The Beatles - Taxman

I was right, it was the Beatles. I know my musical instinct was correct with that as my first answer earlier on Shop and Talk, and not the Who. The Beatles recorded that song for their 1966 album, Revolver.

Now, The Silverbelt

Any errors? Hell, yea. The marching band mentioned in the parade was a joined effort of students from the school's from Globe & Miami. Not just students from Globe Junior High School. When you don't listen, that is sad state of affairs. No mention of the judges either, who had a tough decision picking the top 3 winners. They did go into detail on the Centennial Concert, which was nice to see. There were no pictures of the Centennial Parade winners either. I did not see that problem in the Copper Country News.

Were they not paying attention???

I had announced the winner's of the Centennial Parade less than 30 minutes after the parade was over. On page 22 of this weeks Copper Country News, they have John O'Donnell. Had they paid attention & had a reporter near the announcers booth, that mistake would have never happened. This also goes with the lack of mentioning the judges & parade announcer. That is the first time I have ever seen that information omitted from a local newspaper in this town. I have not checked the Silverbelt yet, but will very soon.

The Cobre Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop has See's Candy in time for Easter. The gift shop has a wide selection of boxed See's chocolates & peanut brittle for sale & are open Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm. If you have any questions, call 402-1230.

After Gov. Napolitano appointed Brigadier General Richard G. Maxon to serve as the interim Director of the Arizona State Dept of Veterans’ Services after Patrick Chorpenning resigned amidst the current scandal regarding the conditions of Veterans' homes in the state.

Now, Brigadier General Ronald Shoopman will chair a blue ribbon panel that will conduct a national search for candidates for the job of Director of the Arizona Dept of Veterans Services. The group will holds its 1st meeting next week, and will ultimately recommend 3 candidates to the Governor for her final selection.

General Shoopman is currently President of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council. In 2004, he retired from the Arizona Air National Guard as Wing Commander, 162nd Fighter Wing-Tucson, the largest Air National Guard Wing in the US. He conducted F-16 pilot training for the US Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserves & 20 allied nations.

Also serving on the search team:

General Tom Browning. Since retiring from the Air Force in 1992, Gen. Browning has held a number of leadership positions in the Valley. He's currently president & executive director of Greater Phoenix Leadership, & formerly commanded the 58th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base.

Representative John Nelson. Rep. Nelson's a member of the Az House of Representatives, elected in 2001. He previously served 4 terms as a member of the Phoenix City Council. Rep. Nelson's also a military veteran, 1st Battle Group, 26th Infantry, 1st Division of the US Army.

Colonel H. Webb Ellis. Col. Ellis served in the US Army from 1962 until his retirement in 1992, & spent 10 years of his military career assigned to the Pentagon. He chairs the Arizona Veterans’ Service Advisory Commission & Unified Arizona Veterans.

Rodney B. Lewis. Rod Lewis served in the US Army from 1962 - 1965 achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. Lewis earned a law decree from the University of California at Los Angeles & became the 1st Native American admitted to the State Bar of Arizona. He was the general counsel for the Gila River Indian Community for more than 30 years.

Brenda M. Maloney. Brenda Maloney is a former ER & ICU nurse & Army Nurse Corps Officer. She's an associate at Quarles & Brady, LLP specializing in health care practice. Maloney received her B.S.N from Creighton University, her law degree from University of New Mexico, & her masters degree in health law from St. Louis University.

Melvin I. Brody. Mel Brody entered the US Navy in 1951 & served 3 tours in Korea. He currently serves as Southwest Dept Commander & member of the National Executive Board & Policy Committee of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, & is a member of the Arizona Veterans Memorial Day Cemetery Board. In 2005, he was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame.

Additional members will be named within the week.

Robert “Robbie” Woodhouse has been nominated to the Az Game & Fish Commission by Gov. Napolitano. He'll serve a 5-year term ending in 2012, & is subject to senate confirmation. Mr. Woodhouse is replacing Joseph Melton.

Plants-of-the-Bible Guided Tours:

Have you ever seen a real fig leaf, & pondered just how much anatomy it might conceal? Would you recognize a pomegranate, & can you recall where olives are referenced in Scripture? Boyce Thompson Arboretum offers a 1:30 p.m.guided "Plants of the Bible" walking tour on April 1st & April 21st. This relaxing walk is a chance to learn about botany, history & Scripture along paths that are accessible to wheelchairs & walkers. Collections explored include the Picnic ground, Demonstration & Herb Gardens. From May-Sept this tours moves to mornings & will be offered May 19th, June 16th, July 21st, Aug 18th, & Sept 15th. The Arboretum is about 45 minutes drive East of Mesa, right near highway 60 milepost #223 as you approach the historic copper mining town of Superior. Admission is $7.50 for adults & includes the tour. For more details call 520-689-2811 or visit: ag.arizona.edu/BTA.

Williams High School Class Reunion

Attention graduates of Williams High School, classes 1980-1989, there is a reunion the weekend of June 22nd - 24th. If you have not received an invite, contact Linda Vasquez at lvasquez88@hotmail.com.

Nearly $300,000 is available to Arizona private & tribal landowners who want to develop or improve wildlife habitat on their land. Proposals are being accepted until April 13th, for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. The Natural Resources Conservation Service administers the program.

Through WHIP, NRCS provides technical assistance & 75% of the cost for projects that establish & improve fish & wildlife habitat. Projects that directly benefit federally listed threatened or endangered species are eligible to receive 90% of the project cost.

Projects involving large landscapes, with multiple partners & multiple landowners, are the focus for this year’s WHIP program in Arizona. Emphasis is being placed on projects focusing on the following areas: Grassland restoration, Riparian restoration, Wetland restoration, Bat habitat protection, & Threatened or endangered species.

Applications are available online through Grants.gov. Contact Steve Smarik, NRCS Environmental Specialist, at 602-280-8785 or visit az.nrcs.usda.gov.

The Globe Moose Lodge #2014 needs your help. They are seeking the following items for their Annual Easter Party for the area children: toys, bikes, games, cookies, punch, hot dogs, and/or cash to buy these items. If you need your donation picked up call, 473-2014. The Easter party is April 7th, at 10 am at the Moose Lodge, located next to the DMV & the Claypool Methodist Church in Claypool.

An Arizona landmark for more than a century, & today a welcome oasis for nature lovers, is the Hassayampa River Preserve. The historic, 600-acre preserve near Wickenburg's owned & managed by The Nature Conservancy in Arizona.

A 4-day public celebration of the preserve’s 20th anniversary is planned for March 29th - April 1st. Admission's free for all ages all 4 days.

Here's the activity list.

Hassayampa River Preserve, the site of one of Arizona’s 1st guest ranches, protects a lush, streamside habitat that's home to some of the desert’s most spectacular wildlife. It's located 3 miles southeast of Wickenburg on the west side of U.S. 60 near MP marker 114. For more about the preserve, visit nature.org/arizona.

UFC Buys Pride FC

UFC will run PRIDE as seperate business with plans for an annual Pay-Per-View supershow event with cross-brand matches from both companies. In the world of Mixed Martial Arts this is a huge acquisition for UFC.

The Cobre Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary is awarding 5 scholarships to qualifying 2007 high school graduates from Globe, Miami, Claypool, San Carlos, Roosevelt, Superior, Hayden, Winkelman, Kearny, & Young. The scholarship recipient must be registered as a full-time student at a college of their choice with an emphasis in the medical field. Scholarship applications are available at the high school counselers office or picked up at the CVCH Auxiliary Gift Shop. The application must be postmarked or hand delivered to the Scholarship Chairperson or the Auxiliary Desk at CVCH by March 31st, 2007.

Arcadia Drive is closed until the end of March due to the on going construction project & traffic on Alhambra & Daou Drive is restricted to residents only. All traffic will enter & exit on Hwy. 77 since there will be no through traffic from Arcadia to Montecito. For more info, call the Gila Co. Public Works Roads Dept. at 928-402-8532.

Recycling Scholarship Recipients

ADEQ Director Steve Owens announced the 8 Arizona high school seniors that won scholarships from the department's Recycling Scholarship Program to:

* Kathryn Anderson, Desert Mountain High School, Scottsdale
* Erin Eppard, Thunderbird High School, Phoenix
* Rebecca Heathman, Peoria Transition Center, Peoria
* Reem Kamai, Cortez High School, Phoenix
* Noel Palmer, Desert Mountain High School, Scottsdale
* Raymundo Reyes, Glendale High School, Glendale
* Rachel Rezer, Desert Christian High School, Tucson
* Eric Wannlund, Red Mountain High School, Mesa

Each of these students will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used for expenses at a college or university in Arizona. The scholarship recipients were selected by ADEQ based on the proposals they submitted to ADEQ outlining a waste reduction or recycling project in their school or community that they will implement during this month.

"The purpose of this innovative scholarship program is to encourage Arizona students to think about ways to protect the environment while helping them meet the escalating costs of college," Director Owens said. "These eight high school seniors came up with some terrific ideas for recycling projects."

Owens said ADEQ developed the scholarship program to encourage school recycling activities throughout the state. The scholarship program is funded by the ADEQ Recycling Grant Program.

The Pinal Co. Board of Supervisors invite's everyone to the 51st Annual Fair starting March 28th & ending April 1st. The theme of this year's event is: "Racing Swine..Must be Fair Time!" The Supervisors will be on hand to kick off the 2007 Pinal County Fair on Wednesday at 12 noon.

Fair contests include a "Little Mister & Miss Contest," Amateur photo contest & ugly cake contest. For more info, a fair handbook can be obtained any Chamber of Commerce, Pinal Co. Library, Pinal Co. Fairgrounds or pinalcountyfair.com. For more info you can call the Pinal Co. Fairgrounds at (520) 723-5242.

City of Globe Mayor Stanley Gibson would like to invite the youth in our community in grades 9 - 12th to apply for a chance to participate in the Anytown Arizona Youth Leadership Program this summer. Anytown is a weeklong camp program with activities geared toward specific age groups in preperation for school & community leadership. A brochure & application is available at the Globe City Hall which is located at 150 N. Pine St. The deadline is April 6th & applicants must be a resident of the City of Globe.

Country CDs Out This Week

Tim McGraw - Let It Go
Alabama - Songs of Inspiration II
Bonnie Tyler - Heart Strings
Jack Ingram - This Is It
Guy Clark - The South Coast of Texas
Guy Clark - Better Days
Lee Bogan - West Springs
David Ball - Heartaches by the Number

Some DVDs Out This Week

Look for S&T next to the titles that are my recommended picks.

Children of Men - S&T
The Jeffersons: The Complete Sixth Season - S&T
National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj: Unrated
The Pursuit of Happyness
Ultimate Fighting Championships, Vol. 61: Bitter Rivals - S&T
Miami Vice: Season 4
Turistas
The Wild Blue Yonder - S&T
Night at the Museum - S&T
Full House: Complete 6th Season
The Shield: Season 5 - S&T
Bill Engvall: 15° Off Cool - S&T
Hacking Democracy - S&T
The Addams Family: Volume 2 - S&T
Gitmo - The New Rules of War
Cledus T. Judd: Essenshul Video - S&T
7th Heaven: Complete 4th Season
Touched by an Angel: 4th Season, Vol. 1
The Brady Bunch: Complete Series
Happy Feet

ADOT News:

Construction of 2 new interchanges along I-17 north of Happy Valley Road is scheduled to begin later this spring now that a contract for the project has been awarded.

The State Transportation Board awarded a $35.8 million contract to Pulice Construction, Inc., of Phoenix, to build new I-17 interchanges at Jomax Road & Dixileta Drive.

The Az Dept of Transportation says crews will build 2 new bridges over I-17 to connect Jomax Road & Dixileta Drive to the freeway.

The Jomax Road interchange will have both northbound & southbound I-17 on & off ramps. The Dixileta Drive interchange will include a northbound I-17 exit ramp & southbound entrance ramp. Jomax Road & Dixileta Drive are 2 miles apart.

ADOT says the project also will connect the I-17 frontage roads to the Dixileta Drive interchange & will allow the frontage roads to be converted from 2-way to safer, more efficient 1-way roads.

The project is the 1st in a series of improvement projects scheduled along I-17 in the North Valley during the next 3 years. Additional projects include the reconstruction of the I-17 interchange at Carefree Highway (SR 74), which is slated to start this summer.

ADOT also anticipates advertising a project later this year to add 2 new lanes in each direction to I-17 between Loop 101 & Jomax Road. The new lanes will be extended north to the Carefree Highway under a separate contract, with completion targeted by 2009.

For more info about I-17 improvement projects north of Loop 101 visit ValleyFreeways.com.

From Joe Pyritz:

The Pinal Co. Board of Supervisors received a report from Judge Bill O’Neil regarding future Superior Court improvements needed to keep up with the growth in the County.

Judge O’Neil was joined by Vice-Chairman David Snider as co-chair of a committee of 7 Pinal Co. residents dedicated to study the current & future requirements of the Superior Court. The study began in 2005. The plan takes a wide ranging view of the Pinal Co. judicial system from the Superior Court to Justice of Peace Courts along with court departments.

Addressing the Supervisors, Judge O’Neil said the report sets forth recommendations for the Board on “how to accommodate the future growth that is obviously upon us.”

O’Neil said that experts consulted for this study 1st doubted the County’s calculations on the growth it is experiencing. “They said there was no way we could be experiencing this amount of growth,” the Judge recalled. “In civil filings, when we started this study we had a thousand plus filings a year. This year, we have 2,800 civil filings.” Many of those civil filings, O’Neil added, are due to land disputes.

Supervisor Snider said the Board deems the report as important when planning for the overall growth of Pinal County.

“What is significant,” the District 3 Supervisor began, “is that this document is a critical piece in a countrywide facility master plan. The County Manager and staff has been analyzing the county’s facility needs and having the courts’ specific input will help that larger plan reach its goal.”

Both Supervisor Snider and Judge O’Neil said the plan placed an emphasis on cost effectiveness.

“The needs are many,” Snider said, “& the resources are limited. So we took the approach that we need to look at what we can accomplish with the money that will be available. We also looked at areas where we can save the taxpayers money in the long run. These goals set forth are not ‘pie in the sky,’ they are definitely attainable.”

O’Neil said there were seven major recommendations from the committee.

* Centralization of administration functions
* Centralization of criminal, in-custody juvenile and civil jury dockets
* Decentralization of non-jury, civil matters
* Implementation priority of decentralization of court services
* Further development of the Clerk of the Superior Court’s online services
* Expand court services through extended us of new technology
* Establish mixed use court facilities for various courts.

“This is a good plan that is well thought out & has an eye toward our future,” Supervisor Snider said. “The citizen members of the committee put in long hours in reviewing a mountain of information - I join Judge O’Neil in thanking them for their service to the County.”

NHRA's Eric Medlen Passes

John Force's teammate Eric Medlen, 33, was hospitilized on Monday after his race car crashed into a guardwall during Monday's test session at Gainesville Raceway. Medlen was diagnosed with, diffuse axonal injury, an injury that has a low survival rate. He passed away yesterday.

Pima County Superior Court Judge

Gov. Napolitano appointed attorney Javier Chon-Lopez to the Pima County Superior Court, replacing retiring Judge Michael Alfred.

From The Nature Conservancy:

A bill that would allow the National Park Service to work with a broad range of partners to protect important lands from invasive species—“non-native” plants & animals—passed the House of Representatives by a 390-10 margin thanks to swift action by Natural Resources Committee for National Parks and Forests, Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). Combating invasive species is 1 of 5 priority initiatives spearheaded by The Nature Conservancy to address principal threats to its conservation work at project sites worldwide.

“This bill will give the Park Service the tools it needs to address the devastating impacts of invasive species on Park lands,” Representative Grijalva said. “I was happy to help facilitate its passage in the House & hope the bill will be signed into law soon, so that the problems with invasive species can be more effectively addressed."

When introduced into a non-native ecosystem, invasive species not only can harm the environment, but also have devastating effects on the economy & human health. Each year, invasive species such as the zebra mussel & purple loosestrife cost the U.S. more than 120 billion dollars in control & response costs. If passed, this bill would strengthen conservation projects around the country by authorizing the Park Service to work with neighboring landowners & partners to proactively address invasive species that threaten the wildlife, diversity, & visitors’ enjoyment of National Parks.

“Invasive species like buffelgrass in the Sonoran Desert & tamarisk in our streamside forests are an increasing threat to National Parks & other areas important to wildlife & people,” said Tom Collazo, associate state director of The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. “Land managers need tools such as the Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act to help them work across ownership lines to effectively combat invasives.”

“The Conservancy is grateful for the bi-partisan conservation leadership demonstrated by Chairman Grijalva in ensuring the bill’s overwhelming support this session,” he said. “He understands how desperately land managers need tools such as those provided by this bill.”

In the Senate, companion bill S. 241, sponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) & Daniel Akaka (D-HI), is being taken up by the Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. It is expected to pass the Senate without controversy within the next few weeks. In Arizona, the Park Service has indicated they could take on the following 3 cooperative projects if this bill becomes law:

Park Unit: Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Partner: Navajo Indian Reservation
Project/Pest: Tamarisk and Russian olive

Park Unit: Grand Canyon National Park
Partner: Hualapai Indian Reservation
Project/Pest: Remove Tamarisk from shared drainages

Park Unit: Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
Partner: Navajo Indian Reservation
Project/Pest: Pueblo Colorado Wash tamarisk and Russian olive

To learn more about how the Conservancy is working to combat invasive species, visit: nature.org/invasivespecies/.

Memorial Service For All At Round Mountian Park

If you have experienced a loss please put this memorial on your schedule. This is an an opportunity to remember the loss of a loved one with others who have also experienced a loss. Be at the first Ramada at Round Mountain Park in Globe by 4:30 pm on March 27th, when comments from those in attendance begin, along with a brief message of hope, & ending with a balloon release at about 5:15 pm.

For more info, call Trinity Hospice at 425-0860 & ask for Jeri Maynard, Bereavement Coordinator.

Britney Exposed

With all of this bullshit controversy surrounding the stupid-ass Britney Spears’ & her breakdown & recovery, attention has been drawn to Tanya Tucker regarding the similarities in her life & career. On March 24th, FOX News will feature Tanya in a primetime special titled “Britney Spears: Toxic Exposure.”

This special will parallel Britney & Tanya’s life, from their early childhood success in music & television to their fascinating personal lives. At least Tanya has talent withoutout using her ASSets to cover crappy vocals. The story includes both of their descent into drugs, alcohol & their attempts at recovery. Also appearing in the television special is Britney’s mother, Lynn Spears, & other former child stars including Debbie Gibson, Christopher Knight, & Danny Bonaduce.

“Britney Spears: Toxic Exposure” will air March 24th at 9pm (ET) & again on March 25th at 4pm (ET). Also this Saturday, Tanya’s life story will be featured on the BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL at 10 am (ET).

Two Renzi Items

U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-01) announced that Northern Gila County will receive $2.3 million from the U.S. Forest Service to help thin forests and construct new fire breaks, significantly helping to suppress fires before they endanger any homes or businesses.

Renzi said that fuel breaks help slow and even stop the spread of wildfires because they provide fewer fuels to carry the flames. The breaks also provide firefighters with safe zones to take a stand against a wildfire, or retreat from flames if the need arises.

-----------

U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-01) announced that a representative from his Show Low office will be conducting office hours in Whiteriver on Tuesday, March 27th from 9am-11am to help residents address questions or problems they have with federal agencies. All area residents are encouraged to attend.

Whiteriver Office Hours:

Tuesday, March 27th
9 am - 11 am
Veteran's Center/American Legion Post 60
312 N. Chief Ave.
Whiteriver

Pinal County Goes Retro

From Joe Pyritz:

Looking back is not necessarily a bad thing when you are in law enforcement.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has revealed a new color scheme for their patrol vehicles that makes one wonder if they have stepped into an episode of “Adam-12.”

The County’s Fleet Maintenance Dept is currently giving the patrol vehicles a make over to a black & while, rather than just a one-color scheme. Also included is a new decal design.

“The Sheriff thought that this would improve the visibility of the patrol vehicles,” said Fleet Maintenance Director Rey Flores. “Many departments across the country are going to these colors. Everyone knows that black & white cars are usually police vehicles. They tend to be more noticeable and the deputies like it.”

Flores then added when he pointed to a recently painted vehicle: “This painted exactly to the LAPD paint scheme.”

Other improvements include to the patrol vehicles-new LED emergency lights which use less electricity and last longer, window frame guards, reinforced door panels in the passenger section & a new fire suppression system.

“These upgrades improve the safety of the deputies in the field,” Flores said.

Another improvement to the fleet of public safety vehicles includes an inmate transport bus purchased for only a dollar.

The 48 passenger Bluebird bus was purchased from Maricopa County through an intergovernmental agreement. The bus will be used to transport federal inmates to & from the Pinal County Adult Detention Facility to the ICE holding center.

Flores said the bus comes complete with the equipment needed to transport inmates.

“We were at the Maricopa County fleet yard when we saw these busses,” Flores recalled. “We asked what they were going to do with them, which they replied they were going to sell them at auction. We were in the market to get a transport for the federal inmates we are holding at our Adult Detention Facility & this popped up.”

Flores and his staff recently repainted & placed Pinal County decals on the vehicle, which is now in service. He added that a new bus would cost the County into 6 figures.

“The County got a deal,” Flores said.

From ADOT:

Several Phoenix area freeways are scheduled to be closed or restricted this weekend for rubberized asphalt resurfacing work. ADOT encourages drivers to use alternate routes to avoid traffic backups while crews add the noise reducing rubberized asphalt in the following areas:

* Westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed between Priest Drive & I-10 in Tempe from 9 pm Friday to 5 am Monday (March 26) for rubberized asphalt paving. Drivers urged to avoid the area & use northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) to westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) as an alternate route, especially for travel to Sky Harbor Airport & the downtown Phoenix area. Traffic exiting westbound US 60 at Priest Drive will detour north on Priest to westbound Loop 202.

* Westbound I-10 narrowed to 2 lanes between Baseline Road & State Route 143 (Hohokam Expressway) from 9 pm Friday to 5 am Monday (March 26) for rubberized asphalt paving. Drivers encouraged to detour on eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in Chandler & use northbound Loop 101 to westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in Tempe to avoid this restriction. Westbound I-10 on ramp at Baseline Road & off ramps at Broadway Road & SR 143 also closed.

* Eastbound I-10 closed between Dysart Road & Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the West Valley from 9 pm Friday to 5 am Monday (March 26) for rubberized asphalt paving. Freeway traffic will exit at Dysart Road & use Van Buren Street or McDowell Road to travel beyond the closure. Drivers are encouraged to exit ahead of Dysart Road & use alternate routes to travel beyond the I-10 closure.

* Westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) narrowed to 2 lanes between Superstition Springs Boulevard and Greenfield Road from 10 pm Friday to 10 pm Sunday (March 25) for rubberized asphalt paving. Drivers encouraged to detour on south & westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in Gilbert & Chandler & use northbound Loop 101 to westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in Tempe to avoid this & other US 60/I-10 restrictions. Northbound Power Road to westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) is another alternate route this weekend.

* Eastbound I-10 narrowed to four lanes (left 2 lanes closed) between 24th Street & the Salt River Bridge near Sky Harbor Airport from 9 pm Saturday to 9 am Sunday (March 25) for pavement repair work to prepare the freeway for rubberized asphalt later this spring.

Important Note: Freeway restrictions are subject to cancellation or adjustments due to possible inclement weather this weekend.

For a complete listing of freeway or highway closures or restrictions across Arizona visit az511.com or call 5-1-1.

Rice Primary - Spring Fling

Spring Fling 2007 is today from 3-8 pm, at the Rice Primary School, where you can enjoy games, healthy drinks & snacks, face painting, and much more fun. For further info contact the San Carlos Diabetes Prevention Program at 475-5940.

Extreme Rock Crawl

The annual Extreme Rock Crawl will be held Saturday, March 31st & Sunday, April 1st, in Globe. The event, where drivers pit their rock-climbing vehicles against a rugged course, will be from 10 am - 4 pm both days. Gates open at 9 am. Local community organizations will have food & beverage booths on site.

Parking will be available at the drive-in theater & viewers can then go to the finish area or on the course at strategic points to watch the action. Reduced price tickets are available at the chamber for $13 for an adult 1-day pass or $22 for a 2-day pass & a child’s ticket will be $4 per day.

Registration for the event will be held Friday afternoon on lower Broad St. between Haskins & Hackney streets. Yuma St. traffic will be detoured to Haskins St. The public is invited to come & look at the vehicles close up between 3 & 7 pm.

Discover New Artists

The Store at Mesa Arts Center announces a Showcase Sale featuring work by advanced students, advanced former students, instructors, & artists in residence. The public's invited to discover new & emerging artists who use the Art Studios at Mesa Arts Center on April 20th, from 6 - 8 pm for FREE. The evening features artist demos, music, & light hors d'oeuvres. The Store at the Mesa Arts Center benefits the Mesa Arts Center Foundation & is located at 1 E. Main St. in Mesa.

The Store at Mesa Arts Center is proud to announce Student & Artist Showcase sale featuring glass, ceramic, jewelry & other work. The Store's excited to showcase this artwork, "The artists & students of Mesa Arts Center provide a unique resource for new collectors to discover emerging artists" says Andrea Robinson Buyer/Manager for the Store at Mesa Arts Center.

Students at Mesa Arts Center have a distinctive opportunity to learn from instructors who are often established artists themselves. Jessica Calderwood (metals & jewelry instructor) Roberto Matteo (glass, former artist in residence & part-time instructor) Eli Aller (glass artist in residence) have all been featured in galleries & museums.

For the student artists, classes at Mesa Arts Center provide an outlet for positive creative expression. For Brenda Ashley, classes at Mesa Arts Center were life changing. "The day Mesa Arts Center opened changed by life." Ashley, who is currently enrolled in ceramics classes & also volunteers time as a studio aid & usher, was a recluse for 15 years.

She now holds a full time job, but 3 - 4 times a week she makes trips to Mesa Arts Center to be a part of the place that served as a catalyst for her re-integration. "The Mesa Arts Center opened my eyes & soul, now I can not get enough, always drawing out my ideas, reading, & looking for new ways to incorporate art into my life" relates Ashley. Her work's currently on display & for sale at The Store.

The instructors at Mesa Arts Center are highly qualified, with bachelors or master's degrees in their respective fields & have prior experience teaching community education classes. Many of established artists travel from throughout the valley to utilize Mesa Arts Center's state of the art studios & equipment. For newer artists, selling their work in The Store is a precursor to obtaining gallery representation. Artist/Instructor Roberto Matteo says "It's an obvious step in the evolution of the Center. The store's a link between the classrooms & the public. For some students, it is their 1st experience selling their work in a gallery-like atmosphere. For instructors, it is an opportunity to showcase their work not only through their own artwork but the talent & skill of their students."

Saturday Centennial Activities

Downtown Globe will have a grand mixture of activities, from the Copper Country Cruisers Car Show from 9 a.m. - noon, & awards in the early afternoon.

At 10 a.m., the big Centennial Parade will move from South to North Broad St., with Globe Rotary, John O’Donnell, chairman, in charge. Entry forms are available at the Greater Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce & the Globe Main Street office.

Beginning at noon, the Chamber of Commerce & Gila County Cattle Growers will simultaneously kick off their Block Party on Broad St. The Chamber will have food & fun booths & entertainment, while the Cattle Growers will be located on the lot of the former Pioneer Hotel & Globe Theatre buildings. The Cattle Growers will have displays, Ely, the mechanical bull for riding, & fake cattle heads for the youngsters to try to rope.

Nancy Sheppard, champion trick roper, will have shows at 1:30, 3 & 4:30, while cowboy history stories will be told by Jinx Pyle at 2 p.m., followed by more tales at 3:30 by Eddie Armer. Late in the afternoon the chuck wagon dinner that was being prepared all day, will be ready to serve from 5 - 7 p.m. A campfire will be the site of more stories & fun, while diners are treated to roast beef, cowboy beans, Dutch Oven biscuits, tossed salad & bread pudding for dessert - all prepared by a Dutch Oven cook.

Plans also call for a beer garden at that same site & fiddle music with dinner.

The same day, Besh-ba-Gowah Indian Ruin park & museum will be open with entertainment & demonstrations all day in celebration of Archaeology Month. Admission on Saturday is free & guided tours will be given at 10 & 2 p.m.

Initiative to Prevent Contamination from Radiator Repair Shop Waste

ADEQ Director Steve Owens announced that ADEQ has launched an initiative to ensure that radiator repair shops in Arizona comply with hazardous waste rules & prevent contamination from repair shop wastes.

"This initiative will prevent future contamination by stopping releases of hazardous materials from radiator shops," Owens said. "It also will help shop owners save time & money by ensuring that they follow appropriate pollution-control, pollution-prevention & recycling practices."

ADEQ estimates that there are about 150 radiator repair shops in Arizona. The major contaminant from radiator shops is lead, which can threaten the health & safety of shop employees & the public. Other common pollutants from radiator shops include caustic solutions, sludge & sandblasting media. Owens noted that many radiator shops inspected recently by ADEQ were not in compliance with the law due to lead contamination from poor waste management.

As part of the initiative, ADEQ is sending a questionnaire to radiator repair shops to make sure they are complying with hazardous waste rules. Shops that complete the questionnaire in a timely fashion & respond to any necessary follow-up questions will not be subject to hazardous waste enforcement action by ADEQ.

ADEQ is also inviting radiator shop operators to participate in free workshops in Phoenix & Tucson that will provide information on how to handle hazardous waste:

March 22nd, 9 am-noon; April 11th, 1 pm-4 pm; April 20th, 9 am-noon at ADEQ, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix.

April 23rd, 1 pm-4 pm at ADEQ's Southern Regional Office, Room 44, 400 West Congress, Tucson.

More information on the workshops is available from ADEQ, 602-771-4849, toll free: 800-234-5677 Ext. 771-4849.

"This initiative is modeled after a successful similar effort ADEQ conducted for the boat manufacturing industry," Owens said. "We want to give radiator shop owners the information they need to prevent contamination from hazardous materials at their shops & ensure that employees, the public & the environment are protected. It is a win-win for everybody."

Gila Co. B.O.S. Meeting

The Gila County Board of Supervisors will be meeting this morning at 10 am in the Supervisors Auditorium at 1400 E. Ash St. in Globe.

Pinal Mountain Foundation Scholarship Dinner

The Pinal Mountain Foundation for Higher Education is sponsoring a scholarship dinner at the Pinal Mountain Elks Lodge in Globe on March 22nd, at 5 pm. The dinner is intended to raise scholarship funds for the benefit of Gila Community College students. A no-host social hour begins at 5 pm with a ribeye steak dinner served at 6 pm. Evening events include special keynote speakers & a silent auction. The cost is $20 per person. For more information contact Nelson Milliman at (928)402-0100 or Patricia Burke at (928) 425-8481.

Relay For Life Meeting

This meeting is tonight at 6 pm for the Copper Community Relay For Life Committee. A meeting of all team captains to follow at 7 pm at the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce. Committee members, team captains, & interested volunteers are encouraged to attend. For more info, contact Pat at 402-8229.

New Arizona Democratic Executive Director

The Arizona Democratic Party is happy to announce the addition of Maria Weeg as their Executive Director. Weeg hails from Boise, Idaho, where she's been Executive Director of the Idaho Democratic Party since February 2004.

Weeg started her political career in Idaho as a page in the House Minority office in 1988 & continued moving up in the ranks, becoming the Coordinated Campaign Field Director for the Idaho Democratic Party in 2002 & ultimately the Executive Director of the Party in 2004.

With a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbus State University & a Master’s in Public Administration from Idaho State University under her belt, Weeg is expected to complete her Ph.D. in Political Science from Idaho State University in May of 2008.

A native Westerner, Weeg has focused her political career on the progress of Western states. She has been known to say that “the future of the Democrats nationally really is here in the West.”

Two Wrestlers Passed Away

WWE Hall of Famer "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd passed away. Ladd had been battling colon cancer, which spread to his stomach & bones for the past 3+ years. Due to knee problems, he'd largely been confined to a wheelchair. He was selected 15th in the American Football League draft by San Diego out of Grambling College. Today, he's the only person in both the American Football League & World Wrestling Federation halls of fame. Ladd is also a 1994 inductee into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, & joined the San Diego Hall of Champions in 2004.



Also, "Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland, a WWE Hall of Famer & member of the WWE family for more than a half-century, passed away at age 82.

As a wrestler, Skaaland was fearless, taking on much larger men & always giving them a fight. In 1967, he & Spiros Arion won the now-defunct WWE United States Tag Team Championship. He also served as the referee for the famous 1962 match in Japan between “Classy” Freddie Blassie & Rikidozan.

Skaaland was also a manager. He regularly accompanied Bruno Sammartino to the ring during his reigns as WWWF Champion, & later led Bob Backlund to the same title. Perhaps Skaaland’s most controversial moment occurred while managing Backlund; on Dec. 23rd, 1983, he threw in the towel for Backlund after the Iron Sheik trapped the titlist in the camel clutch – ending the clean-living kingpin’s long reign as WWE Champion. Skaaland was a member of the first full class inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

State Student Regent Chosen

Gov. Janet Napolitano has appointed University of Arizona student David Martinez III to the Arizona Board of Regents as the Student Regent. Martinez is a Secondary Education senior from Marana. He'll serve on the Board for 2 years; he becomes a voting member during his 2nd year of service.

"David is very innovation-oriented & expressed a desire to bring new, fresh ideas to Arizona's university system," Gov. Napolitano said. "He is focused on moving forward the university system, making it more available to Arizona students, & in creating a learning environment that will graduate a workforce prepared for the global market."

Martinez has worked as an intern for Congressman Grijalva & as a student correspondent for Tucson's Arizona Daily Star. He currently works in the Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Office at the University of Arizona & serves as the Election Commissioner for the Associated Students of the University of Arizona. He was the recipient of the University of Arizona Minority Student Achievement Award.

Globe-Miami Regional Chamber News

In lieu of the monthly membership luncheon, the chamber is hosting a presention by Karven Volpe of Healthcare Group of Arizona. Ms. Volpe, will give a presentation on the state health insurance program at 3 pm Tues., March 20th & 8 am Wed., March 21st, at the chamber. The program is especially attractive to small businesses, so they encourage your attendance. However, since seating is limited for both sessions they need members to call the chamber at 425-4495 to reserve a seat.

Luke Air Force Base has been designated the location for "Air Force Week." It begins today, March 19th. The week culminates with the Luke Days Air Show - this year's theme "Show of Force '07" - From Heritage to Horizons. The 60th Anniversary of the Air Force & the Luke Days Air Show is scheduled for March 24th-25th, from 10 am - 4 pm. Admission is free. The 2-day air show features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration Team.

Some DVDs Out This Week

Look for S&T next to the titles that are my recommended picks.

The Wild Wild West: Complete 2nd Season
Miami Vice: Season 3
Miami Vice: Season 4
Rocky Balboa - S&T
Joan of Arcadia: 2nd Season
The Ed Wood Collection: A Salute to Incompetence - S&T
The Guns of Navarone (Collector's Ed.) - S&T
Newsradio: Complete 5th Season - S&T
Eragon
Batman Beyond: Season 3 (DC Comics Classic Collection)
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner: Uncensored! - S&T
Deadliest Catch: Season 1
Pride FC: Bushido, Vol. 8 - S&T
Re-Animator - S&T
Stargate Atlantis: Complete Seasons 1 & 2
Corinne Bailey Rae: Live in London & New York
Pride FC: Hardcore Knockouts, Vol. 1 - S&T
Int. Vale Tudo Championships 6 & 7: Ult. Bare Knuckle Fighting - S&T
McHale's Navy: Complete 1st Season
JAG: Complete 3rd Season
WWE: No Way Out 2007 - S&T
Mythbusters: Mega Movie Myths - S&T
Sleeper Cell American Terror: Complete 2nd Season - S&T
Maude: Complete 1st Season
The Caine Mutiny (Collector's Ed.)
Numb3rs: Complete 1st Season
Cheers: Complete 8th Season - S&T
Medium: Complete 1st Season
Justice League Unlimited: Complete 2nd Season
The Bridge on the River Kwai (Original Version, Repackaged) - S&T
Blood Diamond - S&T
Dierks Bentley: Live And Loud At The Fillmore
Lawrence of Arabia (Collector's Ed.)
Christy: Complete Series

Country CDs Out This Week

Roger Clyne & Peacemakers - No More Beautiful World (W/Dvd)
Asleep at the Wheel - Reinventing the Wheel
Carter Sisters - Carter Sisters, Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins
Tim Wilson - But I Could Be Wrong
Naked Trucker & T-Bones - Live at the Troubadour
Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby - Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby
Jonathan Byrd - This Is the New That
Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Ray Price - Last Of The Breed
Chet Atkins - E Eclectic Guitar
Willy Mason - If the Ocean Gets Rough
Chris LeDoux - Songs Of Rodeo And Country/Life As A Rodeo Man
Chris LeDoux - Songbook Of The American West/Sing Me A Song Mr. Rodeo Man
Chris LeDoux - Cowboys Ain’t Easy To Love/Paint Me Back Home In Wyoming
Chris LeDoux - Western Tunesmith/He Rides The Wild Horses
Chris LeDoux - Used To Want To Be A Cowboy/Thirty Dollar Cowboy
Chris LeDoux - Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy/Under This Old Hat

Not Country but, funny:

Jerky Boys - Sol's Rusty Trombone

From The Tri-City Fire Dept:

A 3-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 60/70 & El Camino in Claypool resulted in one occupant being critically injured & flown by Native Air Ambulance to Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. Ms. Desiree Sanchez, 25, of Globe received multiple injuries & was listed in critical condition at the time of this release. The driver of a pickup truck, Mr. Francisco Estrella, 66, also of Globe was transported to Cobre Valley Community Hospital by Tri-City Ambulance & later released. The 2 occupants of the 3rd vehicle were examined on scene by EMS personnel & did not require further medical treatment.

The accident occurred at approx. 4:30 pm on Friday. During the accident & while officers continued their investigation, all-eastbound traffic was diverted through East Broadway for several hours. This accident is the latest of several major accidents with injuries at this intersection over the past year.

Globe Fire Dept assisted Tri-City Fire medical personnel during the accident & Officers from the Gila Co. Sheriff’s Office & Globe Police Dept assisted DPS Officers.

Rural Schools Initiative Passes

U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-01) announced that a 1-year extension for the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act will be included in the emergency supplemental bill that is expected to be considered by the House of Representatives in the coming weeks. The extension, which passed in the House Appropriations Committee, will provide financial assistance to build schools, roads, & other county services in rural Arizona.

"I am pleased that our efforts to include an extension for the Secure Rural Schools Initiative in the emergency supplemental bill proved successful, ensuring that rural Arizona schools & roads may continue to receive financial assistance for the next year," said Congressman Renzi. "While this is an important victory for rural communities around the country, it is only a temporary fix, & we must continue to apply pressure on Democratic leaders to reauthorize the bill for a full 7 years. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a longer-term solution for rural Arizona's children & families."

Both 1908 & 1937 laws specifying that the federal government share 25% of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) receipts & 50% of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) receipts with counties in any state that hosts Federal land from which timber is cut. These payments had been used to help finance rural schools & roads. Toward the mid-to-late-nineties, however, the principal source of those revenues, federal timber sales, declined by over 70% nationwide. Consequently, the corresponding revenues shared with rural counties throughout the country declined precipitously, hurting school & transportation funding.

In 2000, legislation called the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was passed to remedy this imbalance, establishing a 6-year payment formula for counties that receive revenue-sharing payments for USFS & BLM lands. The formula established a stable source of revenue, to be used for education, roads & county services in rural areas. The safety net amount was based on historical timber receipts.

The 2000 legislation expired at the end of 2006. The temporary fix would continue to fund the payment formula for an additional year.

Health-e Connection Summit

On March 20th, Gov. Janet Napolitano will meet with national & local leaders to discuss plans using technology to improve the quality & reduce the cost of health care. Confirmed national leaders include Dr. Robert Kolodner from the Federal Office of the National Coordinator on Health Information Technology, Dr. Roxanne Townsend, deputy director of the Louisiana Dept of Health, & Hospitals & Janet Marchibroda from eHealth Initiative & Foundation.

In addition, the Summit will feature a progress report from Arizona e-health leaders on the State Roadmap implementation efforts.

The Arizona Health-e Connection was created by Governor Napolitano’s executive order 2005-25. In March 2005, the Steering Committee delivered the Health-e Connection Roadmap to the Governor. The Health-e Connection recently transitioned from public management to a nonprofit 501c3 organization. More information is available at azhec.org.

Big UFC News!!!

Through an anonymous source, on May 26th, UFC 71 is set to feature one of the biggest main events in the companies history. The event will be headlined by the rematch between Chuck Liddell & Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, for Liddell's UFC Light Heavyweight title. The official announcement is set for this Tuesday.

"Music In The Park"

The Friends of Oracle State Park will host the 3rd annual "Music In The Park" spring music concert series. The concerts take place on the last Sunday of the month from March through May at Oracle State Park.

On Sunday, March 25th, Jim Pipkin will perform what has been described as "western campfire stories set to music, ghosts, gunfights, lost mines & hidden treasure delivered in the traditional Sandhills Ballad style."

On April 29th, The Original Wildcat Jass Band will perform traditional New Orleans & Chicago jazz & popular music of the 1920s including hits by Louis Armstrong & Jelly Roll Morton.

Both concerts will be performed as an outdoor show on the upper patio of the Kannally Ranch House from 2 - 4 p.m. Individual tickets for the March & April concerts are on sale for $12 per person, including the park entrance fee.

The last concert of the series on Sunday, May 27th, from 6 - 8 p.m. will be an evening sunset concert on the upper patio of the Kannally Ranch House. The artist is to be announced. This concert will be free & regular park fees will be waived.

For tickets or more info call Oracle State Park at (520) 896-2425. Oracle State Park, Center for Environmental Education, is a 4,000 acre wildlife refuge located in the northern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in the town of Oracle north of Tucson. The Mediterranean Revival-Style historic Kannally Ranch House & patios offer sweeping views of the Galiuro Mountains & surrounding area.

Community Activist Donna Neill Seriously Ill

Donna Neill has spent the last 2 weeks in the hospital seriously ill.

Neill's spent a majority of her time combating crime & working for better & safer neighborhoods in central Phoenix. In 1996, she founded the Neighborhood Activists Inter-Linked Empowerment Movement to provide the public with tools to protect their neighborhoods & teach them how to assume responsibility for dealing with & resolving neighborhood issues.

The Neill Family has established a fund for personal donations to offset her health care costs at Chase Bank account # 2734166958.

From ADOT:

Work to add quiet rubberized asphalt to sections of Valley freeways will require closures or lane restrictions this weekend (March 16-19). The Az Dept of Transportation (ADOT) is urging drivers to use alternate routes when possible when the following restrictions are in place:

* Westbound I-10 closed between Avondale Boulevard & Dysart Road in the West Valley from 9 p.m. Friday - 5 a.m. Monday (March 19) for rubberized asphalt paving. Traffic will be detoured along McDowell Road. Drivers are encouraged to exit westbound I-10 well in advance of the closure & use alternate routes to avoid anticipated traffic backups.

* Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) narrowed to either 2 or 3 lanes between Higley & Sossaman roads in Mesa from 5 a.m. Friday - 5 a.m. Tuesday (March 20) for rubberized asphalt paving (the 2 lane restriction is scheduled from 5 a.m. Saturday - 5 a.m. Monday). Drivers should give themselves extra travel time & consider using eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) as an alternate route to travel beyond the US 60 restrictions. Eastbound US 60 ramps at Greenfield, Power & Sossaman roads closed at times. Use adjacent interchanges as needed.

* Westbound I-10 narrowed to 2 lanes between Buckeye Road & Van Buren Street in Phoenix from 9 p.m. Friday - 9 a.m. Saturday (March 17) & from 9 p.m. Saturday - 9 a.m. Sunday (March 18) for pavement repair. Drivers should consider using northbound I-17 starting at the 'Split' interchange near Sky Harbor Airport as an alternate route during these overnight restrictions.

* Eastbound I-10 narrowed to four lanes between 40th & 48th streets in Phoenix from 9 p.m. Friday - 12 p.m. (noon) Saturday (March 17) for pavement repair. Drivers should give themselves extra travel time & be prepared to merge safely approaching the work zone.

* Loop 101 narrowed to 2 lanes (left lanes closed) in each direction between Maryland Ave. & Bell Rd from 5 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday & Sunday for cable barrier adjustments & median improvement work. Drivers are urged to use caution & be prepared to merge safely approaching the work zone.

For a complete list of freeway & highway closures or restrictions across Arizona visit: az511.com or call 5-1-1.

Queen Creek Cleanup

Superior residents: join your friends & neighbors as the community gathers together to clean up Queen Creek on Saturday, March 24th, from 7 am until noon. Meet at the Magma Club located at the East end of Main Street. Bring gloves; organizers also suggest a hats & sunscreen. Share the Beauty of springtime, spend some time outdoors with family, meet some new friends & help make a difference in our community! Bring a dish to share, there will be a potluck lunch for participants & prizes, too. For details contact Sue Anderson by phone at 602-625-3151 or else Christina Gomez at Town Hall at 520-689-5752.

Food City 500 NASCAR National Anthem Singer

The performer that is set to sing the national anthem prior to the Food City 500 NASCAR race in Bristol, Tenn. on March 25th, that will be televised nationally on Fox is Billy Currington.

Arizona Photo Contest

Arizona is fortunate to have an abundance of outstanding off-highway vehicle (OHV) opportunities. To illustrate these OHV opportunities (rock crawler, 4x4, dirt bike, ATV, snowmobile, etc), Arizona State Parks wants your photographs. Submitted photos may be used on a statewide OHV trailer, web pages, displays, advertisements & other efforts to promote responsible OHV recreation in Arizona.

The top 3 selected photos will receive 1 free admission to the motorized/nonmotorized Arizona State Trails Conference on Oct. 4th - 6th, in Prescott (includes lodging & meals), an Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle cap, the photo will be displayed on the State OHV website for a limited time, & your photo may make it to a statewide OHV education trailer. Top selected photos will be those that comprise OHV activities, scenery in a photo, & promote safe & responsible OHV use.

How To Submit Your Photos:

1. Submit your photos by March 19th, 2007. Any individual should submit no more than 3 photos.

2. Digital images preferred to be 1800 x 1200 pixels (4x6) at 300dpi in .tiff or .jpg format (i.e., high resolution, smaller size). Photos or digital images become the property of Arizona State Parks & cannot be returned.

3. A submittal form must be completed for each photo entered. If individuals (other than the person entering the photo) are included & can be recognized in a photo, a consent form must be completed by each recognizable person in the photo. Submittal & consent forms can be found at: azstateparks.com/OHVindex.html.

4. Entries must be mailed to: Arizona State Parks, OHV Coordinator, 1300 W. Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Digital photos can be sent on CD or e-mailed to ohv@azstateparks.gov. All e-mails must include OHV PHOTOS in the subject line & must provide the name & address of the entrant in the message box. A signed submittal form must also be submitted to the above address (& Consent Form if necessary).

For more info about the contest visit: azstateparks.com/OHVindex.html.

In conjunction with Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Month, Oracle State Park offers lectures & hikes in March.

On March 17th, from 1 to 2 p.m., Southwest Archaeologist Sarah Luchetta will present her recent archaeological research of the lower San Pedro River Valley. In the 1970s, the Twin Hawks site was excavated as part of a field school with the Central Arizona College Aravaipa campus & the town of San Manuel. Since then, these findings were incorporated with recent research to answer questions about subsistence, settlement & migration along the San Pedro in the 13th century.

On Saturdays & Sundays in March, there is a series of nature walks. On March 11th, enjoy a bird walk with Naturalist Jerry Orr. On March 18th, Botanist Chuck LeFevre leads "From Hight Desert to Oak Woodland - Plants in the Ecotine" Walk. On March 24th, Ranger Jennifer Rinio will lead a nature walk entitled "Exploring Paths Less Traveled." On March 31st, enjoy a geology walk with Ranger Jerry Ravert. Each of these walks begin at 8:30 a.m. Hikers should meet at the Kannally Ranch House Office. No reservation is required.

In addition to the nature walks, there are guided tours of the historic Kannally Ranch House every Saturday & Sunday. Tours begin at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. & are 45 minutes in duration.

Presentations, hikes & tours are included in the park entrance fee of $6 per vehicle. Children 13 & under are free. For more info or to make reservations, contact the park at (520) 896-2425.

Oracle State Park is located approx. 45 minutes from Tucson, in the northern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains near the community of Oracle in southern Pinal County.

Richard Jeni, R.I.P.

The very funny, 49 year old comic, Richard Jeni shot himself in the head and was alive when paramedics arrived. Jeni died shortly after arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A.

Country CDs Out This Week

Robert Earl Keen - Greatest Hits
Uncle Earl - Waterloo Tennessee
Billy Joe Shaver - Greatest Hits
Tracy Byrd - Definitive Collection
Buckaroos - Best of the Buckaroos
Travis Rush - Come & Get It
Various Artists - Stax 50: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
Guy Clark - The South Coast of Texas
Merle Haggard - Definitive Collection
Jorma Kaukonen - Stars in My Crown
Chely Wright - Definitive Collection
Tresa Jordan - Tresa Jordan

Some DVDs Out This Week

Look for S&T next to the titles that are my recommended picks.

Ghost: Special Collector's Edition
Without a Trace: Complete 2nd Season
Casino Royale (2-Disc Ed.) - S&T
The Gene Autry 100th Anniv. Collection - S&T
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 4
WWE - Royal Rumble: The Complete Anthology: The 1st 20 - S&T
Shortbus (Unrated)
Bosom Buddies: 1st Season
The Ed Wood Collection - A Salute to Incompetence - S&T
I Love Lucy - The Final Seasons: 7, 8 & 9
Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends - Season 1
Janet Jackson: Exposed
Pretender 2001/Pretender: Island of the Haunted
Loonatics Unleashed - Complete 1st Season
Great Indian Leaders & Nations - S&T
Crystal Gayle: Live in Tennessee
The Loop - Season 1
Led Zeppelin: Way Down Inside

NAU Men's Basketball Get's No Invite

The NIT had looked at a potential invite for the Men's NAU team to compete, that is not going to happen. The Lady Lumberjacks were also overlooked in the chance to compete in the Women's NIT.

New Member of the Arizona Performance Track

ADEQ Director Steve Owens announced that Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C. has joined Arizona Performance Track, a voluntary partnership between ADEQ, businesses & other regulated entities that recognizes & rewards environmental leadership for going above & beyond the minimum requirements of the law.

Xanterra, which operates lodging & food services for the National Park Service at the Grand Canyon, South Rim was selected to join Arizona Performance Track for reducing water used, solid waste sent to landfill, & greenhouse gas emissions, as well as increasing the amount of recycled content in products it uses & sells. Xanterra has also committed to a 50% waste diversion from landfills & zero hazardous waste generation by 2015, & to a preferred "green" vendor program.

The Arizona Performance Track is modeled after a national EPA program. Benefits of participating in the Arizona Performance Track include reduced inspection frequency, flexibility of permit conditions & consolidation of reporting requirements. Companies eligible for the program must demonstrate a history of compliance, a comprehensive environmental management system (EMS) & a pollution prevention program in addition to performing 2 past & 4 future projects with quantifiable environmental benefits.

A free seminar on Performance Track & EMS will be held April 3rd, 10 am - 2 pm, at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn, Scottsdale. Sponsored by ADEQ, the National Environmental Performance Track, & the Az Environmental Strategic Alliance, the seminar covers the future of Performance Track, how to establish an EMS, & advice from members & environmental regulators. Information on the seminar's available at azalliance.org.

More info about Arizona Performance Track is available at azdeq.gov/track.html.

'The Sounds of the Miracles' At Apache Gold

Relive chart-topping R&B hits, such as “Ooo Baby Baby”, “Going To A Go-Go”, “More Love”, “Mickey’s Monkey” & “Tears Of A Clown” at the Apache Gold Casino Resort in the Pavilion (21 & older admitted), gates open at 7 pm, showtime at 8 pm. General admission tickets to see 'The Sounds of the Miracles' is only $18. Players Club members can get 15% off the ticket price with your card. Get your tickets now, in the Casino Gift Shop. For more details call, 1-800-272-2438.

Big & Rich and John Anderson on CMT's Cross Country

On Sat., March 17th, at 8 pm CT, Big & Rich and John Anderson will be the featured acts on the latest episode of CMT Cross Country.

ADOT Weekend Freeway Restrictions

The Arizona Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to use alternate routes while the following freeway closures or restrictions are in place this weekend (March 9-12):

* Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) closed between Sossaman Rd & the Loop 202 (SuperRedTan) interchange (in Mesa) from 10 pm Fri. - 5 am Mon. (March 12) for rubberized asphalt paving. Eastbound US 60 traffic will exit at Sossaman Road & use Baseline Rd or Southern Ave. before returning to US 60 via Ellsworth Rd. Drivers are encouraged to avoid traffic backups by using the following alternate route: Eastbound US 60 to southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) to eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway), which connects to US 60 beyond this weekend's work zone.

* Southbound Loop 101 ramp to eastbound I-10 & the eastbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 101 (West Valley) closed from 9 pm Fri. - 5 am Mon. (March 12) for rubberized asphalt paving. Drivers should be prepared to use alternate routes, including McDowell Rd & 99th Ave., during the weekend restrictions. Eastbound I-10 right 2 lanes closed near 99th Ave. from 9 pm - 9 am Fri. & Sat. nights.

* Eastbound I-10 narrowed to 2 lanes (right 3 lanes closed) between Broadway Rd & the US 60 interchange from 9 pm Fri. - 9 am Sat. (March 10) for pavement repair work. Eastbound I-10 on ramps at 40th Street & Broadway Rd closed. Eastbound off ramp at 48th St./Broadway Rd closed. Southbound State Route 143 ramp to eastbound I-10 closed. Drivers are urged to use caution and use alternate routes if necessary.

* Eastbound I-10 ramp to eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) narrowed to one lane from 9 pm Saturday - 12 pm (noon) Sun. (March 11) for pavement repair work. Southbound SR 143 ramp to eastbound I-10, eastbound I-10 on ramp at Broadway Rd & exit ramp at Baseline Rd also closed. Drivers are urged to use caution & use alternate routes if necessary.

* Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) narrowed to two lanes between Ellsworth & Crismon roads (in Mesa) from 7 am - 10 pm Fri. (March 9) for rubberized asphalt paving. The eastbound US 60 on ramp at Ellsworth Rd & off-ramp at Crismon Rd will be closed. Drivers are urged to slow down & merge safely when approaching the work zone.

For a complete list of highway and freeway closures or restrictions across Arizona visit ADOT's site at az511.com or call 5-1-1.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition With A Country Flair

Jo Dee Messina's taped episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will play March 11th. Messina had filmed this episode in January, & will be performing "Heaven Was Needing A Hero," in honor of a 16-year-old who died in a car accident in 2005. The teen’s family suffered another setback that year when their house burned down.

Newtocrite

Newt Gingrich was having an affair on the woman he had an affair with when he served his wife divorce papers while she was in the hospital revovering from cancer, when he was going after Clinton for having an affiar with Lewinsky.

Country Artist Derryl Perry At Apache Gold

He'll perform tonight, tomorrow night, & Saturday in the Cabaret at 9 pm. Call 1-800-272-2438 for further details.

Fire At Sunrise Mobile Home Park

At approx., 6:05 am, yesterday, a fire of undetermined origin destroyed an unoccupied mobile home owned by Mr. Troy Tower located at the Sunrise Mobile Home Park. It appeared that the fire may have started in the area of the bedroom, of course fire officials are still investigating the cause of this blaze, & was undetermined at the time of this release from Tri-City Fire. Tri-City was assisted by the Globe & Canyon Fire Departments through the Automatic Aid Agreements. There were no personnel injured during yesterday's blaze.

Lake Level Check

Bartlett: 39%
San Carlos: 25%
Roosevelt Lake: 61%
Saguaro Lake: 94%
Lake Pleasant: 90%
Lake Havasu: 88%
Canyon Lake: 95%
Lake Powell: 48%
Apache Lake: 94%

Globe Centennial Treasure Hunt Clues

You can still get your entry blank at the Chamber of Commerce, the Gila Co. Historical Museum, the Center for the Arts, the Globe Main Street office in the old jail building, or at the Bullion Plaza Museum.

1. "Cold, sweet Christmas will see you where the longest-working barber shop used to be."
2. "He's blue & he's stubborn. Find him way down the street."
3. "'City of Metal' or 'Place of Metal' was its 1st name, but rocks & mud made up its walls."
4. "Jule built this warehouse in the early days. But if you don't know & get in a pickle, check the barrel."
5. "Veterans honored where roses bloom; decisions are made in the building behind."
6. "The kiddies were here, up on 'Pasty Hill'. So back to class for the ABC's."
7. "Any color, any name, any language. Drift here for a drink."
8. "It used to have the power, but now it is a 'hands-on" place.'"
9. "The 'Master of Suspense' has his name on the building, but did not own it. If you visit, you can ask, 'Wrap it for me, please.'"
10. "It was the place of judgement day, but now you can show and play."

Gov. Napolitano & the Az Dept of Housing (ADOH) announced funding awards totaling $5,034,849 from the State Housing Trust Fund for the construction & rehabilitation of affordable homes, rental units, emergency shelters & other worthy projects.

“The flexibility of the State Housing Trust Fund makes it possible for us to implement new, innovative ideas that address the varied housing challenges we face in Arizona,” said Gov. Napolitano. “Without it, critical housing for those Arizonans most in need would not get built.”

Award recipients include:

Against Abuse, Inc. - Loan commitment of $749,849 for the agency’s La Casita Grande de Paz project in Casa Grande, which includes the construction of a 20-bed emergency shelter for children 18 & under who have been removed from the home due to domestic violence.
Crossroads, Inc. - Loan commitment of $750,000 to acquire & rehabilitate a facility to provide 60 emergency beds for women in substance abuse recovery, located in Phoenix.
El Destino Limited Partnership - Loan commitment of $500,000 for El Destino at Rio Rico, a 61-unit rental property under development in Rio Rico, which will set aside 57 units for populations at or below 50% of area median income (AMI).
Newtown Community Development Corporation - Loan commitment of $128,000 to assist with the acquisition & rehabilitation of four single-family homes for first-time homebuyers in Tempe.

Funded entirely by the proceeds from the sale of unclaimed property, the Housing Trust Fund develops projects & programs to provide housing opportunities for low- & moderate-income households. It's a vital financing source for meeting critical housing needs that are not fundable with federal housing dollars received by the state.

“In her State of the State address, Gov. Napolitano cited homes within reach for working families as an important part of her vision for ‘One Arizona,’” said ADOH Director Dr. Sheila D. Harris. “These funding awards go far to providing the kind of safe, affordable homes the Governor was talking about.”

Please go to housingaz.com to see the complete listing of the recent award recipients.

Stone Cold!! Stone Cold!!!

Stone Cold Steve Austin WILL be the special guest referee in the 'Battle of the Billionaires' at Wrestlemania 23.

ADOT's Meetings On Transportation Options

On Jan. 8th, Gov. Napolitano issued an executive order directing the Az Dept of Transportation to report on statewide transit options to serve Arizona communities. The ADOT report will include information about transit needs as well as an assessment of potential public & private funding sources.

ADOT has scheduled a series of public meetings to gain input from the public to include in the report regarding options for mass transit, commuter rail & light rail. The purpose of the meetings is to identify public interest & concerns, & to answer questions about the projects.

All meetings will include an open house from 5:30 pm - 7 pm with a presentation at 6 pm.

The following is the meeting schedule:

Wed., March 7th
Sierra Vista City Hall
Council Chambers
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

Thur., March 8th
Randolph Golf Course Complex
Copper Room
600 S. Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ 85711

Tues., March 13th
Burton Barr Central Library
Lecture Room, 4th Floor
1221 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Wed., March 14th
Flagstaff City Hall
211 W. Aspen Ave.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Thurs., March 15th
Lake Havasu City Recreation/Aquatic Center
Relics & Rods Hall
100 Park Ave,
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

For additional information call, 602-712-8137.