$32 Million for Arizona Afordable Housing

Representative Ann Kirkpatriock announces that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is making more than $32 million available for affordable housing projects and creating construction jobs in Arizona. The funds are being provided through the Tax Credit Assistance Program, which helps state housing finance agencies spur stalled rental projects.

Investment in low income housing has plunged during the economic downtourn. Kirkpatrick says this makes it more difficult for working families to access quality housing options. It also contributes to job losses in the construction industry. TCAP offers new incentives for investors.

TCAP will benefit more than 35,000 families nationwide. Its effects could especially impact Arizona, where residential construction has been especially slowed by the recession and where foreclosure rates are the fourth highest in the country.

Tribal 'World of Work' Classes

San Carlos Tribal Social Services is sponsoring four evening classes this week (July 6-9). The “World of Work” classes are designed to prepare tribal members for employment. All General Assistance clients are urged to attend.

Topics covered include employment applications, developing resumes, choosing the right job, work ethics, interview techniques, job search strategies, dress for success and creating your portfolio.

Classes are available on a first come first served basis. Sign up at Tribal Social Services or call 475-2313.

GCC Offers Summer Science Camp to Seventh Graders

Gila Community College is offering a one week science camp to this fall’s 7th graders. The focus of the science camp will be on the environmental impact of the regular things we do every day.

The facilitator is Globe High School biology teacher Aaron Burk. The camp will be July 20-24 from 8:am until noon at the Gila Publo Campus. Camp size is limited to 20 students.

There is no charge for the camp. It is funded through the GEAR-UP grant. To enroll your 7th grader, fill out an admission form at the Gila Pueblo Campus Administration Office.

Detention Superviosor and Officer of the Quarter

Gila County Sheriff John Armer announces that Sgt. Kevin Fane has been selected Detention Supervisor of the Quarter. Jane Holst has been named Detention Officer of the Quarter. They are being recognized for their outstanding job performance and work ethic.

AAA Offers Free 'Tipsy Tow' Service

AAA Arizona is offering its free Tipsy Tow service to drivers who have too much to drink during the Fourth of July holiday. The service starts at 6:pm tonight (Friday) and runs through midnight Saturday.

During this period, drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders and restaurant managers can call AAA to request a free tow home of up to 10 miles. The program is open to everyone. You don’t have to be a AAA member to take advantage of this service.

Tipsy Tow will provide a one way ride for the driver, one passenger and their vehicle. It will not provide a ride to any location other than their home, or to a hotel if the motorist is, or plans to become, a guest.

Gas Prices Lower This July 4

Motorists across the state and the country can celebrate lower gas prices along with the Fourth of July weekend. AAA says the Arizona statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.64. The nationwide average is $2.63. Here in Globe-Miami, prices are around $2.54.

Arizona motorists are paying nearly $1.50 less per gallon this year than the all time high of $4.09 last July 3.

Police Log

Nobody was hurt in a one vehicle accident yesterday afternoon on Jess Hayes Road near the Community Center. The driver was cited for failure to control a vehicle.

Globe PD and the Public Works Department were dispatched to set up barricades in the area of Beer Creek Crossing because of flooding.

Lightning caused a small fire on a hill in the area of East Maple Street. The fire was quickly put out by Globe Fire Department.

Globe Police arrested 20 year old Jimmy Morales yesterday morning for shoplifting at the Claypool Safeway.

Officers are investigating criminal damage at the new theater site on Broad Street.

Obituary

Sally Anne Fernandez passed away Wednesday at St. Josephs Hospital. She was 67. She is survived by her husband Patrick; six children; her brother and 2 sisters.
A Celebration of Life for Sally Fernandez will be held Saturday, July 11 at 11:30 at the Gila County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall.

Globe-Miami Independence Day Celebration

Globe-Miami’s Independence Day Celebration begins Saturday morning at 9:00 with a parade in downtown Globe.

Activities at Miami Memorial Park start at 11:00.

The annual fireworks display Saturday night in Claypool will be provided by Freeport McMoran Copper Company.

Food and family activities will be hosted by the Claypool Moose Lodge beginning at 3:pm.

Free Swimming Saturday at Hostetler Pool

The Miami Hostetler Pool will celebrate Independence Day with free swimming on Saturday from 11:am until 4:pm. There will be music on the deck all day long. Hot dogs will be available for 50 cents.

Fun activities include water baloon bombing at 11:30, watermelon races at 12:30, money toss at 1:30, duck hunt game at 2:30, and racing and diving games at 3:pm.

Fireworks Friday at the Casino

The Apache Gold Casino Resort presents their annual fireworks display tomorrow night (Friday) shortly after dusk. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be available outside with music provided by DJ Scott.

Amado Receives Three Felony Convictions

Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores has announced that an eight person jury returned three felony convictions on Wednesday afternoon against 28 year old Christopher Amado, formerly of Claypool.

Amado was convicted of two counts of misconduct involving weapons and for possession of marijuana. One of the misconduct counts was because Amado was a prohibited possesor. The other count was for possessing a sawed off shotgun. It is illegal in Arizona to possess a shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches, or any firearm made from a rifle or shotgun that has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

Sentencing is set for July 31 in Gila County Superior Court before Presiding Judge Peter Cahill.

Three People Arrested for Burglary in Tonto Basin

Three people have been arrested in Tonto Basin in connection with a burglary earlier this week at the Cactus Flats Bar. About $400 worth of alcohol was stolen and $900 in damages was done to the building.

A Gila County Sheriff’s deputy learned the location of a drinking party in Tonto Basin and assembled a team consisting of deputies, the Gila County Task Force and the US Forest Service.

26 year old Aaron Hill, 19 year old Justin Watson and a 16 year old juvenile were all charged with burglary, theft, criminal damage, aggravated assault on a peace officer, threats, and possession of stolen property.

Globe Library Will Close for the Holiday Weekend

The Globe Public Library will be closed Friday and Saturday in observance of the Independence Day weekend. The library will reopen Monday at 10:am.

Next Pinto Valley Project Blasts Will Be on Tuesday

The next blasts on the US 60 Pinto Valley project are scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 and 11:30pm. Drivers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes following each blast.

Hauling operations are scheduled from 8:pm to 4:am Tuesday through Thursday. Delays of up to 15 minutes are possible.

Work will stop at 2:pm today for the Independence Day holiday and will resume at 5:am Tuesday.

Special Globe School Board Meeting Today

The Globe School Board has a Special Meeting today (Thursday) at 4:pm at the Mofford Activity Center. It includes an Executive Session for legal advice concerning financial, personnel and contract issues.

Police Log

Last night a citizen called Globe Police to report following an erratic driver from Top of the World into the Walmart parking lot. Two people from California were arrested on drug charges.

Shortly after midnight a citizen reported seeing a vehicle hit a parked car in the area of Mesquite and High Streets. Two people got out of the vehicle and walked away. 22 year old Billy Moore was located a short time later and charged with aggravated DUI and two counts of criminal damage for the cars he wrecked.

Officers arrested 40 year old Jacqueline Speer for fraudulent schemes in connection with a theft of a debit card reported on June 27.

29 year old Erica Robles was arrested yesterday for failure to return rented items.

23 year old Pamela Zufelt was arrested for shoplifting from the Claypool Safeway.

Globe Police are investigating a theft from a vehicle on Devereaux Street and criminal damage to Trinity Baptist Church.

Obituary

Ethel Bullis Dazen passed away last Friday at her home in San Carlos. She was 70. She is survived by her husband Floyd; her sister; 2 sons and 2 daughters.
The wake for Ethel Dazen will be Saturday at 4:pm at the Bullis-Dazen residence. The funeral is Sunday at 2:pm at Gilson Wash Baptist Church.

AAA Predicts Less Holiday Travel

Fewer Arizonans are expected to hit the highways for the Fourth of July holiday this year. But a AAA survey shows that the downward trend may be reversing. AAA says that even though not as many people will be heading out of town as last July 4, the decline in travel is less than it has been on other recent holidays. 718,000 Arizonans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home.

According to the forecast, there will be 3,000 fewer travelers in Arizona on July 4 this year. That’s a 0.4% drop, compared to a 2.5% decline in recent Memorial Day figures. Travel has been down in Arizona for six consecutive holidays, but the percentage appears to be improving.

AAA says some travelers may be responding to reduced hotel and airline prices. And even though gasoline prices have risen lately, they are far below the $4 statewide average last year.

GCCC Board Meets Thursday

The Gila County Community College District Governing Board meets tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:am by ITV in Gila Pueblo Campus Room 522.

SR 77 Open July 4 Weekend

The Arizona Department of Transportation announces that State Route 77 between Globe and Winkelman will be open for holiday travel between Thursday, July 2 at 2:pm and Monday, July 6 at 8:am.

ADOT is currently widening a two-mile segment of the highway. SR 77 will continue to be closed weekdays until the end of July. The highway is open nights and weekends, but with travel delays.

Tonto Fees Increase If You Don't Have a Pass

People who are planning to celebrate July 4 on the Tonto National Forest need to remember to have their Tonto Pass. The daily pass must be purchaed ahead of time from one of the 200 vendor locations statewide.

Tonto public service group leader Delvin Lopez says that even though the Tonto Pass program is three years old, some people still don’t know about the changes. Until now they have been giving Notices of Non-compliance to visitors who don’t have passes. These have cost twice the amount of the pass. Now they will be issuing Violation Notices. These will cost between $56 and $60.

Passes may be purchased at the Globe Ranger District office, Walmart, the Express Stop on East Ash, Circle K, the Globe Shell station, AM/PM, and at Kilmer’s Kountry Store. You can also purchase passes online.

Tonto National Forest Lifts Fire Restrictions

Starting today (Wednesday, July 1), all campfire and smoking restrictions affecting the Tonto National Forest have been lifted. The fire restrictions are no longer needed because fire danger has been reduced by increased moisture and humidity from the annual monsoon season.

Police Log

Three people were arrested at a traffic stop this morning shortly after 1:00. 21 year old Brandon Wright was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. 19 year old Darleen Gallegos had an outstanding warrant. She was also charged with false reporting to law enforcement. 20 year old Alexander Juvera was arrested for underage consumption and open container in a vehicle.

28 year old Joseph Duperron was arrested at a traffic stop early this morning for extreme DUI.

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office arrested 59 year old Dennis Heath on a DUI warrant.

Miami Police arrested 21 year old Jacob Napolitano for possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia, and for driving with a suspended license.

Globe Police are investigating criminal damage to a residence at Copper Country Mobile Home Park.

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a theft from a vehicle at a residence on Marion Canyon.

The Time of My Life

Audit Shows CPS Deficiencies

A state audit of Child Protective Services says the agency has failed to investigate complaints of abuse in group homes and treatment centers within the required time frame.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the audit also found record-keeping gaps that allowed treatment center employees with substantiated complaints of child abuse get new jobs in group homes, where they committed further abuse.

State law requires CPS to complete an investigation at a group care facility within 21 days and enter their findings into a database. The Auditor General found that since 2007, CPS completed its investigations on time in only 4 out of 147 cases. More than half of the reports took another one to six months to complete.

The Department of Economic Security oversees CPS. They say they agree with the findings and will make changes to fix the problems.

Interior Secretary Fast Tracks Solar Plans

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says the federal government is going to fast track plans to build solar power generating plants in Arizona and five other Western states.

Salazar says the government is setting aside 1,000 square miles of Bureau of Land Management property. He calls the 24 tracts of land Solar Energy Study Areas. He says the goal is to speed the process of tapping the sun’s energy to power homes, businesses and industries.

CVCH To Be Tobacco-Free

Starting tomorrow (July 1), Cobre Valley Community Hospital will be tobacco free. No tobacco use of any kind will be permitted on hospital property—inside or outside. This includes the elimination of designated areas outside where employees, patients and visitors are currently allowed to use tobacco products.

Cobre Valley Hospital Community Relations Coordinator Jane Allen says tobacco use in and around hospitals poses health and safety risks. She says this is not an attempt to force anyone to quit smoking. It’s an attempt by the hospital to show its commitment to healthy living.

Police Log

One person was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after an accident yesterday morning at Third and Ash Streets. One car was towed and a driver was cited for a stop light violation.

Nobody was hurt in an accident yesterday afternoon at Main and Highway 60.

Globe Fire Department quickly contained an electrical fire in a fuse box yesterday evening at a residence on 9th Street.

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office received a report of found stolen property. Parts were found from a dune buggy that was reported stolen on June 19. 33 year old Michael Rivera was arrested for theft and possession of stolen property.

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a break in at a residence at Holiday Hills Mobile Home Park and a report of telephone harassment taken at a residence in Ice House Canyon.

Globe Police are investigating a report of a burglary at Copper Country Mobile Home Park.

AHRQ Releases Health Quality Data

The federal Agency for Healthcare Researh and Quality has released its annual state-by-state report. The State Snapshots are an interactive Web tool that analyzes health care quality for all 50 states and the Disrict of Columbia.

Arizona ranks sixth in the nation for its low number of deaths from breast cancer. But Arizona is 50th for its low percentage on non-institutionalized, high risk adults with diabetes who had a flu shot in the last 12 months.

Supervisors Meet Tuesday

The Gila County Board of Supervisors holds a Special Meeting and Work Session tomorrow morning (Tuesday) at 10:am.

The Work Session includes a presentation of potential facilities projects. The Supervisors will then visit proposed project sites, including the site of the Gila County Jail women’s dormitory, the WIC program building site at the Central Heights facility, and County-owned property next to Cobre Valley Community Hospital.

US 60 Paving Project Begins July 6

The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin a project on July 6 to repave 7.8 miles of US 60 west of the Salt River Canyon from Timber Mountain to Seneca. A layer of pavement will be removed from the roadway surface and a new layer of pavement plus a layer of rubberized asphalt will be applied.

Work hours will be from 5:am to 7:pm Monday through Friday. One lane of the highway will be open with vehicles allowed to pass through the work zone in alternating directions. Drivers should expect delays of 20 to 30 minutes. The project should be completed in mid-August.

Miami Working to Raise Funds to Fix Sewer System

Miami Mayor Chuy Canizales has issued a press release concerning the town’s wastewater collector system. A recent inspection reported that the system is 100% inadequate.

Canizales says the Water Infrastructure and Finance Authority has approved a $26,000 grant to help fund the required engineering report for possible stimulus funding through the US Department of Agriculture. Gila County has pledged $7500. The Pinal Mountain Sanitation District has been asked to contribute $50,000. Congressman Ed Pastor is working to provide up to $400,000 from his contingency funds to pay for a new grit separator and 6 pumps for the pump station across from Walmart.

The WIFA has asked Miami to consider accepting a $4 million line of credit to help move the town toward qualifying for USDA funds of up to $18 million.

Canizales says the town is solidifying its collection of sewer accounts. It is recommending approval of a rate increase for sewer service in order to meet requirements for stimulus funding to repair the sytem. The new rate for residents would be $32.45.

JBS Swift Expands Beef Recall

JBS Swift Beef Company has expanded its beef recall to include about 380,000 pounds of products because of possible E. coli contamination. A recall last week involved about 41,000 pounds.

The US Department of Agriculture says that all of the beef products were produced on April 21. They are in boxes marked "EST. 969," with a package date of "042109" and a time stamp ranging from "0618" to "1130."

Police Log

One person was flown to a Valley hospital after a one vehicle rollover accident shortly before 1:00 this morning at Albany and Ice House Canyon. The car was towed for a 30 day hold.

A skull was found yesterday afternoon in the area of Carol Springs Mountain.It was partially buried in the bank on the side of a wash. It is not known if it is the skull of a human or an animal. The case is under investigation.

A 70 year old Tucson man was arrested yesterday morning for driving under the influence of drugs after a two vehicle accident with unknown injuries. One car was towed from the scene.

Globe Police arrested 45 year old Martha Garcia for domestic assault after a threat report was taken at a residence on Escudilla Drive.

25 year old Esquiel Flores was arrested after a beer run last night at Dave’s Fast Stop. Flores was charged with DUI, speeding, open container and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A 17 year old passenger was referred to juvenile authorities for underage consumption and open container.

23 year old Jenna McLendon was arrested early Sunday morning for extreme DUI.

Miami Police arrested 69 year old Theodero Serna on a warrant for threats and intimidation.

54 year old Gary DeMichelis was arrested Saturday night for threats and intimidation.

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office is investigating criminal damage at the Cobre Valley County Club and a theft at a residence on Marion Canyon

Globe Police are investigating an assault at a residence on Agave and a beer run late Saturday night at the Circle K on Santee.

Obituary

Ernie Singh passed away last week at his home in Miami. He was 40. He is survived by his mother Socorro; 2 sisters; and 3 brothers.
Visitation for “Lupe” Singh will be Wednesday at 9:am at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church. Rosary is at 9:30 and the funeral is at 10:00.