Fifth case of West Nile Virus confirmed in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas – A fifth case of the West Nile Virus was confirmed in El Paso by the Department of Public Health.

The El Paso man diagnosed is in his late 40’s and lives in West El Paso. Officials said he does have underlying meidcal conditions.

"It is not too late to start taking West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases seriously," said Lead Epidemiologist Fernando Gonzalez.

With recent rain in the Borderland, officials encourage residents to remener using the the 4 D’s:

• DEET – Use insect repellents when you go outdoors.
• DRESS – When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
• DUSK and DAWN – Although mosquitoes associated with Zika can be active throughout the day, residents should take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours (from dusk to dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
• DRAIN – Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around and outside your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths on a regular basis.

For more information on the programs and services provided by the Department of Public Health, call 2-1-1.

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El Paso firefighter gets probation in 2016 fatal beating

Do you know what to do if you see something bad happening? Here are some tips. Keri Hensley/USA TODAY NETWORK

Wochit

(Photo: Courtesy El Paso Police Department)

An El Paso firefighter involved in the beating of a man at a bar last year was sentenced to two years of probation.

Raul Ruiz Jr., who was 37 at the time of the incident, received a suspended one-year jail sentence and two years of probation July 20 in the 2016 death of 49-year-old Arturo Martinez, according to court documents. He also was fined $1,000.

Ruiz originally was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of criminal negligent homicide, but as part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault causing serious bodily injury, documents show.

He was scheduled to go on trial in August or September, according to court records.

The sentence was handed down by 409th District Court Judge Sam Medrano Jr.

Ruiz and Adrian Chavez were arrested Feb. 5, 2016, in connection with the beating.

El Paso Fire Department officials declined to immediately comment on Ruiz’s current employment status, citing employee confidentiality issues.

El Paso Police Department officials said at the time of his arrest that Ruiz was an El Paso firefighter assigned to Fire Station 18, 7901 San Jose Road, in the Lower Valley.

In February 2016, fire officials said that Ruiz had been with the department for 10 years and was working as a fire suppression technician.

Ruiz was off-duty at the time of the beating, police said.

Adrian Chavez (Photo: Courtesy El Paso Police Department)

Chavez, Ruiz and another unnamed man allegedly surrounded Martinez on Jan. 22, 2016, inside the El Patron Sports Bar, 5622 E. Paisano Drive, in Central El Paso, police said at the time of the arrests.

Court documents do not state the name of the third man involved in the incident.

According to a complaint affidavit, Ruiz grabbed Martinez “aggressively and pushed him violently.” Martinez then hit the backdoor of the bar, causing it to open, and he fell onto the pavement outside.

The fall caused Martinez to hit the back of his head on the pavement, the affidavit says. He then lost consciousness.

While Martinez was on the ground, Chavez allegedly got on top of him and “continued the assault," the affidavit states.

Martinez sustained life-threatening injuries in the attack and was taken to University Medical Center of El Paso in critical condition, officials said. He died six days later due to the injuries he sustained in the beating.

Chavez also was indicted by a grand jury on one count of criminal negligent homicide. His case is pending in district court. He is expected to go on trial in September.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinez31 on Twitter.

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Laughnans named Honorary Citizens for El Paso Days

Pauline (left) and Roger Laughnan are this year’s Honorary Citizens for El Paso Days. The Laughnans have lived all their lives in El Paso Township and have been heavily involved in the festivities for many years. Matthew Lambert / RiverTown Multimedia

Pauline and Roger Laughnan will represent El Paso as the designated honorary citizens for the 31st annual festival, set for Aug. 18-20.

Pauline grew up in the farmhouse in which she and Roger reside. Pauline said the farmhouse is over 100 years old and she only moved off the property for a few years until her parents retired.

Roger, a farmer, grew up a little outside of El Paso, but has always enjoyed the festivities and heavy involvement with the horseshoe teams.

In fact, Roger said horseshoe teams had floats in the parades and had a pretty big competition to see whose float was the best in the early days. Roger still plays on the West El Paso horseshoe team.

Pauline, who has worked in the Ellsworth Community School District for 29 years in food service and as a secretary, said she was "really surprised" when they were selected as the honorary citizens for El Paso Days.

"I don’t think I’ve done anything to be an honorary citizen and they said, ‘You’ve lived here all your life and you’ve farmed,’" Pauline said.

El Paso Days Committee President Merlin Blaisdell said it’s gotten harder to find people for the Honorary Citizen status for El Paso Days, but choosing Pauline and Roger just made sense. Blaisdell described the couple as a "big, big help" when it comes to the Millie Christopherson/Ivo Schlegl Memorial Breakfast.

In fact, Christopherson is Pauline’s mother, and Pauline said she always looks forward to the breakfast and volunteering.

The Laughnan family is large with four daughters and eight grandchildren they get to spoil. Their children are still close, with the furthest one living in Hudson.

The couple heads to Mexico in the winter time each year, but nothing beats trout fishing in the Rush River in their backyard. Pauline can be found tending her flower gardens during the summertime as well.

The couple says El Paso Days is a lot of fun, beginning on Aug. 15 with the annual golf tournament and going through Aug. 20. With so many things to do and see, Pauline and Roger say their favorite thing about El Paso Days has to be the parade.

"Their parades are always fun," Pauline said.

Roger said seeing the reactions of people who are not from the area during the parade is one of his favorite moments; it’s difficult for some people to fathom where they can even have a parade in El Paso.

"We’ve heard many, many, many that come to El Paso Days on Sunday, they cannot believe that many people show up for that parade. I said you’re going to be surprised," Roger said. "Then they come to the parade and they say, ‘Oh my god, I’ve never seen a parade like that before.’"

Aside from the parade, Roger will be throwing horseshoes, Pauline will be assisting at the breakfast, and they wouldn’t miss the horse pull and pulling up in their 1955 Chevy to the car show.

Watch for Pauline and Roger in the parade as well, taking part in the timeless classic that has shocked many for its size and quality for years.

Matthew Lambert

Matthew Lambert joined the Pierce County Herald and River Falls Journal in December 2016 covering government, school board, and writing features about the community. He is a graduate of Winona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.

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El Paso’s Khalid nominated for Best New Artist VMA

El Paso-native Khalid signed copies of his debut album, "American Teen," on Friday at Bassett Place. Thousands of fans packed the mall to get their CD copies signed.

Nominations for the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards were announced on Tuesday and among the nominees was El Paso’s own pop sensation Khalid.

The singer and Americas High graduate was among five nominees for Best New Artist, along with R&B singer SZA, rapper Young M.A., rapper Kodak Black, singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and Miley Cyrus’ kid sister, Noah Cyrus.

After nominations were announced, Khalid tweeted the following message to his fans and followers:

The MTV VMA show will air live on MTV on Aug. 27.

Dave Acosta may be reached at 546-6138; dacosta@elpasotimes.com; @Chuy_Vuitton on Twitter.

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‘American Animator’ exhibit features work of El Paso-born Don Bluth

Take a look inside the Plaza Theatre. The Plaza is home to many shows and the Plaza Classic Film Festival.

Sarah Ann Dueñas/El Paso Times

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For the seventh year in its 10-year existence, the Plaza Classic Film Festival has teamed with the El Paso Museum of Art to showcase the filmmaking industry and behind-the-scenes movie artifacts.

The Plaza Classic Film Festival, organized by the El Paso Community Foundation, will feature more than 90 movies, guest stars, a local filmmaker series and more, from Aug. 3-13 at the Plaza Theatre and other Downtown venues.

But, movie-lovers can already visit an exhibit featuring one of the film festival’s guests of honor, animator Don Bluth, a native El Pasoan.

More: Richard Dreyfuss joins Plaza Classic Film Festival lineup

The exhibit, "An American Animator, Don Bluth," will be on display through Sept. 7 in the Peter and Margaret DeWetter Gallery at the museum. The exhibit features more than 40 character concept sketches and drawings, animation cels, storyboards, backgrounds and publicity photographs which demonstrate Bluth’s animation style and the animation process.

“An American Animator: Don Bluth” is on display at the El Paso Museum of Art through Sept. 7. The exhibit of animations by the El Paso-born artist run in conjunction with the Plaza Classic Film Festival.

"There’s something interesting about his work as an independent filmmaker," said Patrick Cable, senior curator at the El Paso Museum of Art. "This exhibit focuses on the start of that (career). There’s a variety of work from throughout his career that are represented and help show the process of animation."

Bluth was born in El Paso in 1937. His interest in animation was sparked when he saw the 1944 reissue of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in an El Paso movie theater. His family moved to Payson, Utah, when he was 6 years old.

Bluth would go on to work on Disney animated features, including "Sleeping Beauty," before leaving the company in 1979 along with his partner, fellow animator Gary Goldman and several others, to found Don Bluth Productions. The company later became Sullivan Bluth Studios.

The company’s first feature-length movie was the 1982 hit, "The Secret of NIMH," a showcase of Bluth and Goldman’s classic hand-drawn style of animation.

"In 1979, when Disney was moving toward computer animation, Bluth appreciated that classic technique," Cable said. "He really became a leader in animation, He was a major artist at (Disney) studios and he made the choice, at a time of transition, to stick with (his style). He became an example of that classic style."

A pre-production drawing for the animated film “Thumbelina” by Don Bluth.

The exhibit features several of Bluth’s original drawings of "NIMH" characters, including Mrs. Frisbee. Several of the drawings include character notes on how to draw various body parts, as well as, notes on each character’s personality.

The collaboration between the Plaza Classic Film Festival and the El Paso Museum of Art enhances the movie-going experience, said Doug Pullen, the festival’s artistic director.

"It goes beyond just watching movies," Pullen said. "Each year, there’s something and build upon what’s in the main event."

Bluth and Goldman will be interviewed on stage at the Plaza Theatre before a screening of “The Secret of NIMH” at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 12. The duo also will be present for a question-and-answer session during the Plaza Classic Film Festival’s free Filmmaker’s Brunch at 11 a.m. Aug. 13 in the Foundation Room, 333 N. Oregon St.

A pre-production drawing for “All Dogs Go to Heaven” by Don Bluth.

In addition, six of Bluth and Goldman’s films will be screened at the museum during the film festival.

Cable said that the exhibit is a great way for festivalgoers to see how an animated film gets created, from start to finish.

"Whether you’re interested in classic print making or comic book art, or just someone who enjoys (hand-drawn art), people can enjoy the physicality of the process," Cable said. "I can see why an artist might like to keep that element of the classic hands-on style."

Dave Acosta may be reached at 546-6138; dacosta@elpasotimes.com; @Chuy_Vuitton on Twitter.

Make plans
What: "An American Animator, Don Bluth," featuring more than 40 character concept sketches and drawings, animation cels, storyboards and backgrounds by the El Paso native. Part of the 10th Annual Plaza Classic Film Festival.When: Regular museum hours through Sept. 7Where: Peter and Margaret DeWetter Gallery, El Paso Museum of Art, DowntownAdmission: Free
BLUTH & GOLDMAN

Schedule of movies by Bluth and Goldman that to be shown at the El Paso Museum of Art:

Aug. 5: "Rock-a-Doodle" (1991), 1 p.m.; "Thumbelina" (1984), 3 p.m.Aug. 6: "A Troll in Central Park" (1994), 2 p.m.Aug. 12: "The Pebble and the Penguin" (1995), 1 p.m.; "Anastasia" 1997, 3 p.m.Aug. 13: "Titan A.E." (2000), 2 p.m.

10th Annual Plaza Classic Film Festival

Where: Plaza Theatre and other nearby locations in Downtown El PasoTickets: Prices vary by showing; available at the Plaza Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com; $200 Festival Pass and $100 Film Club Pass available at plazaclassic.com/tickets

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Where To Go When You Get To El Paso

When you travel into El Paso, you might wonder what you will be able to do. You might be on vacation, doing a tour of Texas, and you have arrived at this South Texas city. It is situated on the Rio Grande River, close to the Franklin Mountains State Park. It is a beautiful place if you enjoy cactus, coyotes and warm dry weather. Here are some things you can do in the city if you would like to have a lot of fun in El Paso when you visit.

Take The Scenic Drive

One of the best things that you can do when you get to El Paso is get a feel for the area. You can see the mountain ranges in the background, the city itself, and you want to do this at night to see how beautiful it looks. Along the way, you could go to the Wyler Aerial Tramway which will take you to the top of a peak where you can see even better from this vantage point.

Museums You Can Visit

You can also visit museums such as the El Paso Holocaust Museum, the Museum of Archaeology, and the Museum of History. These are all open to the public, and you will get to know a little bit more about this city that is situated right on the border of Mexico, a place that many people enjoy visiting during the spring. If you do happen to go, try to avoid the summer months because of how incredibly hot it is. However, as long as you have a nice air-conditioned hotel room, you will certainly enjoy your stay. If you have kids, you can take them to the El Paso Zoo, or simply go for a nice drive to the Hueco Tanks State Historic Site.

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El Paso animal shelter full, issues ‘SOS’

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The El Paso animal shelter on Wednesday issued a call for help because it was filled to capacity with lost pets following the Fourth of July holiday.

The city Animal Services department made an "SOS," or "Support Our Shelter" in this case, with more than 500 animals housed at the facility.

"We are well over full," said Ramon Herrera, a city spokesman.

Animal Services urged residents to go to the shelter to find lost pets, adopt, foster or donate supplies, such as canned puppy or kitten food, dry dog or cat food, new towels or blankets.

The shelter is normally considered full with 450 animals, though the facility can find ways to house extra animals, Herrera said.

"It is very busy with people looking for lost pets," Herrera said. "It will get busier in the afternoon with a lot more people coming in to drop off pets that they found."

The day after July 4 is historically busy at the shelter as workers deal with calls about pets that ran away after being scared by fireworks, officials said

More: Animal Services prepares for pets lost over July 4 holiday

Herrera said the shelter is doing something it hasn’t done before—waving the $60 impoundment fee for dogs and cats and the daily handling fee of $18 until Sunday.

The waiver of fees is part of an effort to help residents reunite with their pets, Animal Services said in a news release.

Through the summer, pet adoption fees are reduced to $30 for dogs and $5 for cats.

Additional fees will be charged for microchips, rabies vaccines and licenses.

Typically, animals with a microchip or a collar are held at the shelter for five days before the adoption process is started, Herrera said. Animals without identification are held for three days.

The Animal Services Shelter is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and located at 5001 Fred Wilson Ave. across from Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

Information: 212-7297 (PAWS) or www.elpasotexas.gov/animal-services

Daniel Borunda may be reached at 546-6102; dborunda@elpasotimes.com; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.

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