- Cottonwood gets tough on designer drugs
- January 31, 2012
- What is designer cocaine? Simply put, they are drugs that manufacturers design around laws created to stop their use. A designer drug that simulates cocaine is marketed as “Glass Cleaner” and also as “Bath Salts.” Glass Cleaner, specifically, has rendered all but useless an emergency federal ban enacted in October 2011, to stem the sale and use of the potentially lethal Bath Salts. The chemically tweaked designer Glass Cleaners hit the shelves as soon as the federal ban took effect. The ban targets three synthetic stimulants the federal Drug Enforcement Administration will study for a year and determine whether to permanently put them in the same category as heroin, meth and cocaine.
- Wyden-Ryan plan a bipartisan solution for Medicare
- January 20, 2012
- recently to see two politicians from very different political perspectives —Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan — come together and propose bold ideas for how to solve one of our nation’s most intractable challenges: the preservation and protection of Medicare. Their plan would introduce some much-needed competition into the Medicare program, which would drive costs down while also ensuring seniors continued access to the Medicare program they know and like. The Wyden-Ryan plan is not perfect — I, for one, have some concerns — but at least it is a sober step in the right direction and a genuine attempt to spark serious cross-party conversation on the topic.
- Distractions while driving — better to be safe than sorry
- January 17, 2012
- It has been proven by researchers that any kind of distraction while driving, walking or biking poses a major safety issue on our roadways. The nature and intensity of distractions vary from situation to situation. Driver distractions come in many forms, such as texting, using cell phones, children in the vehicle, passionate conversations with other passengers, and eating or drinking while driving. Some people have also been guilty of putting on makeup or doing other “interesting” tasks when they should be concentrating on the road in front of them. Driving is the only task one should be doing when behind the wheel.
- Revolutions need to establish agreed upon principles
- December 27, 2011
- On my first morning home from a wonderful relaxing cruise on the Pacific Princess to the Middle East including Israel, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Italy and Egypt. I had mixed emotions as I pondered the complicated Israel-Palestinian governance, land and recognition of Israel as a state. I was amazed at the 2400 years old marble structures built and destroyed and now in the process of excavation especially in Israel, Ephesus, Egypt and Greece. I marveled at the war memorial in Croatia and the ongoing struggle for freedom in Egypt. My guide in Israel recounted the 1948, 1967 and 1983 struggles plus the ongoing assault on the democracy trying to survive the problems involving its neighbors including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran. My guide in Egypt described her feelings about being able to vote this 11/21/11 for the first time in over 30 years. In my discussion with her she was outraged about the oppression of women, the schools, the garbage pick up and the extreme difference between the rich and the poor!
- December most dangerous month of the year for house fires
- December 9, 2011
- The tree is up, the candles are lit, and the extension cords are plugged in. With all of the traditional touches comes the most dangerous month of the year. The items I list below are of special concern for us and your safety over the next few weeks and from all of us here at the department, we wish you all the best for the holiday season. Christmas trees: More than one-third (36 percent) of home Christmas tree structure fires were reported on the 10 days between Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and the day after New Year’s Day (Jan. 2). The top day was Christmas with 6 percent of the fires.
- Meth is most common, dangerous street drug ever
- November 29, 2011
- (Note: The following article was guest-written be an employee of the Gila County Sheriff’s Office who has experienced firsthand the pain of having a child addicted to drugs.) Meth (Street Drug) I have experienced firsthand what it is like to be around a drug addicted daughter. It was not easy having a daughter nor a son-in-law on meth. At the time, I did not know what they were on, but did know the grandchildren were in harm’s way. They were abused and neglected at times. My daughter states she used because she felt rejected and abused by her husband and friends. When she was using, she was very paranoid, skinny (losing approximately 50 pounds), delusional, and immature at times. She felt the need to hide her drug abuse, but everyone knew what she was doing. She even got to the point of threatening to kill my mother-in-law and that is when I stepped in and admitted her into a rehab center. I knew this was not my daughter at all.
- Is there a solution to prescription drug abuse?
- October 25, 2011
- With all the information available on television and through the social networking media outlets, one would think the entertainment/sports world would get the drug message. It never ceases to amaze how often news programs report yet another celebrity overdose or DUI arrest.
- Payson Fire Department hosts open house Saturday, Oct. 15
- October 11, 2011
- In conjunction with this years’ Fire Prevention Week (FPW) the Payson Fire Department would like to invite all residents and visitors to join them in an open house. The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign (Oct. 9 through 15), “Protect Your Family from Fire,” sends a reminder of the importance of preparing and protecting your family from the dangers of home fires.
- CHAMPS program helps fifth-graders
- October 11, 2011
- Every year in Payson, we peer counselors at the high school put on a huge event for the local fifth-graders. This event, known as CHAMPS Camp, has gained such recognition as to become the highlight of the students’ fifth grade year. Every child in an elementary school in Payson that is aware of the program looks forward to the day that they get to participate in it.
- The challenge of poverty/beating the odds
- September 23, 2011
- Schooling takes place in the context of the socio-economic realities of the times and Payson is certainly no exception. The demographic changes in our student population over the last several years have been exceptional by any standard of measurement and these changes have and will continue to challenge our teachers, schools and district. Understanding these changes is crucial in being prepared to meet the challenges.
- Tapping into Strategic Petroleum Reserve was a mistake
- August 5, 2011
- In June, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Obama administration would release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) “in response to the ongoing loss of crude oil due to supply disruptions in Libya and other countries and their impact on the global economic recovery.”
- It wasn’t all drowning and scurvy on those old sailing ships
- August 5, 2011
- A few weeks ago we took a look at iron men, wooden ships, and multiple ways to die. But I had to leave out and I felt bad about it — the trips that made it without killing off half the passengers and crew. Were they an important — but also not so great — part of sea travel? I’ll let you judge that.
- Averting the fiscal crisis — why cut, cap and balance is needed
- July 26, 2011
- It is no secret we have a spending crisis. Far too long, both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have spent trillions more per year than we have, leading to staggering deficits and long term debt. But this isn’t a partisan problem. This is an American problem.
- It can be hard to name life’s most exciting moment
- July 22, 2011
- Interesting, isn’t it? If someone had asked me about my most exciting moment when I was a kid I’d have answered in a second.
- Good example of policy innovation, economic progress
- July 22, 2011
- In a recent column I wrote on our budget problems, I discussed some of the efforts Canada — which has outperformed the United States economically in recent years — took in the 1990s to turn around a massive deficit and debt problem. Recently, The Economist had an interesting story on yet another country that — at least when it comes to effectively managing its economy by reducing spending — deserves an examination. It’s the tiny nation of Estonia.
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