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VOL. 32, No. 6 SERVING ANTHONY, VINTON, CANUTILLO, EAST MONTANA, HORIZON, SOCORRO, CLINT, FABENS, SAN ELIZARIO AND TORNILLO FEBRUARY 10, 2005 NEWSBRIEFS Challenge from honor students Horizon council
Stamp out violence helps raise cash for tsunami aid overrides Mayor’s The U.S. Postal Service is inviting every- EAST EL PASO veto, hires third one in the community to join the fight COUNTY — As a re- against domestic violence at a ceremonial sult of a challenge, unveiling of the Stop Family Violence Americas High School COPS officer semipostal stamp, according to Fernando has collected more Sepulveda, postmaster of the Fabens Post than $5,300 during the By Arleen Beard Office. The event will be held Feb. 10, 11 past several weeks to Special to the Courier a.m. at the Fabens Post Office, 605 West help the American Red Main Fabens. A portion of the proceeds Cross Tsunami Disas- HORIZON CITY — A special Horizon from sales of this semipostal stamp will ter Fund, and other City Council meeting was called on Tues- provide assistance to domestic violence campuses are continu- day, Feb. 1, to discuss Mayor Dianne programs. Speakers invited to the unveil- ing fundraising efforts. Whitty’s veto against hiring of a third, and ing include representatives from the Cen- The Americas final, police officer under a COPS Grant ini- ter Against Family Violence, State Rep. money was turned over tiated in 2003. Chente Quintanilla, Socorro Sukie Ramos, to the fund Jan. 24. After hearing statements from several County Attorney Jose Rodriguez, a repre- The Trailblazers’ — Photo courtesy Socorro ISD community members and council members, sentative of Congressman Reyes’ Office, AHS National Honor IN TSUNAMI’S WAKE — Americas High School students, led by Whitty’s veto was over-ridden 5-2. Sheriff Leo Samaniego, Superintendents Society challenged the the Student Council, raised more than $5,300 for the America Red Last month, on Jan. 11, City Council ap- of the Fabens and Clint ISD, along with school to raise money Cross Tsunami Disaster Fund. From top left, Priscilla Mendoza, proved the hiring of the third police officer students from both districts, and USPS for the American Red Sophia Peón-Leyva, Dominic Moncada and Krissett Loya. Bot- under the COPS Grant — which would pay representatives. The 45-cent Stop the Fam- Cross Tsunami Disas- tom row, from left: Vanessa De La Rosa, Principal Mary Ross, and a significant amount of the officer’s salary ily violence semipostal stamp is the third ter Fund. “We (AHS) Sarah Portillo. for three years — by a vote of 4-2. Because semipostal in U.S. History. Funds raised had a contest during third period on Friday, Jan. Mart and Carl’s Jr. Jan. 22.” the agenda item did not receive five or more from the sale of the stamp will be trans- 21 to see which class could raise the most Sometimes a dress code — or lack of it — votes in favor, the Mayor vetoed the decision. ferred to the U.S. Department of Health money,” says NHS sponsor Marilyn Robles. can be a good thing. Students and teachers at Her justification for the veto was that the of- and Human Services for domestic violence “KLAQ-FM helped us Jan. 21, and the Na- ficer created unnecessary expense and the programs. tional Honor Society collected funds at Wal- See AID, Page 4 hiring was not a financially sound decision. Citizen’s forum There were several concerned citizens present at the special City Council meeting The Rio Grande Citizens’ Forum of the Anthony ISD prepares for new library this week — many signed up to voice their U.S. International Boundary and Water opinions. Prior to opening the floor to the Commission (USIBWC) will be held on Architect Hector de Santiago, with the firm By Don Woodyard speakers, Mayor Whitty read an ordinance that Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m. at 4171 N. of Parkhill Smith & Cooper, went over plans Courier Staff Writer states that public input on a particular item can Mesa, The Commons, Bldg. C, with an for the library addition which will be located be limited to a total of 30 minutes. She said agenda that includes discussion of the Rio on the west end of the high school and mirror she was going to enforce the ordinance. Grande Project, an overview of El Paso ANTHONY — The board of trustees of the the front of existing structure toward the gym. The first person to speak on the agenda County Water Improvement District #1, Anthony ISD looked to the future on two fronts A $350,000 independent grant will cover only item was Police Chief Antonio Aguilar, who and the Rio Grande Flood Control Projects at its Feb. 1 meeting. construction of the facility. Plans for the con- explained that the justification and the need Programmatic Environmental Impact The first was in regards to the construction of struction of Anthony High did not include a for the grant was discussed over a year ago Statement. Information: 832-4175 or e- a 3,000-square-foot library at the high school. library when it was built several years ago. on Oct. 14, 2003, at which time the original mail [email protected]. The second was planning a joint meeting However, plans did include a provision for grant was approved. There followed consid- with the Anthony Town Council to look at the adding a new library in the future. erable discussion between members of In other news future of the school district and the commu- High school students presently use the library Council and Chief Aguilar for about 25 min- A day of mariachi music and dancing, nity, particularly the ripple effect of new Army utes, leaving only five minutes for all other hosted by the Wildcat Community Crime troops coming to Fort Bliss. See AISD, Page 5 concerned citizens who signed up. Stoppers and the Anthony Lions Club, will Mayor Whitty then called Sgt. Ron be held on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2 to 10 p.m. Swenson, who was next to speak, but re- at the American Legion, 221 Poplar, in Clint district provides plan for Horizon students minded the audience that time was running Anthony. The event will benefit victims out. Sgt. Swenson explained the need for the of the Indonesian tsunami. Food and bev- School for the 2005-2006 school year. C.T. third officer under the COPS grant and kept erages will be sold, with performances by By Laura Cade Welch students will attend a “school-within- his time to a minimum to allow for other citi- Mariachi Amistad de El Paso, Mariachi Special to the Courier a-school” by holding classes at Frank Macias zens to speak. Differencia, Mariachi de Mi Tierra, Elementary next school year. Frank Macias Raymond Morales was next to address Mariachi Los Toritos, Mariachi Alegre, HORIZON — Due to the rapid population Elementary will continue to be a pre-Kinder- Council, and he opposed the Mayor’s veto. Mariachi Rayos del Sol and Joe’s Disco. growth in the Horizon area, the Clint School garten through third grade campus, while hous- He said he is a resident and a business owner Cost is $5 per person, 10 years and under Independent District infrastructure has ing the C.T. Welch students. in Horizon City and has concerns about thefts are free. For more information contact scrambled to keep pace. With a delay in the Currently, there are 13 available classrooms and burglaries. He asked Council to consider Police Chief Ed Miranda at 886-3838 or start of construction of the new Horizon Middle at Frank Macias Elementary to accommodate the growth that is approaching the town and 726-8944. School off North Kenazo, which will not be the C.T. Welch students. The staff of C.T. Welch think about the future and the need to keep complete for the start of the 2005-2006 school will remain together along with their adminis- Horizon City safe. It’s north versus south as fourth and year, alternative plans have been developed to tration while at Frank Macias Elementary. Following Morales’ address, Council fifth grade boys and girls from Clint ISD’s accommodate the students in the Horizon area Desert Hills Elementary will remain a pre-Kin- member Walter Miller asked Whitty if it was Red Sands Elementary and W.D. Surratt for the next school year with minimal disrup- dergarten through fifth grade campus. Horizon possible to hear all those who wanted to Elementary storm the court during the Pee tion to students and staff. High School will have grades ninth through speak on this agenda item. Mayor Whitty Wee Basketball Tournament at W.D. District cabinet, principals, and the site- twelfth next year. responded that would mean possibly being Surratt Elementary, 12675 Alameda in based committee determined that the district For the 2006-2007 school year, the district at the meeting until 10 p.m. Miller then said: Clint on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 8:30 a.m. must utilize the existing facilities and avail- will examine the growth in the Horizon area “We’re here to serve.” See BRIEFS, Page 2 able classrooms to provide instruction for each and the current school boundary lines to again The matter was put to a vote and Council student. reconfigure the elementary campuses, a dis- approved hearing more from the citizens. Parent and community input was sought at a trict spokesman said. Three other citizens were allowed to speak, There is a mad scramble to improve just Jan. 12 public hearing prior to the school board Frank Macias, Desert Hills and C.T. Welch all three of which were opposed to Mayor about everything in the world except meeting and three alternatives were prepared. will all be pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade Whitty’s veto. Those who spoke on this people. At the Jan. 19 Clint ISD Superintendent campuses. Elementary enrollment is expected agenda had one thing in common — they — Quips & Quotes Ricardo Estrada recommended that the Carroll to be spread evenly among the three campuses T. Welch campus become Horizon Middle for the 2006-2007 school year. See COPS, Page 5 Page 2 WEST TEXAS COUNTY COURIER February 10, 2005
For some folks, just living life is a gling farmer husband? Four hungry tsunami, one man said he was angry One perspective misfortune. We are constantly in a children and the crops in the field? with the sea for taking his wife and Well, that depends on who you ask. children — and he was a fisherman. By Francis Shrum state of discomfort. We can’t clean up the kitchen after supper or make Apparently, Lucille thought it was a My mother says that the only thing the bed in the morning without fuss- fine time. that is certain is that things will ing about how the bed covers won’t I’ve had cause to be thankful most change. As certain as change may be, A really bad time go into place easily or how badly the of my life that my calamities have however, it is never comfortable — food got cooked to the pan. been small ones, the kind that don’t in fact, it is almost always downright People say a deserted stretch of roadway in the On the other hand, some people are get dropped on you like a ton of uncomfortable if not terribly painful, it over and middle of a hot summer day is a mere faced with obstacles so big you’d bricks, the kind that you can see com- and at best is inconvenient. over — what inconvenience to a burly young truck think the intimidation factor alone ing and generally work around — or, I wonder sometimes, with all this a really bad driver. To an elderly lady, it could would cause mental paralysis. But it admittedly, the kind we tend to bring natural inconvenience, why there is time it is for this or that thing to happen. mean a threat to survival. doesn’t. I saw a fellow in the hard- on ourselves. always someone out there who feels We sometimes say that bad things Sometimes, severity of misfortune ware store recently who was miss- There are people who have lost lit- like the pot needs a good stirring — happen in multiples, like storm is determined on how it is reacted to. ing both legs. He was a young man, erally everything in an economic like setting off a bomb, starting a ru- clouds on the horizon misfortune Have you ever noticed that two splin- probably in his late twenties, with a downturn they couldn’t control. mor, taking a gun to school or declar- seems to breed misfortune. ters of the exact same size are sud- working man’s shoulders, arms and Some people have lost loved ones ing a war. The superstitious among us even denly of vastly different dimensions hands, which made me wonder if without a moment’s notice in a fiery Next time I see somebody headed go so far as to subscribe a specific when they get stuck in the fingers of maybe he hadn’t been missing his automobile crash or to swift aggres- my way who talks too much, or my number to the calamities we can ex- two different people? legs long. But he didn’t look de- sive disease. Others are living day- stapler runs out of staples when I’m pect, like bad luck happens in threes One of them will shrug it off and feated. He was poking fun at the kid by-day in the grueling, uncertain re- in a hurry, or I hear that dreaded or you can expect to have seven years go on. For the other, it is a life-threat- with him, laughing and joking. And covery process with little or no as- thump-thump of a flat tire as I cruise of bad luck for breaking a mirror. eningly painful event which requires he was there with a purpose, looking surance that the outcome will restore down the freeway on my way to an Misfortune ranges from a visit much moaning and groaning, medi- for a specific product to do a specific health and vitality to their loved ones appointment, I’m going to ask my- from someone you don’t have time cal attention and pampering to aid job. or themselves. self a question. for, to a cancer diagnosis or natural recovery and is often recorded in the We write songs about misfortune There are those who have seen ev- Instead of blowing off that this is disaster. And depending on who it annals of memory for fond recollec- a lot. Remember the old Kenny erything swept out to sea and maybe a really bad time for this to happen, happens to, the severity of it can vary. tion — remember the time I got that Rogers song about how Lucille wished that they, too, has gone with I’ll just ask, is there ever going to be For instance, getting a flat tire on splinter in my finger… picked a fine time to leave her strug- the waves. After the recent devastating a really good time?
ter were scheduled to join the box of chocolates between Feb. 13- Briefs fourth graders at 7:45 a.m. Feb. 7 15, even if they are at work. To or- From Page 1 at the school. “All the classes are der a singing Valentine for $40 call ______joining together to help people in 751-9617. need,” says student Jorge Andrade. to 1 p.m. Parents, students and the “People need to help others even February is Black History community are invited to attend if it isn’t Christmastime or Thanks- Month, and students of and support the teams during the giving.” Montwood High School’s theater, tournament. band and choir classes will host a Montwood High School’s special performance of “His Fourth-grade students of “Awesome Blossom” flower sale, Dream Through Music,” a multi- Loma Verde Elementary School scheduled for Feb. 11, 13 and 14 media show involving historic are finding a way to help home- has been canceled due to injury film, serious acting and music — less El Paso children and families. suffered by the class instructor, from jazz and swing to soul — Christine Moore’s class has col- Sandy Crout. The flower sale is tra- performed by the students and lected more than 150 hats, jack- ditionally held prior to Valentine’s inspired by the life of Dr. Martin ets and blankets in addition to Day at the high school campus, Luther King. “I researched 50 bags of toys and books to be do- 12000 Montwood Drive. important events in this country nated to El Paso’s Center Against and came up with a script,” di- Family Violence. Moore says the The El Paso Border Chorders are rector Kate Keyser says. “And class read the book Fly Away offering a little something extra this there’s a lot of music that I Home by Eve Bunting — about a year for those looking to send a spe- matched with those historical homeless boy and his father liv- cial message. As their annual fund- events, both on film and with ing in an airport — and decided raising event, the group will ser- drama on stage,” she says. A 6 to collect the clothing and blan- enade anyone of your choice with a p.m. public show is planned for kets. Representatives of the cen- love song, and present them with a Feb. 25 — admission is $5/adults and $3/students — in the Montwood High School The-
eteenseventythr nin ee ater, 12000 Montwood Drive.