Six geese a laying
WHICH WAY’S SOUTH? The Canada geese of Green Valley Park might be wondering whether they lingered too long, with a thick frost this weekend blanketing the grass they love to nibble. Photographer DJ Craig captured their discomfort. The weekend storm brought about 1.4 inches, compared to the 2.26 inches that falls in a normal December. So far this year, we’ve had a nearly-normal 18.86 inches — compared to a 30-year average of 22.08. The geese obviously know a good thing when they see it. Nearly exterminated by hunters in the early 20th century, they’ve made a comeback. They evolved to make continent-spawning migrations. But when they find easy living in a place like Green Valley Park, they may stay year-round.
PAYSON ROUNDUP
ARIZONA NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS’ NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
TUESDAY | DECEMBER 20, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
payson.com
75 CENTS
Historic end of an era for Payson council Town’s longest-serving mayor, councilors end selfless service by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Alexis Bechman/Roundup
Ray Spatti presents a plaque to Payson’s longest-serving mayor Kenny Evans as the town’s two longest-serving council members Michael Hughes (left) and John Wilson (second from right) look on. All three attended their last meeting as councilors last week. Su Connell (center) and Fred Carpenter will remain on the council.
‘Man for all seasons’ honored Airport named for Rich Henry by
• See New Payson councilors, page 9
Tragic tale of excess by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
When no one had a helicopter to airlift sick and injured people to the Valley hospitals, he took them there in his airplane. When the Payson airport had no fuel for pilots, he brought 55-gallon drums up in his truck. When snow covered the runway, he used his tractor to clear the fields so pilots could safely land. When a plane needed fixing, he was right there with his toolbox. When a lost pilot low on fuel tried to land, he would radio to them — day or night. Rich Henry all but fathered the Payson Municipal Airport. If you don’t fly, you probably don’t know his name. But he left his imprint on every corner of the Payson airport. For everything he did, Payson honored Henry Thursday night by adding the tag line Rich Henry Field to the airport sign. To a standing ovation from the huge crowd, Henry, 88, shakily stood with his family by his side. Through tears, he thanked the council and town for the honor. The council and several pilots agreed the moment was long overdue. Henry became a fixture at the airport starting in 1977, just after the airport was paved. He and his wife Doris lived in a trailer at the airport for 15
The guard changed at Payson Town Hall this week, as the town’s longest-serving mayor and councilors stepped down Thursday to make way for new leadership and a new vision. After 8.5 years at the helm, Mayor Kenny Evans handed over the gavel to Craig Swartwood. Evans is the town’s longest-serving mayor. Also leaving Thursday were Councilor John Wilson, the longest-serving councilor at 12.5 years and Vice Mayor Michael Hughes, the second longest-serving councilor at 8.5 years. It was an emotional moment for the council and staff as Evans kicked off one last council meeting. The men were part of the council that helped see the town through one of the worst recessions and brought a number of projects to fruition, including the C.C. Cragin pipeline. Dr. Ray Spatti, said they made the best decisions under some of the worst conditions, including the town’s decision to implement furloughs when the housing market crashed and town revenues fell. And then when police officers were leaving the department for better paying jobs they found a way to give every officer a raise. Spatti presented Evans with a plaque from “the residents of Payson” thanking him for his tireless service. “You have served the community well,” he said, adding Evans had unrelenting dedication to bettering the town.
A woman who has battled to stay sober for most of her adult life was sentenced to two years in prison last month for driving drunk again and assaulting an officer. Kathleen Mensch, 50, will serve 1.75 years in prison for driving with a blood alcohol concentration of more than .20 and then kicking an officer when he tried to arrest her. This is not the first time Mensch has been sentenced for drunk driving. In 2011, in the midst of a divorce, Mensch, drank herself to “oblivion” and then drove her vehicle, according to a pre-sentence report. She crashed into a vehicle parked in a yard, then backed up and ran into it again before fleeing the area. When questioned by police, Mensch said she had hit an elk. She ultimately admitted to hitting the vehicle. At the hospital, an officer tried to handcuff her to the gurney so she could not injure herself or staff; She kicked the officer. Mensch told a probation officer she had not meant to strike the officer, but
She fell and rose and fell again, but couldn’t beat her addiction years so they could help pilots at any time, day or night. Henry would keep a radio by his bed to talk to pilots lost or having difficulty, according to information collected by Marie Fasano, a pilot and friend of Henry. He was known as the “The Man for All Seasons,” responsible for keeping the airport open year-round, no matter the weather. He would clear the landing strip of snow and when pilots needed mechanical help, Henry was the man who could fix just about anything. An old green school bus and shed held his mechanic shop. In all, he worked on more than 3,000 airplanes.
Alexis Bechman/Roundup
A big crowd shed fond tears as the Payson Town Council honored aviation pioneer Rich Henry (with walker in photo).
• See Tragic tale, page 3
And the bands played on
• See Payson honors, page 9
More help for students by
Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
The Aspire Arizona Foundation announced that it has received a grant from the Holbrook Pyle Foundation, a fund of the Arizona Community Foundation, to support the AAF Dual Credit initiative. The Holbrook Pyle Foundation was created by Nan Pyle who spent most of her adult life in Payson. She used much of her inheritance for community good and supported Payson’s hospital, library, art center and founded the town’s first kindergarten. Nan’s passion for education in her hometown reflects AAF’s mission. The donation will be used to provide $200 of tuition support for each
Payson High School student taking GCCC courses at the high school. For the fall semester, 99 students participated in this program taking more than 145 courses which allowed them to begin their college careers while still in high school. Aspire Arizona is currently fundraising to pay for spring classes to assure that this important program continues for the 2017-2018 school year. Tax deductible donations can be mailed to the Aspire Arizona offices at 308 Aero Drive, Payson, AZ 85541. For more information on AAF’s efforts to improve higher educational opportunities in Payson and Rim Country, please see the website at aspirearizona.com.
THE WEATHER
volume 26, no. 101
Outlook: Mostly sunny with highs in the mid 50s and lows in the lower 30s; slight chance for showers. Becoming colder by the weekend with a slight chance for snow. See page 9
See our ad and upcoming events on page 14
S P M N New high For two band directors having their first official concerts at Payson school, middle Unified School District, Robert Pollock and Kyle Headstream put on an excellent show. school band Pollock has 30 years of education experience, most of it spent in South Phoenix. now runs the Rim Country Middle School beginning, advanced and directors have stageHe bands. Headstream, in his first year of teaching, has taken on the Payson High their coming School concert band after performing exceptionally well during the marching out bash • See School bands stage Christmas show page 2 tory and
hotos by
roundup staff reporter
ichele
elson