The Zapata Times 11/24/2012

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ZAPATA COUNTY ISD

WAR ON DRUGS

Job grievance

Federal court indicts man in marijuana case

Staff member struggles to keep position

By RICARDO R. VILLARREAL

The board accepted the findings, but changed the conclusions of law.

THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata County ISD trustees voted on Tuesday to table any decisions relating to a grievance case brought against the district by a fired employee.

The board met in closed session for almost three hours, during which they also discussed resignations, retirements, leaves of absence, new employment and contract renewals for teachers and administrators, as well as a second grievance case.

After emerging, the board voted to settle the case of Romeo Al-

varez by adjusting his salary, working schedule and duties as transportation supervisor. However, the case of Diana Brandon remained unresolved.

The case dates to June 2012 when Brandon claims she was

improperly terminated as a school improvement facilitator.

The case was heard in July by Patricia L. Palafox, an independent hearing examiner from the Texas Education Agency. Palafox recommended Brandon not be terminated.

In August, the board then accepted the findings of fact, but changed the conclusions of law, rejected the recommendation and upheld Brandon’s termination.

Brandon then filed an appeal with Education Commissioner

See SCHOOLS PAGE 8A

Man claims Mexican forced him to smuggle

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A man, along with a co-defendant, who claimed unknown gunmen in Mexico forced him to smuggle 273 pounds of marijuana was indicted in federal court this week, according to court records.

U.S. Border Patrol agents detained Nelson Alexander Izaguirre-Figueroa and Fulgencio Guerra-Davila on Nov. 3 in Jim

Hogg County when they were allegedly smuggling $218,400 worth of marijuana, according to a criminal complaint.

An indictment filed Tuesday charges both men with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.

See COURT PAGE 8A

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS

HOPING FOR A HOLIDAY BARGAIN

Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times

Shoppers from all over line up on Mall del Norte Drive for a chance at a Mall del Norte parking space on a busy Black Friday afternoon.

Many turn out for Black Friday deals

By ZACH BROOKE THE ZAPATA TIMES

LAREDO — With another Thanksgiving come and gone, people flocked to area shopping centers like Mall del Norte to take advantage of the long weekend and seasonal bargains. Amid the din of tinkling cash registers and pipedin Christmas carols, throngs of holiday shoppers walked off

so many of yesterday’s extra calories in search of new excesses.

Gift hunting Among the patrons in the food court of Mall del Norte who couldn’t resist the siren song of savings was Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas.

“I have some gifts in mind

for my children and friends.

For myself, I’m very easy, very low maintenance. I just need a couple of shirts,” Salinas said.

Though most shoppers seemed to grudgingly contend with the crowds, Salinas said he was elated by the turnout so far.

“I want to see people shop in Laredo. Local shopping

See SHOPPING PAGE 8A

Long lines of vehicles with Texas and Mexico license plates wait on Esperanza Drive to enter Mall del Norte on Friday afternoon. Shoppers from all over went to the mall, hoping to take advantage of Black Friday sales.

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

MONDAY, NOV. 26

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting is set for 9 a.m. at the Zapata County Courthouse.

Today is Saturday, Nov. 24, the 329th day of 2012. There are 37 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Nov. 24, 1987, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed on terms to scrap shorter- and medium-range missiles. (The IntermediateRange Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev the following month.)

On this date: In 1784, Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, was born in Orange County, Va. In 1859, British naturalist Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species,” which explained his theory of evolution by means of natural selection.

In 1862, Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to command the Department of the West during the Civil War. In 1922, Irish nationalist and author Robert Erskine Childers was executed in Dublin by Free State forces.

In 1939, British Overseas Airways Corp. (BOAC) was formally established.

In 1941, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Edwards v. California, unanimously struck down a California law prohibiting people from bringing impoverished non-residents into the state.

In 1950, the musical “Guys and Dolls,” based on the writings of Damon Runyon and featuring songs by Frank Loesser (LEH’-suhr), opened on Broadway.

In 1963, Jack Ruby shot and mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, in a scene captured on live television.

In 1969, Apollo 12 splashed down safely in the Pacific.

In 1971, a hijacker calling himself “Dan Cooper” (but who became popularly known as “D.B. Cooper”) parachuted from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 over the Pacific Northwest after receiving $200,000 dollars in ransom — his fate remains unknown.

In 1982, Barack Hussein Obama Sr., a Kenyan government economist and father of the president, was killed in an automobile accident in Nairobi; he was 46.

In 1992, a China Southern Airlines Boeing 737 crashed in southern China, killing all 141 people on board.

Ten years ago: In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Iraqi government complained that the small print behind upcoming weapons inspections would give Washington a pretext to attack. Lucio Gutierrez, a populist former army colonel who’d led a coup in 2000, was elected Ecuador’s sixth president in six years. Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel’s conservative party dominated parliamentary elections in Austria.

Today’s Birthdays: Rock drummer Pete Best is 71. Former White House news secretary Marlin Fitzwater is 70.

Former Motion Picture Association of America Chairman Dan Glickman is 68. Rock musician Clem Burke (Blondie; The Romantics) is 58. Record producer Terry Lewis is 56.

Actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson is 56.

Thought for Today: “Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt.” — Minna Antrim, American writer (1861-1950).

THURSDAY, NOV. 29 Mariachi Vargas is scheduled at Zapata High School.

FRIDAY, NOV. 30 The Webb County Heritage Foundation will host an opening reception for the exhibit of entries in the Historic Laredo Photo Competition from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St. The winning 13 selections will be featured in the 2013 Historic Laredo Calendar, which will be unveiled during the event and available for sale to the public. The public is invited to view all the competition entries, which reflect historic architecture, significant landmarks and other notable historical features in Laredo and Webb County.

For more information, visit www.webbheritage.org or call 956-727-0977.

The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Holiday Music Magic” at 6 p.m. and “Mystery of the Christmas Star” at 7 p.m. General admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults. For more information, call 956326-3663. Girl Scouts Troop No. 9111 is collecting non-perishable food items throughout November to benefit Volunteers Serving the Need. In exchange of five items, the Planetarium will give a free adult ticket.

SATURDAY, DEC. 1 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show: “Season of Light” at 2 p.m.; “Holiday Music Magic” at 3 p.m.; “Mystery of the Christmas Star” at 4 p.m.; and “2012: Ancient Skies, Ancient Mysteries at 5 p.m. Matinee show is $4. General admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults. Premium shows are $1 more.

TUESDAY, DEC. 4 The board of the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce meets at 6:30 p.m. at the chamber offices.

South Texas Food Bank fundraiser, Hal’s Landing Restaurant and Bar, 6510 Arena Blvd., 6 to 11 p.m., featuring music by Ross and Friends and several raffle prizes. Donation $10 to the South Texas Food Bank.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5 The board of the Zapata County Fair Association meets from 6:30-8 p.m. The location will be announced.

The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” at 3:30 p.m. and “The Future Is Wild” at 4:30 p.m. The special holiday price is two shows for $5.

THURSDAY, DEC. 6 The Christmas Parade and Lighting of the County Plaza is set for 5:30-9 p.m.

Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center will be showing “The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” at 3:30 p.m. and “Force 5 Nature Unleashed” at 4:30 p.m. The special holiday price is two shows for $5.

Photo by Guiseppe Barranco/The Beaumont Enterprise | AP

An emergency worker walks past a pile of cars from the accident on Interstate 10 in Southeast Texas on Thursday. The Texas Department of Public Safety says at least 35 people have been injured in a more than 50-vehicle pileup.

2 die in massive pileup ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEAUMONT — Two people died and more than 80 people were hurt Thursday when at least 140 vehicles collided in Southeast Texas in a pileup that left trucks twisted on top of each other and authorities rushing to pull survivors from the wreckage.

The collision occurred in extremely foggy conditions at about 8:45 a.m. Thanksgiving Day on Interstate 10 southwest of Beaumont, a Gulf Coast city about 80 miles east of Houston.

A man and a woman were killed in a Chevy Suburban SUV crushed by a tractor trailer, the Texas Department of Public Safety told KFDM-TV. DPS trooper Stephanie Davis late Thursday identified the dead as Debra Leggio, 60, and Vincent Leggio, 64.

Jefferson County sheriff ’s Deputy Rod Carroll said in a news release that 80 to 90 people were transported to hospitals with 10 to 12 of those in serious to critical condition.

He said 140 to 150 vehicles were involved in the pileup.

According to DPS, a crash on the eastbound side of the highway led to other accidents in a dangerous chain reaction. There were multiple crashes on the other side of the highway as well.

Carroll told The Associated Press the fog was so thick that deputies didn’t immediately realize they were dealing with multiple accidents.

“It is catastrophic,” Carroll said. “I’ve got cars on top of cars.”

I-10’s eastbound lanes were re-opened Thursday evening after more than eight hours.

San Antonio man held in ax slaying of father

Man charged in death kills himself

2 hurt as pickup slams into Houston apartment

SAN ANTONIO — A 19-yearold San Antonio man is in custody after police say he fatally attacked his sleeping father with an ax.

Police say Marshall Lee Giles died of his injuries hours after the attack late Wednesday night.

Giles’ son, also named Marshall Lee Giles, originally was held on a $20,000 bond on an aggravated assault charge but the charge is expected to be upgraded to murder.

DECATUR — A man charged with killing his girlfriend earlier this month after leading police to her body has been found dead in his Wise County jail cell.

Sheriff David Walker says 29year-old David Malone hanged himself Wednesday night.

Malone was arrested last week on a sexual assault charge in Parker County and then led deputies to the remains of his 28year-old girlfriend, Samantha McNorton.

HOUSTON — Two people are recovering in a Houston hospital after a pickup truck veered off a Houston freeway and slammed into their apartment building.

The driver of the truck says someone in another vehicle was chasing him Friday morning along Interstate 45 and he lost control. The truck driver has been taken into police custody.

Handed down painting worth $1 million

Coyote believed to kill pets in Galveston caught

CORPUS CHRISTI — A South Texas man who inherited a painting from his mother took it to appraisers with the popular PBS program “Antiques Roadshow” and has learned it’s worth up to $1 million.

Rue Ferguson says his greatgrandparents bought the painting by Diego Rivera in the 1920s.

GALVESTON — A coyote believed responsible for the recent killings of several pets in a Galveston County neighborhood has been caught.

Police tell The Galveston County Daily News the animal has been snagged in a trap set placed by the department’s animal control division.

Sexual assault at University of North Texas DENTON — University of North Texas police are urging students to be cautious after a student reported being abducted and sexually assaulted this week.

The student said he was walking Tuesday evening when occupants of a car pulled up and asked for directions.

He jumped inside to help them and one of the passengers pulled a knife.

— Compiled from AP reports

FRIDAY, DEC. 7 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Holiday Music Magic” at 6 p.m. and “Mystery of the Christmas Star” at 7 p.m. General admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults.

SATURDAY, DEC. 8 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will present Family Movie Day. “The Muppets Christmas Carol” will show at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. General admission is $4.

MONDAY, DEC. 10 The Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting is set for 9 a.m. at the Zapata County Courthouse.

THURSDAY, DEC. 12 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center and Planetarium will show “The Little Star that Could” at 3:30 p.m. and “New Horizons” at 4:30 p.m. The special holiday price is two shows for $5.

AROUND THE NATION Cops: Mass. shopper took home TV, left tot SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Police say a Massachusetts man left his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son in a car while he went shopping for Black Friday bargains, then went home with his new 51-inch flat screen television and left the toddler behind.

Police, alerted by store security, found the boy asleep in the vehicle in a Kmart parking lot at about 1:30 a.m. Friday.

The man told police he lost the boy while shopping, panicked and called someone else for a ride.

Police say they expect to charge the man with reckless endangerment to a child.

Postcard mailed during WWII arrives at NY home ELMIRA, N.Y. — A postcard mailed nearly 70 years ago has finally arrived at the former up-

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This undated photo shows a postcard delivered to an address in Elmira, N.Y. during the week of Nov. 12. The postcard was originally sent nearly seven decades ago. state New York home of the couple who sent it.

The postcard was sent July 4, 1943, from Rockford, Ill., to sisters Pauline and Theresa Leisenring in Elmira.

Their brother, George Leisenring, was stationed at Rockford’s

Medical Center Barracks at Camp Grant, an Army post during World War II. Their parents were visiting him when they mailed the postcard home.

The postcard arrived last week at the family’s former home.

— Compiled from AP reports

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Local

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

Grant to fund oil field program

By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A state education agency is slated to dish out a $1.3 million grant aimed in part at making South Texans employable amid the Eagle Ford Shale boom.

Laredo Community College, one of five community colleges receiving the grant, is getting a little more than a fifth of the share.

LCC plans to use the approximately $280,000 in funds from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to provide support services for students in certificate programs looking to gain employment in industries or obtain a post-secondary education, college administrators said.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to be able to combine their learning with hands-on skills application and to be able to get out into the workforce a lot quicker,” said Dianna Miller, LCC vice president

Tours planned Dec. 9 SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Zapata County Museum of History, the Torres Homes and La Hacienda de las Flores will be featured in the Christmas Town and Country Tour Homes on Sunday, Dec. 9. Proceeds will benefit the museum.

Guests can view Christmas displays and a sample from a merienda including Mexican and Spanish treats.

Tickets are $5 per person and are available at the Zapata County Museum of History, 805 N. U.S. 83.

Maps of the tour will be available at the museum beginning at 1 p.m.

for instruction.

The initiative will take aim at monitoring student progress so as to better retain and graduate students in career and technical areas.

The consortium of colleges — which also includes Alamo Colleges in San Antonio, Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde and Victoria College — will target 800 students, mainly lower-skilled adults who have earned their GEDs or lack high school diplomas.

Further, students must be enrolled in an oil and gas, commercial truck driving or welding certificate program.

Driving the grant is an ever-growing oil and gas industry in South Texas, where resources in the 14-county Eagle Ford Shale area are being tapped.

A trend over the last five years has seen a decline in enrollment in adult basic education programs, such as the oil

and gas certificate programs LCC offers, while funding for them has increased, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The grant initiative is an attempt by state policymakers to reverse that trend.

Miller said the programs will appeal to students because of the tangibility of the training.

“Instead of just learning the language without any connection to it, this allows them to give meaning related to the trade they are going into,” she said. “Students are more interested in that type of career and spending more time practicing and working in those areas.”

Anyone interested in the training programs may contact LCC’s adult basic education department at 956-7215436 or continuing education at 956-721-5374.

(JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2579 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

County receives some rain

By MIKAELA RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County received about 1¼ inches of rain as of Friday afternoon, but little to no precipitation is expected over the weekend, though cooler temperatures will remain.

The front is expected to move across the area southward over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will reach lows in the 50s Sunday morning, but will climb back up to the mid-70s later in the day.

Although no rain is expected past Saturday afternoon, skies are expected to be cloudy throughout the weekend.

(Mikaela Rodriguez may be reached at 956-728-2567 or mrodriguez@lmtonline.com)

THE BLOTTER ASSAULT Gloria Arambula, 27, was arrested and charged with assault Nov. 17. She remained at the Zapata County Jail as of Friday afternoon.

Roberto Piedra, 31, was arrested and charged with assault Nov. 19. He is out on bail.

CHILD ABANDONMENT Blanca Lizeth Serrato-Garza, 22, was arrested and charged with abandoning, endangering a child Nov. 16. She is out on bond.

POSSESSION Juan Carlos Salinas, 23, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana Nov. 17. He is out on bail.

TERRORISTIC THREAT Luis Antonio Arambula, 44, was arrested and charged with terroristic threat against a public servant Nov. 16. He is out on bail.

UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLE David Andrew Garza, 33, was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle Nov. 19. He is out on bond.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

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

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

Killer robots could be dangerous

BY TOM MALINOWSKI THE WASHINGTON POST

The use of drones to kill suspected terrorists is controversial, but so long as a human being decides whether to fire the missile, it is not a radical shift in how humanity wages war.

Since the first archer fired the first arrow, warriors have been inventing ways to strike their enemies while removing themselves from harm’s way.

Soon, however, military robots will be able to pick out human targets on the battlefield and decide on their own whether to go for the kill.

An Air Force report predicted two years ago that “by 2030 machine capabilities will have increased to the point that humans will have become the weakest component in a wide array of systems.”

Self control A 2011 Defense Department road map for ground-based weapons states: “There is an ongoing push to increase autonomy, with a current goal of ‘supervised autonomy,’ but with an ultimate goal of full autonomy.”

The Pentagon still requires autonomous weapons to have a “man in the loop” — the robot or drone can train its sights on a target, but a human operator must decide whether to fire. But full autonomy with no human controller would have clear advantages. A computer can process information and engage a weapon infinitely faster than a human soldier.

As other nations develop this capacity, the United States will feel compelled to stay ahead. A robotic arms race seems inevitable unless nations collectively decide to avoid one.

Fictional characters I have heard few discussions of robotic warfare without someone joking about the Matrix or Terminator; the danger of delegating warfare to machines has been a central theme of modern science fiction.

Now science is catching up to fiction. And one doesn’t have to believe the movie version of autonomous robots becoming sentient to be troubled by the prospect of their deployment on the battlefield.

After all, the decisions ethical soldiers must make are extraordinarily complex and human.

Could a machine soldier distinguish as well as a human can between combatants and civilians, especially in societies where combatants don’t wear uniforms and civilians are often armed?

Would we trust machines to determine the value of a human life, as soldiers must do when deciding whether firing on a lawful target is worth the loss of civilians nearby?

Could a machine recognize surrender? Could it show mercy, sparing life even when the law might allow killing? And if a machine breaks the

Could a machine recognize surrender?

Could it show mercy, sparing life even when the law might allow killing? law, who will be held accountable — the programmer or manufacturer? No one at all?

Some argue that these concerns can be addressed if we program war-fighting robots to apply the Geneva Conventions.

Ethics questioned Machines would prove more ethical than humans on the battlefield, this thinking goes, never acting out of panic or anger or a desire for selfpreservation. But most experts believe it is unlikely that advances in artificial intelligence could ever give robots an artificial conscience, and even if that were possible, machines that can kill autonomously would almost certainly be ready before the breakthroughs needed to “humanize” them. And unscrupulous governments could opt to turn the ethical switch off.

Of course, human soldiers can also be “programmed” to commit unspeakable crimes. But because most human beings also have inherent limits — rooted in morality, empathy, capacity for revulsion, loyalty to community or fear of punishment — tyrants cannot always count on human armies to do their bidding.

Think of the leaders who did not seize, or stay, in power because their troops would not fire on their people: the communist coup plotters who tried to resurrect the Soviet Union in 1991, the late Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia.

Even Syria’s Bashar Assad must consider that his troops have a breaking point.

But imagine an Assad who commands autonomous drones programmed to track and kill protest leaders or to fire automatically on any group of more than five people congregating below.

He would have a weapon no dictator in history has had: an army that will never refuse an order, no matter how immoral.

Nations have succeeded before in banning classes of weapons — chemical, biological and cluster munitions; landmines; blinding lasers.

It should be possible to forge a treaty banning offensive weapons capable of killing without human intervention, especially if the United States, which is likely to develop them first, takes the initiative. A choice must be made before the technology proliferates.

COLUMN

US wants smaller reactors

By LLEWELLYN KING HEARST NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON — One of the glories of nuclear technology is also one of its frustrations: You can design a reactor in a hundred ways. It is like the French cheese dilemma: Because there are some 500 cheeses in France, who is to say which is the best?

In the world of cheese, the decision has been made by those who have most successfully brought their cheeses to market, hence the domination by Brie, Camembert and Roquefort.

So it has been with nuclear reactors.

The man who made the market decisions was the late U.S. Navy Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, the crusty father of the nuclear navy. An autocratic visionary, Rickover feared that if too many reactor types came on the market, there would be expensive chaos, first in the Navy and then in the civilian nuclear industry. He believed that a standardized reactor concept was needed.

Rickover settled on socalled light water reactors: They are the worldstandard for military and civilian nuclear reactors, with only the serious exception of Canada’s heavy water reactors. The fuel in these is unenriched natural uranium, but the moderator and coolant is heavy water — water com-

Therein lies the real appeal of nuclear plants: They create just so much electricity. A new, 1,000-MWe plant is the equivalent of 1,000 wind turbines when the wind is blowing. posed of deuterium, the hydrogen isotope with a mass double that of ordinary hydrogen.

Largely left out of the reactor mix have been gas cooling, sodium, thorium, liquid metal, graphite, pebble bed and other concepts, which were tried and orphaned or never tried at all.

Light water is king.

With 400 or so reactors working and almost 80 more on the drawing boards or under construction, its supremacy is inviolate. China alone is building 26 new reactors and plans many more.

Now the Department of Energy is pushing — gently, to be sure — the miniaturization of light water reactors in the form of the small modular reactor.

On Tuesday, it chose one of four competitors, the Babcock & Wilcox Co., to receive $225 million in matching funds for the design and licensing of the first of these SMRs. The idea is that these reactors will be built in

factories and then transported by rail, truck or barge to the site where they are to be installed in phases. They will use passive cooling, obviating the need for pumps in an emergency; will be buried underground; and will be fueled much less frequently than the 18-24 months their big sisters require.

The DOE says this new generation of reactor should produce under 300megawatts (MWe) of electrical power, but the manufacturers are hoping for much smaller units, as small as 45 MWe. A big nuclear power plant is 1,000 MWe and more.

To get an idea of the power of a nuclear plant, the average windmill being deployed today generates just 1 MWe when the wind is blowing. New, bigger wind turbines are coming, but the maximum land-based design is unlikely to exceed 3 MWe. Therein lies the real appeal of nuclear plants: They create just so much electricity. A new, 1,000-

MWe plant — some are much bigger — is the equivalent of 1,000 wind turbines when the wind is blowing.

DOE’s grant is not the final trip to its piggy bank. The three failed contestants, particularly NuScale Power and Westinghouse, say they are going to hang in for a second round, when another $225 million of matching funds will be coming along. DOE does not want to be accused of picking winners and losers, even if that is what it is doing.

U.S. nuclear industry types hope that the new initiative to push SMRs will reinvigorate the nation’s nuclear supply chain with new technology and more jobs. This chain has so deteriorated that, according to David Blee, executive director of the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council, 30 percent of the components of new large nuclear plants have to be imported.

Industry observers believe that B&W won the award because its consortium of B&W, engineering giant Bechtel and the Tennessee Valley Authority was especially powerful.

TVA is prepared to build one of the new modular reactor plants on a site on the Clinch River in Tennessee, notably at a time when most utilities are relying on natural gas for new generation.

(Email: lking@kingpublishing.com.)

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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 24, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

Restaurant serves 350 meals to local elderly

By RICARDO R. VILLARREAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

About 350 Thanksgiving dinners were offered to elderly residents of Zapata on Thursday courtesy of El Paraiso Restaurant.

Owner Juan Mercado Medina said the tradition was started by his mother, Hortencia Medina, more than 30 years ago.

Hortencia Medina came to Zapata in the early 1960s from Mexico and began working in the restaurant business. She soon opened her own place, the original El Paraiso.

She passed away on Easter Sunday, 2003. Mercado said although she was seriously ill, on the last Thanksgiving Day before

“

Thanksgiving Day is the one day of the year we’re the busiest.”

JUAN MERCADO MEDINA

her death she and another son, Daniel, delivered plates to elderly residents.

Medina raised nine children and three of them operate restaurants in Zapata.

Mercado said people still come in his restaurant to reminisce about his moth-

er. A portrait of her hangs at the entrance.

“She was a very charismatic person. I wish I could have been at least half the person she was in terms of working hard and how she related to people,” Mercado said.

The original El Paraiso burned accidentally as the new restaurant began operating in 1994, although much of the equipment and décor from the original are still in use.

“Thanksgiving Day is the one day of the year we’re the busiest and make the least money, but we feel good about it,” Mercado said.

(Rick Villarreal may be reached at 728-2528 or rvillarreal@lmtonline.com)

TAMIU planetarium offers holiday shows SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Texas A&M International University’s Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium has an early present for its visitors — a new show, the return of some older holiday shows and Wednesday and Thursday showings during December.

The new holiday shows run through Friday, Dec. 21.

The newest feature at the Planetarium is “Mystery of the Christmas Star.”

The show takes audiences on a journey back more than 2,000 years in pursuit of a scientific explanation for the star of Bethlehem.

The modern retelling of the Christmas story is filled with beautiful imagery and scored with choir music to charm and captivate audiences of all ages.

“Holiday Music Magic” features a variety of festive

holiday classics from Mannheim Steamroller to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee. The soundtrack is enhanced with 3-D artistic animation and all-dome scenery. The program is fun and entertaining for all audiences, especially families.

“Season of Light” traces the history and development of many of the world’s most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season—from burning the Yule log, sparkling Christmas tree lights, candles in the windows, to lighting of luminarias in the American Southwest and the traditional ritual of the Hanukkah Menorah.

The Wednesday and Thursday showings feature shows for the entire family.

Admission is $5 per person for each double feature.

Wednesday, Dec. 5:

3:30 p.m., “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” 4:30 p.m., “The Future is Wild” Thursday, Dec. 6 3:30 p.m., “The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” 4:30 p.m., “Force 5: Nature Unleashed” Wednesday, Dec. 12 3:30 p.m., “The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket” 4:30 p.m., “Star Signs” Thursday, Dec. 13 3:30 p.m., “The Little Star That Could” 4:30 p.m., “New Horizons” Wednesday, Dec. 19 3:30 p.m., “Earth, Moon and Sun” 4:30 p.m., “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” For more information and for complete show descriptions, visit www.tamiu.edu/planetarium or call 956-326-DOME (3663).

Pre-filed bills show immigration bias

By JULIAN AGUILAR TEXAS TRIBUNE

The slew of pre-filed immigration-enforcement bills that piled up in the House clerk’s office ahead of the 82nd legislative session seems like an anomaly nowadays.

In November 2010, two months before the 82nd session’s members were sworn in; dozens of such bills were filed on the first day of pre-filing. They included bills on repealing birthright citizenship, requiring school districts to report the immigration status of their students, and making the use of the electronic employment verification system, or EVerify, mandatory.

But a week after lawmakers were first allowed to pre-file legislation ahead of the 2013 session, only a handful of immigration-enforcement legislation is on the books.

The reason for the slowdown could be that several key members of the 82nd session are leaving. Those outgoing members include state Rep. Leo Berman, RTyler, whose bills last session included efforts to prevent a county’s local registrar from issuing a birth certificate to a child born to undocumented immigrants in Texas. He lost a primary faceoff to Matt Schaefer. Rep. Burt Solomon, R-Carrollton, who filed the divisive “sanctuary cities” bill, decided not to run again. Other outspoken legislators on immigration enforcement, like Rep. Debbie Riddle, RTomball, who camped out at the Capitol overnight to file several immigration bills two years ago, have yet to file such legislation ahead of the next session.

But it’s still early. Last

session’s sanctuary cities bill, which would have denied state funds to local or state entities that prevented their law enforcement officers from inquiring into the immigration status of a person arrested or detained, was not filed until February 2011. It was the most contentious bill that made it to the floor for a vote, though it failed to pass. That defeat came despite the bill being placed on the emergency items list by Gov. Rick Perry.

Perry this month reiterated his support for a bill to ban sanctuary cities.

But Catherine Frazier, a spokeswoman for the governor, said his office has not determined what, if any, items would be deemed an emergency.

Immigrant rights groups said Republican legislators are heeding a warning gleaned from the general election, in which Latinos overwhelmingly supported Democrats. And though immigration is a federal issue, they say the post-election environment, which is moving away from hard-line immigration policies, has trickled to the state level.

“The obvious answer is the Latino vote,” Cristina Parker, a spokeswoman for the El Paso-based Border Network for Human Rights, said of the dearth of immigration-enforcement filings so far. “It is fair to say that Republicans are afraid of what the Latino vote means.”

The theme is playing out across the country, with the most recent evidence being the launch of a Republican Super PAC, Republicans for Immigration Reform, that supports GOP hopefuls who don’t take a hard-line stance on immigration.

But Parker said the network fully expects to see sanctuary cities legislation before the session ends, and she pointed to a few bills that have been filed as proof the battle lines are again being drawn.

They include a bill to repeal in-state tuition for undocumented students, HB 122, by Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio. In 2001, Perry signed into law a measure that allows students living in Texas at least three years to receive the in-state rate. That issue was used against him during the GOP presidential primary race, when his opponents said the law showed that the governor was too soft on illegal immigration.

Larson said the in-state tuition bill gave undocumented students an unfair advantage over other students trying to get into the same universities, specifically the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

“It has an impact on all kids raised in Texas,” no matter what their ethnicity is, he said, and added that he didn’t think most people realized how farreaching the law was until Perry raised it during his campaign.

Larson also filed HB 177, which would allow for more access to “tents” as detention units as opposed to standard jails. “Tent” detention facilities are often used in immigration detention centers.

A former Bexar County commissioner, Larson said immigration detention wasn’t his motivation for filing the tent bill, but instead said it would be a cost-saving measure for counties which usually pay other entities to house their low-risk offenders.

International

6A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

Mexico frees US trucker

By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Bernat Armangue | AP

A Hamas police officer prevents Palestinians from approaching the Israeli-Gaza border fence on Friday.

Hundreds surged toward the fence, in a no-go-zone Israel has kept for years to prevent infiltrators.

Crowds surge at fence

By KARIN LAUB AND SARAH EL DEEB ASSOCIATED PRESS

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops fired on Gazans surging toward Israel’s border fence Friday, killing one person but leaving intact the fragile twoday-old cease-fire between Hamas and the Jewish state.

The truce, which calls for an end to Gaza rocket fire on Israel and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, came after eight days of crossborder fighting, the bloodiest between Israel and Hamas in four years.

In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, the Palestinian U.N. observer Riyad Mansour called the situation in Gaza “extremely fragile” and said Israel’s cease-fire violations and other illegal actions risk undermining the calm that was just restored.

Hundreds of Palestinians approached the border fence Friday in several locations in southern Gaza, testing expectations Israel would no longer enforce a 300-meter-wide no-go zone on the Palestinian side of the fence that was meant to prevent infiltrations into Israel. In the past, Israeli soldiers routinely opened fire on those who crossed into the zone.

In one incident captured

by Associated Press video, several dozen Palestinians, most of them young men, approached the fence, coming close to a group of Israeli soldiers standing on the other side.

Some Palestinians briefly talked to the soldiers, while others appeared to be taunting them with chants of “God is Great” and “Morsi, Morsi,” in praise of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, whose mediation led to the truce.

At one point, a soldier shouted in Hebrew, “Go there, before I shoot you,” and pointed away from the fence, toward Gaza. The soldier then dropped to one knee, assuming a firing position. Eventually, a burst of automatic fire was heard, but it was not clear whether any of the casualties were from this incident.

Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra said a 20-yearold man was killed and 19 people were wounded by Israeli fire near the border.

Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. observer, said Israeli

forces fatally shot Anwar Abdulhadi Qudaih in the head and injured at least 19 other Palestinian civilians in a border area east of Khan Younis.

During the incidents, Hamas security tried to defuse the situation and keep the crowds away from the fence.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, a top Hamas official at the ongoing negotiations in Cairo, told The Associated Press that the violence would have no effect on the ceasefire.

The crowds were mainly made up of young men but also included farmers hoping to once again farm lands in the buffer zone.

Speaking by phone from the buffer zone, 19-year-old Ali Abu Taimah said he and his father were checking three acres of family land that have been fallow for several years.

“When we go to our land, we are telling the occupation (Israel) that we are not afraid at all,” he said.

Israel’s military said roughly 300 Palestinians approached the security fence at different points, tried to damage it and cross into Israel. Soldiers fired warning shots in the air, but after the Palestinians refused to move back, troops fired at their legs, the military said. A Palestinian infiltrated into Israel during the unrest, but was returned to Gaza, it said.

The truce allowed both Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step back from the brink of a full-fledged war.

Over eight days, Israel’s aircraft carried out some 1,500 strikes on Hamaslinked targets, while Gaza

fighters fired roughly the same number of rockets at Israel.

The fighting killed 166 Palestinians, including scores of civilians, and six Israelis. Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. envoy, said more than 1,230 Palestinians were injured.

In Cairo, Egypt is hosting separate talks with Israeli and Hamas envoys on the next phase of the ceasefire — a new border deal for blockaded Gaza. Hamas demands an end to border restrictions, while Israel insists Hamas halt weapons smuggling to Gaza.

Mansour also accused Israel of intensifying its use of “excessive and lethal force” against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in recent days and of arresting at least 230 Palestinian civilians since the Gaza fighting began, including several members of the Palestinian Legislative Council who were detained at dawn Friday.

The Palestinian U.N. observer called on the Security Council and the international community “to remain vigilant in their demands for a complete cessation of hostilities and for compliance by Israel.”

A poll Friday showed about half of Israelis think their government should have continued its Gaza offensive.

The independent Maagar Mohot poll showed 49 percent of respondents felt Israel should have kept pursuing squads that fire rockets into Israel, 31 percent supported the decision to stop and 20 percent had no opinion. Twenty-nine percent thought Israel should have sent ground troops into Gaza.

EL PASO — A Dallas trucker imprisoned for seven months in Mexico on accusations that he had tried to smuggle in assault rifle ammunition broke down in tears Friday as he returned to the United States, saying he had at times given up hope.

Jabin Bogan claimed he was on his way to Phoenix to deliver the ammunition in April when he took a wrong highway exit and accidentally crossed the border into Mexico. The 27-year-old was arrested and taken to a Mexican maximum security prison.

“Some days I gave up hope. Some days I felt like God was, to be honest in my heart, like God was laughing. Like he was just punishing me for no reason. I felt like just giving up,” he said during a brief news conference in El Paso, just minutes after arriving back in the U.S. Bogan tearfully thanked his supporters, and said that at times he felt like taking his own life or someone else’s.

“I was the only black American person in the whole prison. God brought me through and I made it,” he said.

Bogan was released from the Mexican prison last week but had been detained by immigration au-

Photo by Juan Carlos Llorca/file | AP

Officials meet in June at the Las Americas Bridge in Juarez, Mexico, while doing a reconstruction of the events that led to the arrest of trucker Jabin Bogan. thorities until Friday. He was found guilty of possession of military ammunition and sentenced to three years, but the ruling was later commuted for time served and a fine.

He was arrested on April 17 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso. Bogan said he was headed to Phoenix to deliver ammunition when he got lost and told Mexican authorities that a law enforcement officer told him to continue driving across the international bridge.

Bogan said he attempted to turn back when he realized he had crossed into Mexico, but the layout of the traffic lanes prevented him from returning without first crossing into the truck inspection

area in Juarez, where his truck was searched.

He said Friday that when he acknowledged to the agents he had ammunition, “they said, ‘in this side of the country it’s illegal to have bullets.’ And that’s when everything went upside down, they took me in and never let me out.”

During his trial, Mexican customs agents contradicted prosecutors’ claim that Bogan had 268,000 bullets hidden under the floorboards of his 18-wheeler’s trailer when he was arrested. Agents testified in June that Bogan was trying to make a U-turn back into the U.S. when they found the ammunition bundled on top of wooden pallets inside the trailer.

SÁBADO 24 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2012

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

CEREMONIA

Agenda en Breve

MERECIDO HONOR

SÁBADO 24 DE NOVIEMBRE NUEVO LAREDO, México — Ballet “Mágica Navidad: El Sueño de Clarita” se presenta a las 12 p.m. y 5 p.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo. Entrada libre. Coreografía de Carlos Javier González y Samuel Villagrán.

NUEVO LAREDO, México — Vértices 1er Festival de Teatro presenta “El Llano” (Tamaulipas) a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS. Entrada libre.

NUEVO LAREDO, México — Sport Gym Papá Milo presenta “El Retorno”, función de box, en la Cancha de Fut-Rap, a las 7:30 p.m. Pelea estrella a 10 rounds presenta al Campeón Juvenil del CMB, Víctor Hernández “La Cobrita” vs José Cabrera “Matador”. Adquiera boletos en taquilla.

DOMINGO 25 DE NOVIEMBRE NUEVO LAREDO, México — Ballet “Mágica Navidad: El Sueño de Clarita” se presenta a las 12 p.m. en el Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo. Entrada libre. Coreografía de Carlos Javier González y Samuel Villagrán.

JUEVES 29 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO— Inicie la temporada Navideña con la presentación de villancicos a cargo de alumnos de varias escuelas primarias de Laredo, en la Biblioteca Pública de Laredo, 1120 E. Calton Road, a las 6 p.m.

Habrá chocolate caliente y galletas. Evento organizado por las Damas De La Cultura De Oro. LAREDO— Ceremonia de apertura del Arte Estudiantil “Juried Exhibition” de 6 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en el Edificio de Fine and Performing Arts en TAMIU. Entrada gratuita.

LAREDO— Disney On Ice presenta “Treasure Trove” a las 7:30 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena. Costo: 20 dólares general; 30 dólares VIP; y 40 dólares, en primera fila. Adquiera boleto en Ticketmaster o taquilla de LEA.

Fotos de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

Autoridades del Gobierno de Tamaulipas y del Federal, así como familiares, encabezaron el jueves en la Ciudad de México, la ceremonia de ingreso de los restos mortales de la ilustre tamaulipeca Amalia González Caballero de Castillo Ledón a la Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres.

Ingresan restos de Amalia González a Rotonda de Personas Ilustres en México ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Esta semana, los tamaulipecos despidieron los restos mortales de Amalia González Caballero de Castillo Ledón, los cuales fueron ingresados a la Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres en la Ciudad de México.

El miércoles, el Gobernador Egidio Torre Cantú entregó a un representante del gobierno federal la urna que contiene los restos humanos de la ilustre tamaulipeca.

Previamente los restos de doña Amalia fueron extraídos de la Rotonda de los Tamaulipecos Ilustres, tocando al presidente municipal de Jiménez, Jorge Salazar Méndez, recibir la urna.

“De esta forma, doña Amalia deja la Rotonda de los Tamaulipecos Ilustres para ser honrada y recordada por todos los mexicanos como una de las más grandes entre las grandes”, dijo Torre en solemne evento de despedida realizado en el Teatro Amalia del Centro Cultural Tamaulipas. “La entregamos para gloria y honor de todo México”.

Asistieron al homenaje en Ciudad Victoria, Amalia Castillo Ledón Gregory y Rodrigo Blanco Castillo Ledón, nietos de la primera mujer en formar parte de un gabinete presidencial, al ocupar la Subsecretaría de Asuntos Culturales de 1959 a 1964.

Ambos agradecieron a los tamaulipecos todo el cariño que le entregaron a su abuela, reflejado

VIERNES 30 DE NOVIEMBRE LAREDO— Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta a las 6 p.m., “Holiday Music Magic”; a las 7 p.m., “Mystery of the Christmas Star”. Costo general: 4 dólares (niños) y 5 dólares, adultos.

LAREDO— “Las Posadas 2012” de TAMIU tendrán presentaciones del Ballet Folklórico, Ballet Folklórico Juvenil y Mariachi Internacional en el teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU a las 7 p.m. Costo: 5 dólares (niños menores de 10 años entran gratis).

LAREDO— 11vo Concierto Anual Guitarras de Navidad de TAMIU a las 7:30 p.m. en el Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) Recital Hall de la Universidad.

Evento gratuito.

LAREDO— Concierto del Laredo Community College Show Band a las 7:30 p.m. en el teatro del Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Fort McIntosh Campus. Evento gratuito.

LAREDO— Disney On Ice presenta “Treasure Trove” a las 7:30 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena. Costos: 20 dólares general; 30 dólares VIP; y 40 dólares, en primera fila. Adquiera boleto en Ticketmaster o taquilla de LEA. NUEVO LAREDO, México — Vértices 1er Festival de Teatro presenta “Nacido de un Muslo” (Nuevo León) a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS. Entrada libre.

particularmente en sus 25 años de fallecida con un extenso programa cultural por parte del gobierno de Egidio Torre Cantú, mencionando además que para doña Amalia González, los tamaulipecos eran su gente y también los amó mucho.

Importancia Doña Amalia, quien se definiera a sí misma como “escrutadora de horizontes, exploradora”, se ha dicho que es una de las damas representativas de la intelectualidad mexicana y es considerada la mujer tamaulipeca más importante de la historia mexicana del Siglo XX. Fue una defensora del arte y cultura, a favor de las causas sociales más justas.

“Día tras día de su existencia, se dedicó a enriquecer las raíces culturales de nuestra patria, a alcanzar el justo desarrollo social de todos y a transformar la vida política de los mexicanos”, añadió Torre.

Enfatizó que sin lugar a dudas, su máxima labor fue haber encabezado el movimiento en México y América Latina por los derechos civiles y políticos de la mujer.

“Los méritos de la ilustre humanista tamaulipeca la llevan ahora a descansar en el mausoleo dedicado a los próceres de la patria, erigido en honor a aquellos que son referentes, rumbo y esperanza para las generaciones venideras”, sostuvo.

Ilustre El jueves, en la Ciudad de México, Torre, el Secretario de Gobernación, Alejandro Poiré Romero y el Rector de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, José Narro Robles, encabezaron la ceremonia de ingreso de los restos mortales de doña Amalia a la Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres.

El gobierno federal, por conducto de Poiré Romero, reconoció la aportación de cuatro ilustres mexicanos a la cultura, música, pintura y la lucha social de las mujeres, en el homenaje en la Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres a Amalia González, José Pablo Moncayo, María Izquierdo Gutiérrez y Edmundo O’Gorman.

La ceremonia se inició con el izamiento y honores a la bandera nacional, en tanto que 16 cadetes trasladaron al centro de la Rotonda urnas cubiertas con el lábaro patrio que contenían los restos de cuatro ilustres mexicanos.

Posteriormente sus restos fueron trasladados a los monumentos en su honor y se entregó una bandera a los familiares, entre los que estaba la señora Beatriz Caballero, hija de doña Amalia González.

El Gobernador Egidio Torre Cantú y el Secretario de Gobernación, Poiré Romero, montaron una guardia de honor, mientras que en la Rotonda se escuchaba la pieza musical “El Huapango de Monca-

TEXAS

Un cuadro en homenaje a Doña Amaliza González Caballero de Castillo Ledón, ilustre tamaulipeca. yo”, de José Pablo Moncayo.

Correspondió a la directora del Instituto Tamaulipeco para la Cultura y las Artes, Libertad García Cabriales, mencionar la filosofía que inspiró a Amalia González y citó parte de uno de sus textos en el que dice: “Confío en el aliento siempre vivo de las mujeres. Somos de una raza dulce y valiente al mismo tiempo, compañeras del hombre, al que hemos unido nuestro esfuerzo en la tarea común, grandiosa, de abrir la tierra y renovar el aire, camino arriba y con un haz de frutos en la mano”.

COLUMNA

Múltiple choque Cómo participó Tamaulipas deja dos muertos en Guerra de los Pasteles POR RAÚL SINENCIO CHÁVEZ

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEAUMONT — Dos personas murieron y más de 80 resultaron heridas el jueves en un choque de al menos 140 vehículos que se apilaron en el sureste de Texas.

La colisión ocurrió alrededor de las 8:45 a.m. del Día de Acción de Gracias en medio de una espesa niebla en la carretera interestatal 10, al suroeste de la ciudad de Beaumont, que está en la costa del Golfo de México a unos 129 kilómetros (80 millas) al oriente de Houston.

Un hombre y una mujer fallecieron en una camioneta deportiva Chevy Suburban que fue aplastada por un camión con remolque, informó el Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Texas a la televisora KFDM-TV. Por la noche, la agente estatal Stephanie Davis identificó a las víctimas fatales como Debra Leggio, de 60 años, y Vincent Leggio, de 64.

El subcomisario del condado de Jefferson, Rod Carroll, dijo en rueda de prensa que de 80 a 90 personas fueron llevadas a hospitales y que entre 10 y 12 iban en estado grave.

Indicó que entre 140 y 150 vehículos participaron en la colisión.

De acuerdo con la policía estatal, un choque en los carriles hacia el oriente provocó otras colisiones hasta crear una reacción en cadena. También hubo choques múltiples en los carriles en el otro sentido de la carretera.

Carroll informó a The Associated Press que la niebla era tan densa que los policías no se percataron de inmediato que atendían varias colisiones en serie.

“Esto es catastrófico”, describió Carroll. “Tengo automóviles encima de automóviles”.

Los carriles hacia el oriente estuvieron cerrados más de ocho horas hasta que fueron reabiertos por la noche.

Carroll dijo que los conductores que no estaban heridos trataron de ayudar mientras las autoridades se abrían paso en medio de los fierros retorcidos.

“Sólo es gente ayudando gente”, dijo el oficial. “Lo más importante de este día feriado es cómo los otros viajeros nos ayudaban cuando estábamos abrumados, (y lo hicieron) manteniendo sentadas y sosteniendo (a víctimas), ejerciendo presión sobre las heridas de las personas”.

ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Uno de tantos conflictos bélicos que nuestro país enfrentó al comenzar su vida independiente lleva curioso nombre. Lo recordamos como la Guerra de los Pasteles. Se le denominó así por razones nada simpáticas.

Sucedió que en Tacubaya un empresario francés de apellido Rimontel puso un restaurante. Ya de noche, varios mandos del ejército concurrieron al establecimiento. Cenaron exquisitos platillos y, excedidos de tragos, encerrarían al propietario en la bodega anexa. Hecho esto, los oficiales engulleron cuantos pasteles localizaron, hasta empalagarse.

Francia exigió más tarde que les pagaran daños y perjuicios a varios ciudadanos suyos. Reclamos de Rimontel incluidos, el monto alcanzaba 600.000 pesos. La potencia europea fondeó su flota en 1838 frente a playas veracruzanas. Con estremecedor cañonazo inició al cabo de semanas la Guerra de los Pasteles.

Vínculo Sus antecedentes implicaban directamente a Tamaulipas. Porque hacía tres años el general José Ignacio Mejía remontó la bocana del río Pánuco, con planes de invadir Tampico hacia finales de 1835. Lo acompañaban combatientes de cuna variopinta. No obstante perder la mitad de sus embarcaciones –conste que eran dos--, alcanzaron el puerto tamaulipeco, donde trabarían batalla cerca del muelle.

Diversas proclamas indican que estuvieron lejos de sorprender al coronel Gregorio Gómez Palomino, comandante del contingente militar estacionado ahí. “La plaza es inexpugnable”, dijo en breve comunicado, reproducido por la imprenta

de La Gaceta de Tamaulipas. Derrotado Mejía, 28 compinches, mercenarios todos, se rindieron de plano.

Un decreto expedido con anterioridad ordenaba pena de muerte para la piratería. En consecuencia, Gómez Palomino mandó fusilar a los prisioneros, entre los que hubo dos galos, Saucien y Demoussent. Para familiares de estos últimos, en 1838 Francia pretendía 20.000 pesos, acompañados del cese de Gregorio Gómez. Tal fue el vínculo tamaulipeco con la Guerra de los Pasteles.

Ricos La Concordia, periódico del gobierno tamaulipeco, impreso en Ciudad Victoria, reveló: “El 21 [de abril] del corriente [1838], como a las 2 p.m. se presentaron a la vista” de Tampico “dos bergantines de guerra franceses, de los cuales uno ancló”, informaba el tabloide.

Después La Concordia estimó pérdidas en la desembocadura del Pánuco arriba “de 150.000 pesos […] por el bergantín de guerra francés que […] ha detenido” buques “que conducían ricos cargamentos”. Más tarde sus páginas anunciaron: “El […] 17 [de julio] en la noche se hizo a la vela el bergantín que bloquea el puerto y […] entró una goleta procedente de Liverpool,” Inglaterra.

Luego de bombardear Veracruz, la fuerza enemiga volvería al sureste de Tamaulipas. Bajo las órdenes del contralmirante Charles Baudin, una corbeta y dos bergantines amagaron Tampico el 26 de diciembre. El general José Urrea los puso en retirada. México cedió en febrero. Le pagaría a Francia la estratosférica suma.

Rechazó en cambio sancionar a Gregorio Gómez Palomino.

(Según fue publicado en La Razón, Tampico, Tamps., el 5 octubre 2012)

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SCHOOLS Continued from Page 1A Michael L. Williams earlier this month.

“The commissioner issued a decision finding that the Zapata County Independent School District Board acted illegally and improperly by not following the independent hearing examiner’s decision and by changing the conclusions of law,” said Edward “Tony” Connors, Brandon’s lawyer.

According to Connors, the board is now faced with three options: the reinstatement of Brandon with back pay, paying her one year’s salary in addition to back pay, or filing an appeal.

“I’m excited about the decision made by the commissioner of education. I hope the board considers the recommendation and gets me back to working with the district,” Brandon said.

(Rick Villarreal may be reached at 728-2528 or rvillarreal@lmtonline.com)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

COURT Continued from Page 1A If convicted, Izaguirre-Figueroa and Guerra-Davila could face a punishment of five to 40 years in federal prison. Arraignment has been set for 11 a.m. Nov. 29 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo R. Garcia.

The case came to light Nov. 3 when Border Patrol agents responded to reports of people carrying bundles near Allen Weeds Property in Jim Hogg.

A criminal complaint alleges Guerra-Davila led a group of seven people carrying bundles.

Federal authorities also allege Guerra-Davila was followed by Izaguirre-Figueroa. All people dropped the contraband and ran away when agents approached them, according to court records.

When arrested, Izaguirre-Figueroa said he had knowledge the bundles had marijuana. According to the complaint, Guerra-Davila had led the group from Mexico. Federal authorities allege the men met and obtained the marijuana in Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, which borders Roma in Starr County.

“Izaguirre-Figueroa further stated that the reason he transported the marijuana into the United States was because he was forced by unknown gunmen in Mexico,” Izaguirre-Figueroa allegedly told agents, according to court documents.

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

SHOPPING Continued from Page 1A helps create jobs, maintain jobs and helps the local economy. Keep Laredo dollars in Laredo,” Salinas said.

For Jesus Orosco, a manager at La Perfumeria, an island store next to the food court, it today has been a long day.

Starting work at 3 a.m, big Friday afternoon Orosco bows his head and rubs his eyes in between pushing product to passers-by.

“A lot of Red Bull,” he says, when asked how he’s able to cope with his long shift.

Busy sales day But so far it’s been worth it. He says his biggest sale of the day has been around $600, and he’s not done yet.

Orosco and his staff will remain at work until 11 p.m.

The toll of a long day was also apparent for Irwin Ramirez, another early bird. Ramirez, 18, and his father were among the most hardcore Black Friday shoppers, arriving at Sears shortly before doors opened at 4 a.m.

“People were pushing each other,”

Ramirez said of the crowds. “There were lines from the cashier to the back of the store.”

After Ramirez and his father made their purchases — tools and a tablet — he had to go to work at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. There, he saw Black Friday from the other side of the cash register. Surprisingly though, he says his store wasn’t noticeably more busy then usual.

At rest By late afternoon, Ramirez was off work and lounging in the lobby of Starbucks, waiting for his mother to finish her shift at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Like Thanksgiving, Black Friday had become a family tradition, albeit one far more demanding then anything that happened yesterday.

“I’m waiting for my mom to get out of work so I can sleep finally,” said Ramirez.

(Zach Brooke may be reached at 7282538 or zbrooke@lmtonline.com)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

MARGARITO GARZA

FELIPE DE JESUS MORALES Felipe De Jesus Morales, 88, passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas.

Mr. Morales is preceded in death by his wife, Antonia C. Morales; sons, Fernando Morales and Francisco Caballero; parents, Serapio and Vidala Morales; brothers, Manuel (Emma) Morales, Fabian (Sara) Morales, Serapio Jr. (Beatriz) Morales and Zaragoza (Petra) Morales; and sisters, Andrea Villarreal, Petra (Amador) Mendoza, Vidala (Saul) Gonzalez, Amada (Alfonso) Bustamante and Francisca (Genovevo) Bustamante.

Mr. Morales is survived by his sons, Ismael Morales, Felipe Jr. (Rosita) Morales, Braulio (Sylvia) Morales and Efrain (Leticia) Morales; daughters, Olga M. (Humberto) Perez, Gloria M. (Corando) Thatcher, Adelaida M. Piña, Yolanda M. (Armando) De Los Santos, Amada M . (Sherman) Thompson, Antonia M. (Hugo) Guzman, Maria Isabel (Javier) Lerma and Ofelia (Sergio) Mora; numerous grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, great-greatgrandchildren; brothers, Agapito (Olivia) Morales, Antonio (Victoria) Morales and Jose C. (Eloisa) Morales; sister, Maria (†Amador) Martinez; daughter-inlaw, Amanda Caballero; and by numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

Visitation hours were held Monday, Nov. 19, 2012,

from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home, and Tuesday, November 20, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 8:35 a.m.

The funeral procession departed Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. for a funeral Mass at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Dr. Luis Benavides and staff and Champion Care Home Health of Zapata, Texas.

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 N. U.S. 83, Zapata.

LEOPOLDO GARCIA Leopoldo Garcia, 82, passed away Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at Falcon Lake Nursing Home in Zapata, Texas.

Mr. Garcia is preceded in death by his daughter, Diana Garcia; parents, Teodulo and Enedina Garcia; brothers, Benito, Juan, Roberto, Heberto, and Teodulo Garcia; and sister, Elena Salinas.

Mr. Garcia is survived by his former wife, Rosalina Gutierrez; son, Leopoldo Jr. (Yolanda) Garcia; daughters, Alma Rosa (Greg) Avery, Enedina (Johnny) Tejeda, and Leticia (David) Benavides; grandchildren, Leopoldo III (Stephanie) Garcia, Melissa A. (Sergio) Martinez, Lee Ann Garcia, Kristina Garcia, Diana Lina (Adrian) Duran, Jessica (Rick) Elizondo, Claudia Veronica Garcia-Bisher, Ashley M. McDermott, Michael James McDermott, Kevin Cody McDermott, Erica M. (Jimmy) Moore, Liza (Israel III) Lozano and Celina Benavides; greatgrandchildren, Derek, Nathan, Christine, Triny, Shelby, Jacee, Mackenzie, Gavin, Skyler, Mary-Evelyn, Ariel, Matilda, and Christian; brother, Adalberto Garcia; sisters, Elma Zepeda, Elmira De Los Santos and Elva Gonzalez; and by numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

Visitation hours were

Margarito

Garza,

68,

passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas.

Mr. Garza is preceded in death by his parents, Francisco and Vicenta Garza.

Mr. Garza is survived by his wife, Albeza Garza; sons, Margarito (San Juanita) Garza, Felipe de Jesus (Maria de Jesus) Garza, Mario Alberto (Beatriz) Garza and Jose Alonzo (Yajaira) Garza; daughters, Yesenia (Mario Alberto) Garcia, Dora Syl-

VIRGINIA GUZMAN Virginia Guzman, 87, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas.

Ms. Guzman is preceded in death by her husband, Jose Maria Guzman; sons, Jose Maria Guzman Jr., Miguel Guzman and Ovidio Guzman; grandson, Miguel Antonio Garza; parents, Pedro and Maria Garcia; brother, Rogelio Garcia; and sisters, Maria Candelaria (Jesus) Dominguez and Emma Bernal.

Ms. Guzman is survived by her sons, Derly (Maria Guadalupe) Guzman, Lucio Guzman, Miguel Guzman and Pedro Guzman; daughters, Carlota G. (Hugo) Garza and Martha Elena (Remigio) Guerra; grandchildren, Derly Guzman Jr., Ovidio Garza, Hugo (Veronica) Garza, Blanca (Jesus) Araiza, Santiago (Maria) Garza, Blanca (Jesus) Araiza, Santiago (Maria) Garza, Rene Guerra, Raul Guerra, Erika Guerra and Rhonda Guerra; numerous great-grandchildren; and a sister, Maria Garcia.

Visitation hours were held Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with

a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

A chapel service was held Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

The funeral procession departed at 10:45 a.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 N. U.S. 83, Zapata.

held Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home, and on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The funeral procession departed Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. for a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

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

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

Funeral Home. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

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

MARIA DORA CHAPA Maria Dora Chapa, 75, passed away Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at her residence in Zapata, Texas.

Ms. Chapa is preceded in death by her parents, Alfonso Chapa and Teresa Martinez; husband, Alberto J. Chapa; son, Amado Chapa; brother, Javier Chapa; and a sister, Alicia Muñoz.

Ms. Chapa is survived by her children, Cynthia (Luis Angel) Herrera, Maria Teresa (Jaime) Chapa, Dora Isela Chapa and Alberto Chapa; grandchildren, Marlen, Luis Angel, Luis Alonso, Jesus Ricardo, Arian, Jaime Jr., Jonathan, Felipe, Lauro, Carlos, Amanda, Amado and Alberto; great-grandchildren, Jerson, Carlos, Santiago and Sofia; brothers, Melecio (Elia†) Chapa, Alfonso (Irma) Chapa, Armando (Martina) Chapa and Roehl (Dora) Chapa; sisters, Magda (Antonio) Lopez, Alma (Rodolfo†) Garcia, Norma Chapa and Blanca Chapa; and by numerous neph-

ews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

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 N. U.S. 83, Zapata.

JULIAN VILLARREAL FLORES

JAVIER E. BENAVIDES SAN YGNACIO — Javier E. Benavides, 15, passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012.

Javier is preceded in death by his grandparents, Ramon and Maria Benavides.

Javier is survived by his parents, Alfonso and Lydia Z. Benavides; brothers, Juan Paredes III, Luis A. Paredes, Arturo J. Benavides, Alfonso Benavides Jr. and Luis Rene Benavides; sisters, Dahlia Paredes, Erica Vela and Adela Benavides; maternal grandparents, Alfonso and Nelda Zepeda; and by numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and many friends.

Visitation hours were Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home, and Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The funeral procession departed Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church. Committal

via (Delfino) Garcia and Albeza Veronica (Rafael) Cervantes; brothers, Enrique Garza Carrion and Gilberto Martinez Carrion; and by numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Visitation hours were Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a wake at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

A chapel service was held Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at 9 a.m. at Rose Garden

services followed at Panteon Del Pueblo in San Ygnacio, Texas.

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 N. U.S. 83, Zapata.

Julian Villarreal Flores, 68, passed away Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, at Doctor’s Hospital in Laredo.

Mr. Villarreal is preceded in death by his son, Francisco Javier Villarreal; parents, Simon and Juana Villarreal; and a brother, Antonio Villarreal.

Mr. Villarreal is survived by his wife, San Juana Escamilla; sons, Julian (Amalia) Villarreal and Simon Villarreal; daughters, Ruby (Seferino Jr.) Salazar, Erica and Julie; grandchildren, Emily Villarreal, Francisco Javier Villarreal, Ruben Javier Sanchez, Alheli Sanchez and Joseph Salazar; brothers, Roel Villarreal, Oziel Villarreal and Rigoberto Villarreal; sisters, Oralia Serna and Yolanda Sanchez; and by numerous nephews, nieces, and many friends.

Visitation hours were held Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a wake at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

Committal services followed at Cementerio Los Colorados de Abajo in Los Colorados, Nuevo Leon.

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 N. U.S. 83, Zapata.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

Award winning Zapata takes home four major honors

By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

T

he volleyball season has been over for three weeks and the District 31-3A coaches have finally released the All-District volleyball list.

Zapata swept the top spot and captured its third consecutive district title as it headed to the playoffs.

The Lady Hawks took home four of the top honors including MVP, Newcomer of the Year, CoOffensive Player and Coach of the Year.

Senior Kristina De Leon led Zapata all season long and was rewarded for her hard work on the court as the district coaches voted her Co-MVP. De Leon dazzled the crowds with her overall play, competing at any position on the court and was rarely on the sidelines.

De Leon could pound the leather out of the ball with great force or send it over where no defense was around.

She was also a great back row player for the Lady Hawks as she consistently came in second in statistics for defensive specialties.

“Kris was big force for us for the past two years.” Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal said. “Playing club ball with that elite team this past summer really helped her step up her game. It helped her to push the girl on the court and they responded to her.

“She will be missed by her teammates and the underclassman that really looked up to her.”

Zapata junior Celia Rathmell was named Newcomer of the Year as she was part of the defensive force at the net for the Lady Hawks.

Rathmell spent last season on the junior varsity team and really flourished this year with each passing week and team started to notice her.

Photo by Tim Sharp | AP

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys fell behind 28-3 at halftime of their 38-31 loss to Washington on Thursday.

Slow starts dooming Dallas Cowboys hoping it’s not too late to fix their trend of starting slow

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times

District 31-3A coaches announced Zapata’s Kristina De Leon as Co-Most Valuable Player.

She came in as an unsure and inexperienced varsity player and became Zapata’s main blocker at the net.

“She just came along and really blossomed towards the end where we really needed her,” Villarreal said. “Celia was really not that strong but was willing to take on that role as our blocker.

“We saw a really big difference in her hitting when she was comfortable with her blocking. She was by far the most improve player and the district coaches took a note of that. I can not wait to see

what we will do next year.”

Gina Jasso was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year for her hitting ability at the net.

Villarreal has really become and icon in Zapata for building that volleyball program to one of the best in the district and was named Coach of the Year this season .

Villarreal knows how to put the pieces of the puzzle together to build a championship team year in and year out, taking the Lady

See ZAPATA PAGE 2B

NCAA FOOTBALL

ARLINGTON — Tony Romo will spend much of his extended weekend trying to figure out how the Dallas Cowboys can get off to better starts.

Jason Witten knows they have to do that and fast — if it’s not already too late.

Dallas (5-6) has fallen behind by 10 points or more before halftime in each of its last four home games.

The Cowboys lost three of those games, including a Thanksgiving Day game when rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III led Washington to a 28-3 halftime lead.

“We know where we’re at, no question to that,” Witten said. “We have a long way to go, and a short time to do it. ... It’s that time, we have to start doing it, and playing better early in games so that you can stay with the game plan. You can’t play football and try to win in those situations.”

After building some much-needed momentum with consecutive victories, while the NFC East-leading New York Giants (6-4) lost two in a row, the Cowboys now are tied for second place with the Redskins.

And Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is already

See DALLAS PAGE 2B

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Injuries piling up for Texans

By CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Jack Plunkett | AP

Texas quarterback David Ash, right, and the No. 18 Longhorns scored just 13 points in a 20-13 loss at home to TCU.

Texas QBs struggle in loss to TCU

By RANDY RIGGS MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

AUSTIN — For much of the season, if Texas quarterback David Ash didn’t play at a high level, Case McCoy would.

Ash was off his game against Oklahoma. Ditto at Kansas. And then there was Thursday night, against TCU. Against the Sooners, McCoy came in and sparked the offense - somewhat - in a blowout loss. Then he salvaged a victory in Lawrence.

But on Thanksgiving night, it didn’t happen.

TCU’s ferocious and ballhawking defense stifled both quarterbacks, and the result was a 20-13 Horned Frogs victory before a mostly subdued crowd - the smallest home crowd of the season - at Royal Memorial Stadium.

The 18th-ranked Longhorns’ third straight defeat in a home finale, and the Frogs’ first win in Austin since 1967, wasn’t

See TEXAS PAGE 2B

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans won another thriller, but coach Gary Kubiak has growing concerns about the health of his team.

The Texans (10-1) rallied late to force overtime for the second straight game and beat Detroit 34-31 on Thanksgiving. Kubiak was back at Reliant Stadium early Friday morning, mulling over a sobering list of injuries to key players.

Linebackers Brooks Reed (groin) and Bradie James (hamstring), and starting right tackle Derek Newton (right knee) underwent MRI exams on Friday after getting hurt against the Lions. Tight end Garrett Graham hurt his left shoulder in the game, and Houston was already playing without starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph (hamstring), nose tackle Shaun Cody (back), linebacker Tim Dobbins (left shoulder) and backup running back Ben Tate (hamstring).

“We’ve got some damage this morning, no doubt about that,” Kubiak said Friday, “but it is a huge win.”

The Texans next play at Tennessee (4-6) on Dec. 2. Kubiak is giving his players the weekend off after a draining five days in

Photo by Paul Sancya | AP

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak is growing concerned about the injuries piling up on Houston’s roster. which they played nearly 21/2 games.

On Sunday, Houston came back from 14 points down to beat Jacksonville 43-37 late in overtime, then rallied from a 10point deficit in the third quarter to beat the Lions after just two days of light practice. The Texans gritted out a 13-6 win in rainy Chicago the previous week.

“I’m amazed at the players and the way they held up,” Kubiak said. “During that short period of time, to play that much football and in that competitive environment and the way we had to win the last

week together, and even if you throw Chicago in there, it’s been very taxing on the team.

“I just said that I think the biggest thing is, after what we’ve been through physically, winning was so important.”

Kubiak says he’d know more about the latest injuries on Monday.

Newton won the starting job at right tackle in training camp and has started every game.

Ryan Harris, signed just before the season began, replaced Newton Thursday.

The linebacking corps, mean-

See TEXANS PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

Vigil held for Camacho

By DANICA COTO ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Family and friends of former boxing champion Hector ’Macho’ Camacho kept a somber vigil Friday at the hospital in Puerto Rico where he remains on life support.

Doctors in San Juan have said Camacho is clinically brain dead from a shooting earlier this week in his hometown of Bayamon. But relatives and friends told The Associated Press they are still wrestling with whether to remove him from life support.

“It is a very difficult decision, a very delicate decision,” said former pro boxer Victor “Luvi” Callejas, a longtime friend, in a phone interview. “The last thing we lose is hope and faith. If there is still hope and faith, why not wait a little more?”

Camacho’s oldest son, Hector Camacho Jr., told reporters his father has not been disconnected from an artificial respirator and that he believes he is still alive.

“My father is a boxer and we’re going to let him fight for his life,” he said. “The doctors have said a lot of things, but he is alive, he’s in the fight.”

Two of Camacho’s sisters have asked that he remain on life support until Saturday.

Aida Camacho, one of the boxer’s aunts, said in an interview that the family could decide by late Friday whether to donate his organs.

As some relatives and friends continued to pray for a miracle, condolences kept coming in for the boxer’s family and preparations have begun for memorials and a funeral Mass.

Gov. Luis Fortuno said he lamented what he called a sudden loss. “’Macho’ will always be remembered for his spontaneity and charisma in and out of the ring,” he said.

Also offering condolences was governor-elect Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who defeated Fortuno in November.

“The life of Macho Camacho, like other great athletes of ours, united the country,” he said. “We celebrated his triumphs in the streets and we applauded him with noble

Photo by Sean Kilpatrick | AP

The NHL cancelled all games through Dec. 14 as well as All-Star Weekend due to the lockout.

NHL cancels All-Star Game

By IRA PODELL ASSOCIATED PRESS

File photo by Donna Connor | AP

Hector "Macho" Camacho won a unanimous decision over Roberto Duran in an IBC middleweight title fight in 1996. He was shot Tuesday and is clinically brain dead. sportsmanship when he didn’t prevail.”

Camacho was shot Tuesday night as he sat in a car with a friend, 49year-old Adrian Mojica Moreno, who was killed in the attack. Police spokesman Alex Diaz said officers found nine small bags of cocaine in the friend’s pocket, and a 10th bag open inside the car.

Police have made no arrests and continue to interview potential witnesses. Capt. Rafael Rosa told reporters Friday that they are tracking down several leads, but added that very few witnesses are cooperating. He declined to say whether police have identified any suspects.

Camacho Jr. lamented the violence that has consumed Puerto Rico, a U.S. island territory of nearly 4 million people that reported a record 1,117 homicides last year.

“Death, jail, drugs, killings,” he said. “That’s what the streets are now.”

Camacho’s sisters have said they

would like to fly Camacho’s body to New York and bury him there. Camacho grew up mostly in Harlem, earning the nickname the “Harlem Heckler.”

He won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s and fought high-profile bouts against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. Camacho knocked out Leonard in 1997, ending the former champ’s final comeback attempt. Camacho had a career record of 79-6-3.

Camacho also battled drug, alcohol and other problems throughout his life. He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison on burglary charges, but a judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation.

He wound up serving two weeks in jail, though, after violating that probation. A wife also filed domestic abuse complaints against him twice before their divorce.

ZAPATA Continued from Page 1B Hawks to the top for the third consecutive year with a district title.

Making the first All-District Team for the Lady Hawks was Leann Flores, Ceci Mata and Abby Aguilar.

Anissa Garcia was named Second Team AllDistrict along with Vanessa Martinez, Gabby Gutierrez and Clarissa Villarreal.

Zapata was a balanced team who burned the candle at both ends as the Lady Hawks had 11 on the All-Academic Team, consisting of De Leon, Rathemell, Jasso, Flores, Mata, Aguilar, Garcia, Martinez, Gutierrez, Villarreal and Stephanie Briseno.

More than a third of the NHL regular season and two of its marquee events have now been called off.

The league announced its latest round of cancellations on Friday — Day 69 of its labor lockout. All games through Dec. 14 were wiped out, and this time All-Star Weekend, scheduled for Jan. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio, was lost, too. The New Year’s Day outdoor Winter Classic already was scratched.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said losing the All-Star festivities is “extremely disappointing.”

“We feel badly for NHL fans and particularly those in Columbus, and we intend to work closely with the Blue Jackets organization to return the NHL All-Star events to Columbus and their fans as quickly as possible,” Daly said in a statement Friday.

Brian Jack, a 35-year-old IT director who grew up in Pittsburgh, moved to Columbus 17 years ago and converted from a Penguins

fan to a Blue Jackets supporter after the expansion team hit the ice.

“We knew the All-Star Game, the longer it went, was probably going to be one of the first special events they cancelled,” a season-ticket holder for all of the Blue Jackets’ 12 seasons.

“You knew it was coming, but I hoped that they would get together and fix it (labor problems) up. For season-ticket holders who have watched the Blue Jackets struggle for a number of years with the product on the ice, the All-Star game was supposed to be a bright spot. Now that’s gone.”

A lockout in the 1994-95 season shortened that campaign to 48 games. A similar scenario could play out this time if the sides can find some common ground. Or the whole season could be lost, as it was in 2004-05.

Owners and players had an unproductive negotiating session on Wednesday that produced no movement to break an impasse over splitting more than $3 billion in revenue and also player contracts.

DALLAS Continued from Page 1B dreading the regular season finale Dec. 30 at Washington in another game against Griffin.

“I’m not trying to be negative, but we’ve got to play these guys again,” the ever-optimistic Jones said minutes after Thursday’s 38-31 loss.

“And with how impressed I am with how they played, we’ve got our hands full for that last game.”

In a homecoming of sorts for the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor, the Redskins scored 28 points in the second quarter. It was their first four-touchdown quarter in 13 years.

The Cowboys tried to make a comeback in the second half, when Romo threw three touchdowns. There were two to Dez Bryant, including a career-long 85-yarder and an 11-yarder with 8:18 left that got the Cowboys within 35-28.

Washington then went 50 yards in 11 plays, taking more than 5 minutes off the clock, for a game-sealing field goal.

Including the Cowboys’ 23-20 overtime win at home against two-win Cleveland, when they trailed 13-0 at halftime, Romo threw 112 passes in a five-day span.

“It’s just not going to be a fun few days. It’s

just going to eat at you and consume all of your thoughts. You think about what you can do to help this football team get better,” Romo said.

“I’m exhausting my brain thinking about things to do and things to help us get off to better starts and move the ball better.”

With the Cowboys falling behind so often at home, Romo has attempted at least 50 passes in each of his last three home games, after only three 50-pass games his first 83 starts overall since taking over in the middle of the 2006 season.

Romo attempted 62 passes Thursday against the Redskins. That matched his career record set less than a month earlier in a 29-24 home loss to the Giants, who led 23-0 early in the second quarter.

“Can’t spot good teams, we’ve talked about that all along. That’s what’s disappointing, we continue to do it and it’s just too hard to overcome,” Witten said. “You get away from your plan. All the work you put in the week to study, and the formations how you’re going to attack them, it goes out the window. ... We’ve got to start better in these games and give ourselves a

TEXAS Continued from Page 1B entirely due to Ash and McCoy. There was plenty of blame to go around - the defense reverted back to giving up too many big plays, for example. But Ash didn’t help the cause, especially in the first half when Texas was in position to score. Twice.

The Longhorns committed four turnovers to just one for the Frogs. Ash was responsible for three of them, all coming in the first half - two interceptions in the red zone and a fumble deep in Texas territory. TCU converted the gifts into 14 points.

"It kills you when you throw interceptions," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "It really kills you when you’re in the red zone."

Consequently, Texas (8-3 overall, 5-3 in the Big 12) likely needs to beat formerly top-ranked Kansas State next week in Manhattan to salvage a Cotton Bowl bid. Otherwise the Longhorns are probably looking at the Alamo Bowl.

Texas’ woes inside TCU’s 20-yard line began on its first possession, a crisp march that ended with startling suddenness as cornerback Jason Verrett intercepted his Big 12-best sixth pass when Ash tried to find Mike Davis at the Frogs’ 6-yard line.

That mistake was compounded when TCU promptly marched 94 yards for a touchdown, beginning the drive with a 35-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Trevone Boykin to tight end Corey Fuller.

Early in the second quarter, Ash was

victimized again in the shadow of the TCU goal. From the Frogs’ 18-yard line, he threw over the middle for Jaxon Shipley in the end zone. But safety Elisha Olabode was waiting for the ball and intercepted.

Ash, treated for a rib injury after the game, was 10 of 21 for 104 yards and the two interceptions. McCoy completed 11 of 17 for 110 yards and an interception.

About two minutes later after his second pick, Ash fumbled while attempting to pass from deep in Texas’ end.

Frogs’ defensive end Stansly Maponga recovered at the 16, and TCU scored three plays later on a 1-yard run.

"It’s hard to overcome three turnovers early, plus the fourth one at the end," co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said. "It was going to be very difficult, and that’s what happened tonight."

The fourth turnover was an interception by McCoy at the end, which sealed Texas’ fate. On the series before that, he had driven Texas 82 yards for its only touchdown, a 5-yard run by Jeremy Hills. On the second play after TCU went three-and-out, McCoy’s long pass for Cayleb Jones slipped out of his hand as he released it, and safety Sam Carter logged the Frogs’ 20th interception of the season, which is tops in the league.

"We can talk about it all night, but four turnovers to one is going to get you beat most of the time," he said. "It’s about 100 percent of the time."

chance.”

The Cowboys return to practice Monday to start preparations for their third consecutive home game, Dec. 2 against Philadelphia. They won 38-23 at Philly on Nov. 11.

Dallas was down 10-0 in less than 5 minutes at Seattle in the second week of the season. Since then, all of the early double-digit deficits have come at home.

The Chicago Bears took a 10-0 lead on their way to a 34-18 Monday night victory Oct. 1. Dallas actually rebounded from that 23-point deficit Oct. 28 against the Giants to take a lead into the fourth quarter before New York kicked two field goals.

Cleveland surprisingly put Dallas in a quick hole, and the Redskins responded with their 28point outburst in the second quarter after the Cowboys kicked a field goal on their opening drive.

“Everything we want is still in front of us,” Witten said. “But at some point, it has to turn for us. Yeah, we fight. Yeah, we’ve got will. But let’s fix it. You’ve got to show it. That’s the only thing you can do about it.”

TEXANS Continued from Page 1B while, is suddenly the Texans’ most depleted unit. Brian Cushing was already gone for the season with a torn left knee ligament. Dobbins stepped into Cushing’s spot in the starting lineup, but he hurt his left shoulder in the Chicago game.

Reed, who has 21/2 sacks and 15 solo tackles this season, pulled up chasing Joique Bell on Thursday, and James left in the fourth quarter after assisting on a tackle of Mikel Leshoure.

Luckily for Kubiak, Darryl Sharpton is back after missing a year with a torn right quadriceps. Sharpton saw his first action since Oct. 30, 2011 against Jacksonville and then started in Detroit. The injuries also create more opportunity for first-round pick Whitney Mercilus, who had four solo tackles and two for loss on Thursday.

“We are in a mode of survival right there at that position until we get some guys healthy,” Kubiak said.

Aside from the injuries, Kubiak is starting to have concerns about the defense, which was ranked fourth overall and seventh against the pass coming into the Lions game.

But Houston has given up 791 yards passing and six touchdown passes in the last two games, and Kubiak says the mounting injuries are becoming a factor.

“We have not played to our standard the last two weeks defensively,” Kubiak said. “Obviously, if we lined up today, we’re missing three of our four starting linebackers,” Kubiak said. “I mean,

that’s a concern. Then, when your top corner sits down. There are some things there to say, ’OK, we can be better if we can get healthy here.’ But still, we’ve got to look at it and say, ’That’s not us.”’

The Texans escaped Detroit with a win when Shayne Graham kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:21 left in overtime. Graham is 20 for 25 this season, but he missed a 51-yarder that would’ve given Houston the victory earlier in the extra period. He also badly hooked a 47-yarder at the end of regulation against Jacksonville.

Kubiak is also concerned that Graham’s kickoffs are coming up short.

“He’s just inconsistent hitting the ball and it’s something we’ve been working on,” Kubiak said. “It is a concern because field position is so huge in the game. He has kicked pretty well for us.

We expect him to make that kick at the end of the game. I know it’s a 50-yarder, but that’s our business, that’s what he’s here to do.”

Graham won the job when rookie Randy Bullock tore a groin muscle in training camp. Kubiak says he still has confidence in Graham, despite the recent misses.

“He’s kicked in a lot of big games. He’s made a lot of big kicks,” Kubiak said.

“The situation with our kickoffs is something we’re concerned about, but we have a lot of other issues with our team right now. So it’s hard to go solve that with some of the other things we’ve got going on.”

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

HINTS | BY HELOISE OPTIONS FOR A POTATO MASHER Dear Heloise: My favorite use for a POTATO MASHER is to make interesting decorations and patterns on cake icing. Just use a light touch. — Jim G., via e-mail Good idea. Here are some uses we came up with at Heloise Central: Crush fruit when making jams or jellies.

Make designs on peanut-butter cookies.

Mix up items in a round pot or bowl.

Break up ground meat when cooking.

Mash eggs when making egg salad.

And here is a potatomasher use from Peg L. of Mansfield, Ohio: “I use the potato masher for my cream soups. Cook potatoes, broccoli or cauliflower in water.

When cooked well, use the potato masher to mash up the chunks, and finish the soup. Great cream soup.”

Send your favorite use for a potato masher, and I will print as many as possible and pick 10 favorites to receive a Heloise pamphlet.

Send your hint to: Heloise (at)Heloise.com; fax to: 210HELOISE (435-6473); or mail to: Heloise/Potato Masher, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. Hope to hear from you soon. — He-

“

HELOISE

loise PET PAL Dear Readers: Frank of Laurelville, Ohio, sent a photo of his black-and-white cat, Moo, waking up in her Buckeyes bed. Frank says, “She is a sweetheart!” To see Moo, visit www. Heloise.com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise SHELL-CURTAIN PRESERVATION Dear Heloise: I bought a shell curtain when I was at the Texas coast and hung it over the bathroom entrance (since my bathroom is decorated with fish). I loved it, but every time my husband would go through it, I was afraid he was going to break the shells.

We were having a party, and I worried that with the traffic in and out of the bathroom, the shells would get broken. So, I pulled all the strands together and looped them around a large candle sconce by the door.

This way, everyone could go through the door without a problem. Worked great, and no broken shells. — Kay in Louisiana

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Football

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

Texas A&M aims for 10-win season

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin doesn’t have to say much this week to motivate his team.

The ninth-ranked Aggies (9-2, 5-2 SEC) know what’s at stake as they aim for their first 10-win season since 1998, and try to break a three-game losing streak to Missouri.

“We’re playing a team that no one on this football team has ever beaten,” Sumlin said. “It’s senior day. That’ll be enough to get our attention right there.”

Sumlin also knows that his team can’t take Missouri (5-6, 2-5) lightly with the Tigers needing a win to become bowl eligible.

“Both sides have a lot to play for,” Sumlin said.

“Last time I checked, they haven’t lost here in a while.

I don’t think they’ll be lacking any confidence at all walking into this place.”

Because of a scheduling quirk, Missouri is playing against the Aggies in College Station for the third straight season. The Tigers got a 30-9 win in 2010 and escaped with a 38-31 win in overtime last season in the Big 12 before both teams moved to the Southeastern Conference for this season.

“This has to be a world record, third time going down there,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel joked.

“All teams are different.

Our players have great respect for A&M and it is a great place to play a football game. That being said, the reason we won those games was because we played well and made plays at the end to win.”

The Tigers’ big task on Saturday will be trying to contain Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Photo by Paul Sancya | AP

Texans running back Justin Forsett (28) ran for an 81-yard touchdown that was unreviewable after Detroit threw a challenge flag during an automatic review.

NFL reviews replay rule

By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo by Dave Martin | AP

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has the Aggies a game away from their first 10-win season since 1998.

The redshirt freshman is second in the nation in total offense with more than 378 yards a game, and the 20.73 points a game he’s responsible for are tied for third in the country.

He’s the fifth player and first freshman in FBS history to pass for at least 3,000 yards with at least 1,000 yards rushing in a season, and his 4,161 yards are a school record for total offense in a season.

“He’s a very, very impressive player,” Pinkel said. “He’s athletic, he throws the ball well and he’s accurate. He can throw off balance, he’s creative.

When you watch film you wonder how he pulls stuff off but he does. He plays with a lot of confidence.”

Pinkel is certainly impressed with Manziel’s work, but noted that it has been helped by playing behind a talented and experienced offensive line. The group is led by senior center Patrick Lewis, who has started 46 straight games, and has junior tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews, who have started 37 and 31 straight games, respectively.

Manziel accounted for

five touchdowns in just more than a half of Texas A&M’s 47-28 win over Sam Houston State on Saturday.

He needs another strong game to impress Heisman Trophy voters one more time before they make their decision.

Sumlin wouldn’t directly answer the question when asked if he thought Manziel should become the first freshman to win the award.

But he did rave about his quarterback.

“If you look at his numbers and what he’s done compared to everyone else, they speak for themselves,” he said. “I’ll take it a step further, if you look at his numbers compared to anyone else who has ever played the game, they speak for themselves.”

Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has enjoyed watching Manziel develop this season.

“To be a freshman and do what he’s done in that conference is hard to believe unless you’re a part of it and have watched it every day and how much he’s improved from Day 1 until now,” Kingsbury said. “It’s really been fun to watch.”

NEW YORK — The rule that negated using video replay to confirm a Houston Texans touchdown “may be too harsh” and will be re-examined immediately, NFL director of football operations Ray Anderson said Friday.

Anderson, also co-chairman of the competition committee that suggests rules changes to the owners, said a change could come this year. The NFL traditionally resists changing rules during a season.

“We will certainly discuss the rule with the competition committee members, as we do all situations involving unique and unusual circumstances, and determine if we feel a change should be recommended to ownership,” Anderson said in a statement.

“Not being able to review a play in this situation may be too harsh, and an unintended consequence of trying to prevent coaches from throwing their challenge flag for strategic purposes in situations that are not subject to a coaches’ challenge.”

Anderson added the NFL is not bound by past events when a rule is

proved to have loopholes, and that a 15-yard penalty for throwing the challenge flag on a play that is automatically reviewed might be enough. For now, throwing the challenge flag also eliminates the use of replay. All scoring plays otherwise are reviewed.

Justin Forsett’s thirdquarter 81-yard run in the Texans’ 34-31 overtime victory at Detroit on Thursday initially was ruled a touchdown, although replays clearly showed his knee and elbow touched the turf when he was hit

by Lions defenders. Detroit coach Jim Schwartz challenged, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and the negated use of video replay.

In 2011, instant replay rules were changed to have the replay official initiate a review of all scoring plays. The rule stated that a team is prevented from challenging a play if that team commits a foul that prevents the next snap, or if a challenge flag is thrown when an automatic review would take place. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is assessed as well as the elimination of the replay review for the play.

But, as Anderson noted,

getting the calls right is paramount and that the league may have overlooked the scenario that occurred in Detroit.

Similar incidents not involving scores happened last season in San Francisco’s win, coincidentally at Detroit, and last week when the Falcons beat Arizona.

The rule was adopted in part because of a situation in a Redskins-Giants game in December 2010.

Officials on the field ruled a fumble recovered by the Giants, and the ball was made ready for play.

But Washington veteran linebacker London Fletcher kicked the ball and was called for delay of game.

While the penalty was being enforced, Washington challenged the ruling of a fumble.

The competition committee felt that a team could benefit from committing a penalty in that situation, giving it more time to challenge a play. It was decided that the new rule would also apply when a team throws the challenge flag on a play that can’t be challenged — including scoring plays, turnovers, when the team is out of challenges or timeouts, and inside the final two minutes of a half or game, or in overtime.