Employee Newsletter

Frosty the Garbage man…

While many El Pasoans enjoyed being wrapped up in their blankets on that snowy day in November, Environmental Services collected trash and recyclables under a blanket of snow. The mailmen were not alone, on Saturday November 24, 2007 attempting to get their jobs done. The fleet of Environmental Services was out and about to ensure that all collections of waste and recyclable materials were done too! Frosty the Garbage man…

As luck would have it, the Thanksgiving Day holiday pushed Thursday’s collection to the following Saturday, when El Paso experienced the first snowfall of winter. The white snow camouflaged the trucks, as only their teal and forest green stripes were visible at times.

The professional and safety practices of Environmental Services brought the day to a close with no accidents or injuries at all!! Bravo and thank you to the men and women of Environmental Services for a job well done!

Employee Hobby Sparks Interest

Judy Coe, Secretary for Engineering/Sun Metro Capital Projects Division, was recently contacted by an employee of Rail Passenger USA after he spotted her photo of the Sun Metro Union Depot building on Google Earth. He asked for her permission to post the photo on a national railroad information web site, railpassengerusa.com.

Mrs. Coe has enjoyed photography since a very young age and is an avid landscape photographer.

Check out the photo! http://railpassengerusa.com/powerpoint/SunsetLimited/SunsetLimited90.HTM

For He’s a Jolly Good Fella - El Paso Zoo says goodbye to Lupe D. Mancha!

Lupe Mancha (left) with El Paso Zoo Director Steve Marshall

The El Paso Zoo wishes longtime staffer Lupe Mancha a happy retirement as he leaves after more than 37 years with the City of El Paso. Mr. Mancha first joined the City on April 6th, 1970 as an employee of the Parks department, where he supervised and worked on mechanical systems for Parks’ buildings. Mr. Mancha later came to work at the El Paso Zoo where he has been an employee since February 15th, 1988. He has been the Facilities Manager, supervising all maintenance repairs and construction with a background in HVAC equipment systems. During his career, Mr. Mancha helped coordinate the Asian expansion back in 1994, the Elephant exhibit area in 1996, and currently has been working on the latest Africa expansion which is part of the zoo-wide improvements and projects under the 2000 Quality of Life bond issue. Mr. Mancha is a Vietnam veteran, a retired member of the United States Army and was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal during his service - awarded in the name of the President of the United States. On Wednesday, November 28th, Zoo staff threw a surprise party to say their goodbyes. Mr. Mancha is an avid Dallas Cowboys Football fan – so it was fitting that he received a pocket watch with the Cowboys Team star engraved upon it during his retirement party. The El Paso Zoo also honored him with a service plaque and a ceramic graphic tile of one of the El Paso Zoo animals. Mr. Mancha has been loved, admired and respected by Zoo staff for his professional appearance and his attendance over the past 20 years. Mr. Mancha is a credit to the El Paso Zoo and the City of El Paso and will be greatly missed by all!

Parks & Recreation Bids Farewell …

Doug Barnes, Sports Manager for the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department and a 30 year employee of the department recently retired.

Barnes who served in a multitude of positions for the Department oversaw the sports division for the last two years and was a valuable member of the Parks and Recreation management team and will be sorely missed.

All the best, Mr. Barnes.

El Paso Zoo Director Steve Marshall Participates in a Conservation Mission

El Paso Zoo Director Steve Marshall just returned from Mexico last week, after participating in a conservation effort for one of the most endangered mammals in North America; the Black-footed Ferret. The Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team (BFFRIT) was created in 1996 and is a multi-agency/ conservation organization effort, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which includes representatives from federal and state governments, accredited zoos and nonprofit organizations.

El Paso Zoo Director Steve Marshall joined team members in Chihuahua, Mexico as they released Black-footed Ferrets that have been bred by team members to reintroduce populations in Mexico. The total wild population numbers only around 600 individuals.

“As a point of reference,” Mr. Marshall added, “That makes them rarer in the wild than Giant Pandas.”

In the late 1970’s black footed ferrets were believed to be extinct. A small population was rediscovered in 1981, but by 1987 the number had drastically fallen. In a bold move, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relocated the last remaining 18 animals from the wild and eventually into managed breeding programs in accredited zoos. The success of this effort is apparent. The managed program currently maintains a breeding population of 240 ferrets that are 1-3 years old.

In reference to his personal involvement Mr. Marshall said, “I always considered myself in tune to this type of effort, but going along on this release project reminded me of the feeling of responsibility, partnership, and connection with nature that we strive to allow our guests and school groups to experience at the Zoo.” Mr. Marshall continued, “The El Paso Zoo wants to get more involved with projects like this. While in Mexico, I met wonderfully smart and dedicated participants in this particular project: conservationists and wildlife biologists from the State of Chihuahua, the Mexican University System, World Wildlife Fund, and the Nature Conservancy.”

Conservationists such as Mr. Marshall hope that the ferrets will be successful in re-inhabiting former parts of their range in Mexico, and here in the U.S. – where projects are also underway in an ongoing repopulation effort. The El Paso Zoo has been a part of the official program for more than 2 years, and has taken part in the repopulation projects in the past, as well as conducting biomedical assessments such as drawing blood or checking vital stats on the animals before they cross the border. Black Footed Ferrets remain near the brink of extinction due to loss of habitat, conversion of grasslands to agricultural uses, widespread prairie dog eradication programs and plague which combined have reduced ferret habitat to less than 2 percent of what once existed. Remaining habitat is now fragmented, with prairie dog towns separated by great expanses of cropland and human development. Many other sensitive species such as burrowing owls, mountain plovers, golden eagles, swift fox, and ferruginous hawks are strongly linked to this habitat for their survival. Many of these species are following the ferret's fate, and may soon require further conservation efforts to ensure their survival.