en inglés

A man who was wanted by the justice system for his probable responsibility in the crime of house burglary was captured by members of the Investigative Police of the State Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the information obtained, in 2019 the arrested man entered with two other people to a house under construction, from which they allegedly took several items and fled.

The accused is Juan Carlos P., who was served with an arrest warrant and was placed at the disposal of the Supervisory Trial Judge of the Fifth Judicial District based in Chapala, who will decide his legal situation.

Translated by Sandy Britton

Bags with drugs found on one of the drug dealers.

Editor.- The presence of the State Police on Lakeside roads has been constant, showing an increased patrolling, which has resulted in the arrest of several people, especially for drug possession. 

Some of those arrested are Diego «N» and César «N», who were arrested for alleged drug possession in the streets of the San Miguel neighborhood in the municipality of Chapala. Diego «N», 20 years old, was carrying a metal box with 20 packets of crystal meth; while César «N», 34 years old, was carrying 102 packets of the same drug and after verifying his general information in the area of judicial orders, he had an arrest warrant in force for the crime of aggravated homicide.

The arrest was made when the officers saw two men who, upon noticing the presence of the patrol car, acted evasively and were intercepted at the intersection of Degollado and San Miguel streets. The two men were handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to continue with the necessary investigations.

In another incident, Juan Miguel «N», 34 years old, was detained in Chapala after acting evasively when he saw the police officers. In addition, Juan Miguel was snorting drugs before being arrested. 

Arrests were also made in Ajijic. During this week, State Police received an anonymous report that a subject was selling narcotics, so the officers went to the point located between Colón and Felipe Ángeles street, where they secured Guadalupe «N», 27 years old, who was found with nine doses of drugs.  

In Jocotepec, Aníbal «N», barely 18 years old, was surprised by the uniformed officers at the intersection of the Chapala-Jocotepec and Playas del Sol highway, in Jocotepec, when he was urinating on the public road next to a motorcycle, so he was approached; when they searched him, among his belongings they found a fanny pack in which he kept 21 packets containing crystal meth, leading to his arrest. 

Translated by Kerry Watson

Facade of the Chapala City Hall.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- The savings fund for Chapala City Hall workers was increased from 65 to 100 pesos starting this year, as approved by the council members during the fifth town council session held on January 29.

With this change, all City Hall workers will be required to contribute 100 pesos every two weeks to the savings fund, and the government will grant the same amount per person appearing on the payroll. This is in addition to the benefits for workers such as Christmas bonuses, retirements and staff credit loans.

Although this was a service restricted to unionized workers, Councilwoman Verónica Torres advocated for the rights of all workers, arguing that «the savings bank does not belong to the union, but to the municipality,» and succeeded in opening it to all city employees.

However, the increase went into effect days before the official ruling. Councilwoman Torres responded by asking where and when the quota increase, which the City Hall Workers Union had already registered, had been confirmed, given that such decisions must first be approved by the City Council.

«I still take the same position, that the savings bank should belong to the union only when it is union money,» said the councilwoman. With the new guidelines recorded in the minutes of the session, the increase was approved unanimously by the 13 council members present.

Translated by Sandy Britton

René Muratalla, secretary of the Youth Institute 2022-2024.

Jazmín Stengel(Chapala).- In the fourth month of the 2021-2024 administration, appointments are still being named. This week, the director of the Historical Archive, Alberto Portillo, and the secretary of the Youth Institute, René Muratalla were appointed.

Former Chapala mayoral candidate Alberto Portillo was named director of the Historical Archive this week. Portillo, 28 years old and 20 -year resident of the town of Santa Cruz de la Soledad, has decided to continue his political career in Chapala to help and promote the municipality where he grew up.

René Muratalla until now had participated as an active member of Youth Action, carrying out projects among and for the youth of the municipality, contributing a lot to the National Action Party (PAN), said members of his team.

Alberto Portillo, director of the Historical Archive 2022-2024

The resignation of Rogelio Ochoa, who served as volunteer manager of the Chapala Historical Archive until the arrival of the now director Alberto Portillo, was not accepted. Ochoa was appointed director of Culture in the Municipality of Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos at the beginning of the current administration, reported Social Communication.

Rogelio Ochoa said that «I was never sworn in as director (in Chapala)»; however, he intends to continue assisting Chapala’s officials in any way possible and to work hand in hand to continue organizing photography exhibitions and cultural programs as usual, as well as being the official chronicler of Chapala.

Likewise, Alan Cristian López, current director of Social Development, is supporting the administrative work of the Secretaría Particular in the absence of Rosa Isela Hernández. 

These changes are in addition to those previously registered in the direction of Regulations and Education, with Diego Beltrán now at the head of this agency and the resignation of Santiago Baeza from the Directorate of Culture of San Antonio Tlayacapan and Ajijic.

Translated by Kerry Watson

The Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia (CCAP)  in Chapala will host various artistic activities this week.  

Wednesday, February 16

Event: Piñata Classes. Ajijic Delegation invites you

Description: Registration on Wednesday, February 16

Place: Ajijic plaza in front of the Centro Cultural de Ajijic (CCA), where you will be given information on how to participate

Cost: $15 pesos per class

Saturday February 19 and Sunday February 20 

Event: Theatrical improvisation workshop

Schedule: From 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Description: If you like theater and want to take classes this is your chance

Place: Cultural Center Antigua Presidencia, Madero 226, Chapala

Cost: Free activity. Information and registration: 37 6765 2017

February 21, 22 and 23 

Event: Workshop on Cultural Project Development

Schedule:  From 9:00 to 12:00 

Description: Learn how to make and manage resources for your cultural projects

Place: Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia de Chapala, Madero 226, Chapala

Cost: 

Registration and Information: 33 1769 7365 / lapinedo@yahoo.com Luis Pinedo

Some parts of the walkway are used as parking, or to place easels with advertising. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The pedestrian walkway in the heart of Ajijic has caused confusion among visitors who, instead of using it to have more space to walk, avoid it. 

The walkway has been in operation for approximately three months on weekends and, occasionally, on holidays. It was put in place during the first weeks of November, sometimes from Colón to the intersection with Parroquia street, and on other occasions, from Morelos street.

Several people expressed that they do not use it because they did not realize it is meant for pedestrians, or believe it is for other uses, because there are no indications that it is for pedestrians.

«Every now and then there are (bicycle) races here, I don’t know if the lane is meant for that, because it’s been there unsigned  for a while now. Some people walk there, but you don’t want to take the risk that someone might come racing or on a bicycle and run you over,» said Guadalupe, who visited Ajijic from Guadalajara.

«To me, it is so that cars do not enter this street, and do not park, because the street is like a walkway, but sometimes cars circulate here and the traffic officers do not say anything to them,» commented another woman who was walking down the street. When informed that this was a pedestrian walkway, she was surprised.

Tourists often walk outside the walkway, due to the lack of signage. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

«We can’t imagine it because it doesn’t say anything; neither where it starts nor where it ends,» she added.

Due to the lack of signage or signs indicating its function, the reflective cones and traffic barrels placed along the street that connects with the access to the malecón, confuses pedestrians. In addition to the fact that it is sometimes blocked by motorcycles or advertising signs.

Acting delegate Maximiliano Macías Arceo confirmed that it is indeed a walkway. He pointed out that this weekend there were many people who walked on the street, instead of using the cones.

«Sometimes tourists get upset when they are told to use the crosswalks or the sidewalks instead of the street. They would like the street to be closed to be a walkway, but  that is not possible because it is a main road,» said Macías Arceo.  

Finally, the official commented that the pedestrian walkway project has been running smoothly during these months, and will continue to do so until the municipal president gives the order to change or modify the project.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

Ajijic Cultural Center, located in the delegation’s Main Plaza.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- A lack of maintenance for several years has caused a visible deterioration in the Ajijic Cultural Center (CCA), according to artists Jesús López Vega and Juan Navarro, who have murals in the building.

López Vega, the artist who did «The Birth of Teo-Michin-Cihualli» on the ceiling of the stairs of the Cultural Center, said that, in the 17 years of the mural, it has not been cleaned  or retouched, despite being considered a state heritage.

«It was thanks to the Support Program for Municipal and Community Cultures (PACMYC) that the mural could be made. The state program gives it greater recognition, but since its completion in 2006, there has been no initiative to touch it up. The dampness of the ceiling is already beginning to be a problem for the paint. There is an urgent need to put sealant on the ceiling,» he said.

«The birth of Teo-Michin-Cihualli», is the most deteriorated mural due to lack of maintenance.

The artist commented that not only is the mural damaged, but the building also has many deficiencies. Among them, an adjustment in the acoustics, to allow the third floor to be used for workshops and to fix the outdoor area on the third floor.

«As a founder, one realizes that several directors have passed without realizing that art needs maintenance, especially in public institutions. It has always been boasted that Ajijic is the cradle of artists, but money is needed to maintain monuments, even more so now that it is a Magic Town, and that the CCA is a site of tourist interest,» he said.

Juan Navarro commented that his two murals, «Evolution,» located in the entrance dome, and «We came from Aztlán,» located in the entrance ramp, do not need major interventions, only a light cleaning and a touch up with varnish.

As a teacher of workshops at the Cultural Center, Navarro affirmed that there are needs, for example, a sink, a roof for the outside of the third floor, a small oven; nevertheless, he said that he understands that these needs are already being considered in the work plan of the people in charge of the facility.

The administrator of the CCA, Héctor Hinojosa, commented that when he received the building the deficiencies in the infrastructure and the long-standing lack of maintenance, was obvious at first sight.

«It was received in poor condition, apparently nothing was done in past administrations. There is no waterproofing, and gutters were not cleaned, which caused water to leak into the Jesús López Vega mural.»

«Evolution», by Juan Navarro, needs cleaning and varnish retouching.

He added that the municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, is already aware of the needs, and that he is confident that he will support improving the cultural spaces, as they are one of Ajijic’s tourist attractions.

«There is already a work plan that will be done little by little. Although the activities have been stopped due to the pandemic situation, we have been able to gather resources from workshops, exhibitions, among other events, with which we will begin to work,» said Hinojosa.

The Director of Social Communication, Elizabeth Oropeza Silva, added that there is no budget exclusively for the maintenance of the CCA, however, there is one for cultural events of the municipality, which will be used for various projects in different cultural areas.

Translated by Kerry Watson

Mayte González and Ernesto López after winning the 5k competition in the neighboring state of Michoacán

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).-  María Mayte González Rentería and Ernesto «Tito» López González from Club Guepardos or “Cheeta Club,” each took first place in the five kilometer «6th Athletic Race in Honor of San José Sánchez del Río,» in Sahuayo, Michoacán on February 6.

Mayte González, 14 years old, reached the finish line in 22 minutes and 14 seconds, beating national level athletes such as Guadalupe Magallón Córdova by almost four minutes.  Magallón Córdova placed second with a 26:06 time, with Cecilia Córdova Hernández close on her heels with a third place finish of 26:11.

Although young María Mayte is only 14 years old, she has already been on the podium in state competitions; last year she won the 2,000 meters and came in second place in the 1,500 meters. «She had an exceptional performance,» commented her coach López González, who also recognized her as the only athlete who has lasted since the founding of Club Guepardos. López González said that he hoped that Mayte González can begin intense training and climb to the top levels of national athletics in 2022.

Tito López, founder of Club Guepardos and now a coach and member of the Chapala Inclusive Team, took first place in the general wheelchair discipline in the men’s free category with a time of 18 minutes and 45 seconds.

Translated by MaryAnne Marble

The classic fireworks ‘Torito’ lit in front of the atrium of the parish of San Andrés Apóstol. Photo: Lake Chapala Real Estate. 

Jazmín Stenge (Chapala).- In order to comply with the Jalisco State Ecology Law, on January 29 the Chapala town council approved the regulation of pyrotechnics in the municipality.

Under the regulation, the use of fireworks, or «cuetes,» in the municipality is restricted to a schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the exception of those with permits approved by the Regulations Department which may allow use of fireworks outside of those hours. 

The Regulations Department, with the support of the Fire Department and Civil Protection, will carry out prevention raids and enforce safety measures for the use, storage and transportation of flammable substances for pyrotechnics, in order to prevent accidents, according to the Council.

The regulation will enable the department to investigate who transports flammable materials for fireworks and to enforce safety measures in their storage and handling, as well as to verify the permits issued by the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA) to carriers of flammable materials, said the municipal trustee, Gamaliel de Jesús Soto Pérez.

The regulation and fines for violations will be published in the transparency section of the Municipal Government’s official website, and on social networks. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

 In front of the Señor del Monte, where the Miranda Naranjo couple renewed their vows in September 2021. Photo: Miguel Cerna.

Miguel Cerna (Jocotepec).- Ricardo Miranda Ramos and Carmen Naranjo Hidalgo have been married for 65 years; despite the passage of time, the spark of their love is still intact.

Sitting in the garage of their house on Independencia Street in the municipal capital of Jocotepec, Carmen, 83, and Ricardo, 85, recalled their experiences of more than six decades and, although they had many ups and downs, they are still united by love.

In September of last year, they renewed their marriage vows in front of the eyes of the Lord of the Mount, the patron saint of the people of Jocotepec since 1833.

Although the passing of the years has taken its toll on them, their hearts have not withered. The vivacity of their relationship is still present in the way they look at each other, the touch of their hands, and the shared laughter.  

For the couple, their marriage, from the beginning and until today, is based on three aspects: respect, love, and communication. As well as in the small day-to-day details on Ricardo’s part, which Carmen responds to with her care and attention.

«From the moment I wake up until I go to sleep, I can’t stop giving my wife a little something, anything. But I always tell her: ‘how pretty you are, how pretty you look, wear this, wear that, put your flower here’; every day, from the moment I get up and go down the stairs, I come clowning around, giving her compliments, until I go to bed,» Don Ricardo shared.

They met the old-fashioned way in the Jocotepec of the fifties: walking around the Main Square. It was a Sunday, he courted her with a bouquet of flowers and she accepted; he offered her his companionship and she said yes.

Although for Carmen Naranjo that was the first time she saw him, Ricardo already intended to fall in love with her, because when he met her, he was totally smitten. At that time, she was 16 years old and he was 18.

«There was a time when there was a fair and Carmen was very beautiful, pretty and knew how to dress and show off what she wore; she danced with a tambourine and when she turned around, she showed her legs. So I followed her and said: ‘I’m not leaving’,» Miranda Ramos said mischievously.  

Their romance was quick, in less than a year they were already at the altar to get married, it was on September 18, 1956, determined to «make a life» together. From the fruit of their love seven children were born: Mercedes, Irma, Norma, Pedro, Francisca, Liliana and Marcela.

The history of their marriage has been marked by sacrifice, beginning with their separation so that Ricardo Miranda could emigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities in life, since at that time Lakeside did not have  an economy that he could prosper in.

Although their first years together were difficult because of his comings and goings, the distance, the pilgrimage through different homes and the growth of their children, they remained firm, always thinking of their future.

«It was very difficult, but we were very happy. Any small gesture for us was nice. He always wanted the best for me. He made my stove with his own hands, he would bring me my firewood to cook for him, and he was happy with me cooking him a pot of beans and throwing in a hot tortilla with a chili,» Carmen recalled.

Their effort and persistence little by little began to pay off, and by the 1970’s, the Miranda Naranjo family managed to settle in Los Angeles, California, where they worked long hours, even at night, to support their children, give them an education and build a future.

As a couple, they always thought about their old age, so they worked as a team to achieve better living conditions, in addition to being able to retire peacefully.

«Our biggest goal we had was to make a future for when we were older, we didn’t want to be a burden for our children, so that has always been our concern; we wanted to have something for tomorrow. And in that, bless God, he helped us.

Now, every day is a gift that they take advantage of, whether it is going out to eat, going for a walk around the Chapala area, to the Jocotepec boardwalk or any other place they feel like visiting.

Together, since 2002 they have maintained a website and social networking site called Jocotepec.com, in which they try to bridge the gap between the town and those who had to migrate north, like they did, in search of better opportunities.

«Our motivation with the page was that all the people had the opportunity, which we didn’t have, to communicate, to know what was happening in the town. Many people came here (home) and liked to send greetings to their relatives. We would make videos and their parents would see them there (in the United States),» concluded Carmen Naranjo.

In addition to not letting the flame of love die out, Ricardo Miranda advises young couples to respect each other and base their relationship on this value, because when it disappears, the bonds are broken.

«I advise couples that if they do not respect each other from the beginning… it will not work.»

Translated by Rebecca Zittle