Socorro ISD Honors Volunteers, Partners
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VOL. 29, No. 20 SERVING ANTHONY, VINTON, CANUTILLO, EAST MONTANA, HORIZON, SOCORRO, CLINT, FABENS, SAN ELIZARIO AND TORNILLO MAY 16, 2002 NEWSBRIEFS Socorro ISD honors volunteers, partners Buckle up… EAST EL PASO COUNTY — Cel- or face a fine Scholarships ebrating Excellence” Socorro High School senior Abel Navejas was the theme as Safety belts save lives III has been awarded a $20,000 scholar- Socorro ISD said ship from the Coca Cola Scholars Foun- thanks to its numerous and money say dation, as has Cesar Nunez, a graduating volunteers and Part- enforcement agencies senior from Gadsden High School in the ners in Education with Upper Valley. The awards were based on music and good food on Thursday, May 9. academic excellence, community service, Courier Staff Reports leadership and work experience. Socorro ISD Super- intendent Dr. Don P. Schulte said the ex- EL PASO COUNTY — If you plan to be SISD names ample set by partners out and about over the Memorial Day holi- top teachers and volunteers is im- day, two little words of advice are in order: Socorro Independent School District portant because it il- Buckle up. lustrates the mentality GOOD JOB NOTED — SISD’s best and most generous volunteers Law enforcement will be out in force from named its two top Teachers of the Year and partners were noted at the luncheon. Among those were, from during the May 9 of “doers.” May 20 to June 2 in an attempt to protect SISD board of right, SISD Educator Jan Engels; Betty Fisbeck of the TransPecos “Classroom Heroes” those on the road. Operating under the catchy trustee’s new presi- Audobon Society; Superintendent Dr. Don banquet. Chris title of “Click It or dent, Craig Patton, Schulte; Marie Cadena and Ben Narbuth of Regan, a 23-year Ticket,” officers will said the education of the Horizon City Kiwanis Club; attorney and teaching veteran who new SISD board president Craig Patton; and aggressively enforce children requires the the seat belt law, which teaches physical edu- right “mix” of educa- Pat Ramirez and Karla Altamirano represent- cation at Sierra Vista ing Sam’s Club. is credited with saving tors, business people hundreds of lives since Elementary School and community and was selected at the it was instituted. volunteer parents. Participating agencies elementary level. He noted that include Texas Depart- Secondary teacher of today’s “students will ment of Public Safety the year is Norma be your future em- (DPS), Texas Depart- Ayala, who came to Chris Regan ployees.” ment of Transportation, the district in 1990, The poise and capa- Antonio Aguilar the National Highway and teaches computer applications to busi- bility of some of LITTLE GIRL, BIG ness students at Socorro High School. She SISD’s students were VOICE — Brittney Traffic Safety Adminis- sponsors the Na- very evident as stu- Gamboa was given a tration, Department of Public Safety, Texas tional Vocational- dent emcees took over standing ovation fol- Police Chief’s Association, the Texas Munici- Technical Honor So- the microphone to lowing her perfor- pal Police Association and the Sheriff’s Asso- ciety and the Busi- present much of the mance of the Na- ciation to mention a few, as well as the Hori- ness Professionals of program, including all HIGH-STEPPIN’ — The Emerald Dancers of tional Anthem. She zon City Police Department. America chapters at the PIE awards and Montwood High School did some fancy is a student at Salva- “I’m directing all officers to step up en- SHS and was the provide closing ac- steps in “Jazz Mix,” coached by Dance Di- dor H. Sanchez forcement on the use of safety belts, espe- Mission Valley Wal- knowledgments. rector Margie Dykes. Middle School. cially for teenagers, front seat passengers, Mart 2001 Teacher male drivers, pickup drivers and their pas- of the Year. In addi- sengers and minor children,” said Antonio tion to the winners, Partners are like shining stars to San Eli ISD Aguilar, Horizon Chief of Police. Socorro ISD finalists Texas law mandates the following in re- Norma Ayala includes Leslie special award from Quatrini. She is one of 42 spect to seat belts: Chavez of H.D. By Don Woodyard volunteers who have worked a total of 18,611 • Every person sitting in the front seat of a Hilley Elementary; James Vasquez of Courier Staff Writer hours at various campuses. vehicle must wear a safety belt. All children Hueco Elementary; Karen Dee Davis of “I enjoy it; I love it,” Ballentine says with a under 17 years old must be secured with a Americas High; and Robert Casao of HORIZON CITY — “Shining Stars” fell on smile. Her schedule is much like that of a paid safety belt or in a child safety seat, regard- Montwood High. Horizon City last Thursday. district employee, working from 7 a.m. to 3 less if they are in the front or back seats. A The shining stars were the Volunteers in Pub- p.m. Alarcon Elementary, she points out, is child less than four years old and less than lic Schools (VIPS) and Partners in Education “home sweet home to me. There is no place 36 inches in height must be secured in a child All for a good Causey (PIE) who had contributed their time and ef- like home.” She has been a volunteer, she says, safety seat. They pledged pennies-per-pound lifted, forts to the overall educational process in the for six to seven years. • Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for and they weren’t disappointed at San Elizario Independent School District dur- The other top five volunteers are Olga Chavez, safety belt violation if any of their passen- Campestre Elementary in Socorro on ing the school year. They were honored for their 839 hours; Sandra Duenas, 777 hours; Emma gers under 17 years of age are not property Tuesday morning when Socorro ISD In- service by the district at the sixth annual rec- Salcido, 773 hours; and Carmen Valles, 710 buckled or restrained. Penalty for this viola- struction Specialist Ben Causey man- ognition luncheon at Emerald Springs Golf and hours. Fifty PIE companies were recognized for tion is a fine of between $100 and $200, or handled 500 pounds of steel to raise funds Convention Center. giving of their time to help the district. mandatory attendance at a traffic safety edu- for the Freedom Flag Project at Socorro “We appreciate everything you have done “You do so much work for us,” Cortez said cation class regarding safety restraints. Activities Complex. Causey, assisted by for us,” said Mike Quatrini, district superin- of the companies and organizations. “We eat • Drivers and passengers 15 years old and Socorro High School and KEYS Academy tendent. “You really add to our campuses.” your pizza; we play your video games.” The over can be ticketed directly for not wearing weightlifters Sam Cable and Rick Barraza, Noted Phillip Cortez, communications of- PIE list includes Big 8 stores, El Paso Diablos, a safety belt in the front seat. Fines range was attempting to top his previous perfor- ficer for SEISD. “You are worth your weight El Paso Electric, State National Bank, Flicks $25 to $50. mance of lifting 420 pounds on April 16 in gold. You are invaluable. You are very sup- Pizza and Video, El Paso Quilters Association, “The State’s goal is to reach 85 percent at a Board of Trustees meeting. Plans call portive in encouraging our children.” Sheriff’s Department, Border Patrol, Wal-Mart, safety belt use for the Holiday,” Aguilar said. for a 100-foot flagpole and landscaped The number one VIPS was Dana Ballentine Denny’s, Roller King, Border Patrol, UT El “If we did, we could see a statewide reduction area to showcase a garrison-sized flag. who has logged 891 hours as a volunteer in Paso, YMCA, King’s Pizza and the West Texas of over 200 deaths and 5,000 injuries. Every- Cost of the project is $50,000, and contri- Alarcon Elementary this year. She received a County Courier. one should use their safety belts, not just dur- butions now total more than $21,000. ing the holidays, but everyday,” he said. He said even a jump in seat belt use as small as In other news County may begin trash collection in East Montana 9 percent can result in an estimated insurance/ ■ The Socorro ISD board of trustees se- EL PASO COUNTY — El Paso County sioners wanted to see what other offers would medical cost savings of about $390 million. lected officers during their first meeting Commissioners voted Monday to begin seek- come to light. Aguilar added that children do what following the May 4 elections. Newly ing bids from private companies for twice-a- County Engineer Robert Rivera said he they see their parents do: studies show that elected Craig Patton, a former trustee, was week trash collection for some 1,250 East Mon- projects trash collection to begin within in three when a driver is buckled up, 87 percent tana area customers who get their water from months, but doesn’t expect the County’s water of the children are also. Conversely, when See BRIEFS, Page 4 the County. customers to see any increase in their $25 base the driver doesn’t buckle, only 24 percent The County is the sponsoring political sub- charge because a loan was recently paid off of the children do. division that took over several small indepen- which should just about cover cost of trash There are several “hard-core” groups who An open mind, like an open window, dent water districts in the East Montana area.