Services Group Of America Coming To Scottsdale

Services Group of America Inc., a food service company with more than $2 billion in annual revenue, is moving its corporate headquarters from Seattle to Scottsdale.

Another Web Scam

On Thursday, Websense Security Labs, a San Diego-based company uncovered a problem involving bogus e-mails containing real BBC News stories that are tricking PC users into visiting a fake Web site that installs password-stealing software onto their computers. The e-mails are using an exploit in a newly discovered flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.

Beeline Highway Down To One Lane

D.P.S. is reporting that the Beeline Highway has one lane open northbound this evening after a tractor trailer accident. The driver was injured & taken by helicopter to a hospital, after rolling his truck & spilling the load of wood he was hauling all over the highway.

Stocks & Commodities At Weeks End

Light Crude ($US per bbl.) - 66.63
Gold ($US per Troy oz.) - 586.70
Silver ($US per Troy oz.) - 11.52
Copper ($US per lb.) - 2.46
Live Cattle (cents per lb.) - 74.35
Feeder Cattle (cents per lb.) - 101.75
Phelps Dodge Corp. (PD) - 80.53
Motorola Inc. (MOT) - 22.91
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) - 82.47
Target Corp. (TGT) - 52.01
Kroger Co. (KR) - 20.36
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) - 47.24
Home Depot Inc. (HD) - 42.30
Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY) - 55.93
Dow Jones Industrial Average Index - 11,195.00
NYSE COMPOSITE INDEX - 8,233.20
S&P 500 Index - 1,303.30
NASDAQ COMPOSITE (^IXIC) - 1,720.00

Red Sox Pitcher Tavarez Suspended

Tavarez has been suspended for 10 days & fined an undisclosed amount for his violent & unsportsmanlike actions during the top of the 8th inning in the Spring Training game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on March 27th at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. Tavarez's suspension is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 3rd, unless it is appealed. If appealed, his suspension will be held in abeyance until the appeal process is complete. So far, no one else that was involved in the incident has been disciplined.

Phelps Dodge Corp. Completes High Performance Conductor Sale

Phelps Dodge Corp. announced today it has completed the sale of Phelps Dodge High Performance Conductors of SC & GA, Inc. to International Wire Group. Under the agreement, announced March 7th, 2006, IWG purchased HPC’s manufacturing operations in Inman, S.C., & Trenton, Ga. The transaction doesn't include a Phelps Dodge facility at Elizabeth, N.J., that will become a unit of the Phelps Dodge Smelting, Refining & Rod Group. IWG purchased the stock of HPC, including certain copper inventory, for approx. $49 million in cash. This figure includes a base purchase price of approx. $47 million & a working capital adjustment estimated at closing to be approx. $2 million. Phelps Dodge also will receive a contingent payment of up to $3 million based on HPC’s 2006 results.

Phelps Dodge estimates special, net after-tax losses of approximately $6 million associated with this transaction, which will be recognized in the 2006 first quarter & consist of a loss on disposal of approximately $3 million & transaction & employee-related costs of approximately $3 million.

19th Annual Pinal County Town Hall Presentations Selected

"Safe At Home" - Residential Emergency Preparedness is the theme selected for the 19th annual Pinal County Town Hall, April 26 - 28th. More than 140 delegates are expected to attend sessions at the Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort in Casa Grande. The registration deadline is April 15th.

Arizona Office of Homeland Security Director, Frank F. Navarrete, is the keynote speaker for Wednesday's opening banquet/ceremonies.

Thursday's agenda features the following sessions, Taking Responsibility - Forming A Community Emergency Response Team, Identifying Resources, Rescuing Animals and Pets, & Keeping Connected.

The noon luncheon Thursday will announce the Pinal County Youth of the Year & the recipients of the 2006 Constellation Awards.

Friday morning's session, "An Impending Flu Pandemic - Myth or Reality?" will review previous pandemics & project the possibility of the irrepetition in the U.S. The session will close with a mock disaster simulation "Table Top" exercise.

The delegates anticipated outcome is to increase Pinal County's citizens' awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness (responsibility, readiness, resources), provide practical strategies for individual emergency preparedness, & foster networking & collaboration among the attendees & their circle of influence.

A pre-conference workshop, "Can Your Business Recover From A Catastrophic Event," is being offered by the CAC Small Business Development Center in partnership with MSU.

For more info on registration, Youth of the Year or Constellation Award nominations, or pre-conference CAC/SBDC participation, please contact: Karl Peterson, Director, Pinal County Town Hall, (520) 836-3237

Wrestlemania 22

This Pay-Per-View is this Sunday, April 22nd. Check you local provider for start times. Below is the Line-up & my predictions will be in BOLD.

Playboy Pillow Fight: Torrie Wilson vs. Candice Michelle

Boogeyman vs. Booker T.

Women's Championship Title: Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James

Tag Team Titles: Kane & Big Show vs. Carlito & Chris Masters

U.S. Championship Title: Chris Benoit vs. J.B.L.

Hardcore Match: Edge vs. Mick Foley

Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Shelton Benjamin vs. RVD vs. Ric Flair vs. Finlay vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley

Casket Match: Undertaker vs. Mark Henry

No Holds Barred: Vince McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels

WWE Championship Title: John Cena vs. Triple H

Triple Threat World Heavyweight Championship Title: Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio

George Jones Hospitalized

Jones, 74, has been hospitalized for pneumonia, & is expected to make a full recovery, but doctors advised him to enter Nashville's Baptist Hospital for treatment.

Weekend Freeway Restrictions Thru April 3rd

Westbound Loop 202 in the east valley will be closed between Alma School Road to Loop 101 from 9 p.m. today until 5 a.m. Monday for pavement work. The east & westbound ramps from the Loop 202 to north & southbound. Loop 101 & the north & southbound ramps from the Loop 101 to westbound Loop 202 will also be closed.

Eastbound U.S. 60 will be narrowed to 1 lane between Greenfield Road & Superstition Springs Road today from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday for bridge work. Drivers are urged to use caution and be prepared to merge in advance of the work zone. Westbound I-10 will be closed between 7th Avenue & 7th Street from 11 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday for tunnel cleaning & maintenance.

Quick Lake Level Check

Bartlett: 68%
San Carlos: 15%
Roosevelt Lake: 78%
Saguaro Lake(Stewart Mtn): 93%
Lake Pleasant(Waddell Dam): 93%
Lake Havasu: 94%
Canyon Lake(Mormon Flat): 94%

2006 CMT Music Awards

The awards will air live, April 10th at 8 p.m. ET, & is hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, & will have performances by Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Gretchen Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, & Sugarland.

Williams Gateway Open House

The open house is at the airport in Mesa tomorrow. Come on down to see the equipment & aircraft used at the airport.

CVCH Spring Shoe Sale

The CVCH Auxilary shoe sale ends today, March 31st, at 4 p.m. in the CVCH Conference Room.

Railroad Depot Future

Input is being asked for the future use of the depot's use, post rehabilitation. Their will be a public meeting April 6th, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Globe City Hall (150 N. Pine St. in downtown Globe). Previous ideas & any current ideas will be brought up during this time. Keep in mind, due to the funding given & the lease agreement, there are requirements to follow. Upon rehabilitation, (A) Must be a publicly accessible private enterprise that generates some regular income for the taxpayers & the Az. Eastern Railway Co., (B) Must incorporate some appreciation for transportation history of our community, & (C) Ought to be a use that adds to the positive character & pride of our historic downtown. The city looks forward to receiving interested peoples ideas for this project's end use.

National Library Week

You can celebrate National Library Week, April 2nd - 8th, at the Globe Public Library. Look for giveaways for the kids, & maybe some goodies. During that week an amnesty on overdue fines will be in place. You may contribute non-perishable food items or contribute cash to the "guilt" jar. However, lost or damaged books must be paid for. To find out more information about the Globe Public Library or National Library Week call, 425-6111.

Foothills Library Book Sale

This library sale will be at the Foothills Branch Library at 19055 N. 57th Ave., for their spring book sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 22nd in the Roadrunner Room. No item will cost more than $2. At 2 p.m. the $1 bag sale begins. For more information call, (623) 930-3849.

Graham County Hot Well Dunes

This event is tomorrow, fees are $3 per vehicle per day or an annual permit for $30. The dunes are 32 miles S.E. of Safford. Fore more info cantact the Chamber at 928-428-2511, toll-free at 1-888-837-1841.

14th Annual Mt. Turnbull Festivities Info

For the up coming activities on 4/8 - 4/9, call 475-2986 or 475-4398. Don't forget to leave a message if asked.

"Every Child Ready To Read"

As a parent or caregiver of a 4 or 5 year old, you can help your child get ready to read at this workshop. The workshop is at the Globe Public Library on 339 S. Broad St., March 28th, from 6 - 8 p.m. Call 928-425-6111 in advance to reserve your space. Refreshments will be provided.

Parents with kids from 2 to 3 years old, can attend this workshop. The workshop will be held at the Miami Memorial Library at 1052 Adonis Avenue, April 5th, from 10 a.m. - noon. Call Paula 402-8813.

D.U.I. Checkpoint Tonight

The Gila County DUI Task Force will conduct the checkpoint tonight from approx., 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The location will be U.S. 70 at milepost 253.4, in the Globe City limits.

2006 Johnny Cash Visionary Award Winner

The Johnny Cash Visionary Award at the 2006 CMT Music Awards on April 10th goes to Hank Williams Jr.

2006 WNBA Draft

The WNBA Draft is set for next Wednesday, April 5th, beginning at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Hung Jury

The jurors could not reach a verdict Thursday against Reem Bishara, accused of fleeing after a deadly hit-and-run. The charge that caused the indecision was that of leaving the scene of a deadly accident, they were able to find her guilty of underage drinking.

2nd Annual Gila Co. Queen Royalty Pageant

The pageant is at 8 a.m. on April 8th, at the Gila County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena & Exhibit Hall, & is FREE to the public. There's a $10 per plate dinner at 6 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall, where the modeling & speech portion of the contest takes place. The monies collected from the dinner benefit the Gila County Rodeo Queens.

CVCH Fundraiser

Get your Easter candy from the Cobre Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary, April 3rd - 7th, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the CVCH front lobby by the Gift Shop. For more questions contact, 928-402-1230.

Miniature Horse Show

The show is at the West World in Scottsdale, Saturday & Sunday. It's FREE to watch & if you tell the parking attendants you are there for the mini show, parking is also FREE. For more details follow this link: MHAA.

Globe Education Center Book Fair

The Globe Education Center will host a Scholastic Book Fair on April 4th - 17th, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. On April 12th from 4 - 7 p.m., the book fair will feature a special Family Event. The Globe Education Center is the Old East Globe, & will be held in the library.

Still Good News For Moya

Terry Moya once again came out on top over Callie Sargent in the City of Globe District 2 recount. Terry maintained a 116-109 vote total over Sargent, & ended with 50.88% compared to her 47.81%.

Tickets Available

We still have a few tickets to the Tempe Music Festival for this Saturday. You can call the station at 928-425-4800 or 928-402-9222 & they are yours. The only catch is you must pick them up by 5 p.m., Friday, March 31st.

"Livability Summit"

In Phoenix, Global experts on smarter growth will address ways to make metropolitan Phoenix more livable & sustainable at "Valley Forward's Livability Summit," to be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 21st, at the Phoenix Convention Center.

General George Patton Mobile Museum

From now until April 3rd, The Quartzsite Historical Society invites everyone to see a display honoring the efforts of General George Patton in the area learning how to deal with desert warfare. Housed in an 18-wheeler, The General Patton Desert Training Center Mobile Education Classroom, sponsored by the Partnership for Education is open to the public at no charge. The classroom will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

Sports Shorts

Free-agent offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

English Premier League champion Chelsea has been invited to play in the annual Major League Soccer All-Star Game.

Running back Najeh Davenport re-signed with the Green Bay Packers.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has relinquished his WBC super lightweight crown to compete for the IBF welterweight championship.

Colgate Country Showdown Winner

18-year-old singer-songwriter, Michelle Rene, from Phoenix has been named the new grand prize winner. This contest that helped launch the careers of past winner's, such as, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Sara Evans, & Billy Ray Cyrus. The 24th annual Showdown recently took place at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. A 1-hour special featuring musical performances by Montgomery Gentry is airing this month & next on TV stations throughout the U-S. Rene won $100,000 & a recording contract from Nashville’s Midas Records. Her debut single is "Kick it Up a Notch."

NAMI Arizona Walk

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Arizona is holding its 2nd annual NAMI Arizona Walk on April 8th. The fund-raiser features a 4K walk that starts in front of the Capitol & the walk will go to the Wesley Bolin Park along Washington Street to 3rd Ave. & turn around to return to the Capitol. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. with the walk beginning at 9 a.m., rain or shine. As always, for more details, check out www.namiaz.org or call (602) 244-8166.

City Of Phoenix Offices Closed Friday

City of Phoenix offices & libraries will be closed Friday in observance of the Cesar Chavez holiday. Parking meters will be FREE except at Sky Harbor International Airport, buses, Dial-A-Ride, & DASH will operate their regular weekday schedules.

Wickenburg Community Health Fair

The Wickenburg Community Health Fair will be held, Friday April 7th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wickenburg Community Center. The fair is open to the public & FREE of charge. Drawings for door prizes will be held throughout the day.

Tri-City Fire Dept. Golf Tournament

The tournament (benefiting the Burn Victim's Fund), is at the Queen Valley Golf Course, Sunday April 23rd. It's a shotgun start at 8 a.m., for this 3 Person Scramble. Entry is $40 per person. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd to equal 90% of entry fees after expenses. Mulligans are $5 each with a 2 per person limit, skill shot prizes are awarded for Longest Drive & Closest to the Hole. There will be food & beverages for sale along with some great raffle prizes. One item for the raffle is an officially licensed Phoenix Coyotes Jersey to be given away after the tournament. Raffle Tickets are $5 each, or you can get 5 tickets for $20, & can be purchased from any Tri-City Fire Dept. member, stopping by the Tri-City Fire Station, or calling 928-473-2362. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Burn Victim's Fund. To register for the tournament call Frank at, 928-473-2362 or 928-701-3385. Bring cash, there are NO ATMs ain Queen Valley.

Checks are o.k. for registering, make it out to:
Tri-City Fire
P.O. Box 83
Claypool, Az 85532

FREE Magic Show

The Westcor Kids Club will have a magician & kids can hear the story “Olivia Saves the Circus,” at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Superstition Springs Center at 6555 E. Southern Ave. in Mesa.

"Fantasy Bakeries"

That's the 4th Annual Youth Programs fund raiser theme for the April 8th, event at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts. The time for the dessert festival & auction is 6 p.m., with ticket prices set at $10. To purchase tickets or to get further information call 425-9695 or 425-0884.

Miami Boomtown Spree

The Miami Boomtown Spree is April 21st - 23rd, in downtown Miami.

Events Include:
Arts and Craft Street Fair
Car Show
Copper Crawl 5K & 10K+ Run (7:15AM Start, Sat. April 22nd.)
Keystone Stair Climb
Red Springs Bed Race
Pancake Breakfast - Saturday Morning
Live Entertainment
Children's Mining Events
Youth Basketball Tournament
Parade - Friday 6PM
BBQ & Music
State Mining Championships April 22nd

Cox Communications Wins State Contract

Cox Communications has won a state contract as a preferred provider of Internet services to Arizona cities & towns & named Maryland-based MobilePro Corp. to provide Wi-Fi & wireless broadband services.

Casa Grande Shopping Center Update

Late 2007 is the hoped for date range so far, 2008 sounds more likely. The Casa Grande City Council, unanimously approved a $19.95 million sales tax incentive & a financial study showing that the center would bring in more sales tax over the 20-year term. The incentive plan for the 120-acre open-air center at the northeast corner of Florence Boulevard & I-10 will not raise the city sales tax. The developers, " The Pederson Group, WDP Partners & Westcor," will improve the roads near the project to better suit the needs of the people. Also, they will install new utility lines, including boring underneath I-10 for a major sewer connection. The amount of new jobs once completed ranges from 3,000 to 4,000.

Marquis Grissom Announces Retirement

Chicago Cub Marquis Grissom announced he is retiring, ending a major league career that spanned 17 years. In 2,165 career games, Grissom batted .272 with 386 doubles, 56 triples, 227 homers, & 967 RBI.

Texas Rangers To Honor University of Texas Longhorns

The 2005 National Champion University of Texas football coach, Mack Brown, & former coach & 3-time National Championship winner, Darrell Royal, will be honored with the 1st pitch ceremony at the Texas Rangers home opener, Monday, April 3rd against the Boston Red Sox. In addition, the Rangers announced that the University of Texas Longhorn Band will provide the on-field entertainment prior to the game. County music legend & longtime Rangers fan, Charley Pride, will perform the national anthem on Opening Day.

Student Leadership Conference

The conference will be held at the school's Signal Peak Campus in Coolidge at 8470 N. Overfield Road & is open to all Arizona high school students & students already attending Central Arizona College. The student leadership conference is on April 19th. Registration is FREE, but the deadline to register is this Friday. Call 1-520-494-5995 for more information.

Pinal County Fair

The 50th-annual Pinal County Fair starts tomorrow, & will feature livestock events, a petting zoo, puppet shows, the 1950s group "The Drifters," carnival rides, Clydesdales, crafts & a photography contest, food, ugly cakes, & a children's beauty contest. In honor of the county's past, admission prices on opening day will be $1 for adults & 50 cents for children.

Tim McGraw's NBC Special

Tim McGraw's NBC special "Tim McGraw Reflected" is scheduled to air on Friday, April 7th, from 8-9pm ET. This special is McGraw's 3rd, includes his concert at the Avalon club in New York City, plus performances from his farm in Nashville, which includes a series of duets with wife Faith Hill, Hank Williams Jr., & McGraw's long-time band, the Dancehall Doctors, show up at the farm to make some music.

NCAA Womens Final Four

The match-ups are:

April 2nd:
North Carolina v. Duke
LSU v. Maryland

The winners move onto the Final Four on April 4th.

Tres Legends

Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price are collaborating on an album of songs made famous by country singers in the 1930s, '40s, '50s and '60s. I like the name of the possible title, but will wait to release it until officially confirmed. Oh, what the hell, the working title is, " The Three Rebels."

VH1 Country Re-Launch

Over Labor Day Weekend, CMT is going to re-launch VH1 Country as "CMT Pure Country," & is also planning to start a separate broadband network called "CMT Loaded," which will offer video clips, exclusive performances & other content for FREE & on demand at CMT.com.

Wildland Firefighters Back In School

Wildland firefighters are back in school to prepare for the upcoming fire season at the Southwest Engine Academy in Mesa. The schooling focuses on standardizing the equipment, operations & maintenance that engine crews will use during the upcoming fire season. The academy is being hosted at the Mesa Public Safety Training Facility in cooperation with the Mesa Fire Department. Tomorrow, from 8 a.m. to noon, students will be practicing their engine skills before their final testing.

City Of A.J. Animal Control Rabies Clinic

The City of Apache Junction Animal Control Division of the Department of Public Safety is holding a low-cost vaccination clinic on April 9th. The clinic will be at the Apache Junction Animal Control facility, 725 E. Baseline in Apache Junction. Cash or checks only. Make checks payable to the City of Apache Junction. Please include your driver's license number & expiration date on the check. All dogs must be on a leash & cats in carriers please. If possible, please bring proof of spay/neuter and previous vaccination records. For vaccination costs & requirements, contact Apache Junction Animal Control at (480) 983-4405. Apache Junction residents only.

“Fountain Of Dreams”

The fountain dedication is at the Casa Grande City Hall on April 4th, at 5:30 p.m. The City Hall is at 510 E. Florence Boulevard in Casa Grande.

5th Annual Cruisin' To The Tunes Car Show

It's Deer Valley High School's 5th-annual Cruisin' to the Tunes Car Show. The show will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 8th at the school at 18424 N. 51st Ave. in Glendale. The event includes live music, food, vendors, raffles, & prizes. The show is FREE. For participant fees call, (602) 843-5690 or (602) 206-9433 or go to www.skyhawkband.org. All proceeds will go to the band program.

Gilson Wash District Meeting Reminder

The meeting is this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Gilson Wash Head Start building. The public is invited to attend & District members can bring to light issues concerning their district. For more information, contact the meeting hosts, Councilmen David or Charles at 475-2361.

Tonto National Forest Fee Change Tomorrow

Daily use & camping fees at some of the most popular recreation sites on the Tonto National Forest will change tomorrow. The changes will affect the popular chain of lakes recreation sites & campgrounds that stretch from Roosevelt Lake to the Lower Salt River Recreation Area on the Salt River, the Bartlett & Horseshoe Lake recreation areas on the Verde River & the Seven Springs Recreation Area north of Cave Creek. For day use sites & shoreline access areas, daily fees will be $6 per vehicle & $4 per watercraft. Most agency-managed campground fees will also be changed to match day use fees. Current charges of $10 per night for a single or $15 per night for a double unit will change to a standard charge of $6 per vehicle & $4 per watercraft at all sites.

Las Lomas Book Fair

The Book Fair is all this week in the Las Lomas library.

GCC Offers Concealed Weapons Class

Gila Community College will offer a concealed weapons class on April 14th & 15th with the final segment conducted at the Globe-Miami Gun Club Shooting Range on Sunday, April 23rd. Deputy Gilbert Olivarez of the Gila County Sheriff’s Department is the instructor. There are still open slots available for the class. This course offering is the result of the continued cooperation by Gila Community College, Globe-Miami Gun Club, & the Gila County Sheriff’s Office. For further details on this course offering, contact the Gila Community College at 425-8481.

7th Annual Procurement Fair

The 7th Annual Southern Arizona Procurement Fair will be from 8 a.m. to noon April 21st at the Pima Air & Space Museum at 6000 E. Valencia Road in Hangar 4. Make your reservations Today!! For additional information or to register contact Karen at 740-8485.

FHM's #1 Sexiest Woman

Scarlett Johansson, followed closely at #2 was Angelina Jolie.

Globe Library Book Sale

The Spring book sale will be held April 28th & April 29th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is located at 339 S. Broad St. There is a volunteer sign-up sheet inside the library, also, donations of clean, useable items for the sale may be brought to the library during regular hours. For more information call, 425-6111.

“Searching for Mesa: Finding Ourselves In Our History”

The Mesa Southwest Museum & Mesa Historical Museum have announced plans for their 1st joint exhibition, “Searching for Mesa: Finding Ourselves in our History,” a comprehensive history of the Mesa region covering more than 2,000 years. The exhibit is scheduled to open at the Mesa Southwest Museum May 6th. The exhibit begins with an overview of the ancient Hohokam civilization. Four hundred years after the Hohokam’s cultural disappearance, the earliest settlements of the Mesa region along the Salt River by Mormon pioneers in 1877, the development of Roosevelt Dam, the advent of Arizona statehood, the Great Depression, & the eventual boom of post-war tourism after World Wars I & II. The exhibit also features more than 200 historic photographs & hundreds of artifacts from the collections of both museums, as well as recorded oral histories from past Mesa residents & a variety of hands-on activities for children. For more information about the Mesa Southwest Museum, visit http://www.mesasouthwestmuseum.org or call (480) 644-2230. For more information about the Mesa Historical Museum, visit http://www.mesaaz.org or call (480) 835-7358.

New City Of Mesa Library Director

Heather Wolf has been named Director of the City of Mesa Library. Ms. Wolf has been serving as Acting Library Director since January 1st, & is an 8 year employee of the Mesa Library. She served as a branch manager & supervisory reference librarian at the Mesa Main Library, & as supervisory librarian for Collection Support Services. Before joining the City of Mesa, Ms. Wolf served as branch manager & regional branch coordinator for the Maricopa County Library District. Ms. Wolf will assume her new duties today & will be based at the Mesa Main Library at 64 E. First Street, & can be reached at (480) 644-2712.

Twisted Yet True Tale

A woman accused of abducting her 2 young children from their father from Globe, then dressed like a man so she could assume his identity, has agreed to return to Arizona where she faces kidnapping charges. Shellie White, was taken into custody Friday in Roanoke Rapids, where police said she & a woman lived together as the children's father & mother. The father left Globe, Az on Sunday & was expected to be reunited with his kids sometime today in Arizona.

The 2nd-Annual Subway Fresh 500 Grand Marshal Is...

None other than, Sen. John McCain. McCain will give the starting command for the Subway Fresh 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Race on April 22nd at Phoenix International Raceway.

Southern Az. Small Business Free Workshop

In Tucson, the U.S. Small Business Administration & the Arizona Small Business Association of Southern Arizona are hosting a FREE workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. April 4th for small contractor businesses at the ASBA Conference Center at 4811 E. Grant Road in Suite 261 in the Crossroads Festival shopping center.

Russell Gulch Landfill Summer Hours

The Summer hours go into effect on April 3rd. The hours will then be Mon. - Sat., 6 a.m. - 4 p.m., & closed Sundays & holidays.

D.U.I. Checkpoint Friday

The Gila County DUI Task Force will conduct the checkpoint this Friday from approx., 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The location will be U.S. 70 at milepost 253.4, in the Globe City limits.

Miami High Spring Concert

It's March 30th, at 7 p.m. in the Miami High School Auditorium. All donations go to supporting the Meghan Lynne Hammer Memorial Scholarship at E.A.C. Come out & enjoy an evening of great & fun-filled music, while helping a wonderful scholarship.

Shop For 3-25-06

Furniture & Appliances

La-z-Boy Rocker-Recliner - brown with light flecks of different colors- no scratches or marks. $150 Call 480-560-4660 (8am-8pm only please)

Maytag washer, works fine, $75. 928-425-3060.

1950s oak & glass dining table with leaf, seats 8, great condition, $275. 928-684-6188.

Livestock & Supplies

Palomino mare, 14 years, 15 hands, great fast walking trail horse, $900 obo. 928-671-1651.

Sporting Goods

Set of PowerBilt ladies left-handed golf clubs, good condition, Includes Wilson golf bag. $60, phone (480)626-1771.

4'X7' AIR HOCKEY TABLE, HARDLY USED, has ELECTRIC SCORE BOARD, $250. CALL 480-987-9573, ASK FOR ELIZABETH OR JEFF.

Misc. for Sale

Equestrian-Design Ice Bucket, Approx. 13" tall, Excellent condition. $20 obo 480-898-9987.

Pets & Supplies

Chihuahua pup - $200. If interested please call 623-476-8563.

Free to good home- Queensland Heeler. 928-684-1884.

Free: Young Akita mix, female, spayed, indoor/outdoor dog, sweet personality. Please call 623-388-2072

Free- 4 year old orange and white male cat, neutered and declawed. Call 9-5 weekdays. 928-684-3280, ask for Denise.

Auto & Trucks

1998 chevrolet malibu LS V6 - $4900. 602-459-2268.

99 Toyota Corolla $3800. 480-556-1242

2002 Nissan Altima with 89,000 miles. $8500. Call Roy at 480-695-8696.

Motorcycles & Off Road

2004 Yamaha Rhino, 2 seat, 660cc, 4x4, excellent, $7900. 623-388-9476.

1984 Southwind motor home, 34 foot, 60,000 miles. All new tires, belts, hoses, water pump, fuel pump. Good condition. $8000 obo. 928-684-3787.

Boats

Invader Runabout Ski/Bass boat - $3100. (480) 833-9844.

1985 Bass Tracker, $3500. 928-467-2459

1968 17ft Blue Water boat, 120hp 4cyl motor and trailer, has windshield, full instrument gauges, tilt, & trim. A very good Project boat. $500 602-938-2632

Only Country Cd Out Tuesday

Tim McGraw - "Reflected: Hits Vol. 2"

A noteworthy Cd out Tuesday is: Bill Maher - "New Rules"

Some DVDs Out Tuesday

King Kong
Stay
Robot Chicken, Vol. 1
Memoirs of a Geisha
Sliver (Unrated Edition)
Ron White - You Can't Fix Stupid
Doctor Who - Beginning Collection
Knots Landing - Complete 1st Season
Six Feet Under - Complete 5th Season
Northern Exposure - Complete 4th Season
Quantum Leap - Complete 4th Season
A Boy Named Charlie Brown
Snoopy, Come Home

Moose Lodge #2014 Easter Party

The Easter Party will be Saturday, April 15th at 10 a.m. at the Moose Lodge located on highway 60 in Claypool between the DMV & the Claypool Methodist Church. Donations for the party are needed, so our area kids can have a wonderful time. For items needed or more info call any of these numbers: 473-3817, 812-8055, 402-0185, 701-3659, or 473-2014.

Tempe Music Festival

The 4th Annual Tempe Music Festival is this coming Friday & Saturday. For more info click HERE.

Props To Apache Gold & Phelps Dodge

At the 9th Annual Pinal-Gila Elder Abuse Conference in Casa Grande, the Apache Gold Casino & Phelps Dodge were given awards for their community service. Phelps Dodge has assisted the Gila County Sheriff's Office Triad program with cell phones to be refurbished & provided to seniors for 911 portable communications. The Apache Gold Casino was ackknowledged for their continued for their continued assistance with their many senior citizen programs.

National County Gov. Week Coming

The theme for the week of April 23rd - 29th, is "Protecting Our Communties." The goal is to raise public awareness & understanding of the roles & responsibilities of counties. The Gila County Board of Supervisors will be hosting numerous events throughout the week. More details about the events will be posted when times & events are confirmed. Stay tuned to Shop & Talk on Saturday morning's from 7 - 9 a.m., for more details.

Sara Evans To Release Mother's Day CD

Evans will release a special, Mother's Day CD, "Always There," which will be available exclusively in Hallmark Gold Crown stores in April & May.

Last Weekend For The Ren. Fest.

This coming Saturday & Sunday is your last chance to enjoy all the festivities. Scroll down & click on the banner on the right hand side of this page for more details.

Final Four Finally Set

No #1 seeds since 1980, here are the teams:

April 1st:
LSU v. UCLA
George Mason v. Florida

Paul Dana Dead After Crash

IRL rookie Paul Dana died 2 hours later at the hospital after crashing into Ed Carpenter, who crashed in turn two & went spinning down the racetrack. Carpenter, will be kept overnight for observation.

Stocks & Commodities At Weeks End

Light Crude ($US per bbl.) - 64.26
Gold ($US per Troy oz.) - 560.50
Silver ($US per Troy oz.) - 10.74
Copper ($US per lb.) - 2.39
Live Cattle (cents per lb.) - 76.90
Feeder Cattle (cents per lb.) - 104.98
Phelps Dodge Corp. (PD) - 75.14
Motorola Inc. (MOT) - 22.33
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) - 83.36
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) - 27.01
Target Corp. (TGT) - 53.71
Kroger Co. (KR) - 20.84
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) - 48.19
Home Depot Inc. (HD) - 43.12
Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY) - 54.38
Dow Jones Industrial Average Index - 11,351.00
NYSE COMPOSITE INDEX - 8,252.39
S&P 500 Index - 1,312.80
NASDAQ COMPOSITE (^IXIC) - 1,697.50

Quick Lake Level Check

Bartlett: 68%
San Carlos: 15%
Roosevelt Lake: 78%
Saguaro Lake(Stewart Mtn): 93%
Lake Pleasant(Waddell Dam): 93%
Lake Havasu: 94%
Canyon Lake(Mormon Flat): 94%

New Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation CEO Chosen

Phil Allsopp, 56, a health care executive with a degree in architecture was chosen as the new C.E.O. of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation will start his new job in April.

McGraw's TV Special Moved

Tim McGraw's NBC special "Tim McGraw Reflected" is now scheduled to air Friday, April 7th, at 8 p.m. E.T.

Buck Owens 1929-2006

Buck Owens has died at the age of 76. Owens, shaped the sound of Country music with hits like "Act Naturally," & helped introduce the genre to mainstream America on the long-running TV show "Hee Haw." Owens died early this morning at his home in Bakersfield, said family spokesman Jim Shaw. The cause of death was not immediately known.

"Every Child Ready To Read"

As a parent or caregiver of a 4 or 5 year old, you can help your child get ready to read at this workshop. The workshop is at the Globe Public Library on 339 S. Broad St., March 28th, from 6 - 8 p.m. Call 928-425-6111 in advance to reserve your space. Refreshments will be provided.

Parents with kids from 2 to 3 years old, can attend this workshop. The workshop will be held at the Miami Memorial Library at 1052 Adonis Avenue, April 5th, from 10 a.m. -noon. Call Paula 402-8813.

Globe Notice Of Official Recount

Notice is given to Callie Cline Sargent & Terry Moya, that a recount for District 2 will be conducted on March 30th at the Globe City Hall at 10 a.m.

City Of Globe News

The scheduled work session of the Globe City Council for 3/27 has been cancelled. The reason for this is for the City Board of Adjustment's public hearing regarding a request to reconsider the appeal by Pioneer Hills Neighborhood Assoc. against the city P & Z's conditional use permit to Globe Familly Assoc., L.P., & the proposed multi-family apt. complex project. The meeting will take place Monday at 6 p.m. at 150 N. Pine St.

14th Annual Mt. Turnbull Festivities Info

For the up coming activities on 3/30 - 4/2 & 4/8 - 4/9, call 475-2986 or 475-4398. Don't forget to leave a message if asked.

Graham County Hot Well Dunes

This event is April 1st, fees are $3 per vehicle per day or an annual permit for $30. The dunes are 32 miles S.E. of Safford. Fore more info cantact the Chamber at 928-428-2511, toll-free at 1-888-837-1841.

Sports News

Japan beat Cuba 10-6 to win the 1st World Baseball Classic.

Seton Hall has fired basketball coach Louis Orr.

The New York Giants re-signed wide receiver Tim Carter.

Jamal Mashburn has retired, shortly after being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Arizona Diamondbacks released left-hander Felix Heredia.

WWE has released Rosey.

Fred Hill Jr. will become head coach at Rutgers on Monday.

Brian Griese agreed to a five-year deal with the Chicago Bears.

The coordinator of Ecuador's World Cup-bound soccer team was jailed on suspicion of immigrant trafficking for allegedly seeking U.S. visas for two people not connected to squad.

High School Computer Lab Open For Public Use

The Miami High School computer lab is open to the public Mon. - Thurs., from 4 - 7 p.m.

"Down on the Bayou"

The "Down on the Bayou" Casino Night & Dance, is for an evening of fun, food, gaming, & dancing. There will be a live performance from "Black Leather Zydeco," which is a blend of country music with a dash of Louisiana spice. The ticket price is $30 for singles & $50 per couple on April 21st, at 6 p.m. at the Apache Greyhound Park in Apache Junction. For more information call, (480)982-3141.

46th Annual Pioneer Days

The 46th Annual Pioneer Days is going on now through March 26th in Kearny at the Pioneer Park. There's a carnival, arts & crafts show, parade, Men's softball tourney, entertainment, & the queen contest.

Smile For The Camera's

Great American Country (GAC) will be on-site with its camera crews at the 13th Annual Country Thunder USA festival, April 5th-8th, in historic Florence, Arizona. The network is on hand to do tapings for 2 of its series, "GAC Nights" & "Country Music Across America."

New Pima County Superior Court Appointee

Gov. Napolitano announced she has selected Tucson lawyer Gustavo Aragon, Jr. to join the Pima County Superior Court. Mr. Aragon will take a newly created position on the bench. Mr. Aragon did his undergraduate work at Stanford, & at the University of Arizona & earned his Juris Doctor from the U of A in 1977. From 1979 - 1985, Mr. Aragon was a prosecutor for the Pima County Attorney’s Office. In recent years, he's specialized in personal injury litigation, focusing in his current practice on plaintiff’s litigation. Mr. Aragon has served on the Supreme Court’s committee on character & fitness & committee chairman in 2002. He has done pro-bono legal work throughout his career, & for 21 years, has served as a volunteer for the Pima County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Representation of Indigents program. During the course of his volunteer work he's represented more than 20 indigent defendants in litigation. In 1995 he was Pima County's Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.

More Communities Get REDI Grants

The money from the Rural Economic Development Initiative Grants (REDI) will be used to build capital investment, effectively manage community resources, develop marketing strategies & increase job opportunities within these areas.

The City of Prescott received $15,000 to perform a feasibility study for a Minor League Baseball Stadium in Downtown Prescott. Upon completion of the study, it's the city’s desire to proceed with funding options & take appropriate steps to move the project forward.

The City of Holbrook received $6,500 to help identify & recruit new businesses & expansion by performing an Old Route 66 existing business & infill inventory. The economic development of Old Route 66 has taken on new light since the environmental cleanup of several brownfield sites. The grant includes a business inventory & classification assessment, complete & compare databases, & analysis projections.

The City of Payson received $6,250 to produce marketing materials to highlight the business & living environments of the Payson area. The matching grant will aid in the development of a brochure, CD, & folder. The materials will be available to promote biotechnology efforts & other trades to Payson.

The Town of Florence received a REDI grant for $5,000 to design, purchase, & install historic directional signs in strategic locations in order to show visitors where businesses are located & create an information kiosk in the center of the town.

As reported earlier, the Town of Miami received $4,426.50 to help survey, engineer, design, & develop 1+ commercial acre in the town. The project has the potential of increasing property taxes by several hundred percent. The project will survey the acreage, existing infrastructure availability & necessary engineering to allow plotting of the property and installation of infrastructure, curbing, & retention walls.

New Children, Youth, & Families Executive Director

Governor Janet Napolitano has appointed Irene Jacobs to serve as Executive Director of the Governor's Office for Children, Youth, & Families. Jacobs will also function as a senior policy adviser to the Governor. Jacobs has been Deputy Director of the Governor's Office for Children, Youth, & Families (GOCYF) & Director of the State School Readiness Board. She has an extensive background with organizations assisting children, youth, & families. Jacobs will oversee the Governor’s Division for Substance Abuse Policy, Division for Community & Youth Development, Division for Children, Division for Women, the State School Readiness Board, Community & Faith Based Initiatives, & Benefits CheckUp.

Free Small-Business Counseling

SCORE will be offering FREE counseling to small-business owners & to anyone considering starting a new business, this coming Monday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nanini Branch Library at 7300 N. Shannon Road in Tucson.

Heber- Overgaard Incorporation

On May 16th, the residents of Heber- Overgaard will go to the polls to decide whether or not to have the communities incorporate.

Quartzsite Business Chamber Meeting

The Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce is holding its next general membership meeting on March 27th at 7 p.m. at the Split Rail RV Park.

People For The West Meeting

The next People For The West-Globe-Miami, Inc. meeting is April 13th at 7 p.m. with the no host dinner from 6 - 7 p.m. at Guayo's on the Trail. Everyone is welcome to attend. Call 425-3754 for more details.

NCAA Action Tonight

Tune in to CBS to catch the action between:

Connecticut vs. Washington
George Mason vs. Wichita St.
Villanova vs. Boston Coll.
Florida vs. Georgetown

Yesterday's Results:
Duke 54 vs. LSU 62
West Virginia 71 vs. Texas 74
Memphis 80 vs. Bradley 64
Gonzaga 71 vs. UCLA 73

T Bone's Back

T Bone Burnett is back after a 14-year hiatus & is set to release his new album "The True False Identity," on May 16th.

Rancher's Night

Steak Dinner & Dance, at the Pinal Mtn. Elks Lodge on 1775 East Maple in Globe. It's on April 1st, Happy Hour at 6 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m., & the Dance at 8 p.m. Seating is limited with $13 as the ticket price so buy your tickets or to ask further info call the Elks lodge at 425-2161 or Leon at 402-8289.

3rd Annual Tombstone H.S. Booster Club Golf Tourney

Register for the 3rd Annual Tombstone High School Booster Club Golf Tournament thats Saturday, April 8th, at the Turquoise Hills Family Golf Center in Benson. The 4-person Scramble is open to both men & women, & a handicap isn't required. There will be a raffle, prizes, & a lunch. Entry is $45 (there's a reduced rate for Turquoise Hills Members) & it includes green fees, cart, prizes, & lunch. You can sign up as a team or as an individual to be placed on a team. The entry deadline is April 1st, 2006. For more info or to get an entry form, please contact Clayton at (520) 456-1685 or e-mail: salines1@msn.com.

Apache Gold Balloon Race

The 2nd Great Balloon Race is scheduled for April 1st & 2nd, the public is invited to attend for FREE. The ballons will launch shortly after sun-up at about 7 a.m. from the Cutter Airport located across the highway from the casino. The evening of the 1st, there will be a balloon glow.

Wickenburg PTA Book Fair

The PTA Book Fair is March 25th-27th at the Wickenburg Community Center. The hours on Saturday, are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with most books & other items priced at just $0.50 cents each. By Sunday, all items are half-price (even specially priced, collectible items) with the hours of 1-5 p.m. On Monday, March 27th, everything left is free from 8-10 a.m.

"Women and Work: The Future"

Arizona Women’s Education & Employment (AWEE) presents "Women and Work: The Future." This 2 day symposium is on March 30th & 31st & will help create a roadmap of strategy ideas to frame the needs for women in the workplace for the next 10 to 25 years. "Women and Work: The Future" is being held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa at 24th Street & Missouri. Register at www.AWEE.org. Fees are $75 for the symposium, including dinner & a continental breakfast. Call 602-223-4345 for more information.

San Carlos Ed. Dept. Fundraiser Golf Tourney

The tourney is at the Apache Gold Stronghold starting April 21st, at 8 am. The tourney is a 4 person scramble & the cost is only $350 per team. The sign up deadline is April 7th. To register or for more info call the Education Dept. at 928-475-2336 or the golf shop's phone number, 928-475-7664.

CVCH Spring Shoe Sale

The CVCH Auxilary is sponsoring the sale Thursday, March 30th from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. & on Friday, March 31st, from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the CVCH Conference Room. If you have any questions you can always call 928-402-1230.

"Bringing Technology to Market"

That is the subject of a FREE seminar from 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 27th at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law at 1201 E. Speedway Blvd.

Palo Verde Water Investigated

After a series of recent multiple incidents, Federal monitors say they have formed a task force to investigate the spills at several power plants, including the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Wintersburg. A written report summarizing the findings of the water spills is due by Aug. 31st.

Rejected

The Florence Unified School District nixed the 4 day proposal & decided to keep its traditional five-day-a-week schedule next year.

Big Money For Charities

The Arizona State Open Chili Championship in Casa Grande brought in nearly $11,000 for area non-profit organizations.

Free ADD Seminar

This free seminar is in Scottsdale at 6:45 p.m. April 5th at the Mustang Library on 10101 N. 90th St. For more information, call (480) 314-4299.

City of A.J. Animal Control Rabies Clinic

The City of Apache Junction Animal Control Division of the Department of Public Safety is holding a low-cost vaccination clinic on April 9th. The clinic will be at the Apache Junction Animal Control facility, 725 E. Baseline in Apache Junction. Rabies vaccination for canines $7; Canine Distemper-Parvo (5-way) $13; Canine Bordatela $12; Feline FDVRCP (upper Respiratory) $9; Feline Leukemia $11; Feline Rabies $7. Apache Junction residents will be able to have their dog licensed for $18 unaltered, $10 altered. Cash or checks only. Make checks payable to the City of Apache Junction. Please include your driver's license number & expiration date on the check. All dogs must be on a leash & cats in carriers please. If possible, please bring proof of spay/neuter and previous vaccination records. For additional information, contact Apache Junction Animal Control at (480) 983-4405.

“Fountain Of Dreams” Dedication

The fountain dedication is at the Casa Grande City Hall on April 4th, at 5:30 p.m. The City Hall is at 510. E. Florence Boulevard in Casa Grande.

Tim McGraw Coming To The Small Screen

McGraw will make several TV appearances including NBC’s “The Today Show” on March 31st & “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” April 4th in support for his 10th album, Tim McGraw Reflected: Hits Vol 2, which set for release on March 28th. Also, his 3rd NBC concert special is scheduled to air April 5th, from 7-8 p.m. CST.

The Redneck Revolution Tour

Gretchen Wilson & Trace Adkins will co-headline the 2nd leg of the tour beginning May 10th in Philadelphia & running through May 27th. Blaine Larsen will be the tour’s special guest.

Most-Played New Female Country Artist

According to Mediabase, Miranda Lambert is the most-played new female country artist on both CMT & country radio. The singles and music videos "Me And Charlie Talking," "Bring Me Down," & "Kerosene" earned her that distinction.

Innovation Day

On March 28th, the University of Arizona will host its 3rd Innovation Day. Innovation Day celebrates technology commercialization at the University of Arizona through its students, staff and faculty. This year's theme highlights the role of venture capitalists & how they can help fund a university-based technology company. An Innovation Showcase will highlight university technology & its benefits to Tucson & Southern Az through the creation of new products & new jobs. The annual UA Technology Innovation Awards will honor faculty entrepreneurs. For companies or individuals interested in registering for these events, more information can be found at www.uatechpark.org.

Small Business Cash Flow Seminar

The Phoenix office of the Service Corps of Retired Executives will hold the seminar for small businesses from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 28th.

National Library Week Is Coming

You can celebrate National Library Week, April 2nd - 8th, at the Globe Public Library. Look for giveaways for the kids, & maybe some goodies. During that week an amnesty on overdue fines will be in place. You may contribute non-perishable food items or contribute cash to the "guilt" jar. However, lost or damaged books must be paid for. To find out more information about the Globe Public Library or National Library Week call, 425-6111.

Big Auction Saturday

The auction is being held at the Quality Inn & Suites on 4499 Highway 69 in Prescott. The preview is at 11 a.m. with the auction starting at noon. The refreshments are being catered by the hotel. Accepted forms of payment are cash, check, credit & debit card.

Reebok Bracelets Recalled

Reebok International is recalling about 300,000 of these promotional bracelets after a child reportedly died of lead poisoning after swallowing one. The eight-inch-long metal bracelets, with a heart-shaped charm with the name "Reebok" engraved on one side, were distributed with the purchase of various styles of children's footwear.

Fidelity Laptop Stolen

Why is this news? The laptop computer belonged to Fidelity Investments & contain data on about 196,000 retirement-account customers. The stolen computer holds information on participants in Hewlett-Packard Co.'s pension & 401(k) plans. Fidelity said they have alerted those affected, & is offering them free credit monitoring for 12 months. So far, there has been no evidence the data has been misused.

NALEO Invitees

Gila County Supervisor Jose Sanchez & Globe City Councilman Fernando Shipley have been invited by the National Assoc. of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund to participate in the NALEO Policy Institute on Sustainable Communities in Phoenix, Az at the end of this month.

Railroad Depot Future

Input is being asked for the future use of the depot's use, post rehabilitation. Their will be a public meeting April 6th, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Globe City Hall (150 N. Pine St. in downtown Globe). Previous ideas & any current ideas will be brought up during this time. One idea brought up was a combined transportation museum/restaurant. Keep in mind, due to the funding given & the lease agreement, there are requirements to follow. Upon rehabilitation, (A) Must be a publicly accessible private enterprise that generates some regular income for the taxpayers & the Az. Eastern Railway Co., (B) Must incorporate some appreciation for transportation history of our community, & (C) Ought to be a use that adds to the positive character & pride of our historic downtown. The city looks forward to receiving interested peoples ideas for this project's end use.

Sunday's Food City 500 National Anthem Singers

The group performing the National Anthem will be Diamond Rio prior to the start of Sunday's "Food City 500," in Bristol, Tennessee.

"Patriotic World Tour"

Lee Greenwood, Restless Heart, Dick Hardwick, the New England Patriot Cheerleaders & members of the Air Force band, will entertain U.S. troops in Europe, Southwest Asia and the Pacific, April 5-18. The "Patriotic World Tour" will travel to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; Kadena AB, Japan; Kunsan AB, Korea; Misawa AB, Japan; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; and at least three deployed locations in Southwest Asia.

Hassayampa River Preserve Spring Nature Walk

This walk is one of a series hosted by the Preserve on the last Saturday of each month through April. The Nature Conservancy's Hassayampa River Preserve in Wickenburg is this Saturday from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Experienced trail guides will share insights on the many animal & plant species in the preserve. After the walk participants can visit the interpretive center in the Frederick Brill ranch headquarters, the interpretive garden, & view award winning photographs by the Wickenburg Camera Club on display in the Frank Broz Memorial Gallery. Reservations are required with admission at $5 for adults, & children under 12 are FREE. For more information or to sign up, call 684-2772.

"It's All About the Kids" Fund-Raiser

Casino Arizona will sponsor a gaming fund-raiser for "It's All About the Kids" foundation from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Eli's American Grille at 7000 E. Shea Blvd. The gaming is in good fun & will benefit the musical training program for at-risk children in the Phoenix area. There's also a silent auction, being held at the same time. Event tickets are only $20 & can be purchased by calling (602) 948-9800 and at www.itsallaboutthekids.org.

Donation Drive In Surprise

Morning Star Presbyterian Church of Surprise is sponsoring a Donation Day for Eve's Place, a domestic-violence shelter in the northwest Valley. The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church, near Reems Road and Mountain View Boulevard. The recently opened Eve's Place needs gift cards, phone cards, hygiene items, & home supplies.

5th Annual Cruisin' To The Tunes Car Show

It's Deer Valley High School's 5th-annual Cruisin' to the Tunes Car Show. The show will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 8th at the school at 18424 N. 51st Ave. in Glendale. The event includes live music, food, vendors, raffles, & prizes. The show is FREE. For Vendor & participant fees call, (602) 843-5690 or (602) 206-9433 or go to www.skyhawkband.org. All proceeds will go to the band program.

Gilson Wash district meeting

The meeting is March 30th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Gilson Wash Head Start building. The public is invited to attend & District members can bring to light issues concerning their district. For more information, contact David or Charles at 475-2361. Councilmen David Reede & Charles Stevens will host the district meeting.

Foothills Library Book Sale

This library sale will be at the Foothills Branch Library at 19055 N. 57th Ave., for their spring book sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 22nd in the Roadrunner Room. No item will cost more than $2. At 2 p.m. the $1 bag sale begins. For more information call, (623) 930-3849.

Gee, What A Shocker

New Yorker City & L.A. breathe the dirtiest air in the nation and face higher cancer risks than the rest of the nation, according to the latest data from the E.P.A.

Is This A Joke?

Story From Yahoo! News

Texas arresting people in bars for being drunk:

Texas has begun sending undercover agents into bars to arrest drinkers for being drunk, a spokeswoman for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said on Wednesday. The 1st sting operation was conducted recently in a Dallas suburb where agents infiltrated 36 bars and arrested 30 people for public intoxication, said the commission's Carolyn Beck.
Being in a bar does not exempt one from the state laws against public drunkenness, Beck said. The goal, she said, was to detain drunks before they leave a bar and go do something dangerous like drive a car.

"We feel that the only way we're going to get at the drunk driving problem and the problem of people hurting each other while drunk is by crackdowns like this," she said. "There are a lot of dangerous and stupid things people do when they're intoxicated, other than get behind the wheel of a car," Beck said. "People walk out into traffic and get run over, people jump off of balconies trying to reach a swimming pool and miss." She said the sting operations would continue throughout the state.

A Maybe For Amare

After being sidelined since October with surgery on his right knee, Suns forward Amare Stoudemire could be back Thursday night. Stoudemire has reportedly said the chances are "80-20" that he'd be ready to play tomorrow night.

7th Annual Procurement Fair

The 7th Annual Southern Arizona Procurement Fair will be from 8 a.m. to noon April 21st at the Pima Air & Space Museum on 6000 E. Valencia Road in Hangar 4. Make your reservations NOW!! For additional information or to register contact Karen at 740-8485.

Copper Festival In Miami Starts Friday

The 1st Annual Arizona State Copper Festival is in Miami on March 24th & 25th.

Las Lomas School Activities

The Spring Music Program will be held March 27th, & from March 27th-31st, Las Lomas will be holding a Book Fair.

Copper Basin Pioneer Days

The Pioneer Days celebration starts tomorrow, March 23rd through the 25th at the Pioneer Park. The parade is on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Contact the Copper Basin Chamber at 520-363-7607 for more details.

Tempe Book Signing

Authors, Derek Benz & J.S. Lewis will read from & sign “Revenge of the Shadow King” at 7 p.m., Saturday at Changing Hands Bookstore at 6428 S. McClintock Drive in Tempe. This is a FREE event. For more information call, (480) 730-0205 or got to www.changinghands.com.

Sweet 16 Set

Tune in to CBS to catch the action on:

March 23rd:
Duke vs. LSU
West Virginia vs. Texas
Memphis vs. Bradley
Gonzaga vs. UCLA

March 24th:
Connecticut vs. Washington
George Mason vs. Wichita St.
Villanova vs. Boston Coll.
Florida vs. Georgetown

Plane Crash Kills Real Estate Icon

The pilot of a small plane killed in a crash this week near Wikieup was John Kenneth Orms, 64, of Scottsdale, founder of Platinum Luxury Real Estate & Platinum Mortgage & Financial Services, which has offices in Phoenix & Tucson.

More Cousins Subs Coming To...

Cousins Subs plans to open 5 more locations in the Tucson area over the next year and a half.

Office/Warehouse Complex Planned For I-10, I-8 Junction

Trammell Crow Company has purchased a total of 185 acres at the I-8 & I-10 junction in Casa Grande for $10.2 million & plans more than 3 million square feet of office & industrial space in one of the largest speculative developments in Arizona.

Bisbee Council To Fill Vacant Ward II Seat

The Bisbee City Council will more than likely appoint a replacement for the late Bob Kasun at its April 4th meeting.

New Cochise County ADEQ Liaison

It was announced earlier this week that, Mel Taylor has been named the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's community liaison for Southeastern Arizona.

Mohave County Taxation Changes

Mohave County officials are considering lowering the property tax rate & doubling the county sales tax to make up the revenue.

"Every Child Ready To Read"

As a parent or caregiver of a 4 or 5 year old, you can help your child get ready to read at this workshop. The workshop is at the Globe Public Library on 339 S. Broad St., March 28th, from 6 - 8 p.m. Call 928-425-6111 in advance to reserve your space. Refreshments will be provided.

Bocephus Harrassment Accusation

A 19-year-old waitress has accused Hank Williams Jr. of harassing her in a hotel bar & alleged that around midnight Saturday Williams swore at her, tried to kiss her, & lifted her in a chokehold, according to the police report. Williams has been staying at the Peabody Hotel while his daughters are being treated in a Memphis hospital for injuries they suffered in a car crash. Police had not issued any warrants in the case as of Tuesday evening.

1st Annual Cactus Pedal

The 1st Annual 27-mile bike challenge thru the Sacaton Mountains is set for April 8th, 2006 beginning & ending at the Paul Mason Sports Complex (2525 N. Pinal Ave.). The ride begin's at 8 a.m. & registration will begin at 7 a.m. The event is co-sponsored by Round Trip Bike Shop & the City of Casa Grande Parks & Recreation Department. All entrants will receive a t-shirt & the ever-popular pancake breakfast cooked by Kent & Victoria from Round Trip Bike Shop. The entry fee is $25 (pre-registration) or $30 (on-site). For more information contact Lisa at 421-8677, ext. 4540. Online Registration Form or External Site Registration.

Tonto National Forest Implements Fee Change

Daily use & camping fees at some of the most popular recreation sites on the Tonto National Forest will change beginning March 29th. The changes will mostly affect the popular chain of lakes recreation sites & campgrounds that stretch from Roosevelt Lake to the Lower Salt River Recreation Area on the Salt River, the Bartlett Lake & Horseshoe Lake recreation areas on the Verde River and the Seven Springs Recreation Area north of Cave Creek. For day use sites & shoreline access areas, daily fees will increase from $4 per vehicle & $2 per watercraft to $6 per vehicle and $4 per watercraft. Most agency-managed campground fees will also be changed to match day use fees. Current charges of $10 per night for a single or $15 per night for a double unit will change to a standard charge of $6 per vehicle & $4 per watercraft at all sites.

New Gila Co. P & Z Member

Travis Williams is the new appointee to the Gila County Planning & Zoning Commission.

Josh Turner Arizona Concert News

Josh will be at the Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, May 17th.

Mesa Arts Center Exhibition Opening & Reception

The Mesa Contemporary Arts at Mesa Arts Center will hold a reception from 6-9 p.m., Mar. 24th, featuring four exhibitions. Interpretive Landscapes: A Solo Exhibition of Weavings by Navajo Artist D.Y. Begay; Weaving Tradition: Carol Cassidy & the Woven Silks of Laos; Darrell Tousley’s First Sighting; & Cuba- Havana Interiors by Michael Eastman. This reception will serve as the closing reception for Interpretive Landscapes, & the opening for the other three exhibits. This FREE reception will be held at 6 p.m., March 24th in the Mesa Contemporary Arts Courtyard. The public may arrive at 5 p.m. early to hear Michael Eastman, who will hold an artist’s talk in the Main Gallery. The public is invited to enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, mingle with other art enthusiasts, & meet the artists. Navajo guitarist Aaron White will provide musical entertainment. At 7 p.m. there will be a blessing by Buddhist Monks.

Steven Tyler To Undergo Surgery

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler will undergo throat surgery this week, forcing the veteran rock band to scrap the remaining 12 dates on its North American tour.

F****************CK

The Indianapolis Colts agreed in principle to a deal with Adam Vinatieri, ensuring them a Super Bowl win this coming year. The Patriots allowed Vinatieri to test free agency rather than putting a franchise designation on him, which would have cost the team $3 million next season.

Last Week To Apply

That's right, it's the last week to apply for the ASU Technopolis Mentoring Program's Spring 2006 session. The goal is to provide companies with the counsel they need to build their ventures into successful enterprises. Companies selected for The Mentoring Program will work with an appointed 2-3 person mentoring team for a 6 month period. Previous companies participating in the program have secured investor & venture capital funding, as well as connections to members of their senior management team. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m., March 24th. For more information and the online application, please visit the ASU Technopolis website at http://www.asutechnopolis.org/.

San Manuel News

Los Angeles-based Lowe Enterprises has entered into exclusive negotiations with BHP Copper Inc. to form a joint venture for the development of BHP's 19,600 acres near San Manuel. The companies are proposing a master-planned development with residential, commercial, & light-industrial uses for the land, that includes part of BHP's former copper mine & processing plant in Pinal County adjacent to San Manuel. BHP shut down its San Manuel operations in June '99 & plans to complete reclamation work there by June '07.

3 Military Contracts For Raytheon Missile Systems

Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson has received contracts from 3 different branches of the military:

The Army Aviation & Missile Command for additional TOW 2A & TOW 2B aero missiles.

The Naval Air Systems Command are extending a contract for development & integration of the selective availability anti-spoofing module capability for the Tomahawk cruise missile.

The Air Force Medium Range Missile Group for a pair of 11-month contracts for repair capability & a service life prediction program for non-warranted advanced medium range air-to-air missiles.

Northern Pima Chamber Monthly Membership Meeting

The features speaker at the monthly membership breakfast of the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce March 30th, is chief executive officer for Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Kendall Bert. The meeting is from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort on 10000 North Oracle Road. The cost is $15 for members or $18 for nonmembers. To register, call the chamber office at (520) 297-2191 or e-mail admin@the-chamber.com.

Reserve at Fox Creek $old

The Reserve at Fox Creek, a manufactured housing community for people age 55 years & older, has been purchased by American Land Lease, Inc. (ANL) of Clearwater, Fla.

No Vote For Puerto Rico

The Supreme Court rejected a bid to give residents of the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico the right to vote in US presidential elections.

Green To Gold Conference

This year's theme is "Sustainable Cities, Healthy Local Economies." The conference aims to assist communities in creating "Sustainability Task Forces" that collaborate to improve the vitality of economies, environments, & Quality of Life of the Southwest's unique places. The conference will be held at the Crossroads Center in Prescott, March 23rd - 24th. For complete details visit Green 2 Gold.

Walk For Life & Fun Family Farm Festival

On March 25th at 8:30 a.m, at the Paladin Farm located at 1140 East Butte Avenue, Florence, Options Crisis Pregnancy Center will hold its 1st fundraising event. Walkers are asked to collect tax-deductible donations from friends, family, & co-workers to help support the new Crisis Pregnancy Center which opened this month in Florence. Walkers will bring their donations to the event on March 25th, & then enjoy a FREE day of family, fun, & food. Wagon rides, field games, & a petting zoo are some of things you can expect to see at the event. To learn more about the event or about Options, call (520) 868-0772 or email optionswalk@msn.com. Registration and 9:15 Walk Begins. The festival is immediately following the Walk.

March Az. Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Events

For the rest of March 2006, the ASP State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is coordinating activities throughout the state for its annual celebration of Az. Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Month. The events focus on current efforts to preserve our past by protecting our fragile & non-renewable cultural resources.

A partial statewide listing of events by region is below:

Coolidge: Saturdays & Sundays in March (9am) Backcountry site tours at Casa Grande Ruins national Park Contact: Dave (520) 723-3172 or david_Winchester@nps.gov.

Cottonwood: March 1-31 (Monday- Saturday; call for times Exhibit rock art display. Sponsored by the AAS-Verde Valley Chapter Contact: Jim (928) 639-0604.

Florence: March 25: (10am - 12pm) Lecture: Victorian Artifacts Contact: Christopher (520) 868-5216.

Globe: March 25 & 26 (9am - 5pm) Prehistoric Life ways: Interactive Program Contact: Lynette (928) 425-0320.

Springerville: Throughout March (call for times) Tours & Displays: Casa Malpais Museum Contact: Barbara (928) 333-5375.

Whiteriver Area: Month of March, Walking Tour, Fort Apache Historic Park & Museum Contact: Karl (928) 338-4625.

San Carlos Ed. Dept. Fundraiser Golf Tourney

The tourney is at the Apache Gold Stronghold starting April 21st, at 8 am. The tourney is a 4 person scramble & the cost is only $350 per team. The sign up deadline is April 7th. To register or for more info call the Education Dept. at 928-475-2336 or the golf shop's phone number, 928-475-7664.

Last FREE Water Conservation Workshop

The City of Scottsdale is offering their last FREE water conservation workshop for the month. The workshop will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the city's Water Operations Building at 9312 N. 94th St. The topic discussed on March 23rd will be "Landscape Container Gardening." To register, call (480) 312-5690 & leave your name, address, phone number & tell them you'd like to attend. Advanced registration is required.

Wickenburg PTA Book Fair

The PTA Book Fair is March 25th-27th at the Wickenburg Community Center. The hours on Saturday, March 25th, are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with most books & other items priced at just $0.50 cents each. By Sunday, March 26th, all items are half-priced (even the specially priced, collectible items) with the hours of 1-5 p.m. On Monday, March 27, everything left is free from 8-10 a.m.

The PTA Book Fair offers a variety of hardback & paperback books, book sets, videos, cassettes, CD's, games, puzzles, & other items for all ages and reading levels. The students at Hassayampa & Vulture Peak Schools are participating in a contest to collect the most items. Donations of books & other items, except magazines, can be dropped off at either school office. The class that collects the most will receive $100 from PTA. Any class that collects 500 books/items will receive $25. To volunteer or for more information, call Terry, PTA President at 684-6742.

Copper Festival In Miami

The 1st Annual Arizona State Copper Festival will be held in Miami on March 24th & 25th.

Las Lomas School News

The Spring Music Program will be held March 27th and from March 27th-31st, Las Lomas will be holding a Book Fair.

Miami Boomtown Spree

Miami Boomtown Spree April 21st - 23rd.

Events Include:
Arts and Craft Street Fair
Car Show Copper Crawl 5K & 10K+ Run
Keystone Stair Climb
Red Springs Bed Race
Pancake Breakfast
Live Entertainment
Children's Mining Events
Youth Basketball Tournament
Parade Friday 6PM
BBQ & music
State Mining Championships April 22nd

Copper Basin Pioneer Days

This year’s Pioneer Days celebration is March 23rd-25th at the Pioneer Park. Tickets may be purchased at the Copper Basin Chamber office. The parade is Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Contact the Copper Basin Chamber at 520-363-7607 or send an e-mail to cbc@copperbasinaz.com for more details.

9th Annual D-backs Foundation Golf Classic

Online registration is being accepted for the 9th Annual Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation Golf Classic on March 31st, at the Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass. Diamondbacks players & staff are matched up with foursomes & play a five-man scramble golf tournament. This tournament is one of the largest fundraisers for the team's charitable foundation. Click HERE to register.

Mesa Arts Center’s Free Courtyard Concert Series

The Mesa Arts Center invites art lovers to take advantage of later hours & FREE admission at Mesa Contemporary Arts on Thursday nights this spring to enjoy music in the Wayne & Kathye Brown Sculpture Courtyard. Seating is available on the terraces, seating cushions are welcome. The Courtyard Concert series is sponsored in part by the Employee Community Fund of Boeing Mesa. This is located at the Mesa Arts Center- Mesa Contemporary Arts’ Brown Courtyard 1 East Main Street, Mesa (Downtown).

SCHEDULE:

April 13
Sonorous Jazz Funk Fusion

April 20
Andy Margolis Trio Straight Ahead jazz

April 27
Sarah Vanell Contemporary Folk

May 4
Estun-Bah Contemporary Native American

May 11
Combo Westside Latin-inspired Bossa jazz

May 18
Joe Hopkins Jazz Band Dixieland Jazz

CONTACT: Mesa Arts Center 480-644-6500 www.mesaartscenter.com