Nothing but blue skies ...
After a week of snow and clouds, Rim Country has nothing but rising temperatures and blue skies on tap for the rest of the week.
State tax plan could cost town
Mayor Evans says proposed shift could cost town at least $320,000 annually
Cities and towns across Arizona have rallied to try to block the overhaul of how the state collects and distributes sales taxes, fearing the shift will cost hard-pressed local governments millions of dollars.
Gila Community College to seek independence
The Gila Community College board last week took the first crucial step toward both achieving independence and renegotiating the contract with Eastern Arizona College required by its provisional college status.
Storms strain sanitary district’s system
Facilities strained to handle flows three times normal due to storm water
A succession of winter storms proved the wisdom of recent upgrades in the wastewater treatment system for Payson — but underscored the urgency of additional changes.
Conservative group seeks to mobilize veterans
A former tank captain turned county prosecutor and political activist breezed through Payson last week to promote a new organization seeking to enlist military veterans to push for a balanced budget, low taxes and deep cuts in domestic spending programs.
Lawmakers line up behind land exchange for mine
Gosar, Kirkpatrick join effort to swap land for $62 billion copper mine
The state’s congressional delegation has lined up behind a controversial land exchange that will create an estimated 3,700 local jobs in Southern Gila County and clear the way for a deeply buried copper deposit worth an estimated $62 billion.
University research boosts Arizona’s economy
Research at Arizona’s three public universities injected more than $1 billion into the state’s economy last year, according a report released by the Arizona Board of Regents.
Sewage to double
Board mulls $16 million plan for build-out
The Northern Gila County Sanitary District board got a first look at a $16 million, phased-in plan to more than double its operating capacity to accommodate a Payson population of some 38,000.
Payson economy mends, still lags state
Local sales tax collections rise only slightly, but other revenues recovering
Payson continued its painfully slow recovery in January, with modest increases in almost all of the town’s revenue sources compared to a year ago, according to the town’s just-released January financial report.
Arizona nestwatchers have saved 60 nesting bald eagles
Program celebrates 35 years standing watch over expanding population of Arizona eagles
Despite the loss of federal endangered species protection, Arizona’s unique nestwatch program has continued to safeguard a growing population of desert-nesting bald eagles.
Lawmaker wants science teachers to present both sides of controversy
Critics fear bill will open door to creationists, but law cites need for ‘critical thinking skills’
State Sen. Chester Crandell (R-Heber) is a prime co-sponsor of a bill to require science teachers to explore all sides of scientific controversies, a measure some science educators say could prompt teachers to teach creationism or distort the presentation of controversial subjects like climate change.
Study finds crown fires can permanently kill off forest
Probe of two areas affected by Rodeo Chediski Fire yields grim portents for Rim Country
The ponderosa pine forests consumed in the most intense portions of the 462,000-acre Rodeo Chediski Fire may never come back, according to a long-term study of the slow, often faltering, effort of the forest to repair the damage from the massive blaze.
Blueprint for change
Survey reveals fears about jobs, loss of small-town feel
Residents love the size and feel of Payson, but decry the dearth of jobs, the lack of a town center and the inconvenience of living in a “shopping desert,”.
Fish and Wildlife Service biologists recapture just-released wolf
With 75 wolves in the wild after a 15-year effort, conservation groups criticize delays
The number of reintroduced Mexican gray wolves in the wild grew from 58 in 2011 to 75 in 2012, according to a federal population survey released this week.
Lost Worlds in the living dark
The lost sloth and the vast silence offer a glimpse of extinction and persistence in Kartchner Caverns
I drop back from my little group of amiable explorers, all the way back to where the state park minder watches me warily lest I extend my hand toward the damp, warm, misshapen tissues of stone, which hunker like goblins along the path.
Tonto Forest plans study of impact of closing roads
After a three-year delay, the Tonto National Forest last week decided to undertake a full-fledged Environmental Impact Statement before deciding which roads to close in a vast network that includes some 5,400 miles of dirt roads in the 3-million-acre forest.
Lurching toward moderation — sort of
The fallout from the election continues to roil the political scene — upending established positions on immigration reform, gun control, spending and a host of other issues.
Rain interrupts drought
Payson receives 3 inches, Pine gets 5 inches as storm moves on
The three-day, Pacific storm that filled creeks and rivers to overflowing and dumped a foot of snow in the high country should move through the region today, leaving partly cloudy skies tonight and sunny skies on Wednesday.
Tonto Forest Supervisor: College land sale ‘a top priority’
Bosworth doesn’t expect artifacts to stall sale
Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth believes the Forest Service will complete the review of the sale of land for a university campus in Payson “quickly,” with no extra delays as a result of the discovery of pottery shards and centuries-old rock shelters discovered scattered across the 260 acres.
Perched on life’s edge
A grieving writer finds comfort atop a limestone layer that remembers both the Great Dying and life’s blind persistence
I go to the Rim when I need to recalibrate. So I stand now once more on this edge. The wind blows keen, prying into the seams of my clothes, whispering of vanished worlds and unexpected death.
A little bit better
Governor’s budget includes small increases for schools, child protection
Gov. Jan Brewer’s already controversial budget plan would provide more money for schools and Child Protective Services — but link school funding increasingly to student test scores.
Pollution controls spur debate
The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to give the Navajo Generating Plant an extra five years to install $1.1 billion worth of pollution control equipment has spurred harsh criticism from some lawmakers and praise from environmental groups.
Debate looming
Lawmakers dubious about governor’s AHCCCS plan
Rim Country residents without health insurance could reap big benefits from Gov. Jan Brewer’s decision this week to buy into the federal Affordable Care Act — providing Republicans in the state Legislature go along with her plan.
Tonto Forest ponders jump in fees
Forest Service seeking to eliminate $900,000 budget deficit
Tonto National Forest wants to overhaul its whole recreation program to eliminate a $900,000 budget shortfall.
FS to ‘mitigate’ impact of land sale
Comment period closes, but schedule for sale of site for a university still unclear
The comment period on the environmental assessment of the sale of 260 acres of federal land for a university campus in Payson expired last week.
Above and below
A happy dog and a hapless writer match snowshoes against brute strength
Lobo bounded across the frozen meadow, joy personified.
Drought can kill trees even after rainfall resumes
Warming trend likely to kill millions of trees, force wholesale ecosystem changes across Rim Country
The era of deeper, longer droughts predicted for the Southwest will spur widespread, landscape altering tree deaths .
Proud as punch of Payson
Payson snatched a moment of calm before the storm on Thursday to celebrate its award-winning Fiesta Bowl Parade float — and to honor the hundreds of volunteers and businesses that made it possible.
Economy mending
Town income rises across the board
The Town of Payson’s revenue rose modestly across the board in November, according to the monthly financial tracking report. Income rose in almost every category for the year.
Fiscal cliff vote splits Arizona congressmen
Republicans revolt against bipartisan deal, citing lack of spending cuts
Arizona’s Republican contingent in Congress broke ranks with party leadership to vote against the last-minute screech to a halt on the edge of the fiscal cliff.
Residents say jobs still the top priority
Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. That’s the overwhelming message that has emerged from Payson’s early efforts to figure out the top priorities of the citizenry when it comes to overhauling the town’s General Plan blueprint for future growth.
State-federal standoff costly for uninsured
Arizona unlikely to expand AHCCCS, leaving large number of Gila County families without medical coverage
The standoff between Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the federal government over health care will likely deny thousands of Gila County residents health coverage.
State-federal standoff costly for uninsured
Arizona unlikely to expand AHCCCS, leaving large number of Gila County families without medical coverage
The standoff between Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the federal government over health care will likely deny thousands of Gila County residents health coverage.
Storm covers Rim
Rim Country found itself dreaming of a white New Year’s, as a snow storm dumped 4-8 inches on Payson and buried Pine. Payson’s fleet of improvisational snow plows had the main roads cleared by 8 a.m., after a nighttime storm that hit so hard after 8 p.m. that snowflakes in the headlights created near white-out conditions.
Parade float wins hugs, top awards
Crowd loves dancing trees
Dancing trees. Wise-cracking cowboys. Perpetually lucky fishermen. Cozy campers cuddled up to a bag of Tostitos. An estimated $500,000 in free media exposure. Oh — yeah — two major award
GCC seeks alliance as it seeks equality
If you’re getting bullied — form a little gang of your own. That’s one way to sum up Gila Community College’s effort to form a fair-treatment alliance with Santa Cruz Community College — the only other provisional community college district in the state.
Honky-tonk boyhood leads Brandon Iron to honors
He’s running with the big dogs now. But that doesn’t bother KMOG country music jock Brandon Iron Sprague, given the lessons of his honky-tonk boyhood. New Music Weekly has named KMOG a contender for best music station of the year and Brandon Iron as the top music director in the country, thanks to his ceaseless search for new music and fresh artists. Brandon Iron (seems wrong to call him Sprague) scans the charts every week and calls producers and record labels for recordings and backgrounds on every new artist that comes out.
Campus backers hit goal
Backers of the plan to build a university in Payson have raised more than $150,000 so far this year to cover pre-development costs entailed in buying 260 acres for the campus from the U.S. Forest Service. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the community support to date,” commented Fund-raising Committee Co-chairperson Janet Vidnovic. “The broad range of community involvement is both encouraging and impressive,” added Richard Johnson, the other committee co-chair.
Magazine nominates KMOG and its music director for top honors
He’s running with the Big Dogs now. But that doesn’t bother KMOG Country Music jock Brandon Iron Sprague, given the lessons of his honky tonk boyhood. New Music Weekly has named KMOG a contender for best music station of the year and Brandon Iron as the top music director in the country, thanks to his ceaseless search for new music and fresh artists.
Fossil Creek: Still loved to death
The prolonged closure of the Fossil Creek Road (FR 708) below Strawberry barely dented visitation at the overwhelmed refuge for native fish and sun-blasted flatlanders, according to visitation figures compiled by the U.S. Forest Service.
The Silence of the Snow
The snow falls, the spirit rises and the mysteries of nature sometimes make no sound at all
I stand perfectly still. The sky falls all around me. Or perhaps I am rising, weightless to heaven.
College advances: Water plan unveiled, assessment released
Here’s the latest benefit of the Blue Ridge pipeline: Two streams running through the middle of town.
College advances: Assessment released, water plan unveiled
Land sale study finds big benefits, few problems
The sale of 256 acres for a university campus in Payson by the U.S. Forest Service took a giant step forward last week with the release of a long-awaited environmental assessment documenting huge financial advantages and minimal environmental impacts.
Outwitting the wily trout
Trip to Bear Flat to fish Tonto Creek proves photos are much easier to catch than piscines
casting my nymph like some kinda natural born fishing fool.
Greer resigns
Surprise announcement comes amid Pine water controversy
Beleaguered Pine-Strawberry Water Improvement District Board Member Mike Greer abruptly resigned on Monday, after weeks of mounting pressure centered on his admitted misuse of a district credit card.
Water agreement to end Mesa del shortages
The Payson Town Council on Thursday should finalize a deal to connect the water-starved community of Mesa del Caballo to the C.C. Cragin Pipeline, slated to reach the unincorporated neighborhood sometime in 2014.
Water department shuffles positions
Payson no longer needs a hydrogeologist to search for more water.
Payson to award key contracts for water treatment plant design
Firm’s winning bid stressed intimate knowledge of complex system
First the backhoes start tearing up the street.
A nightmare comes true
Frightening rise in domestic violence cases culminates in killings
The nightmare finally came true on Wednesday, when a rising tide of domestic violence cases climaxed in a shocking murder-suicide in the midst of a bitter divorce.
County’s jobless rate inches upward as state rate drops
Defying statewide trend, unemployment rate locally rises to 9.4 percent
The unemployment rate in Gila County inched upward in October to 9.4 percent, counter to the trend statewide.
