VOL. 28, No. 47 SERVING ANTHONY, VINTON, CANUTILLO, EAST MONTANA, HORIZON, SOCORRO, CLINT, FABENS, SAN ELIZARIO AND TORNILLO NOVEMBER 22, 2001 NEWSBRIEFS Christmas Fair Americas High School will host their Sixth Annual Christmas Fair on Friday, Dec. 7, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Over 80 vendors will be available and over 40 groups will be performing. Some of the performers will include various Folklorico groups from several El Paso area schools and the UTEP Golddiggers dance team. Admis- sion is free to the public. Ag funding U.S. Representative Henry Bonilla an- nounced early this week that the Congress has come to an agreement on the Agricul- ture Appropriations Bill. The legislation was overwhelming approved today by the House of Representatives, where the bill originated in Mr. Bonilla’s subcommittee. The 2002 Agriculture Appropriations Bill funded $75.902 billion, which will include fund- ing increases for the Food Safety and In- spection Service, Child Nutrition Programs, Food Stamp Program and Food for Peace Program. It also includes increases for the Farm Service Agency, Agricultural Credit Programs; conservation operations; and the Agricultural Research Service. Important Texas projects will also receive funding from the appropriations bill. The legislation will increase funding for: bovine genetics research; the Texas Wildlife Services Pro- WHERE EAST MEETS SOUTHWEST — Ten years ago the “Pilgrims” were paid a visit by the “Conqistadors” to hash out exactly who gram; nutritional research at the ARS Hu- held claim to the first Thanksgiving celebration. man Nutrition Center in Houston; and the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. Historical revisionists work to set Thanksgiving record straight In other news ■ Representatives from the El Paso Con- Study shows Don Juan de Onate, Spanish colonists landed in 1598 vention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) will join him down some, but they haven’t changed his they hadn’t eaten in months. El Paso historian Leon Metz and author By Michelle J. Brown commitment to reaching people with the truth. On April 30, Onate ordered all to put on their Jackson Polk for their live broadcast at the Special to the Courier “My main aim is to get the people of the best clothes and gather for the first Thanksgiv- East Side Tourist Information Center at El United States to realize the Spanish were in ing by colonists in what is now the U.S. He me- Paso Connection at14301 Gateway West at EL PASO - It ruffled a lot of turkey feathers this country long before anyone realizes and morialized the occasion with a proclamation Interstate10, Exit 37, just west of the Hori- and rocked Plymouth off its historical pedes- their contributions to this nation are quite sig- claiming the land for the King of Spain. A play, zon Exit on Saturday, Nov. 24, from 10 a.m. tal to hear a group of Texans claim the Thanks- nificant,” said Hall, who volunteered six years the first in America, was performed and all ate to 12 p.m. Staffers will be on-hand through- giving throne 12 years ago. to serving on the Texas Historical Commission. and drank to give thanks for the welcome bounty. out the morning serving coffee and cookies Knowledge that Spanish colonists hit Ameri- Hall was appointed by then-Governor. The next day, they embarked onward to what is to Thanksgiving weekend holiday travelers can soil in 1598, 22 years prior to the Plymouth George W. Bush as Chairman of the Commis- now downtown El Paso, reached in four days, while Polk and Metz entice more westbound pilgrims, made for some cold mashed potatoes sion of the First Thanksgiving and another four months to their final destina- visitors during the El Paso show on 690 AM in New England. Yet the El Pasoans convinced Quadricentennial, a 1998 celebration marking tion north of present day Santa Fe. KROD. Metz and Polk broadcast in El Paso the Texas Legislature that the first Thanksgiv- the 400th anniversary of Don Juan de Onate’s That trail, called the Camino Real, was also each week, focusing on area history, cur- ing was held in spring on the banks of the Rio crossing the Rio Grande into what is now Texas the entrance for the vast majority of horses in rent events and featuring special guests. All Grande more than two decades before the and New Mexico. With the vice president of to the Americas. Some came up through Cali- visitors will receive a special El Paso sou- Mayflower sailed. Spain in attendance, nearly 100 El Pasoans fornia, and a few through Florida via St. Au- venir. Old West gunfight reenactors from Armor-clad El Paso “conquistadors” ven- adorned in gallant Spanish finery participated, gustine, but hundreds of thousands entered San Elizario, The Desperadoes, will provide tured to Massachusetts ten years ago to stage a including Hall. through El Paso. entertainment. The CVB staff volunteers mock trial with the locals who were equally “We’re just trying to get attention for his- This rugged city in the sparsely settled Trans- will work with regular info center employ- adamant about who broke bread with the Na- tory,” he said. “Sometimes you have to be out- Pecos country was Texas’ last frontier. The site ees to answer visitors’ questions and give tives first. It was done in fun and prompted landish to get it.” of the first Thanksgiving in the middle of an in- them ideas and directions for keeping them good nature jabs, especially when the visitors His methods are effective and catching on. ternational trade route became home to miners, entertained during their time in the Sun City. were “arrested for blasphemy and spreading Attendance at nationwide social studies teacher ranchers and cavalrymen and some of the wild- ■ malicious lies and rumors.” conferences and power of word of mouth have est escapades in the Old West. It’s still the gate- Horizon City resident Amanda Pierce of In response to the Texan encounter, ten pil- resulted in First Thanksgiving books and vid- way to Mexico as the largest border city in the Girlscout Troop 100 is working on her Gold grims from Plymouth came to El Paso later that eos being utilized in every U.S. state, except nation. It has the oldest missions in the state and Award, the highest award which can be year. They were also “arrested” and locked up North Dakota. Major textbook publishers also can rightfully boast that it’s the only city with earned in Girlscouting. For this award sev- in the “Billy the Kid Jail,” the only jail the Kid include details on these early events. mountains as well as the only one with an In- eral things must be accomplished, includ- ever broke into. Per historical record, in the winter of 1598, dian reservation within its boundaries. ing a service project. She is having a hygeine All joking aside, revisionists take reality Onate and more than 400 men (130 who also More than 100 million people have read product drive during the rest of November, quite seriously. brought families) and several Franciscans com- about El Paso’s First Thanksgiving with the in which she is collecting any and all prod- Sheldon Hall, then-president of 1986’s spear- prised the expedition with 83 ox-drawn wag- Spanish colonists. Hall remains undaunted by ucts such as soap, deoderant, toothbrushes, heading organization El Paso Mission Trail ons and carts and about 8,000 horses, sheep, a traditional Yankee decree that Thanksgiving toothpaste, combs razors, etc. All items will Association, has dedicated 15 years of time and goats and cattle. The four-mile-long desert pro- is turkey and trimmings the fourth Thursday be donated to the Rescue Mission during resources working with media and educators cession journeyed 325 miles from south of of November. Historical evidence, including a the first part of December.To arrange a to set the record straight. He was named Spain’s Chihuahua, Mexico, for more than four months book published in 1610, confirms that Onate drop off or pick up please contact Amanda honorary consul for West Texas in 1984. Hall across torturous desert conditions. Eating roots and his colonists are the real McCoy. And, Hall at 852-4815. donned the iron chest plates and head gear to and berries while seeking water from cactus, reminds us, it was the Spanish explorers who visit Plymouth and also traveled to Spain to the ragged half-starved colonists arrived at the marked the first Christmas in America near confirm the contributions made by the Span- banks of El Rio Del Norte (now the Rio Tallahassee Florida in 1529. Even when opportunity knocks, a man ish to the New World. Grande) near present day San Elizario, just east But that’s another story. Though retired from a career as a construc- of El Paso in the Lower Valley. The site was For more information about the First has to get off his seat and open the door. tion company owner, the World War II Air abundant with fish below and ducks above. For Thanksgiving on the Rio in 1592, call Peggy — Quips and Quotes Force veteran has spent 39 years in this Sun ten days they swam in the cool waters, rested Boone at (915) 534-0692 or Sheldon Hall at City. A stroke and broken hip may have slowed under giant cottonwoods, hunted and ate like (915) 833-0088. Page 2 WEST TEXAS COUNTY COURIER November 22, 2001 One perspective By Francis Shrum Too much stuff HORIZON routines would reveal that we use — Have you only a fraction of our things, mean- noticed that ing that only a fraction of all this stuff our whole is really necessary.