The Zapata Times 10/26/2013

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FEDERAL HEALTH CARE

FOOD STAMPS

Web repairs

About 4,000 in county to be affected

Goal set for federal health care website fix

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Nearly a month into the dysfunctional rollout, the Obama administration acknowledged the wide extent of its health care website’s problems Friday and abruptly turned to a private company to oversee urgent fixes. Setting a new timetable, officials said most issues will be repaired by the end of November.

It will take a lot of work, but “HealthCare.gov is fixable,” declared Jeffrey Zients, a management consultant brought in by the White House. By the end of next month, he said, there will be many fewer signup problems such as computer screen freezes — but he stopped short of saying problems will completely disappear.

The administration also said it is promoting one of the website con-

tractors, a subsidiary of the nation’s largest health insurance company, to take on the role of “general contractor” shepherding the fixes.

Quality Software Services Inc. — owned by a unit of UnitedHealth Group — was responsible for two components of the government’s online insurance system. One is the data hub, a linchpin that works relatively well, and the other is an accounts registration feature that initially froze and caused many problems.

Zients reported that his review found dozens of issues across the entire system, which is made up of layers of components meant to interact in real time with consumers, government agencies and insurance company computers.

HealthCare.gov was supposed to be the online portal for uninsured Americans to get coverage under President Barack Obama’s health

care law. Envisioned as the equivalent of Amazon.com for health insurance, it became a huge bottleneck immediately upon launch Oct. 1. A major embarrassment for the administration, it is likely to end up as a case study of how government technology programs can go awry.

The briefing from Zients came a day after executives of QSSI and the other major contractor, CGI Federal, told Congress that the government didn’t fully test the system and ordered up last-minute changes that contributed to logjams. Next week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill.

Visiting a community health center on Friday in Austin, Texas, Sebelius said that “in an ideal world there would have been a lot more testing.” But she added that her de-

See HEALTH CARE PAGE 11A

Temporary food stamp benefit increase granted in 2009 will expire Nov. 1 THE ZAPATA TIMES

In a move that will impact about 4,000 Zapata County residents, food stamp benefits in Texas and across the nation will be reduced by an average of 5 percent beginning Nov. 1.

This is because the temporary increase in benefits from the federal stimulus passed in 2009 is expiring.

The amount of the drop will vary depending on the family’s situation, and the largest monthly decrease will be no more than $11 a person.

The following is data provided by the state on food stamp benefits cases in Zapata County in September: Number of cases: 1,620 Number of recipients: 4,028 Total payments: $481,176 million Average payment per case: $297 Of the 4,028 recipients, 1,447, or 36 percent, were between the age of 5 and 17.

The state has sent letters to families letting them

See FOOD

PAGE 11A

LAREDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MEMORIES OF A REVOLUTION Show to feature Emiliano Zapata’s legacy SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Almost a century after his death, the message of famed Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata still echoes loudly throughout villages of old Mexico.

Followers and soldiers who fought alongside the general turned myth still recount the battles and heroic deeds of an individual who was to become one of the most recognized Mexican figures of all times.

About 30 pieces showcasing the lives and memories of those remaining Zapatistas will be the focus of a new art exhibit at Laredo Community College by renowned Italian photographer Jon Guido Bertelli.

The exhibit, entitled “Zapatistas: Memories of a Great Journey,” will have an opening reception Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Visual Arts Gallery in the new Visual and Performing Arts Center at the Fort McIntosh Campus.

Hosted by the LCC Visual Arts Department, the reception is free and open to the public.

Bertelli, who lived in Mexico City when he began the project, said a conversation with friends ignited his curiosity.

“My wife and I were invited to Morelos, where I began hearing stories about Zapata. I only knew him through pop references like movies, but I quickly became interested and wanted to know more about the Mexican icon.”

Bertelli spent almost two years traveling to different towns throughout Morelos interviewing veterans who had been

Courtesy photo

A portrait of General Emiliano Zapata still hangs in Don Vidal Paredes’ kitchen, where he recalls the many struggles he endured alongside the Mexican revolutionary hero. The photograph is part of the new Laredo Community College art exhibit, entitled “Zapatistas: Memories of a Great Journey.”

See ZAPATISTAS PAGE 11A

FEDERAL COURT

Woman still in federal custody awaiting trial

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

LAREDO — A woman who was arrested while transporting three illegal immigrants with a Dodge Ram has waived her initial court procedures.

Ericka Hernandez waived her

preliminary and detention hearing set for Thursday. She submitted her waivers Monday. Hernandez has been appointed a federal public defender to represent her.

She remained in federal custody since no bond has been set for her.

U.S. Border Patrol agents de-

tained her Oct. 15. That night, agents parked along U.S. 83 near Dolores Creek in Zapata County noticed a black Dodge Ram heading north.

A criminal complaint filed Oct. 17 states one agent remembered seeing the same pickup heading south at about 7 p.m. When an

agent followed the vehicle, Hernandez allegedly hit the brakes and began swerving along the road before stopping about 1 mile north of the Webb and Zapata County line.

During an immigration inspection, agents found three people who were determined to be ille-

gal immigrants. Hernandez, a U.S. citizen, claimed “she was giving the subjects a ride,” a complaint reads. She was charged with transporting illegal immigrants with a motor vehicle.

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

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

Saturday, Oct. 26

ASSOCIATED PRESS

29th Annual Update in Medicine Conference. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. UT Laredo Regional Campus, 1937 E. Bustamante St. Visit www.mrgbahec.org or call 712-0037.

National Prescription Drug TakeBack Pill Initiative. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

616 E. Del Mar Blvd. and 2401 Clark Blvd. Medication can be dropped off for disposal at either location. Call SCAN office 724-3177.

Free legal clinic. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. TAMIU Student Center, Room 230. Tax/IRS, Society Security, contracts, debt collection and divorce/ family law. No immigration or criminal law matters. Pre-register at 326-2545.

TAMIU Planetarium shows: “Zula Patrol: Down to Earth” 2 p.m.; “Secrets of the Sun” 3 p.m.; “Planets Quest” 4 p.m.; and “Pink Floyd’s The Wall” 5 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Matinee shows $4 at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Call 326-3663.

St. Peter Memorial School’s annual jamaica fundraiser. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Matamoros and Santa Maria Avenue. Bingo, food booths and games. Call 723-6302.

The First Purple 5K Run. Checkin at 7 a.m., start time 8 a.m. Éilan, 17101 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX. Benefiting Family Violence Prevention Services and The Kristine Meza Foundation. Race registration $35, $20 for students with current ID, $25 per person for team challenge (five participants) and $8 for dogs (only with a leash). Race registration on race day is $40; all other prices stay the same. For more information, visit http://carreraraces.com/purplerun.asp.

Today is Saturday, Oct. 26, the 299th day of 2013. There are 66 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 26, 1861, the legendary Pony Express officially ceased operations, giving way to the transcontinental telegraph. (The last run of the Pony Express was completed the following month.)

On this date: In 1774, the First Continental Congress adjourned in Philadelphia.

In 1825, the Erie Canal opened in upstate New York, connecting Lake Erie and the Hudson River.

In 1881, the “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” took place in Tombstone, Ariz.

In 1911, “The Queen of Gospel,” singer and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson, was born in New Orleans.

In 1942, Japanese planes badly damaged the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands during World War II. (The Hornet sank early the next morning.)

In 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed a measure raising the minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents an hour.

In 1958, Pan American Airways flew its first Boeing 707 jetliner from New York to Paris in 8 hours and 41 minutes.

In 1972, national security adviser Henry Kissinger declared, “Peace is at hand” in Vietnam.

In 1979, South Korean President Park Chung-hee was shot to death during a dinner party along with his chief bodyguard by the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, Kim Jae-kyu, who was later executed.

In 1980, Israeli President Yitzhak Navon became the first Israeli head of state to visit Egypt.

In 1982, the medical drama “St. Elsewhere” premiered on NBC. Ten years ago: A rocket attack on the Al Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, where U.S. officials were residing, killed an American colonel, wounded 18 other people and sent the visiting U.S. deputy defense secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, scurrying for safety. Five years ago: U.S. military helicopters launched a rare attack on Syrian territory, killing eight people in a strike Damascus condemned as “serious aggression.” One year ago: After leaving more than 40 people dead in the Caribbean, Hurricane Sandy headed toward the eastern United States, with forecasters warning that it would merge with two winter storm systems to create a megastorm.

Today’s Birthdays: Former Sen. Edward Brooke III, R-Mass., is 94. Actress Shelley Morrison is 77. Actor Bob Hoskins is 71. Author Pat Conroy is 68. Actress Jaclyn Smith is 68. TV host Pat Sajak is 67.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is 66. Singer Maggie Roche (The Roches) is 62. Musician Bootsy Collins is 62. Actor James Pickens Jr. is 61. Rock musician Keith Strickland (The B-52’s) is 60.

Actor D.W. Moffett is 59. Actress/singer Rita Wilson is 57.

Thought for Today: “You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity.” — Marie Curie, Polish-French scientist (1867-1934).

Sunday, Oct. 27 Alexander High School Chapter of Amnesty International fall bake sale. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Walgreen’s parking lot, McPherson and Del Mar. Proceeds to buy holiday food baskets for needy Laredo families. For more information, call junior Alexander student Walker Brown at 791-4223.

Tuesday, Oct. 29 Anti-“Boo”llying event, hosted

by PILLAR. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Uni-Trade Stadium, 6320 Sinatra Parkway. Free and open to students from elementary to high school. Parents invited. Students receive 10 community services hours. Students with appropriate Halloween costume to be considered for prizes. Call 723-7457 or visit pillarstrong.org.

Thursday, Oct. 31 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 727-0589.

Saturday, Nov. 2 First United Methodist Church will hold a used book sale, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 1220 McClelland Ave. Hardback books are $1, paperback books 50 cents, and magazines and children’s books 25 cents.

Tuesday, Nov. 5 The Les Amis Birthday Club will celebrate their monthly luncheon at the Holiday Inn Civic Center. This month’s honorees are Amparo Garcia, Imelda Gonzalez and Hilda Lopez.

This month’s hostesses are Nely Garza, Maria Eugenia Garcia, Aurora Miranda and Minerva Sandoval.

Alzheimer’s support group meeting. 7 p.m. Meeting room 2, Building B of Laredo Medical Center.

The support group is for family members and caregivers taking care of someone who has Alzheimer’s.

Wednesday, Nov. 6 Business Etiquette Workshop.

8:30 a.m. to noon. Room 101, De La Garza Building of Laredo Community College’s Ft. McIntosh Campus.

Speaker is A.B. Barrera. $65 per person through Oct. 23 and $75 per person after. Register online at laredo.edu/edc or call 721-5110.

Thursday, Nov. 7 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call 727-0589.

Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location and purpose and contact information for a representative. Items will run as space is available.

Photo by Stephan Savoia | AP

Lee Harvey Oswald’s wedding ring, which he left at his wife’s, Marina Oswald, bedside the morning of the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, is shown on Tuesday. The ring is part of a themed JFK memorabilia auction "Camelot: Fifty Years After Dallas" at the Omni Parker House hotel in Boston. The ring sold for $108,000 on Thursday.

Oswald ring sells for $108K

By JAMIE STENGLE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS — Lee Harvey Oswald’s gold wedding band, which he left in a cup on the dresser as he headed to work at the Texas School Book Depository the morning of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, sold at auction on Thursday for $108,000.

The ring that belonged to the man who killed Kennedy in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, was among nearly 300 items linked to the president auctioned by RR Auction in Boston.

The New Hampshire-based auction house said that Oswald’s ring was sold to a buyer from Texas who wished to remain anonymous.

Oswald’s widow, Marina Oswald Porter, recovered the ring, which apparently sat forgotten for decades in the files of a Fort

Port Arthur couple dead, apparent murder-suicide PORT ARTHUR — Police say a Southeast Texas husband and wife have been found shot to death in their home in an apparent murder-suicide.

Port Arthur police identified the pair as John and Patricia Knight, both age 76.

Police Chief Mark Blanton says the couple’s son discovered the bodies Wednesday afternoon.

New website updates Texas drought, conditions AUSTIN — People concerned about the lingering Texas drought have another tool to track water resources.

The Texas Water Development Board has announced a new drought website.

Officials say the site, unveiled Wednesday, brings together updated resources, links, data and the analysis of conditions linked to the drought affecting Texas since 2011.

Worth lawyer who once did work for her. Accompanying the ring is a five-page handwritten letter dated May 5, 2013, in which Porter writes: “At this time of my life I don’t wish to have Lee’s ring in my possession because symbolically I want to let go of my past that is connecting with Nov. 22, 1963.”

At her request, the auction house did not release the full contents of the letter, in which Porter documents the history of the ring — from its purchase in the Soviet city of Minsk, Belarus, before their April, 30, 1961, wedding, to being left on the dresser at her friend’s home, where she and their children were living when Kennedy was killed.

With the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination coming up in November, the auction house gathered items ranging from Kennedy’s personal belongings to Oswald’s Marine Corps rifle score book.

Exonerated inmate honors Renovated Granbury Opera lawyer with scholarship House to reopen HOUSTON — A man who spent 18 years on Texas’ death row before a court exonerated him is using part of the $1.4 million he was awarded as compensation for his time in prison to create a scholarship in honor of the attorney who helped free him.

Anthony Graves spent nearly half his adult life in prison before prosecutors determined in October 2010 he wasn’t involved in a 1992 slaying.

GRANBURY— The 127-yearold Granbury Opera House is set to reopen in December after undergoing a makeover for the last two years.

Many of the improvements to the opera house built in 1886 in the town about 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth will be backstage.

2 killed in wreck of WWII-era plane

HOUSTON — Pollution that contributes to man-made climate change declined 4.5 percent nationwide last year, but Texas still leads in carbon dioxide emissions, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report released Wednesday.

Texas is home to many highpolluting facilities, such as power plants, petroleum refineries and chemical plants.

— Compiled from AP reports

GALVESTON — The U.S. Coast Guard says two people have been killed when their World War II-era plane went down in shallow water near Galveston.

Petty Officer Steve Lehmann says the plane went down about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday in water some four feet deep.

EPA: Texas still No. 1 in greenhouse gas emissions

AROUND THE NATION Ellis Island museum to reopen Monday NEW YORK — Ellis Island will reopen to the public Monday, almost exactly a year after Superstorm Sandy’s swells reached 8 feet and badly damaged the former U.S. immigration entry point.

The Oct. 29 storm swamped boilers and electrical systems, and the 27.5-acre island was without power for months.

While the halls and buildings will reopen, the artifacts remain in a temporary storage facility in Maryland, park officials said.

There is no estimate on when they will return to the island, because work to fix the buildings is still ongoing.

Academy may drop oath’s religious reference AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.— The U.S. Air Force Academy may drop a religious refer-

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The sunrise colors the sky above Calais, Vt., on Tuesday. Rain and colder weather was expected to return later in the week to Vermont. ence from an oath cadets take to swear allegiance to the school’s honor code after a religious freedom group said it’s a litmus test for honesty.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation protested the “so help me God” phrase.

The religious freedom foundation says tying the honor code to a religious test violates the U.S. Constitution.

The academy says it is considering several options, including dumping the entire honor oath.

— Compiled from AP reports

SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted.

The Zapata Times is free.

The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500.

The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net

Local

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

THE BLOTTER Assault An assault was reported at 9:46 a.m. Oct. 16 in the intersection of Seventh Street and Hidalgo Boulevard.

Burglary A burglary of habitation was reported at about 3:45 p.m. Oct. 17 in the 1400 block of Second Street.

A burglary of vehicle was reported at 8:45 a.m.

Oct. 19 in the 1200 block of Glenn Street.

A burglary of a vehicle was reported at 8:39 a.m. Oct. 20 in the 2100 block of Brazos Street.

A burglary of habitation was reported at 3:12 p.m. Wednesday in the 5300 block of Petty Lane.

Card abuse A credit/debit card abuse incident was reported at 10:36 a.m. Oct.

Evading arrest

17 at the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office.

A disorderly conduct was reported at 2:39 a.m.

Oct. 19 at 16th Street and Diaz Avenue.

An evading arrest incident was reported at 5:40 p.m. Oct. 18 along Singer Lane. Several suspected illegal immigrants jumped out of a vehicle and absconded in the brush.

DWI

Seizure

Javier Rodriguez, 40, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and driving while license suspended at about 12:15 a.m. Oct. 19 on U.S. 83, south of the Veleño Bridge. He had a combined $2,500 bond at the Zapata Regional Jail.

Sylvia Guzman, 49, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and driving while license suspended at about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 19 in the intersection of 10th Street and Medina Avenue. She had a combined $2,500 bond at the Zapata Regional Jail.

Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office deputies seized 16 pounds of marijuana valued at $8,000 at about 8 p.m. Oct. 16 following a traffic stop in the intersection of Texas 16 and Alamo Street.

Disorderly conduct

Theft A theft was reported at 5:27 p.m. Oct. 17 at the EZ Pawn in the 100 block of U.S. 83.

A theft was reported at 5:50 a.m. Monday in the 200 block of Kennedy Street.

8 years for felon found with 7.62mm rifle SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

McALLEN — Four-time convicted felon Aurelio Perez-Aleman, of Roma, was sentenced to prison Monday for possessing a firearm.

Perez-Aleman, 37, pleaded guilty May 30.

U.S. District Judge Randy Cane sentenced PerezAleman to 100 months imprisonment to be followed by a three-year-term of supervised release. The sentence was enhanced due to his prior violent felonies and the high capacity

magazine involved.

On Sep. 7, 2013, PerezAleman was discovered in his vehicle near the Rio Grande River by Border Patrol agents after illegal aliens were spotted nearby.

After giving the BP agents consent to search his vehicle, a WASR 10, 7.62mm rifle was discovered inside his vehicle. Records indicated he was a previously convicted felon, thereby prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. He has two prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana as well as ag-

gravated robbery and assault on a public servant.

The investigation revealed Perez-Aleman had been waiting for an individual to cross the Rio Grande River so Perez-Aleman could give him the firearm.

Aurelio Perez-Aleman has been in custody where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and BP.

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

Farmers, ranchers receive more time SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

WASHINGTON — Farmers and ranchers who previously were forced to sell livestock due to drought, like the drought currently affecting much of the nation, have an extended period of time in which to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales, the Internal Revenue Service has announced.

Farmers and ranchers who, due to drought, sell more livestock than they normally would may defer tax on the extra gains from those sales. To qualify, the livestock generally must be replaced within a four-year period. The IRS is authorized to extend this period if the drought continues.

The one-year extension of the replacement period announced Friday generally applies to capital gains real-

ized by eligible farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry are not eligible.

The IRS is providing this relief to any farm located in a county, parish, city, borough, census area or district, listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought conditions by the National Drought Mitigation Center, during any weekly period between Sept. 1, 2012, and Aug. 31, 2013. All or part of 38 states are listed. Any county contiguous to a county listed by the NDMC also qualifies for this relief.

As a result, farmers and ranchers in these areas whose drought sale replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end of this

tax year, Dec. 31, 2013, in most cases, will now have until the end of their next tax year. Because the normal drought sale replacement period is four years, this extension immediately impacts drought sales that occurred during 2009. But because of previous droughtrelated extensions affecting some of these localities, the replacement periods for some drought sales before 2009 are also affected. Additional extensions will be granted if severe drought conditions persist.

Details on this relief, including a list of NDMC-designated counties, are available in Notice 2013-62, posted on IRS.gov. Details on reporting drought sales and other farm-related tax issues can be found in Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, also available on the IRS web site.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

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

YOUR TURN

OTHER VIEWS

County judge defends remarks recalling sacrifices made by ancestors Editor’s note: The letter referred to was published in the Oct. 22 edition of the Laredo Morning Times and in today’s The Zapata Times.

To the editor: After reading the letter published on Oct. 22, 2013, I felt it was important to set the record straight. In that letter, Mr. Flores asserted that I had failed to mention the personal sacrifice of the many residents of Old Zapata.

On the contrary, I not only acknowledged their sacrifice throughout the week commemorating the 60th anniversary of Falcon Dam, I have made their sacrifice a consistent theme of my public remarks.

In fact, at the inauguration of the new County Court House, I spoke of my mother’s memories of entering a town where the landscape had been denuded of every tree, brush and blade of grass. A town enveloped in dust clouds. I spoke further of witnessing my grandfather waiting for the lake level to drop.

He would then return to Old Zapata to find the spot where his house had stood.

I have spoken of this generation’s need to emulate their sense of moral duty. They made a personal sacrifice to give every succeeding generation a future without the threat of floods, and a future with a reliable source of water.

But more important, I believe that they have given us a model of strength. They did not choose to become mired in the memory of what they had lost. They, instead, chose to endure the hardships and build a new community. A community I am, now, privileged to serve.

Sincerely, Joe Rathmell

YOUR TURN Former old town resident decries remarks made by county judge about move To the editor: To say the least, I was stunned to read that Zapata County Judge Joseph Rathmell said, “We will never forget that they did for us to give us a better future,” referring to having us abandon our old town of Zapata.

In 1953, I was 10 years old and I remember well how all of us felt having to dramatically change our lives to live in the new town devoid of trees and full of blowing caliche which blew into our mouths and stained our teeth. We ate so much caliche those years ago that the residents suffered from dry mouth and who knows how much of it went into our lungs.

Like my younger brother said, “We were kicked out like rotten peaches!”

And we were not the only ones.

Small towns like El Ramireño, Falcon and Lopeño were also ordered to leave the old towns.

So, I respectfully, but strongly, disagree with the Honorable Judge. I do not know how old Judge Rathmell was in 1952-53, but I think he wasn’t old enough to have really experienced the trauma.

Like many people from the old town, we eventually moved from the new town in 1957.

Sincerely, Raul Flores Jr. Houston

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

To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication.

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

Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No namecalling or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

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

COLUMN

Petanque is highlight of weekend AUSTIN — Looks like another busy weekend coming up here in paradise, highlighted by the Texas Book Festival, which will be all over downtown today and Sunday. And, of course, Marco Foyot is in town.

Yes, that Marco Foyot, the several-time (we’ll deal with that below) petanque champion of all of France. The visit is hosted by the Heart of Texas Petanque Club, and its members couldn’t be more excited.

Petanque (pay-tonk), as you know, is a cream-filled French pastry. No, it’s not. It’s a mild rash, common in newborns, that can be treated topically.

No, it’s not — and I apologize.

The HOT Petanque Club (and petanques are best served hot. Again, I apologize) offers this explanation of the game it so loves: “Petanque is a French boules game, similar to the Italian bocce or English lawn bowling games” and it is played in Austin by “a growing number of enthusiasts.” Many of those folks play at Paggi Square in the Mueller development at the old airport.

The game involves standing in a circle and throwing hollow metal balls so they land as close as possible to a smaller

“

KEN HERMAN

wooden ball, known as the cochonnet. Cochonnet is French for piglet. No, it’s not. Yes, it is.

A YouTube search should lead you to any number of petanque videos. I enjoyed “Play petanque in your town,” posted by the Federation of Petanque U.S.A. The video drew the usual wide variety of comments, including: “I truly was excited and captivated by this video” and “1983 called. They want their jacket back” and “1994 called. They want their joke back.”

Michael Hillis, the Austin club’s secretary, let me know about the weekend events and the “rare opportunity to encounter the flamboyant international star.”

“The guy is supposed to be a real character,” Hillis told me, “and doesn’t speak a lick of English.”

The local petanque club is led by President Arsene Dupin, an accomplished magician, juggler and, of course, mime. Du-

pin, a Parisian by birth, is the resident magician at One World Theater.

Dupin has met Foyot several times and notes that being flamboyant helps make Foyot one of the few people who can make a living playing petanque.

At an earlier stop on his current U.S. tour, the Bangor Daily News noted that Foyot “arrived with flair in a vintage car.” Local petanque club member Max Mattes of Deer Isle, Maine, told the paper Foyot announced himself as “champion du monde” as he exited the car.

“It’s a sideshow as well as a clinic,” Mattes said.

The Bangor paper identified Foyot as the nine-time petanque champ of France. Foyot’s website says he’s the seven-time French champ. The Austin club says he’s the five-time French champ. Impressive, whatever the number.

Foyot, 60, has been playing petanque since he was 11 when his dad got him involved. “He said, ’Marco, in life, be naughty but respect others,’” Foyot reports on his website.

And what do folks say about Foyot? Glad you asked.

The website notes the London Daily Mail in 2010 said,

“With his mullet hair, Hawaiian shirts and rainbow-print sweaters, Foyot is part Zen mystic, part self-promotional genius, part fashion disaster.”

(We’ve got editors like that here at the paper.)

Columnist Dave Barry called him “a large, shaggy, surfer dude-looking Frenchman.” (We don’t have editors like that.)

“He is called ‘the Michael Jordan of petanque,’ primarily by himself,” Barry wrote. “In fact, as far as I could tell, the only thing he can say in English is ‘I am the Michael Jordan of petanque.’”

Sounds like a show you don’t want to miss. Foyot will be at Zaytouna Lounge, which has a petanque court, at 6 p.m. Friday to demonstrate his skills. On Saturday, he’ll be at the Browning Hangar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m to conduct clinics.

He’ll play in a tournament Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the French Legation.

Where else but Austin can you, on the same weekend, see great authors and the Michael Jordan of petanque?

Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. E-mail: kherman@statesman.com.

WORST WEEK IN WASHINGTON

Candidate had bad week with Solo cup

By CHRIS CILLIZZA THE WASHINGTON POST

Call this one “Doug Gansler and the case of the red Solo cup.”

Gansler, the Maryland attorney general and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014, and the Solo cup, the preferred drinking vessel of college students everywhere, collided in the most politically awkward way possible this week when the Baltimore Sun obtained a photo of the state’s top cop at a “beach week” party in Delaware.

Knew nothing Gansler was there to find his

son to discuss when the family would leave the First State the following morning. Despite obvious signs of drinking, Gansler insisted — in a two hour(!) interview with the Sun — that he was unaware of any illegal activities.

“Assume for purposes of discussion that there was widespread drinking at this party,” Gansler said. “How is that relevant to me? . . . The question is, do I have any moral authority over other people’s children at beach week in another state?

I say no.”

Non-enforcer Wrong answer — particularly when you’re the state’s top

law enforcement official and running to be the next governor.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Gansler held a news conference to explain himself, but, in a remarkable feat of whatever-the-opposite-ofpolitical-skill-is, he managed to make things worse.

Could it be beer?

“There could be Kool-Aid in the red cups, but there’s probably beer in the red cups,” he said. (OH YEAH!!!)

“I wasn’t the chaperone. I didn’t buy the beer,” he said.

“This is crazy, in terms of loud music, but it wasn’t like things were being broken,” he

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

said. “We’re in it; I’m going to win it. People are looking for someone with the character, the judgment. . . .” (Yes, he really said that last one.)

The red Solo cup story came just 10 days after Gansler was besieged by reports that he had urged members of his security detail to speed and run lights.

Earlier this week, he paid a 16month-old speeding ticket on his official state vehicle that he had previously said he had never received. Oomph.

Doug Gansler, for forgetting that the (iPhone and speed) camera is always on, you had the “Worst Week in Washington.” Congrats, or something.

(Chris Cillizza is a political writer for The Washington Post.)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

No documents on file Boy found inside SUV Man previously arrested by feds is rearrested in Zapata

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A man previously deported has been arrested for being illegally in the country, court documents released this week show.

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Carlos ArellanoArellano on Tuesday in Zapata. Arellano-Arellano is a citizen of Mexico who was previously removed from the United States, accord-

ing to a criminal complaint filed Thursday.

After a brief interview, it was determined ArellanoArellano was an illegal immigrant from Mexico. Further investigation showed he had been previously removed from the country Aug. 26 in San Ysidro, Calif.

The defendant did not obtain consent from the U.S Attorney General or the Secretary of the Depart-

ment of Homeland Security for the reapplication for admission into the United States, court documents state.

Arellano-Arellano has a bond set at $75,000. He remained in federal custody.

He has a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 7 before Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker.

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

Sheriff’s Office investigating incident outside of hotel

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A 3-year-old boy was left inside a sport utility vehicle Oct. 19 outside a local hotel but no charges have been filed pending an investigation, according to authorities.

At 8:34 a.m. that day, Zapata County Sheriff ’s office deputies responded to the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites for a child

left inside a 2004 Ford SUV. Sgt. Mario Elizondo, sheriff ’s spokesman, said the child was left inside the vehicle for about five minutes.

Reports do not indicate if the car was left running, the windows were rolled up or down or if the air conditioning was on.

Child Protective Services responded to the scene.

They initiated a parallel investigation, aside from

the sheriff ’s criminal case.

“A child should never be left unattended inside a vehicle,” Elizondo said. A leaving a child in the vehicle report was filed.

This type of crime is a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a $500 fine.

An investigation is underway.

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

Scientists trying exercise in health

By JENNIFER R. LLOYD SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

SAN ANTONIO — Though the fountain of youth myth has enthralled explorers and dreamers for centuries, the scientists at the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies are more focused on things such as molecular changes caused by exercise.

In their quest to discover ways to help people live longer and better, that hunt at the molecular level, they hope, could someday pinpoint a drug to produce exercise’s benefits.

Dr. Nicolas Musi, who became the institute’s director last summer, told the San Antonio Express-News that the Barshop will put new emphasis on translating its research into practical applications with the help of $4 million in “exceptional item” funding approved by state lawmakers this past legislative session.

The institute is part of the University of Texas Health Science Center. Its mission, Musi said, is “to promote extension of life, but a healthy life and a happy life.”

“We don’t have any fountain of youth or magic pill, so commonsense recommendations (for healthy aging) are absolutely valuable,” he said, adding that the health benefits of exercise include everything from reduced cancer risks to acting as an anti-depressant, though scientists don’t fully understand the molecular mechanism responsible for helping the body stay healthy.

If researchers can understand those changes, “perhaps we could develop an intervention that could be a medication that will mimic the effect of exercise,” he said.

A large proportion of people

who are living longer suffer from diseases and disabilities, Musi said. The life expectancy for those born in 2010 was almost 79 years, about a decade longer than those born in 1950, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Musi, 43, who was born in Mexico City, became interested in the fields of metabolism and endocrinology during his residency at the University of Miami. Fascinated with how one organ can control the function of another by secreting hormones, Musi joined the health science center in 2003.

He called the Barshop’s founding director, Arlan Richardson, a “wonderful mentor.” Richardson said in an email that he is transitioning to become a geriatrics professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and senior research career scientist at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center starting Jan. 1.

Musi said he wants the Barshop to maintain its focus on the basic biology of aging by, for example, continuing studies of the naked mole rat, a peculiarly longlived and cancer-resistant rodent.

Another area of emphasis, he said, is expanding its stem cell research program, which holds the potential to combat aging and related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The findings could ease the aging process among San Antonio’s sizable population of older adults.

More than 10 percent of the city’s population was 65 or older in 2010, according to the Census Bureau. Musi said the Barshop has already worked with local retirees, such as those living at the Air Force Villages, to participate in studies.

“I don’t want to live 150 years

Photo by Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News | AP

Rochelle Buffenstein holds a pregnant naked mole rat at the University of Texas Health Science Center’s Barshop Institute for Aging and Longevity Studies in San Antonio. Scientists there are focused on things such as molecular changes caused by exercise. if I’m blind and deaf and dumb and having my nappy changed,” said Rochelle Buffenstein, a physiology professor at the Barshop.

“I’d much rather be healthy and fit for as long as I can and then drop dead suddenly.”

Buffenstein studies mole rats, which live much longer than mice, maintain normal physiological function throughout their lives and resist cancer even when scientists paint their skin with carcinogens.

“We’ve never seen cancer in our (naked mole rat) colony, and we know that about 70 percent of mice die of cancer,” said Buffenstein, who is originally from Zimbabwe and who collected the progenitors of her current colony of about 2,500 from 300 rodents from Kenya in 1980 — most found nesting beneath a sweet-potato field.

They can live about 31 years in captivity, compared with an average mouse’s three- or four-year lifespan.

Buffenstein said the naked mole rats are able to keep their insides in pristine condition: They are very good at making proteins correctly and they have high levels of proteasomes, which are the garbage disposals in the cells that get rid of damaged proteins.

Those mechanisms, which make them resistant to cancer and Alzheimer’s, may be translatable to other species, including humans, she said.

Veronica Galvan, an assistant physiology professor at the Barshop who is originally from Argentina, also uses rodents — mice and rats — in her study of what happens in an Alzheimer’s-like

brain.

Galvan said people have traditionally, though incorrectly, thought about aging as a general, uniform deterioration. Instead, one or several key systems will fail but some organs and cells still function well until death.

The brain is likely no different, she said.

For her study, researchers took rodents that had either Alzheimer’s or cognitive decline and inactivated a protein that drives brain aging. Deactivating the protein significantly improved their cognitive abilities, such as those needed to navigate a water maze, she said.

“For the first time in history, we have a chance to essentially tweak, modify and retard the rate of aging in a whole organism and in the brain as well,” she said.

Houston judge accused of falsifying records

By KIAH COLLIER HOUSTON CHRONICLE

HOUSTON — State District Court Judge Denise Pratt is under investigation, accused of backdating court records to make it appear that she issued rulings and filed court documents sooner than she actually did, according to county officials.

Allegations against the 311th family court judge, raised by a Houston-area family lawyer in a criminal complaint filed with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, already have led to the resignation of Pratt’s court clerk.

Webster-based family lawyer Greg Enos, whose criminal complaint last year against a Galveston County court-at-law judge sparked an investigation by the state attorney general and multiple indictments that led to the judge’s suspension and subsequent resignation, said he delivered

STATE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DENISE PRATT his complaint against Pratt to First Assistant District Attorney Belinda Hill on Monday. Enos said he believes the office has already launched an investigation.

A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said he ”can’t confirm or deny” whether any investigation is underway, but county and other sources say the office is looking into it and already has contacted attorneys to arrange interviews.

The concerns Enos is raising also have touched

off an investigation by the Harris County District Clerk, the official keeper of all court records.

District Clerk Chris Daniel said he looked into two of the six cases Enos included in his complaint, which led to the resignation on Monday of Pratt’s lead clerk, a well-liked, 25year employee of the District Clerk’s office.

Daniel said he found records were postdated or mis-marked in those two cases and that he is looking into a seventh one that another family lawyer brought to his attention.

An inaccurate timestamp or missing signature on a court document not only erodes ”the integrity of the record,” Daniel said, but can have an impact on appeals and other legal processes. ”If you have the wrong date on a document, then statutorily you can run out of time to appeal a case, and that’s where the most damage is,” he said.

Pratt did not respond to

several requests for comment, but her campaign consultant, Allen Blakemore, issued a statement late Thursday suggesting Enos’ complaint is the result of hurt feelings. ”The legal system produces winners and losers,” the statement says. ”Sometimes losers get their feelings hurt. Often the easiest person to blame for an unwanted outcome is the judge.”

The statement, which says an unnamed lawyer ”has already been forced to recant some of his claims and has even offered an apology,” goes on to say that ”there are hundreds of attorneys who appear in this court who are satisfied” and that Pratt ”looks forward to a speedy resolution of this criticism from one unhappy lawyer.”

Blakemore confirmed the statement is referring to Enos.

While the mis-marking and backdating of renditions and other documents are the crux of Enos’ com-

plaint, it also says Pratt ”takes months to make rulings in contested cases” when most family court judges do so immediately or within a few days.

Enos alleges that the backdating or other mismarkings are meant to cover up the delays, writing in his complaint that ”Pratt was acting like a fourthgrader who, on the day after her parents got the report card with the ’F’ for not doing homework, stayed up late and did her homework assignments and dated them six weeks before.”

Enos, whose law firm has a case scheduled for trial in Pratt’s court Friday, said his quarrel with the judge, first elected in 2010, is not personal. ”The only times I’ve had actual cases in Judge Pratt’s court, my clients have won, so I’m not disgruntled against her personally, but I’m just upset by what I see happening,” the attorney said.

Several lawyers involved

in the cases Enos cites in his complaint said they never have experienced such problems with a judge.

Marcia Zimmerman, a 30-year veteran family lawyer based in Clear Lake, said she resorted to filing a motion after waiting for months on a ruling from Pratt. When the ruling finally came in, she was surprised to see the date listed was months before she had filed her motion. ”I don’t think any of us believed the ruling was actually made before the petition for writ of mandamus because, why would she rule and not tell anybody?”

Zimmerman said, noting that Pratt also missed two scheduled hearings.

Family lawyer Robert Clark said he had a similar experience, arguing a case in January and then waiting five months for a ruling from Pratt that the official court record now says was issued on Jan. 30, the day before the two-day trial actually ended.

Sheriff’s Office asking for help with cases

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County Sheriff’s investigators are asking the community for assistance in solving a series of thefts and burglaries reported around the county, officials announced Friday.

The rash of burglaries and

thefts occurred between Oct. 12 and Oct. 13. The combined value of stolen property added up to $2,400. Sgt. Mario Elizondo said two break-ins occurred around the 100 block of Mesquite Street.

Suspect(s) broke into two tool sheds. One shed had several tools, such as rigid cordless drill, a rigid impact screwdriver, a steel grey

and orange colored weed eater and a gray Craftsman tool box, a news release issued Friday states.

Property in a second tool shed included two skill saws, two cordless skill saws, three impact screwdrivers, one bosh skill saw and six power tool batteries.

In another incident, deputies responded to the block of Gonza-

lez Street. A person reported that someone stole his red and black Craftsman lawnmower valued at about $220.

A second theft was reported in the 1800 block of Villa Avenue where someone stole an Alpine stereo from a Ford vehicle. Last, 50 barrels of condensate oil were reported stolen Oct. 17 from the

Energy Transfer at the 2Y Ranch on FM 2687 Road. Each barrel was valued at $90, Elizondo said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 765-9960. Callers may remain anonymous.

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

6A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A

PÁGINA 8A

Zfrontera

Agenda en Breve LUNES 28 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — “Traviesa Semana de Salud” arranca en el estacionamiento del Centro Estudiantil de TAMIU, de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. También habrá una exposición orientadora sobre las enfermedades de transmisión sexual en la Rotonda del Centro Estudiantil, de 9:30 a.m. a 4 p.m.

MARTES 29 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — En honor del Mes Nacional para Prevenir el Acoso Estudiantil, PILLAR invita a un evento especial de 5:30 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en el Estadio Uni-Trade.

Estudiantes recibirán 10 horas de servicio comunitario.

Alumnos pueden acudir disfrazados. Informes en el (956) 723-7457.

LAREDO — La Sociedad Histórica de Nuevo Laredo, A.C. y la Biblioteca Pública de Laredo invitan a atestiguar la entrega de reconocimiento en memoria de Fernando Garza González, con la donación de libros escritos por Garza a la Sección Histórica de la biblioteca, 1200 E. Calton Road, a las 6 p.m.

NUEVO LAREDO, México — Laberintus Arte y Cultura A.C. presenta “Arrojados al Mundo sin Cobertor de Lana”, con actuaciones de Fany Silva y Damián Aviña, a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS (esquina de Reynosa y Belden).

SÁBADO 26 DE OCTUBRE DE 2013

GOBIERNO

ACUSACIÓN

Menor ayuda

Arrestan supuesto Zeta

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

El gobierno de Texas envió cartas a familias que actualmente reciben los beneficios del programa de comida SNAP. En la carta se les informó que los beneficios, tanto en la entidad como en el resto del país, se verán reducidos por un promedio de 5 por ciento a partir del 1 de noviembre.

“Esto se debe a que estará expirando el incremento temporal en beneficios del estímulo federal aprobado en 2009”, indica un comunicado de prensa enviado por la Comisión de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas.

El comunicado aclara que la disminución variará dependiendo de la situación de la familia.

“La cantidad más alta de disminución será de no más de 11 dólares por persona”, aclara el documento.

El American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, conocida también como estímulo, se convirtió en ley en 2009. Incrementó las cantidades de SNAP por un 13.6 por ciento.

“La porción de ese incremento que no fue absorbida por incrementos en el costo de la vida

Disminución variará según la situación de cada familia.

POR CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ anual, expirará el 31 de octubre.

SNAP, anteriormente conocido como estampillas de comida, es el Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, fue creado por el gobierno federal y es administrador por los estados.

En Texas, alrededor de 3.5 millones de personas reciben los beneficios de comida de SNAP, siendo una suma total de 400 millones de dólares al mes. La cantidad de beneficios se basa en el tamaño e ingreso de las familias, con una cantidad promedio de 285 dólares al mes.

En el comunicado de prensa se indica que una familia de cuatro integrantes que en octubre haya recibido 668 dólares, en noviembre recibirá 632 dólares; una familia de tres, si en octubre recibió 526 dólares, en noviembre recibirá 497; en tanto que, una familia de cinco que en octubre haya recibido 793 dólares, en noviembre solamente recibirá 750 dólares.

TEXAS

SEQUÍA

MIÉRCOLES 30 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO — “Traviesa Semana de Salud” invita al “Halloween Fest 2013” de 12 p.m. a 6 p.m. en el jardín del Kinesiology-Convocation Building de TAMIU. Entrada gratuita.

LAREDO — Recital a cargo de Rolando Ramírez, a partir de las 7:30 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada gratuita.

LAREDO — Festival de Cosecha a partir de las 6 p.m. en el Centro Recreativo Haynes, 2102 Clark. A las 7:30 p.m. se proyectará la cinta “Monter’s University”.

Habrá otras actividades relativas a Halloween.

NUEVO LAREDO, México — Cine Club Carmen González presenta “El Club de la Eutanasia” a las 6 p.m. en Estación Palabra, César López de Lara 1020.

JUEVES 31 DE OCTUBRE NUEVO LAREDO, México — Foro de Consulta y Participación Ciudadana, a fin de crear el Plan Municipal de Desarrollo 2013-2016, a partir de las 10 a.m. en el Lobby del Edificio de la Presidencia Municipal. El tema de hoy es “Bienestar Social y Humano con Igualdad de Oportunidades”.

VIERNES 1 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO — Recital a cargo de Mark Martínez, a partir de las 3:30 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada gratuita.

LAREDO — Recital a cargo de Amelia Amaya, a partir de las 7:30 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada gratuita.

LAREDO — “The Nerd”, una producción teatral de otoño, se presentará en el teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts a las 8 p.m. Costo: 5 dólares.

LAREDO — El cantante mexicano ‘Emmanuel’ se presentan en concierto en Laredo Energy Arena, 6700 Arena Blvd., a las 8 p.m.

NUEVO LAREDO, México — II Festival de Teatro Vértices presenta “La Nueva Alejandría” a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS, Reynosa y Belden. Entrada Libre.

Foto por LM Otero | Associated Press

Ganado se observa cerca de Springtown, a inicios de agosto. Esta semana, el IRS informó que los agricultores y ganaderos que, debido a la sequía, venden más ganado de lo que normalmente hubiesen vendido, pueden diferir el impuesto sobre las ganancias adicionales de las ventas.

Se amplía tiempo para reemplazar ganado ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

W

ASHINGTON — Agricultores y ganaderos que anteriormente se vieron obligados a vender su ganado debido a la sequía, la cual actualmente está afectando una gran parte de EU, tienen un amplio periodo adicional para reemplazar el ganado y diferir el impuesto sobre las ganancias de las ventas forzadas, anunció esta semana el Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS).

Los agricultores y ganaderos que, debido a la sequía, venden más ganado de lo que normalmente hubiesen vendido, pueden diferir el impuesto sobre las ganancias adicionales de las ventas. Para calificar, el ganado generalmente debe ser sustituido en un período de cuatro años.

El IRS tiene la autorización de ampliar este plazo si la sequía continúa.

La prórroga de un año del período de reemplazo que se anunció, generalmente se aplica a las ganancias de capital realizadas

por los agricultores y ganaderos elegibles sobre la venta de animales usados ??para las faenas del campo, de ordeña o sementales debido a la sequía. Las ventas de otro tipo de ganado, como animales criados para matanza o reservados para propósitos de deporte, así como las aves de corral no son elegibles.

El IRS está ofreciendo este alivio a cualquier granja ubicada en un condado, subdivisión de condado, ciudad, área o distrito reconocido por el Censo, declarado por el Centro Nacional de Mitigación de Sequía (National Drought Mitigation Center, (NDMC, por sus siglas en inglés) durante cualquier periodo semanal entre el uno de septiembre de 2012 y el 31 de agosto de 2013.

Todos o parte de los 38 estados están en la lista. Cualquier condado contiguo a un condado reconocido por el NDMC también califica para el alivio.

Como resultado, los agricultores y ganaderos de estas zonas cuyo período de venta de reemplazo por sequía debería caducar a finales de este año tributa-

rio, el 31 de diciembre de 2013, en la mayoría de los casos, ahora tendrán hasta el final del siguiente año tributario. Debido a que el plazo normal de venta de reemplazo por sequía es de cuatro años, esta prórroga inmediatamente afecta las ventas por sequía del año 2009. Sin embargo, previas extensiones de tiempo que se concedieron por otras sequías que afectaron algunas de estas localidades, los períodos de reemplazo para algunas ventas por sequía antes del 2009 también se verán afectados. Prórrogas adicionales se concederán si persisten condiciones severas por la sequía.

Los detalles sobre este alivio, incluyendo una lista de los condados designados por NDMC, están disponibles en el Aviso 201362, publicado en IRS.gov. Los detalles sobre cómo reportar ventas por sequía y otros temas de impuestos relacionados con las granjas, se pueden encontrar en la Publicación 225 (en inglés), Farmers Tax Guide, que también se encuentra en el sitio web del IRS.

IMPUESTOS

Época tributaria iniciará tarde POR ALEJANDRA CASTRO-NUÑEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

WASHINGTON — El Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS por sus siglas en inglés) anunció un retraso de aproximadamente unas dos semanas para el inicio de la temporada de impuestos del 2014 para tener tiempo suficiente para probar los sistemas de programación y procesamiento de impuestos tras el cierre del gobierno federal de 16 días.

El IRS está explorando opciones para reducir el retraso previsto y dará a conocer la decisión final sobre el inicio de la temporada de impuestos del 2014 en diciembre, dijo el Comisionado Interino del IRS, Danny Werfel. La fecha original de inicio de la

temporada tributaria del 2014 estaba programada para el 21 de enero, y con una o dos semanas de retraso, el IRS comenzará a aceptar y a procesar declaraciones individuales de impuestos del 2013 a partir del 28 de enero y no mas tarde que el 4 de febrero.

El IRS no procesará las declaraciones de impuestos en papel antes de la fecha de inicio de la temporada de impuestos, que se anunciará en diciembre.

No hay ninguna ventaja al presentar la declaración en papel antes de la fecha de apertura y los contribuyentes recibirán sus reembolsos de impuestos mucho más rápido mediante el uso de e-file con depósito directo. La fecha límite para presentar su declaración de impuestos es el 15 de abril.

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Un hombre quien supuestamente transportada varias libras de marihuana y quien sostuvo que trabajaba para Los Zetas, fue arrestado el martes cerca del Campo de Golf Municipal Max A. Mandel, indica una querella criminal presentada el jueves.

Jesús Antonio Cruz ha sido acusado, de manera federal, con posesión con intento de distribuir una sustancia controlada. Cruz continuaba en custodia federal pendiente de otros procedimientos en la corte.

A las 6:30 a.m. del martes, agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza de EU, estacionados por Mines Road al Noroeste de Laredo, observaron una camioneta Chevrolet Tahoe, modelo 2002, que se dirigía hacia el norte y hacia el sur, en diversas ocasiones. El vehículo disminuyó y empezó a virar sobre el camino conforme un agente lo seguía, indica la querella.

El conductor de la Tahoe supuestamente mostró “señales o nerviosismo por medio de agarrar fuertemente el volante, sentándose derecho y evitando el contacto visual”, indica la querella.

Un hombre posteriormente identificado como Cruz fue arrestado tras una breve persecución a pie.

Agentes incautaron cinco paquetes grandes de marihuana con peso de 276.1 libras con valor de 220.800 dólares. Agentes del Drug Enforcement Administration arribaron al lugar de los hechos para investigar. En un interrogatorio posterior, Cruz declaró que trabaja para Los Zetas y para una persona a la que identificó como “Chapa”.

“Posteriormente declaró que ‘Chapa’ un integrante de Los Zetas, le dio un radio Nextel, así como instrucciones para cruzar hacia Laredo y esperar más órdenes”, indica la querella.

Una camioneta Ford Expedition, color verde, recogió a Cruz en la Plaza San Agustin en el Centro de Laredo.

Cruz fue trasladado a una casa cerca del H-E-B por calle Guadalupe, donde lo recogió una camioneta Chevrolet Tahoe. Recibió órdenes de ir a la casa club del campo de golf donde seis hombres salieron de entre la maleza para cargar la droga a su vehículo, indican documentos de la corte.

SERVICIO

Alguacil lanza sitio de Internet TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

La oficina del alguacil del Condado de Zapata, a cargo de Alonso López, lanzó un nuevo sitio de Internet con la finalidad de proporcionar a los residentes del condado, una guía comprensiva de la oficina del alguacil, en zapatasheriff.com Los usuarios pueden encontrar información acerca de López, de la administración de esta oficina y de la cárcel de condado, entre otras cosas.

Una sección sobresaliente del sitio incluye un apartado llamado ACT, que permite a los residentes involucrarse en la promoción diaria de medidas de seguridad.

ACT es un sistema para reportar actividad sospechosa en línea, lo que permite a los ciudadanos compartir información concerniente a actividades o incidentes que las personas encuentren fuera de lo normal. Los usuarios pueden enviar reportes anónimos sobre actividades que crean pudieran ser riesgosas o que amenace la seguridad del público.

La forma ACT puede ser encontrada en zapatasheriff.com/act/ La oficina del alguacil está abierta a comentarios y sugerencias en sobre cómo mejorar el sitio.

Para mayor información o comentarios llame al 765-9960, envíe un fax al 765-9941, o bien, por correo electrónico a info@zapatacountytx.gov

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Hit movie was 12 years in the making

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez jokes that it took him 12 years to become an overnight sensation.

The real punch line is that it took much longer.

The writer, director and star of the surprise Hollywood hit “Instructions Not Included” was a virtual unknown among the general audience in the U.S., where the film debuted on Labor Day weekend. Its success was shocking, climbing into the top five box office earners with only a limited release. It’s pulled in more than $43 million so far in the U.S. alone, and roughly the same in Mexico. It cost just a bit over $5 million to make.

The story of an Acapulco playboy whose former lover dumps a baby at his door, “Instructions” unfolds as the Derbez character goes to the U.S. to find the girl’s mother and becomes a successful movie stunt man and devoted father in the process.

He said the idea for the movie came to him 12 years ago but he couldn’t get the money to do it until recently.

“For Americans it was like, ‘Where did this guy come from?

Why are people going to watch him? Why are people going to his movies? Who is he?”’ the 52-yearold Derbez said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But it’s been a long time I’ve spent nurturing this audience in the United States.”

Many of those fans are Mexicans who migrated north. Derbez rose to stardom at home in 1992, when he was given his own TV show in Mexico. It was a time when rural Mexican families were increasingly settling in cities such as Atlanta, New York and Denver. He became the homeboy of the homesick.

A true Mexican knew Derbez’s most famous characters and their catchphrases. There was Armando Hoyos, the arrogant intellectual with magnifying lenses who made up his own dictionary defi-

Photo by Marcia Perskie/Pantelion Films | AP

Eugenio Derbez plays Valenten in a scene from “Instructions Not Included,” which has found an audience among Latinos in the United States. nitions and shouted, “Shut up!

Don’t interrupt me!” And there was El Lonje Moco, the Booger Monk, a nose-picking hunchback who tries to tell scary stories but always loses his way.

“La familia P. Luche,” a “Munsters”-style sitcom about a dysfunctional family whose entire world and wardrobe is covered in fluorescent fake fur, became a hit on the U.S. Spanish-language network Univision in the mid-2000s.

“It turns out that the best hook to draw people into the movies was what I did on TV,” Derbez said.

Derbez was born in 1961 to an entertainment family, his father a publicist and mother a telenovela diva. He started acting in telenovelas, but didn’t find himself as an actor until he turned to come-

dy in the late 1980s, joining the cast of “Anabel,” a popular sketch comedy series.

“He developed his own style,” said Anabel Ferreira, the star.

“He doesn’t imitate anyone.”

Derbez began to realize his power for drawing Latino audiences in the U.S. in 2005, when he made an appearance on a Spanish language radio station in New York, begging listeners to go see him in the play “Latinologues,” about the Latino experience in America. The tickets sold out.

“He would bring the audience who would normally never go to Broadway,” said Rick Najera, playwright and creator of the show. “He became, for a lot of immigrants, a beacon of hope.”

Nearly 17 percent of the people

in the U.S. now are of Latino heritage, the U.S. Census Bureau says. As a demographic group, Latinos buy nearly a quarter of all movie tickets and are a growing audience, according to the Nielsen firm.

But the industry continues to typecast them. Eduardo Medina Mora, Mexican ambassador in the U.S., recently complained that he would like to see Mexican megastar Salma Hayek play a scientist instead of a drug cartel queen, her role in Oliver Stone’s “Savages” last year.

Derbez played a gardener alongside Adam Sandler in “Jack and Jill” and an awkward Mexican cousin in the one-season TV sitcom “Rob.” The late Mexican-American actress Lupe Ontiveros, who was in

“As Good as it Gets” and “Selena,” often said she played a maid 300 times in movies, TV shows, plays and commercials.

Najera, author of “Almost White,” a book about Latinos in Hollywood, says the group needs to “have control of our own stories and tell them our own way.”

“Instructions” is a mainstream story about family and parenting.

“It’s a movie where people can see a Latino in the U.S. who is neither poor, nor miserable, nor starving. It’s a Latino who goes to the U.S., doesn’t speak a single word in English, and yet does well,” Derbez said.

The film was ignored by mainstream movie reviewers, but it became the largest Spanish-language premiere in U.S. history, then broke the record as the highest-grossing Spanish-language film, beating Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth.”

“There are many people who want to meet with me right now,” said Derbez.

He was careful not to reveal what’s next. He said he is reading several scripts and wants to do a family project. He has fathered three children, now all actors, with three different actresses. He will start shooting the Mexican version of television’s “Saturday Night Live” soon.

Pantelion Films, the joint venture of Lions Gate and Televisa that distributed his movie, has just released another bilingual, bicultural film, “Pulling Strings.”

It’s a romantic comedy about a mariachi trying to persuade an attractive U.S. Embassy official to reconsider his visa application, which she rejected. It ranked among the top 10 its first weekend.

Derbez, meanwhile, is so popular in Mexico that the media giant Televisa aired his wedding live last year.

Mexican comedian Omar Chaparro, Derbez’s best man, says his friend is showing Hollywood the way to reach Latino audiences.

“Derbez has set a before and after for all of us,” he said.

Clowns distance selves from costumed killer

By MARK STEVENSON

“

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — Leaders of clowns gathered for a convention in Mexico City said Wednesday they are saddened that a killer disguised himself as a clown to kill a drug lord last week, and insisted no true member of their profession would have committed the crime.

Convicted drug trafficker Francisco Rafael Arellano Felix was shot to death Friday in the Baja beach resort of Los Cabos by a gunman wearing a clown costume, including a wig and a rubber nose. The dead man was the eldest brother of Mexico’s once-feared Arellano Felix clan.

Clown leader Tomas Morales, a 21-year veteran of the trade who goes by the stage name “Payaso Llantom,” said he was certain the killer was not a professional clown. He said clowns

We clowns suffer robberies. The criminals have stolen our vehicles, our costumes, our sound equipment and with these same tools we use to work, they use them to commit robberies.”

CLOWN LEADER TOMAS MORALES

FRANCISCO RAFAEL ARELLANO FELIX

in Mexico, especially in outlying states, know each other and their costumes and makeup are individualized and recognizable.

“The people who do that, they’re not clowns. I can swear on my mother’s grave it wasn’t a

clown,” said Morales, whose costume includes frizzy blue hair and a tiny top hat. “We are not like that ... we are nonviolent.”

“Bufon Marley,” the stage name of 49-year-old Alberto Villanueva, who dresses a bit like a medieval jester, said of the killer, “It’s sad that it has fallen to that level.”

“I don’t think it has anything to do with us; we do the complete opposite,” Villanueva said.

“I don’t think it will hurt our profession because in our com-

munities, people know us.”

Morales said there have been past cases of thieves stealing clown costumes to commit crimes.

“We clowns suffer robberies,” Morales said. “The criminals have stolen our vehicles, our costumes, our sound equipment, our makeup, and with these same tools we use to work, they use them to commit robberies.”

An estimated 500 clowns from around Mexico and the rest of Latin America gathered Wednes-

day at the International Clown Meeting and held a 15-minute laugh-a-thon “to demonstrate their opposition to the generalized violence that prevails in our country.”

As hard as it might sound to be a clown in a country so riven by crime and violence, the laughing came naturally, Villanueva said.

“We laugh at the very things that hurt us,” he said. “It is a very special, very Mexican humor.”

Clowning serious business at confab 500 clowns meet in Mexico for week of workshops

By DARIO LOPEZ-MILLS ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — Clowning is serious business.

More than 500 clowns from Latin America are in Mexico’s capital to enter competitions, exchange experiences and hold workshops to brush up on their clown techniques and learn new tricks.

Wearing oversize shoes, colorful wigs and red noses, the clowns lined up to register on the first day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City.

As they stood there, organizers asked that the clowns raise their “official clown rulebook” since not having it could mean they couldn’t register. Many showed their small booklets but others could only raise an imaginary one while making a sad face.

During the four-day

Photo by Dario Lopez-Mills | AP

Clowns sit on a couch during a break Monday, the first day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City. Clowns from Latin America gathered in Mexico City to enter competitions, exchange experiences and take workshops. event, the clowns competed in best makeup, improvisation, best group show, juggling and, of course, best balloon shaping.

The event’s main sponsor was a balloon manufacturer.

Tomas Morales, whose stage name is Payaso Llantom, said the goal of the convention is to professionalize clowns in Latin America and highlight the need for a School of Clown Arts

in Mexico.

On the third day of the convention, the clowns headed to a park for a group photo and a 15-minute laugh-a-thon against violence in Mexico. They sought a world laugh record but no Guinness official was seen present and they fell short of 15 minutes anyway.

But the clowns sure seemed to have fun trying.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Trial involves manager

By JEFF KAROUB ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT — Detroit’s emergency manager testified Friday he did not promise to seek bankruptcy protection for the city as a condition of getting the job.

Kevyn Orr’s testimony came on the third day of a trial to determine whether the city is eligible to fix its finances in bankruptcy court.

Detroit must show it is broke and tried in good faith to negotiate with creditors.

Unions and pension funds with much money at stake claim the city didn’t hold gen-

uine talks and therefore the case should be thrown out. Attorneys for those groups have tried to build a case that bankruptcy was a predetermined course or inevitable outcome.

Orr, who was appointed emergency manager in March, decided in July to make Detroit the largest municipality to file for bankruptcy. After taking the job, he saw firsthand the high crime, blight and deplorable conditions of police equipment and facilities, he said Friday.

“Basically everything that I had read was substantiated in very stark relief,” Orr said.

Orr, a bankruptcy expert

who represented automaker Chrysler LLC during its successful restructuring, has said the city is saddled with $18 billion in long-term debt. He and Police Chief James Craig both testified on the trial’s third day about the city’s dire straits.

Orr will return to the trial on Monday, where he’s expected to be grilled by attorneys representing groups who oppose bankruptcy.

Craig, who started his job in the same month Detroit filed for bankruptcy, began his career in Detroit but worked 28 years for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post, file | AP

Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes is shown in court in Centennial, Colo., on June 4. Evidence from Holmes’ wallet can be used at his trial, the judge ruled Friday.

Lawsuit thrown out

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU — A federal appeals court “regretfully” upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit that claims the Army caused the death of a newborn by ordering his pregnant mother to do physical training against doctors’ instructions.

January Ritchie was about 5 1/2 months pregnant when she went into premature labor while stationed in Hawaii in 2006.

Her son Gregory died 30 minutes after birth. Her husband Jonathan Ritchie filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming commanding officers ignored his wife’s pleas not to perform physical duties such as picking up trash and battlefocused training.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Thursday it was “regretfully” issuing an opinion saying a lower court was right to dismiss the case.

The ruling criticized what’s known as the Feres doctrine, which prevents civil action against the government for those injured during military service, and said it’s unfortunate the doctrine bars the lawsuit.

“For the past 63 years, the Feres doctrine has been criticized by ‘countless courts and commentators’ across the jurisprudential spectrum,” states the opinion authored by Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen.

“However, neither Congress nor the Supreme Court has seen fit to reverse course.”

The doctrine is “archaic” and based in part on protecting the government from being sued over actions to win a war, said Greg Jacob, policy director for the New Yorkbased Service Women’s Action Network, which is pushing for exemptions to the doctrine for crime victims.

“What’s happened over the decades is that the federal courts system has interpreted ‘incident to service’ as whatever happens in uniform,” Jacob said Friday. “It’s an example of how misguided the military is with regard to their personnel policies and giving commanders ultimate authority like this.”

Jacob, a former Marine Corps infantry commander, said the Ritchie case shows a need to change the military’s “command-centric” system that allows commanders to override recommendations of

lawyers and doctors regarding troops.

Judge Dorothy W. Nelson wrote a separate, concurring opinion to “highlight how this case reveals the questionable validity of the Feres doctrine,” which she suggests is unfair toward servicewomen.

“Efforts to exclude pregnant women from serving, and even to punish women for becoming pregnant, continue to this day,” she wrote. “The right a pregnant woman has to serve means little if her service requires she put her fetus’s health and well-being at risk.”

The Ritchies now live in Tacoma, Wash., with their three children. January Ritchie is in the Army Reserves, said the couple’s Honolulu attorney, Eric Seitz, who is planning to petition the Supreme Court.

“We were not expecting to win,” he said, but they’re encouraged by the strong language in the opinion.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Yee in Honolulu, who represented the government, against the suit referred comment to his superior, who didn’t immediately respond Friday.

Evidence gets OK

By DAN ELLIOTT ASSOCIATED PRESS

DENVER — Evidence from Colorado theater shooting defendant James Holmes’ wallet can be used at his trial, the judge ruled Friday, a victory for prosecutors that could aid their attempts to undermine Holmes’ insanity plea.

The driver’s license found in the wallet would help prosecutors link Holmes to his booby-trapped apartment, part of a range of evidence they might use to argue Holmes was sane.

Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos Samour Jr. sided with the defense in a separate ruling, saying a police officer won’t be allowed to testify at the trial that Holmes smirked at him when he asked if he had accomplices.

Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of

killing 12 people and injuring 70 in a theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora in July 2012. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, but they must first convince jurors that Holmes was sane.

At pretrial hearings, police testified Holmes’ driver’s license led them to his apartment, where they found potentially deadly homemade bombs.

Holmes told the officers the bombs were there, police have testified.

The bombs did not go off.

Officers have said the bombs were meant to divert first-responders from the theater — something prosecutors could use to argue that Holmes knew the shootings were wrong and thus could not be insane under Colorado law.

Defense lawyers have acknowledged Holmes was the shooter but said he was “in

the throes of a psychotic episode.”

The defense argued the wallet search was illegal because police didn’t have a warrant.

The judge agreed with prosecutors that no warrant was needed because the wallet was seized during a legal arrest. Holmes was taken into custody moments after the shooting.

Aurora Police officer Justin Grizzle testified at a pretrial hearing that when he asked Holmes about accomplices, Holmes responded with “a selfsatisfying offensive smirk.” Holmes said nothing, Grizzle testified.

Samour ruled the alleged smirk was not a form of communication and cannot be used as a statement.

Samour said testimony about the expression would be of little use to jurors but could unfairly prejudice them against Holmes.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A

MARIA FLORA GARCIA

OMAR ALBERTO MUÑOZ

NOV. 27, 1944 – OCT. 18, 2013

MAY 22, 1949 – OCT. 25, 2013

Maria Flora Garcia, 68, passed away Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo.

Mrs. Garcia is preceded in death by parents, Luis and Candelaria Comparan; brother, Alfredo Comparan; and sisters, Concepcion Caballero and Lucia Grajeda.

Mrs. Garcia is survived by her husband, Jose Garcia; sons, Luis Daniel Garcia (Miriam Ramos), Jose Ricardo Garcia; daughters, Alma Delia Esquivel, Elva Nelia (Triunfo) Gonzalez; grandchildren, Roberto Esquivel Jr., Selena Esquivel, Daniela Garcia, Aneli Briana Garcia, Bryanna Garcia; and by numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

Visitation hours were held Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

The funeral procession departed Wednesday, Oct.

23, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy. 83, Zapata.

SAN YGNACIO — Omar Alberto Muñoz, 64, passed away Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, in Zapata.

Mr. Muñoz is preceded in death by his son, Omar Alberto Muñoz Jr., and his father, Florentino Muñoz.

Mr. Muñoz is survived by his wife, Hermelinda S. Muñoz; daughters, Belia Rosa Muñoz, Clarissa Marlen Muñoz, Melissa Janet Muñoz; grandson, Arturo V. Guerra; mother, Belia Rosa B. Muñoz; brothers, Flumencio (Amada) Muñoz, Luis Antonio (Betina) Muñoz; sisters, Edna Amada (Luis A.) Lozano; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends.

Visitation hours will be Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

The funeral procession will depart Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral

PETRA R. HINOJOSA

Mass at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in San Ygnacio. Committal services will follow at Panteon Del Pueblo in San Ygnacio.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy. 83, Zapata.

Petra R. Hinojosa, 98, of Kerrville, passed away Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at her residence. She was born June 27, 1915, in Karnes City, to Camillo and Gorgonia (Quiroga) Resendez.

Petra was a Jehovah’s Witness who was devoted to her church and was a pioneer for many years. She loved to knit, to cook and loved taking care of her family. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She married Ernesto Hinojosa in 1935. He passed away in 2005. She was also preceded in death by son, Ernesto Hinojosa Jr., and daughter, Blanca Alicia Gordon.

She is survived by children: Julia Gonzalez (Roberto) of Bakersfield, Calif., Jose Ciro Hinojosa (Maria) of Moorpark, Calif., Gilma Rodriguez (Benjamin) of Camarillo, Calif., Mary Gonzalez of Oakhurst, Calif., Adela Browne of Lake Isabella, Calif., Rosalba Diaz (Tony) of Simi Valley, Calif., Arnoldo Eliud Hinojosa of Pagosa Springs, Colo., Raymond Hinojosa (Judy) of Pagosa Springs, Colo., Miroslava Duhr of Kerrville, Nadia Esth-

HEALTH CARE Continued from Page 1A partment had little flexibility to postpone the launch against the backdrop of Washington’s unforgiving politics. Republicans hoping, in the words of their TV ads, to “defund Obamacare” precipitated a government shutdown.

Some Republicans have been calling for her ouster, and she addressed that issue a day earlier in Phoenix. She said, “The majority of people calling for me to resign I would say are people who I don’t work for and do not want this program to work in the first place.”

She added, “I have had frequent conversations with the president, and I’ve admitted to him that my role is to get the program up and running and we will do just that.”

Zients gave some new details about the extent of the problems, but administration officials are still refusing to release any numbers on how many people have successfully enrolled. Although 700,000 have applied for coverage through the new online markets, it’s believed only a fraction of that number actually have managed to sign up. Prior to the website going live, an administration estimate projected nearly 500,000 people would sign up in October alone.

The marketplaces are the gateway to obtaining health insurance under the new health care law, which requires most Americans to have coverage by Jan. 1. Middleclass people who don’t have insurance on the job can purchase private plans with new tax credits to make the premiums more affordable. Low-income people will be steered to an expanded version of Medicaid in states that agree to extend the safety net program.

The federal government is running the insurance markets or taking the lead in 36 states. The rest were set up by states themselves.

Consumers have until Dec. 15 to sign up for coverage to take effect Jan. 1. Under the law, pre-existing medical conditions will no longer be a barrier. But the markets also need lots of young, healthy customers to keep premiums affordable.

Open enrollment season extends until March 31, and the administration says it is working to ensure that people who sign up by that date will not face a penalty for being uninsured.

Zients said almost daily fixes are already having an impact. For example, over 90 percent of users can now complete one of the first steps,

creating an account.

But the application process, which involves submitting and verifying personal information and income details, remains “volatile,” he said. At one point, as few as onethird of users were getting through that part.

Zients said there are two big categories of problems. Performance issues involve the speed and reliability of the website. Functional issues are bugs that keep the software from working as intended.

He said the government has a “punch list” of needed fixes that adds up to dozens in each broad category.

Near the top of the list: insurers are getting enrollments with incomplete, incorrect or duplicative information.

Until now, officials at the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have taken the lead operational role on HealthCare.gov. The government operates a successful e-commerce site for Medicare coverage, but it appears to have to have gotten in over its head when it comes to Obama’s law. Maryland-based QSSI will now be responsible for the execution.

The company built a component

ZAPATISTAS part of Zapata’s army.

“The people that I interviewed were really sweet men and women, but when we started talking about that dark chapter in Mexican history, their eyes hardened and they were immediately brought back to those days,” Bertelli said. “That’s a part of their lives that they don’t share with anyone.

“I’ve been very careful with the work I’ve done. It’s something they left with me and I cherish it deeply,” Bertelli added.

FOOD of the website called the federal data hub that appears to be working relatively well. The hub is a conduit for verifying consumers’ personal information with government agencies.

An executive of the parent company, Andrew Slavitt, told Congress this week that QSSI had concerns about the federal website and relayed those to the government. Officials said the company’s new role as “general contractor” will be an expansion of its current contract.

Its parent company also owns UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, a popular private insurance option available to seniors.

One of Obama’s top campaign fundraisers was Anthony Welters, executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group. According to information from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Welters ranked 31st among Obama’s top “bundlers,” raising more than $785,000 toward the president’s 2012 campaign. Welters’ wife, Beatrice, is the former ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. She also raised money for Obama in 2008.

Continued from Page 1A know about the decrease in benefits.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus, was passed and signed into law in 2009. It increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program amounts by 13.6 percent. The portion of that increase that was not absorbed by annual cost-of-living increases will expire Oct. 31.

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funded by the federal government and administered by states. In Texas, about 3.5 million people receive SNAP food benefits totaling about $400 million per month.

The amount of benefits is based on the family’s size and income, with an average benefit amount of about $285 per month. The benefits are put on a Lone Star Card which can be scanned like a credit card to buy food.

Continued from Page 1A

Bertelli said his photographs showcase the resilience of the men and women who fought during the 1910 Mexican Revolution.

The opening reception will feature a presentation by revolution historian and Zapata’s greatgrandson, Edgar Zapata at 5:15 p.m. Bertelli also will give a short presentation about his work, followed by a poem written by lieu-

er Garcia (Jose Manuel) of Kerrville and Yadira Garcia (Arturo) of Kerrville; 33 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Grimes Funeral Chapels officiated by Elder Ariel Amador.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

The family invites you to send condolences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the “Send Condolences” link.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.

tenant and recognized revolution war hero, Don Galo.

Bertelli said his photographs showcase the resilience of the men and women who fought during the 1910 Mexican Revolution.

“It was a very tough life for

them prior to the revolution.

These people had no fear because they had nothing to lose. They were unstoppable,” Bertelli said.

The show, which premiered in London, has traveled across the U.S., Canada, China and Europe

earning rave reviews.

Laredo will be the first city to feature 31 pieces of Bertelli’s work, more than in any other city thus far.

Most of the pieces were shot in film and later scanned and printed in water color rag paper, including a recruitment poster from 1913.

The art show will be on display through Thursday, Dec. 5.

Regular gallery hours are from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

12A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors NFL: HOUSTON TEXANS

NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS AT TCU

‘Horns face TCU UT unbeaten in Big 12

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Chelsea Purgahn | AP

FORT WORTH — Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns are hitting the reset button on their season again after a big victory in the Red River Rivalry.

The previous segment — in which they won their first three Big 12 games — was much better than the nonconference stretch that preceded it.

“This team is on a roll now after the OU game,” Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray said. “There is confidence there in the team’s play and you just have to stay with it, stay focused.”

Texas (4-2, 3-0 Big 12) returns from an open date and starts the next portion of its schedule Saturday night with its first trip to TCU (3-4, 1-3) since 1994.

Texas’ Johnathan Gray and the Longhorns look to keep the momentum going after upsetting Oklahoma in their last game as they play at TCU on Saturday.

See TEXAS-TCU PAGE 2B

Photo by David J. Phillip | AP

A Super Bowl contender to begin the season, Houston has five losses already at its bye week.

Texans hit bye week

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS

‘BOYS FACE LIONS’ D-LINE Take on Suh and co. on Sunday

By BRANDON GEORGE MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys will run head-on into one of the league’s top defensive lines Sunday at Detroit’s Ford Field.

Each of the Lions’ four defensive line starters has yet to reach five seasons in the league.

But collectively, they’ve earned a reputation as a fierce bunch.

Right in the middle of the chaos is one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles: former Nebraska standout Ndamukong Suh. Alongside Suh is another top defensive tackle in Nick

See COWBOYS PAGE 2B

Photo by David Richard | AP

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans entered this season with their sights on a Super Bowl.

A 2-5 record and a five-game losing streak have not only made that very unlikely, but has quarterback Matt Schaub’s job in jeopardy and raised questions about coach Gary Kubiak’s security.

And as the losses have piled up, so have the injuries; they’ll use their off week to regroup after losing star linebacker Brian Cushing to a season-ending injury for the second straight year.

A big reason for Houston’s downward spiral has been Schaub’s struggles. He’s thrown just eight touchdowns with nine interceptions — four of which have been returned for touchdowns.

He was injured two weeks ago and missed Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs with injuries to his right foot and ankle. Case Keenum started in his place, and the secondyear player performed well in his first NFL game before a late fumble sealed Kansas City’s 17-16 win.

Kubiak said Schaub is Houston’s quarterback when he’s healthy, but left the door open for Keenum to keep the job by saying that he was going to evaluate the position during the bye.

“That’s a difficult call, either way,” Kubiak said. “We have a couple of days to evaluate ourselves, evaluate our football team and see where we’re at, and then I will do what I think is best for the team.”

Houston made its first two playoff appearances in the last two seasons and was eliminated in the divisional round both years. With a defense featuring 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, and star running back Arian Foster leading the offense, it looked like the Texans were poised

Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh anchors one of the best defensive lines in the league as the Cowboys face the Lions on Sunday.

NCAA FOOTBALL: NO. 10 TEXAS TECH

See TEXANS PAGE 2B

NCAA FOOTBALL: NO. 14 TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Tech plays Sooners A&M, Vandy have injured QBs

By KURT VOIGT ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bob Stoops is all-too familiar with Texas Tech’s wide-open brand of offensive football.

The Oklahoma coach watched it for years while competing against the Red Raiders and former coach Mike Leach.

Stoops will have another chance to watch the latest version of the “Air Raid” in person on Saturday when the No. 17 Sooners (6-1, 3-1 Big 12 Conference) host surprising Texas Tech and first-year coach Kliff Kingsbury.

“We recognize it,” Stoops said. “It’s still difficult to stop, though.”

The No. 10 Red Raiders (7-0, 4-0) were picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 before the season, but they have yet to stumble under Kingsbury — the former Texas Tech quarterback who has energized his alma matter in his first season.

“When you can continue to

prove people wrong, it’s great for a team’s psyche,” Kingsbury said.

Led by a pair of freshmen quarterbacks in Baker Mayfield and Davis Webb, the Red Raiders enter Saturday second in the nation in passing offense with an average of 416.4 yards per game.

All of those passes have also translated into points, with Texas Tech second in the conference in scoring with an average of 41.1 points per game.

As good as the Red Raiders have been this season, Oklahoma will provide their most difficult test so far this season. The game is the first of three in four weeks for Texas Tech, which hosts Oklahoma State next week and Baylor on Nov. 16.

Much like Texas Tech, which struggled before rallying for a 37-27 win over West Virginia last week, the Sooners have also been stuck in somewhat of a

See TECH PAGE 2B

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — When No. 14 Texas A&M and Vanderbilt play for the first time they’ll have something in common: Both have banged-up quarterbacks.

Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel has an injured shoulder and is questionable for Saturday’s game. Vanderbilt’s Austyn CartaSamuels hurt his leg last week and won’t start.

The Commodores announced Thursday that Patton Robinette would start. Robinette is a freshman who has seen limited time.

He was 9 of 15 for 107 yards passing with an interception and ran for a touchdown after Carta-Samuels was injured last Saturday.

“I think the fact that he played last week and the experience, he’s probably preparing a little different this week depending on how this situation plays out,” coach James Franklin said. “He shouldn’t, but we all know that’s human nature. I think that’ll

Photo by Bob Levey | AP

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is questionable for the upcoming Vanderbilt matchup with a shoulder injury. give the opportunity to play better the next time he plays.”

Manziel was injured in last week’s loss to Auburn when his right shoulder was drilled into the ground at the end of a run.

He missed a series before returning to finish the game.

“We hope he goes,” A&M of-

fensive coordinator Clarence McKinney said. “But if he doesn’t we can’t cancel the game.”

If Manziel can’t play, the Aggies will likely start Matt Joeckel. He has appeared in three

See A&M PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores TEXAS-TCU Continued from Page 1B

The Longhorns, who beat Oklahoma 36-20 two weeks ago, are one of three Big 12 teams without a conference loss.

“The last three games was a season in itself because we had a natural break,” Brown said. “Got a lot of momentum going forward. ... The guys have started over.”

After their national championship hopes evaporated with consecutive big losses to BYU and Mississippi to wrap up nonconference play, the Longhorns turned their focus to winning the Big 12 title. They have four games before another open date that leads to their final regular-season games — against sixthranked Baylor and No. 10 Texas Tech, the Big 12’s undefeated teams.

“We do believe we have a chance to win the conference championship. We do believe we have a chance to win out, understanding that in college football right now every week we could lose as well as win,” Brown said. “But we put ourselves back in a position where we have a chance. ’’ TCU, which won last Thanksgiving night at Texas, is off to its worst start since 1999. But the Frogs’ first home game at night is a sellout.

“It’s going to be an unbelievable emotional crowd,” TCU coach Gary Patterson

said. “When those kind of things happen, anything can happen. ... How do we know that’s not something that can get us over the hump.”

Here are five things to know when Texas makes its first trip to Fort Worth in nearly two decades to play the Horned Frogs: SLOW STARTERS TCU has been held scoreless in the first half of all three of its Big 12 losses.

The Frogs were tied 10-10 at halftime against Kansas two weeks ago before winning 27-17. “We’ve got to do a better job on offense in the first half,” Patterson said. “Obviously we’ve got to start faster ... then we’ve got to finish ballgames.”

GRINDING IT OUT Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown both ran for more than 100 yards in the win over Oklahoma.

“Our ability to run the ball gave us some identity,” Brown said. “(The Frogs) have probably the best run defense in the country year in and year out. I think you’d have to call Gary a defensive genius because of what they do. It’s just amazing.” TCU is the Big 12’s top rushing defense, allowing 115 yards per game.

TURKEY LEFTOVERS, ANYONE? Texas players insist they aren’t consumed by losing at home to TCU last Thanksgiving. “We just have to go out and make

sure that doesn’t happen again,” senior cornerback Carrington Byndom said.

“No revenge at all. Just another game for us. Another conference game.” TCU players feel much the same way. “It’s just a Big 12 game. It’s a conference game. It’s not really just the fact we’re playing Texas,” Frogs safety Elisha Olabode said. “ No matter who we’re playing, we’re going to have the same focus.”

AFTER THE BYE Texas is 20-5 in games following regular-season byes since Brown took over the program in 1998. The last such loss was the game against TCU last season. It is the second game in a row that the Horned Frogs are playing an opponent that had the previous week off. TCU will get an extra week to prepare for its regular-season finale against Baylor, a game that will be two days after Thanksgiving.

TURN ON THE LIGHTS TCU is playing its fourth home game, but has a night game at Amon Carter Stadium for the first time this season. The other three home games have all been 11 a.m. starts, and TCU won all of them. Texas has played all but one of its games so far at night, the only day game for the Longhorns being their last game against Oklahoma at the State Fair of Texas.

TECH Continued from Page 1B funk in recent weeks — beginning with a 36-20 loss to rival Texas two weeks ago.

Oklahoma fell behind 13-0 at Kansas last week before storming back for a 34-19 win, a game in which it held the Jayhawks to just 201 yards of total offense.

The Sooners lead the country in pass defense, allowing just 149.7 yards through the air per game, and the secondary is likely to be tested early and often on Saturday as both teams look to take a significant step toward a Big 12 championship.

“They’re a ball-hawking defense; get their hands on a bunch of balls,” Kingsbury said. “So, they’re good against the rush, against the pass. They’re just an overall very well-coached, very disciplined defense, so it will be a challenge to move it in all phases.”

Five things to look for as Oklahoma tries to become the first team to slow the high-powered Red Raiders: UNDER CENTER As good as Texas Tech’s offense has been this season, it enters Saturday with a bit of uncertainty at quarterback. Mayfield was the starter before a knee injury on Oct. 5 against Kansas sidelined him, and Webb has performed well in his absence — throwing for 462 yards in last week’s come-from-behind win against West Virginia. Kingsbury declined to select a starter against the Sooners, saying only “We’ll see how Baker feels and take it from there.”

BOOMER BELL Stoops has faced questions about Oklahoma’s quarterback play since the preseason, when Trevor Knight beat out Blake Bell for the starting job. Bell has performed well at times since supplanting Knight, but he’s thrown three interceptions in his past two games. Against the Jayhawks, the junior was 15 of 25 for 131 yards, and he added 53 yards rushing. The performance was good, but not great — or not nearly as great as Stoops expects his quarterback to play. “I still believe he can play better,” Stoops said.

SLOW STARTS Oklahoma has fallen behind early in each of its past two games, the loss to the Longhorns and last week’s win over Kansas. It’s a sore spot for the Sooners, who hope the return home this week provides

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

TEXANS Continued from Page 1B for a much deeper postseason run.

Instead they had to rally to win their first two games before losing the next five, including embarrassing, blowout losses to San Francisco and St. Louis.

“It’s not good. It’s not where we thought we’d be at this point,” receiver Andre Johnson said. “Expectation level is higher than it’s ever been. We never thought we’d be in this position at our bye week.”

The slump has put Kubiak on the hot seat. Will the eighth-year coach survive the season if Houston doesn’t turn it around?

Schaub’s turnover problems also have some concerned that Kubiak’s oncepowerful offense has become predictable.

Johnson, the longest-tenured Texan after joining the team in 2003, was asked whether he worries that changes will have to be made if they don’t play better after the bye.

“Well, that’s part of the business,” he said. “I don’t control that part of it — who stays, who goes. You hate to see anybody get fired or lose their jobs, but at the same time that’s out of my control.”

He’s certainly disappointed the Texans aren’t living up to expectations, but he isn’t surprised the team is fielding questions about issues like coaching changes and quarterback controversies after such a poor start.

“If you don’t go out and play the way you are supposed to play, that’s what happens,” he said. “And we haven’t played the way we’ve needed to be playing, so that’s why we’re in the situation we’re in right now.”

Cushing’s injury is a major blow to a defense which is allowing the fewest

Photo by Ed Zurga | AP

Houston head coach Gary Kubiak and the Texans are 2-5 and own a five-game losing streak in 2013. yards in the NFL, but that has struggled to force turnovers or take over games.

“You need to stop the run and put teams in passing situations and get after the passer,” Watt said.

“Takeaways are going to be huge momentum gainers and they’re going to be a big reason for your success.”

Safety Ed Reed, a ninetime Pro Bowler signed from Baltimore in the offseason, was supposed to give the unit a boost. But he hasn’t made much impact after missing all of training camp and the first two games after hip surgery.

His leadership could be even more important after the break as Houston relies on rookie D.J. Swearinger at the other safety position after a season-ending injury to Danieal Manning.

“I’m still able to do the

things that I know I can do, that I’ve been doing,” Reed said. “It’s just a matter of getting opportunities and taking advantage of those opportunities.”

Houston is also facing issues at running back with Foster dealing with a hamstring injury and Ben Tate nursing four broken ribs. Both have said they’ll be ready to go after the bye. If they aren’t the Texans could be a jam after Kubiak cut three rookies, including third-string running back Cierre Wood for violating team rules on Monday.

The Texans are in third place in the AFC South and host division leader Indianapolis in a Sunday night game on Nov. 3.

“I have no doubt that we can turn it around,” Johnson said. “But if we don’t play the way we’re supposed to play, things are not going to change.”

A&M Continued from Page 1B

Photo by Christopher Jackson | AP

Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro (22), Bradley Marquez (4) and the No. 10 Red Raiders put their unbeaten 7-0 record on the line against No. 17 Oklahoma. an early lift. “It’s got to change,” Oklahoma center Gabe Ikard said. “We need to come out, play fast, get points on the board. That will be very important against Texas Tech with how explosive their offense is.”

NEARING HISTORY Stoops, with a 155-38 record at Oklahoma, is three wins away from passing former Sooners coach Barry Switzer for the most coaching victories in school history.

He’s 15-2 at home against ranked opponents, and a win on Saturday would mean he could tie Switzer with a win on Nov. 7 at Baylor.

EXPERIENCE FACTOR While Stoops is nearing a school record in his 15th season, Kingsbury is enjoying an undefeated opening act so far in his first year at Texas Tech. Despite the gap in experience, Red Raiders tight end Jace Amaro feels good about his new head coach entering Saturday. “Well, no disrespect to coach Stoops, but I’ve got a great coach over here,” Amaro said. “I feel like he’s prepared in all aspects of the game to be ready for this type of game.”

games this season, starting A&M’s opener against Rice when Manziel was suspended for the first half.

Joeckel has thrown for 265 yards and a touchdown this season. They could also use freshman Kenny Hill.

“We feel confident in both of those guys,” McKinney said “Matt knows the offense. He’s been in the system for two years. Kenny is very talented. We feel like if he’s out there he can make plays for us as well.”

Five things to know about the VanderbiltTexas A&M game: RECORD WITHIN REACH Vanderbilt receiver Jordan Matthews has 3,080 career yards receiving and needs 14 yards receiving to break the SEC career receiving mark. Matthews is seventh in the nation with 798 yards receiving this season and has five touchdowns.

“He just comes to work every single day and does the best that he can to help this team win and have success,” Franklin said. “If there is a by-product of that, wonderful. We don’t talk about those things, we

don’t emphasize those things.”

EVANS ELEVATES GAME Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans has the second and third best receiving performances in the nation this season. With 287 yards receiving last Saturday, Evans became the first player in school history to have two 200-yard receiving games in a career. His other came when he had 279 against Alabama to give him two of the top-five receiving games in SEC history.

“He’s improved from a year ago from a numbers standpoint,” A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. “How he approaches the game even without the ball in his hands, it’s hard to argue he’s not one of the best players in the country.”

LOUD CROWD The Commodores have never been to Kyle Field.

But they know that it will probably be one of the loudest venues they play in this season.

The stadium “has a reputation of being one of the best places in all of college football,” Franklin said.

“Crowd noise will be significant this week so we

will have the speakers blaring at practice.”

Added offensive lineman Joe Townsend: “It hinders your communication some, but we get prepared for that in practice so we really don’t pay attention to that.”

DREADFUL DEFENSE Texas A&M ranks near the top nationally in almost every offensive category. The defense is a different story. The Aggies are giving up 494.4 yards a game, which ranks 118th out of 123 teams and they’re allowing 33.9 points a game for 104th.

“We’ve got to get better on defense, there’s no doubt about that,” Sumlin said.

LOVING LABHART Texas A&M’s coaches and players love the development of former walk-on receiver Travis Labhart.

The senior, who spent his freshman year on a practice squad that helped the A&M women’s basketball team prepare for games, was given a scholarship before this season. He didn’t have a catch before this season and has 18 receptions for 228 yards and a touchdown in 2013.

"When he matured and got better at Nebraska, you could see his skill set elevate because of his toughness, his tenacity and just his overall ability to power and rush," Callahan said.

"He had the combination of speed with it. He’s turned into an even greater one now that he’s in the NFL. He’s continued to hone his skills and becoming one of the premiere pass-rushers in the league."

Frederick, the Cowboys’ rookie center, said Suh is also "really good" defending the run.

"He’s got really long arms that help him get around and grab things," Frederick said. "He’s got a

lot of things going for him."

And what if Suh uses his long arms to grab Frederick? Or, perhaps, kick him or step on him?

"It’s a matter of focusing on football," Frederick said. "The referees take care of everything else."

Suh has left his footprints on several offensive linemen this season en route to 3.5 sacks.

"He has a tendency to really cause havoc at the worst point for an offense," Waters said. "When the plays are at their biggest, he seems to play even better. You’ve got to match it."

Or become another tire track.

COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B Fairley. They are flanked by defensive ends Ezekiel Ansah and Willie Young.

But it’s Suh that’s the headline-maker of the four, and it’s not always about his dominant play.

Suh has been fined $209,000 in his career - including an eye-popping $100,000 fine earlier this season - and that doesn’t count the salary he lost for a two-game suspension in 2011.

The Cowboys believe they’re more ready for Suh and Co. this season than they have been in recent years because of their three new starters in the interior of their offensive line: left guard Ron Leary,

first-round center Travis Frederick and six-time Pro Bowl right guard Brian Waters.

The Cowboys’ offensive line didn’t play as well last Sunday at Philadelphia as it had in previous weeks.

Now they face Suh. And trying to stop Suh is like trying to slow down a monster truck with no brakes. Picture Bigfoot with a mean streak.

Well, maybe Grave Digger is a more fitting monster truck name for Suh considering this: He’s been fined for kicking Houston quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin and stomping on Green Bay offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-

Smith.

"That’s for outside the lines, for everyone else to talk about," Waters said when asked about Suh’s growing reputation as a dirty player considering his long list of fines. "As a football player, believe me, that guy and the rest of the group do enough footballwise you have to put your full attention to that."

And that’s exactly what the Cowboys have done. Offensive coordinator Bill Callahan, who is also the Cowboys’ offensive line coach, said the Lions aren’t a big blitzing team but use a lot of stunts up front to rush the passer.

Callahan said the Cow-

boys aren’t sleeping on the Lions’ disruptive front four.

"There is a lot of diligence, a lot of prep, a lot of tape-watching, a lot of scheming," Callahan said.

"We’re trying to do everything and anything we can to block these guys.

They’re a heck of a group."

Callahan was in his first season as Nebraska’s coach in 2004 when he had his first glimpse of Suh. Callahan recruited Suh to Nebraska out of Portland Ore., and he played for the Cornhuskers from 2005 to 2009.

Callahan said Suh was a "great" high school player who has become even more dominant in the NFL.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: I read in the Virginian Review where someone had "REPACKAGED" MEDICATIONS to take on a trip.

Please caution people not to separate the medications from the original prescription bottles.

There is no way to identify the medication. Just because you know what it is and why you are taking it doesn’t mean anyone else will. If one should become ill or injured, the attending medical personnel need to be able to identify the medications.

The containers used to separate pills for daily or weekly use are for convenience in the home, and the original bottles should be kept in a safe place, readily available if the information is needed.

If you need just a few, put them in a current bottle and leave the remainder at home in last month’s bottle. — Marlene F., Covington, Va. And here’s another

comment, from Elena in Springfield, Ill.: "I was reading the letter about packing pills for travel and wanted to add one lesson I learned about traveling with medicine when flying: Always take your medicine in a carry-on bag! I didn’t once, and my luggage got lost.

It was a nightmare getting everything I needed."

Good advice for travelers. Medication should never go in checked baggage! Also, anything of value should go in your carry-on bag. — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Jean L. of Killington, Vt., sent in a picture of her shepherd/ beagle mix, Yoshi, playing in the snow. Jean and her family adopted Yoshi from the Humane Society 14 years ago, and he has been a great companion and a formidable watchdog. To see his photo, go to my website, www. Heloise.com, and click on "Pets." — Heloise

DENNIS THE MENACE

FAMILY CIRCUS

PEANUTS

GARFIELD

DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:

DILBERT

Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Backups shine in place of injured stars

By HOWARD FENDRICH ASSOCIATED PRESS

After delivering three sacks to help the Green Bay Packers overcome the absences of hurt linebackers Clay Matthews and Brad Jones, A.J. Hawk proudly declared, “It’s kind of been our motto for a long time around here: ’Next man up.”’

Real original, A.J. When Chicago Bears rookie Jonathan Bostic filled in at middle linebacker after D.J. Williams was lost for the season, coach Marc Trestman opined: “He’s in the ’next man up’ situation.”

When New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo went on injured reserve, backup Dane Fletcher explained: “Our defense knows what we have to do. It’s always ’next man up.”’

And when Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher extraordinaire DeMarcus Ware’s consecutivegames streak was about to end at 134 because of an injury, cornerback Brandon Carr noted that missing such a key player hurts the team, “But at the same time, it’s the ’next man up’ mentality.”

Those examples are all from the past few weeks alone. Yes, NFL coaches and players love to use a certain cliche when discussing the importance of adequately replacing sidelined players. Last weekend was filled with images of guys being driven off NFL fields on carts, and now we’ll start to see how the “next man up” does replacing Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, Texans linebacker Brian Cushing and others.

Here’s a Pick 6 of some of this season’s super subs so far: HARRY DOUGLAS, WR, FALCONS Until now, Douglas was the unknown receiver for Atlanta, a No.

Photo by David J. Phillip | AP

Houston linebacker Brian Cushing suffered a season-ending injury in a loss to the Chiefs last weekend, one of several NFL stars to go down with major injuries 3 lost behind Julio Jones and Roddy White. But with Jones done for the season after foot surgery, and White missing a game for the first time in his career because of a hamstring problem, Douglas got his chance last week against Tampa Bay. He came through, too, catching all seven passes Matt Ryan threw his way for a career-high 149 yards, including a 37-yard TD, during Atlanta’s 31-23 win.

GEORGE SELVIE, DE, COWBOYS A fourth-year journeyman who didn’t even sign with the Cowboys until injuries had cropped up four days into training camp, Selvie suddenly found himself getting significant playing time — and even starting.

With Ware out, Selvie contributed 11/2 sacks in last weekend’s 17-3 victory at the Philadelphia Eagles that put Dallas alone atop the NFC East. He’s second on the

team with 41/2 sacks this season.

JULIAN EDELMAN, WR, PATRIOTS Edelman already has topped career-best numbers for catches (46) and yards receiving (455), providing a rare experienced target for Tom Brady and helping make up for Danny Amendola’s absences because of a groin injury and concussion. With Rob Gronkowski hurt until last week, too, and Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez gone, Edelman’s been

a rare bright spot for a receiving corps filled with rookies.

THAD LEWIS, QB, BILLS Buffalo finally had reason to be optimistic about a young quarterback when rookie EJ Manuel showed early signs of being ready to succeed — until, that is, he sprained his right knee. So Lewis was called up from the practice squad and showed quite a bit of poise with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in what would turn out to be an overtime loss to Cincinnati, then led Buffalo past the Miami Dolphins 23-21, ending a sixgame losing streak on the road.

JOIQUE BELL, RB, LIONS When key offseason addition Reggie Bush sat out with a knee injury in Week 3, Bell got to start, and contributed 63 yards rushing and 69 yards receiving as Detroit ended a 21-year road losing streak against the Redskins. In all this season, Bell is second on the Lions to Bush with 204 yards rushing, second to Calvin Johnson with 26 catches, and his three TDs on the ground are one more than the entire rest of the roster combined.

BRIAN HOYER, QB, BROWNS When starter Brandon Weeden sprained his right thumb in Week 2, Hoyer jumped from No. 3 on the depth chart to No. 1. Finally getting a chance to play after five years as an NFL backup, Hoyer proceeded to lead Cleveland to two victories in a row.

And then, in Hoyer’s third start — which would become yet another victory for the Browns — he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, requiring season-ending surgery. Weeden got his job back, but was awful again, so now it’s Jason Campbell’s turn to show whether he can capably fill in, starting Sunday at the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs.

Bears eye road win High-powered offense heads to Kansas

By DAVE SKRETTA ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Baylor has played like a finely tuned Rolex at home, the timing of its offense perfect, every last piece working in perfect unison to put up some record-setting numbers.

Things were a bit different when Bears went on the road for the first time.

Their offense was held to roughly half of their season average by Kansas State, and they found themselves trailing in the second half.

But behind the splendid play of quarterback Bryce Petty and a vastly underappreciated defense, they still managed to squeak out a 35-25 victory.

“What we did at K-State, how we kind of battled through that, especially how we’ve been rolling through people, just that adversity, that challenge, we know we can get through anything” Petty said. “It doesn’t matter where we play or who we play or when we play.”

Now, Baylor heads back on the road for the second time this season to face Kansas on Saturday night, a program that has lost 24 straight Big 12 games.

The odds-makers put the Bears (6-0, 3-0) at better than five touchdown favorites, partly as a response to the 71-7 smacking they delivered to Iowa State last weekend.

The Jayhawks (2-4, 0-3) haven’t won a league game in nearly three years.

“The only team that’s slowed them down was Kansas State, and remember, they only played one game on the road,” Kansas coach Charlie Weis said.

“It’s not quite the same on the road as it is at home.

I’m hoping for a loud, boisterous crowd to make it not so easy on them.”

That may be asking a lot.

Empty seats have been plentiful at Memorial Stadium during another down year at Kansas, and the heat is starting grow under Weis to turn things around.

At times, it is clear progress has been made. At

Photo by Melissa Phillip | AP

Houston quarterback John O’Korn leads all true freshmen with 14 touchdown passes after taking over for the injured David Piland.

Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP

Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty has thrown for over 2,00 yards and 15 touchdowns in six games. others, it’s just as painfully clear that the Jayhawks have a long way to go to reach the upper echelon of the Big 12.

“Everybody feels like Kansas is an underdog,” Jayhawks cornerback Dexter McDonald said. “We don’t really have too many people’s respect and I feel like it’s a chip on our shoulder.”

Whether that makes a difference will be seen Saturday night.

Here are five other things to watch for in the game: BAYLOR’S D Everybody likes to highlight the video game-like numbers that the Baylor offense produces, but its defense is salty, too. The Bears are allowing 317.3 yards per game and nearly shut out the Cyclones last weekend. “We were really pulling for it, but it wasn’t that big of a deal,” Baylor linebacker Eddie Lackey said. “Any time you can beat a team 71-7 is a pretty big deal. We’re not disappointed at all. We still look at it as a dominating victory.”

QB QUESTIONS The Jayhawks ripped the redshirt off freshman quarterback Montell Cozart last week in a 34-19 loss to Oklahoma. Considering Jake Heaps threw for just 16 yards in that game, there’s a good chance Cozart will play against the Bears. “For me personally, you have to

have the same approach all the time,” Heaps said, “and that’s how it has to be.”

STAYING HUMBLE The Bears are chasing their school-record 11th straight win. They’re also seeking their first 7-0 start since 1980. “I don’t think we need humbling because we’re humble to begin with. You don’t try to humble a person that’s already humble,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “We’ve played six and been fortunate enough to win six and that’s it. Right now we’re surviving, just like everyone else in America.”

SETTLING DOWN After jostling the starting lineup, particularly along the offensive line, Kansas finally appears to have settled on a starting group. And that could be good news. “I think it’s invaluable,” Weis said. “Now you’ve sold into these are the guys and these are the first backup for these guys.

It helps with the chemistry.”

BEWARE, KU The Bears were heavily favored heading to Kansas two years ago, only to scrape out an overtime win behind Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. “That was a tough, hardfought game,” Baylor defensive back Sam Holl recalled. “The main thing is carrying the momentum we have at home and taking it up to Kansas to get a big win there.”

Houston faces Rutgers

By TOM CANAVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — When Houston and Rutgers meet for the first time, there should be no surprises in store for either team.

They are mirror images, featuring exciting special teams play, opportunistic defenses and high-powered offenses.

Houston (5-1, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) will look to rebound from its first loss when it takes on a well-rested Rutgers (4-2, 1-1) at High Point Solutions Stadium Saturday.

The Cougars dropped a 47-46 decision to BYU last week. The Scarlet Knights have not played since dropping a 24-10 decision to Louisville on Oct. 10.

“They have two and a half weeks to prepare for us because they had a byeweek and our kids, this afternoon, are going to know that,” Houston coach Tony Levine said. "That’s going to be the message. ’This is what is going to happen this week.’ I feel like I know how we’re going to respond, but the proof will be when the ball is kicked off.”

The comparison of the teams is startling. Houston is averaging 40.8 points, almost six points more than Rutgers. The Cougars are giving up 23.7 points, just over three less than the Scarlet Knights. They both feature dynamic kickoff returners and are good at blocking kicks, although Rutgers has led all schools

nationally since 2009 with 33 blocked kicks/punts.

During that time span, RU has scored 14 touchdowns via special teams.

“There’s not that much difference between the teams week to week,” Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said. “It’s the little things that win the football game.

We run the ball, stop the run. Secure the ball, take it away. We’re playing the No. 1 team in turnovers this week. Special teams can win the game for us, it has won games for us under the past. And we’re playing one of the premier special teams team in the country. We’ve got tremendous challenges.

That game did not surprise me.

I knew Louisville and I know central Florida has an excellent team. You saw it in a number of games over the weekend there’s not that much of a difference in college football.

You had better be ready to play and you had better play for 60 minutes every week in you want to be 1-0.

Here are five things to watch when Rutgers faces Houston: FABULOUS FRESHMAN Since replacing David Piland (concussion), Houston quarterback John O’Korn leads all true freshmen nationally with 14 touchdown passes, which is 19th nationally and second in the conference. He has completed 115 of 190 for 1,494 yards and four interceptions. His passing efficiency is 146.7, fourth in the league. He has thrown

for at least three touchdowns in four games and for more than 300 yards in two. Rutgers junior quarterback Gary Nova ranks sixth in school history with 5,621 yards passing and 439 completions and third with 47 touchdowns.

RUTGERS RUNNING With leading rusher Paul James still sidelined with a leg injury, expect true freshman Justin Goodwin to carry the load for the Scarlet Knights again. He was limited to 16 yards on 11 carries the loss to Louisville. In the previous game against SMU, he ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner on a 17-yard scamper in overtime. Savon Huggins, who started the opener and then was replaced by James, is the backup.

TURNOVERS GALORE Through six games, Houston leads the nation with a plus-14 turnover margin. The defense also leads with 21 takeaways, 10 fumbles and 11 interceptions. Houston is third nationally with the 10 fumble recoveries and ninth nationally with the 11 interceptions. The 21 turnovers have resulted in 65 points, including 18 scored directly by defenders.

SPECIAL TEAMS Houston true freshman Demarcus Ayers scored on a 95-yard kickoff return against BYU last week. He has had 17 returns on the season and leads The AAC with a 28.8 yards average, which is fourth nationally.