Payson Roundup

This week, I am writing the column from Yuma. I lived in Yuma from June 1967 until the summer of 2001. Most of my children and grandchildren still live here, so that is one of the reasons I still have ties here. I am spending the week at my son’s house in the foothills. I am taking care of my grandchildren, so that my son and daughter-in-law can go on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera for their 25th wedding anniversary.

I received an e-mail from Fire  Lt. Rick Wasburn from fire station #23 at Mead and Collins Ranch. In essence, this was the message: there will be a collection bin available for the next two weeks in the vacant lot across from station #22 in Tonto Village.

This bin is for pine needles, branches, etc., to assist the residents with making the area fire safe. This program is part of the firewise grant. Please, no trash is to be thrown in the bin.

If there are any violations, then Tonto Village will be removed from the county’s list of sites that will be provided a collection bin. Since the forest is extremely dry, it is important to make your space firewise. So come on everyone and cooperate with the firewise program to make our area safer. Remember to fill out grant forms for all your work as this is how we will pay for the bin through the grant program.

Grant forms can be obtained through the Hellsgate Fire Department Web site at hellsgatefire.org or at the fire station #22 in Tonto Village from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.