January New Year Echoes

from January 2019

by Border Eco

CONNECTING SOUTHERN ARIZONA

Safety or Harassment?

Happy New Year from Border Eco

“New Opportunities for a Healthier Year“

Empowering the People

11 of Nogales

A New Healtcare

12 Alternative 13

Newly-Elected School Board

We received several letters from the public regarding the harsh safety measures the Department of Public Safety has in place for Santa Cruz County. One of the concerns is the 24/7 patrolling of our highways, people question if it is for safety or simply harassment. Here in Santa Cruz County many of the streets are patrolled by law enforcement to help reduce accidents and deter speeders from speeding. The public is aware law enforcement has a quota they need to meet in order to keep certain positions within their department funded. It leaves many to think if the reason they are out there stopping local residents is only to keep their funding. One core concept those letters have in common from the public, is the feeling of being harassed by law enforcement in Santa Cruz County.

“I don’t understand why we need so much law enforcement patrolling our streets. We don’t have the same number of car accidents like Tucson or Phoenix. It is simply dishonest to go after people, to meet a quota or increase department profits when the large majority of the residents here in Santa Cruz County are not wealthy ,” said Hector. According the Census Bureau the median income average of a Nogales resident is $14,638 a year. Santa Cruz County residents pointed out in their letters that as soon as one exits Sonoita St.heading towards I-19, several law enforcement officers are parked by the median on the highway heading north to the Border Patrol Checkpoint by Tubac.DPS officers are often spotted within that range everyday stopping speeders, and tractor trailers.

Many of those letters we received from local residents felt the measures taken on behalf of law enforcement in Santa Cruz County are unnecessary because reports from the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle do not illustrate a need to have in place such safety measures. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation in 2017 there were 11 alcohol related crashes reported in Santa Cruz County. A total of 8 injuries were reported for the year with 1 fatality, and 6 reported injuries. These facts were retrieved from the 2017 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts for the State of Arizona was prepared by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Transportation Systems Management and Operations Publication it was published in July 31, 2018.

2017 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts

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“The role of law enforcement role in Santa Cruz County is to patrol our streets, and highways to increase safety, not harass drivers to increase their funding. Past the checkpoint close to Amado you hardly see any law enforcement patrolling the highway. Other areas where people also feel harassed by law enforcement is Patagonia and Rio Rico. You don’t see law enforcement in Pima County harassing drivers like they do in Santa Cruz County,” said Veronica a local resident. Many of those letters we received from local residents felt the measures taken on behalf of law enforcement in Santa Cruz County are unnecessary because reports from the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle do not illustrate a need to have in place such safety measures.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation in 2017 there were 11 alcohol related crashes reported in Santa Cruz County. A total of 8 injuries were reported for the year with 1 fatality, and 6 reported injuries. These facts were retrieved from the 2017 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts for the State of Arizona was prepared by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Transportation Systems Management and Operations Publication it was published in July 31, 2018. The 2017 Motor Vehicle Crash reported 466 crashes for the 2017 for Santa Cruz County with a total of 6 fatalities and 77 injuries. In comparison to Pima County with a total of 11,707 reported crashes with 111 fatalities and 4,622 injuries reported for the same year. It is easy to assume it is harassment but we must also consider that maybe one of the reasons we have such a low number of reported crashes in Santa Cruz County is because we have law enforcement patrolling our highways and streets.

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A New Year but not a new face to the City of Nogales. Nogales Mayor Arturo R. Garino was the first to be featured on the cover of Border Eco Magazine back in April 2011.This past election the City of Nogales re-elected Arturo R. Garino for mayor. The Honorable Arturo R. Garino was sworn into office on Thursday, January 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at the James K. Clark Auditorium. He graciously took time off his busy schedule to meet with us. Border Eco had an opportunity to discuss with Mayor Garino his plans for the City of Nogales. “Thanks to Team Garino for their hard work and commitment. I would like to thank the voters and supporters for believing that I can once more make a positive difference in our community,” said Mayor Garino. Mayor Arturo Garino goal is to make the City of Nogales a better place for present and future generations. “During my campaign, I had the opportunity to meet with community members in their homes. It really helped me to understand some of their concerns. I plan to have and maintain an open door policy. I really want to make sure the people have a voice. I want to hear their concerns, as well as their suggestions to help improve our community,” said Garino.

“In order for us to improve our community, we have to make sure we get involved. One of my main goals is to work closely with non-profit organizations within the community to help improve the quality of life for residents of Santa Cruz County. Local non-profits do a lot for our community members. I want to make sure we support these organizations in our community,” said Mayor Garino. While in office, I plan to build a consensus among City Council members and the administration to establish a productive working environment for all. I want to make sure we have in place a good working environment for all. I want our city employees to feel they are an important piece within our government ” said, Mayor Garino Mayor Garino sees a lot of potential for continued growth for Nogales. Under his leadership, he plans to build a strong partnership with Nogales Sonora, Mexico which is the economic lifeline of the city. “People from Mexico that shop in the city help contribute to the economy. We need them just as much as they need us,” said Mayor Garino.

Mayor Garino plans to continue building partnerships that will benefit the City of Nogales in the future. His plan is to build a strong partnerships with the Councils of Governments of Maricopa (MAG), Pima (PAG), and SEAGO, to help put the City of Nogales as a key player in the state. “I want to invite the public to stop by our office with their suggestions and concerns. I am here to serve the citizens of Nogales. I want to “empower the people of Nogales,” and make this a better community for all of us,” said Mayor Garino. Mayor Garino will continue to help move Nogales forward. He plans to continue working with several committees and organizations to help improve our city.

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The residents of Santa Cruz County have a new healthcare alternative. This past summer on August 21st. NextCare Urgent Care opened its doors to the public. The urgent care provides easy and affordable medical care. The urgent care is located at Mariposa Rd & N Mastick Way, NextCare Urgent Care it offers Santa Cruz residents extended hours on nights, weekends and holidays. The urgent care facility also provides in-house lab services and x-rays. Some of the services treated by healthcare professionals at NextCare are: Illnesses Injuries Physicals Pediatrics STD & Lab Testing X-rays

Immunizations & Vaccinations Santa Cruz County residents can make visits even easier by using WAHOO online check-in service. Residents can check in online and they will receive a call or text when their next in line. NextCare accepts the following Insurance: Aetna BCBS Care 1st Health Choice Medicaid (AHCCCS) Mercy Care

United Healthcare “We are excited to offer more options for high-quality urgent care and occupational health services in the Nogales community,” said John Julian, CEO of NextCare Holdings. “No other urgent care provider even comes close to covering the geography that we can through our locations. Providing high quality care in each and every one of the communities we serve has always been and will continue to be our goal.”

Visit the site at: 298 W Mariposa Rd 2 Nogales, AZ 85621 (520) 394-7388

NextCare Hours of operation are: Monday: 8:00AM - 8:00PM Tuesday: 8:00AM - 8:00PM Wednesday: 8:00AM - 8:00PM Thursday: 8:00AM - 8:00PM Friday: 8:00AM - 8:00PM Saturday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM Sunday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM

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The Santa Cruz County Superintendent’s Office held a ceremony on December 27th at the Santa Cruz County Complex, Courtroom A at 3pm to sworn in the majority of the newly-elected school governing board members. A total of 15 newly-elected governing board members took their oath to serve in their new role. The newly-elected governing board plays a vital role in our schools. They are individually elected by the community they serve. The school board advocates on important policy issues for all students. Their role is to ensure accountability for student and district performance. It is important to remember school board members give the gift of time. They are responsible for preparing and attending board meetings. They are responsible for responding to their constituents, and attending community events. A board member is responsible for participating in board training and development. List of Newly Elected Board Members Patagonia Elementary School District #6 Aisha Sander (write-in) Patagonia Union High School District #20 Ronald Pitt Aarron Schreiber Sr. Bo T. Simpson Sonoita Elementary School District #25 Harold "Harry" Dotson Santa Cruz Elementary School District #28 Robert Noon Ronald Fish Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District #35 Susan Faubion John Hays René Ramirez Nogales Unified School District #1 Robert Rojas Marcelino Varona Jr. SCCPCCD (P5) Nils Urman (P2) Liz Collier (P4) Angela Meixell

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Frontier Printing Press Demonstrations – Thursdays, January 3, 10, & 17; Tuesday, January 8; Wednesday, January 16, 9 am – 1 pm. A knowledgeable volunteer demonstrates the Washington Hand Press used to print Arizona’s first newspaper in 1859 and answers questions about hand press printing, type setting, and other aspects of this marvel of industrial engineering. You will get to set type and print small samples to take with you. Included with park admission: $7 adult, $2 youth 7-13, children free.

Walking Tour of Old Tubac, Saturdays, January 5 & 19, 10 am – Noon. Come explore colorful Old Tubac that even some of the locals don’t know about! Guided by Connie Gessler, you’ll discover fascinating facts about the town’s early adobe buildings and learn about Arizona’s first European settlement. Topics from early Native American inhabitants, Spanish explorers, American pioneers, Apache attacks, kidnappings, and other exciting episodes are discussed. Meet at the Park’s Visitor Center. Allow 2 hours for the tour and wear walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat. $10 fee includes admission to tour the Presidio Park. Tour limited to 20; reservations requested, 520-398-2252 or info@TubacPresidio.org.

Santa Cruz River Children’s Water Art Exhibit Reception: Saturday January 5, 2 - 4 pm. In anticipation and celebration of the 2019 Smithsonian Exhibit, Water/Ways, hosted by the Presidio October 19 through December 1, 2019, the Presidio and Global Community Alliance will display artwork by children from the Nogales and Santa Cruz county school districts in Otero Hall. This exhibition dives into water--an essential component of life on our planet, environmentally, culturally, and historically. Don’t miss it! The children’s exhibit runs through February and is included with park admission: $7 adult, $2 youth 7-13, children free.

Shaw D. Kinsley Lecture Series Presents: Author Linda Strader talks about her book, Summers of Fire - Sunday, January 6, 2 - 3pm. It took some real courage and spunk to be the first woman firefighter in our Santa Rita Mountains. Linda Strader, was the gal! You'll love her, be amazed at her story, and want Summers of Fire at the top of your winter reading list. See you there! $10 per ticket. A portion of the proceeds supports our education and preservation programs. Please call for reservations, 520-398-2252.

New at the Presidio! Docent Tuesday Tours – Tuesdays, January 8 & 22, 10 – 11:30 am If you always wanted to visit the Presidio, now is your chance. For the price of regular admission, you’ll received a guided tour by Bill Stewart or Connie Gessler. Reservations requested, call 520-398-2252. Included with park admission: $7 adult, $2 youth 7-13, children free.

Shaw D. Kinsley Lecture Series Presents: Terrenos by Diana Delugan - Saturday, January 12, 2-3 pm. Author and 8th generation Otero Family member, Diana Delugan talks about her book and the 230th anniversary of Arizona's oldest land grant in our historic Otero Hall. The story of the Otero Land grant is one shared by Diana’s family with many other Spanish and Mexican pioneer families in their collective experience. It is a culture-rich history of people that flourished or fell once they were subject to United States government rule. Come listen to Diana talk about her research of her family history and the history about the land grant. $10 per ticket. A portion of the proceeds supports our education and preservation programs. Please call for reservations, 520-398-2252.

Teodoro ‘Ted’ Ramirez Artist-in-Residence Concert Series: Rebekah and Matt Rowland – Sunday, January 13, 2 – 4 pm. Brought together as young musicians by Arizona bluegrass and fiddle festivals, Matt and Rebekah have since garnered national recognition as performers, songwriters, and founders of the Americana and Bluegrass band, Run Boy Run. The duo recently released an album of original songs, Seed & Silo, completed in partnership with the National Parks Service for its Centennial Year. Tickets $20 adults, free for children 14 and younger. Seating is limited, please call now for reservations, 520-398-2252.

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This article is from:

January 2019