Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

The Rim Country Minyan, a new organization, will celebrate Hanukkah in Star Valley on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 28. 

The festivities will begin at 3 p.m., and will include singing, Israeli dancing, games and a vegetarian potluck. There will be a candle lighting ceremony at sunset. Children are welcome — the dreydls are ready. People of all faiths are welcome to participate.

For more information, contact Naomi Mallinson, (928) 468-2212 or e-mail nmallinson@q.com.

Brush drops closed

The Regional Payson Area Project, for a Fire Wise Rim Country (RPAP) announces that all RPAP brush pits will be closed Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 27 and 28, so that our staff and volunteers can spend the holidays with their families.

Thrift store sale

The Senior Thrift Store, 512 W. Main St., will have all remaining Christmas merchandise on sale at half price through Dec. 30.

The store is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and will be closed Jan. 1 for the holiday.

Guitar Hero rematch

Rock Out at the Guitar Hero Tournament from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Road.

Prizes will be awarded for high scores on each difficulty level. Enjoy snacks and games as you wait your turn. Open to ages 10-18 years old.

Please sign up at the front desk, or call 474-9260.

Republicans to meet

The Rim Country Republican Club will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at noon, Monday, Dec. 29 at Crosswinds Restaurant.

On Nov. 21, the Northern Gila Republican Women voted to merge with the Rim Country Republican Club. All members of the Northern Gila Republican Women are invited to join and attend the Rim Country Republican Club meetings.

The speaker Monday will be District 1 County Supervisor Tommie Martin. She will discuss her positions as to the state of Gila County government, her views to restore forest management, and the future of conservative government in Arizona.

The public is welcome to join us to meet and discuss these issues with Tommie Martin. For more information, please call Bob Hibbert at (928) 468-2234.

New Year’s morning prayer service

All Christians are encouraged to begin 2009 right: with other “pray-ers” as we praise the Lord and seek His will for our world, nation, state, community, church and ourselves. 

During these troubled times, we all desperately need revival, and prayer is the key. We will meet from 7 a.m. to 7:10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 1, about two miles east of Beeline on Houston Mesa Road at the top of the hill before Mesa Del. After a five-minute hike to an overlook, Dave Yoder will lead us in song as we seek the Lord and His will as we pray over Payson, Star Valley and the area.

Dress warmly. In case of rain or too much snow, we will meet at Fireside Espresso, 614 N. Beeline. For more information, call (928) 472-8178.

Low-cost spay/neuter surgeries offered Jan. 7

Low-cost spay/neuter surgeries will again be offered in Payson, by the Plateauland Mobile Veterinary Clinic, a division of Second Chance Center for Animals in Flagstaff.

Payson Humane Society will host the clinic, to be held Wednesday, Jan. 7 next to the animal shelter at 812 S. McLane Road.

Surgery fees are as follows: dog spay $75, dog neuter $60, cat spay $50, cat neuter $40. Animals in heat/pregnant or over 60 pounds are subject to additional fees. Vaccinations and other services will be available to surgery patients at an additional low-cost fee.

Spay/neuter surgeries will be on an appointment basis only. To make an appointment or for further information, call the clinic at 1-928-526-5964. Interested pet owners may also call the PaysonHumane Society at 474-5590.

London group tour has openings

Shannon Howard of Gila Community College is organizing a trip to London. Howard has about 10 slots still available for the May 16-May 23 trip. She needs registration and a $250 deposit by Jan. 12. The trip includes six nights in a 4-star hotel and escorted sightseeing.

For further details, including prices, contact Howard at (928) 951-1434 or e-mail her at shannonhoward.gcc@gmail.com.

Payson Birders to meet

The Payson Birders will meet at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Payson Public Library community room. The guest speaker will be George Wall, who will be discussing his two-week “hard core” bird watching in Australia. Wall has been birding since 1997 and is a board member of Sonoran Audubon Society, is active in many other birding programs and is editor of the Audubon Society newsletter. He has been birding throughout the U.S. and in places as far as Argentina and Brazil.

The public is invited to attend this meeting free of charge, but donations would be appreciated. For more information, call (928) 474-4572.

Preserving memories

Brenda Martell is teaching a scrapbooking class this semester at Gila Community College.

Students will learn how to develop a theme, create page quality layouts, select the correct paper, crop photos, journal, use stamps, practice embossing methods, generate computer images, and use text and templates. Use cherished photos and items to create a pictorial history to be preserved for posterity.

Classes meet from 6 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. Thursdays starting Jan. 7. To register, go directly to the GCC’s Payson Campus at 201 N. Mud Springs Road, or register online at www.GilaCCC.org.

Bridge results

Tuesday Bridge Club winners for Dec. 16 were: Marilyn Blanc, first; Susan James, second; Betty da Costa, third.

Play is at 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Rim Country Health and Retirement Community. Area residents and guest are welcome. Please call Marge Munro at (928) 468-6220 for reservations and information.

Wednesday Duplicate Bridge winners for Dec. 17 were: Phon Sutton and Meg Turlukis, first; Susan James and Wanda Sitz, second; Keith Blankenbuehler and Harley Follmer, third; Teri Jimerson and Frank James, fourth.

For information and reservations, call (928) 474-9482.

Adult education classes

Adult education classes are offered in Payson through the office of Gila County Superintendent of Schools. Classes are free and are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 112 W. Cedar Lane.

The classes will include: basic education, GED preparation, distance learning opportunities, and computer-assisted learning, covering all subject areas.

For more information about the Gila County Adult Education Program, please contact Leslie Owen at (928) 472-5374.

Benefit candle sale

Gold Canyon Candles are now offered at Safeway as a benefit to the Payson Humane Society. This brand of candle is known for superior wax and fragrance blends, and unique double wicks, which allow candles to burn stronger, longer and more evenly. The cost is less than what is available online, and proceeds benefit the Payson Humane Society. For more information, call (928) 472-4661.

Genealogy program

The Northern Gila County Genealogical Library will present a program by Val Sullivan on military records of the 18th and 19th centuries, including the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection.

The program is from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the genealogy library, 302 E. Bonita. The cost is $20 per person. For details and to register, call (928) 474-2139.

The genealogy library is closed through Jan. 3.

Chamber meeting

The 2009 Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting prior to the January “Business Buzz” at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the Best Western Payson Inn. All chamber members are invited to attend.  The chamber board and staff will be present to answer questions.