 13 digs. Leyva added five kills, one block, two aces and 11 digs. Junior Alexis Garza, who became the starting setter just weeks ago, finished with three aces, one kill and 20 assists, while Kat Garcia had two kills and one aces. Adriana Peña had five kills, Clarissa Solis eight digs and Loraly Rivera seven assists. The Lady Hawks’ two remaining games start with a home game this Friday against Port Isabel, then a game at Lyford next Tuesday. Game time Friday versus Port Isabel is 5 p.m. Villarreal invites everyone to come out to support the Lady Hawks and help cheer them on as they look to qualify for this year’s playoffs.
LOSE | Continued from Page 1A who tallied 131 yards and two touchdowns off 11 carries, and quarterback Kyle DeMoss, who completed 6of-10 passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns, throwing for just one interception. Port Isabel gained 387 total yards to Zapata’s 360. Trejo led the Hawks with 106 yards and two touchdowns off 12 carries. Rene Garcia added 93 yards off six carries, and George Gutierrez aided the cause with 60 yards off 10 carries. Nati Vasquez added a 19-yard field goal. The Hawks will look to break their slide at Progreso on Halloween night.
TREJO | Continued from Page 1A got an opportunity as the starting quarterback. “I was kind of the backup last year, but I didn’t get any reps,” Trejo said. Now that Trejo is lining up behind center, he’s making the most of his opportunities. He leads the team in total offense with 872 yards and is second in rushing touchdowns with eight. Power running is the lifeblood of the Zapata offense, and Trejo has been more than adequate as its central figure. He has 435 yards on 91 carries for a 4.8 yards-per-carry average. As a passer, when he’s actually called upon to air out the football, he has passed for 437 yards on 24-for50 passing with three touchdowns and six interceptions. The benefactor has been another of Zapata’s mainstay: tight end Jerry Buentello, who has 234 of those yards and two scores on 12 catches. Shouldering the quarterbacking duties was something Trejo began tackling in the summer. “He worked real hard in the offseason and is a very humble kid. Whatever he does once he gets out, (he’s) going to be very successful,” Arce said. So Trejo went to work and prepared himself mentally and physically for his new duties. And one of those was being a team captain. “I just had to step it up and do my best. I play the way the coaches taught me. This is what we need, and I like being a leader,” Trejo said. Trejo does command the attention of his teammates, and he complements running back George Gutierrez. While Gutierrez is getting used to leading vocally and not just by example. Trejo has no qualms raising his voice a few decibels. “We have to keep everybody on track, and I get very vocal. I like pumping up my team,” Trejo said. He learned how to handle adversity after the 2007 season, where a second-place finish was considered a step back — the program had enjoyed four straight district titles. “We left everything behind and started a new season. There is no point in thinking about it. It’s behind us,” Trejo said. Helping Trejo ease his way into his new role has been the play of his offensive line, which has been outstanding, despite only one starter returning. “They’ve done pretty good. They’re playing their hardest, and (we) can’t do it without them. I got to give them a lot of credit,” he said.
COWBOYS | Continued from Page 1A have nowadays, you get so used to trying to pass rush, some people forget about the run,” Texas defensive tackle Lamarr Houston said. Saturday’s winner still won’t have a clear path to the Big 12 South division title, let alone the national title. Texas still must travel next week to No. 8 Texas Tech, the last of four straight games against ranked opponents. Baylor, No. 19 Kansas and rival Texas A&M are down the road. Oklahoma State still has to play Texas Tech and No. 4 Oklahoma in November. Win Saturday and get through that stretch and the Cowboys will be well on their way to realizing Pickens’ master plan. “There’s a lot of buzz going on,” Robinson said. “It’s a lot of fun to be a part of.”
effort last week in St. Louis, but it didn’t really matter because the defense continued a run of awful outings. Special teams have been a problem since training camp, their trouble stopping returners now compounded by losing both their main return guys. Fallout from this teamwide cave-in includes three losses in four games, the lone exception a creaky home victory over winless Cincinnati. Coach Wade Phillips told his position coaches to start helping out with special teams last week, and this week he’s taking a more active role with the defense, which likely will include calling some plays. He’d probably be willing to let owner Jerry Jones — or even Simpson — call some plays if that would snap his club out of the funk that’s already produced as many losses as they had all last season, despite having as much talent or more. “I’m very surprised, very disappointed, pretty much embarrassed at this point,” said Terrell Owens, who has yet to have a 100-yard game. “We just haven’t played up to our capabilities yet.”
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HINTS BY HELOISE Dear Readers: Here are some important pet pointers to keep in mind if you are considering bringing a BIRD INTO YOUR HOME. Learn the responsibilities that come with owning a bird. Many people think birds don’t require much care, only to be surHELOISE prised to find that they do! Birds are extra-sensitive to vapors, odors, drafts and cigarette smoke, and are prone to stress if their routine is changed. Birds need vitamins, pellets, fresh seed, vegetables, fruit and a lot of attention. Most birds like to be lightly sprayed with warm water. Use a spray bottle, thoroughly cleaned or new, and fill with warm water. Be sure it’s on fine spray. Our two cockatiels (now in Valhalla) loved to be sprayed so much that they would even lift their wings so they could better catch the mist. Be sure to observe your bird’s reaction to see if it enjoys the misting; it will let you know! — Heloise
DILBERT
HOROSCOPES | BY FRANCIS DRAKE ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Conversations with partners and friends are upbeat and positive today. However, be careful not to agree to something that’s beyond your ability to deliver. (Easy to do!) TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Group efforts at work will be successful today, as long as you don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s OK to expect a positive outcome, but remain realistic. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’re in the mood to party your face off today. Enjoy yourself. However, be sensible in your relationships with children; make sure your promises to them are doable. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Family gatherings are upbeat and positive today. People will enjoy trading lies and talking about the bad ol’ days. Make sure you have enough food and drink. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Don’t go out on a limb today. It’s very easy to promise more than you can deliver. However, the upside is that you feel optimistic and glad to be alive.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) This is a good day for business and commerce, as long as you keep your wits about you. Don’t overextend yourself. Nevertheless, there’s money in them thar hills! LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) You feel confident and enthusiastic today, and this is good. But, in your enthusiasm for something, it’s very easy to overlook details that might be important. Oops. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Someone might share a secret with you today, or you might share a secret with someone else. More likely it’s the former, because you take your secrets to the grave. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Group activities are upbeat, enjoyable and very active today. The company of others will energize you. People want to have a good time. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Discussions with parents, bosses and VIPs will go well today. Nevertheless, do remain realistic. Don’t agree to a deadline that is too tough to meet.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) You’ll love to learn something new about different religions, philosophies and cultures today. Your mind is very expansive, and you’re unusually tolerant to ideas that are different from yours. (A good thing.) PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Don’t give away the farm today. If you’re sharing something or dividing something like an inheritance or jointly held property, protect your own self-interests. YOU BOR N TODAY You’re hard-hitting and financially astute. In particular, you know how to reform and reorganize things. You’re a natural leader, and you’re fearless. You value traditional principles, you’re an excellent planner and you take your own responsibilities seriously. Others can depend on you. This has been a year of fresh beginnings and new avenues. Next year, you will focus on partnerships. Birthdate of: Dylan McDermott, actor; Hillary Rodham Clinton, senator; Pat Sajak, TV host.
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4B | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008