gente

 Due to the lack of water, neighbors in the center of the delegation have had to pay for water delivery trucks for their water supply. Photo: Alma Serrano. 

Alma Serrano(San Juan Cosalá).- Residents of the San Juan Cosalá delegation in the municipality of Jocotepec, have been suffering from a shortage of drinking water for months, and the problem has worsened during the dry season. 

Even before the failure of the engine  on the Zaragoza well registered on March 13, residents said they live with little availability of the liquid, which has forced them to spend on water delivery trucks to supply their demand. 

«I have a lot of water containers to cope with the little water that is arriving, because some days there is no water, some days there is; or a trickle of water arrives all day. It is not enough, we have to pay for water delivery every two weeks or there is no way to bathe or wash the dishes,» said an annoyed citizen.

Those interviewed said they considered it unfair to pay for a service they do not receive. Also, distribution of water in the delegation is unequal, because a few enjoy a lot of water while the majority lives without enough.

«I am not going to bathe in the lake, nor am I going to wash there.  Before we did not have to pay for it, but now we pay and they have to send us water in bulk, commented another person  affected by the shortage.

The water operator in San Juan Cosalá, Samuel Tolentino, said that after repairs, the Zaragoza well is working again though only at 75 percent of its capacity, which has caused the population to get water  by other means. Tolentino considers that the only solution to the shortage is to drill another well. 

«The water well (Zaragoza) is working at 75 percent because it is pumping a lot of sand. The solution would be a new well,» he said. 

Translated by Elisabeth Shields

At least 58 students from public and private elementary schools took the test. Photo courtesy. 

Editor.- The Terranova Institute recently hosted the 2022 math skills test of the Jalisco State Mathematics League (LIMATEJ) tournament for elementary school children from school zone 96.

Fifty-eight students from public and private schools took the two-hour test on Wednesday, March 23. One student, Ángela López de la Cerda, solved the test in only 20 minutes. She will represent Terranova in the regional finals.  

The tournament, promoted by the Ministry of Education of Jalisco, was held in Terranova Institute’s facilities.

Translated by Mike Rogers

The incident remained just a scare.  

A tragedy was avoided by Civil Protection and Firefighters after the report of two minors who had entered Lake Chapala in the area of Ajijic, during the afternoon of March 22.  The minors were trapped in nets used by fishermen and could not get out of the Lake. Emergency personnel were able to free them, but emergency services were called and arrived with ambulances and firefighters.  

Jocotepec police building located in the municipal capital. Photo: Archive.

Staff.- The killing of two unarmed policemen and the wounding of first responders March 10 on the  Guadalajara-Morelia highway height of San Cristóbal, highlighted the fact that the  Jocotepec Public Security Corporation, charged with ensuring the welfare of the town and its 13 localities, is operating without necessary equipment or sufficient personnel , and spurred an agreement for joint operations with State Police in the municipality.

The joint operations are designed to insure the safety of the citizens and the officers until the governor and the president obtain additional funding for weapons, equipment and more policemen and policewomen in the municipality.

A former municipal police officer, who preferred to keep his name anonymous for fear of reprisals, said that the police station does not have enough weapons, personnel, or the support of the municipality to carry out its work. 

The interviewee described the conditions under which the uniformed officers operate as “precarious,” due to the fact that they lack social security despite the fact that their work serving the community is considered high risk.

«In reality, there are no bullets, only the ones they carry or that they purchase; but the truth is that there are no weapons. In a violent confrontation they would not last five minutes,» said the former police officer.

Although Semanario Laguna sought to confirm the information provided by the former policeman,representatives of the municipality of Jocotepec were not available to answer or comment on the matter. 

Resignation of personnel is also a constant problem in the force. In December of last year alone, according to Felipe Aguilar Montes de Oca, former director of social communication, the municipality had only 44 officers distributed in two shifts.

During the March 17 ordinary session of the Jocotepec City Council, municipal president José Miguel Gómez López stated that after the March 10 armed attack that left two policemen murdered, six policemen, as well as commissioner Juan Jesús Hermosillo Moreno, had resigned. 

«After the death of the two officers, six more officers resigned from the force. The officers feel unprotected by the lack of equipment, by the lack of protection; situations that are not a direct responsibility of the administration but how resources have been lacking for us to make investments in security,»  Gómez López said.

Gómez López explained that because the municipality is officially classified as having a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants, it has not been able to access substantial resources to strengthen the municipal police, although he did point out that they already have life insurance.  At its last meeting, the council voted to award the families of the slain officers 100% of their pensions to demonstrate their support for the police and to recognize their bravery.

Translated by MaryAnne Marble and Patrick O’Heffernan

The president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, and local deputy, María Dolores López Jara offered a floral arrangement at the “Benemérito de las Américas” Credit: Jazmín Stengel

Editor (Chapala).– Chapala President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curie called for  citizens to unify in the municipality and leave divisions behind during the commemoration of the 216th anniversary of Benito Juárez’s birthday

 «May the framework of this celebration for the 216th anniversary of the birth of Benito Juarez, be the perfect reason to overcome harsh divisions, and unite in favor of Chapala and Chapala residents.» Aguirre told the citizens, adding that,  «The example of Benito Juarez should remind us of the principles of democracy, equality, tolerance, and respect – indispensable foundations of the rule of law of any nation.» At the event, students from the Eugenio Zúñiga elementary school provided a short history of  the life of Benito Juarez, also known as “Benemérito de las Américas” or “deserving of the Americas’ praise.” Valentín Gómez Farías highlighted Juarez’s history of public service including: the governorship of Oaxaca, magistrate of the Supreme Court of the Nation. As president of Mexico, he is credited with major legal reforms. 

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Verbena Jamaica del Pasado 2019. Photo: Luilli Baron.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).– The Verbena Jamaica del Pasado will be held Sunday, April 10th, after two years of cancellations. When it returns, it will have some modifications; the main one will be that it will focus on supporting the families of sick people of Ajijic, giving the event a “church fair” feel. 

The General Director of the Passion of The Christ Church, Eduardo «Lalo» Ramos Cordero, and the Treasurer, Ricardo Mora, noted that there are 17 families who will be selling different types of food throughout the day. The event starts at approximately 8am and runs until 10pm. At the event, there will be donation boxes; contributions will be distributed in equal parts to the sick.

In addition, the organizers assured that they will be bringing back another tradition, Light of the Past, turning off the lights, for about half an hour, starting at 9pm. The municipal government of Chapala will provide infrastructure for the event. The decoration in the stands will be the same as always, ‘papel picado’ or traditional cutout paper, and reeds. Around the square, visitors will see paper lanterns and bows with papel picado.

Local bands such as La Incomparable, Estrellas del Lago, La Misma Banda and Orquesta Típica de Chapala will provide free entertainment throughout the event. Event Organizers are looking for more groups or dancers to provide entertainment in the morning portion of the event.

Ramos expressed gratitude that he and the whole team have towards for everyone in Chapala, since they have always shown unity and support in these matters, as well as to the municipal authorities, including Municipal Trustee, Gamaliel Soto Perez, and his brother Carlos, Ajijic Delegado-Elect Maximiano Macias Arceo, and Councilwoman Denisse Michelle Ibarra, for their support

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Bikini models from various nightclubs stole the attention of attendees. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- The 13th Bikini Car Fest was held Sunday, March 20, as it was done “before the pandemic.” Masks and antibacterial gel were generally not required, but there were cars, drinks and women.

The event started at 7am in Chapala’s Parque de la Cristianía. The only “sanitary filter” was at the main entrance where pedestrians were checked. Control was not very strict, since many entered without masks. At the access for cars, through the parking lot, there were no controls.

This year’s Bikini Car Fest awarded 70 categories. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

After being canceled for two years due to the pandemic, the event showcased around 900 modified and exhibited cars. About 450 were entered in one of the multiple categories of the Bikini Car Fest. A  total of 280 prizes were awarded to 60 percent of this year’s participants, according to organizers.

The number of categories may vary according to the cars entered, since it takes at least five cars with the same characteristics to open a new category. If there are not sufficient entries, cars can be entered in other categories compatible with their modifications. These can vary between the trends of tuned or modified cars such as the euro and DJM branches, open and air-cooled, among many other subcategories. In the end, 70 categories were awarded, all with first, second and third places.

As well as the categories, the models of classic and modified cars were very varied. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The audio sound specialists were divided into two main ones, SPL and Open Show, which in turn were divided into 10 other subcategories according to the type of amplifier. In the audio category, 50 cars participated, of which up to 30 of them were awarded the first three places in each subcategory.

There were also 20 prizes for the best modified car on display, as well as 50 more prizes for the special car of the event, or what is equal to the second place of the best cars, organizers said.

In addition to the cars, articles and spare parts for sale, bikini models from the Cadillac, Roma and Chicas de Guadalajara nightclubs, as well as the Models Brasil models from different Latin American countries, stole the public’s attention.

Translated by Mike Rogers

Jhaneiva Sinahi Mondragón Morales obtuvo el primer lugar en el torneo LIMATEJ de la zona escolar 96. Foto: Alma Serrano. 

Alma Serrano.- Jhaneiva Sinahi Mondragón Morales de 10 años de edad, obtuvo el primer lugar en el Torneo Eliminatorio LIMATEJ  RECREA 2022 de la zona escolar 96. 

La alumna de quinto grado de la Escuela Primaria Urbana 699 Ignacio Zaragoza de San Juan Cosalá, destacó en la competencia de habilidades matemáticas realizada el pasado 23 de marzo en las instalaciones del Instituto Terranova, ubicado en Ajijic. 

En la prueba de la Liga de Matemáticas del Estado de Jalisco compitieron 52 niños y niñas de quinto y sexto grado, en dos categorías de 26 alumnos cada una, todos pertenecientes a la zona escolar 96 que abarca de Chapala a la delegación de El Chante en Jocotepec. 

Por la destacada participación de Sinahi Mondragón al obtener el puntaje máximo de la jornada, fue seleccionada para representar a su zona en un torneo a nivel regional, cuya fecha y lugar no han sido definidos. 

Óscar Daniel Cruz Ruiz, new director of the Chapala 2022 Women’s National Team, and municipal president Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel during the recording of the presentation video. 

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).-  Oscar Daniel Cruz Ruiz was presented through a video on social networks on March 10 as the new Technical Director and in charge of the Chapala Women’s National Team for the Jalisco Cup 2022 by president Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel.

The graduate in Physical Culture and Sports who is also the current director and coach of the Centro Educativo de Fútbol de Alto Rendimiento (CEFAR) in Chapala, will be in charge of selecting and directing the women who will represent the municipality in the third edition of the Copa Jalisco, a state amateur soccer tournament. 

Cruz Ruiz expressed his desire to support the sports process as much as the athletes who will be part of it. «We have a lot of enthusiasm and we trust in our generations of girls who have been playing very hard in the municipality, so that everything will flow with good results,» said the new coach.

The first call for the Chapala 2022 National Team auditions was made unofficially a week before the presentation of its Technical Director, supported by the assistant Juan Miguel Siordia Vázquez, however, only four participants came forward.

A day after the presentation, Cruz Ruiz, also a nutritionist, took full charge of the official call on March 11, when he selected more women from Chapala to form the basis of the new team. 

President Aguirre Curiel said he has great confidence in Cruz Ruiz, since in addition to being skilled in the field, he has maintained a great love for the municipality. «He has a great trajectory and above all he loves Chapala, that is why I have asked him to be part of this team…. and I know he can do it,» said the mayor.

The members of the Chapala 2022 Women’s National Team will be presented in a later edition.

Translated by Kerry Watson

The victim was left on the ground after he was shot. Photo: Courtesy.

Two thieves on  a motorcycle, intercepted a resident of Chapala who was driving a company pickup truck, with the purpose of robbing him. When the victim resisted, one of the subjects shot him. The events occurred during midday on Wednesday, March 16 in Riberas del Pilar.  

The victim was on Hidalgo Avenue at the intersection with San Mateo Street, Riberas del Pilar, when two people on a green motorcycle intercepted him as he got out of the truck. The victim was carrying a large amount of cash. 

The 36 year-old man, a resident of Chapala, tried to defend himself from the robbers, but one of them fired a gun, hitting him in the left knee and taking his belongings. 

Paramedics from the Chapala Red Cross arrived at the scene to attend to the victim, who had to be taken to Guadalajara for medical attention. The only thing known about the perpetrators is that they fled towards the downtown area of the town of Chapala. 

Translated by Sandy Britton