Dreams come true with Dreamscape book
Local writer, artist collaborate to publish luminous book about a girl and her dog
On a Monday morning, artist and mother of four, Amy Abney drove from Pine to meet writer Ken Crump at Green Valley Park by 90 a.m. — without really knowing why. “Did I tell you why we are here?” Crump asked the artist for his children’s book, “The Last Moment,” as they posed for Roundup photographer Andy Towle.
“Turn Out the Lights, the Party’s Over”
“Turn Out the Lights, the Party’s Over,” is the song Dandy Don Meredith would have crooned had he been announcing the final innings of the PHS baseball and softball teams’ state semifinal tournament losses on Friday evening.
Principals picked promptly
Administrators from Valley to fill top jobs at PHS and PES
Moving quickly to fill the vacant principal slots at Payson High School (PHS) and Payson Elementary School (PES), the Payson Unified School District (PUSD) has hired two Valley men. James Brian Mabb, currently the principal at Paradise Valley High School, will step in as administrator at the high school.
Emotional scene as plea changes
Driver pleads guilty to manslaughter; father of girl who died embraces him
In an emotionally charged appearance, Sharrod Lynn Stone, 44, on Thursday pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the deaths of two people last year. Stone could spend eight years in jail for the deaths of Devin Grace Frantzke, 14, and Jeff Johnston, 55.
McDaniel sworn in as SV mayor
Council appoints former judge to Star Valley post after resignation
Star Valley swore in Ronnie McDaniel as its new mayor this week, bringing him full circle. McDaniel was appointed the community’s first mayor and on Tuesday was appointed once again to the same post. He will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Bill Rappaport through the the fall elections of 2014.
A Mother’s Day tribute
A bossy girl tallies a mother’s gifts on that special day
The greatest gift my mother ever gave me was an effortless blend of acceptance and encouragement. But I didn’t fully appreciate the gift until a recent four-wheeling trip to Sedona.
Payson man guilty in police assault case
Jury concludes man attacked officers during arrest, but didn’t injure them
After listening to six days of testimony, analyzing the validity of Myth-Buster-like experiments and claims of excessive use of force by officers, a Gila County jury on Wednesday found a Payson man guilty of aggravated assault against two officers.
Hazelo honored as officer of the quarter
The Gila County Attorney’s Office recently named a Payson officer as the top officer this quarter for help in prosecuting crimes. Sgt. Jason Hazelo, a 13-year Payson veteran, has testified many times. His work as a drug recognition expert at trial has had a tremendous impact on the community, said the Gila County Attorney’s Office in a press release.
Help letter carriers Stamp Out Hunger
Saturday, May 11 marks the 21st anniversary of one of America’s great days of giving — the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from postal customers.
Studio tour showcases local artists
A deeper and richer understanding of a piece of art blooms when the admirer meets the artist — and better yet — sees where they work. This past weekend, Rim Country locals and out-of-town visitors had the unique chance to see artists’ work in their studios during the Payson Art League’s annual ’Neath the Rim Open Studio Tour.
Star Valley revenue drops, but reserves remain
Within minutes of seating Ronnie McDaniel as the new mayor on May 7, the Star Valley Town Council turned its attention to building a budget. Last year, the council directed staff to maintain a $2.6 million fund reserve at the end of 2012-2013. Town Manager Tim Grier and Finance Administrator Chancy Nutt Tuesday told the council the town will have a $2,618,000 reserve at the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2013.
Horns in Final Four for State Championships
Lady Horns dominate
Two down, two to go. That’s the position Lady Longhorn softball players find themselves as the journey toward Payson High School’s first-ever state softball championship continues. Now in the rearview mirror are a 9-0 tournament-opening win on May 3 over Thatcher and a 7-3 second-round victory the following day against River Valley.
Good to be a Longhorn — really good!
Huge baseball upset
The Longhorn baseball team’s state tournament upsets of favored Blue Ridge and Show Low might not rank up there with the Miracle on Ice, but players, fans and coaches will long remember the weekend that an underrated David of a team slew two White Mountain Goliaths.
New ‘milestones’ in land purchase
But costs, delays spur talk of alternatives to FS site
They want to sell us the land. Really. Badly — just not quickly. That’s the mixed message that emerged about the Rim Country Educational Alliance’s struggle to buy 260 acres of land from the U.S. Forest Service for a 6,000-student university campus and various spinoff facilities.
Payson officers bust cardholders
Medical marijuana patients with visible plants facing drug charges
Budding flowers poking over the top of a worn wooden fence and into a Payson south alleyway. A dark, musty basement full of plants at a hilltop home in Payson North. And buds blooming on the porch of a Pine-Strawberry home, clearly visible from the street.
