Rim Country RELOCATION GUIDE
• housing • schools • economy • demographics • jobs • neighborhoods
2016
Photo by Peter Aleshire
RELOCATION GUIDE
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2 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
RELOCATION GUIDE
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RELOCATION GUIDE
Why move to Rim Country? by Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
I made a rash promise to my son in order to gain temporary custody of my grandchildren — Liam and Ilana. I urged Seth and Jill to take my snowshoes and spend the day alone, mushing to the edge of the Mogollon Rim with a 100-mile view. “Go on,” I said. “Get out of here. I’m going to take them sledding.” So we shooed the parents out the door. Then after a brief rock concert rendered on Xbox guitars, we gathered ourselves for the Great Sledding Expedition. The Great Sledding Expedi tion came to me in a flash as I sat here trying to come up with an introduction to our Relocation Guide, intended to tell you everything you need to know before making a move to Rim Country. So you’ll find in the next 84 pages all kinds of information about the real estate market, the state of the economy, the water supply, the schools, recreation, attractions and a host of other potentially useful tidbits. But in this introduction I wanted to offer an example of why Rim Country remains the best place I’ve ever lived, after wandering the world far and wide. It starts with living in a place where your grandkids can swim in the creek in the summer and sled in the winter. But it also has everything to do with how I solved one foolishly overlooked problem when I promised Ilana and Liam an adventure: I don’t own a sled. But we set off full of naive hope, with plenty of room on my credit card for grandkid spoilage. We soon found Big 5 had exhausted their supply of plastic sleds as soon as the first storm hit — and had no snow clothes for the fashionably tiny. So we settled on some cool-looking waterproof tennis shoes
Rim Country RELOCATION GUIDE 2016
4 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
for Liam and Little Frogger rain gear. Had to go to Bashas’ to get mittens small enough. Walmart had also sold all its sleds. Fortunately, I then bumped into Holly and Ken Crump, introduced them to my ever-so-polite and patient grandkids and shared my impending failure as a grandfather. Holly offered her daughter’s snow sled and off we went. See what I mean: You can’t beat small-town living. We drove up toward the Rim, located a likely turnoff and parked. We piled out of the car and they floundered off into the snow. They plunged in to their hips, flopping forward and bursting back to their feet with a brilliant flurry of laughter. “It’s so deep,” said Ilana. “Look, Grandpa, I have no feet!” They looked like Muppets, in their floppy Little Frogger rain gear, brimming with happiness. And they sledded, screaming with excitement. I made a completely unsuccessful effort to convince Liam that you should not throw a snowball at the head of an elderly person trying to help you get your sled to the top of the hill — but otherwise felt very nearly competent in the grandfather department. Ilana signaled the end of the adventure by announcing she was cold So off we went, completely content. Upon his return Seth asked, “Did they behave themselves?” “Perfectly,” I said. He surveyed the pile of new clothes and toys. “Easy to make them happy if you never say no,” he grumbled. Not to mention if you live in a place with snow in the winter, trout in the summer — and friends you know wherever you go, willing to lend you their sled.
Table of Contents
Real Estate: Economy: Finances: Weather: Newspaper: Business: Medical Care: Telemedicine: Water supply: Water shortages: Rental market: University plans: Community schools: Community college: Home furnishings: Rodeo: Neighborhoods: Map: Payson: Country club living: Star Valley: Pine & Strawberry: Tonto Basin: Tonto Creek: East Verde River: Houston Mesa: Tonto Apache Tribe Gyms: Entertainment: Annual events: Attractions: Nonprofits: Recreation: Loving our eagles: Routine beauty: Walk in the snow:
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 40 42 43 45 46 50 56 58 61 64 66 68 69 70 71 72 74 75 78 79 80 81 82
John Naughton, Publisher • Peter Aleshire, Editor in Chief 708 N. Beeline Highway • Payson, AZ 85541 (928) 474-5251 • payson.com
No portion of the Rim Country Relocation Guide may be used in any manner without the expressed written consent of Roundup Publishing, a division of WorldWest Limited Liability Company. © 2016
RELOCATION GUIDE
Chaparral Pines On-site Real Estate Sales On Site Real Estate Sales rimcountryrealestate.com 928-474-1222 928.474.4532 www.rimcountryrealestate.com
On-site Real Estate Sales rimcountryrealestate.com 928.474.4532
THERE IS SIMPLY NO OTHER PLACE LIKE THIS
300 S Clubhouse Rd • Payson, AZ 85541 928.472.1472 • rimgolf.com
The Rim Golf Club is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful Golf Communities in the Southwest. Ranked #9 in Golf Digest’s Top Venues in Arizona, this peaceful “Guard-Gated” sanctuary is comprised of 326 home sites on 555 acres, all carefully planned to enjoy breathtaking views and superior privacy. Nestled amidst the 2.9 million acre Tonto National Forest, including the largest continuous stand of Ponderosa Pine in the World, at an elevation of 5,000 ft. The Rim Golf Club enjoys fresh clean air, a spectacular mild four season climate, and an unparalleled lifestyle. 2016
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ADVERTISING DIRECTORY Action Trail Ventures 61 Affirmative Heating & Cooling 82 Affordable Automotive, RV & Marine 57 American Leadership Academy 39 Alfonso’s Mexican Food 76 Aliberto’s Mexican Food 76 Alliant Gas/Pinnacle Propane 31 America’s Best Value Inn 81 Amerigas 17 Anderson Family Dry Cleaners 60 Anytime Fitness 57 Aspen Cove Apartments 49 Assured Appraisals - Nathan G. Morris 80 Auntie Gail’s Collectables 63 Avon - Laura 80 Ayothaya Thai Cafe 76 Aztec Alarms 65 Beeline Insurance Group 43 Beier Family Dentistry 33 84 Berkshire Hathaway - Cliff Potts Berkshire Hathaway - Dale Oestmann 62 Berkshire Hathaway - Kim Anderson 83 Beverage Place 21 53 Blind Doctor - Dani Rosensteel Bobbi’s The Inside Story 33 Bulldog Containers 57 Buffalo Bar & Grill 76 Central Arizona Board of Realtors 53 78 CASA of Gila County Chaparral Pines 5 Cheaper Sweeper 29 Chili’s 76 Chitwood’s Cabinets 53 60 Choice Gym 24/7 Club USA Health & Fitness 80 Coach House Antiques 62 Coldwell Banker Bishop Realty 9 Coldwell Banker Bishop Realty - Pine/Strawberry 7 Colonial Cabinets & Millwork 25 Comfort Inn 3 Comfort Keepers 43 Community Presbyterian Church 78 Copper Needle 57 Crabdree Insurance & Financial Services 25 Creative Quilting 62 Dan Good Flooring 29 Days Inn & Suites 3 Deb’s Dog’s Custom Grooming 31 Democratic Clubs of Payson 57 Denny’s 76 80 Down the Street Art Gallery Dry Force Water Removal Specialists 37 El Rancho Mexican Restaurant 76 Enhanced Diesel Repair 29
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ERA Real Estate - Guyon/Chaney 73 ERA Real Estate - Sue Padilla 51 ERA Real Estate - Susan Keown 67 ERA Real Estate - Young Realty & Investment 36 Fancy Finds 62 Fossil Creek Creamery 63 Four Seasons Motorsports 19 From Head to Toe Essentials 55 George Henry’s Plumbing Heating & Cooling 35 Gerardo’s Firewood Cafe 77 Gerardo’s Italian Kitchen 77 Gila Community College 33 Gila Concrete 60 Gila County 15 Granny’s 19 Griffin’s Propane 60 Hale Accounting 80 51 Happy Helper - Cindy Long Home & Away Realty - Bren Romero 33 Hospice of Payson 65 Hospice Compassus 39 64 Jake’s Corner General Store JoNic Glass, Inc. 31 Keller Williams Arizona Realty - Kim Ross 23 Knights Inn 81 Kyle’s Tire & Auto 80 80 Lamplight District LendSmart Mortgage 79 Little Caesars 76 M&M Reno Creek Cafe 64 Macky’s Grill 77 81 Majestic Mountain Inn Majestic Rim Retirement Living 29 Mattress Experts & More 3 Mazatzal Hotel & Casino 48 Messinger Payson Funeral Home 55 77 Mike’s Fish & Chips Motel 6 Payson 81 Myra’s Art Gallery 63 NAPA Auto Parts 55 Native Grill & Wings 19 Neumann Paint & Supply 27 Oasis Christian Bookstore 51 Owens Law Firm 65 Payson Care Center 2 Payson Community Kids 25 Payson Concrete & Materials, Inc. 59 Payson Golf Course 31 Payson Home Inspections - Dan Harris 65 Payson Jewelers 39 Payson Orthodontics 35 Payson Paint & Supply 51 Payson Pet Care Veterinary Clinic 53
49 Payson Pet Sitting Payson Premier Dental 11 Payson Roundup 60 Payson Roundup Media 73 Payson Senior Center 78 Payson Unified School District 53 Payson Wireless 27 Pine Creek Cabins 62 Pine Deli 63 Pine-Strawberry S.C.A.F. 61 Pizza Factory 77 Powell Place 60 Premier Collision Center 80 Premier Realty Solutions - Sally Cantrill 39 Realty One Group - Deborah Rose 49 Review Magazine 55 Rim Country Health 23 Rim Country Museum 19 Rim Country Powersports 59 Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce 11 Rim Furniture & Appliance 59 Rim Golf Club - Heritage Collection 13 5 Rim Golf Club - Rim Real Estate Roadrunner Rubbish Removal 83 Roud’s Home Furnishings 35 Seely Mullins & Associates 53 Serendipity On Main 27 55 Service First Insurance Sheila’s Creekside Steakhouse & Tavern 67 Southwest Mobility, Inc. 65 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 78 State Farm - Matt Crespin 35 49 State Farm - Eric Santana Steve Coury Ford 27 Subway 77 Suddenlink 40 Susie’s Q Barbecue 77 Tax and Bookkeeping Service 57 THAT Brewery 77 Time Out, Inc. 79 Tom Russell & Associates Insurance 51 Tonto Oaks Apartments & Mobiles 65 Town of Payson Events Calendar 41 Town of Payson Economic Development 44 Tree Pro 36 Trident Winery 62 Trinkets & Treasures 78 True Value Home Center 43 Tymeless Antiques & Treasures 63 Tymeless Antiques & Treasures Too 63 Uncle Herbs Health Center 80 Uncle Tom’s Texaco 63 Witnauer Sloan and Associates 55 Woody’s Performance Motorsports 51
RELOCATION GUIDE Make the Right Move
Sally Randall, CRS, GRI
Associate Broker Cell (928) 978-0298 Office (928) 476-3282, ext. 121 Fax (928) 476-4686 sally@bishoprealty.com
Work With the BEST in the Rim Country!
Wilma Young, GRI
Associate Broker Cell (928) 970-8984 Office (928) 476-3282, ext. 111 Fax (928) 476-4686 wilmayoung@bishoprealty.com
Specializing in Pine-Strawberry We have the local knowledge!
Mary Mastroianni
Mary Lou Myers
REALTOR®, Sales Associate Cell (602) 350-4366 Office (928) 476-3282, ext. 121 Fax (928) 476-4686 mary@bishoprealty.com
Associate Broker Cell (928) 978-0209 Office (928) 476-3282 Fax (928) 476-4686 marylou@bishoprealty.com
Make the Right Move
Barbie McRae
REALTOR® Cell (928) 978-0777 Office (928) 476-3282 Fax (928) 476-4686 barbie@bishoprealty.com
Dennis DeWulf
REALTOR® Cell (602) 770-2969 Office (928) 476-3282 Fax (928) 476-4686 dennis@bishoprealty.com
View all our listings at www.bishoprealty.com 3617 Highway 87, Pine, Arizona P.O. Box 189, Pine, AZ 85544 (928) 476-3282 Toll Free: (800) 325-7174
BISHOP REALTY An Independently Owned and Operated Member of Coldwell Banker Residential Affiliates, Inc.
2016
Jim Lewin
REALTOR® Cell (928) 978-9023 Office (928) 476-3282 Fax (928) 476-4686 jlewin@lewin-associates.com
Kathy DeWulf
REALTOR® Cell (928) 978-7199 Office (928) 476-3282 Fax (928) 476-4686 kathy@bishoprealty.com
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REAL ESTATE
Will the boom times build? by Michele Nelson
edged up, a sign that despite the rise in average price and sales buyers remain hesitant. The longtime Rim Country Realtor said she So, what if Rim Country is the new boom lived in Sedona during the early 1990s right town? “Payson is the golden child of the state with before the big growth spurt and Payson, she water,” said Deborah Rose of Realty One Group said, seems to be just about in the same place. “More people are buying houses and there is not (http://www.paysonproperties.net). She said 200 real estate agents have made as much inventory,” she said. Better yet, sellers have decided the marPayson their base of operation and the real estate numbers show it just might not be a bad ket is right to put their homes on the market and those homes are selling faster. “Last year idea. “Home sales prices increased by 8 percent absorption rates were at nine months, in 2015 from last year,” she said. “That’s more than the they are at seven months,” said Rose. Absorption rates refer to the length of time a national average of 5 to 7 percent.” The new home market remains sluggish — property remains on the market. Realtors remain confident in the underlying especially compared to the boom years before the Great Recession when Payson approved fundamentals of the region. Payson and the Rim Country sits in the middle of the largest new homes at the rate of 200 to 300 annually. This year, Payson approved roughly 90 new ponderosa pine forest in the world. It’s also home permits — but sales overall hit 452 — home to five different creeks and rivers Arizona more than all the other towns and subdivisions Game and Fish stocks each summer with trout. Elevations in the Rim Country allow for in the region. The average days on the market actually diverse ecosystems ranging from the saguaro cactus strewn warmth of Tonto Basin on the banks of Tonto Creek minutes from the shores MLS data from 2015 of Roosevelt Lake, to the ponderosa pine coolness of Whispering Pines near the top of the Area Sales Avg. price Mogollon Rim to the riparian areas. Payson 452 $239,000 The tiny hamlets of Pine and Strawberry Pine 115 227,000 have enough snow to keep winter lovers enterStrawberry 54 186,000 tained, but not exhausted from shoveling. In summer, the temperatures remain cool. Star Valley 32 193,000 Area residents think of little Payson as the Happy Jack 60 223,000 big city, with enough shopping to fill the larder Houston Mesa 35 148,000 or decorate the house along with a host of other Control Road 12 165,000 urban amenities. Yet, the fifth largest city in the Round Valley 8 245,000 United States is only an hour and a half away. Rye/Gisela 9 142,000 “We’re in the middle of nowhere and we’re in Tonto Basin 31 134,000 the middle of everything,” said Rose. Not only is the ecology of Rim Country Deer Creek 12 152,000 diverse, so are the options for dwellings. Buyers Young 31 $207,000 can purchase doublewide prefabricated homes
roundup staff reporter
8 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
or mansions locked behind private gates. Rose said she has a system for helping a buyer identify their interest. She said some people have non-negotiables such as their budget or a need for three bedrooms and two baths, privacy or no homeowners association. The town of Payson is divided into four quadrants based at the intersection of highways 87 and 260. The southeast quadrant goes from the intersection to the hospital. The southwest section goes from the intersection down Longhorn to Green Valley Lake. The northwest section goes from the intersection along the northern side of Longhorn up to Home Depot. The northeast section goes from the intersection past Bashas’ and up to the Northwoods Condominiums. Rose said in Payson, people prefer the northwest quadrant because of its access to amenities, such as the pool and library, and sidewalks. “Sidewalks make a big difference to people. They don’t want to go into the middle of the road,” she said. Other areas of town suffer because the nicer houses lie up a hill from lower income properties. “People don’t like to drive through rough areas to get to the better neighborhoods.” Rose said the surprising thing about the most recent trends is that they show that houses priced more than half a million dollars have been the ones to take off. Yet those buyers come from places such as California and other affluent areas such as ski resort towns in Colorado. In fact, Rose said she has the first bidding war that was not because of a foreclosure. “It was a $1.4 million bidding war,” she said. The buyer who won went way over the asking price. Not a surprise as the numbers show the houses priced more than $250,000 to $300,000 saw the largest jump in sales.
John RayRay Pugel Hanna Pugel
John Annette John Ray Hanna Bashaw Hanna Pugel
Cheryl Cheryl Haskell Haskell
Cheryl Haskell
Annette Sally Annette John Bashaw Randall Bashaw Hanna
Kathy Annette SallySally Randall Meyer Randall Bashaw
Kathy Wilma Kathy Sally Meyer Young Meyer Randall
Wilma Mary Lou Wilma Kathy Young Myers Young Meyer
Mary Robyn Mary Wilma Lou Lou Myers Bossert Myers Young
Robyn Daphne Mary Lou Robyn Bossert Rutz Myers Bossert
Daphne Pat Robyn Daphne Callahan Bossert RutzRutz
Daphne Pat Pat Callahan Callahan Rutz
Jill Alberts
Jill Jill Alberts Alberts
THREE RIMCOUNTRY COUNTRY OFFICES: THREE THREE RIM COUNTRY OFFICES: RIM THREE RIM COUNTRY OFFICES: OFFICES: Sheila Sheila McRae McRae
PAYSON PINE-STRAWBERRY TONTO BASIN PAYSON PINE-STRAWBERRY TONTO BASINTONTO PAYSON PAYSON PINE-STRAWBERRY PINE-STRAWBERRY BASIN TONTO BASIN 715 Beeline Highway 3617 Highway 87N. Highway 45596 188, Suite 715 S. Beeline Highway 3617 N.Beeline Highway 87 455963617 Highway 188, Suite A 715 S. S. Beeline Highway 715 S. Highway 3617 N.N. Highway 87 45596 Highway 87Highway 188, 45596 Suite Highway A A 188, Suite A Julie Sheila Payson, 85541 Pine, 85544Pine, Tonto Basin, 85553 Payson, AZ 85541 Pine, AZ 85544 Tonto Basin,AZ AZ85544 85553 Payson, AZAZ 85541 Payson, AZ 85541 Pine, AZAZ 85544 Tonto Basin, AZAZ 85553 Tonto Basin, AZ 85553 Coleman McRae (928) 474-2216 (928) 476-3282 (928) 479-3324(928) 479-3324 (928) 474-2216 (928) (928) 476-3282 (928) 479-3324 474-2216 (928) 474-2216 (928) 476-3282 (928) 476-3282(928) 479-3324
JulieJulie Coleman Coleman
www.BishopRealty.com www.BishopRealty.com www.BishopRealty.com www.BishopRealty.com
Jan Jan Hall Hall
Jan Hall
Emily Emily DePugh DePugh
Emily DePugh
MaryMary Mastroianni Mastroianni
Mary Mastroianni
Dawn Dawn Brunson Brunson
Dawn Brunson
Bill BillDennis Hauke DeWulf Hauke
Bill Hauke
AnOperated Independently Owned and Operated Member An Independently OwnedAnand Member Independently Owned An andIndependently Operated Member Owned and Operated Member of Coldwell Banker Residential liates, of Coldwell Banker Residential Affiliates, Inc.Residential of Coldwell Banker of Coldwell AffiAffi liates, Banker Inc.Inc. Residential Affiliates, Inc.
RIMCOUNTRY COUNTRY HOMETOURS! TOURS!TOURS! RIM COUNTRY HOME TOURS! RIM RIM COUNTRY HOME HOME
Ginger Ingram
Ginger Ginger Ingram Ingram
Naomi Fogarty
Naomi Naomi Fogarty Fogarty
Jesse Wallace
Jesse Jesse Wallace Wallace
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Annie Behn
Annie Annie Kathy Behn Behn DeWulf
Pine&&Strawberry! Strawberry! Pine & Strawberry! Pine Pine & Strawberry!
Barbie Barbie McRae McRae
Andrea TudyTudy Martin Christianson Martin
Laurie Brunson
Barbie McRae
Andrea Jacque Tudy Andrea Christianson Lozano Martin Christianson
Jacque Cindy Jacque Andrea Lozano Whatley Christianson Lozano
Cindy Nancy Cindy Jacque Whatley Coughlin Whatley Lozano
Nancy Greg Nancy Cindy Coughlin Dohrn Coughlin Whatley
Greg Mindy Greg Nancy Dohrn Strickling Coughlin Dohrn
Mindy Becky Mindy Greg Strickling Sopeland Strickling Dohrn
Becky Gary Becky Mindy Sopeland Walton Sopeland Strickling
Gary Eileen Gary Becky Walton Austin Sopeland Walton
Laurie Laurie Brunson Brunson
Eileen Eileen Gary Austin Austin Walton
ECONOMY
On The Move Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Payson has nearly completed the overhaul of the in-town water system that will bring 3,000 acre-feet annually from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir starting in 2018.
by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Evident by the area’s strong sales tax revenue, tourism is doing well and retail businesses are thriving in Rim Country, but while construction started strong in 2015, it slowed by year’s end. So, while the economy has improved dramatically since the market crash, it has not turned around as quickly as some had hoped. Still, there are several signs of life on the horizon with hundreds of new homes in the pipeline, some in subdivisions that went dormant in the recession. Realtors report seeing strong sales especially in high-end and rental properties. All those new homes are necessary if the town reaches its projected build-out of 38,000 residents, making the town the commercial and cultural hub of Rim Country. The town has focused on providing zoning to broaden and deepen its economic base, which some say relies too heavily on seasonal tourism and attracting retirees. Outdoor and family tourism remain crucial
Businesses Resources Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce: rimcountrychamber.com 928-474-4515 Payson Economic Development: 928-474-5242, ext. 396 Gila County Industrial Development Authority: 928-473-1129
to the economy, since the area serves as a gateway to several national forests, streams, lakes and hundreds of miles of hiking, biking and riding trails radiating out from the edge of town. Moreover, the region remains popular with retirees — with easy access to the Valley, varied medical and social services, recreational amenities plus mild, but distinct, seasons that satisfy the urge for a little snow and fall colors. While tourism is critical, town officials envision broadening the local economy to include stable, year-round, high-wage industries. Bobby Davis, Payson’s economic director, said he is working to both shore up existing businesses and attract growth. Projects in the pipeline include not only the 6,000-student university, but small manufacturing firms and an industrial park with higher paying jobs. The new businesses should bolster Payson’s sales tax receipts and provide year-round activity to help smooth out the economy. The area already holds two dozen small manufacturers, a fact many people find surprising, Davis said. Those manufactures include HPR Ammunition; Rim Country Manufacturing, which builds tripods and gun parts; Urban Survivalist food products and Trident Winery. With the area’s natural beauty, mild seasons and guaranteed water supply, Payson is an attractive place for manufacturers. Davis said water is a huge selling point. While other towns in the state and country are already struggling to provide an adequate water supply, Payson for the last three decades has had a plan. That plan is in full effect with crews busy building a pipeline from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir and a water treatment facility near Mesa del Caballo. “Any town in Arizona would trade us for
10 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
that supply (of water),” Davis said. Besides being a prime location to move for the beauty alone, the area could soon boast a four-year college. Davis said he gets calls weekly from businesses interested in opening before the college so they can get ahead of the pack. The town has stepped up efforts to make the planning and building process easier for business owners and holds a weekly meeting with a member of every town department present to answer new business questions and concerns.
Payson Home Construction 2012 – 35 2013 – 36 2014 – 70 2015 – 71 Median income: Payson $44,600 Arizona $49,700 Gila County $40,000 Nation $53,000 Payson businesses: Total firms 2,575 Retail sales $282M Sales per capita: Payson $18,319 Arizona $13,637 Nation $12,990 Largest employers: Payson Unified School District Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Banner Payson Medical Center
RELOCATION GUIDE
How the Chamber of Commerce can help you: ANNUAL BUSINESS SHOWCASE • WORLD CLASS SPEAKERS TRAINING • NETWORKING • DISCOUNTS • CREDIBILITY • VISIBILITY ADVOCACY • REPUTATION and MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Visit us and see how we can help your business and family!
RIM COUNTRY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE -- P.O. Box 1380, Payson, AZ 85547 Phone: 928-474-4515 Toll Free: 1-800-6-PAYSON www.rimcountrychamber.com 2016
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 11
FINANCES
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Payson remains heavily dependent on sales tax to provide town services, much of it generated by tourism and summer visitors, drawn to places like Green Valley Park and the surrounding wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities.
Payson’s year-end 2015 economic report showed sales up a strong 7 percent, but construction down. Payson’s economy at year’s end also showed a sharp rise in vehicle license taxes. However, a drop in construction shadowed the good news in the relatively strong retail sales numbers. Reversing a previously strong first half of the fiscal year for construction, revenue from building permits ended up dropping 6 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Gila County unemployment remained high at 8.2 percent. That’s compared to 6.4 percent statewide and 5.1 percent nationally. Northern Gila County numbers, however, mirrored the state average. Payson’s economy recorded slightly better gains than the statewide economy as measured by retail sales. Payson Finance Director Hope Cribb made note of several major expenditures in the year-end report. Almost all of the town departments remained under budget, with the general fund as a whole 13 percent under budget for the year. The police department has a $5.1 million annual budget, but generally spends about 18 percent under budget. The fire department has a $3.6 million budget, but also spends about 18 percent under budget. Other major expenses so far include $237,100 to resume slurry sealing the town’s streets. Payson has finally resumed normal street repair operations, after putting off maintenance during the Great Recession. Due to the recession, the town essentially skipped one, seven-year maintenance cycle on streets. But the biggest capital expenditure was another $1.1 million for work on the C.C. Cragin pipeline. The town has already spent about $20 million on the project and has roughly $30 million in costs to finish the pipeline, which will more than double the town’s water supply. The figures showed a 63 percent drop in construction spending. Most other categories held their own or rose modestly. Some categories with significant gains included hotels (5 percent), services (54 percent), real estate (21 percent) and wholesale trade (27 percent).
Sales up 7 percent
12 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Seeking to boost its crucial tourism sector, Payson again entered a prize-winning float and the beloved dancing trees in this year’s Fiesta Bowl Parade in the Valley.
RELOCATION GUIDE
Relaxed living. Breathtaking views. Spectacular golf. Small town charm. Just over an hour drive from Phoenix.
private, award-winning championship golf course
D
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iscover a world that is wonderfully relaxed, embraced by
the views of the MogollOn Rim, all within the private Rim Golf Club community in Payson, Arizona.
.3 to 2.5 acre homesites priced from $75,000
Select your custom homesite and design your high-country paradise, or take advantage of our pre-approved plans and builder programs.
Flagstaff
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For more information please call 888-903-1679 or visit HeritageCollectionAtTheRim.com 2101 East Rim Club Drive, Payson, Arizona 85541
The Rim Golf Club 87
Phoenix
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Tonto National Forest
All sales are conditioned upon buyer’s receipt and acceptance of a Public Report approved by Arizona Department of Real Estate. Prices subject to change without notice. This is not an offer or solicitation to residents of any jurisdiction where registration is required to any offer being made or where otherwise prohibited by law. Arizona Broker License #LC644732000. Fratantoni Luxury Estates, LLC. Sam Fratantoni, ROC#274205.
2016
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 13
WEATHER
Rim Country: The perfect climate
Photographer DJ Craig captured this image of Rim Country after a winter snowfall atop the Rim, perfect for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Peter Aleshire took the photo below of a picture taker at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, popular all summer with visitors.
Payson Weather: Just Right Average high: 73 Average low: 39 Average rain: 22 inches
January February March April May June July August September October November December Annual by Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Get this: 73 degrees. That’s Payson’s average temperature. If that’s not pretty much perfect, you might be impossible to please. But by any measure, Rim Country pretty much enjoys the perfect climate. The winter offers up breathtaking, lovely snowfalls — but rarely deep enough on the driveway to break out the snow shovel. We’ve got spring wildflowers and hundreds of species of migrating birds, but none of the spring slush and muck that afflicts less happy climes. We’ve got lazy summers and swimming
Avg Avg Avg Avg Record Record High Low Rain Snow High Low
54 58 63 71 80 90 93 91 85 75 63 55
2.3 2.3 2.7 1.2 0.7 0.4 2.4 3 1.8 1.9 1.7 1.75
4.8 5 4.7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 2.2 3.6
77 80 89 91 99 106 107 104 103 94 8.3 76
-8 1 3 15 22 31 39 37 33 16 6 -7
79 39 22 23 107 -8
holes — but no triple-digit temperatures and big air conditioning bills. We’ve got crisp falls saturated with golden sycamores, but no hard early freezes and miseries of slushy mud. In truth, Payson enjoys a Goldilocks climate — not too hot, not too cold — just right. January’s the coldest month, with average highs of 54 — and average lows of 25. June’s the hottest month, with average highs of 90 and average lows of 49. Moreover, Rim Country averages about 22 inches of rain annually — three times the total just 100 miles south in Phoenix. On average, the wettest month is August, with 3 inches — delivered in spectacular mon-
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25 27 31 35 42 50 58 58 51 40 30 25
soon thunderstorms brewed in the Gulf of California that break against the ramparts of the Mogollon Rim. When it comes to snow, Rim Country keeps it chill. At Payson’s 5,000-foot elevation, winter storms move through periodically — leaving 2 to 6 inches of snow, which soon melts away. However, up on the 7,500-foot-high Mogollon Rim, the snow lingers all winter — perfect for folks who want to go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, but don’t want to shovel the driveway. Rim Country offers the perfect balance of seasons, enough to soothe the souls of desert rats and stimulate the seasonal nostalgia of the snowbirds.
RELOCATION GUIDE
Welcome to Gila County’s
RIM COUNTRY
What an Relocating excellent choice! to Gila County? Be sure to visit www.gilacountyaz.gov Board of Supervisors — 928-474-7100 Tommie C. Martin, District 1 Michael A. Pastor, District 2 John Marcanti, District 3 Building Permits — 928-474-9276 (for unincorporated areas only) Planning & Zoning — 928-474-9276 Septic Permits — 928-474-9276 Cooperative Extension — 928-474-4160 Voter Registration — 928-472-5340 ext 8733 Health & Emergency Services — 928-474-1210 Dog Licenses — 928-474-1210 Library District — 928-472-5340 ext 8768 www.gcldaz.org/gila/ Buckhead Landfill — 928-476-3350 Sheriff — 928-474-2208 Non Emergency 2016
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 15
NEWSPAPER
The Payson Roundup has served Rim C0untry since 1937 and last year won honors as the Newspaper of the Year for non-daily papers from both the national Local Media Association and the Arizona Newspapers Association. The photo above by editor Peter Aleshire was one of the prizewinners in a photo spread on the Payson August Doin’s Rodeo — the oldest continuously held rodeo in the world.
Payson Roundup: Newspaper of the Year
The Payson Roundup in 2015 won honors as the national Local Media Association newspaper of the year among non-daily papers with less than 10,000 circulation. The national recognition came on top of the Roundup’s recognition as the best non-daily newspaper in Arizona, this time by the Arizona Newspapers Association. The national award recognized “top-notch editorial coverage, eye-catching graphic design and prominent advertising layouts, exemplifying creativity and innovation in all areas of the newspaper.” The Local Media Association serves 2,200 local media companies nationally, as well as several hundred research and development partners, with a focus on digital issues, conferences, webinars, research and training. The ANA also named Roundup reporter Alexis Bechman as the top non-daily newspaper reporter in the state. Established in 1937, the Roundup has grown with the community — and chronicled its challenges, failures and triumphs. The Roundup has won honors as the best non-daily newspaper in Arizona from the ANA for 13 of the past 15 years. Roundup publisher John Naughton said, “The Payson Roundup has a small but talented and dedicated staff. Some have been with the Roundup for many years, others just a few. While their backgrounds are diverse, they have one thing in common, all are dedicated to their craft. What each has is the desire to go beyond standard newspaper fare to provide our readers with stories, pictures and graphics that are relevant, informative, entertaining, useful and fun.” The Local Media Association award was based on an analysis of three randomly selected issued of the paper, in this case June 13, 2014, Dec. 9, 2014 and May 5, 2015.
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The judges commented, “The Payson Roundup displayed thoughtful and objective reporting, particularly in its coverage of the shooting of Police Officer Seth Meeske. By obtaining police documents on the crime and talking to the shooter’s family and the police officer, the staff was able to provide details and needed perspective.” The Payson Roundup has also won awards from the Arizona Newspapers Association for the past three years for use of the Freedom of Information Act to obtain documents from public agencies for investigative series. Payson Roundup Editor Peter Aleshire commented, “This is such a wonderful community — so it’s an honor to try to provide Rim Country with the newspaper it deserves. “I’ve worked lots of places — but this is the best. I’ve never worked in a place where the departments work so harmoniously together — nor a place where every single person in every department routinely goes above and beyond to get the job done. That goes for production, advertising, the press room, circulation, the route drivers — as well as editorial.” Publisher Naughton said the needs of the community motivate the whole Roundup crew. “For our team, this work is a labor of love, borne out of a passion for this place, its people and their stories. Surprising and delighting our readers with stories that touch them, move them to action, enlighten them and, at times, upset them, makes this work a privilege. It’s not any easy job but it’s a privilege taken very seriously. “I am extremely proud of the entire Roundup family. All have performed exemplary during a very difficult economic time. However, I wouldn’t expect anything less, it’s who we are, it’s what we do.” Aleshire agreed. “The people of Rim Country have such brave, tragic, triumphant, inspiring stories to tell. It’s our privilege to try to seek them out — and serve our beloved community.”
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 17
BUSINESS
New businesses perk along by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Payson continues to see new life in the business sector after the recession with both chain and mom and pop stores opening. For years, the area saw its shopping centers grow increasingly desolate, but in recent years things have turned around and there are few open spots. What is available is fetching high rental rates and attracting big names. On the horizon are plans for a Dunkin’ Donuts and two more retailers at East Bonita Street and the Beeline Highway, a Culver’s at what was the site of a mini golf course, a barbecue restaurant in the Swiss Village Shops, drive-thru Starbucks in the Bashas’ shopping center and several new establishments in that same shopping center. Independently owned businesses in 2015 include Anderson Family Dry Cleaners, 802-B N. Beeline Highway, the only dry cleaners in town; Mike’s Fish and Chips, 516 S. Beeline Highway, quickly becoming the place for fish and chips; and Outcast Antiques and Collectibles, 804-B N. Beeline Highway, a small shop with a big selection of models and collectibles. The only place that has not seen much movement is Main Street, where a large swath of the street is still empty, including the former Journigan House, and the historic Oxbow Saloon, which have not found tenants that can bring in enough revenue to sustain the large restaurant space. While new businesses continue to open, the independent shops have toughed it out, giving the town charm amidst a growing sea of big-box stores. Some of the area’s longest standing businesses are still around, including Payson Candle Factory and Payson Jewelers. Rim Country has always attracted folks with diverse experience who have opted for lifestyle over maximizing income — which means the business community includes its share of former corporate executives, artists and entrepreneurs. Moreover, the busy summer tourism season brings a flush of business that can sustain unusual business models. For instance, Fossil Creek Creamery has award-winning goat cheeses and fudge and is featured at local restaurants. The area also supports craft stores and art galleries, including three galleries operated by the local artists whose work adorns the walls. While businesses continue to find new ways to grow, Rim Country’s economy continues to struggle, with town revenues vacillating with rising sales tax, but construction building permits and planning fees falling. In 2014, sales tax receipts increased twice as fast as the statewide average and building permits and plan review fees by would-be developers and builders jumped, according to town financial reports. For a complete list of businesses, visit PaysonMarketplace.com. The site, operated by the Payson Roundup, is an expanded online phone book. The site provides detailed information and reviews about nearly every business in Rim Country, including those smaller shops tucked away and off the main highways.
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RELOCATION GUIDE
Rim Country Museum & Zane Grey Cabin Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10am-4pm • Sunday 1pm-4pm
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 19
MEDICAL CARE
Medical care gets an upgrade by Teresa McQuerrey roundup staff reporter
Medical care in the Rim Country is evolving all the time. Big changes in 2015 included the acquisition of Payson Regional Medical Center by Banner Health Group and the expansion of Rim Country Health’s outpatient rehabilitation services. Additionally Payson Care Center continued providing special outreach with community education services, especially focusing on the topics of joint replacement: when to give it serious consideration, what transpires with the procedure and what to expect during rehabilitation. All three — Banner, RCH and Payson Care, along with the local support group for the caregivers of Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients, made both joint and individual efforts to make the public more informed. Banner Payson Medical Center Payson Regional Medical Center became Banner Payson Medical Center Aug. 1, 2015. The Payson facility can trace its roots back to a community clinic funded and built through the efforts of the Junior Woman’s Club and generous donations in the late 1950s. Banner Health, which is headquartered in Phoenix, is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the U.S. and is recognized as a top health system in the country. Banner has committed to a capital investment of at least $25 million in the medical center and the Payson area over the next seven years. Initial plans will likely focus on technology updates and expanding the availability of telemedicine in Payson. Banner Health services has been a recognized name in Payson for more than 20 years through the Banner Health Clinic located near the hospital. The agreement with Banner connects the Payson hospital with all of Banner’s experience and resources. The Banner Health enterprise of hospitals offers a complete list of comprehensive patient services, hospice and home care. Banner’s research divisions are recognized internationally and help ensure that Banner facilities have access to the latest techniques and technology. Telehealth is an innovative way to use telecommunications to provide better health care. Telehealth may include conversations between health care providers on the phone or may encompass sophisticated robotic surgery with the patient in one location and the surgeon in another. Banner Telehealth allows Banner physicians and other team members access to Banner experts at locations throughout the Banner Health system. This means doctors and other care providers at Banner in Payson can have access to experts at other Banner facilities to answer on-the-spot questions, provide consultations about best care options, monitor patients during ongoing care and track clinical outcomes to improve care in the future. The Banner connection also provides access to specialized services through the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Banner Concussion Center, Banner Heart Hospital, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Banner Children’s, Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics and Western States Burn Center.
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At the time of the merger, Banner Health had facilities in 14 states with 22,500 employees, 32 hospitals and more than 2,800 beds. Banner Health Network incorporated in 2011. The Banner enterprise now employs more than 39,000 staff members and includes 28 acute-care hospitals and a growing network of health care facilities in seven western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. Rim Country Health Rim Country Health provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation services and independent senior apartment living for area residents. The motto of the facility is, “Our Residents Come First.” Those residents are provided with great food, activities for all and compassionate care in the four seasons everyone in the region enjoys. Rim Country Health specializes in dialysis, with the DaVita Dialysis Center on site, hip fractures, behavioral and Alzheimer’s issues, wound care and cardiac rehabilitation. The facility has separate units for patients with behavioral management issues and Alzheimer’s. There is staff available to provide certified wound care. Its extensive rehabilitation services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, Myofascial Release therapy and cardiac rehabilitation. Rim Country Health’s wide range of services are designed to help patients resume a meaningful lifestyle as soon as possible after a hospital stay to make the transition from hospital to home as successful as possible. It offers a combination of clinical and rehabilitation services to help patients recover. Rim Country Health and the Mogollon Health Alliance teamed up to open a fitness and cardiac rehabilitation center, MHAXIII Health Plus, at 809 Longhorn Road, Suite E-1k in Payson a couple of years ago. To learn more, call (928) 468-6644. Payson Care Center Payson Care Center is located just west of Banner Payson Medical Center at 107 E. Lone Pine Dr. Payson Care Center is a post-acute care facility offering skilled nursing and therapy services to patients after surgery or illness. The facility’s staff prides itself in the ability to care for higher acuity patients serving Payson and all of northern Arizona. Opening its doors in 1986, Payson Care Center offers a “tradition of care” for Payson and the Rim Country. Licensed to accept 121 patients, Payson Care Center also offers long-term care services and a secured unit for residents with Alzheimer’s disease. The facility recently completed a major renovation that included painting the interior, adding new furniture and décor items, new flat screen TVs and furniture in patient rooms and new directional signage to assist visitors in the building. More improvements are on the drawing board. Payson Care Center is also home to 60 long-term care residents. These residents receive nursing care and therapy services dependent on their personal needs. Payson Care Center also offers a secured wandering dementia unit for long-term care residents with Alzheimer’s disease.
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 21
TELEMEDICINE
Telemedicine comes to Rim Country Banner brings life-saving technology to region The kind of telemedicine systems Banner Health Systems has pioneered have been shown to cut mortality rates, hospital stays and even malpractice lawsuits, especially in rural hospitals. These systems can also reduce the need for expensive helicopter transports, by connecting rural ER doctors with specialists.
by Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
A telemedicine hookup with medical experts can reduce in-hospital mortality by 26 percent and the length of time spent in the hospital by 20 percent, according to a study published in CHEST, a peer-reviewed medical journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. That’s just one of the many comprehensive studies demonstrating the potential value of a system that allows doctors in intensive care units in small hospitals to consult with a medical specialist in critical care medicine (an intensivist) and other specialists through video and computer hookups that allow virtual bedside consultations. Payson now has a direct stake in the effectiveness of ICU telemedicine, which remains the cutting edge of an explosion of interest in telemedicine. Banner Health Systems recently concluded a deal with the MHA Foundation to take over operation of Payson Regional Medical Center. Banner donated $40 million to the MHA Foundation and agreed to invest another $25 million in the largest hospital in Gila County. Banner has also promised to move as quickly as possible to set up an ICU telemedicine system, linked to other Banner hospitals in the Valley. Banner operates the University of Arizona’s medical facilities, including some that have developed telemedicine consultations and diagnostic systems. The UofA has an entire division devoted to telemedicine as well as to rural health. Rural hospitals like Payson’s have
persistent problems in recruiting specialists, including intensivists. That makes them attractive targets for telemedicine programs. Currently, only about 11 percent of ICU patients nationwide get treatment in hospitals with ICU telemedicine programs. But studies suggest those programs can make a significant difference in both mortality rates and the amount of time the patient spends in the hospital. For instance, a review of 11 studies published in Critical Care Medicine found significant drops in mortality rates and the length of hospital stays after the implementation of an ICU telemedicine system in almost every case. In several cases, the mortality rate dropped by 50 percent or more. In most cases the mortality rate declined by at least 8 percent. In the studies, the mortality rate ranged from 10 percent to 21 percent before implementing the program — with most hospital mortality rates hovering around 11 percent. After shifting to the ICU telemedicine approach, the range shifted to between 4.5 percent and 14.7 percent. Most of the mortality rates declined to around 9 percent. The length of stay also declined significantly. Generally, the telemedicine approach knocked one or two days off an average stay of about 11 days. That overview study published in the journal Critical Care Medicine concluded that a well-run telemedicine program could not only save lives, but also reduce costs by cutting the length of stay and avoiding many medical complications.
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The lead author of the study was Dr. Craig Lilly, from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. They examined the records of some 119,000 patients, including 107,000 treated at an ICU using telemedicine consulting and 12,000 patients in normal ICUs who served as a control group. The patients came from 56 ICUs throughout the country. The best results came when an intensivist reviewed the case and studied the various measurements within an hour of the patient’s admission to the ICU, where hospitals send the sickest patients in need of more intensive care. When compared to the normal ICUs, the telemedicine units accumulated more timely performance data, responded more quickly to medical alerts and had a better record of adhering to “best practices” supported by research. Those factors all correlated with lower mortality rates and shorter hospital stays. Overall, the telemedicine patients had a 26 percent decline in mortality and a 20 percent reduction in the length of stay in the ICU. Banner Regional Medical Center has generally received high ratings from national organizations that rate hospitals, especially given its position in a rural community. However, many patients have also had difficulty getting definitive care — with frequent transfers to Valley hospitals for access to more advanced diagnosis and specialties. A robust telemedicine system at a Banneroperated hospital could possibly reduce those transfers through a direct, real-time connection with an ICU telemedicine hookup.
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 23
WATER SUPPLY
Plenty of water
Payson will get 3,000 acre-feet a year from reservoir in 2018 by Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
The construction of the pipeline that will more than double Payson’s long-term water supply went into high gear in 2015, with completion of the in-town sections and work well under way on the 14-mile stretch of pipe along the East Verde between Washington Park and Payson. The pipeline will deliver water in 2018, with the turn of the tap deliberately timed to coincide with the projected opening of the first phase of a 6,000-student university campus. The C.C. Cragin pipeline will deliver 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, enough to sustain a population of about 40,000 — roughly the number the town’s general plan calls for at build-out. The project will make Payson and other Rim Country communities among the few in the state with a permanent, long-term supply sufficient to meet all its projected water needs. Initially, the gush of new water will provide far more water than the town needs to supply current residents. Therefore, a large share of the new water from a reservoir atop the Mogollon Rim will initially go back into the underground water table. Moreover, the town is working on plans to turn the mostly dry American Gulch meandering through town into a groundwater recharge project — which could make Payson the only town in Arizona with a trout stream running through its center. Statewide, water experts predict a shortfall of more than 1 million acre-feet annually, as many communities continue to overdraw the water stored underPhotos by Peter Aleshire ground — especially in The C.C. Cragin Reservoir (opposite) will rural areas of the state. provide 3,000 acre-feet annually to Payson, Payson remains one of which is already modifying its in-town systhe few communities tem to prepare for the new water in 2018. with plans to actually recharge its water table, which had fallen roughly 100 feet before the imposition of water conservation regulations some eight years ago. The careful management of the existing water table coupled with the all-out effort to find fresh sources of water make Payson one of the champions of water planning in the state. So while competing rural communities like Prescott, Sedona, the Verde Valley, Sierra Vista and others cope with a looming water shortage, Payson has enough water to support all its future growth plans. The town has so far installed a network of new pipes to make that possible — connecting the isolated well-based networks into a single
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FASTFACTS Payson’s Water Future Current use: 1,800 acre-feet Reservoir water: 3,000 acre-feet Water arrives: 2018 Pipeline investment: $50 million
town-wide system. The town even signed long-term contracts with the two country club developments in town to provide ample water to irrigate the golf courses, which previously relied on reclaimed water. That has guaranteed the future of the golf course developments. Prior to locking in the C.C. Cragin water, Payson struggled to deal with the same kind of dropping water table that casts a shadow over most other rural communities in Arizona. Most other rural communities in the state face a far more uncertain water future. Many climate projections suggest the region faces longer, more severe periods of drought in coming decades. Payson’s ample water supply should then give it another key advantage over its economic competitors. The water will flow from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir — previously called the Blue Ridge Reservoir — high atop the Mogollon Rim. Payson imposed a $7,500 per-house water impact fee to raise money to finance the pipeline project and qualified for federal grants and longterm, low-interest-rate loans. The town lowered that fee to about $5,400 and eliminated other impact fees to help lower the cost of development. Payson did have to raise water rates to provide an assurance it can repay the low-interest loans and grants it is using to build the pipeline. However, Payson’s water rates remain about average for the region — and close to the rates in the Valley. The average homeowner pays $30 to $40 a month for water.
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 25
WATER SHORTAGES
State faces water shortage But Rim Country has ample supply
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Roosevelt Dam created the reservoir on which the Valley depends for water storage. Climate shifts and intensifying drought have created a projected water shortage for the rest of the state. However, Rim Country not only has ample runoff — it can also count on an additional 3,000 acre-feet of water annually from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir, securing Payson’s long-term water needs.
by Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Water. Once upon a time, a dwindling water supply posed Payson’s toughest questions. These days, the more the rest of the state worries about a precarious water supply — the better Payson looks. In a state threatened by drought, Payson remains one of the few towns in Arizona with a guaranteed source of water sufficient to provide for all its projected future water needs — drought or no drought, climate change notwithstanding But elsewhere in Arizona, a projected water shortage remains the key threat to future growth. Here are a few indicators: Drought The El Niño sea surface warming in the Eastern Pacific in 2015 produced the first wet winter in years — largely breaking the grip of a drought that has persisted for almost a decade throughout the west. As winter ebbed, most of Arizona had finally slipped out of drought — which remains “severe” or “exceptional” in California — according to the National Weather Service. The respite from the drought promises to refill the state’s largely emptied reservoirs. However, the long-term forecasts still maintain that Arizona and the entire Southwest will experience longer, drier droughts in the coming decades, thanks to the heat-trapping effects of pollutants globally. If the predictions prove accurate, Payson will remain one of the few communities in the state with an ample water supply, thanks to the C.C. Cragin pipeline.
Colorado River Lake Mead in 2015 fell to its lowest level since water managers filled it up in the 1930s. The dams along the Colorado River remain less than half full. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has warned that if Lake Mead falls much further it will have to restrict or cut off deliveries to Nevada and Arizona, creating an instant water crisis for Phoenix and Tucson. The wet winter has put off the crisis for now, but forecasters say the drought will likely resume as soon as the El Niño conditions fade — probably this spring. Other reservoirs: The Valley gets about half of its water from the Salt and Verde river watersheds. Unfortunately, the drought has affected those areas as well. Roosevelt Lake this winter dropped to about 50 percent of its capacity. Groundwater shrinking The Colorado River basin has used 41 million acre-feet more from groundwater than rainfall has put back in since 2004, according to a study by NASA and the University of CaliforniaIrvine. That’s almost twice the capacity of Lake Mead. Arizona continues to draw down underground water tables that would take centuries to refill even if water use declined despite projected population growth. Water deficit A report by the Arizona Water Resources Development Commission says that in coming decades the state’s annual water use will grow from about 7 million acre-feet to about 11 million acre-feet. An estimated 1.2 billion acre-feet
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remains stored in underground water tables, however, much of that water is too deep and too far from the areas that need it to solve the problem. Climate change impact A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey concluded that the flow of the Verde River will decrease by 8,600 acre-feet annually in the course of the next century, mostly because of groundwater pumping. As a result, the river could go dry intermittently — as well as many of the groundwater wells in the area. Cities in the Verde Valley and the Salt River Project are in a protracted legal struggle with Prescott and Chino Valley, arguing that growth in those areas threatens to dry up the Verde River. Many of the rural communities that effectively compete with Payson for growth like Sedona, Verde Valley, Prescott, Flagstaff, Sierra Vista and others face an increasingly uncertain water future. All of that bad news for the rest of the state underscored the enormous advantage Rim Country enjoys thanks to its long-term water supply. Local officials worked for 20 years to obtain rights to 3,000 acre-feet of water from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir, enough to more than double Payson’s long-term water supply. The town currently uses about 1,800 acrefeet of water annually. The addition of 3,000 acre-feet means Payson will have enough water to supply a projected build-out population of nearly 40,000, with plenty of water to serve as a cushion in the event of a drought.
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 27
RENTAL MARKET
Resources for renters by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
With a shortage of affordable housing, the rental market in Payson is competitive among renters. Properties go quickly so renters have to act fast. The rental market reflects the area’s eclectic mix of housing, with a large number of older manufactured homes as well as site-built properties, often in the same neighborhood. While some homes have garages, many come with carports. There are few multi-level properties, but several apartment complexes offer fireplaces and vaulted ceilings. Higher end properties are hard to come by, but there are always a few apartment rentals available at one of the 10 complexes. Several of those are for seniors only and offer low-income options. Realtors say the rental market is active with multiple parties sometimes vying for the same home, especially when the property is attractively priced for the market. Still, “there is active turnover, so there seems to be enough properties that come available to let the active home-seekers find a home or apartment for lease,” said Clifford Potts, designated broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Advantage Realty. Rental rates have gone up every year and are expected to climb if a four-year university is built and an influx of construction workers and students arrive. Rates start just above $600 for a one-bedroom and go into the thousands for larger rentals.
RENTAL WEBSITES
Payson Rental Rates
Payson.com Classifieds PaysonArea.com Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Advantage Realty PrestRealty.com
Apartment 2 bdrm: $625-$850; avg. – $750 Home 2 bdrm: $800-$1,100; avg. – $900
APARTMENTS Forest Hills Condominiums 333 N. McLane Road (928) 472-6055 • Balconies and wood-burning fireplaces, community swimming pool • Near Rumsey Park and the library • Built in late ’80s • 70 units • One, two and three bedrooms • $795-1,095 Pineview Manor Apartments 304 S. Clark Road (928) 474-1317 • Income-qualified living for ages 62+ • Single-story buildings • All utilities except phone, Internet • On-site laundry facilities • Community center • ADA accessible • Community Van • Dog Park Tonto Oaks Apartments 120 S. Tonto Street (928) 472-9238 Built in 1995 • Two stories with 44 units • Fitness room
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Home with a garage 3 bdrm: $875-$1,400; avg. – $1,100
• • •
Laundry facilities Large storage One and two bedrooms
Aspen Cove Apartments 801 E. Frontier Street (928) 474-8042 Aspencoveapartments.com • Reserved covered parking • On-site management • Dog run • In-suite laundry • Two-story townhomes • Two bedroom units Canal Senior Apartments 807 S. Westerly Road (928) 468-5650 • 63 units • Income restrictions apply • For adults 55 and older or disabled • One and two bedrooms • On-site laundry • Two community rooms • Three floors, elevator • ADA units available
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Rental units provide an affordable option for families and access to parks and other facilities, like Green Valley Park (above) where the town stages its annual July 4 show.
Center Ridge Apartment Homes 105 E. Main Street (928) 474-9311 • Built in 2009 • 48 units • Affordable with income restrictions • Water, sewer and trash included • Two and three bedroom • Dog friendly up to 25 pounds Maurnez Apartments 110 W. Airport Rd (928) 474-8311 • 32 units • One and two bedroom • On-site laundry • Playground • Income requirements • Built in 1991 Green Valley Apartments 905 S. McLane Road (928) 472-4639 Payson Mountain View Apartments 211 S. Ponderosa Street (928) 474-6159 Payson Senior Apartments 311 S. McLane Road (928) 474-6761 • 40 units • Four ADA accessible units • Subsidized housing for adults 62 and older or disabled • Built in 1992 • On-site laundry • Community room • Gas grill • One pet under 40 pounds allowed
RELOCATION GUIDE
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UNIVERSITY PLANS
Plan for university still advancing by Peter Aleshire
The towns of Payson and Star Valley partnered After years of delays and to set up the Rim Country setbacks, backers say they’ll Educational Alliance this year start construction Separate Legal Entity, on the first, 1,000-student which will actually build phase of a 6,000-student unithe campus and own the versity in Payson. In 2015, facilities. The Alliance will backers finally concluded then lease the facilities to the purchase of a 253-acre the university and to other parcel for the university and related businesses, using various satellite projects — the lease payments and including dorms, a confersales tax money generated ence hotel, a research park, a to keep the cost of the unicharter school, a retail comversity facilities as low as plex, athletic fields, a recrepossible. ational complex and other The Alliance has developments. worked out most of the At press time for the details of a plan to have relocation guide, backArizona State University ers remained in negotiaoperate the campus. The tions with Arizona State largest public univerUniversity, the “preferred sity in the nation, ASU’s academic partner” to actualmain Tempe campus lies ly operate the campus. less than 100 miles south The project has taken of Payson. The ultimate far longer and faced more plan would dovetail the setbacks than backers preprograms on the two camdicted when they launched puses and give students the effort six years ago. in Payson online access However, prospects brightto a wealth of classes and ened when the Rim Country The architect’s rendering above shows a rough plan for the location of various cominstructors on the main Educational Alliance finally ponents of a proposed 6,000-student university in Payson. The plan shows location of campus. concluded the land purchase core campus buildings, but not the research park, conference hotel and other support The plan calls for the from the US Forest Service facilities. Below, Payson Mayor Kenny Evans puts up a sign after backers bought a use of a combination of 253-acre parcel in 2015. for about $4.1 million. lower tuition and an The project got a major endowment to keep costs boost when the MHA Foundation for students much lower than at the merged with Banner Health Systems three existing public universities in the and turned over operation of Payson state, ensuring a ready supply of stuRegional Medical Center to the largest dents. The campus will offer key areas healthcare provider in the state. The of study and undergraduate degrees, deal included a $40 million payment including topics like nursing, business, to the MHA Foundation, which it has rural health care, forest health, alternaused to buy the land and pay some $1 tive energy, education, fire science and million in pre-development costs for other topics. the university project. That includes Moreover, the Alliance plans to build drawing up a master plan for the site, a creative, state-of-the-art campus that developing detailed plans for infrawill turn the whole town into a highstructure like roads, sewers, water and power and negotiating final details speed, wireless Internet site. The plan calls for athletic fields open to the of the campus with ASU. public and a performing arts center as well. Current plans call for the arrival of the first students in 2018, which is a The Alliance wants to install computer screen walls and counter tops year later than backers predicted prior to the publication of last year’s Rim that will connect the dorms, classrooms and offices to a central system. Country Relocation Guide. The design will let students interact with teachers all over the world and Preliminary studies suggest the university project could ultimately access research materials from anywhere in the community. inject $150 million annually into the economy and transform the ameniBackers have also had conversations with the University of Arizona ties, demographics and housing market of a rural town long dependent about operating both a rural telemedicine program and a robotics engion tourism and second-home owners. neering program on a “multiversity” campus.
roundup editor
30 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 31
SCHOOLS
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
The Arizona Auditor General each year releases statistics on the state’s schools. Rim Country schools generally rate above the state average, despite the high percentage of low-income families and the high percentage of special needs students. Payson got a “B” rating on the last Auditor General report, mostly for strong performance on financial measures and test scores when compared to other rural districts.
Auditor rates region’s schools highly by Peter Aleshire
FASTFACTS
roundup editor
Payson schools have seen better student achievement with fewer dollars than comparable school districts, according to the annual report card of Arizona’s school districts by the Auditor General’s Office. The report also showed that per-student spending has declined in both Payson and statewide in the past several years, while the percentage of the budget spent outside the classroom has increased. Overall, the Auditor General’s report found that per-student spending dropped 4 percent from 2009 to 2012. In that same period, the percentage of the budget going to the classroom in the form of teacher salaries, teacher’s aides, instructional supplies and activities like field trips and extracurricular activities has declined from about 57 percent to about 53 percent. By contrast, the national average for such “classroom” costs stands at about 61 percent. Overall, the report gave Payson a “B” rating. The district rated “low” on measures of financial stress because it had avoided “overspending,” maintained adequate budget reserves and won the support of voters for a budget override. The share of the budget spent on plant operations and transportation rose, while the percentage spent on administration and instruc-
AIMS TEST 2014 Passing Math: Payson: 59 percent Peer districts: 54 percent Passing Reading: Payson: 81 percent Peer districts: 72 percent Passing Writing: Payson: 55 percent Peer districts: 48 percent Passing Science: Payson: 57 percent Peer districts: 46 percent tional support rose “slightly.” In Payson, total spending went from $7,797 in 2013 to $7,571 in 2014. That compares to a statewide average of $7,578 in 2014 and a national average of $10,667. Arizona spends about 40 percent less per student than the average school district nationally. In Payson, classroom spending went from $4,155 to $3,988. That compares to a state aver-
32 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
age of $4,073 in 2014 and a national average of $6,495. Payson generally spent a little less in most categories than comparable “peer” districts of a similar size, with similar student demographics. However, Payson students generally scored better on the AIMS test than either the average student statewide or students in comparable districts. Payson averages 19 students per teacher, which reflects a sharp rise in class sizes with the closure of Frontier Elementary School. Comparable school districts have 16.5 students per teacher and the state average stands at 18.6 students per teacher. Average class sizes are actually much higher, since the averages include very small special education classes. Districts with unused facilities due to enrollment declines and high student poverty and special education populations like Payson struggle to cut the “non-classroom” costs as class sizes grow. The Auditor General Report noted that Arizona schools spend about 10 percent of their budget on administration compared to 11 percent nationally. On the other hand, Arizona schools spend a little larger share of their budgets on student support, instructional support, food services and transportation than the national average.
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 33
SCHOOLS
Joys, challenges of community schools Rural schools savor connections, but sometimes must also struggle by Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
One of the joys of a rural school district is the size — it’s also a frustration. In a small town like Payson, it’s not six degrees of separation, it’s two. This makes it much easier to meet and get to know the superintendent or a board member. At some point you’ll see them at the local Walmart where everyone shops at one time or another. But that small size also makes it difficult for the district to offer every AP class metropolitan area schools can offer. Nor does the district have honors classes or International Baccalaureate classes, which makes running the gauntlet of college applications a little more challenging. A little. What Rim Country schools offer that metropolitan schools cannot touch — small town camaraderie and support. The intimacy of the schools and surrounding community creates a sense of ownership of the schools. Many town residents, the majority of whom are retirees, come out to watch football games or theatrical presentations. At Christmas time, it’s standing room only for the elementary school holiday concerts. Because of the community college in Payson, involved parents can create a challenging environment for their students — maybe even helping their children get two years of college done before they graduate from high school — quite a savings. Payson Unified School District The 2,400-student Payson Unified School District forms the hub of the various schools in Rim Country. PUSD has children from kindergarten through high school. The outlying communities of Pine, Strawberry and Tonto Basin all feed into PUSD for high school. The Payson district operates four school sites. Uniquely, every student attends every school in the district during their school career.
Photos by Peter Aleshire
Rim Country has three school districts — Payson, Pine/Strawberry and Tonto Basin — in addition to districts in Young and Globe. The Christmas concerts at Julia Randall Elementary School (above) always draw big crowds and the whole town turns out for big events like the homecoming parade down Main Street (below).
Payson Elementary School is a kindergarten through second-grade school, Julia Randall Elementary, a third- through fifth-grade school, Rim Country Middle School is a junior high, and Payson High School has ninth through 12th grades and offers an online school option at Payson Center for Success. Each school has a perhaps-surprising array of top-ranked programs and activities. Like many rural school districts, Payson schools face sometimes-challenging demographics, with sizable populations of low-income and special education students. However, the district’s teachers have worked to offer students many extras rare in a rural school, including ski and caving trips with an outdoor adventure club; a chance to design research projects using a satellite orbiting the planet Mars; a state-of-the-art 3-D printer for engineering projects; a championship band and music program; college credits for classes taught in partnership with Gila Community College; a full and award-winning drama program; complete agricultural, business, computer, engineering, construction and culinary arts programs as well as athletic programs that draw
34 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 35
SCHOOLS
in the whole community. The Rim Country community has supported its school system with a bond passed in the early 2000s. This allowed the district to significantly upgrade the facilities and buildings. The historic rock building near the newly built Julia Randall Elementary S c h o o l houses the d i s t r i c t ’s administration, while the elementary school covers grades 3-5, plus a pre-kindergarten program. Rim Country Middle School and Payson High School also received upgrades and a fresh coat of paint. Just as every other district in Arizona has struggled with state-imposed budget cuts, PUSD suffered, but continues to hold its own. Test scores have suffered under the new AzMERIT test, as all districts’ scores suffered. In response, the district has initiated a series of tests to identify when a student has a gap in their skill level. The 2014-15 school year inaugurates a new standardized test for graduation, the AzMERIT test. The Arizona Department of Education decided to delay administering letter grades to districts until the newness of the test wears off. However, the district remains above average in the extras provided to students, thanks to the combination of determined teachers and strong community support — a benefit of the rural nature of the district. Unlike half of the districts in the state, the Rim Country voters passed an override tax which brings more than a million dollars to the district in a time when the state continues to slash funding for K-12 schools. The school system remains a focal point of the community, dominating sports coverage in the local paper, receiving consistent coverage of special events and performances and benefiting
Community supports its schools
The Payson High School Drama program draws community support and audiences all year long and the Payson Jazz Band entertains regularly. Peter Aleshire/ Roundup
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36 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
RELOCATION GUIDE Fire & Smoke Damage Mitigation, Removal and Restoration
Fire Damage is the most stressful type of property damage that property owners have to live through. The loss of property and valuables leaves many property owners confused and frustrated. Fire damage is more difficult, but not impossible to restore. Dry Force will work quickly to secure your property following a fire and begin the restoration process. In cases where the fire department put out the fire, Dry Force will begin with water extraction before beginning the restoration process. Smoke Damage occurs because smoke will travel and go through any opening. This allows it to move between rooms and settle into porous materials where it can remain. Our specialists will set up specialty equipment to dissolve the settle smoke particles and remove the odor.
FIRE & SMOK STO RM SMOKEE WATE R DAM AG E CLEAN UP RESTORATION RESTORATION Water & Storm Damage Mitigation, Removal and Restoration
Water and storm incursions must be quickly mitigated to prevent further damage. Carpets, walls, and furnishings are most immediately susceptible to water damage. The longer water stays in place the more destructive it can be. Protect your property and the health of your loved ones by quickly contacting Dry Force in the event of water or storm damage. Our specialists will work quickly to extract any remaining water and place drying equipment to dry out the affected areas to stop damage and prevent mold growth. HELP US HELP YOU BY TAKING THESE STEPS: • Turn off the source of the water if you can. • Remove things like lamps, tabletop items and wall mounted valuables. • If possible, lift or prop furniture away from water affected areas. • Wipe away any water left on furniture.
Fire & Smoke Damage Mitigation, Removal and Restoration
Our Satisfi Customers Fire Damage is the most stressfulTestimonials type of property damage by that property owners haveed to live through. The loss of property and valuables leaves
by Fredmany D. via property Dry Force BBB Profile confused Page by Charlie N. Dry Force BBBForce Profilewill Pagework quickly to owners and frustrated. Fire damage is more difficult, but not impossible tovia restore. Dry
From beginning to end, Dry Force personnel were very responsive, couteous, profesWork was done quickly and efficiently. Staff was very friendly and kept in contact secure following a fireaccess and tobegin theThe restoration process. In cases where the fire department put the fioffre, Force sional and willing toyour adaptproperty to my time constraints regarding the home. throughout the process. Took a lotout of stress my Dry shoulders sincewill I livebegin in a different staff explained the entire process to mebefore so there were no surprises. office staff process. state than the house where the work was done. Also I appreciated their patience in with water extraction beginning theTheir restoration shoud be commended for the professional manner in which they handle all requests. waiting for payment since I had to go through my home owner’s insurance and then Damage it to move between roomscompany. and settle intoDryporous They getSmoke an A+ in my book! occurs because smoke will travel and go through any opening. This allows get the check endorsed by my mortgage Thank you Force!
materials it can remain. settle smoke particles and remove the odor. by Renee C. via Drywhere Force BBB Profile Page Our specialists will set up specialty equipment to dissolvebythe Diane C. via Dry Force BBB Profile Page
Water & Storm Damage Mitigation, Removal and Restoration
As expected, having water damage in your house can be very stressful. Every person The technicians that were sent to my house to clean up the water loss were excellent. I came in contact with at the company was very professional and made this an easy First they went over the whole procss from beginning to end and what I could expect. process.Water They didand a great job. If incursions they were running late they call and tell me why.to prevent further damage. Carpets, storm must be would quickly mitigated walls, arespinning mostbutimmediately suscepThere was soand muchfurnishings that it left my head the technician went over it until I They got my home back to normal very quickly and now you would never know I had understood everything. They were there on time most days and the job was completed tible to water damage. The longer water stays in place the more destructive it can be. Protect your property and the health of your loved ones water damage. Thank you for a great experience. more than satisfactory.
contacting specialists will work quickly to extract any remaining water and by Pamby C. quickly via Dry Force BBB ProfileDry PageForce in the event of water or storm damage. Our by Ronnie K. via Dry Force BBB Profile Page
Our home sustained a 60,000 gallon water to leakdry fromout a hotthe water pipe bursting under to the stop foundation. place drying equipment affected areas damage andI prevent mold was impressed withgrowth. how quick I was able to get someone out to look at my leaking garbage disposal. It was The damage wasUS extensive: expansion and contraction caused cracking throughout the founjust a couple of hours before someone arrived. Within several minutes Dry Force was able to diagnose how HELP HELPsoil YOU BY TAKING THESE STEPS: much water damage I had. Dry Force was able to give me a reasonable quote and a fair time frame to get dation causing ripple effects in cracked drywall and raised walls into the attic. Dry Force held our • Turn off the source of the water if you can. the cabinet dry and repaired. Within a couple of weeks we were back to normal in our kitchen. hand every step of the way: mapping out the project, working directly with geotech and structural • Remove thingsand likethelamps, items andcontractors wall mounted valuables. by Dave R. via Dry Force BBB Profile Page engineers, pack-up personnel, multitude tabletop of attentive highly skilled to tear out and This is a letter of appreciation for the fine services you provide. Each person who came to my home was friendly rebuild our The result stronger, more beautiful We feel very proudareas. and • Ifhome. possible, liftis aorhome prop furniture away than fromever. water affected and professional. They were clear about the process and helped us in dealing with a stressful situation. extremely appreciative to Dry Force!
• Wipe away any water left on furniture.
Insurance and Claims Information Testimonials by Our Satisfi Customers As the property owner, you have the right to decide who restores your home or business. Most ofed the time Dry Force is the quickest to respond to your emergency
by Fredand D. via Dry Force Profile by Charlie viaabove Dry Force BBB Profile Page to restore your property provides theBBB utmost inPage quality workmanship and overall customer service. We pride ourselves in going over N. and industry standards
From beginning to end,condition. Dry Force personnel were very responsive, couteous, profesWork was done quickly and efficiently. Staff was very friendly and kept in contact to pre-loss sional and willing to adapt to my time constraints regarding access to the home. The throughout the process. Took a lot of stress off my shoulders since I live in a different Dry Force can work alongside your insurance provider to ensure the claims process runs smoothly and effithan ciently. We can you was file done. a claim guide you staff explained the entire process to me so there were no surprises. Their office staff state the house wherehelp the work Alsoand I appreciated theirthrough patience in this stressfulfortime. Every customer service has aalldedicated every for step of thesince way.I had They will submit your owner’s billing insurance to the and then shoud be commended the professional manner inwe which they handle requests. account representative that’s available waiting payment to go through my home They getclaims an A+ inadjuster my book! and ensure that all your questions are answered. get the check endorsed by my mortgage company. Thank you Dry Force!
by Renee via Dry Force BBBofProfile Page DryC.Force uses state the art equipment, highly trained field technicians and office staff that truly care. Together, makeBBB sureProfile yourPage property damage is restored by Diane C. viawe’ll Dry Force
As expected, having your settled house can be very stressful. Every person Theto technicians that were to my house to cleantouprequest the wateraloss quickly andwater yourdamage claimingets fairly. Many insurance policies oblige the owner to minimize the loss the property, sosent contact Dry Force freewere excellent. I came in contact with at the company was very professional and made this an easy First they went overQBE, the whole procss from beginningFarmers to end andInsurance, what I could expect. assessment. Some of the isurance providers we work with include: Allstate, American Modern, Ameriprise Financial, Chubb, Encompass, process. They did a great job. If they were running late they would call and tell me why. There was so much that it left my head spinning but the technician went over it until I Mercury Insurance, Nationwide, They gotForemost, my home back to normal very quicklyMetLife, and now you would neverStateFarm, know I had The Hartford, Travelers. understood everything. They were there on time most days and the job was completed water damage. Thank you for a great experience. more than satisfactory.
by Pam C. via Dry Force BBB Profile Page Our home sustained a 60,000 gallon water leak from a hot water pipe bursting under the foundation. The damage was extensive: soil expansion and contraction caused cracking throughout the foundation causing ripple effects in cracked drywall and raised walls into the attic. Dry Force held our hand every step of the way: mapping out the project, working directly with geotech and structural engineers, pack-up personnel, and the multitude of attentive highly skilled contractors to tear out and rebuild our home. The result is a home stronger, more beautiful than ever. We feel very proud and extremely appreciative to Dry Force!
by Ronnie K. via Dry Force BBB Profile Page I was impressed with how quick I was able to get someone out to look at my leaking garbage disposal. It was just a couple of hours before someone arrived. Within several minutes Dry Force was able to diagnose how much water damage I had. Dry Force was able to give me a reasonable quote and a fair time frame to get the cabinet dry and repaired. Within a couple of weeks we were back to normal in our kitchen.
by Dave R. via Dry Force BBB Profile Page This is a letter of appreciation for the fine services you provide. Each person who came to my home was friendly and professional. They were clear about the process and helped us in dealing with a stressful situation.
Insurance and Claims Information
(928) 474-4504
As the property owner, you have the right to decide who restores your home or business. Most of the time Dry Force is the quickest to respond to your emergency and provides the utmost in quality workmanship and overall customer service. We pride ourselves in going over and above industry standards to restore your property to pre-loss condition. Dry Force can work alongside your insurance provider to ensure the claims process runs smoothly and efficiently. We can help you file a claim and guide you through this stressful time. Every customer we service has a dedicated account representative that’s available every step of the way. They will submit your billing to the claims adjuster and ensure that all your questions are answered. Dry Force uses state of the art equipment, highly trained field technicians and office staff that truly care. Together, we’ll make sure your property damage is restored quickly and your claim gets settled fairly. Many insurance policies oblige the owner to minimize the loss to the property, so contact Dry Force to request a free assessment. Some of the isurance providers we work with include: Allstate, American Modern, Ameriprise Financial, QBE, Chubb, Encompass, Farmers Insurance, 2016 | Move to RIM COUNTRY Foremost, Mercury Insurance, MetLife, Nationwide, StateFarm, The Hartford, Travelers.
Northern Arizona including Gila County
| 37
SCHOOLS
from more than $200,000 donated annually to the state’s Credit for Kids tax write-off donation system, as well as thousands of hours of volunteers’ time. Extras include field trips in the elementary schools, trips to watch plays in Phoenix and a firsthand look at the operations of local farms and ranches. High school culinary arts students compete for scholarships to nationally ranked cooking schools, and business classes and clubs fly to other states to compete nationally. The district also offers award-winning music and theater classes, art, sports and career and technical education at Payson High School. Because of the Rim Country’s central location in the state, teachers take their students to the Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University campuses. At ASU, students participate in photographing Mars at the Mars Imaging Project or see the facets of an insect’s eye on an electron microscope. At Northern Arizona University, students may watch the stars from the Lowell Observatory. Pine Strawberry Elementary School The quaint school district located in the heart of the little hamlet of Pine started with the founding of the Strawberry Schoolhouse in 1884, the first schoolhouse in the state of Arizona. The state Legislature provides the school with more funding than the rest of the state because of its rural status. With about 144 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the atmosphere is small and intimate, but the school has pride in how it takes care of its students. Pine Strawberry School offers sports, arts, and takes students into the outdoors on science trips. Once students graduate from the eighth grade, they attend Payson High School. Tonto Basin Elementary School Tonto Basin elementary school provides education for local children through the eighth grade. The school serves as the center of activity as it has the largest gathering space in the community. The long-time families in the area strongly support their school. Each Halloween, Tonto Basin hosts a carnival to raise funds for school projects.
38 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
Unlike the Payson and Pine schools that have snow days, Tonto Basin will have creek days when the nearby Tonto Creek overflows its banks, keeping students from attending school. Tonto Basin offers sports, arts, and relishes its history. The Shelby School The Shelby School is a charter school located in Tonto Village near Kohl’s Ranch and Christopher Creek. The school has one of the top chess teams in the whole country and an approach that individualizes instruction drawing in experts from other fields. The charter school offers bus service to students from Payson. American Leadership Academy A second charter school, American Leadership Academy, has plans to open a campus in the town of Payson during the fall of 2016 with a kindergarten through eighth grade school. Check out its website for information. Payson Community Christian School In Payson, the private Christian school offers a faith-based education, with small classes. The school purchased the former Frontier Elementary School from PUSD in 2013 and has classes from pre-school through high school. The school offers arts, athletics, internships and online college courses. The school’s website has more information on the school and how to set up a tour. Morgan’s Creek Montessori Utilizing the Montessori method of teaching, lead teacher Roni Schutz teaches a small group of students ages 2.5 through 6 to explore and learn through touch, rather than paper. Activities include tracing shapes, counting beads for mathematics, matching animals with their name and placing blocks in the correct size of openings. Call 928-978-5627 for more information or check out the school’s Facebook page.
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Since my children have been attending American Leadership Academy, they have gained confidence in themselves, developed strong leadership skills and have thrived in a school where there are high values, a family environment and staff who are willing to lend a helping hand. I knew the first time I walked through the doors, this was the school for both of my sons. - Marquetta Clair, ALA Mother
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Premier Realty Solutions © 620 E. Highway 260, Suite D-4 Payson, AZ 85541 SallyCan@PremierRealtySolutions.com Phone/Text: (480) 822-0587 Payson Area: (928) 978-1610 Fax: (888) 511-1605
2016
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SCHOOLS
Gila Community College serves community by Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
The Rim Country has a gem in Gila Community College. Residents from high school students to senior citizens can take classes in subjects as diverse as art, math, nursing, fire science, yoga and writing. These classes help young people start out in life with a skill and help those who have been in the working world gain the skills they need to start a new career. In fact, GCC has statistics that say 9 percent of Gila County residents have gained a skill that benefits 40 major organizations. Some diligent high school students not only graduate with a high school diploma, but an associate degree as well. For those interested in hitting the ground running after high school with job skills, the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology pays for dual credit certificate programs in medical assistant, fire science and cosmetology. GCC also has a vibrant nursing program that students from outside of Rim Country flock to study. Many nursing programs in more urban areas have waiting lists.
In the past four years, the college has partnered with industry to create new areas of study from medical coding and billing to culinary arts. The college even helps those wishing to change or start a new career with valuable skills for the local job market and global marketplace. To help young students pay for community college, GCC helps students to qualify for a Pell Grant or receive scholarships. Many seniors explore a new passion in life learning to paint, create ceramics or learn pho-
tography. As an added bonus, senior citizens attend classes for free. GCC even has a scholarship group, Friends of Rim Country Gila Community College. In 2014, 100 GCC students received scholarships. Moving closer to ending its purgatory as a provisional college, GCC has sent an initial packet of documents to the Higher Learning Commission seeking accreditation. It might take three to five years, but once done, GCC would be independent.
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RELOCATION GUIDE
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HOME FURNISHINGS
Furnish a home on a budget Roundup file photo
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Mall is just one of the many options in Rim Country for furnishing your home on a budget.
by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
If you are looking to furnish your new place or just jazz it up, there are plenty of furniture, collectibles, second-hand and antique shops in Rim Country offering many options for homeowners and renters. Whether your style is eclectic, cowboy collectible, woodsy cabin, vintage, modern, somewhere in between or you are still looking for it, the area is a treasure trove for shoppers within all budgets. Here is a list of businesses to unleash your interior decorator.
FURNITURE
Roud’s: The largest furniture store in the area, Roud’s Fine Home Furnishings, located at 107 E. Highway 260, offers everything from new mattresses to entertainment units and sofas. Prices are on the medium to high side. Mattress Experts & More: This store, located at 221 E. Highway 260 in the Safeway Center, offers a wide selection of mattresses and bedroom furniture. When the business opened in 2010, the owners said they did not intend to get into the furniture business, but they listened to their customers. Payson Galleria: Located off Bonita Street, Payson Galleria offers new furniture, but in a smaller, more intimate location. Besides new, the shop also offers gently used furniture, mattress sets, interior décor, most of it American made, including some from Payson craftsmen. Rim Furniture and Appliance: Offers a wonderfully eclectic mix of furniture — antiques, locally crafted, smoking deals. You never know
what you’ll find — from slabs of cedar crafted as end tables to Spanish style leather chairs — and low-cost, refurbished appliances. 4305 E. Highway 260, Payson. Affordable Furniture: This store in the Swiss Village Shopping Center in Payson fills the gap between the better thrift stores and the highend furniture stores. They offer an array of consignment and new furniture — first-rate furniture at just above thrift store prices. Bealls Outlet: Need a picture frame or measuring spoons? Bealls, located at 305 S Beeline Hwy., is the place for discounted housewares. They offer 15 percent off for seniors on Monday and 15 percent off for those 49 and younger on Fridays. Big Lots: Big Lots opened in 2013 in the Rim Country Mall on East Highway 260 and became the place for reasonably priced furniture and housewares. They offer a mix of kitchen items, art, bedding, knickknacks and food items.
THRIFT SHOPS
There is a thrift shop on just about every corner in Payson. Most are filled with bargains and it is quite common to find a gem among the junk. And to boot, nearly all of the thrift stores are run by nonprofits so all sales go toward supporting a good cause. Thrift stores include Habitat for Humanity ReStore (425 N. Beeline Highway), Humane Society of Central Arizona Resale Store & Vintage Boutique (510 W. Main St.), Trinkets & Treasures (512 W. Main St.), Pine-Strawberry Thrift Store (3916 N. Highway 87, Pine), The Nook (408 W. Main St.), Time Out Thrift
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Store (500 S. Beeline Highway), Animal Welfare Thrift Shop (4346 S. Highway 87), St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Mall (1006 S. Beeline Highway) and Kountry Chicks, which moved from Payson to 3632 E. Highway 260 in Star Valley (across from B. Diane McDaniel Park) in October 2013.
Payson ANTIQUE SHOPS
Carpenter’s Wife (112 W. Wade Lane): Frequently named by Rim Country voters as the best antique shop with 16 rooms filled with antiques and collectibles. Granny’s Attic Antiques (800 E. State Highway 260): Features several rooms brimming with treasures. One of the interesting collections Granny’s Attic has is antique fishing lures and rods. Whether it’s china, sewing machines, books or linens — you can probably find it at Granny’s Attic. Lamplight District (501 W. Main St.): Buy, sell and trade antiques, home goods and more. Western Village of Payson (1104 S. Beeline Highway): The place for rustic, cowboy memorabilia and household goods.
Pine ANTIQUE SHOPS
Just about 15 miles north on Highway 87 is the small, artsy community of Pine, where antiques abound. Search for treasures at the following shops: Auntie Gail’s Collectibles, Hardscrabble Road to 3691 Hall Lane; Coach House Antiques & Boutique, 3824 N. Highway 87; Tymeless Antiques & Treasures, 3716 Prince/ Hardscrabble Road; Tymeless Antiques & Treasures Too, Inc., 4078 N. Highway 87.
RODEO
Rim Country loves RODEO by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
The bulls slobber and twist. The broncs launch themselves, wild eyed. The barrel racers pivot and dance. The steer wrestlers twirl and drop. The mutton busters cling in terror. The mud-crusted riders limp from the arena. Ah, rodeo. Nothing like it. Of course, I don’t understand at all why anyone would ride a bull — 1,500 pounds of muscular fury. The bulls have names like Widowmaker, Perfect Poison, Gunpowder and Lead,
Smackdown, I’m a Gangster, and Bushwacker. It’s a nearly hopeless sport. A bull that no one can ride is worth some monumental amount of money. For instance, the top-ranked bull in the country is Bushwacker. To win prize money, bull riders must stay on board for eight seconds — gripping with just one hand and accumulating points for style. The average cowboy stays on Bushwacker for just 3.3 seconds. So far in his distinguished career, only one cowboy has stayed on for eight seconds. An average rodeo bull is worth about $10,000. Bushwacker’s worth $1 million. W E
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Bulls like Bushwacker don’t show up often at little small-town rodeos like Payson. Mostly, they wait for the national finals. But you can still go a whole rodeo in Payson without any bull riders staying on for eight seconds. The bulls aren’t satisfied, generally, with throwing the impudent cowboy into the air. Half the time they’ll spin around and try to smash the poor sucker into the calf-deep mud before the poor fool gets his breath back. That provokes perhaps my favorite moment in rodeo, the magnificent efforts of the bullfighters — often mislabeled rodeo clowns — to save the cowboy. While the photographers, judges, and assorted inside-the-ring officials go running for the safety of the high fence, the bullfighters rush toward the bull. Hanging out by the chutes in the Payson Rodeo, you realize the cowboys and cowgirls aren’t doing it for money. They love the horses, the excitement, the danger, the lifestyle. You’ll never meet better people, modest and full of life. They’re kind and uncomplaining and patriotic and half-crazy. So I go to the rodeo whenever I get the chance. I salute the flag and snap pictures of the cute kids and wish I was a cowboy, looking so nonchalant brave, but somehow bone-deep humble at the same time. Yep. Like the Toby Keith song — I should’ve been a cowboy. So long as they don’t make me ride Bushwacker. C O M F O R T
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RELOCATION GUIDE
Town of Payson Economic Development The Town of Payson Welcomes You, Your Success Here is Important to Us! Opening a Business? Fast Track Permitting Your Advocate For Business Here To Help YOU
Bobby G. Davis Economic Development Office Town of Payson 303 303 N. N. Beeline Beeline Highway, Highway, Payson, Payson, AZ AZ 85541 85541 928-474-5242 928-474-5242 ext. ext. 396 396 Cell: Cell: 928-978-4323 928-978-4323 TDD TDD 928-472-6449 928-472-6449 Email: Email: econdev@paysonaz.gov econdev@paysonaz.gov 44 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
NEIGHBORHOODS
Neighborhoods of Rim Country
by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
Rim Country offers a bewilderment of real estate choices. In Payson, you can find multi-million dollar country club homes overlooking a golf course — and struggling trailer parks. In Star Valley, you can fine one- and two-acre horse properties and low-cost neighborhoods. Along Houston Mesa Road and East Verde Estates, you came find homes overlooking a year-round stream. In Tonto Basin, Rye and Gisela, you can find ranch houses with saguaro in the front yard and tumble-down fixer-uppers. The diversity of neighborhoods and the odd mixture of high-end and low-end poses a challenge for most house-hunters from other areas. You can’t make a snap judgment about neighborhoods, without looking inside. And you can’t even easily find the neighborhoods that will perfectly suit your needs. So we’re trying to help, by giving you this overview of the amazingly diverse neighborhoods and communities of Rim Country. The good news for buyers: The region still hasn’t recovered from the Great Recession — so deals abound and homes remain on the market for two to four months before they sell. On the other hand, average sales prices have risen significantly since 2014. Average sales prices rose a modest 8 percent in Payson and 10 percent in Star Valley — the two incorporated towns in the area. On the other hand, prices rose a brisk 24 percent in Strawberry, 19 percent in Pine and 19 percent along Houston Mesa Road and a stunning 50 percent in Deer Creek, halfway down the hill from Payson to the Tonto Basin. Some real estate agents report sales strengthening and prices rising most strongly at the high end of the market. Experts have been predicting a sharp turn in the market for the past couple of years, but the return of a strong real estate market has receded down the road like the illusion of water on a sun baked highway. However, with the town working on a water pipeline and continuing to advance the plan for a university campus, optimists continue to scour the real estate numbers for encouragement. So we’ll try to offer some basic information on the market and neighborhoods of Rim Country to help you get oriented to one of the most diverse, surprising and promising real estate markets in the state.
Diversity defines Rim Country’s housing market, including rural cabins on a stream, new homes with a view and country club homes on a fairway. But things like the Payson Farmers Market and the crowds that turn out for the Longhorns’ football, basketball, baseball and soccer seasons define the region’s small-town charm.
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NEIGHBORHOODS
Rim Country Real Estate Guide: Pine 2015 Sales
115 units $226,000 average 158 days on market
Mogollon Rim
Price change from 2014: +19 percent
rol ont
C
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Control Road 2015 Sales 37 units $165,000 average 185 days on market
Whispering Pines
Price change from 2014: - 19 percent
Strawberry 2015 Sales 54 units $186,000 average 179 days listed
Beaver Valley
Price change from 2014: +24%
East Verde Estates
e erd st V
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Houston Mesa 2015 Sales 35 units $148,000 average 151 days on market
East Verde Estates
Price change from 2014: +19 percent
Mesa del Caballo
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Hwy 260
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NEIGHBORHOODS
Finding a home in the right neighborhood Ton t
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Mogollon Rim
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25 units $224,000 average 113 days on market
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Price change from 2014: +4 percent
reek
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Christopher Creek 2015 Sales
Star Valley 2015 Sales 32 units $209,000 average price $193,000 median price 211 days on market
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Price change from 2014: +10 percent
Ton to C
Hwy 260
2016
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RELOCATION GUIDE
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RELOCATION GUIDE
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2016
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 49
PAYSON
Payson boasts diverse lifestyles, homes
Whether you want nearby neighbors or elbowroom, Payson has just the right area for you. New homebuyers in Payson can find a wide array of choices. There are recently constructed, large site-built homes with prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars just up the street from a mixed community with homes dating back a few decades interspersed with manufactured housing. Payson actually boasts two or three developments that are mostly upscale modular/manufactured homes.
SOUTHWEST PAYSON
In the southwest quadrant of Payson you will find the oldest homes in the community located along Historic West Main and Frontier streets. One of the older formal developments is also in this area — Rodeo Ranches, to the south of Payson Golf Course. This area features larger homes priced in the upper range of the mid-level, with many dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. To the north of the golf course is Country Club Estates — Unit 1 is a mix of site-built and manufactured homes, while Unit 2 is site-built. Around the golf course are the developments of Greenfaire, Fairway Oaks and Fairway Knolls, built in the 1980s and 1990s. Farther north of the golf course is the oddly named Country Club Vista — nowhere in this area does anyone actually have a vista of the country club. However, it is the oldest of the developments linked by name to Payson Golf Course, with homes built in the 1960s and ’70s. The site-built homes range from moderately priced, two-bedroom cottages to multi-level contemporaries at mid-range prices. The homes just north of the original town site over in the area around Payson High and Rim Country Middle schools include multi-family units, older homes, newer homes built on razed lots and manufactured housing. Development names on a 1998 map of the area include: Wooded Estates, Hathaway Addition, Greer Subdivision, Payson Heights and Mogollon Rim Addition 3. The newest development in the area of Julia Randall Elementary School is Stone Creek, where homes are modular.
SOUTHEAST
Built in the 1950s and early 1960s were the older homes on East Bonita and East Frontier. Only one small area has a name designation, the Russell
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Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Rumsey and Green Valley Parks remain treasured amenities for Payson.
Addition, located to the north side of Bonita. Homes of the same vintage lie along Aero, Phoenix and Cedar streets just off the Beeline Highway. Both areas have a mix of site-built and manufactured homes. The Twin Lakes manufactured home park has been around since the mid-1960s and the Sherwood Forest Mobile Home Park just north of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church was created in the early 1970s. South of the Catholic church are Cowtown Estates, where building started in the mid 1960s. In the early 1980s, Golden Frontier, in the vicinity of Banner Payson Medical Center, started developing, linking Cowtown Estates and the surrounding neighborhoods to the older areas along East Frontier and East Bonita. The growth from East Aero, Phoenix and Cedar streets was to the east with the creation of the Pinon Ridge and Elk Ridge developments; and Rim View Heights Estates. These newer areas have more expensive homes than those closer to Beeline.
RELOCATION GUIDE
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RELOCATION GUIDE
Payson: Homes in every price range 2014 Payson NE 136 units $37 million total $274,000 average $191,000 median 133 days on market
2014 Payson NW 161 units $31 million total $191,000 average price $176,000 median price 121 days on market
Payson Airport
Payson Town Hall
Planned university site
Payson High School
2014 Payson SE 84 units $18 million total $214,000 average $160,000 median 143 days on market
2014 Payson SW 154 units $181 million total $196,000 average $200,000 median 145 days on market
Mazatzal Casino
52 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
Payson Population: 15,245 Owns own home: 73% Housing units: 8,958 People/household: 2.3 Per cap income: $23,668
Quick Facts Median household: $44,661 Total firms: 2,575 Retail sales: $282 mil Sales per cap: $18,319 Land area: 20 sq mi
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PAYSON
FASTFACTS Population: Under 5: Under 18: Over 65: Female: White: Hispanic: Foreign born:
15,245 4.5% 17.5% 31% 52% 92% 10% 4%
NORTHWEST
The schools complex along Longhorn Road (which is essentially the town’s extension of Highway 260) marks the north boundary of the southwest quadrant of the community. The areas developed around the schools are Forest Park, Payson West, Woodland Meadows and then farther north, on McLane, Timber Ridge. To the west of Rumsey Park and Payson Public Library, the residential areas are called Trailwood and Woodhill. Farther up McLane are Western Manor and Alpine Village. Payson North is part of the northwest quadrant, which has mixed site-built and manufactured
HS graduate: 90% College: 18% Own home: 73% Housing units: 8,958 Veterans: 2,119 People/house: 2.3 Per cap. $: $23,668 Household $: $44,661
Below poverty:
homes. Farther north is Payson Ranchos, a mixed neighborhood of moderate-sized, site-built homes and manufactured housing. To the north is another modular home community called Payson Pines.
Elementary School and several churches. To the south of Payson Air Park is more of Payson North, with a mix of site-built and manufactured homes in varying price ranges, and its later addition — the site-built homes of Alpine Heights. South of Payson North is Park Payson Pines, another area with mixed stock. Farther east are the high-end country club developments of Chaparral Pines on the north side of East Highway 260 and on the south side, The Rim Club. North of Chaparral Pines are Oak Ridge Hills and The Woods at Payson, which are also upscale developments.
NORTHEAST QUADRANT Opposite Payson Ranchos on the Beeline is one of the older developments in Payson, called Payson Air Park. At one time, it was one of the community’s landing “strips” thanks to its relatively flat and open layout. It has an older, mixed stock of site-built and manufactured homes, Payson
54 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
12%
Total firms: Retail sales: Sales per cap:
2,575 $282 mil $18,319
Land area: People/sq mi:
20 sq-mi 786
Payson’s the biggest town in Gila County at 16,000, but treasures its small-town feel, including the rodeo parade and its big community garden.
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On the Stands & Online
RimCountryReview.Com
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2016
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 55
COUNTRY CLUB LIVING
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
The Rim Club serves as a center for many gatherings and fundraisers important to the community at large. The development has 325 homesites built around a country club golf course. On the other side of the highway along the border of Payson and Star Valley, Chaparral Pines has 800 homesites.
Rim Country’s Country Club Living by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
While Payson has rustic roots, development has brought plenty of luxury just east of town in the area’s gated golf communities of Chaparral Pines and The Rim Club. There are 800 homesites in Chaparral Pines and 325 in The Rim Club with half of the 555-acre Rim Club property remaining in its natural state. Each has a private golf course and offers plenty of amenities. Chaparral Pines Former U.S. Open and PGA champion David Graham and Scottsdalebased architect Gary Panks designed Chaparral Pines’ private 18-hole, par-72 golf course. Golf Digest named the Chaparral Pines course one of the “Top 10 New Private Golf Courses in the U.S.” when it opened in 1997 and it consistently ranks among the magazine’s “Top 10 Private Golf Courses” in Arizona. The course features a variety of challenging holes, man-made lakes and streams, manicured fairways and breathtaking views of the landscape. There is a 27,000-square-foot clubhouse for dining, and members are encouraged to consider it an extension of their own home. The eight-acre Trailhead Park offers swimming, tennis, basketball, volleyball, a fitness center and an activities field. Barbecue and picnic areas overlook the children’s playground. The entire community is connected by a trail system that provides access to the adjoining Tonto National Forest. “With more than 800 homesites in the community, there are still some great real estate opportunities in Chaparral Pines including new construction, resale homes and some great values on some beautiful homesites,” said Jennifer Kiley, designated broker for the on-site sales office at Rim Country Real Estate. “We have a wide variety of homes to suit every buy-
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er’s need, from a smaller and very affordable two-bedroom second home starting in the low $300s to the home of your dreams with breathtaking views and every upgrade imaginable. A buyer may also want to build their own custom home and can choose from our inventory of homesites which includes every size, location and price.” The Rim Club Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish collaborated on The Rim Club course, which can be played from 5,200 to 7,200 yards with fairways woven through rock outcroppings and the largest stand of ponderosa pines in the country. Water comes into play on six holes. Weiskopf and Morrish designed the course so players of all levels could enjoy it. “The 12 finest consecutive holes Jay and I ever designed are here at The Rim Club starting with hole number 7,” Weiskopf said. Course honors include Golf Week Magazine’s No. 1 Golf Community West of the Carolinas, 2014; Golf Digest’s No. 9 venue in Arizona, 20152016; and Golf Week’s No. 16 Golf Courses in America, 2015. The Rim Clubhouse has a large patio that overlooks the 18th green, a dining room with a 50-foot wall of windows and a separate cocktail lounge. The Clubhouse at The Rim Club is a revival of a 1880s frontier land baron’s manor and at 29,000 square feet, includes a golf shop, men’s and women’s locker rooms and lounges. Properties at The Rim Club vary from custom homesites, semi-custom homes and the Heritage Collection. There are 325 homesites, including acre-plus, half acres and a few casitas. To discuss ownership opportunities, contact Jennifer Kiley, director of real estate sales, Rim Country Real Estate at jkiley@rimcountryre.com or 480-296-9549.
RELOCATION GUIDE
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 57
STAR VALLEY
Photo courtesy of DJ Craig
Incorporated just 10 years ago, the Town of Star Valley boasts a small-town feel, lots of horse properties and modest municipal services.
Rural atmosphere – and no property tax by Teresa McQuerrey
roundup staff reporter
The Town of Star Valley’s town council and municipal staff have managed a surprising number of accomplishments for the citizens and still kept a healthy balance in the community coffers. The town celebrated 10 years of incorporation last year. Concerns of citizens about water shortages spurred the creation of Star Valley in 2005. The town’s leadership over its short history has continued that concern — expressing it through careful management of municipal resources. The Star Valley Town Council and its staff have been so conservative with the budget, it was able to buy the local water system outright and had funds available to secure revenues requiring matches. Recently the town leaders have moved to secure more water sources for the community — enough that early projections show it will have water to serve its residents for nearly 100 years. Area: 6.4 square miles It has also paved most of its roads; Population: 2,300 provided funds for senior transportaHouseholds: 677 tion and the Meals on Wheels program Families: 421 for the community’s shut-ins; and made contributions to both area and Households with children: 24% numerous outside organizations. It has also built a Married couples: 51% small refuge for enjoying the outdoors, Average household size: 2.3 the B. Diane McDaniel Community Park. 2.9 Average family size: The land for the park was purchased Median age: 44 a few years ago and has been improved Female/males: 100/98 in less than two years to accommodate variety of events: a dedication cereMedian income: $27,375 amony, a small business showcase, a chili Median family: $32,000 and salsa cook-off to benefit the Payson Peter Aleshire/Roundup Per capita income: $19,400 Rodeo Committee’s scholarship fund Star Valley has lots of horse properties in a rural and Below poverty line: 10% and more. affordable, large-acreage properties.
FASTFACTS
58 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
STAR VALLEY
The park boasts newly installed covered ramadas for picnics, a children’s play area, horseshoe pits and a sand volleyball court, a grassy area and additional improvements. Star Valley maintains its rural, small-town atmosphere with minimal commercial and industrial areas and plenty of quiet neighborhoods. The community generally offers lower-cost housing than neighboring Payson, as well as more large lots with horse privileges. Most residents have their own wells for drinking water and rely on septic systems for wastewater. However, they enjoy the rural atmo-
sphere and the lack of town sales and property taxes. The community relies on the Gila County Sheriff ’s Office for policing. The independent Hellsgate Fire District provides fire protection, financed through its taxes and grants. Town officials and residents like it that way and are proud to live in an area surrounded by national forest, offering plenty of adventures including trails for horseback riding, hiking and ATV rides. Star Valley boasts about 2,300 residents, with one-quarter older than 65, but families also take
advantage of lower home prices. Like most of Rim Country, the median age is 44. Highway 260 cuts through the middle of the town, with most businesses located along the highway front, and residential areas and ranches behind that. A quick drive around town reveals a myriad of home styles and values. While a number are modest, manufactured abodes, the town also has many horse ranches and higher-end, new homes in The Knolls subdivision. The mix of house types in a single neighborhood remains typical of the housing pattern in Rim Country.
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 59
RELOCATION GUIDE
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Welcome to Rim Country.
802 N. Beeline Hwy. Suite B 928-363-4033 FREE PAYSON PICKUP & DELIVERY
Once you’re settled in, you’ll need a subscription to your community newspaper.
ALTERATIONS AVAILABLE SHOE REPAIR AVAILABLE
60 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Call (928) 474-5251, ext. 108 or visit www.payson.com
PINE & STRAWBERRY
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Pine and Strawberry offer everything from festivals and antique shops to birdwatching.
Pine & Strawberry: Still a world apart
FASTFACTS
by Teresa McQuerrey roundup staff reporter
Pine and Strawberry, sitting along North Highway 87, offer great places to get away from hustle and bustle. Small, quiet and friendly in a wonderfully old-fashioned way, the area offers a variety of home options. Second-home owners dominate the real estate market, which offers lots of homes in all price ranges nestled in the trees, many with sweeping views of the looming Mogollon Rim. Once beset by water shortages, the community formed a water improvement district and now has an ample supply — a rarity for a rural community anywhere in Arizona. The topography and the varied building patterns in the course of the community’s long pioneer history has created a mix of homes for vacationers,
PSenior INE-STRAWBERRY Citizens Affairs Foundation Pine Strawberry Thrift Shop Wed-Sat 9am-4pm • 928-476-4633
Pine Strawberry Dining Hall
Mon-Fri serving lunch at 11:30am • 928-476-2151
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3916 North Hwy 87 • P.O. Box 1281 • Pine, AZ 85544
Population: 2,000 32 sq miles Area: Elevation: 5,448 feet Established: 1884 Households: 882 2,242 Housing units: Married: 62% Family size: 2.6 3% Under 18: Over 65: 23% Median age: 53 Household: $40,000 Family: $46,000 Per capita: $25,000
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| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 61
PINE & STRAWBERRY retirees and year-rounders. Friendly and generous, the residents of Pine and Strawberry are also fierce when it comes to protecting the nature of their communities. Strawberry has a greater share of ranching properties in the narrow, meadow-graced valley. The community has many horse properties along the road that leads to Fossil Creek. Summer festivals, rural ambiance, a mild climate and a state-of-the-art, full-service library add to the popularity of the tiny mountain hamlets. There’s also a thriving hiking and mountain biking community. The two unincorporated communities host numerous festivals that attract throngs of visitors as well as summer and full-time residents who savor the small-town camaraderie and cultural heritage. Festivities kickoff in May and continue through to the Fall Apple Festival, with holiday celebrations tacked on at the end of the year. Anchoring the events are the decades-old Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day arts and crafts festivals that draw throngs of visitors from around the state. The Strawberry Patchers’ Quilt Festival and Strawberry Festival are also popular summer attractions. The 45-mile Fire on the Rim Mountain Bike Race in September has become an attractive stop on the state’s cycling circuit. A beer garden, food wagons, auctions, spaghetti dinner, kids race, bands and camping add to the overall ambiance of the event. Newcomers are also drawn to the two towns because of their location near the C.C. Cragin
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Unique Pine businesses include the Trident Winery, which offers appetizers and flights of custom wines made out of things like ocotillo blossoms. Look for the winery at 6262 Hardscrabble Road, just off the main drag. On weekends, by reservation only, the winery also serves catered gourmet meals.
Reservoir northeast of Strawberry off State Route 87. It’s a popular spot for trout fishing, boating, camping and stargazing. Also in the two mountain towns, the Historic Walking Tour, Pine-Strawberry Museum and the presence of the many original log and rock cabins, provide residents, both new and old, with a connection to the pioneers who settled the area in the mid-1800s. Some of the old buildings have been transformed into antique
stores, cafés and gift shops that are popular draws among visitors and part- and full-time residents. Among the pioneer homes that have been renovated is the popular Randall House that sits in the middle of Pine. Years ago it was transformed into a restaurant that serves up unique breakfasts, quiches, juicy burgers and creative salads. Pine and Strawberry are a retiree’s dream and a vacationer’s haven, partly due to the mild
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62 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
Dale Oestmann ABR, CRS, GRI, Associate Broker
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PINE & STRAWBERRY
The communities of Pine and Strawberry host an array of arts and crafts festivals throughout the summer to augment the offerings of its many antique shops.
year-round climate in which the winter lows hover around 23 degrees and the summer highs reach 92 degrees. The temperatures are cool enough in the summer to spend the entire day outside. While snow occasionally drapes the towns in the winter, it is usually short-lived. The two towns, located just above 5,500 feet in elevation, are located underneath the Mogollon Rim in the largest stand of towering ponderosa pine trees in the world. Today, Pine and Strawberry have a yearround population of about 4,000 people, but it can more than double in the spring and summer when heat-weary, desert dwellers eager to escape the Valley’s searing temperatures flock to the two towns. The community is served by a K-8 school;
Auntie Gail’s Collectables
Glassware • Dolls • Toys • Jewelry Consignment & Rental Spaces Available Open Monday to Sunday 10 to 4
Hardscrabble Road to 3691 Hall Lane Cell: 928.978.0469 Shop: 928.476.3009 Art for the home and the perfect gift
Myra’s Art Gallery Owned and Operated by Ed and Myra Kraemer
Fine art and handmade crafts featuring original paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, Indian jewelry, pottery, and greeting cards. Services include custom framing including barn wood, steel sihouette art and mirrors. www.myrasartgalleryand studio.com 3788 N Highway 87 PO Box 1586, Pine, AZ 85544 928-476-2256
the Senior Citizens Affairs Foundation, which offers dine-in and Meals on Wheels programs and operates a thrift store; the Isabelle Hunt Memorial Library; and numerous community groups. Many of the community’s events take place at the Community Center, which includes the senior dining room, the cultural hall, the area’s museum and a thrift mall. The oldest building in the complex was the original chapel built by the area’s Mormon settlers. When the new chapel was built the school took over the complex and then when the area’s residents approved the construction of the current school, west of the property, it became the community center. The history of the complex is an interesting story all its own and is included elsewhere in this publication.
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2016
| Move to RIM . COUNTRY | 63
TONTO BASIN
Tonto Basin not only offers the recreational joys of Roosevelt Lake, it also harbors a year-round community that treasures its independence, rural lifestyle and the annual Halloween bash.
A little bit of desert in the high country by Michele Nelson roundup staff reporter
Tonto Basin — a cozy community by the banks of Tonto Creek — lies only 20 minutes from Payson, but it feels a world away. Unlike Payson’s pine-covered slopes, saguaro cactus dominate in the basin. Tonto Creek runs through the town, splitting the basin that the Mazatzal and Sierra Ancha mountains define. The creek flows from headwaters coming off of the Mogollon Rim, through the Hellsgate Wilderness and down to Tonto Basin before Roosevelt Lake swallows it up. Residents live on both sides of the creek, which can prove a challenge when runoff down the creek cuts the community in half — usually several times a year. Folks on the far side of the creek sometimes have to wait for days before they can make the crossing — but live there anyway for the natural beauty and the friendly people. Gila County hopes to get enough federal funds to bridge the crossing in years to come.
Humans have settled the area since prehistoric times. Ancient hunters from the last Ice Age stopped in the basin for game and drink. The Salado Indians created settlements filling the basin with farms, irrigation canals and stone buildings. Then came the Apache and their wandering ways — until finally the farmers and ranchers settled to take advantage of the rich soil deposited by the invading and receding waters of the creek. Tonto Basin offers impressive hunting and recreation opportunities, but it also houses families. One of the projects the community is most proud of is the school. Preschool children to eighth-graders attend. One of the only schools in Arizona to remain debt free, the community built the school in the late 1970s with money raised from residents. Today about 70 students attend. But the stream also affects the school. During really wet storms, students cannot reach the school because the water is too high to cross, so the school closes down — for creek days. In all ways, Tonto Basin is a town defined by nature, especially its creek.
Serving the Basin
Breakfast Lunch & Dinner Mon.-Thurs 6am-7pm Fri-Sat-Sun 6am-9pm 928-479-2710 • 270 S. Old Hwy 188, Tonto Basin, AZ
64 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
FASTFACTS
Area: 31 sq mi Elevation: 2,238 ft Population: 840 Households: 439 726 Housing units: With children: 9% 51% Married couples: 7% Female headed: Household size: 1.9 2.4 Family size: Median age: 58 Under 18: 10% Over 65: 33% Median income Household: $23,398 Family: $29,091 Per capita: $15,157
Jake’s Corner, AZ Hwy 188 (3 miles from Hwy 87) 24 Hour Fuel with OFFERING: Groceries • Laundromat Tobacco Products Ice Cream/Snacks Beer & Wine Auto Parts Batteries Camping & Fishing Supplies Firewood • Tonto Passes Showers Available
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RELOCATION GUIDE
Southwest Mobility, Inc. 217 E. Highway 260 • Payson, AZ 85541 • 928-478-7940 4406 East Main St., Suite 110 • Mesa, AZ 85205 • (480) 654-2292 15458 N. 99th Ave. • Sun City, AZ 85351 • (623) 875-7296
Come by to check out our discount prices on power chairs, scooters, lift chairs, vehicle lifts, walkers, ramps and bath safety products.
Hospice of Payson PROVIDING CARE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL. All hospice services are covered by Medicare or private insurance with no out of pocket expenses to patient or families.
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Tonto Oaks
Cindy Miller, Manager
Email: dan@inspectaz.com Arizona Certified/Licensed Inspector #38440
Fax: 928-474-2140
APARTMENTS & MOBILES
928-970-1187
ASHI Certified Inspector #206929
Phone: 928-474-2415
Dan Harris, ACI Owner / Inspector
120 South Tonto Street • Payson, AZ 85541 Phone: (928) 472-9238 FAX: (928) 472-7918 E-mail: tontooaksapts@yahoo.com
Jared R. Owens | Attorney
www.owenslawaz.com 200 West Frontier Street, Suite L, Payson, AZ 85541 Phone: 928.472.4303 Fax: 928.472.4309
ESTATE PLANNING, REAL ESTATE, BUSINESS LAW, AND MORE 2016
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 65
TONTO CREEK COMMUNITIES
Cabins, hideaways and a stream by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
FASTFACTS
More winter. Christopher Creek More elk. Population: 156 Fewer neighbors. Income: $34,440 Way more trees. Such considerations draw Median age: 60 people to Christopher Creek and Over 65: 35% Tonto Village, nestled in the forUnder 18: 6% est at the foot of the towering Average Home Mogollon Rim about 17 miles Price: $399,000 northeast of Payson. The little community of Size: 2,500 sq ft Christopher Creek lies tucked in among the ponderosa pines near Tonto Village the base of the 1,500-foot-tall Population: 256 ramparts of the Rim. Income: $30,000 The community includes both 43 high-end mountain homes and Avg Age: 27% modest cabins, many fronting on Under 18: Christopher Creek. The commu- Over 65: 20% nity also attracts many vacation- Married: 72% ing families, eager to spend time 36% With kids: in the forest with streams where 23 years kids can hunt crayfish and splash Home age: 2nd home: 71% about all day long. The community has an excellent steak house, a few small stores and an assortment of cabin rentals, its own volunteer-reliant fire department and a church — but any serious shopping requires a trip to Payson. Upstream the creek harbors popular camping areas, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks the little creek throughout the summer. Most of the homes are owned by retirees and vacation homeowners. The average house price remains well above the average for the region. Residents have a church, a little store, rental cabins and two popular restaurants — but mostly lots of peace and quiet. Just down the road lies Tonto Village, with much lower home prices, a mix of housing and a larger percentage of year-round residents. Tonto Village has a bar and grill and lots of wildlife — including bears that sometimes make the rounds to see if they can find any untended trash bins.
66 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
Control Road
Payson 15 miles Christopher Creek, Tonto Village and Kohl’s Ranch lie about 15 miles from Payson — about 900 feet higher.
Historic Kohl’s Ranch offers cabins for rent, fishing, horseback riding and a top-ranked restaurant.
TONTO CREEK COMMUNITIES
The Tonto Creek Hatchery grows some monster trout (above) and the Horton Creek Trail (right) remains one of the most popular trails in Rim Country — not to mention one of the most photographed creeks around.
Residents report frequent sightings of elk, deer, javelina and other wildlife. The community lies along the Control Road, a scenic dirt road that connects Tonto Village to Pine and Strawberry. Both communities lie close to Tonto Creek — one of the most popular fishing areas in the state. The spring that gushes from the base of the Rim flows through a state fish hatchery, which supplies most of the rainbow trout stocked into the region’s lakes and rivers all summer. On Tonto Creek sits Kohl’s Ranch, a historic lodge and restaurant that offers summer rentals — and time shares. A road hugging the stream is lined with more expensive, custom homes with an access to the creek almost unique in the state. Camp Tontozona lies at the end of that road. In August, the site is home to the first week of practice for Arizona State University’s football team, an event that draws thousands of ASU fans from the Valley. The cluster of settlements lies about 20 minutes from Payson and perhaps 15 minutes from where Highway 260 tops out on the Mogollon Rim. That provides easy access to a string of trout-stocked lakes atop the Rim, some of the best camping spots in the state and year-round recreation. The elevation is about the same as Pine and Strawberry, which means these communities get a lot more winter than Payson or Star Valley. Pines line the streams rather than the cottonwoods and sycamores found along the East Verde River on the outskirts of lower-elevation Payson.
Susan G. Keown, PC Associate Broker Multi-Million Dollar Club
Cell: 928.978.2308 E-Fax: 928.472.3648 Office: 928.478.4221 susan.keown@erayoung.net www.christophercreekrealestate.com
Young Realty & Investment
1389 E Christopher Creek Loop, Payson, AZ Each ERA® Office is independently Owned and Operated
Under the Mogollon Rim 25 miles east of Payson
in beautiful Christopher Creek, Az. Wonderful Food & Warm Service Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner • Daily Specials Full Bar • Friday Night Fish Fry All Good Things Gift Shop Locally made Jams & Pickles • Homemade Granola Bars
Homemade Pies and Cakes Catering Available
928-478-4557
1520 E. Christopher Creek Loop Rd. creeksidesteak@gmail.com Open 7 days a week, Mon 8-2, Tues-Sun 8-8 Summer Hours starting in May - 7am-9pm Daily
2016
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 67
EAST VERDE RIVER COMMUNITIES
A river of their own Peter Aleshire/Roundup
The East Verde River provides a chain of fishing and swimming holes through East Verde Estates and Flowing Springs. (Below) Reflections create an impressionistic masterpiece.
FASTFACTS
by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
A string of subdivisions on the banks of the East Verde River offers one of the rarest of Arizona treats — a house on the river. This series of unincorporated, rural communities offers year-round access to the trout-stocked stream. Most of the subdivisions are a mix of older cabins and new, upgraded homes. The bulk of the residents are second-home owners or retirees. Some of the cabins are tiny, built 30 years ago. But some of the homes are extensive and upgraded, which makes for some of the most quirky and mixed neighborhoods in Rim Country. Mostly, the subdivisions offer stream front lots at a surprisingly affordable price 10 minutes outside of Payson. The subdivisions have a core of year-round residents with an often smalltown feel, but in most cases more than half of the homes are owned by second-home owners. The year-round residents give each community an intimate, cohesive feel, but the population swells in the summer with grandchildren, second-home owners and renters. The communities line both sides of the East Verde River, with its swimming holes and pools stocked with trout all summer long. The Salt River Project now augments the flow of the river with water from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir, doubling or tripling the natural, spring-fed flow. The stream can still go underground in certain stretches in a dry year during the months the pipeline’s not running, but that’s proved increasingly rare with the extra water.
East Verde Estates Population: 178 Income: $51,000 Married: 60% With kids: 20% Home age: 16 yrs 2nd Home: 28% Flowing Springs Population: 41 Income: $37,500 Married: 69% With kids: 22% Home age: 19 yrs 2nd home: 47% East Verde Estates lies along the East Verde River and a canyon topped by beautiful limestone rock formations. About a third of the lots remain undeveloped, but unlike many other rural communities in the area, second-home owners account for only about 28 percent of the nearly 200 homes. The little subdivision grew from one of the original homesteads in the area and once provided the setting for a ranch run by several Tonto Apache families. The community includes vacation rentals, a popular bed and breakfast, great fishing and swimming holes — all seven miles from the region’s employment center in Payson.
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Surprisingly moderate in price, the homes offer rare riverfront property in a desert state, lying only 100 miles from the fifth largest city in the country. The nearby community of Flowing Springs offers similar advantages, but it’s much smaller, more expensive and more dominated by vacation homes. The community lies down Flowing Springs Road, which also offers some of the best camping and fishing spots in Rim Country. The road ends at a gate, which protects Flowing Springs residents from traffic when the road hugging the banks of the East Verde draws recreational crowds. The Forest Service is trying to limit the overnight use of the string of informal campsites along the river.
HOUSTON MESA ROAD COMMUNITIES
Streamfront homes in a quiet rural setting Whispering Pines
It’s easy to miss this little community completely, since most of the homes are nestled in the trees facing the East Verde River. Strung out along Houston Mesa Road, Whispering Pines has only a handful of community gathering spots. Mostly, it consists of second homes and retirement hideouts oriented toward the trout-stocked creek. The stream has been augmented in recent years by water released into the headwaters of the East Verde from the Blue Ridge Reservoir atop the Rim. This often triples the natural, summer flow. Dominated by vacation and second-home ownership patterns, the community lies about 15 miles from Payson on the well-maintained Houston Mesa Road. The unique homes are tucked in among the trees fronting the creek. The homes are both further away from shopping and other town amenities than most of the other creekside communities, and more expensive. The community has its own volunteer fire department and a cozy, intimate feeling. Many families have owned land and homes there for generations. The area was the site of one of the original homesteads in the region and maintains a remote, western feel.
FASTFACTS
Beaver Valley
A friendly, small-town intimate community, Beaver Valley has surprisingly affordable stream front property and its own water company and fire department. The East Verde River runs through the middle of the community, in a stretch of stream with reliable flow thanks to underground rock formations. The community dates back to one of the first homesteads in the region and once even had its own little, tourist-oriented small gauge railway. It’s about eight miles from Payson on Houston Mesa Road and sits almost on top of stocked fishing holes and popular camping, hiking and picnicking areas. The subdivision has a grassy playground for children.
Mesa del Caballo
Whispering Pines Population: 148 Median age: 55 Under 18: 23% Over 65: 25% Married: 72% 37% With Children: Home age: 23 years 2nd homes: 71% Beaver Valley Population: 226 Income: $37,166 Married: 68% With kids: 18% Home age: 20 years 2nd home: 47% Peter Aleshire/Roundup The East Verde River has some great fishing holes as it passes Mesa del Caballo through Whispering Pines. Population: 765 Income: $26,188 Avg age: 47 Under 18: 22% Over 65: 17% Housing: 406 23% 2nd Home:
Sitting on a mesa overlooking the East Verde between Beaver Valley and Payson, the unincorporated community offers some of the least-expensive housing in the region in a rural setting. Plagued by water shortages in recent years, the community has obtained access to water from the pending C.C. Cragin pipeline. The arrangement has already eliminated the water shortages and water hauling charges that once bedeviled the community. That should clear the way for build-out development of the unincorporated community and bolster property values. The roughly 800 properties offer an array of conditions and prices, from endearing rural getaways to real fixer-uppers. Now that they’ve solved the water problem, it is one of the best deals for homes and real estate, with easy access to the East Verde River and miles of hiking, riding and biking trails.
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TONTO APACHE TRIBE
Tribe and casino bolster community Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Members of the Tonto Apache Tribe have Rim Country roots going back generations and still make big contributions to the community today. These photographs depict portions of the first Sunrise Ceremony held once the expansion of the reservation finally provided enough land for the festivities.
by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
The Tonto Apache Tribe not only taps into Rim Country’s rich past, it is playing a vital role in the region’s economic future. The tribe in 2015 increased the size of the reservation four-fold by taking formal ownership of an additional 200acre parcel, after years of negotiations with the federal government. The reservation sits along Highway 87 at the south entrance to Payson and is marked most visibly by the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino. But some 200 tribal members live on the reservation, tucked in among the junipers and pines surrounding the casino. The federal government agreed to hand over the extra 200 acres back in 2010, but the land remained in trust until last year. The Tribe last year announced plans to build 145 homes for tribal members, in addition to the 32 homesites on the original 85 acres of reservation land. The Tonto Apache Tribe remains a key element of the community, operating a casino and conference center, contributing to many community charities and causes, and laying plans for the development of the mostly raw land that lies along the entrance to the town. The tribe is also in the midst of negotiating a historic water settlement with the federal government. That settlement will likely provide the tribe with a permanent water right that could support additional, income-producing enterprises on reservation land. The deal could also provide millions in federal funds for the crucial C.C. Cragin pipeline project, which would give the tribe a permanent water supply.
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The casino remains one of the biggest employers in town and the setting for conventions and activities, including broad community gatherings and commercial trade shows and conventions. The tribe has worked to adapt to a modern economy while preserving its ancient traditions, as illustrated during the beautiful coming-of-age Sunrise Ceremony of Caroline Guerrea on a portion of reservation land won in a historic land settlement with the federal government several years ago. The addition to the reservation first established in 1972 capped a century of struggle by tribal members to regain at least a portion of their ancestral lands — as well as a chance to welcome the larger community. In the days when the Apache were hunted by the armies of both the United States and Mexico, fleeing bands led by people like Cochise and Geronimo would sometimes stop in their headlong flight to stage the elaborate ceremony. They believed the invocation of White Painted Woman and the G’aan Mountain Spirits at the heart of the ceremony would bless and protect their people. White Painted Woman is among the central figures in Apache belief and mythology, having given birth to the heroes Killer of Enemies and Child of Waters, who slew many monsters to make the world safe for human beings. She continues to safeguard the people, renewed in such ceremonies. But with the larger reservation, the continued revenue from the casino and the prospect of a water right that will make future development possible, the Tribe’s future appears more secure than at any time in the past century.
GYMS
Staying fit after the big move by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
With three national forests at Payson’s doorstep, there are plenty of ways to stay fit in Rim Country. From fishing, hiking, mountain biking to snowshoeing in the winter, there is a trail, or a lake for every ability. But in between those outdoor outings, there are several gyms in Payson to get in shape and stay fit, including four traditional gyms and two CrossFit locations. Anytime Fitness and Choice Gym 24/7 offer 24-hour access to members, with special key cards or pass codes given so a workout can fit in with any schedule, whether at 5 a.m. or midnight. The Tonto Apache Gym offers the only pool and full basketball court at a facility and has two saunas and weight and cardio rooms. CrossFit Payson and Rim Country CrossFit are some of the newer gyms in town. They offer strength and conditioning programs that mix aerobic, calisthenics (body weight exercises) and Olympic weightlifting. Anytime Fitness 101 E. State Route 260 (928) 468-8001 Open 24 hours Membership includes access to 3,000+ Anytime Fitness locations Memberships range from $35 to $75/month Personal training Group classes Cardio Group exercise room Strength equipment Club USA Health & Fitness 113 W. Main St., Suite B (928) 474-2582 Mon - Fri: 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Winter 5 a.m. - 8 p.m.) Saturday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tanning Salon Cybex weight equipment Precor cardio equipment Group classes include Zumba, Tai Chi, spin, yoga High Intensity Interval Training Silver Sneakers Classic, Silver Fit
Personal trainers Family plans Rates: Child $18; corporate, student, senior $28; regular rate $33; three month $99; 1-year $330 Tonto Apache Gym 30 Tonto Apache Reservation (928) 474-7093 Swimming Pool Sauna/Hot tub Weight and cardio rooms Full basketball court No contract $30 single membership; $40 for a two-person membership CrossFit Payson 400 E. State Route 260, Suite P (928) 978-2670 www.crossfitpayson.fitness Established in July 2015 Rim Country CrossFit 1506 W. Bravo Taxiway, Unit 13 (480) 266-8069 RimCountryCrossfit.com Established 2013 Group training CrossFit and Olympic lifts equipment Rates vary Choice Gym 24/7 1305 W. Red Baron Road, Unit 2 (928) 821-5181 Old school weight lifting oriented facility Established in 2015 24-hour access 40 plus cardio and weight training pieces of equipment $19.95 a month, $15 for second family member No contract 2016
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ENTERTAINMENT
Getting out on the
TOWN by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Part of living in a small town is sometimes a lack of entertainment options. Payson thankfully features enough places to hang out, listen to live music, enjoy a tasty meal, take in a play and meet fellow wanderers to make it an interesting place to both live and visit. In addition to a multi-screen movie theater in the Sawmill Crossing, a bowling alley, a robust music calendar and theatre options and gambling at the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, the area also has more than its share of bands, musicians and artists — including songwriter/ performer John Carpino, who has made a career out of writing about and making music in Rim Country, trio Junction 87, frequently best local band, and the John Scott Band, a rockin’ blues band. Here is a list of popular places residents go for entertainment. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino: Operated by the Tonto Apache Tribe, the resort includes an array of slots, live poker and blackjack, a hotel, two restaurants (where you can find the best all-you-can-eat fish fry and steak sandwich) and a long succession of special events. The casino regularly lands touring acts. Buffalo Bar and Grill: Repeatedly named the No. 1 place to meet singles by readers of the Payson Roundup, the Buffalo has a small dance floor, pool table, plays music most nights and offers live music most weekends. Sidewinders Saloon: This relaxed bar in Pine offers live music most weekends, where locals and visitors mingle on a big dance floor. The weekend music provides a great way to cap a day of hiking or browsing antique shops. THAT Brewery: This Pine restaurant and bar has made a splash in the craft beer scene and recently opened a Cottonwood production
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Junction 87 performs every Sunday night at the Buffalo Bar and Grill and singer-songwriter John Carpino performs each week at Native Wings and at the popular summer concerts in the park.
facility. In Pine, the outdoor patio is nearly always packed during the summer months, a popular stop for those on the Arizona Trail, which passes through Pine. THAT even payed homage to the trail with THAT Arizona Trail Ale. THAT donates a portion of proceeds to the Arizona Trail Association. For mountain bikers, there is THAT Roadrash IPA. The Pour House: This little bar in Star Valley is the place to go for pizza and unique bites like goat balls, aka goat cheese, stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, and the Fungi pizza. There are dozens of beers on tap, karaoke nights and they host several special events. Native Grill & Wings: Opened a couple years ago and quickly became the destination of choice for many sports fans to watch a game on one of the many flat-screen televisions. But what good would big screen TVs be without good food, and Native boasts a wide variety of that, including chicken wings featuring a large selection of sauces. Sawmill Theatres: This six-screen theater offers all the latest releases, but with onethird less the crowds than Phoenix. Located in the Sawmill Crossing next to Scoops Ice Cream and Espresso and the popular Macky’s Grill, the theater offers low-cost matinees. Concerts in the Park: The Payson Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department sponsors free Saturday night concerts in Green
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Valley Park all summer long, with acts performing on stage before crowds seated in the grassy amphitheater. Bring a chair or a blanket. Special Events from spring to fall offer many opportunities to get out of the house and mingle with visitors and locals. Some of the most popular events include a classic car show every spring, craft fairs, the Mogollon Monster Mudder 5K mud run, the giant July 4 extravaganza, August Doin’s Payson Rodeo and the Arizona State Championship Old-time Fiddlers Festival in the fall. Beeline Bowl: This bowling alley hosts several active local leagues, has beer and basic grub. Tonto Community Concert Association: Every year, the TCCA hosts an eight concert series with a diverse mix of performances, musical talent, genres and eras of music. Payson High School Thes pians: Under the guidance of Kathy Siler, the drama department instructor, the high school drama department puts on a mix of performances each year, including musicals, dramas, comedies and one acts.
RELOCATION GUIDE
SERVING ALL OF RIM COUNTRY! ERA Young Realty & Investment 424 S. Beeline Highway, Payson AZ 85541
Doyle’s Direct: 602-315-9394 Nancy’s Direct: 928-951-2962 email: Doyle.Chaney@erayoung.net Nancy.Guyon@erayoung.net www.DoyleChaney.com or www.NancyGuyon.realtor Doyle Chaney
Each ERA office is independently owned and operated.
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Payson Roundup Media Company Community Newspaper & Digital Media
PAYSON ROUNDUP
payson.com the rim review paysondeal .com P ayson M arketPlace .com
Z
Your Source for Rim Country News & Information To subscribe, call (928) 474-5251, ext. 108 or visit www.payson.com 2016
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ANNUAL EVENTS
There’s always something to do
Rim rodeos kick off in May with the annual Gary Hardt Memorial Spring Rodeo, scheduled for May 19-21 this year. It is preceded by the Payson and its surrounding communities might be tucked away in the town’s annual Wildlife Fair, Saturday, May 14. The month opens with the magnificent Mogollon Rim country, but don’t let the diminutive size of the Payson Art League’s annual Open Studio Tour and Sale. The Mogollon Monster Mudder 5K is June 4 at the Payson Event communities make you think there is nothing to do. To the contrary, there Center. Growing every year since its is at least one special event for residents and visitors alike every month — inception just a few years ago, hundreds and on many occasions, there are several scheduled. of competitors from around the state There are all kinds of opportunities to and elsewhere come to play in the mud enjoy different music genres — the Tonto — struggling through an ever-growing Community Concert Association offers an number of obstacles. Generally in June, annual series of programs from September the Arizona High School and Junior through May. The Payson Friends of Jazz High Rodeo Association use the Payson provide a chance to see top notch musicians Event Center for the year’s finals. perform almost every month from September Over the Fourth of July holiday, through May. Special concerts are also offered Payson hosts thousands of visitors from twice a year by the Payson Choral Society, one the Valley for its big fireworks display in May, usually around Mother’s Day and the at Green Valley Park. other during December for the Christmas holAugust brings the World’s iday. The Mazatzal Hotel & Casino provides a Oldest Continuous Rodeo to the variety of concerts throughout the year. Payson Event Center for high-powered, Throughout the summer, Saturday rough and tumble entertainment. The nights, from June through the end of July, event is the third weekend of the month the Town of Payson presents its free Concert and includes a parade on historic Main Under the Stars series at Green Valley Park’s Street and dances at the Event Center open-air amphitheater. following the evening performances. Then the best old-time fiddle musicians August also finds the Sun Devils visflock to Payson in September for the state iting the area for a week of training at old-time fiddle championships. nearby Camp Tontozona. A regular feature during the summer, In addition to the Fiddle Festival Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day in September, there is a Pioneer weekends, are the Arts & Crafts Festivals at Dinner and Dance featuring slow roastthe Pine Community Center. ed beef barbecue and traditional sides, And the other special events great desserts and terrific auctions. January sees the Hashknife Pony Express September also brings the Northern Commemorative Ride come to Payson from Rim Country hosts hundreds of special events during Gila County Fair. Holbrook on its way to open Scottsdale’s the year including the Tellabration in Pine (top) The October brings out the best in Parada del Sol. Volunteers with the Navajo Monster Mudder in Payson and the Electric Light quilting and arts and crafts. The annual County Hashknife Sheriff ’s Posse relay speParade down Main Street. Rim Country Quilt Roundup features cially marked mail via horseback down the classes with nationally known experts Rim to the Payson Post Office where there and an exhibition of extraordinary is a celebratory meet and greet. quilts from the area. The Payson Art February’s big events include the League also has its big show and sale MHA Foundation’s Black & White Ball — ArtoberFest — just in time for the — a formal affair with live music by a holidays. swing band and usually featuring a special Speaking of holidays, with the arrival theme. of November, area groups begin their March brings the Payson Public great holiday sales of arts, crafts and baked Library’s A Taste of Rim Country. goods. Concluding the month and kickProceeds from the chef ’s competition ing off the Christmas holidays, the Swiss help the hosts, the Library Friends of Village in Payson and the Pine Community Payson, raise money to cover gaps in the library’s budget. The month of March 2016 also features the Town of Payson’s Eggstravaganza — a Center in Pine both have lighting ceremonies the weekend following Thanksgiving, these events are preceded by community Thanksgiving community Easter egg hunt, Saturday, March 26. April has the popular Optimists Kids Fishing Festival at the lakes dinners. Also in November, Pine hosts its annual Tellabration event. Come December, there isn’t a week without some special event, at Green Valley Park. The month also features a dazzling array of bright, beautiful cars — antique, vintage and classic, along with specialty vehicles from the Electric Light Parade on Payson’s historic Main Street the first — at the Beeline Cruise-In Car Show, hosted by the Rim Country Classic weekend of the month, to the special Payson Choral Society Christmas concert, along with all the Christmas programs at area schools. Auto Club. by Teresa McQuerrey roundup staff reporter
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ATTRACTIONS
Rim Country wonders lure visitors
Photo of the Mogollon Rim in snow courtesy of DJ Craig
by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
Darn near dead center. Payson sits in the “heart of Arizona,” which means we’re an hour or two from just about everything — Phoenix, Flagstaff, the White Mountains, skiing at Sunrise, strolling through the Petrified Forest, exploring the ruins of Wupatki,, fishing Oak Creek, shopping in Jerome. But only one problem with the proximity to so many great things to do on the weekend — it’s hard to make yourself leave town, given all the nearby pleasures. So here’s a list of some of the Rim Country attractions just down the highway that other people happily drive hours to enjoy.
rigorous hiking trail from the Strawberry side or drive an hour to get to the creek on a 15-mile dirt road outside of Camp Verde, which makes it a beautiful day trip from Rim Country.
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Some of the most popular attractions in Rim Country include the Mogollon Rim, Tonto National Monument and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.
Tonto Natural Bridge The world’s largest natural travertine bridge offers a great outdoor escape — and a gripping lesson in geology. A vast dike of dissolved limestone deposited by ancient springs created the massive wall of travertine. Pine Creek then cut a cavernous tunnel through the center. Tonto National Monument These 800-year-old ruins tucked into a soaring, rock overhang overlooking Roosevelt Lake offer a fascinating glimpse at a lost civilization and an enduring mystery. The Sinagua built whole cities along the Salt River, with most of their settlements now hidden by Roosevelt Lake. But after centuries of living along the river, they built a series of fortress-like settlements in the uplands. They occupied these beautiful constructions for less than 200 years before vanishing mysteriously. Archaeologists have also found in the monument traces of Ice Age hunters, who crafted distinctive spear tips for big game hunting 10,000 years ago. Fossil Creek This creek offers perhaps the most beautiful and accessible swimming holes in the state and perhaps the single most important refuge for native fish. The spring-fed creek tinted tropical-seas-turquoise creates a chain of deep, crystal clear pools and waterfalls in a deep canyon just east of Strawberry. You can reach it down a
East Verde River This trout-stocked stream starts beneath the Mogollon Rim then runs past the second-home and retirement enclave of Whispering Pines, the historic, laid-back refuge of Beaver Valley, the hidden delight of Flowing Springs and the leafy paradise of East Verde Estates. Fishermen, photographers, bird watchers, hikers and sun bathers can get easy access to the creek off Flowing Springs, Crackerjack and Houston Mesa roads. Tonto Creek About 15 miles northeast of Payson, this stream offers hiking, camping, fishing and daydreaming opportunities. The Game and Fish hatchery at the headwaters provides trout stocked all over Rim Country. Don’t miss Horton Creek Trail, one of the most beautiful hikes in the state. Mogollon Rim Forest Road 300 threads along this 200-milelong chain of 1,200-foot-high cliffs that marks the southern edge of the uplift that created the Colorado Plateau. Great views, camping, fishing and winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Rim Lakes A series of lakes atop the Mogollon Rim provide some of the most popular fishing and camping spots in the state, most of them a roughly 40-minute drive from Payson on E. Hwy. 260. Take Forest Road 300 to reach most of them.
Roosevelt Lake The first federal reclamation project in the West, Roosevelt Lake, also offers terrific fishing opportunities for bass, catfish, buffalo fish and other warm-water species, plus campgrounds and boat-launching ramps. Tonto Basin also has a wealth of great Jeep trails and backroad adventures. 2016
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RESTAURANT GUIDE
ALFONSO’S
MEXICAN FOOD
510 S. Beeline Hwy, Payson
928.468.6902
Open Mon-Thur 7-10, Fri 7-11, Sat-Sun 7-10
Breakfast Burritos • Fajitas • Talacios Burrito Don Ponchos Burritos • Menudo Sat & Sun Combination Plates served with Rice and Beans Tostadas • Tacos • Enchiladas • Tortas • Rolled Tacos Come try Alfonso’s Mexican Food ~ Muy Excelente!
Lunch • Dinner • Takeout Open 7 Days
D E L I V E R Y
136 E. Highway 260, Payson Phone: 928.474.1112 Fax: 928.474.1126
MEXICAN FOOD Dine-In or Take Out
219 E. Hwy 260, Payson (928) 468-9000
THE PLACE
Voted Best of Payson
for great food and friendly service! 311 S. Beeline Highway 928-474-3900 Like us on acebook
If you’re open to some great American food at America’s Diner, we’re open for you.
AMERICA’S DINER
900 S. Beeline Highway Payson, AZ (928) 468-7036
MEXICAN & AMERICAN FOOD OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH AND DINNER BREAKFAST SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS 8AM FULL BAR • PATIO DINING • PATIO PET FRIENDLY TACO TUESDAYS • $1 MARGARITAS WEDNESDAY
928.474.3111 200 S. Beeline Hwy. www.elranchorestaurant.net 76 | Move to RIM COUNTRY | 2016
is always open!
(928) 474-4717 312 S. Beeline Hwy. Payson, Arizona
Come to us for your fill of whatever it is you’re in the mood for. Fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, a juicy burger or something from our Fit Fare menu — you’ll always find delicious value and variety at Denny’s
And like any good diner, the coffee is always brewing!
RESTAURANT GUIDE
New in Sedona
Catering Services Available
GERARDO’S PASTA • BRICK OVEN PIZZA • SEAFOOD • WINE BAR G E R A R D O
M O C E R I ,
C H E F
Arizona Highways Magazine Best 25 Favorite Restaurants
512 N. BEELINE HIGHWAY, PAYSON 468-6500 www.gerardosfirewoodcafe.com
G ERARDO’S A
N D
ITALIAN KITCHEN “The Italy that you need to know...”
H a n d c r a f t e d Pa s t a Wo o d F i r e d P i z z a 2675 W. State Route 89A • Sedona, Arizona 928.862.4009 www.gerardositaliankitchen.com gitaliankitchen@gmail.com
Macky’s Grill • Open Daily for Lunch & Dinner
• Great Food & Service
• Pets Welcome on the Patio 201 W. Main St., Payson
located next to sawmill theatre
928.474.7411 VOTED “BEST OF RIM COUNTRY” BY THE COMMUNITY OF PAYSON
516 S. Beeline Highway in Payson • 928-363-4200 Open Mon - Sat, Closed Sundays
Voted Best of Rim Country! PAYSON • (928) 474-1895 238 E. Highway 260 WE DELIVER! 0
PIZZA & PASTA, CALZONES, SANDWICHES SALAD BAR, VIDEO GAMES, PARTY ROOM OPEN 7 DAYS/WEEK • DINE-IN, TAKE OUT, DELIVERY!
SUSIE’S Q BARBECUE
H BEEF H PORK H CHICKEN H RIBS Smoked fresh everyday Open Wed thru Sun 10am until sold out
928-951-3775 1103 S. BEELINE HWY. PAYSON, AZ
AT THE BASHAS’ SHOPPING CENTER
25 YEARSN IN PAYSO
OFFERING A VARIETY OF DELICIOUS SANDWICHES WITH YOUR CHOICE OF BREAD AND INGREDIENTS! EASY TO FIND IN THE BASHAS’ SHOPPING CENTER FACING THE BEELINE HWY. 928-474-5757
OPEN SUN-THURS 7AM-11PM & FRI-SAT 7AM-12MIDNIGHT RESTROOMS ON PREMISES
THAT Brewery & Pub Home of Arizona Trail Ale
Locally Made Craft Beers, Great Food, Bar/Wine, Outdoor Dining, Horseshoes, Sand Volleyball, Saturday Live Music
Open 7 Days a Week at 11am
3270 N. Hwy 87, Pine Az www.thatbrewery.com 928-476-3349 2015
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RELOCATION GUIDE Serving Payson Area Seniors.
We provide meals at The Center as well as deliver to homebound seniors. We also provide activities at The Center, information, seminars & van transportation for Payson’s seniors.
514 W. Main St., Payson, AZ 85541
Phone 928.474.4876
Fax 928.474.6054
TRINKETS & TREASURES Great treasures at unbelievable prices!
SHOP - DONATE VOLUNTEER
and help our seniors thrive! Net proceeds go to support the Senior Center’s Meals-On-Wheels and Dial-A-Ride Programs
512 W. Main St., Payson, AZ 85541 Phone 928-474-3205
Payson’s Oldest Church Come Grow With Us!
Community Presbyterian Church Rev. Charles Proudfoot, Pastor
800 W. Main Street • 928-474-2059 Sundays: SON Risers Adult Bible Class at 8:30 am Hymn Sing at 10:15 am with Morning Worship at 10:30 am. Bible Time and nursery care for children.
V O L U N T E E R S
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
A R E N E E D E D
Welcome All
Sunday Services 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Childcare Provided Wednesday Healing and Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m.
1000 N. Easy Street ~ Payson ~ (928) 474-3834 Website: stpaulspayson.org Email: stpaulspayson@gmail.com
Pete Aleshire/Roundup
People who participate in the Payson Community Garden agree to donate a portion of their bounty to local food banks.
Small town full of big hearts A small town. Full of churches. Brimming with open hearts. Rim Country has a wealth of nonprofit groups that have tackled an array of problems in the community. When the Rim Country food banks found themselves struggling during the Great Recession — the community supported a food drive. The effort proved so successful, it has continued for the past five years — raising $50,000 in cash and 30,000 pounds of food to sustain the food banks all year long. When the recession curtained the delivery of fresh produce to the food banks — a coalition of churches and community organizers started the Payson Community Garden. The garden has boomed, with more than 100 gardeners contributing thousands of pounds of fresh produce to the food banks each year. When state cutbacks forced the schools to reduce support for crucial programs — the community once again responded. Each year, community members contribute some $230,000 to the Credit for Kids program at for the Payson Unified School District. The money largely supports most of the district’s
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extracurricular programs, including the athletic programs at Payson High School. When the community learned that many kids didn’t have a safe, secure, nurturing place to go after school as their working parents struggled to make ends meet, Payson Community Kids stepped in to fill the gap. The group has raised money to not only provide an afterschool program with a strong reading component, the group also bought and renovated a home to serve as a recreation center. When the number of homeless and displaced children rose in the school district, Payson Area Displaced Students (PADS) stepped up. The group raised money to provide clothing, school supplies, tutoring and housing for kids who would otherwise have ended up dropping out of school or even living on the street. The sense of community remains one of the great benefits and joys of living in Rim Country. A rural community dependent on tourism, the region lacks some of the big businesses and big organizations that provide the donations and charity in urban areas. But Rim Country makes up for that with a willingness to help and a rich network of community groups.
ORGANIZED RECREATION
Organized recreation runs all year long by Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Whether you like a new challenge and getting dirty in a mud run, a lazy day fishing by a town lake or taking a swing on an organized softball league, there is something for everyone to stay busy in Rim Country year round. The list of recreational activities grows every year, with the Payson Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department always looking for new events to host. Last year brought a new nighttime glow-in-thedark fun run at Green Valley Park and four years ago, the Mogollon Monster Mud Run 5K, which features more than 35 obstacles that takes racers through tunnels, icy mud baths, over hills and crawling through tires and mud. If you are looking for another tough run to tackle, consider the Zane Grey 50-mile endurance run April 23. Runners tackle the Highline Trail north of town. It is considered one of the toughest, roughest and most beautiful runs. Recreational activities for children abound as well as a wide variety of organized recreation for adult residents. Among them are men’s, women’s and co-ed slow-pitch softball leagues, as well as a co-ed sand volleyball league. Parks and Rec runs these leagues,
as well as dodge ball tournaments. The softball and sand volleyball games are held at Rumsey Park, which is at the center of Payson’s recreational scene. One of the biggest advantages Payson offers recreational enthusiasts are the artificial turf soccer and softball fields at the park. “We are one of the very few small communities that have facilities like that — that you can use yearround,” said Payson Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Cameron Davis. And at the start of 2016, crews replaced the turf on the soccer fields and are adding new lights to the softball fields. Eventually, there are plans for a snack bar and announcer stand. Taylor Pool at Rumsey Park opens May 30 through the end of July, with open swimming from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Closed Monday, Friday and Sunday. It is $2 to use the facility. Additionally for adults are basketball, softball and volleyball leagues. The recreation department offers kids camps for baseball, basketball, soccer, British soccer, dance, flag football and volleyball. Parks and Rec also offers a six- to eight-week summer rec camp, offering sports and activities for kindergartners through sixth grade. Rumsey Park features four tennis courts and new last year, two pickleball courts.
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Special Events:
Softball tournament, March 17 Cruise-in Car Show, April 29 Wildlife Festival, May 14 Kids Fishing Festival, April 9 Fourth of July celebration Sprint Triathlon, June 17 Glow in the Bowl, August 6 Turkey Trot 5K Run, Nov. 19 Senior Softball, Sept. 19 Arizona High School Rodeo Finals in June, Southwest Junior Bull Riding in July Southwest Indian Rodeo Regional Finals in May PRCA Gary Hardt Memorial Spring Rodeo in May World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo in August Green Valley Lake offers fishing, canoeing and kayaking and Rumsey Park has a Frisbee golf course For a complete list of events and activities, visit PaysonRimCountry.com
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EAGLES Payson residents treasure the bald eagles of Green Valley Lake, part of a continent spanning migratory lifestyle. The wide-ranging eagles that flock to Arizona every winter greatly outnumber the much smaller and distinct population of year-round breeding pairs. An estimated 300 eagles flap through Arizona every winter on their wanderings, which may start in Alaska and end in Mexico or points south, according to surveys conducted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Roosevelt Lake remains the epicenter of activity for these migratory eagles, along with Nankoweap Creek in the depths of the Grand Canyon. They live on bass, crappie and catfish plucked from Roosevelt. Another 50 pairs of eagles nest in Arizona and their young have been gradually expanding their territory. One pair nests at Woods Canyon Lake
Loving our eagles
Photographer DJ Craig captured this image of a bald eagle about to snatch a trout from the waters at Green Valley Park.
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and others nest along the Salt River and Tonto Creek — all of them Rim Country residents. The return of the far-ranging eagles every year adds to the pleasures of a stroll around the Green Valley Park lakes. The resident eagles hang out on various barren treetops round the shore of the lake and swoop down to grab the stocked trout, which also lure anglers to the lake. But the fishermen sporting all their expensive gear had best not study the Green Valley Lake eagles too closely — it’ll only make them feel inadequate. Human anglers can easily make 100 casts in an hour without catching a fish. But nestwatchers at Woods Canyon Lake now and then studied the hunting eagles to record their fishing success rate. At least at Woods Canyon when the note-takers had their pencils out, the eagles caught a fish on every dive.
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Routine Beauty
by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
Deadline day, running late already. So I barrel out of the driveway, thinking about all the loose threads that somehow had to get woven into a newspaper. Rounding the corner up by the airport, I slam on the brakes. Fool of a Took, to quote Gandolf, I completely forgot about the snow. Swathed in clouds, the Rim rises all along the horizon — dusted with snow. I’m agog, in a fog of majesty, relieved immediately of all trivial concerns. Even without the wonderful people, the food drives, the tight-knit community, the perfect boss, the crew at the Roundup — I would live here just for such a moment, just for the Mogollon Rim, just for those clouds rising up unexpectedly around the corner of my bustle. The Rim defines us, a chain of 1,000-foot cliffs stretching for 200 miles across the middle of Arizona. The southernmost edge of the Colorado Plateau, the Rim controls the weather, the landscape and the viewscape. We sit at the base with a near-perfect climate, in the Rim’s shadow. The Rim catches clouds, harvests rain, holds snow in storage — and offers a limitless range of adventures. We can snowshoe along its edge or go fishing for bass in Roosevelt Lake on any given winter day —
or just sit on the banks of the East Verde River. The Rim offers every one of those gifts. The elaborately layered cliffs harbor a 300-million-year history of the earth. The Coconino Sandstone layers remember a desert to dwarf the Sahara. The sea-bottom limestone that recalls the dinosaurs and at least two great extinctions, which swept away the great, struggling, yearning majority of living things. But mostly, I just like to look at it. Once a day it seems, the sight makes me stop, thunderstruck (especially during the monsoon). That’s what I treasure most living here — the routine exposure to beauty. So I pull out my cellphone camera, having foolishly left my camera at the office. I snap a few photos, figuring I can splash them across the front page — competing for eyeballs with the photo of the mysterious giant missile shell inching through town on a flatbed. I’ll admit, having such routine beauty tempting you to call in sick and spend the day taking pictures won’t do a whole lot for the work ethic. On the other hand, I think Rim Country has finally left me unfit for living anywhere else. Leastwise, I can’t live anywhere that beauty doesn’t linger out the front window — and take you by surprise every day on the way to work.
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RELOCATION GUIDE
Walk in the snow by Peter Aleshire roundup editor
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Stop. Listen. Perfect silence. Lord, I love the snow — leastwise here in Rim Country, where it rarely needs shoveling. So I’m standing a mile or so down the track of my morning walk just barely past dawn — everything still hard-frozen. Lobo’s off in amongst the junipers somewhere, investigating the abundance of rabbit tracks, sticking his nose in the snow to sample that hidden world — insulated beneath a blanket of air-trapping ice crystals. He’s big on smell — that boy. As for me, I love the sound of snow. Turns out, snow’s mostly air. That’s why snowflakes crunch beneath my boot. The weight of my tread compresses the
crystals, which scrunch past one another. When they’re dry and cold, they rub against one another as they compress — screeching and moaning. When they’re wet and near to melting, they slide past one another smoothly — making hardly a sound. So that distinct sound of snow crunching underfoot varies with the temperature. All that trapped air also accounts for the heart-stopping silence of fresh snow. The air that fluffs up fresh snow soaks up sound, leaving the world hushed with anticipation. As the snow melts, it compresses — losing some of that sound-trapping air every time it refreezes. Eventually, that refrozen surface will actually reflect sound waves. But this snow is fresh — and the silence perfect. I plod on toward the overlook of the Mazatzals where my morning walks climax,
appreciating our long-awaited, normal winter — after a decade of drought. So I scrunch on along to the point, determined to spend as much time in the snow as possible in this El Niño winter — not knowing what our carbon dioxide enhanced climate holds in store in the years to come. Just as I arrive at my 360-degree perch atop a slab of limestone made of 300-million-yearold seabottom mud, Lobo emerges from the snow-dusted pinyon pines. We stand side by side, marveling at the view. We’ll, I’m marveling at the view — the contrasts rendered in dark rock and highlights of brilliant white snow — the ice crystals reflecting all the wavelengths of light to produce a dazzle of white. Who knows what he’s thinking. What with my weak eyes, nose and ears, I feel inferior at such a moment standing alongside Lobo, much as my heart swells toward the snowy horizon. But I’ll tell you this for a certainty: Lobo can’t type worth a darn, where as I’m pretty darn quick — now that they’ve invented the auto-correct feature in Word. So who’s got the last laugh now? I chuckle. Lobo pivots one ear toward me — but doesn’t take his eyes off the raven. Then we stand motionless in the perfect silence of the snow.
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