Police Log

Yesterday Globe Police arrested 24 year old inmate Justin Clyder for failure to comply on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

San Carlos Police arrested 32 year old Joanna Lee of Globe on a warrant for possession of drugs for sale, conspiracy to possess a dangerous drug for sale, and transportation of a dangerous drug for sale.

Pine-Strawberry Water District Office Receives Suspicious Envelope

Yesterday afternoon the Pine-Strawberry Water Improvement District received a suspicious envelope with an unknown substance inside.

They called the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and the Pine-Strawberry Fire Department  who requested assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety Haz-Mat Unit. The Haz-Mat Unit will determine what the contents of the envelope are.

Everyone who was in close proximity to the envelope was decontaminated for precautionary measures by the Pine-Strawberry Fire Department and the building was cleared.

No other citizens in the Pine and Strawberry area are believed to be in any danger. The case is under investigation and more information may be released as it becomes available.

Globe Library Closed on President's Day

The Globe Public Library will be closed on Monday, February 17 for President’s Day.

They will resume normal hours on Tuesday (February 18) at 9:am.

Cobre Valley Republican Club Meets Saturday

The Cobre Valley Republican Club is having its monthly meeting tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30am at the club headquarters on North Broad Street.

Guest speakers include District 8 State Senator Irene Littleton and State Representative candidate Darla Dawald.

For more information call 928-701-2195.

Lawsuit Claims Kroger Labels Not Telling the 'Simple Truth'

A class action lawsuit was filed this week in California alleging that the Kroger company is deceptively claiming that its Simple Truth chicken is sourced from chickens raised “in a humane environment.” 

The suit claims that the birds are actually treated no differently from other mass produced chickens confined on factory farms and killed in industrial slaughter plants.

Kroger operates more than 2,600 supermarket stores in 34 states under various local banner names, such as Fry’s in Arizona.

The website Compassion Over Killing says that the lawsuit alleges that Simple Truth chicken products can be traced to a Perdue Farms processing facility in Kentucky. Perdue Farms is reported to engage in standard chicken industry practices such as selective breeding of fast-growth birds who continuously suffer from cardiovascular problems, painful bone deformities and lameness.

The suit claims that Simple Truth chickens are also subject to inhumane practices at slaughter, including upside down shackling by their legs and submersion into vats of electrified water.

A Kroger spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday that the company has not yet had a chance to review the lawsuit, but it plans to “vigorously defend” their label.

Show Low Residents Speak Out Against Redflex

During the last City Council election, Globe voters elected councilmembers and a mayor who promised to get rid of the Redflex traffic cameras. The same thing may be happening now in Show Low.

The White Mountain Independent reports that  the Show Low City Council “got an earful” this week from people who wanted them to get rid of the cameras in that area.

A few people spoke in favor of the cameras at the City Council meeting, but most people were against them.

Show Low Councilmember Gene Kelley brought up the Redflex scandal in Chicago. In January the Chicago Tribune reported that Redflex Executive Aaron Rosenberg allegedly provided Chicago government officials with gifts and bribes. Redflex lost its $100 million contract with the city of Chicago.

Redflex fired Rosenberg and is suing him in an Arizona court, blaming him for the company’s wrongdoing.

Rosenberg says in a counterclaim that Redflex provided gifts and bribes to government officials in 13 states--including Arizona—in order to get new contracts. Redlex denies the allegations.

A public survey in Show Low shows a 50/50 split between those who say the cameras caused them to change their driving habits for the better and those who say the cameras  had no effect. A slim majority of about 54% said to keep photo enforcement as it is or  modify some aspects of it.

Those speaking against the cameras at the Show Low City Council meeting said the cameras  made visitors feel “unwelcome.” Some visitors wrote scathing letters to the editor saying they would never return to Show Low because of the cameras.

The same thing happened in Globe while the cameras were active. Several people wrote comments in the KIKO blog saying they would never return to Globe.

Police Log

Two people were arrested yesterday morning at a business on Hill Street. 24 year old Nicole Flores was charged with felony shoplifting. 36 year old Jay Garcia was arrested on a warrant for possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drugs for sale, transportation of a dangerous drug for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia.

27 year old Billy Pazzi was arrested yesterday for theft.

Phoenix Police arrested 21 year old Jenna Smith of Globe on a Gila County warrant for hindering prosecution.

Obituary

Naomi Ruth Steele of Miami passed away January 30 in Payson. She was 89.

The funeral for Naomi Steele is Saturday at 10:30am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church  in Miami.

Towed Truck Separates and Crashes into Another Vehicle Causing Minor Injuries

Last night a semi-truck tractor separated from the truck that was towing it and crashed into another vehicle, causing minor injuries.

An eastbound semi–truck was towing three other semi-truck tractors on Highway 60 when one of the trucks separated and crossed into oncoming westbound traffic. The driverless truck collided head on into a car driven by a couple from the Casa Grande area.

The driver of the first semi-truck was stopped in Globe by a DPS officer who noticed that the truck had no taillights. The rear lighting remained with the separated vehicle.

Neither of the drivers were  injured. A passenger in the westbound vehicle was taken to Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center and treated for minor injuries.

The semi-truck was taken out of service for multiple equipment violations.

Two People Arrested in Globe Drug Bust

Yesterday the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies arrested two people after executing a search warrant on Courtney Lane in Globe.

Sixty-one year old Robert Healy and 46 year old Anna Casillas were taken into custody. 

The Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force seized methamphetamine along with numerous firearms and drug paraphernalia items.

Charges are pending, ranging from possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drugs for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia, misconduct involving weapons in a drug offense, and child abuse.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Gila County Attorney’s Office, San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife and the Globe Police Department.

Police Log

Yesterday Globe Police arrested 56 year old Diana Walls for driving under the influence of drugs.

37 year old Ky Altaha was arrested for extreme DUI.

56 year old roger Longknife was arrested for criminal damage at a business on North Broad Street.

Obituary

Curtis Wayne Red Bird of Peridot passed away February 3 at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa. He was 53.

The wake for Curtis Red Bird is Saturday (February 15) at 4:pm at the Red Bird residence. The funeral is Sunday at 1:pm at San Carlos Miracle Church.

Arizona Schools Chief Plugs Private Schools in Robocall

Yesterday (February 11)  thousands of Arizona residents received automated telephone “robo-calls” from Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal encouraging parents to consider private schools. It’s part of a $250,000 media campaign promoting “Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.”  That’s state money that pays for private schools and supplies.

In an interview with 12News, Huppenthal defended his participation in the campaign by saying that all kids are part of the “public” and that he is not the Superintendent of  “Public Schools.”

Former Assistant Arizona Attorney General and public education advocate Vince Rabaga responded on his website that “Actually, he is.” Rabaga says the Arizona Department of Education’s own website says that the Superintendent’s job is to “superintend” the K-12 public education system in Arizona…This involves providing for the students of Arizona a uniform public school system.”

Arizona Education Association advocate Jennifer Loredo called Huppenthal’s robocall “pathetic.”

You can watch Channel 12's video report here.

ADOT Website Gives Wait Times at MVD Offices

Even though we don't have the long lines at the Globe MVD office that they have in the Valley and in Tucson, you still might save some time by checking the wait time online.

The ADOT website now gives the current wait times at all MVD offices, updated every five minutes.

To check the wait time at the Globe office, click here.