The Zapata Times 11/20/2010

FREE

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2010

DELIVERED EVERY SATURDAY

TO 4,000 HOMES

A HEARST PUBLICATION

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

SAN YGNACIO

ZCISD

What happened?

Cross country squads praised

Choppers apparently flew into U.S. airspace

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Sporadic gunshots and a couple of helicopters hovering along the Texas-Tamaulipas Border alarmed residents of San Ygnacio on Thursday morning. How-

ever, Mexican officials are trying to verify that alleged incident as of Friday afternoon.

Zapata County sheriff ’s deputies were eyewitnesses to the incident, according to the sheriff ’s office.

Capt. Aaron Sanchez said dep-

uties patrolling the area saw military-style choppers crossing into U.S. airspace, hovering over some onion fields a few miles north of San Ygnacio, at approximately 9:45 a.m.

Sanchez said the department received reports from A.L. Bena-

vides Elementary School that people could hear the helicopter roaming the area.

Sanchez, along with two other deputies, spotted some action going on across the Rio Grande.

See SAN YGNACIO PAGE 10A

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Manager.

“The contractor continues to work on roadway components for the proposed south bound lanes,

Zapata County ISD Superintendent Norma Garciaand the district’s board of trustees recognized state-ranked sports teams, community donors and other students for academic achievements before approving district improvements and hiring new employees at the last regular school board meeting on Tuesday.

“I want to recognize different groups at every meeting,” Garcia said.

The board began the meeting by recognizing the state-ranked high school varsity cross-country boys and girls teams.

“The high school varsity crosscountry boys and girls teams have been very successful in the past few years due to the direction of coaches (Luis) Alaniz, (Mike) Villarreal, and (Luis) Escamilla,” Garcia said.

Garcia also used the school board meeting forum to recognize district stakeholders.

The Community Partner Recognition went to several families and a local bank for monetary or billboard donations, Garcia said.

“ZCISD is ‘recognized’ because many people are contributing to the success of our students,” Garcia said, referring to the district’s academic standing with the Texas Education Agency.

The following received appreciation plaques for donating $,2000 per family to the district: Joey Gutierrez, Belia Benavides, Dr. Ana Petrita Sauceda, Teodoro Treviño III and Antonio Mendoza.

International Bank of Commerce in Zapata County President Renato Ramirez also received a plaque of appreciation for donating $3,500.

“I wanted to recognize them for their generosity and their contribution to our district,” Garcia said. “These community partners enabled us to proudly display our TEA Recognized School District

See ROAD PAGE 10A

See ZCISD PAGE 11A

ROADWORK AHEAD

Photo by Cuates Santos | The Zapata Times

Motorists travel on a stretch of Highway 83 south of Zapata where construction is underway for a highway expansion project in Zapata County.

TxDOT upgrading some roads, starting new projects

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Texas Department of Transportation continues to upgrade roadways in Zapata Coun-

ty and plans to start new road expansion projects at the end of the year.

Construction on US 83 from Monterrey Lane to 1,050 feet south of Tepozan County Road is

ongoing since July and includes a 3.2-mile upgrade from a two lane, bi-directional roadway to a four-lane roadway with a continuous left turn lane, said Marisa Ramirez, TxDOT Area Project

UNITED WAY

Food Bank is essential to some needy families

By ERIC GARZA SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

(Editor’s note: This is one in a series of profiles of the 26 agencies funded by United Way. The 2010 campaign is now under way.)

South Texas Food Bank Inc. is a nonprofit agency that pro-

vides supplemental food assistance to Webb, Zapata, Dimmit, Maverick, Jim Hogg, Val Verde, Kinney and Starr counties, a

region with one of the highest poverty rates.

The food bank also provides assistance to individuals and families who cannot afford sufficient food. In 2009, the food bank distributed 9.2 million pounds of food and helped 21,000 families per month throughout the region.

The food bank is funded by United Way The South Texas Food Bank supplies food to 80 food pantries in eight counties. Of those pantries, 65 are in Webb County. For $1, these pantries and agencies can take a pound of nonperishable food and other supplies. Perishable food is

free.

Many children in Laredo often receive only two meals per day: their school-provided breakfast and lunch. They receive no evening meal at home.

However, the South Texas Food Bank, with cooking done by Be-

See FOOD PAGE 10A

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

SATURDAY, NOV. 20 El Centro de Laredo Farmer’s Market is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Jarvis Plaza, 1300 Matamoros St. Free parking is available at El Metro Parking Garage with ticket validation.

The American Red Cross is hosting a First Aid, CPR (adult, infant and child), and AED class today from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1200 Washington St. Cost is $55. Check or money orders only. Participants must register to reserve seating; please call (956) 726-4778 to register or send an e-mail to sanchezi@saredcross.org.

Texas A&M International University will host two performances of the 2010 Fall Dance Concert this weekend.

The benefit performance is scheduled for today at 8 p.m. in the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre. Admission is $5 per person, with free admission for children ages 10 and younger. Proceeds benefit scholarships and the dance program.

A concert highlight will be the naming of the second recipient of the Valeria Hernandez Memorial Scholarship. Students will perform in ballet, flamenco, jazz and modern dance. For additional recorded information, call (956) 326ARTS (2787), email prmis@tamiu.edu or visit www.tamiu.edu.

SUNDAY, NOV. 21 MG Builders is hosting a food drive for the South Texas Food Bank.

Please bring non-perishable food items to 2410 Grisell Drive in the NU Vision Subdivision from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

MONDAY, NOV. 22 From Nov. 22 through Dec. 24, The Salvation Army of Laredo will have its annual Red Kettle Drive. Locations include Sam’s Club, Walmart, Big Lots, Hobby Lobby, Dillard’s, Macy’s and the Walgreens on Guadalupe Street. Proceeds from the annual drive allow the Salvation Army to continue to provide services to less-fortunate individuals and families. Volunteers are need to staff sites. Call the Salvation Army Office at (956) 723-2349.

TUESDAY, NOV. 23 Students from the Macdonell Elementary School Rhythm and Style Orff Ensemble, the LCC Intermediate and the LCC Varsity Mariachi Palomino ensembles will perform during the Viva! El Mariachi En Concierto from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center.

Admission is $5 per person. Proceeds benefit student scholarships and future productions. Contact Ruben Vargas at ruben.vargas@laredo.edu.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 24 ZCISD is having a staff development day. Today is a student holiday.

The Women’s City Club meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at 1319 Rae’s Creek Drive to discuss upcoming fundraisers. Newcomers are welcome.

Call Ruby Chapa at 744-0993.

THURSDAY, NOV. 25 ZCISD offices will be closed today and tomorrow, Nov. 26, for the Thanksgiving holidays. Regular operations will resume Monday, Nov. 29.

Hamilton Trophies & Jewelry will host the 31st annual Guajolote 10K Run at 9 a.m. in front of Hamilton Trophies, 1320 Garden Street in Laredo. Registration will be held at both 1320 Garden St. and 607 Flores Avenue. Contact Gloria Sanchez at (956) 724-9990, or call (956) 722-9015 or (956) 722-9463.

SATURDAY, DEC. 4 There will be a book sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the Widener Room, First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. The public is invited; no admission fee.

SUNDAY, DEC. 5 Memorial Bells of the First United Methodist Church, under the direction of Linda Mott, will present a Christmas Concert entitled "Ring, Sing Noel" at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary, 1220 McClelland. The program will feature both sacred and secular selections and conclude with a ring-sing-a-long of favorite carols. This event is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted to help defray concert-related expenses. For more information, call the church office at (956) 7221674 or email at fumc_laredo@sbcglobal.net.

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

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Duane A. Laverty/The Waco Tribune-Herald | AP

Youths walk together in a line as others face a wall in a hallway at the Texas Youth Commission facility in Marlin on March 16, 2007. The Sunset Advisory Commission has recommended that the once-troubled Texas youth prison system remain open at least six more years.

Group: Keep TYC open ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The Sunset Advisory Commission has recommended that the once-troubled Texas youth prison system remain open at least six more years.

The Austin American-Statesman reported that the commission, which reviews state agencies, said in a report issued Friday that the Texas Youth Commission should continue to operate for six more years instead of the usual 12.

“While the agencies have implemented most of the required reforms, the juvenile justice system remains in transition and TYC needs to make additional improvements,” the sunset report states.

Reformers who are pushing to merge the TYC with other agencies said they will still attempt to zero out its budget.

Escaped cougar found in SA neighborhood SAN ANTONIO — Police say a cougar that was on the loose on San Antonio’s far west side after escaping from a wildlife sanctuary has been located.

San Antonio police say the cougar was found in a wooded area Friday afternoon after escaping in the morning.

Police recommended that area residents remain indoors.

American Grocers to pay $15M for food scam DALLAS — A Houston businessman, along with related individuals and companies, has agreed to pay $15 million to settle allegations that his grocery company made false claims about food it shipped to U.S. troops in the Middle East.

Prosecutors said Friday that Samir Itani, who owns American Grocers Ltd., pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud by submitting false claims.

Recently, critics of the agency have called for it to be downsized significantly or merged with correctional duties turned over to other agencies or managed by a new division of a new agency combined with the juvenile probation commission.

Juvenile inmate advocacy groups have claimed that widespread abuse continues in the Texas juvenile prison system, years after a sex abuse and cover-up scandal forced sweeping reforms.

Ray Edward Brookins, a former assistant superintendent at the Texas Youth Commission’s West Texas State School, was convicted in April of sexually abusing a then-18year-old inmate in 2004. He was convicted of two counts each of improper sexual activity with a person in custody and having an improper relationship between an educator and a student.

Experts disagree whether 3 get prison for attempted Gulf seafood safe to eat carjacking in Mission CHARLESTON, S.C. — Experts at an international conference in South Carolina disagree on whether it’s safe to eat seafood from the Gulf of Mexico after this year’s oil spill.

One expert said Friday he still doesn’t eat Gulf seafood, while another said he does all the time.

A third said he ate seafood during a trip to New Orleans but didn’t do it with confidence.

Builder guilty in final Dallas corruption trial DALLAS — A builder who was the final defendant to face trial in the Dallas City Hall public corruption case has been found guilty.

A federal jury in Dallas found housing developer Ron Slovacek guilty on Friday of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Slovacek faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.

McALLEN — Prison has been ordered for three people who pleaded guilty over the 2009 attempted carjacking of an off-duty Border Patrol agent in Mission.

Investigators believe the trio blocked a car driven by the agent, accompanied by his 10year-old daughter, and wrongly thought the vehicle was hauling drug money.

Suspect charged in Alice grave robberies ALICE — An Alice man is accused of stealing from gravesites after more than 70 vases allegedly were sold for scrap metal.

Some vases taken from Roselawn Cemetery in Alice have been recovered.

Anthony Ray Chapa, 23, was arrested Thursday on 12 counts of theft related to graves.

Some vases sold for scrap metal for up to $200 apiece.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION GM stock rises on second day of trade

Today is Saturday, Nov. 20, the 324th day of 2010. There are 41 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Nov. 20, 1910, the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which overthrew longtime President Porfirio Diaz, had its beginnings under the Plan of San Luis Potosi that had been issued by Francisco I. Madero.

On this date: In 1620, Peregrine White was born aboard the Mayflower in Massachusetts Bay; he was the first child born of English parents in present-day New England.

In 1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

In 1929, the radio program “The Rise of the Goldbergs” debuted on the NBC Blue Network.

In 1947, Britain’s future queen, Princess Elizabeth, married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey.

In 1959, the United Nations issued its Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

In 1967, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Clock ticked past 200 million.

In 1969, the Nixon administration announced a halt to residential use of the pesticide DDT as part of a total phaseout. A group of American Indian activists began a 19month occupation of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. In 1975, after nearly four decades of absolute rule, Spain’s General Francisco Franco died, two weeks before his 83rd birthday.

In 1980, faced with disastrous reviews from New York critics, United Artists announced it was withdrawing its movie “Heaven’s Gate,” whose estimated cost topped $40 million, for re-editing.

In 1985, the first version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system, Windows 1.0, was officially released.

Ten years ago: Lawyers for Al Gore and George W. Bush battled before the Florida Supreme Court over whether the presidential election recount should be allowed to continue.

Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori resigned, ending a 10-year tenure.

Today’s Birthdays: Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer is 87. Actress-comedian Kaye Ballard is 85. Actress Estelle Parsons is 83. TV personality Richard Dawson is 78. Comedian Dick Smothers is 72. Singer Norman Greenbaum is 68. Vice President Joe Biden is 68. Actress Veronica Hamel is 67. Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is 64. Actor Samuel E. Wright is 64.

Singer Joe Walsh is 63. Actor Richard Masur is 62. Opera singer Barbara Hendricks is 62. Actress Bo Derek is 54.

Former NFL player Mark Gastineau is 54. Reggae musician Jim Brown (UB40) is 53. Actress Sean Young is 51. Pianist Jim Brickman is 49. Rock musician Todd Nance (Widespread Panic) is 48. Actress Ming-Na is 47. Actor Ned Vaughn is 46. Rapper Mike D (The Beastie Boys) is 45. Rapper Sen Dog (Cypress Hill) is 45. Actress Callie Thorne is 41.

Actress Sabrina Lloyd is 40.

Actor Joel McHale is 39.

Thought for Today: “There is no greatness where there is not simplicity.” — Leo Tolstoy, Russian author (born 1828, died this date in 1910).

CONTACT US

DETROIT— General Motors’ stock rose the second day it traded as it rebounded from an early swoon.

The automaker’s stock climbed 7 cents, or 0.2 percent, to close at $34.26 on Friday, one day after it began trading on Wall Street again, signaling the rebirth of a corporate icon.

Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Business Manager, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 324-1226 Chief Accountant, Thelma Aguero .............. 728-2553 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Retail Adv. Manager, Raul Cruz................... 728-2511 Classified Manager, Sandra Valderrama....... 728-2525 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Editor, Diana Fuentes ................................728-2581 City Editor, Mary Nell Sanchez .................. 728-2543 Sports Editor, Dennis Silva II......................728-2579 Business Journal Editor, Joe Rutland .......... 728-2529 Entertainment Editor, Emilio Rábago III ....... 728-2564 Online Editor, Julie Daffern ....................... 728-2565

Twins with suicide pact had Columbine picture Photo by Laura Seitz/Deseret News | AP

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A photocopy of a magazine cover about the Columbine school shooting was found among the belongings of Australian twin sisters who shot themselves in a suicide pact at a Colorado shooting range.

However, it was unclear why Kristin and Candice Hermeler, both 29, had the cover of Time headlined “The Monsters Next Door/What Made Them Do It?”

Wanda Barzee, estranged wife of Brian David Mitchell, enters court in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday. Mitchell, 57, is charged with kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines.

Wife: Accused kidnapper ‘a great deceiver’ SALT LAKE CITY — The estranged wife of the man charged with abducting Elizabeth Smart

in 2002 said Friday he began stalking young girls about a year earlier, and believes he used religion to manipulate her.

Wanda Eileen Barzee answered questions about her tumultuous 25-year marriage.

— Compiled from AP reports

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

The Zapata Times is free.

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

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

‘La Barbie’ stays in Mexico U.S., lawyer want him tried here

By MARIANA MARTINEZ

The government considers Valdez, son of Mexican-born parents, a Mexican national.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The lawyer for alleged drug kingpin Edgar “La Barbie” Valdez Villareal said Friday that the Mexican government will not deport the U.S. citizen for prosecution in the United States.

The government considers Valdez, son of Mexicanborn parents, a Mexican national who must go through the more complicated extradition process to be sent out of the country, attorney Kent Schaffer said.

Mexico has extradited high-profile drug kingpins to the U.S. under Calderon, a way to prevent them from running cartels from corrupt Mexican prisons.

Mexican officials in October extended a 40-day limit for holding Valdez without charge and that expires after this weekend, so they must decide whether to try him in Mexico.

Schaffer said both he and the U.S. Justice Department

want Valdez to be prosecuted in the United States, where he is wanted on cocaine smuggling charges in three states. Schaffer said an extradition request had yet to be filed. U.S. Department of Justice officials could not be reached late Friday.

The Mexican attorney general’s office would say only that Valdez was still being held and the investigation continued.

Valdez, a native of Laredo and a former high school football player, was arrested Aug. 30 by federal police on his ranch outside Mexico City.

Described by authorities as a former ally of Mexico’s most-wanted kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, Valdez allegedly had been fighting for control of the notorious Beltran Leyva gang after Mexican marines killed its leader in late 2009.

The warring factions were

responsible for brutality and bloodshed from Cuernavaca south of Mexico City to the state of Guerrero and the resort city of Acapulco on the Pacific coast.

More Tijuana violence Meanwhile, two men were slain and hung from a bridge, another was decapitated and a fourth was shot to death over 24 hours in Tijuana, the latest killings in a Mexican border city where hopes had risen that cartel violence was decreasing.

The bodies of two men were found hanging from the Los Alamos bridge early Friday, said Fermin Gomez, a Baja California deputy attorney general.

Both victims had their hands and feet bound and one had his head covered with a black plastic bag.

One of the bodies fell into traffic when the rope broke.

A day earlier, a human head was found underneath another bridge in Tijuana, which sits across from San Diego, California. The body of the 24-year-old man was found 12 hours later alongside the highway to the beach town of Ensenada.

Gomez said the victim, Victor Ramirez, had recently been deported from the United States, though he had no information on the circumstances.

Also Thursday, a man was shot to death while leaving his house in the exclusive Tijuana neighborhood of Chapultepec, and two others were wounded in a shootout on one of the city’s main avenues.

Gomez blamed the killings on feuding between drug-dealing gangs.

Beheadings, massacres and hangings had initially declined in Tijuana since the January arrest of Teodoro “El Teo” Garcia Simental, one of two crime bosses who had been waging a bloody turf war in the city.

President Felipe Calderon even visited Tijuana last month and touted it as a success story in his nearly four-year-old drug war.

THE BLOTTER ASSAULT

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

A man told deputies at 10:16 p.m. Nov. 11 that his girlfriend assaulted him in the 1700 block of Third Street.

A man told deputies around 8 a.m. Nov. 14 that someone vandalized his vehicle in the 100 block of Carla Street.

BURGLARY

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

Deputies responded to a burglary call at 8:44 a.m. Tuesday at the corner of Tenth Avenue and Jackson Street. An incident report states that someone stole a candy machine.

Deputies responded to a burglary call at 6:27 p.m. Tuesday at the east side parking lot of Zapata High School. A man told deputies someone broke the passenger’s side window of his son’s black Ford F150.

A man told deputies at 11:19 p.m. Nov. 10 at the corner of Seventh Street and Villa Avenue that a man he knows went to his residence wanting to fight one of his younger brothers.

POSSESSION On Nov. 11, at 12:01 a.m., task force investigators got consent to search at a residence in the 2500 block of Fresno Street.

An incident report states investigators found nine clear wrapped baggies of marijuana. The approximate weight of the contraband was 3.39 ounces.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

Rolando Eduardo Sanchez was arrested and charged with public intoxication at 1:59 a.m.

Nov. 14 near the corner of U.S. 83 and 23rd Avenue. The man was taken to Zapata Regional Jail.

American Legion to host bingo event

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

The American Legion Auxiliary will host a bingo event with cash and food prizes to benefit the organization’s scholarship program.

“We use the event for scholarships for the high school,” said Karran Westerman, president of the American Legion Auxiliary. “We give them as many scholarships as we can and we also do continuing scholarships for girls that have already received scholarships but reapply to get extra help for the following year.”

The event will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion Hall, 2213 N. US 83.

Tickets are $15 for 10 games, and each card includes 12 games, according to an event release.

According to the event release, an early bird special will begin at 2 p.m. with a cash prize of up to $75 for a $2 ticket.

Door prizes include 10 frozen turkeys donated by Champion Care, a home health agency in Zapata County, Westerman said.

If interested, contact Treasurer Paula Salinas at (956)763-7043, Sergeantat-Arms Danielle Westerman at (956)473-9552, or Westerman at (965)7630468.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

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

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

Prof gave historians a good name A

USTIN — Dr. H. Dempsey Watkins was an easy fellow to like. He was wise, knowledgeable, and a positive influence on many students at Angelo State University, including this one.

He died this month in San Angelo at the age of 82.

I offer an update of a column published in 2002 to note the passing of a remarkable man and scholar.

Incidentally, Nov. 20 marked the 100th anniversary of the 1910 Mexican revolution.

Football look Casual observers given to cursory examinations might take one look at H. Dempsey Watkins and see anything but a scholar.

He looks more like a West Texas football coach (which he was for a while) than a serious student of Porfirio Diaz.

For more than 30 years, Watkins, also known as H., also known as Dempsey, paced classrooms at Angelo State University, making the difficult task of bringing the past to life look easy.

He was a classroom spellbinder who gives historians a good name.

Lively lectures So vivid and detailed were his lectures on the history of Mexico — particularly the era of the 1910 revolution that ended the reign of Diaz — that you could hear the hoofbeats and smell the cordite.

A Dempsey lecture was performance art. He would pace as he spun the story of nations in turmoil, of societies in evolution and of the impact that evolution had on people.

Watkins would do it with such finesse that you couldn’t help but absorb the material.

When Watkins noted that Francisco Madero consulted a Ouija board in coping with life, it explained in an instant why his fledgling presidency was doomed.

Madero, who assumed the Mexican presidency in 1911, relied on mysticism while others placed their faith in Mauser rifles.

Madero, targeted by his military and political rivals, was assassinated in 1913.

No memorization The reason I say Watkins gives historians a good name is that he was not obsessed with students memorizing dates.

He encouraged and guided students through the sweep of history, making them see its relevance to modern times with a mixture of selfdeprecating wit and command of the subject matter.

Dempsey would note that he became Dr. Watkins because football coaches were assigned to teach history, and once he got a master’s degree, he figured he might as well go all the way.

My favorite Dempsey story involves a student who was struggling in a history of Mexico class.

The kid told Watkins that he understood the

“

ARNOLD GARCIA

material, but the reason he was doing so poorly was the test format.

All essays Dempsey didn’t believe in multiple choice or true-false questions.

He believed in seeing how the student could apply the knowledge gained in his classes. So, we wrote a lot of essays.

Anyway, this kid explained that he had difficulty writing in English.

Can you write Spanish? Watkins asked.

Oh, absolutely, the student replied.

Great, Dempsey said, next time write your answers in Spanish.

Aiming at the prof That guy must have chortled for an hour when he told us about that over coffee in the Ram Room (where ASU students congregated to major in spades). He had Dempsey right where he wanted him.

The next time there was a test, the student tore into the questions with the confidence of Dennis Rodman.

When he got his blue book back, it had his usual “D” on the cover.

Inside, Watkins had thoroughly critiqued his answers in Spanish and, as an added bonus, corrected his spelling and grammar.

Tables turned Then it was our turn to laugh because we had tried to tell the guy that you can’t judge a professor by his cover.

If the guy had been as smart as he thought he was, he would have known that you don’t get to be a Mexican scholar without spending time in ... where, class?

That’s right. And what language do they speak and write there?

Very good.

I have tried to emulate the Watkins touch in my forays into college classrooms as an adjunct instructor. Moreover, the understanding of Mexican history and its impact on that society — and therefore ours — has been invaluable in a newspaper career spent in a border state.

Good example More than that, though, Watkins is an example of those scholars who toil with little recognition in academia’s back 40 — institutions like Angelo State in San Angelo.

He is living testimony that not all great knowledge is confined to the Ivy League, or to Austin or Houston or College Station.

He cared about students, and he cared that they learn. He was a master at getting them to do it. We should all hope that his tribe increases.

Arnold Garcia Jr. is editorial page editor of the Austin AmericanStatesman. E-mail: agarcia@statesman.com.

COLUMN

Will GOP majority aid Obama?

By GARY ANDRES HEARST NEWSPAPERS

W

ASHINGTON — Lots of people have asked if a Republican congressional majority would help or hurt President Obama’s reelection chances in 2012?

Short answer: It might not matter. When it comes to deciding on a second term, strong evidence suggests the economy — not who is in charge of Congress — will shape Obama’s reelection fortunes.

Of course, no president wants to lose his legislative majority. Finding a political pony in the room full of manure produced by the 2010 midterms for the Democrats would require Ronald Reagan-like optimism. A GOP majority in the House means the White House agenda has floated past its high water mark and the word “gridlock” may become the most overused word in the American political lexicon.

George Washington University political scientist John Sides outlined a number of the reasons why divided government is bad for Obama in a recent post at the blog “The Monkey Cage.”

“Obama will get less of what he wants and pretty much all the blame if the economy and country are still in the doldrums two

years from now,” Sides argues.

He’s right when it comes to the issue of whether divided government is the preferred institutional arrangement from Obama’s perspective.

But how mixed-party government might impact the president’s reelection prospects is a narrower question and one under considerable debate right now in Washington.

One school of thought (and Sides rejects this view) is that a Republican House might actually help Obama win reelection.

Those who ascribe to this theory point to President Bill Clinton.

After Republicans won the majority in Congress in 1994, Washington began a new era of divided control.

But the Gingrich-led Republicans were too radical, the theory goes. Two years after the stunning 1994 GOP victory, Americans reelected Bill Clinton by an even larger margin than his first win.

Some Washington insiders see a rerun of this political narrative. Losing the Congress will help Obama win reelection, they say. Setting up the GOP as gavelwielding boogey men will help boost Obama’s standing with swing voters.

Writing in the Washington Post earlier this year, Chris Cillizza captured this

view well: “The Republican takeover of Congress in the 1994 election gave Clinton an enemy in the form of House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Clinton played off of Gingrich masterfully — never more apparent than in the government shutdown of late 1995 — and found ways to work with the Republican-led House on initiatives (welfare reform being the most obvious) that cast him as a bipartisan bridge-builder.”

“The result?” Cillizza observes: “A second term for Clinton in a race that was remarkably easy given where his political fate stood two years prior to the 1996 election.”

Could history repeat itself? Cillizza and others think it can. “If the House flips in the fall,” he wrote in March, “there’s a reasonable case to be made that it could accrue to Obama’s political benefit in 2012.”

“Could” is the key word here. But will it? Who knows? Part of the answer is how both sides conduct themselves over the next two years. A recent essay in the Boston Review by Sides and two other political scientists (Eric McGhee and Brendan Nyhan) casts some doubt on whether voters will blame House Republicans and Obama equally, at least when it comes to shouldering the burden of a potentially torpid economy.

McGee, Nyhan and Sides highlight data demonstrating the president gets blamed for a bad economy — and the credit for a good one — no matter who controls Congress. “In an analysis of over 40 years of presidential elections,” they write, “political scientists Richard Nadeau and Michael Lewis-Beck found that voters reward the president’s party when times were good and punished it when times were bad regardless of whether government was unified or divided. Thus, the 2010 election leaves Obama with less power to promote his economic agenda but all the accountability,” according to McGee and his colleagues.

It’s a stretch to argue that the conduct of the Republican majority in the House won’t impact the 2012 election at all. But despite the “GOP foil” that supposedly helped Clinton win reelection in 1996, voters also reelected a Republican, Gingrich-led congressional majority in 1996.

Speculation about how the presidential/congressional kabuki dance plays with voters abound. While Obama might like to blame the Republicans for whatever ails his political soul, his reelection fate hinges a lot more on the strength of the economy than the behavior of the GOP legislative majority.

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, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

PAGE 6A

Zentertainment

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

Zapata girl competing at Miss Texas Teen USA Laredoan will crown winner next week

By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES

With the crowning of Ana Rodriguez as Miss Texas USA in September, and having Chelsea Morgensen as Miss Texas Teen USA, Laredo has been in the pageant world’s spotlight this year.

Rodriguez will compete for the Miss USA title next year in Las Vegas, and Morgensen is about to give up her crown next week.

“It has really been a dream come true,” Roel Gonzalez, executive director of Miss Laredo USA, wrote in an e-mail. “As Chelsea Morgensen gives up her title, we hope that the dream keeps on with our new contestants striving for the title of Miss Texas Teen USA.”

DESTINY BAILEY

KASSANDRA FLORES

DANIELLA RODRIGUEZ

A Zapata High School senior is one of the three area girls who will be competing at the Miss Texas Teen USA pageant on Nov. 27-28.

It has been quite the journey for Gonzalez, who will go to the competition at the Hilton Post Oak in Houston.

The three local contestants are:

Destiny Bailey, Miss Laredo Teen USA: A 17-year-old senior at J.B. Alexander High’s Health Science Magnet school, she is ranked third in her class of 548 and is also the Senior Class president.

“I hope to one day become a neurologist and research scientist. This year has been so fun and I hope to represent Laredo well at

the Miss Texas Teen Pageant.”

Kassandra Flores, Miss Central Laredo Teen USA: A senior at Zapata High School, Flores is an active member of the ZHS Strutters Drill Team and the Hawk Tennis Team.

Upon her graduation, Flores, 17, plans to pursue a career in fine arts and become a dance instructor.

COMING UP

Her dream is to have her own dance studio focused on dance and modeling, so she can share her passion with young girls.

Daniella Rodriguez, Miss Gateway City Teen USA: Born and raised in Laredo, Rodriguez is a 14-year-old freshman at United High School. At a young age, Rodriguez knew that being on the stage was for her.

“I’ve always been very passionate about acting ever since I was young,” she said. “I love the spotlight.”

Her dream is to become the new Miss Texas Teen USA. “I believe that everything happens for a reason. So no matter what the results are, I’ve absolutely enjoyed everything along the way,” she said. “I feel very blessed to have my family, directors, and friends that have supported me 100 percent throughout this journey.”

Gonzalez says he and his team will also go to the Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas in April 2011 to help.

He emphasized how great it will be for Laredo when Ana Rodriguez introduces herself as being from Laredo and as Miss Texas USA on national television.

“Laredo has true beauty, and we have proven it this year. Girls in Laredo and surrounding areas need to register for our upcoming pageant in June 2011,” he wrote.

The Miss Laredo pageant has grown in the past few years, now having five categories for girls aged 6 through 26.

For more information, visit www.misslaredo.com or call Saul Gonzalez at 286-3683 or Roel Gonzalez at 286-3695.

(Emilio Rábago III may be reached at 728-2564 or erabago@lmtonline.com)

BELANOVA ON WAY TO LAREDO Belanova’s singer Denisse Guerrero performs in Mexico.

The pop/rock en español group is touring behind the album “Sueño Electro I” and will perform at Las Cananas Revolution Bar in Laredo on Friday, Dec. 3. It will mark the second time Belanova visits the Gateway City, as it performed at the same venue in 2006. For more information, call 724-4117.

Express-News file photo

TURKEY, THEN EYB: The Eli Young Band will return to Laredo and the Casablanca Convention Center on Friday. Tickets to the dayafter-Thanksgiving show are $15 presale.

Pre-Holiday Shopping Bonanza With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, LULAC Council No. 14 will hot a turkey cook-off at the Casablanca Convention Center on Saturday.

The Pre-Holiday Shopping Bonanza, which will feature lots of food, arts and crafts for sale, starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

The cook-off takes place at 5 p.m. and there’s a $500 award for the first-place winner. There will be other prizes for second and third place.

A Miss Laredo LULAC beauty pageant is set for 8 p.m.

Proceeds benefit the LULAC No. 14 scholarship and general community needs fund.

For more information or to enter the cook-off, call 286-9055.

Toy Drive and Car Show on Saturday Legacy Car Club of Laredo will host a Toy Drive and Car Show on Saturday at Las Palmas Flea Market, 4219 U.S. 83.

The event will feature live performances by local artists B.U.M., Bugsy Bugz, Pockets, Dirty Swag and JChapa.

The car show will award first-, second- and third-place prizes in 24 categories, including “Best Street Car,” “Best Euro,” “Best Donk,” “No me aguite” and “Under construction” — a car or truck that is in the works.

Registration is from 8 a.m. to noon and the car show is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission will be based on toys, new or semi-new.

For more information, call 949-7233 or 284-7983.

Dance for LIFE next weekend The Laredo International Fair and Exposition will have a dance featuring the sounds of La Tropa F and Tex-Mex Kadillaks.

The event, set for Saturday, Dec. 4 at the LIFE

grounds, will feature a variety of foods and is a fundraiser for the upcoming LIFE Fair.

Tickets are $8 presale and are available at Kelly’s Western Wear, Mike’s Western Wear and Casa Raul. Tickets will be $10 at the door.

LIFE gounds is located off State Hwy. 59.

For more information, call Hector Esparza at 7715389 or 722-9948.

Battle seeks Laredo’s Best Dance Crew Do you have what it takes to be Laredo’s best?

The Laredo Civic Center will host a dance-off Saturday, Dec. 11.

The competition is open to four categories: elementary students (ages 5-12); middle school children (ages 12-15); high schoolers (ages 15-18); and crew (any age).

The judging will be based on style, originality, coordination and stage presence, and will be open to Top 40 and hip hop music. Each team will have 3 minutes or less for its routine. Doors open at 10 a.m.

For complete rules and to download registration forms go to twitter.com/ globalbm.

For more information or to register, call 744-5274.

— The Zapata Times

Express-News file photo

Bucks’ ‘Big Friggin’ Weekend’ continues SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Laredo Bucks’ “Big Friggin’ Weekend” continues today at the Laredo Energy Arena.

The Bucks, part of the Central Hockey League, will play tonight and Monday, after starting the promotion on Friday night.

‘Big Friggin’ Saturday The Bucks will host “Big Friggin’” Saturday when they take on their rivals, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, today at 7:30 p.m.

Also, the Bucks will host a Job Fair which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LEA concourse, a pregame car show, the annual Give Blood, Play Hockey blood drive and a silent auction benefiting the children of Navidad en el Barrio during the game.

People attending the job fair have a chance to win two tickets to the Bucks game that night.

The car show will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. To participate, call Radiorama at 727-2346.

The Annual Give Blood, Play Hockey blood drive is from 10 a.m. 8 p.m. at the LEA. Blood donors will receive free tickets to the Bucks game that night and a T-shirt, among other gifts.

‘Big Friggin’ Monday “Big Friggin’ Weekend” ends Monday, when the Bucks host “Monday Night Hockey” at Laredo Energy

Arena at 7 p.m. The Bucks will take on the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

Tickets start at $11.25, plus service fees. For more information, call 718-2825.

SÁBADO 20 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2010

Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 20 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO — El Mercado Agrícola El Centro de Laredo será hoy de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. en Jarvis Plaza (1300 Matamoros St.).

LAREDO — Habrá una Bonanza de Compras Pre-Navideñas de 10 a.m. a 9 p.m. en el Casa Blanca Ballroom, donde habrá comida, manualidades, y mercancía comercial y general. La entrada será de 1 dólares después de las 6 p.m.

LAREDO — El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU invita a disfrutar “One World, One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure” a las 5 p.m., “Seven Wonders” a las 6 p.m. y “Pink Floyd’s The Wall” a las 7:30 p.m. La entrada general es de 4 dólares.

LAREDO — Juego de Hockey. Los Laredo Bucks reciben al equipo de DossierShreveport Mudbugs hoy a las 7:30 p.m. en la Laredo Energy Arena.

LAREDO — Hoy es presentación del Concierto de Danza de Otoño 2010 a las 8 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. La entrada es de 5 dólares. Niños menores de 10 años entran gratis.

NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy es el Desfile conmemorativo al Centenario de la Revolución Mexicana a las 9 p.m., tras concluir los Honores a la Bandera en la Plaza Cívica Municipal, programados a las 8 a.m. El desfile recorrerá la Avenida Guerrero, de Dr. Mier a Perú.

NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy es la Verbena Popular Revolucionaria en la Explanada Esteban Baca Calderón.

Habrá comida, bailables, música y cuadros artísticos a partir de las 9 a.m.

NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy es la proyección de la película animada “Hérores Verdaderos” sobre los héroes de México en el Museo Reyes Meza a las 4 p.m. Entrada gratis.

NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy se presentan “Testimonios de una guerra”, una fotografía de la Revolución Mexicana, en el Museo Reyes Meza, a las 7:30 p.m. Entrada gratis.

SAN ANTONIO — Hoy es el Concierto: “Mexico San Antonio: Celebrating Musical Youth” con la Juventud Sinfónica de Monterrey y Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, a las 7 p.m. en el Auditorio Municipal (100 Auditorium Circle). Entrada gratuita, pero adquiera su boleto previamente en el Alamodome (100 Montana).

Más información en el (210) 227-0123.

LUNES 22 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO — Juego de Hockey. Los Laredo Bucks reciben al equipo de Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees hoy a las 7 p.m. en la Laredo Energy Arena.

JUEVES 25 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO — Hamilton Trophies & Jewelry invita a inscribirse al 31er Carrera del Guajolote de 10 Km. a partir de las 9 a.m. frente a Hamilton Trophies. Las inscripciones son en el 1320 Garden y el 607 Flores. Más información en el 724-9990 y 7229463.

SÁBADO 27 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO — Lleve a su familia al Festival Navideño Anual del Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU. Las puertas abren a las 11 a.m.; “Holiday Music Magic” se presentará a las 12 p.m. y 3 p.m.; una película navideña a la 1 p.m., 4 p.m. 6 p.m. y 8 p.m. Las presentaciones musicales serán a las 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. y 5:30 p.m. También estará Santa Claus tomándose fotos.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

NUEVA CIUDAD GUERRERO

Mueren once en enfrentamiento ASSOCIATED PRESS

MÉXICO — Once presuntos sicarios del narcotráfico murieron durante un enfrentamiento con militares en Tamaulipas, un estado que padece una espiral violenta por el narcotráfico, informó el jueves el ejército.

El choque armado ocurrió el miércoles en Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, luego del cual se logró la detención de dos de los pistoleros, quienes declararon pertenecer al

cártel de Los Zetas, señaló en un comunicado la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena).

La dependencia refirió que militares recibieron una denuncia ciudadana que alertaba de la presencia de personas armadas en una avenida de la localidad, y al realizar reconocimientos por la zona fueron agredidos con armas de fuego.

Los soldados repelieron la agresión, y en el intercambio de fuego fallecieron 11 de los presuntos si-

carios, relató la Sedena.

En la zona fueron decomisados 11 kilogramos de marihuana, nueve armas largas, cuatro cortas, un lanzagranadas de fabricación casera, 22 cargadores y equipo táctico como chalecos antibalas.

Lucha por región La violencia del narcotráfico se recrudeció desde el inicio del 2010

en Tamaulipas y el estado vecino de Nuevo León, luego de que los cárteles del Golfo y de Los Zetas rompieron una alianza que mantuvieron por años.

Los ataques y enfrentamientos entre ellos y contra las autoridades han afectado diversas localidades de Tamaulipas, pero en particular las que se encuentran en la frontera con Estados Unidos, como Nueva Ciudad Guerrero y las vecinas Ciudad Mier y Miguel Alemán.

DE LA MAGIA AL REFUGIO

Congreso: dan sí a cifra POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Foto por Diana R. Fuentes | Tiempo de Zapata

Jóvenes de Ciudad Mier pasan la tarde del sábado mirando la television dentro del albergue en Miguel Alemán, donde han estado viviendo con sus familias.

Familias de Mier obligadas a dejar hogares POR DIANA R. FUENTES TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

MIGUEL ALEMÁN — Sólo alrededor de 500 personas, si es que tantas, siguen viviendo en Ciudad Mier, en donde no hay policías y el Ayuntamiento Municipal prácticamente está clausurado, el alcalde y los demás oficiales electos obligados a huir por sus vidas junto con sus constituyentes.

“Nuestro pueblo es un campo de batalla para los carteles narcotraficantes”, dijo un líder municipal el sábado. “No podemos vivir ahí. No podemos trabajar ahí. No existe el respeto por la vida”.

Miles de personas han dejado sus hogares con poco más que la ropa sobre sus espaldas, temporalmente viviendo con familiares en pueblos cercanos o simplemente mudándose por completo de su ciudad natal. Alrededor de 300 personas han tenido que refugiarse en el Club Miguel Alemán, un salón de baile convertido en refugio operado por la ciudad.

El alcalde de Ciudad Mier no está otorgando entrevistas, aunque él y otros líderes municipales y empresariales están intentando recibir ayuda por parte de las autoridades estatales, federales, y militares — cualquiera que responda. Y quieren que la gente sepa de lo que está ocurriendo.

“Necesitamos ayuda…para recuperar nuestro pueblo”, lee una carta abierta para el Presidente Mexicano Felipe Calderón envía a través de correo electrónico y publicada en línea. “Envíe al ejército”.

Hasta el momento, sin embargo, ha existido poca respuesta por parte del gobierno a la solicitud desesperada de la gente de Ciudad Mier.

Sin hogar Miguel Alemán , fronteriza con Roma del lado de EU, le ha abierto sus brazos a la histórica Ciudad Mier, que en algún momento fue una atracción turística popular, hasta designada como

“Pueblo Mágico” en el 2007 por parte de la Secretaría de Turismo Nacional por su vélelas y trascendencia cultural.

“Al momento no es un pueblo mágico”, dijo una residente.

La gente de Ciudad Mier, que hasta recientemente contaba con una población de 6,500 residentes, ha sido tomada por narcotraficantes. El Cartel del Golfo se está peleando con los rivales Los Zetas por el control del pueblo; Guerrero hacia el norte es territorio de Los Zeta mientras que Miguel Alemán hacia el sur le pertenece al Cartel del Golfo. Ciudad Mier se encuentra atrapada en medio.

Muchos han muerto en las calles, dicen residentes, pero no existen cifras específicas disponibles.

Los pocos residentes que se animan a viajar por el camino hacia su ciudad natal y de regreso para revisar sus casas ú oficinas y negocios ahora cerrados dijeron el sábado que Ciudad Mier se ha convertido en un pueblo fantasma. Aquellos que se han quedado atrás pocas veces salen de sus casas.

Hombres armados con armas largas rodean por las calles del pueblo, balaceando casas y oficinas, no supervisados por ningún tipo de autoridad de ley o militar, dicen residentes.

Hogares y negocios han sido incendiados. Decenas de personas — una cifra exacta no está disponible — han desaparecido. Esto ha estado ocurriendo desde febrero.

No hay nadie a quien solicitarle ayuda; en donde reportar crímenes o seres queridos desaparecidos.

El servicio de agua es intermitente, aunque los teléfonos siguen funcionando y las personas que se han quedado cuentan con televisión por cable.

Las escuelas han estado cerradas por semanas; fueron abiertas la semana pasada en base limitada pero sólo alrededor de 50 niños asistieron. Existe una escasez de maestros; ellos, también, han huido.

Oficiales y residentes de

ACCIONES Ante la situación que priva actualmente en el municipio de Mier, el Gobierno de Tamaulipas dispuso hace una semana una serie de acciones que permitan que la ciudad vuelva en breve a la normalidad.

“De acuerdo con las reiteradas gestiones ante las autoridades de Seguridad Nacional responsables, se espera en pocos días una mayor presencia de fuerzas federales en esta zona de conflicto”, indica el comunicado de prensa. “A fin de que este municipio pueda volver a la normalidad y sus habitantes que se encuentran viviendo en otras localidades puedan volver a sus hogares con la mayor tranquilidad”.

Las acciones anunciadas son: Permanencia del albergue temporal, en coordinación con el Municipio de Miguel Alemán, en instalaciones del Club de Leones de esa localidad.

La Unidad Estatal de Protección Civil brinda alimento diario a 400 personas.

De esa cantidad, al menos unas 300 se encuentran de manera fija en el albergue, en tanto que el resto está viviendo con familiares, pero acuden al albergue a recibir sus alimentos.

Comité entrega despensas a los habitantes de Mier “que no se desplazaron a otros lugares y que debido a la situación que priva en ese municipio, se han visto impedidos para desempeñar un empleo, o realizar sus actividades cotidianas en el campo”, indica un comunicado de prensa del Gobierno de Tamaulipas.

Subsecretaría General de Gobierno, Secretaría de Desarrollo Social de Tamaulipas y autoridades de Ciudad Mier iniciaron Programa de Empleo Emergente.

Clases para que niños dentro del albergue del Club de Leones de Miguel Alemán no pierdan el ciclo escolar.

Brigada médica.

Fuente: Gobierno de Tamaulipas

Miguel Alemán fueron rápidos al darle la bienvenida a sus vecinos y ofrecer cualquier ayuda que podían.

“Siempre tenemos que estar preparados por cualquier desastre que pudiese ocurrir”, dijo Jesús María “Chuma” Barrera, director de Protección Civil. Él es el encargado de los programas de asistencia de emergencia. “Cuando existe una necesidad, aquí estamos”.

Refugio El refugio ha estado abierto por alrededor de 15 días por esta emergencia.

Es un lugar airoso y cómodo, con un televisor pequeño para los niños y espacio para jugar. Durante el día, los colchones amontonados sobre las paredes y en la noche son esparcidos sobre el piso para dormir. El sábado, hubo oficiales policíacos en vehículos marcados vigilando el lugar.

Hasta hace una semana, 280 personas se habían inscrito para quedarse durante la noche en el refugio, según oficiales de Miguel Alemán. Pero muchos más

vienen durante el día por comida y bienes donados.

Por los últimos días, trabajadores del refugio han estado preparando 420 comidas por día.

Reportes a primera hora de que la gente de Ciudad Mier había huido de su pueblo en masa por órdenes de Los Zetas parecen ser infundidos; oficiales dicen que los residentes se han estado yendo desde que el problema se empezó a calentar a inicios de este año y la estación policíaca fue incendiada.

En el refugio hace una semana, algunos dijeron que experimentaron la violencia de primera mano y decidieron que ya no era seguro permanecer en Ciudad Mier. Muchos otros dijeron que se fueron porque sus vecinos hicieron lo mismo.

“Primero, la gente se estaba yendo debido a una psicosis”, dijo un oficial, resaltando que el temor rápidamente se convirtió en pánico con una paranoia desenfrenada. “Desafortunadamente”, dijo el oficial con arrepentimiento, “resultó ser cierto”.

NUEVO LAREDO — Después de 14 horas y con 454 votos a favor, la noche del martes, la Cámara de Diputados aprobó el presupuesto de egresos de la federación para el Ejercicio Fiscal 2011.

Nuevo Laredo y la Región Ribereña recibirán una bolsa de 584 millones de pesos, mismo que será utilizado en infraestructura carretera, puentes elevados, un hospital, pavimentación y la entrada digna a esta ciudad.

Durante la aprobación hubo 13 votos en contra y cuatro abstenciones. El presupuesto total de egresos (para todo el país) es de 3 billones 438 mil 895.5 millones de pesos.

ZAMORA “De los 584 millones, 264 millones estarán asignados a Nuevo Laredo, mientras que 270 millones se entregarán a Ciudad Mier, Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Miguel Alemán y Camargo”, dijo la Diputada Federal Cristabell Zamora Cabrera. “Estas ciudades forman parte del I Distrito Electoral de Tamaulipas”.

Desglose Zamora destacó el proyecto de la Entrada Digna de Nuevo Laredo.

Se trata de una obra iniciada en el 2009 con 100 millones de pesos. Para el 2011 se dispondrá de 150 millones de pesos más.

La obra actualmente se encuentra a la altura del Kilómetro 18 pero se llegará hasta el Kilómetro 22.

En otras obras, se destinarán 55 millones de pesos en la ampliación de la Carretera Mex-II. Esta vialidad es la que utiliza la carga del comercio internacional que se dirige a los puentes del Comercio Mundial y ColombiaSolidaridad.

Se adicionó un presupuesto de 30 millones de pesos para El Paso Superior vehicular de la calle Yucatán.

“Esperamos que para el mes de febrero del 2011 podremos buscar más asignaciones”, dijo Zamora.

“Este puente elevado aliviará el desplazamiento vehicular del este al oeste”.

La cantidad de 60 millones de pesos serán asignados al sector salud, incluido el Hospital General de Nuevo Laredo para la adquisición de equipamiento. De eso, 22 millones de pesos se destinarán a la construcción del Hospital Materno Infantil.

Para el rubro de pavimentación se asignarán 5 millones de pesos.

Zamora no especificó como se repartirán los fondos para la Región Ribereña, “debido a las condiciones de máxima seguridad” en las que viven Ciudad Mier, Ciudad Guerrero y Miguel Alemán.

Nation

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

Photo by Ed Andrieski | AP

Shooters are seen at the shooting range at Cherry Creek State Park in Denver on Wednesday. Authorities are trying to determine how twin sisters were both shot in the head at the range on Monday.

Photo courtesy of NASA | AP

This image by astronaut Douglas Wheelock shows Isle Juan de Nova in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and the African mainland as seen from the International Space Station.

Photos show the world

By MARCIA DUNN ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Earthlings are seeing their planet in a whole new light, thanks to NASA and its astronauts aboard the Internet-wired space station.

They’re beaming down dazzling images and guessthis-mystery-location photos via Twitter and have even launched a game.

Landlubbers the world over are eating it up. From schoolchildren to grown-up business entrepreneurs and artists, the public is captivated and can’t seem to get enough.

It’s clear from the photos why orbiting astronauts rate Earth-gazing as their favorite pastime.

“The Earth never disappoints,” the commander of the International Space Station, Douglas Wheelock, said in a broadcast interview Thursday.

Known to his nearly 68,000 Twitter followers as Astro—Wheels, Wheelock has been posting impressive photos of the Earth and some of his thoughts ever since he moved into the space station in June, five months after it got Internet access.

“It’s been a real thrill to be able to do that,” said Wheelock.

Wheelock’s photos this week included Mount Fuji in Japan as well as the aurora borealis, or northern lights, with a glittering space station solar wing in the foreground.

“Aurora Borealis as I will forever paint it in my

dreams. Almost time to return home,” wrote Wheelock, whose mission ends next week.

Jason Major, a Dallasbased graphic designer for a sunglass company, responded with a “beautiful” via Twitter.

“Just to get a perspective like that from 225 miles up is really incredible,” Major told The Associated Press on Friday. “As I sit here at my desk and go about my day, to see what they’re doing and their perspective of the world is really amazing.”

Major has a website, www.lightsinthedark.com, to showcase snapshots of “our cosmic backyard.” He provides links to some of the astronauts’ photos.

“When they’re looking down, we’re looking up at the same time,” said Major.

“It’s not just these quoteunquote dusty, old NASA archive photos that you’re looking at. You’re looking at something as it’s happening right now.”

The space station’s newest American resident, Scott Kelly, has gotten into the act and already has nearly 10,000 followers on Twitter from around the world. Just this week, he kicked off a geography trivia game, posting an image of twinkling lights at night and what looks to be the outline of a boot.

“This country’s contributions to science include the barometer, electric battery, nitroglycerin and wireless telegraphy to boot.

Name it!” Kelly wrote in his Twitter account Monday.

Most guessed Italy, including MrsQclasstweets.

Mrs. Q is actually Heather Quasny, a third-grade math and science teacher at Ralph Parr Elementary School in League City, Texas, just several miles from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She said her students enjoy trying to identify a place on Earth from an actual photo rather than an atlas or a map. It’s a way to excite a new generation of learners, she said.

“It’s really cool to see them so engaged,” she said.

For Quasny, the photos provide an opportunity to discuss space station life with her students.

“One of the things we talk about are, what are they actually doing up there? What is the point?

They don’t go up there for a good time,” said Quasny, who happens to be married to a space station flight controller.

Eileen Hughes, who runs an online fabric shop with her daughter in Pennsauken, N.J., looks forward to getting the astronauts’ pictures. She was fascinated with this week’s “mystery island” shot by Wheelock, which turned out to be Juan de Nova Island near Madagascar.

“It’s awesome,” she said.

As for Kelly’s game — which will continue throughout his six-month mission — he announced a winner Friday afternoon.

It was the first person to answer correctly, via a tweet.

“Now play,” he urged.

Shootings investigated

By P. SOLOMON BANDA ASSOCIATED PRESS

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A photocopy of a magazine cover about the Columbine school shooting was found among the belongings of Australian twin sisters who shot themselves in a suicide pact at a Colorado shooting range, authorities said Friday.

However, it remained unclear why Kristin and Candice Hermeler, both 29, had the cover of Time headlined “The Monsters Next Door/ What Made Them Do It?” and why the sisters made the plan to kill themselves, authorities said. One of the

women survived.

Columbine High School is about 20 miles from the shooting range. The May 3, 1999, magazine cover featured photographs of gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold and their 13 victims. Harris and Klebold committed suicide simultaneously — just as police said the twins attempted to do.

The magazine cover was found among stuffed animals, cell phones and jewelry the twins left behind at the nearby hotel where they had been staying. No suicide note was found.

Candice Hermeler remained hospitalized in seri-

ous condition with a head wound as her parents, Ernest and Kelsay Hermeler, arrived in Colorado on Friday. Investigators hoped to talk to the parents later, Arapahoe County sheriff ’s Capt. Louie Perea said.

The parents issued a statement through Swedish Medical Center thanking people for the outpouring of support and concern, and the Arapahoe County sheriff ’s office for its diligence in determining what happened.

The Hermelers also asked for privacy and declined media interviews, hospital spokeswoman Karen Prestia said.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Pilots exempt from checks

Turkey to get new roost

By JESSICA GRESKO ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — The turkey President Barack Obama will pardon this year for Thanksgiving is going to George Washington’s house, not Mickey Mouse’s, after his life is spared.

A Disneyland spokesman said Friday that after five years of taking turkeys, the park will no longer become home to the bird that the president pardons in an annual White House ceremony. Instead, after Obama pardons the turkey Wednesday, the fortunate fowl will live out the rest of its life at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate in Virginia.

“We’re moving on to do new things and surprise our guests with new things,” said Disneyland spokesman John McClintock.

Presidents have been pardoning a turkey at Thanksgiving for years, but where the bird goes after its White House cameo has changed. For 15 years, until 2004, the birds went to a historic farm in Herndon, Va.: Frying Pan Farm Park.

Disneyland took over in 2005 when the California park was celebrating its 50th anniversary. The pardoned turkey and an alternate — Marshmallow and Yam — got a police escort

By DAVID KOENIG AND EILEEN SULLIVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Alex Brandon | AP

President Barack Obama pets a turkey, Courage, at the White House in Washington on Nov. 25, 2009.

The turkey President Barack Obama will pardon this year is going to George Washington’s house. to the airport and flew first class to California.

Marshmallow became the grand marshal of Disneyland’s Thanksgiving parade, and the sign above his float read “The Happiest Turkey on Earth.”

The turkeys then retired to a coop at the park’s Big Thunder Ranch, where three of the other pardoned birds — “Courage” and “Carolina” from 2009 and 2008’s “Pecan” — still live.

Florida’s Disney World got the birds from 2007, when they arrived on a United Airlines flight that was renamed “Turkey

One.” The 21-week-old turkey being pardoned this year will arrive in Washington from California next week and stay at the W Hotel, just a block from the White House. Once at Mount Vernon, he’ll be driven to his pen in a horse-drawn carriage and be greeted with a trumpet fanfare.

Emily Coleman Dibella, a spokeswoman for Mount Vernon, says it’s appropriate that the turkey will go to Washington’s home. In 1789, Washington became the first president to issue

Courthouse security lax

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Security training at some federal courthouses is so ineffective that it took almost eight years for some security officers to learn how to turn on X-ray machine software that would detect guns and explosives, a Justice Department audit of courthouse security operations said Friday.

In the meantime, fake bombs hidden in packages and at least one gun stashed in a lawyer’s bag went unnoticed at security checkpoints last year.

The security lapses and potential threats, the Inspector General audit said, are largely due to a lack of training on basic equipment, including X-ray machines and metal detectors, and lax oversight of security programs by the U.S. Marshals Service, which oversees courthouse security.

“We believe that inadequate training on security screening equipment for Judicial Security Inspectors and CSOs (court security officers) poses a significant risk to the safety of court personnel and facilities,” the report said.

The IG audit said court security officers, many of

whom are hired by government contractors, are put on the job before finishing a three-day training course and then don’t get enough training on new or existing security equipment.

In 2002, the Marshals Service spent about $8 million on sophisticated explosives detectors but many courthouse officers were never trained to use them, the audit said. The machines were either misused or fell into disrepair, according to one Marshals Service employee who spoke to the auditors.

Some Marshals officials denied there was a lack of training and said the machines were “prone to failure, the software was difficult to use” and some courthouse officers just didn’t use them because they weren’t given guidance on when to do so, the report said.

The high-tech X-ray machines with software to detect explosives and guns were bought in 2003, but the vendor didn’t turn on the software and officials at the courthouse were never trained to use it.

“In 2009, we were told that an attorney at one court facility passed through a security check point with a gun in her bag because of (officer) error and the failure to properly

activate the automated detection setting on the X-ray machine, which would have detected the gun,” the auditors wrote.

The audit also said recurring training — testing security officers to see if they notice bombs, guns and other weapons — is sporadic.

And individual courthouse security plans aren’t updated routinely. The audit cited one such plan that hadn’t been revised since 1983.

“Because the judicial security plans should be tailored to the security challenges of each facility, the failure to maintain this document ... increases the vulnerability of court facilities,” the auditors wrote.

The report also concluded that not all district security offices routinely report data about arrests and other security breaches.

The Marshals Service was also cited for not maintaining records for court officers, including medical reports and firearms certifications, and the agency’s oversight of security contractors was questioned.

The audit pointed to three contracts awarded in 2006 to a company that had previously been identified in a fraud alert from the Justice Department’s Inspector General.

State’s jobless rate steady ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN, Texas — The unemployment rate in Texas held steady at 8.1 percent in October as the state added 47,900 jobs, the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday.

The latest increase in jobs pushed the number of positions added in the past year to 172,800 and the jobless rate matched the lowest of the year, according to commission figures.

Government rebounded sharply with an increase of 19,100 jobs after four straight months of job losses, including a revised September decrease of 11,000.

Construction employment had its biggest increase since April, with 8,800 new jobs, while education and health services added 5,400 jobs. Professional and business services saw an increase of 4,200 jobs.

“Texas employers displayed confidence by adding jobs in all industries in October, and the majority of

industries are recording gains over the year as well,” said Andres Alcantar, the agency’s commissioner representing the public.

The Texas jobless rate continued to track below the national rate of 9.6 percent.

Unemployment rates are adjusted for seasonal trends in hiring and firing, which most economists believe give a more accurate picture of the job market.

Without the seasonal adjustment, the state unemployment rate held steady from September at 7.9 percent.

Midland maintained the state’s lowest metro unemployment rate at 5.1 percent for October, the same figure as September. The highest rate was still the McAllenEdinburg-Mission region, at 11.3 percent, matching the revised September number.

The local rates are not seasonally adjusted.

The following are the preliminary local jobless rates for October, with revised September numbers in parentheses: Abilene 6.3 (6.2)

Amarillo 5.4 (5.3) Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 6.8 (6.8) Beaumont-Port Arthur 10.4 (10.4) Brownsville-Harlingen 11.1 (10.9) College Station-Bryan 5.9 (5.8) Corpus Christi 7.9 (7.9) Dallas-Plano-Irving 8.0 (7.9) El Paso 9.9 (9.7) Fort Worth-Arlington 7.9 (7.8) Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown 8.2 (8.2) Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood 7.6 (7.5) Laredo 8.1 (8.1) Longview 7.1 (7.1) Lubbock 5.9 (5.8) McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 11.3 (11.3) Midland 5.1 (5.1) Odessa 7.4 (7.4) San Angelo 6.3 (6.2) San Antonio-New Braunfels 7.3 (7.2) Sherman-Denison 8.1 (8.0) Texarkana 7.1 (7.1) Tyler 7.6 (7.3) Victoria 7.3 (7.2) Waco 6.9 (6.8) Wichita Falls 7.2 (7.2)

a Thanksgiving proclamation, and the Washingtons also raised and ate turkeys at Mount Vernon. Wild turkeys still roam the estate.

The pardoned Tom will not, however, be put on permanent display at Mount Vernon, which prides itself on historical accuracy. The large white turkey the president will pardon is not like the smaller brown birds the Washingtons would have had. After Mount Vernon’s holiday festivities end Jan. 6, the turkey and his alternate will be cared for behind the scenes.

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration has agreed to let airline pilots skip the security scanning and patdowns that passengers face at the nation’s airports, pilot groups said Friday.

Beginning Friday, pilots traveling in uniform or on airline business will be allowed to pass security by presenting two photo IDs, one from their company and one from the government, to be checked against a flight crew database, the TSA said.

The Obama administration’s retreat on screening pilots comes less than a week before the hectic Thanksgiving holiday travel period. Some travelers are threatening to protest security by refusing to go through the scanning machines. Airlines are caught in the middle.

Pilots welcomed the changes.

“This looks good. It’s basically what we’ve been after for 10 years,” says Sam Mayer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association at American Airlines, the union that raised objections to the new screening process about

two weeks ago.

Pilots have also argued that it made no sense to subject them to the same screening process as passengers since they control the plane. If they were intent on terrorism, they could crash it and the scanners wouldn’t provide extra safety.

TSA offered few details about the specific changes in screening of pilots, which expands a program tested at airports in Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Charlotte, N.C. “Pilots are trusted partners who ensure the safety of millions of passengers flying every day,” said TSA Administrator John Pistole. He said putting pilots through a faster screening process would be a more efficient use of the agency’s resources.

Still, some lawmakers want a review of the patdown procedure.

Pilots have complained about possible health effects from radiation emitted by full-body scanners that produce a virtually naked image, and they said that pat-downs by security inspectors were demeaning. Passengers have lodged similar complaints, but the government is not changing the screening requirements for travelers.

FULFILLING DUTIES WITH PRIDE Student Council President Fanny Ledesma and Parliamentarian Selene Garza fulfill their morning duties at Villarreal Elementary School, including raising the flag.

Courtesy photo

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

SAN YGNACIO Continued from Page 1A “We noticed a (white) vehicle driving at a high rated speed … west to east from Mexico toward the river,” Sanchez said.

Suddenly, a military Humvee seemed to be chasing a white sport utility vehicle, Sanchez said. He quickly grabbed some binoculars and got on top of his truck’s hood.

He could see how one chopper tried to interfere with the vehicle’s driving, while another helicopter hovered above.

“I could see military personnel,” he added, noting that one of the helicopters landed on the Mexican side.

“I don’t know what happened to the guy in the SUV. It seemed like somebody got taken into custody.”

During that time no

shots were fired, Sanchez said. Then, both choppers flew northeast but stayed on the Mexican side of the border.

Nearly two hours later, a deputy reported that he could hear gunfire in Mexico. Sanchez said the shots, according to the deputy, were sporadic but went on for about an hour. At the same time, the choppers flew back, but this time flew over the town of San Ygnacio, he said.

Lt. Benjamín Jiménez Tamayo, of the Secretaría de Marina or Mexican Navy, said the agency was in the process of confirming information about the incident.

“We don’t have information about the Armada de Mexico being involved,” Jiménez Tamayo said.

FOOD Continued from Page 1A thany House and the Laredo Job Corps, provides food for these and other hungry children through Kids Cafés in Laredo. Monday through Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., the South Texas Food Bank has 12 sites that provide meals for these children. No registration or application is necessary to receive food from the Kids Café.

Other programs provided by the South Texas Food Bank, but not funded

by United Way of Laredo, include: The elderly program provides food for the elderly with a fixed income and who are at least 60 years old; A food stamp outreach program aids individuals in obtaining food stamps, CHIP and Medicaid; Emergency food assistance; VOAD provides meals to evacuees within 24 hours of their evacuation;

ROAD Continued from Page 1A and traffic is on proposed north bound lanes,” Ramirez said.

The nearly $7 million road project was awarded to Foremost Paving Inc. and is approximately 60 percent complete, she said.

Foremost Paving Inc. also continues to work on a construction project on US 83 from 3.9 miles south of FM 3169 to 1.2 miles south of FM 3169, which includes a 2.7-mile upgrade from a twolane, bi-directional roadway to a four-lane roadway with a grass median and includes adjustments of utility elements from the Ramireño Water Supply, Ramirez said.

“The Ramireño Water Supply is pending to obtain right-of-entry, but the drainage and utility work has commenced and the project is approximately eight percent complete,” Ramirez said.

The project cost was approximately $9.4 million, she added.

Two other construction projects awarded to Anderson Columbia Co. Inc. are pending a pre-construction meeting that will take place in early December, Ramirez said.

One of the projects will require a 17.546-mile upgrade on US 83 by way of reconstructing the existing roadway, drainage structures, bridge repairs, and adding passing lanes from the intersection of the Starr and Zapata county lines with the highway to 6.392 miles north of FM 2687, Ramirez said.

The project will cost approximately $25.6 million, Ramirez added.

The other project will include a 5.780-mile road upgrade on US 83 which calls for reconstruction of the existing roadway and drainage structures and repairing bridges from 9.465 miles south of FM 3169 to 3.685 miles south of FM 3169.

That will cost approximately $5.8 million, Ramirez said.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557)

Gang Prevention for Teens is a community service program for youths; The Adopt-A-Family program allows people to donate $120 once a year so a family in need can receive a box of food (valued at about $80) each month for the year.

In addition, the Food Bank makes referrals to community agencies, depending on the needs of each family.

Major Sergio Acosta, of the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional or Mexico’s Army, said Friday afternoon reports of a supposed gun battle were being corroborated

with the eighth military zone quartered in Reynosa.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. said deputies have increased patrol in the area.

“We understand there was a gun battle (on) the Mexican side,” the sheriff said. “We’re on heightened

alert right now.”

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A

BERNICE LENORA LOUDEN ZAPATA — Bernice Lenora Louden was born to Olaf and Minnie Hjelde on Dec. 4, 1926, in Littlefork, Minnesota. She went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010.

Bernice graduated from Littlefork High School and then attended Minnesota School of Business. She worked in banks in International Falls and later in Littlefork. She worked alongside her husband at Littlefork Builders Supply until her retirement in 1990, when they moved to Zapata, Texas. She was active at First Baptist Church of Zapata and was a member of the Gideon’s Auxiliary.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her sister, Olive Rinehart of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; by her daughter, Margaret (Steve) Keillor of Askov, Minnesota; by her grandsons, Jeremy (Carrie) Keillor and William (Sonia) Keillor; by her granddaughter, Amanda Keillor;

and by her three beloved great-grandchildren, Owen, Amelia and Elena Keillor.

Visitation hours were held Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, at 1 p.m. with a 2 p.m. service at First Baptist Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.

HAROLD J. LOUDEN ZAPATA — Harold J. Louden was born Oct. 1, 1921, to Andrew and Alethea Louden in Littlefork, Minnesota. He went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010.

Harold James Louden graduated from Littlefork High School. He served aboard a minesweeper off the Panama Canal Zone during World War II. He married Bernice Hjelde on June 11, 1949. After his wartime service, he started the Louden & Johnson gas station in Littlefork, then sold out to his partner and a year later purchased a lumber yard which he named the Littlefork Builders Supply. He retired and moved to Zapata, Texas, in 1990, where he resided until his death. He was a Gideon for many years and served as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Zapata.

Louden is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Wendell.

Louden is survived by his daughter, Margaret (Steve) Keillor of Askov, Minnesota; grandsons,

By SEAN MURPHY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jeremy (Carrie) Keillor and William (Sonia) Keillor; granddaughter, Amanda Keillor; and three great-grandchildren, Owen, Amelia and Elena Keillor.

Visitation hours were held Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, at 1 p.m. with a 2 p.m. service at First Baptist Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.

INDALECIO CANTU ZAPATA — Indalecio Cantu passed away Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, in Houston, Texas.

Mr. Cantu is survived by his wife, Sara Cantu; sons, Manuel (Mari Cruz) Cantu, Javier (Oneida) Cantu, Julio (Rosario) Cantu, Jorge (Esmeralda) Cantu and Lucio (Diana) Cantu; daughters, Elvia Cantu, Mayra (Moises) Zamudio, Sary (Armando) Cantu, Lydia (Daniel) Chapa and Maria (Felipe) Garcia; 31 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Paula Garza and Josefina Hernandez; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends.

Visitation hours were held Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a wake at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

On Friday, Nov. 12, 2010, visitation hours were held

Much anger over girl’s death

By TOM BREEN AND EMERY P. DALESIO ASSOCIATED PRESS

at Casa de Dios y Puerta Del Cielo at 10 a.m. A religious service was held at 2 p.m. 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.

MARIA B. TREVIÑO ZAPATA —Maria B. Treviño, 95, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas.

Ms. Treviño is preceded in death by her husband, Ramon Treviño; and sons, Miguel Angel Treviño and Francisco Treviño.

Ms. Treviño is survived by her sons, Ramon Jr. (Juanita) Treviño and Jesus (Elvia) Treviño; daughter, Manuela (Jesus) Garza; 25 grandchildren; sister, Consuelo Pacheco; and by numerous nephews, nieces, and

many friends.

Visitation hours were held Friday, Nov. 12, 2010, at 9 a.m. with a chapel service at 11 a.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.

HICKORY, N.C. — After a disabled 10-year-old girl went missing in this small city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, her family’s former home became an impromptu memorial piled with stuffed animals and birthday cards.

Now it sits with its front windows smashed by vandals, while frustrated residents complain that the investigation into her death is taking too long, even as increasingly bizarre and potentially damning revelations about Zahra Baker’s stepmother and father pile up.

The case has riveted followers in North Carolina and Australia, where she was born and where her biological mother still lives. She was reported missing Oct. 9 and last week police confirmed everyone’s worst fears: A bone from her body and other suspected remains were found in two remote spots.

No charges have been filed in her death, though her stepmother is accused of obstructing justice in the investigation and led police to the remains.

The area’s top prosecu-

Judge OKs use of new execution drug

tor is defending the pace of his investigation. In fact, similar cases have been notoriously difficult to prosecute.

“Once we have a complete picture of the events surrounding Zahra’s disappearance and her death, we will meet with law enforcement to determine what, if any, charges are required,” District Attorney James Gaither Jr. wrote in an e-mail.

After Zahra’s disappearance, scrutiny immediately fell on her stepmother, Elisa Baker, and father, Adam Baker, after police doubted their story of how she vanished from their home and neighbors talked about their suspicions of abuse.

Elisa Baker’s attorneys have said in court documents that their client told police two weeks ago that Zahra “was deceased, that her body had been dismembered and that it would be recovered at different sites.”

In a letter that Elisa Baker apparently sent to a Florida dealer of crime memorabilia, she wrote, “We didn’t really kill her but what he did after the fact is kinda horrifying,” referring to Adam, who emigrated from Australia with Zahra after meeting Elisa online.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A sedative commonly used to euthanize animals may be used on death row inmates in Oklahoma to substitute one of the three drugs in the state’s lethal injection formula, a federal judge ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot rejected a motion by death row inmates Jeffrey David Matthews and John David Duty, who argued that the use of a drug called pentobarbital amounted to “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Friot said the inmates’ attorneys failed to prove that the new drug posed a

“substantial risk of serious harm.” The judge said the two anesthesiologists who testified during Friday’s daylong hearing agreed that a sufficient dose would render an individual unconscious and ultimately lead to death.

Attorneys for the inmates said an appeal was likely.

Earlier this year, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections ran out of sodium thiopental, a key component in the three-drug cocktail that causes unconsciousness. The department changed its protocol to allow for the use of pentobarbital, a similar drug.

No other state uses pentobarbital in executions.

ZCISD Continued from Page 1A banners and billboard at each entrance of our town and at the IBC Bank,” Garcia said. “ Donations were used for rental fees to display banners on donors’ properties, Garcia added. Also at the meeting, several campuses were recognized for achieving Gold Performance Acknowledgement.

“Through the years more ZCISD schools have been improving in the percentage of students attaining commended performance,” Garcia said. “Our goal this year is to be exemplary, so that means that we are expecting at least 30 percent commended performance in every subject area.”

Benavides Elementary, Zapata South Elementary and Villarreal Elementary reached the highest achievement in TAKS, with more than 30 percent or more of students commended in science, said Olinda Flores, ZCISD director of assessment/instructional support.

Zapata Middle School and Zapata South Elementary were acknowledged for comparable improvement in mathematics, Flores said.

Benavides Elementary and Villarreal Elementary were also recognized for achieving comparable performance in reading, Flores said.

The district also received a Gold indicator because of Zapata High School graduating more than 89 percent of graduates through recommended or distinguished achievement plans in 2009, Flores added.

In other business, the board approved the closing of the stadium concession stand and ticket booth project and two other construction projects, Garcia said.

“Thankfully the administration building renovation

was approved,” Garcia said.

“The board also gave us approval to continue collaborating with the architect to come up with a more indepth study and proposal for North Elementary.”

The administration building is in need of updating.

The funding options will be reviewed by the board, Garcia said.

In executive session, the board discussed the approval of a director for the Advance Education Center for Zapata County and the approval of a migrant counselor.

David Brown was selected for the director position at the AEC and will be working with the steering committee to prepare for the grand opening of the facility, which will be built by the county, Garcia said.

“We are looking forward to continue collaborating with Zapata County because many community members and ZCISD students will benefit from this project in the future,” Garcia said.

The board also appointed Peggy Cousins as the district migrant counselor, Garcia said.

“The migrant counselor will ensure that all migrant students are getting the necessary services to ensure their success in our schools,” Garcia said.

“Although we already do a lot for all students, the state is requiring much more documentation and services for migrants than for general education students,” Garcia said. “Since ZCISD is awarded additional funds to serve migrants, the advisory council decided that these funds should be used to provide additional counseling services.”

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)

12A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors CROSS COUNTRY

NCAA

HAWKS FLY TO FINISH

Aggies host ’Huskers Nebraska tries to clinch North

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

among the state’s best wearing her huge medal.

“Marlena and Jazmine’s accomplishment is a direct result of what a combination of talent and hard work can bring,” Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said. “Both young ladies are talented individuals who worked side by side week in and week out and pushed each other race after

COLLEGE STATION — Ninth-ranked Nebraska can clinch its second straight Big 12 North division title with a win this weekend against No. 18 Texas A&M or next week against Colorado.

The Cornhuskers prefer not to wait past Saturday.

“This is the week to go out there and clinch the North,” Nebraska offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirels said. “You never want to leave it up to the last game. You never want to leave it up to anything.”

The Cornhuskers, who have won four straight overall, are 4-0 on the road this season and secured the North division title in 2006 with a 28-27 win over the Aggies in College Station.

This time they’ll face a hot Texas A&M team that has also won four in a row and needs to win out and get some help from Oklahoma State for a shot at the South title and a trip to the league’s finale championship game.

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said he hasn’t spent any time discussing the importance of clinching the North title this week, preferring to focus on simply playing well against Texas A&M. “That all takes care of itself in time,” he said. “All I’m concerned with is playing the best football we can on Saturday. That’s just part of it. I haven’t talked about it with the team, and I won’t. I’m sure they understand it’s out there, but we’ve got plenty to be motivated by beyond that.”

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez should be back to full speed. Nebraska limited what he did in the first half of last week’s win over Kansas after he missed a

See ZAPATA PAGE 2B

See AGGIES PAGE 2B

Photo by Clara Sandoval | Zapata Times

Jazmine and Marlena Garcia race towards the finish line at the State Cross Country Meet in Round Rock. Jazmine finished ninth and Marlena took fourteenth.

Zapata takes 10th place to wrap 2010 season

By CLARA SANDOVAL ZAPATA TIMES

Nine years ago the word “state” was one that did not roll off the tongue of anyone from Zapata.

Since 2004, the Lady Hawks have been a constant fixture at the state meet, making their third consecutive trip.

The Lady Hawks finished in 10th place, amongst the

best from the state, with a mere 36 points separating fourth through 10th place.

Two Zapata athletes stood out above the rest as they placed within the top 15 finishers at the state meet.

Freshmen Jazmine Garcia became the first athlete from Zapata to medal in the state meet with her ninth place finish, while senior Marlena Garcia came in 14th place.

Jazmine trailed early in

the race but with less than 800 meters to go she made her move, and put herself into medal contention warding off several other runners’ attempts to steal the medal away..

Both athletes earned AllState honors by finishing inside the top 15 from the Cross-Country Coaches Association.

On the medal stand, the shy young freshman stood

NFL

NCAA

Kitna connects with Dez

By JAIME ARON ASSOCIATED PRESS

IRVING — Jon Kitna has cracked the code. He’s figured out the secret to the success of Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman, his most heralded predecessors as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.

Throw to No. 88.

Rookie receiver Dez Bryant is the latest to slip into that jersey and so far he’s lived up to Jerry Jones’ prediction that he’d be a worthy heir to Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin.

While he showed flashes of his dazzling skills early this season when Tony Romo was healthy, Bryant has become a bigger part of the offense since Kitna took over for the injured Romo.

In four games, Bryant has 23 catches for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers are not only the best on the team during that span, they are among the best in the NFL. “He’s just a guy you can trust,” Kitna said.

Against the Giants last weekend, Bryant caught only three passes but turned them into 104 yards. They included a 45-yarder that Kitna thought he’d overthrown and a 46-yard gain on a short toss.

Every ball thrown his way is a highlight waiting to happen.

Bryant can leap high for the ball and is big enough to reach over most cornerbacks. He’s got

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter (24) rushes for a touchdown as Texas’ Sam Acho (81) tries to stop him during the football game on Saturday in Austin.

Photo by Bill Kostroun | AP

Dallas Cowboys’ Jon Kitna (3) prepares to take the snap from center Andre Gurode (65) as guard Kylse Kosier (63) gets set to block during the first quarter of a game against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium, in East Rutherford, N.J. the speed to run away from people — check out his 62- and 93-yard punt returns for touchdowns — and the size, strength and tenacity to take on defenders of any size.

“It’s almost as if the people around him are irrelevant,” Kitna said. “His goal is to get to the goal line, and if you’re in the way, you’re in the way. ...

He’s just so violent. It makes such a difference. Like a Walter

Payton mentality.”

For the season, Bryant is second among rookie receivers in yards (539) and catches (41), and tied for second in touchdown grabs (five).

Imagine how much better he’d be doing if he hadn’t missed the entire preseason with an ankle problem. Or if he’d played more than a few

See COWBOYS PAGE 2B

Lost Longhorns prepare for Owls

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — Texas can’t beat anybody in the Big 12 these days.

How about the Sun Belt Conference?

The last-place Longhorns’ miserable season steps out of league play for a matchup Saturday with Florida Atlantic (4-5), a team most would expect would be just what Texas needs to end a four-game losing streak.

But there are no guarantees of that. Not in this wacky season that has seen the once-mighty Longhorns (4-6) stumble and

bumble their way to six losses in seven games, four in a row at home and fall to dead last in the Big 12 South.

Texas must win both of its last two games to avoid its first losing season since 1997 and qualify for a bowl. Coach Mack Brown is desperately urging his team to send the seniors out on a good note, though there’s still a game against rival Texas A&M at home on Thanksgiving.

“I think that they have had a great run here,” Brown said of his seniors. “It should not be just

See TEXAS PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

Time management key in NFL

By ROB MAADDI ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA — Some coaches take an aggressive approach when clinging to a small lead late in the game.

Others play it safe.

What’s the best way to secure a win?

There’s no real recipe for success. It mostly depends on execution and who’s taking the snaps for both teams.

If Peyton Manning is your quarterback, you’re more inclined to pass to protect a lead. Same thing if Manning is standing on the other sideline waiting for an opportunity to get the ball back.

If you have someone like Troy Smith, keeping it on the ground might be the better option.

The Philadelphia Eagles had a tough decision with a 26-24 lead against Indianapolis two weeks ago and 1:49 remaining. The Colts had just scored a touchdown to trim the deficit, and had all three timeouts left when the Eagles got the ball at their 20.

With Michael Vick at quarterback, the coaching staff had several options.

Vick is an excellent scrambler. He can run a draw, roll out and look for a safe pass or keep it himself.

The first play was an end-around to the speedy DeSean Jackson. He gained 11 yards. That worked so well the Eagles did it again.

Jackson ran for 6 yards and forced Indy to use its first timeout.

Having a wide receiver run the ball isn’t the most conservative call, but it kept the clock running.

“I think that’s the best

By HOWARD FENDRICH ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Nick Wass | AP

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick rushes for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the football game on Monday in Landover, Md. time for deception-type plays,” Eagles wideout Jason Avant said. “You don’t want to do anything that would put your defense in a quandary, so you have to do something that keeps the ball on the ground where the clock is moving. So it’s conservative from that standpoint, but not too predictable as far as the play type, like a reverse. That’s ball security, but at the same time it’s kind of deceptive. You don’t want to throw the ball because if you don’t complete it, it stops the clock.”

On second-and-4, LeSean McCoy gained 2 yards and the Colts called timeout with 54 seconds left. After a false start pushed Philadelphia back, Vick was sacked on third down and the Colts used their last timeout with 47 ticks remaining.

The Eagles didn’t completely run out the clock, but they made Indy use all three timeouts. Manning got

the ball at the 26 with 40 seconds to go. After two short passes and two incompletions, Asante Samuel’s interception sealed the win.

“When you have Peyton Manning like we did, you want to be two scores up,” Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said.

“But that wasn’t the case, so you do what you have to do.

I mean that guy is a player.

You don’t want to give him the ball back and if you do, you don’t want too much time on the clock. That’s Peyton Manning. A young quarterback, you might do it a little differently.”

Other variables contribute to the play-calling besides the quarterbacks.

Teams with running backs such as Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson and Frank Gore are more inclined to run the ball. So would teams with strong offensive lines.

“The factors are almost infinite,” Dolphins offensive

coordinator Dan Henning said. “Some of it is based on how our quarterback does in that situation. Or, are we really much better than the other team, and should we take it to them as hard as we can?”

Offensive and defensive coaches don’t always see eye to eye on which approach to take. Buddy Ryan once punched Kevin Gilbride on the sideline during a game when the two were coordinators with the Houston Oilers in 1994. Gilbride used the run-and-shoot offense and Ryan, a defensive guru, hated that style of play.

“When I was a head coach, I had to fight the impulse to be too aggressive,” said Henning, who worked under Bill Parcells with the New York Jets in the late 1990s. “Talking to coach Parcells, there were times over the years where I thought he was too aggressive when we worked together.

AGGIES Continued from Page 1B week with an ankle injury.

Pelini was glad Martinez was able to play last week.

“I thought it was big,” Pelini said. “You didn’t want him to be sitting for two weeks. We were a little guarded with Taylor early in the game, and I think Taylor was a little bit guarded. He wasn’t sure where he was going to be, and I thought as the game went on he grew more confident, which was a big key.”

Martinez has 957 yards rushing with 12 rushing touchdowns and Roy Helu Jr. has 991 yards rushing with 10 more scores. The Aggies are 13th in the nation in run defense and are allowing only 112 yards

rushing a game.

Texas A&M is coming off a 42-30 win over Baylor last week and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter thinks dealing with Robert Griffin will help in preparing for Martinez. Griffin had 100 yards rushing by halftime last week, but the Aggies shut down his scrambling as they rallied in the second half.

“Taylor Martinez is a guy who is very capable of making explosive plays just like Robert Griffin,” DeRuyter said. “Nebraska will be by far the best running team we will face this year and they have some explosive players in Martinez and Helu that if you don’t defend well it can get ugly like it

did in the first half last week.”

Texas A&M has improved since Ryan Tannehill took over at quarterback for senior Jerrod Johnson and the former backup is 3-0 as a starter. Coach Mike Sherman has said he likes the decisiveness of Tannehill, something Pelini has also noticed.

“I don’t think the offense has changed a whole heck of a lot, I just think they’re executing at a little higher level right now,” Pelini said.

“He makes good reads. He understands the offense. He understands where to go with the ball. I think he does a good job of running the offense.”

Tannehill has been

starting quarterback to do, but he can’t always spend enough time with each of his receivers. As the backup, Kitna took it upon himself to get to know Bryant, then pass along to Romo the most pertinent information.

Kitna doesn’t like to call it being a mentor. He describes it as “just kind of walking with him in the early stages of his career.”

He did the same thing years ago as a backup in Cincinnati with Chad Ochocinco.

“I wasn’t starting and neither was Chad, so we just kind of spent a lot of time talking about what quarterbacks see and how quarterbacks gain trust in

receivers,” Kitna said.

Why do those things matter? Kitna compared it to a marriage.

“It’s like your wife telling you what really makes her happy, what works for her,” he said. “I mean, you can buy roses for your wife all you want, but if that’s not what gets her going, then it’s really futile.

Although it’s a good attempt, it’s futile. So when she tells you, ’I really like it when you just offer to massage my feet or you do the dishes.’ That’s finding out what your wife likes.

It’s kind of the same thing for a receiver with a quarterback.”

Bryant has made headlines for everything from

WASHINGTON — The new head of college sports thinks investigations such as that of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton should be done as quickly as possible — as long as the NCAA gets the facts correct.

“I want our people to be as efficient and expedited in the way they manage these things as possible, but at the same time, you’ve got to get the facts right. The burden of proof is higher than what it is for somebody who’s writing in a blog,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said Friday while taping a TV show that will air Monday on the Big Ten Network.

“You can write in a blog that, ’Gee, I think everyone knows that if there’s smoke, there’s fire.’ Well, that’s a great thing to say,” Emmert continued. “But we have a burden of proof to demonstrate what are the real facts before we take to an infractions committee ... a recommendation that says, ’We think this has happened.”’

Emmert did not specifically address the case of Newton, a leading Heisman Trophy contender for the No. 2-ranked Tigers.

Newton’s father, Cecil, reportedly sought money from Mississippi State when his son was being recruited.

“You’re dealing with young people’s careers and education. You’re dealing with institutional reputations,” Emmert said.

MARK EMMERT: NCAA president, calling for swifter investigations “You’re dealing with a process that is, by it’s very nature, complicated.”

He said the NCAA sometimes faces “serious challenges” when it comes to enforcement of its rules because it doesn’t have subpoena power and “can’t compel anyone to testify.”

Asked about a series of recent-high profile cases involving college football players and improper contact with agents, Emmert wondered aloud about the possibility of allowing “interaction with agents in a way that’s aboveboard, monitored by institutions.”

Emmert made an analogy to doors opened for a college student who wants to be an accountant — summer internships, for example.

“But if a student comes to us and says, ‘I want to be a professional athlete,’ we immediately say, ‘Well, you can’t talk to anybody in that profession.’ I’m not sure that makes a lot of sense,” said Emmert, the former president of the University of Washington who took over as head of the NCAA last month.

Graham Spanier, chairman of the BCS oversight committee, replied: “We don’t really see an expanded role for the NCAA in that. And I don’t anticipate any changes in the next several years, for sure — and maybe for longer after that.”

TEXAS Continued from Page 1B helped by the emergence of running back Cyrus Gray, who has four straight 100yard rushing performances and has become a bigger part of the offense in the two games since fellow running back Christine Michael broke his leg.

Gray had 137 yards rushing with four touchdowns, both career highs, last week against Baylor.

“It has put him more in the front and he is getting more opportunities,” Sherman said. “He is the type of back that plays better when he gets more opportunities.

It’s hard to be in and out of games the way we had played him before the injury and he has definitely taken advantage of that.”

COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B games his final season in college.

Better still, wait to see how much better he gets as long as Kitna remains the quarterback.

Their on-field relationship actually is an extension of the off-field bond they’ve developed. It started at the end of training camp, when Kitna made a point of talking to Bryant about the finer points of his game. He wanted to understand what the kid was thinking, what plays he felt comfortable running, whether he liked passes high or low, with arc or without.

It’s part of the gettingacquainted process that would be great for the

NCAA seeks swifter cases

his mother’s lifestyle to how much he’s spent on dinner. This past weekend, there was a story about him losing a $50,000 diamond earring on the field during the game against the Giants; a security guard returned it.

But those things obscure what jumps out most — the enthusiasm, passion and flat-out talent he has as a football player.

“He’s a lot of fun to be around,” Kitna said. “It’s a simple game to him. ‘Just throw me the ball.’ But if we can all be a little closer to the same page in how we’re thinking about things and running things, then he gets to have the ball thrown to him more.”

this year. You go back and they were a big part of that 25-2 run (in 20082009). They won a conference championship. They played for a national championship. They just will not have finished like they wanted to.”

Texas hasn’t done anything like it wanted to this year. The revamped running game has been a disaster, new quarterback Garrett Gilbert nearly has as many losses as predecessor Colt McCoy had in his entire career and the defense has turned into a unit ripe to giving up big plays and big yards rushing.

“You couldn’t have paid me enough money to think that this season was going to go like this,” junior safety Blake Gideon said. “I felt like we had a great offseason, we had a great spring and we had a great camp.”

The season has been so sour that Brown is being forced to answer weekly questions about whether he’s going to make staff changes after the season.

Brown says he’ll wait until after the season to evaluate his coaches.

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis, who has been with Brown all 13 years at Texas, has been the biggest target of angry fans.

Texas is averaging just 21.7 points and hasn’t scored a touchdown in the first half of a game since the Longhorns beat Nebraska on Oct. 16.

“I’ve never felt like I’m coaching for my job,” Davis said this week.

Texas got another blow on Monday when tailback Tre’ Newton, the Longhorns’ leading rusher last season, announced he was giving up football after multiple concussions.

Newton had rushed for 229 yards and three touchdowns in four starts this season.

Two years ago, Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger stirred up the state of Texas when he said the Longhorns weren’t tough and could be intimidated by a few hard hits.

Texas beat the Owls 5210 to start a 12-1 season.

Schnellenberger may have just been a bit early with a bold statement like that. Now his Owls come in riding a three-game winning streak. Texas is still a heavy favorite but hasn’t tasted victory in more than a month.

Like Texas, Florida Atlantic is fighting to get bowl-eligible, and Schnellenberger took a much softer approach to the game than he did two years ago.

“We’re walking into a hornet’s nest,” Schnellenberger said. “There is no doubt about that.”

That may be, but Texas has proven it’s capable of losing to anybody at home this season. The Longhorns’ only home victory was a 34-7 win over Wyoming on Sept. 11.

“It is really unexplainable,” Texas wide receiver Malcolm Williams said.

“There are no words to explain how I feel or how this team feels.”

ZAPATA Continued from Page 1B race. They each traded the top spot on the team several times, which kept the fuel burning, in turn making us a better team.”

The pace was fast at the state meet and did not let up until the end of the race.

The times throughout the day were slower than what most schools posted

at their respective regional meets the week before but, after six years, Zapata High School can finally boast its first medalist.

The rest of Zapata’s state qualifiers that challenged the tough state course were Gloria Jauregui, Kristina Garcia, Erica Hernandez, Cassie Pena and Clarissa Villarreal, in addition to al-

ternates Sara Pena and Joyce Garcia.

“These girls are determined to get our team back next season,” Villarreal said. “The support we received from parents and friends in Round Rock and the week before in San Antonio is greatly appreciated.”

The Lady Hawks repre-

sented the school and the town of Zapata well at the meet, commented Villarreal.

“These young ladies have put themselves through a great deal this season by representing their school, their town and their families, so to get that support meant a lot to them. It has been a great season

marked by many firsts and by remarkable feats. It was an experience that will not soon be forgotten by anyone involved,” he said.

“It has been a great honor to coach this group of young ladies all season long. It has been a learning experience each and every day, not only about running, but of life itself. A

special thank you to the seniors who stuck it out for six years and continued the tradition. They were the first class to make three straight trips to the state meet. They have helped mold the young runners they trained with into future champions, and our future leaders. Thank you.”

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:

FAMILY CIRCUS

HINTS BY | HELOISE GROOMER TO GO Dear Readers: If you have older dogs that may get stressed by CAR RIDES going to the vet or groomer, you might want to look into using a mobile doggrooming service. I use one for Cabbie, our mini schnauzer. Wow! What a convenience!

There are many benefits — where to begin? First off, they are on my schedule.

They can come out evenings and weekends; I don’t have to make an appointment and drive in.

Cabbie gets a bit anxious when she sees the groomer, but goes along to “the spa,” and she runs right back in the house when she’s done to show us how pretty she looks.

Another plus? No exposure to other animals that may be sick or have parasites.

Most mobile pet groomers offer nail clipping, ears, specific cuts for your breed of dog, even massage service, and some may offer teeth cleaning as well.

Check out the mobile pet groomers in your area. -Heloise HOW APPROPRIATE Dear Heloise: Here’s how we selected names for our cats: We adopted the first one in the fall and he was orange/tan colored, so we named him Pumpkin. The second one had similar colors, so he was named Gourd. The third one was rescued because his owner kept stepping on him, so

“

HELOISE

even though he was gray, we named him Squash. The last cat we named Turnip because he kept “turning up” on our porch. Thanks for all of your great advice.

-- Jeann Sargent in Texas CAT STUCK IN TREE Dear Heloise: I recently adopted three kittens when we found them on my grandmother’s roof. One of the kittens was stuck high MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE

67

ARTICLES FOR SALE

136

*Large Round Bales For Sale, $55.

Call (956)237-1863

16x72 3bd/2bth in good cond. $24,000 OBO (956)763-6526

Billiard Tables, parts, service $25 & up 744-1575,

PETS & SUPPLIES

PETS & SUPPLIES

up in a tree. So, I called the fire department to see if it rescued cats out of trees. To my dismay, I was told it only happened in movies. I finally coaxed him to jump down with some food, and I caught him in my arms. -Heather in San Antonio We called a local fire department and were told: “Have you ever seen a skeleton of a cat or bird in a tree? No? That’s because they always get down.”

Check with your fire department to see if it can help you; it just might. -Heloise

bimbo1951@yahoo.com

TRANSPORTATION

128 AUTOMOTIVE PARTS

ADBA Registered Blue Bully Pitbull puppies, 3F, 1st shots, $350ea.

Call: 796-0971

MISCELLANEOUS

194

Diesel engines Chevy 6.6 Ford 7.3 & Cummins 5.9 Remanufactured w/warranty will deliver, $2,950.

713-918-5811.

Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

Texans try to stall Jets Bears look to rebound

By STEPHEN HAWKINS

By DENNIS WASZAK JR.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets are ready to get back to playing four quarters of football instead of five.

Not that working a little extra has been a bad thing for them. They became the first team to win consecutive overtime games on the road last week, but all of the anxiety is starting to wear on everyone’s nerves.

“I don’t know if anybody in my family has any nails left,” quarterback Mark Sanchez said, “or any cuticles.”

It’s been that kind of tense stretch for the Jets, who won at Cleveland last Sunday 26-20 with 16 seconds left in OT, a week after pulling out a 23-20 overtime victory at Detroit. At 7-2, they’re tied for the best record in the NFL — and some might say they’ve gotten a few lucky breaks along the way. That’s not something the Jets take too kindly to.

“I don’t really respond to that kind of talk,” defensive tackle Sione Pouha said.

“Last time I checked, we still have to go out there and play the game no matter what.”

After starting 5-0 on the road, the Jets are home Sunday to host the Houston Texans (4-5) with an eye on improving their 2-2 mark at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

“You never want anybody coming to your hometown and taking a victory,” wide receiver Santonio Holmes said. “That’s probably going to be our biggest focus, is not letting anybody else come in here and beat us.”

Not even hard-luck Houston, which has had some rough losses the past two weeks.

“Life throws you curveballs and it’s just about

Photo by Stephen Morton | AP

Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub (8) looks to pass during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in on Sunday Jacksonville, Fla. how you hit ’em,” Texans running back Arian Foster said. “You keep on moving.

You’ve just got to keep working and not get too pessimistic, because that just makes it worse.”

The Texans are trying to bounce back from a stunning 31-24 loss at Jacksonville in which Mike Thomas caught a 50-yard touchdown pass off a ball defensive back Glover Quin tried to bat down, but ended up hitting into Thomas’ hands as time expired.

“It’s going to be difficult to put that type of loss behind you, but you’ve got to,” defensive end Antonio Smith said. “You can’t dwell on it. You can’t sit and lick your wounds.

You’ve got to move on.”

That was exactly the message coach Gary Kubiak delivered to his team.

“We need to get rid of last week and that last play of the game,” Kubiak said.

“And the only way we can get rid of that is to be honest with yourself and work ... and get ready to go the next week and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Two weeks ago, Houston fell to San Diego 29-23 in another agonizing loss. The Texans were driving and at the Chargers 28 late in the fourth quarter when Paul Oliver intercepted a pass

that was tipped by Andre Johnson. The play was reviewed, but the call was upheld and the Chargers went on to win.

“Well, it’s very frustrating,” Kubiak said of the team’s 4-5 start. “I think I’ve said this all along: There have been some issues. But that’s not an excuse for not improving.”

So, Kubiak has been more demanding of his team, insisting on fewer errors in practice.

“Everyone can say he’s cracking down or becoming more strict or whatever, but he can’t go out and play the games for us,” Johnson said. “If we don’t take the responsibility amongst ourselves to go out and get the job done, then some of the guys who are here maybe don’t need to be here. That’s pretty much it.”

WACO — The Baylor Bears already have had their most successful regular season in the Big 12. Saturday night they will try to end it by achieving something they’ve never done — beating Oklahoma.

“It’s just playing another team that’s beat us around a little bit,” quarterback Robert Griffin said. “It’s not like we’ve met all of our goals and we’re just going to go out and give it our best try against Oklahoma. We’re looking to go out and get a win.”

No. 16 Oklahoma (8-2, 4-2 Big 12) needs to win to stay in contention for the league’s South Division title. The Sooners have won all previous 19 games against Baylor (7-4, 4-3), including their 14 conference meetings by an average margin of 25 points.

“Going to Baylor, in the end, whatever’s happened in the past, we’ve got to play this year,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. “All those other years, they don’t matter.”

Both of Oklahoma’s losses this year came on the road in the last month. Now the Sooners play their last two regular-season games away from home for on-

Photo by Jerry Larson | AP

Baylor running back Jay Finley, top, dives into the end zone for a touchdown in the game against Texas A&M on Saturday in Waco. ly the third time in 25 seasons. The Bedlam rivalry against divisionleading Oklahoma State is next.

“Everybody always makes a big deal out of the road,” running back DeMarco Murray said.

“We have to come out here and play like we’re at home. ... We know that it doesn’t matter where you play. It’s how you play.”

To win the South title for the eighth time in 11 seasons, and get into the

last scheduled Big 12 championship game, the Sooners have to win and get some help since they are tied with a Texas A&M team that already beat them.

Baylor actually began November with the Big 12 South lead after ending a 12-game losing streak against Texas. The Bears also controlled their own destiny, but have since lost to Oklahoma State and Texas A&M and were passed by both in the standings.