TEXANS SEARCH FOR SUCCESS
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2010
FREE
WITH THE TITANS IN TOWN A TEXANS TURNAROUND IS POSSIBLE, 1B
DELIVERED EVERY SATURDAY
TO 4,000 HOMES
A HEARST PUBLICATION
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Safety tips for the holidays
On the lookout
Residents given tips to keep homes, safe while they’re away By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The holidays can be a joyful time with family and friends, even a time of relaxation and time away from home, but burglars are lurking and waiting for their lucky breaks. That is why the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office is encouraging residents to secure their properties, especially during the holidays. Residents are encouraged to contact the sheriff ’s office if they will be away from their homes for more than a day, Sergeant Mario Elizondo said. “They can leave a contact number or if they have an alarm they can provide the company so we can speak to them directly,” Elizondo said. “They should also notify trustworthy neighbors and family members so they can go by the house to check in.” Some other safety tips include leaving a light, a T.V. or a radio on, and have a neighbor or family member pick up newspapers, Elizondo said. “Habitual or veteran burglars go casing houses, especially during the holidays,” Elizondo said. “Burglars casing houses will look at a stack of newspapers that have not
been picked up as a sign of a resident not being home.” During the holidays burglars expect to find presents and other valuables at their disposal, especially when a Christmas tree is set in front of a window, Elizondo said. “They know there are presents so windows and doors should be locked,” Elizondo said. “Call back to your house and let it ring a couple of times and hang up. Don’t make it seem like you are not at your house.” A burglary happens in less than three minutes, Elizondo said. “They break a window and take as much as they can take in a minute or two,” Elizondo said. The sheriff ’s office has recovered unwrapped gifts and other valuables, Elizondo added. “That’s what they look for, easy cash like that,” he said. “People get stuck with a $100 broken window and no gifts and whatever else they took.” Zapata County is populated by winter Texans who are usually gone for six months out of the year and often fall victim to their homes being burglarized and don’t realize it until they return, Elizondo said. “There’s no way of us knowing,” Elizondo said. For winter Texans and other local residents, the sheriff ’s office provides ‘round-the-
Sheriff seeks vandal of deputy’s car By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy photo
Authorities are asking for the community’s help to find the person responsible for the damages on this 2006 Mustang. To provide information on the case call Crime Stoppers at 765-8477. Callers may remain anonymous and may be entitled to a reward of up to $1,000.
The Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office is asking the community’s help in solving a vandalism case deputies say may be a retaliation. Deputies responded to a criminal mischief call Sunday in the 100 block of Carla Street by the Falcon Lake Nursing Home.
See CAR PAGE 10A
COUNTY
THANKSGIVING FEAST
See SAFETY PAGE 10A
SCHOOLS
Villarreal students put on talent show By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Before taking the Thanksgiving holiday off, Villarreal Elementary School Student Council members and officers showed off their talent by singing and dancing in front of the entire student body and staff. The talent show consisted of 14 acts, including two large dancing groups and 12 solo or small groups of all ages, said Victoriana Gallegos, Villarreal reading interventionist and Student Council sponsor. Student Council members had wanted to put on the show since the beginning of the year, Gallegos said. “I agreed and we’ve been practicing the past month,” Gallegos said. The Student Council consists of members and officers from third through fifth grades, Gallegos said.
“We let students be the leaders of the school and I try to portray that to them,” Gallegos said. “When they came with the talent show idea I really wanted to put it on even though I knew it was going to be hard work, but I really wanted to show them that they are important and take their ideas into consideration. We just went for it and had a lot of fun.” One of the large groups consisting mostly of student council members performed “DJ Got Us Falling in Love,” a song by Usher and choreographed by Gallegos, she said. The other large group performed “I Like It,” by Enrique Iglesias and choreographed by cheerleading sponsor Vicky Garza, Gallegos said. Before the performance individuals and groups had to choose a song to be approved
See TALENT PAGE 10A
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Zapata County hosted a Thanksgiving luncheon for its employees Wednesday at the Zapata County Community Center. Among those in attendance were, from left, Duvleza Orengo, Fire Chief Juan Meza, Nellie Trevino and Mari Gutierrez.
County offers appreciation luncheon By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County employees gathered Wednesday for a Thanksgiving luncheon provided by the county in appreciation for their hard work all year. “We don’t do this every year, but this is another way for the public officials to show gratitude to all the county employees,” Zapata County Judge Rosalva Guerra said. “We are grateful for the hard work they do for the county.”
The county sponsors a Thanksgiving luncheon every other year, Guerra said. “We don’t do this every year, but the employees were asking for it,” Guerra said. During the luncheon, county employees sat on several tables surrounded by their co-workers, colleagues, and friends while enjoying their Thanksgiving lunch, donated by Justice of the Peace Fernando Muñoz. While eating turkey and all the trimmings, county employees listened to a few words of encour-
agement by Captain Aaron Sanchez of the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office and by Audelia Hernandez, the county judge’s secretary. Sanchez made the county employees aware of what is going on in the community and Hernandez gave a presentation on the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, Guerra said. “Many county employees don’t know this program is available to them and that (they’re income
See LUNCHEON PAGE 10A