Rumor mill gets it wrong Dunkin’ Donuts, 5 Guys on track Alexis Bechman/Roundup
Town officials say new projects still on track despite rumors around town.
by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Despite the pictures of donuts going up in the windows, the Payson rumor mill ran rampant last week — buzzing with claims that the new Dunkin’ Donuts was not opening. Town Manager LaRon Garrett and Economic Development Specialist Bobby Davis said they both heard from multiple people that Dunkin’ and its shopping center neighbor Five Guys had backed out of the new shopping center at East Bonita Street and State Route 87. However, both Dunkin’ and Five Guys are
still opening, both men confirmed, with Dunkin’ set to open Wednesday. Crews were busy setting up tables in the Dunkin’ space Monday afternoon and finishing up last-minute construction work, like hanging the sign over the drive-thru. One resident said he had heard from his mail lady that Five Guys was definitely not coming. Joshua Simon, president of SimonCRE, which owns the property, said that is not true and Five Guys planned to begin work within the next 30 days.
• See Rumor mill, page 7A
ARIZONA NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS’ NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
payson.com
PAYSON ROUNDUP TUESDAY | JUNE 14, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
75 CENTS
Probation for stalking, harassing Brace for the MONSOON by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
A Pine-Strawberry man who admitted stalking his ex-girlfriend, placing recording devices in her home and a tracking device on her vehicle, was sentenced Monday to probation. Tanner Shane Ralls, 46, will serve 24 months of probation for aggravated harassment and possession of drug paraphernalia, both undesignated felonies. Ralls admitted to stalking the woman, saying he would text her more than 100 times a day and had placed audio “... he could not let recording devices in bathroom to catch his ex-girlfriend go her her lying and cheating and had messaged on him. Ralls said he had her up to 100 times dated the woman a day to find out for three years and what was going even proposed to her. However, she suddenon between them. ly stopped communiHe said he knew it cating with him and was crazy.” blocked his calls. He said he did not know why she had ended the relationship. Looking for an explanation, he took the “extreme” step of planting audio devices in her home and a tracking device on her car, according to a pre-sentence report. In July 2015, Payson Police arrested Ralls. Ralls told officer Justin Deaton he could not let his ex go and knew what he had done was wrong, but still needed her to tell him it was over. The 46-year-old woman told officers she had ended things, but Ralls continued to text and email her repeatedly, according to a police report. The woman took out an order of protection against Ralls on June 22, but he continued to send her messages from a false number. The woman first notified police of the harassment on June 24 after she found a small tracking device attached to her rear bumper. Ralls reportedly admitted in an email to the woman that he had placed the device on her car and that he wanted the device back. She later called police several more times to report Ralls’ strange behavior, saying she felt scared and threatened. Deaton, along with officer Garth Linkey, met with the woman several times and had her forward text messages and emails from Ralls. From the messages he sent the woman, Ralls appeared to know her whereabouts, Deaton wrote. Before the order of protection, Ralls told the woman he did not appreciate her talking behind his back. When she asked what he was talking
by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Wet, cool weather has helped firefighters tame blazes throughout the state, but the return of fierce, dry winds and record-breaking heat could whip blazes up again this week. The National Weather Service predicts possibly record temperatures this week, leading to the potential for the rapid spread of wildfires. The Tonto National Forest and Gila County imposed fire restrictions last week. The Coconino, Prescott, Kaibab and Apache-Sitgreaves forests Photos courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service/Inciweb imposed a ban on fires and smoking outside of Cool, wet weekend weather helped dampen the 32,500-acre Jack Fire developed campgrounds this week. near Happy Jack (above). However, the National Weather Service preOfficially, the summer monsoon season starts this week, with the start of the season now based on the date rather than the development of high dicts a return to “critical fire” conditions this week with hot, dry winds. The monsoon season officially starts this week, but without the balm of rainstorms. See Fires still burning, page 8A
First cool, then hot on fire lines
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Hughes launches campaign Faces Swartwood in Payson mayoral contest by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Payson Vice Mayor Michael Hughes
Payson Vice Mayor Michael Hughes answered a flood of questions on water and other issues in an appearance before the Payson Tea Party that effectively launched his campaign for mayor. The real estate agent and longtime
by
volume 26, no. 50
• See Hughes, page 2A
Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
THE WEATHER
See our ad and upcoming events on page 6B
plans for the water from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir — including a sometimes-controversial long-term contract to sell water to the town’s two golf course country clubs. Hughes said he decided to run after Evans decided to step down as Payson mayor to challenge incumbent Gila
Young Payson composer thrills listeners
• See Man harasses woman, page 7A Outlook: Sunny and hot, highs creeping up near 100 by the weekend; lows climbing to the low 60s. Details, 7A
Payson resident has emerged from the long shadow of current Mayor Kenny Evans, who has dominated public discussions on almost every issue the whole time Hughes has served quietly on the council. But the low-key Hughes fielded a wide range of questions rifled off by the group of political activists, most of which centered on Payson’s
Colin Nossek credited Payson High School teachers for helping him write music.
A surprise awaited the audience of the last Payson High School concert — an original concert band piece composed by junior Colin Nossek. His piece “Footprints” swelled and dipped into melodic tales that brought goosebumps and tears to many in the audience and inspired everyone to jump up as soon as the music stopped to give him a standing ovation. Nossek spoke movingly of the support he received from his fellow band members as he continued to modify the composition. Many have played with him since elementary school. His talent blossomed this year, but he has played around with writing songs for a long time. “I enjoyed writing songs when I was little,” he said. See Student, page 7A
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Peter Aleshire/Roundup
Colin Nossek (left) composed “Footprints” for the Payson concert band and drew a standing ovation at the final concert of the year. To hear his composition, check out the videos at payson.com.
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