The City Council seeks to regularize the service. Photo: Courtesy.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía.– For at least 18 months, the Municipal Government will use the garbage dump located in the La Loma ejido, west of the Jocotepec headwaters.
While the project to close the irregular landfill that has been polluting the area for more than 20 years is completed, around 27 thousand more tons of garbage will be dumped in the landfill, accommodating the 50 tons per day generated by the riverside municipality.
The closure is intended not only to save costs for the company Grupo Integral de Recolección y Reciclados de Occidente (GIRRSA). It costs Jocotepec 15,595 pesos per day to dispose of garbage in Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, 467 thousand 850 pesos a month. By shifting disposal to La Loma, the county will save eight million 420 thousand pesos in 18 months.
Once the La Loma landfill is closed, the construction of a new one will be sought in the Huejotitán delegation, municipal trustee Carlos Alberto Zúñiga Chacón said.
«We want to close that space once and for all, to stop polluting the waters and to close the access so that the cattle no longer graze near there, because it is harmful,» the official said.
Zúñiga Chacón, also promised the new facility will meet the requirements of NOM 083, as stipulated by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), to avoid another environmental impact such as the old La Loma landfill.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
Patrol of the prosecutor’s office of Jalisco.
Editor. – José Luis R. was arrested Feb. 14 in Jocotepec by officers of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office due to his probable participation in the crimes of domestic violence and intentional injuries.
According to prosecutors, José Luis R. assaulted his partner and accused her of stealing money from him. When the children tried to intervene, they were also assaulted. The victim’s sister was threatened with a machete.
An agent of the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigated the incident as a gender crime and gained enough evidence to request an arrest warrant against the man.
Translated by Mike Rogers
Bags seized from the suspect.
Editor (Chapala).- A man was arrested in Ajijic after 14 doses of the drug known as «crystal» were found on him. The person was detained by the State Security Secretariat (SSE) on the Guadalajara Chapala highway.
State police officers driving along the Chapala-Jocotepec highway received a report of a bicyclist who was allegedly selling drugs.
The officers quickly identified a man who fit the description. As the police car passed the bicyclist he tried to evade them. 22 year old Josué «N» was arrested when the police found 14 small bags of the drug known as «crystal.”
Translated by Nita Rudy
Patrol of the prosecutor’s office of Jalisco.
Julio César was arrested by the Investigation Police of the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office, after a warrant was issued for his arrest for aggravated child sexual abuse.
The suspect has been accused of committing the abuse against a female minor in July 2020. This incident allegedly occurred in the delegation of Las Trojes, in Jocotepec.
Officers of the Investigation Police of District V arrested him and placed him in custody at the Specialized Judge in Control, Prosecution, Integral Justice for Adolescents and Penal Execution of the Fifth Judicial District with headquarters in Chapala. He will be prosecuted accordingly.
Translated by Christalle Dalsted
Jesús Pérez Núñez is one of the members of the honor guard of the Señor del Monte and is the grandson of Cándido Pérez, a character that appears in the painting of The Oath in the sacristy of the parish of Jocotepec.
By María del Refugio Reynozo Medina
Note: The Señor del Monte (Lord of the Mountain) is an image of the crucified Christ in the Parroquia del Señor del Monte in Jocotepec, that is attributed with performing a miracle in 1833 by banishing a cholera plague that was afflicting the village. At the time the residents of Jocotepec made the Señor del Monte the town’s patron saint, and pledged an oath to hold a fiesta every January to honor him. The celebration includes a procession where a figure of the Christ is toured through the town by the honor guard, a group of men who are direct descendants of the original group that made the pledge. The duties of the honor guard include dressing the figure in beautifully embroidered vestments called “cendales” and adorning it with a crown and a wig of human hair. They have a variety of crowns and vestments that are rotated through the years.
“They take care of him as if he were theirs!”
This is how some parishioners express themselves about the members of the honor guard of the Señor del Monte in Jocotepec.
The honor guard is made up of about 150 men, descendants of the people who signed the oath to the Señor del Monte in 1918.
In the honor guard there are eight headed by:
Jesús Pérez, Francisco Gómez, Armando Garavito, Gilberto García, Octavio Ibarra, Marcos Cortés, Alejandro Pérez and Víctor Olmedo. Each of the families has a special mission.
For the Pérez, it is their turn this year to change the crown. Sometimes it seems that the Patron resists a certain crown and they are waiting «to see which one he wants.” When Jesús Pérez was a child, he remembers that his father Mateo Pérez kept the crown of Christ at home. He grew up looking at it, kept there in a wooden niche with a special padlock. His son, Alejandro, on one occasion when he was changing the crown, began to sweat overwhelmingly, his legs trembling in the midst of an indescribable sensation.
Armando Garavito is in charge of the custody of the cendales. Every year they give the Patron up to three on his feast day.
The Gómez family participates in the procession walking with their backs to the procession and facing the image.
Originally, during the ceremony of preparation for the procession on his day, the Señor del Monte was accompanied exclusively by men. It was during the time of Mateo Pérez, the father of Jesús, that they began to involve women in certain activities, such as Amanda Cuevas Pérez, who is in charge of taking care of the wigs that he wears under the crown. They are made of natural hair donated by young girls; she takes them to the beauty salon for their conservation and special care.
The members of the honor guard are tasked not only with the preparation to carry him in the procession, but also with the surveillance during the three days after his feast, in which they remain under the altar so that the faithful can approach.
Because of the Covid pandemic they have not been able to allow the normal ritual, that consists of hundreds of the faithful forming a line to be able to approach the image. Once in front of the image they receive a piece of cotton that they touch to the body of the crucified one, and which they safeguard as protection until the next year.
Jesús Pérez Núñez, one of the guardians
Jesús Pérez, a native of Jocotepec, is the grandson of Cándido Pérez, signer of that historic oath. Don Jesús keeps a photograph from 1907 where his grandfather appears, surrounded mainly by his children, wearing a gala charro suit with gold buttons. He owned oxen yokes to plow the land and also a chinchorro (small rowboat) to fish. That black and white photograph is a valuable souvenir for Jesús, along with the memories of his childhood and youth in Jocotepec that are always closely linked to the image of the Lord of the Mountain.
The greatest miracle he remembers is when he was about eight or nine years old; the priest Ambrosio González was there. That priest opened the parish for the children, where he set up ping pong games, dominoes, and board games, and promoted soccer games for the children.
The priest ordered the construction of an artesian well in the parish, thinking of the town’s need for water. While the machine was excavating the well, the priest saw that the water was not coming and the money to pay for it was running out. He was about to use up his last resources when he took a piece of tepetate (the hard soil that was blocking the water) and went to the altar to the Lord of the Mountain to ask for his intercession. A few days later, water gushed forth in torrents. It seemed like a swollen stream that embraced the streets. It first flowed through Miguel Arana, turning around Guadalupe Victoria, up to José Santana and then flowed into the lake. The women began to set up washing places and the children went to bathe. The water was warm and they could also drink it. That was the drinking water in the town for many years, until one day the Town Hall piped it, building a tank on the hill to pump it and charging for the connections in each house.
Another miracle occurred during a time of extreme drought. The people took the image out to pray for rain. Shortly before reaching the temple, black clouds appeared in the sky followed by a copious storm that barely managed to spare the pilgrims.
Jesús remembers that the date of the feast of the Lord of the Mountain was instituted in those days to be in January, because it was when the families had a little more money from the harvests. This way they could offer a more dignified feast to their beloved Patron.
This man along with all the members of the honor guard is responsible for guarding a miraculous image that has watched over the people of Jocotepec for hundreds of years.
For Mr. Jesús Pérez, being a member of the honor guard is a very big responsibility, bigger than the fatigue that everyone feels when they carry the precious image. But knowing that the Lord of the Mount is guarding their lives is an emotion that cannot be described.
Translated by Sandy Britton
Lake Chapala. Photo: Arturo Ortega.
Commemoration of the State Day of Lake Chapala on February 2 went unnoticed by the community’s residents this year. Despite being an official decree since 2014, authorities at both the municipal and state levels of government appear to have abandoned the State Day of Lake Chapala.
Originally, the State Day sought to highlight the importance of the lake for the residents of Lakeside and of Jalisco, as well as constituting another layer of protection and conservation for the Lake.
«It is the obligation of the municipalities, in coordination with the Executive Branch of the entity, to celebrate the State Day of Lake Chapala through activities that enrich the knowledge, awareness of the protection and importance of the place through strategies, mechanism and actions necessary to bring to fruition the festivities of that day,» states the 2014 decree.
The law was presented by the local deputy of the 17th district, Jesús Palos Vaca of the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) and neighbor of Jocotepec. The initiative was published in the Official Newspaper of the State of Jalisco in December 2014.
This State Day was enacted when Lake Chapala and its 114,659 hectares was named as a Ramsar Site on February 2, 2009, joining a list of wetlands of international importance under UNESCO’s Convention on Wetlands.
Translated by MaryAnne Marble
Niños Héroes street drainage system. Their problem of constant spills has been going on for more than a year
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).– For more than a year leaking sewage drains on Flores Magón, Francisco Villa and Niños Héroes streets in Ajijic have caused problems. The person in charge of the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA) Ajijic, Timoteo Aldana Pérez, explained that this problem is due to a six-year lack of maintenance in the system of drainage collectors.
«The drains, the collectors, and the pipes have to receive maintenance at least once a year. Also, like anything else, they have a lifespan, so at some point they must be changed,» he shared.
Aldana said that there are two factors that cause sewage to accumulate and overflow. Waste that should not be thrown into the drain, such as sanitary napkins, clothes, bricks, and pieces of mattress. When pipes collapse, soil seeps into the drain and blocks the pipe. He has checked the state of the pipes from Flores Magón to Niños Héroes and plans to use a truck with a pressure pumping system, called a Vactor. He will also use a roto-probe to remove the debris plugs where necessary and to repair the collapsed pipes where needed.
«We have been aware of the problem since the first week we assumed office. Repairs have not been possible because the lake level was too high to intervene. If we had tried, the water would have seeped into the drains causing them to collapse. We could do it now, but the Vactor is broken. We hope that we will be able to start on Monday,» added Aldana.
He also asserted that it is a complicated job that can take at least three days for cleanup alone and require 10 to 15 workers. It is a continuous job “making it more complicated.” Neither the showers nor the toilets can be stopped. Every day would require at least five hours.»
«It is disgusting and even a source of infection.,” complained one of the neighbors on Flores Magón Street., adding that, “the seepage has not stopped for a long time. In this drain even the sewage has dried up. That mud around the drain, it’s waste and filth. We’ve even lost hope that they can fix it, after they almost destroyed it with the work on the choked pavement, and they just left it there.»
Aldana said that it is not only embarrassing, but it is also not good for health. «The system was made for another time, for another capacity, and now it is difficult to make any repairs, because much of the collector is under the seawall. Hopefully it will not be required soon, but if maintenance is not provided, it could collapse at any moment,» he concluded.
Translated by Nita Rudy
ARIES (March 21 – April 20)
There may be changes of plans or unexpected situations that disconcert you, but you will have the support of friends, very favored by the New Moon, to regain your courage and move forward. Do not reject the opportunities for fun and leisure that arise because they will help you to release tensions and regain a good mood.
TAURUS (April 21 – May 20)
The favorable astral energy that you are receiving will make you feel special, as blessed by the stars. The New Moon is very positive for you and sets you on the path to success. With clear ideas and optimistic mood, you will be very clear about what you want and this determined attitude will benefit you a lot. You may receive a tempting offer; keep it a secret until it becomes a reality.
GEMINIS (May 21-June 21)
The Moon can bring advantages and work compensations, you will be clear about where you should direct your steps and your efforts. These are good days to consolidate what you already have, but without attracting too much attention so as not to provoke envy. The good attention you pay to your loved ones (partner, family, friends) will make you feel good and in harmony.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
You are receiving a very regenerative lunar energy and some change may come that you expect and that will bring you a little closer to your goals. You will feel good and eager to go out and enjoy life, with this good mood, you will make decisions that will make you happier. Some pending matters may have a positive outcome.
LEO (July 23 – August 23)
You may not be able to avoid thinking about a delicate situation that is taking away your energy, but the Moon in front of your sign harmonizes you and pushes you to make the changes that your life requires at this time. Something unexpected may happen in love that will enliven your illusions. Put the focus on your achievements, however small, and do not lose your optimism.
VIRGO (August 24 – September 23)
Work issues are taking a lot of energy, but the Moon will help you find facilities that you previously lacked to solve what worries you and get rid of burdens of the past that are blocking you. Challenges will make you strong and will reinforce your confidence. Beware of misunderstandings or unclear situations, you can lose a lot.
LIBRA (September 24 – October 22)
Your interests may lag behind or you may have the feeling that you are being asked for more than you can give, but the good aspects of Saturn help you to put will and effort into everything you do so that the results are what you expect. Especially positive and stimulating days for relationships, as the Moon favors love and brings luck into your life.
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 22)
The family sphere is very favored by the Moon and your family will help you to approach things from a more practical point of view, which will allow you to put your affairs in order more quickly and have more time for yourself. Stay away from absorbing and negative people who take away your energy. Love may come hand in hand with friendship.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 – December 21)
It is possible that you are living in some circumstances that discourage you and you will have to make an effort to settle some pending matters. The Moon favors communication and helps you to break down those barriers that separate you from someone you love. Listening to your heart will be the best way to find inner peace.
CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)
You start the month protected by the Moon, in addition, with Mars, Mercury and Venus transiting through your sign the astral energy you receive is very powerful and whatever comes will be favorable for you. You will feel strong and open to share your feelings. The Moon can bring you some money or some good news related to work.
AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 19)
With the Sun and the New Moon in your sign, you will feel empowered and courageous and everything can go as planned. The astral energy activates you and brings you occasions for progress in the personal and professional spheres. You will have an easy time meeting people, but you will have to give in on some love-related matters.
PISCES (February 20 – March 20)
The Moon encourages you to be alone with yourself to reflect on your life and let your intuition guide your steps in the direction that suits you best. Someone who loves you can mediate in a conflict that saddens you and also help you to see things more clearly. During the week you will have the protection of the Moon in your sign.
Translated by Christalle Dalsted
Sand and stone on the bridge in the Alceseca area obstruct the stream channel.
Sofía Medeles.- Several streams from La Canacinta to La Cristina in west Ajijic are still clogged with debris as a result of the landslides that occurred in October 2021.
When Semanario Laguna toured the area recently, it was observed that there are still boulders and debris, covered with earth blocking drainage channels and streets after the landslide.
Neighbors in the area said that they fear the obstructions could cause future flooding that could affect the houses closest to the watercourses.María, a resident who lives a few houses away from the creek that runs through La Canacinta was worried.
«Apart from the fact that the creek has been narrowed, it has not even been cleaned, on the south side of the road, it is very even, so, if several heavy rains fall, it could overflow. On the upper part of the road, it is not even a meter and a half wide for the water to flow. If the water flows strongly, it will move the debris, and God knows where it will end up, which could affect the people on the street of La Canacinta,» she shared.
Another neighbor, José, commented that he is not only concerned about the blockage, but also about the dust generated by the traffic, which should be another important point to be considered by the authorities in order to resume and speed up the cleaning works.
«With this disease that we are going through (Covid-19), it is unhealthy that we are breathing dust, because it weakens our lungs even more, and can put us in a delicate health situation,» she said.
Likewise, Lourdes, who lives next to the La Canacinta stream, and has a property in La Cristina, close to another of the disaster points, expressed that, although it seems that the rainy season is still far away, public works like this are not a one-day project, so they should get down to work.
«It is not just one creek that is like this, there are many and several with serious clogging. It is of little use to clean only the parts on the south side of the highway, if there is no water flow under the bridges,» said Lourdes.
Maximiliano Macías Arceo, the Ajijic acting delegate i, commented that some of the streams have already been widened, however, they are still in the process of getting permit approval so they can move in the machinery that will be necessary to clear the waterways in the town, especially in the western part of the delegation.
The director of Social Communication, Elizabeth Oropeza Silva, commented that since November, they have been pushing the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) to provide them with the appropriate machinery to carry out the clearing of the ditches, which she claimed, need to do the maintenance from the road to the foot of the hill.
Translated by Maryanne Marble
Authorities of Chapala, the Jalisco State Cycling Association, and the Rayo family announced the first mountain biking competition.
Jazmín Stengel.- The Municipality of Chapala, the Jalisco State Cycling Association, and the Rayo family,announced the competition «Serial Chapala Summit 2022» with prizes totaling 60,000 pesos,
During the press conference, the organizers explained that the Serial consists of four stages to be held in the municipalities of Chapala, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos and Jocotepec, with the goal of selecting those who will represent Jalisco in national competitions.
The first stage begins in the municipality of Chapala on February 26 with the «Short Track» circuit at the maximum possible speed. The second will be «Cross Country» style and will take place on February 27 in the town of San Nicolás de Ibarra, on the road to the dam, with a route of almost six kilometers.
These two competitions will have a prize purse of 60,000 pesos; 20,000 for the first day and 40,000 for the second.
The purpose of this activity «in addition to attracting sports tourism, is to encourage young people to participate in healthy activities» added the president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, during the conference.
For this reason, the organizers of the «Serial Summit Chapala 2022» decided to give free registration to all children from the municipalities where the competition is taking place. During the first stage of the race. children under 14 years of age from Chapala will be able to participate free of charge.
Adults pay a general fee of 100 pesos for the «Short Track» race; while for the «Cross Country» race the registration fee is 350 pesos for adults and 150 pesos for children. The registration fee includes sports packages with t-shirt, competitor’s number, GPS for accident coverage and a 600ml bottle of PC Bikes tubeless tire sealant.
For the third and fourth stages, tentatively to be held in Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos in April and in Jocotepec in June, respectively, the validation of the Jalisco State Cycling Association is being awaited. For the closing event, a cycling marathon is planned between the towns of Atotonilquillo, San Nicolás and Santa Cruz de la Soledad. No information is available on the registration fee.
Registration is open now through the day of the competition, February 26 at 2:00 pm, at the Bicicletas Rayo at their Ajijic location on carretera poniente 9b (331 292-4228); and at their Chapala location on Juárez 588 (332 130-0393). A Bancomer account number 4152 3137 9395 6066 has been established for non-Mexicans who wish to register. For more information call (332 791-6475).
Translated by Kerry Watson
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