From the KATO Newsroom
William Perry - News Director
05/14/08
MAN AND WOMAN ASSAULTED IN SAFFORD
A Safford couple told Safford Officers that they were assaulted, Sunday
night, in the 500 Block of 4th Street in Safford, at around 9:30pm.
Robert and Kendra Medford called Safford Police from the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, Tuesday afternoon, at around 1:40pm.
They told the officers that late Sunday night, the were walking to their residence around the 500 Block of 4th Street when two men came up behind them.
The men yelled something at them – Robert and Kendra turned around and the two male subjects hit them and knocked them to the ground.
According to the story, Robert and Kendra were both knocked unconscious and woke up on the same street where they were attacked.
Kendra’s jaw was broken during the attack and Robert displayed swelling and redness over his right eye.
Safford Police took pictures of their wounds and will attempt to find the suspects who assaulted them.
05/14/08
GUTHRIE RESIGNS FROM CITY OF SAFFORD
Safford City Attorney Johnny Guthrie resigned from his position as of
Monday night after a private Executive Session meeting with the Safford
City Council, at the end of the Monday night Safford City Council Meeting.
Guthrie, who was hired in January, 2008, and who was working as an Attorney in Cottonwood, Arizona, at the time of his being hired by the City of Safford, suffered a devastating stroke in February, on the left side of his body. Guthrie was in meetings in Mesa, representing the City of Safford at the time of the stroke, but continued on until he got back to Safford on a Tuesday and went to be examined at the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center.
Guthrie was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson and was in the hospital for four days. He continues to regain his strength.
According to Safford Mayor Ron Green, the resignation of Mr. Guthrie was a mutual agreement between the City and Mr. Guthrie.
“It was a mutual parting of the ways,” said Green.
“Johnny had his stroke in February and needed some time off.” In a severance agreement with the City of Safford, Guthrie will receive three month’s severance pay in the lump-sum amount of $26,538.24.
Phoenix Attorney Bill Simms will continue as interim Attorney for the City of Safford until one can be hired.
5/14/08
NEW SAFFORD CITY COUNCILMEN SWORN IN MONDAY NIGHT
The newly elected Safford City Council Members and re-elected Safford
Mayor Ron Green were sworn in at the Monday night Safford City Council
meeting.
Newly elected City Councilmen Jason Kouts, Ken Malloque, and Jason Foutz, and Mayor Green were sworn into office by Safford City Clerk Georgia Luster near the end of the session.
Mayor Green has already been presiding over the Council and Kouts, Malloque, and Foutz will take their Council seats at the next City Council meeting.
Out-going Safford City Councilmen are; Ed Zappia, Danny Hoopes, and 27-year veteran, Ed Ragland.
All three out-going Councilmen received a Clock-Plaque in honor of their service to the City of Safford and a gold wristwatch, courtesy of Mayor Ron Green.
5/14/08
KONOPNICKI LAWYER OBJECTS TO SAFFORD APARTMENT COMPLEX
A Tucson attorney, representing real estate interests in Safford owned by
District 5 State Representative, Bill Konopnicki, spoke before the Safford
City Council, at Monday nights meeting and cautioned the city about
approving the building of the Casa Dorada apartment complex on the corner
of 20th Avenue and 26th Street.
Attorney Tom Parsons claimed that Konopnicki objected to the building of the Casa Dorada apartment plan, the sight plan, and claimed that there were illegalities going on with the zoning and it was in conflict with Arizona’s “Growing Smarter” plan.
Parsons told the Council that if they went ahead and voted to accept the Casa Dorada apartment building plan and gave Commonwealth Development the “go ahead”, that he would have no choice than to “file” – assuming that he would file a lawsuit against the City of Safford.
“We were all surprised by the actions of Parsons,” said Safford Mayor Ron Green.
Safford Planning and Zoning Supervisor, Pete Stasiak assured the council that everything necessary to approve the new apartment complex has been done and if the Council O-Ked the project that they would not be “in the wrong.”
Nevertheless, all Council members voted to “table” the decision until the next Council meeting which will be held on May 27th, in the Phelps Dodge Room.
5/13/08
REPORT OF ATV RIDERS STARTING FIRES ALONG GILA
Graham County Dispatch received a report at around 9:30pm, Saturday
night, that someone on an ATV, were driving around setting fire to brush
along the Gila River, near the Thatcher conversion dams.
The Thatcher Fire Department along with Deputies from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office were called to the area and were told the ATV rider was headed toward the Thatcher Bridge.
Deputies identified six subjects who were in the area when the fires were set. They had a campfire on the South side of the river, near the conversion dams.
The subjects told the deputy that they heard an ATV drive by and heard them shooting a gun into the area of the fire.
The suspects on the ATV drove around the area and started several fires. Deputies searched for the ATV but were unable to locate the driver.
Thatcher Firemen extinguished the fires and left the area.
5/13/08
NO ONE INJURED IN THIS WEIRD HIGHWAY 191 REPORT
Everyone who lives in the neighborhood of the 7900 Block of Highway 191,
South of Safford and near the Hideaway Bar heard the loud screech of the
tires as the driver slammed on the brakes of the pickup truck.
A Graham County Deputy spoke to Barbara Barney, Saturday afternoon, who lives at 7910 Highway 191 and she told him that she heard tires squealing and what sounded like a crash. She looked outside of her house and saw a large cloud of dust, and a male subject exit the passenger side of a truck that was suddenly in her driveway.
She said that he looked angry and asked Barbara if he could use her phone. A female got out of the driver’s side of the truck and told Barbara that, “he’s drunk, and, “don’t let him use the phone.”
Several witnesses told the Deputy that the man then stared at the truck for about 5-minutes.
The neighborhood witnesses all watched him stare at the truck for about 5-minutes. He then got in the driver’s seat – the female got in the passenger seat and they backed out of the driveway and headed South on Highway 191.
Barbara gave the Deputy a description of the couple and said the truck had Texas plates.
She also said that a solar light and a plastic light that sits on a pole were the only things that she could see that were damaged.
The investigation was then turned over to a DPS Officer.
5/13/08
FIRE IN DOUBLE WIDE SATURDAY NIGHT
The Safford Fire Department and Graham County Deputies were called to
a mobile home fire at 6040 South Highway 191, at around 8:45pm, Saturday night.
A Graham County Deputy spoke to the homeowner, identified as Tom Fulkerson.
He said that he and his family had been to the movies in Safford, Saturday night, and when they returned home they found their double-wide on fire.
Fulkerson and his family called 9-1-1 and began to try and put the fire out.
According to Assistant Safford Fire Chief, Tony Goodman, the fire started in one of the bedrooms. “Luckily the bedroom door was shut, said Goodman, so the fire didn’t spread through the rest of the house.” “There was also smoke damage to the rest of the home.”
Safford Fire believes that the fire was caused either by a lit candle or an overloaded power strip.
No one was injured in the blaze.
5/12/08
SAFFORD GENERAL ELECTION AND GILA VALLEY FAMILY FESTIVAL COMING UP NEXT WEEK
Two major events will be happening next week in Safford.
First, on next Tuesday, May 20th, residents of Safford will go to the
polls to vote “yes” or “no” on Proposition 401, a measure to allow
the City of Safford to increase the base expenditure limitation that
the City is allowed to spend.
A “Yes” vote would allow the City to increase the expenditure limitation by over $59-million in 2008 – 2009.
A “No” vote would keep the expenditure at $21,870,000.00.
The City of Safford says that an adjustment is necessary to help pay for the anticipated increase in costs of providing water and water infrastructure along with other utility improvements within the city and outside the Safford City Limits.
Registered Safford residents can vote early in the Graham County Recorder’s Office from now until May 19th, or the General Election will be held in the Phelps Dodge Room of the City of Safford – Graham County Library on May 20th.
Also, the City of Safford and the Downtown Merchants Association will again present the Gila Valley Family Festival the weekend of Friday, May 23rd through Sunday, May 25th, to be held in Downtown Safford.
There will be lots of live and recorded music, food vendors, a car show, along with entertainment all along Main Street, Friday and Saturday Night.
The public is invited to attend.
5/08/08
BRONCO STOLEN WHILE COUPLE GONE FISHING
A Graham County couple who decided to go fishing on Sunday, April 20st,
returned home the next day to find that someone had stolen their 1996
Ford Bronco.
A Graham County Sheriff Deputy, was called to the home of Skelly Boyd, who lives off of Highway 191, South of Safford.
Skelly told the Deputy that he and his wife left to go fishing on a Sunday afternoon. They decided to spend the night and when they returned home, they found the gate to their property open and their 1996 Ford Bronco missing.
Boyd stated that apparently the burglars broke into his home just to steal the Bronco. The Bronco keys were on the table but there was nothing else missing from the residence.
Boyd described the 1996 Bronco as being two-tone green – looking similar to a Border Patrol Bronco.
The description was given to Graham County Dispatch and an “Attempt to Locate” was issued on NCIC.
5/08/08
ATTEMPTED BURGLARY IN BULL PEN PARKING LOT SATURDAY NIGHT
Burglary and theft of property is becoming a common occurrence in the Gila
Valley. More property owners have to make sure that their vehicles, homes,
and storage sheds are locked up tight to prevent the ever-present burglar from
stealing from them.
Safford Police were called to the parking lot of the Bull Pen, Saturday night, in response to a man who walked up on an individual who was going through the middle console of his truck.
A man, identified as “Lee”, told Safford Police that he and his girlfriend were leaving the Bull Pen, and as they walked out into the parking lot, they saw a man in a hooded sweatshirt sitting in Lee’s truck, rifling through his middle console in his truck.
Lee ran toward his truck – the burglar and another man began to run and ran into the cotton field behind the Bull Pen.
Lee told officers that he chased the two thieves across the field but lost them when they jumped the fence into the Copper Mountain Trailer Park and disappeared.
Police officers looked for foot prints and after inspecting the truck’s console, they found that the burglars didn’t find anything to steal.
5/07/08
MAN ARRESTED FOR FIGHTING AT THE STADIUM CLUB
Graham County Deputies were called the Stadium Club on 8th Street
in Thatcher, Saturday night at around 2:00am, in response to a report
of a fight inside the bar.
When the two Deputies arrived, they were informed that another Deputy was already inside where the fight was occurring.
When they entered the Stadium Club, they observed a large group of people surrounding one of the Deputies while he was trying to separate two subjects that were fighting.
One of the subjects, identified as Steven Bryce, had already been tazed and was laying on the floor, and the three Deputies escorted the other subject outside to try and find out what happened.
Once outside, the Deputies had to handcuff the subject, identified as Jacob York, who was in a very agitated state.
While trying to question York, he became more agitated and began resisting and wrestling with the Deputies.
One of the Deputies shot a tazer at York and missed. As they continued to wrestle, another tazer was deployed and York was finally restrained.
York was taken to the Graham County Jail where he was booked for resisting arrest and assault.
Steven Bryce, who apparently survived being tazed inside the Stadium Club, was given a Victim’s Rights Affidavit.
5/06/08
GRIFFIN’S PROPANE REPORTS BURGLARY
The owners and management of Griffin’s Propane, located off of South Highway
191, South of Safford, reported to the Graham County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday,
April 29, 2008, that unknown suspects broke into Griffin’s Propane and stole
several items.
It was not disclosed what items were taken or how the burglary was committed. An investigation by the Graham County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing at this time. Anyone with any information about the burglary at Griffin’s Propane are asked to contact the Graham County Sheriff’s Office or you may call anonymously at 428-CRIME.
5/06/08
SPD BUSTS THREE WITH MARIJUANA
Safford Officers riding as a two man unit, Sunday night, were able to stop
a vehicle and find several ounces of marijuana.
The two Safford Officers were patrolling South on Highway 191, at around 7:00pm, when they observed a vehicle that was Northbound with their bright lights on.
The officers turned on their emergency lights and stopped the vehicle which turned out to be a 1992 Acura four door.
There were three male occupants inside the vehicle.
The driver, identified as Anthony Granatowski, provided a drivers license. The front seat passenger, identified as Gabriel Esparza, provided the vehicle registration and told the officer that he owned the Acura.
Esparza also told the officer that he had no proof of insurance.
The third passenger was identified as Daniel Morris. All three subjects were 18-years-old, and told the officers that they lived in Tucson and were visiting family and friends in Safford.
As the officers spoke with the subjects, the began to detect the smell of alcohol on their breath.
All three subjects admitted to drinking earlier in the day.
The officers informed the three subjects that they were going to be detained for underaged drinking.
The underaged drinking charge gave the officers probable cause to search the Acura.
As they searched the trunk, they found a gallon-sized plastic ziplock bag with approximately 7.5-ounces of marijuana inside an All-Bran cereal box.
The also found 6.2-ounces of marijuana in a large plastic bag, inside a Corn Flakes cereal box.
Another ounce of marijuana was found in a domino’s box and several grams were found in the glove compartment – along with drug paraphernalia and a scale.
All three subjects were transported to the Graham County Jail and charged with transportation of marijuana for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
5/05/08
SAFFORD MAN ARRESTED FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND ASSAULT, SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Safford Police arrested a man, Sunday afternoon, for Disorderly
Conduct and Assault.
Matthew Garcia was arrested around 4:30pm, Sunday, when police were called to 618 2nd Street to a report of a fight in progress.
Safford Officers found Garcia near the corner of 7th Avenue and 2nd Street, walking back toward his car.
One of the officers approached Garcia and placed his hand behind his neck. Garcia spun around in a fighting stance and told the officer, “Taze Me!”
Garcia then put his hands in the air. When the officer came close to handcuff him, Garcia backed up and had something in his hand.
The other officer deployed his tazer, hitting Garcia in the upper torso and he fell to the ground.
Garcia had a folding lock-blade knife that fell out of his hand when he was tazed.
Garcia was handcuffed and taken to the Graham County Jail.
He was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Assault and the report was forwarded to the Safford City Prosecutor.
5/05/08
SAFFORD BEGINS PHASE 10 AND 11 OF STREET RENEWAL
The City of Safford has begun two more “Phases” of their Street Renewal
Program.
Phase 10 and Phase 11 started Monday.
Phases 10 will resurface Safford streets North of Thatcher Boulevard and East of 8th Avenue, and Phase 11 will begin resurfacing of streets East of Downtown Safford on Second and Third Avenues, an intersection on Main Street and 7th Street, along with West Drive, 9th Avenue, North of 8th Street, and 7th Avenue, West of 8th Avenue.
According to Safford City Engineer, Randy Petty, CKC Construction will be the contractor performing the work and will be in charge of quality control of the Street Renewal.
All of the money used to pay for the Phase 10 and Phase 11 of the Safford Street Renewal will come from the half-cent sales tax increase passed by the Safford City Council last year.
5/01/08
MAN ASSAULTED ON MAIN STREET
A Safford Patrol Officer was dispatched to the Mt. Graham Regional
Medical Center at around 2:30am, Thursday morning to a report of a man
who was being treated for a laceration on his arm.
The officer met with Shane Bobb, 28, who told him that he was assaulted by four Hispanic males after he left the American Club at around 2:00am, Thursday.
Bobb told the officer that he had closed down the American Club and was walking back to the Paradise Inn in Thatcher when a vehicle with four occupants inside drove by and gestured something to him.
The vehicle drove down Main Street and turned around. The vehicle drove up to where Bobb was walking. The four occupants got out of the vehicle and began fighting with him.
Bobb stated that one of the occupants must have had a knife because Bobb had received a three inch laceration to left arm and was bleeding.
Bobb also stated that during the fight, he might have broken one of the assailants arms because he grabbed one of the men and heard the arm snap.
Bobb didn’t want to pursue charges because he felt that he was lucky to get out of the situation without being seriously hurt.
The hospital staff sewed up Bobb’s arm and were advised to contact Graham County Dispatch if anyone came to the hospital with an injured arm.
05/01/08
WILDLIFE GROUPS FILE SUIT AGAINST WOLF MANAGEMENT
Two groups concerned about the Federal Government’s management
of Mexican Gray Wolves in Arizona and New Mexico, have filed a lawsuit
against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
The group “WildEarth Guardians and The Rewilding Institute filed a lawsuit in Phoenix, Wednesday, regarding the federal government’s failed stewardship of the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been managing the Wolf Recovery Program since 1998 and the two Wildlife groups charge that they have not done the job of protecting and reintroducing the Mexican Wolves.
The lawsuit claims that, “the government is putting wolves on the ground with one hand, and then killing or removing those same wolves with the other.”
Dave Foreman of the Rewilding Institute argues that, “In effect, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting the second extermination of the lobo in the wild.”
The lawsuit also asks the court to do away with the failed Wolf management program – dubbed SOP 13 – which the lawsuit claims is designed to destroy the wolves instead of allowing them to recover their population in the wild.
4/30/08
SAFFORD BUILDERS EMPLOYEE TERMINATED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING
Safford Police were called to Safford Builders Supply at 707 S. 6th
Avenue, to investigate a report of an employee allegedly stealing money
from the business.
The officer spoke to one of the owners of Safford Builders, Preston Owens, and he told officers that he had allegedly caught one of his employees stealing money from the business and he had called an investigator from the main Ace Hardware office to investigate.
Owens said that an investigation had been done and he had spoken to the unidentified employee and she had admitted to the thefts. The woman also had written a statement as to what she had done.
In the statement the woman admitted to crediting her store account in the amount of $710.00 and had been video taped going into the store safe and taking approximately $1,075.00 in cash.
Four video discs were presented to Police, allegedly showing the woman taking money from the safe.
She was taken to the Safford Police Station and charged with one count of theft and released.
The report was sent to the Graham County Attorney’s Office for review.
4/30/08
SAFFORD IN NEED OF NEW FIRE STATION AND LADDER TRUCK
Safford Fire Chief, Mike Rhodes, and approximately 20-Safford firemen –
all dressed in red Safford Fire Department polo shirts – showed up in force
at the Monday night Safford City Council meeting.
Speaking to the Council, Chief Rhodes emphasized how important it was to the citizens that the Safford Fire Department acquire a ladder truck and the immediate need for planning for a new Fire Station.
“We’ve completely out grown our present Fire Station and we have no more room to our store equipment,” said Rhodes.
According to Chief Rhodes and Safford Mayor Ron Green; in order for the Safford Fire Department to keep its Insurance Services Organization’s “Class #4 insurance rating, the Safford Fire Department will need to purchase a large ladder truck, to assist in fighting large fires within the Safford Fire District.
“There are several new buildings that are being built in Safford right now and with the equipment we have, we won’t be able to reach the top floor of these buildings to put out a fire or retrieve fire victims”, said Rhodes.
According to Safford Mayor Ron Green, “Without a ladder truck that can reach these tall buildings, the Safford Fire Department could loose it’s Class #4 insurance rating. That would mean that fire insurance for property owners in Safford and the Safford Fire District could increase by at least 10-percent.”
Mayor Green stated that the Safford City Council would be working on projects in the next few weeks to relieve the need for a new ladder fire truck and the need for a larger Fire Station.
4/29/08
THREE-YEAR-OLD DROWNS IN ROPER LAKE SATURDAY
Graham County Deputies along with Safford Officers were called to
Roper Lake State Park, Saturday afternoon, to a report of a small child
who was found face down in the water and had possibly drowned.
When officers arrived, family members along with a woman who said she was a nurse were performing CPR on the child, identified as Peyton Lane, of Thatcher, age 3.
While continuing to perform CPR, the group carried Peyton to the parking lot to wait for the ambulance.
The child was taken by ambulance to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center where attempts to revive Peyton failed and the child was pronounced dead.
Graham County Detectives are still investigating the tragic incident.
4/29/08
LDS CHURCH TO BUILD 2 NEW TEMPLES IN ARIZONA
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has
announced plans to build two new temples in Arizona.
One will be constructed in the Phoenix metro area in
Gilbert and the other in our own Gila Valley, near the towns
of Thatcher and Safford.
The only other LDS temples in Arizona are in Mesa and Snowflake.
The new temples are the first to be announced by Thomas S. Monson since he became president of the LDS church on Feb. 3. Currently, the Mormon church has 134 temples already in operation or in the planning and construction phases.
Unlike chapels, where anybody can enter, temples are places where Mormons must be in good standing with the church leadership to get inside.
4/25/08
EAGLE FIRE 70-PERCENT CONTAINED
A spokesperson from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Ranger
Station in Springerville has said that the Eagle Fire, that has been
burning in Greenlee County, about 35-miles South of Alpine, is
approximately 70-percent contained.
The Eagle Fire had originally started as a prescribed burn and was ignited by fire managers on Thursday, April 17th.
Strong winds on Sunday night and Monday blew embers across containment lines in very rough terrain, resulting in spot fires.
The Eagle fire is burning just West of Highway 191 but has not closed the state highway.
Motorist in the area are asked to watch out for fire-fighting equipment traveling along Highway 191.
The fire has burned approximately 2,225 total acres and estimates are that it should be contained by sometime Monday.
04/24/08
BREAKTHROUGH IN TREATING AORTIC VALVE STENOSIS
A new medication for heart patients can slow the narrowing of aortic
valves and potentially eliminates the need for open heart surgery to
replace aortic valves. Scientists from the University of Montreal say the
treatment is based on raising high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the
“good” cholesterol, in patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis.
Aortic valve stenosis is the narrowing of the valve – creating a difference in blood pressure between the heart and the rest of the body. This is the most common form of heart disease in America.
In an animal study, after only two weeks of injections of a drug based on raising HDL levels, the aortic valve openings returned to almost normal compared to a 13-percent improvement in the control group which only eliminated a high fat diet.
The new drug, based on HDL, created a regression of the aortic valve stenosis in an experimental model.
The new HDL drug could possibly provide a new medical option to cardiac surgery of aortic valve replacement.
About 50,000 people undergo aortic valve replacement surgery in the U.S. each year.
4/25/08
SAFFORD DETECTIVES CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR TAGGERS
Safford Police Detectives continue to investigate and search for the
people responsible for spray painting graffiti on the outside walls
of the Center for the Arts theatre on 14th Avenue, near Safford High
School.
The new $7-million Center for the Arts facility was “tagged” on Monday, and again on Tuesday night of last week.
One unidentified Safford businessman was so incensed by the act of vandalism and property damage done to the beautiful, brand new building that he has offered a $1,000.00 reward – paid out of his own pocket – for the arrest and conviction of the spray paint artists.
Safford Detectives continue to work the case but will not comment on the progress or whether they have any suspects at this time.
04/24/08
TWO MEN CAUGHT WITH MARIJUANA ON I-10
Department of Public Safety officers patrolling on Interstate 10
West of Benson, were able to stop and arrest two men who were
transporting 266 pounds of marijuana, Saturday.
At around 9:12am, a DPS officer attempted a traffic stop on a white Ford Edge SUV, for tailgating about 6-miles West of Benson.
When the vehicle stopped, the two men inside jumped out and ran off into the desert.
A search of the vehicle yielded 266-pounds of marijuana.
A DPS narcotics unit and a Ranger helicopter helped search the area for the men, and officers found them at around 2:00pm, Saturday.
Francisco Javier Martinez, 46, of Tucson and Jose Aguilera, 18, of Mexico, were both booked into the Cochise County Jail on charges of Possession and Transportation of Marijuana.
4/24/08
PRESCRIBED FIRE NEAR ALPINE TURNS INTO WILDFIRE
Fire officials say that strong winds have blown a prescribed
fire over containment lines in a remote portion of the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest causing managers to declare it
a wildfire.
The Eagle fire is burning in Greenlee County about 35 miles south of Alpine and just west of Highway 191. The highway remains open but motorists are urged to be very cautious due to possibly heavy smoke and firefighting vehicles on the road.
Officials with the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest say that high winds blew embers across containment lines igniting spot fires.
Officials say most spot fires were contained but several grew rapidly resulting in the fire moving into several drainages or canyons where managers had not intended to burn.
The Eagle fire is burning in a ponderosa pine forest.
4/23/08
SAN JOSE RESIDENT KILLED IN TRUCK CRASH
A man from San Jose was killed early Tuesday morning when his
pickup truck rolled over off of Highway 70.
Arthur Tony Ramirez, 55, of San Jose was Westbound on Highway 70, heading toward Safford when he apparently lost control of his 1995 Ford pickup - left the highway and rolled over.
Graham County Dispatch had received a call of wreckless driving in that area of Highway 70, at around 5:45am, Tuesday morning.
The accident call came into dispatch at around 5:54am.
Bystanders who had witnessed the rollover stopped to perform CPR on Ramirez until Southwest Ambulance arrived.
Mr. Ramirez was in his pajamas at the time of the accident, leading investigators to speculate that he may have been having a heart attack and passed out while trying to get to the hospital.
4/22/08
SEARCH AND RESCUE, DPS CALLED OUT TO SEARCH FOR LOST
Graham County DPS officers were notified by Cochise County Dispatch
that a couple were lost in the desert somewhere south of Safford, Monday
afternoon.
According to DPS Sergeant Dan Long, dispatch had notified DPS that they had received a phone call from a woman who was using a “pay-as-you- go” cell phone and told the operator that she was in the desert and was lost.
She didn’t know her cell phone number and was not from this area. Dispatch could not pick up her phone number on that type of phone and she did not know her cell phone number.
Sergeant Long sent out several officers to search for the woman along Highway 191 and Highway 70.
With no results, Sergeant Long contacted Graham County Search and Rescue. They received information from the lost woman, describing her surroundings and it was determined that she was lost somewhere between the Tanque-Hot Wells area and the 10-ranch off of South Highway 191.
More information came in that the woman and a male suspect had been hitchhiking and were picked up by a vehicle traveling South on Highway 191.
The couple were dropped off near the new construction on South Highway 191 for reasons unknown.
The couple then began arguing and they went their separate ways.
Sergeant Long and DPS Officer Loya continued to search the area and were able to locate the male subject who was in a tent and camped out for the evening. The male subject, identified as William Edward Rider, 55, of California, was taken to the Search and Rescue Command Post that was set up near the turn off to the 10-Ranch on Highway 191.
As volunteers from Search and Rescue, DPS officers, a BLM Ranger, and a DPS Helicopter from Flagstaff continued to search the area, the female subject, identified as Tina Marie Mansfield, 18, from Massachusetts, was located by the helicopter and found by the two DPS officers.
The search ended at around 12:15am, Tuesday morning, and Mansfield was also taken to the Search and Rescue Command Post.
Neither Rider or Mansfield were injured during their experience.
4/22/08
BYLAS PEDESTRIAN HIT AND KILLED IN SAFFORD
A Bylas man who was apparently crossing Highway 70, near 11th Avenue
in Safford, at 9:06pm, was hit by a pickup and killed, Saturday night.
According to Safford Police Chief John Griffin, Phillip Hunter Sr., 65, of Bylas, was hit by a pick up truck driven by an unidentified, 44-year-old Pima woman as he crossed the street near Firth Park and the Circle K.
According to Griffin, the woman who was driving the pick up told an investigating Safford officer that she never saw Hunter before he was hit. After the accident, the woman, who was very shaken up, pulled into the Circle K on Highway 70 and waited for Safford Police to arrive.
Hunter was taken to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center by ambulance. He was pronounced dead at the Hospital.
Safford Officers had to set up a detour on Highway 70, at around 9:30pm Saturday night.
Safford Police are continuing the investigation.
4/19/08
FREEPORT-MCMORAN CEO SPEAKS AT CHAMBER BREAKFAST
Freeport-McMoran President and CEO, Richard Adkerson, was the keynote
speaker at a Graham County Chamber of Commerce breakfast that was
held Friday morning at the Eastern Arizona College Gerald L. Hoopes Jr.
Activity Center.
A breakfast, that was catered by the EAC cafeteria, served a full room of interested Chamber of Commerce members and local elected officials from Graham and Greenlee Counties.
After the breakfast, Mr. Adkerson spoke to the group. He spoke on the history of Freeport-McMoran and how the two companies were developed and merged in 1981.
He spoke of the development of the world’s largest gold mine and the world’s second largest copper mine that is owned by Freeport-McMoran in Indonesia.
He also told the audience of how Freeport-McMoran was able to purchase Phelps Dodge – how the economic development of China was fueling the rising price of copper – the companies responsibility to clean up old mine sites, and the problems and challenges in the development of a new Gold mine in the primitive areas of the Congo in Africa.
Adkerson thanked the local residents and businesses in Graham and Greenlee Counties for their support in the development of the new Safford Mine and projected the life of the Safford mine to last at least 20-years.
4/18/08
REWARD BEING OFFERED TO CATCH “TAGGERS”
The “defacing” of the brand new Center for the Arts auditorium
with spray paint on Monday and Tuesday nights, this week, has
incited a private citizen so much that he is now offering a $1,000.00
reward that would be paid to the individual or individuals who could
lead Safford Police to arrest the vandals involved.
The man offering the $1,000.00 reward did not want his name released to the public.
Center for the Arts manager, Terry Williams called Safford Police on Tuesday morning to report that a red line of paint had been sprayed on the building sometime Monday night.
The next morning, Safford Police were called again to the auditorium on 14th Avenue, to a report that more spray painted graffiti had been added to the brand new outside brick walls of the $7-million dollar building sometime Tuesday night. Scribbling and profanity in spray paint was also found.
The public is encouraged to call Safford Police if they have any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the “taggers”.
4/18/08
FREEPORT-MCMORAN PLAN FOR SULFUR BURNING PLANT
Freeport-McMoran Copper and Gold have announced that they plan
to build a Sulfur Burning Plant at the Safford Mine, beginning sometime
in the fiscal third quarter of this year.
According to Richard Peterson, a spokesperson for Freeport-McMoran, a revision to the current air quality permit has been applied for and the company is hoping that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will grant it to the company by sometime in July, August, or September of this year.
Peterson also said that if the permit is granted to build the Sulfur Burning Plant, construction of this very automated plant should take about a year and hopefully be open by the third quarter of 2009.
Freeport-McMoran has decided to use trucks to transport the sulfur. The original plan was to bring the sulfur in and out of Safford by rail and to build a new rail spur from the Arizona-Eastern Railway to the Safford Mine. The company has decided not to use railroad transportation at this time.
The $100-million dollar plant, when completed, would burn the sulfur and, of course, create heat.
The excess heat would then be used to produce electricity.
Peterson said that the plant should create approximately 15-megawatts of electricity. Five of those megawatts would be used by the Safford Mine operation and the rest could be used for other operations or sold.
The revision to the current air quality permit has been applied for but Freeport-McMoran will have to wait to see if the revision is granted before construction bidding can begin.
4/18/08
BOY SCOUT TRIATHELON THIS WEEKEND
The 2008 Varsity Scout Tri-Athlelon will be held this Friday and
Saturday, and will be headquartered at the Pima Stake Center.
This is the first time that this event has been held in Pima.
Registration for the Tri-Athlelon will be held Friday evening from 5:30pm until 9:00pm at the Pima Stake Center and competition will begin at 7:30am, Saturday morning.
1500-Scout athletes from all over the state are expected to compete in this special event with ages of the competitors ranging from 14 to 60plus.
The event coordinators are asking the public to please be aware of and watch out for all of the bike riders that will be traveling on Highway 70, Saturday morning, during the competition.
The competition should be over by noon on Saturday.
For more information, contact Clint at 428-1976.
04/18/08
GILA RIVER ON LIST OF MOST ENDANGERED RIVERS
A major Arizona waterway has landed on the annual
list of the country's most endangered rivers.
The 649-mile Gila River flows out of New Mexico to the Colorado River near Yuma.
It's the third Arizona river in five years that made the endangered list of American Rivers, a national conservation advocacy group.
American Rivers says a proposed water-diversion project on the upper Gila "could deplete a desert oasis" and stick taxpayers with an unnecessary debt with few benefits.
Some water managers say New Mexico needs to claim its share of the river rather than allow it to flow into Arizona.
The upper Gila still flows freely, and cottonwood and sycamore riparian areas are thriving. The area in Eastern Arizona, harbors a mostly intact native-fish population, a rarity in the Southwest.
Conservationists say no dams or reservoirs should be allowed to harm that.
4/17/08
VANDALISM AT NEW CENTER FOR THE ARTS BUILDING
A Safford Officer was called to the brand new, $7-million Center
for the Arts building at around 7:48am, Tuesday morning.
Center for the Arts manager, Terry Williams told the officer that when he came to work, Tuesday morning, he saw that vandals had spray painted a single line of red paint from the East side corner around to the South side front doors.
Other areas of the outside of the building were also spray painted as were parts of the outside of the Safford High School Gym and Vocational building.
The next morning, a Safford Officer was again called to the Center For the Arts to a report that more spray painting vandalism had occurred over night. This time the spray paint colors were blue and black.
The vandals had painted just above the red spray paint line that had been left the night before. Other spray paint scribbling was also found around the building.
A Safford High School maintenance foreman told the officer that the High School was in the process of installing video cameras to monitor the school at night.
4/17/08
SAFFORD HIGH SPEED PURSUIT CATCHES PAROLEE
Graham County Sheriff’s Sergeant Jerry Nelson was dispatched to a
domestic violence call 298 West Rawhide Lane, South of Safford,
at around 6:30pm, Tuesday night.
As Sergeant Nelson was enroute to the scene, he was informed that a male subject, identified as Shane Patrick McCurdy, had punched or slapped his girlfriend. He had also stolen her 2005 gold-colored Hyundai, and was headed northbound on Highway 191 toward Safford.
Two Safford officers were parked near the intersection of Highway 191 and 32nd Street when they saw the Hyundai turn eastbound onto Solomonville Road.
The officers began a pursuit of the Hyundai and when McCurdy saw them behind him, the pedal hit the medal and the chase was on.
The pursuing Safford Officers stated in their reports that they were chasing the Hyundai that McCurdy was driving at speeds between 90 and 112-MPH, down Solomonville Road and into Solomon. The Hyundai turned Eastbound on Clifton Street and continued to speed through the stop sign on Highway 70 and Clifton Street and headed Eastbound on Highway 70, with three Safford patrol officers and two DPS vehicles following close behind.
Information continued to come in over the radio that McCurdy had been released from prison and was on parole. He could be armed, he was allegedly intoxicated, and had hitch-hiked from Clifton to his girlfriends house when the fight started.
As the chase went up the hill from Sanchez, on Highway 70, McCurdy attempted to turn right onto Haekel Road.
At that time, Safford Officer Shane Dolan pushed McCurdy’s vehicle with his front bumper and spun the vehicle around, causing it to stop.
Dolan jumped out of his patrol car and with the help of officer Lance Shurtz, had McCurdy on the ground and handcuffed him. The pursuit was over.
McCurdy was arrested and taken to jail. He was charged with Domestic Violence, Theft of a Vehicle, DUI, and Attempting to Elude Police Officers.
Most of the high speed chase was caught on a police car video camera.
4/17/08
LAST DAY TO REGISTER ON SAFFORD PROP 401 IS MONDAY
A Safford City General Election will be held on Tuesday, May 20,
to allow Safford residents to decide whether or not to allow the City
to increase the base expenditure limitation permanently from
$5,484,597 to $20,484,597.
Approval of Proposition 401 would allow the city in the fiscal year 2008 – 2009, the city’s expenditure limitation will be increased by $59,810,045, from $21,868,933 to $81,678,978.
The City says that the adjustment is necessary to help pay for the anticipated increase in costs of providing water and water infrastructure within the city and outside the Safford City limits.
Proposition 401 also states that the increase in expenditures could be used for electric renewals, gas renewals, Airport operations, water reclamation, public safety, street renewals, and other repairs to utility operations within the city.
If approved, the additional expenditures authorized will be funded from revenue obtained from federal, state and local sources.
If you are a resident of Safford and would like to vote on this Proposition to increase funds for the City of Safford, you only have until Monday, April 21st, to register for this vote.
Early voting can be done at the Graham County Recorder’s Office or on the day of the General Election, on Tuesday, May 20th, at the City of Safford – Graham County Library, in the Phelps Dodge room.
Those already registered to vote do not need to re-register.
4/16/08
FOOD PRICES RISING TO RECORD HIGHS
If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, then you know that food prices
are rising at an alarming rate.
In the United States, consumers are wrestling with the worst food inflation in 17-years, and analysts expect new data, today, to show it’s getting worse.
U.S. food prices rose 4-percent in 2007, compared with an average 2.5-percent annual rise for the past 15-years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency is predicting that food prices could rise as much as 4.5-percent in 2008.
Higher prices for food and energy are again expected to play a leading role in pushing the government’s consumer price index higher for March.
U.S. households still spend a smaller chunk of their expenses for food than any other country – 7.2-percent in 2006, according to the USDA.
According to the survey, eggs cost 25-percent more than they did a year ago. Milk and other dairy products jumped 13-percent. Chicken and other poultry products jumped nearly 7-percent.
4/16/08
SAFFORD MAN ARRESTED FOR THREATENING AND INTIMIDATING
A Safford man was eventually arrested for threatening and intimidating
several people in the parking lot of Sal’s Market, Saturday afternoon.
Safford Police were called to Sal’s Market at around 4:15pm, Saturday afternoon and spoke to a couple who said that a man who had been arguing with his girlfriend outside of Sal’s had threatened them with a gun.
The couple said that they were present when a man, identified later as Clinton L. Shirley, 29, broke out the rear driver’s side window, of his own vehicle, while he was arguing with his girlfriend.
When the man looked over to see what happened, Shirley allegedly told him to look away or he would shoot him.
A clerk at Sal’s Market walked out to see what the commotion was and Shirley allegedly told her to “stay out of this or I’ll shoot you too.”
The clerk told him she was calling the police and Shirley allegedly said, “You better hang up or I’ll shoot you.”
Shirley then drove off while he allegedly motioned to the clerk as if he would shoot her.
Safford Police got a description of Shirley, the license plate number of the vehicle he was driving, and at around 8:40pm, Safford Officer responded to 1705 S. Elm Avenue, to a report of domestic violence.
Shirley was arrested at the home because he fit the description of the man who had threatened people at Sal’s Market, earlier that day.
Shirley was taken to the Safford Police Department interview room and the clerk at Sal’s was brought in and she identified Shirley as the man who was involved in the incident at Sal’s.
Shirley was taken to jail and booked for threatening and intimidating.
4/16/08
FREEPORT MCMORAN EXECUTIVES DOUBLED PAY IN 2007
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.'s top two
executives more than doubled their compensation last year as
precious metals prices soared.
According to government documents, Chairman James Moffett received compensation worth $68.6 million in 2007. He made $32.8 million the previous year.
Freeport CEO Richard Adkerson received compensation worth $65.3 million in 2007.
That's up from $24.6 million the previous year.
Phoenix-based Freeport became the largest publicly traded copper company last year after acquiring Phelps Dodge Corp. for $26 billion.
Its stock almost doubled during 2007.
4/15/08
D.M.V. SAYS MAN’S MOTORCYCLE IS STOLEN
A man who had purchased a 2002 Honda motorcycle from a dealership
in New Mexico, was told by D.M.V. in Safford, last Wednesday, that his
bike had been stolen out of Indiana.
The man, identified as Coy Scott, had gone to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division in Safford to get an Arizona registration on a Honda that he had bought two days before in New Mexico.
When Scott tried to register the Honda in Safford, a D.M.V. customer service representative contacted Safford Police to notify them that Scott was trying to register a stolen vehicle.
When officers arrived, Scott showed them his temporary New Mexico motorcycle registration, the motorcycle title, and a bill of sale from a dealership named “Pickups and More”.
Scott had paid $24,200.00 for the 2002 Honda.
The title showed that the original owner of the bike is Greg Anderson out of Bloomington, Indiana. The bike was then transferred to “Fox’s Cycle”, also in Indiana. On the same day, the bike was transferred to “MG Auto Sales” out of Kansas, and on September 1, 2007, the bike was transferred to “Pickups and More” in New Mexico.
Safford Police and Graham County Dispatch made several attempt to confirm whether the Honda was stolen or not. Indiana was not able to confirm that the bike was stolen at the time of the request.
Officers had to confiscate the bike and store it until they could determine if the 2002 Honda was stolen.
4/14/08
PARMETER ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL CONDUCT FRIDAY
Former Eastern Arizona Head Basketball Coach Tim Parmeter was arrested
and booked into the Graham County Jail, Friday, on a single charge of
sexual conduct with a minor.
Parmeter is charged with having an alleged love affair with a Thatcher girl who was 16-years-old when the affair began.
An investigation of Parmeter by the Eastern Arizona Campus Police, Thatcher Police,and the Graham County Attorney’s Office began back in January when he was accused of the act and was later fired by Eastern Arizona College.
4/11/08
ORNELAS HIT BY CAR AND LATER DIED IN TUCSON
A 25-year-old Safford man who was involved in a street fight, Wednesday
night in Safford, was run over by a car and later died Thursday in a
Tucson hospital.
According to Safford Police Chief, John Griffin, Anthony Ornelas was involved in a street fight and was run over by a car close to mid-night, Wednesday night, and suffered severe head trauma as a result.
Safford Police arrested Aaron Davis and Christopher Contreras, both of Safford, on unrelated charges and were taken to the Graham County Jail.
An investigation is still on-going as to how the fight started, how Davis and Contreras were involved, and how Ornelas was critically injured.
A DPS incident reconstruction team arrived in Safford on Thursday to assist with the reconstruction of the crime scene on the 400 block of 7th Avenue.
After he was hit by the car, Ornelas was taken by ambulance to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center and then flown to University Medical Center in Tucson. An announcement of his death was released at around 1:30pm, Thursday.
Safford Detectives continue to sort out the details of the incident and anticipate that charges will be brought against Davis and Contreras.
04/11/08
CRYSTAL DARKNESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD APRIL 15TH
The Third Annual Graham-Greenlee Substance Abuse Awareness
Conference will be held Tuesday, April 15th, at the Eastern Arizona
College Gerald L. Hoopes Jr. Activity Center, from 1:00pm until 7:00pm.
This Substance Abuse Conference is designed to create public awareness of the serious dangers of Methamphetamine and other drugs that are now being abused in our community.
A $10.00 donation is being asked to attend the Conference, which will include lectures and drug awareness demonstrations along with the statewide premier broadcast of Crystal Darkness.
Crystal Darkness is a shocking video documentary on the dangers of Methamphetamine abuse that will be broadcast over nearly every network-affiliated and independent Arizona television station, simultaneously, from 6:30pm until 7:00pm, the evening of April 15th.
Dinner is included in the $10.00 donation to be served before the Crystal Darkness broadcast.
For more information call 428-6051.
4/11/08
ORNELAS HIT BY CAR DURING FIGHT IN CRITICAL CONDITION
A 25-year-old Safford man who was involved in a fight, Wednesday night,
was run over by a car and is in critical condition in a Tucson Hospital.
According to Safford Police Chief John Griffin, Anthony Ornelas was run over with a car during a fight close to midnight, Wednesday night, and suffered severe head trauma as a result.
Safford Police arrested Aaron Davis and Christopher Contreras, both of Safford, on unrelated charges and they were taken to the Graham County Jail.
An investigation is still ongoing as to how the fight started, how Davis and Contreras were involved, and how Ornelas was critically injured.
A DPS incident reconstruction team arrived in Safford on Thursday to assist with the reconstruction of the scene on the 400 block of 7th Avenue.
Ornelas was taken by ambulance to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center and then flown to University Medical Center in Tucson, and is in critical condition.
Safford detectives continue to sort out the details of the incident and anticipate that charges will be brought against Davis and Contreras.
04/10/08
MAN CITED FOR CONCEALED WEAPON
A man, who was stopped by Safford Police last Tuesday morning, surprised
an officer by admitting and then showing him that he had a gun under his shirt.
Safford Officers riding in a two-man unit pulled up to a 2001 Honda in the Wal-Mart parking lot at around 1:30am.
The officer got out of his vehicle and approached the driver, asking to speak with him.
The officer asked if he could see the mans drivers license. The man had a suspended drivers license and said that he was only giving his passengers a ride home.
The officer asked if the man had any guns, knives, or anything illegal on him or in his vehicle.
The man responded by saying, to be honest with you, I do have a gun. To the shock of the officer, the man lifted up the right side of his T-shirt and the officer saw a chrome colored pistol in a black holster attached to his belt. The weapon had been completely concealed from view by the T-shirt.
The officer grabbed the mans right arm and removed the pistol from the holster. The man did not have a concealed weapons permit. He told the officer that he was wearing the pistol to protect himself from some people who he said were after him.
Safford officers searched the Honda and no illegal items were found.
The officer cited the man for misconduct with a weapon and confiscated the pistol and placed into evidence.
04/09/08
TRUCK FOUND ABANDONDED IN DESERT
A Ford F-250 truck with Sonora Mexico license plates was found
abandoned off of the side of the Old Clifton Highway by the son of a
Graham County Deputy, Saturday evening.
According to a Graham County Deputies report the vehicle was followed by DPS Officer Ray Peru when it failed to yield.
The truck was found off to the side of the road on the Old Clifton Highway, to the East of the San Jose Prison, Saturday evening.
Tire tracks show skid marks up to a wash where the truck flew into the wash and hit the other side, knocking the front end, including the fenders, doors, and suspension toward the back of the vehicle.
The doors were open as if the subjects bailed out of the truck.
There were no keys inside the truck, no record found out of Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas that the truck was stolen, and no information who owned the truck or any registration information.
The deputy and his son called a tow truck and the abandoned vehicle was removed to the tow yard.
4/09/08
HIGHWAY 366 TO OPEN FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH
For those who enjoy traveling up to the top of Mt. Graham, there is
good news for you.
The upper portion of State Highway 366, or the Swift Trail, will open to the public, up to Riggs Lake beginning Friday, April 18.
Camping and picnicking will be allowed but authorities from the Safford Ranger District and the Coronado National Forest ask all of those who wish to enjoy the beauty of Mt. Graham, to please be aware of the fire danger. Please be careful with campfires and smoking materials.
Also, while camping and picnicking, visitors are reminded to be Bear Aware. As the weather warms, all animals on Mt. Graham become more active, including Black bears.
Drinking water systems at Treasure Park and Columbine Public Corral will be open no later than Memorial Day Weekend.
For more information contact the Safford Ranger District at 428-4150, Monday thru Friday, from 7:30am until 4:30pm.
Or see their website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado
4/08/08
BURGLARY AT WOMANS HOUSE
Safford Police were dispatched to an apartment at 2040 S. 20th Avenue
to a report of a burglary.
When officers arrived they made contact with a woman, identified as Denise Arrellin.
Denise told officers that she had gone to work at around 8:00am, last Monday morning and returned home at around 6:30pm.
She found that her apartment had been broken into and approximately $500.00 to $600.00 was missing from the apartment.
The front door had been pried open with a large screwdriver or some kind of pry bar and items in the apartment had been thrown around as if someone was searching for something.
Denise was given a copy of a victims rights form by Safford Police. There are no suspects at this time.
4/04/08
C.A. AND SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION LEGITIMATE DONATION
Many residents of Graham County have received a request for donations
in the mail from the Arizona County Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Association.
According to Graham County Sheriff Frank Hughes, these donation requests are legitimate and the County Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Association are truly looking for funds to be donated to their organization.
An annual individual membership will cost $20.00 – a business membership will cost $50.00 – an Arizona License plate will cost $7.00 – or a person or business can donate more.
All 15 County Sheriff’s and 15 County Attorneys in Arizona are asking their respective residents to donate money to their Association to help with different programs that have been developed in each county. According to Sheriff Hughes, Graham County averages approximately
$800.00 per year in donations to the County Attorneys’ and County Sheriff’s Association. All money donated in Graham County will be used in Graham County.
Funds for the “Are You OK” program, initiated by Sheriff Hughes last year, was paid for by funds from the Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Association. The cost of that program system was $9,000.
Other drug awareness and DARE programs are also funded by money from the Association.
If you’re looking for an organization that needs financial help – the Arizona County Attorney’s and County Sheriff’s Association is in need of your dollars. And it’s tax deductable.
