Upset! Longhorns beat Snowflake
See Sports on Page 15
Keith Morris/Roundup
ARIZONA NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS’ NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
PAYSON ROUNDUP TUESDAY | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
payson.com
75 CENTS
Massive fraud probed at Pine Water Auditor general seeks missing $300,000 by
Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
The Arizona auditor general continues to investigate hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from the Pine Strawberry Water Improvement District accounts, according to sources questioned by the AG.
The investigation into the apparently missing money is separate from the previous investigation of former Pine Water treasurer Mike Greer, now facing trial on seven felony counts including conflict of interest, fraud and forgery. The most recent investigation cen-
ters on events that took place when Greer was on the board. The only current board member who was on the board at that time is Tom Weeks. Other members on the board at that time resigned as a group in the face of a recall effort. The investigator from the auditor
general’s office would not confirm or deny the ongoing investigation, but she did say that if anyone has information on embezzlement by a person at a public utility she would welcome the information. Three people interviewed by the investigator confirmed the broad details of the investigation. None would go on the record. The people interviewed said the
auditor general questioned them about $300,000 or more missing from the PSWID books. The AG also asked the sources about possible forged signatures on district checks and the existence of a second set of books. The investigator also asked questions about the district’s relationship with Sunny Mountain Realty, which
• See Auditor general, page 3
Explosion engulfs apartment building by Michele Nelson and Alexis Bechman roundup staff reporters
A massive gas explosion that blew some residents out of their shoes and “vaporized” their escape route engulfed a two-story apartment building at 201 E. Zurich St. at 8 p.m. Saturday. Miraculously, no one was killed in the explosion heard all over Payson. Eight people were injured including two Alliant Gas employees investigating the leak hours after residents first reported smelling propane. “It’s just a miracle not many more were seriously injured and there were no fatalities,” said Payson Police Chief Don Engler. Jim Speiser posted a message saying his granddaughter was trapped in
the bathroom of her second-story unit and her fiance was “literally blown out of his shoes ... Worst of all, the only staircase to escape was vaporized. We still don’t know how they got out, but they all did without so much as a scratch.” Hours earlier residents had called the fire department after smelling gas in the area. Firefighters investigated and then called in the gas company that services the propane lines throughout town. The fire department units had left the scene by the time of the explosion, according to fire department officials. People by then had also been cleared to go back into the building, according to reports from residents. Of the nine people in the building at
• See Explosion, page 2
‘Kill them with positivity’ by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Payson lovers last week unleashed a campaign intended to jump-start Payson’s economic recovery with a jolt of positive energy. “The thing that distinguishes Payson is this unique combination of a life of adventure and hometown living,” said Donovan Christian, pastor of the Expedition Church, one of a core group of people who envisioned the new “Adventure Where We Live” campaign. The group on Friday showcased new videos, promotional posters, ads and an innovative “passport” program intended to ensure visitors and residents savor Rim Country’s great spots — and vital businesses. More than 150 community leaders assembled in the Sawmill Theatres building to hear the pitch. “If we bring the positivity to Payson, people will hold that flag up and fly it,” said local business owner Joe Klein. He said he wants to counter the complaints of people always looking for problems. “I believe we will tip the scales quickly. We’re a community standing up for ourselves. We’re going to kill everybody with kindness. We’re going to kill everybody with positivity.”
• See Adventure Where We Live, page 5 THE WEATHER
volume 26, no. 91
Outlook: Sunny throughout the week with highs around 70 and lows in the mid to lower 40s. Pollen level in the medium range.. Details, 11
See our ad and upcoming events on page 16
Peter Aleshire/Roundup
An apparent gas line explosion on Saturday night destroyed a two-story apartment building in Payson. Of the nine people in or near the explosion, six suffered injuries — including a pregnant woman and several children. One woman was airlifted to the Valley with serious burns. Community groups are raising money to help the families.
Polling Places open until 7 p.m. by
Teresa McQuerrey
roundup staff reporter
In case you didn’t mail in your ballot and need to vote today in the general election, Tuesday, Nov. 8, the following have been designated as Vote Centers/ Polling Places where any voter may get a ballot and cast it: Payson Vote Center 1, Expedition Church, 302 S. Ash St. Payson Vote Center 2, First Payson Church of the Nazarene, 200 E. Tyler Parkway Star Valley Vote Center, Rim View Community Church, 4180 E. Highway 260, Star Valley Globe Vote Center, Globe Elks Lodge, 1910 E. Maple St., Globe Miami Vote Center, Miami High School, 4635 E. Ragus Road, Miami Ballots may also be cast at the voter’s precinct polling place, however, the voter must be registered in the polling place precinct to vote. Northern Gila County polling places are:
Tonto Basin, Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 Highway 188, Tonto Basin Gisela, Gisela Community Center, 136 S. Tatum Trail, Gisela Pine Strawberry East and Pine Strawberry West, First Baptist Church of Pine, 4039 N. Highway 87, Pine Whispering Pines, East Verde Baptist Church, 11209 N. Houston Mesa Road, Whispering Pines Zane Grey, Christopher Creek
Bible Fellowship Church, 1036 E. Christopher Creek Lane, Christopher Creek Young, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Highway 288, Young Polling Places and Vote Centers are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters must have photo identification to cast their ballots. For more information, contact the Gila County Department of Elections, 928-402-8750 or 928-402-8708.