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ARIZONA NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS’ NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
payson.com
PAYSON ROUNDUP TUESDAY | APRIL 12, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
Kidnapping
Clinging to hope
Payson Police arrest man for sexual assault on child
Rescuers scour canyon for woman missing 11 days by
by
Police say they arrested a Payson man Sunday after he kidnapped a young girl and sexually assaulted her. The father of the 7-year-old girl called police around 3:40 a.m. Sunday after he discovered the girl was missing from their home, in the 600 block of South Ponderosa Street. Officers began searching the area and at 5 a.m. the suspect, a 29-year-old man, brought the girl
Alexis Bechman
• See Rescuers scour, page 9A THE WEATHER
Wednesday: Sunny with a high of 72, low of 44. Slight chance for rain heading into the weekend. See 9A
volume 26, no. 32
See our ad and upcoming events on page 6B
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
roundup staff reporter
With no clues to go on, the search for a missing Tucson woman grew dire this weekend as crews entered their ninth day of scouring a remote, rugged section of the White Mountain Apache Reservation, southeast of Young. From the start, rescuers feared repeat of their futile, 11-day effort to find a 56-year-old man who had gone backpacking in the same area last year. The search and rescue team found a note Paul Tomasso left in his truck saying he was heading out for a five-day hike. He left his cellphone in the vehicle and was never seen or heard from again. Crews finally called off the search, without a single clue to go on. As TRSAR Commander Bill Pitterle drove into Cibecue Canyon Saturday to look for Ann Charon Rodgers, 72, of Tucson, he anxiously feared the worst — since the woman had been missing for more than a week. Around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, March 31, Rodgers left a voicemail for a friend, saying she had run out of gas west of Cibecue and was going to look for a ranch for help. On April 1, searchers found a pieces of Rodgers’ Ford Fusion hybrid vehicle down a deeply rugged dirt road off the reservation. The road here has no signs, much less mile markers. Apparently Rodgers, in a search for gas, got disoriented and drove further and further into the reservation. Crews learned Rodgers had set off from her Tucson home for her grandson’s birthday party in the Valley, but instead of turning west on Highway 60, headed east toward Show Low for some unknown reason, said Sgt. Dennis Newman with the Gila County Sheriff’s Office in Payson. As Newman retraced Rodgers’ route, he wondered what had gone through her mind. He noticed at one turnoff, miles deep into the reservation, a wood sign with bright neon yellow lettering reading “Oak Creek Ranch.” Newman wondered if Rodgers thought she could find help there, even if it meant going further and further into the unknown. With poor cell service in the area, Rodgers apparently hiked up nearby hills until she finally made a call to a friend, leaving a voicemail saying she was heading to a ranch. After locating her vehicle, White Mountain Apache Rangers searched for Rodgers for several days, crisscrossing the roads in hopes Rodgers walked back on the roads she had driven in on. On Sunday, April 3, they called the Gila County Sheriff’s Office for help. When Pitterle got the call Friday, he was busy working from home on a project. He drove three hours south in his white pickup and met up with two other TRSAR volunteers
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home, saying he had located her roughly half a mile away. The man is an acquaintance of the family. The man reportedly entered the residence unlawfully and kidnapped the 7-yearold from her home, although her father and several other family members were home at the time, said Police Chief Don Engler. Police arrested the man on charges of kidnapping a minor for a sexual offense, sexual misconduct with a minor and burglary in
• See Suspect, page 2A
More fireworks Legalization of rockets may complicate scary fire season
by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Photos courtesy of Bill Pitterle
Volunteers searched desperately for 11 days hoping to save Ann Charon Rodgers, 72, of Tucson, who became lost in Cibecue Canyon on the San Carlos and White Mountain Apache Reservation. During the search, rescuers discovered the word “help” spelled out with rocks and sticks on the ground and a business card with a note from Rodgers that indicated they were searching in the right area.
Arizona’s looming wildfire season may get a new twist this year: Fireworks. The Arizona House has approved HB2398, which will allow residents to buy fireworks — including airborne rockets. Current law restricts fireworks to sparklers, party poppers, glow worms, ground spinners, fountains of sparks and a few other types. If the Senate approves HB2398, the fireworks industry will cap four years of lobbying with permission to sell rockers that blast up into the air. The law would retain a provision that allows cities to restrict
use of fireworks to a period around July 4 and Jan. 1. Presumably, the U.S. Forest Service, counties and cities would remain free to ban fireworks by imposing fire restrictions. The Forest Service often bans campfires, fireworks and other dangerous activities when fuels dry out before the onset of the monsoon rains. Backers of the third industry sponsored bill to loosen fireworks restrictions in the past decade said they hope the expanded range of fireworks allowed will satisfy people — and the industry — and prevent pressure from building for even more potentially dangerous fireworks.
Business Showcase a Festival of Fun by
Record turnout for local firms Keith Morris
roundup staff
Kids tumbled through the air on seats attached to bungee cords as other kids and adults alike played games, enjoyed live music and ate food. Some ate more than others, thanks to a wing-eating contest. Oh yeah, and everyone learned about area businesses. Area residents converged on the Sawmill Crossing parking lot on Saturday for the 24th Annual Rim Country Business Showcase and Carnival. Forecasted rain showers didn’t materialize and the event proved wildly popular as 88 businesses set up booths inside a big top tent to let residents know what they’re about. “This is the biggest one we’ve ever had,” said Jaimee Hilgendorf of the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We had twice as many exhibitors this year than the last two years combined.” She said the showcase lets people see there’s more to Payson than what they see driving through town on the Beeline Highway or Highway 260.
• See Business Showcase, page 2A
Photos courtesy of DJ Craig
The Rim Country Business Showcase drew a big crowd and 88 exhibitors to its family friendly event on Saturday.
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