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From the KATO Newsroom
William Perry - News Director

August 2007 Archive

Eastern Arizona College has announced that they will conduct the upcoming dedication of the College's Memorial Bell Tower on Saturday, September 15, 2007, at 9:00am.

The program will include the EAC Band and A Cappella Choir, EAC President Mark Bryce, Dr. Robin MacDonald, Pastor of the Shepard of The Valley Presbyterian Church in Safford, and Elder Henry B. Eyring, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mr. Eyring is the son of Henry D. Eyring, internationally known scientist and EAC alumnus.

The Memorial Bell Tower, since it's construction in 2003, has become the central focal point of EAC's campus, a new campus icon, and a structure that serves as a prominent landmark, helping to announce the presence of EAC to the Gila Valley.

The dedication - again will take place at the EAC Memorial Bell Tower, on Saturday, September 15th, at 9:00am.

       

The celebration of Labor Day first began in 1882 in New York, and was a creation of the labor movement in the U.S.

The founders of Labor Day felt that a holiday should be set aside, dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the American worker.

The first Labor Day observance was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union.

By 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday of September of each year a legal holiday through out the United States.

These days, some conservatives have said that they feel that Labor Unions have out-lived their usefulness.

Others have said that because of the labor movement in the U.S., worker are not having to labor 20-hours-a-day, six days a week. Child labor is no longer abused, and reasonable wages have been negotiated for workers and their families.

It's appropriated that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership - the American worker.

       

More than one out of every five Arizonan's do not have health insurance. It's the fourth highest rate in the nation, according to the U.S Census Bureau.

New figures release Tuesday, show in excess of 1.3-million state residents lacked any type of health coverage in 2006. That amounts to 20.9-percent of the population.

The increase in residents without health coverage in Arizona has not only been more pronounced but also has been occurring despite voter approval in 2000 of a measure to make more people eligible for publicly funded health care. In 2000, ACCESS provided free care for anyone with an income about one third of the federal poverty level, about $6,000 per year at that time for a family of four. At that time, the Census Bureau reported that 16.1-percent of Arizonan's were without coverage of any sort.

Now, the state covers everyone below the federal poverty level, a figure that was about $17,000 a year for a family of four, has grown to more than $20,000.

While the percentage of the uninsured is up, the new Census Bureau statistics show that the percentage of Arizonans living below the federal poverty declined from 2005 to 2006, from 15.2-percent to 14.4-percent.

The percentage of children living in poverty also declined, from 21.6-percent in 2005 to 20.0-percent in 2006.

       

Graham County Sheriff's Deputies were called to 1258 West Ocotilla Street in reference to a stolen vehicle.

The deputy spoke to Tracie Johnson who stated that she had come home at around 8:30pm, Friday, August 24th. She parked her purple 2001 PT Cruiser in her drive way, and when she woke up at 7:20am, Saturday morning, her Cruiser was gone.

Tracie told the deputy that she had locked the Cruiser and had both sets of keys. She also said that she thought her son, Anthony Johnson had somehow stolen the vehicle.

The deputies were then called to Stockton road where a single vehicle accident had occurred the night before. When the deputies drove up, they could see that the accident vehicle was the purple PT Cruiser, belonging to Tracie Johnson.

The deputies searched the area and could not find anyone in the area that was in the Cruiser or anyone that had been injured.

Later that day, two Graham County deputies went back to 1258 West Ocotilla Street and spoke with Anthony Johnson and a friend, Kad Hicks.

Anthony denied stealing his mother's Cruiser and that he was in the Thunderbird Mobile Home Park all night, Friday night, and with scratches on his face, arms, legs, and elbows, he said that he did not know who stole his mothers car.

One of the deputies advised that he had received a call from a man named Christopher Hines, saying that he had given a ride to Anthony Johnson and Kad Hicks, from the Duck Ponds to Thunderbird Mobile Home Park, Friday night.

Anthony continued to deny that he stole his mothers wrecked PT Cruiser, and no further action was taken as of Saturday, August 25th.

       

The Graham County Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant, Monday night, at 2236 South 2nd Avenue in Solomon, on information that the residents were selling drugs.

Witnesses who were in the neighborhood said that the subjects inside the residence ran in every direction when the Task Force arrived.

Task Force members rounded up the suspected drug dealers.

They seized 2-ounces of methamphetamine, $2,000 in cash, 1 assault rifle, drug paraphernalia, and a usable amount of marijuana.

Arrested during the search warrant were; Jillian R. Lewis, Brianna Bejarano, Mario Rodriquez, and Paul Lewis.

All suspects were charged with possession of dangerous drugs, dangerous drugs for sale, and Paul Lewis was charged with an outstanding felony warrant.

All four were arrested and taken to the Graham County Jail.

The Graham County Narcotics Task Force, during this investigation, was made up of investigators, officers and deputies from Graham County, Safford PD, Thatcher PD, DPS, and the Graham County Attorney's Office.

       

The City of Safford has contracted the Granite Construction Company out of Tucson, to build and complete more multi-use paths along the south side of Safford streets.

The early morning crowd of Safford residents with visions of losing weight and getting in shape has grown to several dozen, and more miles of multi-use paths are needed.

According to Safford City Engineer, Randy Petty, Granite Construction workers are building 2.3-more miles of 10-foot wide asphalt walking paths in several areas near Glenn Meadows.

The City was able to acquire a Federal Grant, totaling nearly one-half-million dollars, to build the new walking paths, with the city matching approximately 5-percent of the grant.

The multi-use walkways will be layed out from South 8th Avenue to Highway 191. It will loop around the Safford Cemetary, and travel from the Glenn Meadows Park to 26th Street - to South 20th Avenue - to the new Mobile Home Park.

There is still a lot of clearing of the paths, grading, and compacting needed before they're finished but construction should be complete by mid-October.

The multi-use path system in Safford is for walking and bike riding. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the paths.

       

Tucson-based Asarco LLC, who sold a property in 2004 that the new owners want to develop a copper mine on , now, would like that property back.

Rosemont Ranch, which is 30 - miles Southeast of Tucson in the Santa Rita mountains, was bought by Tucson businessman Yoram Levy in 2004, for $4.2 - million.

The property was sold by Asarco even though they new that there were copper deposits on the property worth $400-million, to raise much needed cash to satisfy creditors' demands during their bankruptcy reorganization.

Levy offered the property to Pima County for $11.5-million and eventually sold Rosemont Ranch to Augusta Resource Corp, of Vancouver, B.C., for $20.8-million.

Asarco has now filed a lawsuit this month, as part of its bankruptcy that they were defenseless when Levy came offering $4.2-million for the property, and want a court to reverse moves that its parent company, Grupo Mexico made between 2000 and 2006, which the company describes as "a sustained period of financial distress."

According to Augusta Resource Corp CEO Gil Clausen, "We bought the property from real estate developers in good faith. We see no legitimate basis for Asarco to show up years later and raise claims regarding the property, after a subsequent fair market transaction and after Augusta has substantially advanced the property by devoting untold time and financial resources."

       

Safford Officers cited two Tucson men who had been camping at Riggs Lake on Mt. Graham, for possession of marijuana, possession of drug Paraphernalia, and one man was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Tucson.

Monday night at around 8:00pm, a Safford officer was Westbound, following a black 1999 Honda 4-door.

The officer noticed that the driver was weaving so he pulled the vehicle over at the Safford KFC.

There were two occupants in the vehicle along with a dog in the back seat. The driver, identified as J. Dillon Schoff handed the officer his drivers license. He could not find his proof of insurance or registration.

The officer ran the license and found that there was an outstanding warrant out for J. Dillon Schoff and that he should have been driving with an "ignition interlock devise" attached to his ignition.

The vehicle was searched by Safford Police. They found a quantity of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a Glock 9-millimeter pistol with two magazines and a total of 65-rounds of ammunition.

The officers also found a digital camera with pictures of Schoff and his passenger, identified as Daniel Wilson, smoking marijuana and in possession of the drug paraphernalia.

Schoff and Wilson were taken to the Safford Police Station and written citations for the marijuana, the outstanding warrant, and paraphernalia.

The two were told that they would have to have someone come and drive Schoff's vehicle because they had been smoking marijuana.

They were both released and the case was turned over to the Graham County Attorney's Office.

       

The Greenlee County Sheriff's Office conducted a multi-agency Drug and Traffic Task Force operation from August 23rd, through August 26th, with very positive results.

According to Greenlee County Sheriff, Steve Tucker, officers and deputies from the Greenlee County Narcotics Task Force, made up of officers from Clifton Police, DPS, and the Greenlee County Attorney's Office, along with deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, officers from DPS, and the Phoenix Police Department, conducted a narcotics and traffic operation in Clifton and Morenci.

The goal of the operation, consisting of over 40 law enforcement officers, was to locate and arrest drug offenders and stop traffic offenders, including speeders, aggressive drivers, DUI's, unlicensed drivers, and others.

Tucker said that during a regular work day, between 800 and 1200 motorists travel to and from the Morenci Mine.

While the total numbers have not yet been finalized, approximately 200 traffic stops were performed, numerous citations issued and 16 arrests were made over the four day operation.

The Task force seized approximately 200-pounds of marijuana, along with a 2006 Ford Truck, several items of drug paraphernalia, and several quantities of methamphetamine.

Charges ranged from driving on a suspended license, outstanding warrants, DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, transportation of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

       

8/29/07 WSP Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, owners of the Phelps Dodge mines in Safford and Morenci, have said that the company will install air purifiers in trailers used as temporary housing, to help cut dangerous levels of formaldehyde inside the units.

The company will also give workers with families living in trailers at the Morenci mine the option of transferring to another company mine in Arizona or New Mexico, or alternative housing.

Phelps Dodge says a health expert from Tulane University recommended the action because children under age 13 are more affected by exposure to formaldehyde.

Phelps Dodge purchased several dozen of the small trailers to provide free housing for out-of-town employees to live in until permanent housing can be built.

The company says air purifiers have been proven effective at cutting the levels of formaldehyde, which is a suspected carcinogen and known irritant.

       

Graham County Deputies, Pima Rescue, and Southwest Ambulance service were called to Eden Road, just West of Hotsprings Road, at around 11:00pm, Saturday night, in reference to a single-vehicle rollover accident.

Information from a Graham County Sheriff's Office report stated that the deputy observed a 2005 Pontiac lying on its roof in a ditch on the South side of Eden Road.

The deputy was able to speak to the driver, identified as Bryce J. Mattice, 19, who was still inside the vehicle.

Mattice told the deputy that he was traveling East-bound on Eden Road when he went to change the air conditioning controls. When he looked up, he saw a large pool of water in the road.

Mattice hit the pool of water which caused his vehicle to hydroplane to the right of the highway. Mattice said that he lost control of the vehicle and flipped over into a ditch.

He said he was traveling at approximately 45 to 50-MPH.

Mattice and a passenger in the vehicle, identified as Michael Peterson, were both complaining of injuries to their backs and necks.

The parents of both men were contacted and Mattice was taken to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center for his injuries.

Peterson was flown by helicopter to University Medical Center in Tucson.

       

Arizona's State Treasurer, Dean Martin, will be in the Gila Valley, Tuesday, August 28th, to meet with local government investors, financial directors, and County Treasurer Jean Reynolds, to provide an update on improvements in the Treasurer's office, share news of historic new education funding increases, as well as solicit feedback to improve service to taxpayers and investors.

Martin will be traveling to 10-Southern Arizona cities to provide an update on the economy, economic trends, and State Treasurer's Office performance and its management of over $12-billion in investments, including Local Government Investment Pools and State Land Trust Endowment Funds.

Martin will discuss a record $69-million in public school funding from the education endowment managed by the Treasure.

Martin states in a news release, "Due to improved investment performance, teachers and students will see a 114-percent increase in education endowment distributions." They will receive an equivalent of $1,430-per full-time teacher/ classroom to be used for class size reduction, teacher pay increases, AIMS assistance and dropout prevention programs.

The State Treasurer is third in line of succession to the Governor, and responsible for the prudent custody and management of taxpayers monies.

       

With the announcement from District 1 Representative Rick Renzi, that he will not run for office in 2008, does that mean that the 8th Avenue bridge project in Safford will not go through? No.

According to Graham County Manager Terry Cooper, "The funding has been committed. We are in the final stages of the permitting process. We should start the bidding process in September or early October."

Mr. Cooper said that Congressman Renzi and Senator John Kyl have been working on building a new bridge across the Gila for many years. Funding for the new bridge was committed before Renzi decided not to run for re-election.

The price tag has increased. The original price was approximately $7-Million. The price now is approximately $10-million, with Graham County committed to match 20-percent of the cost.

"The permit process [for the bridge] is taking longer than we expected," said Cooper.

He also thanked the efforts of Congressman Renzi and also Senator John Kyl, in securing federal funding to build a new bridge crossing the Gila River on 8th Avenue.

       

GOP officials say three-term Arizona Representative Rick Renzi has told colleagues he will not seek re-election next year.

The Republican is facing a federal inquiry into his family's insurance business, and becomes the fourth GOP House member in recent days to announce retirement plans.

Those decisions give Democrats hopes of possibly picking up seats next year that otherwise would not be in play.

But leaders of both parties viewed Renzi as seriously damaged politically by the allegations against him, and several Republicans had let it be known they hoped he would step down.

Renzi gave up his House Intelligence Committee seat in April after FBI agents raided his wife's insurance business.

Renzi paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes while settling charges that his businesses improperly paid for his first congressional campaign.

He also faces an inquiry into whether he used his House seat to help a former business partner make land swaps.

       

Thatcher Police Chief Mike McEuen has announced that he is retiring from his post and will accept a job with the Eastern Arizona College Security Department.

According to the Eastern Arizona Courier, McEuen said that he has been offered the job at EAC when Chief Bill Mulleneaux retires at the end of the year.

McEuen's last day as Thatcher Police Chief will be Friday, August 31st. He has been replaced by Mark Stevens.

Stevens brings more than 26-years of experience as an officer for the City Of Mesa - with 18 of those years as a supervisor.

Stevens is the son of Harold Stevens, who was a three-term Sheriff for Graham County. Steven's Great-Grandfather was Graham County's first elected Sheriff.

Stevens will begin his new job as Thatcher Chief of Police on August 27th.

       

Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center from Louisiana State University are searching for reasons why people develop uncontrollable weight gain - and they think a virus might be one of the causes.

New research announced Monday, found that when human stem cells - the blank slate of the cell world - were exposed to a common virus, they turned into fat cells. They didn't just change, they stored fat too.

For several years, researchers have observed a possible link between obesity and a common virus, called adenovirus 36, from a family of viruses that cause colds and pinkeye in people. Researchers exposed animals to the virus and got them to fatten up and even found a gene in the virus that causes animals to get obese.

Researchers have taken fat tissue from people who have had liposuction, removed the stem cells from the tissue and exposed the cells to the virus in the lab. Adult stem cells can regenerate and turn into different types of specialized cells to help the body heal itself.

More than half the stem cells exposed to the virus turned into fat cells and accumulated fats, while only a small percentage of the non-exposed stem cells did the same.

       

Just when you think that theft, crime, and greed are here to stay, in the Gila Valley, someone comes along to restore your faith in humanity.

A couple, who wished to remain anonymous, found a wallet near the Graham County Courthouse in Safford, Monday, August 20th.

The couple brought the wallet to the Safford Police Station and turned it in, hoping that Safford Police could find the owner.

According to the identification, the wallet belonged to Larry William Hess, and contained $1720.00, in mostly $100-bills.

The anonymous couple didn't have to turn the wallet in. They could have kept the wallet and the money and no one would have known.

But they didn't. They turned the wallet with the money in and Mr. Hess was able to get his money back and pay his bills.

Congratulations to that anonymous couple for doing the right thing.

       

High levels of formaldehyde have been found in company-owned trailers used by some 100 Phelps Dodge copper miners and their families in Morenci.

Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen and known irritant. But a Phelps Dodge spokesman says the company consulted with a medical expert on formaldehyde exposure and doesn't believe any of the families face an imminent health risk.

Formaldehyde is a pungent gas that can cause watery eyes, sore throats, nausea and breathing difficulty for sensitive individuals.

The chemical comes from glue used in the making of pressed-fiber products such as plywood, carpet, wall paneling and furniture.

Phelps Dodge -- owned by Phoenix-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold -- has responded to concerned workers by telling them to keep their windows open, run fans, or find someplace else to live.

       

A suspicious Circle K employee working at the Lone Star Circle K, became suspicious of two male suspects sitting in a vehicle, in the Circle K parking lot for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, early last Thursday morning.

The Lone Star Circle K on East Highway 70, just outside Safford, has become a main location of young people running into the store, grabbing containers of beer and running out of the store. Officers call it a "beer run".

Graham County Deputies were called and they found two men sitting in a small car parked in front of the Circle K.

One Deputy walked up to the passenger side of the vehicle and spoke to a man identified as Chaz Lorah. Lorah was very nervous and at first could not remember his name.

After some questioning of Lorah, as he sat in the passenger seat of the vehicle, Lorah suddenly reached for the floorboard of the vehicle.

The deputy pulled his pistol and told Lorah to sit up.

The deputy looked at the floorboard and saw a pistol that Lorah was reaching for.

Lorah was taken out of the vehicle, handcuffed, and frisked for weapons.

The pistol that Lorah was reaching for was a 500 Smith and Wesson magnum.

The deputy ran the pistol for wants and warrants to see if it had been used in A crime or if it was stolen. The search came back negative.

Deputies arrested Chaz Lorah for having a concealed weapon in the vehicle and the driver, Cody Baber, was cited and released for having an open container of beer in his vehicle.

       

A dilapidated building on Thatcher Boulevard in Safford, has become a haven for transients and criminal activity so the City of Safford has offered to tear the building down.

Safford Police Detective, Jason Knight, told the Safford City Council, Monday night, that transients have taken over the vacant Game Corral Building on the 1200 Block of Thatcher Boulevard.

Knight described several incidents involving Safford Police being called to remove transients who were fighting - an unattended death was investigated there, evidence of transients living in and around the building, and officers even found evidence of someone trying to make alcohol inside the building.

Knight also described and presented photographs of criminal damage done to the inside of the building and unsanitary conditions in wash rooms.

Safford Planning and Zoning Director, Pete Stasiak suggested that he contact Rick Hatch, the owner of the property, and offer to demolish the building and split the costs of the demolition.

Stasiak also suggested that the city could condemn the Game Corral Building, have city crews demolish it, and send Mr. Hatch a bill for the services.

       

According to a shift sergeant in charge of operations at the Graham County Jail, three individuals are awaiting trial on 1st degree murder charges.

It's the first time since 2000 that three men accused of murder have been inside the jail at the same time.

Still awaiting trial is Jason Martinez, 29, who was arrested on March 29, 2006, and accused of being involved in the death of Marie Batchelder, 27, of Safford. Batchelder's body was recovered in a shallow grave in the Black Hills Bi-way area on March 28, 2006. Batchelder was last seen in the company of Martinez just before she disappeared.

Bond was set for Martinez at $500,000 cash.

On a Saturday morning on July 21, 2007, Tommy Lozano 39, of Safford was involved in a deadly hit-and-run, two vehicle accident in the Jobi's Market parking lot on Highway 191.

Lozano is accused of killing 45 year-old Michael Luna, of Safford, as he ran him over several times, using his vehicle, in the Jobi's parking lot. Lozano then left the area at a high rate of speed and was arrested at a residence on Catalina Drive in Safford.

Lozano was arrested on July 21st, and has been charged with 1st degree murder of Michael Luna. Lozano's bond was set at $1 million dollars.

The third man accused of murder in the Graham County is 20-year-old Eric Yazzie of Cameron, Arizona.

Yazzie is accused of stabbing to death his brother, Kevin Yazzie, on August 11, 2007, after the two brothers got into a fight at the mobile home in Sunrise Mobile Home Village in Safford.

Yazzie later tried to commit suicide by hanging himself with a towel in his jail cell on Sunday morning.

Yazzie is being held on a $2 million dollar bond.

So far, there have been two murders in two months in Graham County.

       

An idea from Safford Planning and Zoning Director, Pete Stasiak, of creating a motocross race track was accepted and passed by the Safford City Council, at their Monday night meeting.

Stasiak recommended that the City of Safford support the building of the motocross track, using equipment and manpower to be provided by the City of Safford, to create a motocross track in the Dry Lake Reservoir area North of Safford.

It was pointed out that there was already a motocross track on the infield at the race track at the Graham County Fairgrounds.

Stasiak noted that currently, motocross riders were not allowed much time to use the fairgrounds track and that horses and motorcycles did not get along too well.

Stasiak stated that he was interested in the City building a "first class facility," and that building the motocross track could be "an economic development opportunity for our community."

       

Officials say the number of DUI ignition interlock devices in use in Arizona are expected to triple once the state requires all drunken-driving offenders to install the devices in their vehicles.

The requirement of the new DUI ignition interlock systems are part of the new DUI law taking effect in mid-September. The devices, at this time, are required only for aggravated or extreme DUI offenders.

After the expensive and time consuming procedure of installing the breath test device, the convicted DUI offender is required to blow into a hose attached to a box. A computer inside the box will determine whether the subject has or has not been drinking alcohol. If the computer does not detect any alcohol, the vehicle will start. If it detects alcohol, the computer will not allow the vehicle to start and will record the incident for disciplinary action by the courts.

The device will also alert the driver, without warning, while the subject is driving and require the driver to again blow into the device, sometimes after driving only a few miles.

The state Motor Vehicle Division says more than 7,200 ignition interlock devices are in use now and estimates the number will increase by 17,000 per year.

Gila Valley residents who have to use the ignition interlock devices must drive to Phoenix or Tucson to have their machines inspected and recalibrated.

The cost is $80.00 per violation and $75.00-per month for the recalibration.

       

The Native-American from Cameron, Arizona, who was arrested for stabbing his brother to death during a fight, Saturday night, at the Sunrise Village Mobile Home Park in Safford, tried to hang himself with a towel in his Graham County Jail cell, Sunday.

Eric Yazzie, who stabbed and killed his brother, Kevin Yazzie, during a fight outside of their mobile home, Saturday night, had been arrested and placed in an isolation cell in the Graham County Jail.

There is a video camera inside the isolation cell and alert detention officers were able to stop Yazzie before he hung himself.

Construction work with Aker Kaverner is what brought Eric and his brother Kevin Yazzie to the Gila Valley.

According to Safford Police Detective Jason Knight, the brothers had quit their jobs, left the area, and then returned to try and get re-hired.

The Yazzie brothers had a history of fighting with each other and after a disagreement Saturday night, Eric said that he knew that Kevin was going to start a fight with him so he allegedly told Safford Detectives that he first stabbed Kevin in the back.

The detectives said that after Kevin was stabbed, he turned around and told his brother;"If you're going to stab me, stab me in the chest like a man."

So Eric stabbed and killed his brother.

Alcohol is alleged to be involved in the homicide.

Eric Yazzie was not seriously injured during his suicide attempt. He was treated by an on-duty nurse at the jail and returned to his cell.

       

Safford Police were called to a report of a dispute at the Sunrise Mobile Home Park - space #438C, Saturday night - where a man stabbed and killed his brother outside their mobile home.

When officers arrived they found Eric Scott Yazzie standing over his brother, Kevin Yazzie, with a buck knife in one hand and a cell phone in the other.

Officers could see that Kevin Yazzie was bleeding and not moving and Eric would not put down the knife or the cell phone.

With firearms drawn, Safford Police continued to demand that Eric put down the phone. He dropped the knife but would not put down the phone so one of the officers shot Eric with a tazer.

The tazer barbs hit Eric and he went down. Officers then closed in and handcuffed him.

An ambulance was called and it was reported that Kevin Yazzie stopped breathing when he was turned over by the officers. He had a stab wound in his lower back and a stab wound in the middle of his chest.

Safford Officers began chest compression and CPR, but were unable to revive Kevin Yazzie.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His brother, Eric Yazzie was taken to the Safford Police Station for an interview.

Eric told Safford Investigators that he and his brother, Kevin had a long history of getting into fights and Kevin usually got the best of Eric.

Eric said that Kevin had been acting crazy and he new that Eric was going to try and hurt him so that was why he stabbed and killed him.

Eric was arrested and booked into the Graham County Jail for 1st Degree Murder.

Both brothers had been working construction in the area and were from Cameron, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation.

       

A Safford woman told a Safford Police Officer that her vehicle was hit by another vehicle while she was driving on 12th Street, Saturday morning, at around 2:00am.

Alma Aranda told the officer that she was hit by a Blazer type SUV. The driver of the SUV then drove off without stopping.

Aranda said that she did not feel injured at first and got back into her truck and left the scene.

She later went to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center because she was feeling pain in her left knee.

The officer noticed swelling to her left knee.

Aranda told the officer that she could not identify the vehicle that hit her.

       

Traffic deaths in the U.S. fell to their lowest total in five years in 2006, and the rate of deaths per miles traveled dropped to a record low, but in Arizona, traffic deaths rose by 9.2-percent from 2005 to 2006, according to a federal highway safety survey.

In 2005, Arizona highway deaths totaled 1,179. That total rose by 109 in 2006, to 1,288.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nationwide, highway crashed killed 42,642 people last year. That compares with 43,510, who died in 2005.

The fatality rate of 1.42 deaths per 100-million miles traveled in 2006, was the lowest rated recorded by the Department of Transportation.

Deaths in alcohol-related crashes remained essentially the same as in 2005.

Motorcycle deaths increased for the 9th straight year, especially involving older riders, and for the first time exceeded pedestrian deaths.

The NHTSA figures show 4, 810 motorcycle deaths in 2006, compared with 4,553, in 2005.

       

Safford Police were called to a downtown Safford bar to investigate a report of a man trying to sell drugs to patrons, Wednesday night.

Officers approached a man in the bar who fit the description of a man who was allegedly asking people if they wanted to buy some crystal methamphetamine.

Raymond Blue Martinez was asked for his identification. Martinez said that he did not have any.

The officers ask Martinez if he was dealing drugs. Martinez denied that he had any drugs for sale.

The officers asked Martinez to empty his pockets. They found a $5.00 bill in Martinez' front pants pocket that when opened up contained more than a gram of what turned out to be crystal meth.

Martinez denied that the drug was his and claimed that someone he was playing pool with had planted the drug in his pocket.

Martinez was arrested and taken to the Graham County Jail.

The 1.3-grams of meth were sent to the DPS crime lab in Tucson for testing.

       

The U.S. Forest Service has announced that they are looking for public comment on the proposed Pinaleno Ecosystem Restoration Project, which will affect the 3,705 acres of the Pinaleno Mountains, that includes Mt. Graham.

By using both prescribed burns and non-fire treatments, the Forest Service plans to remove standing dead trees and downed woody debris and to thin the very dense forest for the purposes of restoring a fire-adapted ecosystem and to aid in the recovery of the Mt, Graham red squirrel habitat.

A Notice of Intent to perform this restoration project was published in the Federal Register on August 3rd.

A formal public comment period for the Notice of Intent will end September 3rd.

The public can comment on the Pinaleno Ecosystem Restoration Project by contacting Mr. Craig Wilcox, Forest Silviculturist, Coronado National Forest, Safford Ranger District, 711 S. 14 Ave, Suit D, in Safford.

       

The Graham County Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant at around 8:00pm, Tuesday night, at the residence of Dewayne Ray Battraw, 43, at 751 South-200 East in Pima.

After a thorough investigation, the Task Force believed that four suspects were selling crystal methamphetamine and marijuana and were in possession of the drugs at the residence.

Task Force Officers raided the house, Tuesday evening, and arrested Amy L. Payne Battraw, 29, Katherine Marie Payne, 26, and Leon Baker Hinton, 46, all of Pima, and charged them with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Dangerous Drug, and Possession of Marijuana.

According to Graham County Under-Sheriff, Dave Boyd, the Task Force was hoping to arrest Dewayne Ray Battraw during the raid but Battraw had apparently had an escape route planned out, incase of a raid on his house and he escaped by jumping over a wall in the back yard.

Officers think that Battraw was in possession of a fairly large quantity of methamphetamine and was able to get the drug out of the house during his escape and dispose of it.

A small, usable quantity of marijuana and methamphetamine were found inside the residence and the suspects were arrested and booked into the Graham County Jail.

Task Force officers said that they were going to file arrest warrant papers with the court and track down and arrest Dewayne Battraw, sometime soon.

Officers ran into the rest room of the home and found Leon Hinton, with all of his clothes on, trying to flush drugs down the toilet and down the drain in the shower. When officers asked what Leon was doing, he said, he was, "Taking a shower."

       

Governor Napolitano says she believes a new state law that prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants will be found constitutional by the courts.

Business groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the law, contending it's an unconstitutional attempt by the state to regulate immigration.

The law takes effect in January and also requires employers to verify the employment eligibility of their workers through a federal database.

Though she signed the new rules into law, the governor says the law has flaws that need to be fixed and has suggested that the Legislature tweak it in a special session.

       

A former U.S. Forest Service official says the agency wrongfully fired him after he came forward with allegations of pesticide misuse in forests across the Southwest.

Doug Parker tells The Associated Press that he wants a jury to hear his story.

He filed a lawsuit in federal court in Albuquerque last month. It's been assigned to a federal magistrate.

Parker claims he became the subject of hostile treatment by his supervisors after complaining about what he called a "systemic problem" when it came to proper pesticide use across forests in New Mexico and Arizona.

But the Forest Service maintains that projects involving pesticides undergo a process to ensure the public is involved and that requirements spelled out by federal law are met.

       

The Hispanic Institute of Washington D.C., is claiming that those who use prepaid phone cards are being ripped off by the companies that sell those services.

They claim that a large number of companies that sell prepaid phone cards are systematically short-changing customers. The cards and voice-prompts falsely advertise a larger number of minutes than they deliver, according to the Hispanic Institute.

The Hispanic Institute tested a number of these calling cards. They say, "on average, they found the calling cards deliver only 60-percent of the minutes they advertise."

"Customers are paying for a certain number of minutes and are receiving far fewer than they were promised."

The Hispanic Institute is a 501-C3 non-profit organization, based in Washington D.C., who's mission is to provide an effective forum for an informed and empowered hispanic America.

       

Federal wildlife officials hope the public will suggest ways to revamp and improve the troubled program to recover and reintroduce Mexican gray wolves along the Arizona-New Mexico border.

The program has been under fire from both environmentalists and area ranchers.

Conservationists, including New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, are angered because of the number of wolves that federal agents have killed or removed after preying on cattle.

Many ranchers within the recovery area have fiercely opposed the recovery effort since its inception in 1998, calling the program a nightmare that won't go away.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Elizabeth Slown says there are a lot of things that officials could change to make the program better so they'd like to hear the public's suggestions.

Slown says the process could take two to three years to change the rules.

       

Long time Safford resident, former Safford Mayor, City Councilman, and retired Safford businessman, Paul Shedd 76, passed away, Friday, August 3rd, after a long illness.

Paul Shedd grew up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he excelled in High School football, basketball, and track.

He graduated from University of Nebraska, majoring in business.

Mr. Shedd was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Paul married Caroline Rothenberger while they were in college, in Beatrice, Nebraska on December 29, 1953.

After the Army, Paul went through the executive training program for Valley National Bank in Phoenix.

Paul and Caroline moved to Safford in 1961, where Paul was later named manager of the Safford Valley National Bank branch.

They later bought the Modern Dress Shop on Main Street in Safford.

Paul served as Safford Mayor and City Councilman for 8-years.

A memorial service for Paul Shedd will be held Saturday, August 18th, at 11:00am, at the First United Methodist Church in Safford

       

Graham County Schools are getting ready to begin the new 2007 - 2008 school year.

The Safford Unified School District will begin classes on Wednesday, August 8th.

The Pima Unified School District will also begin classes on Wednesday, August 8th.

Ft. Thomas Schools will begin their regular classes on Thursday, August 9th.

Solomon Schools will begin classes on Friday, August 10th.

The Bonita School plans their first day of classes for Monday, August 13th.

And the Thatcher Unified School District will start their 2007 - 2008 school year on Wednesday, August 15th.

       

WSP A Safford man called Safford Police, Sunday morning, to report that his green Toyota Corolla was missing and presumed stolen.

Bryan Wright, who lives at the Amber Apartments, came outside at around 10:30am, Sunday morning, to get his newspaper and realized that his vehicle was gone.

Wright told officers that he had parked his vehicle in his parking space at around 5:00pm, Saturday afternoon, and did not use the vehicle the rest of the evening.

Officers spoke to the apartment manager and he said that he saw Wright's vehicle parked in his parking place at around 2:00am.

Another resident of the Amber Apartments told officers that he saw Wright's vehicle parked in the parking lot at around 3:00am.

No other residents of the apartments had seen anything and there was no broken glass in the parking lot or any evidence that the car had been stolen.

Safford Police requested that a description of the green Toyota Corolla be placed in the NCIC nation-wide data base as a stolen car.

       

A Safford Police Officer was called to 221 S. 6th Avenue, late Friday night, to a report that a snake was seen crawling around in a woman's bedroom.

When the officer arrived he met with Maria Alvarado, who appeared extremely frightened and she told the officer that there was a snake in her bedroom.

Maria directed the officer to where the snake was last seen.

The officer observed what appeared to be a Boa Constrictor, about 4-feet long, and was crawling over some boxes in Maria's room.

The officer picked the snake up and placed it into a paper bag and removed it from the residence.

       

The Eastern Arizona College Foundation has received a $1-million donation from Eloy Cota, the owner of E & C Homes and Cota Stucco and Drywall.

The $1-million donation is the single largest donation in EAC's 118-year history.

According to a news release from EAC, the main objective of this transaction is to provide much needed housing to EAC College students.

Cota, a developer from Casa Grande, is currently busy with three subdivisions in the Gila Valley and has recently completed an apartment complex on the corner of Reay Lane and Highway 70, in Thatcher.

In August, Cota will begin developing land west of EAC's South Campus with plans to build apartments and town homes to assist the College in meeting current and future student housing demands.

"It's wonderful when businesses and individuals give back to the community in this way." said David Udall, executive director of the EAC Foundation and Alumni Association.

Mr. Cota was quoted as saying, "I'm happy to give to the College, knowing it will be used for a good cause."

The gift was made in a small ceremony at EAC's Ruby I. Stinson Alumni Center on July 31st.

       

A Thatcher man was killed Friday afternoon when he was hit by a truck while driving a 4-wheeler in Daily Estates.

Nicholas Powelson, 19, was riding his 4-wheeler on a walking path with a friend, Devin Taylor, 20, when he was hit by a truck driven by 28-year-old Chris Jacob.

According to Thatcher Police Chief Mike McEuen, Devin Taylor drove his 4-wheeler onto Hoopes Avenue, as he was driving off of a walking trail.

Nicholas Powelson was traveling right behind Taylor on his 4-wheeler.

Chris Jacob missed Taylor but struck Powelson with his truck when Powelson drove onto Hoopes Avenue.

Powelson was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson when he died at around 5:15am, on Saturday morning.

According to Chief McEuen, neither 4-wheeler was registered to be legal on city streets.

To legally drive a 4-wheeler on any city street, a 4-wheeler must be registered and insured, just like a motorcycle

       

A Graham County Deputy was called to the Euro Fresh tomato farms to a report of a non-lethal stabbing that happened Thursday afternoon, between Green Houses 7-4B and 7-3B.

Euro Fresh Head of Security Craig Boudle told the Graham County Deputy that 19-year-old Christopher Anthony Durazo was being teased and harassed by George Peck Jr., also 19.

Both men are employees at Euro Fresh.

According to the story that Durazo told the deputy, Peck was continually teasing and harassing and physically grabbing Durazo and Durazo said that he finally had enough and walked up to Peck and stabbed him with a pair of pruning shears in the back.

Peck was treated for his injuries by the Euro Fresh Safety Staff until an ambulance could arrive at the scene.

Peck was treated by ambulance personnel and flown by helicopter to University Medical Center in Tucson.

Durazo was arrested for Aggravated Assault and Disorderly Conduct and taken to the Graham County Jail.

       

Good news for all of those who walk, jog, and ride bicycles for exercise in Safford.

The City of Safford is about to begin the construction of Phase 2 and Phase 3 of their Multi-Use Path projects. Additional paths will be added along Discovery Park Boulevard beginning at 8th Avenue and ending at Highway 191, along with looping around the Safford Cemetery.

Another Multi-Use Path will be laid out from the Glen Meadows Park and travel West-bound to 20th Avenue.

Granite Construction was awarded the contract and work on the new Multi-Use Paths should begin by the middle of August and be completed in Early October.

       

If you're looking for something fun for the whole family, the 10th Annual Willcox Peach Festival kicks off this weekend, and continues for the next 3-weekends at Apple Annie's Orchard in Willcox.

This weekend, crafters from around Arizona will set up in the Apple Annie's Orchard for a Country Craft Fair.

The All-You-Can-Eat Peaches and Pancake breakfast, will be serving each day of the Festival from 6:30am until 10:30am, followed by Apple Annie's apple-smoked burger lunches, served from 11:00am until 5:00pm, each day.

During the event, there are peach favorites, including pick-your-own tree- ripened peaches, homemade peach ice cream and homemade peach pies.

The 2007 Peach Mania Festival benefits the Southern Arizona Lupus Foundation, Andrea's Closet and Youth Haven Desert Ranch.

Portions of all proceeds will be donated to these non-profit organizations, with more than $32,000 being donated over the last six years.

Take Interstate 10 to Willcox to exit 340. Turn right onto Ft. Grant Road and drive for 5.5-miles and turn right at the Apple Annie's Orchard, and follow the signs.

       

The Town of Thatcher is suing the City of Safford for breach of a 1955 Water Services Agreement.

According to a letter from a Phoenix law firm, Ryley, Carlock, and Applewhite, representing the Town of Thatcher, to the City of Safford, dated June 27, 2007; As of January 1, 2007, the City of Safford has been charging higher water rates to Thatcher residents at rates 25-percent greater than what Safford residents are being charged.

The claim states that Safford is violating contractual and statutory requirements and discriminating against Thatcher residents in violation of the 1955 water agreement between the two towns.

To settle these claims, Thatcher demands that Safford pay $100,000 in damages to Thatcher and its residents, to be rebated to the residents of Thatcher to compensate for the higher water rates that Thatcher residents have paid since January 1, 2007.

The letter also states that Safford pay $20,000 in attorney's fees and repeal any water increase charges to the town of Thatcher and their residents.

The City of Safford has 60-days from June 27th to respond, in writing to the Thatcher attorney's request.

       

At-home mothers across the state are thanking their "lucky stars" that it's time for kids to get back to school for the 2007 - 2008 school year.

The Graham County School Superintendent's Office has announced that next week, classes will beginning for the Safford Unified School District, which includes all Safford Elementary Schools, Safford Middle School, Mt. Graham High School and Safford High School on Wednesday, August 8th.

The Solomon Schools will begin on Friday, August 10th.

The Thatcher Unified School District and the Pima Unified School District will also begin classes on Wednesday, August 8th.

According to the Bonita School Teaching Calendar, the Bonita School will begin classes this year on Monday, August 13th.

Please contact your local school district office to make sure that you child is registered in the correct school.

       

Safford P.D. stopped a speeding $100,000 - BMW-M6, on Highway 191, Tuesday afternoon, that was driven by a Pakistani man who was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and over $51-thousand in cash.

A Graham County Animal Control Officer alerted dispatch that a black BMW was driving wrecklessly, Eastbound on Highway 70, and Safford Detectives Bill Wren and Jason Knight stopped the vehicle that was traveling at around 80-MPH, Southbound on Highway 191.

The driver of the BMW, identified as Aurangzeb Sheikh, 19, was issued a speeding citation and officers asked him if they could search his vehicle for guns, alcohol, or drugs.

Sheikh allowed the Safford Officers to search his vehicle.

They found a silver grinder with a green leafy substance inside of it, a hand-rolled cigarette that looked like marijuana, and a gray bag that contained $51,516.00, in mostly $100.00 bills.

The officers asked Sheikh why he was traveling with so much cash. Sheikh said that he was a professional poker player and he was traveling from Las Vegas to Houston, Texas, and he had won the money hosting poker games at his house.

Shiekh was arrested and taken to the Safford Police Station. A urine sample was taken and tested positive for THC.

Safford Detectives were informed that the FBI and Immigration were requesting an interview with Shiekh.

He was charged with DUI drugs and possession of marijuana, and booked into The Graham County Jail.

Shiekh apparently was using the Global Positioning System as a guide to get him from Las Vegas to Houston. Sergeant Eric Walker said that when he drove the $100,000 BMW to the Safford yard to be impounded, the GPS system continued to inform him, "Wrong way! Wrong way!"

       

The Safford City Council, Monday night, passed the new city budget totaling $62,718,040, for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

The new Safford budget is an increase of $27,128,161, over last year.

Some of the reasons given for such a large increase in the 2008 budget were; needed infrastructure investment in the Safford water system and increased implementation to the Safford Electrical Utilities system.

The Council vote was 4 to 1 in favor of accepting the new budget with Councilman Ed Zappia voting "No" and Councilmen Ortega and Hoopes absent.

Councilman Zappia also said that he is worried about the City of Safford getting into too much debt.

Addressing the Council, Zappia said that according to his figures, Safford's Per Capita Debt is $3,020 per person - for the 10,000 people who live in Safford.

From research that Councilman Zappia has done, he told the Council that, in his opinion, Per Capita Debt for any city should not go over $1,200.00 per person.

       

Safford Police responded to an apartment complex at 1502 1st Avenue to a complaint of someone smoking marijuana.

When officers arrived they knocked on a sliding glass door at apartment number 2.

A man opened the sliding glass door and when he did one of the officers observed a Hispanic male, later identified as Manuel Jesus Gonzales, leaning over a coffee table, inside the apartment, and rolling a green leafy substance into what looked like a marijuana cigarette.

Several other men and a woman were inside the apartment.

Officers entered the apartment and secured a silver tray that contained a baggy full of what looked like marijuana and some rolling papers.

The officers also secured a back-pack that contained several plastic baggies and a digital scale.

Because Gonzales was the only one in the room who had possession of what looked and smelled like marijuana, he was arrested, handcuffed and taken to the Safford Police station with the evidence.

Gonzales told officers that no one at the apartment knew how to roll a "blunt" so he said that he could. That's when Safford Officers arrived.

Charges against Gonzales are pending until results from the crime lab return on the green leafy substance.