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Business incentives Development Center eyes tax abatements for new establishments By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata leaders are looking at providing incentives to businesses in an effort to attract more industry to the area. Peggy Umphres Moffett, director of the Zapata Economic Development Center, presented a resolution in support of tax abatements to Commissioners Court at its Monday meeting and requested the court approve something similar. Umphres Moffett said that to participate in a state incentive program, the county would have to adopt a program of its own. “This is an opportunity
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This is an opportunity for us to really diversify the industry base that we have, to diversify the economy.” PEGGY UMPHRES, DIRECTOR OF THE ZAPATA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER
for us to really diversify the industry base that we have, to diversify the economy,” she said. Umphres Moffett said Zapata could be competitive with other cities because of the low development cost in the area. She added she’d like the court
to hold a workshop on the issue. “If we don’t get new industry, then we don’t get the inbound dollars,” she said. “We’re just recirculating dollars and eventually those disappear.” Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela showed reluc-
tance at the idea, saying the county should first work to improve infrastructure. “It’s good to be thinking about ways to bring industry, but we’re putting the cart before the horse so to speak,” Vela told the court. After the meeting, Vela said the county was barely getting by with what is already in place. He emphasized that an international bridge would help diversify the economy. “It’s not really a short project, but it could be something that we could start to work on. If we do get the study ready, we could always start talking
See BUSINESS PAGE 12A
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
A NEW TAKE ON THE NATIVITY
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Community Health Center dentist Lorena Salcedo checks the progress of a procedure on 9-year-old Giselle Espinoza.
Dentists aid the community Gateway Health Center helps people with medical problems By ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES
In toddlers, thumb sucking can be seen as a comforting habit. As children grow up, the habit usually disappears. In the case of 9-year-old Giselle Espinoza, however, it became an addiction of sorts. Clara Espinoza, Giselle’s mother, said her daughter would suck her thumb at night to help her sleep. Soon, however, she noticed that the seemingly harmless habit was pushing her two front teeth forward, which could lead to serious dental problems. At night, Giselle would have her finger in her mouth, biting and leaving
a small callous on her thumb, said Espinoza. She then attempted a series of home remedies, such as rubbing garlic and a hot pepper on the entire thumb, hoping to break the habit, but nothing seemed to work. “The (pepper) wasn’t spicy,” said Espinoza adding that her daughter enjoyed the taste and asked for more. Espinoza then took her daughter for her regularly scheduled dentist appointment at the Gateway Community Health Center, where she was informed of what is called a bluegrass appliance. The appliance is a device put on the patient’s palate to deter thumb
See GATEWAY PAGE 12A
Zoning to get formal regulations By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times
Nativity figures from Jerusalem like these are now on display at the Webb County Heritage Foundation Museum, in downtown Laredo, through Christmas. See story inside, page 5A.
The Zapata County Commissioner Court is scheduled to approve an ordinance adopting zoning regulations, creating districts and ordering the enforcement of the regulations at a special meeting Tuesday. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Zapata County Courthouse, 200 E. Seventh Ave. Hector Uribe, contracted attorney for the county, went over the draft ordinance with the court at a workshop last week. The proposal was put together by the Falcon Lake Planning Commission with Uribe’s guidance. Commissioner Eddie Martinez, who sat on the planning commission prior to his appointment as commissioner, said he was in favor of the ordinance. “It protects downtown property values,” he
said. “It protects residential property values.” After the ordinance is approved, it will be up to the county to appoint commissioners for a Planning and Zoning Commission as well as a Board of Adjustment. The commission will need to flesh out details such as land use. The Board of Adjustment is put into place because “you have to have an escape valve,” Uribe told the court. The board will hear complaints of those who don’t agree with the certain provisions in the ordinance. County Judge Rosalva Guerra suggested staggered terms for the court’s appointees because “you want a little bit of experience.” She also suggested compensating the appointees somehow and Uribe said he’d look into the possibility. Uribe emphasized that
See P&Z PAGE 12A