ZAPATA XC COMES TO AN END
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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Losing inmates Zapata County Jail sees fewer federal prisoners, dollars By ZACH LINDSEY THE ZAPATA TIMES
A private prison in Webb County is the reason for a sharp drop-off in federal inmates — and revenue — being sent to Zapata’s County Jail, according to Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo “Sigi” Gonzalez. “We have private jails all around the area,” Gonzalez said. “The federal govern-
ment is contracting to private jails instead of county government.” Gonzalez supported the accusation that the private prisons are sapping away federal prisoners with jail population numbers from 2009 and previous years. After the private prison opened in 2008, the county went from 1,000 federal prisoners in October to just 332 in November, according
to the information provided by the Sheriff ’s Department. In December 2008, there were 240 federal prisoners at the Zapata County Jail. The number of local prisoners remained consistent during that time period, with 150 in October, 64 in November and 180 in December. However, 2009 began with a drastic decrease in
the number of local prisoners. For most of the year, the number of local prisoners was between 30 and 49 a month. The amount of local prisoners did not break 50 until July, when it was at 63. September and October of 2009 have seen an increase, with 73 in September and 71 in October. Gonzalez attributes that
See BUDGET PAGE 8A
HELPING HANDS
Courtesy photo
A chase between Zapata County Sheriff’s deputies and an unknown driver resulted in a rollover accident Monday night. The injured deputy has since been released from the hospital.
Chase leads to rollover By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
An attempt to make a traffic stop led to a chase that ended with a Zapata County Sheriff ’s unit rollover and an unknown man on the loose Monday afternoon in north Zapata. Zapata County Sheriff ’s deputies attempted to stop a gray Ford F-250 for a traffic violation in north Zapata on U.S. 83. But instead of stopping, the truck sped off, Sgt. Mario Elizondo said. “As deputies tried to box in the gray truck, the truck purposely and repeatedly rammed the deputy from behind, causing the deputy’s unit to crash and rollover on U.S. Hwy 83, just north of Ramireno,” he said. The injured deputy was
Food bank serves Zapata’s hungry By SALO OTERO SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
T
he South Texas Food Bank continues to make a significant difference in its mission of feeding the hungry of Zapata County, providing assistance to 1,621 families in September alone. That’s according to the latest report given by South Texas Food Bank executive director Alfredo Castillo to the food bank board of directors at its November monthly meeting. That number includes 2,463 adults and 1,497 children, he said. The South Texas Food Bank serves Zapata at five pantries. Food distributions are made at: Helping Hands, 8th and Del Mar, 765-9327. Boys and Girls Club, 6th and Lincoln, 765-3892. Concilio el Buen Pastor, Hawk Street and Falcon Meza, 765-1300. Iglesia Pentecostes Emmanuel, 302 East Highway 16, 765-5440. Shepherd’s Pantry, 305 Hawk Street, 765-0123. Helping Hands, run by Norma Mendoza, served 724 families, including 1,291 adults and 979 children, at the site in Zapata, and another 225 families, including 420 adults and 180 children, in San Ygnacio.
transported to Laredo Medical Center with some bruising and soreness, while cruisers chased the truck for about 22 miles after it turned east on FM 3169. When the truck finally came to a stop near the Zapata-Webb county line on Aguilares Road, the driver fled. Deputies later discovered 46 bundles of marijuana, an estimated weight of 343 pounds and a street value of $55,000, inside the cab and toolbox. Elizondo said the injured deputy was released from LMC late Monday evening and is expected to fully recover. Investigation into the case is ongoing. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
REMEMBERING SACRIFICE
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times
Leroy Ramirez and Norma Mendoza fill packages of food at Zapata’s Helping Hands food pantry. The site is among the busiest of the South Texas Food Bank’s locations.
See HUNGER PAGE 8A
H1N1 vaccines on the way By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES
The City of Laredo Health Department are scheduled to distribute about 500 H1N1 vaccines to Zapata early next week. Some of the doses will be administered to Zapata County Independent School
District students. Details on the dates and times of the vaccination clinics for students were not immediately available Friday, but a plan has been developed, said Dr. Hector F. Gonzalez, director of the City of Laredo Health Department. “We’re ready to roll on next Monday or Tuesday,”
he said. ZCISD has not been hit as hard by the virus as the public schools in Laredo, where hundreds of students have been sent home with flu-like symptoms on a weekly basis. “Fortunately for us, we have not been affected by high absenteeism,” said
ZCISD Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez. But he knows that could change quickly given that the H1N1 virus is very contagious. “We have done some vaccines for regular flu, but we are certainly ready to fol-
See FLU PAGE 8A
Courtesy photo
The Veterans Monument, pictured here, was unveiled Sunday during the annual Veterans Celebration at Falcon Community Park. See story, 3A.
Workshop focus: Customer service matters By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A defining factor of any business is the attention to detail when assisting a customer, said Steve Courtier, chief executive officer of MBTR Consulting, a presenter at a customer service training workshop recently sponsored by the Zapata Chamber of Commerce. “Those little things make you sell beyond the competition,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you do. We’re all involved in customer service.” About 25 people representing several businesses from Zapata at-
tended workshop, held in partnership with Texas Workforce Solutions at the Zapata County Court House meeting room Thursday. Courtier grabbed his cup of coffee, looked at attendants and asked why they decided to enroll in the workshop. The general answer from audience members: To learn. Courtier said many people are involved in customer service without even noticing, whether it’s helping an angry taxpayer or assisting a patron in line at McDonald’s. But to provide better and more efficient service, he encouraged attendants to define the customer. “Do you see them as a pain? Do
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“Those little things make you sell beyond the competition.” STEVE COURTIER, MBTR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
you see them as a paycheck?” he asked. Paco Mendoza, president chief executive officer of the chamber, said he had wanted to bring in a seminar that would be relevant for businesses as well as members of the community.
“Overall, it was successful. I’m really excited to have brought this training,” Mendoza said. “This was a stepping stone opening doors to bring more training to our community.” Mendoza said the session, which allowed members of the au-
dience to share their experiences and then demonstrate what could have improved a given situation, was very positive. Mendoza added that it is important to provide this type of training to employees of public offices in Zapata, such as county offices, where workers may encounter taxpayers in various moods. Celia Balderas, chamber membership services coordinator, had a chance to attend a few sessions throughout the week. She said that she learned that having people skills is great in moments when remaining calm can lead to a more professional, positive response to a complaint.