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From the KATO Newsroom
William Perry - News Director

December 2006 Archive

A 15-year-old Thatcher High School girl has died in a Tucson Hospital after suffering multiple injuries in an ATV/dirt bike accident on December 20th.

Stephanie Udall passed away Wednesday, December 27th, at University Medical Center in Tucson.

Udall had suffered internal injuries and head trauma when she was involved in an accident involving a collision with a dirt bike and an ATV, Wednesday afternoon, December 20th, on 1st Avenue in Thatcher.

Stephanie was on the back of the ATV, driven by Jacob Hatch 17, also of Thatcher, and the two were racing a dirt bike driven by Tucker Brown, 16.

The two vehicles collided and threw all three riders off of their vehicles.

When ambulance personnel arrived, Stephanie was immediately flown from the accident scene to University Medical Center in Tucson.

According to family members, Stephanie's brain had swollen and Doctors finally decided that she could not recover from her injuries.

Machines that were keeping her alive were turned off and Stephanie died Wednesday.

No information has been released on the condition of Jacob Hatch, who was also flown to University Medical Center the day of the accident.

Tucker Brown was not seriously injured and was released from Mt. Graham Medical Center the evening of the accident.

None of the riders were wearing helmets.

       

The agency in charge of enforcing the state's new minimum-wage law is telling employers of developmentally disabled workers to stick to their current pay levels until further notice.

The new minimum of six dollars, 75 cents an hour starts on Monday.

Some employers say that's a considerable increase over the wages developmentally disabled workers are paid now and could lead to layoffs.

State industrial commission director Larry Etchechury says employers who participate in sheltered work-center programs will not be penalized for not paying the new wage.

Etchechury adds the commission will address how to deal with such workers as it creates rules to guide the wage law.

       

Pot is not a religious sacrament.

A federal judge has ruled against the founders of the Marijuana church, outside of Pima, that deifies marijuana and uses it as a sacrament.

U-S District Judge Judith C. Herrera in Albuquerque refused to dismiss charges against Dan and Mary Quaintance.

Herrera wrote that evidence indicates the pair adopted their 'religious' belief in cannabis as a sacrament and deity in order to justify their lifestyle choice to be pot users.

Herrera's order means the government's criminal case against the Quaintances will proceed in the new year.

The couple is scheduled to go to trial January 16th.

They're facing criminal charges of possessing more than 100 pounds of marijuana, as well as conspiracy charges.

       

Arizona rolled out a new state-wide anti-smmoking campaign

Wednesday that focused on the costly effects of the habit.

The Department of Health Services hopes the new tactic convinces some of the estimated 850 thousand smokers in Arizona to kick the habit.

The advertising campaign doesn't use guilt or lectures to try to get its message across.

Instead, the ads are designed to be a resource for people who want to stop smoking but don't know where to begin. Each will have a phone number for a hot line and have the web site that has stop smoking resources.

People can find out more about the state's free stop smoking classes and reduced-cost nicotine-replacement therapy.

The web site is w-w-w dot ash line dot ORG (www.ashline.org) . The phone number is 1-800-55-66-222.

       

The jobs of thousands of developmentally disabled Arizonans may be in jeopardy because of the state's new voter-approved minimum wage law that is about to take effect.

However, Governor Napolitano says it doesn't appear the Legislature can do anything about it, at least not right away.

There are groups that employ developmentally disabled workers at pay levels less than the federal minimum wage. And they say they can't afford to pay the new state minimum wage that takes effect in January.

Some have suggested that the Legislature meet in special session and change the law to grant exemptions for such programs.

But Napolitano notes that Arizona restricts possible legislative changes to voter-approved laws. And she says it doesn't appear that calling lawmakers into special session would work in this instance.

       

Three Thatcher High School students were injured in an ATV and dirt bike accident, Wednesday afternoon on 1st Avenue in Thatcher.

From what Graham County Sheriff's investigators can gather from their investigation; Jacob Hatch, 17, and Stephanie Udall, 15, both of Thatcher, were racing the ATV they were riding with a dirt bike, driven by Tucker Brown,16, also of Thatcher, Southbound on 1st Avenue.

Reaching speeds of 45 to 50-MPH, and traveling side-by-side, the ATV and the dirt bike collided with each other, throwing all three victims from their vehicles and tumbling on the ground.

A passer-by saw the three laying on the ground and called 9-1-1.

Ambulance personnel along with Thatcher Police, Graham County Deputies and DPS officers arrived at the scene.

Ambulance Medics examined Stephanie Udall, who was unconscious and called for a helicopter ambulance. Stephanie was immediately transported from the scene to University Medical Center in Tucson.

Jacob Hatch was sent by ambulance to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center and then also flown by helicopter to UMC.

Both Udall and Hatch were suffering from extreme internal injuries and head trauma. Both are in stable but critical condition at UMC.

Tucker Brown was suffering from multiple cuts and bruises but was treated and released from Mt. Graham Regional.

None of the accident victims were wearing helmets.

       

An unidentified Willcox man and a hitchhiker from Hawaii, who was picked up in Safford, were involved in a single-vehicle truck accident, Tuesday evening, when the truck slipped off Highway 191, North of the Rose Peak area in Greenlee County, and tumbled 600-yards into a snow filled canyon.

The man from Willcox was traveling to Window Rock and was ejected from the truck. The man from Hawaii, identified as Brandon T. Bocanegra, 26, was ejected farther down the canyon.

He was able to climb back to where the Willcox man had been seriously injured.

Bocanegra then decided to climb back up to Highway 191 and try and catch a ride back to Morenci.

He was able to find a ride to the Morenci Clinic where he arrived at around 1:00am. The Greenlee County Sheriff's office and DPS were notified and drove back to the area of the wreck where they arrived at around 4:00am, Wednesday morning.

The unidentified Willcox man was found dead at the scene. His name was not released due to notification of next of kin.

Bocanegra was treated at the Morenci Clinic and released.

DPS says that the truck is so far down into the canyon that it is unretrieveable.

       

A new DUI Task Force has just started up in Graham and Greenlee Counties, and is now being funded by State and Federal Grant money.

Law enforcement officers from Pima, Safford, and Thatcher Police Departments along with Graham County Deputies and Department of Public Safety Officers, will make up the new Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force.

According to Graham County Deputy Brian Mulleneaux, one of the Task Force coordinators, Federal and State Grants were applied for by Thatcher Police Department Sergeant, Shaffen Woods.

The Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force was able to qualify to receive the money and started the Task Force exclusively for Graham and Greenlee Counties.

According to Mulleneaux, the Task Force was out patrolling for impaired drivers and arrested five suspected motorists on Wednesday, December 13th, and 10 on Friday, December 15th.

The Task Force have been given a Mobile DUI Van that will be used to process alleged DUI suspects close to the area that is being patrolled.

The Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force will be out patrolling in Graham and Greenlee Counties throughout the holiday season.

       

A 16-year-old suspect who is accused of Aggravated Robbery, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, and Theft, tried to escape from a Detention Officer after he was told by Judge Gary Griffith he would be tried as an adult.

Joseph S. Mehan, 16, of Safford is accused of being involved with three other suspects, in the robbery of Paul Denning, on December 9th, at his apartment.

Mehan is accused of knocking on Denning's front door and asking to use the restroom. When Denning let him in, the other three suspects are accused of rushing into the apartment, knocking Denning down, and robbing him of $130.00 in cash.

At a hearing on Monday, December 18th, Judge Griffith set a bond of $15-thousand on Mehan. He was being turned over to a Graham County Detention Officer who was trying to handcuff him when Mehan stood up and tried to escape the courtroom.

Mehan tried to open the exit door when the Detention Officer slammed the door causing Mehan to hit the window and break the glass.

Mehan was thrown to the floor and handcuffed and was then taken back to the Graham County Detention Center.

       

Safford Police arrested a Tucson man, early Monday morning, who had just been released from prison and a Sierra Vista woman with a 1-year-old baby for possession of Crystal Methamphetamine.

A Safford Patrol officer stopped a pickup truck with a broken windshield, Monday morning, just before midnight. The officer also noticed that the female passenger was holding a baby in her lap the front seat of the truck.

The officer stopped the vehicle on Highway 70, and began to question the driver, who had no drivers license, no vehicle insurance or registration, but said his name was Joseph Bejerano.

The officer became suspicious when along with no paperwork on the truck and no I.D. on the driver, the steering column on the truck looked as though the ignition had been broken which is common technique used to steal a car.

Several other officers arrived at the scene and one of them began talking to the female passenger with the baby, identified as Julie Ann Rodriquez, of Sierra Vista.

She had no wants or warrants out for her arrest. While she was talking to an officer, Bejerano began scuffling with the other officers who were trying to handcuff him.

The officer noticed that Julie, who was holding the baby, was also hiding something in her hand. The officer saw her try and stuff something into the baby's blanket.

She showed the officer that she was hiding a smoking pipe and approximately 8-grams of crystal meth.

She said that Bejerano had thrown the pipe and the baggie of meth at her when the officer turned on his lights to stop them.

Bejerano and Rodriquez were both arrested and taken to the Graham County Jail. The baby's grandmother just happens to live in Safford, so she was released to the grandmother.

       

Federal health officials have proposed sterner warning labels for acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen.

The Food and Drug Administration says that while the over-the-counter pain relievers remain safe when used as directed, there are potential side effects for those who use them regularly.

The F-D-A says overdoses of acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage, even death. For aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, there is a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury even when patients take the correct dose.

The drugs are linked to thousands of deaths a year, but the F-D-A said the risk is rare when compared to the number of patients who take the drugs.

The drugs are found in hundreds of products sold to treat pain, headache and fever.

       

A state survey has found that child-care costs in Arizona have jumped 35 percent in six years, outpacing the amount of child care money the state gives needy families.

The state Department of Economic Security, which conducted the survey, says it will press the Legislature to give the department more money for child-care subsidies.

State Representative Linda Lopez of Tucson says she also will ask fellow state lawmakers to support a raise in D-E-S subsidies.

       

Vandals have hit Congressman Rick Renzi's district office in Flagstaff.

It's the latest in a series of incidents over several months that have plagued the District 1 Congressman.

Officials say vandals painted graffiti in red and yellow paint on a front window of the office at North San Francisco Street sometime Sunday.

The words "Fascist Pig" were sprayed in red paint, and the numbers "775" were in yellow.

Much of what was spray painted was described as unreadable by the police officer who found the damage.

Renzi claims the vandalism began several months ago with such things as golf balls and firecrackers thrown at his office.

       

Three people died in Safford, early Sunday morning, after a car ran a red light at the intersection of Highway 191 and 32nd Street.

The 2005 Chevrolet sedan ran the light around five in the morning and crashed into a 1993 Chevrolet van.

The sedan then crashed into an abandoned trailer home. Its driver, 20-year-old Vincent Hernandez, died at the scene.

The driver of the van was 43-year-old Patricia Anne Cunningham, also died at the scene. Her passenger, 41-year-old Mark Bradley Phelps, was flown to University Medical Center and died around noon on Sunday.

All three victims were from Safford.

       

Tens of thousands of Arizona ninth-graders are getting a Christmas present from the state: a personalized study guide for the AIMS test.

The guides are being handed out to 84-thousand students statewide. Education Department spokeswoman Amy Rezzonico (Rez-o-NEE-Co) says they're personalized based on eighth grade test scores to help students focus on skills they still need to pass the test.

Students in Arizona must pass the AIMS test to get a high school diploma. This year's ninth graders will get their first crack at it in the spring of their sophomore years, so handing out the study guides now gives them plenty of time.

The state paid one- and a half million dollars to buy the study guides.

       

An environmental group has challenged the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service over the recovery program for the endangered Mexican gray wolf.

The Center for Biological Diversity says the service has refused to implement recommendations of a scientific panel. That panel was formed to come up with ways to save the program.

Fish and Wildlife began releasing wolves on the Arizona-New Mexico border in 1998 to re-establish the species in part of its historic range.

A five-year review of the program released in January says it should be expanded.

But the Center for Biological Diversity contends that what it calls Fish and Wildlife's hostility toward science is undermining the program.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in Washington.

       

A Thatcher Police Officer was able to stop one of two ATV riders at around 11:15PM, Wednesday night, after the rider and another suspect had broken into Drew and the Crew Motor Sports in Safford and stole an ATV and a dirt bike.

The Thatcher officer radioed dispatch that he had stopped a fleeing ATV rider on Safford-Bryce Road and had the rider in custody. He stated that the other rider would not stop and had headed out into the desert. The officer also noted that the ATV that the suspect was riding had been stolen from Drew and the Crew Motor Sports.

Safford Officer responded to Drew and the Crew Motor Sports to secure the scene. An employee from the Motor Sports shop confirmed that a Suzuki LTR 450 four-wheeler, valued at $7,300 was missing. Also missing was a Suzuki RMZ 450 dirt bike valued at $4,500.

The Thatcher Officer who had stopped the ATV rider found a pair of bolt cutters on the suspect and the Safford Officer investigating at the scene found that the lock on the storage area where the bikes were, had been cut by bolt cutters.

Both the dirt bike and the ATV were recovered along with he second suspected burglar. The two unknown men were arrested and taken to the Safford Police Department for questioning. The two were later arrested in placed into the Graham County Jail.

       

Safford Officers were called to the new Freedom Ford car dealership in Thatcher, on Wednesday, to a report of vandalism to several new and used vehicles on their car lot.

The officers spoke to three of the car salesmen and they said that they had 5-vehicles that someone had drilled a hole underneath each one, into the gas tanks.

The car salesmen said that they noticed wet spots underneath the vehicles over several days saying that they thought that the damage had been done on two different nights.

Also damaged was a 2007 Black Ford 350 truck, with a 4-foot scratch down the side of the vehicle and a Black Ford F-150 was also scratched on the tailgate.

Safford Police said that they would put on extra patrols in the area.

       

An international drug-trafficking organization that primarily smuggled tons of marijuana into Southeastern Arizona has been busted, according to Federal Court documents made public Wednesday.

The Molinares-Nunez drug operation was responsible for moving thousands of pounds of marijuana into Arizona during a three-year period.

According to Federal Government records, the operation was being monitored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, and the Bisbee Police Department.

An indictment filed in Federal Court in November was unsealed Wednesday, detailing the intricacies of the ring, which has at least 20 employees.

The Federal indictment details how Molinares-Nunez set up a command center in his home in Naco, Sonora, where, using high-tech equipment, he monitored law enforcement radio frequencies, including those of federal agents in the area.

Many tons of marijuana would be transported at one time in modified vehicles that would enter the U.S. by driving between designated ports of entry. The drivers were told to evade officers if detected, which resulted in a number of high-speed pursuits as they attempted to return to Mexico.

In one incident, the smugglers lost their load on the U.S. side but were able to run back to Mexico on foot. They then began firing back across the border with automatic weapons at agents on the U.S. side.

Last Saturday, Molinares-Nunez was arrested in Tucson while staying with his wife's relatives.

Molinares-Nunez was indicted on two charges of smuggling and running a criminal enterprise and is facing a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence.

At the time of his arrest, he had $4,600 in U.S. currency, a concealed handcuff key and cocaine in his possession.

       

The Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona has released a list of the 12 most often used scams for 2006. Scams that steal your money and merchandise and leave you frustrated and out of luck.

The 12 scams and schemes identified this year are: Identity Theft - Lottery/Sweepstakes scams - Bogus Checks/ Overpayment Schemes - Internet Fraud - Health, Beauty and Fitness Claims - Affinity Fraud - Money Wiring Scams - Home Repair Rip-offs - Bogus Charities - Resort Vacation Promotions - and Directory Scams.

The Bogus Checks/Overpayment Schemes, for example, is an interesting scam. The scam-artist targets people selling a product via classified ads or online bulletin boards. These cons send a check for a product of service for more than the negotiated price, then request that the seller deposit the money and return the excess funds. The original check is typically stolen or fake, and by the time the victim has cashed and returned the excess funds the thief has disappeared with the money and the product.

For more information on how to protect yourself from these types of scams, contact the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona.

       

Being a Border Patrol agent is becoming more and more hazardous. These days, more Border Patrol agents are being assaulted along the Arizona- Mexico border by illegal immigrants trying to cross into the U.S., and by immigrant and drug smugglers.

Rock throwing and incidents where smugglers are wrapping rocks in rags that have been soaked in flammable material and throwing the balls of fire at unsuspecting agents, are occurring more often along the border.

Border Patrol spokesmen in Arizona and Washinton, D.C., say it's a reflection of frustration by smugglers and illegal immigrants who have been unable to make it across the border without getting caught.

T.J. Bonner, a union representative for Border Patrol Agents, discounts the agencies claim that the increased attacks are a sign of the agency's effectiveness.

He says it's just another tactic used by smugglers. Placing agents right on the border makes it predictable and easy to ambush them and assault them with rocks.

       

A governor's advisory panel is recommending more math courses for Arizona's high school students.

Currently, students need to pass two math classes to graduate. The advisory panel is recommending at least three years, and it would like that upped to four years by 2012.

The panel also recommends that students be required to remain in school until they either graduate or turn 18.

Currently, teens can drop out of school at 16.

The panel of educators, business leaders and others says Arizona's students of today must graduate with the skills to compete in the economy of tomorrow. That means a firm grasp of math and science, thus the call for toughened math requirements and a corresponding one for science.

Governor Napolitano says she'd like to see the bulk of the panel's recommendations enacted.

       

Two Safford Officers who were patrolling in a two-man unit, at around 2:00pm, Saturday afternoon, stopped a black 4-door vehicle that had pulled in front of them before turning into the Days Inn on East Highway 70.

The officers pulled into the parking lot to speak to the male driver and female passenger about their illegal turn.

One officer began speaking to the driver when the female passenger said that he didn't speak much English and did not have a drivers license.

The man presented a Mexican I.D. card that identified him as Jesus Diaz Beltran and the female said her name was Marlene Contreras, age 29.

Other Safford Officers arrived when Beltran admitted he was an illegal immigrant.

Contreras told officers that she was from Phoenix and was here visiting relatives.

The situation became more suspicious and one of the officers asked Contreras if he could search her purse. She agreed and the officer found three plastic seals used to package illegal drugs.

The couple said they were staying in a room in the motel with another couple. The officers then wanted to search Contreras' luggage, in the room, so everyone headed toward the motel room.

The officers searched the luggage in the motel room and found a digital scale and over an ounce and a-half of methamphetamine.

Jesus Beltran allegedly admitted to the officers that the meth was his.

He was arrested for possession of Dangerous Drugs for sale and taken to the Graham County Jail.

The two women involved were released and another male was turned over to Border Patrol.

       

A Safford officer was called to 1414 S. 2nd Avenue at around 2:00pm, Saturday, in reference to a robbery.

The officer spoke with Paul Denning who lives in apartment #4. Denning told police that a juvenile knocked on his front door and asked to use the restroom. Denning recognized the juvenile and opened the door. When he opened the door, 4 young men rushed into the apartment and held Denning on the floor.

They took $130.00 in cash from his wallet, $120.00 in twenty's and one $10.00 bill, and immediately ran out the front door.

Denning recovered from the assault and called police.

He gave police a description of what the boys were wearing.

The officer began searching for the suspects. He asked two brothers who were building a house just South of where the robbery occurred and they stated that they saw the four suspects. Two ran Northbound on 2nd Street and two ran Eastbound on 13th Street.

The officer patrolled by 313 West 13th Street and stopped and asked about one of the suspects. The officer stated that he has had several dealing with juveniles at the residence.

The officer was directed to an apartment in the back of the residence where he met with two juveniles. He noticed that one of the boys was red-faced and was out of breath.

After speaking with the juvenile, the officer took him back to the scene of the robbery and was identified by Paul Denning as one of the boys who robbed him.

Police went back to 313 West 13th Street and got permission to search the apartment in the back.

The officers found clothing that Denning described that the robbers were wearing And $120.00 in twenty dollar bills and one $10.00 bill.

The juvenile was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center and another suspect, who was 18, was identified, arrested, and taken to the Graham County Jail.

       

A hedge fund with a 5.1-percent stake in Phelps Dodge Corp. plans to vote against a proposed $25.9-billion takeover of P.D. by Freeport-McMoRan, saying the offer does not fairly value Phelps Dodge.

In a article from the Phelps Dodge website, SAC Capital Partners, a hedge fund group led by Steven A. Cohen that has spent $464-million to acquire 10.3-million shares of Phelps Dodge, said Monday that Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. and Phelps Dodge wont fit well together. Phelps Dodge is worth more than Freeport-McMoRan is offering to pay, according to SAC Capital.

Despite the announcement by SAC, Freeport spokesman Bill Collier said the company's offer has gotten a positive response from shareholders.

"The agreement we reached with Phelps Dodge delivers compelling value to Phelps Dodge shareholders, and is positive for FCX shareholders," Collier said in a statement. "We are confident that shareholders of both companies will approve the transaction."

Another Phelps Dodge shareholder, Atticus Capital LP, which has a 9.97-percent stake, said it has not yet taken a position on the offer.

       

A man who was best described as a man who was from the 4-Corners area was beaten up, treated at the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center and then arrested and taken to jail, after he crashed an early morning birthday party and allegedly sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl, at around 3:00am, Monday morning.

So far, the report is that Marty Gishal, 21, drove his later model Ford Mustang, with a lot of beer in it to 1208 20th Street in Safford, where a birthday party for Vincent Lozano, who lives at the residence, had been going on.

Four adults and six children were at the birthday party and when Gishal arrived, the adults thought someone at the party knew him.

Charles Madrid jr, who is a relative of Vincent Lozano, described the incident by telling police that they were all there for Vincent's birthday - he and the other adults were outside drinking - the adults learned that Marty Gishal had sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl, and Madrid saw Gishal being injured by Lozano.

When Safford Police arrived, they found Gishal lying, unconscious in the street, in front of the 20th Street residence.

It is unknown at this time whether Lozano will be cited for assault.

Gishal has been arrested and charged with sexual conduct with a minor and is in the Graham County Jail.

       

A two-vehicle head-on collision about two-tenths of a mile, this side of the Graham and Greenlee County line in the Black Hills caused the Department of Public Safety and Graham and Greenlee County Officers to close Highway 191 for nearly two hours, Monday morning.

According to DPS officer Mike White, a vehicle driven by a 40-year-old man with the last name of Ramirez, was traveling Southbound, toward Safford, when his vehicle crossed over the center line and struck a pickup truck driven by a 31-year-old woman with the last name of Barnett. She was traveling Northbound toward Morenci with a passenger with the last name of Aparicio.

Ambulances from Graham and Greenlee Counties were called to the scene and DPS, with assistance from Graham and Greenlee County deputies closed Highway 191 to remove debris from the highway and to investigate the accident.

Amazingly, no one was injured in the accident. Mrs. Barnett was taken to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center where she was treated and released. Others involved did not feel they were injured and refused treatment.

Traffic traveling North and Southbound on Highway 191 had to be rerouted through Duncan.

Highway 191 in the Black Hills was closed for nearly two hours from 6:30am to just after 8:00am, Monday morning.

       

Governor Janet Napolitano has named James Conlogue ( Con- Log), 50, to fill the newly created Division 5 Judge position in Cochise County Superior Court.

Conlogue, who's father worked for Phelps Dodge and was born and grew up in Morenci, currently serves as the judge pro-tem at the Superior Court in Bisbee, and will assume his new post on January 2nd.

Governor Napolitano created Division 5 of the Cochise County Superior Court in July, to meet growing demand in the County.

Cochise County now has 5 divisions of their Superior Court and one Judge pro tem, with four courtrooms in Bisbee and two in Sierra Vista.

Prior to and during Conlogue's residence in Cochise County, he served as city Attorney for the City of Sierra Vista, and as a Cochise County public defender.

Conlogue attended ASU and U of A law school.

He now lives in Hereford with his wife and one son.

       

Border Patrol Agents were busy Wednesday, chasing truckloads of marijuana and seizing 6.5-tons of the illegal weed in one day, throughout the Southern Arizona desert.

The largest bust occurred Wednesday evening at a house at 1839 Portero Drive in Nogales, where Border Patrol agents responded to two vehicles traveling in the area.

According to Border Patrol spokesperson Chuy Rodriquez, the agents followed vehicle tracks to the house and found 13,000-pounds of marijuana in plastic-wrapped bundles inside and in the beds of two stolen 2006 Ford F-250's.

The marijuana had an estimated street value of $4.2-million.

Another large marijuana bust came Wednesday evening, several miles South of Tucson. Members of the National Guard working as an Entrance Identification Team spotted two vehicles crossing the Arizona-Mexico border, west of Sasabe.

While following the two vehicles, a Ford Expedition with Sonora plates, rolled after ramming into a Border Patrol vehicle. Another agent stopped the second vehicle.

Agents found 2,011-pounds of marijuana in both vehicles worth approximately $1.6-million.

Border Patrol agents have seized 149,700-pounds of marijuana since October 1st, in the Tucson Sector, which includes Southeastern Arizona. That is a 37-percent increase over last year

       

Eastern Arizona College's Fine Arts Department will present its final production of 2006 with the 70th annual singing of Handel's Messiah, on Sunday, December 10th.

Handel's Messiah will be sung by the EAC Community Chorale and the EAC A Cappella Choir. The choirs will be accompanied by the EAC Community Orchestra.

The community singing of Handel's Messiah will be held in the EAC Fine Arts Auditorium, beginning at 7:30pm, Sunday, December 10th, and will be presented by the EAC Fine Arts Department, free of charge to the public.

       

Phelps Dodge Corp. announced Wednesday, that its board of directors have given conditional approval to develop the initial mining project at the Tenke Fungurume copper/cobalt concession in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Final approval is contingent upon obtaining governmental approval of agreements recently reached with Societe Nationale d'Electricite, a DRC electricity provider.

The initial Tenke Fungurume project will include development of a mine and associated copper and cobalt processing facility. It will require a capital investment of approximately $650-million. Phelps Dodge will be responsible for providing 70-percent of the funding. Tenke Mining Corp., a partner in the project will be responsible for providing the other 30-percent.

The initial project will focus on 103-million metric tons of oxide ore reserves. It is expected to be in full production in late 2008 or early 2009. During the first 10-years of mining, total annual production is projected to be approximately 250-million pounds of copper and 18-million pounds of cobalt. The life of the initial African project is expected to last approximately 40-years.

       

Safford Police became involved in the chase of a blue pickup, early Tuesday morning, that ended up crashing in the Tower Mobile Home Park.

Safford Police received a call that there was going to be a fight outside the American Club at 2:00am, Tuesday morning.

When officers arrived, they observed a blue pickup fleeing from Downtown Safford, eastbound on Main Street. The truck ran the stop sign on 1st Avenue and Main and almost hit a passing vehicle.

The truck then ran the stop sign on East Main and the highway and headed Eastbound on Highway 70, reaching speed of 90-MPH, with Safford Officers in hot pursuit.

The truck traveled approximately 2-and-one-half miles east on Highway 70 and turned into the Tower Mobile Home Park.

The truck seemed to trying to evade police by shutting off its headlights. The officers continued on into the Park and for a while could see nothing but dust.

As the dust cleared, officers observed that the blue pickup had wrecked into A car and a mobile home. The officer then observed two men exit the wrecked truck and run from the scene. One suspect ran north into the park and the driver was seen running into Mobile Home #34.

When enough officers responded to the scene to make up an entry team, they went inside the mobile home and found the suspect in the back bedroom.

The suspect was identified as Fernando Arreola. When he refused to obey the officers commands, he was shot by a Tazer gun.

Arreola was immediately neutralized and was handcuffed without further incident.

A female subject was located inside Mobile Home #34. She was identified as Gina Lozano. It was discovered that she had two outstanding warrants out for her arrest. Lozano was arrested and she and Arreola were transported to the Graham County Jail.

Safford Police investigated the accident caused by Arreola speeding into the Mobile Home Park.

His truck had crashed into a parked car and a tree, shoving the parked car broadside into a Mobile Home at space #1, causing severe damage to the Mobile Home.

Arreola was arrested and charged with, Failure to stop for a pursuing emergency vehicle, DUI, Aggravated Assault, and Criminal Damage.

       

Some residents in southwestern New Mexico are worried about encounters between children and endangered Mexican gray wolves that have been reintroduced along the New Mexico-Arizona border..

In one case, 14-year-old J.C. Nelson ran into three wolves while on a hunting trip with his father.

In another, a wolf attacked and injured a family dog while a young girl was nearby.

John Morgart is the wolf recovery coordinator with the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service and a member of the interagency team reintroducing the wolves along the New Mexico-Arizona line.

He says an investigation into Nelson's case found the animals were not out to attack.

       

A Cochise County jury found that businessman and rancher, Roger Barnett, acted illegally in threatening a family hunting party with an assault rifle in October of 2004.

Five members of a Douglas hunting party - including three young girls - accused Barnett of threatening to shoot them because they were trespassing on his property.

The five people decided to file a civil suit against Barnett and on November 22nd, an 8-member civil jury in Cochise County Superior Court issued a verdict that Barnett was at fault for assault, false imprisionment, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Barnett was ordered to pay the five individuals a total of $98,775.

Barnett is a well-known anti-illegal-immigrant activist who claims to have detained and turned over to the Border Patrol more than 10,000 migrants in the last 10-years.

He denied threatening the five hunters, testifying that he only took out his AR-15 rifle because the adults in the group were carrying rifles.

       

An observant Safford Police Officer discovered a couple was in possession of Cocaine, Crack, Crystal Meth, and Marijuana, early Monday morning.

The Safford Officer observed a man using the pay phone at Circle K on Relation Street, at around 3:20am, Monday morning. According to his report, the man"s car was the only vehicle in the parking lot at that time of morning.

The officer observed the man get back into his vehicle and head West on Relation and after a few turns he stopped near the Olney House Bed and Breakfast on 5th Avenue.

The officer stopped to observe the man and realized that there was a female passenger in the vehicle.

The two got out of the car and began walking around like they were lost.

The officer then approached the couple and asked what they were doing.

The man stated that they had reservations at the Bed and Breakfast.

The officer asked for I.D. and ran their names through dispatch.

It was discovered that the man, identified as Joseph Lopez, had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Lopez was handcuffed and placed in the back of the officers patrol car.

Other Safford Officers arrived and were given consent to search the vehicle. The officers found a set of digital scales, shards of Crystal Methamphetamine, and marijuana.

The woman who was in the vehicle at first identified herself as Jessica Baca and another identification card was found in the car that identified her as Ashley Kanehl, of Tucson.

When officers went to check on Joseph Lopez in the back seat of the police car they discovered that he had taken "crack" that was in his pockets and thrown it inside the backseat of the police cruser. Lopez was thoroughly searched and officers also found what tested positive to be three ecstacy pills in his possession. Lopez and Kanehl were both arrested booked into the Graham County Jail. It was found later that Lopez had a belt with compartments in it. One compartment contained a handcuff key.

       

A Safford pre-school child fell asleep while riding the bus to Dorthy Stinson School, at around noon, Friday.

The bus driver, unaware that the child was asleep on one of the seats, dropped off the kids at school, went back to the Safford bus barn, and locked the bus.

At around 3:00pm, a school employee heard the sound of a child crying from the bus and he went to locate and inform the bus driver of what had happened.

The child was found on the bus and taken home to her parents.

The child did not seem to be suffering from any health problems.

The bus driver was disciplined for the accident, and a report of the incident was forwarded to the Graham County Attorney"s Office.

       

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A 32-year-old Safford man who had been on the run from Safford Police since Wednesday, November 29th, was finally caught at a local motel on Friday night, December 1st.

A patrolling Safford officer saw a vehicle pull into the parking lot of Boulevard Sales and Service, next to the Budget Inn Motel, at around 10:50pm, and turn off it"s lights. The officer thought that was strange because Boulevard Sales would be closed through the weekend.

The officer pulled up behind the suspicious vehicle and discovered that the woman behind the wheel was Theresa Villescas, who had been with Michael Carr, 32, on the night that he stole a car that his mother was test driving from Johnson Motors. Carr had run from Safford Police in the car and while being chased, smashed the car into a rock wall, Wednesday night, and escaped.

Villescas told officers that she didn"t know where Carr was but he had a girlfriend named "Anna".

The officers went into the office of the Budget Inn and discovered that a woman named "Anna" was staying in room #10.

The officers then called for backup and surrounded the Motel and knocked on room #10.

After several minutes a woman answered the door. Her name was Anna.

The officers asked where Michael Carr was and she pointed to the middle of the motel room.

Carr was standing in between the beds. He was handcuffed and arrested.

Officers found a small amount of meth and marijuana, along with a smoking device.

Michael was taken to the Graham County Jail. He was charged with parole violation and possession of dangerous drugs.

Anna was issued a citation for the drugs.

       

U.S. Customs and Border Protections inspectors chose the right produce truck to inspect, Sunday, when they stopped a semi hauling honeydew melons from Mexico, and found 2,300-pounds of marijuana hidden among the pallets of fruit.

At around noon, Sunday, the inspectors x-rayed the semi tractor and noticed unusual images on the x-rays. They opened the trailer and unloaded the produce where they found 300-packages of marijuana hidden in the trailer.

The driver, a 58-year-old Nogales, Sonora man was arrested and his "Free and Secure Trade" membership, which is a certificate issued by the CBP to allow trustworthy truck drivers to pass through the port of entry, was revoked.

The marijuana, tractor, and trailer were all seized.

Estimated value of the pot was estimated between $2.3-million in bulk sales and $7.3-million in street sales.

       

The Arizona Industrial Commission, the agency that enforces the state"s worker-compensation and child-labor laws is fast-tracking a set of "emergency rules" to implement a enforce Arizona"s new minimum-wage law.

The Industrial Commission, which was taped by Governor Napolitano to enforce the law approved by voters last month, hopes to send the rules next week to Attorney General Terry Goddard for review.

The commission staff is also writing a compliance manual that will guide employers and investigators, according to Industrial commission director, Larry Etchechury.

+ The new law sets the minimum wage at $6.75-per-hour on January 1st. Etchechury says the commission plans to host seminars across the state next month to help employers to become more familiar with the new law. He also plans to borrow training staffers and investigators from the Industrial commission"s legal department to learn the new minimum wage law and to become trainers for future investigators.

       

The State of New Mexico is going to have to spend $4.6-million to fulfill the federal environmental study requirements to establish Western New Mexico's water rights on the Gila and San Francisco Rivers.

New Mexico's Interstate Stream Commission told members of the legislative Water and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, that for areas of Western New Mexico to receive up to $128-million in federal money and up to 14,000 acre-feet of water a year, they would have to do the preparatory work in order to receive the money and the water.

Danielle Vick, Gila River project manager said, the focus between now and 2009 will be to conduct scientific and environmental studies of the rivers.

In 2010, Western New Mexico residents will decide what, if any water projects they want to pursue. The final report to the feds is due by 2014.

       

A jury has convicted a Douglas grandmother of hauling 214 pounds of marijuana in a car she regularly uses to travel to Tucson to play Bingo.

The verdict against Douglas resident Leticia Villareal Garcia could send her to state prison for more than twelve years.

The 61-year-old had testified she didn't know there were ten bundles of pot hidden in the trunk of her Mercury Grand Marquis when she was stopped by the Arizona Department of Public Safety outside Bisbee in early 2005.

The jury in Cochise County Superior Court in Bisbee took less than two hours, Thursday, to rule Villareal was guilty.

Villareal told jurors she frequently played bingo and went on outings to Douglas and Tucson.

She testified that her son's long-lost godfather showed up unannounced at her home the day before her arrest and borrowed her car. Her lawyer told jurors Villareal was being used as a "blind mule" to unknowingly haul drugs.

Garcia will be sentenced on December 18th.

       

The Eastern Arizona College Musical Department is gearing up to celebrate the holidays with two seasonal performances.

The Festival of Carols will be presented on Tuesday, December 5th at 7:30pm, at the EAC Fine Arts Auditorium. The Festival of Carols will feature EAC's Choral and Instrumental Music Departments in a wonderful Christmas musical performance that will be great for the whole family.

Performing will be the EAC Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, A Cappella Choir, Symphonic Choir, and the Women's Chorale.

And on Sunday, December 10th, the EAC Fine Arts program will present the 70th annual singing of Handel's Messiah. The EAC Community Orchestra will provide musical accompaniment for the EAC Community Choir, the A Cappella Choir, and the EAC Symphonic Choir.

Both productions are under the direction of Bruce Bishop. Both performances will be start at 7:30pm, in the EAC Fine Arts Auditorium, and both performances, on December 5th and December 10th, will be free of charge to the public.

       

Safford Police issued an "Attempt to Locate" on Michael Carr, 32, after he lead them on a high speed chase through Safford, early Wednesday morning.

A Safford officer on patrol noticed a vehicle cruzing through Safford without a license plate. The officer stopped the vehicle in front of a residence at 209 S. 6th Avenue, and as soon as he got out of his patrol car the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed.

The officer pursued the vehicle for several minutes. The vehicle made a turn at 706 E. 3rd Street and hit a rock wall, causing major damage to the car, but the vehicle kept on speeding through Safford.

The vehicle kept going and finally stopped on the 200-block of 5th Avenue.

Two occupants jumped out of the vehicle and began to run from Safford Officers. The foot chase was on and other Safford Officers were called to the scene.

The passenger, identified as Theresa Villescas, 25, of Safford was soon found hiding in some bushes at 209 S. 6th Avenue.

The officers were told that the driver of the vehicle was Michael Carr and they were at Carr's mother's residence where they found Villescas.

Officers went to the door and asked Mrs. Carr if Michael was inside the house. She said, "No.", and she did not know where he was and wanted to know what was going on.

Mrs. Carr gave officers permission to search her house for her son.

Mrs. Carr said, the car that Michael took belonged to Johnson Motors and she was thinking about buying the vehicle and had permission to keep it overnight.

Officers went back to 5th Avenue and took inventory of the wrecked vehicle. They found electrical tools, a half full 40-ounce bottle of Malt Liquor, an empty syringe, and other items.

Michael Carr was not located.

       

Game and Fish officers have shot and killed an entire herd of deer after a near-disaster involving an Army plane at Fort Huachuca.

A small plane, with two crew members board, was damaged the night of November 14th when it collided with a deer at Libby Army Airfield.

Because of the incident, a decision was made to eliminate the herd because efforts to keep deer away from the airfield had failed. Game and Fish says 29 deer were killed and the meat was donated to charities.