Senate challenger: 5A • Winning, losing with class: 6A • Projects proliferate: 7A THE RIM COUNTRY’S NEWS SOURCE
payson.com
PAYSON ROUNDUP FRIDAY | MARCH 11, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
Mother overcomes addiction by
Huge burns protect region
Beautiful Comeback
Alexis Bechman
by
The Tonto National Forest took advantage of the wet winter to burn nearly 11,000 acres of brush and debris piles to help create a buffer zone around Rim Country communities. The Payson Ranger District supervised fire crews that burned 10,647 acres using prescribed fire treatments between Oct. 1, 2015 and Feb. 25. Several of those fires sent up such heavy plumes of smoke they alarmed many Rim Country residents. However, the prescribed burns actually created a thinned space where firefighters have a chance of stopping a crown fire like the Rodeo-Chediski or Wallow Fire. Rim Country had a relatively wet winter, although storms stopped about six weeks ago — leading to a snowfall and rain season about equal to the 30-year average. Nonetheless, the El Niño conditions provided one of the only nearly-normal winters and annual rain-
A Mesa woman who nearly lost custody of her children due to a drug addiction proudly declared she was 15 months sober at a sentencing Monday for possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Tim Wright sentenced Corianne Willadean Sweatt, 27, to 18 months probation. Wright praised Sweatt for getting her life on the right track and encouraged her to continue treatment. In October 2014, a Payson Police Department officer stopped a vehicle on a traffic stop in which Sweatt and her infant daughter were passengers in. Officers found drug paraphernalia, meth and heroin in the vehicle, all within close proximity of the child. Sweatt had a baggie with meth residue in her purse, according to a pre-sentence report. Sweatt later tested positive for meth, opiates and THC. She has three prior alcohol-related convictions. Following her arrest, the Department of Child Safety became involved and under their scrutiny, Sweatt completed substance abuse treatment and random drug testing. In December, she regained custody of her children. Sweatt told a probation officer she had a serious drug addiction, but went through treatment, including a year-long intensive outpatient program and was 15 months sober. “By these efforts combined with the support she is receiving, it would appear the defendant has made a tremendous amount of progress in her life,” probation wrote.
• See Forest Service, page 9A
Photo courtesy of DJ Craig
This plume of smoke several weeks ago alarmed Payson residents, but it was part of some 11,000 acres in controlled burns.
Test furor continues Parents can’t opt out, but districts might
Stole to pay medical bills
by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
A woman that stole thousands from her employer was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to theft. Kaylene Marie Porter, 31, will serve probation for the next 36 months and on Monday, used her tax refund to pay back all of the money she stole from UPS. Porter worked at UPS for four years until she resigned in August 2014 after her employer discovered she had been stealing money. In early August 2014, a Payson Police officer went to UPS and spoke with Porter, a customer counter clerk. Porter confessed to stealing more than $4,000 between March and August 2014. Porter said she took the money from the register/cash box and then altered the deposit slip to hide the theft. Porter wrote the court that she was sorry and would never be seen in court again for wrongdoing. “I know I messed up bad and I will not make this choice again,” she wrote Judge Tim Wright. “I truly am sorry.” Porter told a probation officer she stole the THE WEATHER money after her family Saturday: Mostly sunny with a 30% chance for incurred a significant rain in the morning; high 57. amount of medical bills Sunny with temps climbing to and they needed the the mid to upper 60s heading money to “stay afloat.” into the week. Details, 9A After sentencing Monday, Porter paid UPS back $4,100. She also paid a $1,000 fine. Wright sentenced Porter to 50 hours of community service as well. volume 26, no. 23
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
roundup staff reporter
by
75 CENTS
Photographer DJ Craig captured this wonderful image of a great egret silhouetted against the sunset shining on the oxygenating fountains in the middle of the largest Green Valley Park lake. Nearly exterminated by the demand for their feathers in ladies’ hats in the early 20th century, the pure white herons have made a remarkable comeback. They played a role in both the founding of the Audubon Society and Republican President Teddy Roosevelt’s creation of the first wildlife refuge-bird sanctuary in 1903. Now, they dine on stocked trout in the Green Valley lakes.
The state Senate this week killed a bill that would have allowed parents to prevent their children from taking standardized tests designed to compare student performance to national standards. Strongly supported by Sen. Sylvia Allen, who represents Rim Country and heads the Senate education committee, SB 1455 would have allowed parents to “opt out” of tests like the AZMerit test. Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services reported that at the committee hearing Allen said, “These
• See Parent opt-out, page 2A
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
State Sen. Sylvia Allen, who represents Rim Country, backed a bill to let parents have their children opt out of standardized tests. The bill has apparently died in the Senate.
Longhorn concert band makes state finals by
Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
For the first time since 2013, the Payson High School band will perform at the Arizona state competition and the audience at the spring concert got to hear why. The band played the three songs they played at the recent regional music concert, “First Suite in E-flat” by Gustav Holst, “On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss” by David R. Holsinger, and “Overture for Winds” by Charles Carter, which won them the honor of playing this weekend in the state music competition. The sounds blended together effortlessly resulting in a sweet wave of music that took the listener on a harmonious journey. No surprise they received high marks. This will only be the second time the band has played in See PHS band, page 2A
Musicians qualify for second time in school history
Photos by Michele Nelson/Roundup
The PHS band will perform at the state competition for the first time since 2013 — only the second time in school history. Choir director Daria Mason (right) led students in a concert this week.
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