Stories
Fohr celebrates retirement after 32 years in U.S. Navy
In Boston, Mass. aboard the USS Constitution, dignitaries, military personnel and his entire family celebrated Commander Thomas David Fohr’s retirement after serving for 32 years in the United States Navy.
Clubs and Organizations
This group has no dues or age restrictions. The Tuesday Morning Breakfast Bunch meets at Tiny’s Restaurant every week at 9 a.m. to visit and plan future activities.
Arizona schools posted some of nation’s biggest tuition increases
WASHINGTON – Fueled by state budget cuts to higher education, tuition increases of 49 percent at the University of Arizona and 44 percent at Arizona State University landed the two schools in the top 20 for tuition hikes from 2008 to 2010.
Softball Benson-bound for Star wars
When Payson’s 10-11-years Little League softball All-Star players were selected at the conclusion of the regular season, coach Andre Newell expressed optimism that the team would represent the program well, mostly because those chosen had been playing fast-pitch since the program began three years ago.
Mt. Fuji hike through Nick McMullen's eyes
Fuji-san, one of the most mystical, geographically diverse, and beautiful mountains in the world. Next comes the part you won't believe: a group of students from Payson, Arizona conquered that mountain and watched the sun rise from its summit.
Ever wonder why it’s so easy to make some choices? Part II
Last week we talked about a red cardinal chick it was my privilege to rescue from a miserable fate. I found it among a pile of wet leaves and branches left behind after I cleared away a head-high pile of branches that filled my back yard in Port Arthur, Texas, after a very nasty storm.
Conquering a mystical mountain
Students’ trip to Japan includes hike up Mt. Fuji
Beginning in October 2011, Payson High School’s Hike and Ski Club started planning its second trip to Japan. Over the course of many months and several fund-raisers planned by the parents, seven students self-funded the cost of the $2,500 trip.
Ex-Horn receives GCU scholarship
Former Payson High School golf star Tyler Apps received a much-welcomed monetary surprise last week while meeting with Grand Canyon University coach Paul Purtzer. The coach told the ex-Longhorn that he would be on the receiving end of a $1,500 golf scholarship to play next season for the Antelopes.
Stars shine, but fall to Show Low
Payson Little League 11-12 years All-Star baseball team coach Craig McMullen calls the players, in a show of ultimate respect, “a rag-tag group” who surprised almost everyone with their gutsy, spirited play that led to an Area 1 second-place finish and berth in the District 1 tournament.
Health reform repeal provokes party-line vote
Rep. Paul Gosar predicts expansion of health coverage will flatline our economy
WASHINGTON — Arizona lawmakers split straight down party lines Wednesday as the House voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, less than two weeks after it was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Community Almanac
A Job Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 14 at the community room of Messinger’s Payson Funeral Home, 901 S. Westerly Road.
Hoping for rain to protect our forests
Friday the 13th! Are you superstitious? I think I used to be, but now I take the days as they come without worrying about the date. The one thing I do worry about now is the safety of our forest. Since I live right in the middle of those magnificent ponderosa pines in the Tonto National Forest, I worry about when the next bit of moisture falls our way.
Pot permits popular here
Medical marijuana patients could soon fill prescriptions in Payson if the state issues dispensary licenses next month as planned. State rules provide for one dispensary in northern and another in southern Gila County within a year of the Aug. 7 lottery.
Happy birthday, Arizona — P/S style
Earlier this week, a thought struck me. It was July 8. Seven days past July 1. I forgot my wedding anniversary. My husband forgot too. “Good grief!” I said, “I can’t believe we didn’t remember.” He pointed out to the tree where two squirrels were munching on sunflower seeds and birds were fluttering around the feeder. He said, “All that matters is right here, you and me happy and together in Pine. We celebrate every day.”
Schools stuck in orphanage
The Payson Unified School District seems trapped in some twisted Dickensonian tale — a waif in an orphanage beaten with a porridge spoon who must force a pained smile and say, “Please, sir, may I have some more?” Now, this may seem a churlish way to thank the federal government for a $368,000 payment, but consider the sequence.
Monsoons huff and puff but yield little rain
Rim Country’s almost-monsoon season this week brought dangerous flashes of lightning, but not much of the rain needed to dampen fire danger and reopen the forests on which the region’s tourist-oriented economy depends.
Christopher-Kohl’s Fire District wants bigger board
The Christopher-Kohl’s Fire District residents have asked the county for an election to expand its current three-member board to five. Current chair Deborah Dawson said while she did not make the move to enlarge the board, she feels it will create more input, which will make the board more effective.
July 4th event a great success
Hello again, fellow Creekers. Due to an overwhelming response from the community and visitors, we wanted to make the Christopher Creek Independence Day Parade a two-part series. Everyone should appreciate and enjoy without hesitation a small-town parade. The Christopher Creek Independence Day Parade was no exception.
Andy Griffith will be missed by many
Gone is the era of simplicity, innocence and the importance of family values found on television in the 1950s and ’60s. Gone are the days when you could turn on one of the three or four UHS channels that were available back then on your black & white, 19-inch set and without thinking about it, know you were going to enjoy a quality, wholesome show.
Payson Recreation Roundup
Round up your friends and get your team registered for this second annual event. Players must be 12 years of age and older. Cost is $30 per team. The tournament will be held at Julia Randall Elementary School gym starting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 4.
All-Star manager praises volunteer
Junior Stars on verge of winning District crown
Payson Little League 13-14 years “Junior” All-Star baseball team manager Tony McNeeley is spewing superlatives over the contributions volunteer coach Jeff Cochran has made to the team in its bid to reach the state championships. “He’s dedicated and he loves the game,” McNeeley said. “He has so much knowledge of the game and he’s a class act.”
Annual alumni soccer game next Saturday
Lady Longhorn soccer coach Amy Wilcox has issued an invitation for all former PHS players to turn out for the annual alumni game to be played at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 21 on the South Rumsey multipurpose field. Alumni players are asked to wear dark-colored shirts and will play against a squad made up of current high school players.
Vouchers available to help with cat spay or neuter
The Humane Society of Central Arizona and its affiliates are firm believers in spaying and neutering because it saves lives. Spaying and neutering is very important and there are a few programs locally that can assist you, as well as other programs throughout the state.
Pleasant Valley Days kick off next weekend
The residents of the Young area aren’t letting the happily departed Poco Fire put a damper on their Arizona Centennial celebration of Pleasant Valley Days. Festivities start Friday, July 20 with the Pleasant Valley Fire Department dinner from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., along with a program by Cindy Shanks on the last group of sheep to walk the sheep driveway west of Young.
GCC nursing receives donation
Gila Community College’s (GCC) workhorse nursing program got a boost recently, with the donation of 20 IV pumps by Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center (CVRMC) in Globe.
Drama students win awards at Costume Con
Fairies, fuzzy monsters and Payson drama students garbed as Vikings converged recently in Phoenix at the 30th annual Costume Con. The Payson students came away with awards. Costume Con is a four-day international conference that showcases the talents of folks who design, make and wear costumes.
Girl sells lemonade to raise money for local food bank
When Helen and Philip Martin’s 12-year-old granddaughter Elsa Alexander wanted to do a lemonade stand for National Lemonade Day, the couple immediately thought of the empty shelves at St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. “We saw in the paper it was in trouble,” said Helen.
Windfall enriches schools
Last-minute federal money eases tight Payson budget
In a welcome budget surprise, the federal government this week gave the Payson Unified School District an extra $368,000. “This came as a complete surprise,” said Payson Unified School District Business Manager Kathie Manning.
Chamber plans July 14 Job Fair
Job seekers can meet with employers looking from 8 a.m. to noon, July 14 at the Payson Messenger Community Room. This fair is open to any Rim Country resident or business (by prior application) to connect employers with eligible applicants in Rim Country.
Private enterprise funds the government
One can surmise from the letters of Larry Brophy that he never had the responsibility of meeting a payroll.
Shaffer would never turn his back on the community
Dean Shaffer has been a good friend of mine for over 20 years.
We need reservoirs
For all my life, I have watched water flow down places like Tonto Creek, Salt River and others, and it flows to nowhere, because we refuse to build more reservoirs.
Endangered watershed
Aerial tour underscores danger to water supply on which Rim Country depends
The dry and spindly forest rises and slopes across the terrain, an unbroken ocean of trees crowding right to the edge of a sinuous snake of aqua-blue, with a shed skin of raw, exposed rock. Rim Country’s future lies beneath that unbroken canopy of tinder dry trees and along the twisted banks of that canyon-caught Blue Ridge Reservoir, as revealed this week during a helicopter tour hosted by the Salt River Project.
What’s fair?
I write in response to a recent note from someone who finds it patriotic to pay unlimited amounts of taxes but not patriotic to pay whatever it takes to fund often nonsensical government spending.
Unhappy with dog park
I have found the most dangerous place in Payson.
Angels among us
Last Monday I headed into the bank.
Lack of clarity frustrating
I wish to commend you on your recent article, “Supreme Court sets off frenzy of political spin.”
Swinging for the fences
Junior Little League team earns first-ever seed to state tourney
A plucky group of nine aspiring baseball players — the minimum number needed for a team — Wednesday made Payson Little League history by winning both Area and District championships to earn a first-ever seed in the state tournament.
