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.