DELIVERED EVERY SATURDAY TO 4,000 HOMES

GIANT BATTLE’BOYS PREPARE FOR MUST-WIN MATCHUP WITH DIVISION CHAMPSSPORTS 1B

The Zapata TimesA HEARST PUBLICATION ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

SATURDAYDECEMBER 13, 2008

FREE

A LAKE VIEW

Ride to frontier brought settlers to South Texas areaIt was from the historic city of

Queretaro in central Mexicowhere it started for Jose de Es-

candon y de Helguera, headingnorth to settle the northern re-gion of Nueva España.

History tells that Escandon ini-tially was looking at 14 settle-ments to include space for churchand related facilities, which ex-plain why history referred to thesedevelopments as missions — toteach the faith, to civilize (con-vert) the Indians and to enhancesecurity.

Escandon was fixing to make

stops in Nuevo Leon (Monterrey)and Coahuila (Saltillo) to recruitpeople willing to take the risks totravel the wilderness to get to theRio Grande frontier.

Laredo and the rest of SouthTexas were not even a bad dreamat the time because, in later years,Tomas Sanchez would first checkout sites along the Nueces River.

Escandon, having earned thetrust and graces of the Crown inSpain, was the man for the job.Recognizing the dangers of the un-explored mountainous route hewould have to travel to reach thefrontier, he talked a good story. Es-candon would seek out recruits inMonterrey and Saltillo where heexpected to find tough and testedmen and women for the project.

“These people had to be toughas nails to put up with the rigorsof the journey,” Rodolfo Gonzalezde la Garza, Nuevo Laredo ge-nealogist-historian, used to tellguests at his talks. “You had to bebecause you were coming to a re-gion with that basically offered aterrible environment.”

Gonzalez de la Garza, howev-er, claimed from his readings ofarchived material, the settingswere favorable to raise crops andlivestock because of the availabil-ity of water from the river. He saidthe reports indicated wildlife

game was plentiful. “A los que venían se les avisa-

ba que el viaje no seria nada fá-cil,” Gonzalez de la Garza wouldexplain (People who signed upwere cautioned that it would notbe easy.) “También les advirtirondel los riesgos con la presencia delos indios. Entre tantos tendríanque encontrase con unos que eranunos bárbaros. En las partes mon-tañnozas habitaban en lascuevas.” (People were warnedabout dangers of the Indiansalong the way. Some were consid-ered as outright barbarians. In the

mountainous parts of the regionare, the Indians tended to seekshelter in caves.)

Evidence of Indian life in thesecaves has been reported throughmodern times in the mountainsectors in the vicinity of towns inCoahuila and Nuevo Leon.

Donald E. Chapman, in hisSpanish Texas (1994), quotedfrom the national archives Janu-ary 7, 1747, as the date of Escan-don’s departure from Queretaro.Escandon had received approval

ODIE ARAMBULA

Dancers spark debate JPs asking for Blue Santa help

By DIANA R. FUENTESTHE ZAPATA TIMES

In less than two weeks, Zap-ata kids who might have thoughtthey weren’t going to receive aChristmas present this year willbe in for a delightful surprise atthe Zapata County Courthouse.

But it’s going to take the helpof generous Zapata residents tomake the Justices of the PeaceBlue Santa project a success.

A special appearanceOn Monday, Dec. 22, Blue

Santa plans to be at the court-house, distributing gifts and can-dy bags to children who other-wise would have to do without.

“We want them to see the mir-acle of Christmas,” said Precinct1 Justice of the Peace Ana MuñozGuerra, who has played BlueSanta for several years. “I lovedoing this. You get to see all thesmiles from these little kids.Their eyes light up and they runover to hug you. ‘I love you, San-ta!’ they say. ‘I love you!’

“It’s a lot of fun,” the judgesaid.

This year, those who donate awrapped present to Blue Santacan get more than just a warmfeeling of helping others.

If you take a wrapped toy tothe Zapata County Courthouseon Wednesday, from 10 a.m. tonoon, you’ll get a free autographfrom Costumbre.

DonationsMembers of the popular

band are donating their time tothe project, signing autographsand greeting fans that day in ex-change for toys for the Blue San-ta program.

“This is the first time we dothis,” Guerra said. “It’s new, andwe’re hoping to collect moretoys.”

Stuffed animals, games, dolls,trucks, trains — all kinds of toysfor all ages will be accepted.Candy also is needed for thecandy bags, and financial con-tributions will be accepted.

Even if you can’t make it tothe autograph session, though,your donations still will be

By ZACH LINDSEYTHE ZAPATA TIMES

A combination adult book storeand bar and grill with toplessdancers opened recently on U.S.83 in Zapata, sparking a flurry ofdebate between the county com-missioners and representativesfrom the store.

There are no zoning laws related

to adult businesses in ZapataCounty. At Monday’s Commis-sioners Court meeting, the courtdiscussed the importance of cre-ating such laws.

“I had about 10 to 20 calls lastweek,” said Commissioner JoeRathmell. “I thought it was ap-propriate that we try to take careof our residents.”

“Under current law, counties and

municipalities have the authorityto regulate sexually oriented busi-nesses,” said Hector Uribe, anAustin-based lawyer who servesZapata County. “How they’re gen-erally regulated is distance.”

In many cases, there is a rulethat such businesses must be atleast 1,000 feet away from resi-dences, religious facilities, educa-tional facilities and government

facilities. Uribe suggested going astep further and restricting thosetypes of businesses to industrial-commercial zones.

Michael Adelman, a representa-tive from Zapata’s Fantasy Ranch,the business in question, said thiswas unfair because if Zapata’szoning was more established, the

Communities in Schools helps kids

By CHRISTINA ROSALESLAREDO MORNING TIMES

Lyndon B. Johnson HighSchool student Teodoro Graje-da was thinking about droppingout. He was angry about hisproblems and lacked motivation.

It took some time with Com-munities in Schools of Laredo,Inc. counselor Rolando Floresfor him to understand that aneducation was necessary for abetter lifestyle.

“Mr. Flores encouraged meand said that education was amust nowadays,” Grajeda said. “Ithought about it and kept goingto him for counseling and ad-visement.”

Communities in Schools ofLaredo, Inc. is a stay-in-schoolprogram for students who can

go to CIS counselors for advise-ment and help with personalproblems.

The program provides sever-al services for local students in-cluding food baskets and $300vouchers for eyeglasses.

Students can receive servicesfor free and teachers and peerscan recommend students for theprogram.

Flores said some studentsneed someone to guide them andlisten to them.

“School counselors have a

Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning TimesUnited Way volunteer Rolando Flores greets Teodoro Grajeda as they start workingon assignments to help Grajeda become a better student.

See DEBATE | PAGE 13A

See BLUE SANTA | PAGE 13A

See COMMUNITIES | PAGE 13A

See LAKE VIEW | PAGE 13A

Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata TimesTTOOPP:: The U.S. Border Patrol’s Green Santa waves to onlookers as Border Patrol Agent Henry Rodriguez looks on during the Zapata Christmas Parade on Friday.“I think wehad a good turnout. It seemed like all the kids enjoyed themselves, and that’s mainly why we did it, for the kids,” said Danielle Westerman. assistant editor for the Zapa-ta County News, parade sponsor. AABBOOVVEE:: A lighted float moves along Highway 83 in Zapata during the Zapata Christmas Parade, attended by hundreds of residents.

CCOONNTTAACCTT UUSS

Business Manager Dora Martinez.. . . . (956) 500-4748Chief Accountant, Thelma Aguero . . . . . . .728-2553Controller, Joe Vied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2502General Manager, Adriana Devally . . . . . . .728-2510Retail Adv. Manager, Agustin Magallanes .728-2511Classified Manager, Sandra Valderrama . .728-2525Adv. Billing Inquires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2531Circulation Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2550Creative Services Director, Raul Cruz . . . .728-2596MIS Director, Michael Castillo . . . . . . . . . . .728-2505Editor, Diana Fuentes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2581City Editor, Julie Daffern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2565Sports Editor, Dennis Silva II . . . . . . . . . . .728-2579Business Journal Editor, Joe Rutland . . . .728-2529A&E Editor, Kirsten Crow . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2543

SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY

The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000households in Zapata County. For subscribers of LaredoMorning Times and those who buy LMT at newstands. The Zapata Times is inserted inside.

The Zapata Times is free.The Zapata Times is published by Laredo Morning

Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, PO Box 2129,Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956)728-2500

The Zapata office is at 1309 N. US Highway 83 at14th Avenue, Suite 2; Zapata,TX, 78076. Call (956) 765-5113or e-mail thezapatatimes@att.net

(956) 728-2555

Publisher, William B. Green . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2501

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 2AZin brief SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

WWHHAATT’’SS GGOOIINNGG OONN

TTOODDAAYY IINN HHIISSTTOORRYY

AARROOUUNNDD TTHHEE WWOORRLLDD | IN BRIEF

AARROOUUNNDD TTEEXXAASS | IN BRIEFAARROOUUNNDD TTHHEE NNAATTIIOONN | IN BRIEFSATURDAY, DEC. 13

Norma’s Crystal & Silver Jewelry,1706 Fresno St., will have a grand openingtoday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Door prizeswill be given away, and there will be bever-ages and finger foods. For more informa-tion, call 765-8324.

A trail ride in memory of Raul “Tio”Flores will be held today at 9 a.m. startingat Laredo International Fair and Exposi-tion Downs, off U.S. 59, then going to therest area before returning to the Downs.Registration is $20 and includes lunch. Allproceeds will benefit the Flores family.Don’t forget your Coggins test. For more in-formation, call George Jimenez at 744-2146.

A retrospective exhibit showcasingthe history of the Ursuline Sisters in Lare-do continues on display at the Villa AntiguaBorder Heritage Museum, 810 ZaragozaSt., throughout December. Museum hoursare Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Ad-mission is free Tuesdays and $5 other days.The museum will be closed Christmas Day.For more information, call the Webb Coun-ty Heritage Foundation at (956) 727-0977.

SUNDAY, DEC. 14The eighth annual San Carlos Mis-

sion Parade & Toy Drive is today. Theevent will consist of a Christmas trail rideand 5-mile parade and benefits the chil-dren of the San Carlos Mission. Registra-tion will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Theevent starts at the corner of Texas 359and Loop 20 in Laredo, east from theConoco Pump & Shop, heading towardSan Carlos Mission. At the end of the ride,participants will drop toys off — two toyseach — at Gregory’s Smart Start, 4019San Dario Ave.; Kelly’s Western Wear,4220 Santa Ursula Ave.; or One by OneCuts, 1901 San Bernardo Ave. Four-wheel-ers, motorcycles and car clubs are wel-come. For more information, call RosyGregory Castilleja at 744-7505.

MONDAY, DEC. 15Zapata County Girl Scouts are col-

lecting new, unwrapped toys as well as giftwrapping paper through Dec. 17 for their“Make a Child Happy” Angels ChristmasToy Drive. The donations are accepted atthe Zapata County Chamber of Commercefrom 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 16Zapata County Independent School

District will have a public hearing on theAEIS district report and campus reportstarting at 6 p.m. today at the Profession-al Development Center, 17th and Carla, fol-lowed by a meeting of the district’s Boardof Trustees.

Blue Santa is accepting wrappedtoys, candy and financial donations at theJustices of the Peace offices on the secondfloor of the Zapata County Courthouse.Toys will be distributed on Dec. 22. For moreinformation, call 765-9165, 765-5619, 765-9945 or 765-6655.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17Bring a wrapped toy for the annual

Blue Santa drive between 10 a.m. and noontoday and get a free autograph from Cos-tumbre. The popular band is donating itstime to help the project.

THURSDAY, DEC. 18Juvenile Board meets today from

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the third floor ofthe Zapata County Courthouse.

Vidal M. Treviño School of Commu-nications and Fine Arts and The Laredo Bal-let Theatre present “The Nutcracker”at theLaredo Civic Center Auditorium, 2400 SanBernardo Ave. Performances are scheduledfor Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. ($4 group rate for 10or more seats) and Dec. 18 and 19 at 7:30p.m., $7 general admission. For ticket in-formation and reservations, call 795-3325ext. 22 or 796-9923.

Stocks edge higher amid hope for automaker rescue

By SARA LEPRO and TIM PARADISASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Wall Street set asidefears that the U.S. auto industry wouldsoon collapse after the Treasury Depart-ment said it was prepared to funnel cashto the nation’s Big Three automakers.Stocks pulled off sharp losses, and edgedhigher in late afternoon.

The Dow Jones industrial average wasdown more than 200 at the open, but allthe major indicators began to regainground when the White House and theTreasury announced they were consider-ing diverting money from the Wall Streetrescue fund to stave off bankruptcy filingsamong the U.S. carmakers.

“Things are looking a little bit brighterafter they made those announcements,”said Anthony Conroy, managing directorand head trader for BNY ConvergExGroup. “Anytime there’s indecision, that

indecision breeds volatility. And that’swhat we were seeing.”

Stocks fell sharply in the early going af-ter a $14 billion rescue package for the au-tomakers was derailed in the Senate lateThursday when the United Auto Workersrefused to meet Republican demands forbig wage cuts. Lawmakers have called onthe Bush administration to use a portionof the $700 billion financial rescue to helpthe car companies.

General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLChave said they could run out of cash with-in weeks without government help. FordMotor Co., which also would be eligible foraid under the bill, has said it has enoughcash to make it through next year.

“The market’s been pretty resilient,”said Matt King, chief investment officer ofBell Investment Advisors, noting thatWall Street has at times since mid-No-vember advanced even in the face of badnews.

GM to temporarily close 20 plants to slash output

NEW YORK — General Mo-tors Corp. said Friday it willtemporarily close 20 factoriesacross North America and makesweeping cuts to its vehicle pro-duction as it tries to adjust todramatically weaker automobiledemand.

GM said it will cut 250,000vehicles from its productionschedule for the first quarter of2009, which includes a cut of60,000 vehicles announcedlast week. Normal productionwould be around 750,000 carsand trucks for the quarter,spokesman Tony Sapienzasaid.

Many plants will be shutdown for the whole month ofJanuary, he said, and all told, thefactories will be closed for 30percent of the quarter.

Northeast ice storm leaves1.25M without power

CONCORD, N.H. — An icestorm to compare with some ofthe Northeast’s worst made amess of the region Friday, leaving1.25 million homes and busi-nesses in seven states withoutpower as it forced schools to closeand toppled ice-laden trees andpower lines onto slippery roads.

Most of the outages were inNew Hampshire, Massachusetts,Maine and New York, and it wasexpected to take several days tocompletely restore electricity. Thestorm wreaked havoc fromMaine to Pennsylvania, leaving asparkling landscape too destruc-tive for many to find beautiful.

“I'm already sick of winter andwe have nine days to go before itofficially begins,” said Bob Cott, ofPortland, Maine, who lost powerfor the first time in 10 years.

Illinois AG asks high courtto declare gov. unfit

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In anunprecedented move, the Illinoisattorney general asked the state’shighest court Friday to stripscandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blago-jevich of his powers.

Lisa Madigan took the actionas pressure on the governor in-tensified to step down and law-makers considered impeach-ment. And the fallout over thescandal continued Friday as thegovernor’s chief of staff resigned;John Harris was arrested alongwith the governor on Tuesday.

Madigan said that she tookthe action with the SupremeCourt because she thinks thatthis is a faster way to strip Blago-jevich of his power than throughimpeachment, which could takeseveral weeks.

—Compiled from AP reports

New test aims to predictbreast cancer risk better

SAN ANTONIO — A new testto predict an ordinary woman’sodds of getting breast cancerworks better than a method doc-tors have relied on for decades,researchers reported Friday.

The test is the first to com-bine dozens of genes and per-sonal factors like age and child-bearing to gauge risk inwomen who don’t have astrong family history of the dis-ease. They account for three-fourths of all cases.

In a California study to checkits validity, the test correctlyclassified 50 percent morewomen with breast cancer ashigh risk than the currentmethod did, and properly scoredothers lower. Results were givenat a cancer conference in Texas.

Inmate cleared by DNAto be free on bond

HOUSTON — A Houstonman who spent five years inprison for the sexual assault ofan 8-year-old boy was to befreed Friday after DNA evidence— which was collected after the2002 attack yet never tested —showed he didn’t commit thecrime.

A judge approved a personalrecognizance bond Friday forRicardo Rachell, was to be re-leased while the paperwork iscompleted to officially overturnhis conviction. Rachell, trans-ferred from a state prison to theHarris County jail earlier thisweek, did not appear at a briefcourt hearing where his bondwas approved.

Rachell, 51, had been sen-tenced in 2003 to 40 years inprison.

Union leader optimisticArk. plant can stay open

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Unionmembers in Texarkana agreedFriday to vote on a renegotiatedcontract with Cooper Tire andRubber Co. that would freezewages for three years with thehope that the move would givethe company incentive to keepthe plant open.

Cooper Tire is evaluating itsfour U.S. plants and says it in-tends to close one of them be-cause of high costs and lowerdemand. Texarkana and the oth-er three communities with aplant — Findlay, Ohio; Albany,Ga.; and Tupelo, Miss. — arecompeting to keep their facto-ries open.

—Compiled from AP reports

Vatican issues major new bioethics document

VATICAN CITY — The Vati-can hardened its opposition Fri-day to using embryos for stemcell research, cloning and in-vit-ro fertilization. But in a majornew document on bioethics, itshowed flexibility on someforms of gene therapy and leftopen questions surroundingembryo adoption.

The Vatican’s Congregationfor the Doctrine of the Faith is-sued “The Dignity of a Person”to help answer bioethical ques-tions that have emerged in thetwo decades since its last suchdocument was published.

With it, the Vatican essen-tially confirmed in a single, au-thoritative instruction the opin-ions of the Pontifical Academyfor Life, a Vatican advisory bodythat has debated these issues foryears.

6 alleged Islamic zealotscharged in Belgium

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Au-thorities on Friday arrested theBelgian widow of a man in-volved in killing an anti-Talibanwarlord, saying she was part ofan al-Qaida group about tolaunch a suicide attack.

Malika El Aroud, 49, wascharged with belonging to a ter-rorist organization. Five men intheir 20s were also charged;eight others were released forlack of evidence. El Aroud,dressed in black from head totoe, was pushed into a police carduring a night raid early Thurs-day a few miles away from, anda few hours before, a summit ofEuropean Union governmentleaders was scheduled to open.

Authorities said she was toodangerous to walk the streets andeven mulled calling off the summit.

—Compiled from AP reports

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today is Saturday, Dec. 13, the348th day of 2008. There are 18days left in the year.

TTooddaayy’’ss HHiigghhlliigghhtt iinn HHiissttoorryy:: On Dec. 13, 1862, Union forces

suffered a major defeat to theConfederates in the Civil WarBattle of Fredericksburg (Va.).

OOnn tthhiiss ddaattee:: In 1642, Dutch navigator Abel

Tasman sighted present-day NewZealand.

In 1769, Dartmouth College,in New Hampshire, received itscharter.

In 1835, Phillips Brooks, theAmerican Episcopal bishop whowrote the words to “O LittleTown of Bethlehem,” was born inBoston.

In 1928, George Gershwin’smusical work “An American inParis” had its premiere, atCarnegie Hall in New York.

In 1944, during World War II,the U.S. cruiser Nashville wasbadly damaged in a Japanesekamikaze attack that claimedmore than 130 lives.

In 1978, the Philadelphia Mintbegan stamping the Susan B. An-thony dollar, which went into cir-culation in July 1979.

In 1996, the U.N. SecurityCouncil chose Kofi Annan ofGhana to become the worldbody’s seventh secretary-general.

TTeenn yyeeaarrss aaggoo:: With a graveimpeachment threat looming,President Bill Clinton told anews conference in Jerusalem hewould not resign, and insistedhe did not commit perjury. Vot-ers in Puerto Rico rejected U.S.statehood.

FFiivvee yyeeaarrss aaggoo:: Saddam Hus-sein was captured by U.S. forceswhile hiding in a hole under afarmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, nearhis hometown of Tikrit. A sum-mit to forge a European Unionconstitution collapsed in Brus-sels, Belgium. Oklahoma quar-terback Jason White won theHeisman Trophy. Former Sen.William V. Roth Jr., R-Del., cre-ator of Roth IRA accounts, diedin Washington at age 82.

OOnnee yyeeaarr aaggoo:: Democraticpresidential hopefuls meeting inJohnston, Iowa, called for highertaxes on the highest-paid Amer-icans and on big corporations inan unusually cordial debate.Shareholders of Dow Jones &Co., publisher of The Wall StreetJournal, approved a takeover byRupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

Major League Baseball’sMitchell Report was released,identifying 85 names to differ-ing degrees in connection withthe alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

TTooddaayy’’ss BBiirrtthhddaayyss:: FormerSecretary of State George P.Shultz is 88. Actor-comedianDick Van Dyke is 83. ActorChristopher Plummer is 79. ActorRobert Prosky is 78. Countrysinger Buck White is 78. Mu-sic/film producer Lou Adler is 75.Movie producer Richard Zanuckis 74. Actor Robert Lindsay is 59.Country singer-musician RandyOwen is 59. Actress Wendie Mal-ick is 58. Federal Reserve Chair-man Ben Bernanke is 55. Coun-try singer John Anderson is 54.Singer-songwriter Steve Forbertis 54. Singer-actor Morris Day is52. Actor Steve Buscemi is 51. Ac-tor Johnny Whitaker is 49. Ac-tor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 41.TV personality DebbieMatenopoulos is 34. Rock singer-musician Thomas Delonge is 33.Actor James Kyson Lee is 33.

TThhoouugghhtt ffoorr TTooddaayy:: “My the-ory is to enjoy life, but the prac-tice is against it.” — CharlesLamb, English essayist (1775-1834).

LEPROSY ADVOCATE

Photo by Khalid Tanveer | APA supporter of Pakistani political party Pakistan Muslim League-Q chants slogansagainst the Indian government in Multan, Pakistan, on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Pakistanhas proposed a joint investigation of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai after Indiablamed elements in Pakistan for the bloodshed.

Photo by Eric Risberg/file | APIn this Jan. 22, 2003, file photo, Richard Marks, a survivor of Hansen’s disease, orleprosy, looks out over the view of the ocean at Kalaupapa, Hawaii, with towering1,600-foot cliffs in the background. Marks, who educated thousands of touristsabout Hansen’s disease and the history of Kalaupapa while playing a role in get-ting the state to end its century-old forced quarantine to the leprosy settlement,died late Tuesday. He was 79.

Photo by David Karp | APRudy Mass, center, managing director of New York Stock Exchange Operations, works the post where General Motors stock istraded on the floor of the NYSE on Friday.

The Zapata Times

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 3A

Fed workers raise $457K for charity

Courtesy photo/Villarreal Elementary | Special to the TimesVillarreal Elementary recently honored its Students of the Week for Dec. 5. Shown, bottom row, left to right, are Romeo Benavides, Oscar Garcia, Dominic Murillo, VianeyLara, Raymundo Hinojosa, Jose Cruz, Israel Cervantes, Rolando Piedra, Marlen Toscano, Mindy Garcia and Crista Cruz; middle row, left to right, are Kaitlyn Ramirez, RoelVillarreal, Arlina Saenz, Derly Sanchez, Victoria Ramos, Perla Garza, Kaylee Longoria, Mario Mendoza and Noelia Angles; top row, left to right, are Alejandro Tovar, DaneilaPerez, Carlos Martinez, Maria Pizano, Ana Vega, Gabriela Gutierrez and Joseph Galzerano. Not pictured are Amado Luna, Isidro Ramirez, Alejandro Garcia, Maryanna Gavi-lanes, Stephanie Trejo and Rosa Isela Salinas.

ASSAULT ON A PUBLIC SERVANTA man was charged with four counts of assault on

a public servant Monday after deputies responded to a do-mestic disturbance in Lopeño.

According to the offense report, Luis Antonio Arambulaassaulted the four deputies when they arrived at the res-idence at about 7:30 a.m. in the 100 block of 2nd Street.

He was later taken to the regional jail.

CHILD ABUSEAuthorities responded to a possible case of child

abuse Dec. 5 in the 200 block of Lozano Street.According to the offense report, a Child Protective

Services investigator reported the case to deputies atabout 10:30 a.m.

The case is open and active, the offense report stated.

RECKLESS DRIVINGTwo men were arrested at about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 af-

ter deputies responded to a report of drag racing on AlamoStreet.

Upon arriving at the scene, they arrested and chargedVictor Ivan Medina and Carlos Daniel Salazar with recklessdriving.

Both were later taken to regional jail.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEFA man told sheriff’s deputies Dec. 6 that someone

poured sugar into his car while it was parked outside his ex-wife’s residence in the 500 block of Medina Avenue.

The case is open and active, the offense report stated.

BURGLARY OF A VEHICLEA vehicle was reported burglarized Tuesday in the

1900 block of Alamo Street.According to the offense report, the male complainant

told deputies at about 5 a.m. a gym bag containing sever-al items was stolen from the pickup parked outside his res-idence.

The case is open and active, the offense reportstated.

A vehicle was reported burglarized Tuesday in the1800 block of Brazos Street.

The female complainant told deputies at about 10a.m. someone attempted to steal the TV screens embed-ded in the vehicle’s headrests.

According to the offense report, the case is open andactive.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Organizers of this year’s Com-bined Federal Campaign hopedto collect $250,000 from federalemployees of seven southwestTexas counties centered aroundLaredo, including Zapata County.

Laredo Sector Border Patrolagents and employees heard theplea and single-handedly pledged$268,169 toward the effort that ul-timately raised $457,240.

There are about 4,100 federalemployees in the local CFC re-gion. Laredo Sector Border Pa-trol agents and employees ac-count for about 1,700 of thoseemployees.

Those figures show althoughLaredo Sector personnel, includ-ing those in Zapata County, rep-resent about 42 percent of the re-gion’s federal employeepopulation, they donated 107 per-cent of the contribution goal.

“The fact that our agents andemployees alone pledged enough toexceed the goal set for all federalemployees in this region demon-strates our commitment to beinggood neighbors as well as beingvigilant sentries of our nation’sborder,” said Laredo Sector ChiefPatrol Agent Carlos X. Carrillo.

To further illustrate his asser-tion that Laredo Sector agentsand employees are actively en-gaged in the community, Carrillopointed out that $123,105, or 45.9percent, of Laredo Sector CFC do-nations went to the United Way ofLaredo, which also provides as-sistance to Zapata County.

The CFC is the only author-ized solicitation of federal em-ployees in their workplaces onbehalf of approved charitable

organizations. The campaign began in the

early 1960s to coordinate thefundraising efforts of variouscharitable organizations so feder-al donors would only be solicitedonce and have the opportunity tomake charitable contributionsthrough payroll deduction.

In 2007, the program raised$273 million for charitable causesaround the world.

The local affiliate of the CFC,known as the Greater SouthwestTexas campaign, covers all feder-al employees of Dimmit, Duval,Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick,Webb and Zapata counties.

In 2007, the Greater South-west Texas campaign raised$244,912, exceeding a goal of$240,000. This year’s total contri-butions of $457,240 nearly dou-bled the $250,000 goal.

“The generosity of our em-ployees has certainly raised thebar for next year’s campaign,”Carrillo said. “I hope that it in-spires other local citizens to giveto their favorite charities.”

ZlocalSTUDENTS OF THE WEEK

THE BLOTTER

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of

federal employeesin their workplaces

on behalf of approved charitable

organizations.

Live a healthy life - read Salud only in The Zapata Times

THE BOSTON GLOBE

Politely yet firmly, America’sEuropean allies rebuffed theBush administration re-

cently in two major ways. At a summit in Brussels of

NATO foreign ministers, the allieswere determined to renew dia-logue with Russia and delay in-definitely any decision on admit-ting Georgia and Ukraine asmembers.

This stance creates a welcomeopportunity for President-electBarack Obama, who has a chanceto reconfigure relations withNATO allies and with Russia.

The foreign ministers were tact-ful in rejecting the positions thatSecretary of State CondoleezzaRice espoused, but the messagewas clear. After eight years of ten-sion with the Bush administration,the NATO allies of “old Europe”wanted to assert their interests.

The foreign ministers decidedto resume talks with Russia in thecontext of the so-called NATO-Rus-sia Council — talks that had beensuspended in the aftermath of Rus-sia’s war with Georgia last August.

The decision amounted to anegation of the Bush administra-tion’s policy of refusing to con-duct business as usual with theKremlin.

NATO Secretary General Jaap

de Hoop Scheffer put the matterdelicately: “Allies agreed on whatI would qualify as a conditionaland graduated reengagementwith Russia.” But the policy shiftwas significant. Despite the con-tinued presence of Russian troopsin the breakaway Georgian re-gions of South Ossetia and Abk-hazia, Scheffer had been author-ized to resume contacts withRussia and to host a meeting soonwith Russia’s ambassador toNATO.

The other crucial decision inBrussels was no less a denial ofBush administration requests. Ricehad sought informal Georgia-NATO and Ukraine-NATO councils.

Sensing an end-run around theformal application process and theveto it guaranteed to each of the 26NATO members, Germany ForeignMinister Frank-Walter Steinmeiersaid after the summit that the allies“decided today that there will be noshortcut.”

In other words, Georgia andUkraine cannot gain entry intoNATO until Germany and the oth-er European allies are sure theirrelations with energy-supplierRussia will not suffer.

This will not be a bad startingpoint for Obama if he wants toforge sounder, more cooperativerelations with Russia as well asthe European allies.

OTHER VIEWS

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

NATO allies giveObama a chance

EDITORIAL

COLUMN

Illinois governorwas on bad road

WASHINGTON — RodBlagojevich was ascandal waiting to hap-

pen.When he was running for gov-

ernor of Illinois for the first timein 2002, he had two impressiveopponents in the Democratic pri-mary. One was Paul Vallas, a re-form-minded intellectual who hadbeen Mayor Richard Daley’schoice to take over the troubledChicago school system. The otherwas former state Attorney Gener-al Roland Burris, a leadingAfrican-American politician whohad demonstrated his appeal towhite voters.

When I went to Chicago tocover their pre-primary debate,Blagojevich, a boyish-lookingyoung congressman who got hisseat thanks to the clout of his fa-ther-in-law, an influential Chica-go alderman, was by far the leastimpressive candidate. He hadmade no particular mark onCapitol Hill and he seemed muchless informed on Illinois issuesthan his rivals.

I was inclined to dismiss hischances, but a longtime Chicagoreporter friend told me, “Don’twrite him off. He’s a money ma-chine.”

On a return visit after the pri-mary, which Blagojevich won, aconsultant to the Vallas campaignsaid the congressman hadswamped his rivals with hun-dreds of thousands of dollars ofads on TV stations in downstateIllinois. “Neither Vallas nor Burriscould keep up,” the consultantsaid.

In the general election, Blago-jevich defeated state AttorneyGeneral Jim Ryan. He had a rockyfirst term in Springfield, wherehe quickly became known as anabsentee executive and where hisinner circle was rumored to beoperating with hands out. An un-seemly family feud with his fa-ther-in-law fed the gossip mills.

But in 2006, the badly weak-ened Illinois Republican Partyfurnished another unelectable op-ponent and Blagojevich won with-out breaking a sweat. During thatcampaign, a visit with Mayor Da-ley gave me insights into Blagoje-vich’s problems. “When he waselected,” Daley said, “I advisedhim to get the policy right andthen worry about the politics. Hedid exactly the opposite and, as aresult, he’s got millions in hiscampaign treasury and the schooldistricts across Illinois are goingbroke.”

In Blagojevich’s second term, itgot worse. He became enmeshedin a bitter feud with the Democ-ratic leadership of the GeneralAssembly, especially House

Speaker Mike Madigan. Whileproblems festered unattended, nobudget could be passed. On a vis-it to the Lincoln Library inSpringfield, I was told by leadersof both parties that “this is theworst” they had ever seen.

Republicans or Democrats,they readily confessed that theirheartfelt prayer was that some-thing would occur to rid them ofBlagojevich.

That something turned out tobe Patrick Fitzgerald, the toughU.S. attorney in Chicago bestknown as the prosecutor of Lewis“Scooter” Libby, Vice PresidentCheney’s former chief of staff.

Fitzgerald began to close in onBlagojevich. A number of the gov-ernor’s pals, including developerTony Rezko, were indicted andconvicted. But Blagojevich washeedless of the risk and, accord-ing to the charges made public onTuesday, saw the Senate vacancycreated by Barack Obama’s elec-tion as an opportunity to cash in.

Unaware that Fitzgerald hadobtained court orders allowinghim to tap Blagojevich’s phoneand bug his office, Blagojevich in-dulged himself in obscenity-ladentalk about how he would use theSenate appointment to enrichhimself and his wife — or maybeparlay it into a prestigious Cabi-net or ambassadorial appoint-ment.

The brazenness and the uttersleaziness of Blagojevich stunnedeven veteran FBI men, Fitzgeraldsaid, but it did not surprise peoplein Chicago or Springfield whohad been watching the governor.

The criminal complaintagainst Blagojevich, the nominalhead of Obama’s home-state par-ty, is a mild embarrassment forthe president-elect. But it reallydoes not reflect on Obama, whohas kept Blagojevich at arm’slength for a long time.

As a fellow Illinoisan, I have toadmit that this latest example ofthe Springfield Syndrome that hasnow tainted four recent governorsis a signal that the ethics reformsObama sponsored as a member ofthe Illinois Legislature did not gofar enough to cleanse the pay-to-play culture.

Get out the scrub brushes.(To reach David Broder, e-

mail davidbroder@washpost.com)

EDITORIAL

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Of the $14 million that thenonprofit ACCION Texasloaned small businesses

this year, the microlender can ex-pect its usual 95 percent repay-ment rate.

While that’s good for thelender, it’s even better for Texas:Between 1994 and 2007, AC-CION loaned small businesses$60 million, producing $112.8million in new economic activityand creating 1,400 jobs.

Gov. Rick Perry has the pow-er to multiply this growth by us-ing already-available state fundsto support more small businessloans.

SuccessfulACCION Texas, based in San

Antonio, is the country’s biggestand most successful microlender.

Based on ideas pioneered byNobel Prize-winning economistMuhammad Yunus, ACCION

makes careful loans to small,mostly minority businesses un-able to get or afford credit frombanks.

Good stewardsThe secret to ACCION’s fan-

tastic repayment rate, directorssay, is its careful assessmentprocess — along with the finan-cial coaching it offers.

Usually, businesses apply forvery small loans on a 12- to 36-month repayment schedule,gradually working their way tomore credit. Loans can rangefrom $500 to $100,000. Since itsfounding in 1994, the nonprofithas loaned almost $75 million.

Like other nonprofit lenders,ACCION gets funding fromgrants and from banks partici-pating in the Community Rein-vestment Act. But from 2002 to2004, it also received $200,000from the Texas Capital AccessProgram (TCAP) — a statewidefund to which small business

lenders can apply to make upsome of their losses.

These additional “loss loan”reserves had an extraordinaryimpact. With help from the statefund, ACCION Texas made a totalof 854 loans worth $5.1 million.For each of these dollars theyborrowed, the entrepreneurs cre-ated an average of 60 cents innew economic activity for thestate.

Yet despite its obvious benefitsto the Texas economy, TCAP has-n’t gotten a dime from the statesince 2004, when it was fundedwith $869,000.

Once those funds were used,the program never got replen-ished.

Add fundsThirteen state legislators, in-

cluding Rep. Mike Villareal, D-San Antonio, have written to Per-ry requesting he transfer $2million to this small businessfund. There’s a ready source for

this money: the Texas EnterpriseFund, which has received a tow-ering $360 million over the pastfour years.

Strong economyThe Enterprise Fund is meant

to strengthen Texas’ economy byluring outside companies to lo-cate here. But as Villareal noted,these hundreds of millions go tocorporations playing one stateagainst another. Meanwhile, mi-crolenders such as ACCIONpump vitamins into homegrownsmall businesses, which in Texasprovided 1.4 million jobs in 2005.

Now, more than ever, all Tex-ans need these businesses toprosper. We need the new jobsthey create — and the reliable re-turn on public funds that groupslike ACCION Texas deliver.

Applying a $2 million sliver ofthe Enterprise Fund to supportsmall business is a sure invest-ment in the most uncertain oftimes.

Perry should boost ACCION fund

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 4AZopinion SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

FLW thanks Zapata for successful fishing event, looks forward to next year

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

YOUR OPINION

TToo tthhee eeddiittoorr::FLW Outdoors would like to

thank the Zapata CountyChamber of Commerce forhosting a record-setting Wal-Mart FLW Series East-WestFish-Off on Nov. 20-22 on Fal-con Lake.

We would also like to extendour sincere appreciation to theentire community of Zapata for

its hospitality and overwhelmingsupport during the tournament.

Earlier this year, we brokerecords on Falcon Lake, includ-ing the heaviest four-day cumu-lative weight in FLW Outdoorshistory, which now stands at 110pounds, 2 ounces for 20 bass.

During the Fish-Off, we setfive new, single-day, five-bassrecords, the heaviest of which is

now 39 pounds, 11 ounces.The community’s generosity,

friendliness and warmth madeour job very enjoyable, and yourlake’s tremendous fishing cer-tainly delighted our anglerswho will undoubtedly return.

Falcon Lake was the perfectstart for the year in Januaryand a perfect end to the seasonin November.

We look forward to openingour 2009 Stren Series seasonJan. 15-17, 2009, and hosting thevery first National Guard FLWCollege Fishing tournament onJan. 17, 2009, on Falcon Lake inZapata.

SSiiggnneedd,,Charlie EvansPresident and CEOFLW Outdoors

The Zapata Times does notpublish anonymous letters. To bepublished, letters must includethe writer’s first and last namesas well as a phone number to ver-ify identity. The phone number ISNOT published; it is used solelyto verify identity and to clarifycontent, if necessary.

The identity of the letterwriter must be verified beforepublication.

The Zapata Times does notpublish letters with just an initial

and a last name. People who want to air their

opinions publicly must do soopenly. We want to assure ourreaders that a letter is written bythe person who signs the letter;The Zapata Times does not allowthe use of pseudonyms.

Letters are edited for style,grammar, length and civility. Noname-calling or gratuitous abuseis allowed.

This space allows for publicdebate of the issues of the day.

We do publish “thank you” let-ters, but due to limited space, weask writers to list no more than10 names in such letters. Letterswith more than 10 names willnot be published.

Send letters to Letters to theEditor; 111 Esperanza Drive;Laredo, TX 78041, or e-mail toeditorial@lmtonline.com.

Letters also may be droppedoff at the Laredo Morning Timesoffice, 111 Esperanza Drive, dur-ing regular business hours, 8:30

a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday throughFriday.

Or they may be dropped off atThe Zapata Times office, 1309 N.US Highway 83 at 14th Avenue,Suite 2, in Zapata.

Letters that are provided inhard copy must be hand-signed.

Letters sent by e-mail don’trequire a signature, but the firstand last names of the letterwriter must be included alongwith a contact phone number.

DAVID BRODER

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008 THE ZAPATA TIMES | 5ALOCAL

Fund allows anybody help with donations

By PATI GUAJARDOSPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Laredo Area Communi-ty Foundation’s Acorn Fundserves as a vehicle for givingthat allows donors to make adifference in their communityby building their fund a little ata time.

While all other endowmentfunds request a beginning in-vestment of $10,000, donorshave up to five years to buildtheir permanent endowmentto help local non-profit organ-izations. It takes only threesteps to start your legacy ofgiving.

1) Name Your Fund: You mayname your fund after yourself, afamily member or a cause youcare about. Once the fund reach-es $10,000, gifts made from thefund will go out in the name ofthe fund. What better way to me-morialize a loved one then to es-tablish a fund in their name?With the holidays coming uponus, what better time to thinkabout a gift that will last for gen-erations.

2) Designate Its Purpose:Funds generally serve one of thefollowing purposes:

An “advised” purpose, al-lowing you or your children torecommend grants from yourfund every year.

A “designated” purpose,which permanently directsgrants to a particular charitableagency or group of agencies.

A “field of interest” pur-pose, which directs grants tocauses that are important to youand your family.

An ‘Unrestricted” purpose,allowing the community foun-dation to use the fund for thecommunity’s most urgent needs.As the years pass, so do the areasof most urgent need. An unre-stricted fund will always fundcurrent issues affecting thosemost in need.

3) Decide on Contributions:All funds start with a minimumcontribution of $2,500, althoughyou may subsequently invest aslittle as $1,500 per year.

Donors may choose annual

payments or make periodic pay-ments of a minimum of $1,500annually.

Additions may be made to thefund even after it reaches the$10,000 goal and becomes a per-manent endowment.

Acorn funds must reach the$10,000 goal within five yearsin order to become a grant-mak-ing fund.

With the end of year arrivingquickly, consider how you willstructure your end-of-year giv-ing. This year, consider a fundthat will build a legacy for yourentire family.

Your children and grandchil-dren can become actively in-volved in philanthropy with theestablishment of an “AcornFund.” Once the fund reaches$10,000 and becomes eligible forgrant distributions, the entirefamily can work together to de-cide on the charitable goals forthe fund.

The “Acorn Fund” can serveas a teaching tool to assist par-ents and grandparents educateyoung people on the art of giv-ing.

Just as it is with the founda-tion’s other fund types, theAcorn Fund does not requireanything else other than a fundagreement between the founda-tion and the donor. It is that sim-ple.

Begin your legacy of giv-ing today. Contact the founda-tion office at 796-1700 or con-tact any foundation boardmember.

The officers of the board areIrving Greenblum, president;Richard P. Perez, vice president;Nancy de Anda, treasurer; Eliz-abeth Sames, secretary. Boardmembers include Ray M. Keck,Barbara A. Kazen, Melissa Pe-ters, James B. Harrell, WilliamB. Green, Robert H. Summers,Nancy N. de Anda, Diane D.Gates, Mercurio Martinez, Jr.,Priya Vaswani, Fernando ZuñigaIII, Adriana McKendrick, Adri-enne Treviño and Rosie Glass-ford.

(Pati Guajardo is executivedirector of the Laredo AreaCommunity Foundation.)

By ERIKA LAMBRETONTHE ZAPATA TIMES

’Tis the season to spread cheer and be jol-ly with one and all.”

With this in mind, the Zapata sector of theGirl Scouts of America is taking donations forits “Make a Child Happy” Angels ChristmasToy Drive until Dec. 17.

Toys may be dropped off at the ZapataChamber of Commerce from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30p.m.

The toy drive, which is hoped to be held an-nually, came about after a previous collection’ssuccess inspired the members of the ZapataGirl Scouts, who are advocates of communityservice.

According to Cadet Troop Leader Ysela Sin-gleterry, that first drive, dubbed “Project Un-dercover,” in which undergarments for needy

children in the area were collected, caught theattention of Dollar General who then asked forthe help of the Girl Scouts in collecting toys forunderprivileged children. From the collabo-ration, the “Make a Child happy” toy drivewas born, and was quite successful.

“When we went to Dollar General on Sat-urday (Dec. 6) we ended (filling) up a three-foot-tall box and two bags with over 50 pres-ents,” Singleterry said, adding the toys will bedistributed to local families.

Monica Lopez, Troop 91007 leader, saidmore gifts are needed.

“The girls wanted to do a toy drive,” Lopezsaid. “And we had a good turnout but still wewish we could get more.”

Lopez said every donation counts, andthose who are interested in donating are morethan welcome to do so.

The toys collected were also wrapped that

same day with wrapping paper donated bythe employees of the neighboring Family Dol-lar.

“It’s people like them that show the girlsthat one person (can make) a difference,” Sin-gleterry said.

In addition to the toy drive, the Girl Scoutswill be offering their gift wrapping servicesThursday, Dec. 17, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at theZapata Public Library, in exchange for cannedgoods, another collection started by the GirlScouts.

All donations of canned goods will be giv-en to those in need within the Zapata com-munity.

“We will gift wrap any presents the publicbrings in exchange for at least one cannedgood,” said Singleterry.

(Erika Lambreton can be reached at 728-2567 or e-mail at erika@lmtonline.com)

Girl Scouts busy helping those in need

GUERRERO VIEJO REVISITED

Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning TimesW. Eugene George is seen discussing his book,“The Lost Architecture of the Rio Grande Borderlands: The Tragedy of the Falcón Reservoir” at a book signing and reception Thurs-day at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St., in Laredo. George is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects renowned for his studies of Texas-Mex-ican border historic architecture and preservation. An photography exhibit,“Guerrero Viejo Revealed,” was also presented by Everardo Castro Medellin,

By JUAN A. LOZANOASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — A Houstonman who spent five years inprison for the sexual assault ofan 8-year-old boy was to befreed Friday after DNA evi-dence — which was collected af-ter the 2002 attack yet nevertested — showed he didn’t com-mit the crime.

A judge approved a personalrecognizance bond Friday forRicardo Rachell, was to be re-leased while the paperwork iscompleted to officially overturnhis conviction.

Rachell, transferred from astate prison to the Harris Coun-ty jail earlier this week, did notappear at a brief court hearingwhere his bond was approved.

Rachell, 51, had been sen-tenced in 2003 to 40 years inprison.

“This is a horrible mischar-acterization of justice I think oneverybody’s part,” said DeborahSummers, Rachell’s attorney.“It’s this kind of case that reallyis frightening for our system.”

Summers said she plans tofile paperwork to both over-turn his conviction and ask fora pardon, which the HarrisCounty District Attorney’s Of-fice has indicated it will sup-port.

Roe Wilson, chief of the dis-trict attorney’s legal services bu-reau, said DNA evidencewasnever tested because the boyand a young companion bothidentified Rachell as the attack-er. Wilson said it was a mistakenot to test the evidence.

“Our office is being very can-did. We should have requestedthe testing,” she said. “Therewas what we thought wasstrong eyewitness identifica-tion.”

Summers said she can’t un-derstand how Rachell wasmisidentified because he has avery distinctive appearance; hisface was disfigured in a shot-gun accident years ago.

“He’s not the kind of personyou would mistake,” she said.“This is a case where no onewould have believed he wouldbe misidentified because thereis just no way. There was neverany wavering in the identifica-tion. But how could youmisidentify this guy?”

The victim was taken to avacant house and sexually as-saulted after being told by theman that he would pay him for

help with removing some trash.The next day the boy’s familycalled police and the boy iden-tified Rachell. Although DNAfrom both the attacker andRachell were collected, no testswere ever performed.

Summers, who was notRachell’s trial attorney, said shedoesn’t know if Rachell’s facialdisfigurement was ever broughtup at his trial.

“Before the arrest, the vic-tim and the other boy describedhim as having something wrongwith his face,” she said. “Whenhe was identified it seemed atthe time to make sense.”

Summers said Rachell al-ways maintained his innocenceand was vehement there wasDNA in his case that was nevertested.

“I said, ‘I don’t think therewas because everybody kepttelling me there wasn’t,”’ shesaid.

Summers said she wasaware there was mention of arape kit in the offense reportbut she didn’t know what hap-pened to it. The DNA evidence— clothing and medical swabs —was finally found in February,more than a year after Rachelland his attorney filed a requestwith the state for a DNA test ofit.

The testing was completedOct. 28 and it identified the at-tacker as being another manwho is a known sex offender,Summers said.

Rachell’s case is amongabout 540 that have been re-viewed — or are currently underreview — by the district attor-ney’s office since 2001. Manyreviews were prompted becauseof problems with the HoustonPolice Department’s crime lab,which has been under scrutinysince 2002, when its DNA sec-tion was first shut down. Inac-curacies were later found infour other lab divisions that testfirearms, body fluids and con-trolled substances.

Three inmates have been re-leased from prison because ofmistakes by the lab.

Wilson said Rachell’s case isdifferent from those becausethis wasn’t a situation wheretesting was done and it waswrong or improperly done.

6A | THE ZAPATA TIMES SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

DNA frees man accused of sexual assault of

8-year-old boy

11th Jamboozie to feature Latin jazz

artist Tito Puente Jr.

Bush tells A&M grads doing right counts mostBy DARLENE SUPERVILLE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLLEGE STATION — A re-flective President George W. Bushtold graduates of Texas A&M Uni-versity on Friday that popularityis capricious and what matters iswhether they think they’ve donewhat is right.

In the final commencement ad-dress of his presidency, Bush com-miserated with graduates whodon’t have a job, spoke wistfullyabout his affection for Texas anddescribed the “tremendous privi-lege” of serving as president fortwo terms.

Bush made no mention of thefailure of a bailout package forthe auto industry after his lobby-ing of Senate Republicans or thelatest dire economic news, devel-opments likely to be a coda on hiseight years in office.

Bush told the graduates to payno heed to those who recommendsomething more popular.

“Remember that popularity isas fleeting as the Texas wind.Character and conscience are assturdy as the oaks on this cam-pus,” he told the graduates andtheir families at Reed Arena. “Ifyou go home at night, look in themirror and be satisfied that youhave done what is right, you willpass the only test that matters.”

He reminisced Friday aboutmemorable moments of his pres-

idency, with travel to 74 countriesand nearly every corner of the na-tion.

“These days I’m asked a lot aboutmy time as president. Some dayshave been happy, some days not sohappy. Every day joyous. It’s been atremendous privilege,” he said dur-ing his 23rd and final speech as pres-ident to a graduating class.

He joked about his post-presi-dency prospects.

“To those of you with jobs

lined up, congratulations. To thoseof you not exactly sure whatcomes next, I know how you feel,”he said.

Bush, who wore the light bluegown of his alma mater, Yale, al-luded to several Texas A&M tra-ditions and said he was thrilled tobe in Aggie land. He said Texaswas where he met his wife, Laura,and where his daughters, Jennaand Barbara, were born.

“And next month, when our

time in Washington is done, Texasis where we’re coming home,”said the state’s former governor.

Bush received a brief intro-duction to the 3,700 graduates atthe College Station campus fromhis father, former PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush. Also presentwas his mother, former first ladyBarbara Bush, who was releasedfrom a Texas hospital 10 days agoafter undergoing surgery for aperforated ulcer.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Latin jazz artist Tito PuenteJr., son of the legendary TitoPuente Sr., will headline the 11thannual UETA Jamboozie UrbanStreet Festival, Streets of Laredorepresentatives announcedThursday.

Joining the performer on thestages of the Washington’s Birth-day Celebration event are Los TexManiacs, featuring FlacoJimenez.

The 11th annual UETA Jam-boozie, which officially kicks offthe Washington’s Birthday Cele-bration, is slated for Saturday, Jan.24, with gates opening at 4 p.m. Itdraws more than 27,000 atten-dees and features one of SouthTexas’ most diverse offering ofmusical entertainment, with morethan 40 performers on sevenstages.

It also boasts an array of foodas well as the signature “Jam-boozie” drink.

Puente was featured in an

NBC television special, “The Apol-lo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem,” atwo-hour tribute to his father’smusic.

His latest CD, “In My Father’sShoes,” featuring classic Puentefavorites, was spun off into a tele-vision special tribute by BET Jazz.

Another headliner is Los TexManiacs, a concoction of Tex-Mexconjunto, Texas rock, R&B riffsand even a bit of the blues.

The founder, Max Baca, hasworked with everyone from DougSahm’s Texas Tornadoes to theRolling Stones.

Their first CD, “A Tex-MexGroove,” contains a wide sam-pling of styles while keeping theunity of a musical focus that ischaracteristic of the group. Join-ing them will be Jimenéz.

Few artists in conjunto and Te-jano music have received the lev-el of critical acclaim Jimenéz hasenjoyed.

“The UETA Jamboozie UrbanStreet Festival is destined tobreathe new life to historic

downtown Laredo,” said Fran-cisco Barrientos of PMDG Mar-keting Communications. “Wewant people to rediscover down-town Laredo and its unique cul-tural offerings that make up the

fabric of our communities’lives.”

Tickets are $10 presale and $15at the door. Presale tickets will goon sale the first week of Januaryat select IBC locations.

Photo by Hannah Neal | Special to the TimesLatin jazz performer Tito Puente Jr., son of the legendary Tito Puente Sr., is a head-liner of the 11th annual UETA Jamboozie next month.

Photo by Stuart Villanueva, Bryan College Station Eagle | APThe Texas A&M Ross Volunteers salute as President George W. Bush enters Reed Arena before speaking at the Texas A&M Fall Com-mencement in College Station, on Friday.

Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.“Let your smile be

a sign of happiness& good health”

1520 Corpus Christi StreetTelephone (956) 726-0160

By JASON BUCHLAREDO MORNING TIMES

There’s “a lot of happiness”in the story of “The Nutcracker,”A.J. Flores said.

“I’m big on dreams comingtrue,” said the Nixon High Schooljunior, who portrays the maincharacter’s bratty little brother,Fritz. “This story says thatdreams can come true. I thinkthat’s a great message to spread.”

Fritz breaks his sister Clara’sChristmas gift from her godfa-ther, a nutcracker. That actlaunches the story of PyotrTchaikovsky’s classic Christmasballet, Flores said.

“It’s really joyous,” said Em-mylou Gutierrez, a St. AugustineHigh School junior. “It gets youinto the spirit. The music thatgoes with it, I don’t know, it justinspires you.”

Gutierrez will appear as aparty girl, a waltz flower, asnowflake and a candy cane inthis year’s production by theLaredo Ballet and Theater andthe Vidal M. Treviño School ofCommunications and Fine Arts,which debuts Thursday.

“I like being nervous at first,”she said. “I like the thrill and Ilike being the entertainment,that everyone says, ‘Oh wow,look what she’s doing.’ And Ilike inspiring little kids to getinvolved.”

Part of the fun of performingin “The Nutcracker” is all thechildren who come out in theshow, Flores said.

The part of Fritz fits him par-ticularly well, he said, despite thefact he hasn’t been dancing verylong.

“I like it a lot because theatri-cally, it’s like a main character,”Flores said. “I have an actingbackground, so what I lack intechnique, I make up in the the-atrical part of dance.”

Choreographer and directorMary Ellen Kirkpatrick-Leyen-decker said she started puttingon performances of “The Nut-cracker” in the 1990s, first withthe Laredo Children’s Museum

and more recently with the mag-net school.

The students involved in thisyear’s performance have beenpracticing since October, Kirk-patrick-Leyendecker said.

“They’ve been doing reallywell,” she said. “They’ve beenworking long hours with blisterson their feet and bleeding toes.They’re ready for this.”

The ballet and the music tellthe story of the nutcracker turn-ing into a prince, who rescuesClara from the Rat King, takesher on the journey through thesnow until they arrive at theKingdom of Sweets, Kirkpatrick-Leyendecker said.

“No Christmas season is com-plete without the magic of ‘TheNutcracker,’ ” she said. “Of course,it sounds so cliché, but it puts youin the Christmas spirit.”

The performances will featureall the frills associated with a

production of “The Nutcracker,”Kirkpatrick-Leyendecker said.

“We’ve got beautiful scenery,show effects, special lighting ef-fects and beautiful costume de-sign,” she said.

And, of course, it’s a great ex-perience for the students who areperforming.

“It’s really magical for thekids, especially,” Kirkpatrick-Leyendecker said. “I think they’rethe ones who really enjoy it.”

“The Nutcracker” will be per-formed at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.Thursday and at 7:30 p.m. Fri-day at the Laredo Civic CenterAuditorium. Tickets for theThursday morning performanceare $4, while the encore per-formances cost $7. For reserva-tions or information, call 795-3325 ext. 22 or 796-9923.

(Jason Buch may be reachedat 728-2547 or by e-mail atjbuch@lmtonline.com)

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 7AZlife SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

MISS MANNERS | BY JUDITH MARTIN

DEAR MISS MANNERS —The invitation to my office holidayparty just arrived and I’m fuming.

The invite saysthat I shouldbring “a spouse,significant oth-er or date.” Is itacceptable forthe hosts tospecify whatcategories ofguests are per-

missible, or have these peoplestepped over the line?

GENTLE READER — Thosepoor people who were assigned towrite the invitations! Miss Man-ners’ heart aches for them.

They used to send these invi-tations in the names of employeesand their husbands and wives.

But then they began gettingangry reactions from female em-ployees and wives of employeeswho had not taken their hus-bands’ names or who had, butwanted to be addressed by theirown given names as well.

To avoid dealing with thesecomplications of names and hon-orifics, there was a switch to thegeneric “spouses.”

This produced angry reac-tions from employees whose mar-riages had ended and who want-ed to bring new interests, fromemployees whose marriages hadnot ended but who wanted tobring new interests and from em-ployees whose interests had notended but whose marriages hadnot begun.

So they added “significant oth-er.” This produced angry reac-tions from the single employeeswho were not significantly at-tached but who did not want to at-tend alone, so they added “date.”

Now what are you fumingabout? If you want to bring your

nephew, your neighbor or yourfourth-grade teacher, there arenot likely to be objections.

They could have added thateveryone could bring “a guest,”but by this time, their nerveswere shot. What if it turned outthat some of the employees livedin menages a trois?

DEAR MISS MANNERS — Iwas at the bank the other day tostraighten out a statement issueand something odd occurred: Asthe gentleman tended to my busi-ness, his phone began to ring.And ring. And ring. Then itstopped. He then brisklywrapped up my business andbade me a good day.

I have three questions: Did he exercise proper man-

ners? I thought that in presentday America, when one received aphone call one answered it, re-gardless of circumstances. Was Iout of line to be utterly stunned bythis turn of events. Is the end ofthe world nigh on?

GENTLE READER — It mustbe, if it is possible for you to be-lieve it rude not to desert a liveperson — and not just any per-son, but yourself — who has comeinto someone’s work place in fa-vor of taking a telephone call.

True, someone should betaking that call. Miss Mannerssympathizes with the caller,who is listening to a recordingabout how important the call isto the bank and being asked topunch an endless series of but-tons that he cannot find whilelistening to the instructions be-cause the buttons are in the partof the telephone he has to holdto his ear.

But this should not be done atthe expense of leaving you sittingthere while someone who pre-sented himself later is helped.

MARTIN

Invitations not so inviting

‘The Nutcracker’ returns to the stage

Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning TimesMembers of the cast rehearse for the upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker” on Wednesday evening. Shown center aredancers Orlando Moreno and Azahy Ayala.

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 8AZentertainment SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

Festival de Cine to celebrate local talent

By KIRSTEN CROWLAREDO MORNING TIMES

Cuadro Café has been the site of numerous cul-tural events since its opening last year, but Sunday,the coffee shop will be host to its first independentfilm festival, boasting more than a dozen works sub-mitted by numerous local filmmakers.

Selections for the Festival de Cine range from hor-ror and comedy to dramatic and surreal pieces,many shot in Laredo and using local talent as actors.

Ruben Requena, co-owner of the café, said theidea was originally the brainchild of film studentsfrom Texas A&M International University, many of

whom frequent the shop.“The idea came from the people who visit Cuadro

Café and are involved in conceiving, writing, script-ing, editing and videotaping short films,” he wrote inan e-mail. “Plans are to have a panel of judges, to in-clude experienced cinematographers from Laredoand the region, (to) critique the films.”

The filmmakers will also have the opportunity to brieflyexplain their works before their screening, he added.

The festival is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday atCuadro Café, 1701 Jacaman Road, Suite RP1. Ad-mission is free.

(Kirsten Crow may be reached at 728-2543 or bye-mail at kirsten@lmtonline.com)

‘Holidays’ celebrates Latin XmasBy JAKE COYLE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Like the plantains and em-panadillas that adorn the film’sChristmas dinner table, “NothingLike the Holidays” is comfort food.

Though its title suggestsuniqueness, “Nothing Like the Hol-idays” is exactly like most holidayfilms, with the notable exception ofan almost entirely Latin cast.

John Leguizamo, Freddy Ro-

driguez and Vanessa Ferlito playthe sons and daughter of Edy (Al-fred Molina) and Anna Rodriguez(Elizabeth Peña). As families arewont to do in holiday films, allhave congregated for Christmas— in this case, at their home inChicago’s largely Puerto Ricanneighborhood Humboldt Park.

Each brings their own prob-lems to the table: marital troublesfor Leguizamo with his gringowife (Debra Messing), Rodriguez

is just back from Iraq and Ferlito’scharacter is a struggling actress.As you might guess, the fortunesof all will greatly improve overone trying holiday weekend.

“Nothing Like the Holidays”comes from the producers of“Soul Food” and, like that film,revels in its ethnicity. Though thefilm apes every convention ofChristmas films, it’s hard to fault

Photo by Chuck Hodes/Overture Films | AP

Courtesy photoCheech Marin and Tommy Chong, better known as Cheech and Chong, are bringing their “Light Up America” tour to the Lare-do Entertainment Center in January. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. today.

Cheech and Chong to light up LECSPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Comedy duo Cheech and Chong are bringingtheir “Light Up America Tour” to the Laredo En-tertainment Center on Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. For thefirst time in 25 years, the two have teamed up foran international tour, and everyone is getting readyfor one explosive night of laugh-out-loud comedy atthe LEC.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today.“We are very excited to bring yet another big-

name comedy show to the LEC, and we have al-ready started to get great feedback from fans, es-pecially those who remember the duo’s hugesuccess of the ‘70s,” said Roy Medina, interim gen-eral manager of the LEC. “Cheech and Chong arejokingly promoting the event as one they will notremember, but we at the LEC are hoping it’s oneyou won’t forget. Based on local response to othercomedy shows, we expect a great turnout, so getyour tickets Saturday and laugh your way into2009!”

Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin have enjoyed

incredible success since their 1978 hit movie “Up inSmoke,” where both men played out-of-work andin-debt characters while trying to make a buckand breaking a few laws along the way.

Since then, Cheech and Chong have starred in10 films, and their popularity continues with theirmost recent album release in 2002, “Where There’sSmoke There’s Cheech & Chong.”

Among Marin’s film credits are roles in “Des-perado,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Once Upon aTime in Mexico” and “Christmas with the Kranks.”Chong’s acting credits include starring in themovie “Far Out Man” and appearing in “HalfBaked” and “The Spirit of ‘76,” as well as co-star-ring on the FOX Television series “That ‘70s Show.”

Tickets to see Cheech & Chong live at LEC are$25, $38.50, $48.50 and $58.50 and will go on salethis today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets will beavailable at the LEC box office, all Ticketmasteroutlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or byphone at 712-1566.

For more information, visit www.laredoare-na.com.

In this image

released byOverture

Films, JohnLeguizamois shown in

a scenefrom

“NothingLike The

Holidays.”

See X-MAS | PAGE 9A

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008 THE ZAPATA TIMES | 9A

its sentimental conventions toomuch; so many holiday filmshave been white Christmases.

And the movie is welcoming.Occasional subtitles are flashedto help the Spanish deficientkeep up.

Messing is the minority here,an uptight business woman hop-ing to land her own hedge fund(pre-economic collapse, one as-sumes). At the dinner table, sheplays the overly clueless outsider,asking, “Why is everyone fight-ing?” only to be informed noone’s fighting, they’re just “con-versating.”

The roles are paper thin,which is too bad considering thetalent of the cast. They have allbeen better. Molina andLeguizamo, in particular, de-serve better material.

The always funny Luis Guz-man does his usual enliveningschtick. Music from Paul Oaken-fold also helps keep things puls-ing.

Working from the simple-minded script by Rick Najeraand Alison Swan, director Alfre-do De Villa (“WashingtonHeights”) — shooting on loca-tion — lets his camera linger onthe kitchen cutting board, thesnowy urban landscape ofHumboldt Park, the traditionalChristmas march through thecommunity.

It’s at these moments that one

realizes “Nothing Like the Holi-days” was really meant to be adocumentary showing the vi-brant, festive Puerto Rican com-munity of Humboldt Park. As a

fictional film, though, it needs astory.

“Nothing Like the Holidays,”an Overture Films release, israted PG-13 for thematic ele-

ments including some sexualdialogue and brief drug refer-ences. It is playing at CinemarkMall Del Norte and HollywoodTheaters.

XMAS | Continued from Page 8A

Photo by Chuck Hodes/Overture Films | APIn this image released by Overture Films, Debra Messing, left, and John Leguizamo are shown in a scene from “Nothing Likethe Holidays.”

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFSSPECIAL TO THE TIMES

‘The Christmas Sweater’Glenn Beck will bring his re-

cently released novel, “TheChristmas Sweater,” to life dur-ing a live in-theater event in a sto-ry of love, tragedy, redemptionand the power of faith this holidayseason.

“The Christmas Sweater,” fea-turing theatrical animation, spe-cially-created projections and apowerful Christmas musicalscore from a 10-piece orchestraand Broadway gospel singer, willbe presented live in more than420 movie theaters nationwidefrom the Charleston PerformingArts Center in Charleston, S.C.,on the final night of Beck’s 11-citytour.

Based on a deeply personaltrue story, Beck’s “The Christ-mas Sweater” is a narrative of aboy named Eddie who wantednothing more than a new bikefor Christmas from his mother.What he got instead was asweater, a “stupid, handmade,ugly sweater” which Eddiecrumpled into a ball and left inthe corner of his room. ThatChristmas morning started atragic and painful road to man-hood for Eddie. It takes a battlewith himself, his family and hisfaith to help Eddie fight throughthe storm to the realization healready had life’s most valuabletreasures, and the simplesweater from his mother wasgiven with a love more valuablethan any gift.

In addition to his work as anovelist and stage performer,Beck is also the host of a nation-ally syndicated radio program.

“The Christmas Sweater” willair at Cinemark Mall Del Norte at7 p.m. Thursday.

Christmas cheerFourteen cheerleader and

dance teams will showcase theirskills and “bring it on” during thefirst-ever Christmas Cheer andDance Competition at LaredoCommunity College on Saturdaybeginning at 10 a.m. in theGuadalupe and Lilia MartinezFine Arts Center theater.

The LCC Palomino Cheer-leaders are hosting the competi-tion, which will be judged by in-structors from the National

Cheerleaders Association, for thebenefit of elementary, middle andhigh school squads.

Admission is $5 per person.Proceeds will benefit the

Palomino cheerleaders’ efforts toattend the NCA national competi-tion in Florida this spring.

Come to the ‘Playhouse’“Playhouse Disney Live!” the

first live touring stage productionfeaturing favorite characters fromfour shows in Disney Channel’spopular Playhouse Disney pro-gram block for preschoolers, hasadded a new performance to itsLaredo schedule, now playing a 1p.m. and 4 p.m. show at the Lare-do Entertainment Center on Sun-day, Dec. 28.

Tickets are currently on sale atthe LEC box office and all Ticket-master outlets. Ticket prices are$44, $38, $26 and $18.

Jamboozie jamsLatin jazz artist Tito Puente

Jr., son of the legendary TitoPuente Sr., willheadline the11th annualUETA Jam-boozie UrbanStreet Festival,Streets of Lare-do representa-tives an-nounced

Thursday.Joining the formidable per-

former on the stages of the Wash-ington’s Birthday Celebrationevent are Los Tex Maniacs, fea-turing Flaco Jimenez.

The 11th annual UETA Jam-boozie, which officially kicks offthe Washington’s Birthday Cel-ebration, is slated for Saturday,Jan. 24, 2009, with gates openingat 4 p.m. This colorful outdoorurban festival draws more than27,000 attendees and featuresone of South Texas’ most diverseoffering of musical entertain-ment, with more than 40 per-formers on seven stages. It alsoboasts a delicious array oftempting food choices as well asthe signature “Jamboozie”drink.

Tickets for the event are $10presale and $15 at the door. Pre-sale tickets will go on sale the firstweek of January at select IBC lo-cations.

PUENTE JR.

ENTRETENIMIENTOLAREDO — Tómese un tiempo para

usted mismo e inscriba a su hijo/a en elSanta’s Workshop previsto para el sába-do 13 de diciembre de 8 a.m. a 1 p.m. y eldomingo 14 de diciembre, de 1 p.m. a 5p.m. y el domingo 14 de diciembre de 1p.m. a 5 p.m.; un taller más será el 20 dediciembre de 8 a.m.a 1 p.m.y el domingo21 de noviembre de 1 p.m.a 5 p.m.Las ac-tividades incluyen manualidades, juegosy arte. El espacio es limitado. La cuota esde 30 dólares por día para inscripcióntemprada y 10 dólares más de cuota porinscripción tardía en la puerta. De asistirdos días la cuota es de 50 dólares.Más in-formación llamando a Jennifer Raines enel 326-2765 ó 326-2700.

NUEVO LAREDO — El Fideicomisodel Centro Histórico invita a la pastorela“La Apuesta”, dirigida por Edoardo Tor-res, el sábado 13 de diciembre a las 6p.m. en la Plaza Hidalgo. El elenco estaráintegrado por el grupo “Laberintos”y ellibreto es original de Hugo R. Gómez.

LAREDO — Pase la tarde en elPlanetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TexasA&M International University para dis-frutar el sábado 13 de diciembre de “Sea-son of Light” a las 6 p.m., seguido de“Holiday Music Magic” a las 7 p.m. y“Seven Wonders” a las 8 p.m. Para elviernes 19 de diciembre las funcionesson las siguientes: “Extreme Planets” alas 6 p.m., y“Holiday Music Magic”a las7 p.m.La entrada general es de 5 dólares;niños,estudiantes,personal y exalumnosde TAMIU pagan 4 dólares. Más infor-mación llamando al 326-2444.

LAREDO — Un coro Navideño in-terpretara villancicos e himnos de laépoca el domingo 14 de diciembre de 6p.m. a 8 p.m. en la Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints, 1520 E. Hill-side Road. Se darán refrigerios. Leseguirá un open house.

LAREDO — La Vidal M. TreviñoSchool of Communications and Fine Artsy el The Laredo Ballet Theatre presentan“The Nutcracker” (El Cascanueces) enel Laredo Civic Center Auditorium (2400San Bernardo Ave.).las actuaciones estánprevistas para el jueves 18 de diciembrea las 9 a.m.(4 dólares la entrada para gru-pos de más de 10 personas) y una funciónmás el 18 de diciembre y 19 de diciembrea las 7:30 p.m. con la entrada general de7 dólares. Información sobre boletos lla-mando al 795-3325 ext. 22 ó 796-9923.

DEPORTESLAREDO — F.S. Lara Academy y el

Laredo Chess Club tendrán un torneo deajedrez para estudiantes de K-12 el sába-do 13 de diciembre. Se realizará en lacafetería (2900 E. San Jose St.). Estu-diantes pueden jugar en la división avan-zada USCF ó en la división no clasifica-da para principantes. Las inscripcionesson de 10:30 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. con laprimera ronda siendo al mediodía. Lacuota de entrada es de 5 dólares si sepre-inscriben ó de 8 dólares en la puer-ta. El Concilio No. 12 de los LULAC es elpatrocinador de los premios. Más infor-mación llamando al 722-4600.

LAREDO — El equipo femenil debaloncesto de Texas A&M InternationalUniversity jugará el lunes 15 de diciembrecontra la Missouri Southern University alas 6 p.m. en las canchas de TAMIU. Laentrada general es de 5 dólares; estudi-antes pagan 3 dólares; gratis paracualquier con identificación de TAMIU.Más información llamando al 326-2891.

SERVICIO SOCIALLAREDO — El área de Recolección

de Desperdicios Peligrosos de la Ciu-dad de Laredo llevará a cabo un eventopara recolectar desperdicios peligrososen casa el sábado 13 de diciembre de 9a.m. a 4 p.m. en El Metro Park & Ride(1800 E. Hillside Road). El evento es gra-tuito. De llevarse llantas, se le pagarán alresidente .50 centavos por llanta. Másinformación llamando al 794-1650.

LAREDO — Comparta esta tem-porada donando cobijas, sábanas y toal-las, nuevas ó un poco usadas, perolimpias, para ayudar a mantener a losanimales calientes en el Sociedad Pro-tectora de Animales de Laredo. Se acep-tan donaciones en la Oficina de Rela-ciones Públicas de TAMIU en laBiblioteca Sue and Radcliffe Killam, aula268, desde hoy y hasta el martes 23 dediciembre. Más información llamando aAna Clamont en el 326-2182.

LAREDO — El miércoles 17 de di-ciembre se desarrollará un taller de 9a.m. al mediodía en la Biblioteca Públi-ca de Laredo (1120 E. Calton Road) parainformar sobre los beneficios deMedicare a sus beneficiarios. Las metasde la reunión son educar sobre losPlanes de Prescripción de Medicamen-tos, Planes de Ventaja de Medicare ycómo evitar enrrolarse en un plan queno cumple sus necesidades. Más infor-mación llamando a Yvonne Arevalo en elArea Agency on Aging en el (956) 722-3995 ó 1-800-292-5426.

EN INTERNET: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 10ASÁBADO 13 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2008ZFronteraAGENDA EN BREVE

Para informar acerca de eventos yactividades envíe el nombre, fecha,hora y dirección, y un número de con-tacto a tiempo@lmtonline.com

Desean evitar muertesPor MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

NUEVO LAREDO — Una de las constantes pre-ocupaciones del gobierno es la falta de precaución delos conductores que han provocado en el año lamuerte de 39 personas en más de 3 mil accidentesviales diversos, hasta el 9 de diciembre.

De estas 39 muertes, por lo menos 8 han sido de-bido al alcohol y 22 casos por velocidad excesiva.

Ahora, las corporaciones han unido esfuerzosdiferentes oficinas para crear un mega operativo, en-cabezadas por Seguridad Ciudadana y Vialidad, a finde contener a conductores intoxicados.

Jorge Luis Pineda Peña, subdirector de tráfico,dijo que posiblemente han fallecido otras víctimasdías después del accidente, pero no se contabilizancomo muertos en la escena.

La estadística del Departamento de Vialidad re-salta que 9 de las víctimas fueron por atropel-lamiento; 8 en volcaduras, y 22 en choques frontalescontra unidades u objetos fijos.

“Lamentablemente han muerto 39 víctimas de es-tos accidentes”, dijo Pineda. “Sabemos que una solamuerte es algo que no debió ocurrir”.

OperativoSe pretende frenar la ola de colisiones y vol-

caduras ya que se sabe que los riesgos de percancesse incrementarán con el inicio de las posadas, navi-dad y fin de año.

Alfonso Olvera Ledezma, Director de SeguridadCiudadana, dijo que han diseñado una buena es-trategia para proteger la integridad de conductoresy de terceras personas.

Saldrán a las intersecciones, colonias, cubriránlos diferentes puntos de la ciudad.

A los agentes les acompañara un médico y un ofi-cial de la Contraloría y Asuntos Internos que su-pervisaría que el procedimiento de ley se aplique sinexcesos o abusos.

“Nos hemos reunido y afinado nuestras accionesen diferentes puntos de la ciudad”, dijo OlveraLedezma. “Tenemos instrucciones de evitar acci-dentes y posibles muertes”.

Las acciones legales se aplicarán en el estrictosentido de protección a la ciudadanía ya que el gob-

ierno municipal no esta buscando infraccionar paraobtener fondos.

“El interés es tener control de quienes están con-duciendo un vehículo en las calles de la ciudad”, dijoPineda. “Buscamos que la integridad de los ciu-dadanos quede libre de riesgo”.

Negó que los agentes pudieran prestarse parafavorecer a los conductores, porque será el médi-co y el alcoholímetro que determinara la cantidadde afectado que esté en su torrente sanguíneo elconductor.

Si el conductor está intoxicado en un nivel infe-rior, podría infraccionársele y pedirle a una personaque conduzca el vehículo, pero si su resultado es másde 0.8, será enviado a detención por 24 horas,además el vehículo sería llevado al corralón.

En los operativos ha permitido a la SeguridadCiudadana localizar a criminales que por muchosaños estuvieron prófugos.

La participación de Asuntos Internos, Con-traloría, así como Derechos Humanos, es garantíaque los derechos de las personas se respetarían.

Un médico será responsables de vigilar que lasacciones legales se apliquen en el estricto orden.

EstadísticasPineda dijo que se han registrado 3,936 accidentes

de tráfico en los diferentes puntos de la ciudad.En estos accidentes han resultado 1,303 personas

lesionadas, algunas de ellas de gravedad y otras enmenores condiciones.

Las víctimas en accidentes fueron cinco de edadentre 1 a 10 años; 9 personas de 10 a 20 años; 8 víc-timas de 20 a 40; de 40 a 60 años nueve; y de 60 a 80fueron seis las víctimas.

En dos de los casos los peritos no identificaron laedad de las víctimas.

Las arterias que generaron mayor número deaccidentes son las Carreteras Aerouerto, Anáhuac,Nacional y Piedras Negras. Trece de las 39 víctimasocurrieron en carreteras.

En el Bulevar Colosio se disminuyó el índicedrásticamente y se reportaron dos muertes enesta vialidad.

(Puede localizar a Miguel Timoshenkov llaman-do al (956) 728-2583 o escribiendo a timo1@lmton-line.com)

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Nuevo LaredoJosé Feliciano Santos Velázquez, a la extrema derecha, agradece al DIF y médicospor la operación de labio leporino que le cambió la vida. La presidenta del DIF, Re-beca Canales de Garza Barrios, a la izquierda, encabezó el evento.

Evalúan a pacientesde labio leporino

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

NUEVO LAREDO — Cambioradical en su vida experimenta-ron 56 personas operadas delabio leporino y paladar hendido,en la primera campaña masivaque el Sistema DIF Nuevo Lare-do realizó en meses pasados.

Rebeca Canales de Garza,presidenta del DIF local con-stató el 11 de diciembre el pro-greso de los pacientes en su eta-pa de rehabilitación.

En la primera valoración alos pacientes hubo resultadosexitosos y Alejandro Azuara fuetestigo. Él es padre de RodrigoAlberto y Alejandro, de 6 y 7años respectivamente, benefici-ados a través de este programa.

“No tengo más que dar gra-cias a Dios y al Sistema DIFporque me los están atendiendo

cuando no cuento con recursospara sacarlos adelante por mímismo”, dijo Azuara.

Reconoció que la mejoría enAlejandro es muy notoria, yaque antes de su operación nohablaba nada. Después de la in-tervención, comenzó a expre-sarse bien y a alimentarse solo.

Canales expresó su satisfac-ción por la evolución en los pa-cientes y reconoció la labor delos cirujanos.

“No me lo tienen que agrade-cer a mí, sino al Sistema DIF, (y a)los doctores de la Ciudad de Méx-ico que vinieron a operarlos y lescambiaron su vida”, dijo Canales.

Siete especialistas en cirugíaoral y máxilofacial de la clínica“Renacer Ciudad de México”, acargo del doctor Rafael Ruiz,practicaron las intervencionesquirúrgicas.

Arrancan época NavideñaTIEMPO DE ZAPATA

El espíritu navideño invade lafrontera mexicana desde la sem-ana pasada, cuando autoridades degobierno llevaron al cabo el encen-dido oficial de los árbolitos de navi-dad en sus respectivas ciudades.

Ciudad VictoriaEl gobernador de Tamaulipas,

Eugenio Hernández Flores, acom-pañado de su esposa, AdrianaGonzález de Hernándezprendieron el tradicional pinonavideño, y en ceremonias si-multáneas se encendieron en losrestantes 42 municipios del estado.

En el evento al que asistieronmás de diez mil victorense, se dis-frutó además de fuegos artificialesy de un concierto navideño queofreció la artista infantil Tatiana.El Gobernador y su esposa de-searon una feliz navidad a los

tamaulipecos en compañía de susfamilias, así como un prósperoaño nuevo 2009.

Nuevo LaredoEl llamando Árbol de la Es-

peranza fue encendido el 7 dediciembre a las 7:30 p.m. en laExplanada Baca Calderón porel alcalde Ramón Garza Barrios,su esposa Rebeca Canales deGarza, sus hijos Ramoncito yAriadna y dos sobrinas.

Niños y adultos se aglomeraronalrededor del pino monumentaladornado con luces multicoloresy moños. A un costado, fueron colo-cados dos enormes esferas rojas yun nacimiento como símbolo delas tradiciones mexicanas.

“Es el deseo de mi familia y deun servidor que en cada uno delos hogares neolaredenses reine launidad, la solidaridad, la paz, elamor y la alegría, dijo Garza Bar-

rios. “Hay que ayudar a los quemenos tienen, hay que tener esaresponsabilidad social para poderhacer que la Navidad sea mágicapara todos los habitantes de Nue-vo Laredo y la región”.

También se interpretaron vil-lancicos y hubo mensajes de bue-na voluntad.

“Mi deseo es que vivan conmucho amor y mucha paz no so-lamente esta Navidad, sino todoslos años de su vida. Que vivancon mucha salud y olviden losmalos momentos, pues estamosde paso por esta vida y hay quedisfrutarla con muchos amor, connuestros seres queridos”, dijoCanales de Garza Barrios.

Miguel AlemánCon el deseo sincero de que en

esta Navidad la paz, la salud y la fe-licidad esté presente en las familiasde Miguel Alemán y que el Año

Nuevo llegue lleno de prosperidad,el presidente municipal, Servan-do López Moreno, acompañado desu esposa, Sandra Isela Garza deLópez, y de su hija, Paulina, en-cendió la noche del 7 de diciembreel pino navideño en la explanadade la Presidencia Municipal.

En la ceremonia del encendidodel pino navideño y las luces de laplaza principal, López deseó a lasfamilias de Miguel Alemán quesus hogares sean invadidos de paz,salud, felicidad y prosperidad.

“Estas son fechas para valorarlo que hemos hecho en el año quetermina y programar lo que hare-mos en el siguiente; de disfrutarcon nuestras familias y dar gra-cias a Dios por todo lo que nosdado”, dijo López.

Todos los asistentes gritaronla cuenta regresiva que marcó elencendido del pino y las lucesnavideñas, y posteriormente, losniños se tomaron la fotografía delrecuerdo con Santa Claus, quienles entregó dulces.

Fotos de cortesíaDe izquierda a derecha, encendido del árbol navideño en Miguel Alemán, en CiudadVictoria y en Nuevo Laredo, el domingo 7 de diciembre.

Abren albergue en la presidenciaESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

MIGUEL ALEMÁN —Ante lallegada de los frentes fríos, típicosde la temporada invernal el gob-ierno municipal activó de maneratemporal la Casa del Adulto May-or, como alberge para atender atoda persona que no tengarefugió seguro para enfrentar lasbajas temperaturas.

Fue el presidente municipal,Servando López Moreno, quienen conferencia de prensa anun-ció la apertura inmediata del al-berge, el cual contará con lonecesario, incluyendo: cober-tores, alimentos calientes, unaambulancia de planta y per-sonal médico para atender a laspersonas con problemas respi-ratorios.

López Moreno se dijo preocu-

pado por las familias que vivenen la periferia de la ciudad “dondeel viento les pega de lleno a lashumildes viviendas”.

A fin de atender a estas famil-ias, personal del DIF, proteccióncivil, policía y tránsito se handado a la tarea de ubicar las casascon este tipo de problemas paraauxiliarlos en caso de que se sien-tan vulnerables a los cambiosclimáticos.

“Es importante que la ciu-

dadanía colabore con nosotros ynos indique donde viven las fa-milias con techos de lamina y quetengan entradas de aire parapoder ayudarlas o simplementeinvitarlas a usar el alberge”, dijoLópez Moreno.

El alberge está ubicado en laparte baja de la presidencia mu-nicipal, en la Casa del AdultoMayor y permanecerá activo portiempo indefinido, según órdenesdel Alcalde.

“Es importante que la ciudadanía colabore con nosotros y nos indique dondeviven las familias con techos de lamina”.

ALCALDE, SERVANDO LÓPEZ MORENO

CIUDAD MIER: BANDERAZO

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Ciudad MierEl presidente municipal de Ciudad Mier, José Iván Mancias Hinojosa, al centro,acompañado del Director del Cobat No. 11, Leonal García Hinojosa, a la derecha,llevó a cabo el arranque de la rehabilitacion de dos salones de clase bajo el pro-grama de “Suma de voluntades”. El las aulas se colocará vitropiso, se hará sarpea-do de paredes y se colocará candelería.

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 11AZbusiness SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

European stocks close down on U.S. car fears

By CARLO PIOVANOASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON — European shares closed lower Fri-day amid a global stocks sell-off on worries the U.S.auto industry may go bust after the Senate refusedto grant it a $14 billion lifeline.

However, losses were not as sharp as earlier inthe day as investors drew some hope from news theWhite House is considering diverting money fromthe Wall Street rescue fund to stave off bankrupt-cy filings among the automakers.

The FTSE 100 of leading British shares wasdown 2.5 percent at 4,280.35, while Germany’sDAX fell 2.2 percent to 4,663.37. The CAC-40 inFrance dropped 2.8 percent to 3,213.60.

In the US, the Dow Jones industrial average was

1.0 percent lower at 8,480.02 in early afternoontrading New York time, while the broader Standard& Poor’s 500 index was down 11.53 points, or 1.3percent, at 862.06.

Stock markets recovered some of their losses af-ter the Treasury Department said it stands ready to“prevent an imminent failure” of the auto companies.

But despite hopes that the White House mayuse some of the $700 billion financial bailout fundto help Detroit’s automakers, investors remainedrattled by the state of the U.S. economy and the vul-nerability of some of its biggest companies.

“The equity markets’ response to the stalling ofthe bailout for the U.S. auto sector late on Thursdayprovides further evidence (if any were needed) ofthe fragility of sentiment,” said Julian Jessop atCapital Economics.

Oil pares losses on possible help for Detroit 3

By MARK WILLIAMSASSOCIATED PRESS

Oil prices rallied from early lows Friday as the pres-ident and the Treasury Department said they were pre-pared to act if needed to save the U.S. auto industry af-ter a proposed bailout for Detroit Three collapsed.

The price for a barrel of oil, however, finishedlower on another round of poor economic news thatshowed consumers cutting back on spending for arecord fifth straight month.

Crude’s wild swings Friday capped a volatileweek in which prices surged on the back of a weak-ening dollar, and also the potential for severe pro-duction cuts from OPEC.

“We are being torn in a lot of different directions,”said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corp.

Oil prices, off by as much as 7 percent earlier in

the day, fell $1.70 to settle at $46.28 a barrel on theNew York Mercantile Exchange.

In London, January Brent crude fell 98 cents tosettle at $46.41 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

A day after the dollar got crushed on the possi-bility of a bailout and sent oil prices 10 percenthigher Thursday, the market seemed more worriedabout weak demand on Friday after bailout of the au-tomakers failed, Flynn said.

General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC and Ford Mo-tor Co. failed to secure $14 billion in emergency loansafter efforts collapsed in the Senate late Thursday. TheSenate rejected the bailout 52-35 on a procedural vote.

Crude seemed to gain some support and the stockmarket, which had been off about 200 points, ralliedinto positive territory by the afternoon as PresidentBush and the Treasury Department said they wereprepared to act to keep the automakers from failing.

12A | THE ZAPATA TIMES SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

SCARED OF SANTA

Photo by Victor Calzada/El Paso Times | APUlysses O’Rourke, 2, bashfully turns away from Santa Claus who was trying to greet him shortly after Santa’s arrival at the Boysand Girls Club on Friday, in El Paso, Texas. Santa was on hand for the delivery of more than 40,000 toys by Operation Santa Claussoldiers from Fort Bliss to the club. The toys will then be given to underprivileged children in south El Paso.

Kingsville has reason to be proud of native son Hector F. Lopez Jr.

BY DORA MARTINEZ

The town of Kingsville has tobe proud of Hector F. Lopez Jr.,who was born there in 1955.

His ancestors come fromLopeño and were among theoriginal founders.

His parents are Hector F.Lopez and Olga Herrera deLopez, who have been marriedfor more than 55 years. Duringthose years, the elder Lopeztaught history in school. Thecouple also owned one of thefinest restaurants in the 1960s,The White House, as well asOlga’s Clothing Store.

Lopez Jr. admires his fatherfor making use of the G.I. Bill in1947, which has led the family tomany fine things along the way.

The younger Lopez says hisfamily comes from a time whenpeople had morals and values.

When he was a young lad, herecalls the Lions Club, which inthose days was the No. 1 club.He hated to see it fold.

Lopez attended Laredo Ju-nior College, then transferred tothe University of Texas at Austin,where he got his bachelor’s de-gree. He then attended TexasA&I in Kingsville, where he gothis master’s in business and alsodid graduate work in history,which is one of his passions. Hespeaks four languages.

In 1990, he joined the Navy,where he served until 1996.From there, he started workingfor the county and later wentinto teaching for three years. In2000, he ran for commissioneragainst Tata Flores.

Lopez Jr. also has done vol-

unteer work for various organi-zations such as the HistoricalCommission and the HistoricalSociety, among others. Continu-ing his passion for history, he’sworking on two books: “In thefootsteps of Col. Jose S. Zapata”and “Tejano Soldiers from SouthTexas Past and Present.”

His hobbies include traveling;he has visited numerous placesin Europe.

On a personal note, he lovesice cream and was sad whenBaskin Robbins folded since thatwas his favorite.

Lopez Jr. is now the Recy-cling environmental director forthe county. Hector is an Orgulloof our city.

(Dora Martinez is a native ofZapata who was publisher of His-panic News in San Antonio for 21years. She can be reached at theza-patatimes@att.net)

COLUMN

Sept. 3, 1746, from Viceroy JuanFrancisco de Guemes y Horcasitas(Count of Revillagigedo) to colo-nize Nuevo Santander.

Escandon’s lieutenants start-ed off with similar contingentsfrom Cerralvo and Linares, bothin Nuevo Leon, as well as fromValles, Tampico and San JuanBautista (Eagle Pass).

Archived data cited in NotableMen and Women of SpanishTexas details Escandon’s found-ing of Santa Maria de Llera with45 families, a dozen soldiers andseveral Indians on December 25,1748.

From his archived personalrecords, history posted these dat-ed sequence of events:

Sept. 3, 1746, Viceroy JuanFrancisco de Guemes y Horcasitas(count of Revillagigedo), grantedEscandon the rights to colonizeNuevo Santander; Jan. 7, 1747, Es-candon left Queretaro with frayJose Velasco, fray Lorenzo deMedina, a military captain, a

dozen soldiers and several ser-vants; Feb. 24, 1747, Escandonreached the Rio Grande and es-tablished a camp of operations,Real del Rio del Norte (El So-lineño); October 1847, expeditionended and Escandon submittedexpedition update and futureplans; May 31, 1748, Count Revil-lagigedo cleared plans and au-thorized Escandon to start settlingNuevo Santander.

Rodolfo Gonzalez de la Garza,Tamaulipas genealogist-historian,quoted in one of his Mil Familiaseditions (from Archivo Generalde la Nacion) a list of the 22 set-tlements in this order:

Phase I — Santa Maria de laLlera (Llera), Dec. 25, 1848; SanFrancisco de Guemes, Jan. 1, 1749(Notable Men and Woman ofSpanish Texas had it as San Fer-nando deGuemes); Padilla, Jan. 6,1749; Santander de los CincoSeñores, Feb. 17,1749; Burgos, Feb.20, 1749; Santa Ana de Camargo,March 5, 1749; Reynosa, March 14,

1749; San Fernando de Presas,March 19, 1749; Altamira, May 2,1749; Horcasitas, May 11, 1749;Santa Barbara, May 19, 1749; Realde Los Infantes, May 26, 1749.

Phase II – Santa Maria de losDolores, (Texas), Aug. 22, 1750;Soto de la Marina, Sept. 3, 1750;Santa Maria de Aguayo (CiudadVictoria), Oct. 6, 1750; Revilla(Guerrero Viejo), Oct. 10, 1850;Xicotencaptl, March 15, 1751.

Phase III — Santo Domingode Hoyos (Hidalgo), May 19, 1752;Abasolo, Dec. 26, 1752; Mier (Ciu-dad Mier), March 5, 1752; Villa deSan Agustin de Laredo (Laredo),May 15, 1755; Real de Borbon (Vil-lagran), May 8, 1757.

History was about to see thedevelopments in the province ofNuevo Santander that included aportion of modern day Texas at-tached to Coahuila. It also gavethe Royal Court in Madrid an out-line and an Escandon map of theterritory of Nuevo Santanderalong the stretch of the Gulf coast

(Seno Mexicano) region.Escandon’s accounts from the

national archives tell that ViceroyJuan Francisco de Guemes, countof Revillagigedo, granted Escan-don the rights to colonize San-tander. The real authority reallycame from the Royal Court inMadrid.

Escandon left Queretaro onJan. 7, 1747, with a contingentthat included fray Jose Velasco,fray Lorenzo de Medina, a cap-tain Maldonado, a dozen soldiersand several servants. The lead-ing families for the Escandoncontingent were recruited most-ly in San Luis Potosi, NuevoReino de Leon (Monterrey) andCoahuila.

His notebook tells that hereached the Real del Rio del Norte(Rio Grande), on Feb. 24, 1747.Don Jose made camp (El Slieño)from where he would direct in-spections of the region.

His report, submitted October1747, was approved by a commis-

sion headed by Count Revil-lagigedo on May 31, 1748, after anin-depth tour of most of the re-gion. A hundred years later, mostof the modern-day territory ofTexas, once part of Coahuila, waspart of the U.S. as a result ofGuadalupe Hidalgo Treaty thatconcluded the Spanish-AmericanWar.

The irony of all this SouthTexas history is that Escandonwas a recipient of one of thelargest land grants in Santander,

but the man some regard as theFather of South Texas did not liveto claim it.

Historians in Mexico wrote theCrown’s gift to Escandon was nev-er officially granted to one of heirsuntil after a son, Manuel, pre-vailed in a long legal dispute onboth sides of the Atlantic. Thatland grant stretched down to themodern-day Reynosa areas ofTamaulipas.

(To reach Odie Arambula,email odie@stx.rr.com)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008 THE ZAPATA TIMES | 13A

warmly accepted at the Justicesof the Peace offices on the sec-ond floor of the courthouse. Youwon’t get the autograph, but youwill get the satisfaction of help-ing Zapata’s littlest residentsduring a very special time.

“The other day, there was ayoung woman in our office andshe was talking to Judge (Fer-nando) Muñoz. She was talkingabout how (a couple of yearsago) she had been separatedfrom her husband and it was adifficult time. Her children wereable to get toys from Blue Santathat year.

“‘You made my children hap-py,’ she told him,” Guerra re-called. “Things like that makeme look forward to this event.”

Guerra is quick to give cred-

it for the Blue Santa program toformer Justice of the Peace JuanAntonio Guevara.

“I thank Judge Guevara —he started it,” she said. “Wejust continued it. I plan to con-tinue doing Blue Santa as longas the good Lord allows me todo it.”

In addition to Guerra andMuñoz, other participatingjudges include Precinct 4 Jus-tice of the Peace Jose ClementeGutierrez and Precinct 2 Justiceof the Peace Juana MariaGutierrez.

For more information, callany of the JP offices at 765-9165,765-5619, 765-9945 or 765-6655.

(To reach Diana R. Fuentes,call 728-2581 or e-maildfuentes@lmtonline.com)

LAKE VIEW | Continued from Page 1A

BLUE SANTA | Continued from Page 1A

horrendous amount of paper-work so they send them to ourprogram,” the CIS counselorsaid.

That’s what Grajeda needed,guidance and a good listener,Flores said.

Grajeda was raised primari-ly by his mother since his fatherleft the family when 18-year-oldGrajeda was a young boy.

“He had a lot of anger towardhis father,” Flores said. “As afreshman, he would be in thein-school suspension all thetime. He wasn’t getting goodgrades, giving attitude to theteachers and not respectingadults.”

One of Grajeda’s teachersthen recommended the studentfor the Communities in Schoolsprogram.

“I couldn’t control my tem-per,” the student said. “Everytime someone was teasing me, Icouldn’t control my temper andI just went into action.”

Flores and Grajeda set somegoals for their counseling ses-sions and Grajeda would seeFlores two times a week. Thetwo talked about the things thathis anger stemmed from suchas family life.

Flores noticed a differenceduring the second year Grajedawas getting counseled at CIS.

His grades improved and he

became more involved in schoolactivities. Soon enough he let goof a lot of anger, Flores said.Grajeda was able to call his fa-ther and forgive him.

“He and his parents wouldcome to our parental workshopsat school,” Flores said. “He wasvery delighted to see that hisparents were there for him.”

Today the family is back to-gether and is thankful for thework of Communities inSchools, Flores said.

Grajeda said he learnedmany lessons from workingwith Flores and CIS.

“I learned that there’s otherpeople who need more help be-sides me,” Grajeda said. “Wehelped out some people in ruralcommunities with some foodand a few years ago and I helpedagain for Christmas.”

Grajeda graduated from LBJHigh School in May 2008 andplans to study criminal justice atLaredo Community College.

Flores said he can see Graje-da becoming a leader in thecommunity. He supports Graje-da’s effort in becoming the firstperson in his family to graduatefrom college.

For more information aboutCommunities in Schools ofLaredo, Inc., call 791-2199 orstop by their office at 101 W. Hill-side, suite 9.

COMMUNITIES | Continued from Page 1A

industrial-commercial zonewould run adjacent to the high-way.

However, no matter where thebusiness would be placed with-in the Zapata town limits, itwould be within 1,000 feet of aresidential area, according tothe Adelman.

“I’m a constitutional abso-lutist,” Adelman said. “I haveother facilities. All my facilitiesare clean. I agree that zoning isa way to do things, but I don’tagree (in) doing things hastilybecause you’re in a rush to dosomething, and violating peo-ple’s constitutional rights.”

The Commissioners Courtagreed not to make any hastydecisions, and gave Uribe timeto do more research.

The court will have a specialmeeting on Monday, Dec. 15 tohave further discussions on theissue.

One major question that thecourt will be faced with is if theywill grandfather in Zapata’sFantasy Ranch once new zon-ing is created.

Grandfathering in the estab-

lishment would mean it wouldbe exempt from regulations thecourt created regarding adultbusinesses. There is no prece-dent requiring the court tograndfather the establishment,according to Uribe.

Zapata is a growing commu-nity and as it grows, “we are go-ing to experience some of theurban problems,” Uribe said.

The establishment is open butundergoing renovations to fixthe roof.

Also at Monday’s meeting:The court accepted a bid

by Bryan Construction to buildthe new water plant. The com-pany was the low bid. Bryan’sestimated cost for constructionis $10,617,000. The contract stillhas to be approved by the WaterDevelopment Board.

The court agreed to put aspeed bump and 15 mile perhour signs on Lago Vista Streetby Falcon Lake West Subdivi-sion.

(Zach Lindsey may bereached at 728-2538 orzach@lmtonline.com)

DEBATE | Continued from Page 1A

Photo by Pat Sullivan | APAlabama-Coushatta Tribal Council Chairman Carlos Bullock looks over the empty, dilapidated amphitheater on the reservation near Livingston,Texas.A tourist train once luredvisitors and their dollars to the reservation but sits idle in its tunnel, weeds choking the tracks. This once-grand amphitheater is falling apart.

Tribes fighting to revive gamblingBy KELLEY SHANNONASSOCIATED PRESS

LIVINGSTON, Texas —Preschoolers on the Alabama-Coushatta reservation play be-neath a leaky roof and beside ag-ing emergency exits. Tribalmembers who seek treatment fordiabetes and cancer at the nearbyhealth clinic share the facetiouswarning, “Don’t get sick afterJune” — money may run out forthe year.

A tourist train once lured visi-tors and their dollars to the reser-vation but today sits idle in its tun-nel, weeds choking the tracks. Aonce-grand outdoor amphitheateris falling apart.

These sad conditions worry Al-abama-Coushatta leaders, butthey say the American Indiantribe’s history is proud and its des-tiny is hopeful. What they wantnow is the Legislature to helpthem relaunch a shuttered casinothat drew big-spending gamblersto their remote East Texas land.

“In the end we’ll be successful.It’s just not easy,” said tribal coun-cil chairman Carlos Bullock, whois working with the Tigua tribe ofEl Paso to get an Indian casino billpassed when lawmakers convenein January. Both tribes’ casinoswere closed in 2002 by court or-ders sought by then-Attorney Gen-eral John Cornyn.

Indian leaders argue the cre-ation of Texas’ state lottery openedthe legal door for their casinos.But after the court disputes withthe state, they’re trying — again —to persuade lawmakers to approveIndian casino gambling.

“We are lining up our ducks,”said Carlos Hisa, lieutenant gov-ernor for the Tigua tribe, the Ysle-ta del Sur Pueblo. “We are con-sidering everything.”

Both tribes have hired promi-nent Austin lobbyists and con-sultants, some with close ties toRepublican Gov. Rick Perry. Thepolitically savvy tribal leadersgrew wise about the legislativeworld the hard way, through pastdefeats and costly connections toconvicted Washington ex-lobby-ist Jack Abramoff.

The Tiguas lost millions of dol-lars to Abramoff and a businesspartner as the tribe attempted toget its casino back. Meanwhile,

the Alabama-Coushatta waged acivil lawsuit against Abramoff andothers, accusing him of workingwith other tribes against theircasino interests. The Alabama-Coushatta reached an undisclosedsettlement with Abramoff’s for-mer law firm.

Winning at the Texas Capitolwon’t be easy, and the tribes knowit. Baptist and social conservativeactivists are lining up in opposi-tion.

“We’re absolutely against anyform of expanding gambling,” saidJulie Drenner, spokeswoman forthe conservative Texas Eagle Fo-rum. She contends casinos leadto financial ruin and crime anddon’t help the Indian tribes aspromised. “We will be ramped upto fight it as hard as we can.”

Suzii Paynter, director of theTexas Baptist Christian Life Com-mission, said money spent ongambling, while perhaps helpingto pay for tribal services, reduceswhat’s spent in the local economy,hurting area businesses. Evenlimited Indian casinos in otherstates like California have led tooverall expansions of gambling,

Paynter added. “You are taking a lot of money

out of the consumer economy,”she said.

The politics surrounding gam-bling could change in the weeks tocome should a new Texas Housespeaker be selected who is moreor less friendly to gambling thanincumbent Republican Tom Crad-dick, who at least has allowed In-dian gambling to come up for avote in his chamber.

Lawmakers could also viewcasino gambling as a potentialstate money source, and Indianreservations could benefit, saidRep. Norma Chavez, an El PasoDemocrat who pressed an Indiangambling measure last year thatbarely failed in the House.

“We might be looking for rev-enue-generating bills,” Chavez said,adding that the Tiguas will supportall the “big bills” of major gamblinginterests attempting to bring casi-nos to Texas and work to ensure In-dian casinos are included.

If an Indian gambling bill pass-es the House and Senate, Perryisn’t saying whether he wouldveto it. But spokeswoman Allison

Castle said the governor does notwant to expand “the footprint ofgambling” in Texas.

Currently the Kickapoo tribein Eagle Pass is the only one of thethree Texas tribes operating a lim-ited casino. It is governed by theIndian Gaming Regulatory Act —not the more restrictive Restora-tion Act that applies to the Alaba-ma-Coushatta and Tiguas — ac-cording to the Texas AttorneyGeneral’s Office.

The Tiguas ran their SpeakingRock casino for nine years, pro-ducing $60 million annually forhousing, health care and educa-tion for their 1,600 tribal mem-bers, Hisa said.

The Alabama-Coushatta oper-ated its casino for only ninemonths, generating $1 million permonth for the tribe of 1,100, Bul-lock said.

These days Alabama-Coushat-ta leaders say they have troublekeeping up with road and housingmaintenance and are under pres-sure to make repairs to the build-ings that house one of the oldestHead Start programs in the na-tion.

Photo by Pat Sullivan | APBethany Celestine, 3, and Alonzo Bullock,4, watch television at the Alabama-Coushatta day care center near Livingston,Texas.TheAlabama-Coushatta leaders say they have trouble keeping up with roads and housing maintenance, and are under pressure to makerepairs to the buildings that house one of the oldest Head Start programs in the nation.

14A | THE ZAPATA TIMES SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

’Tis the season

for giving second

chances.In the spirit of the holidays, Pocket is offering

a FREE month of service with fl ashed phones*.

*Phone must be activated on a qualifi ed monthly unlimited fl at rate plan of $25 or higher. Excluded rate plans are Prepaid, My14 and Family Plans. Free second month after paid fi rst month. CDMA phones are able to be fl ashed and used on the Pocket network. Offer valid when purchasing or bringing in phone to be fl ashed.

1st Choice Communications2620 N Arkansas956-726-6101

1st Choice Communications3911 Loop 20956-218-8060

1st Choice Communications 4910 South Zapata Hwy956-333-0505

1st Choice Communications610 E Saunders956-333-3386

1st Choice Communications519 Farragut St956-726-6101

Lobos Wireless Communications 2100 Corpus Christi956-753-0014

Lobos Wireless Communications 802 Juarez956-753-0014

Lobos Wireless Communications 4102 San Bernardo956-753-0014

Lobos Wireless Communications2400 Guadalupe956-753-0014

Lobos Wireless Communications201 Park956-753-0014

Universal Wireless3519 N Arkansas956-727-0721

Universal Wireless3802 Hwy 359956-725-2541

Rapid Communications 501 E Saunders956-717-3223

Talk Time1310 E Del Mar Blvd956-722-4690

Best Wireless Connection502 W Calton Rd956-722-6080

Cross County Communications2302 Guadalupe St.956-220-3435

International Communications1719 Guadalupe St.956-727-7471

Zapata Total Mobile956-744-0092

Riverview Supermarket956-765-4398

Available at locations throughout Laredo, including:

pocket.com

Smart Wireless

Sports&OutdoorsThe Zapata Times

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COMSATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

Hawks’ basketball squads take flight

Bradford, McCoy and Tebow look to take HeismanBy RALPH D. RUSSOASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — In recent years, theHeisman Trophy ceremony has beenabout as suspenseful as Florida vs. TheCitadel. Even before it started, the out-come was never in doubt.

Southern California’s Reggie Bushin 2005 and Ohio State’s Troy Smith in2006 took home their Heismans after

two of the biggest landslides in theaward’s 73-year history. And it was noshock last year when Florida quarter-back Tim Tebow became the first soph-omore to win the big bronze statue.

Tebow’s back in Manhattan for an-other Heisman handout, looking tomake it two in a row on Saturday night,but this time if his name — or SamBradford’s or Colt McCoy’s — is called,he won’t have to pretend to be sur-

prised. “I think this year, no one really

knows,” said Bradford, Oklahoma’sprolific passer. “It’s going to be a closerace.”

Bradford, who leads the nation inpasser rating (186.3) and TD passes(48), is the slight favorite going intothe festivities at the Nokia Theatre inTimes Square, according to Stif-fArmTrophy.com, a Web site that polls

some of the 925 Heisman voters andhas successfully predicted the last sixwinners.

Most of those have been pretty easy,though the site also boasts of gettingwithin 2.9 percentage points of thewinning vote, on average.

As of Friday afternoon, the site hadBradford projected to receive 1,687

By CLARA SANDOVALSPECIAL TO THE TIMES

When Coach Clyde Guerra, Jr inherited the Za-pata girls basketball program seven years ago, he im-plemented his philosophy and had high expecta-tions for the Lady Hawks.

Five years later, he had his Lady Hawks on theverge of making history as they broke a 40-yearplayoff drought.

Zapata beat a heavily favored Falfurrias team infront of a packed house to clinch at least a playoff ap-pearance that season, finishing with an overall

record of 16-13.“You could feel the electricity in the atmosphere,”

Guerra said. “We all knew what was at stake whenwe took the court that day. It was exciting for the girlsthat one of the goals that I set for this programwas fulfilled. Everyone strived to reach thatgoal.”

To add the icing on the cake, at theend of the regular season the LadyHawks were crowned tri-champi-ons and on their way to the playoffs.

Myra Alaniz, Lynda Leyva leading girls By NINO CARDENAS

THE ZAPATA TIMES

The growing pains for the Zapata Hawks are ev-ident as they make the uphill trek to re-

turning boys’ basketball back to its glo-ry days.

The current Hawk (3-6) squadis off to a rough start, and nothelping their case is that six ofthose games came on the road.

So far, first-year coach JuanVillarreal is trying to install

his personality to his team.The transition is taking some time, but the

coach is confident that soon the results will be ev-ident on the court.

By that time, the coach is hoping that there is awelcoming crowd at the Zapata gym.

They don’t play at home until Dec. 19 whenthey play the alumni, and they will open District32-2A play on Jan. 2 against La Feria at home. TheHawks stay at home for their first four districtgames.

Boys preparing for first home game

THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata cross countryteams’ successful season con-tinued well after their statemeet showing, as Coach MikeVillarreal and his runners

were hon-ored at theRio GrandeValley CrossCountryCoaches As-sociationbanquet thisweek.

Sopho-more Marlena Garcia, whofinished 49th among 3A girlsat the state meet last month,was named to the honorablemention team for the RioGrande Valley.

Garcia was among theyoung athletes honored atthe event, the first of its kind.The association was createdthis year to promote thesport and showcase the tal-ent of local cross countryrunners.

Villarreal was a finalist forthe association’s Coach of theYear award, but the honoreventually went to TenchaLancaster from EdinburgHigh School.

Villarreal led his team tonew heights this season, asboth the boys and girls ad-vanced to the state meet.

It was the first time inschool history the teams hadgone that far in the sameyear.

The boys, led by Raul Ser-na, finished in fifth place atthe state meet, while the girlsfinished 12th.

XCteam

lauded

GARCIA

See GIRLS | PAGE 2B See BOYS | PAGE 2B

BRADFORD McCOY TEBOWSee HEISMAN | PAGE 2B

By STEPHEN HAWKINSASSOCIATED PRESS

IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys wouldlove to become this year’s New YorkGiants, the wild-card team turned

Super Bowl champion. “Yeah, we have talked about that. It is

definitely possible to still win a SuperBowl from where weare at,” quarterbackTony Romo said. “Andit is definitely possiblenot to win a SuperBowl from where theGiants are at.”

The NFC East rivalsplay Sunday night with their roles re-versed from a year ago, when Romo andthe Cowboys proved that scenario thehard way.

This time, the Giants (11-2) have al-ready won the division title with threegames left, though they are still trying toclinch a first-round playoff bye and theNo. 1 seed. And they want to avoid aCowboys-like collapse down the stretchlike the one New York contributed tolast season.

Dallas (8-5) was the early divisionclincher last season and earned the No.1 seed before losing two of its last threeregular-season games. Then the Cow-boys lost at home in the playoffs to NewYork, which was halfway into a four-game postseason road sweep to an un-expected championship.

“I do see where guys can kind of lookat the way we went about our season lastyear and use that as motivation,” defen-sive end Justin Tuck said.

“It does not surprise me because theexample has been out there and I’m sure

used by a lot of the teams in the leaguethat feel like they’re in position,” Giantscoach Tom Coughlin said.

The Giants will be at Texas Stadiumfor the final time, their first trip theresince that January playoff game provid-ed a bitter ending to Dallas’ 13-win sea-son that included two double-digit vic-tories over New York in the regularseason.

“I don’t have any fond memories of

that place, except beating them in theplayoffs,” receiver Amani Toomer said.

New York clinched the NFC East titlelast week despite a loss to Philadelphiathat snapped a seven-game winningstreak. That’s because the Cowboys lostlater that day in Pittsburgh after blowinga 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Tuck said there was no celebration bythe Giants for winning the division, butthat he’s not too bothered by the loss to

the Eagles. “Because it settles us back and puts

us back in that mode we’ve got to playevery game and go win it,” Tuck said.“We did get hot at the right time (lastyear). Hopefully we can do that again.”

The Giants dominated Dallas 35-14on Nov. 2, but that was when the Cow-boys were still without Romo and in a

Photo by Keith Srakocic | APPittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior, left, sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the third quarter of the Steelers’ 20-13 victory in Pitts-burgh, on Sunday, Dec. 7.The loss dropped the Cowboys to 8-5 heading into this weekend’s matchup with the defending champion New York Giants, whoselate run last season is something they would like to duplicate.

Cowboys lookto become thisseason’s Giants

SUNDAY’ SGAME

COWBOYS vs.GIANTS

7:15 p.m.

See COWBOYS | PAGE 2B

ON THE OTHER SIDE

CCHHLLNNOORRTTHHEERRNN CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

NNoorrtthheeaasstt DDiivviissiioonn

WW LL OOTTLL PPttss GGFF GGAA

Oklahoma City 15 3 2 32 64 35

Bossier-Shreveport12 6 2 26 61 52

Mississippi 12 9 0 24 65 60

Tulsa 6 11 2 14 52 85

NNoorrtthhwweesstt DDiivviissiioonn

WW LL OOTTLL PPttss GGFF GGAA

Colorado 17 3 0 34 92 56

Rapid City 5 8 6 16 59 77

Rocky Mountain 6 11 2 14 53 78

Wichita 6 14 1 13 54 74

SSOOUUTTHHEERRNN CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

SSoouutthheeaasstt DDiivviissiioonn

WW LL OOTTLL PPttss GGFF GGAA

Laredo 16 5 1 33 79 53

Texas 13 6 2 28 67 52

Rio Grande Valley 9 8 2 20 64 65

Corpus Christi 8 9 2 18 61 64

SSoouutthhwweesstt DDiivviissiioonn

WW LL OOTTLL PPttss GGFF GGAA

Odessa 15 5 2 32 91 60

Arizona 10 13 1 21 93 101

New Mexico 8 13 1 17 82 97

Amarillo 6 14 0 12 55 83

TThhuurrssddaayy’’ss GGaammee

Corpus Christi 2, Laredo 1, SO

FFrriiddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Texas at Mississippi

Tulsa at Odessa

Wichita at Oklahoma City

New Mexico at Rio Grande Valley

Amarillo at Colorado

Bossier-Shreveport at Rapid City

Arizona at Rocky Mountain

SSaattuurrddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Corpus Christi at Amarillo

Texas at Mississippi

Laredo at Odessa

Rocky Mountain at Wichita

Tulsa at Oklahoma City

New Mexico at Rio Grande Valley

Arizona at Colorado

Bossier-Shreveport at Rapid City

SSuunnddaayy’’ss GGaammee

Corpus Christi at Odessa

NNFFLLAAllll TTiimmeess EESSTT

AAMMEERRIICCAANN CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

EEaasstt

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

N.Y. Jets 8 5 0 .615 354 292

New England 8 5 0 .615 301 276

Miami 8 5 0 .615 269 260

Buffalo 6 7 0 .462 279 275

SSoouutthh

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

x-Tennessee 12 1 0 .923 332 184

Indianapolis 9 4 0 .692 292 253

Houston 6 7 0 .462 306 331

Jacksonville 4 9 0 .308 251 293

NNoorrtthh

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

Pittsburgh 10 3 0 .769 289 183

Baltimore 9 4 0 .692 316 200

Cleveland 4 9 0 .308 222 275

Cincinnati 1 11 1 .115 154 345

WWeesstt

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

Denver 8 5 0 .615 316 336

San Diego 5 8 0 .385 324 281

Oakland 3 10 0 .231 179 299

Kansas City 2 11 0 .154 233 364

NNAATTIIOONNAALL CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

EEaasstt

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

x-N.Y. Giants 11 2 0 .846 366 226

Dallas 8 5 0 .615 312 280

Philadelphia 7 5 1 .577 339 263

Washington 7 6 0 .538 218 246

SSoouutthh

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

Carolina 10 3 0 .769 323 254

Tampa Bay 9 4 0 .692 303 238

Atlanta 8 5 0 .615 323 271

New Orleans 7 7 0 .500 390 353

NNoorrtthh

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

Minnesota 8 5 0 .615 307 276

Chicago 8 6 0 .571 331 302

Green Bay 5 8 0 .385 355 319

Detroit 0 13 0 .000 219 413

WWeesstt

WW LL TT PPcctt PPFF PPAA

x-Arizona 8 5 0 .615 372 323

San Francisco 5 8 0 .385 286 327

Seattle 2 11 0 .154 237 335

St. Louis 2 11 0 .154 169 394

x-clinched division

TThhuurrssddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Chicago 27, New Orleans 24, OT

SSuunnddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Tennessee at Houston, 1 p.m.

Seattle at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

San Francisco at Miami, 1 p.m.

Detroit at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

San Diego at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Washington at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Green Bay at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Minnesota at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.

Denver at Carolina, 4:15 p.m.

New England at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 4:15 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 8:15 p.m.

MMoonnddaayy’’ss GGaammee

Cleveland at Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.

TThhuurrssddaayy,, DDeecc.. 1188

Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 8:15 p.m.

SSaattuurrddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Baltimore at Dallas, 8:15 p.m.

SSuunnddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2211

New Orleans at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Miami at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Arizona at New England, 1 p.m.

San Francisco at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

San Diego at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Cincinnati at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Houston at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Buffalo at Denver, 4:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Minnesota, 4:15 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 4:15 p.m.

Carolina at N.Y. Giants, 8:15 p.m.

MMoonnddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2222

Green Bay at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

NNBBAAEEAASSTTEERRNN CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

AAttllaannttiicc

WW LL PPcctt GGBB

Boston 21 2 .913 —

New Jersey 11 9 .550 8½

New York 10 12 .455 10½

Toronto 9 12 .429 11

Philadelphia 9 13 .409 11½

SSoouutthheeaasstt

WW LL PPcctt GGBB

Orlando 17 5 .773 —

Atlanta 12 9 .571 4½

Miami 12 9 .571 4½

Charlotte 7 16 .304 10½

Washington 4 16 .200 12

CCeennttrraall

WW LL PPcctt GGBB

Cleveland 19 3 .864 —

Detroit 11 9 .550 7

Chicago 10 11 .476 8½

Milwaukee 9 15 .375 11

Indiana 7 14 .333 11½

WWEESSTTEERRNN CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

SSoouutthhwweesstt

WW LL PPcctt GGBB

New Orleans 12 6 .667 —

Houston 14 8 .636 —

San Antonio 13 8 .619 ½

Dallas 12 9 .571 1½

Memphis 7 15 .318 7

NNoorrtthhwweesstt

WW LL PPcctt GGBB

Denver 15 7 .682 —

Portland 15 9 .625 1

Utah 15 9 .625 1

Minnesota 4 17 .190 10½

Oklahoma City 2 21 .087 13½

PPaacciiffiicc

WW LL PPcctt GGBB

L.A. Lakers 18 3 .857 —

Phoenix 13 10 .565 6

Golden State 7 15 .318 11½

Sacramento 6 16 .273 12½

L.A. Clippers 4 17 .190 14

TThhuurrssddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Boston 122, Washington 88

Dallas 95, Charlotte 90

Utah 97, Portland 88

FFrriiddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Toronto at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Indiana at Detroit, 8 p.m.

New Orleans at Boston, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Portland, 10 p.m.

Houston at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

SSaattuurrddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Cleveland at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

New Jersey at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Orlando at Utah, 9 p.m.

Golden State at Denver, 9 p.m.

New York at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Houston at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

SSuunnddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

New Orleans at Toronto, 12:30 p.m.

Miami at Memphis, 4 p.m.

Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

NNHHLLAAllll TTiimmeess EESSTT

EEAASSTTEERRNN CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

AAttllaannttiicc DDiivviissiioonn

WW LLOOTT PPttss GGFF GGAA

N.Y. Rangers 19 10 2 40 80 78

Pittsburgh 16 9 4 36 97 81

Philadelphia 15 7 6 36 94 86

New Jersey 15 8 2 32 74 64

N.Y. Islanders 10 17 2 22 75 107

NNoorrtthheeaasstt DDiivviissiioonn

WW LLOOTT PPttss GGFF GGAA

Boston 19 5 4 42 95 62

Montreal 16 7 5 37 84 73

Buffalo 14 11 3 31 78 81

Toronto 10 12 6 26 84 98

Ottawa 10 11 5 25 63 65

SSoouutthheeaasstt DDiivviissiioonn

WW LLOOTT PPttss GGFF GGAA

Washington 16 10 3 35 91 87

Carolina 13 12 4 30 76 89

Florida 13 12 3 29 69 76

Atlanta 9 14 4 22 79 96

Tampa Bay 7 14 8 22 68 93

WWEESSTTEERRNN CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

CCeennttrraall DDiivviissiioonn

WW LLOOTT PPttss GGFF GGAA

Detroit 19 4 4 42 99 83

Chicago 13 6 7 33 92 73

Nashville 14 12 3 31 79 90

Columbus 12 13 3 27 78 87

St. Louis 12 13 3 27 80 91

NNoorrtthhwweesstt DDiivviissiioonn

WW LLOOTT PPttss GGFF GGAA

Vancouver 16 10 3 35 89 75

Calgary 16 11 2 34 84 88

Minnesota 15 11 1 31 73 59

Colorado 14 13 1 29 78 81

Edmonton 13 12 2 28 74 80

PPaacciiffiicc DDiivviissiioonn

WW LLOOTT PPttss GGFF GGAA

San Jose 23 3 2 48 104 64

Anaheim 16 11 3 35 86 83

Phoenix 14 13 2 30 77 83

Los Angeles 12 12 4 28 76 80

Dallas 10 13 4 24 75 98

TThhuurrssddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Tampa Bay 3, Montreal 1

Columbus 2, Nashville 1, SO

Philadelphia 6, Carolina 5, SO

Pittsburgh 9, N.Y. Islanders 2

Florida 2, Edmonton 0

Phoenix 3, Minnesota 1

San Jose 2, Anaheim 0

Los Angeles 6, St. Louis 2

FFrriiddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Ottawa at Washington, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Boston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Chicago at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Florida at Calgary, 9 p.m.

SSaattuurrddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Minnesota at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.

Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Washington at Montreal, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Carolina at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Detroit at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Vancouver at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

St. Louis at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

SSuunnddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

Columbus at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Florida at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

MMLLBBFFrreeee AAggeenntt SSiiggnniinnggss

NEW YORK — The 16 free agents who

have signed, with name, position, former club

if different, and contract. The contract infor-

mation was obtained by The Associated Press

from player and management sources:

AAMMEERRIICCAANN LLEEAAGGUUEE

LOS ANGELES (1) — Announced Darren

Oliver, lhp, had accepted salary arbitration.

SEATTLE (1) — Signed Russell Branyan,

3b, Milwaukee, to a $1.4 million, one-year con-

tract.

NNAATTIIOONNAALL LLEEAAGGUUEE

CHICAGO (1) — Re-signed Ryan Demp-

ster, rhp, to a $52 million, four-year contract.

CINCINNATI (2) — Re-signed Mike Lin-

coln, rhp, to a $4 million, two-year contract;

announced David Weathers, rhp, had accept-

ed salary arbitration.

HOUSTON (2) — Re-signed Doug Brocail,

rhp, to a $2.75 million, one-year contract;

signed Mike Hampton, lhp, Atlanta, to a $2

million, one-year contract.

LOS ANGELES (2) — Re-signed Casey

Blake, to a $17.5 million, three-year contract;

signed Mark Loretta, 2b, Houston, to a $1.25

million, one-year contract.

MILWAUKEE (2) — Signed Jorge Julio,

rhp, Atlanta, to a $950,000, one-year contract;

re-signed Mike Lamb, 3b, to a $400,000, one-

year contract.

NEW YORK (1) — Signed Francisco Ro-

driguez, rhp, Los Angeles Angels, to a $37 mil-

lion, three-year contract.

ST. LOUIS (1) — Signed Trever Miller,

lhp, Tampa Bay, to a $500,000, one-year con-

tract.

SAN FRANCISCO (3) — Signed Jeremy Af-

feldt, lhp, Cincinnati, to an $8 million, two-

year contract; signed Bobby Howry, rhp,

Chicago Cubs, to a $2.75 million, one-year

contract; signed Edgar Renteria, ss, Detroit,

to an $18.5 million, two-year contract.

NNCCAAAA FFoooottbbaallllBBoowwll GGllaannccee

AAllll TTiimmeess EESSTT

((SSuubbjjeecctt ttoo cchhaannggee))

SSaattuurrddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2200

EEaagglleeBBaannkk BBoowwll

AAtt WWaasshhiinnggttoonn

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Navy (8-4) vs. Wake Forest (7-5), 11 a.m.

(ESPN)

NNeeww MMeexxiiccoo BBoowwll

AAtt AAllbbuuqquueerrqquuee

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Colorado State (6-6) vs. Fresno State (7-5),

2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

SStt.. PPeetteerrssbbuurrgg ((FFllaa..)) BBoowwll

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11 mmiilllliioonn

South Florida (7-5) vs. Memphis (6-6), 4:30

p.m. (ESPN2)

LLaass VVeeggaass BBoowwll

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11 mmiilllliioonn

BYU (10-2) vs. Arizona (7-5), 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

SSuunnddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2211

NNeeww OOrrlleeaannss BBoowwll

PPaayyoouutt:: $$332255,,000000

Troy (8-4) vs. Southern Mississippi (6-6), 8

p.m. (ESPN2)

TTuueessddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2233

PPooiinnsseettttiiaa BBoowwll

AAtt SSaann DDiieeggoo

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Boise State (12-0) vs. TCU (10-2), 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

WWeeddnneessddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2244

HHaawwaaiiii BBoowwll

AAtt HHoonnoolluulluu

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Hawaii (7-6) vs. Notre Dame (6-6), 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

FFrriiddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2266

MMoottoorr CCiittyy BBoowwll

AAtt DDeettrrooiitt

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Florida Atlantic (6-6) vs. Central Michigan

(8-4), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

SSaattuurrddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2277

MMeeiinneekkee BBoowwll

AAtt CChhaarrlloottttee,, NN..CC..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11 mmiilllliioonn

North Carolina (8-4) vs. West Virginia (8-

4), 1 p.m. (ESPN)

CChhaammppss SSppoorrttss BBoowwll

AAtt OOrrllaannddoo,, FFllaa..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$22..112255 mmiilllliioonn

Florida State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (7-5), 4:30

p.m. (ESPN)

EEmmeerraalldd BBoowwll

AAtt SSaann FFrraanncciissccoo

PPaayyoouutt:: AACCCC:: $$775500,,000000 PPaacc--1100::

$$885500,,000000

California (8-4) vs. Miami (7-5), 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

SSuunnddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2288

IInnddeeppeennddeennccee BBoowwll

AAtt SShhrreevveeppoorrtt,, LLaa..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11..11 mmiilllliioonn

Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois

(6-6), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

MMoonnddaayy,, DDeecc.. 2299

PPaappaaJJoohhnnss..ccoomm BBoowwll

AAtt BBiirrmmiinngghhaamm,, AAllaa..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$330000,,000000

Rutgers (7-5) vs. North Carolina State (6-

6), 3 p.m. (ESPN)

AAllaammoo BBoowwll

AAtt SSaann AAnnttoonniioo

PPaayyoouutt:: $$22..2255 mmiilllliioonn

Northwestern (9-3) vs. Missouri (9-4), 8

p.m. (ESPN)

TTuueessddaayy,, DDeecc.. 3300

HHuummaanniittaarriiaann BBoowwll

AAtt BBooiissee,, IIddaahhoo

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Nevada (7-5) vs. Maryland (7-5), 4:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

HHoolliiddaayy BBoowwll

AAtt SSaann DDiieeggoo

PPaayyoouutt:: $$22..33 mmiilllliioonn

Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Oregon (9-3), 8

p.m. (ESPN)

TTeexxaass BBoowwll

AAtt HHoouussttoonn

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Rice (9-3) vs. Western Michigan (9-3), 8

p.m. (NFLN)

WWeeddnneessddaayy,, DDeecc.. 3311

AArrmmeedd FFoorrcceess BBoowwll

AAtt FFoorrtt WWoorrtthh,, TTeexxaass

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Houston (7-5) vs. Air Force (8-4), Noon

(ESPN)

SSuunn BBoowwll

AAtt EEll PPaassoo,, TTeexxaass

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11..99 mmiilllliioonn

Oregon State (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (9-3), 2

p.m. (CBS)

MMuussiicc CCiittyy BBoowwll

AAtt NNaasshhvviillllee,, TTeennnn..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11..77 mmiilllliioonn

Vanderbilt (6-6) vs. Boston College (9-4),

3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

IInnssiigghhtt BBoowwll

AAtt TTeemmppee,, AArriizz..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11..22 mmiilllliioonn

Kansas (7-5) vs. Minnesota (7-5), 5:30 p.m.

(NFLN)

CChhiicckk--ffiill--AA BBoowwll

AAtt AAttllaannttaa

PPaayyoouutt:: $$33 mmiilllliioonn

LSU (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (9-3), 7:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

TThhuurrssddaayy,, JJaann.. 11

OOuuttbbaacckk BBoowwll

AAtt TTaammppaa,, FFllaa..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$33..22 mmiilllliioonn

Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5), 11 a.m.

(ESPN)

CCaappiittaall OOnnee BBoowwll

AAtt OOrrllaannddoo,, FFllaa..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$44..2255 mmiilllliioonn

Georgia (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3), 1

p.m. (ABC)

GGaattoorr BBoowwll

AAtt JJaacckkssoonnvviillllee,, FFllaa..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$22..55 mmiilllliioonn

Nebraska (8-4) vs. Clemson (7-5), 1 p.m.

(CBS)

RRoossee BBoowwll

AAtt PPaassaaddeennaa,, CCaalliiff..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$1177 mmiilllliioonn

Southern Cal (11-1) vs. Penn State (11-1), 5

p.m. (ABC)

OOrraannggee BBoowwll

AAtt MMiiaammii

PPaayyoouutt:: $$1177 mmiilllliioonn

Cincinnati (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (9-4), 8

p.m. (FOX)

FFrriiddaayy,, JJaann.. 22

CCoottttoonn BBoowwll

AAtt DDaallllaass

PPaayyoouutt:: $$33 mmiilllliioonn

Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Mississippi (8-4), 2

p.m. (FOX)

LLiibbeerrttyy BBoowwll

AAtt MMeemmpphhiiss,, TTeennnn..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$11..88 mmiilllliioonn

Kentucky (6-6) vs. East Carolina (9-4), 5

p.m. (ESPN)

SSuuggaarr BBoowwll

AAtt NNeeww OOrrlleeaannss

PPaayyoouutt:: $$1177 mmiilllliioonn

Utah (12-0) vs. Alabama (12-1), 8 p.m.

(FOX)

SSaattuurrddaayy,, JJaann.. 33

IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall BBoowwll

AAtt TToorroonnttoo

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Connecticut (7-5) vs. Buffalo (8-5), Noon

(ESPN2)

MMoonnddaayy,, JJaann.. 55

FFiieessttaa BBoowwll

AAtt GGlleennddaallee,, AArriizz..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$1177 mmiilllliioonn

Texas (11-1) vs. Ohio State (10-2), 8:30

p.m. (FOX)

TTuueessddaayy,, JJaann.. 66

GGMMAACC BBoowwll

MMoobbiillee,, AAllaa..

PPaayyoouutt:: $$775500,,000000

Tulsa (10-3) vs. Ball State (12-1), 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

TThhuurrssddaayy,, JJaann.. 88

BBCCSS NNaattiioonnaall CChhaammppiioonnsshhiipp

AAtt MMiiaammii

PPaayyoouutt:: $$1177 mmiilllliioonn

Florida (12-1) vs. Oklahoma (12-1), 8 p.m.

(FOX)

SSaattuurrddaayy,, JJaann.. 1177

EEaasstt--WWeesstt SShhrriinnee CCllaassssiicc

AAtt HHoouussttoonn

West vs. East, TBD (ESPN2)

SSaattuurrddaayy,, JJaann.. 2244

SSeenniioorr BBoowwll

AAtt MMoobbiillee,, AAllaa..

South vs. North, 7 p.m. (NFLN)

SSaattuurrddaayy,, JJaann.. 3311

TTeexxaass vvss.. TThhee NNaattiioonn AAllll--SSttaarr CChhaalllleennggee

AAtt EEll PPaassoo,, TTeexxaass

Texas vs. Nation, 1 p.m.

NNCCAAAA MMeenn’’ss BBaasskkeettbbaallllTToopp 2255 SScchheedduullee

AAllll TTiimmeess EESSTT

SSaattuurrddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

No. 1 North Carolina vs. Oral Roberts, 6

p.m.

No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. UMBC, 7 p.m.

No. 5 Oklahoma vs. Utah, 4 p.m.

No. 6 Texas vs. Texas State, 1 p.m.

No. 8 Tennessee at Temple, Noon

No. 9 Louisville vs. Austin Peay, 1 p.m.

No. 10 Xavier at Cincinnati, 8 p.m.

No. 12 Notre Dame vs. Boston University,

7 p.m.

No. 13 Syracuse vs. Long Beach State,

Noon

No. 14 Purdue vs. Indiana State, 2 p.m.

No. 16 UCLA vs. DePaul at the Honda

Center, Anaheim, Calif., 7 p.m.

No. 17 Memphis at No. 19 Georgetown, 2 p.m.

No. 18 Michigan State vs. Alcorn State, 6

p.m.

No. 21 Ohio State vs. Butler, Noon

No. 22 Baylor vs. Prairie View, 3 p.m.

No. 23 Davidson vs. Chattanooga, 7 p.m.

No. 24 Marquette vs. IPFW, 2 p.m.

No. 25 Kansas vs. Massachusetts at the

Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., 2 p.m.

SSuunnddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

No. 4 Gonzaga vs. Arizona at U.S. Air-

ways Center, Phoenix, 6 p.m.

No. 11 Wake Forest vs. Wright State, 4

p.m.

No. 15 Villanova at La Salle, 7 p.m.

No. 20 Arizona State vs. IUPUI at U.S Air-

ways Center, Phoenix, 3:15 p.m.

NNCCAAAA WWoommeenn’’ss BBaasskkeettbbaallllTToopp 2255 SScchheedduullee

AAllll TTiimmeess EESSTT

((SSuubbjjeecctt ttoo cchhaannggee))

SSaattuurrddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

No. 2 North Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina,

Noon

No. 3 Stanford vs. Fresno State, 5 p.m.

No. 4 Texas A&M vs. Texas State, 8:30

p.m.

No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 California at San

Jose, Calif., 9 p.m.

No. 8 Notre Dame at Valparaiso, 2:30 p.m.

No. 10 Baylor vs. Samford, 8 p.m.

No. 12 Louisville vs. Kentucky, 2 p.m.

No. 16 Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia State,

2 p.m.

No. 21 Purdue vs. Iona, 7 p.m.

SSuunnddaayy’’ss GGaammeess

No. 1 Connecticut vs. Penn State at New

York, 2:30 p.m.

No. 6 Texas vs. No. 7 Tennessee 2 p.m.

No. 14 Rutgers vs. Army at New York,

Noon

No. 19 TCU at No. 24 Oklahoma State, 3

p.m.

No. 22 Arizona State vs. UC Riverside,

9:30 p.m.

No. 25 Kansas State vs. Texas-Arlington,

2 p.m.

MMoonnddaayy,, DDeecc.. 1155

No. 2 North Carolina vs. Arkansas-Pine

Bluff, 7 p.m.

No. 18 Ohio State vs. Cleveland State, 7 p.m.

FFiigghhtt SScchheedduulleeNNaattiioonnaall TTVV iinn ppaarreenntthheesseess

DDeecc.. 1133

At Mannheim, Germany (HBO), Wladimir

Klitschko, Ukraine, vs. Hasim Rahman, Bal-

timore, 12, for Klitschko’s IBF-WBO-IBO

heavyweight titles.

At Atlantic City, N.J. (SHO), Kendall Holt,

Paterson, N.J., vs., Demetrius Hopkins,

Philadelphia, for Holt’s WBO light welter-

weight title; Yuri Foreman, Brooklyn, N.Y.,

vs. James Moore, New York, 10, for Fore-

man’s NABF light middleweight title.

At Morongo Casino Resort & Spa,

Cabazon, Calif. (VERSUS), James Toney,

Sherman Oaks, Calif., vs. Tony Thompson,

Silver Spring, Md., 12, heavyweights.

At Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, San Juan,

Puerto Rico (HBO Plus), Eric Morel, Puerto

Rico, vs. Ricardo Vargas, Mexico, 10, super

bantamweights; Roman Martinez, Puerto

Rico, vs. Walter Estrada, Colombia, 10, super

featherweights.

DDeecc.. 2200

At Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland,

Nikolai Valuev, Russia, vs. Evander Holy-

field, Atlanta, 12, for Valuev’s WBA heavy-

weight title.

DDeecc.. 2233

At Tokyo, Daisuke Naito, Japan, vs. Shin-

go Yamaguchi, Japan, 12, for Naito’s WBC fly-

weight title.

DDeecc.. 3311

At Hiroshima, Japan, Takefumi Sakata,

Japan, vs. Denkaosan Kaovichit, Thailand,

12, for Sakata’s WBA flyweight title.

JJaann.. 33

At Kanagawa, Japan, Yusuke Kobori,

Japan, vs. Paulus Moses, Nambia, 12, for Ko-

bori’s WBA lightweight title; Toshiaki Nish-

ioka, Japan, vs. Genaro Garcia, Mexico, 12,

for the interim WBC super bantamweight ti-

tle.

JJaann.. 99

At Primm Valley Resort Casino, Primm,

Nev. (ESPN), Yuriorkis Gamboa, Miami, vs.

Roger Gonzalez, Chino, Calif., 10, junior light-

weights.

JJaann.. 2244

At Staples Center, Los Angeles (HBO),

Antonio Margarito, Mexico, vs. Shane

Mosley, Pomona, Calif., for Margarito’s WBA

welterweight title.

JJaann.. 3300

At Montreal, Herman Ngoudjo, Canada,

vs. Juan Urango, Miami, 12, for the vacant

IBF light welterweight title.

FFeebb.. 77

At TBA (SHO) Vic Darchinyan, Australia,

vs. Jorge Arce, Mexico, 12, for Darchinyan’s

IBF-WBC-WBA junior bantamweight title.

TTrraannssaaccttiioonnssBBAASSEEBBAALLLL

AAmmeerriiccaann LLeeaagguuee

CHICAGO WHITE SOX—Agreed to terms

with INF Dayan Viciedo on a four-year con-

tract and OF DeWayne Wise on a one-year

contract.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS—Designated

INF Jason Smith for assignment.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS—Signed RHP

Matt Clement to a minor-league contract.

NNaattiioonnaall LLeeaagguuee

NEW YORK METS—Named Ken Oberk-

fell manager for Buffalo (IL).

PITTSBURGH PIRATES—Agreed to

terms with INF Ramon Vazquez on a two-

year contract. Selected LHP Donnie Veal

from Tennessee (SL) in the Rule 5 Draft.

AAmmeerriiccaann AAssssoocciiaattiioonn

EL PASO DIABLOS—Signed INF Brett

Cant.

BBAASSKKEETTBBAALLLL

NNaattiioonnaall BBaasskkeettbbaallll AAssssoocciiaattiioonn

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS—Signed F Juwan

Howard. Waived F Dwayne Jones.

CCoonnttiinneennttaall BBaasskkeettbbaallll AAssssoocciiaattiioonn

ALBANY PATROONS—Signed G Shawn

Fountain, F Gabe Freeman, and G Lucious

Jordan. Waived C James Smith and G Adrian

Walton.

EAST KENTUCKY MINERS—Waived F

Emmanuel Little.

MINOT SKYROCKETS—Signed F Bran-

don Smith and G Andrew Davison.

FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL

NNaattiioonnaall FFoooottbbaallll LLeeaagguuee

CHICAGO BEARS—Placed RB Garrett

Wolfe on injured reserve. Signed LB Gilbert

Gardner.

HHOOCCKKEEYY

NNHHLL

NASHVILLE PREDATORS—Assigned F

Ryan Jones to Milwaukee (AHL).

NEW JERSEY DEVILS—Waived C Petr

Vrana.

PHOENIX COYOTES—Assigned F Kevin

Porter to San Antonio (AHL).

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS—Assigned G

John Curry and F Chris Minard to Wilkes-

Barre/Scranton (AHL).

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING—Re-signed

RW Steve Downie to Norfolk (AHL).

AAHHLL

ALBANY RIVER RATS—Announced Car-

olina (NHL) returned G Justin Peters. Re-

called D Ryan McGinnis from Florida

(ECHL).

MANITOBA MOOSE—Recalled F Dan

Gendur from Victoria (ECHL).

SYRACUSE CRUNCH—Announced

Columbus (NHL) assigned D Trevor Hendrikx

to the team from Johnstown (ECHL).

EECCHHLL

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS—Signed F

John McNabb.

READING ROYALS—Signed D Tim Bran-

ham. Loaned D Steve Ward to Albany (AHL).

SSOOCCCCEERR

MMaajjoorr LLeeaagguuee SSoocccceerr

TORONTO FC—Acquired MF Dwayne De

Rosario from Houston for D Julius James and

allocation money.

CCOOLLLLEEGGEE

ARMY—Fired football coach Stan Brock.

BOWLING GREEN—Named Dave Claw-

son football coach.

CLEMSON—Named Charlie Harbison de-

fensive backs coach, Danny Pearman tackles

and tight ends coach and Woody McCorvey

football administrator.

NORTH DAKOTA—Signed football coach

Chris Mussman to a two-year contract exten-

sion through the 2012 season.

SYRACUSE—Named Doug Marrone foot-

ball coach.

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM 2BZscores SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

SPORT SHORTSLady Hawks in San Diego Tourney final

The Lady Hawks (7-6) advanced to the San DiegoTournament championship game with a win over thehost Lady Vaqueros on Friday afternoon. BrandiKing led Zapata with 19 points, and Lynda Leyvaadded 18.

The Lady Hawks will face Falfurrias for the cham-pionship today at 4 p.m.

They also won their opening game on Friday,routing the Hebbronville Lady Longhorns. SelinaMata led the team with 16 points, and King added 15.

On Thursday, Zapata opened up the tournamentwith a win over the Bishop Lady Badgers. Leyva ledthe team with 14 points.

Toys 4 Kids HolidayFootball Shootout

The Toys 4 Kids first holiday flag and touch foot-ball shootout takes place today and Sunday at FatherMcNaboe Park (located in back of George Washing-ton Middle in Mines).

The divisions are 8 on 8 for men’s flag football.High school boys play 7 on 7 touch football (j.v. andvarsity together).

The fee is $135 and a minimum of five toys perteam.

Teams are required to wear same color uniforms.Prizes include trophies, t-shirts and MVP awards. Forinformation contact Rafa Ramirez 319-0671 or EliOrtiz 774-2938.

New 9-Ball Billiard League MeetingThe meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 15, at 7:30

p.m. at Hal’s Landing.For more information, contact Arturo Banda at

771-5323.

TAMIU men’s soccer youth campThe Texas A&M International University men’s

soccer team will host a youth camp from Dec. 20-23at Dustdevil Soccer Field on campus.

The camp will run 9 a.m. – noon daily except for2–5 p.m. on Sunday and is open to students 4 -13 yearsof age. The fee is $80 per camper.

The camp will be conducted by head coach Clau-dio Arias, who was named Heartland ConferenceCoach of the Year after directing the Dustdevils to a12-5-1 overall record and third place Heartland Con-ference finish last season.

A total of six student-athletes earned All-Heart-land honors, including conference and NCAA Divi-sion II South Central Region Player of the Year hon-oree Greg Mulamba.

For more information contact Coach Arias at 326-2893 during normal business hours.

18th Annual Jingle Bell 5KThe 18th annual Jingle Bell 5K run will be held on

Sunday, Dec. 21, at 8:30 a.m.Participants can run or walk in the 3.1 mile race.Registration will be held at the San Isidro IBC lo-

cation (2442 San Isidro Parkway) from 7:30-8:20 a.m.on the day of the race.

Entry fee is $10, and there will be awards for first,second and third-place runners in each division(male/female: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49,50-59, 60 and over).

For more information, call the Laredo Parks andLeisure Department at 795-2350.

Softball tournament reset for Jan. 17-18A two-day, city-wide softball tournament sched-

uled for this weekend has been reset for Jan. 17 and18.

Co-hosted by Laredo Community College and theCity of Laredo Parks and Leisure Services Depart-ment, the fast-pitch softball tournament has beenmoved to a later date to accommodate more teams.

The women’s softball tournament, which is opento ages 20 and under, will be conducted under Na-tional High School Federation rules. The Laredo In-ternational Airport Softball Field at 800 Sandmanwill be the site of the tournament.

Proceeds from the sporting event will benefit theLCC Lady Palomino fast-pitch softball intramuralclub team. Admission to watch the tournament isfree and open to the community.

The entry fee to participate in the tournament is$75 per team with a $20 umpire fee for every matchplayed. All teams also must provide their own gameballs.

First-, second- and third-place trophies will beawarded to the winners of the tournament.

Participants do not necessarily have to be associ-ated with a high school softball team to participate.

Interested club teams can register and pay the re-quired fees on site on Saturday, Jan. 17, the first dayof the tournament, at 8 a.m.

For more information, call Kristina Rodriguez at(361) 231-0550 or the LCC Athletics Department at721-5326.

HEISMAN | Continued from Page 1B

Guerra turned to a young and in-experienced group led by then-sopho-mores Myra Alaniz and Lynda Leyva.

“Myra was asked to lead the teamas a sophomore,” Guerra said. “Sheplayed in some big games for us and al-ways kept her poise even in the closegames.

“Lynda is great athlete who gives100 percent. During the season andplayoff game, she came out big for us.”

The Lady Hawks added to their tra-dition as they made their second play-off appearance last season.

Alaniz and company continued toadd another chapter to their historybook as they captured their first bi-district championship title in theschool’s history by beating Port Isabel,

53-51.Leyva poured in 12 points to lead

the Lady Hawks.Zapata eventually fell to state-

ranked West Oso in the area champi-onship game.

Alaniz and Leyva are, once again,the foundation of this year’s team asthey have put the fate of the LadyHawks on their back as they hope tolead the Lady Hawks to another play-off run.

“Our goal is to make it to the play-offs and take one step further beyondarea,” Alaniz said.

Alaniz, a three-year letterman, is afeisty point guard whose uncannycourt vision can see the slightest open-ing in an opponent’s defense.

She has the ability to connect frombeyond the arc or attack the basketand score on the fly.

“Myra is a very dedicated individ-ual for the program,” Guerra said. “Sheis a real humble leader who is alwayslooking to make the team better.”

Leyva can play any position and isthe heart and soul of Zapata’s signa-ture press defense.

She can mix it up under the boardsas the Lady Hawks’ post or fill in at theguard position whenever needed.

“We have very high expectationsthis year and we want to continue tomake history,” Leyva said.

“Lynda is a very coachable athletewho does anything that is asked ofher,” Guerra said. “She never com-

plains and has been part of the tradi-tion that was started here three yearsago.”

The Lady Hawks are diligentlyworking during practice in order toaccomplish their goal at the end of theseason.

Guerra put his Lady Hawksthrough a grueling preseason scheduleas they played 5A and 4A teams, in ad-dition to attending the Alice tourna-ment.

“Coach did a great job in matchingus up against some tough teams beforewe get to district,” Alaniz said.

They will get their first crackagainst their district foes on Tuesday,as they open district on the roadagainst Rio Hondo.

GIRLS | Continued from Page 1B

The Hawks are looking for theirkiller instinct, the coach says.

“We are seeing the same pattern inevery single game. We are trying to getthe kids to play a full game. We arelacking a little bit of intensity,” Villar-real said.

That pattern showed up in their lat-est game at the San Diego tournamentagainst Premont on Thursday. A gamein which the Hawks led in the half,only to lose 63-43.

“We just couldn’t put them away,”Villareal said about the contest.

On Friday, the Hawks proved to be

quick learners as they strung togetherback-to-back victories over Bishop (52-49) and St. Augustine (52-42).

“We pushed the ball and were fastbreaking a little bit more. Still not hap-py, but it’s looking good,” Villarrealsaid.

With district still a couple of weeksaway, Villarreal and company returnedto the drawing board to figure out howto up the intensity a few notches.

“They do as much as they can, butstill I expect them to be a little bittougher. I want to see that hustle, thewant-to. To get the ball, the rebound

and have that killer instinct,” Villarrealsaid.

Toughness and durability are key tothe Hawks success this season. TheHawks lost center/power forward Jer-ry Buentello this past week after hedislocated his shoulder again.

He is out for the season.That leaves the Hawks with 10 play-

ers, and Villarreal isn’t planning ondipping into junior varsity to find areplacement.

“We want to hopefully do somedamage with these 10 guys. We arestaying with what we have,” he said.

The play of sophomore guard An-drew Magee, senior small forwardRene Garcia and senior power forwardArlo De Los Santos has been good, butthey are now being asked to give just alittle bit more.

The four game home stretch to opendistrict is going to set the tone for theHawks. Home court advantage is some-thing they hope comes into play.

“We would like people to comewatch what Zapata basketball is allabout,” Villarreal said.

(Nino Cardenas can be reached at72802578 or Nino@lmtonline.com)

BOYS | Continued from Page 1B

miserable slump. That loss droppedDallas, which went into the season asa decided Super Bowl favorite, to lastplace in the division.

Dallas then got a much-neededopen date and Romo back from thatbroken pinkie on his throwing hand.The Cowboys followed with threestraight victories, and were about tomake it four in a row until Pittsburghscored its only two touchdowns in alate 24-second span, the second on aninterception return.

“I know we have the capable talentand ability on this team to play like wedid three or so quarters,” Terrell

Owens said this week. “We’ve got tolearn somehow, some way to finishgames. ... (Our defense) put us in po-sition to win a game. As an offense, Itake it personally, because we let thoseguys down.”

As for T.O.’s sideline outburst at re-ceivers coach Ray Sherman after hewasn’t the target of Romo’s game-seal-ing fourth-down incompletion, Owensinsisted he was venting about the over-all frustrations — and not about the lastpass being intended for somebody else.

Owens described the team’s moodas “jolly” and said the Cowboys wereconfident and looking forward to chal-

lenges they face. While Romo’s return has certainly

sparked the Cowboys since their 2-4midseason slump that made themchasers instead of leaders, an im-proved defense has also had a signifi-cant impact.

In New York, the Cowboys allowed200 yards rushing. They have sincegiven up only 268 yards rushing com-bined to four opponents who have av-eraged only 272 total yards.

Brandon Jacobs ran for 117 yardsagainst Dallas, but it wasn’t clear if hewould play this week because of lin-gering aches in both knees. Of course,

the Giants are already without receiv-er Plaxico Burress, suspended for therest of the season because of that gunincident.

Dallas wasn’t sure about its ownbruising halfback, Marion Barber, be-cause of the broken right pinkie toe andcalf problem that developed when healtered how he ran because of the toe.

New York can’t knock the Cowboysout of the playoffs this week, but canmake it more difficult for them tomake the playoffs. Dallas’ remaininggames are against Baltimore andPhiladelphia, another division rivaland wild-card hopeful.

COWBOYS | Continued from Page 1B

points, McCoy 171 points back with 1,516 and Tebow1,446.

The vote hasn’t been that close between the toptwo since Oklahoma quarterback Jason White beatout Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2003by 128 points.

The closest margin in points came in 1985, whenAuburn’s Bo Jackson beat out Iowa quarterbackChuck Long by 46 points.

If the three quarterbacks who are the finaliststhis season were jumpy about the outcome, theyweren’t letting on about 29 hours before the an-nouncement was to be made.

Bradford, McCoy and Tebow — in that order — tookturns fielding a few questions from the reporters packedinto a hotel room in Midtown Manhattan on Friday.

The consensus: They’re all honored to be here.None would be here without their teammates. Andthey’ve all enjoyed getting to spend some time witheach other the last couple of days. The three were alsoat the college football awards show in Orlando beforeheading North.

Hiring BACKHOE OPERATOR.Must have a minimum of 1 yearexperience with oil field workand must have a CDL. Apply in person at 3905 Rotary Dr.

Also hiring TIRE MAN withexperience in 18 wheeler tires.Please apply in person.

GATEWAYAMBULANCE

HIRING EXPERIENCEEMT-B F/T APPLY AT

1308 CLARK ST.SUITE-B

Ad for opening in Laredo,Texas for LCB

Licensed Customs Broker –part time, flexible hours.Consulting work for extra cash.Current License. Call 956-723-0396 or send resume toLicensedCustomsBroker@gmail.com

DRIVERS WANTED

12 month lease with optionto buy + $2400 completionbonus on a ’07 Freightliner Century.Only $462 per week lease cost todrivers. Average 91 CPM (based on avg. length of haul) + fuel surcharge. Also hiring owner-operators, solo & team drivers.

866-817-9666

LEASE PROGRAM-NO CREDIT CHECKNO MONEY DOWN

www.xpressdrivers.com

TRANSPORTATION

BOATS 190Pelican pedal paddle boat 20087ft7in x 62in, 113lbs., max. ca-pacity 800lbs., bimini top cover, lrg. built in cooler, trolling moter, many extras. 235-4940

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS194

Like New! Set of 4 Bridgestone tires & 17” wheels, for ‘07

Chevy Tahoe LT, 265/70R17 $700 OBO Call 645-3391 or

645-7301

MOTORCYCLES 196636 Ninja ‘06 Blue, Pipes, Hel-

met $5800, 7000 miles Info.Raul 242-1360

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198Dodge Grand Carivan Sport ‘02 Excellent Cond., A/C, low mile-

age, cd player, one owner, Fully loaded. $5200 OBO

‘00 Chevy S-10 Ext. Cab 4x4, 84Kmil., Lifted, larger tires, bedliner, brush guard, Hi-lift, $6500 Call 237-9587

Chevy Trailblazer ‘06, 3rd.seat, rear a/c, 4x4, under

warranty, $14,900 Call:(956)220-2937

Cummins 3.9 Diesel & GasStep Vans 7 to Choose

From. $4,000 and up. Call722-3840 or 763-4840

Ford pick up 1983, supercab, $1,500.

Could see at 1803 Gates.

Ford Ranger ‘00, supercab, 4x4, $3,500 obo.

Call:(956)722-6458; 285-9845

GMC single cab ‘00, stepside, $4,500 obo.

Call:(956)722-6458; 285-9845

Jeep Liberty ‘04, v6, cd, PW, 80K MI., $6,500.(956)771-7047.

Trailblazer ‘05, V6, automatica,electrica, cd, 2 a/c, placas

al coriente en Texas.$7,450

Inf: (956)774-3693

CARS FOR SALE 200‘02 S-type 4.0 Fully Loaded, Blue title, new tires, $10,900 Call 754-3212

Camaro Convertible ‘01, V6, A/C, SS Hood, Tail, Rims,

$6,350. 326-5340;145*2*12864, after 5pm.

Chevrolet MG 1972,Convertible, original

classic condition, fully functional,blue title, $11,000

Call: (956)771-3961; 52*15*14476

GARAGE SALES 134

114 Northview Dr, Saturday Only 6am-9am, Clothes, toys,

ornaments, Desk & Chairs, computer parts & Misc Items

ARTICLES FOR SALE136

‘62 Sony Projection TV, $500 OBO Call

723-7076, evening

Beautiful Rustic Dining Chairs set of 5, $150 for

Set Call 693-8903

Black metal bunk beds with mattresses. $175 obo.excel.

cond.Call:(956)220-3518

Full Country Club Membership for Sale

$4,000. Call 235-8654Dining room set, table, six

chairs (padded), solid wood.$275 Call:(956)763-4483

Display refrigerators, $300ea.(2) Call(956)324-8759

Estufa electrica, 6 meses de uso, $125. Inf:220-2453

Excellent cond. glass dinning table, rod-iron 6 chairs,

beigo/gold $175 235-9632

Kenmore electric stove, beige, 3 yrs. old, $325 negotiable

Call:(956)763-4483

Lexmark laser print cartridges, $25 dollars each. Compatible

for Lexmark E321, E323.Call(956)251-3439

Se Venden Ojarascas $3.50 La Dozena. Llame (956)229-8812 Mrs. Lujan despues de las 4PM

Tambien se vende Tamales!

SERENATAS$30 for 3 songs, byguitarist singer. Also

hourly.(956)728-8481.

TV Wall Mounts for Sale. All Sizes $10 each. Call

956-251-1465 or 231-7067

Used bars for sale, windows & doors. Starting at $30 & up.

Call:723-7711 after 5pm.

Vendo laptop marca Dell buenas condiciones, burn cd’s

$350. Tel: 956-220-5146

Washer, Good condition.$200 OBO Free Dryer

Call 956-231-9686

X-Box 360 with 60gig harddrive 2 controlers & 10 games, $315

Call 334-7545

MUSICAL INSTRU-MENTS 138

New 2008 Yamaha Acoustic FG-460 guitar, spruce top,

mahogany back & sides. Many extras $350. Call:235-4940

SPORTING GOODS 142

Mini max 45 ACP, 6+1, Colt look alike, 3 in. barrel $375

Call:(956)235-3441.

Ruger MK3, bull barrell, SIGP226, 357 SIG, stainless,

night sight, $300 & up.235-3841

HELP WANTED 122

LOTS FOR SALE 70

North Laredo. 1.3 Acres on Loop 20 near TAMIU, next to Khaledi Heights on Blue Quail St. $12.50 Per SqFt

Neg. Call Dr. Rendon 011-52-867-714-1502 or

011-52-867-715-0118R-3, Lot & 1/3, corner, 120 W Locust and McDonell, 12,860 sq ft., $80,000.(956)725-6641.

ACREAGE FOR SALE 765 acre tract, frontage

on Casa Verde Rd. $200,000 per acre.

Contact (956)725-6641

BUSINESS OPPORTUNI-TY 82

$ Great Opportunity$ Franchise La Paletera$95,000OBO Been operating

for 3yrs. Fully Equip 1212 Inter-national Blvd. Call 251-3797

Make over $50,000 per year!Total sign shop for sale w/allNEW equipment, includingRoland inkjet printer/cutter,

plotter, laminator, computers,customer & vendor lists, etc.

Call (956)237-8310 or(956)744-2679

New Apts. (2) For Sale by Owner! 2bd/1ba, CAH,

W/D Hkps, $135,000 Call 723-6896; 645-8556

Sell personalized children’s books. Start up cost $1,550

Call:(956)726-8982

PETS & SUPPLIES

PETS & SUPPLIES 128Boston Puppies for sale. 1st shots & dewormed $300ea.

and up Call 324-3289

Mini Yorkie puppies, 3F, 2 mo., registred, $800 & up. updated

shots. Call:(956)236-6426

Pomeranian puppies, 1F/1M 8 weeks $300 each.

Call 235-3062

Pomeranian Puppies,1M $400ea. Call 791-6623

or 52*180118*1Tiger Stipe Pitbulls For Sale

$100 Dewormed, 6M & 1F Call 722-7108

MISCELLANEOUS

MOBILE HOMES FORSALE 67

2bd/1ba fridge/stove, CAH, $12,500 Must be Moved. Call 724-3367

Corner Lot & Moblie Home 2bd/2ba 5418 Ramirez, By Lp.

20 & Saunders fenced w/Carport. Reduced Price

$55,000 754-2141

LOTS FOR SALE 70

2 Lots for Sale South La-redo, Financing Available,

Call 744-3299

607 Mier, R3, $39,500 obo, some financing available.

Call:(956)236-9459; 723-6540

CONDOS FOR SALE 64

1 Condo $60,000.Must Sell, Moving Out, negotia-

ble, 2bd/1.5ba, 2803 Bayard.Brand new, south Laredo. For

sale by owner.Call Dr. Rendon

011-52-867-714-1502 or 011-52-867-715-011

HELP WANTED 122 HELP WANTED 122

HOMES FOR SALE 61

PORQUE RENTARcuando puede tener casapropia y al mismo tiempocalificar para un prestamo

de hast $7,500.00 dlls,casas al norte y sur de

laredo hableme para masinformacion, De Hoyos

956-635-6702

HOMES FOR SALE 61

4 bedroom 2 bath approx.1,500 sq.ft. home on a

10,000 sq.ft. lot for only$117,990 I will also help youwith your closing costs let

me worry about your credit.Call Luis Calderon

@956-725-1965 or @ my cell 956-645-8977

HELP WANTED 122

REAL ESTATE

HOMES FOR SALE 61

Norte, Central y Sur de Laredo CasasDisponibles de 3 a 5 recamaras para

mudarse el dia de HOY. Facil deCalificar. Financiamiento Disponible.

Llame HOY, al 956-237-2041 O a 956-717-0958

Con Adriana Moya Tijeriana

Great Location-New Spacious Homes3 Bedroom 2 bath 2 car garage

approx. 1400 sq.ft. paying closingcost. Monthly payment $1100.00Call Jesus @ cell 956-740-2542

office 956-724-9756

2 NEW SUBDIVISION INNORTH LAREDO FROM

THE $150’S & UP.RESERVE YOUR HOME-SITE TODAY WITH ONLY

$500.00 IN HOUSEFINANCING AVAILABLE.FOR MORE INFO. CALLANTHONY CARABALLO

@ 333-3844

Has your family outgrownyour home? Good news!Your dream home is just

a trade away!Call me, Eddie Rendon

(956) 763-8207

Let me help you by putting you in your newhome like if you are paying rent. You canchoose a home from 3, 4 & 5 bedrooms.

You can even choose the area where you wantyour family to grow up.

Call Javier Garcia today @ 956-235-4641

��������������������

QQQQQQQQQ

��������������������

24 in. rims, $2,700CallL (956)857-8390

TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Natural Resources Specialist III, posting # 09083, $3,063monthly. Closing Date: 12/12/08. The Small Business & Local Government Assistance Program in San Antonio providesenvironmental technical assistance and outreach to smallbusinesses and local governments. A complete description ofthe job, minimum qualifications, preferred requirements andspecial requirements for the position may be found on the webaddress listed below.A completed State of Texas application must be received inthe Human Resources Division of the TCEQ by 5:00 PM onclosing date. The employment history on the application mustbe completed. Mail applications to: Human ResourcesDivision/MC116, TCEQ, PO Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087 or fax to 512/239-0111, or deliver to 12100 Park35 Circle, Bldg A Rm 141, Austin. For more info, call 512/239-0102. Internet: www.tceq.state.tx.us EEO/AA/ADAEmployer.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008 THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B

AARRIIEESS ((MMaarrcchh 2211 ttoo AApprriill 1199))Your appreciation of beau-ty is heightened today.Give yourself a chance to

enjoy architecture, parks, gal-leries, museums and beautifulstores. Spirituality and mysticismalso intrigue you today.

TTAAUURRUUSS ((AApprriill 2200 ttoo MMaayy 2200))You might use sharedproperty or money thatyou have access to through

someone else to help those who areneedy. Your fundraising abilities areexcellent today.

GGEEMMIINNII ((MMaayy 2211 ttoo JJuunnee 2200))Conversations with part-ners and close friendsare mutually sympathet-

ic, warm and understanding. En-joy time with loved ones. Patchup quarrels.

CCAANNCCEERR ((JJuunnee 2211 ttoo JJuullyy 2222))If you can help a co-worker on the job today,you will do so. Likewise,others are sympathetic to

you. People feel very helpful toeach other today.

LLEEOO ((JJuullyy 2233 ttoo AAuugg.. 2222)) Yourcreative vibes are hot to-day. Your imagination isstrong, and you’re full ofwonderful ideas. Share

your ideas with the world! Ro-mance is sweet and tender.

VVIIRRGGOO ((AAuugg.. 2233 ttoo SSeepptt.. 2222))You might introduce luxu-rious additions to yourhome today. Family dis-cussions will be about

wanting to help a family memberwho is in need. Do what you canto make this happen.

LLIIBBRRAA ((SSeepptt.. 2233 ttoo OOcctt.. 2222)) Youmight spend time daydream-ing today. You’re full of imag-inative ideas. However, you

have a need to escape into fantasy,which we all do from time to time.

SSCCOORRPPIIOO ((OOcctt.. 2233 ttoo NNoovv.. 2211))You’re tempted to buysomething elegant, extrav-agant and luxurious (andquite likely beyond your

means). Naturally, this is entirelyup to you. Be sure you can afford it.

SSAAGGIITTTTAARRIIUUSS ((NNoovv.. 2222 ttooDDeecc.. 2211)) You’re verytuned in to the feelingsand moods of others to-day. Because of this, all

your relationships with otherswill be quite smooth, since youknow what they want and need.

CCAAPPRRIICCOORRNN ((DDeecc.. 2222 ttoo JJaann..1199)) Solitude in beautifulsurroundings will pleaseyou today. You need time

off by yourself to mentally relaxand take it easy. Consider it amental-health day.

AAQQUUAARRIIUUSS ((JJaann.. 2200 ttoo FFeebb.. 1188))A friend might need yourassistance or at least yoursympathy about something

today. Alternatively, it may work theopposite; you might need someoneto listen to you. Either way is justfine.

PPIISSCCEESS ((FFeebb.. 1199 ttoo MMaarrcchh 2200))People view you in veryfavorable terms today.They see you as caring

and very genuine. (It’s really quite acompliment to who you are.) You alsomight be asked to give your artisticinput into something.

YYOOUURR BBOORRNN TTOODDAAYY You’renever casual about things. Youstudy and work hard, observingall necessary details, and it is thiswork ethic that makes you suc-cessful. You’re thoughtful and per-ceptive, and these qualities makeothers respect you. Your optimismis your saving grace. You’re pow-erful now. Next year you’ll wrapup something you’ve been in-volved with for nine years.

BBiirrtthhddaattee ooff:: Emily Carr, artist;Christopher Plummer, actor;Jamie Foxx, actor/comedian.

HOROSCOPES | BY FRANCIS DRAKE

Dear Readers: We thought wewould share some important in-formation about FOODS THATARE DANGEROUS to feed your

dogs. Read this,cut it out andpost it on the re-frigerator sothat everyoneknows whatNOT to feedyour pamperedpet.

Raw eggs— can lead to

skin and fur problems. Moldy foods — refrigerated

foods that have become moldy,such as cheese, can cause healthproblems.

Fats from meat — the skin of

various kinds of meat is a realdanger to your dog’s health, sodon’t give your pet rendered fat orthe skin to eat, since it can lead toobesity and other problems.

Mushrooms — can causevarious health problems.

Caffeine — coffee, tea andcaffeinated sodas can affect theheart and nervous systems.

Raisins and grapes — bothcontain toxins that can damagethe kidneys.

These are only a few of thethings that you should not feedyour dog. Dogs gobble food — theydon’t taste and savor — so watchwhat they eat. — Heloise

HAIRBALLS Dear Readers: Here is a vet’s

hint to help your cat pass hair-

balls. Spread 1/4 teaspoon plainpetroleum jelly on your cat’s pawsor under its nose daily for fourdays. When the cat licks its pawsor nose, the petroleum jelly isswallowed, helping to eliminatethe hair mass more easily. Ofcourse, there are commercialproducts available. Brushing yourcat daily, if you can, will certainlyhelp prevent the old hairball prob-lem. — Heloise

DACHSHUNDS RIDE Dear Heloise: I enjoy taking

my dachshunds for car rides. Iused to stop and give them waterperiodically. Now, I bring along adisposable cup filled with waterand put it in the car’s cup holder.They have water whenever theyget thirsty. — A Reader, via e-mail

HELOISE

HINTS BY HELOISE

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM Zclassified BY PHONE: (956) 728-2527

4B | THE ZAPATA TIMES SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

<DATE> LAREDO MORNING TIMES | 1B

ZapataClassified

Hiring BACKHOE OPERATOR.Must have a minimum of 1 yearexperience with oil field workand must have a CDL. Apply in person at 3905 Rotary Dr.

Also hiring TIRE MAN withexperience in 18 wheeler tires.Please apply in person.

GATEWAYAMBULANCE

HIRING EXPERIENCEEMT-B F/T APPLY AT

1308 CLARK ST.SUITE-B

Ad for opening in Laredo,Texas for LCB

Licensed Customs Broker –part time, flexible hours.Consulting work for extra cash.Current License. Call 956-723-0396 or send resume toLicensedCustomsBroker@gmail.com

DRIVERS WANTED

12 month lease with optionto buy + $2400 completionbonus on a ’07 Freightliner Century.Only $462 per week lease cost todrivers. Average 91 CPM (based on avg. length of haul) + fuel surcharge. Also hiring owner-operators, solo & team drivers.

866-817-9666

LEASE PROGRAM-NO CREDIT CHECKNO MONEY DOWN

www.xpressdrivers.com

TTRRAANNSSPPOORRTTAATTIIOONN

BOATS 190Pelican pedal paddle boat 20087ft7in x 62in, 113lbs., max. ca-pacity 800lbs., bimini top cover, lrg. built in cooler, trolling moter, many extras. 235-4940

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS194

Like New! Set of 4 Bridgestone tires & 17” wheels, for ‘07

Chevy Tahoe LT, 265/70R17 $700 OBO Call 645-3391 or

645-7301

MOTORCYCLES 196636 Ninja ‘06 Blue, Pipes, Hel-

met $5800, 7000 miles Info.Raul 242-1360

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198Dodge Grand Carivan Sport ‘02 Excellent Cond., A/C, low mile-

age, cd player, one owner, Fully loaded. $5200 OBO

‘00 Chevy S-10 Ext. Cab 4x4, 84Kmil., Lifted, larger tires, bedliner, brush guard, Hi-lift, $6500 Call 237-9587

Chevy Trailblazer ‘06, 3rd.seat, rear a/c, 4x4, under

warranty, $14,900 Call:(956)220-2937

Cummins 3.9 Diesel & GasStep Vans 7 to Choose

From. $4,000 and up. Call722-3840 or 763-4840

Ford pick up 1983, supercab, $1,500.

Could see at 1803 Gates.

Ford Ranger ‘00, supercab, 4x4, $3,500 obo.

Call:(956)722-6458; 285-9845

GMC single cab ‘00, stepside, $4,500 obo.

Call:(956)722-6458; 285-9845

Jeep Liberty ‘04, v6, cd, PW, 80K MI., $6,500.(956)771-7047.

Trailblazer ‘05, V6, automatica,electrica, cd, 2 a/c, placas

al coriente en Texas.$7,450

Inf: (956)774-3693

CARS FOR SALE 200‘02 S-type 4.0 Fully Loaded, Blue title, new tires, $10,900 Call 754-3212

Camaro Convertible ‘01, V6, A/C, SS Hood, Tail, Rims,

$6,350. 326-5340;145*2*12864, after 5pm.

Chevrolet MG 1972,Convertible, original

classic condition, fully functional,blue title, $11,000

Call: (956)771-3961; 52*15*14476

GARAGE SALES 134

114 Northview Dr, Saturday Only 6am-9am, Clothes, toys,

ornaments, Desk & Chairs, computer parts & Misc Items

ARTICLES FOR SALE136

‘62 Sony Projection TV, $500 OBO Call

723-7076, evening

Beautiful Rustic Dining Chairs set of 5, $150 for

Set Call 693-8903

Black metal bunk beds with mattresses. $175 obo.excel.

cond.Call:(956)220-3518

Full Country Club Membership for Sale

$4,000. Call 235-8654Dining room set, table, six

chairs (padded), solid wood.$275 Call:(956)763-4483

Display refrigerators, $300ea.(2) Call(956)324-8759

Estufa electrica, 6 meses de uso, $125. Inf:220-2453

Excellent cond. glass dinning table, rod-iron 6 chairs,

beigo/gold $175 235-9632

Kenmore electric stove, beige, 3 yrs. old, $325 negotiable

Call:(956)763-4483

Lexmark laser print cartridges, $25 dollars each. Compatible

for Lexmark E321, E323.Call(956)251-3439

Se Venden Ojarascas $3.50 La Dozena. Llame (956)229-8812 Mrs. Lujan despues de las 4PM

Tambien se vende Tamales!

SERENATAS$30 for 3 songs, byguitarist singer. Also

hourly.(956)728-8481.

TV Wall Mounts for Sale. All Sizes $10 each. Call

956-251-1465 or 231-7067

Used bars for sale, windows & doors. Starting at $30 & up.

Call:723-7711 after 5pm.

Vendo laptop marca Dell buenas condiciones, burn cd’s

$350. Tel: 956-220-5146

Washer, Good condition.$200 OBO Free Dryer

Call 956-231-9686

X-Box 360 with 60gig harddrive 2 controlers & 10 games, $315

Call 334-7545

MUSICAL INSTRU-MENTS 138

New 2008 Yamaha Acoustic FG-460 guitar, spruce top,

mahogany back & sides. Many extras $350. Call:235-4940

SPORTING GOODS 142

Mini max 45 ACP, 6+1, Colt look alike, 3 in. barrel $375

Call:(956)235-3441.

Ruger MK3, bull barrell, SIGP226, 357 SIG, stainless,

night sight, $300 & up.235-3841

HELP WANTED 122

LOTS FOR SALE 70

North Laredo. 1.3 Acres on Loop 20 near TAMIU, next to Khaledi Heights on Blue Quail St. $12.50 Per SqFt

Neg. Call Dr. Rendon 011-52-867-714-1502 or

011-52-867-715-0118R-3, Lot & 1/3, corner, 120 W Locust and McDonell, 12,860 sq ft., $80,000.(956)725-6641.

ACREAGE FOR SALE 765 acre tract, frontage

on Casa Verde Rd. $200,000 per acre.

Contact (956)725-6641

BUSINESS OPPORTUNI-TY 82

$ Great Opportunity$ Franchise La Paletera$95,000OBO Been operating

for 3yrs. Fully Equip 1212 Inter-national Blvd. Call 251-3797

Make over $50,000 per year!Total sign shop for sale w/allNEW equipment, includingRoland inkjet printer/cutter,

plotter, laminator, computers,customer & vendor lists, etc.

Call (956)237-8310 or(956)744-2679

New Apts. (2) For Sale by Owner! 2bd/1ba, CAH,

W/D Hkps, $135,000 Call 723-6896; 645-8556

Sell personalized children’s books. Start up cost $1,550

Call:(956)726-8982

PPEETTSS && SSUUPPPPLLIIEESS

PETS & SUPPLIES 128Boston Puppies for sale. 1st shots & dewormed $300ea.

and up Call 324-3289

Mini Yorkie puppies, 3F, 2 mo., registred, $800 & up. updated

shots. Call:(956)236-6426

Pomeranian puppies, 1F/1M 8 weeks $300 each.

Call 235-3062

Pomeranian Puppies,1M $400ea. Call 791-6623

or 52*180118*1Tiger Stipe Pitbulls For Sale

$100 Dewormed, 6M & 1F Call 722-7108

MMIISSCCEELLLLAANNEEOOUUSS

MOBILE HOMES FORSALE 67

2bd/1ba fridge/stove, CAH, $12,500 Must be Moved. Call 724-3367

Corner Lot & Moblie Home 2bd/2ba 5418 Ramirez, By Lp.

20 & Saunders fenced w/Carport. Reduced Price

$55,000 754-2141

LOTS FOR SALE 70

2 Lots for Sale South La-redo, Financing Available,

Call 744-3299

607 Mier, R3, $39,500 obo, some financing available.

Call:(956)236-9459; 723-6540

CONDOS FOR SALE 64

1 Condo $60,000.Must Sell, Moving Out, negotia-

ble, 2bd/1.5ba, 2803 Bayard.Brand new, south Laredo. For

sale by owner.Call Dr. Rendon

011-52-867-714-1502 or 011-52-867-715-011

HELP WANTED 122 HELP WANTED 122

HOMES FOR SALE 61

PORQUE RENTARcuando puede tener casapropia y al mismo tiempocalificar para un prestamo

de hast $7,500.00 dlls,casas al norte y sur de

laredo hableme para masinformacion, De Hoyos

956-635-6702

HOMES FOR SALE 61

4 bedroom 2 bath approx.1,500 sq.ft. home on a

10,000 sq.ft. lot for only$117,990 I will also help youwith your closing costs let

me worry about your credit.Call Luis Calderon

@956-725-1965 or @ my cell 956-645-8977

HELP WANTED 122

RREEAALL EESSTTAATTEE

HOMES FOR SALE 61

Norte, Central y Sur de Laredo CasasDisponibles de 3 a 5 recamaras para

mudarse el dia de HOY. Facil deCalificar. Financiamiento Disponible.

Llame HOY, al 956-237-2041 O a 956-717-0958

Con Adriana Moya Tijeriana

Great Location-New Spacious Homes3 Bedroom 2 bath 2 car garage

approx. 1400 sq.ft. paying closingcost. Monthly payment $1100.00Call Jesus @ cell 956-740-2542

office 956-724-9756

2 NEW SUBDIVISION INNORTH LAREDO FROM

THE $150’S & UP.RESERVE YOUR HOME-SITE TODAY WITH ONLY

$500.00 IN HOUSEFINANCING AVAILABLE.FOR MORE INFO. CALLANTHONY CARABALLO

@ 333-3844

Has your family outgrownyour home? Good news!Your dream home is just

a trade away!Call me, Eddie Rendon

(956) 763-8207

Let me help you by putting you in your newhome like if you are paying rent. You canchoose a home from 3, 4 & 5 bedrooms.

You can even choose the area where you wantyour family to grow up.

Call Javier Garcia today @ 956-235-4641

��������������������

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

��������������������

24 in. rims, $2,700CallL (956)857-8390

TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Natural Resources Specialist III, posting # 09083, $3,063monthly. Closing Date: 12/12/08. The Small Business & Local Government Assistance Program in San Antonio providesenvironmental technical assistance and outreach to smallbusinesses and local governments. A complete description ofthe job, minimum qualifications, preferred requirements andspecial requirements for the position may be found on the webaddress listed below.A completed State of Texas application must be received inthe Human Resources Division of the TCEQ by 5:00 PM onclosing date. The employment history on the application mustbe completed. Mail applications to: Human ResourcesDivision/MC116, TCEQ, PO Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087 or fax to 512/239-0111, or deliver to 12100 Park35 Circle, Bldg A Rm 141, Austin. For more info, call 512/239-0102. Internet: www.tceq.state.tx.us EEO/AA/ADAEmployer.