Brian Strand nominated for America’s Most Wanted All Star; voting still open By Taylor Sheaffer Ritter Have you ever met someone who is so wonderfully selfless that they literally make you feel awe-inspired? You know – the type of person that makes you want to be a better person because they have set such an excellent example to be followed? A lovely, little bird recently
Brian Strand
San Manuel
told us about such a person and we just felt the need to recognize some of his superb qualities. Brian Strand, a firefighter with San Manuel Fire Department and an EMT for Tri-City Meds/Southwest Ambulance, is exactly the type of person who makes everyone else’s lives easier, better and more
enjoyable simply because he is so caring. For instance, Brian went to work one day feeling a little off…most people would call it a day and stay home until they felt more prepared to face the world. This is not how Brian works. He heads in to work typically regardless of how he feels because he knows he
has the ability to help others so a little discomfort on his side is no big thing. One day, he headed to work as an EMT and was called upon to transport another individual down to Oro Valley Hospital, which he responded to with the same passion as he would had it been any other day. His first concern was that of the
patient, whom Brian delivered to the hospital in rapid fire time. Upon making sure that the patient was situated and cared for, the nursing staff noticed that Brian (whom they see often) was not looking his usual chipper self and they See Brian, Page 7
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Proudly serving as the Tri-Community’s source of weekly news since 1954 Vol. 57 No. 8
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
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Oracle Firewise presents AED to Mountain Vista School By John Hernandez The Oracle Firewise Board presented Mountain Vista School with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Principal Dennis Blauser accepted the AED from Collins Cochran. The AED can be used by lay people who have received only minimal training to revive people who have suffered cardiac arrest. All of
the Mountain Vista office staff have received training from the Oracle Fire Department in the use of the AED. This is the fourth AED that has been donated by the Firewise Group. AEDs are now located at the Oracle Community Center, Library and the Masonic Lodge. Larry Southard, Oracle Fire Department Battalion Chief, says there are plans to have
two more AEDs donated – one will go to Oracle Ridge Elementary School and one to Sierra Oaks Charter School. Southard said that there has been an emphasis to place these life saving devices in schools. Although it is rare for school age children to have cardiac arrest, there is always the chance of a kid suffering an injury, especially in athletics that could result in cardiac arrest. Schools also are a gathering place for large numbers of people attending events. Some of the parents and grandparents of the students could be at risk for heart problems. Having an AED could save a life. The Oracle Fire Department offers CPR training for the public which includes training on the use of the AED. For more information about the training contact the Oracle Fire Department at (520)896-2980 or email: info@oraclefire.org. Find out the latest news about the fire department at their website: www.oraclefire.org.
Healthy donation ... The Oracle Firewise Board presents an Automated External Defibrillator to the administration and staff at Mountain Vista School. (John Hernandez photo)
Accident sends two adults, two children to UMC Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Critical Accident Response Team has been called in to investigate a serious accident that occurred Feb. 13 on Redington Road near the San Manuel Golf Club. According to a deputy’s report, the two-vehicle accident was initially reported at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13. The first deputy arrived on scene and noted that a white Nissan Armada
was facing southbound off the west side of the highway at milepost 53.8. The vehicle, the deputy reported, had extensive damage to the front and driver’s side. Two small children were buckled into car seats in the second row of the SUV. The driver, identified as Rosa Rodriguez, 53. A second vehicle, described only as a Toyota, was in the middle of the northbound lane, facing north. The deputy noted
that the vehicle had severe front end damage and extensive damage to the front roof area. The driver was later identified as Wayne Oliver Noble, 42. He was severely injured, unconscious and was trapped in the vehicle. San Manuel Fire Department was called in to extricate the driver. Tri-City Meds were also dispatched and a helicopter was launched. Rodriguez told deputies on scene that she was driving
southbound on Veteran’s Memorial Highway (Redington Road) when she noticed a vehicle traveling towards her that was swerving from side to side. She said it had gone into her lane and then would pull back into its own lane before driving off the road to the east. As the vehicle approached her, she said, it swerved into her lane at the last second and though she swerved away from the vehicle, it struck her. Her
airbags deployed. Rodriguez had her seatbelt on at the time of the collision. She and her two passengers, a girl age 3 and a boy age 4, were taken by ambulances to University Medical Center to be evaluated due to the severity of the accident. Noble was extricated and transported by helicopter to UMC. The Critical Accident Response Team was called in to investigate
the accident. According to Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Tim Gaffney, they are specially trained to complete advanced accident investigations on serious injury or fatal collisions. They have not yet released their findings. The road was closed and traffic rerouted through Oracle and Webb Road for at least four hours for extrication and investigation.
The Arizona Women’s Partnership, Inc., (AZWP) is an all-volunteer philanthropic non-profit which provides grants to grass roots charities in Arizona.
Paula Cullison, President and Founder of the Arizona Women’s Partnership, Inc. recently announced the 2011 grant recipients; and said, “We are proud to note
that the Arizona Women’s Partnership, Inc. has awarded over $160,000 in grants since 2003 to more than 40 grass roots charities that assist underserved women and /
or youth at risk; many of the non-profits are multiple year AZWP grant recipients.” Among the 19 grassroots organizations selected to receive an AZWP grant is
Adelante Juntos Coalition. The grant will be used to support the further development of youth programming like the Big Sisters/Brothers mentoring program, and the CyberCafe
after school activities. “Without a supportive, positive environment that provides safe alternatives; our tweens, teens and young adults will find it easier to turn to alcohol and drugs for socialization, recreation and dealing with conflict and stress,” said AJC Director Betty Chavez. She added that what is desperately needed in the Tri-Community is a recreational/teen center. This award from AZWP is a strong endorsement for AJC youth programs that could persuade other potential donors to invest in providing for our rural kids. Chavez continues to seek and apply for grants and other funding streams that would enable AJC to re-open Avenue B School as a Center of Excellence that would include a teen ‘hotspot’ for the positive growth and development; as well as recreational needs of young people in the Tri-Community. Chavez stated that AZWP has been honored with gubernatorial and mayoral proclamations for their achievements; while Lori Walk, AZWP-Vice President See Grant, Page 7
Phoenix philanthropic group awards grant to AJC; funds to support H-W Cyber Café and Tri-Community mentoring
The Arizona Women’s Partnership Review Committee includes from right, back: Tracy Rasinski, Mike Simonyi, Amanda Wright, Cynthia Arnold, Neva Jorgenson, Teresa Sinatra, Irma Jurado, Jane Beyer, Rebecca Chazan, Roxanne Martin, Ralph Martin, Natalie Sayer Front L-R: Pamela Cullison, Kelly Hsu, Dawn Melvin (Chair), Lori Walk (VP), Paula Cullison (Pres), Tom Halverstadt. (Submitted photo)