Still burning by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Firefighters completed burnout operations for the 2,266-acre Fulton Fire, burning just below the Rim. The backfire line will contain the fire and protect Colcord Estates and other communities. Crews periodically reduced Highway 260 to one lane to fight the fire. Thunderstorms starting Monday will reduce fire activity throughout the week. Although the fire blanketed Rim Country with smoke, it has served to thin small trees and debris rather than kill the larger trees. On Sunday, nearly 400 firefighters, 15 engines and three helicopters had the fire 45 percent contained.
Photo courtesy of DJ Craig
ARIZONA NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS’ NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
PAYSON ROUNDUP TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
payson.com
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Roundup brings home top newspaper awards General Excellence, Journalist of the Year
Peter Aleshire’s photo of the Payson Spring Rodeo won best news photo for the Roundup’s circulation category this year at the Arizona Newspapers Association annual convention and awards banquet.
Payson Roundup reporter Michele Nelson won Journalist of the Year and the Freedom of Information Act award for investigative reporting this weekend at the annual meeting of the Arizona Newspapers Association. The Roundup also won the coveted General Excellence for non-daily newspapers between 3,500 and 10,000 circulation. The paper placed first for editorial and second for advertising in the 18 categories judged for the General Excellence award. In advertising, the paper swept the three categories for “best use of small space” and also won firstplace awards for best black and white ad and best pro bono ad. The production department also won awards for best special section, best color ad and best online ad. The Navajo Times won the Newspaper of the Year Michele Nelson this weekend won both Journalist of the Year and the statewide See Roundup, page 2 Freedom of Information Award.
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Residents grapple with Tonto Forest’s plan A forest on the edge
by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
About 40 Rim Country residents last week puzzled their way through an attempt to explain the enormous complexity and impact of the Tonto National Forest’s effort to overhaul it’s plan to manage 3 million acres of drought-plagued, insect-tormented, loved-to-death forest. The Tonto National Forest has launched a three-year effort to overhaul the blueprint for managing one of the most scenic, diverse, endangered landscapes in the country. Some 6 million people annually camp, off-road, hunt, fish, hike, drive, cherish and abuse a sprawling expanse of land that starts in the creosote barrens and saguaro highlands of Phoenix and extends to the
high, cool forested edge of the Mogollon collaborate with many more groups and Rim. consider the impact of the forest plan on The draft assessment for the plan revi- adjoining state and private lands. The new sion documented harrowing environmental rules also give Tonto Forest Supervisor problems, including dried up and degraded Neil Bosworth sweeping authority to make streams, exotic grasses that threaten the changes. survival of saguaros and dense, unhealthy The smoldering elephant in the room forests desperately vulnerable to cata- remains how the Forest Service will hanstrophic wildfires. dle wildfire, after a botched century spent Forest Planner Kenna Belsky said trying to put them all out. The suppression although Forest Service rules require a policy combined with overgrazing and logrevision of the plan every 15 years, the ging replaced a 50-tree-per acre ponderosa Tonto Forest hasn’t updated its plan in 31 pine forest with 800-tree-per-acre thickets, years. See A forest, page 4 “So we’re a bit beyond that 15-year period — living on a 31-year-old forest plan,” she said. The new rules include a requirement that the Forest Service rely on the “best science,” by Michele Nelson
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School board candidates gather
Organized shoplifting by
Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
During the weekend of Sept. 17 and 18, the Payson Police had eight arrests. Most had something to do with alcohol. There were arrests for shoplifting and organized retail theft, reported Chief Don Engler. Wondering what organized retail theft involves? “They have taken a container to assist them with shoplifting,” said Engler. “They take a device into a store, (such as) a big bag.” So, in other words, if a person stuffs something under their shirt to steal it, it’s shoplifting. If they take a bag in, it’s organized retail theft. Engler said most shoplifters take
alcohol and are usually adolescents or transients. The next couple of the arrests had to do with alcohol, too — underage consumption and juvenile possession of alcohol. One arrest was for drug paraphernalia. Domestic violence topped out the list. “There were four different cases of domestic violence and disorderly conduct,” said Engler. The chief said that the disorderly conduct could be a stand-alone charge. But when it involves family members or people in a relationship, the domestic violence charge kicks in as well. The rest of the week saw arrests for many of the same crimes. “It’s a steady course of it,” said Engler.
THE WEATHER
volume 26, no. 79
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a high of 74 and a low of 52; 40% chance for rain. Similar conditions on Wednesday with a 30% chance for rain. See page 8
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
The Tonto National Forest held a meeting in Payson this week to ask residents whether they agree with the draft assessment of an overhaul of the existing plan to manage the 3-million-acre forest. The plan focuses in part on the threat posed by thickets of trees.
See our ad and upcoming events on page 16
her heart was sick watching young people, educated in American schools, burning flags at political Four of the five Payson Unified events. School District school board can“What happened to the nation didates made their case for votes that God in Christ, and country? at the Sept. 20 Payson Tea Party What happened to the nation that meeting. produced the greatest generaOnly Shane Keith missed the tion of patriots?” she said. “God session due to a family emerand country, faith and patriotism, gency. He graduated from the should continue to have first place Payson schools and now serves in the American educational proas a financial adviser in Rim cess.” Country. Hetrick believes that the Bible The five candidates are should be used as a textbook, as it vying for three, four-year terms. used to be. Incumbents Shirley Dye and “The spirit of liberty, for America “The spirit of liberty, for America Barbara Underwood will attempt was made pure by the Christian was made pure by the Christian to retain their seats, while chalfaith,” she said. “Education in lengers Jolynn Schinstock, J. faith. Education in America had a America had a supreme position Marlene Hetrick and Shane Keith at its institution, the Bible often its supreme position, the Bible often will seek to find a spot. only textbook.” its only textbook.” She said she did not believe parJ. Marlene Hetrick ents wanted to see their children J. Marlene Hetrick Self-described greenhorn, learn about other religions such payson school board candidate Hetrick said she’s running for as Islam. the school board because she “I don’t know any parents who believes the education system want Islam taught to their Christian children at school,” needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up. she said. “The American educational system is in need of major Hetrick also said she did not know any parents who repair,” she said. wanted their children to have sex education. Hetrick believes schools should “replace Washington “I don’t know any parents who want the innocence of with Americanism — the simplicity of the United States of their children robbed by filthy sex with a cucumber in America — is one Nation Under God.” She decried the lack of patriotism in schools. She said See Payson School Board, page 4 roundup staff reporter
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