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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CRIME
Business booming
Gunfire claims Zapatan
Several new stores, restaurants open in Zapata despite tough economy By JOE RUTLAND THE ZAPATA TIMES
For a town such as Zapata to grow and flourish economically, it needs an influx of new businesses to sprout up … even during these tough times. Fortunately, growth is taking place in the area with a number of new entities opening their doors, according to Peggy Umphres, president of the Zapata County Economic Development Center. “We’re the only county in the State of Texas which has the powers of a municipality, so it’s a very historic event and it’s going to enable us to better direct growth, support business development, entrepreneurialship and
educational opportunities,” Umphres said. “It’s really an exciting time for the county.” Consider these latest additions to Zapata’s economic skyline: Revilla Realty, a real estate office LIFELINE Ambulance Services and ProCare Ambulance Services Convenience stores Hawk Quick Pik and La Esquinita Norma’s Crystal and Silvery Jewelry, a retail business Fashion One, a retail clothing and shoes store restaurants La Hacienda Del Rey and Mi Tierra. “The benefit to doing business in Zapata County is your development and operation costs are
lower due to less regulation and taxes,” Umphres said. “There are many opportunities for small business in Zapata. A lot of that revolves around service business, such as information technology. We also have service, retail and entertainment business opportunities, too.” Umphres said a lot of companies are coming from out of town, so there are a lot of business opportunities. “In today’s economy, we really have to rethink our strategies because it’s also about retaining existing businesses,” she said. “Keeping the jobs that are there is equally important as is job creation, so we’re trying to bring in opportunities for existing businesses also to be sustaina-
ble, grow and expand. That’s as equally important, too, because there are existing businesses which fill in those gaps. “There are definitely retail opportunities and entertainment, both for youth and adults,” Umphres said. The Zapata County EDC will be hosting a number of workshops geared toward specific needs which the local small business industry has in the city, such as marketing. “We want to help people who don’t have Web sites to have an opportunity to develop and maintain them,” she said. Another workshop will be a meet-and-greet event held in
See BUSINESS PAGE 7A
CREEPY CRAWLERS
VETERANS
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Congressman Henry Cuellar, left, stands with Alberto J. Arambula of American Legion Post 486 of Zapata, when the mobile medical unit was unveiled Oct. 12.
American Legion convenes By DIANA R. FUENTES THE ZAPATA TIMES
The American Legion 15th District started its annual convention Friday with registration, a botana and music at a lively event at the American Legion Post 486 hall on U.S. 83. “We’re getting crowded,” said Alonzo Garcia, manager of the Post’s headquarters, as the sounds of merriment and excitement swirled around him Friday night. “It looks good.” While registration continues this morning, there will also be business meetings and a joint meeting at 2 p.m. The barbecue dinner is set to begin at 6 p.m., followed by a dance at 8 p.m. “It’s all like a big family,” said Jane Siler, a past 15th District ALA president and past president of ALA Unit 486. “We all enjoy visiting
See AMERICAN LEGION PAGE 7A
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Giant spiders crawl over this home at 217 Washington St. in Laredo, decked out in Halloween finery. Witches, ghosts and goblins also are part of the spooky, eye-catching decorations.
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
While Zapata residents mourned the lost of a son and father, Laredo Police Department had a busy week pinpointing the alleged offenders in the shooting death of Daniel Perez Jr. Perez was shot dead in an early morning attack on Oct 24. Dr. Corinne Stern, Webb County medical examiner, ruled the death a homicide, making it Laredo’s 17th of the year. According to Stern, Perez died of two gunshot wounds and toxicology results revealed his system was drug-free. LPD’s first arrest in the case occurred Wednesday. Jose Alfonso Pedraza, 35, was charged with murder, aggravated assault, engaging in organized criminal activity and failure to report a felony. Each charge has a $300,000 bond. LPD arrested two more men Thursday afternoon in connection with the shooting death of Perez. Jessie Ancira, 26, turned himself in to authorities Thursday around 5:30 p.m. He was charged with murder, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree; and fail to report a felony, a Class A misdemeanor. Each charge has a $300,000 bond. Also Thursday, Ivan Santos, 22, was identified by police as the man wearing a black T-shirt shown in footage released Wednesday. Santos was known only as “Sortilegio” at the time before officials received several calls identifying Santos, the third suspect in the case. “We appreciate the public’s help. As for the intricacies of the case, it is open due to the pending prosecution, where all will be revealed in a court of law,” said Investigator Joe E. Baeza, LPD spokesman, on Thursday Santos turned himself in around 6:45 p.m. Thursday. He is charged with murder, aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. Santos has a $1.6 million combined bond. Police say Santos, Pedraza and Ancira were with Perez and an unidentified man at a local bar in the 55100 block of McPherson Avenue in Laredo on Saturday. Perez and his companion eventually left for a get-together in the 8500 block of Rock Spring Circle. Santos, Pedraza and Ancira also drove up to the same address, where they had an argument with Perez, police said. Later, a
See GUNFIRE PAGE 7A
EDUCATION
ZCISD board considers changes to improve By NICK GEORGIOU ZAPATA TIMES
As ZCISD tries to get two underperforming campuses back on track, Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez said Friday that the district is not currently considering any major reassignments. “We’re just trying to be competitive and equitable with schools districts and trying to meet accountability (standards),” he said. Rodriguez’s comments come several days after the Zapata County Independent School Dis-
trict trustees had a special called meeting to discuss personnel. Tuesday’s agenda item read, “…The board will discuss resignations, retirements, leaves of absence, new employment, new personnel positions, return from leave of absence and contract renewal for teachers.” Once back in open session, the board took no action on the item, which usually appears at all the board’s regular monthly meetings. If action is taken, it would happen at the Nov. 17 board meeting, Rodriguez said.
“
We’re just trying to be competitive and equitable with schools districts and trying to meet accountability (standards).” SUPERINTENDENT ROMEO RODRIGUEZ
Under the federal government’s accountability system, called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), Zapa-
ta Middle was under Stage 2 sanctions for the 2009-2010 school year. The campus did not meet AYP
standards because of the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students’ performance on the math portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Zapata High met AYP standards in 2009, but remained under Stage 1 sanctions because it “takes two years to get in, two years to get out,” he said. Earlier this year, the state rated four ZCISD campuses as academically acceptable. Benavides Elementary was rated exemplary. (Reach Nick Georgiou at 7282582 or nickg@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
Saturday, Oct. 31 Registration continues this morning at American Legion Post 486, 2213 S. U.S. 83, for the American Legion 15th District Convention. Business will be conducted today, with a joint meeting at 2 p.m. The AL Auxilary will be having installation of new members at 10 a.m. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by a dance at 8 p.m. Registration is $35 per person, which includes the dinner-dance event. For more information, call 765-6071 Registration for the Monster Bash Team Roping, a unique costumed roping event for kids, begins at 8 a.m. at the Nick Gutierrez 4H Arena. Roping starts at 10 a.m. sharp. Booths offering delicious menudo and other goodies are scheduled to open at 8 a.m. There will be a costume contest and candy for the kids during trick-ortreating toward evening, There also will be a horse given away to benefit Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Tickets for the giveaway are $5 each or three for $10. For more information, call 333-8425. The First United Methodist Church’s annual rummage sale concludes today at the Fellowship Hall, 1220 McClelland. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Grossology, the Imaginarium’s Halloween celebration, with mystery boxes, slimy solutions, costume contest, face-painting and more familyfriendly, fun activities, is today from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. All activities are free with admission, and all activities are candy-free. Every child in costume receives a treat!
Sunday, Nov. 1 American Legion 15th District Convention continues today, the last day of the annual event. Breakfast will be at 7 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 8 a.m. and business at 9 a.m. Awards will be presented. The convention is expected to wrap up at noon.
Monday, Nov. 2 The Curriculum and Instructional Committee of the Zapata County Independent School District Board of Trustees will meet today at 6 p.m. at the Professional Development Center ,17th Avenue and Carla Street. The agenda includes a discussion of benchmark results, attendance and failure reports and the on-site TEA visit.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day. There are 11 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For information about the polling sites, call the County Judge’s office.
Saturday, Nov. 9 American Legion Auxiliary Unit 486 will be distributing red crepe paper poppies today during its annual fundraising event, collecting donations to assist local veterans. The women will be at the U.S. Post Office, Super S, the Zapata National Bank and other places throughout the day, giving out the poppies for whatever donation you can give.
Saturday, Nov. 14 The Marine Toys for Tots program will be collecting unwrapped toys for boys and girls today at the Marine Corps League, 22nd and Hidalgo, starting at about 11 a.m. There will also be a plate sale to raise money for the project. For more information, call Manuel Garcia at 337-4917.
Friday, Dec. 4 2009 Annual Christmas Parade and Lighting of the Plaza heralds the start of the holiday season in Zapata. Events begin at 6 p.m. The parade starts at 17th Avenue, head south on U.S. 83 and end on 6th Avenue at the plaza. The event is sponsored by the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce and the Zapata County News.
Sunday, Dec. 13 There will be a dance at The Pavilion at the Zapata County Fairgrounds to benefit the local Marine Toys for Tots drive. Music will be by Los Mizmos from Rio Grande City and Los Cinco de Zapata, among others. Tickets are expected to be on sale in early November. To submit an item for the daily calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and a contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com
Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP
Steam released from the BP oil refinery floats across part of the plant in Texas City on March 25, 2005. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday issued a record $87 million fine against oil giant BP PLC for failing to correct safety hazards after a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers and injured 170 at its Texas City refinery.
OSHA fines BP $87M By SAM HANANEL ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday imposed a record $87 million fine against oil giant BP PLC for failing to correct safety hazards after a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers at its Texas City refinery. The fine — the largest in OSHA’s history — comes after a six-month inspection revealed hundreds of violations of a 2005 settlement agreement to repair hazards at the refinery. BP officials formally contested the fine, saying they believed the company had fully complied with the settlement agreement. OSHA said the company also committed hundreds of new violations at the nation’s third largest refinery by failing to follow industry controls on pressure relief safety sys-
tems and other precautions. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said BP failed to live up to the terms of its commitment to protect employees. If the problems are not addressed, Solis said it “could lead to another catastrophe.” “An $87 million fine won’t restore those lives, but we can’t let this happen again,” Solis said. “Workplace safety is more than a slogan. It’s the law.” The deadly explosion at the company’s Texas City refinery, about 40 miles southeast of Houston, also injured more than 170 people. In a statement, the company said most of the alleged violations relate to an ongoing disagreement between OSHA and BP that is already pending before the Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission, a body that is independent of OSHA.
Three indicted in El Paso cartel killing
Texas getting at least 2 million swine flu doses
EL PASO — An El Paso County grand jury has indicted three men, including a federal informant, on capital murder chargers in the contract killing of a fellow informant. Court records show 31-year-old Ruben Rodriguez Dorado, a Juarez cartel hit man and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement informant, U.S. Army Pfc. Michael Jackson Apodaca, 18, and Christopher Duran, 17, were indicted on a capital murder involving payment charge. The records show that Rodriguez is a Juarez cartel hit man and U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement informant. The three, along with a juvenile and another man, are accused of fatally shooting fellow cartel lieutenant and ICE informant Jose Daniel Gonzalez Galeana. An arraignment hasn’t been scheduled. The three have been jailed since their August arrests.
AUSTIN — Texas has been allocated about 2 million swine flu vaccine doses from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Texas Department of State Health Services on Friday said the agency continues to order the state’s full allocation of the H1N1 vaccine as quickly as possible. More than 1.5 million doses of the 2 million had been ordered as of Thursday.
Man arrested in San Juan on weapons charges SAN JUAN — A man arrested on felony weapons charges in San Juan where ritualistic bones and blood were found faces a detention hearing next week. Ruben Ambrosio Fonseca Jr. had his initial appearance Thursday in federal court. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office, Angela Dodge, on
Friday told The Associated Press that Fonseca is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Bond was denied for Fonseca, who was arrested Wednesday and returns to court Nov. 4. Police Chief Juan Gonzalez says a former officer, whose badge was stolen years ago and found at the scene, has been located alive and well. Police believe bones at the residence were from a business that legally sells skeletal remains.
Comptroller Combs shifts on tuition refunds AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, in a policy reversal, will urge a state oversight board next week to keep a generous refund formula for those who want to cancel their prepaid college tuition plans. Combs says she’ll urge the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board on Nov. 5 to cancel new rules that would cut the value of the refunds. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE WORLD Body encased in cement found in Mexican city TIJUANA, Mexico — Authorities say a woman’s body was found buried headfirst in a plastic container of cement in drugplagued Tijuana. Cristina Perez of the Baja California state prosecutor’s office says someone spotted the woman’s leg protruding from the container on a hillside. The woman died at least a month ago and showed signs she suffered blows to the head, Perez said Thursday. Firefighters extracted the body, but officials have yet to identify it, she added. Tijuanalocated along the California border, has seen some of Mexico’s worst drug killings.
UK drug adviser fired after marijuana comments LONDON — Britain’s top drug adviser, David Nutt, was fired
Today is Saturday, Oct. 31, the 304th day of 2009. There are 61 days left in the year. This is Halloween. A reminder: Daylight saving time ends Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. Clocks go back one hour. Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Palace church, marking the start of the Protestant Reformation in Germany. On this date: In 1864, Nevada became the 36th state. In 1926, magician Harry Houdini died in Detroit of gangrene and peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix. In 1941, the Navy destroyer USS Reuben James was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Iceland with the loss of some 100 lives, even though the United States had not yet entered World War II. In 1959, a former U.S. Marine showed up at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to declare he was renouncing his American citizenship so he could live in the Soviet Union. His name: Lee Harvey Oswald. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a halt to all U.S. bombing of North Vietnam, saying he hoped for fruitful peace negotiations. In 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh security guards. In 1996, a Brazilian Fokker-100 jetliner crashed in Sao Paulo, killing all 96 people on board and three on the ground. In 1998, a genetic study was released suggesting President Thomas Jefferson did in fact father at least one child by his slave Sally Hemings. Ten years ago: EgyptAir Flight 990, bound from New York to Cairo, crashed off the Massachusetts coast, killing all 217 people aboard. Five years ago: In the closing hours of their bitter campaign, President George W. Bush and challenger Sen. John Kerry charged through the critical battlegrounds of Florida and Ohio, going from hushed Sunday church services to raucous campaign rallies with promises to keep America safe. One year ago: President George W. Bush signed an executive order restoring the Libyan government’s immunity from terror-related lawsuits and dismissing pending compensation cases. Pulitzer Prizewinning author Studs Terkel died in Chicago at age 96. Today’s Birthdays: Author Dick Francis is 89. Movie critic Andrew Sarris is 81. Former astronaut Michael Collins is 79. Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather is 78. Actress Sally Kirkland is 68. Actor David Ogden Stiers is 67. Actor Stephen Rea is 63. Actress Deidre Hall is 61. Talk show host Jane Pauley is 59. Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell is 51. Movie director Peter Jackson is 48. Rock musician Larry Mullen is 48. Actor Dermot Mulroney is 46. Rock musician Mikkey Dee (Motorhead) is 46. Rock singer-musician Johnny Marr is 46. Actor Rob Schneider is 45. Rap performer Vanilla Ice (aka Rob Van Winkle) is 41. Rock musician Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance) is 28. Thought for Today: “There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.” — Andre Gide, French author and critic (18691951).
CONTACT US
Photo by Irfan Mahmood | AP
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, center, walks before meeting with local people in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday. Clinton came face-to-face with Pakistani anger over U.S. aerial drone attacks in tribal areas along the Afghan border. Friday after saying that marijuana, Ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol. Nutt’s comments have embarrassed the British government, which toughened the penalties for possessing marijuana earlier this year over prominent British
scientists’ protests. Nutt said he was disappointed by his sacking, telling Sky News television it might have something to do with the upcoming general election, which must be called by the middle of next year. — Compiled from AP reports
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
Zlocal
PAGE 3A
Police say man Swordplay results in arrest Zapata deputies charge teen after alleged put boy, 5, in involvement in disturbance at local residence jeopardy By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office deputies placed a man under arrest for allegedly endangering a boy while speeding. Raul Angel Garza, 31, was arrested around 12:45 a.m. Oct. 24 after deputies investigated a domestic dispute in the 1000 block of Bravo Avenue. According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, when deputies arrived at the residence, Garza had already left. Garza had thrown two beers cans at the complainant, according to reports. Deputies then issued a look-out for a 2001 Chevy Tahoe, the vehicle in which he had allegedly left the residence with a 5-year-old boy. Later that night, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Texas 16 and 16th Street. “When deputies spotted the vehicle, he was driving at a high rate of speed,” Elizondo said. Deputies also noticed the 5-year-old boy was not in a child seat or wearing a safety belt, he said. The complainant was called to pick up the boy. No injuries were report-
“
When deputies spotted the vehicle, he was driving at a high rate of speed.”
Perhaps wanting to invoke the “Power of Grayskull,” a man pulled a sword on Zapata County Sheriff’s Office deputies last week, according to a sheriff’s report. Jesse Sanchez, 17, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault against a public servant, a first-degree felony; assault on a public servant, a thirddegree felony; and resisting arrest, a class-A misdemeanor.
SGT. MARIO ELIZONDO ed to the child or the complainant. Though the complainant did not want to file charges against Garza, deputies arrested him for not having the child restrained. Garza was charged with endangering a child, criminal negligence, a state jail felony. He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail where he was held $10,000 bond. Elizondo reminded drivers that Texas law now requires a child up to the age of 5 to be restrained in a safety seat. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Deputies responded to a call around 10:40 a.m. Oct. 24 in the 700 block of Villa Avenue about a domestic disturbance or possible fight in progress. SANCHEZ According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, deputies arrived on scene and witnessed a physical struggle between the complainant and Sanchez outside the residence. Elizondo said when Sanchez saw
the deputies, he ran inside the home, and deputies went after him. Suddenly, Sanchez reappeared, displaying a deadly weapon, described as a sword, Elizondo said. The size and length of the sword is undetermined, Elizondo said. According to Elizondo, deputies were able to quickly subdue Sanchez. No injuries were reported to either party, Elizondo said. Sanchez was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail where he was held on a $160,000 bond set by Justice of the Peace Juana Maria Gutierrez. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
VISIT TO SPIRITUAL LANDMARK
Courtesy photo
Zapata and San Ygnacio participants in a recent TouriMax Tours trip to the Hill Country stop in front of San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio. The group also visited Bandera, Fredricksburg and Gruene.
THE BLOTTER CRIMINAL TRESPASS Noel Zamora, 19, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass, class B misdemeanor, about 10:25 a.m. Oct. 23 in the 2400 of Elm Street. He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail where he was held on a $5,000 bond.
BURGLARY A 53-year-old man reported at 11 a.m. Oct. 23 in the 600 block of Glenn Street that his 2005 Chevy Tahoe and a 2001 Silverado had been broken into. Unknown people stole $7 in spare change. According to the report, there were no signs of forced entry on either of the vehicles. A 78-year-old man reported that someone had attempted to break into his 1990 Chevy pickup and 1995 Ford Crown Victoria around 11:10 a.m. Oct. 25 in the 5400 block of Victoria Lane. Accord-
ing to the sheriff’s report, nothing was stolen. A 43-year-old woman reported around 8 a.m. Oct. 26 that Triple Diamond Amusement Center on 22nd block of U.S. 83 was ransacked. Zapata Sheriff Investigators recovered surveillance video. The sheriff’s department has an open investigation on the case. A male juvenile reported around 3:30 p.m. Oct. 26 that someone broke into his Dodge pickup vehicle while it was parked outside Zapata High School. A stereo system valued at $1,700 was taken.
THEFT A 37-year-old man reported around 1 p.m. Oct. 23 in the 1300 block of U.S. 83 at the D and D Tire Shop that three five-gallon buckets were missing from the shop and that two water hoses were cut. According to the sheriff’s report, it was
concluded that gas was taken from an out-of-service vehicle. A 68-year-old man reported that three goats were stolen from his property around 9 a.m. Oct. 25 in the 5200 block of Victoria Lane. Each goat had a $100 value. A 53-year- old woman reported around 1 p.m. Oct. 25 that her lawnmower was stolen in the 400 block of Third Street. The item is valued at $150.
A 48-year-old woman reported around 10:30 a.m. Oct. 26 that $149 worth of assorted brisket, turkey and pizza were stolen from her outside freezer in the 400 of Lincoln Street. The incident happened on Oct. 24.
POSSESSION Gerardo Martinez, 19, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and theft around 2 p.m.
Oct. 25 in the Rhoda Maria Subdivision. Martinez was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail where he was held on a combined bond of $10,000. Juan Carlos Garcia, 31, was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance around 1:41 a.m. Oct. 28 in the U.S. 83 by Veleño Bridge after a traffics stop. He was transported to Zapata Regional Jail where he was held on a $15,000.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
OTHER VIEWS
Make time to vote Nov. 3 THE ZAPATA TIMES
There hasn’t been a whole lot of publicity about Tuesday’s constitutional amendment election, and it’s true that there aren’t any jaw-dropping, eye-popping items on the ballot. Nevertheless, voting is a hard-won privilege that we should never take for granted. Tuesday’s ballot includes 11 constitutional amendments covering everything from standardizing appraisals for property taxes to allowing the state to join the federal government in building medical facilities for our veterans. A complete list of the 11 propositions along with pros and cons presented during legislative debate over the proposed amendments can be found online at www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/analyses09/ analyses09.pdf. The Texas Legislative Council does an excellent job of providing a synopsis of each measure. There are several proposed amendments that are of particular note: Prop. 3 calls for providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes. There have been rumors spread via Internet that this measure calls for a statewide property tax. That’s not true. In fact, the proposed amendment specifically would not affect the law that prohibits statewide appraisal of real property for ad valorem taxation. However, it could be argued that setting up a single, state-approved system of appraising property could be the first step toward a statewide property tax in the future. But that’s a long shot, and the author of the amendment, dyed-in-the-wood Republican Sen. Tommy Williams of The Woodlands, has emphasized that is not the intent of his bill.
University money Prop. 4 calls for establish a national research university fund to help turn more of our state universities into high-caliber, national-level research universities, drawing money from the dormant Permanent Higher Education Fund. Currently, only the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University (at Col-
lege Station) are nationally recognized, tier one research institutions. Under this proposition, those two universities would not be eligible for money from this special fund. If you believe Texas needs more first-class, nationallevel research institutions, then you should vote for this proposition. If you believe that the state should concentrate its funding on the two institutions that already have national prominence (the UT and A&M flagships), then vote “no” on this amendment. Prop. 8 would allow the state to help build and operate medical facilities for veterans. This is one that would help our neighbors. The closest veteran hospital to the Rio Grande Valley is Audie Murphy in San Antonio, which can be a pretty long trip for the folks in deep South Texas, especially for someone who’s ill. If Prop. 8 passes, the state could work with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to build a hospital in the Valley.
COLUMN
Kinky’s troubling ethics issue By KEN HERMAN COX ENTERPRISES
Property rights Prop. 11 would prohibit the taking of private property by means of eminent domain laws simply for “economic development” and expanding the tax base. It would prohibit a government from taking well-maintained property by calling it “blighted” just because other parcels of land around it have been abandoned. Texans have long been fiercely protective of their property, and voting “yes” on this measure would help put that protection into the Texas Constitution. Early voting ended Friday with barely 1 percent turnout reported statewide. We’re all busy these days, and it does take extra effort to schedule a trip to your polling site to cast a ballot. But once you’re there, this one won’t take long and you will feel better about your role as a U.S. citizen. You’ve heard it before: there are many people around the world who don’t have the freedom to vote for their leaders or to decide how they will be governed. We in the United States continue to have that freedom, in large part due to the ultimate sacrifice made by many servicemen and women over the years. Don’t let it go it to waste.
YOUR OPINION
S
AN ANTONIO — Life has its eternal mysteries, never to be solved by mere mortals (or even newspaper columnists). These would include the BCS college football system and who put Al Sharpton in charge of anything. Then there are the periodic mysteries that pop up every four years or so. Here’s one. Does Kinky Friedman: A. Sell books to run for governor; or, B. Run for governor to sell books (and cigars and concert tickets)?
Hawking expert In search of an answer, I went to a Barnes & Noble in San Antonio last week because Friedman’s campaign Web site lured me there for a book-signing event where he seamlessly alternated between campaigning and hawking books and cigars. Author Friedman noted that his “Heroes of a Texas Childhood” book includes Barbara Jordan and Sam Rayburn, “who believed that politicians should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us.” Politician Friedman had some trouble with one of those higher standards — accuracy — while answering an audience question about the State Board of Education.
Just guessing
Kudos to Congressman Cuellar for supporting online viewing of health bill To the editor: I want to thank our Congressman, Mr. Henry Cuellar, for being on the side of his constituents who demand that the entire health care bill be placed online 72 hours before it goes for a vote. With his voice he is showing that he respects us and recognizes that we are intelligent people who can discern, read between lines and understand semantics. He is truly showing the opposite of the broken promises of President Obama who promised a “transparent government.” I respectfully ask our Congressman to vote “no” to including abortion, which I can assure will be disguised as something else. However, we pro-lifers know what it is when we see it. Abortion is not health care. It is murder, plain and simple. In his latest address to
Congress, when President Obama briefly addressed tort reform, saying that “it would be studied,” I felt as if it were a bone thrown out to the dogs to distract them. I knew he only said it to appease, but he really has never meant it because he would be hurting himself, his wife and all the lawyers in the Senate and in Congress. How hypocritical! By opposing efforts to place the entire bill online and only publish what they want us to know, President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, et. al., believe that We, The People, need to be fed Gerber food instead of giving us the whole steak. I would like to tell them that we are adults, we have intellect and and, yes, we do have teeth and know how to chew! Signed, Marcia Jovel
“I think there’s 16 or 17 members. I think the governor has appointed 15 or 16 of that bunch in the 10 years he has been governor,” Friedman said. “The problem here is, I’ve been told, that of the 15 or 16 Perry appointees, none of them have ever had a kid in public school,” he said. It’s possible Friedman had “been told” that. But as a candidate it’s probable he should have checked this out prior to passing it on to voters. The SBOE has 15 members, elected from districts. Governors make appointments to fill vacancies. Governors select the chair from among the elected members. Perry has appointed no members. If Friedman has a problem with the SBOE, he should be complaining to — as opposed to misleading — the voters. Friedman ventured into glass-house territory by casting stones about ethics reform. His campaign Web site notes it is a “political ad paid for by Texans for Kinky,” which reported $62,750 in contributions and $33,537 in expenditures in the first half of 2009. The contributions, we will assume, came from people (bless their hearts) who think Friedman would be a fine governor. The expenditures, we will assume, went toward that goal. Here’s the problem with the latter assumption. The campaign Web site promotes Friedman’s businesses. His cigars, the Web site assures us, “feature a
beautiful Habano wrapper grown in Honduras from Cuban seed with a medium-bodied filler of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos and Costa Rican binder.” Nothing wrong with profit. And nothing wrong with a politician having a day job. But isn’t there something wrong with using political money to pump up the day job’s bottom line? Let’s try it this way. Say an oilman ran for governor and used political contributions to buy ads saying, “Buy my oil.” That would be bad. Same with books, cigars and concert tickets. The Texas Election Code bars using contributions for “a use that primarily furthers individual or family purposes not connected with the performance of duties or activities as a candidate for or holder of a public office.”
day, Strother called to correct himself, saying the commission merely offered “guidance” in 2006. Strother said plans have been under way for a new campaign Web site that will continue to promote Friedman’s public appearances — political or promotional — but will drop links to Friedman’s businesses. “We publicize and promote all of Kinky’s public appearances because what’s good for Kinky is good for the campaign,” Strother said. We’re talking about small bucks here. The campaign pays $54.95 a month for Web hosting. Compare that, Strother said, with what Perry spends in taxpayer money to promote himself around the state. Fair enough.
Troubling trend
So back to the mystery of Friedman’s campaign: Political campaign or business venture? Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and say we’ll keep an eye on it. And let’s give him the final words. These, offered at Barnes & Noble and recounting his opening line in a review of a Jimmy Buffet book, somehow — in a Kinkyesque way — seem appropriate. “There’s a fine line between fiction and nonfiction, and I believe Jimmy Buffett and I snorted it in 1976.” (Reach Ken Herman of the Austin American-Statesman via e-mail at kherman@statesman.com)
This is not a major offense, one of the few in Texas not carrying the death penalty. But Friedman’s mingling of politics and profit is troubling. Sounding more cranky than Kinky, Friedman declined to discuss this with me. Colin Strother, his campaign’s general consultant, said Tuesday there is nothing wrong with the campaign Web site, which, he said, got the Texas Ethics Commission OK in 2006. FYI, Tim Sorrells, the commission’s assistant general counsel, told me he found no record of that ever happening. Later Tues-
A final word
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters. To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The
phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our
readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-call-
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
Zlifestyle
PAGE 5A
A bloody good time: Haunted house looking to lure new victims THE 411
By KIRSTEN CROW LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Courtesy photo
Pictured here is a traditional Dia de los Muertos altar, used to honor a deceased loved one, on display at the Laredo Center for the Arts.
LCA to celebrate Day of the Dead SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Laredo Center for the Arts will be opening its doors to commemorate Dia de Los Muertos during its Annual Dia De Los Muertos Cultural Event scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 5 p.m. Dia De Los Muertos is a traditional Mexican holiday in which the living honor and reunite with their beloved ancestors, family and friends. Dia de los Muertos is a celebration that honors both the lives of the deceased as well as the continuation of life. LCA’s Dia de los Muertos is a community-oriented celebration of culture that will include chalk art, face painting, music, performances and many more funfilled activities. On exhibit will be traditional altars, the heart and soul of Dia de Los Muertos. The altares this year have been created by several local organizations, schools and individuals. This year’s participants are Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Open Art, Mexican Cultural Institute, Renee La Perriere,
A‘sweet’ celebration for Day of the Dead SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Cravings for sweet treats will be satisfied and cultures enriched during the first ever Day of the Dead cake contest at the Laredo Community College South Campus on Monday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Billy Hall Student Center. Local bakeries will showcase their baking talents by creating a cake with Day of the Dead as their theme. At 1 p.m., students and the public will have an opportunity to sample some of the baked goods.
Laredo Art League, Las Damas de Cultura de Oro, Gateway Academy, LCA’s Bethany House Art Class, the Santos/Garcia Family and Sandra Rocha Taylor. This family-oriented event is free and open to the public. Organizers encourage visitors to come dressed in their finest calaca or skeleton costume. The Laredo Center for the Arts, 500 San Agustin Ave., coordinates, promotes, encourages and supports the arts in the Laredo and South Texas area. The center, an independent nonprofit organization, receives support from private and public sources including members, the City of Laredo, the County of Webb and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Are you afraid of the dark? …Or perhaps just the things that reside there? It’s as much about the brief, terrifying flashes of what you can see as what you don’t, explained one haunted house designer. It may be unknown, but of course you know it’s there, because you can feel it, maybe hear it. And this weekend, potential victims across the city will be seeking out their masochistic, macabre compulsions for adrenaline rushes and scream fests in the darkened hallways of The Asylum.
The scream scene In the few weeks the hot spot has been open, the largest haunted house in Texas — 22,000 square feet — has been creating quite a buzz around town, racking up the numbers of thrillseekers who couldn’t quite stomach the first few scenes before calling it quits. Framed around the story of a homicidal psychiatric patient who offs his doctor and frees his fellow residents to run The Asylum, visitors travel through its terrifying corridors to the dormitories, morgue, nurse’s station,
What: The Asylum Where: Mall Del Norte When: 2 p.m. to midnight tonight and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday Cost: Tickets are $13 tonight and $15 on Saturday you’ve tapped out, think again. Vasquez announces each quitter by ringing a big fire bell, which the crowd now responds to by shouting “quitter!” Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning Times
Special events
Pictured above is one of The Asylum’s creepy characters. chapel. graveyard and doctor’s office, where evidence of his demise is… well, everywhere. And if there were any doubt what, exactly, happened to the good doctor, that’s effectively and disturbingly portrayed in all its diabolical glory in a spot that it’s least expected. Organized and run by four Laredo firefighters — Edgar Vasquez, Randall Manning, Joey Lopez Jr. and Anthony Chandarlis — The Asylum is designed in such a way that visitors must go through, and become a part of, the 24 scenes, including one that has become famed for disorienting its victims with a sort of “maze” of choosing the correct exit of a scene from a series of doors. There are also por-
tions that are pitch-black and must be “felt” through. Throughout its run, the house has featured about 50 actors per night in professional makeup and silicon masks that conform to the face, mimicking its expression for a ghoulishly visceral, realistic effect. Tales from survivors who have emerged from the house involve some of the visitors getting lost in its darker, more confusing portions. There have also been reports of — ahem — incontinence, asthma attacks and fainting. Additionally, there have also been 437 victims who quit before they finished the house, Vasquez said. But if you think you’ve suffered the last of it when
But for tonight, the mad scientists have added a number of special, sinister touches, noted Vasquez. For one, there will be about 75 actors, 50 percent more than the typical night. Proprietors also have opened up about 2,000 more square feet to unfold their nightmares. In the parking lot, there will be a children’s costume contest at 4 p.m. and an adult’s costume contest at 9 p.m. DJ Manny will also be spinning outside to keep the anticipated crowd entertained. Also, on Sunday, the house will feature a “glow stick night,” where all the lights will be turned off and groups of six will be forced to use a solitary glow stick to make their way through — and hopefully out — of the house.
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve
Construirán 5 rellenos sanitarios ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
SÁBADO 31 DE OCTUBRE LAREDO - Hoy es el último día de la venta de garage en el Fellowship Hall, First United Methodist Church, 1200 McClelland Ave., de 9 a.m. a 2 p.m. La entrada es gratuita. LAREDO - Hoy es el Grossology, la celebración de Halloween del Imaginarium of South Texas. Habrá cajas misteriosas, concurso de disfraces, pinta-caras y muchas actividades para toda la familia, de 3 p.m. a 8 p.m. Todas las actividades son gratuitas, previo pago de la entrada. Las actividades no incluyen dulces. LAREDO - El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de Texas A&M International University admitirá gratuitamente a niños de 2 a 11 años disfrazados a cualquier proyección. Las presentaciones de hoy incluyen “The Future is Wild” a las 2 p.m.; “Kaluoka’hina the Enchanted Reef” a las 3 p.m. “Seven Wonders” a las 4 p.m. La entrada general tiene costo de 3 dólares. Todos los niños recibirán nieve gratis.
SÁBADO 31 DE OCTUBRE DE 2009
La Agencia Ambiental de Tamaulipas tiene planeado tener en funcionamiento hasta cinco nuevos rellenos sanitarios para el 2010. El encargado de la agencia Salvador Treviño Garza explicó que se trata del Proyecto Integral de Residuos Sólidos. Treviño destacó que cada relle-
no sanitario tiene un periodo de vida que puede variar dependiendo del diseño del mismo, proyectando que mínimo deben de ser utilizados por 10 años. En cuanto al nuevo relleno sanitario en Nuevo Laredo, se está en espera de la licitación para su nuevo sitio. Acerca del relleno sanitario en la zona Ribereña, Treviño informó que éste ya se construye.
Para el relleno de Rio Bravo se espera la certificación de la COCEF y el NADBank. En lo que respecta al relleno sanitario de Ciudad Victoria, está por culminarse el proyecto ejecutivo para iniciar la construcción del sitio con las especificaciones y características necesarias para este tipo de áreas de confinamiento. Puntualizó que el relleno sanitario en Ciudad Victoria tendrá
una inversión de hasta 25 millones de pesos, con lo que se garantiza su construcción para el próximo año. En relación a San Fernando, González y Aldama están ya trabajando de cerca con BANOBRAS para que este mismo año determinen su situación, dijo Treviño. Otro relleno será ubicado en Mante el cual está ya en proceso de licitación.
Tumbas listas para el lunes ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
DOMINGO 1 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO - La Serie de Recitales de Órgano de Texas A&M International University continúa hoy con la presentación de Clive Driskill-Smith a las 4 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and performing Art Recital Hall. La entrada es gratuita. LAREDO - El Laredo Center for the Arts (Centro para las Artes de Laredo) presentará hoy su interactivo Festival del Día de los Muertos con altares, comida y arte con gis en las banquetas del Centro ubicado en el 500 San Agustin de 1 p.m. a 5 p.m.
LUNES 2 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO - Logistics and Manufacturing Association llevará a cabo el día de hoy un torneo de golf para recaudar fondos para becas de 8:30 a.m. a 7 p.m. La cena de premiación será en el Laredo Country Club. Más información llamando a Marilyn O’Donnell al 791-2173 ó escribiendo a lma@stx.rr.com.
MIÉRCOLES 4 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO - Hoy es el American Pop Music Concert a las 7 p.m. en el teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de Texas A&M International University. La entrada es gratuita y abierta al público en general. El programa consiste de canciones de la época del swing, música soul, folk, doowop, influencias latinas, 1970 y country.
JUEVES 5 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO - Hoy es la primera presentación de Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up en el Laredo Entertainment Center.
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Ciudad Mier
Melissa Hernández Montes de Matamoros, segunda de izquierda a derecha, fue designada "Señorita Frente Juvenil Tamaulipas" 2009. Le acompañan en la imagen, de izquierda a derecha, la Srita. FJR Ciudad Mier Mariana Guerra Barrera; la Primera Dama Isabel Cristina Treviño de Mancillas, el Alcalde José Iván Mancillas Hinojosa y la Conductora del Certámen Alma Saint Martin.
Matamoros gana certamen FJR pales de Ciudad Mier José Iván Mancillas Hinojosa y de Miguel Alemán Servando López Moreno los cuales las acompañaron en desfiles por ambas ciudades. El jurado estuvo integrado por Mariluz Salinas Díaz Directora de Turismo del municipio, Ciara Terán Garza Secretaria General del C.D.E. del F.JR.; la modelo profesional Brenda Berenice y María del Carmen Peña, consultora de belleza. Melissa, de 17 años de edad, quien estuvo acompañada de sus padres Jacinto Hernández Rodríguez y Laura Montes Rivera, recibió su corona y banda así como 10 mil pesos.
ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD MIER – Melissa Hernández Montes de Matamoros fue designada como “Señorita Frente Juvenil Tamaulipas” en su edición 2009. El certamen contó con la participación de 27 representantes de distintas partes del Estado quienes desfilaron ante más de 600 personas. La Plaza Hidalgo de ésta ciudad fue el escenario de distintas facetas de la pasarela, incluidas conocimiento, desenvolvimiento, cultura general, belleza y oratoria. Previo al certamen, fueron recibidas y atendidas por los presidentes munici-
Miguel Cavazos Guerrero, presidente del Comité Directivo Estatal del Frente Juvenil Revolucionario (FJR) fue el encargado de coronar a la “Señorita Frente Juvenil Tamaulipas 2009” y premiar al resto de las ganadoras. Brenda Valenzuela Rodríguez de San Fernando, obtuvo el segundo lugar y Claudia Maribel González Elizondo de Ciudad Victoria, el tercero. Diana Laura Juárez Ramírez, de Abasolo, fue designada Señorita Simpatía; Brenda Zambrano Camarillo, de Hidalgo, como Señorita Fotogenia y Karla Gómez Gómez, de Soto la Marina, Señorita Elegancia.
La conducción del evento estuvo a cargo de la conductora de programas especiales en Televisa México Alma Saint Martin y como invitados especiales los presidentes de comités municipales del FJR y del Partido Revolucionario Institucional. Igualmente se destacó la participación en la organización del evento de Magda Leysly Barrera Ramírez, Dirigente del FJR en Ciudad Mier. La presentante de Ciudad Mier Mariana Guerra Barrera quedó entre las primeras diez finalistas. El certamen fue el segundo evento estatal que se lleva a cabo en Ciudad Mier en un lapso de dos años.
NUEVO LAREDO - Limpieza total, abatización y retiro de enjambres fueron labores que se desarrollaron ya en los panteones municipales. Los camposantos ya están listos para ser visitados el fin de semana con motivo del Día de los Fieles Difuntos, ceremonia tradicional que se deGAUCÍN sarrolla los días primero y 2 de noviembre de cada año a nivel nacional. “La limpieza está al 100 por ciento, las cuadrillas de la Dirección de Imagen Urbana comenzaron desde el 25 de septiembre hasta esta semana y laboran ya sólo en detalles”, mencionó Héctor Gaucín Rodríguez, jefe de Panteones Municipales. Más de 60 mil personas se espera que visiten este año los cementerios, a quienes se les ofrecerá permanentemente una buena atención a través de la Dirección de Imagen Urbana, Protección Civil, Seguridad Ciudadana y Seguridad Vial para evitar incidentes. Actualmente cerca de 17 mil 500 tumbas en ocho hectáreas se ubican en el Panteón Municipal Antiguo; y son 30 mil sepulcros en 13 hectáreas de terreno los que hay en el Panteón Municipal Nuevo.
Hernández: no se lesionará economía ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD. VICTORIA - A pesar de los severos recortes presupuestales aplicados en este año por la Federación a Tamaulipas y las condiciones vulnerables de las finanzas de sus 43 municipios derivadas de esos ajustes, el Gobierno del Estado no creará nuevos impuestos ni elevará los ya existentes, anunció el gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores. “Insistimos: en Tamaulipas nuestra prioridad es proteger a la
gente y familias en general, impulsando oportunidades de empleo y no vamos a lesionar su economía con nuevos gravámenes”, apuntó Hernández. En ese sentido destacó que la administración a su cargo tiene muy claro que el mejor camino para superar la problemática económica que afecta al país es abriendo opciones de trabajo que conduzcan a su vez a mayores niveles de bienestar. Por eso, dijo, “los esfuerzos del gobierno estatal están encaminados a contin-
uar con las inversiones en infraestructura”. Actualmente Tamaulipas se ubica como el primer estado en el país en el renglón de inversión en obra pública, según Hernández. Agregó que para no crear impuestos nuevos ni incrementar las que operan actualmente, todas las dependencias del gobierno estatal aplican una rigurosa política de austeridad para lograr un gasto racional y optimizar los resultados en sus respect-
ivos ámbitos, sin afectar su eficiencia ni su competitividad. Hernández dijo que en materia económica al igual que en otras acciones, siempre se ha mantenido comunicación permanente con el gobierno federal para sumar esfuerzos. “Sólo así, con esa voluntad permanente de trabajar juntos de manera coordinada, el Estado ha podido salir adelante a pesar de que el déficit presupuestario al terminar este año alcanzará los mil 400 millones de pesos”, dijo.
VIERNES 6 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO - Los Junior Bucks invitan hoy a su baile en Vaquero’s Country Bar (1406 Jacaman) de 6 p.m. a 2 a.m. La hora feliz será de 6 p.m. a 8 p.m. y la banda empezará a las 9:30 p.m. El costo de entrada es de 5 dólares. Más información llamando al 645-3899.
SÁBADO 7 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO - El Departamento de Parques y Servicios de Entretenimiento de la Ciudad de Laredo invita a su 4ta. Carrera Anual A.L.S. de 5K a llevarse a cabo hoy a partir de las 8 a.m. Puede inscribirse hoy mismo de 7 a.m. a 8 a.m. La donación es de 10 dólares a la Asociación A.L.S. Las categorías son: varonil/femenil 14 y menores, 15-19, 20-29, 3039, 40-49, 50-59, 60 y más.
Invitan a concurso de pasteles en LCC POR STEVE TREVIÑO ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
LAREDO - Los antojos por algo dulce serán complacidos y las culturas serán enriquecidas durante el primer concurso de pasteles por el Día de los Muertos en el Laredo Community College, campus del Sur, el lunes 2 de noviembre de 12 p.m. a 1:30 p.m. en el Centro Estudiantil Billy Hall. Pastelerías locales han sido invitadas a mostrar su creatividad y cocinar talentos por medio de crear un pastel con el tema del Día de los Muertos. El evento fue conceptualizado por la estudiante
de LCC Martha Reyes, quien es presidenta del Club de Revolutionary Art and Cultural Empowerment (RACE). El club es anfitrión del concurso. “La idea surgió de nuestra presiden del club quien a la vez se inspiró de la programación del canal de comidas que involucra competencias con decoración de pasteles”, dijo la co-asesora del club Mary Sue Galindo. “El Club RACE consideró que era una forma única y emocionante de introducir este evento cultural a nuestro cuerpo estudiantil. Los ganadores serán anunciados a la 1 p.m.
CARROS ALEGÓRICOS
Foto de cortesía | Nueva Ciudad Guerrero
La Alcaldesa de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero Olga Elizondo, saluda, conforme acompaña a alumnos del Jardín de Niños Herlinda T. de Balboa, quienes ocuparon el segundo lugar con el carro alegórico “Tradición del Día de Muertos” durante las celebraciones del 56 Aniversario de la ciudad. El primer lugar fue para la Primaria Leoncio Leal con el tema de Chichen-Iitza, Séptima maravilla del mundo; el tercero fue para la Secundaria Oscar González Blackaller con el tema de la influenza.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
LAREDO MORNING TIMES 7A
THE WEEK IN REVIEW WEEKLY STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS
d
NYSE 6,739.45 -327.35
GAINERS ($2 OR MORE) Name Last Chg Revlon 8.43 +2.66 SwESPRet10 4.32 +.88 DirxEMBear 7.31 +1.35 PitnB pr 418.08 +69.61 DirxSCBear 14.28 +2.32 AlldCap47 15.59 +2.45 DirFBear rs 22.94 +3.57 DirMCB3x rs 34.71 +5.31 ProUShPac 22.70 +3.35 ProSUSSilv 5.40 +.73
%Chg +46.1 +25.7 +22.7 +20.0 +19.4 +18.6 +18.4 +18.1 +17.3 +15.6
LOSERS ($2 OR MORE) Name K-Sea StdRegis CIT Gp pfC ZaleCp BoydGm BkIrelnd StMotr AsburyA LithiaMot GaGulf rs
Last Chg 12.14 -11.23 4.77 -3.46 2.89 -1.61 4.73 -2.33 7.36 -3.57 10.29 -4.92 8.36 -3.97 9.74 -4.56 8.34 -3.42 14.37 -5.84
%Chg -48.1 -42.0 -35.8 -33.0 -32.7 -32.3 -32.2 -31.9 -29.1 -28.9
d
NASDAQ 2,045.11 -109.36
GAINERS ($2 OR MORE) Name Last Chg %Chg Sypris 3.10 +1.01 +48.3 IntrntGold 12.70 +3.66 +40.5 CllctUnv 7.48 +1.98 +36.0 012Smile 13.96 +3.45 +32.8 HilandHld h 3.14 +.76 +31.9 Corel g 4.01 +.84 +26.5 MillIndia 2.08 +.43 +26.1 HilandPt 9.83 +2.03 +26.0 OrionEngy 3.81 +.71 +22.9 WasteSv g 6.56 +1.21 +22.6
Vol (00)
Name Transcept n IBC Cap pf PrivateB CmclVehcl HrtgeCo ChinaTInfo Cytokinet Fst M&F ProvCmB h SuperiorBc
Last Chg Name
Citigrp 25243163 4.09 -.37 BkofAm 13544306 14.58 -1.64 SPDR 11617702103.56 -4.52 iShEMkts 6284835 37.57 -3.19 SPDR Fncl 5781464 14.05 -1.05 DirFBear rs 5141958 22.94 +3.57 GenElec 5014928 14.26 -.94 SprintNex 4056088 2.96 -.29 FordM 3910262 7.00 -.63 iShR2K 3791441 56.33 -3.73
Last 5.49 6.06 9.13 4.73 2.64 6.97 3.19 2.03 2.10 2.12
Chg -8.55 -6.72 -9.87 -2.86 -1.32 -3.03 -1.38 -.87 -.90 -.88
%Chg -60.9 -52.6 -51.9 -37.7 -33.3 -30.3 -30.2 -30.0 -30.0 -29.3
Vol (00)
Volume
Last Chg
PwShs QQQ6002084 40.96 -2.17 ETrade 4354143 1.46 -.20 Microsoft 4000810 27.73 -.29 Intel 3830106 19.11 -.67 Cisco 2352253 22.81 -1.36 Oracle 1549815 21.10 -.95 HuntBnk 1373804 3.81 -.39 DryShips 1269535 6.04 -.99 Yahoo 1266922 15.90 -1.32 Apple Inc 1181334188.50-15.44
DIARY Advanced Declined New Highs New Lows Total issues Unchanged
DIARY
379 2,812 216 27 3,209 18 30,344,805,920
Dow Jones industrials
-104.22 14.21
Close: 9,712.73 1-week change: -259.45 (-2.6%)
MON
10,500
TUES
STOCK MARKET INDEXES
Advanced Declined New Highs New Lows Total issues Unchanged
Volume
450 2,431 142 96 2,945 64 12,521,673,145
52-Week High Low
-119.48 199.89 -249.85
WED
THUR
10,119.47 4,094.39 395.11 7,241.39 1,887.23 2,190.64 1,101.35 11,403.02 625.30 2,998.87
FRI
10,000 9,500
Dow Jones Industrials 9,712.73 Dow Jones Transportation 3,613.34 Dow Jones Utilities 363.04 NYSE Composite 6,739.45 AMEX Index 1,752.23 Nasdaq Composite 2,045.11 S&P 500 1,036.19 Wilshire 5000 10,655.73 Russell 2000 562.77 Lipper Growth Index 2,782.05
Last
8,000
M
J
J
A
S
O
STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST Name
Ex
Div
Last
AT&T Inc AEP BkofAm CIT Gp Caterpillar Citigrp CCFemsa CmtyHlt ConocPhil Dell Inc Dillards DirFBear rs EmpIca ExxonMbl FordM GenElec HewlettP HomeDp iShEMkts Intel IntlBcsh IBM
NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd Nasd NY
1.64 25.67 1.64 30.22 .04 14.58 ... .72 1.68 55.06 ... 4.09 .51 53.94 ... 31.28 2.00 50.18 ... 14.45 .16 13.62 ... 22.94 ... 8.72 1.68 71.67 ... 7.00 .40 14.26 .32 47.46 .90 25.09 .59 37.57 .56 19.11 .34 14.85 2.20 120.61
Wk Wk YTD Chg %Chg%Chg
Name
-.06 -.59 -1.64 -.42 -2.54 -.37 -.37 -3.63 -1.29 -1.03 -1.30 +3.57 -1.71 -1.90 -.63 -.94 -1.10 -1.18 -3.19 -.67 -1.66 +.25
Lowes NY Lubys NY MetLife NY MexicoFd NY Microsoft Nasd Modine NY Penney NY PwShs QQQ Nasd RadioShk NY Schlmbrg NY SearsHldgs Nasd SonyCp NY SPDR NY SPDR Fncl NY TelMexL NY UnionPac NY USSteel NY UnvHlth NY WalMart NY WellsFargo NY
-0.2 -1.9 -10.1 -36.8 -4.4 -8.3 -0.7 -10.4 -2.5 -6.7 -8.7 +18.4 -16.4 -2.6 -8.3 -6.2 -2.3 -4.5 -7.8 -3.4 -10.1 +0.2
-9.9 -9.2 +3.6 -84.1 +23.3 -39.0 +24.0 +114.5 -3.1 +41.1 +243.1 -93.6 +30.1 -10.2 +205.7 -12.0 +30.8 +9.0 +50.5 +30.4 -32.0 +43.3
Ex
Div
Last
Wk Wk YTD Chg %Chg%Chg
.36 19.57 -1.14 -5.5 -9.1 ... 3.57 -.05 -1.4 -14.8 .74 34.03 -2.92 -7.9 -2.4 2.18 20.07 -1.77 -8.1 +32.0 .52 27.73 -.29 -1.0 +42.6 ... 10.30 +.99 +10.6 +111.5 .80 33.13 -2.90 -8.0 +68.2 .18 40.96 -2.17 -5.0 +37.7 .25 16.89 +1.23 +7.9 +41.5 .84 62.20 -3.00 -4.6 +46.9 ... 67.86 -4.92 -6.8 +74.6 .13 29.39 +.48 +1.7 +34.4 2.42 103.56 -4.52 -4.2 +14.8 .38 14.05 -1.05 -7.0 +12.2 .67 16.61 -.43 -2.5 -20.7 1.08 55.14 -2.59 -4.5 +15.4 .20 34.49 -6.38 -15.6 -7.3 .32 55.65 -6.92 -11.1 +48.1 1.09 49.68 -.76 -1.5 -11.4 .20 27.52 -1.80 -6.1 -6.6
Stock Footnotes: g=Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars .h= Doe not meet continued- listings tandards lf = Late filing with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 percent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within the last year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants. Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemption fee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s = fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week. Gainers and Losers must be worth at least $2 to be listed in tables at left. Most Actives must be worth at least $1. Volume in hundreds of shares. Source: The Associated Press. Sales figures are unofficial.
Prime Rate Discount Rate Federal Funds Rate Treasuries 3-month 6-month 5-year 10-year 30-year
Wk Chg -259.45 -191.61 -14.39 -327.35 -81.90 -109.36 -43.41 -505.14 -38.09 -164.69
Wk YTD %Chg %Chg
12-mo %Chg
-2.60 -5.04 -3.81 -4.63 -4.47 -5.08 -4.02 -4.53 -6.34 -5.59
+4.16 -7.01 -4.06 +11.19 +19.45 +18.84 +6.96 +9.08 +4.70 +18.66
+10.67 +2.15 -2.08 +17.06 +25.38 +29.68 +14.72 +17.26 +12.68 +26.60
local businesses to become members. Umphres is aware of the 12.4 percent unemployment rate currently in Zapata. “That’s a lot of the oil and gas industry, which has been hit hard,” she said. “The impact of that is felt county-wide.” She did note there was a lot of “sales leakage where people leave
3.25 0.50 .00-.25 0.05 0.16 2.31 3.39 4.23
Last
Pvs Day
3.25 Australia 1.1102 1.0899 0.50 Britain 1.6447 1.6548 .00-.25 Canada 1.0797 1.0662 Euro .6789 .6736 0.06 Japan 89.98 91.49 0.17 Mexico 13.1740 13.0675 2.42 Switzerlnd 1.0252 1.0181 3.47 4.29 British pound expressed in U.S. dollars. All others show dollar in foreign currency.
Name
Total Assets Obj ($Mlns) NAV
Alliance Bernstein GlTmtcGA m Eaton Vance WldwHealA m Fidelity Select Biotech d Fidelity Select BrokInv d Fidelity Select CommEq d Fidelity Select Computer d Fidelity Select Electron d Fidelity Select FinSvc d Fidelity Select HomeFin d Fidelity Select SoftwCom d Fidelity Select Tech d Seligman ComInfoA m T Rowe Price SciTech Vanguard HlthCare d Waddell & Reed Adv SciTechA m
WS SH SH SF SC ST ST SF SF ST ST ST ST SH ST
888 748 1,136 695 360 478 1,146 524 74 788 1,744 2,522 2,304 11,311 2,036
Total Return/Rank Pct Min Init 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt
60.59 -3.6 8.36 -6.3 58.40 -12.1 47.13 -5.0 19.02 -5.7 40.16 -4.3 34.73 -8.7 56.74 -4.5 10.30 -5.8 67.67 +1.5 65.92 -2.7 35.30 -1.0 19.97 -4.4 112.65 -1.9 8.50 -3.7
+34.9/A +5.5/D -1.9/E +38.3/A +48.3/A +38.0/B +36.0/B +7.3/B -12.5/E +34.4/B +51.1/A +39.1/A +38.6/B +16.1/A +27.0/D
+3.1/C +3.4/B +1.8/D +5.9/A +1.8/B +4.6/B +0.1/D -6.5/C -23.1/E +7.2/A +3.8/C +8.9/A +2.4/C +5.6/A +7.8/A
4.25 10,000 5.75 1,000 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 5.75 2,000 NL 2,500 NL 25,000 5.75 500
CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, ES -Europe Stock, FB -Foreign Large Blend, FG -Foreign LargeGrowth, FV -Foreign Large Value, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA -Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MV - MidCap Value, SH -Specialty-heath, WS -World Stock, Total Return: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, E in bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source: Morningstar.
ALA Unit 486 President Jane Siler said there will be several notable leaders in attendance at the Zapata convention. ta for some time.” Siler noted that there will be several notable district leaders in attendance at the convention, including District Commander George Solis of Raymondville and ALA Department President Barbara Kundert of Alva-
CURRENCIES Pvs Week
MUTUAL FUNDS
rado, among others. Sunday will see a memorial service at 8 a.m. and an awards ceremony. (To reach Diana R. Fuentes, call 728-2581 or e-email dfuentes@lmtonline.com)
BUSINESS Continued from Page 1A conjunction with the Small Business Development Center at Texas A&M International University. In addition, there will be a business-to-business program created which will help local businesses be aware of products and services which they can get locally. Plus, the ZEDC has developed a partnership with the Texas Department of Agriculture’s “Go Texan” program and will look to facilitate
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AMERICAN LEGION Continued from Page 1A and spending time with each other.” Women in American Legion Auxiliary Unit will be initiating new members at 10 a.m. today. “The new members will be pinned,” explained Karran Westerman, new president of ALA Unit 486 and publisher of Zapata County News. “We’re working to have a good event.” About 100 to 150 people are expected for the event. “It’s been quite a while since it’s been in Zapata,” Siler said. “People have been wanting to have it in Zapa-
6,469.95 2,134.21 288.66 4,181.75 1,130.47 1,265.52 666.79 6,772.29 342.59 1,789.23
Name
9,000
LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)
MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) Name
WEEKLY DOW JONES
Zapata and go to either Laredo or the Rio Grande Valley.” “One of our EDC goals is to work with the existing businesses, to assist them in meeting those needs because I saw new opportunities for job creation through expansion. We are identifying critical needs from a business perspective.” (Joe Rutland can be reached at 728-2529 or jrutland@lmtonline.com)
DANIEL PEREZ JR. Daniel Perez, Jr. 32, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, in Laredo, Texas. Danny is preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Antonio Cuellar, and paternal grandparents, Adalberto and Felipa Perez. Danny is survived by his wife, Rebecca H. Ramirez; daughters, Abigail M. Perez, Alexandria D. Perez; mother, Susie Cuellar (Hector) Vela; father, Daniel Perez; sisters, Dora (Francisco) Garcia, Christina (Homero) Martinez; brother, Antonio Perez; maternal grandmother, Adelfa Cuellar; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends. Visitation hours were held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at 9:45 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our
Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.
GUNFIRE Continued from Page 1A man pulled out a gun, shot and killed Perez and wounded the unidentified man, according to a news release. Baeza could not confirm who police believe was the alleged shooter. Perez is survived by his wife Rebecca H. Ramirez and daughters Abigail M. Perez and Alexandria D.
Perez ,among other family relatives. Family members did not answer calls for comment. Messages in English and Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.
“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health” 1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160
Spanish were posted on the Rose Garden Funeral Home Web site. Some offer condolences; one offered comfort because the person also
had lost a close relative. “As a sister who has also lost a brother, I can tell you that no words, acts or deeds will ease the pain that will
endure in your life forever,” a Zapata resident posted on the Web site. “I will join during this time of grief only to hold you because I will not be able to find the
words to help you. One day we will all be reunited in our eternal life.” (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors Storming into the playoffs Lady Hawks’ volleyball team clinches postseason spot with victory in final game of regular season By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata Lady Hawks are in the state volleyball playoffs. After a one-year absence from the playoff scene, the Lady Hawks are back where they feel more comfortable in the season. The Lady Hawks will play Aransas Pass in their bi-district game in Falfurrias on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Zapata community is highly encouraged to
cords, but only one would leave with a playoff spot in its pocket and a shot at a bi-district title. Behind a team effort, the Lady Hawks defeated the Lyford Lady Bulldogs in four games, 24-26, 25-22, 2523 and 25-22 to earn their postseason berth. “It was a great victory,” Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal said. “The girls did a great job staying focused. “It was determination from everyone on the team that kept them fighting for
come out and support the Lady Hawks on their quest for a bi-district title. For more information on the game, please contact the athletic department.
Getting there In order to have an opportunity to play in the playoffs, Zapata had to beat Lyford in the regular season finale. Both teams strolled in with identical district re-
each point.”
Net power The Lady Hawks’ offensive machines went to work on the court as they slowly took control of the net. Brandi King led all hitters with 25 of the team’s 43 kills. Adriana Peña (nine kills), Lexi Garza (six kills) and Ashley Martinez combined for 18 kills. In the first game, nerves
and the implication of this game could be seen on the slow pay of both teams. The Lady Bulldogs drew first blood and scored the first point of the match. King and company did all they could to keep ahead of Lyford. The score went back and forth until the Lady Bulldogs’ Nelda Salinas put them ahead 8-6. Zapata came back to tied the score at 14 apiece and keep its chances of winning the first game alive.
Coming back The Lady Hawks had the opportunity win the first game and only needed one point with the score at 2423, but Lyford scored three straight points to take the first game, 26-24. Zapata rebounded in the second game and scored the first points of the match before a pesky Lady Bulldogs squad took the lead at 6-3.
See VOLLEYBALL PAGE 2B
ZAPATA SWEEPS 32-3A CROSS COUNTRY MEET Boys win their division By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Courtesy photo
Members of Zapata High School’s cross country teams pose with their hardware after sweeping the District 32-3A meet in Harlingen on Monday.
Girls defend their district title with first-place finish By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The long drive to Harlingen on Monday morning for the District 32-3A cross country meet had no impact on the Zapata Lady Hawks.
Zapata raced around the Harlingen Sports Complex to successfully defend its district title and check off the first goal from a long checklist that includes a return trip to the state meet. “Before the race, I knew
it was going to be close since there are only two teams battling for the title,” Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said. “Defending the title is a nice accomplishment, but we now have a bigger race ahead with regionals and state
looming close.” The regional meet will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, in San Antonio.
Repeat performance For the second year in a
row, the Lady Hawks edged out their closest opponent by three points and scored 26 points to beat La Feria (29 points) for the team championship. Last year, Zapata scored
See GIRLS XC PAGE 2B
The Zapata Hawks boys’ cross country runners followed their female counterparts’ lead on Monday, as they captured the District 32-3A boys’ title to complete the Zapata sweep. The Hawks punched their ticket to San Antonio and the regional cross country meet that will be held on Nov. 7 on the grounds of UTSA with a first-place finish at the district meet. Ten points evenly separated the top three teams. Zapata scored 43 points to run away with the District 32-3A team title, while Rio Hondo came in second with 53 points. Rounding out the top three was Progreso with 63 points.
Battle on top The race for first place came down in the last 100
See BOYS XC PAGE 2B
A-Rod still awaiting first World Series hit NOTEBOOK
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Kate Hudson was talking to Kurt Russell when she suddenly stopped, leaned forward in a second-row box seat and clasped her hands together. Moments later, she kicked back and shook her head. The mighty A-Rod had struck out —
again. A beast in the AL playoffs, Alex Rodriguez has become a bust in his first World Series. Totally out of whack, swinging at shadows, his performance at the plate in Game 2 Thursday
night mirrored his output in the opener. So far: 0 for 8 with six strikeouts. “I’m not concerned,” the New York Yankees star said. “The fact that I’m 0-fer in this Series and we’re 1-1 makes me feel good.” Hudson sure didn’t seem to enjoy watching her boyfriend struggle against the Philadelphia Phil-
lies during the Yankees’ 3-1 win. The actress grimaced when Rodriguez flailed at a changeup from Pedro Martinez in the sixth inning — Rodriguez flipped his bat after his body bent out of shape chasing the pitch. She edged closer to a TV monitor to watch a replay after he was called out on strikes in the
eighth. “I’ve missed some pitches, fouled some off,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez seemed ready to put all his October failures behind him after hammering his way through the first two rounds, hitting a combined .438 with five
See WORLD SERIES PAGE 2B
’Horns look to continue success against Cowboys By JEFF LATZKE ASSOCIATED PRESS
STILLWATER, Okla. — Mack Brown’s mastery of Oklahoma State has been uncanny. Eleven years, 11 wins — all the while keeping the Cowboys from becoming a true contender in the Big 12 South. Texas has done it with big-time blowouts and, more recently, with massive comebacks that have provided OSU with a glim-
mer of hope, only to rip it away in crunch time. “Everybody will talk about the past,” Brown said. “These kids won’t. It will not be about the last 11 years. It will be about the team that plays better on Saturday night.”
Similar setup The No. 3 Longhorns (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) visit Boone Pickens Stadium trying to
avoid the same Halloween weekend pitfall that cost them a chance to play for the Big 12 and national championships last season: a road game against a divisional rival on the rise. Last year, it was Texas Tech that spoiled the run for Colt McCoy and his fellow Longhorns. This year, Oklahoma State gets a shot. And the 13th-ranked Cowboys (6-1, 3-0) have yet
See TEXAS PAGE 2B
Photo by Edward A. Ornelas | San Antonio Express-News
In this Oct. 25, 2008, file photo, Texas running back Vondrell McGee scores a touchdown against Oklahoma State during the first half of their game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
PAGE 2B
Zscores
PRO HOCKEY CHL Glance NORTHERN CONFERENCE W L OTL Pts GF 3 1 0 6 15 3 2 0 6 20 3 3 0 6 21 2 0 1 5 13 2 2 0 4 11 2 3 0 4 13
Tulsa .................................. Rapid City ......................... Mississippi ....................... Colorado ........................... Bossier-Shreveport ........ Wichita ..............................
GA 13 17 23 7 15 17
Missouri ............................ 0 5 0 0 9 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE W L OTL Pts GF Amarillo ........................... 5 1 0 10 24 Odessa ............................. 4 1 1 9 32 Allen ................................. 4 0 0 8 14 Laredo .............................. 2 1 1 5 17 Corpus Christi ............... 1 2 1 3 9 Texas ................................ 1 2 1 3 10 Arizona ............................ 1 3 1 3 14 Rio Grande Valley ......... 1 2 0 2 5 Tuesday’s games Tulsa 5, Rapid City 4 Odessa 8, Missouri 1
25 GA 16 14 9 13 9 15 20 13
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
Friday’s games Texas at Bossier-Shreveport, 7:05 p.m. Tulsa at Mississippi, 7:05 p.m. Missouri at Wichita, 7:05 p.m. Odessa at Corpus Christi, 7:05 p.m. Amarillo at Laredo, 7:30 p.m. Arizona at Rio Grande Valley, 7:35 p.m. Rapid City at Colorado, 8:05 p.m. Saturday’s games Amarillo at Rio Grande Valley, 1:05 p.m. Bossier-Shreveport at Mississippi, 3:05 p.m. Arizona at Corpus Christi, 3:05 p.m. Allen at Texas, 7:05 p.m. Missouri at Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American League OAKLAND ATHLETICS: Sent OF Matt Carson and RHP Chad Reineke outright to Sacramento (PCL). National League HOUSTON ASTROS: Named Al Pedrique bench coach and Bobby Meacham first base coach. Declined its 2010 contract option on RHP Doug Brocail, making him eligible to become a free agent.
BASKETBALL NBA WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Exercised the 201011 contract options on G Nick Young and C JaVale McGee for the season. FOOTBALL NFL TENNESSEE TITANS: Signed RB Alvin Pearman to a two-year contract. HOCKEY NHL LOS ANGELES KINGS: Assigned F Trevor Lewis to Manchester (AHL).
NASHVILLE PREDATORS: Re-assigned F Cal O’Reilly to Milwaukee (AHL). NEW YORK RANGERS: Recalled F Dane Byers from Hartford (AHL). PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Recalled RW David Laliberte from Adirondack (AHL). VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Called up C Mario Bliznak from Manitoba (AHL). Sent LW Sergei Shirokov to Manitoba. AHL PROVIDENCE BRUINS: Signed F Jimmy Fraser. ECHL CHARLOTTE CHECKERS: Announced F Matt Ford has been loaned to Lake Erie (AHL).
WORLD SERIES Continued from Page 1B homers and 12 RBIs against Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels. But after striking out three times in a game only twice all year, he’s done it in each of the first two games against the Phils. Cliff Lee got him on Wednesday night, then Martinez and Ryan Madson stopped him. “I think they’re being careful,” Rodriguez said.
Unlikely stars Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jose Molina stepped up when two of the Yankees’ biggest stars struggled in Game 2. Hairston started a seventh-inning rally with a leadoff single and Jose Molina had a solid night behind the plate to help New
York beat the Philadelphia Phillies. “It does feel good. Sometimes, you’ve got to scrap,” said Hairston, who replaced struggling Nick Swisher in right field. “I haven’t started too many games the last two months or so.” With Molina subbing for Jorge Posada, A.J. Burnett threw seven sparkling innings. Molina, who has caught each of Burnett’s postseason starts, also picked off Jayson Werth with a snap throw to first in the fourth.
Star power Jay-Z and Alicia Keys fired up the Yankee Stadium crowd before Game 2, performing a clean version of “Empire State of Mind”
from the rapper’s hit album. The two New Yorkers were originally scheduled to perform Wednesday night but were pushed back because of rainy weather. There was some concern about some of the song’s raw language but Jay-Z kept it PG. The rap king — wearing a Yankees hat and jacket — and Keys got a loud ovation when they walked through an opening in the outfield wall in left-center to the stage behind second base. Keys, in a black and hot purple outfit, played keyboard before joining Jay-Z in the center of the stage for the end of the song. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who uses a snippet of “Empire State of Mind” for his at-bat music, bobbed his head during the per-
formance.
Not again There was another blown call by the postseason umpires in the seventh inning of Game 2. With one out and runners on first and second, Johnny Damon hit a smash to Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard. Umpire Brian Gorman, standing behind the 6-foot-4 Howard, immediately threw his arm up to indicate the ball was caught in the air, but TV replays indicated it bounced into Howard’s glove. “Did I catch it?” Howard said. “Well, he called him out.” Howard took a few steps toward first before throwing to shortstop Jimmy
Rollins, who tagged Jorge Posada to complete the inning-ending double play. Posada stood on second for a few moments before bounding off the base to protest the call, and manager Joe Girardi came out of the dugout to argue. The umpires gathered in the infield after the players returned to their dugouts, but the ruling stood. A series of umpiring mistakes during the playoffs has led to calls for expanded use of instant replay, but commissioner Bud Selig said he still thinks it’s not necessary.
Top spot Ruben Amaro Jr. was one of Pat Gillick’s top lieutenants when the Phillies won the World Series last
season. This time, he’s in charge. Amaro took over as general manager when Gillick retired following last season, ascending to the top spot after 10 years as an assistant in Philadelphia. The club hasn’t skipped a beat under his leadership, winning the NL East and the pennant for the second consecutive year. “What is really pretty cool about this being here right now is the fact that it’s the big stage, it’s New York,” Amaro said before Philadelphia’s 3-1 loss in Game 2. “It’s the history and we’re playing clearly one of the best teams in baseball. “To be able to match up with this storied franchise and to be in this situation is pretty gratifying. It’s pretty neat.”
TEXAS Continued from Page 1B to get past Texas. The Longhorns overcame deficits of 16-7 in 2003, 35-7 in 2004 and 28-9 in 2005 before erasing OSU’s 35-14 lead with 12 minutes left to win in their last visit to Stillwater two years ago. In last year’s 28-24 loss in Austin, OSU mounted a second-half comeback but had to settle for a field goal on one promising fourthquarter drive and then couldn’t mount a gamewinning drive on two late possessions that started inside its own 10-yard line. “We’ve been really close, and it’s been frustrating
we haven’t been able to finish it off,” quarterback Zac Robinson said. “But I don’t think we’re going to put too much pressure on ourselves. We’re just going to keep having fun and staying loose. That’s been the main thing the last few weeks is we’ve just been playing loose.”
Moving up Oklahoma State has gone 4-0 without injured tailback Kendall Hunter and ineligible All-America receiver Dez Bryant, who this week was ordered by
the NCAA to sit out the remainder of the season. Hunter could return, although coach Mike Gundy said it would only be on a limited basis — perhaps eight to 10 carries — if he plays. The absence of those two players and a series of other injuries and defections have overshadowed a promising season that started with a landmark win against Georgia. “It’s something that gets talked about all the time now,” Gundy said. “At some point as a coach, you’d like to say I don’t want to talk about injuries
or adversity anymore. I want to talk about the future and the upcoming game. But I think that we’re kind of out there in a society now where that becomes a topic.”
Close contests No matter what, the Cowboys have made it a habit to at least give the Longhorns a scare in recent years. OSU was in the midst of a 4-7 season in 2005 when it built the 19point lead on a Texas team that would go on to win the national championship.
Vince Young had an 80yard scramble to spark the rally that year. “It just makes us want to focus on the task at hand and focus on finishing, because we haven’t done that against them in previous years,” said Keith Toston, who has filled in for Hunter as the Cowboys’ starting tailback.
South control The winner of the game, which features the only two Big 12 teams without a conference loss, takes control of the South Division.
Texas hasn’t played for the conference title since 2005, and Oklahoma State has never done so. “Of course, that would be huge for the program and the fans,” OSU tight end Cooper Bassett said. “But all that aside, beating Texas this year would be awesome just because Texas is such a great team, it would elevate us to a good chance at winning the Big 12 South and just be awesome for our season. “So, as much as I’d like to say that’d be great for our program, I’d like to say it’d be even better for our season this year.”
BOYS XC Continued from Page 1B yards between Progreso’s Eduardo Cortez and the Hawks’ Keith Cobb. Cortez won the individual title in a time of 16:33, edging out the second-place winner by three seconds. Zapata’s highest finish was recorded by Cobb, who crossed the finish line in second place with a time of 6:36.
Rounding out the top three was Tony Jaramillo of Rio Hondo with a time of 16:46. Coming in second in the Hawks’ team standings was Juan Alvarado in seventh place. Alvarado was clocked at 17:11 to give Zapata the edge in the team standings. The third Hawk runner to cross the finish line was Daniel
Garcia in 10th place with a time of 17:42.
Team results 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Zapata Rio Hondo Progreso La Feria Port Isabel
6. Hidalgo 7. Lyford
Boys individual results 1. Eduardo Cortez, Progreso, 16:33 2. Keith Cobb, Zapata, 16:36 3. Tony Jaramillo, Rio Hondo, 16:46
4. Victor Perez, Progreso, 16:51 5. Jose Gomez, La Feria, 17:00 6. Hugo Flores, Rio Hondo, 17:06 7. Juan Alvarado, Zapata, 17:11 8. Luis Aguilera, Port Isabel, 17:20 9. Armando Fierro, Port Isabel, 17:22 10. Daniel Garcia, Zapata, 17:42
GIRLS XC Continued from Page 1B 30 points to La Feria’s 33 points for the title. The Hidalgo Lady Pirates came in third with 94 points The Lady Hawks were led by the legs of Marlene Garcia, who captured the individual title with a time of 12:34. “Marlena winning the individual title was sweet, because it keeps the title in Zapata,” Villarreal said. “She follows Jessica Martinez (2006-2007) and Michelle Garcia (2008) as our past individual winners.” Teammate Michelle Garcia came in third with a time of 12:48 and was followed by Melissa Martinez (sixth place, 13:04), Maritza Garcia (seventh place, 13:08) and Kristina Garcia (ninth place, 13:17).
Garcia edge out La Feria’s Brianna Atkinson for ninth place. “The team won the race, but Kristina outkicked a La Feria runner to seal the deal,” Villarreal said. “Thoae two battled throughout the entire course.” The top 10 spots were all owned by the Lady Hawks and La Feria, as each team had five runners filled those positions. All of Zapata’s seven runners finished in the top 13 places. La Feria’s top finisher was Brianna Villarreal, who finished second individually with a time of 12:40.
Tight race
The Lady Hawks made the race looked easy but it was an accumulation of all the hard work that they have invested in the long summer months and
The battle for the title came down to each team’s fifth runner as Kristina
Work paying off
throughout the season. “The girls have made it look easy, but it is sometimes good to look back and reflect on what all they have accomplished and the hard work it took to get here,” Villarreal said. With district looming around the corner last week, the Lady Hawks continued their normal workouts despite having the district meet on a Monday. “We didn’t go easy the week of district,” Villarreal said. “We actually continued to work hard all week. “Our seniors ran together for a majority of the race, and it was reminiscent of their middle school years when you never knew who was going to win the race between them.”
Race reaction Villarreal immediately knew that the team successfully defended their ti-
tle because he had his middle school coach, Laura Villarreal, who also happens to be his wife, keep the score. “I found out immediately that we had won the title,” he said. “The girls were excited; at first it seemed like it was no big deal, but it means a lot when you have a streak going. The Zapata senior class becomes the first class to win four straight district titles in a row. The Lady Hawks started the race well and maintained their targeted paces for the most part. “The course was slightly longer and was very plain with long straights,” Villarreal said. “The weather could not have been better; it was a cool and cloudy day.”
Individual results 1. Marlena Garcia, Zapata, 12:34
2. Briana Villarreal, La Feria, 12:40 3. Michelle Garcia, Zapata, 12:48 4. Clarissa Hernandez, La Feria, 12:57 5. Johanna Reygozo, La Feria, 13:02 6. Melissa Martinez, Zapata, 13:04 7. Maritza Garcia, Zapata, 13:08 8. Samantha Loredo, La Feria, 13:13 9. Kristina Garcia, Zapata, 13:17 10. Brianna Atkinson, La Feria, 13:18
Villarreal was happy to report that the sub-varsity groups also had an excellent day on the course as the junior varsity and the freshmen teams captured the runner-up trophy. “Most of these girls had never run cross-country before so I am extremely proud of their efforts all
season long,” he said. “They raced hard because they knew that the top three finishers would be alternates on the varsity for the rest of the post season.” Erica Hernandez won the individual title to make a sweep of the varsity and JV first-place individual medals. Wendy Medina and Lauren Mendoza will be joining the team on the quest for a state medal. The middle school teams had an undefeated season as they swept the seventhand eighth-grade girls division. Runners for the seventhgrade team include Maria Rodriguez, Nadya Mercado, San Juanita Gonzalez, Alexandra Garcia, Isela Gonzalez, Cheyenne Rodriguez and Gaby Garcia. The eighth-grade team includes Jazmine Garcia, Joyce Garcia, Clarissa Villarreal, Cassandra Pena, Sara Pena, Daniella Soto and Christina Garza.
rallies. Both teams were fighting for every point.” Seniors playing their last game of the regular season for the Lady Hawks included Liz Davila, Kat Garcia, Lexi Garza, Ashley Martinez, Adriana Peña, Loraly Rivera, Amanda Sanchez and Clari Solis.
ZAPATA STATS: Brandi King (25 kills, 1 ace, 27 digs, 5 blocks), Adriana Pena (9 kills, 1 ace, 7 digs), Kat Garcia (4 kills, 1 ace, 4 digs, 2 blocks), Ashley Martinez (3 kills, 1 ace, 1 dig), Lexi Garza (6 kills, 29 assists 3 digs), and Clari Solis (18 digs).
Sub-varsity report
VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 1B The Lady Hawks’ Kat Garcia served and tied the game at 20. On the ensuing play, Peña scored two points to inch Zapata into its first game victory. Garza finished the game by adding two more points to even up the score.
The third game was identical to the second as Zapata was the aggressor but had to come from behind for the victory. The score see-sawed back and forth and eventually knotted up at 22 apiece. Garza continued to add to her heroics and scored
three straight points to give the Lady Hawks a 2-1 game lead heading into what proved to be the final game of the match.
Strong finish In the fourth game, with
the Lady Bulldogs leading 22-20, Peña strolled to the service line and scored five straight to send Zapata into the playoffs. “The game was very intense,” Villarreal said. “The score went back and forth all night long. “We had some very good
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HINTS BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: Thank you for your recommendations about arranging for pet care in the event of a PERSONAL EMERGENCY. As someone who now lives alone with two dogs and a cat, I’ve often wondered how my housemates would be cared for in the event that I’m stricken while away from home. I’m fortunate to have a neighbor who cares for the pets when I’m away for extended periods. But how would anyone know to contact him if I’m incapacitated or worse? I have a hint I’d like to pass on. Most of us are aware of the importance of the ICE code (it stands for "In Case of Emergency" -- Heloise) on our cell phones. What do you think of promulgating a similar EPC code ("Emergency Pet Care") for our phones? If that code were publicized and put into practice, our helpful neighbors could be contacted and asked to come to the rescue. -- Mike B., Omaha, Neb. You have a good pet hint that I’m happy to publicize. -- Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Ruth Ferry of Torrington, Conn., sent a photo of her 3-year-old domestic shorthaired cat, Sam, standing on his hind feet gazing longingly out a
“
HELOISE
window. To get a look at Sam, visit www.Heloise.com. -- Heloise UNIQUE NAMES Dear Heloise: Many years ago when I lived with my family in the country, a cat showed up at our door and would not leave, so she became our cat. She was very playful, so we named her Happy. A few months later, on Oct. 31, another cat showed up and would not leave. Because of the date we first saw her, we named her Halloween. Both cats became part of our family. They spent a lot of time outdoors, but always came in when I called them, either to feed them or in the evening when it was cold outdoors. It took me some time to realize how strange it must sound to anyone within hearing distance when I called "Happy, Halloween." -- Stella R., Manchester, N.H. And Happy Halloween to you! We just love unique pet names. If you have one, please send it in so we can pass it along. -- Heloise
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College Football
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
A&M wants a streak By CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Michael Conroy | AP
Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith, center, celebrates with teammates Brandon Walker, left, and Armando Allen Jr. following their win over Boston College last Saturday in South Bend, Ind. The Irish are taking a road trip to San Antonio, where they will host Washington State today.
Notre Dame looks for a win in San Antonio By PAUL J. WEBBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — After the last six weeks, No. 25 Notre Dame may have earned a little getaway to Texas. And woeful Washington State is a longshot to spoil it. Notre Dame booked the Alamodome tonight to recapture their barnstorming roots, but after six consecutive weeks of going down to the wire, the bigger upside for the Fighting Irish (5-2) may be an at-long-last breather against the Cougars. All signs point to a Notre Dame cakewalk. The 281/2-point line. A crowd of about 60,000 that will overwhelmingly be uprooted Irish fans in Texas savoring a rare visit. Washington State (1-6) scraping the statistical bottom in total offense and defense. This one will be a breeze, right? “We kind of look at the facts here. We haven’t really shown any evidence of being able to steamroll anybody,” Notre Dame center Eric Olsen said. “All our games, no matter who we’ve played, have kind of gone down to the last minute whether we won or lost. “So judging by that, I guess it would be kind of tough not to expect this game to go into the last minutes.”
Tight scoring If Olsen is right and the Cougars give Notre Dame another spectacular finish, it will be a school record: No team in the 119-year
history of Notre Dame has ever played seven consecutive games decided by a touchdown or less. Saturdays for the Irish have been alternating weeks of agony and euphoria. Notre Dame manhandled Nevada 35-0 in the opener, but in the six games since, four came down to four points or fewer for the Irish. They lost to Michigan on a touchdown with 11 seconds left, thwarted Michigan State in the final minute, sunk Purdue on a touchdown with 24 seconds remaining, outlasted Washington in overtime, lost to USC after three incomplete passes in the end zone, and survived Boston College thanks to a late interception. “It’s one of those situations where we’re going have to go down there and be ready to go or else we’re going find ourselves in the same game that we’ve been playing in for the last month and a half,” Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said.
Not so close The Cougars, meanwhile, can’t exactly relate to close games: their average margin of defeat is 26 points. Any mystery of whether Washington State can hang with Notre Dame will likely be solved early, since the Cougars have been outscored 112-3 in the first quarter this season. His team unlikely bowlbound, Washington State coach Paul Wulff wants his players to soak up what might be the closest thing to a bowl atmosphere the
Cougars will get this season: a neutral site in a warm locale, and nationally televised in prime time. “There is a bowl feel to it for some people,” Wulff said. “There is a great opportunity for our players to feel this.” Notre Dame says the university has more than 4,600 alumni in Texas, where the Irish haven’t played since losing 24-3 to Texas A&M in 2003.
A Texas first The game is Notre Dame’s first offsite home game in school history and the start of the school’s plan to play a home game at neutral sites in Texas, Florida or New York each year. The Irish are already scheduled to be back in the Lone Star State in 2013 to play Arizona State at Cowboys Stadium. Recruiting is among the main reasons for the trips. Notre Dame has just four players on its roster from talent-rich Texas, including left guard Chris Stewart from suburban Houston. Stewart said he has 20 tickets to the game for family and friends but was looking for more. “It is kind of strange to think we’re going to be playing in Texas wearing home jerseys,” Stewart said, “but from what I hear the stadium is mostly Notre Dame fans.”
COLLEGE STATION — Iowa State and Texas A&M went on the road last week and grabbed the biggest wins of their seasons. One of them will follow up with another important victory at Kyle Field on Saturday. The Cyclones (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) are putting together their best season since 2005, when they finished 7-5. They beat Nebraska 9-7 last Saturday, their first win in Lincoln since 1977, and a victory this week would give them two conference road wins for the first time since 2004. Iowa State came into the season on a 10-game losing streak, and first-year coach Paul Rhoads has restored belief in his players by focusing on each day of practice, rather than the season as a whole or failures of the past. “The 2009 team isn’t responsible for the losses in 2008 or 2007, or however far you want to go back,” Rhoads said. “I didn’t go into this season just wanting to win three games, or win one Big 12 game, or win one road game. We’ve gone about our business, trying to win every game. Our preparation has been excellent and hopefully, it will continue to be.”
Aggies’ triumph The Aggies (4-3, 1-2) routed then-No. 21 Texas Tech 52-30 last Saturday in Lubbock, A&M’s first win there since 1993. It was a stunning reversal after a 62-14 loss at Kansas State the previous week. “The way we lost, it was a challenge to stand up and be a man,” senior safety Jordan Pugh said. “You get knocked down, you’ve got to get back up. The way we wanted to rebound, the way we wanted to come back, it showed on Saturday.” A&M allowed 232 rush-
Photo by Mike Fuentes | AP
Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray scores a touchdown during the first quarter of the Aggies’ 52-30 upset of the Texas Tech Red Raiders last Saturday in Lubbock. ing yards against Kansas State and stalling the ground game run will be a key against Iowa State, which comes in with the Big 12’s top rushing offense (204 yards per game).
Big numbers Arnaud threw for a career-high 371 yards in the Cyclones’ 49-35 loss to the Aggies in Ames last year. A&M ranks last in the Big 12 in pass defense (259.4 yards per game) and total defense (412 ypg). “We’ve got a huge task at hand,” A&M defensive coordinator Joe Kines said. “If we don’t improve our tackling, it’s not going to matter anyway. We missed enough tackles in the game last Saturday to lose five or six games.” A&M counters with the nation’s third-ranked offense, averaging 489 yards per game. Junior quarter-
back Jerrod Johnson leads the Big 12 in total offense (338 yards per game) and has four 300-yard passing games this season, already a school record. Sophomore receiver Jeff Fuller, the Aggies’ top playmaker, is likely to have a more expanded role against Iowa State after missing four games with a broken right leg. Johnson threw for only 238 yards against Texas Tech, but A&M rushed for a season-high 321 yards. Sophomore Cyrus Gray ran for 131 yards and freshman Christine Michael ran for 121, the first time the Aggies had two running backs top 100 yards rushing since 2003. “I see a team that is absolutely loaded on offense, with talent and ability to produce points and yardage, you name it,” Rhoads said. “They’re going to give us a lot to prepare for.”