Merry Christmas Rim Country! Photo courtesy of Ralph Roberts
PAYSON ROUNDUP
ARIZONA NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS’ NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
School crisis
And the winners are...
Reports tackle rescue of poorly funded system by
75 CENTS
FRIDAY | DECEMBER 23, 2016 | PAYSON, ARIZONA
payson.com
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Finding more money for perhaps the worst-funded school system in the country could move to the top of the political agenda in 2017 — although any significant change faces huge challenges. A series of blue ribbon reports and recommendations have all focused on the plight of Arizona’s struggling K-12 schools, as well as community colleges and universities, which all suffered deep cuts during the recession. A council appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey and a report by the Arizona Education Association have focused on both the problem and on possible solutions. The reports grappled with the difficulties posed by years of cuts in an educational system already poorly funded. Since the recession, the Arizona Legislature has cut some $4 billion from
by
• See Schools pose, page 7
You just have to see it to believe it. Stretched across three properties, 100,000 lights twinkle under the Mogollon Rim in Strawberry every night now through Jan. 1. And this year, the yard at 8720 W. Tonto Rim Drive has been crowned winner of the holiday lighting contest. Just in time for Christmas weekend, the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce has released the names and addresses of the winners of the 2016 Holiday Home Lighting Contest. Make a note and enjoy a winter evening’s drive to see the decorations celebrating the season. Winning first place was Richard Kubiak, 8720 W. Tonto Rim Drive in Strawberry. Second place went to Candy and Gary Roberts, 101 N Spring Rd., Payson. Andrew Fiala (top photo)/Alexis Bechman (below) Taking third place honors was Ted Spinney, 1007 W Chatham Dr., Richard Kubiak and his wife won first place in the Payson. Christmas lighting contest this year. They decked their halls in Strawberry with 100,000 lights. See Strawberry couple, page 18
Let it snow!
Christmas light displays abound
See map on page 16
Forecasters dreaming of a white Christmas by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Michele Nelson
roundup staff reporter
Cue Bing Crosby: We’re definitely dreaming of a white Christmas. And the National Weather Service says that come Sunday, we just might be living the dream. The storm front moving through Northern Arizona bringing some rain today, should just be the warm up (cool down?) for a much more serious weather system expected to hit the region on Saturday and Sunday. The first storm dropped an inch or two of rain along the Mogollon Rim, but brought snow only to the higher elevations — generally above 9,000 feet. However, the Weather Service says the next wave will likely drop the snow level down to 4,000 feet by Sunday, perhaps making for a magical Christmas morning in Payson with 3 to 5 inches possible. So best get the grandkids up here by today so the poor dears don’t have to travel in the stormy weather predicted for tomorrow. Or if you don’t like snow, cozy up to someone with a Christmas tree in Tucson. Meanwhile, the dose of snow will open up all kinds of possibilities for next week. Sunrise Park Resort near Show Low already has 17 inches of snow on the upper ski runs and 14 inches on the lower
• See Forecasters foresee, page 18
•
Economists issue strong forecast But trade war or health cuts could threaten state growth by
Peter Aleshire
roundup editor
Arizona should accelerate its growth in the next year — unless the Trump administration manages to get into a trade war with Mexico, according to an analysis by economists from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Arizona’s economic recovery has been slowly picking up steam, with 76,000 jobs added to the state’s economy in 2016. The state will likely add another 81,000 in 2017, according to economics professor Lee McPheters at the school’s annual forecast luncheon. That should
drop the unemployment rate from the current 5.2 percent to about 4.8 percent. Gila County’s unemployment rate currently stands at about 7 percent, just under 2 percent higher than the statewide average. However, the economists issued two worrisome caveats. Arizona’s economy could suffer a rude shock if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on a threat to “tear up” the North American Free Trade Agreement — which minimizes tariffs and trade barriers between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Moreover, if President-elect Trump follows up on a vow to repeal the Affordable Care Act, 500,000 state residents could lose their medical insurance and one of the most stable, growing sectors of the economy could take a hit, concluded the analysts. The health care sector was the only portion of the economy that
• See Arizona economic, page 2
Payson’s got a librarian with a past by
Alexis Bechman
roundup staff reporter
Prison librarian, historian charms patrons Alexis Bechman/Roundup
Assistant Librarian David Grassé is working on his third book of Western history and for years worked as a librarian in an Arizona prison. WEEKEND: Rain Saturday with snow likely overnight; 3” to 5” possible. Snow may continue into Christmas Day, but should clear by Sunday evening. See page 7
volume 26, no. 102
“I liked the murderers the best because they don’t steal the books.” David Grassé
Assistant librarian
• See New librarian, page 17
PAYSON AREA FOOD DRIVE
GOAL: 30,000 lbs.
Please help us meet our goal of raising 30,000 pounds of food and $50,000 in financial donations for local food banks. Look for the drop boxes around town, or mail your check to Payson Area Food Drive, P.O. Box 703, Payson, AZ 85547.
27,000 lbs.
See our ad and upcoming events on page 18
One good thing about murderers — they don’t steal library books. After working six years as the librarian of a southern Arizona prison, David Grassé learned a couple of interesting lessons — including whom you can trust to return a book. Since August, Grassé has been Payson’s assistant library director where the staff is a little more personable and the patrons a lot less dangerous. It is a big change from the prison library, where his aides were bandits and hit men. A published author and lover of history and the Old West, Grassé was looking for a place that mixed both and offered a change of pace from the stressful prison system. Grassé found
what he sought in Payson, home of the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo. With a gentle cowboy charm, Grassé is making a name for himself; luckily it’s a law-abiding reputation. Grassé was born in Casa Grande and raised in Tucson. He got an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona in history, but when he realized the only thing he could do with such a degree was teach, Grassé went back to school. He got his master’s from the U of A in library sciences and took a job at the Arizona Department of Corrections. He was the only civilian that worked in the library whose patrons and workers included murders and robbers. They helped him stock the shelves and check out books.
24,000 lbs.
21,000 lbs.
18,000 lbs.
15,000 lbs.
12,000 lbs.
9,000 lbs.
6,000 lbs.
13,513 $ 10,000
3,000 lbs. 3,181 lbs.
0 lbs.
5,000
$
$
GOAL: 50,000 Feb. 5, 2017 $
45,000
$
40,000
$
35,000
$
30,000
$
25,000
$
$
20,000
15,000
$
$
0