This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
San Elizario Gets First McDonald’s Restaurant
The Lower Valley town of San Elizario opened its first-ever McDonald’s restaurant Wednesday, July 17.
Newly elected San Elizario Mayor Miguel Chacon, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and County Commissioner Iliana Holguin joined McDonald’s franchisee Richard Castro in grand opening ceremonies for the restaurant at 13295 Socorro Road.
“This will make a great, big impact. And this is just the beginning. When a McDonald’s is in town, bigger companies come,” Chacon said.
The McDonald’s in San Elizario, population 10,000, is Castro’s 31st franchise, with plans to open several more this year.
New Westside Animal Adoption Facility Opens Friday
A new El Paso Animal Services satellite adoption center opens Friday at the site of the former Morehead Middle School, 5625 Confetti Drive, on the Westside.
The city bought the former school site last year to serve as an Animal Services adoption site and emergency site for housing migrants.
With the new site opening, Animal Services is closing its Tails at the Times Adoption Center, which had been opened since May 2023 in the former El Paso Times press building behind City Hall in Downtown. About 100 dogs were moved from the Downtown building to the new Westside adoption facility, city officials said.
“We are thrilled to bring lovable shelter pets to the Westside, where more of our community will be able to conveniently find and adopt a new family member,” said Terry Kebschull, director of El Paso Animal Services. “Not only will this new location allow us to provide more opportunities for residents to adopt, but the facility also offers a quieter, more comfortable environment for our pets and customers, significantly improving the quality of care we can provide.”
The Westside facility will be open from noon to 6 p.m. daily.
The main Animal Services site at 5001 Fred Wilson Ave. in Northeast also offers pet adoptions.
In celebration of the opening, adoption fees are being waived until July 31, thanks to Bissell Pets’ Empty the Shelters national adoption event. All adopted pets will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and registered with the city. To adopt, individuals must have a valid photo ID and must be older than 18.
Information: ElPasoAnimalServices.org
More Payment Options Coming to Sun Metro
Starting Monday, July 22, Sun Metro buses will be equipped with new ticket validator equipment that will allow riders to use additional fare payment options, including mobile wallets, contactless card payments and the ability to scan QR codes.
“It’s exciting to offer our customers the ability to pay however they want to pay. This new technology allows riders to simply tap their phone, card or scan a QR code on a printed ticket to pay their fare,” Sun Metro Director Anthony DeKeyzer said in a statement.
Information: Sun Metro Customer Service Center, 915-212-3333.
Apply Now for New EPCC Scholarship
El Paso Community College students may apply for the new Student Success Endowment Scholarship, which could pay for more than 60% of a student’s tuition and mandatory fees. Applications will be accepted through July 26.
To apply, students must be enrolled at EPCC, have completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid or their Texas Application for State Financial Aid, and be eligible for in-state tuition. The college announced this new program this week.
Keri Moe, EPCC’s associate vice president for External Relations, Communications and Development, said that the reason for the short application window is to ensure that the college has enough time to review applications and notify students so they can plan for the fall semester.
The college expects to award about 200 scholarships of almost $1,100 for the fall 2024 semester, which starts Aug. 26. Students can use the money for credit courses in the student’s degree plan, or for non-credit continuing education courses that will lead to a certification. It is renewable for up to six semesters.
Requirements include that students must be continuously enrolled in fall and spring semesters, and must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and pass 75% of all hours attempted.
The scholarship fund was financed by the $30 million donation made by MacKenzie Scott in 2021. Scott is an American novelist, philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The gift is the largest donation made to the college in its 55-year history.
The college’s Board of Trustees decided in August 2023 to create a permanent endowment fund with that money. Interest from the fund will be used for scholarships and to address other basic student needs in perpetuity. The trustees called the fund an investment in the future of the students and the community.
SISD Unveils Electric School Bus Fleet
The Socorro Independent School District will be using electric school buses to transport students as part of a national initiative to reduce carbon emissions.
The district unveiled 25 new electric school buses and charging stations during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.
SISD is the first in the region to introduce electric school buses, which will serve about 1,500 students from across its boundaries.
The initiative is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Funding program, which gave the district $9.88 million in October 2022 to purchase the buses and install the chargers. SISD was one of only 13 Texas school districts, and the only one in Region 19 to receive this funding.
Disclosure: Richard Castro is a financial supporter of El Paso Matters. Financial supporters play no role in El Paso Matters’ journalism. The news organization’s policy on editorial independence can be found here.
The post San Elizario’s first McDonald’s dedicated; new Westside animal services center opens appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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