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STYLE BRIEFS | 2C HOROSCOPES | 2C ENGAGEMENTS | 3C QUINCEAÑERAS | 3C FEATURES EDITOR | MIKE McILVAIN, (956) 728-2564
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
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IN THE NEWS
FASHION | GOOD BOOTS CAN OUTKICK ORDINARY SHOES | PAGE 2C
LIVING
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ON THE WEB | LMTONLINE.COM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2005
BOOKS | EARTHQUAKE BOOK POINTS TO DISASTER SIMILARITIES | PAGE 6C
VISITING THE PAST
ODIE ARAMBULA
Riot sparks punishment demands
ragic events of the historic April 7, 1886, Laredo election riot remained fresh in the minds of partisans on both sides. The Guaraches, bitterly opposed to the people in control of local government, were raging mad and demanded justice. There was a big problem, however. The winners in the election and unquestionably the perpetrators of the incident — the Botas — were also demanding restitution, if not satisfaction. There was no denial from the Botas that they organized the parade, staged a march to include a funeral to mock the losing Guaraches. The Botas, however, took the position that, while some of the followers were armed, the Guaraches started the shooting and the killing. Understandably, the Guarache leaders were infuriated by the election loss, having learned and produced evidence of illegal voting by Mexicans. The Bota leadership made the claims and readily recognized that the plan was to rub the noses of the losers and bury the opposition in effigy. It was the Botas’ way of telling the opposition that the Guaraches were dead. History tells that the whole thing could have been prevented if local authority, in the hands of the Botas, would have honored the requests of the Guaraches to deny the Botas permission to celebrate the election victory with a downtown parade. Furthermore, Guarache leaders warned the city mayor, the marshal, the sheriff and others that they there would be trouble and violence if the Botas insisted on staging the mock funeral.
Kaitlyn Chapa, 4, uses her arms to move across her therapy room at Borchers Elementary School.
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Photos by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Kaitlyn Chapa, 4, a student with special needs gets physical therapy from PT assistant Adriana Salinas.
TRULY SPECIAL
Born with a rare condition, Kaitlyn Chapa is still all smiles and rarin’ to go
By TRICIA CORTEZ
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Tempers on the rise
“They made it clear that they would not take the insults sitting down,” historian Sebron R. Wilcox note in his thesis of the event. “They gave ample warning that people would react with violence.” No one kept time, but history tells that the pushing, shoving and gunfire probably lasted less than an hour. The military from Fort McIntosh learned of plans for the downtown parade and elements of the 16th Cavalry were on alert. Among others things, they spotted an unusual number of chalan (ferryboats) carrying men coming and going from the Mexican side. “It was probably one of the busiest days for the ferry business,” Wilcox said. History did not record any casualties among the military as the troopers hit the streets to disarm anyone spotted with a weapon. All the saloons were shut down as soldiers took seized weapons to City Hall. Martial law was declared and the military commander joined the city marshal and county sheriff to enforce a night curfew. The mayor and sheriff sent telegrams to the state governor pleading for assistance. A contingent of military volunteers from San Antonio arrived the next day. A day later, a contingent of Texas Rangers arrived by train. The passengers on that train included several newspaper correspondents.
n a recent Wednesday morning, Kaitlyn Chapa crawled down a small cushioned slide, pulled herself to a sitting position and pointed to a sheep in a book when asked to do so. At lunch, she inserted a straw inside her milk carton and fed herself bites of a cheese enchilada. She also asked her
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teacher to help her tie her shoe. Born four years ago with the most severe form of spina bifida, known as myelomeningocele, and its twin companions of hydrocephalus and cleft feet, it was unclear how Kaitlyn would adapt to her surroundings as she got older. Today, Kaitlyn is a coy, smiling and immensely curious student at Borchers Elementary, where she is enrolled in the See SPECIAL | PAGE 8C
Kaitlyn Chapa stands with the help of braces and her teacher, Laura Otero Sanchez.
SURFING THE CITY
‘Keep the faith’ good advice for all
While flipping channels recently I came across another reality TV show called “Cheaters.” The show actually spies on husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends who are cheating on their partners. This is another unfortunate aspect of society’s ills. I wonder what would happen if the producers showed up in Laredo? I can think of a few bad boys (and girls) who would be in a heap of trouble. It’s funny how careless we become when we fall in lust. I imagine both men and women suffer the proverbial mid life crisis. Some women remedy the situation by taking hormones; some men remedy it by taking a young girlfriend. I warn my friends that if they have any be good and stay faithful, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer. Okay, maybe not for poorer. Communication and honesty are key, but what do I know, I’m still single.
GABRIEL CASTILLO
suspicions of getting served with papers, don’t stall with a legal separation. The only difference between divorce and a legal separation is that the separation gives a husband time to hide his money. Heed the words of Zsa Zsa Gabor, who said, “I consider myself a good housekeeper. After every divorce I keep the house.” The best advice I can offer is
A new home for STCADA
The only thing served at the ribbon cutting for the new offices of the South Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse were welcoming smiles from administrators and staff. The agency, which started in 1990 with a minimal budget, moved to the Las Plazas location on Saunders Avenue and celebrated with an evening reception. Thanks to faithful supporters of
A Ranger town
Once order was restored, the military returned to the fort, but the Rangers remained for several weeks at the request of a citizens
See ARAMBULA | PAGE 7C
their programs they have grown in leaps and bounds providing much-needed services to Webb, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties. Among those greeting guests were Chris Laurel, executive director; Jerri Lynn Ortiz, business director; Vergie Parchman, board chairman; and Josie Loera, board member. Chris Laurel announced the agency is launching a capital campaign and urges the community to support fundraising efforts. U.S. Magistrate Adriana Arce Flores, guest speaker, spoke eloquently on the services STCADA provides to the Laredo area and surrounding counties. I had a chance to chat with some of the guests, including Al Chapa, CEO at Doctors Hospital;
Mercurio Martinez, trustee at Laredo Community College; County Commissioner Judith Gutierrez; and Sylvia Palumbo.
Tias and tios honor deb
Happy and faithful couples honoring their niece Alejandra Vela recently were Arturo and Pinky Vela, Kinny and Melissa Cigarroa and Toni and Eloy Cantu at the Cigarroa home in Del Mar. Alejandra is the daughter of Dr. Carlos and Tita Vela. The Sunday afternoon fiesta was enjoyed by many including Judge Elma Salinas Ender and her daughter Jackie; Dr. Ricardo
See CASTILLO | PAGE 8C