Payson Roundup

The Horns will try to improve upon their record today, Dec. 20, at Fountain Hills where the Falcon team is rolling along with a 7-1 record. Following the clash in FH, the Horns will take a brief holiday respite before traveling Dec. 27 to 29 to Bradshaw Mountain High School to compete in the Alvarez Tire Holiday Hoops Classic.

Photo by Andy Towle

Richard Harding (left) and Terry Lindsey have etched their names into the record books by becoming the first Payson Men’s Golf Association team to win an Arizona Golf Association Club state championship.

Photo by Andy Towle

Members of Payson’s Mountain Bible Church visited the Powell House recently to bring the sounds of the season to the residents. The carolers, which included families belonging to the church, were led by Gil Gabaldon.

Photo by Dennis Fendler

Darrell Clairborn (left) and Bryce Stokes sing their hearts out during the recent Payson Elementary School Christmas Concert, conducted Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Payson High School Auditorium.

Photo by Andy Towle

After sitting empty, the 260 Café is back open. Diane Fitzpatrick and Kathy Bickert (fifth from right) bought the business, renaming it Miss Fitz 260 Café. Chef Jeremy Prest (center) serves up traditional, homestyle family recipes. Prest, Bickert and Fitzpatrick worked at Chaparral Pines together eight years ago and reunited to open Miss Fitz. On Thursday, the Rim Country Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Photo by Pia Wyer

Amanda Snow provided melodious background music during the mixer, playing traditional Christmas music on her harp.

Photo by Andy Towle

Emma Greenleaf focuses during the practice prior to the 70th Anniversary ceremony.

Daria Mason photo

Bobby Davis (left) presents Floyd Landers with the sand from Normandy Beach and plaque commemorating Landers’ service.

Courtesy photo

Mike Buskirk (far right in tux) gives last minute instructions to the beginning band before they go on stage. Max Carpenter (from left to right), Kyra Ball, Angelica Poe, Hannah Osier and Samuel Beth take in what he has to say.

Michele Nelson/Roundup

Kyra Ball meditates with her flute during the dress rehearsal, hours before the performance.

Photo by Andy Towle

Gila County officials met to participate in distributing refurbished bikes to needy families. Pictured are: (front row, left to right) Charlotte Farr, representing CPS; Mark Essary, Houston-Mesa Fire Dept.; Chief Steve Montgomery, DPS; Jim Rasmussen, Payson Fire Dept.; Sharon Winters, landfill manager; Mary Lou Weatherly, superintendent, Tonto Basin School; Gila County Supervisor Tommie Martin (back row) Don Engler, Payson Police Dept.; Shane Johnson, Pine-Strawberry Fire Dept.; Keith Brown and Gary Hohs, Payson Fire Dept.; Todd Bramlet, Payson Police Dept.; and not pictured but also participating in the bike distribution were: Hellsgate, Beaver Valley and Whispering Pines fire departments.

Photo by Andy Towle

Cody Turner takes a chance and peeks his head out to see if he can find anyone in the audience that he knows. The Payson Elementary School conducted its annual Christmas concert Wednesday evening, Dec. 14, at the Payson High School Auditorium to a packed house. See page 10A for additional photographs from the event.

Photo by Andy Towle

Jessalyn Carpino plans to create a park at an underutilized piece of property on the Northern Arizona University campus between the library and art school.

Photo by Andy Towle

John and Linda Voyles earned second place for their finely decorated house in the Rim Country Chamber’s Christmas House Lighting Contest. The other winners were: first place, Richard Kubiak; third place, Hunter Hardt; fourth place, Ted Spinney; and two honorable mentions went to Jeanne Coppins and BJ and Christine Bollier.

Photo by Andy Towle

Emma Austin (left, front) seems to be having a good time shopping with Payson Police Chief Don Engler and Jennifer Hoke during the Shop with a Cop event at Walmart, Tuesday evening, Dec. 20. Children could pick out one or two toys and find the long sought after item they had been wishing to appear under their Christmas tree this year.

Photo by Andy Towle

Getting hugs for her first attempt, Angelina Mendoza, center, is all smiles with friends, Sonja Valenzuela, left, Alli Martin, and Julie Bassett, right. The eighth-graders had a great time.

Photo by Andy Towle

Kimberly Anglemire descends from her adventure pleased with her effort.

Photo by Andy Towle

Rhia Goliglee (left) receives assistance to complete a scarf from Montessori Director Roni Schutz.

Photo by Andy Towle

After 16 weeks of instruction and 60 hours of clinical experience, 19 nursing assistants graduated from Gila Community College (GCC) on Friday, Dec. 16. Dean Pam Butterfield said that with their certificate from GCC, the new nursing assistants qualify to take the state exam to work in either hospitals or long-term health care facilities. Asked what their next step entails, Taylor Rose Krigbaum hopes to further her education with a Bachelor of Science in health sciences, then continue on to complete a Ph.D. in medicine. Both Samantha Blees and Jeff Bledsoe plan on completing a four-year nursing degree. Graduating were: Haileigh Alvarez, Isabella Barr, Jeff Bledsoe, Samantha Blees, Lisa Cockrum, Rachel D’Addabbo, Linda Duke, Amber Ernst, Tyler Eygendaal, Marilyn Hendrix, Taylor Rose Krigbaum, Mona Lujan, Mary Miller, Erin Morris, Kristi Murphy, Heather Shaw, Tyler Snow, Cristin Sutton and Shari Taillon. Showing her certificate is Isabella Noel Barr.

Photo by Andy Towle

A woman was airlifted to a Valley hospital and three children taken to Payson’s hospital after their vehicle rolled north of Payson Wednesday afternoon. It is unknown what caused the wreck, but the vehicle was found off the side of the road and in a ravine on its roof near milepost 260 on Highway 87. According to witnesses, the woman was ejected from the vehicle and later airlifted to a Scottsdale hospital. The children appeared to have only bumps and scratches and were taken to Payson Regional Medical Center. The roadway was littered with chocolate chip cookies and the content of children’s backpacks, witnesses said.

Photo by Andy Towle