Genesis Rubio is now an important part of the sports history at San Elizario High School The senior track and field athlete will be the first thrower in the school's history to compete at the UIL state track and field meet in Austin when she battles eight others in the discus event in Class 4A and Rubio and all of Class 4A compete on Thursday "It feels amazing to be in this position and to reach the goal of reaching state in my high school career," Rubio said "This season had some ups and downs and there were times I didn't throw well But I learned so much throughout those ups and downs and that motivated me to do well when it mattered at regionals." Rubio qualified for state at the Region 1-4A meet in Lubbock on April 18-19 The top qualifiers in each event earned a trip to state Her mark of 125-11 was more than two feet better than her previous best "I was really happy with my performance at regionals and I hope I can continue to build off of that performance," Rubio said Rubio has been on the track and field team for four years and her hard work and determination helped her achieve her spot at state according to coach Sergio Jasso and teammate Ajah Walker who has come a long way in her career here at San Elizario and proved that she can compete at a high level," Jasso said Added Walker: "It's no surprise Genesis qualified for state She has shown so much heart and determination and she deserves this opportunity." Rubio enters Thursday's competition with a good chance of winning a medal 1 with a 146-03 mark and Allison Rickman of Canton is seeded No "I will give my very best and to earn a medal would be an amazing end to my high school career," Rubio said "I get to represent my school and community and that means a lot to me My goal is to continue competing in college after I'm finished with high school." Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X by Isabella Dillman Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Over at Licon Dairy in San Elizario they are revolutionizing the way Asadero cheese is made Even repurposed a tortilla press to streamline their cheese-making process ARC El Paso went out to see step by step how they make the cheese the Dairy is more than 30 acres complete with a restaurant We met some of the animals they have on the premises Come explore the premises by clicking here. RECOMMENDED: Celebrate National Fitness Day with Live Active El Paso at Cleveland Square Park Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox and a vibrant artist colony await in this hidden gem on El Paso’s edge the one story adobe chapel was erected to replace the original chapel destroyed by a flood It is constructed in the traditional Spanish Mission style Whitewashed adobe walls whisper of a storied past in sleepy San Elizario an age-old town on El Paso’s outskirts where the city gives way to cotton fields this village stood at the vibrant crossroads of a busy thoroughfare for missionaries and militaries who spread Spanish culture from the heartland of Mexico to the American Southwest And maybe — it was the actual site of the first Thanksgiving San Elizario Presidio Chapel at 1556 San Elizario Road in San Elizario Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate arrived here in 1598 after trailblazing from Mexico City with 500 people and 7,000 head of livestock After running out of food and water while crossing the perilous Chihuahuan Desert humans and animals alike were on the verge of madness They finally reached salvation: the Rio Grande Oñate proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to celebrate their survival and shared a feast of fish and game with the local Manso tribe the day marked a momentous occasion — the start of Spanish influence in the Southwest After continuing his trek deep into New Mexico Oñate’s 1,600-mile route became a vital main corridor between New Spain’s capital of Mexico City and Santa Fe You can sense this profound history at the San Elizario Presidio Chapel whose curved belfry and white walls center the town with a tranquil presence Called “San Eli” by locals and fronted by a leafy plaza The church was not built as a mission but as a place of worship for the military fort (presidio) established by the Spanish in 1789 its current structure largely dates from 1882 Explore deeper into the past at Los Portales Casa Garcia a history museum housed in an 1850s residence with whitewashed adobe walls Numerous nearby buildings share similar architecture and date from the town’s heyday in the early 1800s Pick up a walking tour map for the San Elizario National Historic District which includes 18 sites like the Old Jail Museum — once broken into by Billy the Kid to free his incarcerated comrade much of San Elizario’s population drifted over to the new town and its railroad The gunslingers and soldiers who once passed through here may be gone but travelers and creative types have taken their place this tiny Texas town with an oversized history is still a cultural crossroads where the past and the present meet NM marks where many Navajo prisoners surrendered in 1863 symbolizing the weight cast upon their culture at this place of suffering the Navajo Treaty was signed here and prisoners walked home as free people of a sovereign Navajo Nation the Licon family has made delicious queso asadero a melty semisoft cheese akin to mozzarella Visit Licon Dairy to try round slices of asadero (which they call tortillas de leche) Cafe Arte Mi Admore offers artisan coffee and fresh pastries in the heart of the Historic District Head a couple of miles north to the town of Socorro to encounter an overflow of eateries selling barbacoa tacos and quesadillas dripping with gooey asadero cheese Sofia’s Restaurant and La Flauta Taqueria are two of the best — and be sure to stop by Three Missions Brewery for the churro-inspired Ysleta Stout Buddhist relics and statues sit out on a walkway in San Elizario Shop: Almost two dozen artists have studios in San Elizario and many more show their work in the art galleries and gift shops along Main Street Many are housed in historic adobe structures from the 1800s The museum-like Mi Casa is the gallery and studio of Gaspar Enriquez known for his photorealistic portraits of Chicano culture (his work is in the Smithsonian) Several resident artists work nearby at Placita Madrid where you can see Romy Hawkins’ intricate metal art Alberto Escamilla’s impressionist landscapes Color is also in full celebration at Otomi boutique; browse a brilliant collection of Mexican textiles to enliven your home and wardrobe Enjoy: San Elizario hosts the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” from May 3 to June 15 and you can expect insightful displays and interactive initiatives throughout the Historic District The city comes alive during special events like the First Friday Art Walk and the Mission Trail Art Market with live music and reenactments of Billy the Kid’s famous breakout (check Facebook for the schedule) You’ll also find free guided tours every fourth Sunday Shadow stripes at the Placita Madrid shopping center at 1445 Main Street in San Elizario Snooze: There are no hotels or short-term rentals in San Elizario but never fear — downtown El Paso is 20 miles away and home to several luxurious abodes Plaza Pioneer Park is an iconic landmark that oozes Old Hollywood glamour and has an excellent rooftop bar The Stanton House is also set in a renovated historic building and many of them overlook a moving light sculpture in a four-story light well you can sip your margarita under an original Tiffany stained-glass dome ceiling It’s just one of the stunning elements at this 1912 hotel which evokes the grandeur of a bygone era with crystal chandeliers sits in a field at San Elizario near El Paso How to Get There: Drive west from Fort Worth on Interstate 20 and past Abilene and Pecos for about 435 miles until Interstate 20 merges with Interstate 10 Continue on I-10 for another 137 miles until Exit 49 for Ranch Road 793 toward Fabens Exit and turn left on Fabens Road and drive for 2 miles then turn right onto Alameda Avenue/Main Street take a slight left onto Socorro Road and continue for 8.4 miles to reach San Elizario you’re looking at 584 miles and nine hours with no stops Don’t let your gas tank get too empty on those long and heads up: San Elizario is in Mountain time zone Shilo Urban is a freelance writer with an incurable case of wanderlust She loves writing about culture and lives for adventures in Fort Worth and far beyond Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A juvenile male is in custody in connection with the shooting of a U.S Marshal is in stable condition and receiving medical care RELATED:US Marshal shot during investigation in San Elizario; FBI and Texas Rangers on scene. The shooting occurred near Socorro Road and Brisa Del Valle Drive Wednesday afternoon the investigation scene cleared shortly after 1:00 a.m a resident of San Elizario for over 20 years described the scene as shocking when he returned home Wednesday afternoon to find law enforcement surrounding his home and neighborhood "I found out an officer had gotten shot on scene and it was a terrifying moment," Johnson said "I'm gonna guess around 30 to 50 Johnson recounted witnessing the arrest of the suspect They had the suspect here wrestling and fighting him because he was trying to leave And they took him down right here and I was standing right there," he said kept detectives and several law enforcement agencies at the scene for more than six hours leaving business owners and neighbors either stuck inside or unable to get home "We couldn't even come in here because this was considered a crime scene," Johnson said RECOMMENDED:Fire crews battle fire at old Fabens High School; 2-hour district delay law enforcement units were seen escorting an ambulance out of Del Sol Medical Center though it remains unclear if this was related to the shooting "Me and my son are praying for [the U.S We never want any officer to get hurt or injured in a job because they protect our communities and they do a lot for us," Johnson added Details surrounding what led to the shooting remain limited as the investigation continues Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily to your inbox AUSTIN — San Elizario discus thrower Genesis Rubio had some struggles staying in the discus ring on a humid day at the UIL Texas state meet, eventually finishing ninth in the Class 4A competition at Michael A forcing her to make a safe underhand toss in an event where all nine competitors with a legal mark advance to the finals That got her three more throws and she went 99-feet fouled her fifth and threw 97-4 on her final throw Monahans' Valerie Hunt won the 4A discus in 150-4 Rubio qualifed for state with a personal-best throw of 125-11 at regionals Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Despite the dust storm El Paso Electric (EPE) celebrated the expansion of its Texas Community Solar Program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its newly constructed 10-megawatt solar facility in San Elizario makes it possible for 5,000 customers to get affordable solar energy and helps reduce rates for all customers The new solar facility was built over unused farmland and is reportedly equipped with 18,930 solar panels designed to power homes and businesses EPE said it was built with the help of EDF Renewables KFOX14/CBS4 spoke with Jessica Christianson EPE's vice-president of business development who explained that with this expansion the utility company's solar program has tripled Christianson also said that this facility represents an $18 million investment into the community and referred to San Elizario as a great partner "Everything we do at El Paso Electric is a partnership with the community," Christianson said RECOMMENDED: El Paso City Council to receive update from El Paso Electric's proposed rate hike RECOMMENDED: El Paso Electric offers free tree trimming to prevent power outages in windstorms Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — One person is in custody after a law enforcement agent was shot Wednesday evening in San Elizario but according to Homeland Security Investigation Marshal was shot at the 1100 block of Soccoro Rd but The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force was involved FBI El Paso and the Texas Rangers responded to an officer-involved shooting involving the US Marshal's Office FBI El Paso is working jointly to investigate this as an assault on a federal officer and reported that one person is in custody No information on the officer's condition Video shared on social media shows the scene This is a developing story; check back for updates RECOMMENDED:2 teens arrested after alleged attempted robbery at West El Paso vape store United States Border Patrol agents assigned to the Clint patrol station were involved in a use of force incident near San Elizario Border Patrol agents were fired upon and returned fire The incident is being investigated by the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility and the Federal Bureau of Investigation RECOMMENDED: Abbott orders state police to help federal agents with immigration enforcement As El Paso County voters head to the polls on Saturday to decide on crucial school board and municipal government races live results will be tracked throughout the night The most significant race involves filling four seats on the El Paso Independent School District board of trustees voters will determine leadership for the San Elizario Independent School District with only 4,499 in-person votes and 1,146 mail-in ballots cast by the end of early voting Trouble viewing the results sheet? Click here. Results won't be available in Sunday's print edition but the latest developments will be posted online Stay tuned for real-time updates starting at 7 p.m bringing you the most current election results and insights Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — As the world's largest fast-food chain you might think that McDonald's has nowhere left to debut one city in El Paso County finally welcomed its very first Golden Arches opened the doors of its first San Elizario location at 13295 Socorro Rd complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and family fun "We've had such a great turnout," said franchisee Richard Castro and it's just a great reaction by the community of San Elizario." Castro said he believes that by bringing McDonald's to San Elizario move in and begin growing the city's economy McDonald's alone will be hiring more than 100 locals for the new restaurant and the community has just accepted us with open arms," said Castro RECOMMENDED:Barbie Truck Dreamhouse Tour rolls into El Paso July 20 with exclusive goods RECOMMENDED:The Roulettes set to rock McKelligon Canyon for Cool Canyon Nights on Thursday Voters across El Paso County will head to the polls to weigh in on several school board and municipal government races Most crucial to El Paso voters in the Saturday election is the race to fill four seats on the El Paso Independent School District board of trustees Voters will also decide who will serve on the boards for the San Elizario Independent School District the Socorro Independent School District and El Paso Community College The local school board elections come as the state prepares to launch a private school voucher program putting public school leadership on its heels as it prepares for an expected drop in funding The town of Anthony will be electing a mayor while other municipal races will unfold in Horizon City and San Elizario The village of Vinton will vote on a proposition to reduce its property tax rate only 4,499 in-person votes had been cast by the more than 319,000 eligible voters Only 1,146 mail-in ballots had been received bringing the early voting turnout to just under 1.8% When do polls open?Polls will be open from 7 a.m at nearly 80 voting sites across the county A full list of Election Day voting centers can be found on the El Paso County Elections Department website The election is open to all registered voters who reside within each entity appearing on the ballot only residents who live within EPISD boundaries are eligible to vote in the EPISD elections or Horizon City are eligible to vote in those municipal races More: El Paso Teachers Association endorses EPISD candidates, accuses rival of pro-voucher bias Following is a breakdown of the races that will appear on Saturday's ballot: Haciendas Del Norte Water Improvement District Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com Texas (CBS4/KFOX14) — The San Elizario Independent School District started its second year on a 4-day school week on Tuesday CBS4 Mornings Anchor Fidel Moreno-Meza sat down with the district superintendent to talk about what the district learned during its reduced week When the district administrators first began working on the plan their main goal was to hire and retain teachers Meza-Chavez said initially some parents and staff had worries over the new schedule "They have appointments on Monday or go out on a vacation RECOMMENDED:El Paso Electric installs 312,000 smart meters to enhance regional grid reliability "It gives me time to take them to the doctor so they don't miss that day I usually try to schedule their times on Monday," said another parent the kids get one more day off so they get to rest so they can be with energy for the next school day," said another SEISD parent For those parents who may need the extra help Data provided by the district shows a decline in absences from both teachers and students; student attendance rose by 1.4% Meza-Chavez says the district also saw some unintended positives of the reduced week just in fuel—it's not a big deal for some districts that are larger than us but it's a big deal when it's a small district we were able to save $33,967," added Meza-Chavez the district was able to save over $100,000 in salaries and over $100,000 in utilities; in total The Mondays students and staff have off have been labeled as 'Mindful Eagle Mondays.' as well as taking care of your needs on Mondays so that we can come back and be the best for students," said Meza-Chavez I'm 16 years old and I can work on a Monday.'" SEISD did have to make some changes to the school day in order to meet TEA standards; students now start a bit earlier and end a bit later the district is also facing a budget deficit of $2.6 million Some of the deficit comes due to unfunded state mandates imposed on districts across the state staff at SEISD will see a 2% raise for the 2024-2025 school year Meza-Chavez says the district is working to assess the needs of the district in order to best address the budget for future years Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application in San Elizario to Francisco and Petra Almanzar and unwavering dedication to her family and community She devoted 15 years as a Special Education Teacher Aide at San Elizario ISD where her patience and encouragement touched the lives of countless students inspiring them to reach their full potential generous spirit that touched everyone she met She brought joy and laughter wherever she went and made everyone feel special and loved She will be deeply missed but forever remembered Ruben "Shooter" Reyes; her children and Jaxon Ruben Reyes; and her great-grandson She is also survived by her siblings: Isabela Ramos Ida’s legacy will live in the hearts of those who loved her Gathering of Remembrance will be from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a Rosary at 6:00 PM Graveside Service will follow at 10:30 AM at Mount Carmel Cemetery we will carry your love and wisdom with us always Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The San Elizario community gathered to celebrate their state-champion Eagles boys soccer team with a special ring ceremony The event took place during halftime of the boy's basketball game against Andress The Eagles secured their fourth title in program history by defeating the previously undefeated Boerne team with a score of 1-0 in the championship game The four titles have come over a span of just nine years RECOMMENDED: Sun Bowl Invitational returns with NCAA teams: UTEP, Akron, Jackson State, and Yale Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Deputy constables arrested a man from San Elizario who was wanted on a felony kidnapping warrant issued by the Los Angeles Police Department Officials arrested 24-year-old Miguel Angel Salas on Saturday around 9:45 a.m Salas was arrested when deputy constables observed a black Jeep speeding in the 12300 block of Glorietta in San Elizario A warrants check revealed that Salas was wanted for felony kidnapping by the Los Angeles Police Department The warrant was verified by Los Angeles authorities Salas was taken before an El Paso County Jail magistrate and subsequently booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility He is being held on a $1 million bond for the Los Angeles Police Department's felony kidnapping warrant RECOMMENDED:Arrest reports reveal dramatic rescue of kidnapped victim held underground in Fabens TX (KFOX14/CBS4) — The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded to an ATV rollover accident where a 35-year-old man was hospitalized with serious injuries late Saturday night in San Elizario The intersection was going to be closed off for three hours according to the release "The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public of the importance of safe driving practices especially when operating off-road vehicles such as ATVs," said the Sheriff's Office The Sheriff's Office also said it is generally illegal to operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on public roads in Texas RECOMMENDED:One person severely injured in a mobile home fire in south central El Paso RECOMMENDED:Las Cruces teen arrested for human smuggling after chase ends in crash Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily to your inbox A U.S. Marshals Service deputy was wounded in a shooting when a fugitive opened fire on members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force trying to apprehend him in San Elizario The deputy was hospitalized in stable condition and a man was arrested in connection with the shooting in the 11900 block of Socorro Road near Glorieta Road Marshals and the FBI in El Paso said Thursday Gun violence: 'You shot me.' El Paso teen accused of murder in rumble at Northeast apartments The shooting occurred during a fugitive arrest operation by the U.S which includes state and local law enforcement officers Crime: El Paso teens arrested on aggravated assault charge in failed smoke shop robbery attempt Details on how the shooting occurred were not immediately available as a joint investigation by the FBI and the Texas Rangers continued Thursday The Texas Rangers are involved because the task force includes state and local law enforcement officers The identity of the man arrested accused in the shooting and why he was initially wanted were not immediately available He could potentially face federal charges of assault on a federal officer Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X Texas (KVIA) -- A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection says that on Monday Border Patrol agents working at the Clint Border Patrol Station were involved in a "use of force incident" south of San Elizario Officials say that "agents came under fire and responded in self defense." Mexican Military personnel also responded to the incident which happened 7.5 miles east of the Ysleta Port of Entry at 10:04 PM January 27 Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility are still looking into the incident Officials say they will release more information as it becomes available KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KVIA-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information El Paso County constables arrested a San Elizario man wanted on a felony kidnapping warrant in California during a traffic stop Deputy constables pulled over Miguel Angel Salas after seeing him driving at a high rate of speed in a black Jeep about 9:45 a.m. in the 12300 block of Glorietta Road in San Elizario El Paso County Constable's Office Precinct 6 officials said The constables conducted a warrant check and discovered Salas was wanted for felony kidnapping by the Los Angeles Police Department The Los Angeles Police Department verified Salas was wanted on the warrant Salas was arrested in connection with the warrant He was booked into the El Paso County Jail on a $1 million bond More: New details emerge in El Paso kidnapping case: Wife drugged, husband held for ransom Jail records show Salas remains jailed in El Paso as of Monday It is unknown when Salas will be extradited to California No attorney for Salas is listed in court records No details were released on the felony kidnapping case against Salas in California Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT 7 in San Elizario after being accused of kidnapping two people El Paso County Sheriff's Office officials said Deputies were dispatched to a San Elizario convenience store where a woman claimed her brother had been abducted at gunpoint sheriff's deputies learned of the residence where the kidnap victim was taken and located him and other individuals The Major Crimes Unit of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and discovered an additional victim. were arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated kidnapping More: Arizona man accused of beating, dragging pup across concrete, in El Paso, hurting its eye Wind gusts of 30+ mph along with afternoon and evening blowing dust, could reduce visibility. Weather Maps RadarSan Elizario ISD Project Vida partner up to help students be 'positive agents of change'by Drew Pittock Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Students in the San Elizario School District are getting a significant funding boost that will increase resources aimed at anti-bullying sexual health and emotionally holistic education San Elizario ISD is launching FutureGen in partnership with community advocacy group thanks to a $1.9 million grant the organization won in 2023 The initiative will foster "evidence-based" programs at San Elizario's middle and high schools which Project Vida said will give students the tools and resources needed to be "positive agents of change" in the community through comprehensive health education and supportive school environments "Our FutureGen initiative is focused on empowering families by equipping children and youth-serving professionals with the tools and resources they need to be positive agents of change in their own lives and in the community,” said Carmen Zuniga we’re supporting local school districts in improving health education connecting young people with essential services and Project Vida Health Center is crucial in reversing negative trends and ensuring that our youth have the foundation they need to grow So instead of pretending like the behavior doesn't exist or ignoring it FutureGen will encourage teens to "pause" and carefully consider the choices they are making RECOMMENDED:City council approves health center in Lower Valley focused on AIDS, STD prevention "We want to make sure that those young people that are considering [being sexually active] take a pause and reflect how initiating that risky behavior might deviate them from really taking on the journey of being in higher education," said Zuniga "All we're trying to do is provide medically accurate information so that they can make better choices for their future." Project Vida will also launch its Campus Care program at San Elizario ISD bolstering accessibility to virtual primary care and mental health services The primary care services will be offered in the nurse's office beginning this fall and the mental health services should launch in spring 2025 “San Elizario ISD is profoundly grateful for our partnership with Project Vida,” said Jeannie Meza-Chavez “Through the innovative FuturGen and Campus Care initiatives we are witnessing a powerful shift that will positively impact the lives of our parents we are building a brighter future for all.” Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Sheriff deputies arrested 40-year-old San Elizario resident Richard Ayala and charged him with Burglary of Habitation Sheriff's Office officials tell ABC-7 that Ayala broke into an apartment on the 12100 block of Socorro Road armed with a knife Officials say Ayala started breaking items inside of the apartment 2024 and officials announced the arrest and released the mugshot on December 10 Deputies booked Ayala into the El Paso Downtown Jail where he still remains under a $155,000 bond A 35-year-old man was seriously injured in an all-terrain vehicle rollover crash late Saturday night on a street in San Elizario at the intersection of Los Tules Drive and Hartley Avenue sheriff's officials said in a news statement was transported to a hospital with serious injuries Further details regarding the crash were not immediately available Traffic deaths: El Paso man, 84, dies month after scooter hit by car on Joe Battle in far East Side The crash is the second serious ATV accident in less than a week in El Paso County died following an ATV rollover in the Red Sands desert The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to drive safely and that ATVs are generally illegal to ride on public roads in Texas Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A pedestrian crash was reported Tuesday morning near San Elizario at the intersection of Las Pompas and Zacatal in the county The victim was taken to Del Sol Medical Center The area remains closed until the investigation is complete celebrated its 28th Annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony on Saturday San Elizario's main square houses the Eduardo Pedregon Veterans Museum, which was named after Cpl. Eduardo Pedregon a Korean War soldier who was declared missing in action in 1950 Pedregon was finally brought home to his final resting place a co-chair of the parade who was a Vietnam War draftee said about 300 spectators came out in support of the parade and five veterans were especially recognized this year The five veterans were part of the parade and honored at a ceremony after the parade The parade is organized by the San Elizario Veterans Committee under the umbrella of the San Elizario Geneaology and Historical Society it has grown from a few participants and cars to more than 80 participants including high school ROTC groups San Elizario has a big history of military involvement all the way from War World I and II to the present A lot of veterans have come out of San Elizario though we probably only have one or two that are from World War II (left) Many were killed in action in World War I and II and Korea "We still have some from Korea and we have a lot from the Vietnam era and a few from the younger wars Desert Storm and Desert Shield and Iraqi Freedom," he added The five veterans honored are: Alredo Flores The veterans were honored by different city and state governmental agencies as well as the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society at Hondo Pass Drive entry of the Texas Army National Guard Motor pool then left on Stahala Drive to Diana Drive and right to the Old Glory Memorial by El Paso Texas Flags Across America Parking for private cars is at the El Paso Community College Transmountain campus A great place to view the parade is Todd Ware Park on Stahala Drive and Sue Young Park on Diana Drive More: Chihuahua Charlie’s, Buffalo Wild Wings GO set to open soon near UTEP, West El Paso María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on Instagram The community of San Elizario is getting ready to welcome its first golden arches McDonald's will hold its ribbon cutting at 10 a.m The opening will include a chance to win prizes and appearances by Grimace The new restaurant will be located at 13295 Socorro Road president of the Cultural Heritage Society at the Camino Real de Tierra Adrento based in San Elizario said the opening of the franchise is a historic event it is outside of the Historic District and that is positive Thank you to (owner) Richard Castro for identifying the need," he said Here are some trending questions about the popular McDonald's franchise McDonald's started a $5 value meal in late June to help lure customers who have cut back due to general food inflation and dwindling savings The $5 meal is for a limited time and includes a McDouble cheeseburgeror a McChicken sandwich four-piece chicken nuggets and small soft drink “We heard our fans loud and clear — they’re looking for even more great value from us, and this summer that’s exactly what they’ll get,” said Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, in a CNN.com story McDonald's unveiled the new Kit Kat Banana Split McFlurry on Wednesday The treat retails for $3.79 and has 540 calories The new McFlurry has blended vanilla soft serve with real banana bits The newest McFlurry creation comes months after McDonald's unveiled the Grandma McFlurry butterscotch-flavored crumbles and vanilla reduced-fat ice cream McDonald's has brought back the Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder with Cheese This sandwich features a quarter-pound beef patty with BLT sauce tomato and two slices of American cheese in sesame seed buns The Smoky quarter pounder first appeared on the McDonald's menu in 2022 and has been a fan favorite According to a USAToday story More: Enjoy free birthday treats from Nothing Bundt Cakes, Chick-fil-A and more @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on TikTok What an addition Malachi Jones has been for Austin High School boys basketball Jones came up at critical moments Tuesday night scoring a game-high 16 points in a 38-34 win at home against San Elizario the 6-foot-3 forward lived in South Korea but moved to El Paso in May when his father they play the game at a fast pace and that helped grow as a player," Jones said We have a good team here at Austin and I believe we can have a really good season I feel like I've adjusted well to being in the program and what's expected." Jones scored four of those 16 points during a critical late sequence With the Panthers holding onto a small four-point lead Jones made back-to-back layups to give Austin a 37-29 lead and some breathing room to close the game "Malachi has given us great effort all season and he was efficient for us in this game," Austin coach Rickl Sapien said "He worked hard to make the varsity team." Added guard Anakin Torres: "Malachi has really come a long way and he's an important part of our team We have a strong team and we'll continue to get better." all-around team and we've still got areas we need to work on But this was a hard earned win against a tough San Elizario team that will help us moving forward," said Sapien who guided the Panthers to a bidistrict playoff win two years ago Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X Live Weather Cameras Weather MapsEl Paso Electric unveils $18 million solar facility in San Elizario despite dust stormby David Ibave Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Portions of Socorro Rd in Far East El Paso will face nightly closures for roughly two weeks as El Paso Electric finishes a project in the area and Brisa Del Valle Drive as it wraps up a year-long reliability improvement project Closures and traffic detours will be overseen by local law enforcement RECOMMENDED:ETA introduces expanded transit options for El Paso County and surrounding areas Ysleta High School's Azaiah Thompson showed why he's one of El Paso's best basketball players The senior guard scored 10 straight points in the final four minutes of the game Friday night to help lift the visiting Indians past San Elizario to remain undefeated in District 2-4A with a 7-0 record Thompson's 10 points helped give the Indians a 43-36 lead and all of them proved big as the Eagles rallied and nearly won the game Sergio Hinojos' shot at the final buzzer missed to secure the win for Ysleta Thompson finished with a game-high 25 points and he stepped up when we needed a lift," Ysleta coach Dallas Puente said This district is tough and we knew that moving from Class 5A to Class 4A and playing in this district Our players are working hard every day to get better Donovan Martinez added 12 points for the Indians San Elizario lost its second close game to Ysleta in the district "We have come together and improved our communication Dalia Santiesteban led the way with 10 points Jazlyn Hernandez scored nine points and Iris Ortega added six points but I'm proud of our effort," San Elizario coach Josefina Contreras said Jazlyn has been great for us and taken on a leadership role." More: HS Scores El Paso high school sports scoreboard for Jan. 28-Feb. 1 Texas (KVIA) - Constables with Precinct 6 arrested a man wanted on a felony kidnapping warrant out of Los Angeles The deputy constables say Miguel Angel Salas was seen speeding at the 12300 block of Glorietta in San Elizario Saturday about 9:45 a.m Deputies stopped Salas and conducted a warrant check as part of the traffic stop which showed he was wanted by the Los Angeles Police Department He was arrested and presented to the El Paso County Jail Magistrate and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility Live Weather Cameras Weather MapsKhalid hands out hundreds of holiday gifts to San Elizario studentsby David Ibave Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso native and pop star Khalid handed out hundreds of holiday gifts to pre-K students Wednesday morning in San Elizario along with The Great Khalid Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of El Paso Loya primary school to give Christmas-wrapped presents to 200 San Elizario pre-k students The giveaway started with words from Linda Wolfe the executive director of The Great Khalid Foundation and mother of the pop star before blue curtains parted revealing Khalid who looked happy to see the excited kiddos and told them Wolfe and Khalid then started singing "Feliz Navidad" as the little ones lined up to receive a wrapped holiday gift RECOMMENDED: El Paso honors 15-year-old Kenneth Hoban for historic soccer signing Wolfe said the initiative-- which has become an annual tradition and started even before The Great Khalid Foundation was created-- is one of the ways the singer gives back to the El Paso community Wolfe added that this is the seventh year they've done it and plan to continue doing it for the foreseeable future "We are thrilled to continue our gift-giving tradition this Christmas," said Wolfe "It brings us great joy to give the students of Lorenzo G Loya Primary School a gift this holiday season It's our way of showing appreciation and love for the El Paso community." Organizers said many children who got gifts on Wednesday were Boys & Girls Club family members but they can also be a tough time," said Anthony Tomasheski CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso who partnered with Khalid's foundation to bring gifts to this school specifically "We know sometimes for families and individuals in our community And we want to make sure that every child has a gift at Christmas and every child has a smile." The superintendent of the San Elizario Independent School District Dr Jeanie Meza-Chavez was present during the gift giveaway "They're going to make a lot of our children very happy today and the adults are going to be super excited too," said Meza-Chavez Loya Primary School is located at 13705 Socorro Rd Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox. Weather Maps RadarTexas Rep Tony Gonzales discusses border security in San Elizarioby Staff Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales visited San Elizario Thursday to discuss border security efforts with Borderland law enforcement officers The Republican lawmaker represents parts of East El Paso County Gonzales blamed President Joe Biden's administration for encouraging illegal immigration and failing to stem the tide of people entering the country the number of illegal border crossings has dropped significantly since President Biden enacted new restrictions on asylum claims back in June according to numbers from the Department of Homeland Security Biden is on track to deport more people than Trump did while in office Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported 935,000 migrants under Trump's watch The same department deported 340,000 under Biden RELATED:Biden on track to exceed Trump, Obama in deportations in first term, data shows Gonzales predicted that illegal immigration will worsen as the November election approaches "Some people are worried that if President Trump gets in everything's going to get shut down," said Gonzales "So guess what's going to happen They're going to flood the system before that takes place." Gonzales narrowly won a Republican primary runoff against a more conservative candidate he will face off against Democratic challenger Santos Limon in the November general election RECOMMENDED:Connect to Congress: Tony Gonzales pushes for new VA hospital in El Paso to aid veterans Texas [KFOX14] — A state-run program is giving teachers the opportunity to earn a six-figure salary The program is called the Teacher Incentive Allotment and was passed in 2019 as part of House Bill 3 Across the Borderland there are a total of eight districts participating in the program according to the Texas Education Agency One of the participating school districts is San Elizario ISD Jeannie Meza-Chavez said the district began their application process in July of 2020 “It helps small districts like San Elizario to be able to incentivize our teachers for improving academic growth.” Meza-Chavez explained the program works by school districts applying and setting up a criteria on what teachers need to show in the classroom before they can be designated and rewarded by the Texas Education Agency “In our district we have chosen for it to be through the appraisal system through the classroom observations and then we have to show growth when TEA calculates how our teachers receive it did our students experience student growth and does it calibrate with the individual teachers appraisal,” Meza-Chavez said six teachers were designated and awarded different amounts totaling close to $30,000 which they will receive over the next five years “We’re hoping that our teachers see this as you know what what can I do to make our students grow and make themselves better professionals,” Meza-Chavez said The school districts participating in the Teacher Incentive Allotment include: RECOMMENDED:Socorro ISD to kick off its free summer meal program June 3 Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox Editor's Note: The El Paso Times continues its high school football countdown with No for the Eagles and the first game is Friday Outlook for Eagles 2024 season The Eagles look to improve this year in what is a big nine-team district San Elizario returns 13 starters for coach Robert Herrera San Elizario will need to find more consistency on offense and will need to stay healthy if it wants to contend for one of the four Texas high school football playoff berths More: Where do El Paso teams rank Where do El Paso's 31 high school football teams rank in the 2024-25 season? A look back at 2023 for Eagles footballThe Eagles defeated Irvin and Tornillo last season and were competitive in losses to Fabens and Cathedral San Elizario will be led by linebacker Martin Juarez defensive lineman Jesus Garcia and linebacker Zamar Vargas Vargas is a talented running back and will pave the way after rushing for 1,204 yards last season Big things are also expected from running back Jared Montes and quarterback Andrew Cedillo Junior Garcia and Jose Escarcega could also make an impact at the skill positions More: Anthony has high hopes in 2024 No. 31 Anthony High School seeks to maintain improvement in Class 3A for 2024 season "Our kids have made tremendous progress since the end of last season," Herrera said Zamar (Vargas) had a big season last season for us and he will be a major leader for us this season." "Our district will be interesting this season," Vargas said "We continue some rivalries and have some new teams to play We feel we will be improved and we'll compete at a high level." More: Del Valle RB commits to Utah Del Valle football player Manny Fuller verbally commits to University of Utah TX (KVIA) -- San Elizario Independent School District is buzzing with excitement as students return to the classroom today students and teachers are eager to start the new academic year with fresh energy and enthusiasm Jeannie Meza-Chavez is ready to welcome the students for the new school year Tune into Good Morning El Paso for live coverage of the first day of school preparations Meza-Chavez and a look inside all the new initiatives https://licondairy.com/ San Elizario – Many Texans think of El Paso as a city in the middle of the dessert with a mountain smack dab in the middle of it But if you venture toward the border and head Southeast of town you’ll find a few farms and ranches making use of every drop of the Rio Grande that they can which has been sitting in San Elizario since the 60’s Angel Licon and his family are continuing a tradition that started with his grandmother making asadero cheese on the stove back in the 50’s and they planted a lot of alfalfa,” said Licon “The farming was a lot more than what you see now.” easy-melting cheese that originated in Mexico “A Mexican string cheese similar to mozzarella is the best that we can kind of explain to customers of what it is the texture is a lot different than other cheese,” said Licon “It’s not as strong and bitter as cheddar cheese and other cheese It’s only a few hours from El Paso in Mexico so it’s really known for the asadero got the cheese wheels turning by starting the Licon Dairy “We’d like to say it’s a taste of history because we’ve been here for so long,” said Licon Just enough milk to produce enough to make enough cheese just to sell within that day purchasing a little bit more of the cattle to where at the end he was milking about 125 here in San Elizario.” the cows are gone and in their place is a petting zoo that’s very popular with El Pasoans But the cheese making is still their bread and butter “Every day they got to pasteurize all the milk because it’s all raw milk,” said Licon we’re processing anywhere from 400 to 500 pounds of cheese daily.” the Licon family is led by Angel’s father Gene They both fondly reminisce about their time working with Eugene Sr. and so does another employee named Hector who’s practically part of the family “Not many people that are going to work like him and he doesn’t miss a day It’s very rare that he calls in,” said Licon “My grandfather would help him out and he would actually live on the property He had his own little space that he used to stay at and he’s been able now to put his kids through college and they’re all successful They all have their own businesses and their own jobs But it was good to see him actually survive through here and prosper on his own My grandfather made sure that he tried helping everybody that was supporting him.” The cheese making process goes quickly once it’s all cooked down as the next step is dividing the cheese into even portions “They got to make sure that each ball comes to about one ounce,” said Licon So it’s 10 to 12 ounces roughly is what we’re trying to get at each package.” Licon Dairy’s cheese is mostly sold in slices but there actually isn’t any slicing involved in their process they use a machine that was built for pressing tortillas “A lot of the time they look in and they think we’re making corn tortillas,” said Licon “And that’s what initially this machine was made for We converted it to try and make the asadero.” The Licon’s have been making cheese for a long while and today they have the process down to a science “We’ve kept the same recipe for 75 years and we find out that it’s probably the best way to keep it simple and that’s how we’re able to have our doors open,” said Licon “They’re making 500 packages and there’s 10 slices in each one but continuing the tradition that’s been a part of their family for so long is what keeps the Licon’s coming back every day it’s just exciting to see that the legacy is continuing through generations,” said Licon “Even though it’s a lot of work and it changes through each generation but we’re trying to each instill our mark on the business as the generations pass.”