Courtesy Steve Harmon,

(Laredo, Tx)-It’s been written that all the world’s a stage…but is it possible that the man who wrote these and other immortal words, William Shakespeare, was NOT the author?

TONIGHT Monday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. ”Shakespeare: A Cross Examination” by guest lecturer Bonner Miller Cutting will be presented in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre.

Miller Cutting’s presentation focuses on continued questions about Shakespeare’s authorship of his canonic writing with a careful review of historical evidence. The recent movie, “Anonymous,” directed by Roland Emmerich, further advanced this theory, claiming that it was Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford who actually penned Shakespeare’s plays.  The movie starred Rhys Ivans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis.

Admission is free of charge and open to the public.  Miller Cutting is also scheduled to lecture to TAMIU students on the topic of “Shakespeare’s Will Considered Too Curiously.”

 LAREDO, Tx – On Sunday, February 12, 2012 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Star Operations will install an overhead Dynamic Message Sign (board) over the IH 35 southbound mainlanes between milepost markers 1 and 2, approximately between Lafayette St. and the Jefferson St. overpass.

 The traveling public can expect lane closures. Motorists should SLOW DOWN, MERGE to open lanes and DRIVE with EXTREME CAUTION while keeping a watchful eye for work crews.

 Please observe all advance warning signs, road markings and channelization devices in and around the work area.

 Designed by local St. Peter’s alum, website is informational and colorful

  As the Diocese of Laredo celebrates Catholic Schools’ Week, St. Peter’s Memorial School is officially unveiling the school’s website: www.stpetersmemorial.org and invites the community to learn all about the historic downtown Catholic school. 

 “This website is our calling card to the world,” said Dr. Linda Marie Garcia Mitchell, principal for the school.  “The website is beautifully designed and the layout is user-friendly, with great information about the school, so that anyone considering sending their children to a Catholic school can peruse the website and make an informed decision about our great school.”

 The website was designed under the creative direction of Board Member Xochitl Mora Garcia who worked with Carlos Ramirez, Jr., an independent, freelance and part-time website designer who is also an alumnus of the school (’71 -’77) and  actually designed and developed the site.

 “I was very excited to design the website for St. Peter’s Memorial School,” said Ramirez.  “I loved my time at St. Peter’s, sent my child there, and am pleased to be able to give back my talents to help raise awareness of this wonderful school.”

The website opens up on the school’s iconic images:  the front façade of the original school building; the school’s logo, the familiar red-colored cross with the dove and flames, representing the Holy Spirit; and the school’s boiler-plate below.  The site features five drop down menus: 

• About Us: with an introductory letter from the principal, along with the school’s mission and vision statement, and several sub-headings that give a great introduction and background into the school, with an archive of the school’s past media releases;  
• Academics:  highlighting the school’s curriculum, faculty and staff, which includes individual e-mails for all teachers and aides, and a general e-mail address to request more information about the school;  
• Our Faith: highlighting the school’s spiritual focus, including information on St. Peter;  
• Activities: outlining the various clubs and events that the school features; and  
• Advisory Board & PTO:  input from the two organizations that help the school with fundraisers and guidance for future goals, with messages from both the Advisory Board and PTO presidents.

In fact, the website project originated from the school’s Advisory Board, and the project was fast-tracked to be completed before the end of the school year.  According to St. Peter’s Memorial School Advisory Board President Marco Montemayor, the website was a priority to help promote the school to a broader audience.

 “With the focus on social and electronic media, we wanted to make sure that St. Peter’s had a presence on the Internet, so that Laredo’s best kept secret: the amazing accomplishments of the school in the past few years, wouldn’t remain a secret anymore,” said Montemayor.  “Additionally, it was important for the Board, along with our Parent Teacher Organization, to develop a site that would serve not only the community at large, but also, and just as importantly, our dedicated parents who have chosen to send their children to St. Peter’s Memorial School.  We also wanted to create a point of pride for our students, who are all so tech-savvy these days,” Montemayor concluded.

 St. Peter’s Memorial School is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Laredo.  First established in 1925, the school was run under the auspices of the Ursuline Sisters until 1968, and then the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.  Now part of the Catholic Diocese of Laredo, the school offers classes from level K3 through 8^th grade and typically serves approximately 170 students each year.

El Pescador will also have Happy Hour prices on their ice cold beverages and appetizers throughout the evening.  You must be 21 years or older to take advanatage of this promotion and it is for dine in customers only.  For more information visit either one of their locations or call 956-728-7745.

 Standing together for the proclamation are the student ambassadors, holding the DATING BILL OF RIGHTS, along with City of Laredo MPT Cindy Liendo Espinoza; Sylvia Hernandez, SCAN; Dr. Susanna Rivera, SCAN; Webb County Judge Danny Valdez; Sylvia Flores, SCAN; City of Laredo Assistant Chief of Police Jesus R. Torres; and Assistant Chief Pete Arredondo, Sheriff Martin Cuellar’s Office.

Valentine sweethearts will be crowned the King and Queen of the City of Laredo.

 It’s been years in the planning and much needed in North Laredo to improve the quality of life for area residents.  This Thursday, February 2, Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza will be hosting the official ribbon cutting ceremonies of the new Trautmann International Park.    

     “The park has something for everyone to enjoy,” said precinct three Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza.  “Residents will now have access to jogging and walking trails, basketball courts and a football field,” he added. 

     Future plans include the addition of a soccer field, tennis courts and a skateboard park and playground.

     The park is a joint effort between Webb County and the United Independent School District.

     The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. and the public is invited to attend.  The physical address for the new park is 809 International Blvd.

(Laredo, Tx)-The government of Costa Rica is going to develop a port of entry with their neighbor, their fellow Central American country of Nicaragua, called Peñas Blancas.  The government of Costa Rica has announced they are using Laredo as the model to develop this port to take back to all of Central America.  

In addition, since there are very few air cargo flights from Costa Rica to Mexico, they see opportunities to develop air cargo between Costa Rica and Laredo that could then be shipped to Mexico via the dozens of charter companies that fly from Laredo to Mexico.

“Laredo is open for business and I am delighted to welcome our future partners from around the world to Laredo, so that we can continue to develop trade opportunities that positively impact our economy and cement our position as the nation’s number one inland port for trade for the Western Hemisphere,” said Mayor Salinas.

Costa Rica sees Laredo as a partner as they develop the port of entry.

Laredo, Texas –U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry on Monday stopped 27 pounds of cocaine from being smuggled into the country inside the cab of a commercial tractor at World Trade Bridge . 

CBP officers at the World Trade Bridge manning the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Lane encountered a 1994 Freightliner tractor driven by a 33-year-old Mexican national from Nuevo Laredo , Tamaulipas , Mexico . The FAST registered driver presented documentation for a legitimate commercial shipment of televisions that was being pulled by the tractor he was operating. CBP officers referred the tractor trailer for a secondary examination. CBP officers conducted an intensive examination of the tractor and trailer that led to the discovery of 10 bundles of alleged cocaine weighing approximately 27 pounds within the tractor. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $864,000.

 CBP officers seized the cocaine and the tractor. The driver was turned over by CBP officers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) agents for further investigation. 

 The FAST program is one of CBP’s trusted traveler programs. Travelers who participate in the Free and Secure Trade program are afforded expedited processing when crossing the border. As a participant in these Registered Travelers programs, these travelers are bestowed with a higher level of trust and confidence in regards to security when crossing the border. Because of this higher level of trust and confidence that has been bestowed on participants, violations of this trust will not be tolerated. Violations will result in the prosecution of the violator to the fullest extent of the law. 

 “FAST program participants are entrusted as low-risk travelers,” said Sidney K. Aki, Port Director, Laredo Port of Entry. “This driver violated that trust and attempted to bring illegal drugs into the country. CBP officers remain poised in their enforcement at all international crossings to ensure that checks and balances, especially at trusted traveler lanes, are in place. This significant amount of narcotics intercepted is a testament to the fact that the system works.”

LAREDO, Tx – On Sunday, February 5, 2012 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Star Operations will install an overhead Dynamic Message Sign (board) over the IH 35 southbound mainlanes between milepost markers 1 and 2, approximately between Lafayette St. and the Jefferson St. overpass.

The traveling public can expect lane closures. Motorists should SLOW DOWN, MERGE to open lanes and DRIVE with EXTREME CAUTION while keeping a watchful eye for work crews.

Please observe all advance warning signs, road markings and channelization devices in and around the work area.