Blue and Lisa Saiz have a lot to celebrate. Blue’s Shop is 5 years old and Lisa is 10 years cancer-free.
“Every day is a surprise,” says Lisa. “We started from dirt.”
Blue’s Kustoms, the custom body shop at 106 West Ash Street (Highway 60), atop a hill overlooking Globe, offers quality detailing, custom bodywork and paint, fabrication, and U-Haul rentals. Five years after its opening, Blue’s has a team of 8 and an impressive waiting list for custom fabrication.
“Everybody is welcome to come by during business hours to see the antiques, hotrods and motorcycles,” says Blue.
While you’re there, sign Blue’s guest book – started last year after receiving visitors from eastern Europe and Australia – and check out Blue’s Kustom 2024 t-shirt. Designed to increase breast cancer awareness, it features a pink ribbon hot rod and the names of 26 women Blue and Lisa know who have battled breast cancer. Some of them live and work in downtown Globe.
“Super excited to do it,” says Blue. “Someone we know is going through it right now.”
Breast Cancer Awareness
1 in 8 women in the United States will receive a breast cancer diagnosis.
“At first, it’s just unbelievable,” says Lisa Saiz.
Lisa was diagnosed with stage 2.75 breast cancer in 2014. She discovered the lump herself, less than a year after a clear mammogram. She had extensive surgery, reconstruction and chemotherapy every six weeks. With each treatment, Blue went to the Harley store to buy her three or four new shirts.
“I just went through it. As fast as I could,” Lisa says. “I fought hard.”
It’s the loneliest time, she muses. The fear of losing hair, losing breasts. One morning, tired of her hair falling out and done with the scarves, Lisa asked her husband to shave her head. That was the hardest part for Blue.
“You shave mine first,” he said.
Friends rallied around them. Lisa never knew she had so many. There were benefits – softball games and dinners. Flowers, house cleaning.
BLUE’S, continued on page 19
MIAMI FLATS A Family Affair
Note: A reprint from this year’s Community Guide, we have updated the information to include the newly opened whiskey-tasting room and ax-throwing lanes. Along with the new phone number to the Flats: 480-594-8030.
By Patti Daley
Miami Flats, a family-owned, familyfriendly tavern at 406 Sullivan Street, opened its doors on October 14, 2023. The community response exceeded everyone’s expectations, most of all, their local distributor.
“We sold out that day and night, and we weren’t able to open the next day,” says one of the proprietors, Robin Wilson. They are now open every Friday at 2 p.m. and noon on Saturday and Sunday. Next door to the iron gates of the Last Stand, Miami Flats lounge boasts a huge outdoor patio, a cool dark interior loaded with custom masonry and woodwork and a dance floor that opens to the street. Ceilings have been removed to expose the high beams of the old structure. Copper fixings pay homage to the region’s riches. And this month the whiskey-tasting room and ax-throwing lanes have opened, with the pizza kitchen expected to open later this fall.
Small Business as a Family Affair
“There’s not much entertainment here, so we thought it’d be fun,” Robin says.
The building, built in 1915, is the former home of Pearson Pontiac car dealership, a machine shop, and apartments for short-term rental.
MIAMI FLATS, continued on page 18
OCTOBER 4–13
This year, many community partners are coming together to participate in Old Dominion Days and celebrate the region’s mining history and future. Check out the schedule below and mark your calendars – there’s something for everyone to enjoy! All activities are free, unless stated below.
• Globe’s First Friday Fun: 4 pm - 8 pm Downtown Globe Vendor booths, live music, food trucks, and more
• Guided Tour of the Old Jail: 3:00 PM
Globe’s Territorial jail dates back to 1910 and offers visitors an authentic look at incarceration in the early days of Globe’s history
Saturday, October 5th
Have you ever wanted to talk with the experts and find out more about the active mining operations in the Globe-Miami area? This is your chance to listen to presentations by each mining company operating active sites in the Globe-Miami region.
Tribute to Mining (Hosted by Gila Historical Museum): 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
h Copper 101 Presentation: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
h Carlotta Copper Operations Presentation: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
h Resolution Copper Presentation: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
h Capstone Pinto Valley Operation Presentation: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
To reserve a spot, contact 808-373-0032 Thea and Regina will be offering guided tours and will talk about how Stairizona came to be and the many artists and muralists who have created to nearly 40 art installations along the trail.
Friday, October 11th
Ranch Women - A Discussion on Ranch Life in Gila County: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Panelists: Linda Haught Ortega, Jacque Cline Sanders, Velma Tucker, and Linda Brost Griffin. Listen to those who grew up ranching and come from a long line of ranchers Who settled in the area.
Second Friday Lecture Series at Bullion Plaza Museum: “101 Ways to Die” Doors open at 6:00 PM, Presentation at 6:30 PM Presented by Lee Ann Powers. Explore the sad and unique ways people died in the early years, from lovesick cowboys to miners’ perils. Free, donations are accepted.
Flashlight Tours & Courtyard B&W Vintage Movie at the Old Jail: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM.
Saturday, October 12th
A Photographic Look at Mining: The open house at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM showcases historic mining photos from the Copper Hills Region. Reception with performances by the Globe Centennial Band.
The Players Present “Tales from the 1904 Globe Flood”: Produced by the Copper Cities Players. Learn about the 1904 flood that destroyed much of downtown Globe and claimed many lives through this 30-minute performance by actors.
Location: 3rd Floor of the Arts Center, Times: TBA. Suggested $5 donation. For more details, call 928-425-0885.
Self-Guided Tours of the Old Train Depot Guided Tour
Stairizona: 10:00 AM To reserve a spot, contact 808-373-0032
Book Sale at the Gila Historical Museum: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
General Information
Old Dominion Mine Park Open from dawn to dusk throughout the week. The playground, bathrooms, and “Dog Park Trail” will be accessible. Other trails remain closed.
Bullion Plaza Museum & Cultural Center
Open weekdays 11 am - 4 pm, plus 6 pm to 8:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday the week of Old Dominion Days.
Gila Historical Museum Open Wed - Sat 10 am - 2 pm. See our ad on page 7
Cobre Valley Center for the Arts
Open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm and on Sundays noon - 4 pm.
Publisher
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Editor
Patricia Sanders
Creative Designer Jenifer Lee
Contributing Writers
David Abbott
Patti Daley
Linda Gross
Contributing Photography
Linda Gross
Yevette Vargas
Deb Yerkovich
Copyright@2024
Globe Miami Times
Globe Miami Official Community Guide published annually
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175 E. Cedar St., Globe, AZ 85501
I love this time of year, when the weather changes, giving us cool nights and warm days. It’s perfect for enjoying porch swings and morning walks, and it’s also the beginning of the fall season’s line-up of events.
September brings us the Miami Fiesta and the Gila County Fair, and then October rolls in with the Run to the Rez, Apache Jii, Ghosts of Globe, and Halloween. This year, the 7th Annual Old Dominion Days (October 4 - 13), once hosted exclusively by the Gila Historical Museum, is now a multi-partner event with participation from the Center for the Arts, Bullion Plaza, Stairizona, and others. Find the full rundown on page 2. And be sure to mark your calendars for the new play by the Copper Cities Players, “Murder on the Orient Express” (p. 13).
If you’re interested in community service opportunities that will also get you out into the great outdoors, check out the year-long clean-up initiatives through the Forest Service and its partners (p. 7).
That brings us to one of our feature stories, about the work being done at the Gila County Landfill to extend its life so we’ll all continue to have a place to “trash responsibly” (p. 8). We’re fortunate to have forward-thinking supervisors and county management staying on top of this facility and its future. Check out our interview with Deputy Director Melanie Mendez and Landfill Manager Aaron Codiga.
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Blue’s Kustom Body Shop, which we’ve featured previously, will be celebrating its fifth anniversary in Globe with a special nod to Blue’s wife, Lisa, and 26 other women (including myself) who are breast cancer survivors (p. 1).
What stands out from my own memory of this time can be summed up in something I wrote at the time (2007):
“It is worth noting that within the four short weeks it has been from my diagnosis and surgery, two other women, ages 44 and 70, within my circle of friends also received news of breast cancer after going for long-delayed mammograms. The 1 in 8 statistic means that breast cancer is most likely very close to home, whether you realize it or not. I have been comforted and reassured by my conversations with other women who have walked this path. It is a sisterhood filled with women who have found courage they didn’t know they had and are filled with gratitude, appreciation, humor, and beautiful moments in their situation. “
Of course, when Lisa asked if she could add my name to the T-shirt they had designed for this occasion, I said yes. I am proud to be part of this sisterhood of survivors.
It’s all a reminder to enjoy this life of ours, and the people around us, while we can. I hope the fall season brings you simple pleasures, relaxing moments, and time with family and friends - and that you’ll make the most of it.
“Arizona is a state of extraordinary contrasts, where every turn of the road brings into view something grand, mysterious, or lovely.”
– Zane Grey
of
to www.globemiamitimes.com and
The Parable of the Tomato Patch
By Patricia Sanders
I’m growing a vegetable garden again this year, but it’s not going well. I have eleven tomato plants, three zucchinis, and eight chile peppers, and they look great. I should be swimming in vegetables by now. But there’s hardly anything on them.
Last year, the tomatoes suffered because a tropical storm blew through in the spring and broke the vines, which I’d been training up a trellis. But this year, it’s all my fault. I water and weed, and do all the things a good gardener should do – or at least most of it.
But last spring I’d been very busy and never got around to fertilizing the beds like I should have. I went ahead and planted the seedlings anyway, crossing my fingers, but wishing didn’t make it so.
And now, I’m still too busy to solve the fertilizer problem. I keep looking at the big green plants and longing for a fresh, home-grown tomato, but putting fertilizer in the garden just never rises to the top of my very long to-do list.
Just to rub it in, last week I was walking up the road and a neighbor I don’t know very well came out of her house with her hands full. She called out for me to come over and soon I saw what she was carrying – an armload of huge, beautiful tomatoes. They were so big, a single one would make a meal.
I took them home and ate one right away, sliced with salt, thinking, if I had only fertilized my garden, I would have tomatoes like that, too.
It goes to show, some things are indispensable. Like fertilizer.
Of course, people are like tomato plants – they need certain kinds of nourishment in order to grow and be fruitful. Babies have to have love and attention, including physical stroking, in order to thrive. In school, I learned the basic human needs were food, water, air, shelter, clothing, and sleep, but of course that’s only the bare minimum for physical survival. To thrive – to flourish – you need a lot more.
In the 80s and 90s, the self-esteem movement said people need to have confidence and high self-regard, beginning in childhood, to make the most of yourself and succeed in life. But, as I read somewhere, plenty of criminals think very well of themselves.
Today, it’s “grit,” which seems to be defined as perseverance and passion, and people are saying you have to have grit to get anywhere in life.
This makes sense to me. A book that came out in the 80s that punched a hole in the self-esteem movement before it even got started. The book was all about a long-term study of 120 high achievers in music, art, science, and sports, looking into exactly what it was that helped these people reach the heights of their fields.
The key turned out not to be self-esteem at all. What made the difference was, essentially, work ethic. The high achievers had had parents who taught them
to hold high standards for everything they did, and to maintain a sense of commitment to what they had chosen.
It even turned out that talent didn’t have as much to do with success as you would think. Essentially, the research said, working at something matters much more than anything else, including talent.
It matters so much more that, in effect, practically anyone can get good at anything they choose, as long as they keep at it long enough.
Which is an amazing thought. What do you want to be?
So grit definitely has its place, a very pivotal one.
But as a gardener, I know better than to think that any one thing, like self-esteem or grit, will ensure success and flourishing.
Even plants need at least seventeen different elements in order to live. To thrive, they need sun –lots of it – and water – lots of it. They need companion plants that make their lives easier, and they need a whole population of soil microbes, worms, and bugs. They need the right temperatures, and they need shelter from storms. They need all of this in as much abundance as possible.
When a plant doesn’t get just one of its essential
“Quality
nutrients, its growth can stall or it can fail to flower or fruit. It can be almost miraculous to watch how the plant responds when it finally gets what it needs – suddenly there’s a spurt of growth, or the plant starts to make flowers or fruit that it couldn’t before, fulfilling the potential that had been impossible until then.
I saw a “comprehensive list” of human needs that had thirty items on it, from rest and relaxation to touch, affection, laughter, and love.
I can tell you, I need a lot more than that – I also need fresh sheets on the bed every three days, and silence before ten in the morning, for starters.
The point is, we humans are complex creatures with complex needs, some of which are universal and some of which vary from person to person. You are probably the only person in the world who knows what you really need.
Just imagine what will happen when you finally get it.
Patricia Sanders lived in Globe from 2004 to 2008 and at Reevis Mountain School, in the Tonto National Forest, from 2008 to 2014. She has been a writer and editor for GMT since 2015. She currently lives in the Azores. You can follow her writing on the website medium.com, under the pen name SK Camille.
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS: Mark your calendars for the State of The City Address that will be held Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 5:30 pm at Veterans Park in front of Globe City Hall. You will get an update on the past year’s activities and projects and what lies ahead for the future of our city. The address will also include a reflection of the past eight years and where it all began. Come and enjoy food, entertainment, and an opportunity to talk to your council members. We will also have several booths set up to help you gather information on ongoing services, future projects, and developments.
CITIZENS ACADEMY: The next City of Globe Citizens Academy #6 is scheduled to begin on September 4, and end on October 16. This program is a seven-week course that is held every Wednesday from 6 pm to 8 pm. The course is designed to give the participant a better understanding of the city’s operations, services, and programs. Each participant will be given an information folder of the course, a t-shirt, and be fed dinner during each of the weekly presentations. All participants who complete the course will be recognized with a graduation event at the City of Globe council meeting that will be held on October 22nd. To apply, please contact City Hall at 928-425-7146 or go to www.globeaz.gov.
FLIGHT HELICOPTER MEMBERSHIP INSURANCE: The Council unanimously approved two contracts for Air Ambulance services for all city employees and all city residents on August 13, 2024. The two contracts are with PHI Air Ambulance and Banner Air Ambulance who are two main responders for flights out of Gila County. With these contracts, any City of Globe resident or any family member that resides in their home, that is flown out by either of these flight companies will be covered and will have not have any out-of-pocket costs charged to them. We all know how an emergency flight could financially have a negative affect due to the cost. I encourage all our residents get familiar with the coverage and the opportunity to upgrade for additional services.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER: At the August 13th meeting, council heard a presentation on the recruitment process for the new position of Assistant City Manager and the related organizational changes. Current Economic Director, Linda Oddonetto, was interviewed and selected for the position. This position is the ongoing process to increase our resource capacity abilities as we continue to see an increase in activity in our city, so that we are better prepared and able to meet the needs of development and future growth.
RESOLUTION COPPER GRANT: The City of Globe was awarded a 6K grant from Resolution Copper. This grant is broken down in two parts. 1K will be used to help put on a Disc Golf Tournament and 5K will go towards the purchase of a trailer to store tables, chairs, and supplies for First Friday and other events.
PURCHASE OF NEW AMI METERS:
The city of Globe was awarded a Securing Future Water Grant for $1,618,267.00 to purchase Automatic Meter Infrastructure Meters. Our current meters have reached their life span and will be replaced with new technology meters that will help detect loss of water, billing, and leaks immediately, which is advantageous to the customer. The council approved to move forward with the purchase and contract for installation.
FIRST FRIDAY: Enjoy the First Friday events on October 4th from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Globe’s First Fridays have become a signature event and continue to grow each month with more participation from downtown businesses, vendors, and cruisers. This event is not only enjoyed by our local residents in the community but by many more people who are now coming from out of town on this day to enjoy the event. Everyone is invited to participate in the downtown cruise that begins at 5:30 pm starting at the Active Adult Center. We invite the community to support the participating businesses downtown and enjoy live music, food trucks, and vendors. Anyone needing more information or wanting to set up a vendor booth during any First Friday event may contact Melissa Steele at 928-425-7146
Globe High School Alumni Association Alumni Homecoming Weekend October 4th-6th, 2024
Welcome Back Alumni!
GHS Classes are holding Reunions this weekend: Class of ‘64
Class of ‘84 + Classes of ‘81-’87, Class of ‘89, Class of ‘94
Please check with your Reunion Organizers for additional events specifically for your class.
Contact Aurelie Flores for changes: (602) 619-5274
HIGH SCHOOL’S 110TH BIRTHDAY BASH
Celebrating 110 Years of Tiger Pride: Honoring our Past, Inspiring our Future
Date: October 5th
Time: 11:30- 3:30
Location: Globe High School Auditorium 437 South High Street, Globe, Arizona 85501
Admission: Free, Donations accepted
EVENT SCHEDULE
11:30: Doors Open: Meet & Greet!
NOON: The Globe-Miami Centennial Band
12:40 PM: Presentation: Globe High School- 110 Years of Tradition
12:50 PM: The Rose Mofford Distinguished Service Award
12:55 PM: Happy 110th Birthday Globe High School – Cut the Cake!
1:00 PM: Tour of Globe High School: Explore the oldest continuously operating high school in Arizona and the heart of the Globe community. View one of the largest collections of senior class photos in the United States.
1:50 PM: Tiger Tribute: Honoring distinguished Tiger Alumni and Teachers for their dedication and service. Auditorium
2:45 PM Tiger Spirit Mural Dedication & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Join us in front of the gym for the official ribbon cutting of the Tiger Pride Mural.
3:00 PM: A Gift to Grow: Class of ’84 Tree Dedication Ceremony- Front Steps 3:10- 3:30 PM: Dance through the Decades Party Relive those Friday night dances in the auditorium with golden oldies to the music of today. Reconnect with old friends, and make new memories!
Economic Development partnership continues as City of Globe works to create an atmosphere for businesses and entrepreneurs to THRIVE
By David Abbott
As the summer draws to a close, the City of Globe’s relationship with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) continues to grow and strengthen, thanks to increasing community investment and entrepreneurial training.
Thanks to a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), RCAC returned over the summer to host a series of free workshops designed to help local business people embark on dreams of self-employment or find solutions to issues they might encounter in their existing businesses.
“RCAC has been a big part of our progress from the beginning, “ Globe Mayor Al Gameros says. “They helped us get our Economic and Community Development Department (ECD) started, and they’re a big advocate for rural communities like ours.”
The RCAC, founded in 1978, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that operates in 13 western states to provide training, technical and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their economic goals and visions.
The relationship between Globe and RCAC began in earnest in 2018 when the City received a $45,000 grant to establish the ECD. The three-year grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provided training in community economic development, as well as technical and financial resources to lay the groundwork for future growth. RCAC also facilitated the City’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP) update for 2019-2022, and provided training for City staff to take over the process in 2020.
The initial contract helped the City embark on several local initiatives, including rehabilitating the Michaelson Building on Broad Street which will become both a downtown visitors center and a business incubator.
“The main goal has been for us to assist Globe in having a business and management plan to open the co-workspace and be able to provide a wide-ranging menu of business incubation and support services, as well as different types of space for that business to start and scale-up,” says RCAC Rural Development Specialist
Aaron Reimler. “That is meant to lower the barriers to entry for new entrepreneurs, whether that’s low-cost office space, access to shared equipment, internet, all those things that you don’t think about needing when you’re going to launch a business, that can cut into your startup budget.”
According to Councilman Fernando Shipley, the RCAC helped prepare the community for economic success by getting “the movers and the shakers and the decision makers” together to lay out the vision and help create consensus for the City’s plans moving forward.
“One thing the RCAC really did, is it got the juices flowing,” Shipley says. “It became the catalyst for ideas to flow forward, and some of them took root. A lot of what’s happening around town is an offshoot of the ideas that surfaced. It’s been a really good thing for us.”
Shipley says that in addition to helping build the infrastructure of community resources, the relationship with RCAC also created an atmosphere and helped create partnerships with local organizations such as I Art Globe for the establishment of the Stairizona Trail, community mural projects and other citizen-driven initiatives.
The recent free workshops, Start, Grow, Revive Your Business, which took place from July through September, are another example of the partnership that will continue for the next three years, thanks to a Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S, Department of Agriculture.
Additionally, the re-election of Mayor Gameros and Councilmen Mike Pastor and Freddy Rios will continue the path the City has forged for the past eight years.
“Our partnership with the City of Globe has really been focused on supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” RCAC’s Reimler says. “We’re not only providing assistance, but we’re trying to build intentional networks that give business owners, especially new ones, the opportunity to get insight from others and real time feedback from other entrepreneurs who are either going through the same things or have been there before.”
Another aspect of that support is a federal grant program through the Minority Business Development
“The main goal has been for us to assist Globe in having a business and management plan to open the co-workspace and be able to provide a wide-ranging menu of business incubation and support services, as well as different types of space for that business to start and scale-up.”
– RCAC Rural Development Specialist Aaron Reimler
Agency (MBDA) to help improve access to capital for entrepreneurs who might otherwise lack access to financial resources.
RCAC received $3 million that will provide direct technical support for all the rural communities it serves, with Globe-Miami being one of those fortunate regions.
“Under the grant, our primary mission is to serve the small business community by providing them with information resources and technical assistance,” says RCAC Community Economic Development Consultant Dan Dever. “Anything that an entrepreneur might need to get started, and also anything that a current small business owner might need to progress and do better.”
The workshops include training on such things as writing a business plan, maximizing return on investment and decision making, even if the decision is not to follow through with ideas that might hinder progress.
Ultimately, the relationship between Globe and the RCAC will continue because, according to Dever, economic growth takes time and Globe has demonstrated its commitment to the process.
“Globe is open to this and they’ve made it a key element of their plans for the future,” Dever says. “It can take a while, but we’re as committed to the city of Globe as they have been to working with us, and I think they’ve effectively countered any resistance in the community and there have been things on the ground in Globe that have helped us along.”
Gameros echoes that commitment and points to visible signs of success throughout Globe, including the rehabilitation of Broad Street, the efforts to build and repair infrastructure, and cleaning up blight.
“I think we must keep pushing forward and continue to support our small business owners, providing useful resources and tools to help them start or grow their business,” Gameros says. “Our community is fortunate to have access to these types of programs here locally—from the City’s Economic Development team, to the Small Business Development Center at EAC, and the revolving loan program through the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation, to the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce. Cultivating the ecosystem for economic development takes time and the City of Globe is committed.”
For more information on any of these business development programs or organizations, please contact Melissa Steele, City of Globe Economic Development Manager at (928) 200-0836 or msteele@globeaz.gov
Globe Community Partners Launch
Year-Long Forest Cleanup Initiative
Globe, AZ – September 27, 2024 –
The Globe Ranger Station of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Cathy SanchezCanez Memorial Foundation, Globe Trash Mob, Capstone Pinto Valley Mine, and Love Where You Live organizations are proud to announce the launch of a year-long forest cleanup initiative aimed at preserving and protecting our National Public Lands. In conjunction with National Public Lands Day in September, this extensive effort is designed to engage the community in monthly cleanups and educational events that focus on keeping our local forests clean, safe, and beautiful.
Year-Long Cleanup Initiative Overview
This initiative represents a sustained commitment to the stewardship of our public lands. Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in monthly themed cleanup events that not only remove litter but also raise awareness about the importance of conservation. The initiative is a call to action for the community to unite to preserve our forests’ natural beauty. The cleanups are set for Fridays from 8 to 10 to encourage youth, local businesses, and organizations to incorporate service into their workweek, freeing up their weekends for other activities.
About the Partners
USFS Globe Ranger Station: Dedicated to managing and preserving national forests, the USFS plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and sustainability of our public lands.
Cathy Sanchez-Canez Memorial Foundation: Committed to community service and environmental conservation, the foundation honors Cathy Sanchez-Canez’s legacy through ongoing local initiatives. Capstone Pinto Valley Mine: A mining company that prioritizes sustainability and community engagement in its operations.
Love Where You Live: An organization focused on fostering local pride and environmental stewardship through community-driven efforts.
Join us as we launch a year of action to protect and preserve our forests. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
Featured Events
1. Go Wild Over Trash
Date: Friday, September 27, 2024
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: The clean-up will be a USFS clean-up to clear campgrounds where squatters have come and gone. Meet at the USFS Globe Ranger Station.
2. Boo to Litter: Go “Haunt” for Trash With Woodsy
Date: Friday, November 1, 2024
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: [Details TBD]
Details: Get into the Halloween spirit by cleaning up the forest in costume! Woodsy the Owl will join the effort, and the Cathy Sanchez-Canez Memorial Foundation will sponsor a costume contest. Sweet treats and a raffle will be part of the fun.
3. Woodsy’s Give a Hoot Holiday Challenge
Dates: December 2024 - January 2025
Location: Anywhere in your neighborhood or favorite outdoor spot
Details: During the holiday season, we encourage community members to organize their own cleanups and share photos of their efforts on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/258088903887839 or https://www.facebook.com/groups/293525911853166. All online participants will be entered into a drawing for a prize.
4. Wild Love for the Woods Clean-Up
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: [TBD]
Details: Show your love for the forest this Valentine’s Day by joining us for a special cleanup event. Volunteers will receive treats, giveaways, and a chance to win a raffle prize from the Cathy Sanchez-Canez Memorial Foundation.
5. Go Green With USFS
Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: [TBD]
Go green for this lively forest cleanup. This event is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to keeping our green spaces litter-free.
For more information on how to get involved in these monthly events, please contact Sheryl Cormack, Recreation Management Specialist at Tonto National Forest Globe Ranger District at 928-425-7189or e-mail sheryl.cormack@usda.gov or Regina Ortega, Community Engagement Coordinator at the Cathy Sanchez-Canez Memorial Foundation at 808.373.0032 or e-mail leonardir001@gmail.com.
By David Abbott
Gila County recently completed the first phase of a landfill expansion that has been in the works for more than a decade and will ultimately extend the life of the Russell Gulch facility through 2045.
Thanks to the efforts of the Public Works Department and the work of Deputy Director Melanie Mendez and her Gila County staff, the facility is on track to serve Southern Gila County residents through the next generation.
In the two years she has worked for the County, Mendez has also brought new life and a fresh sense of purpose to the facility. Hired originally in June 2022 to manage the landfill, Mendez quickly proved her worth to Public Works and in April, was promoted to her current position.
“Melanie is the expert and serves on at least one state board on landfill issues and with the Department of Environmental Quality,” Director of Public Works Homero Vela says. “They’ve sought her out for her expertise and the spark she has for taking care of trash the right way.”
A life devoted to trash
Mendez comes to Arizona after an exemplary career in Southern California, working her way up from a scale operator in San Bernardino County to implementing a recycling program for 279 businesses in Redlands, California.
Her work in Redlands also included implementing a zero-waste policy for the City and adhering to solid waste disposal mandates issued by the state.
To Mendez, managing the flow of waste from the public to the landfill is more than a job, it’s a lifelong passion. She knew from a young age it was what she wanted to do and has spent most of her life working in an industry most people take for granted.
“It was really embarrassing for my parents, but we were at church once when I was 13 and someone asked, ‘Melanie,
fiscal assistant, utilizing an accounting certificate she had previously earned.
From there she was promoted to an operations supervisor at the landfill before moving to her position in Redlands, where she worked on compliance issues and eventually as Recycling Coordinator.
She came to Arizona for a change of scenery and because she wanted to “expand her expertise.”
“One of the things I love about Arizona is that we’re doing things because it’s the right thing to do,” Mendez says.
“In the state of California, we had a lot of mandates and we had to meet those mandates. I got a lot of experience in doing those things, but here I’m just so pleasantly surprised that, especially over at the ADEQ, they’re doing it for the right reasons.”
The newest member of the team is Landfill Manager Aaron Codiga (Left), who established his career over five years working in residential collection for the City and County of Denver. Codiga and Mendez are shown here in front of the new expansion site. Photo by LCGross.
Expansion delays and completion
Landfill expansion generally takes about 10 years, from establishing the site to actually putting garbage in it, according to Mendez, and along the way there are environmental studies and feasibility studies as well as groundwater monitoring that must take place.
The Russell Gulch expansion has been in the works since at least 2009 and suffered several recent setbacks in the wake of issues discovered with the water table and damage inflicted by the Telegraph Fire.
The Telegraph Fire in 2021 washed tons of debris into the landfill that had to be cleared and transported to Snowflake, work that was done thanks to $200,000 in emergency funding from the state.
“The state provided money after the Telegraph fire to many communities, and that was very helpful,” says Vela. “It allowed us to do things when they needed to be done.”
In the wake of that work, the two-part expansion continued to sit in limbo, thus Mendez “inherited” the project when she was hired.
“When I started in 2022 they said, ‘Congratulations on your job, the landfill’s filling up’,” Mendez says. “So we rolled up our sleeves and got to work, got the design and sent out a Request For Proposal to move forward. From start to finish, the actual construction of the cell took about a year.”
The expansion work is taking place in several phases and includes two new pits to hold the refuse, Cells 3A and 3B. Cell 3A opened at the beginning of the year after reconfiguring the facilities on the western edge of the landfill and has been receiving garbage throughout the year.
Russell Gulch currently receives approximately 85 tons of trash per day, and 54,000 tons annually, according to information presented to the Gila County Board of Supervisors. Cell 3A has a capacity of approximately 400,000 cubic yards.
Operating at 302 days per year, Cell 3A has a life expectancy of approximately nine years. After the Board of Supervisors approved $2.8 million for the project in January 2023, a “perched” water table—one that sits between the surface and and the main body of groundwater 200-400 feet below—that was thought to be dry was found to be full of what may have been stormwater from recent 100-year flooding events.
Construction costs wound up being slightly over $3 million, including change orders for the limit of waste and a water drainage issue. Additionally, construction of new scales and a scale house totaled $356,000.
The next phase, Cell 3B, should be completed at least two years before Cell 3A hits capacity in 2032. Cell 3B will have a capacity of 505,000 cubic yards and should be able to operate for 12.5 years through 2045.
Since siting a new landfill takes about ten years, the County has embarked on an ongoing process to stay ahead of running out of capacity. According to Supervisor Tim Humphrey, there are now monthly planning meetings for project updates and to discuss future funding.
Humphrey is pleased the work is finally going forward and credits County staff and administration for completion of phase one.
“Homero and the rest of the leadership did a great job of organizing and getting it where it needs to be,” Humphrey says. “Our current staff has a can-do attitude and are looking forward, not looking back.”
He also credits his fellow supervisors for sharing the forward-looking vision and being open to spending money where it is needed.
“We’re working as a team and everything is a team
decision,” Humphrey says. “We wanted to have something in place that will be here beyond my time as a supervisor. I’m blessed to have a board that shares that vision.”
In addition to the work now being done on the Russell Gulch facility, the Buckhorn Mesa landfill north of Payson is in the planning stages, as it is expected to reach capacity in 2032.
The landfill sits on 51 acres of US Forest Service land and is used via a special use permit. In order to expand, Gila County must purchase land for the site and for the roads leading to it.
According to Mendez, on May 21, the County applied for a Townsite Act Purchase, which allows designated areas to be sold to “qualifying County, City or other governmental subdivisions at fair market value.”
“There are 55 steps to a Townsite Act Purchase,” Mendez wrote in an email to Globe Miami Times. “We are currently in the process of archeological and environmental studies of the land, which is part of the 55 Steps.”
The County hopes to have the land grant by June 2025 and designs completed by January 2026. If all goes according to plan, the Buckhorn Mesa expansion should have ADEQ approval by mid-2028.
Creating a team devoted to the cause
Mendez has continued to improve the workings of the landfill by training staff in the latest landfill techniques and technology and has created a cohesive team that is ready to serve Gila County in the future.
In addition to her willingness to get her hands dirty working with tons of refuse, she took her core leadership group to a SWANA Conference in Phoenix in April. She also brought in Blue Ridge Services, a solid waste consulting firm based in Montana, to conduct a gap assessment of both landfills in May in order to target staff training around the real-world needs of the County.
The newest member of the team is Landfill Manager Aaron Codiga, who established his career over five years working in residential collection for the City and County of Denver. During that time, he worked in logistics and as a Solid Waste Inspector. The last two years of his tenure were spent as a Program Administrator where he oversaw a massive project, mapping, routing, and digitizing the City’s collection routes.
Codiga started in July and can often be seen slinging trash with Mendez after office hours. The pair share a work ethic that keeps them both busy seven days a week.
“Working for Gila County has been a phenomenal experience,” Codiga says. “Melanie has extensive experience in the solid waste industry, and I feel very fortunate that she has been eager to share her knowledge with me since I started. I look forward to what we will achieve for the Gila County Landfills going forward.”
Vela says Public Works will continue to plan and stay ahead of the landfill needs of Gila County residents so they can plan for contingencies and reduce costs.
“It was costly to be late with the landfill construction because the trash will keep coming no matter what, and then you’re playing a catch-up game,” Vela says. “So we have a 10-year plan and we’re looking ahead.”
The Russell Gulch Landfill is located at 5891 E. Hope Lane, in Globe and is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Sunday and holidays.
Batteries and metal must be removed from loads going into landfill, but there are areas on site to deposit those items.
Call 928-402-8839 or go to www.gilacountyaz.gov/ government/public_works/landfill/index.php for more information.First phase of Russell Gulch landfill expansion completed thanks to ‘can-do’ attitude of staff and administration. u
Mendez speaking at the grand opening. Photo by LCGross.
Supervisor Tim Humphrey, and Director of Public Works Homero Vela at the grand opening of the new expansion in November of 2023. Photo by LCGross
WELCOME to Globe-Miami
Globe Historic District
By David Abbott
The San Carlos Unified School District has worked to recruit teachers with deep connections to the San Carlos Apache Reservation and who represent the community they serve.
From classes created to preserve Apache language and culture to general education classes, many instructors are products of the SCUSD system or have lived on the San Carlos Reservation for the majority of their lives.
BETTY KITCHEYAN teaches Apache language in the District and also at San Carlos Apache College. A White Mountain Apache Tribe member from Cibecue, Kitcheyan moved to San Carlos in 1988 after marrying a member of the San Carlos Tribe.
Shortly after the move, she applied to the school district and was hired as a teachers assistant. After receiving encouragement from her coworkers, Kitcheyan began taking summer classes at the University of Arizona to earn her teaching degree.
Given that she had three children to raise, it was difficult for her to spend so much time away from home, so when Prescott College was looking for students to participate in a new remotelearning program, she signed up.
“They didn’t call it ‘online’ back then, so I had to recruit teachers with masters degrees to teach the courses I needed,” Kitcheyan says. “It was all here in San Carlos, so they would get the syllabus and all the materials they needed from the college in order to teach me.”
In 1996, she graduated from Prescott College with a bachelors degree in elementary education. Former San Carlos Chairwoman Kathy Kitcheyan, who was principal at San Carlos High School at the time, asked Betty Kitcheyan to teach Apache history at the school.
She transitioned to teaching Apache
language at Rice Elementary and eventually retired in 2016. But Kitcheyan recently returned part-time to teach Apache language and native arts and crafts to high schoolers.
While feedback from her students has been positive, Kitcheyan says teaching traditional language and culture can be difficult because of access to cell phones and other technology that is largely based in the English language.
“Last semester, I was having a tough time because they always want to be on their phones,” Kitcheyan says. “But it seems like they’re doing better this semester and I have more students really paying attention.”
Kitcheyan works in tandem with JOYCE JOHNSON, an Apache language expert who was raised on the Reservation and attended SCUSD from K through 12.
Johnson studied Native American Curriculum Development, American Indian Studies, and Reading, Language and Culture at the U of A and holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Development, Family and Consumer Resource. She has worked in education for 30-plus years, teaching Pre-K through college, and serves on the board for the Apache Language Consortium as well as being Language Preservation Coordinator for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
“My aim is to help develop and improve students’ Apache skills, as well as interest in the culture, as I am passionate about my heritage,” Johnson says.
After graduating from San Carlos High School, Johnson earned her first degree from U of A in 1989 and returned to the Reservation with dreams of running a daycare center.
When that did not pan out, she went to work for the school district as a teaching assistant, but the following year found herself in charge of a Special Education classroom filled with toddlers aged 2-5.
“I went in there not knowing anything about special ed students,” Johnson says.
“I started teaching these little babies while I weaned them from the bottle and changed diapers.”
Johnson was soon asked to teach Apache language and participated in a summer program creating a PreK through eighth grade curriculum with a group that included Betty Kitcheyan.
She began teaching at the primary school level, but moved to middle school but eventually joined Kitcheyan at the high school.
Johnson left the school district in the early 2000s, but returned in 2012 to once again pair up with Kitcheyan.
Throughout her career, Johnson has worked with anthropologists and linguists at several universities throughout the country, from New York to Fairbanks, Alaska translating and interpreting ancient texts that very few living people understood.
“The reason I work with universities, linguists, anthropologists, history majors and social studies is I want these things recorded, so that it’s saved,” Johnson says. “I’m not going to be here forever and if I can transfer that knowledge, in 100 years it’s gonna be there even if I won’t be here.”
Sisters QUANNAH and TAWNYA STEVENS are both lifelong residents of the San Carlos Reservation and have supported each other throughout their lives and careers.
Elder sister Quannah teaches math and coaches cross-country and seventh grade boys basketball at Rice Middle School. She attended Rice Elementary through SCHS and spent two years at U of A, thanks in large part to her father’s love of Arizona Wildcats basketball, which had just won its national championship.
“My dad was a big U of A fan, but it probably wasn’t what I wanted to do,” Stevens says. “I was torn about that, so I spoke with my pastor’s wife and my mom and a couple of ladies from our church and they encouraged me to find a job until I can figure out what I wanted to do.”
She ended up working at the special education preschool and said that was when “the spark” for education came to her.
Much to her father’s chagrin, Quannah continued her education at Arizona State University, where she earned her teaching degree, graduating with honors and magna cum laude. She is currently working to earn her masters in counseling from Grand Canyon University, as there is a need for student counselors in the District.
Her love of sports also led to her coaching position. As a San Carlos student, she represented the state in a basketball tournament in Belgium, but her father drew the line when she wanted to go to a volleyball tournament in Australia.
An unfortunate injury in her senior year sidelined her athletic career, but she looks at coaching as an extension of her role as a teacher.
“I had 15 boys on my team last year and every single one of them got equal playing time,” Stevens says. “That was a challenge in itself, but that’s the kind of coach I am. I’m a teacher coach, taking them from the beginning and giving them skills.”
Tawnya Stevens has taught in the school district for 12 years, recently transitioning to teach writing for Exceptional Student Services.
As a lifelong resident of the Reservation and product of the SCUSD, she often uses her experience to help keep her students in line. She says her connections make for good relationships and her students often gravitate toward her for guidance.
SAN CARLOS, Continued on page 13
41st Annual Apache Jii
Downtown Globe on October 19th from 9am-4pm
This October, the Chamber will host the 41st Annual Apache Jii in downtown Globe, celebrating the San Carlos Apache culture and contributions to the region and representing a broad array of Native American artisans and performers who come from all over a tri-state area.
While the event has been associated with outstanding performances by Apache Crown Dancers, The Yellow Bird Dancers, flute and drum music, in recent years the addition of new performances and artists provide a broader picture of what it means to be Apache.
These include Douglas Miles Jr. and the Apache Skateboard Team who continue to bring a whole new generation to the forefront through the cultural branding of skateboard and art.
Apache Skateboard:Redefining the Landscape, was featured in GlobeMiamiTimes in 2019 and has grown exponentially since then, most recently securing a contract to have their swag represented in Zumiesz, a national chain of clothing and footwear.
And dressmakers like Joanna Miles and Selina Curley, who honor Apache tradition, while imbuing each with their unique vision, continue to attract notice from both old and new generations. Each woman will host a fashion show this year at 10:30 (Joanna) and 12:30 (Selina). Both women will be representing their new line at Apache Jii.
This year, the poster for Apache Jii is a poignant reference to the Watch Fire, which burned 2,100 acres and destroyed over a dozen homes in July 2024, on San Carlos. (See back page). And it also is a reminder that the San Carlos Apache have a long and storied history in firefighting and the use of fire in managing the nearly 2 million acres of tribal land.
The artwork by Derayna (Dawn) DeClay was selected by the Chamber Board from all the submissions this year, to represent the 41st Apache Jii. She is a former crew leader at Arizona Conservation Corps and studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts. You can find her work on FB and Instagram.
“I’m related to a lot of them or went to school with their parents,” Tawnya says. “I tell them good stories about their parents, so they know I know them.”
Tawnya Stevens originally wanted to be a nurse and attended classes briefly at ASU. She had a baby at the time, so Quannah spent time in the Valley helping out. Eventually though, Tawnya returned to the Reservation to study at the local college.
“It was a culture shock coming from the Reservation to the big city, so I came back here and started to take classes,” Stevens says.
After getting a job with the school district, Tawnya entered a recruitment program to get her teaching certificate. She earned her masters degree, mainly through selfmotivation.
“Our mom was a teacher, so education was always important to us,” Stevens says. “They weren’t really expecting us to go to college, but they supported us and encouraged us to keep going.”
Her main goal is to let her students know that they can do anything if they apply themselves to the task.
“I’m teaching them that they can do anything they want if they put their minds to it,” she says. “A lot of times they have the idea they can’t do it because they’re from the Rez, so I give them examples of my sister and coworkers I went to school with. We all graduated, and a lot of us kept going to school and got our masters and doctoral degrees.”
9:00 am Welcome by Globe Mayor Al Gameros Introduction by Master of Ceremonies Ardell Ganilla
9:30 am Flutist Performance – Robert Wilson
10:00 am Forest Lake Singers – Gary Elthie
10:30am Fashion Show-RAID – Joanna Miles-Long
11:00 am Crown Dancers – San Carlos Gaans
11:30 am Skateboarding – Apache Skateboard Team
Noon Hoop Dancers – Yellow Bird Hoop Dancers
12:30 pm Fashion Show – Traditions by Selina
1:00 pm Crown Dancers – Cha’ bii’tu Apache School Dancers
1:30 pm Forest Lake Singers – Gary Elthie
2:00 pm Flutist Performance – Robert Wilson
2:30 pm Skateboarding – Apache Skateboard Team
3:00 pm Hoop Dancers – Yellow Bird Hoop Dancers
3:30 pm School Dancers – San Carlos Apache Crown Dancers
Copper Cities Players present
Murder on the Orient Express
Show times are Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12, at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, October 13. Performances skip a weekend and then return on Thursday, October 24, at 7 p.m., with a gala performance on Friday, October 25.
SAN CARLOS from page 12
For their upcoming fall production, the Copper Cities Community Players present Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. This intricate whodunnit is packed with a trainload of intrigue with plot twists that will keep you guessing till the end. Written for the stage by Ken Ludwig and directed by JoNell Brantley, Murder on the Orient Express features an eclectic manifest of passengers who all have their share of secrets. When one of them is brutally murdered, it’s up to world-renowned detective Hercule Poirot, to apply his acclaimed skills to expose the killer.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF LIMITED REHEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT
MEETINGS ON ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY’S (“APS”) GRID ACCESS CHARGE IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO DECISION NO. 79293
(DOCKET NO. E-01345A-22-0144)
Summary
On March 5, 2024, the Arizona Corporation Commission (“Commission”) issued Decision No. 79293 in Docket No. E-01345A-22-0144 establishing an additional charge for APS residential rooftop solar and other residential distribution generation customers on (1) the Time-of-Use 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Weekdays (“TOU-E”), (2) Time-of-Use 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM Weekdays with Demand Charge (“R-2”), or Time-of Use 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM with Demand Charge (“R-3”) schedules. APS has implemented the additional charge as the Grid Access Charge (“GAC”).
For the TOU-E customers, the monthly GAC is $0.242/kW-dc of nameplate generation capacity. For R-2 customers, the monthly GAC is $0.250/kW-dc of nameplate generation capacity. For R-3 customers, the monthly GAC is $0.215/kW-dc of nameplate generation capacity. Thus, assuming 10 kW-dc of nameplate generation capacity, the monthly GAC for a TOU-E customer is $2.42, for an R-2 customer is $2.50, and for an R-3 customer is $2.15. Residential solar customers on Legacy Solar Rates may also be impacted by the outcome of the limited rehearing granted in Decision No. 79318.
On April 16, 2024, the Commission issued Decision No. 79318 granting a limited rehearing on Decision No. 79293, focusing on the adoption of the GAC, including: (a) whether the GAC rate is just and reasonable; (b) whether the GAC rate should be higher or lower; (c) whether the GAC rate constitutes a discriminatory fee to solar customers; and (d) whether omission of the GAC would be discriminatory to non-solar customers.
NEITHER APS, THE COMMISSION’S UTILITIES DIVISION (“STAFF”) NOR ANY INTERVENOR HAS YET FILED ANY TESTIMONY REGARDING THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE GAC. THE COMMISSION IS NOT BOUND BY THE PROPOSALS OF APS, STAFF, OR ANY INTERVENORS. THE COMMISSION WILL DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE RELIEF TO BE GRANTED IN THE LIMITED REHEARING BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN THIS MATTER. BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENTS PRESENTED IN THE LIMITED REHEARING, THE COMMISSION COULD MAKE CHANGES RESULTING IN A GAC THAT IS HIGHER, LOWER, OR DIFFERENT THAN THE PRESENT GAC.
Viewing or Obtaining a Copy of Decision Nos. 79293 and 79318
Copies of Decision Nos. 79293 and 79318 are available from APS at www.aps.com/ratecase, through the Commission’s Docket Control Center at 1200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona, and through the Commission’s Tucson office at 400 West Congress, Suite 218, Tucson, Arizona, during regular business hours. The documents may also be accessed through the Commission’s website www.azcc.gov using the e-Docket function.
Public Comment
The Commission will hold the following public comment meetings:
Date
October 15, 2024
October 28, 2024
Time
TELEPHONIC ONLY public comment 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., or until the last caller is finished speaking, whichever comes first. 1-877-309-3457 and enter participant no. 24601833204##
TELEPHONIC AND IN-PERSON public comment 10:00 a.m. prior to the commencement of the hearing at 1200 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona. 1-877-309-3457 and enter participant no. 801972877##
Written public comments may be submitted by mailing a letter referencing Docket No. E-01345A-22-0144 to Arizona Corporation Commission, Consumer Services Section, 1200 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007, or by submitting comments on the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) using “Cases and Open Meetings” and “Make a Public Comment in a Docket.” If you require assistance, you may contact the Consumer Services Section at 602-542-4251 or 1-800-222-7000.
The Commission will impose a 3-minute time limit per speaker to ensure that everyone who desires to speak has an opportunity to do so.
Commission Public Hearing Information
The Commission will hold a hearing on this matter beginning October 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at the Commission’s offices at 1200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007.
If you do not intervene in this proceeding, you will receive no further notice of the proceedings in this docket unless you sign up to Follow the Docket. However, all documents filed in this docket are available online (usually within 24 hours after docketing) at the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) using the e-Docket function. Information on how to Follow a Docket is available on the Commission’s website using “Cases and Open Meetings” and “Follow a Docket or Document Type.”
About Intervention
A PERSON INTERESTED IN THE ISSUES RAISED IN THE LIMITED REHEARING ONLY may be granted intervention if the outcome of the case will directly and substantially impact the person, and the person’s intervention will not unduly broaden the issues in the case. Intervention, among other things, entitles a party to present sworn evidence at hearing and to cross-examine other parties’ witnesses. Intervention is not required for you to appear at the hearing and provide public comment, to file written comments in the record of the case, or to receive emailed notice of each filing made in the case by following the docket.
Information about what intervention means, including an explanation of the rights and responsibilities of an intervenor, is available on the Commission’s website (www.azcc.gov) by clicking on “Cases and Open Meetings” and then clicking on “Intervene in a Case.” The information includes a Sample Intervention Request and a Fillable Intervention Request Form.
To request intervention, you must file a written request to intervene, either (a) by filing a hard copy request (meeting filing requirements) with Docket Control (Docket Control, 1200 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007), or (b) by eFiling the request. Your request must be filed or eFiled no later than September 16, 2024. Instructions and restrictions for eFiling are available on the Commission’s website at http://azcc.gov/hearing/efile-for-utilitiesinstruction. You also must serve a copy of the request to intervene on each party of record, on the same day that you file the request to intervene with the Commission.
Your request to intervene must contain the information below:
1. Your name, address, and telephone number;
2. The docket number for the case in which you are requesting to intervene;
3. A short statement explaining:
a. Your interest in the proceeding (e.g., a customer of the regulated company involved, a property owner in an area to be affected by the case, etc.),
b. How you will be directly and substantially affected by the outcome of the case, and
c. Why your intervention will not unduly broaden the issues in the case;
4. A statement certifying that you have sent a copy of your request to intervene to the regulated company or its attorney and to all other parties of record in the case; and
5. If you are not represented by an attorney who is an active member of the Arizona State Bar, and you are not representing yourself as an individual, sufficient information and any appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with Arizona Supreme Court Rules 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 38, 39, and 42, as applicable. This only applies if you are NOT representing yourself and you are not a licensed attorney.
The granting of motions to intervene shall be governed by A.A.C. R14-3-105, except that all motions to intervene must be filed on or before September 16, 2024
ADA/Equal Access Information
The Commission does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to its public meetings. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, as well as request this document in an alternative format, by contacting the ADA Coordinator, Carolyn Buck, E-mail ADACoordinator@azcc.gov, voice phone number 602-542-2247. Requests should be made as early as possible and no later than 48 hours in advance of the event to allow time to arrange the accommodation.
Gila Community College makes progress on accreditation
By David Abbott
After receiving heavy criticism in a public forum at Miami High School last August, the Gila County Community College District Governing Board has made significant progress toward accreditation in its bid to become an independent school district.
Despite seemingly insurmountable roadblocks, the Board is working with a new educational partner, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), who will come for an onsite visit in October. If all goes well, sometime next year, GCC will be well on its way to being a standalone institution by the time its contract with Eastern Arizona College (EAC) ends in June 2025.
“Needless to say, we have been busy,” says Janice Lawhorn, Interim President of the Gila County Community College District (GCC). “But we are moving forward, and there is no stopping us now.”
The ACCJC was formerly part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, (WASC), which was formed in 1962 to “promote the development of higher education in the Western region,” but became independent in 2013 when WASC divided into three separate organizations, according to the ACCJC website
At the outset of the GCC’s quest for independence, Lawhorn and the GCC Board worked through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of seven regional accreditors functioning in the U.S.
After months of effort with no results, the Board pivoted in February to work with the ACCJC.
“The refreshing thing about ACCJC was that they didn’t have a strict timeline like HLC did,” Lawhorn says. “When we talked to ACCJC, it was like a whole ‘nother ball game we were playing, because the accreditation timeline was on us, and as
soon as we submitted our paperwork they would review it.”
The only sticking point was that the ACCJC commission that reviews an institution’s application only meets in January and June, so in order to make the deadline earlier this year GCC had to assemble a mountain of information for consideration.
The first step was an eligibility review application the GCC Board submitted to the ACCJC in April. Shortly thereafter, an application review team contacted Lawhorn and GCC Board President Jan Brocker, Ph.D., and after a Zoom meeting the Board was informed it had been given the okay to move forward with the process.
The next step was to file an Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ICER) by August 12.
Working under a very tight deadline, Lawhorn, Brocker and a group of dedicated Board members gathered information and compiled the report—often working sevenday weeks—submitting it 11 days early on August 1.
The ICER was about 80 pages, providing more than 500 pieces of evidence outlining policies and procedures, enrollment numbers, majors, what classes will be provided and more.
Throughout the application process, the District has been setting up infrastructure, from a student information system to accounting staff to creating a catalog in preparation for the coming evaluation. GCC was also required by Arizona statute to hold two public forums in June—one in Globe and one in Payson—to inform the community of the progress being made.
“The ICER is being reviewed right now by the peer review team, and they are writing up their pre-report,” Lawhorn says. “The plan is that they have to come and make sure we really exist. They don’t want
a fly-by-night school that isn’t going to be there the next day.”
In addition to looking at both the Gila Pueblo and Payson campuses and evaluating operations of the school, the review team will also visit offsite locations, such as the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation Center, where the GCC HVAC program is taught and the Regional Training Center, where a number of workforce development programs operate.
As GCC goes through the process, the Board is doing other important work to ensure a smooth transition should the ACCJC approve “candidacy status” for the college.
The Board has reached out to Arizona’s universities, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University, to ensure transferability of credits earned at GCC.
Additionally, the Board has prioritized getting the GCC nursing program up and running as soon as possible. To facilitate the process, they have hired Alayna Barr, RN MSN from the Payson Campus to lead the development of the program, which must be approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN).
GCC submitted its first proposal application to the AZBN on August 15. The
application will go to the AZBN Education Committee and after review will go to the AZBN Board for approval.
While establishing the nursing program is outside of the “rigorous and meticulous” accreditation application, Lawhorn says GCC is trying to get ahead of the process, as the AZBN requires an institution to apply one year prior to starting a new program.
“We have done everything that we can do, so it’s going to be up to the commission,” Lawhorn says. “All we can do is say we have done everything to prepare the institution and hope for a positive decision in January.”
In May 2023, Lawhorn and Brocker informed EAC that GCC would terminate its relationship in June 2024. Within a month, EAC told the GCC Board it would terminate the contract in September 2023, which created a chaotic situation for everyone involved with GCC.
Thanks to the intervention of Senate President Warren Petersen, (R-Gilbert), the schools were brought to the negotiating table and an agreement was struck to maintain the contract through June 2025.
Ultimately, Lawhorn says, local control of GCC will keep about $1.5 million in revenues in Gila County and allow the college to more efficiently manage its resources as well as tailor programs to the communities it serves. u
In anticipation of the ACCJC site visit in October, the public is invited to contact the organization with comments. Comment forms can be found at the Gila County Community College District homepage at gilaccc.org. Follow the link to the ACCJC website.
In Loving Memory....
GEORGE “CHICO” STARR JR., January 16, 1941 – August 29, 2024, age 83, passed away in Globe. George was a ranch hand and construction worker. He was originally from Whiteriver. (LM)
JENNIE GREENWALL, June 19, 1935 – August 27, 2024, age 89, of Globe, passed away. Jennie was born in St. David, Arizona, in her parents’ adobe house. (BM)
RONALD THOMPSON, December 10, 1957 – August 26, 2024, age 66, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. He was a longtime seasonal firefighter for BIA Forestry. (LM)
LEON P. KING, November 6, 1983 – August 26, 2024, age 40, of San Carlos, passed away at Montecito Post Acute Care in Mesa. (LM)
DELORES CASSADORE, May 30, 1931 – August 23, 2024, age 93, of Bylas, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Delores was a lifelong elementary school teacher. (LM)
MICHAEL ALLEN TUBB, February 28, 2011 – August 18, 2024, age 13, passed away in Albuquerque. (LM)
FREEMAN RUSSELL JR., May 11, 1940 – August 17, 2024, age 84, of Phoenix, passed away at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus in Phoenix. He worked as a custodian for Tribal Housing. (LM)
THOMAS LEASE, July 17, 1954 – August 17, 2024, age 70, passed away. (BM)
CYNTHIA MCCONNELL, September 14, 1955 – August 17, 2024, age 68, passed away. (BM)
JOYCE ELAINE NAPP, July 19, 1926 – August 15, 2024, age 98, passed away at Faubush Family Homes. Joyce worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell and was employed at the Miami Inspiration Hospital for seven years. She was originally from Fennimore, Wisconsin. (LM)
JERRY WAYNE LAWHON, November 21, 1951 – August 15, 2024, age 72, passed away. Jerry was a heavy equipment operator and an avid horseman. He was born in Miami and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. (LM)
HAROLD B. BENJAMIN, March 4, 1924 – August 13, 2024, age 100, passed away at the home of his son, Michael. Harold served as a torpedoman 3rd class on the USS Pennywell during WWII. After the war, he finished high school and worked many different jobs in Arizona and California, until he settled in at the Christmas Mine, where he eventually retired as manager. He was born in Santa Rita, NM. (BM)
BRYAN JOE WESLEY, August 2, 1977 – August 13, 2024, age 47, of Mesa, passed away at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa. He was originally from San Carlos and worked in construction as a welder. (LM)
ROY D. HICKS, June 2, 1931 – August 12, 2024, age 93, of Wheatfields, passed away at his home. Roy was a rancher, spending his entire life on the Hicks Ranch, except for his service in the Army during the Korean conflict. He was a member of the Gila County Hospital Board, the Gila County Fair and Racing Commission, and the Gila County Cattle Growers Association, where he served as president and was instrumental in the building of the Burch Sale Yard. He will be remembered as the last true pioneer cattleman in Gila County. (LM)
LAWRENCE CONRAD SCHAEFER, December 30, 1943 –August 12, 2024, age 80, of Alpine, Texas, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)
CHRISTOPHER JAMES PATTERSON, May 7, 1967 – August 11, 2024, age 57, passed away. (BM)
DOLLY LOUISE CHAVEZ, June 2, 1961 – August 10, 2024, age 63, passed away. Dolly was originally from Tucson. (BM)
NILDA “JO” ROSE BJORK, November 25, 1940 – August 9, 2024, age 83, of Globe, passed away. She was originally from Brooklyn, New York. (LM)
LILLIE MAE NORTON, March 23, 1930 – August 6, 2024, age 94, of Miami, passed away at CVRMC. She was originally from Gotebo, Oklahoma. (LM)
ANTHONY “TONY” MANI GARCIA, March 22, 1960 – August 5, 2024, age 64, passed away. (LM)
MICHAEL JONATHAN KITCHEYAN, July 27, 1954 – August 3, 2024, age 70, of San Carlos, passed away at Honor Health Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center. (LM)
FRANK HERNANDEZ GARCIA JR., August 5, 1945 – August 2, 2024, age 78, passed away. Frank worked for many years at Inspiration Copper, Cypress Mining, and Phelps Dodge, before retiring as an equipment operator from FreeportMcMoRan. He was born in Miami and served in the National Guard. (LM)
KENNETH EDWARD VARGAS, September 28, 1959 – August 1, 2024, age 64, of Miami, passed away. Ken Vargas was a stellar basketball player who became a beloved teacher and coach, first at Lee Kornegay Junior High and then at Miami High School. During his 17-year career as head coach at MHS, Ken won five conference championships and was named Conference Coach of the Year four times. He will be remembered as caring, generous, and wise. (LM)
DANIEL KALVYN KINDELAY, August 2, 1978 – August 1, 2024, age 45, of Peridot, passed away in Peridot. Daniel was a welder and did maintenance work. He was born in San Carlos. (LM)
MIAMI FLATS from page 1
Robin’s son, Gary Wilson III, owns Dacite Audio, which offers vehicle detailing and custom audio and lighting systems for big trucks and boats. He’s currently converting a retired police car into the new code enforcement vehicle for the City of Miami. Gary had been leasing space at 400 W Sullivan Street for his shop and office. Then the opportunity presented. The owner, Peter Beasley, was ready to sell.
The Wilson family has owned small businesses, primarily construction related. Miami Flats is their first venture in hospitality. The inspiration came from the building itself.
“My husband thought it looked like a place for a cold beer, ” says Robin.
That started the family running to learn everything they could. They hired a liquor consultant to help with licenses and laws. They watched YouTube videos. Two of them attended bartending school and all four adults got their liquor certification. Gary III worked as a compliance officer at larger venues like the Phoenix Open to hone his knowledge of liquor laws and skills as a bartender and barback.
“We jumped in,” says Gary, smiling broadly.
Robin and Gary bought the building and rented space back to Gary III to run his business.
“I see it as a long-term investment,” says Robin, “and Miami Flats, a family affair.”
The roof is good. The space is big. Interior masonry was crafted by Gary Vessels, a cotton broker who lived here for several years. The Wilsons kept everything they could as it was and only redid the kitchen to create the bar. In the shop, they fixed the floor, the foundation and the wiring. Gary Wilson is currently constructing cages for the ax-throwing lanes.
“When it comes to construction, we can do most anything,” says Robin.
They all have full-time professions outside of Miami Flats. Robin is a nurse
director at CVRMC; she works in the ICU. She earned her nursing degree alongside her daughter, Cayla, who also worked at CVRMC. Robin spent some time at a bigger hospital but prefers the connections she has here.
“You can’t take the small town out of a person,” says Robin. “I like the family feel.”
On a quiet Saturday afternoon in June, Cayla tends the bar. A full-time nurse and mother, she drives up from Maricopa to help out at Miami Flats. Her youngsters are there, watching theadults work. A few local customers come in.
The building, with a view of the mine’s main shaft up the hill, stands on a strip once called Miami Flats, which is how the business got its name.
“We wanted something connected to the history of Miami,” says Robin.
Robin grew up in Miami. Her father was a miner. She graduated from Miami High. So did her husband and son.
“We moved for work but I always knew I’d come home,” says Robin.
Miami Flats is attracting a local clientele and folks stumble in from the valley.
The Loners motorcycle club made Miami Flats an official stop on a recent ride through the region. It was a hot day, so the Wilsons opened up the shop and pulled all the motorcycles into the shade. Word is getting out.
“We’re excited that we’re here to see the development of the town,” says Robin.
The town of Miami has been very welcoming and encouraging to the Wilsons. Both Gary and Robin are excited about
the new businesses opening in Miami. Skidoo. The Wilton. Lyric Cafe sandwich shop. Sweet Memories is a weekend favorite.
They are excited about other developments underway — the old Elks building under renovation and the pool is coming back. They are excited to live in a place where the town manager, Alexis Rivera, spends time on the street, and drops by to check on their progress.
“We didn’t expect any of it,” laughs Gary, then adds, “We plan to keep it. We plan to keep expanding.”
Robin concurs that the family has a lot of visions for their new venture.
“Mine is that my husband and I can go float at Roosevelt,” she says, “and the kids can take over.” u
BLUES from page 1
“It’s amazing how people come together to help each other in your time of need,” says Blue.
More than 10 years later, Lisa remains cancer-free.
“It’s still unbelievable,” she says. “I had cancer. Cancer didn’t have me.”
The Most Common Treatments
In 2024, over 300,000 women and almost 3,000 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Their median age is 62. Treatment depends on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Fortunately, about 66% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage.
Surgery is often the first treatment. Remove it. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or shrink the cancer. Radiation therapy employs high-energy rays to do the same. Newer breast cancer treatments include hormone therapy, which tries to keep cancer cells from growing and immunotherapy, that works with the body’s immune system to fight back.
Over 42,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. Survival rates vary depending on several factors, including the stage of the cancer when it is detected, the type of cancer, and whether it is invasive or localized. Overall, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is greater than 90%. For breast cancer detected early and localized, the 5-year survival is 99%.
Somebody’s Mother
Larry Vela, a member of Blue’s talented team, remembers the day he got the call from his mother, Emma. She had breast cancer.
“We were pretty devastated,” Larry says. “My brother flew out from California.”
Emma’s diagnosis followed a mammogram at Scottsdale Memorial. She went through surgery. That was 50 years ago.
“She’s still with us,” says Larry, with a smile. “She’s 96.”
Larry also has six friends who have had breast cancer. They all had early detection. They all survived.
The Healthiest Person I Know
“The scariest part is when you’re told you have it,” says Linda Gross, this paper’s publisher. Linda was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer at age 50, after a regular mammogram.
“They called me in 24 hours,” says Linda. “Three days later I was in surgery.”
She underwent a single mastectomy; and chose hormone therapy over chemo after pursuing a second opinion through Mayo Clinic. Despite having health insurance, the cost of reconstruction surgery was prohibitive. 15 years later, she remains cancer-free.
“I have stopped worrying about it,” she says with a nod and a smile.
