El Paso students host concert and supply drive to benefit Houston and Mexico

EL PASO, T.X. – El Paso students hosted a supply drive downtown Sunday to benefit Houston and Mexico, inviting the local community to donate items for those in need.

The event, called "El Paso Together for Houston" started at 6 p.m. in San Jacinto Plaza and ended at 11 p.m.

UTEP student Maria Fuentes had the original idea for the supply drive after watching the devastation from the Houston floods on television.

"It doesn’t matter where you’re from," Fuentes said. "The thing is to get together as humanity and help each other."

Fuentes said she originally planned the event provide assistance to victims of the Houston flooding, but after Mexico’s devastating earthquake, the group decided to gather items to send south as well.

"People from around the world are able to get together and bring help toward those in need," Fuentes said.

The student governments at El Paso Community College and UTEP joined UTEP students for public health as well as local high school students.

"We never know when disaster’s going to happen here in El Paso," said Abner Moreno, a UTEP student who lived in Houston over the summer.

Moreno said he was able to evacuate before witnessing the deadly flooding.

"(We need to) extend our hand to other communities are suffering right now," Moreno said.

Several local bands played, including FrenZi, San Ligre, Condor, Say Verse and Speak no Evil.

The groups gathered for water bottles, toiletries, baby food, pillows, blankets, first aid supplies and pet food.

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Pablo Francisco headlines Comic Strip in El Paso this weekend

"Here We Go Again."

But fans of longtime comedian Pablo Francisco won’t be complaining when the funnyman returns to the El Paso Comic Strip Comedy Club Thursday through Saturday.

The show features new material Francisco has been working on ahead of a new one-hour special, to be titled, "Here We Go Again."

Francisco became known for his off-the-wall characters and impersonations on his two one-hour Comedy Central specials, "They Put It Out There" and "Ouch!" — as well as his stint on Fox’s sketch-comedy show "Mad TV." Later this year, Francisco will be featured on the new MTV show, "Acting Out."

Francisco took a brief break from standup, but returned to the stage, and El Paso, in 2016.

"I missed (performing)," Francisco said during an interview ahead of his show at the Comic Strip last year. "YouTube and the Internet have been so good to me, but I decided to go out there and try some new stuff. I always miss it. I just like to jump up there and have fun with it."

Ahead of his return performances this week, Francisco shared his Top 5 reasons for returning to perform in the Sun City with the El Paso Times entertainment blog, The Beat:

The women

Francisco: There’s a lot of hot Mexican women. Lord knows that’s a good thing.

Home improvement

Francisco: Since I am Latino and white mixed up in one, I can hang out at Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Sentiment

Francisco: I love the fact that the Comic Strip was my very first out-of-town comedy club that I performed at when I got started.

Culture

Francisco: TEXAS and MEXICANS IS A GOOD MIX.

Late-night eats

Francisco: When I am partying, only in El Paso, Taco Cabana is open late to help me prepare for my hangover.

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

Make plans

Who: Standup comedian and actor Pablo Francisco

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: El Paso Comic Strip Comedy Club, 1201 Airway Blvd.

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Cabela’s set to open in new $100 million West El Paso center

Cabela’s, an outdoor sporting goods chain known for its mammoth, tourist-destination stores, plans to open a smaller-format store Sept. 14 in West Towne Marketplace in West El Paso.

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The Cabela’s outdoor sporting goods chain plans to open its first El Paso store this month — the first retailer to open in the $100 million West Towne Marketplace in West El Paso.

Cabela’s was known most for its mammoth, tourist-destination stores. But the 50,000-square-foot El Paso outlet is one of its smaller-format stores, which is now the chain’s focus.

The store in West Towne, located at Interstate 10 and Paseo del Norte (Artcraft Road), is set to open Sept. 14. Some sneak preview events will be held for special guests and the news media several days before the public opening.

The store features an archery range, gun hub kiosk and several mounted animal trophies. It employs about 125 people.

The store will open just as Cabela’s is being acquired by Bass Pro Shops, another outdoor sporting goods chain also operating large, destination-type stores. The $5 billion deal is expected to be completed this month.

The PetSmart and T.J.Maxx/HomeGoods stores are set to open in late September and early October in the new West Towne Marketplace in West El Paso.

Cabela’s will be the first of a string of stores and restaurants to open from mid-September through the middle of next year in West Towne, said Adam Frank, president of River Oaks Properties, which developed the 500,000-square-foot shopping center.

River Oaks is a large El Paso shopping center development company owned by Gerald Rubin, founder of Helen of Troy, the El Paso consumers products company he left in 2014. He’s River Oaks’ chief executive officer.

PetSmart is scheduled to open in late September, followed by the T.J.Maxx/HomeGoods store in early October, Frank said. The name signs on those stores are already in place in one row of buildings above Cabela’s.

The 500,000-square-foot West Towne Marketplace is located at Interstate 10 and Paseo del Norte (Artcraft Road) in West El Paso.

Cabela’s is one of three large anchors in West Towne. The others are a Walmart Supercenter, which is to be under construction soon and is expected to open by the middle of next year, and a movie theater, which likely won’t open until 2019, Frank said. River Oaks has not yet announced which company will locate a movie theater on an empty lot next to Cabela’s.

Other announced tenants: Ross Dress for Less, Rack Room Shoes, Tuesday Morning; Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Boss Tenders, Dogs & Custard, Pieology Pizzeria, and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt.

More information: ropelpaso.com/new-projects

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter.

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Visit the Most Interesting Places in El Paso

El Paso is a city that offers many interesting things to see and do. If you are considering taking a trip within the United States, this is one city that you should put on your must-see list. El Paso is situated in west Texas right along the Rio Grande and sits along the Mexican border and the city of Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua.

It is surrounded Franklin Mountains State Park which is home to beautiful desert cacti and wildlife like eagles and coyotes. The area is unique in that it is where the desert meets the mountains. The tramway at the state park offers incredible views of the city and of nearby Mexico. There are many beautiful flowers and plants to see when enjoying the Franklin Mountains State Park as well.

The US Border Patrol was established here and it is worth taking a visit to the National Border Patrol Museum to see and learn more about its history from 1924 up until today. The city of El Paso has other interesting historical tidbits. It is allegedly the place where the Margarita drink was invented. The tequila based drink was first mixed at Tommy’s Place Bar in 1945.

In 1930, Conrad Hilton opened his first high rise hotel. The building is still a landmark of the city and is now home to the Plaza Hotel. The International Hotel was visited by such notable individuals as Elvis Presley and Steve McQueen. Today, it is a Doubletree Hotel.

More history can be taken in along El Paso Street, the city’s first and oldest. Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid and President Taft all strolled along this street.

Plan a visit to El Paso, Texas. There is something for everyone to see and do, and the location is perfect for a quick domestic getaway.

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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

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(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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