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April 2006 Archive 4/28/06 The power plant eventually will produce 300 megawatts -- enough electricity for 100,000 homes. The plant is to be built by Arizona-based New Solar Ventures and Solar Torx. Lyons has signed a five-year lease with the companies for 640 acres of state trust land for their photovoltaic module manufacturing plant and a small test field. A land office spokeswoman says the companies will pay two-dollars an acre for the planning and development lease. The companies will also pay a ten-thousand dollar ground disturbance fee when they break ground.
3 men facing up to life in prison
in immigrant smuggling case Federal prosecutors say suspects face up to life in prison if convicted. The men are charged in connection with a rollover crash last week in Santa Cruz County, near Sonoita, that killed four illegal immigrants and injured 17 others. Investigators say the driver of the pickup - one of those facing charges - was trying to elude approaching Border Patrol agents when he lost control and the pickup rolled. The driver is an American citizen; the other two suspects are from Mexico.
LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING ON CRIME
AND SMUGGLING Eight officers from three agencies - the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, the US Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Border Patrol - participated in the detail. Fry township residents had requested the detail to help investigate potential criminal activity occurring in the area. During the 8-hour operation, there were 71-contacts made by the detail and 23-arrests. The detail had 8-arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia,
5 for misdemeanor Warrants, 2 on felony warrants, 2 alcohol violations, 1
possession of narcotics, 2 with dangerous drugs, 2 for possession of marijuana
and 5 traffic violations.
4/18/06 Tomorrow, Arizona officials will fly to Helena, Montana to watch the latest round of TV spots and meet with software billionaire Thomas Siebel. Siebel has funded the Montana campaign. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard says the goal is to have an Arizona Meth Project up and running by August. He says it will take about 5.7 million dollars to cover about 70 percent of the Arizona market for one year.
Officials advising residents to
prepare for West Nile Tests run throughout Arizona in recent weeks showed department researchers that mosquito breeding has begun earlier than usual. And, with daytime temperatures reaching the 90s, concern is mounting. To avoid the deadly mosquito-borne virus, officials are urging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites and eliminate standing water where mosquitoes could breed. That means fixing dripping faucets, removing old tires that can collect water, and changing pets' water more frequently. Even poorly maintained swimming pools and bird-feeders are a risk. With 113 reported cases last year, Arizona had the seventh-highest number of human cases of West Nile virus in the nation.
Magazine ranks Arizona's two U.S.
senators among country's best The magazine commended Republican Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl for being able to use their power to get things done. It says McCain commands his independence and single-mindedness to put "unorthodox issues" at center stage - such as torture of prisoners of war and excessive government spending. The magazine says Kyl works effectively behind the scenes to accomplish Republican policy objectives. Time cited examples, including an amendment barring US courts from hearing cases brought by prisoners in the war on terrorism, in which Kyl was behind the efforts but not commanding headlines for them. A spokesman for Jim Pederson, a Democrat who is running against Kyl, says Kyl has been a very effective partisan.
Tombstone mayor rustles up controversy
over dirt road Mayor Andree DeJournett's decided to top the asphalt on a three-block stretch of a historic street with dirt and gravel. That's because he wants to make the city look more like it did in its gun fighting glory days. He says people don't visit the city to see the year 2000 - they go to see Tombstone. DeJournett's decision has created some bad blood among store owners and residents. When the first layers of gravel were laid, it caused more dust in stores. Things got worse when the city sprayed a chemical on the street to prevent dust. But that just created a sticky liquid substance that tourists dragged into stores. The city has since added a couple inches of crushed gravel - an improvement.
4/17/06 The US Attorney's office says Eretza-Florez was a passenger in a stolen vehicle packed with immigrants that a police officer in Huachuca City tried to stop. A chase ensued and the officer ran his patrol car into a ditch. Border Patrol agents, a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle were brought in to search for the fleeing vehicle and its occupants. After the vehicle became stuck, Eretza-Florez ran into the desert and was chased by Border Patrol agents. As the helicopter flew low, Eretza-Florez threw several softball-sized rocks at the aircraft. The feds say the pilot had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid them.
STILLS AND WHISKEY FOUND IN GREENLEE
COUNTY On this date, April 17, in 1930, 17 stills, 2,000 gallons of mash and 40 gallons of whiskey were confiscated by Greenlee County officers.
Arizona on alert for mumps as
disease tracked to Tucson traveler Pima County Health officials were warned of the disease by the Iowa Department of Health about two weeks ago. Dr. Michelle McDonald is the county's chief medical officer and says any outbreak would start showing up soon if the passenger infected people here. It usually takes two weeks or more to come down with the disease and the vacationing college student who was sick flew home to Iowa on April 1. Most people have been immunized against the mumps, but many aren't and the shots aren't always effective. Mumps is not considered to be especially dangerous, but it can cause severe symptoms in rare cases. Symptoms include swollen glands in the throat, fever and headaches.
15 percent of trust land sales
equals bonus for schools Most of the annual proceeds from the sale of state trust land flow into the state's regular education budget. But that is money schools are entitled to anyway under a funding formula based on student enrollment. Schools see a bonus only when leases and interest from land sales exceed 72.2 million dollars under state law. The bonus is earmarked for teacher salaries and other classroom spending. Over time, the bonus is expected to grow as the state sells and leases more land and land values increase.
Domestic abuse cases increase
at two southern Arizona bases The numbers are according to recently released data. Three of the recent abuse cases resulted in criminal charges. In those cases, one soldier was court-martialed, and the other two were ousted from the Army after admitting guilt. Fort Huachuca is the largest military installation in southern Arizona. Officials there say the increase is due to heightened awareness of Army aid programs for soldiers and their spouses.
4/14/06 The driver, Andy Hansen, had sustained a bloody nose. He explained to the officer that he was East-bound on Bulldog Boulevard when he fell asleep and veered to the left and hit the fire hydrant. A tow truck came to tow the vehicle away and Hansen asked the Safford Officer to take him to Mt.Graham Regional Medical Center for an examination for possible head injuries. Hansen was later flown to University Medical Center for further examination.
Senator says any immigration compromise
will be painful Nor, he says, will it confront all the personal circumstances of the eleven million people who are in the country illegally. In an interview with The Associated Press, Kyl says there are really no good solutions to getting out of the nation's immigration problems. He says it's just a question of which of all the relatively poor answers is the best one. Kyl's bill would let illegal immigrants work in the US for five years and would have required them to return to their countries before applying to re-enter. Immigrant's right groups say illegal border-crossers aren't likely to volunteer to return home when they've paid thousands of dollars to sneak into the country for the chance at earning a better living. ALSO... Oregon Republican State Representative Jeff Kropf is a pilot and is flying his own plane on patrols along the border. Kropf - a grass seed farmer and host of a weekend radio talk show in Portland - arrived in Arizona on Monday. He says he didn't time his trip as a counterprotest to the demonstrations against tougher immigration policies. He says he's just passionate about immigration because of the impact on jobs, national security, drug policy and disease control.
4/13/06 The story goes that Moses was sent by god to free the Jews from slavery. The Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramses the second, would not listen to Moses and his request to "let my people go", so God released one terrible plague after another on the Egyptian people until the 10th plague. Moses told the Pharaoh that God was going to slay the first born child in every family if he did not let the Jews go. By wiping lambs blood on the front of their homes, Moses told the Jews that the "Angel of Death" would "Pass over" them and not kill their first born. The next day, those that had no lambs blood on their doors found that the first born in their family was dead -- including the Pharaohs son. Ramses finally freed the Jews and allowed Moses to take them out of Egypt, and this is why Passover is the most sacred of all Jewish holidays. The primary symbol of Passover is the "matzo", a flat, unleavened bread which recalls the bread that the Israelites ate after they were released from Egypt. In Israel, Passover is an 8-day holiday, with the first and last days celebrated with a full festival, and the telling of the Jewish exodus from Egypt during a Seder Passover meal.
FOUR INJURED IN 2 VEHICLE ACCIDENT
ON FT. GRANT ROAD Both vehicles were traveling Southbound on Ft. Grant Road, at around 12:20, Sunday night, when the Explorer, driven by Price, made a U-turn to go back north. Hernandez did not notice that Price was attempting a U-turn and collided with him in the north lane. Passengers in the Explorer, driven by Price, were Tyler Price,14, and Colton Holloway, 13, of Willcox, were all transported to Northern Cochise County Hospital, in Willcox, with a few lacerations and bruises. One of the passengers in the Hernandez vehicle was transported to University Medical Center in Tucson, with possible head injuries. The Explorer was totaled and the Thunderbird sustained severe damage and was disabled at the scene.
Senate OKs bill to apply trespassing
law to immigrants Passage would send it to Governor Napolitano, who on Wednesday, declined to say what she'd do with it. The latest legislative action came one day after House-Senate conferees softened possible criminal penalties that illegal immigrants could face if they are prosecuted under state law. The bill also gives law enforcement officers the option of instead transferring arrested immigrants to federal authorities for deportation. Under the revised version, a first offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail rather than a felony punishable by up to a year of incarceration as under the original. Subsequent offenses would still be a felony but a lower class of felony than previously proposed.
Latest fossil find strengthens
chain of human evolution The 4.2 million-year-old fossil is from the same hot spot where remains of seven other human-like species have been found. The lead author of a study in tomorrow's issue of Nature says the string of fossil finds are like "frames of a home movie." The co-director of the Human Evolution Research Center at the University of California at Berkeley says the samples show three major phases of human development.
Possible cure for valley fever
moves a step closer Four drugs have been approved for treatment of the disease, which is caused by inhaling a fungus that lives in desert soil. But none kills the fungus outright. Now, the University of Arizona has announced that the Food and Drug Administration has granted so-called orphan-drug status to Nikkomycin Z, a drug acquired by the university in 2005. That will make it easier for the drug to be developed and tested by a pharmaceutical company. Valley fever isn't contagious and is rarely fatal. One in three patients shows symptoms, and about ten percent of them require treatment with anti-fungal medications.
Tests under way for bark scorpion
antivenin University of Arizona and Arizona Poison Center medical researchers are leading efforts to test Anascorp in Arizona hospitals and then to get the drug approved by the FDA. If approved, it could be used to treat children for years to come. Chandler Regional has had the drug since the fall. Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn and Scottsdale Healthcare Shea are the only other hospitals in Arizona with the new antivenin.
House OKs 'three strikes' sentencing
bill The House's vote sent the bill to the Senate, which last month approved similar legislation as a proposed ballot measure. That measure died in the House after being heard by one committee. More than 20 other states have three-strikes law, and the sponsor of the Senate proposal has said failure to enact a similar law would encourage hardened, violent criminals to move to Arizona. Arizona law already provides for longer prison sentences for repeat offenders and those whose crimes involve deadly weapons or serious physical injury, but the state doesn't have a three-strikes law.
4/12/06 At around 1:30am, Saturday morning, a Safford officer was trying to get a closer look at a 4-door vehicle that was leaving the Valley Apartments. The officer began to follow the vehicle when it began to speed up and turn into an alley and begin traveling at an extremely high rate of speed. The officer began high-speed pursuit of the vehicle. He estimated that the vehicle was traveling in excess of 70-MPH through and around the Glenn Meadows area. Other Safford Police and Graham County Deputies joined in the chase that went from 32nd Street, down a part of 8th Avenue that is still under construction, over to 26th Street and down 12th Avenue, around Glenn Meadows, at speeds of 60 to 80-MPH. The officers lost contact with the speeding vehicle a couple of times until one of the Safford Officers saw blinking hazard lights coming from the desert, north of 26th Street, between 20th Avenue and 17th Avenue. The officers found the vehicle in the desert. The driver had disappeared and the only occupant of the vehicle was a pet Bulldog. Several items were left inside the car. Officers found a cell phone, a CD case, and a backpack with a case of 7.62x39mm ammunition and three magazines, fully loaded, for an AK-47 assault rifle. Safford Police had the vehicle towed away and took the items found in the car into evidence. As of Tuesday afternoon, Safford Police know the idenity of the high speed driver but have not located or arrested him.
Drivers anticipate summertime
pinch from gas prices A restaurant manager, pumping mid-level gas at more than three dollars a gallon in Washington, marvels that it costs 41 dollars to fill up his tank. A professional driver calls it a "bigger hit" to pump supreme at $3.29 a gallon. He says he's even thinking of scaling back on personal driving. The Energy Department says it expects the summertime price of regular gas to beat last year's price by 25 cents a-gallon, although that's just a forecast. And officials say they're assuming no pressures from hurricanes, a refinery outage, or a big jump in the cost of crude oil.
BARNETT FACES CIVIL LAWSUIT IN
COCHISE COUNTY Barnett has been accused, in a civil suit, of holding a family of hunters against their will, threatening them, and holding them for Border Patrol, on October 30, 2004. It turned out that the hunters were Mexican-Americans from Douglas and they filed a civil lawsuit against Barnett for false imprisonment and negligence. Cochise County Superior Court Judge James Conologue agreed with Barnett's attorney, on Monday, that there was no evidence to support a charge of battery by Barnett during the hunting confrontation. The hunting party alleged that Barnett pointed an AR-15 assault rifle at the party and threatened to kill them if they did not leave his property. Judge Conologue noted that the hunting group, while hunting have the right to cross any property that is not explicitly signed as "no hunting". The civil lawsuit of behalf of the hunting party was filed against Barnett in Cochise County Superior Court on November 26, 2004, and seeks $200,000 for assault, battery, false imprisionment, negligence, gross negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It is alleged that the case has been championed by the Border Action Network, a Tucson-based immigrant rights group. They accuse Barnett of having a history of terrorizing illegal immigrants - and in this case, U.S. citizens - on his family ranch outside Douglas. Conlogue scheduled a telephonic review hearing of the case for May 8th.
4/11/06 House Majority Leader Steve Tully says strict enforcement of the measure would lead to troubling situations where officials are faced with children who were born here legally to illegal immigrant parents. Under a bill introduced by 26 Republican legislators, an illegal immigrant anywhere in Arizona would be guilty of a felony. The bill would allow law enforcement authorities to either prosecute the person or turn him or her over to a federal agency for deportation.
MAN STABBED IN FIGHT ON MAIN STREET Apparently, Manuel Contreras and Steven Tavison were arguing about money that was allegedly owed to Tavison's sister, in a local Downtown bar. The two men decided to take the argument outside on Main Street. When the fight started, Contreras allegedly took out a knife and cut Tavison on his forearm and left an 8-inch cut to his lower left torso. The DPS officer stated that he had found the knife involved in the left pocket of Contreras with a serrated blade with blood on it. The officer also found a white powdery substance in a small green baggie on Contreras that later turned out to test positive as cocaine. Contreras was arrested at around mid-night, Saturday night, and denied having any involvement with anything that had gone on. He was booked into the Graham County Jail on charges of Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a dangerous drug and two outstanding warrants.
COUNTERFEIT MONEY FOUND AT WALMART The Walmart assistant manager told the officer that he discovered the four bills while changing money from a cash register. The officer spoke to the cashier who was on duty when the bills were used and she described the male customer, but stated that she might not be able to identify him. The assistant manager then was able to check the surveillance video and was able to produce two photos of the man, identifying him and the clothes he was wearing. The DVD pictures from the surveillance video was forwarded to Safford investigators for viewing and possible suspect identfication.
Wal-Mart pledges no branch banking Comments from the world's largest retailer come during the first-ever public hearings by the FDIC on a bank application. It has drawn a wave of opposition, even though Wal-Mart insists that consumers and retail banks have nothing to fear. It pledges to stay out of branch banking and consumer lending. Wal-Mart wants to operate a so-called industrial loan corporation to process an estimated 140 million credit, debit card and electronic check payments each year. The banking industry, unions and consumer groups have banded together, saying a Wal-Mart bank would unfairly concentrate power over retail and small-business lending in one company. They note it is already the biggest business in many small towns and rural communities. An unprecedented 1900 comment letters to the FDIC, most opposed to the application, prompted the agency to hold the hearings.
4/10/06 Safford Police were called to Safford Mini Storage at 705 1st Avenue last Monday, where a woman described when she opened the door to her storage shed, most of her belongings were gone. Elaine Bullis has no idea who might have broken into her storage unit, but dressers, a sewing machine, a weed eater, and many items that held sentimental value to her and can never be replace, were missing. Another Safford burglary took place at 2560 1st Avenue, last Wednesday. Linda Winckel, reported to police that a burglar went into her moms home and took some prescription drugs, $80.00 in cash, an engagement ring and wedding band. There was also a gun cabinet with several rifles. None of the rifles but some of the ammunition was taken. Winckel said that the back door to the house had been left unlocked. Safford Police were unable to find any clues in these burglaries. Both cases are pending any further information.
GADA ISSUES $9.4-MILLION TO SAFFORD The City of Safford will receive $9,420,000, for the repair, renovation and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, medians and related ongoing maintenance for a variety of road-related improvements within the City of Safford. Other Arizona cities to receive GADA funds will be Sahuarita: $16.3-million, Buckeye: $14.7-million, and Queen Creek: $11.5-million. GADA provides low-cost financing for infrastructure projects to communities and special districts through-out the state. GADA's credit strength and contribution of bond sale costs allows local governments to borrow at interest rates well below those at which they could merit on their own.
UA RESEARCHERS DEVELOPING AUTOMATIC
FOCUS GLASSES The new lens can be instantly changed by altering a dose of electricity delivered to a liquid-crystal film. The lens paves the way for glasses that focus automatically. These glasses could revolutionize the $50-billion-a-year world-wide eye-care market. Instead of grinding new lenses to accommodate a change in eyesight, an optometrist would adjust the base settings on the lenses. Glasses could be set to a wearer's distance prescription and would automatically adjust to closer objects. The product would contain a tiny battery and infrared autofocuser that would fit in any eyeglass frame. The lens paves the way for glasses that focus automatically. They could be available to the public in two years.
4/07/06 According to DPS Spokesperson Jim Oyen, Interstate 10 was closed because of high winds in parts of Texas as well. Motorists and truck drivers were either asked to turn around or pull off to the side of the road and park. Some of the west-bound and east-bound traffic on I-10 had to be detoured into Safford. The road closured lasted from approximately 3:00pm til 6:00pm.
ASU law school renamed to honor
Sandra Day O'Connor O'Connor spent her early years on the family's ranch near Duncan, and attended Stanford University, where she earned her law degree. After years as a lawyer, state legislator and judge, she was appointed to the supreme Court in 1981. she retired earlier this year. The renamed institution is called the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law.
4/06/06 In the second half of April, Surface Contracting will be removing the existing pavement on portions of 8th Street, 13th Street, 11th Street, 12th Avenue, and 10th Avenue, and improving drainage in the area. The contractor will then recompact and repave portions of those streets. The plan is to complete this repaving project by early June. The City of Safford is asking residents to please drive safely during this road construction and please obey all road signs. Surface Contracting was awarded the Phase 2 portion of this contract with the City, receiving $995,000. The resurfacing is being financed by the one-half-percent sales tax that was passed in August by the Safford City Council.
SAFFORD POLICE ARREST MAN WITH
KNIFE The two subjects told of how the suspect, Jesus Ramirez, was motioning with the knife as to cut one of the subjects throats. Ramirez began circling one of the subjects with the knife and was generally being disorderly with the knife to them. Ramirez and another suspect had both left the American Club on foot, and Safford Police caught up with them near the 700-block of Central Avenue. The Safford Officer- with his gun drawn - ordered both men to get on the ground. One suspect got on the ground, Ramirez began walking toward 5th Avenue. He was stopped and detained by another Safford Officer. The knife was found in the pocket of Ramirez. Based on the discription from the two subjects of the incident in the bar, Ramirez was arrested and taken to the Graham County Jail. He was booked for disorderly conduct with a weapon and carrying a concealed weapon.
MORE UDAS CAUGHT IN SAFFORD The Safford Officer noticed a truck traveling North on 1st Avenue, driving slower than the normal 35-mph speed limit. The officer followed the truck to the intersection of Highway 191 and Highway 70. According to the officers report, the truck stopped at a red light and then traveled through the red light and continued on to North 1st Avenue. The officer stopped the truck at 1st Avenue and 4th Street. She looked inside the truck and saw several people inside the cab and camper of the truck. The driver said he had no identification papers. The truck and its passengers were escorted to the Graham County Jail and held for Willcox Border Patrol. The truck was registered out to North Carolina.
President Bush renews call for
comprehensive immigration bill The president says that he thinks lawmakers "are working hard to get a bill done." But he strongly urges them "to come to a conclusion as quickly as possible and pass a comprehensive bill." The president said he wants legislation that will cause even Americans not along the nation's borders "to recognize and enforce" the nation's immigration laws. But he also says he wants a guest-worker program that he says "will recognize that there are people here working hard in jobs that Americans don't want."
4/05/06 The case was filed in Greenlee County, Monday, and an initial hearing for Martinez was held in Clifton Justice of the Peace Court, Tuesday morning. According to Safford Police Chief, John Griffin: "Even though both Martinez and Batchelder were from Safford, Batchelder's body was found in Greenlee County. If the evidence cannot show that Batchelder died in Graham County, then Greenlee County has the right to file the complaint and have the court proceedings in their County." Eve Marie Batchelder went missing on Tuesday, March 28th, when she did not show up for work at the Beverage House in Safford. Her family and co-workers became worried and contacted Safford Police. She was last seen with her ex-boyfriend, Jason Martinez. After an extensive investigation by Graham and Greenlee County law enforcement, Safford Police, and DPS, Martinez was arrested and charged with 1st degree murder and bond has been set at $500,000 cash. Eve Marie's funeral will be held today, ( April 5th), at 2:00pm, in Safford. Police investigators are waiting for results of her autopsy, to determine the cause of death.
Senate OKs bill on fetal pain The Senate approved the bill on a 17-to-13 vote, with Democrat Linda Aguirre siding with 16 Republicans in voting for it and Republicans Toni Hellon of Tucson and Carolyn Allen of Scottsdale joining 11 Democrats in voting against it. The bill has already been passed by the House so it now goes to Governor Napolitano, an abortion-rights supporter who since taking office in 2003 has vetoed several measures supported by abortion opponents. Supporters contend the bill would help ensure that women make informed decisions about their health, while critics contend the measure is intended to erode abortion rights.
Health officials see increase
in valley fever cases The state usually averages only about 2,700 cases per year. The state epidemiologist says reported cases are a fraction of the actual number of infections. David Engelthaler says many people never see a doctor for valley fever if they have few or no symptoms. Actual infections could number more than 50,000 per year. Valley fever is caused by a fungus in desert soil. When dirt is disturbed, the fungus releases spores that can lead to infection when inhaled.
Last chance to pass AIMS math
test It can also be a tough day for teachers. The Arizona Department of Education estimates as many as ten-percent of the Class of 2006 will fail Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards. The Department of Education says more students fail the math part than they fail reading and writing. Math is often tougher to learn and many students don't see it as something they should care about.
4/04/06 The deputy stopped the vehicle, with Missouri license plates,
and found several people laying down on the floor and several people laying
down in the back seat. The deputy found 11-illegal immigrants inside the
vehicle on Saturday evening. The Border Patrol in Willcox was called and
the vehicle was impounded and Towed to the County Yard for storage.
New Mexico State Patrol advised that a green mini-van that was west-bound on Highway 70, was suspected of carrying illegal immigrants. Graham County Deputies and Safford Police located and stopped the vehicle that was driving using only their parking lights at around 5:45pm, Sunday afternoon. The officers stopped the mini-van just west of the Lone Star Circle K. The vehicle had 8-illegal immigrants inside. The van was impounded and towed to the Graham County Yard.
COUNTRY THUNDER TO BAN CONFEDERATE
FLAG DISPLAY Country Thunder is scheduled to begin Wednesday, April 5th and run through Saturday, April 8th. Apparently, the Rebel Flag is being blamed for some rowdy and offensive behavior, that took place at Country Thunder USA, last year, at the Canyon Moon Ranch, east of Florence. Country Thunder is the largest country-music event of the year in one of the largest country markets. About 25,000 people a day from across the nation are expected to descend on the concert, this week. This is the fourth year that the four-day event will be at the Canyon Moon Ranch location. It's the 13th year that Country Thunder has been in Arizona. An annual Country Thunder event is also held in Wisconsin.
4/03/06 The Cochise County Office of the Medical Examiner registered one border death in March, bringing the total to four for 2006, according to office figures. Patti Nelson with the forensics center says it's normal for deaths to increase when the temperatures do. The National Weather Service report that temperatures rose above 80 degrees four times in March and hit between 74 and 79 degrees on twelve days.
Minuteman group kicks off return
engagement in Arizona, other states A volunteer with the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps compares the group's effort to "sticking a finger in the dike." So far this fiscal year, US agents have caught more than 48,000 illegal immigrants in this one swath of Arizona. This year, Minuteman members say they're planning similar exercises along the border in California, New Mexico and Texas. They'll also include the Canadian border in Washington, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York state. The effort is expected to last a month, and is mostly aimed at raising public awareness of the issue. One volunteer says the goal is not to close the border, but to "draw national attention to an insecure border."
BODY OF MISSING WOMAN FOUND IN
GRAHAM COUNTY According to Safford Police Chief, John Griffin, Batchelder's family and co-workers became worried when she did not show up for work, Tuesday morning, and contacted the Safford Police Department. An investigation found that Eve Marie was last seen with her boyfriend, Jason Martinez, 29, from Safford, in a 1977 light blue Chevy Pickup. The pickup was later found, stuck, on the Back Country Bi-way, with blood in the cab and a pick and shovel in the truck bed. The truck was believed to have been driven to the area by Martinez, with Batchelder with him. Martinez was arrested on charges of 1st degree murder and booked into the Graham County Jail. He was arraigned on Thursday and bond was set at $500,000 cash. The body of Eve Marie Batchelder has been sent to the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office for a post-mortem investigation.
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