Lead stories
6:00 a.m.
Campus land sale faces another delay- December 2, 2011
- ASU’s hoped-for Payson campus just hit another jarring bump on its long, potholed road. The Gila County Board of Supervisors has removed the land sale from its Dec. 6 agenda. “I will remove this item from the Board of Supervisors Agenda of Dec. 6 and place it on the next available agenda after the County and SLE have completed our discussions,” wrote Don McDaniel, county manager for Gila County in an e-mail to Mayor Kenny Evans. The county and the Rim Country Educational Alliance SLE had hoped to wrap up negotiations on the land sale by mid-December. With this recent move, all that has changed. Complications center on the Gila Community College board’s questions regarding the sale of land the county has been holding in trust for GCC.
9:00 a.m.
Food drive collects 21,800 pounds in two weeks- December 2, 2011
- With only 27 measly turkeys in the freezer at St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank a week before Thanksgiving, it looked like needy families would have to go without a feast this year. But the Payson Area Food Drive (PAFD) got a huge boost in donations just in time for the big day with Turkey Tuesday bringing in 380 turkeys — all donated by the local community. Added with other food donations and the PAFD collected more than 21,800 pounds in just the last two weeks. At a PAFD meeting Thursday morning, organizers sat astounded by the volume of donations given in such a short time and credited the community’s ever-growing giving spirit.
1:05 p.m.
- Passing motorists help free trapped driver
- December 6, 2011
- On Sunday, one motorist trapped in his vehicle was the benefactor of the quick thinking of passing motorists. Several men jumped into action when they saw a vehicle overturned in the snow and the driver trapped inside and hanging upside down just north of Payson on Highway 87. Using a shovel and their hands, the men pried open the passenger door so the man could climb out. Paramedics later took the driver to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Janice Pearson, who was heading northbound on 87, said she didn’t see the accident, but saw snow flying everywhere just after it occurred around 10 a.m. Pearson and another driver were the first to stop and Pearson immediately got on her cell phone to call for help.
3:00 p.m.
County drops theft case against doctor’s ex-wife- December 6, 2011
- A judge has granted the Gila County attorney’s office request to dismiss the case against a woman accused of taking advantage of a hospice patient. On Dec. 5, Superior Court Judge Peter Cahill vacated all future hearings and dismissed the charges against Heather Driscoll.
6:00 p.m.
Snow and cold the hot topic at Electric Light Parade - December 6, 2011
- With the temperature at freezing and snow on the ground, nature offered the Payson Electric Light Parade a perfect stage for its performance. “It’s like 32 degrees here,” said a teenager into her cell phone to a friend. Next to her, fires raged safely in metal pits while her family shared cups of hot chocolate to stay warm. Cars lined Main Street along the length of the parade route. People turned the night into a party despite the cold and snow. Running down the street a little boy sang, “Jingle bell — jingle bell — jingle bell rock!” Some parade goers brought tall, silver propane heaters, chairs and tables. Others erected canopies with dining rooms ensconced inside. Pots of chili and mugs of apple cider steamed in people’s hands. Impromptu snowball fights broke out. “So anyway, how are you guys doing?” one resident called to a friend. “It’s a good turnout already,” another said to a neighbor.
9:00 p.m.
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GCC land sale qualms push ASU progress back 2 months
- December 6, 2011
- Arizona State University will not go to the Arizona Board of Regents for approval to build a new campus in Payson until February, the result of last-minute questions raised by the Gila Community College board. ASU had planned to seek approval from the Board of Regents at its quarterly meeting last week, but decided to wait until the Rim Country Educational Alliance actually obtains a 22-acre parcel on which it wants to build the first, 1,000-student phase of the campus. Gila County was poised to transfer the land to the Alliance several weeks ago, but held off after the GCC board asked the county to impose a series of conditions.
All stories
- Clubs and Organizations
- December 6, 2011
- The Zane Grey Kiwanis and its Young Professionals group invite anyone interested in learning more about the organizations, which are dedicated to helping Rim Country children, to attend one of the meetings. The Kiwanis meet from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. every Thursday at Tiny’s Family Restaurant, 600 E. Highway 260. The Young Professionals meet at 5:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays at Macky’s Restaurant.
- Passing motorists help free trapped driver
- December 6, 2011
- On Sunday, one motorist trapped in his vehicle was the benefactor of the quick thinking of passing motorists. Several men jumped into action when they saw a vehicle overturned in the snow and the driver trapped inside and hanging upside down just north of Payson on Highway 87. Using a shovel and their hands, the men pried open the passenger door so the man could climb out. Paramedics later took the driver to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Janice Pearson, who was heading northbound on 87, said she didn’t see the accident, but saw snow flying everywhere just after it occurred around 10 a.m. Pearson and another driver were the first to stop and Pearson immediately got on her cell phone to call for help.
- GCC land sale qualms push ASU progress back 2 months
- December 6, 2011
- Arizona State University will not go to the Arizona Board of Regents for approval to build a new campus in Payson until February, the result of last-minute questions raised by the Gila Community College board. ASU had planned to seek approval from the Board of Regents at its quarterly meeting last week, but decided to wait until the Rim Country Educational Alliance actually obtains a 22-acre parcel on which it wants to build the first, 1,000-student phase of the campus. Gila County was poised to transfer the land to the Alliance several weeks ago, but held off after the GCC board asked the county to impose a series of conditions.
- County drops theft case against doctor’s ex-wife
- December 6, 2011
- A judge has granted the Gila County attorney’s office request to dismiss the case against a woman accused of taking advantage of a hospice patient. On Dec. 5, Superior Court Judge Peter Cahill vacated all future hearings and dismissed the charges against Heather Driscoll.
- Star Valley readies for water company purchase
- December 6, 2011
- On the heels of purchasing the Payson Water Company from Brooke Utilities, the Star Valley council will address how it will fund the $775,000 expenditure at a Tuesday council meeting. The deal is one of the most important purchases the town has made since incorporating in 2007. With the water company comes 360 local customers, but more importantly, water rights that let the town pursue a sustainable water source. The town is already considering acquiring a share of Blue Ridge water and hooking new wells into the system.
- Snow and cold the hot topic at Electric Light Parade
- December 6, 2011
- With the temperature at freezing and snow on the ground, nature offered the Payson Electric Light Parade a perfect stage for its performance. “It’s like 32 degrees here,” said a teenager into her cell phone to a friend. Next to her, fires raged safely in metal pits while her family shared cups of hot chocolate to stay warm. Cars lined Main Street along the length of the parade route. People turned the night into a party despite the cold and snow. Running down the street a little boy sang, “Jingle bell — jingle bell — jingle bell rock!” Some parade goers brought tall, silver propane heaters, chairs and tables. Others erected canopies with dining rooms ensconced inside. Pots of chili and mugs of apple cider steamed in people’s hands. Impromptu snowball fights broke out. “So anyway, how are you guys doing?” one resident called to a friend. “It’s a good turnout already,” another said to a neighbor.
- Coconino County sheriff still trying to identify human remains
- December 6, 2011
- Coconino sheriff’s deputies and detectives are still attempting to identify human remains that were located on Nov. 27 off of Forest Service Road 142D by Clear Creek Canyon and Bear Canyon on Good Enough Ridge in the Blue Ridge area.
- Watch Longhorn Band perform at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7
- December 6, 2011
- The Payson High School Longhorn Marching Band is in Hawaii to perform for the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Wednesday, Dec. 7.
- Gila County redistricting: ‘It worked out real nice’
- Head of the committee that redrew Gila County district lines contrasts local process with state carnage
- December 6, 2011
- What a ride. Very bumpy. But satisfying. That’s how the head of Gila County’s volunteer redistricting committee described the complicated, contentious and often confusing effort to redraw the district lines for the board of supervisors and the Gila Community College board. “It became a political thing,” said Bob Sanchez, head of the citizen’s group that spent months coming up with new boundaries for the three supervisor seats and the five community college board seats. Sanchez made his remarks at a recent meeting of the Northern Gila County Democratic Club.
- DECA students win western leadership honors
- December 6, 2011
- Eight Payson High School DECA students attended the 2011 Western Region Leadership Conference in San Diego, Calif. held Nov. 10-12 with four students winning awards. Hayli Egbert, Madison Flake, Jordyn Fruth, Amanda Hartnell, Kyle Marshall, Nick McMullen, Bethany Sprinkle and Eric Vohs were among the hundreds of students from 14 western states and territories who attended the Western Regional Conference which is designed to develop leadership skills in students who are pursuing careers in marketing and management.
- Community Almanac
- December 6, 2011
- Creating Christmas ornaments makes holiday memories that will last forever. The Isabelle Hunt Memorial Public Library has planned another super fun activity for youngsters to teach them how to make their own holiday ornaments.
- Comment not appropriate
- December 6, 2011
- Julia Randall School’s Principal Rob Varner’s remark to the school board that— “… the teachers have been busting their butts” — sends me a message I don’t like to hear and is unacceptable.
- The ‘Occupy Movement’ — A contrast in political support
- December 6, 2011
- Two months ago, protesters began an “Occupy” movement in a number of cities across the country.
- Energy independence roadblocks need to be removed
- December 6, 2011
- Thank you for publishing the article by Senator Jon Kyl regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline.
- ASU grad loves sports column
- December 6, 2011
- Please double the salary of sportswriter Max Foster and purchase seats for him and his family for ASU’s next year’s season!
- Real solutions needed to keep our country safe
- December 6, 2011
- I had to write today because I read the other day that thanks to the super committee’s failure to come to an agreement, the automatic cuts that will happen will cost Arizona 33,000 jobs just in defense department employment!
- Thanks to all those who helped with Electric Light Parade
- December 6, 2011
- Last weekend was the Electric Light Parade. What a spectacular event it was.
- Band will learn lessons of Pearl Harbor tragedy
- December 6, 2011
- What lessons will our children learn, playing their music where so many died so pointlessly? The Longhorn Band on Wednesday, Dec. 7, will play close by the sunken tomb of the USS Arizona, whose crew accounted for almost half of the 2,402 Americans who died in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor 70 years ago.
- PHS’s Drama Department wins state award
- Gold Honor Troupe for 15 years running
- December 6, 2011
- For 15 years in a row, the Payson High School Drama Department has won the Gold Honor Troupe plaque from the Arizona State Thespian Society (ASTS). “We’re judged on the quality of our work,” said Kathy Siler, director of the Drama Department. ASTS started in the mid-1970s to provide quality theatre and educational experiences through networking opportunities and workshops. The ASTS award recognizes the PHS Drama Department as one of the most active thespian troupes in the state. To qualify, the Drama Department submits a dossier on the previous year’s work, said Siler.
- Drama coach wants students to reach their potential
- December 6, 2011
- Why did you choose to teach in Payson? The most generous and friendly community I’ve experienced.
- Teaching drama: A lifetime of possibilities
- December 6, 2011
- The ceiling soars. Backdrop props that rise two-stories high tilt against a wall. A room the size of a school cafeteria has costumes jammed into every spare bit of space. A wall of shelves standing 10 feet high and 30 feet wide stacks shoes floor to ceiling. On stage, massive lights, pulleys, swaths of fabric and curtains stand at the ready. High above the seats of the auditorium, the booth suspends from the ceiling, housing spotlights, the light and soundboard used to showcase actors and scenes. These tools, rooms and spaces in the high school auditorium hold the keys to transporting the students of the Payson Drama Department and their audience to other times and places.
- Rim Country recycling opportunities require research; most are for free
- December 6, 2011
- Those of you planning on a new computer for yourself or someone else this holiday season can recycle old computer equipment for free thanks to Gila County. The Buckhead Mesa Landfill will take your old computer, computer monitor, printer, copier and even old flat screen televisions and recycle them. And it won’t cost you anything. On occasion, the Gila County Solid Waste Department holds special recycling events, but does not have any planned until the weather warms, according to director Sharon Radanovich.
- Payson Library offering free computer classes on various nights
- December 6, 2011
- The Payson Public Library is offering free computer classes covering a variety of topics through January. Courses range from learning the ins and outs of Facebook and Twitter, setting up a blog and using networking tools like LinkedIn. Each two-hour class, at 328 N. McLane Road, will focus on one topic. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, reference librarian Bessie Tucker will tackle Facebook, a popular tool with 800 million active users.
- Payson council to vote on taking over the airport
- December 6, 2011
- The Payson Town Council on Thursday will consider a plan to resume running the Payson Regional Airport. The proposed agreement would return the airport to the town in February and require the council to set up an advisory airport commission and hire a new town employee to manage the airport. The move comes after the existing, volunteer Payson Regional Airport Authority board (PRAA) set aside the objections of many pilots and asked the town to step back in to run the airport. Town Attorney Tim Wright in a memo to the council said 2010 discussions about changes in the lease agreement led eventually to the PRAA’s request that the town take the airport back.
- Payson Care Center associates walk to end Alzheimer’s
- December 6, 2011
- Recently 18 associates from Payson Care Center in Payson, Ariz., participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Sedona, Ariz., sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association. The staff members walked for the cure in honor of the residents they serve. “The Sedona community was impressed with the large turnout from Payson and the unity we represented,” said Christy VanderMolen, marketing director for Payson Care Center.
- Bundle up and get a look at the night sky
- December 6, 2011
- Oh, these dark mornings! I am normally an early riser and love the morning hours, but it is hard to get out of a warm bed when the house is chilly and dark. Remember, though, that in only 16 more days, it will be the Winter Solstice when the sun begins its slow journey to bring back long hours of daylight. Often in December the sun closes the day with a dramatic production, a blaze of color that etch the bare branches of trees against the semi-circle of sky and turn the pine needles so dark as to appear black shafted with gold from the last rays. Swiftly the blaze of color fades to be replaced by the first glistening stars. Silent Night! Holy Night!
- Lady Horn duo named all-state HMs
- December 6, 2011
- A pair of Lady Longhorn volleyball players are basking in the laurels of having received honorable mention honors to the prestigious Division III All-State team. Emme Ashby and Rachel Creighton were named to the team Dec. 4 by The Arizona Republic newspaper sports staff. Creighton, a senior and three-year letter winner, who played setter for the Lady Horns was the team’s quarterback the entire 2011 season setting up teammates for kills and returns.
- Neighbor to north honors sports legend
- December 6, 2011
- Residents of Winslow will gather Saturday, Dec. 10, in the new Winslow High School gymnasium to celebrate legendary Bulldog football coach Emil Nasser’s 90th birthday. It will undoubtedly be a huge celebration because Nasser is one of the most revered men in the northern Arizona town having coached the Bulldogs from 1947 until his retirement at the end of the 1981 season.
- WON winners
- December 6, 2011
- The team of Chris Chlup and Greg Valenzuela fished their way to a first place finish in the Western Outdoor News (WON) Arizona region bass tournament held Dec. 3 at Windy Hill on Roosevelt Lake. The winning pair weighed in a five-fish limit of 11.88 pounds that included the tournament’s “Big Fish” winner — a 4.23-pound largemouth.
- Lady Horn tourney set
- December 6, 2011
- The Lady Longhorn effort in the 2011 Holiday Hoops tournament, set to be played Dec. 28 and 29 in Payson, will be buoyed by four veteran players who paced the PHS team in last year’s post Christmas basketball shoot-out. Teanna Lopez, Chioya Hill, Jamie Carlen and Molly Davis return from the 2010 team that experienced its ups and downs in the annual hardwood fray whipping Blue Ridge 52-36, but then getting steamrolled 61-19 by a very good Mesa Westwood team. The Lady Horns eventually finished 1-2 in the tournament, a mark they hope to improve upon this year. Lopez was at her best last year in the win over Blue Ridge scoring a game high 16 points.
- Horns take bronze at Winslow shootout
- December 6, 2011
- A 64-61 win over the homestanding Winslow Bulldogs coupled with a 3-1 tournament record lifted the Longhorn boys basketball team to a third place finish in the Cake Chevrolet Shootout.
- Business Briefs
- December 6, 2011
- Hoping to help those in need and add to the holiday season at the Swiss Village shops, the owner of Crafters Cubbies has opened a free Christmas tree village. Several businesses, organizations and families have decorated Christmas trees, at 616 N. Beeline Highway, in the hopes people will visit and place a new toy, pet food or nonperishable food item below a tree. Donations will benefit local families in need.
- How to avoid real estate scams
- December 6, 2011
- A week ago, the Payson Roundup published an article on holiday scams of which we should be wary. Coincidentally, about the same time as the article appeared, one of Coldwell Banker’s clients dropped off a mailing from a company in Phoenix questioning the validity of the offer. The client had recently purchased a home in Payson and the mailing appeared to be an official document that offered a copy of the grant deed and property profile. The offer cost $87 if the client responded no later than December 9.
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Question of the week
Do you think new Principal Anna Van Zile has a valid idea in eliminating the Asst. Principal and replacing it with an Athletic Director position that would share her duties as Principal?
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