VOL. 28, No. 44 SERVING ANTHONY, VINTON, CANUTILLO, EAST MONTANA, HORIZON, SOCORRO, CLINT, FABENS, SAN ELIZARIO AND TORNILLO NOVEMBER 1, 2001 NEWSBRIEFS Tornillo scholars given tickets to success from TSU TORNILLO — Three students from Tor- Americas on top nillo High School have a much brighter fu- Socorro ISD’s Americas High School is ture ahead thanks to a recruitment effort in listed in the November edition of Texas the border area by the Texas Southern Monthly magazine as one of the state’s best University’s Office of Governmental Affairs of the best high schools, compared to other and Community Relations. Texas high schools with similar student The effort, designed to increase Mexican- populations. The campus serves about American enrollment at the University, re- 2,500 students at 12101 Pellicano Drive sulted in the students receiving a scholarship and is already a “recognized” school by that will cover the entire cost of tuition and the Texas Education Agency. Texas fees for 12 semester hours — renewable each Monthly and the non-profit organization semester based on the student’s continued aca- Just For The Kids gathered and assessed demic achievement. data based on the latest TAAS scores, plus Abel Avila, Wendy Duran and Israel Trejo social and economic information. James qualified for the award by maintaining grade Kelch, principal of Americas, said the kids point averages of 3.0 or better. already know what a great school they at- The scholarships were presented in a spe- tend but that “it’s really wonderful to have cial ceremony Oct. 10 by TSU officials Dwight statewide organizations…recognize us.” Boykins and Veronica Delafuente, assisted by Statewide and district rankings are avail- State Rep. Manny Najera. able on the internet at “We are committed to the concept of diver- www.texasmonthly.com/mag/issues. sity and our campus reflects that commence- ment by providing quality education to any stu- New MH/MR board dent deserving one,” Boykins said. TICKETS TO SUCCESS — Winning scholars are shown from left, front row: Abel Avila, “I am very proud of these students at Tornillo State Rep. Joe Pickett and Sen. Eliot Wendy Duran and Israel Trejo. Back row, from left is THS Principal Ray Aguilar; State High School and am glad that TSU decided to Shapleigh recently announced a new board Rep. Manny Najera; Tornillo Superintendent Donna Smith; Tornillo Counselor Ed Lafferty; come to our area to scout for qualified students,” is now in place for the El Paso Mental and TSU representatives Veronica De la Fuente and Dwight Boykins. Najera said. “These students are very lucky.” Health - Mental Retardation Community Center, formerly Life Management Cen- ter (LMC). A public forum to present a progress report on the redesign of the MH/ Canutillo beautification project receives boost from area businessmen MR services in El Paso County will be held on Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, and By Don Woodyard Nov. 7 from 4-6 p.m. at the Center for Workforce Preparedness at 1359 Courier Staff Writer Lomaland in the Coyote Room — call Douglas Barker, project manager, at 782- UPPER VALLEY — Several benefactors of 6396 for information. The city appointees the Canutillo community were honored Mon- are James B. Herendeen, Ph.D., William day morning at Childress Elementary in the Boushka, M.D., and Claudia Gallardo. The Canutillo ISD, hosted by 16th District Con- county appointees are Rosemary Neill, gressman Silvestre Reyes. Carla Olivarez, and Leo DiValentino. The Among the honorees was businessman Tedd El Paso County Hospital District appoin- Richardson, who gave a check for $5,000 to tees are Fred Arellano, Ricardo Chafino, Childress Principal Annette Brigham, to fur- and Debra Garcia. The board is the result ther the school’s long-term campus beautifi- of a first-ever interlocal agreement be- cation/landscaping program. tween the county, city, and hospital dis- “With Mr. Richardson’s generous donation, trict. The board will be officially seated we will be able to install exercise equipment by the end of November. along our new jogging path and maybe build a musical gazebo,” said Carroll De La O, a fifth- grade teacher and beautification project coor- In other news dinator. De La O took over the project from ■ The El Paso Community College Board retired Childress sixth-grade teacher Diane of Trustees and the Canutillo ISD Board Kyriss who started the project in 1997 with of Trustees will hold a special joint meet- Service Learning grant funds. ing on Monday, Nov. 5, at the EPCC De La O hopes to use some of the money to Northwest Campus, 6701 South Desert — Photo by Alfredo Vasquez build a butterfly garden in front of the school. Blvd., to discuss future cooperation and a REALLY BIG CHECK — Businessman Tedd Richardson, left, presented $5,000 to Childress Richardson wasn’t the only one honored for partnership between the two entities. For Elementary to expand a beautification project. Also shown from left is Congressman Silvestre information call 831-2182. Reyes, Childress Principal Annette Brigham and Canutillo Superintendent Charles Hart. See CANUTILLO, Page 5 ■ Montwood Middle School will host a holiday extravaganza on Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Arts and crafts; jewelry, East Montana Middle School given prestigious state honor dancing, music and more are on the sched- the Blue Ribbon school, in which schools must next level. For the TAAS, the state requires that ule. Tables for vendors are still available, By Debra Dominguez apply for recognition. more than 80 percent of the students score a Call Matilde Garcia, 856-2446, for further Special to the Courier “To have EMMS recognized at this level is passing grade of 70 on the Texas Learning In- information. not only an indication of successful teaching dex (TLI) to be considered recognized. ■ EAST EL PASO COUNTY — The Clint In- but a validation that the school and school dis- “JFTK, however, raises the bar by ranking Local radio station KSII-93.1 is pro- dependent School District’s East Montana trict is dedicated to excellence in education,” the campuses on an 85 TLI instead of the 70,” moting patriotism by featuring members Middle School was selected Friday as one of only Clint ISD Superintendent Sylvester Perez said. Olivia Campos, Clint ISD Assistant Superin- of selected area classrooms saying the 13 junior high and middle schools in the state to The Texas Business and Education Coalition tendent said. “Eighty-five being the measur- Pledge of Allegiance on the air each morn- be named to the Texas Business and Education was formed in 1989 to bring business and edu- ing figure that TEA and JFTK call the profi- ing. Oct. 25 was the day for Mrs. Coalition/Just for the Kids 2001 Honor Roll. cation leaders together in a long-term effort to ciency level. Rodriguez’ kindergarten class at Lorenzo The TBEC/JFTK Honor Roll is the most improve the performance of the Texas public “JFTK also looks at the Achievement G. Loya Primary in San Elizario to take a prestigious award for sustained, whole-school school system. TBEC, which has gained national Gap,” she said. “That is the difference in per- See BRIEFS, Page 6 academic excellence in Texas. It recognizes acclaim for its education reform accomplish- formance of economically disadvantaged consistent performance from schools rated by ments, has influenced the direction of state edu- students when grouped with similar schools. the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as “exem- cation policy and stimulated community-based It takes the highest performing school in that plary” or “recognized” for three years — school improvement activities because of the group and compares it to the lowest in that We used to fear God. Now we fear our schools that have excellent performance in each active involvement and volunteer efforts of its same group. The difference is that gap which grade in each subject. many business and education supporters. needs to be narrowed.” fellow man. It is the next step beyond the current account- Just for the Kids (JFTK) is a non-profit or- East Montana Middle School, located at — Quips and Quotes ability system, the one-year “Star” snapshot ganization that takes the state’s Texas Assess- outlined in the recent Texas Monthly article and ment of Academic Skills (TAAS) test to the See EMMS, Page 4 Page 2 WEST TEXAS COUNTY COURIER November 1, 2001 One perspective By Francis Shrum It’s not gone in the morning HORIZON future. — It is a My feelings are sad and I wish this nightmare tragedy did not happen at all. To me, that doesn’t go away when you wake this was the most tragic act of all up. Even our children are dreaming it. mankind. I also feel angry… The Courier has been getting these letters and poems — in the mail, Some of it is heartrending when shoved under the door — written you realize it comes from a middle pieces of people trying to make sense school student who, instead of think- of Sept. 11 and the ensuing nightmare ing about plowshares, is being forced of white powdered anthrax and na- to focus on military strategy. Says Al tional terrorism alerts. Castillo, CJHS 8th grader: San Elizario poet Beatrice Cantu As more and more days have — no stranger to gritty, haunting passed, there is still no sign of Osama verse — expresses it this way: bin Ladin. My personal opinion is The hurts are unbearable, that the President is doing the right unbelievable thing to send troops to find bin Laden. Sept. 11, 2001! I think that to defeat this man, we When we all whine on the have to plan very carefully.