From Rez to Retail:
The Rise of Apache Skateboards
by Patti Daley
Just past the turn of the millennium,
Douglas Miles took his teen-aged son to buy a skateboard at a mall.
“He was skating a lot and starting to crack them,” he recalls.
Douglas didn’t have the money to buy his son one of the designer brand boards on the wall. So he paid for a blank board and promised to paint it. His graphic design of an Apache warrior was a hit with the kids at the park as well as the museum crowd. He made 100 copies of the original design and Apache Skateboards was founded in 2002.
Today, Apache Skateboards is one of the name-brand designer boards on the wall at the mall. Zumiez, an international retailer of sports gear and clothing, began selling Apache Skateboards and streetwear earlier this year.
People can buy Apache Skateboards in select locations including Arizona Mills, Superstition Springs, SanTan Village and Scottsdale Fashion Square and as far east as New York City. Douglas is surprised by the excitement for the products and how people are posting it on social media.
“Anything that creates positive exposure for Apache Skateboards is positive exposure for San Carlos,” says Douglas,“and a big boost for the people of San Carlos.”
APACHE SKATEBOARDS, continued on page 8
Cats Caught in the Crosshairs
Story by David Abbott, Photos by LCGross
A relationship that was touted as “incredibly exciting” in 2022 is in the rearview mirror, as High Desert Humane Society (HDHS) starts the process of reorganizing while it juggles care for animals in its rescue facility near the Globe cemetery.
In a very public display that blew up local social media for several days, HDHS volunteers and board members went to the cat rescue on Broad Street and in broad daylight took possession of the cats residing there to move them to a semitemporary location next to the dog rescue.
Citing the cost of operations and issues with employees, the HDHS board decided it was time to make radical changes in order to establish financial stability and will likely put the old building and some of its assets up for sale in the near future.
Now that the cursing, tears and Facebook eruption has died down, it’s left to the HDHS board to pick up the pieces and provide care for the animals in its possession.
Tray Polk, Laine Williams, Downtown Los Angeles, Photo by Douglas MIles Jr.
Haynes shows off the new Cat House.
Publisher
Linda Gross
Editor
Patricia Sanders
Creative Designer Jenifer Lee
Contributing Writers
David Abbott
Patti Daley
Linda Gross
Carissa Pool
Contributing Photography
Linda Gross
Yevette Vargas
Deb Yerkovich
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Change is on the horizon
As the Globe-Miami community welcomes the cooler temperatures of fall and enjoys the many events that bring us together, our hearts and prayers go out to the communities impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. In times like these, it’s inspiring to witness the outpouring of support from neighbors, volunteers, and contractors from all across the country, as well as the enormous response from the federal government once you cut through all the rumors and false information. These crises show how when we come together, there is strength, resilience, and common ground.
This is the America I am proud of. This is what I will be voting for this Fall, and I urge you all to do the same. Our votes are our voices, and they have the power to shape the future we want to see.
I’ll be voting against the the hate, fear, and ‘othering’ that is too prevalent in the media and from certain political leaders - and voting for the values of community, courage, and heroism that we’re seeing in the aftermath of these disasters. This is the kind of spirit that truly makes America great.
This month’s issue also delves into the recent actions by the High Desert Humane Society, which made such a public spectacle on Facebook when they relocated cats from their facility on Broad Street to their property behind the Cemetery. New board president Cheryl Haynes explains why the Board felt it was necessary.
This Board approaches rescue with a different lens than the former president and board, leaving in their wake volunteers and collaborative partnerships that had fueled the last two years. Haynes points to cost savings and creating a sustainable operation. But in doing so they will need to rebuild some bridges. (See p. 1.)
We also feature Apache Skateboards, a Native brand that started on San Carlos. (See p. 1.) It has been nurtured and promoted with remarkable intensity by the A-Team, led by Douglas Miles, now reaching a national audience while bringing with it recognition for Apache culture and pride.
At a recent Globe City Council meeting, San Carlos Chief of Police Elliot Sneezy spoke about the fire last summer that burned two dozen homes in San Carlos and threatened lives - but ended without loss of life thanks to a massive response from local law enforcement agencies across the region, including Globe PD, as well as courageous actions on the part of San Carlos officers.
Chief Sneezy praised the spirit of collaboration that overcame jurisdictional boundaries to meet an urgent need, saying, “The most important statistic that we can say is that nobody died in this fire, and all I can say is thank you.”
To honor those who aided San Carlos during the fire, Chief Sneezy presented the Globe City Council and law enforcement officers with challenge coins, a symbol of appreciation and respect.
This is the kind of stepping up and coming together that makes Globe-Miami such a special place, and a place where I’m grateful to live.
Enjoy,
Linda Gross, Publisher
by Glen Lineberry
We’ve all experienced someone telling us we ought to do something we’re already in the middle of doing, or that we ought to do it a certain way when we already know perfectly well how to get it done. Might be the new person at work who already knows everything, or it could be the relative surprised you’re roasting sweet potatoes with herbs and spices instead of fixing that dreadful casserole with the little marshmallows on top.
George Bernard Shaw wrote, “People who say it cannot be done ought not interrupt those who are doing it.” I ran across that recently and have been thinking about all the folks in Globe and Miami who are just flat doing the things others say cannot be done. It’s quite a list.
Some caveats before the shout-outs. First, this is by no means a comprehensive list. There are loads of people I’m forgetting and others I’ve never met who daily make life better for all of us. Second, I’m deliberately focusing on folks who made my life – personally and professionally – more pleasant while living and working in Globe, Miami and San Carlos. Third, anyone who’s ever done pretty much anything knows it takes a team, a village, so take the individuals here as avatars for all the folks who’ve played their parts in something good.
My first entry is a sad one because we recently lost Tom Foster, founding member and executive director of Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum. Tom threw himself into the community, always present, always happy, always excited about what was going on at Bullion and around town, and always anxious to learn more about the dozens of things that interested him. A hundred people or more have given time and labor to turn the old school into a museum, but Tom was the
for lightning to strike twice. It struck. Two restaurants that would succeed anyplace now anchor downtown Globe. “Going to see John” became our Thursday evening mantra, either to dine in or take out.
Music enriches our existence and live music is about a million times more impactful than even the best stereo setup. The Globe Miami Community Band under Nolan Frost’s leadership performs at a range of events, hosts fabulous swing nights, and provides opportunities to dance the evenings away. These are talented musicians and extraordinarily nice people who make life in the community just that much nicer. The whole group –but for me, especially Nolan and Kathleen, Sue, Paul, and Linda and Keith – have added luster to our lives.
I’m an economics teacher by trade and annually help students learn the difference between needs and wants. The easy definition of needs would include
“People who say it cannot be done ought not interrupt those who are doing it. I ran across that recently and have been thinking about all the folks in Globe and Miami who are just flat doing the things others say cannot be done. It’s quite a list.”
sine qua non, the one without whom it might never have come together.
It’s a strange thing but loving to cook somehow makes good restaurants even more important, so it was exciting when an Asian fusion joint opened on Broad Street. The food was great, the service crisp and the guy doing most of the cooking also managed to make you feel welcome. Then John Wong took over the building next door and started talking about Neapolitan pizza and an outside dining area and we all crossed our fingers
breathable air, food, water, shelter and a handful of other basics. But that doesn’t make everything else just a want, and the items on this list all fall into the category of things we need to live rather than simply exist. Sarah Bernstein’s shop, Simply Sarah, is chockful of things that meet this definition. Just as our lives are bettered by the Community Band’s music, John’s food and the discoveries awaiting us at Bullion Plaza, Simply Sarah is where you find great clothes, gorgeous table linens, amazing chocolates, the jam you didn’t
“Quality
know you needed but now cannot live without, and incredible jewelry, along with a wide-ranging and soul-heartening chat with Sarah. The visit will make your day and whatever you purchase is like a souvenir of a fabulous encounter.
We’re lucky to have all of these people, but we still need a place to chat about them. Not an online place, but a spot where we relax and see each other face-to-face, where we arrange to meet people and then run into additional friends. That’s where Desi Baker’s Vida e Caffe comes into play. A welcoming staff, handcrafted coffees, Jordan’s incredible baked goods and bacon breakfast croissants, all in a setting that would be successful anywhere. Whether you just need a few quiet moments staring into your chai or you’re hoping to grab a table and invite people to join you, it’s a slice of cultured home.
I was traveling around Arizona the past few days while figuring out how to edit this column and realized how important these things are not just to the people living in town, but to the town’s draw to visitors and tourists. I had an amazing omelet and home fries at Matt’s Big Breakfast in Phoenix, the Raven burger with sweet potato fries and a stout at Café Raven in Prescott, and coffee twice at Macy’s in Flagstaff. Those places are touchstones for me when on the road, reasons to drive out of my way, and John and Desi and Sarah have created those reliable spaces. If you’ve read this far, you’re wondering why I didn’t include someone who’s made your life and the community better. I’ll refer you to the caveats above but, better than that, let those folks know how they improve your day, how much all their effort and hard work are appreciated. Because no matter the reasons people told them it couldn’t be done, they are flat out doing it.
Glen Lineberry taught at San Carlos High School from 2010-2014 and served as principal at Miami High from 2014-2023. He is extending that work in an effort to fill instructional gaps faced by rural students and schools in Arizona and elsewhere. He shares his days with his lovely wife and the coolest dog on the planet.
Providing a Safety Net in Times of Crisis
A house fire. Flooding after a massive rain. An unexpected illness. The need for temporary housing catches most people by complete surprise. And yet, when the need arises, Gila House is there.
by Patti Daley
Since January 2010, GILA House, a 501c-3, has offered General Interim Living Assistance (GILA) to families facing life-altering events threatening their housing stability. The organization has expanded over the years and today manages several properties that are used to house people in need. And in 2018, they expanded their services by taking over the local Domestic Violence Shelter operations after Horizon closed its doors.
“It was a perfect match in terms of mission and resources,” says Debbie Cox, GILA House Board President. “There have been times where we were able to help an individual first through the Domestic Violence Shelter and then transition them into one of our houses while they were getting on their feet.”
Claudia DalMolin, Executive Director of GILA House Inc., echoes that sentiment. “Each family, each person comes with their own story,” she explains. “There are countless reasons people need temporary housing or a safe place to stay. Both GILA House and the Domestic Violence Shelter are designed to help people regain stability and offer hope.”
“We see families coming to us after fires, floods, layoffs, foreclosures, or illnesses,” DalMolin says. “Even with insurance, many families still need help navigating the next steps—getting necessary documents, enrolling kids in school, applying for workforce development or low-income housing. GILA House helps with all of that.”
Debbie Cox is clear: “We’re not a homeless shelter. Our goal is to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.”
A local realtor and Globe City Planning and Zoning Committee member, Cox finds her work with GILA House a positive counterbalance to the challenges she faces professionally. “These families are under incredible stress,”
she says. “Fortunately, it doesn’t stay that way.”
A typical stay at GILA House ranges from 90 to 180 days, though exceptions are made. One family, displaced by a house fire, stayed for a year. When the houses are full, GILA House can sometimes arrange for hotel stays or help people shelter in place by connecting them with essential services like food stamps and medical supplies.
Overcoming Challenges, One Step at a Time
“There’s a myriad of reasons that people get into predicaments,” DalMolin explains. Down on their luck, addiction is just two of them. “We help with what we can.” GILA House partners with organizations like CAPS and whatever resources they have, to provide training, assistance, counseling and food stamps. “Sometimes people complete our program, find a job, and then fall back into old patterns—like addiction or returning to an abusive situation,” says DalMolin, reflecting on the challenges of her work. She is no newcomer to tough situations. She worked 32 years in law enforcement.
“It’s the people we can help that keep us going,” says Dalmolin.
She finds strength in the success stories. She recounts a grandmother raising two grandchildren who fell behind on rent due to illness. Or the veteran and his wife, whose house burned down. They had no insurance, and it was GILA House that stepped in to provide housing for the couple for a year. Or the young woman from a family of 12 who completed a workforce development program, while her family was being helped with housing through GILA house. Another woman, sheltered in the Domestic Violence Safe House for a few months, found a job, made her first car payments, and moved into her first apartment—with CAPS assisting in covering the move-in costs.
“She was grinning from ear to ear because she’d never had anyone help her before,” recalls Cox. “These small victories make our community stronger. When someone gets a hand up, they’re more likely to pay it forward.”
Addressing Domestic Violence
The GILA Safe Haven Domestic Violence Shelter, which GILA House has managed since 2018, is the area’s only shelter of its kind. The shelter has 11 beds, and over the past
two years, it has provided refuge to about 100 people—most of whom are women aged 18 to 70, often with children and always fleeing abusive environments.
“It’s a difficult process,” says Cox. “We conduct thorough interviews to assess the needs of each domestic violence survivor and ensure they can benefit from our services.”
The shelter, located in a secure, undisclosed location, is closely connected to law enforcement. Officers carry information cards about GILA House, and both Globe Police Chief Dale Walters and Gila County Chief Deputy Mike Johnson serve on the board. Chief Walters calls GILA House a vital resource for the community and law enforcement. “Having a safe place for victims is invaluable,” he says.
Funding and Resources
Funding remains a constant challenge. “United Fund has been our lifeline,” says DalMolin. “Without it, there wouldn’t be a GILA House or a domestic violence shelter.”
“We are fortunate to receive donations and grants from Freeport McMorRan, Resolution Copper, the Florence Prison and others that have gone to specific uses, largely to purchase or renovate our properties. These have allowed us to expand our housing inventory. And this last year the City of Globe recently allocated $8,000 to fund a part-time advocate at the shelter.”
However, the lion’s share of the budget comes from small grants, donations, and the United Fund of Globe-Miami. It is these funds that support the everyday expenses. These include costs for utilities, internet, insurance, facilities maintenance, food, personal products, gas for driving people around, medical assistance, pest control, repairs and replacement of furniture and appliances...and more.
“We’ve piecemealed things together in the past,” says Cox. The costs—ranging from utilities to gas for driving residents—add up quickly.
This month is Domestic Violence Month, and the organization is launching its fundraising efforts. As a 501c3, donations are tax deductible and may be sent directly to GILA House, P.O. Box 2174 Globe, Arizona 85502
Ultimately, GILA House aims to be more than just a temporary shelter. Says DalMolin, “We are a place that strengthens and heals.”
Mayor’s SOTC address takes citizens on a journey from the past to move ‘Globe
By David Abbott
Globe Mayor Al Gameros gave his fourth State of the City address on a hot evening in late-September, painting a detailed picture of the inception of the City’s economic revitalization and laying out Council’s vision for the future.
The theme of the address was Preserving Our History, Planning Our Future: Globe’s Path Forward.
Gameros, who along with Councilmen Freddie Rios and Mike Pastor have been re-elected for another four years, set the stage for another two years for the current Council—including Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton, Mariano Gonzalez, Fernando Shipley and Jesse Leetham—to continue the momentum of a plan that started in 2016.
“I am honored to work alongside these dedicated individuals committed to serving our City with a unified vision and goals,” Gameros said. “I also want to thank our City staff. The great things that are happening in our City can be most accurately measured by the commitment and hard work of our dedicated staff and employees.”
Where It All Began
Harkening back to his time as Chief of the Globe Fire Department, Gameros described the state of the City in the wake of the Great Recession of 2008.
Coinciding with the last decade of his 28-year career, Gameros saw the elimination of many City staff positions, furloughs, and an overall 2% reduction in his department’s budget.
By 2016, Gameros had retired and been elected to council where the City faced “deteriorating equipment with no capital improvement plan, taking in used vehicles from other cities for police and fire [departments], with no population growth for decades and aging infrastructure in our 100-year-old city.”
Thus began the move to create a sustainable, modern economy that could better withstand the vagaries of external forces. City leaders wanted to find a way to capture some of the dollars represented by roughly 30,000 vehicles passing through the community daily, find investors, businesses and developers and “take a lead role to control [the City’s] own destiny.”
“It began with the leadership of this council; It began with a vision; It began with setting goals; It began with creating a plan,” Gameros said. “It was about reaching out for help, looking at and visiting other communities that were beginning to thrive to help guide our plan.”
To begin the process, the City entered into its first partnership of this era, joining forces with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), “a 501c3 nonprofit that operates in 13 western states to provide training, technical support, and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their economic goals and visions.”
With the help of a $45,000 Building Rural Economies grant, Globe established its Economic and Community Development Department and embarked on its first-ever tourism marketing campaign. RCAC also facilitated the City’s Strategic Action Plan update for 2019-2022 and provided training for City staff to take over the process in 2020.
That relationship continues to this day and Globe continues to benefit from the partnership, through technical assistance for both City staff and local businesses from a new $3 million grant to provide further training for the cities under RCAC’s scope of service.
But more unforeseen roadblocks slowed progress, from the COVID pandemic to fires and floods in recent years. Despite numerous setbacks, Council maintained its focus and took advantage of opportunities, such as money from the Coronavirus Relief Fund—the CARES Act— which provided $150 billion in federal aid to cities throughout the country.
“Even through these difficult times, we never lost our focus on the plan that we had set in motion,” Gameros said. “Our staff was creative with funding guidelines, aggressive in seeking grant funding, and working with
investors and developers we became more visible and involved at the state and national level.”
Much of the funding has come thanks to hiring a lobbyist in Washington DC, which has been augmented by two Council visits to Washington to attend the National League of Cities Conference and lobby for additional funding.
Along the way, the City has also bulked up staffing levels in order to facilitate growth and manage grant monies that have become a vital part of City funding.
Measures of Success
Over the past eight years, Globe’s operational budget has grown significantly and signs of progress are showing up all over town in the form of rehabilitated infrastructure, blight reduction, and new building projects.
All around town, the success of the City’s plans are coming to fruition.
Recent successes include:
• The rehabilitation of the Community Center Pool;
• The $4.4 million Connie’s Bridge project (anticipated opening by the end of the year);
The $2.8 Cottonwood Bridge replacement;
• The ongoing rehabilitation of the Michaelson Building, thanks to a partnership between Gila County and the City and $750,000 in federal funds;
The $21 million Gorman Hill Street School project, creating 64 units of affordable senior housing; and
• A $100,000 feasibility study to rehabilitate the McCormack Tunnel with funding from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
Upcoming projects include: $14 million fire station project;
• $2.2 million new ladder truck;
• $3.5 million Jess Hayes sidewalk project; $158,000 Safe streets and roads project to improve the safety of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in historic downtown on Broad Street; as well as,
CITY OF GLOBE, Continued on page 7
The $2.8 million Cottonwood Bridge replacement was completed in September.
EVENTS AROUND GLOBE
26th Annual Ghosts of Globe Walking Tour
October 26 | 6-10 pm
Start Location: 230 So Broad St, Globe
Tickets $25
See Eventbrite or pay at CVCA or at the door.
(Pre-sale tickets through Eventbrite get their pick of start times)
Step back in time and immerse yourself in Globe, Arizona’s Old West history on a captivating walking tour! Explore the haunted past with thrilling tales of real ghost sightings, historical events, and dramatic reenactments that bring to life—and death—this wild and untamed era. Globe’s notorious history, brimming with saloons and lawlessness, is sure to intrigue, especially with the mysterious, unexplained phenomena said to linger. Could it be the copperrich soil, the disturbed earth, or something more? As seen on Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures,” experience three haunted locations in Globe’s historic downtown for yourself.
Join us for a 2-hour lantern-lit journey, departing from the 1916 Globe Train Depot, where you’ll walk the streets once tread by notorious figures of the past. This unforgettable experience runs from 6:00-8:00 p.m., guiding you through Globe’s historic district. You’ll visit iconic sites such as the 1910 Territorial Sheriff’s Office and Jail, the 1906 Territorial Gila County Courthouse, and more, with a surprise location along the way. Be prepared for stairs, alleys, uneven pavements, and a shuttle ride back to the start.
Tickets are just $25 per person and can be purchased online, at the CVCA, or at the door. Pre-sale tickets allow you to choose an approximate tour launch time, but walk-ups are welcome and will be accommodated as space allows. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult, though please be mindful of the tour’s content when considering young ones.
For accessibility, please contact our office at least one week before the event, and we’ll do our best to accommodate any special needs. Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes, and don’t forget to bring a flashlight!
Join us for a spine-tingling evening of history, mystery, and the unexplained in the heart of Old Globe!
• $254,000 project to upgrade the skate park at the Community center and a $100,000 project funded by BHP to install additional outdoor exercise equipment at the community center
The financial numbers also provide an indication of the success of the City’s plans overall. According to Gameros, the total amount of grants funds received since 2018 in all City departments is $127 million and Council has put a capital improvement program in place to replace vehicles and equipment for fire, police, and public works.
Other fiscal highlights include:
• 173% budget increase from $24.2 million in 2016 to $66.3 million for fiscal year 2024-2025; 68% increase in the operational budget over the same period from $11,465,632 to $19,260,943;
26th Annual Globe Halloween Block Party October 31 | 4pm-10pm
Join us for the 2024 Annual Globe Downtown Halloween Block Party on Thursday, October 31, 2024! Hosted by the Globe Downtown Association, this family-friendly community event brings together over 5,000 visitors for fun, festivities, and trick-or-treating night in
The trick-or-treat portion runs from 5:30-7:00 p.m. or until stations run out of treats. You can start anywhere along Broad Street, from Yuma to Sycamore, to avoid crowd bottlenecks. Enjoy candy, costumes, and community as you stroll through decorated storefronts and participate in a people’s choice contest for the bestdecorated store and candy station.
The event also features four live music hubs, a car show, family-friendly trunk-ortreat stations, sidewalk chalking, and a spooky walk through the 1910 jail! Don’t miss the popular photo booth, courtesy of Ms. Yevette Photography. Be sure to tag your costume photos with #GlobeAZHalloween2024 to enter our virtual costume contest. The party runs from 5:00-9:00 p.m., with street closures in effect for safety.
Event Highlights:
Trick-or-Treating: 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Live Music: Four hubs across downtown
Food Truck Court: 4:00-9:00 p.m. on Oak Street
Spooky Jail Walk: 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Oak Street (free, food donations encouraged)
Photo Booth: 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Broad & Oak
Virtual Costume Contest: All day via #GlobeAZHalloween2024
People’s Choice Voting: Best storefront and candy station via social media hashtag
The event is free, but we encourage donations of non-perishable food for St. John’s Food Pantry. Join us for a spooktacular night of Halloween fun for all ages!
Questions? Contact Event Coordinator, Molly Cornwell 480-345-7477 historicglobeaz@gmail.com, or our office partners 928-425-0884 & 928-425-8111
Both of these events can be found on Facebook for more details.
$14.4 million for water and sewer improvements;
• $9.4 million for roads maintenance and bridge construction;
$19 million set aside for possible grants and donations.
“We have come a long way but we still have a lot more to do to reach that final plateau of sustainability,” Gameros said.
Globe Forward
At the heart of the renaissance, is the concept of Globe Forward, a multi-part plan that ranges far into the future and includes initiatives such as Globe Clean and Beautiful and Gila PROUD for urban renewal and community beautification projects.
In order to serve the greater demand of services that growth will bring and manage projects that receive external funding, the City is also bulking up staffing in critical departments and has hired a grants manager to continue its funding model.
“For our Council and staff, this means as we plan for our future and prepare for growth we are focused on a greater quality of life for our residents now and for future generations,” Gameros said. “Through hard work and
dedication and a shared vision with goals and planning, your City Council has worked with City Administrators and Staff to create the pathway to a diverse and thriving economic future.”
Another important part of Globe Forward is the effort to update fire and building codes by the beginning of 2025. Globe is currently using codes that are long out of date.
Closing Comments
As the Mayor reached the end of his presentation, he reiterated the work of City staff and the dedication of City Council and emphasized the importance of the partnerships the City has developed.
He ended his speech with a call to action sent out to the entire community to “become part of that positive force that continues to drive our momentum and be part of our success.”
“This story is not about me, it is about all of us: Your city council making decisions, and your City staff planning and making it happen with the support of you, our residents. We have an amazing community,” Gameros concluded. “True leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others and the community they serve.”
CITY OF GLOBE
Apache Skateboards
Continued from page 1
“In my family there were always creative people doing creative things,” Douglas says.
His mother was a dressmaker. His Dad played guitar. One of 13 children, art was possibly a way for Douglas to stand out, or simply, communicate.
“When you’re making art, you’re really just trying to communicate better with people,” Douglas says. “The most important thing that I’m trying to communicate is that we are all part of a community and that our communities, our families, our histories, and cultures are all important.”
Douglas started creating art with works on paper in colored pencil. By the late 90s, he was selling drawings and paintings. Obscura Gallery in Sante Fe handles his photography. TurnerCarroll handles his fine art, and is currently featuring the Forced Removal Series – 15 pieces of spray paint and applique on vintage luggage. His artwork has been displayed in a 23-piece exhibit at the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race at Columbia University and his vision featured on NBC news. There’s a limited edition “You’re Skating on Native Land” skateboard for sale on his website for $1250.
“That’s called a museum board,” explains Douglas, “because that board has been featured in two museum art shows – Phoenix and Denver and is currently on display in a university art museum in Indiana.”
Like great artists of the Renaissance, Douglas creates in many forms. A highly regarded photographer and fine artist, his art is finding its way into new forms, from spray paint and murals to designer shoes, a graphic novel, documentary and feature film and a cultivated social brand. Skateboards, he says, are a new way to talk about Apaches, to the younger generation.
“The fine art of Douglas Miles and the work of Apache Skateboards are inextricable,” says Douglas.
A skating event here. An art show there. Like two ends of a half-pipe, Douglas sees them as part of the same expression — envisioning Apache freedom, resistance and creativity in the face of centuries of settler colonialism.
“That the land was taken is glossed over in American history and lost in American exceptionalism, or whatever you want to call it,” says Douglas.
Native Americans, he points out, were the first to realize the importance of the environment and water sources. The Apaches were one of the last tribes to fight the western expansion.
“Some people say oh, why do you have to dwell on the past,” says Douglas. “But this past is in who we are, and it can influence the future.”
He’s currently curating an art show at the College of the Desert in Palm Springs with 9 different artists. Last month he painted a mural in White River. In early October he introduced Grammy award-winning rock artist Beck at the FORM Arcosanti festival. The key to success, he says, is not quitting. He advises artists to keep their day jobs.
“The best artists are the most stable,” he says. “People with families and jobs.”
Douglas studied graphic design at Mesa Community College and made a living through counseling and social work. Though he’s racked up many accomplishments, Douglas has dreams to pursue. He wants his own cartoon.
APACHE SKATEBOARDS, continued on page 10
TYNIESHA THOMPSON, APACHE TEAM, FRESNOCA, ZUMIEZ
Apache Skateboards is sponsoring Skate for Democracy, a voter awareness event on Friday, October 18th from 5-8 pm at the San Carlos Skate park. They will also hold skateboard demonstrations during the Apache Jii Festival in downtown Globe.
“So many more good things could occur in this town, in this region,” says Douglas, with a nod toward the New San Carlos SkatePark that opened April 1, 2022.
Douglas skateboarded some when he was young. Not anymore. He’s 60. His son, Douglas Miles Jr., took to the sport in the early 2000s and became a professional skateboarder. He’s also a film producer, product designer and dad. One of the consultants on the San Carlos park, Doug Jr. is on a committee to get a skatepark built in White River and an effort is underway to build a skate park in Bylas.
Two decades into
his business endeavor,
Apache Skateboards remains a small rural business. On the rez. Douglas Miles likes it that way.
“People don’t understand the high level of creativity and time it takes to make these things, “ he says. “To make them something that’s shareable.”
Once Douglas had the idea to create a skateboard brand – to sell skateboards and t-shirts with original Apache Skateboard designs, he knew he needed to have a skate team and make videos to build the brand. He formed the A Team, a band of Native skaters with a DIY flair. The A Team has been featured in promotions by the Phoenix Suns, Red Bull, Kia, Smart Water and showcased in the Mystery of Now (2019), and Apache Leap (2021), both co-produced by Douglas. In recent months, they’ve held skateboard competitions in Tuba City and Fort Defiance. The San Carlos tribe sponsors a big competition over Veteran’s Day weekend.
“We get hired by different tribes to do skating workshops, competitions. Sometimes we work with partners to promote their event,’ says Douglas, “If we feel like it’s something we want to support.”
If the company or brand is potentially dangerous to the environment or young people, Apache Skateboards says no. Timing is a challenge. Everyone on the A Team (ages 13-30) have daily life schedules with jobs, families, school. Zumiez approached Apache Skateboards because they liked what they were doing.
“We see that you’re involved in the community,” they told Douglas. “We want to support that. We want to carry your product in our store.” Zumiez is the biggest retailer to feature their brand, but not the first. They are currently working with Etnies to design a new skateboarding shoe. “Grip, flexibility, all the things a skateboarder needs that are not in other shoes,” explains Douglas. “Durability. Sometimes extra padding. “ Because a skater is a lot like an artist, or an entrepreneur. They find their own style of doing things, and never quit. u
DOUGLAS MILESJR. RIDESFOR ETNIES FOOTWEARAND APACHE, FLAGSTAFFAZ
In a recent article by LA Times, they note that the Native Vote could be pivotal in Arizona where 6% of the population is indigenous. And 2025 marks the 100 year anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, giving Native Americans the right to vote.
Douglas Miles Jr. Laine Williams, Tray Polk, Apache Team, Antelope Canyon AZ
Creating Opportunities – Building Futures
CVIT and Gila Community College’s Partnership Continues to Grow in Providing Educational and Workforce Development Opportunities to Local Students
by Carissa Pool
The long-standing partnership between Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) and Gila Community College (GCC)—Gila Pueblo Campus, has played a key role in our community’s educational opportunities for more than a decade. This collaboration has enabled CVIT to offer industry-driven Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to high school students, preparing them for meaningful careers while also meeting the needs of local industries.
With this partnership’s continued growth, CVIT has expanded from offering just one program with ten students in 2010 to now serving 175 students across ten workforce development programs. These programs include Cosmetology, Dental Assistant, Early Childhood Education, Electrical Installation, HVAC-R, Medical Assistant, Mental and Social Health Technician, Nurse Assistant, Welding, and Wildland Fire Science—fields that are integral to the workforce of the Cobre Valley region.
GCC has helped CVIT develop high-quality programs, provide accreditation, and allow students to earn dual credits for both high school and college. The continued partnership between CVIT and GCC is essential for maintaining our educational excellence and preparing students for the workforce.
One of the most exciting developments in CVIT and GCC’s ongoing collaboration is the accreditation of two new programs: the Mental and Social Health Tech program and the Electrician Installation program. These programs, which currently provide high school credit, will become fully accredited for college credit by July 1, 2025.
Mike O’Neal, CVIT Executive Director, explains, “Currently, students in these two new programs are earning high school credit, but not dual credit. This will change with accreditation, allowing them to earn both high school and college credits. There is a big need for mental health professionals in our community and across the state, and our Mental and Social Health Tech program will help meet this need. Similarly, the demand for electricians is growing, and our Electrician Installation program is helping prepare students for these high-demand jobs.”
The success stories from CVIT’s programs show how much this partnership has impacted students and the local workforce. Graduates are not only entering the workforce with industry-recognized certifications but are also gaining the skills necessary to excel in their careers. Many of CVIT’s students find employment or continue their education in fields that directly benefit the local economy. Take it from Kaitlyn Derhammer, CVIT Alumni, “CVIT helped me build experience in my desired field and enter my undergraduate career with more knowledge than most. It also helped me graduate with my bachelor’s degree a semester early by having credits on my transcripts before starting.”
O’Neal reflects on the value of this partnership for students and the community, saying, “It is what’s best for students. It gives them a chance to succeed while also meeting the needs of our local industries. We’ve been able to grow these programs and meet demand because of the support from GCC. Together, we’re creating a strong workforce for our community.”
For more information about CVIT and the programs they offer, visit CVIT81.org or call (928) 542-9640.
WELCOME to Globe-Miami
Globe Historic District
*Please note: is map is not to scale, it is intended for informational purposes only.
Cultural Success Program gives San Carlos students a chance to say ‘SHIŁ GOZHÓÓ’
By David Abbott
The San Carlos Unified School District’s Cultural Success Coaching Program offers a safe space and gives troubled students an outlet for their frustrations as well as material support during the school year.
SCUSD support services created the program, in its second year of existence, to help students who may need an extra boost, offering services ranging from mental health support to basic hygiene products or clothing.
According to Cultural Support Coordinator Randy Begay, the entire program is centered around the idea of SHIŁ GOZHÓÓ , the Apache word for “I’m happy.”
“That became the new concept as a response to working with trauma in our schools,” Begay says. “In the community there are so many social ills from substance abuse, domestic violence, to homelessness, and different forms of neglect and abuse. So that became the idea, to implement the whole concept of SHIŁ GOZHÓÓ .”
Here are two “success coaches,” in each school and a counselor at Rice Intermediate. The coaches are both male and female—the counselor is a woman—for students who may feel more at ease with one gender over the other.
Cultural Success coaches are from the San Carlos community with first-hand understanding of the challenges they might face, with some level of postsecondary education.
The coaches receive extensive training, including mandated reporter training, Safe Talk—an advanced suicide prevention training—and Youth Mental Health First Aid, which helps coaches identify mental health issues to provide support and complete a referral to a professional if needed, according to Begay.
They also have training with an organization called Star Commonwealth, a resource that provides strategies around trauma-informed practices. There is also a cultural component specific to the Apache culture.
“They’re there as a support, not as a disciplinarian, so their approach has to be supportive,” Begay adds. “The whole idea of cultural success coaching is to take that process of getting to know the student, identifying the problem areas, creating a plan and then provide coaching.”
The program provides “care centers” stocked with clothes, water, Gatorade and food as well as hygiene products and “calming rooms” for students who need a space to calm down or self-regulate if they are angry or otherwise triggered.
Begay brings experience in educational psychology as a counselor and has a Master of Education in human relations, as well as a Master of Science in Counseling. He worked as an outpatient counselor with various agencies, but began as a social worker at SCUSD in 2017 at San Carlos Middle School, implementing interventions to deal with behavioral issues in the district. In 2019, it expanded into a more community-based program, but the COVID pandemic set in right before spring break began in 2020.
When the restrictions were finally lifted, Begay found that many students had been isolated and were having trouble reintegrating into the classroom.
“They had forgotten how to interact socially,” Begay says. “The school district said we need to create this program as another form of support, so that we can transition them back into a traditional classroom, to have them experience those settings again.”
The program employs a wide range of San Carlos Apache Tribal members who share a deep connection to the community and the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
A 2008 graduate of San Carlos High School, Paula Wilson was the lead instructor at the alternative high school for five years. When that program had to downsize, thanks in part to a reduction in need, Wilson was hired as a coach and has been with the program from the beginning.
“What I was doing in the alternative school is what I do in the program, I just never really labeled it,” Wilson says. “My only goal was to make sure they felt seen and that they felt appreciated.”
Wilson was raised in a single-parent household and her mother did not graduate from high school, although she stressed the importance of an education to ensure Wilson’s independence.
She wound up moving to Montana to attend Little Bighorn College on the Crow Reservation, depending on her own efforts to eventually earn her degree in elementary education.
The experience helped Wilson avoid some of the problems of her contemporaries who “fell on the wrong path.”
“A lot of times I find success talking with parents and I’m very transparent with them about my background,” Wilson says. “I know what it feels like to be afraid and to ask for help.”
Wilson said she has parents who express that had the program existed when they were in school, they likely would have graduated.
“We provide a lot of things for students, whether they just need someone to vent to, if they need school supplies, if they need new clothes, if they want us to wash their clothes, if they want a minute to recompose themselves. We offer support services to students, and anything they need to help them be successful in school.”
– HEIDI STEVENS
Levi Thompson comes to the school district after working in behavioral health for the Young Warriors through the San Carlos Wellness Center.
After graduating from San Carlos High School, Thompson attended Fort Lewis College, in Durango, Colorado before returning to San Carlos Apache College. Thompson works with K-2 students and thinks it is important to bond with students, and says the community connection is key to gaining students’ trust and teaching them social skills vital to their futures.
“It’s good to help kids recognize emotions, and what they’re feeling,” Thompson says. “Kids this age don’t know how to verbalize: They’re just mad, they’re sad, they’re crying, and that’s the only thing they know how to do.”
That sentiment was echoed by Heidi Stevens, who despite her educational successes, wishes she might have had similar resources when she was in school.
“I had lost some of my peers through suicide,” Stevens says. “If I had this program when I was in high school, I definitely would have opened up more, and it probably would have taken a lot of stress off of me as a student.”
Stevens started in the program this year, after moving back to the Reservation to help her mother after her father passed away in October 2023.
Her background is in pediatrics and she spent time as a primary school health aid in San Carlos before moving to Mesa to work in the healthcare field. When she returned, she heard about the Cultural Success Program and thought it would be a meaningful way to contribute to the community.
Longtime SCUSD employee
Raelenia Patterson brings more than 15 years experience within the district as well as significant experience raising children. With three kids of her own and five stepchildren, she has students of all ages within her own family.
She graduated from SCHS in 2005 and earned an associates degree in education. She is currently working toward another AA degree in social services and has been part of the Cultural Success Coaching Program since its inception.
Like Thompson, Patterson thinks gaining students’ trust is the most important aspect of the job.
“I feel like a lot of them don’t understand what trust is and what a relationship is: They don’t have a lot of people they can trust and talk to,” Patterson says. “I think it’s a big and great success, a big win, knowing that the students know there’s someone that they can trust, someone they can talk to.”
Begay brings the program back to SHIŁ GOZHÓÓ and the importance of having a safe space for students.
“One of the models that we came up with was a student who is loved at home, comes to school to learn,” Begay says. “Students who do not have love at home, come to school to get love.”
The Miami Fiesta 2024 was a “Big” win for the Town of Miami, bringing Family fun with Kiddy Land, the Chihuahua Races, entertainers throughout the day & into the evening, and great food court & booths. We would like to take this time to recognize and thank all who sponsored, contributed & volunteered.
Special thanks to our Sponsors: APS, Resolution Mining, Gila County Supervisors; Tim Humphrey, Steve Christensen, Woody Cline, United Fund of Globe-Miami, Apache Gold Casino Resort, Miami Genesis, and the Town of Miami.
Shout out to our Contributors & Volunteers: KIKO, KQSS, Globe-Miami Times, Copper Country News, The Silver Belt, Bullion Plaza Museum, the Miami Art Works Artists, The Town of Miami Public Works Department & Town Staff, Debbie Hiibel, Miami Genesis Economic Development Board, husband’s & families, and all the wonderful Fiesta Volunteers. Thank you again, Adios!
Globe High School homecoming celebration was a success thanks to the generous support and hard work of countless individuals and organizations in our community.
From the dedicated volunteers who put in countless hours to the businesses that provided donations, everyone played a crucial role in making this event a memorable one.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Globe High School Alumni, City of Globe, Globe Police Department and Globe Fire Department, Mike Termain and Darlene Medina - our Grand Marshals, our Class Sponsors, Teachers and Administration at Globe High School, 1st Choice Lumber, Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, Walmart, Fry’s, Little Caesars, Guayos on the Trail, and La Casita Downtown. Your contributions have made a significant difference in our community and helped to create lasting memories for our students.
Thank you again for your support. Globe High School Student Council
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY YAZZIE
Miami SkillsUSA Chapter
Miami SkillsUSA Chapter is going to have their annual Trunk or Treat October 29, 2024 in the Miami High School staff parking lot. The event will start at 5:30pm and go to 7pm; costume contest at 6pm.
If your cohort, organization or club are going to sell food, items or charge for games, you must pay a booth fee of $15. If your cohort, organization or club are having a booth for fun, there is no charge and you do not have to pay a booth fee.
Please sign up with Ms. Yazzie or Mrs. Schiefert at Miami High School 928-425-3271 and show your spooky Vandal Spirit.
If you have any questions, ask a SkillsUSA officer or members about this haunting event that you don’t want to miss out on.
Officers – Aiden Rubin, Logan Peel, Isaac Shaffer and Christian Loft SkillsUSA Advisors – Ms. Yazzie, Mrs. Schiefert and Mr. Palmer
GHS Alumni Association members and GHS Student Council members whitewash the “G” during Globe-Miami Week, September 2024
Globe High School Alumni Association
Globe High School Alumni Association was excited to see many classes holding reunions and being represented in the Homecoming parade. This was a significant year for Reunions with the Classes of 64, 65, 74, 84 (plus guest classes 81-87), 89, and 94 holding Reunion. Thanks to our Alumni Patty Nolan, Aurelie Flores, Janet Lanphar, Michelle Holder, Regina Ortega, and Yvonne Avalos with assisting these classes with the planning. We encourage all classes to organize reunions, especially for their milestone years and Homecoming weekend. We are here to help you with centralized resources and personal planning! Join our Facebook Group Page to stay current on our efforts to support and celebrate GHS Alumni.
GHS Class of 1974 50th Reunion at GHS, September 2024
GHS Class of 1984 40th Reunion, Homecoming Weekend, Oct 5, 2024; Party Like It’s 1984!
Left to Right: Aurelie Wisdom, Aurelie Flores (Class of ’83), Paul Gonzales (Class of ’85) and Vernon Perry, Homecoming Halftime, Vernon Lee Perry Copper Cup Awarded (First Place Float)
GHS Class of 1989 Tours GHS @ GHS 110th Birthday Bash
GHS Class of 1965
SOCIETY PAGE
First Choice Lumber Grand Opening
Sept 19th
MHS Homecoming Parade
October 4th | Sullivan Street, Miami
GHS Homecoming Parade
October 4th | Downtown Globe
IN LOVING MEMORY
BERNIE HILLIARD, July 22, 1942 – September 30, 2024, age 82, passed away. (BM)
EDWARD ORNELAS, September 27, 1958 –September 29, 2024, age 66, passed away. (BM)
JUDY SIMS, May 7, 1948 – September 28, 2024, age 76, passed away. (BM)
DEAN BACA, May 12, 1965 – September 28, 2024, age 59, passed away. (BM)
EUGENE D. MARTIN, March 14, 1939 –September 27, 2024, age 85, of Claypool, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)
DORINDA JUNE DILLON, December 8, 1968 – September 27, 2024, age 55, of San Carlos, passed away at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. (LM)
RONDA SUE CHASE, November 4, 1971 –September 26, 2024, age 52, of Peridot, passed away at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix. (LM)
CAROL ANNE GUERRERO, March 9, 1941 –September 24, 2024, age 83, of Globe, passed away at Haven Healthcare in Globe. (LM)
PATRICIA PAYTON, February 4, 1945 –September 22, 2024, age 79, passed away. (BM)
ETHELENA ALLEN, January 8, 1952 –September 20, 2024, age 72, of San Carlos, passed away at Apache Junction Healthcare Center in Apache Junction. (LM)
RONNY DEEN, April 19, 1936 – September 19, 2024, age 88, passed away. (BM)
FORTINO ALVARADO, October 25, 1933 –September 18, 2024, age 90, passed away. (BM)
LOUIS VUKSANOVICH, June 22, 1956 –September 18, 2024, age 68, of Globe, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)
CHAVEZ ADAM NOLINE, June 9, 1975 –September 17, 2024, age 49, of Peridot, passed away at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson. (LM)
JOSEPHINE H. GONZALES, July 11, 1931 –September 14, 2024, age 93, passed away. (BM)
CARL WALTER BUELL JR., February 9, 1955 –September 13, 2024, age 69, of Miami, passed away at his home. (LM)
PATSY BURKETT, March 1, 1935 – September 12, 2024, age 89, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)
HERMAN DOSELA SR., July 9, 1960 –September 11, 2024, age 64, of San Carlos, passed away at San Carlos Apache Healthcare in Peridot. (LM)
JOHNNY LIMAS GARCIA, July 26, 1936 –September 10, 2024, age 88, of Claypool, passed away. He worked in the mines until his retirement. (LM)
STEPHEN ‘DANNY’ MARTINEZ, October 1, 1956 – September 9, 2024, age 67, passed away. (BM)
ROSEMARY TEICHROW, February 26, 1926 –September 9, 2024, age 98, of Globe, passed away at her home. Rosemary taught 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grade at East Globe School and Copper Rim. She was born in Globe. (LM)
IMA JO CULPEPPER, August 24, 1929 –September 9, 2024, age 95, of Globe, passed away at her home. She was originally from Oklahoma and moved to Globe in 1967. (LM)
CHRISTOPHER MATT, October 14, 1982 –September 8, 2024, age 41, of Phoenix, passed away at Friendship Village in Tempe. (LM)
MICHAEL DAVID REAL, May 22, 1981 –September 6, 2024, age 43, passed away. (BM)
DONALD DEAN CHARTIER, December 25, 1931 – September 6, 2024, age 92, passed away at Haven of Globe. Donald proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. (LM)
BERNADETTE JEAN HANEY, August 24, 1970 – September 6, 2024, age 54, of San Carlos, passed away in San Carlos. (LM)
MICHAEL D. JONES, June 20, 1945 –September 5, 2024, age 79, passed away. (BM)
HARWARD COLIN PEDDIE, February 6, 1944 –September 5, 2024, age 80, of Globe, passed away at his home. Harward was born in Safford and worked as a heavy equipment operator for a construction company. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force. (LM)
CELSO GAITAN REYES III, July 12, 1940 –September 4, 2024, age 84, of Miami, passed away at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa. Celso worked as a heavy equipment operator for a copper mine for many years. He also was a delivery driver for G.E. and worked for Pete’s Country Store. (LM)
TERRY TIDEY, November 12, 1953 – September 3, 2024, age 70, of Claypool, passed away in Flagstaff. He worked as a plumber for a construction company and was originally from Tempe. He proudly served his country as a U.S. Navy Seal. (LM)
JACK N. CARBAJAL, October 24, 1936 –
“We are committed to transparency and will continue to communicate with our community as we navigate these changes,” the organization posted to Facebook on September 25. “Our mission to protect and care for animals remains unwavering, and we are hopeful for a brighter future for both our organization and the animals we serve.”
According to HDHS Board President Cheryle Haynes, some of the issues with the rescue had been going on for years, but due to rising costs and issues she says the Board had with the way the facility was being operated, the situation came to a head in recent months.
“We were spending $5,000 a month on the cat house, including the wages, a $437 mortgage payment, and the utilities were the highest out of all our buildings,” Haynes says. “We don’t make any money on cats, so believe me, there’s no money.”
New board, old problems
Haynes is a member of a board that has been together for less than a year and is comprised of Haynes; former Globe Councilmember and Vice-President of the Board, Charlene Giles; Co-Vice President, Monique Perez; Secretary/Treasurer Pamela Osborne, and Board Members Brianna Beck, Tom Haynes, and Globe Councilman Jesse Leetham.
Haynes and her husband, who also serves on the board, became involved with the organization in 2023 and donated money to the rescue, overseeing the installation of new flooring in the old building.
She said when she joined the organization, there was already a history of disagreements with the cat rescue managers, but the board was really focused on looking at what needed to be done “in order to survive, to not have so much outgoing money.”
“We felt like we needed to probably have fewer buildings,” Haynes says. “[The Thrift Store], we need, because it’s our moneymaker, and the furniture store, I think, has potential.”
But the Cat House, Haynes says, is a liability due to ongoing complaints about the smell and the City’s mandate to repaint the building, which would cost about $15,000 because of the need to use a licensed contractor for the work.
Haynes says the board was also concerned about mounting operating costs and expenditures.
HDHS and the ‘Cat House’
The High Desert Humane Society was originally incorporated in 1969 as the Gila Humane Society, according to documents obtained through the Arizona Corporation Commission website. In November 2010, the 501c3 nonprofit had reorganized and filed an amendment with the AZCC, becoming what is currently the High Desert Humane Society.
The cat rescue facility on Broad Street, known affectionately as the “Cat House,” was in a 100-plus-yearold building purchased by the Humane Society in 2012. According to local lore, the building at one time was an actual “cat house” in the historical sense of the word.
The rescue opened in April 2012, with Debbie McGallion serving as director. McGallion oversaw an expansion of the facility in 2013.
By July 2019, McGallion had stepped down and Cherylee Mariscal took over as director and was faced with a number of problems, from massive cat overpopulation to a spate of complaints about odors from neighbors. There were also problems with keeping volunteers, lack of oversight and no policy guidelines. The City even threatened to shut the shelter down at one point.
The board that existed then—none of whom currently serve—had been made aware of ongoing issues with the burgeoning cat population at the shelter, but failed to step in to address problems.
In 2021, Mariscal resigned and was replaced by Megan Chism, who left the position in September after only six months on the job.
“A cat shelter is a community asset. It is not designed to make money. It is designed to serve a need. And the need is great.”
– CHERYL MARISCAL, DIRECTOR 2019
By then, many of the facility’s problems had been addressed, but there were still ongoing issues with odors. The interim director after Chism’s departure was Laurie Manzano, who often stepped in to help during times of crisis. Manzano, a longtime cat advocate in Globe, housed and cared for High Desert’s cats in her art gallery, the Blue Mule, in downtown Globe for 14 years before the cat house was established.
In the summer of 2021, HDHS attempted to establish the dog rescue at its former site, the Gila County animal shelter, on Hackney Avenue near the Globe Cemetery. The City of Globe temporarily halted the move until questions about the lease and land ownership could be addressed, but the issue was eventually worked out and construction eventually commenced.
HDHS holds a 99-year lease with Gila County which does not expire for another 45 years or so.
In October 2021, Carr joined the board, bringing national experience and a wide range of contacts in the animal rescue field, including an association with the Humane Society of the United States. The move was seen as a major win for the organization.
Carr became president of the board when longtime board member and president Cheryle Brazell stepped down from the nonprofit she had championed for many years. She proceeded to work to bring the organization into the 21st century with record keeping and updating facilities.
In March 2023, Carr became Executive Director of the nonprofit. Under her leadership, HDHS made improvements to what became the dog rescue facility and the ancillary businesses that help financially support the organization. She began creating protocols and training for volunteers, as well as an attempt to provide living wages to full-time workers.
She also ramped up the spay-neuter efforts through the purchase of a mobile veterinary unit and entered into partnerships to provide supplies and in-kind donations for mutually beneficial relationships throughout the region.
But the new board saw things differently and growing tensions between members of the Board and Carr, led to an abrupt split in March.
The little shed which now houses the cats sits next to the dog shelter. There are plans to expand on both sides of the building, providing an outside area and a secondary enclosed facility.
Bowen shows off his new dog “Meet & Greet” area.
David Abbott discussing the set up for cats at the new location with Haynes and Board member Pam Osborne.
Collaborate and Cooperate
by Linda Gross
In response to Haynes’ comment that Carr wasn’t focused on the local community and local needs, we reached out to Rescue Me Tucson, one of the organizations Carr worked with regularly while at HDHS to provide insight into the multi-faceted approach Carr took in managing the rescue.
RMT was able to confirm the MOU they had with High Desert Humane Society (and others), involved taking animals in from HDHS and adopting them out through their location.
“The rescues and shelters we work with are all focused on the bigger picture of interchangeable animal and resources ‘puzzle pieces.’ We’re engaged in trying to figure out who can help where, when, and with what, to stretch our resources. From our view, when we collaborate and cooperate, more lives are saved. Both the animals and the people searching for the right adoptable animal, vs. buying one from a breeder, win.”
The MOU calls for 70% of the adoption proceeds to go back to the originating rescue (HDHS), with RMT keeping 30% of the fees for overhead etc. Records show that from September of 2022 through March of 2024, RMT paid HDHS over $58,000 for adoptions that originated thru HDHS.
“Cynthia brought grants, volunteers and veterinary resources to help the Globe-Miami community from both Phoenix and Tucson. She delivered dog and cat food and tons of thrift store items. (She drew on ) resources from outside the area, which provided vet care, vaccines, low cost and free spays and neuters for the residents of the area. I’m not sure how much more anyone could do, especially as a volunteer, to help.”
RESCUE, continued from page 22
Haynes said the Board believed Carr’s focus was not local enough and was too far-ranging, adding “She had a passion: She wanted to save all dogs,” says HDHS Treasurer Osborne. “In Maricopa, down in Tempe, Tucson ... the focus wasn’t here, and it wasn’t working with the community, which is what it was supposed to be.” (See sidebar)
Reaching back two years, the HDHS board is also questioning the purchase of their mobile pet clinic used to expand services both locally and to neighboring communities. Haynes questions whether the board had approved the $70,000 purchase or if this was a unilateral decision by Carr, but the Board minutes were unavailable to GMT to confirm or deny if this was the case. Haynes says they plan to put it up for sale.
To further add to tensions, Haynes and VP Charlene Giles filed a fraud complaint against Carr with the Globe Police Department on March 7th after discovering she had withdrawn $12,000 from its money market on March 6th. The complaint is still under investigation.
Carr declined to be interviewed for this report. The Board is trying to move on from the experience and the bad press stemming from the public display in September which was captured on Facebook as they removed cats from the old facility under police supervision.
The Cat House has a long and twisted history of failures and successes. Many saw the current Cat House operation as a success. The Board says it wasn’t.
Cat removal
In a Facebook post on September 14, HDHS announced that it would be moving the cats to the site of the dog rescue on Hackney Avenue by October 1.
On Sunday, September 22, a group of board members and volunteers showed up with a police escort and began removing the cats causing a stir on Broad Street that led to people on both sides of the issue taking to Facebook to air their frustrations.
While many sided with the board’s decision, others were quick to jump to the defense of Sylvia Smith and her son Daniel Holder, who managed the facility from an apartment above the rescue where they were paying rent to live.
Smith had recently become a veterinary technician, and on the day of the removal was recovering from a surgical procedure she had two days prior.
In a statement to Globe Miami Times, Smith wrote that she was excluded from board meetings where the fate of the cat rescue was discussed and prohibited access to other buildings in the organization. She accused the board of creating a hostile work environment—particularly Vice President Charlene Giles—and called the way the animals were moved “deliberate and calculated cruelty.”
“My intentions and priorities were always with the cats and I am devastated,” Smith says. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Smith came to Globe from Southern California to change the trajectory of her life that had seen its share of ups and many downs. She and Daniel were popular with volunteers and members of the public and she says they did what they could with limited resources.
In the end though there was nothing she could do, as the ultimate responsibility for the animals falls on HDHS and its board.
No matter what happens from here, the HDHS board faces an uphill battle and will have to rebuild a large portion of the volunteer team that’s been assembled over
Dennis Wiley, who retired after 44 years in the mining industry and who ran a little league organization in GlobeMiami for several years, says his days of volunteering for HDHS are likely over.
Wiley volunteered at the cat house for six years, and says he saw the problems coming when things started breaking down between Smith and HDHS leadership.
He and his wife volunteered seven days a week and he has the utmost respect for Smith and Holder and their devotion to the animals.
“They tried their hardest and worked hard at taking care of cats in the community, but were always held back because of money,” Wiley says. “I told Sylvia and Daniel when this stuff was starting to go on and it was getting a little heated, don’t argue with them, because once the yelling starts, the listening stops, and then it’s just fighting all the way to the end.”
Smith and Holder were evicted from the building and their contracts were terminated on September 30 although they will both continue to work with cats as vet techs in various organizations.
Moving Forward
Regardless of what has taken place over the course of the past few weeks, the animals must receive care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Haynes says the cats have largely settled in and a contractor is expanding the footprint of the portion of the property that will house them. They are currently in a building Carr originally purchased to serve as an office building for HDHS administration.
There are plans to “catify” the building with cages built in the original building and build a 26-foot by 26-foot “catio” on a cement pad so the cats have outdoor spaces to enjoy.
Wil Bowen, who now manages the dog rescue, has begun to socialize some of the more amenable cats to interact with the dogs. Bowen will likely manage both rescues, replacing the four people who were being paid to run the shelters: Chance, Bailey, Sylvia and Daniel. He will have the help of Gary, one of the cat volunteers, who has agreed to stay on to help with the cats.
Despite the turmoil in recent weeks, Haynes says the organization is focused on giving the animals the best care possible while serving donors and the community.
“We are not going to dwell on the past, but are looking toward the future to bring stability to HDHS,” she says. “We have a commitment to these animals and an obligation to the community that we will not shirk no matter what.”
Cheryl Haynes, outside the HDHS building on Mesquite, says this facility is their ‘money maker.”
TYNIESHA