Harvick Disqualified

Kevin Harvick's qualifying time for tonights Busch Series race was disqualified & his crew chief was thrown out of Daytona International Speedway after his car failed inspection before the race. Shane Wilson was escorted out by Busch Series director Joe Balash after NASCAR found unapproved aerodynamic modifications the the No. 21 Chevrolet. Harvick, had qualified 27th, ended up be allowed to race but at the back of the field. Wilson will be penalized heavily because he's already on probation for failing inspection at the last restrictor-plate in Talladega.

Limited Work On Valley Freeways This Weekend

The 4th of July weekend will bring with it a break from most state highway work around Arizona. ADOT says nearly all of its contractors will suspend project work between Friday afternoon & July 5th.

The lone exception on Phoenix area freeways is early morning work Saturday & Sunday along the Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the West Valley. Crews are working to complete the new Maryland Ave. bridge over the freeway in time for the opening of the Arizona Cardinals Stadium in August.

Here is the weekend work schedule:

* Southbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria) is closed between Glendale Ave. & Camelback Rd. from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday for bridge work. Northbound Loop 101 narrowed to one lane in the same area. Traffic will be detoured along 91st or 99th avenues while the early morning restrictions are in place.
* Northbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria) is closed between Camelback Rd. & Glendale Ave. from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday for bridge work. Southbound Loop 101 narrowed to one lane in the same area. Traffic again will be detoured along 91st or 99th avenues while the restrictions are in place.

ADOT urges all drivers to concentrate on safe driving over the extended July 4th weekend. Please buckle up & give yourself extra travel time if you are heading out on an extended trip. Be prepared for unscheduled highway closures by bringing extra drinking water & snacks along on the trip. Never drink and drive.

Tiger Fire

The Tiger Fire, a lightning-caused fire, is burning in the Prescott National Forest. It's currently 2,500 acres with no containment. No structures are threatened at this time.

The Tiger Fire started Thursday, June 29th, at 3:30 p.m. It burned through the night in the Castle Creek Wilderness on the Bradshaw Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest. Winds from thunderstorms pushed the fire northwest, east & southeast, but no significant rain fell on the fire.

Road closures: There is now restricted access into the town of Crown King. Residents will be allowed in, but the town is now closed to the public. County Road 59 is now closed at Cleator.

There is no vehicle access to the fire. Firefighters are hiking or being flown to the fire. Structure protection firefighters have been placed in Horse Thief Basin, preparing defensible space as a precaution. That area is not threatened at this time.

Resources committed to this fire include: 3 Type 1 hot shot crews, 1 Type 2 initial attack crew, 3 Type 6 engines, 5 Type 3 engines, 2 Type 1 air tankers, 1 Type 1 helicopter, 2 Type 2 helicopters, 1 Type 3 helicopter & 1 fixed wing tactical aircraft. Additional crews & aviation resources have been ordered.

The fire is burning in a wilderness area where motorized vehicles are prohibited. Firefighters are being shuttled in by helicopter. The fire is burning actively on the southeast side with the west side slowing down.

Due to the inaccessible location & potential threat to Horse Thief Basin summer homes, a Type 2 incident management team has taken over as the command crew of the fire.

73rd Hopi Festival

Saturday & Sunday, its the 73rd Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture, at the Museum of Northern Arizona, at 3101 N. Fort Valley Rd., $7 adults, $4 seniors, $3 students, $2 children (7 - 17 years), 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., www.musnaz.org. Over 55 booths will be brimming with fine arts & crafts & painters, jewelers, potters, weavers, storytelling, music, dancing & Hopi food.

Community Invited to Opening Celebration

The Native American Arts Exhibition begins with a celebration tomorrow, from 6 pm - 8 pm. The opening reception at the Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300 N Fort Valley Road, in Flagstaff, & is free to the public. The exhibition showcases over 60 pieces of artwork created by Native artists from throughout the Southwest & will be open from July 1st through August 5th.

The exhibition, presented by Flagstaff Cultural Partners, highlights the creativity of local & regional Native American artists. In celebration of Native culture there will also be a film & video festival on July 14th & 15th, & hand-on demonstrations by Native craftsmen & artists on July 22nd & 23rd. Please visit www.culturalpartners.org for a complete schedule of events, times & locations, or call 928-779-2300 for more information.

Pinal County Unveils Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2006-2007

In Wednesday's meeting-The Pinal County Board of Supervisors adopted the tentative budget for 2006-2007 which focuses on public safety, transportation & a property tax reduction.

The tentative budget approved a new Region for the Sheriff's Office. Region Four will focus on the San Tan area with 37 new deputies and a new substation. The cost of the new region will be $4.2 million dollars.

The budget provided the establishment of Division IX of the Superior Court. This includes a Superior Court Judge & support staff.

Transportation issues were a high priority in the new budget. The County will add 40 miles of new & improved roads throughout the County. A countywide transportation plan was also funded.

The County's primary property tax rate will be reduced by 15 cents; the school equalization tax will be reduced by 43 cents; there will be an adjustment for the Flood Control District of 2 cents. The net impact will provide a homeowner with a $100,000 house with a $56 tax reduction.

The total of the tentative budget is over $404,000,000. The Supervisors will finalize the adopted budget on August 2nd.

Coconino National Forest to Partially Reopen on Sunday

Most of the Coconino National Forest will reopen to public access at 8 A.M. Sunday, July 2nd, thanks to enough rainfall to sufficiently dampen the extreme fire danger. The Red Rock Ranger District, essentially the portion of the Coconino below the Mogollon Rim, will remain closed until that area of the forest receives more rain. The entire Coconino National Forest has been under closure since Friday, June 23rd.

"Our Forest Information Center received over 1,000 calls over the past 10 days inquiring about the forest closure. We appreciate everyone's patience & cooperation while the Forest Service employed this ultimate fire prevention strategy," said Nora Rasure, Coconino National Forest Supervisor. "The forest closure was effective. No human caused wildfires have been reported on the Coconino so far during the closure.

"The boundaries of Red Rock Ranger District are roughly described as northeast of the Verde River, west of a meandering line between the junction of Highways 87 & 260 to Stoneman Lake, south of where Interstate 17 drops off the rim, & east of Sycamore Canyon. Included in the closure area are: Stoneman Lake, Fossil Springs Wilderness, western half of West Clear Creek Wilderness, Beaver Creek, Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness, Munds Mountain Wilderness, Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, all Forest Service campgrounds, picnic areas & trailheads in Oak Creek Canyon. Private land owners who access their property through closed areas of the National Forest must obtain a permit from the district office that manages the adjacent National Forest System lands. To receive an entry permit, individuals & organizations need to provide photo identification & proof of residence.

The following restrictions are still in effect on the open areas of the Coconino National Forest:

· Campfires, including charcoal fires, are prohibited, including in developed recreation sites. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns & heaters are allowed.
· Operating a chainsaw for personal use with a firewood permit is prohibited between 9 A.M. & 8 P.M.
· No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or developed recreation site.
· Welding is prohibited.
· Using an explosive is prohibited.
· Operating any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arrester is prohibited.
· Operating a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads is prohibited, except when parking in an area cleared of vegetation, & except in the Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area north of Flagstaff.
· Fireworks are ALWAYS prohibited on national forest lands.

Violations are punishable by a fine of not more that $5000, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. These restrictions will remain in place until enough precipitation falls to further decrease fire danger. For further information about closures and restrictions in the Coconino National Forest, call 928-226-4601 between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M, or visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino. For information on fire restrictions on all public lands in Arizona, call toll-free 1-877-864-6985, or see www.azfireinfo.com.

Hasselhoff Has Surgery

David Hasselhoff had surgery after having severed a tendon in his right arm in an accident in a London gym bathroom. Hasselhoff was shaving at a gym in the Sanderson Hotel on Thursday when he hit his head on a chandelier, showering his arm with broken glass. Doctors operated to repair the injury & Hasselhoff only spent one night at St. Thomas' Hospital in central London.

Stocks & Commodities At Weeks End

Light Crude ($US per bbl.) - 73.93
Gold ($US per Troy oz.) - 616.00
Copper ($US per lb.) - 3.36
Phelps Dodge Corp. (PD) - 82.16
Quadra Mining LTD (QUA.TO) - 10.48
Motorola Inc. (MOT) - 20.15
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) - 48.17
Home Depot Inc. (HD) - 35.79
Dow Jones Industrial Average Index - 11,247.00
NYSE COMPOSITE INDEX - 8,169.07
S&P 500 Index - 1,279.40
NASDAQ COMPOSITE (^IXIC) - 1,591.50

Lyman Found Guilty

Announced yesterday, by Gila Co. Attorney Daisy Flores, Steve Lyman of Globe was convicted of possession of drug paraphernalia, a class 6 felony & a class 4 felony of possession of a dangerous drug. The jury found that Lyman had intentionally or knowingly possessed drug paraphernalia & possessed a dangerous drug. It was also determined that Lyman has 3 prior felony convictions & the offense was committed while on parole. The case was presented to the jury by Gila Co. Attorney Daisy Flores & Deputy Co. Attorney, Khurram Karim. Sentencing has been set for July 17th, in front of Judge Duber. Lyman faces a possible sentence of 15 years incarceration in the Arizona Department of Corrections for the class 4 offense, plus 2 more years for committing the offense while on parole status.

Info From The Skin Cancer Foundation

This Fourth of July, remember to protect yourself while driving to the beach! The Skin Cancer Foundation reminds you that time spent in the car puts both drivers & passengers at risk for skin cancer & sun damage. UV rays can easily penetrate car windows, so in addition to sunscreen, consider installing UV-protective window film. It can block up to 99% of damaging rays & is a reliable way to reduce your risk.

Daily use of sunscreen can help protect against sunburn, premature aging, & skin cancer. In addition, applying a sunscreen every day can help prevent future sun spots or precancers. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a liberal application of sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every 2 hours, beginning 30 minutes before going outside.

For more information, visit www.skincancer.org.

Miami Trash Pick Up Change

If your regular scheduled trash pick up is on Tuesday, July 4th, it will be picked up on Monday, July 3rd, due to the 4th of July holiday.

Free Concert Sunday

Hear local musicians during the Free Sunday Night Concert series starting at 7:30 p.m. Sundays through July 16th at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, on 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, in Scottsdale.

Upcoming Shop & Talk Guests

Tomorrow at 8 a.m. is Country Musician, Derryl Perry.

July 15th, 8 a.m. is Dixie Mundy, Director of Gila County Division of Elections.

Lil' Kim Getting Released

Lil' Kim will be released from her year in prison Monday, after serving 10 months. She was sentenced last September to a year & a day in prison for lying about a shootout outside a hip-hop radio station. Lil' Kim, will remain under house arrest for 30 days after the release.

Crime Log

Officer assisted CPS with an investigation at a residence in the Copper Country Mobile Home Park. No further action was required.

Officers were dispatched to the Drift Inn in reference to an assault. The suspect fled prior to officers' arrival. An ATL was issued. Report was taken & case is pending contact with the suspect.

Officer conducting routine patrol discovered criminal damage to gravesites at the Globe Cemetary. A report was taken & case remains under investigation. Extra Patrol will be provided.

Gila Co. Deputy arrested & booked Christopher Brice, 32, on a valid warrant from the Globe Regional Justice Court for posession of drug paraphanelia with a bond of $1,455.

Gila Co. Deputy was dispatched to Lee Kornegay School for a report of a suspicious person. Subject was transported to CVCH by medical & the parent was contacted.

Gila Co. Deputy was dispatched to the area North of Cholla Bay boat ramp for a motorist assist with a boat & then medical was called for one of the subjects who was having a heart attack.

Tri City responded to a transformer fire on McKinney St. & put it out before it caught a nearby structure on fire.

There were multiple reports of a lightening strike fire starting in the Pinal Mountains & also in the Pinto Creek area near Roosevelt Lake. The Forest Service was advised & responded.

There was a report that all of the phones in Dripping Springs were out. Qwest was notified of the problem.

Deputies responded to the Marina at Roosevelt Lake regarding a break-in of the Marina Pay Station. The amount stolen was not immediately known. The case is under investigation.

SR188 Wheatfields Improvements

Impacts to the Independence Day weekend traffic will end tomorrow by 7 p.m.

TRAFFIC SHIFT:
In observance of the Independence Day Holiday, there will be no construction-related activities beginning 7 p.m. tomorrow night, through 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 5th.

BIXBY ROAD:
Until the closure tomorrow, motorists should anticipate 10 to 15 minute delays on Bixby Road at the junction of Bixby Road & SR188 due to placement of aggregate base.

WORK HOURS:
Scheduled construction hours are Monday - Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Bylas 4th Of July

These events are FREE:

6:30 a.m.
Run/Fun Walk

8 a.m.
Horseshoe Tournament

Softball Tournament

Co-ed Volleyball Tournament

9 a.m.
Bingo

Kids Games All Day

4:30 p.m.
New ball field ground breaking

5 p.m.
Community Dinner

5 - 11 p.m.
2 Bands playinng

6 p.m.
Women's Basketball Championship Game

7 p.m.
Men's Basketball Championship Game

9 p.m.
Fireworks

Independence Day Celebration

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. today at the Gila Co. Courthouse, come on down & buy your lunch at one of the following food booths: Jose's Super Tacos, Josephine's Fine Fry Bread, or Bob's Best Burgers. Then at 2 p.m. prizes will be awarded to the departments who donated the most patriotic & the most creative raffle items. Following the judging, winning tickets will be drawn for the raffle items. Proceeds benefit the Sew Much Comfort Foundation & the local Support Our Servicemen/Women. Raffle tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, or 15 for $10. Tickets may be purchased in the Globe Personnel Department & in Payson in Supervisor Martin's office (Jo Johnson) or the Recorder's Office (Crystal Slaughter). When you go, be sure to ask what items the soldiers need, so that you can make the right decision on the essentials.

Wet 'n Wild Water Day

Kids can participate in free activities including sand castle building, sponge wars & relays during Wet 'n Wild Water Day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Chaparral Pool, on 5401 N. Hayden Road, in Scottsdale.

Johnny Rockets Releases Hamburger Recipe

The Johnny Rockets Group, Inc., the restaurant chain known for juicy hamburgers & table-top jukeboxes, has released its popular "Rocket Single" recipe for Americans to enjoy at home during the 4th of July holiday & summer grilling season.

Recipe: Rocket Single

Ingredients:

* Hamburger bun
* Special sauce (mix Thousand Island dressing, Dijon mustard & hot sauce to taste)
* 1 slice of cheddar cheese
* 1/3 lb. fresh ground beef, seasoned, hand-pressed & grilled
* Fresh lettuce
* Ripe tomato
* Onion (sliced)

Instructions: Grill the hamburger until its internal temperature reaches at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit, according to preference. Place cheese on top & cover for another 30 seconds. Place in a bun. Mix dressing & spread it on the bun. Layer on tomato, lettuce & onion.

To learn more about Johnny Rockets, visit us at JohnnyRockets.com.

Another Fire Has Started

The Tiger Fire, a lightning-caused fire, is burning in the Prescott National Forest. It's currently 600 acres with no containment. No structures are threatened at this time. The fire started at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. It's burning in the Castle Creek Wilderness, 6 miles southeast of Crown King (Township 9½ North, Range 1 East, Section 34). The fire is burning in chaparral & grass. Resources committed to this fire include: one Type 1 hot shot crew, one Type 2 initial attack crew, one engine, two Type 1 air tankers, one Type 1 helicopter, one Type 3 helicopter & one fixed wing tactical aircraft. The fire is burning in a wilderness area where motorized vehicles are prohibited. Firefighters are being shuttled in by helicopter. The fire is burning actively on the southeast side with the west side slowing down. Due to the inaccessible location & potential threat to Horsethief summer homes, a Type 2 incident management team has been ordered & will take over the fire tomorrow beginning at 6 p.m.

Hospital Fire Contained

Earlier this morning the wildfire burning on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation was reported to be 100% contained. The Hospital Fire had been burning near Hospital Tank. The fire burned 2,016 acres. No structures burned. Road 1400 is now open from Phillips Park to the junction of Roads 1200 and 1500. The fire burned grass, juniper and oak in a remote area where the terrain is rough.

New Title 2 Project Director

Governor Janet Napolitano today announced that Bonnie Talakte will take the position of Project Director for the Arizona Teacher Excellence Plan (AzTEP). Talakte is formerly the Project Administrator for AzTEP, & is experienced in Community Outreach for Education Programs.

Prior to coming to the Governor’s Office in 2005, Talakte held several positions in educational institutions, including as Dean of Enrollment & Student Services at Central Arizona College in Coolidge & Director of American Indian Programs at Scottsdale Community College.

The Arizona Teacher Excellence Plan is made possible by a $12 million 4-year grant awarded to the Governor’s Office in 2003. The money is used to recruit & retain high quality teachers at schools in communities that have difficulty retaining staff, such as those in remote areas, or high rates of poverty, with a focus on Native American communities.

Az 211 Marks One Year

Today marks the 1-year anniversary for Arizona 2-1-1 Online, a statewide source for emergency information as well as health & human service resources. More than 200,000 Arizonans have been helped by Arizona 2-1-1 in its 1st year.

"Arizona 2-1-1 has proven to be very valuable to Arizona residents & visitors in its 1st year of operation," said Frank Navarrete, Director of the Arizona's Office of Homeland Security. "With thousands of visitors viewing real-time updates during the Cave Creek Complex Fire, the Operation Good Neighbor response to Hurricane Katrina & the recent Brins Fire, it's clear that Arizonans are choosing to rely on this powerful tool."

Arizona 2-1-1 Online is the 1st system of its kind in the nation to provide timely information during natural or human-caused emergencies & disasters, such as wildland fires, floods, water shortages & public health emergencies. Multiple agencies responding to a single disaster each have critical information to share. This information is posted in a single location, making Arizona 2-1-1 Online an effective one-stop shop for official information.

During the Brins Fire in Sedona, Arizonans & visitors interested in the current fire status, road closures, evacuations, shelter locations & donations were able to visit www.az211.gov or, for the 1st time, to call the 2-1-1 call center. Arizona 2-1-1 Online received more than 38,000 visits & the Arizona 2-1-1 Call Center received more than 14,000 calls.

Arizona 2-1-1 Online also provides the public & librarians, caseworkers & other helping professionals throughout Arizona with access to health & human service & emergency response information, as well as referrals to more than 18,000 programs & services at www.az211.gov. Arizona 2-1-1 Online is also a valuable resource for preparedness information. The website posts bulletins on how to prepare yourself, your home & your family for a disaster or community emergency.

Arizona's Strategic Plan for 2-1-1 calls for the phased implementation of 2-1-1. The next step for the program is development of local 2-1-1 call centers serving all Arizonans day to day as well as in times of emergency.

Gila Co. Historical Society Hamburger Fry

The Gila County Hisorical Museum holds their annual hamburger fry on the last Friday of each month thru October, at 5:30 p.m. for only $5 per person, & it's all you can eat. The next burger fry is tomorrow, at the Gila County Historical Museum on Hwy. 60 on North Broad Street, next to the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce in Globe.

Hydrostatic Pressure Testing In Globe

El Paso Natural Gas will be conducting a routine test procedure that enables them to check the safety of portions of their pipeline in the Globe area to ensure it's in good working order.

Beginning at approx., 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5th, until about 6 a.m. Thursday, July 6th, they will be utilizing water to pressure-test a portion of their 6-inch pipeline in the Globe area between Highway 77 & the Cobre Valley Hospital. About 6 miles of pipeline will be tested.

· The line will be tested late at night & during the early morning hours to minimize any potential disruption to the area & local traffic.

· They’ll first remove the natural gas from the line and then use water - injected into the pipeline under pressure - to test the line for possible leaks. El Paso Natural Gas & contract maintenance & inspection personnel will be on the scene to monitor the operations.

· If a leak is detected, water in the line will indicate the area of the leak so that the line can be repaired or replaced. This might result in water being seen temporarily on area streets or in other areas.

· No customers of El Paso Natural Gas in the Miami-Globe area should experience any disruption of service; during the testing, natural gas will be re-routed to their customers in other area pipelines.

· They have notified local authorities of the work, & off-duty law enforcement personnel have been hired & will be patrolling the Six Shooter Canyon Road crossing, the Russell Road crossing, & the intersection of Ice House Canyon Road & El Paso Way Road to assist them & help maintain traffic safety.

· They understand that residents can be concerned or inconvenienced by projects such as the one they’ll be undertaking, & they apologize if any residents are inconvenienced in any way.

· They’re conducting personal visits with residents who live along the pipeline right-of-way to inform them in advance of the work that’s planned.

· Additional line testing work will be conducted in the Globe area in coming weeks.

Wind Farm Coming To Kingman

The Arizona Department of Commerce & the City of Kingman are delighted to announce that Verde Resources Corporation, a Scottsdale-based wholly owned subsidiary of Western Wind Energy is building a 15-megawatt wind farm which will be located just south of the city on 808 acres at the Nucor Steel plant. The Steel Park Wind Project is a $20 million capital investment and will create up to 50 construction jobs. After construction, up to 35permanent jobs will be created over the next 3 years.

"Arizona's greatest wind resources are in rural areas & tribal lands, & this project represents a huge potential for jobs & investment," says Arizona Department of Commerce Director Gilbert Jimenez.

"Western Wind Energy is partnering with Mohave Community College to develop a green building & renewable energy curriculum," says MikeBoyd, company spokesman. "Western Wind will award $5,000 scholarshipsto qualifying students who are transferring to a university from this program."

Western Wind is also working with a major Arizona utility on its plans to implement a "Hydrogen Highway" on I-40 in northern Arizona. Service areas will be staged along the corridor in order to refuel the utility's hydrogen fleet. Western Wind plans to dedicate one of its wind turbines to generate hydrogen for these service stations.

"I believe Western Wind is taking all the steps necessary to make itself a good corporate citizen," says Dave French, Vice-Mayor of the City of Kingman. "The environmental engineering scholarships for students are agreat way of training a local work force. And the prospect of partnering with Nucor Steel on affordable power costs so they can restart operations at the steel plant is also good news. I wish them well."

The Steel Park Wind Project will begin the 1st phases of construction shortly. Woodson Engineering, based in Flagstaff, is responsible for submitting building permit applications & the attendant site plans for 15 one-MW wind turbines. Delivery is planned for October 2006 & Western Wind Energy anticipates commercial production by the end of 2006.

Western Wind Energy is a wind development & production company withpower sales agreements valued at over $900 million. Western Wind Energy is listed on NASDAQ with a trading symbol of "WNDEF". The company is headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, & has sites under various stages of development & production in California, Arizona & New Brunswick. For information on Business Development & Attraction in Arizona, please visit the Arizona Department of Commerce website at Az Commerce or contact Jaye O'Donnell at 602-771-1124.

International Trade Opportunities Workshops

The Arizona Department of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), & The U.S. Foreign Commercial Service are planning 2 workshops to inform businesses of financial opportunities in international trade.

The workshops will take place:
- July 12th at Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO), 120 N. Stone Avenue, Suite 200, in Tucson, from 9 - 11 a.m.
- July 13th at Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management, 15249 N. 59th Avenue, in Glendale, from 9 - 11 a.m.

Companies spanning across all sectors, including bio-science, environmental, information & technology, & aerospace, have an opportunity to attend these events. These services are geared to help companies establish themselves in the international market.

If you are interested in learning more about either event or registering please contact Karla Teixeira, Arizona Department of Commerce International Trade Specialist, at 602-771-1156 or karlat@azcommerce.com.

Blocked

In a ruling today The Supreme Court ruled President Bush overstepped his authority in ordering military war crimes trials for Guantanamo Bay detainees, saying in a strong rebuke that the trials were illegal under U.S. & international law. The vote was split 5-3, Chief Justice John Roberts, was sidelined in this case because as an appeals court judge he had backed the government over Hamdan.

Recovered

According to Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson, the stolen laptop computer & hard drive containing sensitive data for up to 26.5 million veterans & military personnel has been found. There have been no details released on how & where the laptop was found.

Crime Log

Officer responded to Dairy Queen in reference to a delayed domestic violence report. Leland Courtney was later contacted in reference to this incident & arrested for disorderly conduct/domestic violence. Courtney was booked into the Gila County Jail.

Stacey Espinoza came into the Globe PD to report her vehicle had been damaged in a hit & run accident while parked at the Cobre Valley Hospital. A report was taken.

Gila Co. Sheriff's Office substation in Payson served a warrant on inmate, Iva Elora Mathews, 41, from the Gila Co. Superior Court for criminal trespass in the 1st degree, a class 6 felony; allegation of prior historical felony conviction & allegation of offense committed while on probation with a bond of $2,500.

Family Swimming

Families can spend $5 to for the whole family to cool off & swim on Tuesday & Friday evenings from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Globe Community Center.

Kingman BLM lands & Hualapai Mountain Park Restrictions Change

Due to Extreme Fire Danger in the Kingman area & in the interest of public safety, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) & Mohave County has revised fire restrictions on public lands administered by BLM's Kingman Field Office & in Hualapai Mountain Park. Fire restrictions took effect, yesterday at 6 a.m. & will continue until sufficient precipitation or other factors lessens the fire danger.

The new fire restrictions will provide safer conditions for communities, residents near public lands, & people who use public lands. Individuals & agencies exempt from the restrictions include federal, state & local firefighting organizations in the performance of official duties.

The fire restrictions include the following:

* Building or using a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler or wood stoves is not allowed. Propane or petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices are not allowed except within enclosed buildings, camping trailers & motor homes (no use in tents).
* Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
* No motor vehicles can be taken off road, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within ten (10) feet of the roadway.
* Internal or external combustion engines must have properly installed, maintained, & working spark arrestors.
* The use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices.
* Chainsaws, & other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine, including welder equipment is also prohibited.
* Discharging a firearm outside of taking game in accordance with Arizona hunting laws.

The BLM & Mohave County greatly appreciate your cooperation in protecting your public lands by helping to prevent unwanted wildfires. For a recorded message describing fire restrictions throughout the Southwest, the toll free number established & maintained by an interagency team of federal, state, & local land management agencies (1-877-864-6985).

Current fire restriction information can also be found online at www.azfireinfo.com. To report a wildfire or illegal fire use, please call the Kingman Field Office at (928) 718-3700 or State Fire Dispatch at (800) 309-7081.

City Of Mesa Offices Closed For Independence Day

Refuse & recyclables will be collected, but there will be no bulk item pick-ups. Police, fire & 9-1-1 emergency services will be available throughout the holiday. Mesa bus service will not be provided, however, Dial-A-Ride service will be available.

Other City services that will be affected:

• The City’s Main, Dobson Ranch & Red Mountain libraries & book drops will be closed.
• The Mesa S.W. Museum, Az. Museum for Youth & the Mesa Arts Center will be closed.
• The Dobson Ranch & Riverview golf courses will be open.

"Mountain Lion Awareness Day"

Kartchner Caverns State Park will host a special day dedicated to learning about mountain lions on Saturday, July 8th.

"We wanted to provide an educational day for the public to learn about these beautiful creatures, but also our goal is to be sure the public & visitors that come to Arizona understand the more serious issues about mountain lion behavior during a drought. We would like to have children in summer camps, parks & recreation departments or other summer programs come on this day & bring a lunch so they can enjoy the day in the park," said Kelly Jackson, Assistant Manager at Kartchner Caverns.

According to Jackson, "The lion programs will start about 10 am & end at 3 pm. Visitors can view presentations & displays in the Discovery Center. There will be 2 formal presentations about mountain lions, one at 11 am & the other at 2 pm."

Tom Whetten, from the Arizona Game & Fish Department Information & Education section, will give the presentations about cougars. Special handouts about lions & their behavior will also be available from the Arizona Game & Fish Department.

"Visitors for this program will be allowed into the park for free & can visit the Discovery Center & participate in the presentations about cougars," says resource ecologist Joanne Roberts. "We have had 2 lions sighted at this park & think the public would appreciate learning more about why cougars are coming lower out of the sky islands into more inhabited areas. We feel hikers & bikers should be made more aware of lion sightings & learn the precautions they should take while recreating near lion habitat as well."

The public will learn how to identify mountain lions living in the wild, the issues about cougars interfacing with people, & learn how to recognize the natural lion behavior versus more aggressive behavior toward humans. Cougars can show more aggressive behavior toward pets & other small animals when they are hungry & can't find natural wild animals such as deer & small mammals in the more remote areas.

Kartchner Caverns State Park is located on Highway 90, 9 miles South of I-10 near Benson, Arizona. Park hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Discovery Center hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Park is open daily except for Christmas Day, & closes a 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Eve.

Park Entrance Fee is $5 per vehicle for up to four adults. There is an additional charge of $2 per adult for more than 4 adults. Arizona State Park Annual Pass is sold for $45 (some restrictions apply) & Premium Annual Pass is sold for $100.

“Don’t Trash AZ”

Gov. Janet Napolitano announced "Don’t Trash AZ," a new statewide campaign to motivate Arizonans to pitch their trash into trash cans, not onto the roadways. "Don’t Trash AZ" is a cooperative effort between the Governor’s Office, ADOT, the Maricopa Association of Governments & other state agencies.

"It’s just sad that as we drive along our freeways & streets, we see soda cans, napkins, cigarette butts, paper, coffee cups, even large boxes & plastic buckets," Gov. Napolitano said. "This is more than an eyesore; litter is expensive to clean up & makes for very dangerous driving conditions."

Debris on roadways nationwide causes approx., 25,000 accidents each year & more than 80 fatalities. Between 1999 & 2001, Arizona reported 5 fatal accidents due to road debris.

"The negative image created by litter affects every Arizonan," said the Governor. "It not only affects our quality of life, but it creates a negative appearance for tourists, businesses considering relocating to the state & the employees those businesses move or recruit to work in Arizona."

"Litter detracts from the great community we live in," Maricopa County Supervisor Fulton Brock said. "Certain litter, especially cigarette butts, contains toxic chemicals that leak into our air & water."

Each month ADOT, removes more than 4,000 bags of trash from the freeway system in Maricopa County alone. Last year, ADOT spent $2.5 million & 74,000 hours removing litter from its 6,152 miles of freeways throughout the state. Despite all Arizona’s clean up efforts & the countless hours of volunteers like Adopt A Highway groups, this garbage is still easily seen on our roadways.

Along with the approx., $6 million the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is spending on litter control & landscape maintenance on freeways, MAG is also developing a new litter prevention & education campaign.

"Don't Trash Arizona is crucial for keeping our cities & counties litter free," Phoenix Councilmember Peggy Bilsten said. "A strong anti-litter education program will teach Arizona’s children to have pride in their communities. They can become the generation that keeps Arizona beautiful for everyone."

The Governor encouraged every Arizonan to play a role in the "Don’t Trash AZ" campaign.

Arizonans can:

* Use trash receptacles
* Carry a litterbag in your car
* If you witness someone littering, call the litter hotline, in the Phoenix area its 602-712-4683, outside Phoenix its toll free at 1-877-3LITTER (1-877-354-8837)
* Become one of the more than 2,200 individual volunteers or more than 100 companies that participate in the state’s Adopt A Highway Program.

For more information, please visit www.azgovernor.gov/donttrashaz.

C.A.R.E FAIR

The C.A.R.E. Fair (Sponsored by the Gila County Health & Community Services), is August 4th, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday Night Movies

At the Veteran's Memorial Park at the Community Center from 7 - 11 p.m. every Saturday night come on out to view the classics to current hits (the films are PG13 or Under). All ages are welcome to attend. For movies being shown this weekend call, 425-7146 ext. 39. The event is sponsored by the Vida E Caffe & The Globe Independent Film Club.

Florence July 4th Celebration

The celebration begins on July 4th, at 4 p.m. at the Heritage Park in Florence.

Quick Lake Level Check

Bartlett: 71%
San Carlos: 7%
Roosevelt Lake: 64%
Saguaro Lake(Stewart Mtn): 95%
Lake Pleasant(Waddell Dam): 90%
Lake Havasu: 91%
Canyon Lake(Mormon Flat): 94%

Brins Fire

The Brins Fire that was burning north of Sedona in the Coconino National Forest with the size of the fire at 4,317 acres, has been declared 100% contained as of 6 p.m. tonight. Costs to date to fight the fire are estimated to be $6.4 million.

Highway 89A Reopens: Traffic through Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona along Highway 89A has reopened to the public.

$270,000 Grant Ceremony In Superior

Officials from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture¹s Rural Development office in Phoenix will be in Superior on Thursday, June 29th at 9 a.m. to present a $270,000 ceremonial check to the Town of Superior. The grant is to help the town develop high speed internet via a Wireless Fidelity (WI-FI) canopy. Superior currently does not have high speed internet capabilities. Officials from the Arizona Department of Commerce will be at the event as well to present a grant for $35,000 to assist with the project.

"This project is a terrific example of collaborative efforts across many levels of government," said Rural Development State Director Eddie Browning.

The State Department of Commerce will be putting in $35,000, the Town of Superior is contributing $25,000, local businesses have been pledging matching funds - even the Central Arizona College's Small Business Development Center is contributing in-kind services for the project." Browning added that the new high speed internet capability will be a boon to existing businesses & to business creation & expansion.

The award ceremony will be held at the Porters Building (CAAG Meeting Hall), 402 Main Street, Superior at 9 a.m. At the same ceremony, the ADOC will also present the Resolution Copper Company of Superior a grant of $52,200 for job training.

Yesterday's Fatal Accident

Yesterday, Canyon Fire Dept. EMT's & Tri-City ambulance responded to a fatal one vehicle roll over on Hwy 77, near the old Christmas turnoff. The subject flown out to University Medical Center was Betty M. Hill, 93, of Tucson, where at this time is in critical condition. Her husband, Edward A. Hill, 89, was pronounced dead at the scene. The breakdown of what had happened is Edward hit a rock embankment causing his vehicle to roll after failing to properly negotiate a curve in the road.

CSK Auto Giving Away NHRA Autographed Racing Helmet

CSK Auto, Inc., operator of more than 1,280 Checker, Schuck's, Kragen, & Murray's auto parts stores throughout 22 western & midwestern states, announces another new prize from its popular online fantasy motorsports league. Any player who participates in the 3rd or 4th quarter CSK "Quarter Miler" online fantasy racing game will be entered into a drawing to win a racing helmet signed by 20 of the sport's top drivers. The 3rd quarter game begins with the July 14-16 Mile High Nationals at Denver's Bandimere Speedway & the 4th quarter ends with the November 9-12 Auto Club of Southern California NHRAFinals in Pomona. There is no purchase necessary to enter.

The helmet has been signed by John Force, Eric Medlen & Robert Hightfrom John Force Racing; Del Worsham & Phil Burkart, Jr. from Worsham Racing; Melanie Troxel, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps & Whit Bazemore from Schumacher Racing; all 3 Pedregon brothers (Cruz, Tony & Frank); Larry Dixon & Tommy Johnson, Jr. from Don Prudhomme Racing; Kalitta Racing's Doug Kalitta, David Grubnic & Hilary Will; plus Morgan Lucas, J.R. Todd & Tim Wilkerson.

The free online game follows all 4 NHRA POWERade Pro classes with no drafts, salary caps, roster transactions or pick limits. Players just select the drivers they believe will finish highest in competition with others. Players can win weekly prizes, including gift cards good at all Checker, Schuck's, & Kragen auto parts stores, plus autographed racing memorabilia, merchandise & more at season's end, based upon player performance. Players who score in the top 10 during any week in the 1st 3 quarters become eligible to play in the 4th quarter "Hunt for the Hardware" & a chance at a trip to the 2007 Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway.

The game is only open to legal residents of those states where CSK Auto, Inc. does business. The games are free at: http://nhra.fmfl.checkerauto.com.

Graham County 4th Of July

The parade starts down Main Street in historic Downtown Safford the morning of the 4th. The show begins at 7 p.m. at the Graham Co. Fairgrounds. The nearly 1-hour long fireworks display will be synchronised to music. For more info go to the Graham Co. Chamber site at: www.visitgrahamcounty.com.

Hospital Fire

A wildfire burning on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, is about 20 miles northeast of San Carlos & 35 miles northeast of Globe.

The Hospital Fire is burning near Hospital Tank. It's approx., 2,000 acres & 30% contained. No structures are threatened. However, Road 1400 is closed from Phillips Park to the junction of Roads 1200 & 1500.

The fire is burning in grass, juniper & oak in a remote area where the terrain is rough. Firefighters are concerned about protecting a timberline & a spring on tribal land. A Type 3 Incident Management Team is working this fire. This includes 124 personnel (6 crews), 6 engines, 2 single engine air tankers (SEAT's), 1 air attack & 2 helicopters.

Today's fire activity: Officials with the Bureau of Indian Affairs say firefighters are continuing to construct a fireline in the Blue River Canyon to prevent the fire from spreading & creating a chimney effect through the canyon. Helicopters are also dropping water on the area. BIA officials say today's humidity is working in their favor. They hope to demobilize some of their crews later today or tomorrow, & they're hoping for full containment of this fire by tomorrow.

Firefighters are also working 6 more small fires on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation that were caused by lightning. None of these fires are threatening structures or closing roads.

Correction to Tonto holiday release

The closure order put out for the Mogollon Rim June 23rd failed to exempt some campgrounds that the Payson Ranger District wanted to remain open. They have consequently amended the closure order, so the news release Vincent Picard sent out yesterday was incorrect. It should have read: A closure focused on the Mogollon Rim has closed some of the popular high country campgrounds, including, Canyon Creek, Airplane Flat & Valentine Ridge. Popular campgrounds along Arizona Highway 260, including Tonto Creek, Christopher Creek, Sharp Creek, have been exempted from this closure order. They are open but campers will not be able to leave the campgrounds to enter the surrounding forest. The info provided about the other closure, in the Pinal Mountains, is correct.

At Apache Gold This Saturday

Here's the breakdown on what's going on; KRDE 94.1 will be at the Casino doing a live remote with give aways from 5 - 8 p.m., 7 - 8 p.m. Nackard will be giving away a variety of items over the air along the Miller Lite VIP prize package to Chicago, The Desert Thunder Band will play starting at 7 p.m., Derryl Perry will be at the KRDE booth during that time signing autographs & will perform after the fireworks. There will also be a chance for the ladies to win a dance with Derryl.

Wanna See The D-backs In Chicago

If you are at least 21 years of age, call (928) 402-9222, at anytime (any Ride 94 listener from anywhere in Central Arizona is eligible) to get your name entered to win a trip to see the D-Backs take on the Cubs & meet Mark Grace at the Wriggleyville after party in Chicago. The Ride 94 & Nackard have a pair of tickets to the Miller Lite VIP party to giveaway at the Apache Gold Casino Resort on July 1st, sometime between 5 - 8 p.m., you must be present to win. When you call, (928) 402-9222 be prepared to give your name, phone number, location, & birthdate.

Gila Co. Historical Society Hamburger Fry

The Gila County Hisorical Museum has their annual hamburger fry on the last Friday of each month thru October, at 5:30 p.m. for only $5 per person, & it's all you can eat. The next burger fry is June 30th, at the Gila County Historical Museum on Hwy. 60 on North Broad Street, next to the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce in Globe.

Crime Log

Citizen reported a vehicle he had purchased was in fact a stolen vehicle. An officer is checking with MVD in an attempt to determine ownership.

Citizen reported some juveniles took a tool repair kit from the rear of his Quad while it was parked at the Safeway store on Hill. A theft report was taken. Not long after the report being taken, officers contacted a 15 year old male subject & charged him with theft. He was also in possession of a bicycle that was reported stolen last Tuesday. He was charged with that theft as well & released to the custody of his mother. A second juvenile, 14, was also charged with theft. Both were issued referrals.

Officer contacted & arrested Joseph Miller on 4th Ave. & Main on two warrrants out of the Globe PD & 3 warrants out of DPS/Phoenix. Miller was booked into the Gila Co. Jail.

Canyon Fire Dept. EMT's & Tri-City ambulance responded to a report of a fatel one vehicle roll over on Hwy 77, MP 145 near the old Christmas turnoff, one subject was flown out & the male driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Deputy conducting a traffic stop on Highway 60 arrested the driver, 33 year old, Ardian Leyva for human smuggling. Four undocumented illegal aliens were detained & turned over to Border Patrol.

In-Studio Saturday Morning

Derryl Perry, up-and-coming Country star, will be in for an interview & to perform an accoustic set during Shop & Talk. Derryl will be at the Apache Gold Casino Resort this Saturday night in the Cabaret as part of the July 4th celebration.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!!!

Get your name on the list by joining the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition. This is a group of community members, parents, teens, & agencies that realize the importance of reducing teen pregnancy in the Globe-Miami area. Call (928) 402-8517 & ask for Victoria.

CPR & First Aid Course Offered In Globe

The local American Red Cross is offering a CPR & First Aid course in Globe July 1st, 2006. Participants will learn skills such as rescue breathing, CPR & responding to an unconscious choking victim, in addition to providing basic care until advanced help arrives. The course will be held in the conference room in the Community Services building in Central Heights, at 5515 S. Apache Ave. from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The cost of the class is $39. For more information, call (928) 719-5007. To register for the course, call their registration line at (602) 336-6490 or register online at www.arizoanredcross.org.

Independence Day Celebration

From 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. this Friday at the Gila Co. Courthouse, come on down & buy your lunch at one of the following food booths: Jose's Super Tacos, Josephine's Fine Fry Bread, or Bob's Best Burgers. Then at 2 p.m. prizes will be awarded to the departments who donated the most patriotic & the most creative raffle items. Following the judging, winning tickets will be drawn for the raffle items. Proceeds benefit the Sew Much Comfort Foundation & the local Support Our Servicemen/Women. Raffle tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, or 15 for $10. Tickets may be purchased in the Globe Personnel Department & in Payson in Supervisor Martin's office (Jo Johnson) or the Recorder's Office (Crystal Slaughter). When you go, be sure to ask what items the soldiers need, so that you can make the right decision on the essentials.

Advertising On The Ride 94

Getting your message out is important if you own a business. With "The Ride 94," you can advertise on a station that blankets 1.8+ million people for rates that are much lower than Phoenix stations. Unlike another radio station in town (according to KQSS management they own & operate & change format from one to the other at KZZP), at KRDE we don't lie about our coverage & ratings. The best times to call the station are Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 928-402-9222 or 928-425-4800. If you prefer to send an e-mail, krde@cableone.net is the address you need. Be smart & get your message heard on "The Ride 94," KRDE 94.1 FM.

County Supervisors Address Growth At Forum

Pinal County Board Chairman Lionel Ruiz & District 3 Supervisor David Snider attended a 2-day forum in southern Arizona looking at the growth issues that will affect this part of the state in the next 2 decades.

Immediately after the 2-day event, Supervisor Snider said the time spent was well worth it.

"You had over 30 elected officials & administrators from Pinal, Pima, Cochise & Santa Cruz Counties in one place to discuss one issue: growth," the Supervisor said. "We addressed a lot of issues related to the impending influx of residents from water to open space. It became apparent that our issues are not unique; we need to address them regionally & not as 4 separate entities."

Pinal County Assistant County Manager for Development Services Ken Buchanan along with Planning & Zoning Director David Kuhl were on hand for the forum. While water issues dominated the forum, Snider said that transportation & jobs were part of the discussion as well.

"I think everyone was in agreement that we need I-10 to become a 6-lane freeway throughout Pinal County," Supervisor Snider declared. "We have over 140,000 vehicles a day travel that stretch of road & it needs to be widened. It all goes back to the quality of life issue. If we have these houses & we don't have needed the roads-then where is the quality?"

Before ending the forum, officials were in agreement that they will meet at least 3 times a year to discuss, network & plan for the upcoming growth.

"I think if we can stay together as a group-our voice at the legislature & with the Department of Transportation will be loud," Snider said. "It's time we wake up the rest of the state to what is happening here."

$125,000 In Emergency Funds To Fight Diseases Released

Governor Napolitano has signed Executive Orders 2006 – 10 & 2006 – 11, releasing money from the state Health Crisis Fund to combat the spread of Valley Fever & Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, respectively. A total of $50,000 is allocated for Valley Fever, & $75,000 is to be used for measures to reduce the spread of the Rocky Mountain Spotted type.

Valley Fever's recently become more problematic in Arizona, because of a surge in cases. It is usually not deadly, but can cause pneumonia in the elderly & other patients with compromised immune systems. It is a fungus spread through spores in soil, & is not transmissible through human-to-human contact. Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is treatable with anti-fungal medications.

Similarly, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is not contagious through other humans, but is a bacterial infection usually spread through tick bites. It has been occurring with greater frequency on the Indian Reservations of Northern Arizona, & is serious, but can be treated with antibiotics. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal.

The funding will be used for physician education & training, to ensure that doctors have the appropriate information to diagnose & treat both diseases.

Peter Gammons Hospitalized

ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons, ESPN analyst & member of the writer's wing of the baseball Hall of Fame, underwent brain surgery Tuesday after being stricken with an aneurysm near his Cape Cod home. Gammons, 61, is resting in intensive care following the operation.

CNA Ceremony at GCC

Gila Community College (GCC) conducted a completion ceremony for students who have completed the Certified Nursing Assistant Program. The ceremony was held on June 20th at the Gila Pueblo Campus. Fifteen students were honored for their academic achievement. Nineteen more students began their training on June 23rd with projected completion in September.

For those students wishing to begin their Registered Nursing (RN) training, academic advisement is available. The 2nd group of RNs will begin their academic training on August 21st. The 1st group of nursing students will begin their 3rd of 4 blocks in August. For additional info pertaining to nursing or other Allied Health Care training opportunities call, 425-8481.

Linda O'Dell Advisement

Linda O'Dell, Gila Co. School Superintendent advises that Non Partisan Petitions for Governing Board Members are available in the Gila Co. School Superintendents Office & at local school district administration offices. Any resident of the school district & is a registered voter is eligible to seek election to the school governing board. Those running need to keep in mind that the General Election is on Nov., 7th. The 1st day to file nomination petitions for the General Election in the Gila Co. School Office is Monday, July 10th, 2006. The Last day to file is Wednesday, Aug. 9th, 2006. The Courthouse is located at 1400 E. Ash St. in Globe.

"Productivity Workshop"

On Friday, June 30th, the Industrial Assessment Center at Arizona State University (IAC) will host an "Industrial Energy Efficiency & Productivity Workshop." This FREE workshop will demonstrate the opportunities for significant dollar savings for industries, through:

* Presentation of incentives & energy efficiency programs for manufacturers by APS, SRP, & Southwest Gas representatives
* Success stories from manufacturers who implemented significant energy efficiency &/or productivity improvement measures
* Description of the free assessments available from the IAC, & US Department of Energy training opportunities available in Arizona.

The workshop is at ASU's Social Sciences Building, in Room # 229 from 8 - 11:30 a.m. this Friday.

For further information contact IAC Director Pat Phelan at 480-965-1625

Hospital Fire

A wildfire is burning on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, about 20 miles northeast of San Carlos & 35 miles northeast of Globe. The Hospital Fire is burning near Hospital Tank. It's currently 1,993 acres and 10% contained. No structures are threatened. However, Road 1400 is closed from Phillips Park to the junction of Roads 1200 & 1500.

The fire is burning in grass, juniper & oak in a remote area where the terrain is rough. The biggest challenges for firefighters are high temperatures, dry conditions & gusty winds. Firefighters are concerned about protecting a timberline & a spring on tribal land.

A Type 3 Incident Management Team is working this fire. This includes 110 personnel (3 crews), 6 engines, 2 single engine air tankers (SEAT's) & 1 air attack. A heavy lift helicopter has been ordered, as well as 3 Type 1 hotshot crews.

Today's fire activity: Officials with the Bureau of Indian Affairs say they are concerned about the fire activity on the northwest side of the fire. The fire is on the edge of the canyon, on the east side. It has not crossed the canyon, but it is moving down into the canyon. Right now it is at the canyon's midslope. BIA officials are concerned about the fire causing a chimney effect in the canyon, where the fire will start out low & then move through the canyon & up the canyon quickly.

Brins Fire

The Brins Fire is burning north of Sedona in the Coconino National Forest. The size of the fire has been estimated at 4,317 acres, is approx., 65% contained & costs to date are estimated to be $5.3 million dollars.

Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon, from Midgley Bridge to Halfway Picnic Area, will be opening to residents, business owners, service providers & emergency vehicles beginning at 5 p.m today, Tuesday, June 27th. Individuals being allowed into the area will need to provide identification. The road will remain closed to the general public to avoid conflicts with fire traffic & to give residents & business owners time to return to their properties & resume normal activities. Law enforcement personnel are stationed in the area to enforce road closures. It's anticipated that Highway 89A will re-open in the near future to the general public.

Evacuations orders were lifted on Wednesday for the north end of Soldiers Pass Road (everything north of Casa Contenta) & upper part of Jordan Road (everything north of Navahopi).

The evacuation order continues for Oak Creek Canyon from Midgely Bridge to the fish hatchery in Sterling Canyon (this includes homes, businesses & Forest Service campgrounds). This affects an estimated 581 residences & 40 commercial properties.

Evacuations are re-evaluated on a daily basis.

U.S. Highway 89A from Flagstaff south to Halfway Picnic area near Slide Rock is re-opened to residents & business owners only. This portion of Oak Creek Canyon is accessible only through the north. If an emergency situation should occur, the warning system would be activated & Coconino County Sheriff’s officers would contact individuals with further instructions.

Oak Creek Canyon & Highway 89A south of the Halfway Picnic Area near Slide Rock to Uptown Sedona will remain closed to all but fire traffic for safety reasons. Law enforcement personnel will be stationed at the picnic area to enforce the road closure. The closure will be re-evaluated on a daily basis & re-opened when the dangers diminish.

Traffic into Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona along U.S. Highway 89A will be open only to residents & essential traffic starting June 27th at 5 p.m. Essential traffic is homeowners, business owners, service & emergency vehicles. It is anticipated that the highway will re-open to the general public in a few days.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has determined the highway will be safe for limited traffic at this time. However, fire danger remains high, & closures are possible.

U.S. Highway 89A will remain closed to the general public & non-essential traffic to avoid conflicts with current fire traffic & to give residents & business owners time to return to their properties & resume their normal activities.

Persons driving U.S. Highway 89A should drive slowly & with lights on for safety. Be alert for hazardous conditions, such as rocks or debris in the roadway. Do not stop along U.S. Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon, except for emergency situations.

'Ultimate Fighter 3' Finale Was The Most Watched

The live finale of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter 3 drew 2.8 million viewers on Saturday, June 24th (9 PM -12 Midnight) making it the most watched UFC event in history. The card was the highest rated Spike original telecast in the network's history in Men 18-49 with a 2.85 rating.

The viewership peaked with 3.4 million & a 4.51 rating in Men 18-34 at 10:15 PM for the thrilling 3-round, middleweight war between Kendall Grove & Ed Herman. The Spike TV finale easily outdrew NASCAR's Dodge/Save Mart 350 on FX which garnered 1.4 million viewers. Overall, The Ultimate Fighter 3 finale tallied a 2.04 household rating, with a 2.85 in M18-49 (1,493,000 viewers), a 3.81 in M18-34 (1,000,000 viewers) & an average audience of 2.8 million viewers. Spike TV delivered more M18-49 & M18-34 in the time period than any other channel, broadcastor cable.

In what is the frontrunner for the 2006 UFC fight of the year, Hawaii's Kendall "Spider" Grove scored a unanimous 29-28 decision over Portland, Oregon's Ed "Short Fuse" Herman following 3 rounds of nonstop, breathtaking action in the Octagon. Grove secured the middleweight Ultimate Fighter crown & a 6-figure contract with the UFC.

In the light heavyweight title bout, England's Michael "The Count" Bisping scored a 2nd round victory against a determined Josh Haynes from Medford, Ore to also secure a 6-figure contract. In the main event, Kenny "Ken-Flo" Florian scored a dominating 1st round victory over Canadian Sam Stout. The night's 1st televised bout had Keith Jardine winning a 3-round decision over Wilson Gouveia.

SR188 Wheatfields Improvements

Impacts to the Independence Day weekend traffic will end on Saturday, July 1st, by 7 p.m.

TRAFFIC SHIFT:
In observance of the Independence Day Holiday, there will be no construction-related activities beginning 7 p.m. Saturday, July 1st, through 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 5th.

BIXBY ROAD:
Saturday, July 1st, 2006, motorists should anticipate 10 to 15 minute delays on Bixby Road at the junction of Bixby Road & SR188 due to placement of aggregate base.

WORK HOURS:
Scheduled construction hours are Monday - Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Free Concert Sunday

Hear local musicians during the Free Sunday Night Concert series starting at 7:30 p.m. Sundays through July 16th at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, on 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, in Scottsdale.

Wet 'n Wild Water Day

Kids can participate in free activities including sand castle building, sponge wars & relays during Wet 'n Wild Water Day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Friday at the Chaparral Pool, on 5401 N. Hayden Road, in Scottsdale.

Payson Parks & Recreation Presents...

Every Saturday night in July from 7-9 p.m. at the Green Valley Park Amphitheater on Main St. in Payson its FREE for music lovers of ALL ages. Bring your blanket, lawn chair, & even a picnic basket.

Scheduled Concerts in July are:

July 8th:
"Igor's Jazz Cowboys"
Music Style; Hot fine sizzlin' acoustic Western Swing

July 15th:
"The Loose Cannons Blues Band"
Music Style; Chicago Style Blues

July 22nd:
"Top Cats"
Music Style; Swing/Jump Blues

July 29th:
"Ellington Effect"
Music Style; Alt. Rock

Monsoon Madness

Monsoon Madness is on Saturday, July 8th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Founders Park, at 22407 S. Ellsworth Road, in Queen Creek. This is a family day of fun in the sun & water (with plenty of shade too)! The event will feature inflatable bounce-houses, many different water slides, dunk tank, a youth workshop area, the signature Queen Creek Mud Pit, & lots of food & cold drinks!

Special Requirement: Shirts & closed toe shoes must be worn while participating in the mud pit.

Entrance into the event is free, although the activities & food vendors will have a nominal fee.

Sun Health Auxiliary Thrift Stores Summer Hours

The Sun Health Auxiliary thrift stores have adjusted their hours to help customers beat the summer heat.

Through July & August, the Sun Health Boswell Hospital Thrift Shop is located at 10226 Santa Fe Drive in Sun City & will open its doors from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Boswell Thrift Shop will observe the 4th of July holiday & will be closed July 3rd - 8th, & again on Aug. 28th - Sept. 4th for cleaning & renovation.

The auxiliary's Sun City West Thrift Shop is located at 14445 R.H. Johnson Blvd. in Sun City West & will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday during July & August, but will be closed July 3rd - 8th for the holiday & also the week of Aug. 28th - Sept. 4th for cleaning & renovation.

Not only are "browsers" encouraged, but also tax-deductible donations of gently used household items, furniture, books and clothing are welcome. For more information, call the Sun Health Boswell Hospital Thrift Shop at 623/876-5317 or the Sun City West Thrift Shop at 623/584-3869.

"Frasier" Eddie, RIP

The Jack Russell terrier of Frasier fame, died last Thursday at the ripe old age of 16 & a half, his trainer, Mathilde Halberg. Moose, played Eddie for 10 years.

Miami's Morning Movie

The "Thursday Morning Movie" starts at 10 a.m. in the Bullion Plaza Gym. The movie is "Black Beauty," on Thursday June 29th, with admission set at $1. A concession stand will be open.

All Friday Morning Movies that were being held at Bullion Plaza will be cancelled for the rest of the summer due to low attendance.

Arizona Ranks 37 for Kids Overall

Arizona ranks 37th in the nation on 10 indicators of child well-being according to the 2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore. Last year, Arizona ranked 41st.

Arizona made the most progress in the percentage of children living in poverty. This improvement likely results from the state’s faster economic recovery from the recession than the nation as a whole.

"Arizona's improved ranking reflects the benefit to families of a strong economy & job growth,” said Carol Kamin, President & CEO of Children’s Action Alliance. “It’s wonderful to see that this economic growth pulled Arizona out of the bottom 10 states in the KIDS COUNT rankings. Now it’s up to us to build on this progress & help improve other conditions for Arizona kids.”

Arizona's full economic health depends on working parents having access to safe & affordable child care that gives young children both the stability & the stimulation they need to be successful in school. The 2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book focuses on children cared for by family, friends, & neighbors while their parents are at work & highlights the need to strengthen training, resources, & quality practices for caregivers in all types of child care settings. Twenty-three percent of Arizona children younger than 6 participate in this type of child care (120,000 children), while 20% attend child care centers.

Douglas Nelson, President of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, points out in the report that “a large body of research underscores how quality child care enables young children to build the cognitive & social skills that will help them learn, build positive social relationships, & experience academic success once they enter school.”

With nearly half of all Arizona 4th grade students scoring below basic reading levels in 2005, it’s clear we need to strengthen children’s experience in the earliest years to lay the foundation for their success & a healthy future state economy & workforce.

Arizona voters will have the chance to push Arizona further ahead with 2 key initiatives anticipated to be on the November ballot. First Things First will target $150 million each year from increased tobacco taxes to give many more Arizona children the opportunity for quality early learning & care while their parents are at work. The funds will support community-based efforts for young children & parents, such as parenting coaching, high quality child care & preschool, & linkages to health care.

A 2nd initiative will help move more children out of poverty by creating a state minimum wage of $6.75 an hour & adjusting it annually for inflation. This policy will strengthen family income for an estimated 200,000 children throughout our state. The federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has not been increased since 1997; inflation over the last 9 years has eroded its purchasing power substantially.

Arizona joins only 11 other states experiencing a decrease in the share of children under 18 in poverty between 2000 & 2004. In 2004, 20% of Arizona children lived in families with incomes below the poverty line, down from 23% in 2000. Across the nation, 18% of children lived in poverty in 2004, up from 17% in 2000. The federal poverty level for a family of 3 was $15,670 in 2004.

Other areas where Az. improved include the percent of children in single parent families, the % of teens who are high school dropouts, & the % of children without health insurance.

North Kaibab Ranger District Closed Due To Warm Fire

The North Kaibab Ranger District will close to public access at 8 a.m. tomorrow & remain closed until further notice, due to fire & firefighting activity related to the Warm Fire. All Forest Service roads, trails & lands on the district are off limits.

Arizona State Highway 67, which fire managers closed on June 25th, remains closed from Jacob Lake, Ariz., to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. National Park Service facilities at the North Rim are also closing, & visitors & employees will be escorted out when conditions permit.

US Highway 89A from Kanab, Utah, to Bitter Springs, Ariz., remains open; however, fire or firefighting activity may necessitate future delays or closures. Jacob Lake Inn, Jacob Lake Campground & Kaibab Camper Village at Jacob Lake remain open, as do Kaibab Lodge & the North Rim Country Store at DeMotte Park.

Brins Fire

The Brins Fire is burning north of Sedona in the Coconino National Forest. The size of the fire has been estimated at 4,222 acres, is approximately 50% contained & costs to date are estimated to be $4.5 million dollars. Evacuations orders were lifted on Wednesday for the north end of Soldiers Pass Road (everything north of Casa Contenta) & upper part of Jordan Road (everything north of Navahopi).

APS has restored power to the entire Oak Creek Canyon area.

The evacuation order continues for Oak Creek Canyon from Midgely Bridge to the fish hatchery in Sterling Canyon (includes homes, businesses & Forest Service campgrounds). This affects an estimated 581 residences & 40 commercial properties. Evacuations are re-evaluated on a daily basis. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will coordinate temporary shuttles to bring residents into their homes in Oak Creek Canyon during daylight hours. Residents will be allowed approx., 10 minutes to retrieve reasonable items from their homes.

Persons requesting shuttle to their home can go to either roadblock on Hwy 89A: north end at the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook, south end at Red Rock Lodge. Please be prepared to advise officers of the items you plan to retrieve. Residents will be driven to their homes in an authorized vehicle. Residents will be allowed to retrieve a vehicle out of the Canyon. If a request to enter the evacuated area or retrieve items is unreasonable, public safety officials have the right to deny the request. Public safety is the primary concern & if fire conditions change, shuttling may be terminated.

U.S. Highway 89A from Flagstaff south to Halfway Picnic area near Slide Rock is re-opened to residents & business owners only. This portion of Oak Creek Canyon is accessible only through the north. If an emergency situation should occur, the warning system would be activated & Coconino County Sheriff’s officers would contact individuals with further instructions. Oak Creek Canyon & Highway 89A south of the Halfway Picnic Area near Slide Rock to Uptown Sedona will remain closed to all but fire traffic for safety reasons. Law enforcement personnel will be stationed at the picnic area to enforce the road closure. The closure will be re-evaluated on a daily basis & re-opened when the dangers diminish.

Traffic into Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona along U.S. Highway 89A will be open only to residents & essential traffic starting June 27th, at 5 p.m. Essential traffic is homeowners, business owners, service & emergency vehicles. The Arizona Department of Transportation has determined the highway will be safe for limited traffic at this time. However, fire danger remains high, & closures are possible. U.S. Highway 89A will remain closed to the general public & non-essential traffic to avoid conflicts with current fire traffic & to give residents and business owners time to return to their properties and resume their normal activities.

Persons driving U.S. Highway 89A should drive slowly & with lights on for safety. Be alert for hazardous conditions, such as rocks or debris in the roadway. Do not stop along U.S. Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon, except for emergency situations.

Braxton Bilbrey Meets Napolitano

Governor Janet Napolitano met with Braxton Bilbrey of Glendale to discuss drowning prevention awareness in Arizona & his efforts to raise awareness for the cause. Bilbrey is 7 years old & swam approximately 1.4 miles from Alcatraz to San Francisco in 47 minutes on Monday, May 22nd, 2006. He is the youngest person to complete the swim. Fire Chief-Select Bob Khan of the Phoenix Fire Department & Fire Chief Mark Burdick of the Glendale Fire Department will also be in attendance.

MeteorCrater Is Still Open

Meteor Crater has been unaffected by the fires & they are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week. Meteor Crater, is the best preserved meteorite impact site on Earth! Formed nearly 50,000 years ago by a giant meteor weighing several hundred thousand tons, this crater is 550 ft. deep, 2.4 miles in circumference & nearly one mile across. Featuring interactive displays, a large-screen theater, the Astronaut Wall of Fame, an Apollo Space Capsule & more. Guided trail tours of the rim are offered daily. Meteor Crater is located 35 miles east of Flagstaff via I-40 exit 233. For more information call 928-289-2362 or 800-289-5898 or visit their site at: www.meteorcrater.com.