Progress Edition 2012 by Payson Roundup

PROGRESS 2012

education A PUBLICATION OF THE PAYSON ROUNDUP

Payson High School provides quality educational programs

inside

Effort to build college campus in Payson survives setbacks PAGE 2

County starts ‘Teacher of the Year’ program PAGE 3 Daria Mason photo

EMMA GREENLEAF focuses during the practice prior to the Payson Longhorn Marching Band’s performance in Hawaii on the dock in front of the battleship Missouri during the Pearl Harbor 70th Anniversary ceremony.

BY KATHE KETCHEM PHS PRINCIPAL

Payson High School (PHS) is committed to providing a positive learning environment with high academic standards to include rich career-related opportunities and diverse co-curricular programs for students. Student success is the first priority of PHS staff. The many accomplishments of students as well as the focus of The PHS Class of 2011 ... staff on continuous improvements in the variety of academic, co-curoutscored the state ACT ricular and extracurricular programs are examples of success. English results by 32 percent The PHS staff is proud of the dedand the national results by ication to ongoing excellence in all our educational programs. 19 percent. Working collaboratively with parents and community to meet the individual student requirements for graduation and future educational opportunities is a priority. PHS students continue to surpass both state and national American College Testing (ACT) College and Career Readiness achievement scores by an average of 26 percent. The ACT is a curriculum-based measure of college readiness, a test of academic achievement in English, math, reading, science and writing.

This curriculum-based assessment accurately measures the skills high school teachers teach and the skill expectations of instructors of entry-level college courses. The PHS Class of 2011, with an achievement level of 85 percent, outscored the state ACT English results by 32 percent and the national results by 19 percent. Math ACT achievement scores show an equally high performance level of academic achievement with a score of 64 percent for Payson High students, out scoring the State ACT Math results by 25 percent and the National results by 19 percent. ACT Social Science scores at 68 percent for Payson High School out rank the state by 25 percent and national by 16 percent. Biology scores also show an achievement level 23 percent higher than the state and 15 percent higher than the nation. While there is always room for growth, the results are compelling. Payson High School continues to improve annually, while the state average scores are going in the other direction. PHS staff commitment and focus on intervention for all students at risk of failing has resulted in dramatic improvement in failure rates for courses and an improvement in See Facility, page 7A

Wounded Warrior Project comes to Payson Education Center PAGE 4

Julia Randall Elementary has a year of transition PAGE 6

PROGRESS EDITION EDUCATION FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Effort to build a university continues BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR

For Rim Country folks wishing they had economic happy pills, the long, strange effort to build a four-year university in Payson in 2011 felt more like a plunge into manic-depression. Or maybe a disorienting touch of schizophrenia. One minute a completed deal is sitting in the armchair by the fire smoking a pipe in bedroom slippers — and the next minute it sounds like more crazy voices in your head. But don’t give up, insists Payson Mayor Kenny Evans, more than three years into the highstakes effort to build an economy-stabilizing, 6,000-student campus in Payson. At this writing, ASU had finally made a firm offer to build a campus here, starting with a 1,000student first phase. However, ASU insisted it needs all the money generated by the student dorms and expects to actually own the campus after 20 years of free rent. After struggling to make the numbers pencil out, the Rim Country Educational Alliance is looking to a backup plan, based on turning to a “large number” of other public and private universities that have submitted letters of interest. Front runners include other universities both inside and outside Arizona, say sources close to the negotiations. Just to add one more heart-stopping twist to the tale, the Alliance has also opened negotiations with the multi-billion-dollar sports empire IMG to build a sports academy here as part of a campus complex. IMG runs sports academies in several locations in the east, with the largest campus in Florida. IMG operates a global sports, fashion and media business with some 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries. The corporation also represents top athletes and entertainers worldwide and operates sports training programs for 12,000 athletes in 80 countries The campus each year. IMG’s consulting would likely inject and licensing operahandle the big$100 million to tions money endorsements link many top $150 million that athletes to commerannually into the cial products. IMG wants to build roughly $300 local economy ... million worth of sports training, conditioning and educational facilities somewhere in the west, probably either Arizona or New Mexico. Representatives of the sports empire have met with Alliance officials about building a major component of that sports academy in Payson. If Alliance and IMG officials can strike a deal in the next few months, construction could start late this year, said Evans. So far, the two sides have talked about using about 100 acres north of Highway 260 fronting on Tyler Parkway to build playing fields and state-ofthe-art training facilities, plus a residential campus that could ultimately house up to 1,000 students. The campus would likely also include condominiums that parents of the athletes could live in during the school year. In Florida, tuition runs to $70,000 a year, not counting the extra cost of academic tutoring. In addition to bringing international attention, perhaps hundreds of year-round jobs and a financially stable industry to town, the IMG plan could result in an overhaul of the town’s biking and running trails system, a 50-mile-long network that has made little progress since the collapse of the building boom in 2009. Still, the competition from other regions for the IMG facility remains intense and many backers of the visionary campus plan for Payson felt a familiar vertigo as they whipsawed between hope and skepticism when learning of the latest addition to the complex planning effort. That feeling was exaggerated by the apparent stalemate in the three-year-long quest to convince Arizona State University to build a four-year campus here. ASU’s eye-popping proposed terms — which included several last-minute surprises — prompted the Rim Country Educational Alliance to gulp, swallow and reconsider. Make no mistake: The stakes are enormous. The campus would likely inject $100 million to $150 million annually into the local economy, according to studies of the impact of campuses elsewhere. For instance, the 25,000-student

possible to bring in lectures and demonstrations from anywhere in the world. IMG would also benefit from things like the use of solar and geothermal systems so the campus would actually produce more power than it uses. Fortunately, the hard work of the past three years appears ready now to bear fruit — for whichever university the Alliance settles on. The Alliance is assembling some 400 acres of land on the eastern edge of town along Tyler Parkway from various sources — enough land to support a 6,000-student university, a 1,000-student academy, a convention hotel, a research center, an incubation center and other spinoff businesses — all while leaving the campus with lots of big pines and open space. The project would turn the whole town into an ultra-high-speed wireless Internet hot spot, so students could view lectures and access research libraries on laptops from anywhere in town. The campus would use high-rise dorms and parking garages to leave as much forested open space as possible, and bike paths and shuttles to keep cars out of the heart of the campus. Backers have partnered with companies like Corning to ensure the campus will have display screens connected to the Internet built into walls and table tops — with the latest educational technologies in mind. The Alliance has an option to buy 67 acres fronting Tyler Parkway north of Highway 260. Current plans have allocated that land for some of the spinoff businesses, like the research park and incubation center. Gila County has also agreed to sell the Alliance a 22-acre parcel that lies between that optioned private land and land now belonging to Gila Community College. Currently, GCC occupies about six acres, but Pete Aleshire/Roundup the extra land it recently received from the county PAYSON MAYOR KENNY EVANS recently updated community leaders on the latest twists will enable it to ultimately triple in size and conand turns in efforts to build not one, but two, schools here. nect with the university next door. If an IMG campus ends up next door, GCC Northern Arizona University campus injects $610 ly offered low-income financing. That added about could wind up with access to athletic fields, a million annually into the economy of Coconino $7 million annually to the bottom line cost of the shared solar power generating system and grassy County, according to a study by Bank One Center project, said backers. open space on its border. for Business Outreach. Another study on the Fortunately, the Town of Star Valley stepped That combination of about 90 acres provides impact of a 6,000-student community and techni- forward quickly to partner with Payson to establish plenty of room for either the IMG campus or if cal college in Minnesota came up with similar the SLE under the existing rules. That made it that falls through, the first 1,000-student phase of a numbers — and a $119 million annual impact for much harder for the resulting Rim Country that region. Educational Alliance SLE to partner with a univer- university campus, along with spinoff facilities like a research center. The campus would likely provide about 600 sity, but it kept the project alive. Unfortunately, the effort to buy an additional steady jobs, many of them well-paid by Rim However, the backers have struggled ever 300 acres of Forest Service land directly south of Country standards. since to make the project pencil out, while still that location has bogged down for the moment in Moreover, the campus would have the biggest keeping tuition at the proposed campus much impact during the winter — when Rim Country lower than at any of the other three public univer- Forest Service red tape. Congress directed the Forest Service to sell most needs the economic boost. sities in the state. That would mean charging that land a decade ago, but the Forest Service now Of course, the stakes could rise considerably if tuition that is 40 to 60 percent below ASU’s existwants the Alliance to put up $400,000 to do an the Alliance pulls off its full master plan, which ing $9,000 annual tab. environmental assessment of includes a host of spinoff business. Those spinoffs That lower tuition rate the land — even though the include a 500-room convention hotel, a research would make the campus the Forest Service itself has already center, an incubator center focused on turning fac- model for the development of ulty research into commercial projects and things a state college system and Payson Mayor built a ranger station and various maintenance yards and like a solar cell assembly plant, backed by the would also ensure a steady Chinese government. stream of students despite the Kenny Evans other facilities to support its wildfire control operations on So what happened to the once-confident pre- rural location. remains confident the property and despite the dictions that ASU would sign a deal with the Local backers thought apparent lack of any endanAlliance that would provide Arizona a hopeful new they had it all figured out that Payson will gered or sensitive species. model for the development of a state college syswhen they got bids from priForest Service officials have tem? vate companies that specialize become a university previously suggested they could Three years ago, Mayor Evans and other local in building student housing. have the land cleared for sale by backers put together a super low-interest financing The dorms for students could town in 2014 this fall, but the need to provide package that combined $50 million to $100 milgenerate $6 million to $7 milthe upfront money for the envilion in pledged donations with perhaps $400 million, compensating for the loss or 2015. ronmental assessment with no lion in promised loans. in the financing. guarantee the Forest Service So backers set out to convince the Legislature However, ASU now will then sell the land has raised questions about to adopt legislation that would allow Payson and wants to use that money to offset the cost of prothat timetable. ASU to jointly form a Separate Legal Entity (SLE), viding staffing and faculty at the lower tuition rate The Forest Service delay has once again comwhich could build the campus and other support — on the assumption that the Legislature will likeplicated the Alliance’s timetable, which had origifacilities and operate it like an old-style redevelop- ly provide less per-student funding at the Payson nally sought to open phase one by the fall of 2014. ment district. The SLE could buy and sell land, campus than at the Tempe campus with its high, In addition, the emergence of the plan to build enter into contracts, impose taxes within its research and specialized programs overhead. a 1,000-student private academy has complicated boundaries and lease facilities to public and private Reportedly, the Alliance is considering draftentities. The SLE could raise the money internally ing a take-it-or-leave-it proposal to present to other previously discussed plans, creating potential probto provide everything from fire protection to universities that have expressed interest in building lems in the timing of the two campuses. In the best-case scenario, the Alliance would police protection — not to mention generating a campus here. Reportedly, the Alliance will likely millions of dollars to underwrite infrastructure like offer low-cost classroom and office space for a 20- quickly conclude a deal with the private academy the Blue Ridge pipeline. year term, after which the buildings would belong to build its 1,000-student campus on the land north of Highway 260. In that case, construction Best yet, Payson taxpayers would face no liato the Alliance. Reportedly, the Alliance would bility should the whole deal collapse — and keep all or most of the revenue from the dorms to could possibly start late this year or early next year. ASU or one of the other universities in conwouldn’t have to come up with the money to pro- help offset the costs of providing the university tention would then build the first 1,000-student vide infrastructure for the project. with the its facilities at a rate that would make it phase of a 6,000-student campus on the Forest Unfortunately, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer possible for the campus to charge much lower Service land south of the highway once it’s cleared stunned town officials by vetoing the legislation, tuition than the three, big public university camfor sale, probably early next year. apparently on the advice of lobbyists for electric puses. Either way, Payson Mayor Kenny Evans utilities who feared the change in the rules in formTo add to the appeal of that approach, the top ing SLE’s would allow school districts and univer- officials of the proposed private academy have sig- remains confident that Payson will become a university town in 2014 or 2015, with all the attensities to finance things like solar cell and geothernaled an interest in building facilities that would dant economic benefits. mal power generating schemes. dovetail with any of the competing universities. So don’t toss those happy pills out yet, even if The veto forced a delay in the project that The IMG campus could take advantage of the proyou are feeling a little schizophrenic. made it impossible to take advantage of the initial- vision of digital connections that would make it

PROGRESS EDITION EDUCATION FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

County starts ‘Teacher of the Year’ program FROM GILA COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT LINDA O’DELL’S OFFICE

CONSORTIUM ACTIVITIES The county school superintendent facilitated the development of the Gila County Education Technology Consortium in 2011. Members include schools and districts throughout the county as well as the Gila Community College. The purpose of the education technology consortium is to promote shared technology-based activities; support creation of a countywide instructional delivery system; provide opportunities for coordinated communication; and secure resources to support activities of its members. During the past year, the county school superintendent’s office has collaborated with local school districts to assist in the implementation of recent state mandates. Districts are required to implement new teacher and principal evaluations based on a common framework developed by the Arizona State Board of Education. Student achievement must be included as one of the evaluation criteria for both teachers and principals. The GCESA staff is facilitating efforts by Gila County administrators and teachers who are working together to develop a common base for evaluation systems that may be used by schools and districts countywide. The GCESA staff is also working in partnership with local schools and districts to implement new “common core” standards in mathematics and English language arts. Staff is conducting training about the new standards as well as devel-

oping templates that schools can use for implementation and instructional planning. The county schools office will be polling local schools and districts about the need for special education or other centralized services. The purpose of a Special Education Consortium, for example, would be to provide more cost-effective specialized services for districts through pooling the needs and contracting as a group rather than as individual entities. In cases where grant funding amounts for a single district are very small, districts may request or the county school superintendent’s office may suggest that they form a consortium and authorize the GCESA to submit and manage the grant funds on their behalf (e.g., Gifted Education, English language learners). GED & ADULT EDUCATION The Gila County Schools Office is a designated GED (General Equivalency Diploma) test center. As Chief Examiner, O’Dell oversees GED testing at five sites throughout the county, including Payson, Globe, San Carlos, county jail and the juvenile detention center. Nearly 300 people took the test last year in Gila County, which is the average number for the past several years. The county schools office is also the state-certified adult education provider. Free classes are held in Payson, Globe and San Carlos; the Rim County Literacy program partners with the county to provide additional adult education opportunities in the Payson area. More than 250 people ‘completed’ adult education goals in 2011, including many who studied for and passed the GED test. TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM The Gila County “Teacher of the Year” program was established in 2011. This activity offers parents, community members, administrators or colleagues the opportunity to acknowledge and honor educators who have made outstanding academic contributions to Gila County children. One of last year’s winners, Wayne Gorry of Payson, was a finalist in the Arizona Rural Schools Association’s Teacher of the Year competition. Applications for this year’s TOY Program are due April 2, 2012.

TEACHER INSTITUTE The county schools office sponsored its First Annual Teacher Institute in 2011, a day devoted to celebrating the art of teaching, and sharing ways to increase student engagement and learning. Most presenters are Gila County teachers who have participated in and been trained in Gila County professional development activities during the year. REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR As part of her personal commitment to increasing support for science, technology, engineering and math in our schools, O’Dell’s office sponsored the first annual Gila County Regional Science Fair on March 1, 2012. Students from schools throughout Gila County were eligible to participate in the county fair. First-place winners from the county fair will participate in the state science and engineering fair in April. STEM PROGRAM The Gila County School Superintendent’s Office has joined other educators, business and industry leaders and policymakers in efforts to ensure that Gila County students are ‘career and college ready’ when they complete high school. These conversations focus on the need for increased rigor, higher expectations, and handson study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). In 2011, the county schools office hosted a series of forums throughout the county to inform local leaders and to discuss ways for collaborating to support local schools and students. Interest generated at those events has encouraged O’Dell and her staff as they look for meaningful ways to engage business and civic groups, community leaders, and parents in support of student learning, schools and education. The school and community-based activities described below are a direct result of these efforts. O’Dell says, “Please stay tuned and get ready to be involved — we’re just getting started; there’s lots to be done!” The county school superintendent partnered with the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce as a sponsor of the new “Student L

Under the leadership of Dr. Linda O’Dell, Gila County School Superintendent, the past year was a whirlwind of activity for the Gila County Schools Office and Education Service Agency staff. O’Dell promises that the year to come will be just as busy, with new and exciting opportunities for teachers, students, parents and community members! O’Dell often describes the many activities of her office as colorful “spinning plates,” which spin higher and faster depending on the time of year. She laughs when she says, “All I ask is that we keep them spinning — falling plates can make a mess and a lot of noise!” Activities of the “We’re just getting county school superstarted; there’s intendent’s office are grounded in state lots to be done!” law, designated as mandatory or per— Linda O’Dell, missive. For example, statute mandates that County School the county schools office is the fiscal Superintendent agent for local public schools. Also by statute, the county school superintendent provides educational services for youths up to the age of 22 who are detained in the juvenile detention center or county jail. Parents of students who opt to home-school their children are required to register with the county schools office. By statute, the county school superintendent’s office is the election agent for school district and community college governing board, override and bond elections. The county school superintendent is charged with appointing governing board members in the event of a governing board vacancy. O’Dell’s office provides a broad array of services that are authorized or permissible by state law

under the umbrella of the Gila County Education Service Agency (GCESA). O’Dell notes that “all such activities must be self-sustaining, either on a cost-recovery basis or supported by outside funding.” LINDA O’DELL O’Dell is very active in pursuing resources and support for these types of activities, and also in developing partnerships with other entities and funding agents. Following are examples of a few of the many services and activities of the GCESA.

See County, page 6A

Payson Unified School District #10

Thank you, Payson! Here are some examples of the ROI (Return On your Investment) in Payson Schools.

• Julia Randall Elementary School 5th-grade teacher Wayne Gorry named Gila County Teacher of the Year. • Payson High School Longhorn Band participates in Pearl Harbor 70th Anniversary. • Rim Country Middle School students negotiate a win at Model United Nations. • Payson Center for Success students give back to the community through Dragonheart projects like the Time Out Shelter Angel Tree and Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake. • Payson Virtual Academy enrollment increases from 62 to 200 students in its first year. • Payson Elementary School sports all new Li’l Longhorn playground equipment. • Payson High School SADD and Project Ignition fire up to achieve top national spot in Safe Teen Driving. • Volunteers make Frontier Elementary School playground available for neighborhood use.

• Julia Randall Elementary School Millionaires read more than 1 million, 2 million and even 3 million words. • Payson High School wrestler pins down Division III state championship. • Julia Randall Elementary School students experiment with successful Science & Engineering Fair. • Rim Country Middle School Junior Thespians present Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. • Payson High School DECA & FBLA collect and donate food to St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. • Payson High School Mock Trial Club argues its way to 1st place at Regionals. • Julia Randall Elementary School showcases health and wellness with Jump Rope for Heart. • Governing Board recognizes outstanding teachers and staff members from throughout the district. • Payson Elementary School PTO purchases document cameras for each and every classroom.

• Payson High School Construction Technologies teacher Richard Alvarez honored by Chicanos por la Causa with its Esperanza Award. • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) launches into classroom instruction and curriculum at all schools. • Payson High School Career Technical Education students work hard to win first-place awards at state & national competitions. • District connects electronically with students, staff, families and community through School Messenger, Edline and Events Calendar. • School day, extracurricular activities and community use keep Payson Schools’ buildings and grounds busy from morning ’til night. • Payson Center for Success students explore culture (West Side Story), careers (high-tech recording industry) and government (Legislative Day at State Capitol).

We couldn’t do all this without YOU!

PROGRESS EDITION EDUCATION FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Gila Community College enriches the community BY PAM BUTTERFIELD PAYSON CAMPUS DEAN

Andy Towle/Roundup

MARY TALLOUZI, a representative of the Wounded Warrior Project, spoke to students at Payson Education Center about her life’s mission as an advocate for soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Payson Education Center — A milestone year BY PEGGY MILES PRINCIPAL

SELLING GOLD, SILVER, DIAMONDS OR COINS?

diploma. Many of these students were eager to complete their schooling early. The staff at PEC always encourages students who take responsibility and seek to better their lives through education. These are students who may not have been able to achieve this goal in a traditional school setting. While we have made much progress in our academic offerings, we are always looking for ways to help more students. One program we are looking forward to is the incorporation of Apex Learning, a standards-based online curriculum provider. This will allow us to offer educational opportunities to homebound students. Another area we are looking to expand is our level of parent involvement and support. Earlier this year, we distributed a questionnaire to our parents in order to gauge what their needs were. In response to their feedback, we have organized a number of parent support nights. We will continue to offer this and try to expand it to include any parent in our community who would like more information about local resources and parenting support. This has been an exciting school year, and we continue to look forward to expanding our academic offerings and community involvement for years to come.

The 2011/2012 school year was a milestone year for the Payson Education Center (PEC). This was our first year as a fully accredited high school. Last year, we earned our accreditation through AdvancEd, and this year we are seeing the fruits of our labor in terms of enrollment, better community involvement and an increased number of graduates. The accreditation recognized what we knew all along — PEC is a viable alternative for earning a high school diploma. This was the goal of PEC at its inception and the vision of its founder, Dr. Linda O’Dell, who established the Gila County Regional School District in 2005. Part of our overall mission continues to be addressing each student’s individual needs, academically and socially. This close attention to individual needs is what continues to make our school successful. Over the past year, we have reached a higher level of recognition in the community. This is evident by our increased enrollment and students’ participation in local events. One notable school event was the visit of Mary

Tallouzi, a representative of the Wounded Warrior Project. Mary was able to share her life’s mission as an advocate for soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with students at PEC, Payson High and KMOG listeners as well. For our students, they were able to take a step back and examine their personal values and what really matters to them. Other guests have spoken to our students about rights, responsibilities and citizenship, including several veterans (from Korea, Vietnam and Iraq) and representatives from the Gila County Register’s Office. Increased visibility in the community has also resulted in a 300-percent increase in tax credit donations. This is a major contribution since we do not receive any money from property taxes. We continue to value our relationship with the Rim Country Optimists. Several members have volunteered their time with our students, and last year they presented a PEC graduate with an academic scholarship (a first for our school). This year, PEC and the Rim Country Optimists have been working on additional competitive awards for graduates. Speaking of graduates, as of the first semester we already had nine students complete all their state and district requirements for earning their high school

Gila Community College district (GCC), a provisional community college district, was created in 2002 by Gila County voters to provide post-secondary education in Gila County. The district serves all of Gila County with campuses in Globe, Payson and San Carlos. Because of its provisional status, Gila Community College must contract with a fully accredited post-secondary institution to provide educational services. The GCC Governing Board has selected Eastern Arizona College for this partnership. This long-term partnership provides stability for strategic growth as applied to student enrollment and program development. The partnership with Eastern Arizona College is based on a mutual commitment to providing high-quality, cost effective post-secondary educational opportunities. The Payson Campus provides a variety of academic and training opportunities in the region that would not otherwise be possible. The campus offers degree and certificate programs in Art Education, Basic Emergency Technician, Bookkeeping, Computer Technology, Fire Science, Medical Assistant, Nursing Assistant and Nursing, among others. GCC also offers transfer track degrees and articulates courses and programs with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. The Payson Campus also offers a wide range of personal enrichment courses for the community in fine arts including ceramics, crafts, drawing, jewelry making, painting and photography. Personal enrichment courses in physical education range from aerobics to belly dancing, from Pilates to yoga. The Payson Campus also offers a wellness center for individual workouts. Creative writing and creative clothing See GCC, page 5A

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PROGRESS EDITION EDUCATION FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

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JULIA RANDALL stands on the steps of the rock building with students in her first-grade class.

A brief history of Payson schools BY SUSAN CAMPBELL

PAYSON SCHOOL DISTRICT SECRETARY

No matter where Americans have settled across the land, public education has been a priority. Schools were started early and often in mining and logging camps, fledgling towns and frontier outposts. The perfect example of an early school building (circa 1884) is just 20 miles away: the Strawberry Schoolhouse, oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona. Payson School District is no exception in valuing education. The small, isolated Payson Records indicate community in the early 20th century believed that before 1918, education was important. At least two no high school wooden structures students before subjects were housed the Julia Randall rock came on line. offered in Payson. building Built some 50 years after the Strawberry Schoolhouse, Julia Randall School welcomed generations of students from the 1930s until it became the Payson Unified School District office in 2009. The rock building now serves as a hub of history and nostalgia for students and adults alike. The Julia Randall School was built around 1935 during the Depression as a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project. The WPA funded public buildings of “lasting significance.” Employable local workers built the projects. Payson’s Julia Randall School was very similar to other WPA schools across the country. The WPA school in Young, Ariz. looked just like its Julia Randall School twin. While the design may have been cookie-cutter, the materials were local and so were the builders. The rock was quarried locally — a distinctive red stone that has stood the test of

time. The Julia Randall rock building was the only school Payson needed for almost 30 years. In the 1960s, Payson Schools leased the 40 acres from the U.S. Forest Service, where Payson High School, Rim Country Middle School and Payson Center for Success are now located. The first building on the PHS campus was the East Wing (now demolished and replaced by the Stevens Agriculture Education Building). The first graduating class from Payson High School at its current site was the Class of 1963. Their gift to the school was the three-board Payson High School sign located at the McLane Road entrance. Buildings are not the only indication of citizen commitment to a good education. Records indicate that before 1918, no high school subjects were offered in Payson. Graduates from the eighth grade that wanted a high school education went to Globe, Mesa or Flagstaff. Commuting was not an option, so families sent their students to these towns to attend high school and board with families there. In the early 1920s, 41 school districts dotted the Gila County landscape. Long-gone places like Radium, Wheatfield, Black Warrior, Quicksilver and Inspiration had schools and recognized school districts. Only eight of those districts remain. All have deep roots in the American ethic of public education. Payson Schools has added many buildings like the Wilson Dome and the new Julia Randall Elementary School. Like the warm, rich, strong building blocks at the rock building, Payson Schools has weathered the 20th century and has the strong foundation needed to support 21st-century challenges — all because Americans value public education.

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GCC to graduate largest class in May FROM PAGE 4A construction are two other popular courses. Gila Community College works with Payson Unified School District (PUSD) and Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) to provide career and technical education to high school students. Current programs include pre-nursing, fire science and Web development on the GCC campus and animal systems, culinary fundamentals, information technology, marketing, renewable sustainable energy and theatre production on the Payson High School campus. Southern Gila County campuses work with Globe, Hayden, Miami and San Carlos school districts to provide dual enrollment programs in partnership with Cobre Valley Institute of Technology. At both ends of the county, these programs help prepare students for a highly com-

petitive work force. The Small Business Development Center provides business services at no cost to the individual or business. Steve Burke, the SBDC interim director, can help with The Small Business business planning, loan applications Development Center and more. provides business This May, the Payson campus of services at no cost. GCC looks forward to graduating its largest class to date as well as awarding more vocational certificates than in years past. Registration for summer and fall courses began March 15, 2012. GCC invites you to pick up a class schedule to see if there’s something for you in our course offerings.

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PROGRESS EDITION EDUCATION FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

A year of transition for Julia Randall Elementary BY ROB VARNER PRINCIPAL

This year has been a “true” year in transition at Julia Randall Elementary (JRE). As the budget situation in the Payson Unified School District continued to struggle due to the local, state and national economy, we actually had a silver lining — having all the third- through fifth-grade students on one campus has been a good thing. Challenges included, class sizes being bigger and it was difficult for teachers to attempt to meet their needs every moment of the day, but the chemistry that developed between the students of the same grade and age The goal is always was interesting to see. I am hoping we have made improvement with enough improvements in the culture and climate to have a individual students. smoother start for our new second-grade students. Payson Elementary School has done a great job keeping the data on the kids who need extra support so we can help them where they left off. As important, the teachers working together for the common good of each child of the same grade and the exchange of ideas was inspiring. We call these meetings between teachers, PLC. PLC stands for Professional Learning Communities. Teachers in the same grade will meet together every week to problem solve, lesson plan, look at and break down data and exchange ideas. In this way, we are doing more to meet the needs of our students. With the transition from AIMS (Arizona Instruments to Measure) to Common Core Standards, we are prepared through professional development to adjust our instruction to meet the needs of all our students with the new standards and expectations

from the state. Better scores are good, but my goal is always improvement with individual students. Are they showing growth over time? Are our instructional practices meeting the needs of each student? What do we need to do to change, adjust or just do better to meet their individual needs? I would like to continue to offer computer and general music and also continue to offer band for our fifth-grade students — as much as the budget will allow. We have one more year of implementing the PEP grant and we will continue to offer PE to our students twice a week. However, with the budget the way it is, I don’t see any additions to science, math or English classes in the near future. Adding new curriculum or a new adoption of materials will not happen until we get through the current economy. I have a great PTO (parent teacher organization). They absolutely do wonders for our school. I am hoping for continued support from our parents, who, without their support, our afterschool programs and extracurricular activities would not be nearly as strong. I look forward to our dance and Spring Fling and other activities to get to know our parents on a different level. I am always trying to build positive relationships with all staff, parents and students. I enjoy those relationships and try to foster them when I can. As two-thirds of the students and two-thirds of the teachers were new to JRE this year, we worked hard on building a positive climate and culture for our students. After a rocky start, we are now seeing the fruits of our labor. Our benchmark scores are up, our discipline and bus behaviors are improved and the chemistry between students, and between teachers are as if they’ve been together for years. So things are on the up and up at JRE. We especially want to thank our school community and families for their support. We really appreciate it.

Andy Towle/Roundup

HAYZ CHILSON was one of the many budding young scientists who participated in Julia Randall Elementary School’s Science Fair in 2011.

County partners to create professional lending library FROM PAGE 3A

Alexis Bechman/Roundup

THE LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE in Tonto Basin has six classrooms, most of which are multi-grade with a teacher-student ratio averaging 1 to 15.

Tonto Basin School: A return to a simpler time BY MARY LOU WEATHERLY SUPERINTENDENT/PRINCIPAL

My first year serving as the principal/superintendent of the Tonto Basin School District has been filled with learning about the rich history of the area and the traditions of the school, as well as, getting acquainted with the 80 children, their parents and staff. This school district is certainly a return to a simpler time in the history of education and quite a change coming from a school with over 3,000 students, 500 staff members and parents from the Navajo Indian Reservation by Page, Ariz. Tonto Basin School was originally financed by a small group of community members who wanted a school for their children to attend. As more families moved into the area, the school changed to meet the needs of the growing student population. Even with the increased numbers of students, strong family values and an even stronger sense of culture kept the school constant — like the mortar

between the blocks and steel structure of this small campus. We begin our school day together in the gym, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, sharing birthday wishes and welcoming the students to another day of learning. We have six classrooms, most are multi-grade with a teacher-student ratio averaging 1 to 15. Sounds like heaven you may say — it is indeed! But like all districts in the state of Arizona, we too are faced with decreased state and federal funds, while trying to adjust to the increased mandates and requirements to meet state and federal guidelines. Still, doing more with less does not seem to faze the staff, governing board members or the community members of Tonto Basin. Doing whatever it takes to help the kids whether it be donating to the Tax Credit for Kids, or supporting the Halloween Carnival, Christmas Program, Holiday Shop or the annual Field Day with donated items, Tonto Basin School remains a gathering place for the community.

Showcase” as part of the Rim Country Business Showcase held March 23-24. A STEMfest will be held in the GlobeMiami area on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to noon and later this year in the Payson area. These community events will partner local business and civic groups with school groups and educators to demonstrate through hands-on displays how science, technology, engineering and math pervade business, the world of work and everyday life. O’Dell and her staff are working with Arizona ... 25 teachers SciTech Festival staff in the develophoned their ment of these activinstructional ities.A community (Gazing) skills in “Star Party” to be held mathematics, May 17 will culminate a series of science and astronomy-based activities for fifthwriting. grade teachers and students in the Globe-Miami-San Carlos area. The county schools office is partnering with the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Science Foundation Arizona and local business and community leaders for this project. O’Dell has requested support from sponsors to hold a similar event in the Payson area, and expects it will be scheduled for a date TBD in August or September. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT During the past year the Gila County Education Service Agency has sponsored a variety of professional development and training activities for teachers and administrators. For the second year in a row, O’Dell was successful in obtaining funds to

train 35 teachers of Grades K-8 in the Intel Math Training Program. This rigorous training focuses on increasing teachers’ content knowledge in mathematics as well as improving instructional skills. An additional component of this program provided opportunities for teachers to participate in professional learning communities (PLC). In the PLCs, teachers discuss and solidify content learning and review student work as a means of assessing if their instruction is supporting student learning. O’Dell is currently in negotiations to obtain funding for continued math training, based on the success of the first two groups. O’Dell’s office has just completed a three-year training program in which 25 Gila County teachers honed their instructional skills in mathematics, science and writing. They learned about ways to adapt lessons and methods to meet the needs of all students and how to integrate the use of technology in classroom instruction. They also practiced developing “project-based learning.” It is anticipated that the funding source for this project will be continued. The new project will focus on training teachers how to integrate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in project-based learning activities. In collaboration with the Gila County Library District, the Gila County Education Service Agency has created a professional lending library for teachers and administrators. Books, DVDs, science and math kits and many manipulative materials for use by teachers and administrators are available for check out using your Gila County Library card. GCESA staff is available to provide training for many of the kits and materials. For further information about activities and services of the Gila County School Superintendent’s Office, contact Linda O’Dell at 928-472-5373 (Payson Office), 928-402-8784 (Globe Office) or lodell@gilacountyaz.gov.

PROGRESS EDITION EDUCATION FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Facility improvements continue in the new year FROM PAGE 1A student behavior choices. Interventions include available daily tutoring before school, during lunch and after school for students, as well as specific classes to provide additional support for students. Academic data for grades nine through twelve showed a dramatic improvement in PHS student pass fail rates for courses. Failure rates have declined on average by 6 percent during the 2011-12 school year when compared to the previous year. Academic success is directly tied to positive behavior choices and working in partnership with parents on daily attendance. Serious discipline referrals involving law-related reporting have also declined by 8 percent over the past two school years. Opening the door to new educational opportunities for students also includes additional integration of technology in the classroom as well as on campus. The new Project Lead the Way Engineering Lab provides students with hands-on learning in design and virtual construction with the ability to also build 3D models. Creative thinking and problem solving and working collaboratively are all requirements for individual and team success. PHS students are looking forward to the robotics curriculum included in the year two engineering course. Additional computers were added to 10 classrooms along with 3D document cameras and projectors for 20 classrooms. Also added was a A PHS culinary arts small computer lab to the science and social studies building. student was Academic program expansion provides PHS students more options while recently named also building on the requirement to incorporate the national common core one of the top 10 academic learning standards curriculum. juniors in the state ... PHS staff lead the county in understanding of the new common core literacy standards for reading, writing and math which are required to be integrated into all academic core classes. The standards include common assessment, scoring, and collaborative integrated curriculum resulting in applied hands-on educational opportunities for students. Examples include a math and culinary arts integration class, and a social studies and English integration class. Both support core curriculum for content areas with the integration of common core standards for reading, writing and math literacy. The dedication of PHS teachers to excellence and continuous improvement has made these courses possible. Academic Decathlon (Acadec), a new course added the curriculum this year, provided PHS students the opportunity to compete academically with 16 schools in our region. The PHS Acadec team placed fourth in the super quiz relay where all members compete as a team, and also brought home five medals representing excellence in math, music, art, and history. FINE ARTS Academic success is also evidenced through fine arts co-curricular student achievements. The award-winning PHS Marching Band received nine awards for excellence from August to December and qualified for state competition for the first time, placing sixth. The Northeast All Regional Honor Band includes 16 PHS musicians, six are first chair musicians. The PHS Marching Band was also invited to perform at Pearl Harbor for its 70th Anniversary commemoration in December. Longhorn Theater and Thespians made their mark at state this year receiving four superior ratings, and two awards for excellence as well as the Longhorn Thespian Troupe earning gold as an Outstanding Thespian Troupe in Arizona for the 17th year in

Courtesy photo

THE CAREERS THROUGH CULINARY ARTS program competition selected Payson High School junior Autumn Parrish as one of the top 10 juniors in the state. The two other Payson High competitors were Jimmy Brown and Levii Lopez. a row. PHS earned a place at the state competitions for their oneact play directed by a student, earning a rating of excellence. Also, in memory of the legacy of John Siler’s contributions to the state thespian program, the Arizona State Thespian Scholarship was renamed this year the John Siler Memorial Scholarship. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION Career and Technical Education (CTE) academic achievements also stand out when compared to schools in Arizona. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) earned 11 awards in the area of technology at the regional conference in February and 18 business achievement awards. DECA (an association of marketing students) brought home 33 awards at the district conference in January and a newly elected state officer from PHS. FFA (Future Farmers of America) recently earned 10 awards at district academic competitions with two PHS students holding state offices. A PHS culinary arts student was recently named one of the top 10 juniors in the state for Careers Through Culinary Arts. During the culinary regional conference hosted by Payson, two students earned gold medals, three students earned silver medals, and one student earned a bronze medal. FEA (Future Educators of Arizona) recently attended the national conference and competed the week of Feb. 27 at the state conference. One PHS student is currently a state FEA officer. PARENT TEACHER STUDENT ORGANIZATION The newly organized Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) is off to a great beginning and invites all parents, teachers, students and community members to attend a meeting and become involved. The goals of the PTSO focus on creating a supportive environment for staff and students through volunteerism by means of school spirit activities, freshman through senior student events and fund-raising. Current activities and events include supporting the junior class fund-raising concession stand at basketball games sponsored by the English department, supporting the Junior Prom sponsored by the science department, supporting the recycling

program to fund educational opportunities, provide workshops for teachers, and sponsor an appreciation luncheon for staff. This dedicated group of parents, teachers and students invite all of you to join them at the next meeting on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in PHS Auditorium room 1. EDLINE Edline has recently become the primary Payson High School Web site! Edline is an online program teachers, students, parents and administrators can use to communicate about grades, assignments and events. Yes, the entire community now has access to our Edline homepage. Added this year is the monthly letter from the principal, club and extra-curricular calendars and pages, helpful articles for parents and the public, and staff information. Just type the following URL into your browser’s address window to see what is happening at PHS: www.edline.net/pages/MWS. FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS Finally, ongoing school facility improvements support the safe learning environment PHS continues to offer students and the community. New gates and additional fencing have added security to the campus along with rekeying the entire PHS campus. Repairs to the Wilson Dome included painting and repairs/replacement of locker room showers. Construction and rebuilding of the roof on the old PHS gym begins in April and will also include resurfacing of the gym floor once the roof has been completed. We look forward to using the gym again for the 2012-2013 school year. We thank our parents, the Payson community, local businesses and service organizations for their continued support and partnership. Without your continued support, valuable feedback, and volunteer time we would not be able to provide high quality educational programs for the students in our community. We also thank the Payson Roundup for the outstanding job they do covering our extra-curricular athletic programs, putting our students and coaches on the front page, as well as articles highlighting educational excellence at PHS. As Don Heizer, PHS counselor says, “It’s great to be a Longhorn!”

Pine-Strawberry Buffalos trample over Mustangs BY MICHAEL CLARK PRINCIPAL

How did the buffalo become the Pine-Strawberry Elementary School’s mascot and why did blue and white get designated as the school colors? That question has been asked by a number of people over the past several weeks. The buffalo seemed to be a strange selection as buffalos are not common to Rim Country. ... prior to the One would have thought that an elk, white wrestling team tailed deer, bear or even an eagle would have been having a need ... a more logical choice as our mascot. the mascot was As far as school colthe mustang. ors, at the time, no one knew. So ... the research began with inquiries made to many of our long-term residents and founding families. Finally, Mrs. Margaret Parker, school board president, and whose family is one of the original settler founding groups, discovered

the answer. It seems that years back, during Sue Myer’s tenure as superintendent, Pine Strawberry School had a wrestling team that was ready to participate in the local athletic conference and competitions — but, the school did not have a mascot nor did the school have colors. A recommendation was made to designate the buffalo as the mascot and blue/white as the colors. Why were they chosen you ask? It seems that Mrs. Myers came to the Rim Country from the Tempe School District. The school she worked at were known as the buffalos and the school colors were blue and white. Since there was an immediate need for Pine-Strawberry to select a mascot and colors, the buffalo and blue and white were designated. Mrs. Parker related that a long time ago, prior to the wrestling team having a need, the Pine Strawberry School mascot was the mustang and the school colors were red and white. Somehow that knowledge was lost during the debate on the need for a masAndy Towle/Roundup cot/colors. PINE THIRD-GRADERS in Diane Ludwig’s class took a field trip to the East Verde River So, the buffalos we are, and blue and white we in 2011 to learn about tadpoles.

PROGRESS EDITION EDUCATION FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

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SECTION B

business PAYSON ROUNDUP PROGRESS EDITION 2012

Rim Country weathers economic ups and downs

inside

Economic Development Division smooths road to growth PAGE 2

Highway improvements road of progress in the region PAGE 3 Andy Towle/Roundup

OVER THE COURSE OF 2011 occupants of the large shopping plazas continued to see a lot of traffic at the intersection of Highways 87 and East 260. Some facilities saw changes in tenants occupying their spaces, some moved to new locations, others closed their doors.

BY ALEXIS BECHMAN ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

Payson’s economy has cycled through highs and lows since the first settlers came in the 1860s — from a mini gold rush in the mid1800s to cattle ranching, logging, rodeos and tourism. The area’s natural beauty always brought people back though and helped the town grow to the 15,300 residents and While small businesses are an more than 400 businesses here today. integral part of Payson’s economy ... Most will agree, however, that the last community organizers recognized a few years in Rim new, base business was needed. Country have been trying — with new Their answer: a four-year university. and old businesses closing, residents losing their jobs and construction all but halted. Throughout the year and in the first few months of 2012, the area continued to lose businesses, some closing just a few months after opening. After two years of business, Azul Tequila Mexican restaurant closed; the Rock Yard shut its doors after opening in 1998 and Payson Athletic Club said it would lock its doors after 18 years in business. On Main Street, Lock N

Load guns and ammunition shop went bust after less than a year in business. China Wok Buffet closed after three years and My Sister’s Bakery put away the baking pans and shut down for good. While the area lost a fair share of businesses, 2011 also brought with it several new endeavors. Most notable was Ayothaya Thai Café off Highway 260, which opened to much fanfare and still gets a crowd nearly every night. New businesses also include Crafters Cubbies, Little Caesars Pizza, Main Street Guitars and Gifts, Second Hand Curiosity and Animal Welfare Thrift Shop, a Verizon store in the former Blockbuster space, Nature’s Harvest, Misti’s Solutions thrift shop and Rim Country Guns. While small businesses are an integral part of Payson’s economy, along with the casino, school district and hospital — the area’s largest employers — community organizers recognized a new, base business was needed. Their answer: a four-year university. While the details of the campus are still getting worked out, the construction of a 6,000student university would transform the area from one most tourists drive through to a true destination. See Rim Country, page 2B

Early travelers looked for lights in the darkness PAGE 5

Woman’s Club a keystone of Payson since 1912 PAGE 6

PROGRESS EDITION BUSINESS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

File photo and Andy Towle/Roundup

THEN AND NOW: On the left is an aerial shot of the old Kaibab Lumber Mill, which was located on West Main Street near the intersection to Highway 87. The photo at right is a current aerial view showing that intersection today. The legacy of the lumber mill continues today at the Sawmill Crossing shopping center.

New Economic Development Division helps smooth road to growth BY MIKE VOGEL

TOWN OF PAYSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

In an effort to fulfill an unmet need, to help existing businesses and to bring in new revenue, the Town of Payson created its Economic Development Division during the summer of 2010. At that time, the state had initiated cuts to stateshared revenue and the start of the economic downturn were beginning to be felt by the businesses and the community as a whole. The Economic Development Division was instrumental in making changes to current building processes and has created new programs to help existing and new businesses. Through the division’s efforts, the town codes

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Another new program, the Business Ombudsman, serves both new and existing businesses. Prospective businesses meet with economic development officials to discuss their plans, location ideas, demographics of the community, town building requirements and processes, and other general questions and concerns. As part of this program, both new and existing businesses wishing to relocate can participate in a free inspection of a facility by town staff prior to renting or purchasing an existing building. This allows the business owners to get an idea of what building issues they may face in the new location. Another part of this program is occasional visits to existing businesses to see how they are doing and

if they are having any issues with which the town can help. The Economic Development Division works with other cities and towns on prospective business needs, both receiving and passing prospects that won’t work in Payson. This division makes cold calls to companies that fit into target areas of interest to Payson, as well as receiving calls from companies who have an interest in coming to Payson. To date, the Economic Development Division has been instrumental in bringing at least 400 new jobs to the community as well as an estimated 30 new businesses and/or existing business relocations. The division is currently working on researching grant opportunities and training programs for existing and new businesses.

Rim Country economy shows signs of life FROM PAGE 1B

ly from car sales. Moreover, business license fees remained virtuBut the project has fought for traction in the ally unchanged — rebutting the common perceplast year. tion that the number of businesses in town has The Gila Community College board stalled on dwindled significantly. selling 21 acres for the 1,000-student first phase of Taken together, the three-year comparison the campus, but eventually agreed to sell the land to shows that the local economy has shambled along the county. little changed in the past three years, after tumbling Meanwhile, campus backers continued to draw from glorious highs in 2007 and 2008. up the final intergovernmental agreement with One exception to the local economic stall lies in ASU — but with little success of solidifying a final bed tax receipts from hotels, but that reflects a sharp deal. increase in the town’s bed tax imposed in 2010. In However, if all goes as the first six months of fiscal 2009, the town collected planned, the Rim Country about $58,000 in bed taxes. In Educational Alliance will finalize the purchase of 21 acres Despite three years 2011, that total rose to about $94,000. from the county and the Board The report also shows of Regents will approve the of turmoil ... Payson’s that despite deep cuts in the agreement. In that case, we could see economy held its recreation department’s budget, the amount of money the start of construction on the own in 2011. collected in fees to use town $30 million first phase of the facilities has increased sharply. campus, a boon to the moriRevenue from fees for the bund construction industry first half of the fiscal year since that once propped up Rim Country’s economy. Organizers hope that will trigger additional pri- 2009 have risen a daunting 67 percent to $97,000. In contrast to the relatively stable local tax colvate investment in the community — including the lections, most of the money collected by the state restart of several subdivisions approved before the and shared with cities has plunged. collapse, but stalled by investors’ fears they could The report included some tantalizing hints that not sell the homes they built. the dead and buried housing market is starting to Combined with heartening signs of state and show some fitful signs of life. national economic improvements, these all provide Development fees stood at $103,000 in the first a solid basis for hope in 2012. six months of fiscal 2009, but fell off the cliff and And despite three years of turmoil and trauma, landed at $65,000 the following year. However, in Payson’s economy held its own in 2011. According 2011 they rebounded to $190,000 — a more than to a financial summary released by the Town of three-fold increase over last year. Those developPayson, town revenues have held surprisingly ment fees mostly represent projects still in the steady for the past three years. pipeline. The town’s report shows that local sales tax revMeanwhile, construction-related permits this enues have barely changed since 2009, standing at year rose 56 percent to $97,000. about $2.6 million for the first six months of the fisWith the housing market showing an uptick cal year in each of the last three years. and construction of a university campus around the The same holds true for revenue from property corner, Rim Country’s once stalled economy is taxes and local vehicle license taxes that stems most- showing tentative signs of new life.

PROGRESS EDITION BUSINESS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

The road of progress in the region BY ALEXIS BECHMAN ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

Halfway between blowing a radiator, popping a tire and losing lunch over the rugged washboards, someone probably thought there was a better way to get from the Valley to Payson. For decades, the road was nothing more than a narrow dirt track that took not only patience to cross, but nerve. The road dipped and weaved through canyons, over creeks and around mountains. One traveler described the journey from Globe to Payson taking five days. It took decades for work to start on the highway’s expansion and decades more for it to be completed. When finished, the roadway brought Originally, the route with it tourists and from the Valley to commerce, turning Payson was nothing Payson from a more than a “good sleepy cow town to a cow trail.” central Arizona destination. However, this traffic now irks many locals. The congestion that comes with a busy holiday weekend is enough for most to hide in their homes until the last Winnebago has rambled away. Nevertheless, without the Beeline Highway, Payson would be a shell of what it is today. The roadway that thousands cruise over each day is a lifeline, bringing with it new ideas and dollars. Work continues on the highway and roadways around the Rim Country. The expansion of Highway 260 east of Payson to Heber is the latest effort to make travel easier and safer.

Expanding the two-lane road to a divided four-lane interstate is following a similar route the Beeline took to its present form — years of planning, scrambling for funding and eventual construction. It has been more than a dozen years since expansion work on the Beeline Highway wrapped up. On the heels of the state’s centennial, the Roundup looks back at the origins of the roadway and its impact on the Rim Country. Originally, the route from the Valley to Payson was nothing more than “a good cow trail.” Prior to 1910, most travel was done with horses and it could take two weeks to get from Globe to Payson. By 1916, automobiles and better roads meant the journey only took a day. By the 1930s, trucks started to replace freight wagons, but the “transition to motorized vehicles took place slower in Payson than other parts of the country, again due to the isolation and rough country,” wrote Jayne Peace Pyle and Jinx Pyle in their book, “Images of America: Payson.” During the 1950s, it still took at least eight hours to get from the Valley to Rim Country using the old Bush Highway. Gradually, the highway was improved with the curves straightened out and paving added. The Beeline Highway got its name in the 1950s when the stretch of road between the Bush Highway and Fountain Hills was completed taking a once winding, rough road to a near straightaway. It was so quick, they called it the Beeline, said Cliff Potts, a local Realtor and longtime resident who helped push the state to begin improvements on the highway in the 1970s. Potts said when he came to Payson in 1973, the roadway from the Valley to Payson was expanded in some locations, but was still mostly See Beeline Highway, page 5B

Andy Towle/Roundup

A COMMON SIGHT last summer was traffic backed up on Highway 87 as progress continued in making improvements to the road north of Payson.

315 E. Hwy. 260 (928) 474-2200

• Comprehensive • Restorative General • Dentistry • Implants • Oral Surgery • Orthodontics • Sedation Dentistry • Trusted, Affordable • Dental Care

Our new in-house physician, Dr. Terry Rousseau, was carefully chosen to join our team because we believe our patients deserve the best. And that means having daily access to a physician who is excited to personally oversee their treatment. Terry Rousseau, D.O. is a graduate of Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, and has extensive experience in the medical field, completing residency and internships in Bay City, Michigan; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona, before opening his own clinic in Payson, Arizona.

928.474.6896 107 E. Lone Pine Dr. Payson, AZ 85541 LCCA.COM Joint Commission accredited

Leticia

Cosmetic Dentistry By Dr. Chris Winterholler

Visit our website at www.azdentalcare.net “This is just the best office in the universe! No matter what the need or the service required, they continue to surpass the expected. I would recommend anyone to these wonderful folks.” — from Randi M. “Went great. Started right on time, work was done professionally without interruption. Discussed ongoing maintenance routine to follow, and done promptly.” — from Thomas H.

FREE Exam & X-Rays with

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Chris Winterholler, DDS, FAGD, Fellow, FICOI (International College of Oral Implantologists) Patrice Winterholler, DDS Member AGD

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We accept most insurance companies including United Concordia, TDA, Metlife, Aetna, Assurant and Delta Dental.

PROGRESS EDITION BUSINESS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

business PROFILES AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS OF PAYSON/PAYSON DRIVELINE Automotive Specialists of Payson / Payson Driveline has been serving Rim Country residents since 1985. It is a full service automotive repair facility, servicing domestic and imports, it also services light diesel trucks. It is Payson’s only AAA Approved Automotive Repair Facility, the only ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Repair Facility and a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business. The business is also proud to be a member of both the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce and Payson P.A.Y.S. (Professionals At Your Service). Sean Meares and his daughter, Sara Moreno, are also members of the Payson Pro Rodeo Committee. This family is committed to serving the community in many other areas as well. In the past few years Automotive Specialists has expanded its services to include RV, ATV/UTV and marine service and U-Haul Rentals. It has also introduced new product lines, including the sale of the synthetic oil known as AMSOIL and other diesel products, DEKA and Interstate Batteries, 4x4 parts and vehicle accessories. It is also the only driveline repair and exchange facility in all of Rim Country. Owners Sean and Maggie Meares have a commitment to “Business By the Book Ethics” and train their employees to give the best customer service in their field. Daughter Sara is the service writer and U-Haul representative and she is usually found at the front counter, if she cannot handle a service issue then she turns it over to upper management. Maggie says, “For the most part, our customer complaints are very minimal and our customers have been with us for years. Most of our advertising is by word of mouth, which is the best form of flattery we could possibly receive! “Our NAPA CSI Reports (Customer Service Index) are usually in the 100 percent satisfactory range every quarter, which beats the national average. These CSI Cards are mailed in by our customers and if they are satisfied or not satisfied, then this is how they rate us and in turn is how NAPA rates us,” Maggie explained. Sara has been hanging out with dad Sean in the automotive field since she was around 11 years old. She can do oil changes, battery replacements and has done a complete hose changeover. “Most of our customers have watched her grow up behind the front counter, giving them the proper knowledge they need to understand their vehicle’s repair and maintenance needs. They are amazed that she is so knowledgeable in this field,” Maggie said. For more information, call (928) 474-9330 or visit 501 W. Frontier St., just five blocks west of the post office. In Tonto Basin, call Tonto Motor Works, (928) 479-2221. The shop services most of the RVs, ATV/UTV and marine items at this location. This is where its 27,000 lb. RV lift is located, along with a big water tank to test boat motors and, of course, Roosevelt Lake is close in case we need to test a boat on the lake. The shop also carries RV and marine parts/accessories at this location and does tire repairs and tire sales. Tonto Motor Works is right on the corner of Highway 188 and Greenback Road. It’s the big blue two-story building on the corner of the highway — you can’t miss it.

BEELINE CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Robert Sanders operates Beeline Chiropractic at Suite No. 6, 414 S. Beeline Highway, Payson. “Just a few words about spinal decompression, one of the services we’ve recently added to our office,” Sanders offered. Spinal decompression is a specialized form of computer controlled traction therapy that is very effective for many types of neck and back-related problems. Like chiropractic adjusting, it is a conservative, nonsurgical treatment method. As such, it works very well with chiropractic care, though some patients make good progress with spinal decompression alone. Chiropractic adjusting works by moving bones in the spine so there is less (or no) pressure on nerves. Similarly, spinal decompression therapy helps relieve nerve pressure by helping increase the health and height of the discs between the vertebrae. About the time our bodies reach full skeletal maturity, in our late teens or early 20s, the blood supply to the discs dries up. After that, nutrition for the disc has to seep through the end plates of the vertebrae above and below it. Spinal decompression therapy enhances that process by creating a vacuum within the disc, which causes more water, protein, vitamins and minerals to flow into the disc, so it is better able to repair and rebuild itself. In many cases, even a small improvement in disc health and height is enough to help relieve nerve pressure, relieving back and neck pain, arm and leg pain, weakness and numbness. Our office uses the Triton DTS (Decompression Traction System), manufactured by Chattanooga Group, the largest manufacturer in traction therapy. Call or stop by and check us out!

DOMINION REAL ESTATE PARTNERS LLC Dominion Real Estate Partners LLC is a full service real estate brokerage serving Payson and surrounding communities. Our slogan is: Where results happen. Dominion Real Estate Partners is a dynamic and rapidly growing real estate brokerage company “where results happen.” With expert insight and evaluation, our experienced and professional associates have the local area knowledge to manage any transaction. Their innovative and visionary marketing programs create far-reaching demand for their clients’ properties. But, most important-

ly, it is their dedication and honesty and the common desire to put their clients first that makes them successful. With a little over a year of operation, Dominion Real Estate Partners’ Payson office has successfully amassed a team of experienced associates that have expertise in foreclosure, short sale transactions in Payson and surrounding cities. The company plans to continue to add experienced real estate professionals to service Payson and surrounding communities. While residents of Payson and the surrounding communities may find the Dominion Real Estate Partners’ Payson office full of the warmth and friendliness of a small town real estate company, the company actually has offices throughout Arizona. Associates have access to all of the company’s state-of-the-art corporate tools and programs, but are encouraged use only the tools that fit uniquely in their market. Each office is different and has its own unique personality. The company is on the forefront of technology and manages all of its business virtually. For more information, please see www.dominionrealestate.com. The Dominion Real Estate Partners’ Payson office is owned and managed through a licensing agreement by local residents Maria Cohen, Tad and Bonnie Neal and Susan Slenk. To learn more about the Payson office of Dominion Real Estate Partners, please see http://www.dominion realestate.com/office.php?office=Payson&page= associates. The real estate market has changed dramatically since the business opened its Payson doors a little more than a year ago. We were in the depth of the real estate crisis with short sales and foreclosures comprising most of the transaction. Although these are still part of the inventory for sale, the market is improving. Inventory is decreasing at a rapid rate and appreciation has begun in many areas. Dominion Real Estate Partners provides its associates with monthly updates on the state of the market. Please feel free to contact us for current information. We are excited about the future. Dominion Real Estate Partners continues to grow and expand and increase their technology base. The real estate community has been through a lot in the last few years. Experienced Realtors are looking for alternative ways to operate their business in a more streamline and costeffective manner. We feel Dominion Real Estate Partners offers that and more.

MOGOLLON HEALTH ALLIANCE Mogollon Health Alliance (MHA) is at 308 E. Aero Drive, Payson, the phone number is (928) 472-2588. The MHA office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The mission of the Mogollon Health Alliance is to promote rural health care and health education opportunities for community members through programs and grants. In the past year, the MHA named a new executive director, Sanja Long, and updated its logo. Throughout the year, the MHA maintains its annual human health scholarship program, a gift shop in Payson Regional Medical Center’s lobby, its Almost New Thrift Shop at 308 E. Aero Drive, and sponsor the PRMC auxiliary: Pink Ladies and Men in Maroon. The MHA has 130 volunteers and five employees. In the future, the MHA we would like to see a continuation and expansion of programs.

NEW LIFE FOUNDATION The New Life Foundation was founded in the 1970s by noted inner-development author and teacher Vernon Howard. New Life Foundation is a nonprofit, nondenominational learning center dedicated to sharing true principles of self-knowledge that lead to lasting happiness and higher success. New Life offers genuine solutions to life’s challenges in this age of increased anxiety and stress. Anyone who has ever been bothered by day-to-day troubles, depression or anger can receive practical help and guidance from the teachings offered at the foundation. For more than 30 years, New Life has been helping people from all over the world and from all walks of life understand and be free of draining and destructive negative thoughts and emotions that block the free flow of life. New Life continues to make all Vernon Howard materials available in many different formats. We now offer his marvelous classroom lectures in the MP3 CD format and have recently reprinted new editions of a few of his books and booklets and some of his other writings. We also make available our free Secrets of Life daily quote service to all interested students of the teachings as well as hold the very special New Life banquets six times per year. The foundation’s national headquarters has been located in Strawberry, Ariz. for 19 years and there are also branches in Southern California and Colorado. Friendly and helpful classes are held in Strawberry three times per week — Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. Books, recorded talks, DVDs and more are offered at New Life’s bookshop, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Prices for all materials are kept at a very reasonable level so that they are affordable for all who want to explore these life-healing, life-changing teachings.

PAYSON CARE CENTER Payson Care Center is a skilled nursing and post acute rehabilitation facility located just west of Payson Regional Medical Center.

Payson Care Center was the first skilled nursing facility to open in Payson more than 25 years ago. Its parent company, Life Care Centers of America, is one of the largest skilled nursing companies in the country, owning over 228 facilities nationwide. Being part of a larger corporation comes with the expectations that it must maintain a higher standard of care. Additionally, like a hospital, Payson Care Center is accredited by the Joint Commission. This requires additional surveying and inspections above and beyond annual surveys by the state. Consistently named the Best Long Term Care Facility in Payson, Payson Care Center is home to more than 60 full-time residents. Social programs that inspire and successful physical therapies that keep residents active are just a couple of the reasons for its repeated nomination as the best long term care facility. With the addition of Dr. Terrence Rousseau as the center’s fulltime onsite physician, residents and their families can now have the peace of mind that a doctor is available when needed. BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY Payson Care Center’s business philosophy is doing “Whatever it Takes, and Then Some.” The staff wear pins with the slogan just above their name badge holding them accountable to this work ethic. The philosophy is not to just go the mile in caring for someone, but to go the extra mile. In fact, each month a staff member is nominated by peers, patients and/or family members as someone who exemplifies the philosophy and they are recognized at the monthly staff meetings. Payson Care Center also received the Best Customer Service Award in the Southwest Division by Life Care Center’s of America. This award was based on responses from a survey submitted by patients and their families. CHANGES MADE IN 2011 The most exciting change in 2011 was implementing Payson Care Center’s onsite physician program. Dr. Terry Rousseau is at Payson Care Center on a full-time basis, seeing both residents and patients that choose to have him follow their care. With a special interest in diabetes care, Dr. Rousseau has held two recent lectures on diabetes education at Payson Care Center with more than 100 people attending. Having an onsite physician assures quality of care, educates staff and ensures better communication between hospital and the facility. In 2011 Payson Care Center also purchased over $50,000 of new physical therapy equipment and relocated its rehab gym, making it centrally located on the shortterm rehabilitation wing. UNUSUAL/INTERESTING FACTS Payson Care Center’s parent company, Life Care Centers of America, was recently featured on the cover of Provider Magazine, a health care magazine published by the American Healthcare Association. Life Care was featured because of its innovation in assuring quality of care through the newly implemented onsite physician program. Since hospitals are now penalized for patients that return to the hospitals, the onsite physician program enables better communication between hospital and skilled nursing facility through the onsite physician. And more importantly, patients and residents who once waited to be seen by a doctor usually after the doctor’s office hours can now be seen by Dr. Rousseau immediately. Hours, even minutes are critical when a patient is in pain or at the onset of an illness. EMPLOYEES AND HOURS OF OPERATION As one of the largest employers in Payson, Payson Care Center employs 129 people and is a 24-7 business. There are no restrictions on visitor hours. FUTURE With so many changes in Medicare and Medicaid and the reductions in financial reimbursements the health care industry expects many skilled nursing facilities to close. Entities that are far in debt or that cannot step up to the plate and employ a more educated staff and onsite physicians may not survive. Medicare eligibility stays are becoming tougher for hospitals, so subsequently more medically complex patients are being discharged to skilled nursing facilities. As part of Life Care Centers of America, Payson Care Center will remain a front-runner in medically complex patient care. Payson Care Center has also recently implemented a Healthcare Services Liaison Program that assists patients undergoing hospital stays in the Valley with resources and options for continuing health care services in Payson. For more information on that program, call (928) 951-2305. The average age of a resident or patient at Payson Care Center is 84. According to Factfinder2, the 2010 census indicated that Payson maintains a population of approximately 2,000 people over the age of 75. One of the challenges of a rural skilled nursing facility is that hospitals in the Valley urge patients to stay in Mesa, Scottsdale or Phoenix for skilled nursing or physical rehabilitation. Payson Care Center offers the same, if not better, nursing and rehabilitation services to the community and patients benefit by being closer to home, family and friends. If the Payson community does not support the excellent health care services provided within our community, services will diminish and older residents will have to move to areas offering a wider variety of health care services.

PAYSON JEWELERS Payson Jewelers is a full-service jewelry store that has been serving Payson for 28 years. Robert Higginbotham is a direct diamond importer of top quality diamonds from Belgium. Payson Jewelers buys gold, silver, coins, jewelry, gold or silver watches, and Native American jewelry. The store also buys, sells, trades and repairs, old and antique jewelry. Payson Jewelers has a full-service repair shop. Jewelry repairs, restorations and custom designs are done on the premises, with a state-of-the-art laser welder by experienced jewelers.

When you have a special occasion, large or small, let Payson Jewelers help you find that perfect gift. The store is at 240 E. Highway 260. The business is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. For more information, call (928) 474-9126.

PINE COUNTRY ANIMAL CLINIC Pine Country Animal Clinic is located at 401 W. Main St. (across from the Payson Fire Department). It provides comprehensive, high quality veterinary care to cats and dogs including physical exams, vaccinations, laboratory testing, digital radiographs, behavior consultations, routine surgery and dental services. It is also proud to offer 30-year vaccination protocols and after-hours emergency services. “Our mission is to focus on exceptional client service and patient care. Our ultimate goal is the welfare of our patients and we know that the client is the initial voice of the patient,” said Nicole Savage, DVM. Disappointed with the fast, assembly line process practiced in many veterinary establishments, Dr. Savage and her staff schedule all appointments for a minimum of 30 minutes to permit extensive communication and understanding with her clients. While maintaining strong relationships with clients, during 2011 Dr. Savage focused on staff professional development and the acquisition of improved laboratory and surgical equipment. Staff members have attended training seminars with specialists in Phoenix. This commitment to continuing education ensures that clients are always provided the most reliable and up-to-date care and advice. Future plans include a monthly e-mail newsletter providing helpful hints to pet owners. “I also hope to expand our dental X-ray capabilities and increase our clinic hours so that we may serve our clients’ needs,” Dr. Savage said. Pine Country Animal Clinic also offers puppy-training classes throughout the year. These teach basic manners and socialization in a safe, indoor, contained area. Dogs that complete the course are well-adjusted family members and enjoy coming to their favorite vet clinic. Pine Country Animal Clinic has four employees and the hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays the clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for Saturdays, please call for available dates. “Changes seen since we’ve been in business are: more pet owners are interested in pet insurance. Health care and treatment options have expanded for pets. Pet insurance provides a safety net for unexpected veterinary expenses and makes health care affordable and accessible. For the future, we hope to see our client base continue to grow, with pet owners who appreciate friendliness, respect, compassion and superior veterinary care. “I am optimistic that the area’s economy will continue to slowly and incrementally improve. The opening of a four-year college in Payson would be beneficial to all,” Dr. Savage said.

VINROSE CORPORATION Vinrose Corporation, general commercial contractors, offers new construction, renovations, tenant improvements, building modifications and maintenance services. Its business philosophy is to provide personal service to customers and friends and work directly with the owner, not a salesman or job superintendent. It specializes in the smaller commercial projects that still require all of the red tape. Projects range between $500 and $500,000. The company also provides maintenance services scheduled to meet the client’s budget or when repairs are needed. CHANGES No major changes were made in services — one call provides a client with a variety of services available. Clients deal with the owner. The company specializes in smaller projects, multiple styles of contracts and services are available. Monthly, quarterly, and other options for building maintenance services are a part of what can be provided. Partial projects are welcomed, which allows a client to complete some of the items if they wish. The company has three full-time employees and a whole list of subcontractors and crews available as the project requires. The business is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, but nights and weekends are available to suit a client’s business as needed to minimize disruption. The economic downturn these past few years has reduced new building and remodeling of existing units, and made maintenance a matter of when its required not preventative. “I believe that when the economy returns, owners will want a company like ours that is willing to work with them on repairs and renovations that are tailored to what funds are available to them. We offer full service construction project management for smaller projects that still require all of the big job red tape. “Our lower overhead saves the owner money. “Our personal service gets you the project you wanted the first time,” said Vince Palandri, president and owner. He said, Payson and the Rim Country in general have always had an appeal to business owners looking to relocate. With the possible addition of the new college, job needs and local spending should increase. Initially I don’t feel local businesses will feel the change, but over time the trickle down effect will be beneficial. To learn more, contact Palandri at Vinrose Corporation, General Contractors, P.O. Box 5, Payson, AZ 85547; (928) 474-5537 office or (928) 978-0846 cellular or online at vinrosecorp@yahoo.com.

PROGRESS EDITION BUSINESS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Lights in the darkness BY ELAINE DRORBAUGH

LONGTIME RIM COUNTRY RESIDENT

All my life, most of my New Year’s Days had been spent with family and friends. But January 1, 1948, was a different experience — one that changed my life. My husband Walt had been transferred to the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery and we were packed and ready to be on our way in the afternoon. We were to travel the Bush Highway from Mesa to the mountains. I was excited because I had never been farther than Butcher’s Point at Saguaro Lake. I guess I hadn’t been listening too close, because I assumed that in two or three hours we would be in our new home. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Before an hour of travel had passed, the overcast sky became black clouds pouring rain. The road was narrow and I was beginning to crooked (this was before the new Beeline Highway) and every wash was flooded, think there was no end causing me to hold my breath each time Walt ploughed through the water. to the road. Then we I know we forded at least five creeks and washes. topped Oxbow Hill and It was already dark when we pulled into Sunflower and joined four other cars looked down at Payson parked in front of the store. The with its one light. bar/restaurant, with its few groceries, was a favorite (and only) stop — friendly people, good food, hot coffee, cold beer and wonderful homemade pies. It was dim inside, with a few light bulbs and beer signs powered by a generator. Not until I was enjoying a juicy hamburger did I learn we weren’t even half way to the hatchery. I shivered. It was turning colder and the rain was turning to snow. I hated to leave the cozy store. On the road again, I immediately noticed the road getting steeper. We traveled very slowly because cattle were bedded down on the highway. At the bottom of Slate Creek, on the north side of the road, was what looked like deserted old cabins. But then I spotted the warm beam of a kerosene lamp in one of the windows. How bright it was in that dark canyon! The farther north we drove, the darker it became. Finally, another light appeared far ahead on the narrow, crooked road. At Jake’s Corner was a small building with a light bulb outside. On we traveled, past the 76 Ranch, across Rye Creek on the metal one-lane bridge, and around more curves and more slick roads. Suddenly in a U curve was a small building with a painted board nailed to it that read: “Payson, 5 miles.” We went on. I was beginning to think there was no end to the road. Then we topped Oxbow Hill and looked down at Payson with its one light. ‘The light hung over the big generator housed in Grady Harrison’s building on McLane Road and Main Street. I could only see one other building at first as we drove into town. That was the Oxbow Inn and it was boarded up. West of the Oxbow was the Elks Bar and Restaurant (it later became the Winchester, which burned down — the site is south of the Deming Park at the corner of McLane and

West Main). On the north side of the road was a café, a bar and a malt shop that housed the post office. We saw Verde Valley Mercantile and a service station. We left Payson and traveled on a road that seemed to be all S curves. We met one car about Starr Valley and a truck before we came to Kohl’s Ranch. At Kohl’s Ranch there was a bar and dance hall, a small grocery store and a post office. As we drove by, I could see one light in the dance hall. We turned off the highway onto a road that went north, climbing all the way. Snow covered the ground and the tire ruts were iced over. We bounced from one tree root to another and then we came to “Red Hill,”

Artist’s rendering

IT WAS ALREADY DARK when Elaine and Walt Drorbaugh pulled into Sunflower on their move to Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery in 1948.

Photo courtesy of the Northern Gila County Historical Society

THE PAYSON HOTEL eventually became the site of the Oxbow Inn. The Oxbow was one of the few other buildings Elaine Drorbaugh could see when she first arrived in Payson. a steep, curved incline made up of red clay. We didn’t make it to the top on the first try, so Walt backed down and took a run at it with me sitting on the edge of the seat pushing on the dashboard. We made it on the third try and passed the turnoff to Winter’s Ranch and Zane Grey’s cabin. I was thinking about not having any snow boots when Walt yelled, “There it is!” All I could see was a little light and something to the right of the road that looked like circle ponds of water. We rolled to a stop by what appeared to be a lighted henhouse and Walt said, “Well, we made it.” We sure did. Every bone in my body ached. Five and a

half hours after we pulled out of my parents’ driveway, I waded through the snow to my new home. This account was first published in the March 10, 1995 Payson Roundup and comes from the Northern Gila County Genealogical Society Newspaper Archives. Star Valley Councilor Paty Henderson noted, “I’ve ridden the old, unpaved Beeline and it is exactly as described. Walt Drorbaugh’s grandparents owned the Sunflower Hatchery in Lehi in the 1890s, just north of Mesa on Gilbert Road, where they raised chicks and kept bees. Elaine went on to become vice-mayor of Payson and currently is a resident at the Payson Care Center.

Photo courtesy of the Northern Gila County Historical Society

THE WINCHESTER SALOON — formerly the Elks Bar and Restaurant — was located west of the Oxbow before it burned down in the 1990s.

Photo courtesy of Dan Drorbaugh

WALT AND ELAINE DRORBAUGH made the then-perilous trip from Mesa to the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery on Jan. 1, 1948 — long before there was paving on Highway 87 or 260. The trip took five-and-a-half hours.

Beeline Highway now one of America’s best multi-lane rural roads FROM PAGE 3B two lanes. By the 1980s, a group of concerned citizens, including Potts, urged the state to build a four-lane highway from the Valley through Star Valley. On busy weekends, he said, “there were bottlenecks all the way up and down the highway.”

“We needed to improve the safety and we knew it would be good for commerce as well,” he said. “If you can get back and forth to the Valley in an hour you have a lot more options.” It took several decades, but by 2001 the Beeline Highway, as we know it today, was finally complete. Near the end of its completion, the American

Automobile Association named it one of the nation’s best multi-lane rural roads, according to historian Stan Brown in “A History of the Beeline Highway.” Brown wrote that travelers quickly realized the highway was an engineering feat rivaling roadways found in the Swiss Alps. “It traverses some of Arizona’s wildest and most

beautiful mountain terrain, and even those who drive it daily never tire of the ever-changing scenery.” Today, the official name of the roadway is the Duthie-Martin Highway. The Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names renamed it to honor two highway patrol officers, Gilbert Duthie and Robert Martin, who lost their lives on the roadway.

PAGE 6B

volunteers PAYSON ROUNDUP PROGRESS EDITION 2012

Payson Woman’s Club a keystone of community since 1921 BY JAYNE PEACE PYLE SPECIAL TO THE ROUNDUP

Photo from the Stan Brown collection.

THE PAYSON WOMAN’S CLUB members have served the community of Payson and the surrounding Rim Country through their civic efforts since 1921.

food bank. Right before Thanksgiving, the club donates frozen turkeys so more families can enjoy the holidays. The Education Program gives a scholarship to a Payson High School graduating senior and this year the club has plans to start donating to the Rim Country Literacy Program. The more money the club raises, the more the club can give to the literacy program. CLUB OFFICERS The first president of the Payson Woman’s Club in 1921 was Lena Chilson, followed by Lillie Chilson in 1923, Beulla Corbet in 1924, Cece Gibson in 1926, Julia Randall in 1927, Avis Chilson in 1929, Leona Fuel in 1931, and Theresa Boardman in 1932. Mayte Barkdoll, Valda Taylor, Anna Mae Deming and Ethel Owens were also presidents. The Payson Woman’s Club was the social center of Payson and led the way in programs to help others. Any business, organization, or person interested in helping the Payson Woman’s Club help others, please call Sharron Shill at (928) 476-3334, or e-mail her at sjsranch@msn.com. Board members Lois Brice, Carole Fries, Jayne Pyle, Dottie Williams and Jeanne Peace may also be contacted. All help is greatly appreciated and sufficient documentation for tax purposes will be provided. These donations will be used for the sole purpose and benefit of the above programs.

The Payson Woman’s Club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Payson Woman’s Club building, 510 W. Main St. The Payson Woman’s Club also owns and operates the Payson Pioneer Cemetery — and has since 1921. The current cemetery director is Jayne Pyle. The yearly, suggested donation for people who have families buried in Payson Pioneer Cemetery is $20. Some donate more. All donations are appreciated. Please mail cemetery donations to Payson Pioneer Cemetery, P.O. Box 33, Payson, AZ 85547. A LOOK BACK AT ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY When the Payson Woman’s Club celebrated its 40th anniversary 50 years ago, the following appeared in the Payson Roundup Aug. 3, 1961: “The Woman’s Club of Payson … was organized in August 1921, by Mrs. R.C. James, Mrs. G.T. Stevens, Dr. Mary Neff and Mrs. C.R. Risser. “The first meeting was held on August 10th of that year in the old school house and plans were discussed for starting a building fund and a library. “The following years saw a regular program of food sales, dances, bazaars, card parties and dinners that provided enjoyment for the community and cash for the club coffers. L

The Payson Woman’s Club, a nonprofit organization that has served the Payson area since 1921, celebrating its 90th Anniversary in 2011. This venerable civic organization is the community’s oldest. The club had 32 charter members — at the time there were only 150 people living in Payson — so that was a notable achievement. Members of Payson’s oldest service organization, with headquarters at 510 West Main, continue to cook, sew and make crafts to sell so they can donate to several local charities. For this special year — its 90th Anniversary — members have decided to expand their fund-raising programs and give even more to the community. In order to be successful, they need the help of the community. What do they need? Just stop by and have a meal with them during their special events, or maybe participate in a silent auction or purchase something from their craft booths. The more money they raise, the more they can give back to the community. The ladies at Payson Woman’s Club give to the community through the following programs: • Children’s Comfort Program, chair Vice President Lois Brice • Women’s Angel Program, chair Secretary Carole Fries • Senior Lap Robe Program, chair Director Dottie Williams • Food Bank Program, chair President Sharron Shill • History Outreach Program, chair Director Jeanne Peace • Education Program, chair Treasurer Jayne Pyle With the Children’s Comfort Program, members donate soft quilts and stuffed toys to the Payson Police Department to give to children who have gone through trauma and are in need of comfort. The Women’s Angel Program was created to help women who have to leave their homes and stay at the Time Out Shelter. All of the women donate needed items and then get together and prepare beautiful baskets for women entering the shelter. Most of them go there with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. A typical basket contains shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothThe club meets the second brush, lotion and something pretty Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. — things that will at the Payson Woman’s Club hopefully make a woman feel betbuilding, 510 W. Main St. ter. Since many of the women have small children with them, the club has started making baskets for babies and small children as well. The Senior Lap Robe Program was designed to help area seniors who are homebound, have no family or live in nursing homes. The women make the lap robes and donate them just before Christmas each year. The Food Bank Program is to aid the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Payson. Non-perishable food items and baby diapers are gathered and taken to the local

See Woman’s Club, page 7B

PROGRESS EDITION VOLUNTEERS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Literacy program one of area’s newest volunteer endeavors The Rim Country Literacy Program began in 1994 because Lois Johnson had a passion for literacy. While it is approaching its 20th anniversary, it is still one of the youngest volunteer in the area. All the services organizations Today RCLP builds Johnson’s legacy by provided by the on serving adults through Rim Country adult basic education. For 17 years the volLiteracy Program unteers of RCLP have reached out to adults to are free. help them improve their lives by achieving their personal goals. RCLP serves adults over the age of 16 through GED preparation and English language

instruction. Adults can also receive help with reading, mathematics, employment applications, resumé writing, or work-related skills. All the services provided by RCLP are free. Students are tutored individually or in small groups. RCLP relocated to a larger facility in 2011 to better serve the adult learner. It is located behind the Knotty Pine Café on the Beeline Highway. RCLP will begin two new programs in the spring of 2012. The first is a family literacy program targeting the children of the English language learners. The second program is computer literacy, targeting non-English speaking women who want to learn to use the computer and develop workplace skills.

In the fall, RCLP also hopes to begin a financial literacy class to assist families in money management. In 2011 RCLP served 123 adults. The average income of 73 percent of the adults was $7,500 or less. RCLP assisted 17 students in passing the GED. More adults are seeking adult education to improve their employment opportunities and to serve as role models for their children. The Payson area has adults from many parts of the world and RCLP helps them learn English. In 2011 RCLP served 60 adults representing eight countries. RCLP is a 501 c (3) nonprofit. It is funded through donations and grants and receives less than 12 percent of its budget from government sources. It has a single paid part-time employee and

40 volunteers. Gila County continues to have many adults who are high school dropouts, thus there is a continued need for the services RCLP provides. Employment opportunities and income advancement are significantly increased when a student has a GED or high school diploma. A new version of the GED test will be implemented in 2014 and will be more difficult, cost more, and must be taken using the computer. Adults are encouraged to take the current version of the test. RCLP is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, although tutoring occurs during the evening, as well The office is at 1001 S. Beeline Highway, Suite F, Payson. For more information, call (928) 468-7257.

Payson Woman’s Club FROM PAGE 6B “When the local bank went broke in 1932, it held over $500 of the club’s funds, some of which was later repaid. This setback did not discourage the members. They worked a little harder and were soon able to make a down payment on a lot on Main Street, the site of the present club building. “The lot was originally occupied by three buildings, the largest of which became the club room, a smaller building, and a detached powder room, which was the prime target of Halloween pranksters and cost the good ladies around $4 each year to upright. “The larger building had been operated as a bakery by a Frenchman, who apparently believed in diversified industry, for he used the smaller building as an illicit liquor factory and dispensed bread and bootleg with equal alacrity. “No one seems to know what happened to the Frenchman when the ladies took over. He just disappeared, leaving a sizeable quantity of hootch for the ladies and the law to

remove.” Making a home in a bootlegger’s building, presented an interesting encounter for several of early members of the Woman’s Club. The following is from the Northern Gila County Historical Society’s book “Rim Country History”: “Prohibition was in full force, and the Paysonites were on the lookout for ‘sneaky’ Prohis who rushed in to get the ‘lawbreakers.’ The Woman’s Club had recently bought a little frame building that had been used by the former bootleg-owner to store his wares in fruit jars. Communication had failed to reach the Prohi office in Phoenix. The Prohis ‘broke into’ the frame building just as the women were washing the dishes after their lunch meeting. The officers were embarrassed, but it is said that Theresa Boardman was furious that the law should raid the prestigious body of the Woman’s Club whose members were the pillars of the community.” Stan Brown photo

Originally published April 1, 2011 in the Payson Roundup.

PAYSON PIONEER CEMETERY belongs to the Payson Woman’s Club and is the final resting place of some of the earliest residents of the community.

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PROGRESS EDITION VOLUNTEERS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

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SECTION C

government PAYSON ROUNDUP PROGRESS EDITION 2012

County supervisor tells of four main areas of progress

inside

Rim Country and Forest Service continue soap opera relationship PAGE 2

History of the Tonto Apache Tribe PAGE 2

Andy Towle/Roundup

IN 2011, Gila County Board of Supervisor meetings, workshops, and various committee and commission meetings have been held, via Internet TV, simultaneously in Payson and Globe, allowing residents in both ends of the county easy and equal access to the business of the county.

BY TOMMIE MARTIN

county easy and equal access to the business of the county. When I think about the progress we’ve The second area of real progress was in the made this year in Gila County, I look to four transfer of 38 acres of land and the campus to the Gila Community College in its bid to main areas. become autonomous and the approval of the For me, the first area of real progress is in transfer of 15 acres of land to the Rim Country the redistricting of the county supervisor and SLE to further its efforts in developing a higher community college education campus. district boundaries. Third on my radar for progress this year is With the help of a diverse, dediWith the help of a in the realm of transportation infrastructure. diverse, dedicated, We have taken the first steps toward paving the cated, countywide redistricting countywide redisControl Road, with the first leg being the area tricting committee committee and active involvement along Tonto Village. I am told that for the first and active involvetime ever, those folks in Tonto Village were by the Tonto Apache Tribe, Gila ment by the Tonto able this year to leave windows open to catch cool breezes rather than a house full of dust Apache Tribe, Gila County has new district boundaries County has new dis- from the traffic of out-of-town visitors passing that are more representative of our trict boundaries that by. One lady claims the entire psyche of that are more representa- +/-500-person community has changed with population dynamics. the absence of the once ever-present dust. tive of our population That’s progress. dynamics. Other progress on the Control Road is the Along this same theme, as well as becoming seven bridge replacements about to be commore representative, we are also focused on pleted — important steps in the ultimate being more responsive. To that end, this last paving of that road. On deck are low water year we can truly say that the board of supervi- crossings yet to be constructed on the Control sor meetings, workshops, and various commit- Road and on the drawing board: new Second tee and commission meetings have been held, and Third East Verde Crossings on the via Internet TV, simultaneously in Payson and Houston Mesa Road. See County, page 4C Globe. This allows folks in both ends of the DISTRICT ONE SUPERVISOR

Blue Ridge pipeline will transform region PAGE 3

Mountain bike race showcases Pine and Strawberry PAGE 5

PROGRESS EDITION GOVERNMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Rim Country and Forest Service continue a soap opera relationship BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR

Rim Country’s relationship with the U.S. Forest Service would make a great soap opera — a complex, life-and-death, love-hate cliffhanger. The relationship generated lots of addictive drama in 2011, sweeping back and forth between frustration and triumph like Scarlett O’Hara in a hoop skirt. On the triumphant side, the Forest Service made more progress on reducing the single greatest threat to the survival of Rim Country communities by continuing to expand and maintain cleared buffer zones around most communities. Moreover, the Forest Service moved decisively toward a landmark effort to reinvent the timber industry to clear millions of acres of overgrown forests vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires — like the 530-square-mile Wallow Fire that last summer nearly consumed Alpine and Springerville. The Tonto National Forest also last year released its vital, long-delayed plan to reduce the environmental damage caused by an explosion of off-road use by restricting the vehicles to the existing network of 5,300 miles of dirt roads and trails. On the other hand, frustrations also abounded in Rim Country’s relationship with the landlord — since the Forest Service manages most of the land in Gila County. For instance, the glacial pace of Forest Service decision-making helped stall the two most important projects in the region — the construction of the Blue Ridge pipeline and the effort to build a university campus in Payson. The Forest Service stalled for eight months in approving the environmental assessment for the pipeline out of concern about two endangered species with critical habitat more than a mile away. The Forest Service also dragged its feet on selling the Rim Country Educational Alliance a 300acre parcel earmarked for disposal by Congress a decade ago. In the latest twist, the Forest Service wants the Alliance to come up with more than $500,000 to do an environmental assessment of the land to clear it for sale — which the Forest Service wants upfront without any guarantee the sale will actually go through. And along the way, Rim Country communities had to cope with unilateral Forest Service decisions with serious economic impacts. That includes economic blows like a decision not to renew the longterm lease of a mobile home park on the shores of Roosevelt Lake to the abrupt decision to close the main access to Fossil Creek from Rim Country, out of concerns with the impact of boulders on the narrow, switchbacked road to the hoards of visitors on the creek. Here’s a summary of some of the most important developments in 2011: TRAVEL MANAGEMENT Some two years behind schedule, the Tonto National Forest released its plan to contain the damage to watersheds, streams, archaeological sites and wildlife by an explosion of ATV off-road vehicle use. The plan adds 1,200 miles of now closed roads and trails to the system in one of the nation’s most heavily used national forests — to the delight of many offroaders and the dismay of some environmental groups. The plan creates four off-road areas of 1,417

Andy Towle/Roundup

THE PAYSON RANGER DISTRICT has made huge strides in creating thinned buffer zones to protect most Rim Country communities from wildfires. acres that would still allow cross country travel — including a large area between Payson and Phoenix. In addition, the plan still allows hunters to go offroad to retrieve animals they’ve killed within 200 yards of an open road. The road network would leave the 3-millionacre forest with a road density of one mile of road for every square mile of land — which means hardly any land outside of a couple of wilderness areas would lie more than a mile from a road. Studies show that ATV off-road vehicles significantly increase erosion, damage streams, disturb wildlife and increase fire danger. The Tonto National Forest gets about 6 million visitors annually and by some measures, draws more off-road vehicle users than any other national forest. The proposal would leave 982 miles of open roads in the Payson Ranger District and another 987 miles in the Tonto Basin Ranger District. Environmental groups decried the opening of some 1,200 miles of roads and trails now closed, pointing out the Forest Service only has enough money to maintain about 10 percent of the proposed network. The Forest Service’s own study concluded maintaining the existing network of 4,200 roads would cost $6.9 million annually, but the Tonto National Forest has a road maintenance budget of just $1.6 million annually. Down in Tonto Basin, the plan calls for the continued closure of 61 miles of road. The 987 miles of open roadway would include 226 for passenger vehicles, 493 for high-clearance vehicles, one mile for ORVs and 205 miles for administrative uses. CREATING FIRE BUFFER ZONES The Payson Ranger District has made huge strides in creating thinned buffer zones to protect most Rim Country communities from wildfires. All told, the Tonto National Forest since 2000 has spent $13 million to hand-thin 30,000 acres and set controlled burns covering 53,000 acres to create buffer zones on the outskirts of Payson, Pine, Strawberry, Star Valley, Whispering Pines, East Verde Park and other communities. Fire districts and private donors have provided an extra $721,000, including $200,000 from Gila County, $50,000 from Payson and $18,000 from the Tonto Apache Tribe, $40,000 from The Rim Club

and $100,000 from the East Verde Park Homeowners Association and fire district and $88,000 from the communities of Christopher Creek and Tonto Village. A planned project to thin another 30,000 acres on the outskirts of Tonto Village and Christopher Creek will complete the buffer zone in Rim Country. The district hopes to sell the brush and timber in that area to a private timber company as part of the ambitious 4-Forests Restoration Initiative (4-FRI). In addition, the Payson Ranger District has recently completed the environmental analysis for the 38,000-acre Myrtle Planning Area — the area along the Control Road up to the Rim between Christopher Creek and Whispering Pines. The 500,000-acre Wallow Fire in the White Mountains this past summer underscored the dire danger forested communities face from wildfires in once fire-resistant forests turned into tree thickets as a result of a century of grazing and fire suppression. The largest wildfire in Arizona history accounted for about half of the million acres consumed by 2,000 wildfires as the drought made its return. Mismanagement of the forest has allowed tree densities to increase from 30 to 50 per acre to 600 to 1,500 per acre across millions of acres of ponderosa pine forests in central Arizona, including almost all of Rim Country. The shift has turned the naturally fire-resistant ponderosa pine ecosystem into a firetrap. Fortunately, cleared buffer zones can make a crown fire rushing through thickets of trees drop to the ground where firefighters can stop it. This saved both Alpine and Springerville last summer from the advance of the Wallow Fire. The Payson Ranger District has proved adept at snagging year-end Forest Service money to carry out thinning projects in the past few years. The Payson Ranger District completed environmental analysis on tens of thousands of acres ahead of time, which put the local district in position to apply for year-end Forest Service money earmarked for fire prevention and forest restoration. FOREST RESTORATION The Forest Service in 2011 also made huge strides toward a long-term plan to sharply reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires that pose the single

greatest threat to Rim Country. The historic 4-FRI hopes to enlist loggers to thin millions of acres at no cost to the taxpayers by selling the wood to new mills that produce products from brush and saplings. The first project likely to benefit in Rim Country would protect Christopher Creek by thinning 2,000 acres along the Control Road. Loggers will thin two huge tracts of overgrown forest along the Control Road between Tonto Village and Whispering Pines as part of 4-FRI, which ultimately hopes to thin 2.5 million acres in four national forests. “This is the largest environmental impact statement ever done and the largest statewide contract in history,” said Dick Fleishman, assistant team leader in the sweeping attempt to restore the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest. The Forest Service hopes to settle on a contractor to thin the first 300,000 acres and complete a groundbreaking environmental impact study before the end of the year. Most of the first phase of the effort will focus on the thickly overgrown forests around Flagstaff. The Forest Service hopes the huge acreage and 10-year contract term will convince timber companies to invest heavily in new sawmills, wood-burning power plants and wood product factories to make things like pressed wood and particle board products. Such mills and power plants could turn a profit on the hundreds of millions of small trees that now pose an ecological drain on the forest and a fire danger to communities like Payson. Early phases of the 4-FRI project will also include the 224,000-acre watershed that drains into the Blue Ridge Reservoir. Water in that deep narrow reservoir will double Payson’s long-term water supply as soon as the town completes a $34 million pipeline. Rim Country officials worry that a fierce fire on that watershed could leave denuded slopes that would send slurries of mud sluicing into the reservoir, sharply reducing its capacity. The 4-FRI team hopes it can structure the contracts so the timber companies can use the profits they make in areas with lots of mid-sized trees to help subsidize areas with a greater mix of brush and small trees, like Rim Country. One of the most contentious aspects of the forest restoration approach focuses on the size of the trees cut. The coalition that developed the 4-FRI approach agreed that the thinning should focus on trees less than 16 inches in diameter, a key point in winning over environmental groups that had lobbied for years to restore old-growth forests dominated by big trees. Such big trees can withstand frequent, lowintensity ground fires natural to ponderosa pine forests, but not when thickets of small trees carry the fire up into their lower branches. The legal deadlock that stalled many timber sales often focused on the struggle to save those big trees. However, the team designing the timber cuts hopes to create a diverse, open forest with open areas and clusters of trees. In many areas, that may require removing trees larger than 16 inches. Each site will differ depending on soils, rainfall and other factors. The open space built into the timber sale will likely range from 10 percent to 50 percent.

History of the Tonto Apache Tribe The Tonto Apaches have lived in what is now Arizona since the 1600s. They migrated with the change of seasons across a large territory, covering the area south from Flagstaff and Winslow to the Mogollon Rim and into Tonto Basin. The Tonto Apaches spent winters in camps in the Tonto Basin and summers in the Rim Country, where they gardened, gathered wild plants and hunted. The discovery of gold in the Black Mountains in 1863 brought large numbers of white men to the area. The Apaches fought to protect their land until greatly outnumbered and exhausted they surrendered in the 1870s at Camp Verde. The Tonto Apaches were placed on a reservation in Camp Verde, where they lived with the Yavapai Indians until the reservation was dis-

solved in 1885. The Yavapai and Tonto Apaches were marched to the San Carlos Reservation in the south. Many perished on the march from disease, starvation and cold. After Geronimo was captured in 1886 and the guards left the San Carlos Reservation, a small band of Tonto Apaches made the long walk back to the Rim Country after 20 years in exile. It was difficult for them to return to the old way of life as settlers occupied many of their garden areas and hunting sites. They lived for a time on “Indian Hill” north of Payson, then in Rye, and finally in an area directly west from the existing reservation, south of the town of Payson. The Tonto Apaches were under pressure from the government to return to the San Carlos Reservation.

The Tonto Apaches built shacks from mill scraps and lived without running water and electricity. Some found work in the surrounding area. Under the leadership of Chief Melton Campbell and with the support of others including Pastor Jesse Martin, Nan Pyle (benefactor), attorney Joe Sparks and Doris Sturges, a reporter for The Arizona Republic, the Tonto Apaches worked tirelessly for recognition and ultimately were officially federally recognized as a tribe on October 6, 1972. On May 31, 1974, an 85-acre reservation was signed by President Richard Nixon for the use and benefit of the Tonto Apache Tribe. Since that time, with the creation of the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino and the development of several other businesses, the Tonto Apache Tribe has become a major player in the economy of Payson and an employer of many area residents.

Andy Towle/Roundup

TONTO APACHES have a rich history in Rim Country. This Delshay Basin Pottery is on display at the tribe’s Mazatzal Hotel & Casino.

PROGRESS EDITION GOVERNMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Blue Ridge pipeline will transform region BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR

The pipeline’s coming! The pipeline’s coming! The pipeline’s coming! And not a moment too soon. Payson capped decades of effort in 2011 by winning approval from the U.S. Forest Service to build a $34 million pipeline along Houston Mesa Road to deliver, by 2014, some 3,000 acre-feet of water each year. The pipeline will likely transform Rim Country’s future, instantly converting the region from water-challenged to water-empowered. “It’s a milestone,” declared Payson Mayor Kenny Evans of the ... the pipeline will make approval of the Payson one of the few pipeline, which for rural towns in the entire almost a year was state with plenty of stuck in a Forest water to underwrite all Service vortex. its future water plans. The town hopes to award construction contracts this spring and start construction by June. Completing the pipeline will make Payson one of the few rural towns in the entire state with plenty of water to underwrite all its future water plans. The return of the drought statewide after two nearly normal winters underscores the huge advantage Rim Country will reap from the assured water supply. Once Payson starts diverting its share of the Blue Ridge water into its pipeline, the extra flow will drop to 8,000 to 9,000 acre-feet. That’s still enough to ensure that the East Verde River remains one of the most reliable stretches of stream in the state. Water providers in other communities along the pipeline are likely to negotiate directly with SRP and Payson for a share of the Blue Ridge water, including Whispering Pines, Mesa del Caballo and Star Valley.

Even if Star Valley doesn’t put up the money to claim a share of the 500 acre-feet annually reserved for Rim Country communities besides Payson, the promise of the pipeline has transformed the once-contentious relations between the neighboring towns. The furious reaction of Star Valley residents to Payson’s deal with a developer to acquire the Tower Well essentially provoked the incorporation of Star Valley. But 2011 marked the official end of the long-running water wars, as the pipeline eased fears Payson would ever pump Star Valley dry — even if it could. Instead, Payson sold Star Valley several unused wells and agreed to provide a backup water supply once Star Valley agreed to buy out the Brooke Utilities water company. Star Valley still hasn’t decided whether to buy into the pipeline, but the gush of Blue Ridge water has eased the fears of a regional shortage that had been the driving force in that town’s politics for the past four years. Currently, Payson uses about 1,800 acre-feet of water annually — close to the sustainable yield of the water table if you don’t count the potential output of the Tower Well, which draws its supply from the deep water table beneath Star Valley. Most of Star Valley’s private wells draw on a presumably separate water table at a much shallower depth. Payson hopes initially to use much of the Blue Ridge water to replenish its depleted water table, which dropped 100 to 200 feet during the decades leading up to the imposition of strict water conservation efforts and the collapse of the construction industry after 2008. The additional 3,000 acre-feet from Blue Ridge should bring water tables back up to historic levels and provide an underground reserve should drought restrict deliveries from Blue Ridge in the future. Ultimately, town officials say that Blue Ridge should provide a sustainable water supply even after the town hits its projected build-out population of about 38,000. The town has applied for an ultra-low-cost federal infrastructure loan to pay for the pipeline. Originally, the town council hoped to pay almost all the pipeline costs from Payson’s $7,500-perunit water impact fee, but the building collapse

File photo

A PIPELINE from the Salt River Project’s Blue Ridge Reservoir will make Payson one of the few towns in Arizona with plenty of water. crushed that plan. The council approved a substantial, phasedin increase in base water rates to provide the guaranteed revenue stream necessary to qualify for the federal bond financing. The town hopes to limit the extent of the water rate increases if building resumes and replenishes the water department’s pipeline building fund. The approval of the pipeline didn’t come without some last-minute drama. A Tonto National Forest biologist held up approvals for about nine months while pondering the outcome of an environmental assessment of the pipeline route completed by a private consulting firm paid for by the town. The issue centered on whether burying the 36-inch pipe alongside Houston Mesa Road — including at least three river crossings — might affect the survival of two endangered species — the Mexican Owl and the Chiricahua Leopard Frog. Neither critter actually lives in the East Verde River. However, both have habitat critical to their recovery within about a mile of the stream. The Forest Service biologist asked repeated rounds of questions focused on whether the con-

struction activities might disturb mating patterns of nearby owls or the ability of the leopard frogs to make overland journeys seeking new springs and ponds where they might breed. The Tonto National Forest finally concluded the pipeline would have no significant impact, an opinion with which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rapidly concurred. Another flurry of problems centered on where Payson planned to build the $7 million water treatment plan off Houston Mesa Road near Mesa del Caballo. The treatment plant would include a water-powered electrical generator to take advantage of the energy created by the downhill run from Washington Park. The treatment plant will also filter out bacteria and algae by forcing the Blue Ridge water through bundles of tubes. It will also include a storage tank where water managers can buffer the ultra-pure Blue Ridge water with minerals, so it won’t cause problems when it hits the town’s existing pipes. Without the buffering, the mineral free Blue Ridge water would likely dissolve decades of deposits on the insides of the existing pipes, causing gunk to come sputtering out of faucets all over town.

One of state’s newest towns has long, proud history BY PATY HENDERSON STAR VALLEY COUNCILOR

Star Valley was named for Mr. Starr, who came to the valley in the mid 1870s. His farm was known as the Nellie Beard farm. This is the former home of Raymond and Pat Cline on Moonlight Drive. He sold his acreage where he raised corn, potatoes and fruit to the Houstons in 1877. He was killed by a runaway team and buried on the farm. The Houstons named the valley in his honor. The 1910 census gives the occupations of the families that lived in the valley as ranching and farming, with one prospector. The names of the families are a “who’s-who” of early Payson: The Pete Haught family, grandfather to Pat Cline; Andrew and Agnes Ogilvie, whose daughter Anna Mae Deming was Payson’s weather lady for many years; the John Fuller family; Henry and Sarah Haught, also known as “Mammy and Pappy” to one and all; Anderson Haught, whose household also

included his mother-inlaw Mrs. Martin; Robert Holder was the prospector and he had several other single men living with him, including Vern Gillette. In these names you see the connections that exist even today among PATY HENDERSON the pioneer families. Coming to the area was an adventure. “Just follow the ruts” or “Take off any place you can get through” were the usual instructions to the brave souls who dared to come. The only official roads were a trail from Fort McDowell to Fort Reno at the base of Mount Ord and General Crook’s Trail across the Rim, which stretched from Fort Apache to Camp Verde. The Army connected the two roads by coming up the Oxbow. The roads were described

as “good cow trails.” Coming off the Rim was “so steep that the brakes won’t hold the wagon unless a shoe is placed under the wheel and a chain wound around the axle to keep the wagon from running over the horses,” commented Revilo Fuller. The late Junior Haught indicated a trailhead just east of the county yard in Christopher Creek as one place of descent. A school was opened in Star Valley in 1887. A school census from about 1909 lists the children of the Lazear family, Haught family and Franklin family as students — nine in total with Rufus Brown the schoolmaster. The earliest homestead in Star Valley was the Anderson Franklin homestead at the end of Moonlight Drive. The patent was filed in 1910, shortly before statehood. Peter Lazear followed in 1913 along Houston Creek north of the Franklin place. Other homesteads were a bit later. Joseph Ezell was on the northern end of Star Valley in about

1916. Peter Haught, Andrew Ogilvie and Rufus Brown filed in 1919. Roy Lockwood, Mark Blake and Arthur Neal filed in the 1920s. The Brown, Lockwood and Blake homesteads make up the Diamond Point area and the Neal place is along Lion Springs. The site of Star Valley’s present town hall has an interesting story. Pat Cline tells that, “When they put the road through, it divided my father’s property. My dad’s cousin, Vern Gillette, told my dad he wanted to retire and sure would like to own property in Star Valley. My dad sold it to him as five acres for $50 an acre. My mother told him, Walter, I’ve walked that and it’s more like 10 acres.” Fast-forward to Arizona’s centennial year and Star Valley is one of Arizona’s newest towns, with still fiercely independent citizens, proud of their accomplishments as one of the few towns that are in the black.

PROGRESS EDITION GOVERNMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Two steps forward, one step back — and so goes the dance BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR

It was the best of years. It was the worst of years. Welcome to Payson in the twilight of the Great Recession. Payson straggled through another year with virtually no new building and no contract signed to build a four-year university here. All in all, the year offered lots of fodder for philosophers of the school of the glass half empty. After all, the money collected from sales tax receipts, which pays for most Payson and Star Valley town services, just barely improved in 2011 over 2010 — and remained far officially ended their below the heady totals of 2008. Big projects remained in limbo, longstanding “water including the condominium and retail development that was going to finally wars” thanks in part to kick-start the transformation of struggling Main Street. the approval of the The ambitious plan to cover the event center with a shade-providing Blue Ridge pipeline. roof festooned with solar cells as a hoped-for part of the college campus faded into might-have-been as big federal tax incentives for solar projects expired. Building permits perked up, but remained a shadow of the building boom days. A dozen businesses locked their doors and those that remained open, struggled along from month to month. Scandals rocked the police department, which ended the year with a nearly one-third decline in the number of patrol officers on the street — thanks in large measure to a curious inability to find qualified applicants despite an unemployment rate that hovered near 10 percent all year long. So, life sucks. “What progress?” local wags grumbled. Well, hang on. Things could have been much worse. The town remained free of the debilitating political debate that long embittered both internal town politics and

County FROM PAGE 1C In addition, we paved the first three miles of the Young Road from the Highway 260 intersection and continue to seek funding for the remaining 13 miles of dirt road. In Pine, we are in the process of bidding the first leg of the Pine Creek Canyon Road Project, to be constructed this spring. In Tonto Basin, we continue efforts to construct a bridge over Tonto Creek. The location, design, permitting, environmental mitigations, etc., are all in place and waiting for federal funding for the bridge itself. Last, but certainly not least, in real progress is in our surrounding forest. Many of us have banded together the last number of years to lessen the chance of it burning and there are two principle roles the county plays. The first is in paying for and keeping upgraded and functional what we call the “fire-water system.” This is a series of water bladders and open-topped

Payson’s relationship with neighboring Star Valley. The present council’s highstakes, persistent quest to bring a university to town and transform the business climate here won sufficiently broad support that no one filed to run against Payson Mayor Kenny Evans or councilors John Wilson, Richard Croy and Michael KENNY EVANS Hughes — ensuring consistent policies through the next two years. Moreover, the complex effort to bring a university to town remained embedded in persistent negotiations. By year’s end, the Rim Country Educational Alliance and Arizona State University still couldn’t close the deal to build the first 1,000student phase of a 6,000-student university here. But after investing millions in the project, backers still seemed optimistic they would work a deal with one of four universities still in contention — plus a private, specialized academy that could contribute another 1,000 students to the mix. But even if the Alliance couldn’t produce the good news everyone yearned for all year long, Payson made some crucial gains on other fronts. The town council moved forward decisively on building the Blue Ridge pipeline, which will supply plenty of water for the projected build-out population of 38,000. That action allowed the town to repeal the tough, growth control limits imposed as the water table dropped, setting the stage for the town to cash in on the recovery — when it finally hits Rim Country. The council also moved quietly through a long list of challenges, like a torch juggler in a lion’s cage. Consider some of the year’s headlines: • The town council adopted a cutting-edge ordinance to ban the sale of designer drugs containing things like a synthetic version of the active ingredient in marijuana. The council moved quickly to act on the protest pickets of citizens who carried signs outside of three stores selling the designer drugs. • The council significantly expanded the options for local residents who want to recycle household trash.

tanks strategically placed from Strawberry and the Cinch Hook Area along under the Rim to beyond Christopher Creek and in Young. The goal is for Type I, II and III helicopters to have adequate firststrike water within a oneminute turnaround to a TOMMIE MARTIN fire anywhere within our forested region, as well as giving local fire districts added water in their firefighting endeavors. This year, with the help of the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, we have been able to upgrade our existing 20,000-gallon water bladders to 50,000 gallons — doubling our water availability. We can also now add other locations to our system. The other principle role the county has to play in the forest conversation is in the constant search for and successful lobbying of a steady stream of federal dollars to let the local Forest Service continue to widen its fire break and fuel reduction efforts. We’ve been successful in opening that steady trickle of money, but only because our local Forest folks see to it that the money is spent quickly, appropriately and optimally.

Third Annual Charity Golf Event and Silent Auction

• The council and the Humane Society of Central Arizona settled conflicts about the town’s $90,000 annual contract to pay for handling strays even as the Humane Society completed work on its new $800,000 animal shelter. • Payson juggled its finances to eke through the sales tax swoon without debilitating layoffs or major service cuts. After squandering its surplus going into the recession due to a lack of timely financial reports, the town’s departments managed to remain under budget and get through each of the past three years with a whisper-thin cash reserve, thanks to tight spending control by most departments. The year ended with an audit showing a “vast improvement” in the town’s financial accounting systems. • After years of tension and controversy, Payson resumed management of the Payson Airport, hoping to move in the next two years toward implementation of a $10 million airport master plan to cope with a projected doubling of takeoffs and landings. • Community leaders joined town officials to stage the latest of three hugely successful fund-raising drives to support local food banks. Despite the struggles of many in the community to make ends meet, residents generously supported each annual food drive, which brought in more than $30,000 in donations and 50,000 pounds of food. • Payson and Star Valley officially ended their longstanding “water wars” thanks in part to the approval of the Blue Ridge pipeline — but mostly due to a renewed sense of cooperation on the two councils. • The council approved the construction of a third fire station, taking advantage of low land prices and an innovative, low-cost building design to fulfill a promise made years earlier when voters approved a bond issue. The fire station will serve the east end of town, including both country clubs and the proposed university campus. Granted, the town lacked the money to fully staff the truck located in that station, relying on two-man crews and the support of volunteer firefighters. However, the low-cost fire station will now support plans for future growth. So while the town didn’t catch the wave everyone hoped for by signing a deal with ASU, it has perfected its dog paddle — and positioned itself for a heck of a ride.

Gila County Board of Supervisors

welcomes you to the Rim Country Tommie Cline Martin, Supervisor District 1 928-474-7100

Michael A. Pastor, Sunday June 3, 2012 Chaparral Pines Golf Club

Two-Person Scramble 10:00 am Shotgun Start $50,000 Hole-in-One Prize Box Lunch $125 per person ($100 for Club Members) Register online at paysonhabitat.com or at the ReStore. 103 E. Highway 260 (928) 474-0330

Supervisor Distrct 2 928-402-8753

Shirley L. Dawson, Supervisor Distrct 3 928-402-8511

PAGE 5C

neighbors PAYSON ROUNDUP PROGRESS EDITION 2012

Mountain bike race showcases Pine and Strawberry

Widening project put on hold temporarily Two different road issues were part of the progress puzzle in Pine and Strawberry for 2011. They remain either unresolved or with an undetermined outcome, so will still be part of the puzzle in 2012. At issue: Pine Creek Canyon Road in Pine and Fossil Creek Road in Strawberry.

Dennis Fendler/Roundup

BIKERS FROM around the state joined a few area cyclists for the first-ever Fire on the Rim mountain bike race, held Aug. 6 in the Pine Strawberry area. The event was presented by the Pine-Strawberry Fuel Reduction Committee and the group’s efforts to protect the two tiny mountain hamlets from devastating wildfires.

BY MAX FOSTER

ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

See Fire on the Rim, page 6C

The inaugural Fire on the Rim mountain bike race was etched into the record books as a rousing success that attracted some of the finest riders from around Arizona and showcased the Rim Country as a challenging cycling site. Held Aug. 6, 2011 on trails, paths and roadways around “The city of Pine is fantastic and Pine and Strawberry, the course rocked. Thanks for 88- plus participants turned out to test putting on a great event.” their riding skills on a — Rich Maines rugged course that most every entrant called “technical” because traversing it required advanced biking skills. In fact, some new to the sport opted not to participate after pre-riding the course the week before the race. “Unfortunately for me, the trail from Strawberry to Pine was just too tough,” said Mike Colburn. Others, like Rim Country Middle School sci-

ence teacher Scott Davidson, found the course a challenge. “It’s tough, but it’s a good course,” said Davidson, who participated in the 45-mile event on a three-man relay team. Davidson was a member of a volunteer committee that worked for days prior to the event sprucing up the course and making it ready for the riders. Rich Maines, on the Mountain Bike Association of Arizona’s Facebook Web site, was among several riders who lauded the course and the Rim Country. “The city of Pine is fantastic and the course rocked. Thanks for putting on a great event,” Maines wrote. Ernie Borgoyne, a member of the race committee, is calling the turnout “a great response.” Borgoyne also lauded townspeople saying, “Residents came out and cheered the racers. You could see how much they appreciated the support. “We are all very proud of our little town.” Among the local cyclists to show well in the race were former Longhorn football player Matt

PINE CREEK CANYON ROAD Early in 2011, Gila County held an open house to let Pine residents know how far it had been able to get with plans to widen Pine Creek Canyon Road. The narrow, curving road, with no formal exit, makes the residential areas that it feeds among the top fire risks in the country — that isn’t “county” — that’s “country.” The work planned for Pine Creek Canyon Road would not provide residents with actual additional escape routes in the event of a fire, but officials believe having a wider road will help with the risk. A wider road would make it easier for emergency vehicles — fire trucks, ambulances, etc. — to get to residents in need. Gila County Public Works Deputy Director Steve Sanders said the road is now only 16 to 18 feet wide, when the improvements are completed, it will be 22 feet wide, which will also help should it be necessary to evacuate area residents in the event of a fire. The high hopes of the county to have the Pine Creek Canyon Road project well under way were fading in July. The long-awaited and muchanticipated widening and paving was put on hold. Originally the project was to have started in June and been completed by fall 2011. But problems with relocating the existing utility lines, including water, electricity, telephone and gas, prompted Gila County officials to delay the road construction until the spring of 2012. The difficulty of moving the existing utility lines was briefly discussed during a county-hosted public meeting held in February. However, once engineers and survey crews began staking out the roadway, problems with moving the lines were “found to be greater than expected and the relocation of the utilities will take longer than anticipated,” said Sanders. Also, the Pine Strawberry Water Improvement District (PSWID) has indicated to county officials it would like to have extended time to replace and upgrade See Closure, page 6C

PROGRESS EDITION NEIGHBORS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Fire on the Rim bike race expected to be annual event FROM PAGE 5C Sopeland and Jerry Baker, owner of the Payson Athletic Club and a former Payson High School cross country runner. Sopeland, 35, took first in the Open Men’s one-lap 15-miler, turning in a time of 1:23.88 that was more than a minute faster than his nearest competitor, 20-year-old Kyle Fitzgerald. Some of those in the Open Men’s found the course much too rugged to speed over, taking more than two hours to finish. One racer labored, taking more than three hours to finish. Baker, 30, competed in the Open Men’s 30-mile event, which was actually two laps of the “We are all very proud course. He finished fourth overall in 3:16.06. of our little town.” The course was no stranger to Baker, who pre-road it several — Ernie Borgoyne times prior to race day. While most of the entrants were men, 55-year-old Laura Meyer competed in the Masters 15-mile Women’s race and was first in a commendable time of 2:21.44. Kelly McFall, 32, won the Open Women’s 30-miler in 3:36.44. Josh Maule dominated the grueling Open Men’s 45-mile, three-lap event, finishing first in 3:58.14. His fastest lap was his first, which he covered in 1:13.27. On the third and final lap, he slowed down considerably, peddling it in 1:23.36. At the conclusion of the race, many of the cyclists turned out for a mountain biking clinic taught by Darrin Permenter, the coach of the AZ Devo Junior Development team. Later, the festivities continued with a rousing jazz concert put on by the Big Band Machine, a group of Payson High students who have put on performances at Disneyland and the Pearl Harbor remembrance celebration in Hawaii. Fire on the Rim co-chair Katie Calderon praised the band, saying the group, “entertained us all with a wonderful, delightful and talented concert. To have so much talent and happy band members in one group was so inspiring. “The Fire on the Rim Race group appreciates this great group for sharing their talent with us at the end of race day.”

Dennis Fendler/Roundup

FIRE ON THE RIM committee member Ernie Borgoyne said the committee’s goal is to make the mountain bike race an annual event, not only to earn money for fire prevention, but also to showcase Pine and Strawberry. Most of the profits from the race benefit the Pine-Strawberry Fuel Reduction Committee and their efforts to protect the two tiny, mountain hamlets from devastating wildfires.

Borgoyne has said the committee’s goal is to make the Fire on the Rim race an annual event, not only to earn money for fire prevention, but also to showcase Pine and Strawberry.

Closure of Fossil Creek Road unpopular with Rim residents FROM PAGE 5C aging water lines running parallel to the roadway. The improvements could also include installing fire hydrants if the size of the water lines is increased. “This is quite a project for them,” said Sanders. Coordinating those upgrades with the road project, Sanders said, could result in cost savings to northern Gila County residents. Also, he said, widening and paving has been a long and extensive project that began four years ago with obtaining the rights-of-way needed. Pine Creek Canyon Road serves as a main access and exit for more than a thousand residents who live in one of the three “We all think Fossil Creek Portal subdivisions, in is our slice of heaven, but Pine Creek Canyon itself we are loving it to death.” and for Camp Lo — Tommie Martin Mia, a girls mountain retreat belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Residents in the canyon have long feared that should a forest fire ignite in the canyon, a speedy evacuation would be almost impossible because the roadway is so narrow there is limited space for two cars to pass when traveling in opposite directions. A worst-case scenario residents have discussed is a falling tree or power line blocking the road during a forest fire, trapping some residents in the canyon. The project, once it is begun, will include widening and paving about 5,000 feet of Pine Creek Canyon Road beginning at its intersection with the Beeline Highway just south of the LDS church. FOSSIL CREEK ROAD The issue of Fossil Creek Road went from having a shuttle service and camping ban to protect the creek from big weekend crowds in March to more recent plans to shut down the road out of Strawberry entirely. In March 2011 it was reported that the Forest Service might soon impose fees, ban cars and run a shuttle service down the twisting

canyon road to Fossil Creek, according to a sneak peek of a draft plan offered last year. The plan would continue a ban on camping and fires and sharply limit access by cars to protect the creek from the impact of the thousands of summer weekend visitors who flock to the blue-green waters of the spring-fed creek. “We all think Fossil Creek is our slice of heaven, but we are loving it to death,” said Gila County Supervisor Tommie Martin after the meeting at which the proposals were discussed. Last summer, the federal government designated the gushing, spring-fed creek as one of two stretches of wild and scenic rivers in Arizona due to its “outstandingly remarkable values.” The creek remains one of the most pristine riparian areas in the state and one of the last refuges for endangered native fish and other species. The beauty and the swimming holes have drawn a flock of visitors to the creek, who often create a crowded mess and leave behind tons of trash. Before the Forest Service banned camping and fires, rangers every weekend found multiple abandoned campfires left behind by visitors. Over the last two years, the Forest Service has monitored attendance levels and during some holiday weekends, around 1,000 people travel down the narrow, dangerous road to reach the creek each day. With limited parking and creek access, visitors park where they can — often blocking the roadway. To preserve the creek’s water quality and protect endangered and threatened species that call the area home, the Forest Service hired planning experts to gather public input and create a management plan last year. The plan falls in the middle of closing the creek and leaving it wide open. “We are trying to come up with the best solution,” said John Titre, a planner for the Forest Service. “We are looking at all ideas, so nothing is finalized.” Lynn Humphrey, another planner, said the Forest Service’s top priorities are protecting the creek’s remarkable values, water quality and freeflow conditions without banning visitors. “We are going to have to make some hard decisions,” said former Payson Ranger District head ranger Ed Armenta. “We have people on opposite ends of the spectrum.” For Pine-Strawberry business owners who

Construction won’t start until a final plan is approved, which could take until 2012. “We will get sued over this one way or another,” Armenta said.

File photo

FOSSIL CREEK has been designated by the federal government as a wild and scenic river. rely on Valley visitors in the summer, attracting more visitors is a plus. However, Cindy Maack, owner of Ponderosa Market, said she is worried restrictions will drive visitors away. “I am opposed to closing the road,” she said, “and I could get 500 signatures by the end of the month of people who oppose it as well.” While Maack said she is all for cleaning up the area and adding restrooms, she wishes the Forest Service would limit vehicle size instead of starting a shuttle service. Armenta said he had a tough time accepting the shuttle idea at first, but with limited parking spaces, he doesn’t see a better alternative. Humphrey suggested that the shuttle service run during summer weekends and holidays, with weekday access unlimited. Maack said she would support that idea. “The feasibility of a shuttle remains the big question,” Titre said. Funding for the plan would also take “a chunk of change,” Armenta said. Federal grants are available and the program would be implemented in phases, Titre said. The first part of the plan would include installing an entry gate to control access, limiting use to day only, making the campfire ban permanent and installing composting toilets. Phase two would be construction of shuttle stops.

ROAD CLOSED In February of 2012, the U.S. Forest Service shut down Fossil Creek Road for at least a year. The Forest Service is working on a plan to control access, perhaps through the use of shuttle buses, but in the meantime a closure order was issued that will shut off access by road from Pine and Strawberry. The closure picks up from an order in effect all winter and extends it until April of 2013. The closure affects the twisting Fossil Creek Road, which provides the only easy access to the creek from Rim Country. The steep Fossil Creek Trail will remain open. But that could increase the already substantial number of summer rescues on the arduous, waterless climb out of the canyon. Many people will likely arrive to find the road closed and be tempted to hike down the trail in flip-flops without adequate water, a recurrent theme in last year’s rescues. However, the road from Camp Verde to the creek will remain open. That means a long drive to get to the creek from Rim Country. That could shift much of the tourist traffic from Payson to Camp Verde, since surveys show that on summer weekends, Valley residents account for most of the visitors. However, the closure will also have the effect of preventing Rim Country residents from getting down to the creek during the week, when far fewer people visit. The order said the closure would “provide for the public’s health and safety because of the treacherous and unsafe road conditions resulting from geologic instability on rock walls resulting in frequent rock falls and slides into the road. Also, to provide for the public’s and employees’ health and safety considerations of traffic gridlock along the Fossil Creek corridor.” “They’ve taken the sledge hammer to hit the pin on the wall,” said Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce Manager John Stanton. “What worries me is that this is coming out of (the Tonto National Forest headquarters) in Phoenix or Washington, D.C., and we have no control. Talk about a door slamming.” Editor’s note: Information for this story came from reports by Pete Aleshire, Alexis Bechman, Max Foster and Teresa McQuerrey.

PROGRESS EDITION NEIGHBORS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Star Valley town hall gets remodel, improvements BY ALEXIS BECHMAN ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

In November, construction workers took over the Star Valley town hall, ripping out walls and decking to install an office ell, expand a bathroom for handicap accessibility and add a wheelchair lift. A few coats of deck lacquer and new landscaping lights were the finishing touches on the $112,000 project which ran smoothly and finished on time. Completion of the remodel was a welcome relief for town staff, who had to work at plastic-wrapped desks and maneuver around workers streaming in and out, said Town Manager and Attorney Tim Grier. For all the dust and noise, finance administrator Chancy Nutt now has a new work area that gives her more privacy and moves her out of the meeting area and into an alcove, Grier said. The 8-foot by ... the wheelchair lift and 8-foot addition or “popout” cost $12,000 and ate handicap accessibility up space on what was once a wrap-around improvements were fully porch. But it gave Nutt covered by a Community badly needed privacy, he Development Block Grant. said. Nutt said visitors had full view of her computer screen and documents, which was unsafe, given the confidential financial records she typically handles. The new area tucks her away and out of the main lobby, but still lets her greet visitors. Just off the council meeting/reception area, an old bathroom has been knocked out and a new, handicap accessible one installed in its place. The bathroom is larger, allowing for wheelchair access, and does away with a closet that once housed a copy machine. All copy machines are now downstairs. An outside elevator lift was also installed. Before the lift, there was no wheelchair access to town hall, with a flight of stairs the only entrance. The town council selected InterMountain West Civil Contractors to complete the majority of the construction work, coming in with the lowest overall bid of $88,000.

Andy Towle/Roundup

JEREMY LEE (right) and Kevin Yocum apply stain to the refurbished deck at the Star Valley Town Hall. The wheelchair lift company installed the lift after InterMountain laid a concrete foundation and a new path. “They (town staff) have been good sports about it,” Grier said. “Any remodel is not fun to live through.” The town covered the cost of Nutt’s new office with money from the general fund, while the lift and handicap accessibility improvements were fully covered by a Community Development Block Grant. The town gets CDBG funds every two years from the state to make improvements to benefit low- to moderate-income citizens and blighted neighborhoods. The town had initially dreamed of using the money for fire hydrants, but abandoned that idea because it did not have control over the water at the time and thus no water to send to hydrants once installed.

The remodeling project stayed on budget and met the time outline, Grier said. “They (InterMountain) did a great job.” In a sign of the times, it wasn’t young construction workers doing the work, but older contractors doing it themselves, he said. “It surprised me to see the median age was a whole lot older,” he said. The quality of work was great and the new addition blends well with the aesthetics of the building, town staff said. “I think it is real pretty,” Grier said. The parking lot has also been given a makeover. Workers have removed a low wall out front and added a few more parking spaces. On Jan. 17 of this year, the town held its first council meeting in the remodeled space.

Old bridges being replaced on Control Road between Highways 87 and 260 BY MICHELE NELSON ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

The Control Road, between Highways 87 and 260, will sport seven new bridges by the spring. “The new bridges will be wider and have a higher capacity,” said Joel Mona of the Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD). Construction started this past June and should end by March of 2012. Six of the seven bridges will be demolished and rebuilt. Only the Webber Creek Bridge will move to a new location upstream from the old bridge. Demolishing the bridges is more economical than retrofitting, said Mona. The county hopes to procure federal funding to pave the road in the next few years. “We want to increase the safety of the communities in case of evacuation,” said Supervisor Tommie Martin. The communities of Geronimo Estates, Verde Glen, Whispering Pines, Bonita Creek Estates, Ellison Estates and Tonto Village will benefit from the road and bridge improvements. Because the Control Road sits on federal land, CFLHD has the responsibility to fund, design, and construct the upgrades on the road. “There are three roads in Gila County that sit on federal land,” said Steve Stratton, public works director for Gila County. Control Road is one of them. According to the Central Federal Lands Highway agency, CFLHD functions as a division of the Federal Lands Highway Program. The organization surveys, designs and constructs forest highway system roads, defense access roads and other federal land roads. The CFLHD also administers the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned roads (ERFO) program. In the event of a natural disaster, it is the agency’s responsibility to replace the roads. The primary goal of the Control Road project involves increasing the width of the bridges to 25 feet and widening the roads leading up to the bridges to accommodate their new width. Twenty-five feet should allow for two cars to pass, said Mona. Construction will continue through the winter, weather permitting, said Mona. In an e-mail update on the agency’s progress to the Gila County Board of Supervisors in December 2011, Mona described the upgrades to each bridge: Webber Creek: Drilling and installation of pilings for new bridge complete. Bonita Creek: Set slabs of concrete for the deck of the bridge. Perley Creek: Deck slabs have been set and a culvert installed east of the bridge. Moore Creek: Framework and reinforced steel have been installed. Lewis Creek: Drilling for bridge pilings complete. Ellison Creek: Pilings placed, formwork construction has begun. Roberts Draw: Drilling of all pilings complete.

File photo

ROOSEVELT LAKE is just one reason many people choose to call Tonto Basin home.

Tonto Basin: A place defined by nature BY MICHELE NELSON ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

Tonto Creek flows through the basin defining it. Its floods; its trees — cottonwoods, sycamores, birch and oak; the silt and erosion all combine in a wonderful mosaic of challenges. The creek runs north and south through the town splitting the basin lying between the Mazatzal and Sierra Ancha mountains. Humans have settled the area since pre-historic times. Ancient hunters from the last Ice Age stopped in the basin for game and drink. The Salado Indians created settlements filling the basin with farms, irriga“I stayed because tion canals and stone buildings. Then came the Apache and their it’s gorgeous ...” wandering ways — until finally the farm— John Dryer ers and ranchers settled to benefit from the rich soil deposited from the invading and receding water of the creek. These ranchers and farmers tried to control the creek by cutting the trees and damming the water, but the creek continues to assert its superiority today. “Since the inception of Roosevelt Dam, Tonto Creek has continued to back up,” said John Dryer a resident of Tonto Basin since 1966. The Roosevelt Dam, built in 1911, made the largest lake in Arizona and created a reservoir for Phoenix, not to mention a huge recreation area near Tonto Basin with fishing, boating and camping opportunities. Dryer, like many other residents of Tonto Basin, came for a visit and decided to stay. “I stayed because it’s gorgeous — everywhere you look in Tonto Basin, you see something,” said Dryer of the mountain, creek, desert and hill views. He bought four acres by the creek, but because of the

encroaching silt, two-fifths of the land has already gone back to the waterway. “The stream dictates a lot of stuff,” said Dryer. Take flooding for example. People live on both sides of the creek, but those that live on the side farthest from the highway find themselves cut off from the world when heavy rains bring floods, sometimes for weeks. Residents dream of creating a bridge, but due to logistical issues, the price tag comes to $20 million. Dryer sat on the bridge committee for 20 years. He said the committee is about as far along on obtaining funds for the bridge as when he sat on the committee. “One third of the cost ... is getting water under the bridge,” said Dryer of the challenge. The original settlers channeled the stream by cutting down the trees growing near the banks, but now environmentalists have dictated land management practices and the trees again grow along the banks. The roots of the trees capture the silt contributing to the build up of the banks, said Dryer. But those trees also contribute to the hunting of the area enticing birds and animals. Tonto Basin offers impressive hunting and recreation opportunities, but it houses families, too. One of the projects the community is most proud of is the school, Dryer said. Preschool children to eighth-graders attend. One of the only schools in Arizona to remain debt free, the community built the school in the late 1970s with money raised from residents. Today about 70 students attend. But the stream also affects the school. “Our school has creek days,” said Dryer. When students cannot reach the school because the water is too high to cross, the school closes down. In all ways, Tonto Basin is a town defined by nature, especially its creek.

PROGRESS EDITION NEIGHBORS FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

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medical PAYSON ROUNDUP PROGRESS EDITION 2012

Medical community enjoys continued forward progress

inside

Christian Risser became the Rim Country’s first doctor in 1912 PAGE 2

Andy Towle/Roundup

THE IDEA of an energetic group of young mothers in the mid-1950s to build a small health clinic for the community, has grown to become Payson Regional Medical Center, a multi-million dollar, award-winning facility.

BY TERESA MCQUERREY

The small health clinic concept remains part of the medical care landscape in Pine and Medical services in Rim Country have pro- Tonto Basin. gressed from a doctor making house calls on Long-term care facilities have been built to horseback and seeing patients in his home to provide more services for the residents of the multi-million dollar, award-winning medical area: Payson Care Center, Rim Country facilities. Health & Retirement Community and Powell From Payson’s first resident physician, Dr. House. There are also private providers serving Christian Risser III, to the award-winning, state the needs of the ailing and elderly in group of the art Payson home settings. Regional Medical Area physicians and specialists work from Center, medicine in their own practices and through umbrella Medical services in Rim Country the Rim Country has groups like Banner Health Center. have progressed from a doctor seen phenomenal Home medical care is offered through sevchanges and growth eral providers as well. making house calls on horseback over the last 100 Mental health services have been offered years. and seeing patients in his home to for several decades through Southwest Risser first started Behavioral Health when it was known as Rim multi-million dollar, award-winning practicing in the Rim Guidance Center. Country in 1912, The needs of those nearing the end of life medical facilities. according to inforare also met by the medical community mation in columns through the services provided by Hospice by historian Stan Brown. His grandson, Dr. Compassus. Christian Risser V, an M.D. and ophthalmoloThe medical community of Payson and the gist, is part of the medical community in Rim Country is one that is ever-changing and Payson today. expanding to bring more and better services to PRMC has grown from a small health clinic area residents and visitors. It is one place built by volunteers and community donations where progress seems to be keeping its forward to one of the country’s top 100 small hospitals. momentum. ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

Mogollon Health Alliance plays vital role in area’s health care PAGE 3

Payson Regional Medical Center continues to provide quality services PAGE 6

PROGRESS EDITION MEDICAL FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Legacy of area’s first resident doctor carried on by family BY TERESA MCQUERREY ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

Photo courtesy of Christian Risser V

DR. CHRISTIAN RISSER III was Payson’s first resident doctor. His medical license was issued before Arizona became a state. He first came to Arizona to work on the Navajo Reservation, then went into private practice, choosing to make his home in Payson. The Risser’s son, Christian Risser IV, was born in 1919, delivered by his dad in the family home. They called him “Christy.” Later, Risser IV was joined by a sister, Janice Joy in about 1923, but she was born in either Mesa or Tempe, not Payson. In a 1994 interview with Stan Brown, Risser IV recalled how his dad served the Tonto Apaches who lived on Indian Hill. “One time my dad gave Henry Chitten some medicine, told him to take three teaspoons a day for a week and he’d be well. In a couple of days he got sick, and my dad asked him what happened. He said, ‘Well, you said to take three teaspoons a day and I’d be well in a week, so I decided to take more and I’d get well quicker.’ He had doubled the dose.” Christy remembered accompanying his father at times on calls of mercy. One time a cowboy at the Bar-T-Bar ranch on Deer Creek had a skull fracture when a horse rolled over on him. The road to the ranch was little more than a wagon rut, and to reach the man they had to walk much of the way through washes and timber. Another time the doctor was called to the Henry Haught ranch in Little Green Valley, where one of that family from Pleasant Valley had come to request a doctor. They wanted Dr. Risser to go over there, to which he responded, ‘Of course.’ He figured the fellow with the message would take him back, but the messenger balked. He did not want to go out in the winter weather again. One of the Little Green Valley Haughts “pulled out a gun and said, ‘You are going! You are going to take Dr. Risser back there. Just get on your horse and take him!’ “They made it, and my dad stayed with the Haughts in Young four days until the sick one came through the crisis.” Doc Risser not only attended the sick and wounded, he saw to it that the causes of many diseases were eliminated. When an epidemic of typhoid broke out in Pine, Kohl’s Ranch, Christopher Creek and outlying ranches, the doctor realized the source of the problem and insisted their springs had to be cleaned out, and proper sanitation methods put to use. The epidemic was soon curtailed. It was 1933 when Dr. Risser passed away after 21 years of faithful service to the entire area. He had spent several days tending to a ranch family in Tonto Basin, and then rode his horse home through a rainstorm. He contracted pneumonia from which he did not recover and died in a Valley hospital, according to his grandson. He was only 55 years old, but had made an indelible mark on the life of Payson families. Theresa Boardman remembered well, “I’ll never forget the day (he died). I never seen as many grown people cry in all my life. We thought we was all going to die; that was the end of us. He was a wonderful doctor. That man knew anatomy, and I don’t mean maybe.” Dr. Christian Risser V, of the Risser-Thomas Eye Clinic, 302 W. Main, recently shared more stories about his grandfather, Dr. Christian Risser III. L

In the early decades of the Payson community, medical care was limited to folk remedies or the occasional presence of a part-time doctor hired by the nearby mining companies. A gunshot wound or an accident was often fatal, and diseases like diphtheria and smallpox were certain to take the lives of their victims. The high percentage of fatalities among the children gave evidence to the Rim Country’s isolation from medical attention, but that would change in the year 1912. A 34-year-old physician named Christian Risser III arrived to establish his medical practice in Payson. Born in Pennsylvania in 1878, Risser was a graduate of the University of Chicago Medical School and was soon to become head of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. However, his yearning to serve people drew him into civil service and he first came to Arizona to work with the Indian Health Service at Window Rock. According to his grandson, Dr. Christian Risser V, he fell in love with Arizona and took every opportunity to travel around the state. Those travels led him to Payson, which became the place he loved the best and where he eventually settled and opened his general practice. At some point, he met and began courting the daughter of German immigrants, Marie Bauer. Her family owned and operated the Vienna Bakery in Tempe. Shortly after she graduated from Tempe Normal School (now Arizona State University) in 1917, they were married, said his grandson. “She joked that their honeymoon was at Tortilla Flats. It took them three days to get to Payson over the Apache Trail, with all her household goods hauled by freight wagon — including a piano,” Risser V said, recalling his grandmother’s stories. According to a history column by Stan Brown, written for the Payson Roundup and The Rim Review, Risser III bought a small ranch and raised a small herd of cattle to support himself. He also built a house at the corner of Oak and Main Street, with a room where he could treat his patients. His grandson said the house was built around 1915, however, the plaque in front of the house today said the house was built in 1912. On the long trip from Tempe to Payson, newlywed Marie Risser quickly learned what life would be like in the years ahead. Brown writes, “The Rim Country History records that on the way to Payson the freighter (who was hauling the Rissers’ household goods) learned that the Hardt twins were ill. When the freight outfit neared the Hardt ranch near Felton’s, now Jake’s Corner, Doc took time out to doctor the twins and brought them to “She joked that their honeymoon Payson for needed additional care. Soon the was at Tortilla Flats. It took them babies were well. “The doctor was never hesithree days to get to Payson over tant to call on the patients who were far out on the ranches of the Rim the Apache Trail, with all her Country and Tonto Basin, Brown continues. “He carried saddlebags, and wore chaps to protect his household goods hauled by legs from the brushy trails.” He didn’t carry a satchel as his doctor’s bag, freight wagon — including a instead he packed his instruments in a metal box about six inches wide, a couple of inches deep and piano,” Risser V said, recalling his a little more than a foot long. It had a perforated metal tray and the whole thing would fit in one of grandmother’s stories. his saddlebags. The perforated tray could be placed in the metal box and filled with boiling water to sanitize the doctor’s instruments before he used them and afterward. That box, its tray and some of the instruments the doctor used are on display in the offices of his grandson, the Risser-Thomas Eye Clinic on historic West Main Street, Payson. Brown goes on to write, “The editors of the Rim Country History paraphrase Marie as she recounted a typical call her husband made out into the country, ‘One cold winter Dr. Risser learned that the cowboys on the Pecos McFadden Ranch near Pleasant Valley were all sick with flu and in need of medical help. The doctor tied on his small bedroll, put his instruments in his saddlebags, put on his chaps and heavy coat, and left in deep snow for the McFadden bunkhouse. He arrived two days later to find all hands in bed and no one to care for them. Doc built up the fire, gave medical attention to the four cowboys, and cooked some food for them. Four days later he left for wife and home because the boys were much better and able to care for themselves. Two days later (eight days total) Doc arrived back home. Marie had had no word from Doc and what might be expected during his absence from home.” Stories abound surrounding the legacy of Payson’s first doctor, many of them told by his nurse, Theresa Boardman, Brown writes. The same year of Dr. Risser’s arrival, 1912, Payson merchant Bill Boardman married Theresa Haley, and as she was trained as a nurse, she quickly became Dr. Risser’s assistant. She also became the town’s source of medical care during the doctor’s absence. Although Theresa Boardman became a legend herself, in later years she loved to tell stories about the doctor. “I’ll never forget when Charlie Chilson cut his leg with an ax. Charlie said, ‘Aren’t you going to wash it before you work on me?’ So Doc Risser said, ‘What are you talking about? It’s all sterile stuff.’ Charlie said, ‘It don’t look sterile to me.’ And I’m telling you, Doc didn’t own a pair of rubber gloves. And who do you think gave him his first pair of rubber gloves for a present? It was Marie.” Many were the nights when a loud knocking would come at the Risser home, calling him out into all kinds of weather for help. It was terribly frightening when epidemics would sweep the countryside. “Oh boy,” said nurse Boardman, “When the smallpox broke out, if it had been black smallpox there wouldn’t have been enough live ones to bury the dead. Then we had scarlet fever. Bill (her husband) went down, grown men went down with scarlet fever. Doctor said it was a miracle he lived.”

See Son and grandson, page 7D

PROGRESS EDITION ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Payson Regional Medical Center 2011 WELCOME NEW PHYSICIANS Kevin Raymer, M.D. Family Medicine

Dr. Kevin Raymer, M.D. joined Payson Healthcare on August 1st. He is board certified in family medicine. He and his wife, Dr. Katharine Raymer, are happy to be here in Payson with their one year old son, Asher. Dr. Raymer received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and completed his medical training at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed the Via Christi Family Medicine Residency Program and completed the International Family Medicine Fellowship at that same facility. Katharine Raymer, M.D. General Surgery

Katharine Raymer, M.D. joined Payson Surgery Associates this past August. Dr. Raymer is a long time Arizona resident and is happy to return to her home state. Dr. Raymer attended

Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Her internship and residency in General Surgery were completed at the University of Kansas-Wichita School of Medicine. Dr. Raymer volunteered her time at the 13th annual Community Health and Care Fair in November and looks forward to being involved in the community. Patrick Harrison, D.O. Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Patrick Harrison, D.O. joined Payson Regional Bone & Joint on August 1st. Dr. Harrison specializes in orthopedic surgery with an emphasis on joint replacement and sports medicine. Dr. Harrison relocated with his family; wife Shari and their three children Hunter, Brie, and Aspen. Dr. Harrison received his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and later trained at Kansas City University Medical Biological Sciences (KCUMB). Dr. Harrison also spent time at Via Christi Medical Center for his internship and completed his residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Kansas.

Toby Paulson, D.O. Cardiology

Dr. Toby Paulson, D.O. joined Payson Healthcare Specialists as their newest cardiologist on August 22nd. He moves to Payson from Ohio with his wife, Amy, and their five children: Sterling, Arianna, Arissa, Aubrielle, and Brinton. Dr. Paulson earned his degree at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internship, residency, and a fellowship at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Grandview Medical Center. Jeannie Evans, D.O. Osteopathic Medicine

PRMC Welcomes Dr. Jeannie Evans, D.O. who graduated from the A.T. Still Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri before completing both an internship and residency at St. John Medical Center in Westlake,

Ohio. She relocated to Payson in 2011, practices Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment at Banner Health, and specializes in caring for patients with psychiatric disorders. PRMC is thrilled to have Dr. Evans here in Payson, and we look forward to working with her for years to come! Richard A. Isenberg, M.D. Ophthalmology

PRMC welcomes Richard A. Isenberg, M.D. who joined the Risser-Thomas Eye Clinic on April 11th, 2011. Dr. Isenberg sees patients twice a week in Payson, practicing general medical ophthalmology and specializing in oculoplastic surgery. Dr. Isenberg graduated from the University of Utah School of Medicine and interned at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine. He obtained his ophthalmology training at the Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans and fellowship in ophthalmic pathology at the University of Utah. PRMC is excited to have someone with Dr. Isenberg’s extensive experience available as a consultant.

PRMC launches ER Wait-Time Pledge Payson Regional Medical Center’s ER time pledge was launched on October 5, 2011 and in the past five months the program has gone a long way to improve patient care and satisfaction. The Emergency Department now utilizes what is called “bedside triage” wherein, rather than go to a triage room, the patient is given their initial nurse assessment at bedside, which speeds up access to the attending physician. Josh Price, R.N., and current

Emergency Department Director says, “The average time from presentation to physician for 2012 is 23 minutes, which leads to a decreased length of stay in the emergency department, which in turn leads to better patient satisfaction.” There are rare instances where the 30 minute pledge is not met, pending patient volume and varying degrees of patient health conditions, “While the goal of Payson Regional Medical Center ER pledge is to ini-

tially see every patient within 30 minutes, the most critical health emergencies will always receive top priority,” Says Chief Nursing Officer, Hart Hintze. All staff; from registration to nurses, physicians, and even volunteers work to keep service timely and maintain patient satisfaction and the highest level of patient care. The current average wait time for the emergency room can be found online at www.paysonhospital.com.

Cutting Edge Orthopaedic Surgery Payson Regional Bone and Joint is performing a hip surgery that fewer than a dozen practices offer in the state of Arizona, and is the only practice where it is available in the inter-mountain area. The anterior approach hip replacement surgery involves no cutting of muscles, a lower dislocation rate, and easier pain management. Dr. Patrick Harrison has been performing the procedure for over 3 years, and trained on the procedure in five different courses; and Dr. Michael Darnell has attended two separate training courses with additional hands on training. Dr. Darnell states, “I have been performing orthopaedic surgeries for over 27 years and have seen surgical techniques evolve, this procedure addresses so many of the issues that we had with past hip replacement

approaches. This is an incredible advancement in patient care.” “Previously there were a number of precautions that hip replacement patients had to take. They couldn’t cross their legs, or bend their hip past 90 degrees – they needed risers to use the toilet - and sometimes these were permanent measures! With the new approach there are no precautions, ever. We frequently see patients walking the same day,” says Dr. Harrison. The recent acquisition of a new Hana table means even less time in the operating room for patients undergoing this procedure. For more information on anterior hip replacements, and for a consultation, please contact Payson Regional Bone and Joint at (928) 472-5260.

In 2011, Payson Regional Medical Center was named one of the nation’s top performers on key quality measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. The hospital was recognized based on data reported about evidencebased clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and children’s asthma. PRMC is one of only 405 hospitals earning the distinction of top performer on key quality measures for attaining and sustaining excellence. Inclusion on the list is based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the previ-

ous calendar year. To earn this recognition, PRMC achieved exceptional performance standards in these measure sets: • Surgical Care • Pneumonia “We understand that what matters most to our patients and community is safe, effective care. That’s why Payson Regional Medical Center has made a commitment to accreditation and to evidence-based care processes. We have earned this recognition through the dedication and skill of our medical staff, nurses and other clinicians who care for our patients each day,” says Chris Wolf, chief executive officer of Payson Regional Medical Center.

GABRIEL WINS PATIENT CHOICE

Payson Regional Medical Center CEO Chris Wolfe presents House Supervisor Richard Moreno, RN with the 2011 Employee of the Year award.

Moreno named Employee of the Year Richard Moreno, RN, House Supervisor; was named Payson Regional Medical Center’s Employee of the year for 2011. “Richard is always a patient advocate and ensures that the patient receives the care they need no matter what,” says Chief Nursing Officer Hart Hintze. The Employee of the Year award is determined annually from recipients of the facility’s Shining Star Awards. Each month, one or two staff members are recognized as having gone above and beyond in their daily activities and contributions. At the end of the year each of the shining stars is considered for Employee of the Year. Richard is an Arizona native who

Payson Regional Medical Center recognized as “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures”

has lived in Payson for 12 years, and who has worked at PRMC as long as he has lived here. He and his wife of 25 years, along with their 3 daughters, had vacationed in Payson regularly and moved here when a job opportunity presented itself at the hospital. “I’ve been an RN since 1985, but really started working in hospitals in high school, during senior ditch week. My father was a physician and he got me involved in healthcare at an early age,” says Richard. As the 2011 Employee of the Year Richard was awarded a certificate and an all expense paid trip to Tennessee for himself and a guest, along with a monetary award.

Ofelia Gabriel, RN, Med-Surg was named Payson Regional Medical Center’s 2011 Patient Choice Award Winner. Ofelia has worked at PRMC for over four years. She earned her BSN abroad, in the Philippines, and is a shining example of nursing at its finest. “Ofelia is always kind and comforting to our patients, she is a great nurse,” says Tammy DeWees RN, CCRN; Director of ICU/MedSurg/Tele. Each year PRMC asks former patients to nominate exceptional nurses who exceed expectations and this year 30% of the nursing staff was nominated. The Patient Choice Award recognizes the quality care, comfort, and compassion offered at PRMC and honors nurses in particular. As part of National Nurse’s Week Ofelia was presented with the award in an on site ceremony. As the 2011 Nurse of the Year Ofelia received a recognition plaque and a cash award.

Hundreds enjoy Senior Circle events In 2011, more than 800 people attended health talks by our local physicians and health care providers at Senior Circle. We held over 400 exercise classes; they included Ballroom Dancing, Line Dancing, Feeling Fit, QiGong, and Zumba; we met at least 140 times to play Bunco, Card games, scrabble, Wii Bowling and Yahtzee; we held Drivers Ed classes, free hearing tests, member lunches and attended support group meetings and much, much more. The Senior Circle Association is a national, non-profit organization that encourages a healthy and active lifestyle for adults 50 years and age and older. Annual membership is $15.00 and allows you to enjoy health talks, in-hospital benefits, local business bargains and a wide range of discounts for the Tonto Apache Gym, prescriptions, vision care, hearing aids, hotel rooms, car rentals and more. We have a variety of social events, exercise programs and travel opportunities. A very special thank you to all of our volunteers, who logged in over 4,000 hours in 2011 to allow our members to share the spirit of Senior Circle whether they actively participate or just enjoy receiving quarterly health care information! Senior Circle is sponsored by Payson Regional Medical Center, for more information, or to join, please call (928) 4681012.

PROGRESS EDITION ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Taking better care of you. And the place we all call home. 2011 Statement Payson Regional Medical Center is proud of the compassionate medical services we provide. But the care we offer extends beyond our doors–and out into the entire community. Even if we’ve never treated you, we’re pleased to say you’ve beneﬁted from having us here. _______________________________________________________________________________ Providing Quality Care: ER Patient Visits .........................................................................................................13,106 Inpatient Visits ..............................................................................................................2,305 Outpatient Visits ........................................................................................................33,016 Financial Benefits: Payroll (351 Employees) ....................................................................................$23,264,402 Capital Investments.............................................................................................$1,695,694 Property & Sales Taxes ..........................................................................................$630,783 Caring for Our Community: Charity & Uncompensated Care .........................................................................$5,295,197 Dollars Spent Locally ...........................................................................................$1,643,381 Donations and Outreach Contributions to the Community ....................................$74,194 Total Community Investment ....................................................................$32,603,651* *Dollar amounts are approximate.

____________________________________________________________________________________ New Physicians in 2011:

Achievements: Named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission in Surgical Care and Pneumonia Laboratory Re-Accredited by The Joint Commission

Jeannie Evans, D.O., Family Medicine Patrick Harrison, D.O., Orthopaedic Surgeon Richard Isenberg, M.D., Ophthalmology Toby Paulson, D.O., Cardiologist Kevin Raymer, M.D., Family Medicine Katharine Raymer, M.D., General Surgeon Ihor Zakaluzny, M.D., General Surgeon

Better Healthcare Starts Here. 807 S. Ponderosa Street • Payson • 928-474-3222 • PaysonHospital.com

PROGRESS EDITION MEDICAL FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Progress at Payson Regional Medical Center BY TERESA MCQUERREY ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

Payson Regional Medical Center (PRMC) may not have a history reaching back to 1912, but its roots do go back more than half a century. PRMC, which was ranked as one of the top 100 hospitals in the country in 2010, originated as a community health clinic, opening in December 1956. The women of the Junior Womans Club who were concerned about the health and welfare of their children, family members and neighbors, built it. There was no resident doctor and there were no medical facilities. So, the ladies decided to do something about it. Now, in 2012, Payson and the Rim Country have a topranked facility that provides employment for hundreds of people and care for the thousands who live and visit here. PRMC received notification of its top ranking in March 2011. HOSPITAL HONORS Payson Regional Medical Center was named one of the nation’s 2010 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. This is the third award in five years, and the second recognition in a row. The award recognizes hospitals that have achieved excellence in clinical outcomes, patient safety, patient satisfaction, financial performance, and operational efficiency. “To be recognized for this award for the second consecutive year is a testament to the outstanding work and commitment of our dedicated health team and the doctors in our community,” said Chris Wolf, chief executive officer of PRMC. PRMC previously was recognized as a Top 100 hospital for 2006 and 2009. PRMC is the only hospital selected in the state of Arizona recognized as meeting the criteria of this award. Having a 100 Top Hospital award-winner in the community means that: • Patients are measurably less likely to have a complication, adverse patient safety event, or die unnecessarily, or be readmitted. • Patients are more likely to receive care efficiently at a reasonable, comparative cost. • The community can rely on the hospital as a well-managed major employer that will continue to invest in newer technology and services the community needs. PRMC was cho“Payson Regional Medical Center sen by consumers in a statewide survey as has made a 30-Minute ER the fifth best small Commitment — to assure hospital in the state for 2011. patients that we are dedicated The annual survey is conducted by not only to offering quality care, Ranking Arizona magazine, the largest but also to providing that care as business opinion poll in the state. efficiently as possible.” Ranking Arizona is based purely on — Chris Wolf, PRMC CEO voters’ opinion. Participants vote based on quality of product, service and who they would recommend doing business with. The responses are then assembled and “ranked” according to the total number of votes. PRMC also earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in early 2011 for demonstrating compliance with the commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. In November 2010, PRMC underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey by a team of commission experts. Surveyors evaluated PRMC standards of care, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management. “In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, PRMC demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients,” said Mark Pelletier, executive director of hospital programs, accreditation and certification services with the Joint Commission. “Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend Payson Regional Medical Center for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.” The Joint Commission’s hospital standards address functions relating to the care of patients and the management of hospitals. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standard setting and accrediting body in health care. MAKING THE BEST BETTER No one spent time sitting on their laurels at PRMC. Its administration continued efforts to recruit a variety of physicians and other professionals in the ongoing task of making Payson’s best better.

Contributed photos

RESPIRATORY THERAPIST Jennifer Huston consults with Dr. Gilbert at Payson Regional Medical Center’s emergency room, as he reviews a digital X-ray. During 2011, PRMC hired Mo THE FUTURE AT PRMC Elzein as its director of laboratory sciWork progresses at PRMC to better ence; orthopedic surgeon Patrick serve the Rim Country with an Harrison; Toby Paulson, cardiologist; enhanced complement of health care Katharine Raymer, general surgeon; providers and an ever-improving facility. Kevin Raymer, family medicine; and PRMC’s orthopedic surgeons have Ihor Zakaluzny as a general surgeon. one of only a dozen hana® Tables in the Joining the Rim Country health care state, which is primarily used in hip surcommunity were also Dr. Marc Grant, gery and results in better recovery and an anesthesiologist and pain manageoutcomes. ment specialist; family practitioner Dr. The plant has advanced MRI and Jeannie Evans; and ophthalmologist Dr. ultrasound equipment, as well as electroRichard Isenberg, who is with Rissercardiography for imaging services. Wolf Thomas Eye Clinic. explained electrocardiography is a less Also hired by PRMC in 2011, invasive means of diagnosing cardiac Patricia Patterson-King as marketing issues. director and Jan Parsons as adviser to He said the administration is also the Senior Circle. looking at bringing more cardiologists to MO ELZEIN Providing quality care includes makthe area and adding to the neurology ing that care as efficient as possible for services. the patient. To that end, in the fall of Looking to the future, PRMC will 2011, PRMC instituted its 30-Minute have electronic health records in place in ER Commitment. 12 to 18 months to comply with federal Emergency medicine is about two requirements. Wolf said this would things: skilled care and speed. PRMC make it possible to better coordinate knows the importance of prompt service health care and ensure collaborative — especially in the emergency room integrative documentation among all (ER). “That’s why Payson Regional health care providers serving an individMedical Center has made a 30-Minute ual. ER Commitment — to assure patients “It will create less room for interprethat we are dedicated not only to offertation and provide a continuity of care,” ing quality care, but also to providing Wolf said. that care as efficiently as possible,” said There are plans to improve and Wolf. bring medical services to patients closer When a patient enters the ER, the to where they live through finding midarrival time is noted — 30-Minute ER level health care providers, such as Commitment begins the minute a physician assistants and nurse practiJAN PARSONS patient checks in at the ER desk. “Our tioners, to serve in outlying communipledge is that a clinical professional — ties. This move will be paced as the need which is defined as a physician, physiis identified. cian’s assistant, or nurse practitioner — Outreach efforts will be further augwill initially see each patient within 30 mented with expansion of PRMC’s minutes of their arrival. When the telemedicine program with the receipt patient is initially seen by a clinical proof a grant being sought by Dr. Alan fessional, the time is logged on the Michels and the Mogollon Health patient’s chart — so we can track our Alliance. performance in keeping our pledge of PRMC already is working with low ER wait times,” says Wolf. telemedicine through the University of “While the goal of Payson Regional Arizona’s telemedicine program. It is Medical Center’s ER pledge is to initially funded through grants and enables consee every patient within 30 minutes, the sultations with physicians around the most critical health emergencies will world. It also makes it possible for physialways receive top priority,” says Hart cians to work with their patients from a Hintze, chief nursing officer. distance. “We are committed to prompt and As an example, Wolf pointed out appropriate care for our ER patients, the that one of the community’s pain man30-Minute ER pledge should not be agement specialists is now in Alaska, but HART HINTZE misinterpreted as an effort to rush through the PRMC telemedicine propatients though the ER,” Hintze adds. “The focus is getting ER gram, still sees his Rim Country patients. patients into a treatment room as quickly as possible, enabling Other changes coming to PRMC include making it a our clinical professionals to see a patient and begin diagnosis smoke-free environment by July 4, 2012 and getting a Trauma and treatment in a timely manner.” Level IV designation from the state by the fall.