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.
Election analysis: Few voters veer from party preference
Despite heavy spending, most voters remain predictable in partisan races
Businesses, unions and special interest groups spent heavily to influence the election — including a gush of outside money in the bitterly contested state Senate and House seats representing Rim Country.
Thursday forum focuses on smoke effects
Northern Arizona University researchers on Thursday will host a public forum on how Payson residents feel about the health and psychological effects of smoke from thinning projects drifting into the community.
Library troubles addressed
Payson has a new librarian. Thank goodness.The Payson Town Council last week officially welcomed newly hired Library Director Emily Linkey, who will take charge of a library in turmoil.
GCC board getting its whatnot together
The Gila Community College board is finally getting its whatnot together. More or less.
Payson approves contracts for airport improvements
Automated weather system, runway upgrades slated
The Payson Town Council last week approved a series of contracts to make improvements in the operations of the Payson Airport, the first major investments since the town regained control of the airport from a group of airport users.
Not much ado about not much to do
Ah, the good old days.
Better late than never
GCC gets good, but belated budget news
After a five-month wait, the Gila Community College board learned last week that the district is solvent after all.
Eagle squabble renewed
Environmental groups file new lawsuit to force endangered listing
They’re baaaaack. And they still want the desert-nesting Arizona bald eagles protected.
State senator wants to transform school funding
Newly elected District 6 state Senator Chester Crandell (R-Heber) says that he wants to free local schools from state restrictions — but link their funding to the results they achieve.
Human rights group writes letters to liberate prisoners
The Payson Chapter of Amnesty International hopes local residents will on Dec. 8 join in a crusade that has already freed 45,000 prisoners of conscience held around the world.
Final vote count confirms results
Ballot totals rise, but results don’t change
Gila County finally finished counting its 3,400 provisional ballots Thursday, but the late-breaking ballots didn’t change any results.
County still counting votes
Close races still hanging in the balance as tally drags on
A week has passed since the election, but Gila County is still counting ballots.
Honoring those who served
It’s those darn kids. The cute-as-kittens kindergartners from Payson Elementary School sat fidgeting all the way through the hour-long round of tributes to Rim Country veterans.
Cliffhangers and game changers
Crucial election turns on shift of political power to North Gila County
Republicans took a beating across the nation on Tuesday, but triumphed in Northern Gila County, Moreover, the Republican sweep locally marked a striking shift of political power in the county from south to north, attended by a stark division in voting patterns.
Incumbent treasurer has edge, but ballots still uncounted
Incumbent Gila County Treasurer Deborah Savage maintained an 1,100 vote lead over Republican challenger Don Ascoli on Thursday, with 3,400 provisional and early ballots still uncounted.
Flake wins contentious contest for U.S. Senate
Republican Rep. Jeff Flake Tuesday won a bruising U.S. Senate fight against former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona.
Gosar easy victory; Kirkpatrick comeback
North and South Gila County both go their different ways
Republican Congressman Paul Gosar proved the wisdom of his recent address change from Flagstaff to Prescott by cruising to an easy win in a redrawn Congressional District 4.
GOP sweeps legislative seats in Rim Country
Crandell turns back Democratic effort, Thorpe, Barton clean up in North County
Rim Country voters provided the clump of ballots that secured a narrow but decisive victory for three Republicans seeking seats in the Legislature representing District 6.
Gila County voters mostly cry out ‘me too’ on propositions
In ballot proposition results, Gila County voters echoed statewide outcomes with a mostly extra-conservative twist.
Last rush of FALL
Lobo crashes through the fallen leaves, scattering questions on why the season’s change has such an impact
“Lobooooooo,” I holler, as a breeze swirled up the East Verde River, setting the yellow cottonwood leaves a flutter.
Republicans sweep state, congressional legislative seats
Republicans Tuesday appeared to have swept the three state Legislative District 6 seats representing Rim Country with victories for Rep. Chester Crandell in the senate and both Rep. Brenda Barton and Bob Thorpe in the state house. Northern Gila County provided the three Republicans with big margins, overcoming Flagstaff-based challenges from Rep. Tom Chabin in the Senate and Angela LeFevre and Doug Ballard in the house. The newly drawn district boundaries provided the Republicans with a registration edge, but the population distribution would seem to have given the Flagstaff-based Democrats a fighting chance.
University fund-raising effort hits key goal
Backers have raised $133,500 to pay land purchase costs and keep project on track for construction next year
Backers of the plan to build a university in Payson tonight will celebrate hitting crucial fund-raising goals at a 7 p.m. gathering at the Oxbow where they’ll raffle off a $14,000 Polaris ATV.
At last!
Election day finally here — political ads are nearly done
Election day: Finally! Tomorrow night: No more campaign ads! Praise the Lord.
An apology, an explanation and more figures
I don’t think Hallie likes me any more, although I was pleased she thought I had some journalist stature to squander.
Mostly muddle
Legislative hopefuls explain campus positions
Rim Country voters at a legislative debate on Saturday finally got a chance to grill lawmakers on why Payson has gotten so little help with its effort to build a university campus through a public/private partnership that could spawn an urgently needed state college system.
Fussy flap about stats in supervisor race
Does Northern Gila County get swindled when it comes to county spending and services?
Legislative candidates clash on budget, schools, government role
The six candidates vying for three seats in the Legislature representing Rim Country clashed on a range of issues centered on whether government can help create jobs and bolster schools — or should just get out of the way.
Controversial forest restoration contractor draws vote of support
However, doubts linger about massive thinning project
We’ve had our differences — but we’re behind you now.
Senate, House debate slated
All six candidates for three seats representing Northern Gila County in the state Legislature have agreed to appear in Payson for a debate at 4 p.m. Saturday at Tiny’s Restaurant.
Senate race wallows in the mud
Flake, Carmona race focuses on personal attacks
Take two great candidates – both principled, dedicated public servants.
State senate contest poses stark contrast
Rep. Tom Chabin pushes hardest for increased school spending while Rep. Chester Crandell crusades for state takeover of federal lands
Two veteran lawmakers are seeking the State Senate seat representing northern Gila County, offering voters a stark choice – with education and a proposed takeover of state land at the heart of the debate.
Education debate defines state house contest
Candidates in brand new state legislative district disagree about education cuts, effort to control federal lands, host of issues
The wide-open contest to fill two seats in the totally redrawn State House Legislative District Six offers starkly contrasting prescriptions for reviving the state’s economy.
Medicare reforms roil senate contest
Flake and Carmona now in a dead heat, with misleading attack ads about Medicare central to the debate
The debate about the future of Medicare has exploded in the middle of the fierce, dead-heat contest between Rep. Jeff Flake and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl.
Community Kids hurdles final town obstacle
Child advocacy group raises $5,800 to pave road after town refuses to relax requirements
A community organization that offers after-school help for struggling families will soon open its doors after all.
The Greasy Pole - Election poses vital choices
Special section examines facts, furor and impacts
Cut school spending — or business taxes? Reduce sheriff’s patrols — or raise property taxes? Find money for teacher raises — or crack down on bad teachers?
Arizona bald eagles set records
The 66 breeding pairs produced 80 eggs and 52 fledglings in 2012
Arizona’s unique population of bald eagles this year produced a record 52 babies that survived long enough to take flight, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has announced.
Sacred Apache Crown Dance celebrates ancient culture
The Tonto Apache Tribe celebrated the triumph of its long struggle to come home to a portion of their ancestral lands last week with days of celebrations, many private to tribal members — some open to the public
Star Valley, Payson strike another joint agreement
The drip, drip, drip of cooperation once more pitter-pattered through a Payson Town Council meeting last week.
GOP candidates oppose school tax, favor state takeover
District 6 contenders urge Payson crowd to defeat Prop. 204 and embrace Prop. 120
Voters should reject a one-cent sales tax for education and highways, but embrace a ballot measure attempt to take over federal lands in Arizona.
Payson approves rise in apartment density
Developers can build smaller, cheaper condos and apartments
If developers ever do return to Payson, they will find they can build much smaller, hopefully cheaper, apartments and condos in town.
McLane residents appeal to council to slow traffic
People drive so fast on McLane that it has ruined the quality of life and poses a daily danger to people who live on the street, David Kibiloski told the Payson Town Council last week.
Millions of trees will die
Study predicts Southwest already sliding into mega drought that could trigger massive changes in region’s forests in coming decades
Southwest forests are already in the early stages of a mega drought brought on by climate change that will result in massive tree die-offs .
Congressman claims ambassador tortured
Gosar offers fierce criticism of Obama in Payson appearance
The U.S. Ambassador to Libya was “captured, tortured, sodomized and dragged through the street,” Rep. Paul Gosar told people at a Payson Tea Party meeting last week, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Gila County contributes to campus effort
Educational Alliance hopes donation will keep work on land sale moving into October
Gila County this week gave the Rim Country Educational Alliance $12,500 to help pay for studies necessary to convince the U.S. Forest Service to sell 260 acres for a university campus.
Biologists poison Fossil Creek bass
Crews hope weeks-long effort has stopped bass from invading premier refuge for native fish
Crews last week used chemicals to kill smallmouth bass in a 2.5-mile-long stretch of Fossil Creek.
Studies show Southwest faces water shortage
Payson may have secured its long-term water supply just in time.
State legislative candidates decry ‘extremism’
Chabin, LeFevre say Legislature’s cuts have crippled towns and schools and now threaten region’s tourist economy
Arizona must reverse deep budget cuts to protect the state’s schools and its vital tourist economy, insisted candidates seeking to represent Rim Country in the state Legislature Wednesday night in Payson.
Arizona’s universities report record enrollment
A big jump in applications for college enrollment have boosted negotiations to build a university campus in Payson as the state’s three universities report record enrollments and bulging campuses, despite soaring tuition and stubbornly high unemployment.
