ARIZONA NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS’ NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
PAYSON ROUNDUP FRIDAY | JULY 29, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
payson.com
75 CENTS
Woman gets prison for high-speed chase by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
After nearly hitting an officer head-on and then leading officers on a drunken high-speed chase earlier this year, a Whiteriver woman was sentenced to prison recently. Alicia Jennie Nosie, 33, will spend two years in prison and then 24 months of supervised probation after Judge Tim Wright sentenced her on July 11. Nosie, who was not offered a plea agreement by the Gila County Attorney’s Office, pleaded guilty on June 13 to all charged offenses, which included endangerment, unlawful flight, and possession of dangerous drugs. On Feb. 6, an officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety was patrolling State Route 260 when he was forced to swerve off the road to avoid a head-on collision with Nosie’s vehicle, which she was driving in the opposite direction and attempting to pass a vehicle in a no passing zone.
The officer turned around, activated his lights and sirens, and began a high-speed pursuit where he reached speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour. Officers with the Payson Police Department, troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and deputies with the Gila County Sheriff’s Office deployed stop sticks in two locations to end the chase, according to Deputy Gila County Attorney Duncan Rose, who prosecuted the case. Nosie evaded the first set of stop sticks, but her truck hit the other set. With the rubber from her tires flying all over the road, Nosie continued past the county yard toward Star Valley. Using a patrol vehicle, a DPS officer intentionally collided with Nosie’s truck to stop it. Nosie was identified as the driver and she was found to be intoxicated and in possession of methamphetamine.
Photo courtesy of DJ Craig
Even though monsoon storms have remained sporadic over large portions of the state, officials with both the Tonto National Forest and North Kaibab National Forest believe there has been sufficient moisture produced to lift the fire restrictions in these two national forests.
Fire restrictions lifted with return of monsoon
Longtime county employee retires
Campfire and smoking restrictions on the Tonto National Forest were lifted effective at 8 a.m., Tuesday, July 26, 2016. The fire restrictions, which covered the entire forest, are no longer needed because fire danger has been reduced by increased humidity levels caused by the monsoon. “Campfires, target shooting, and smoking are now allowed throughout the forest, however, we ask you to continue to do your part to prevent wildfires” said Tonto National Forest Fire Staff Don Nunley. “Make sure your campfire is completely out. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave. Check to see that safety chains are not dragging on the road. Following these simple tips could help prevent a spark, which could mean one less wildfire,” he added. Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth extended special thanks to the visiting public during the fire restrictions, which began in June, “We want to thank everyone for their compliance while fire restrictions were in effect on the Tonto National Forest.” As of Tuesday there were still two fires in the Tonto National Forest listed as active — the Juniper Fire, near Young, and the Peaks Fire, near Tonto Basin. The Cedar Fire is also considered active, as are 30 other fires in Arizona. For more information, visit the Tonto website at www.fs.usda.gov/tonto or call 602-225-5200.
Teresa McQuerrey/Roundup
Julie Scott is retiring from the Gila County Community Development Department in Payson on Aug. 12 after more than 26 years of service. by
Teresa McQuerrey
roundup staff reporter
Julie Scott has given Gila County more than 26 years of her life. She has worked the county’s community development office for 26-1/2 years, starting in reception and as a permit technician. She will be honored at an open
Five seek three town council seats by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Voting ballots will hit Payson residents’ mailboxes next week. Voters have five candidates to choose among for three Payson Town Council seats and two candidates vying for mayor. For council, candidates include Kim Chittick, Hallie OvermanJackman, Janell Sterner and Barbara Underwood. Richard Croy is the only incumbent running for his seat again as Councilor John Wilson has elected not to run. For mayor, the choice is between current Vice Mayor Michael Hughes and former Mayor Craig Swartwood. Hughes has served on the council for the past eight years and Swartwood served as mayor for two terms in the early ’90s and on the council prior to that.
• See Payson council page 2
house from noon to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 3 at the county offices at 608 E. Highway 260, Payson. She retires as the deputy building official for Northern Gila County. Her last day is Friday, Aug. 12. Her work involves plan review and supervising the county community development offices permit tech staff. At one time it also included supervising plan review and the office’s inspectors. She was with community development for about 18 months before she became an inspector in the field. Scott’s previous work as owner of Pine Lumber and Hardware with her husband gave her a good working knowledge of construction in general and had allowed her to work with many of the contractors in the area. She and her husband had the company for 12 years before she joined the county staff and continued to operate the business for nine years afterward until they sold it. They had also built their own home in Pine. She said the most rewarding aspect of her work is being able to help the customer. “I have always tried to have good customer service,” she said. “The whole process can be really overwhelming and the staff is here to help them get through it. Customer service is really emphasized by everyone (in the Northern Gila County community development office),” she said. The most challenging aspect of the work is making the process understandable and showing customers the reasons for the rules and regulations. “Most people we get through it are very grateful for the help,” she said. Scott said the one thing she wished
• See Travel, page 2
THE WEATHER
volume 26, no. 63
Weekend: Mostly cloudy with highs near 90, overnight lows in the mid 60s; 30-40% chance for thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. Details, 6
See our ad and upcoming events on page 18
Due to the decreasing risk of fire danger, the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest lifted campfire and smoking restrictions Wednesday, July 27. To date, many areas of the district have received the adequate amount of precipitation needed to warrant conditions being lifted. However, visitors are always expected to use caution with campfires and other potential ignition sources. The Kaibab National Forest is committed to educating visitors about camping responsibly and being fire safe. Never leave a campfire unattended, even for a few minutes. Additional tips on camping responsibly are available at www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/responsible-recreation, which include answering nature’s call, being fire safe, avoiding interaction with wildlife, and respecting and protecting archaeological sites so that our national forest and grasslands may be enjoyed for future generations. The public can obtain additional fire information via the following: • Arizona Fire Restrictions http://firerestrictions. us/az/ • Arizona Fire Prevention & Information http:// wildlandfire.az.gov/ • Fire Restrictions on Public Lands in Arizona and New Mexico 1-877-864-6985.
County approves $94 million budget by
Teresa McQuerrey
roundup staff reporter
A $94 million budget won approval of the Gila County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, July 26 at a special meeting. The budget reflects a 1 percent overall increase from the 2015-16 fiscal year budget, but the money allocated to the general fund — $49 million — decreased by 1 percent and special revenue funds — $31.1 million — were down by half a percent. The general fund was reduced by $333,100 to: offset special revenue budget increase of $272,100; increase of the capital projects fund by $23,500; and an increase to the permanent fund by $37,500. Permanent funds are for internal county services: fleet services (care and maintenance of county-owned vehicles); and facility maintenance (care and maintenance of county-owned buildings and land. Budget jumps included a 36 percent
increase in the debt service fund — $854,000 — primarily due to financing the rehabilitation and remodel of the Copper Administration Building in Globe. The building is a large, used modular structure to which several county departments will move. Many of the departments are using rented space in the Globe area, others will allow for better use of space in the Gila County Courthouse. Getting county departments out of rented space will eventually save taxpayers money, according to the supervisors. The county increased its capital projects fund by 3 percent to $4.2 million. Some of this money will be used to rehabilitate and remodel the Payson NAPA building on Main Street, next to the sheriff’s office substation, to provide new court facilities and allow county staff more space to better serve the residents of Northern Gila County. The county’s tax rate will remain at 4.19 percent. Also remaining
unchanged: budget reserve balances; funding for community agencies, constituent services, economic development, natural resources and the community college. Changes reflected in the budget include the provision of $3.5 million to fund the FY17 capital expenditure plan; annual employee pay increases, both cost of living and pay for performance; the increases to the contribution rates of all retirement plans; and sharing the 6 percent rate increase associated with medical insurance coverage, the county will cover an average of 81.5 percent of benefit cost. The presentation to the supervisors showed that the courts and sheriff’s patrol account for the largest share of the general fund expenses. Both cost in excess of $5 million, with the courts costing slightly more. At the other end of the bar graph, the constables, schools, treasurer and recorder account for the smallest shares.
Payson APS office slated to close Sept. 2 by
Teresa McQuerrey
roundup staff reporter
APS wants to increase rates by nearly 8 percent, but at the same time it is closing the doors of its Payson office Friday, Sept. 2. The office, at 400 W. Longhorn, has had reduced hours of operation since the spring. Customers have a variety of payment options, according to a letter APS sent out recently. A spokesman for the company said the closure is primarily due to the fact that more and more customers are choosing to use new technology to
pay their bills. Only about 7 percent of customers make payments at the APS offices around the state, including in Payson. The staff working the payment center in Payson will remain with the company; they may be placed in nearby offices or work from home with the distributed call center network APS operates. Payments can be made over the phone at 602-371-6555 or 866-7760445; online at aps.com to make a payment by signing up for AutoPay and through a free APS mobile app; or by mail. Cash-only payments will be accept-
ed at the Bashas’ in Payson, 142 E. Highway 260. Additional cash-only payment sites may be available, to find one, text your zip code to 480-6300990 or go online to aps.com/locations. A fee may be charged to use some pay stations or kiosks, according the letter from the company. To make a payment arrangement other than the due date on your bill, go to aps.com/arrangement or call 602371-3644 or 866-857-9969. The company will also send emails or text alerts three days in advance of when your bill is do, confirmation of a payment and more. To learn more, go to aps.com/alerts.