WASHINGTON — Passport cards for Americans who travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean will be equipped with technology that allows information on the card to be read from a distance.

More of this story

Douglas has quiet New Year’s Eve
Douglas residents decided to play it safe and enjoy the holiday season with friends and family.

Napolitano expected to give lawmakers some budget ideas
PHOENIX — Gov. Janet Napolitano is expected to present lawmakers with a new set of recommendations on how to erase a budget shortfall by early next week, giving the House and Senate appropriations committees a roadmap as they report for work.

Fence, surveillance marked Arizona’s 2007 border efforts
TUCSON — Call it cause and effect.

Arizona’s financial hole is getting deeper
PHOENIX — Arizona’s financial hole is getting deeper as state revenues continue to lag behind expectations.

Goddard suggests New Year’s Resolutions for Arizona consumers
Attorney General Terry Goddard today offered some New Year’s Resolutions for Arizona consumers.

County has started its phone book
collection
BISBEE- As part of Cochise County’s efforts to increase recycling efforts, county officials want to track just how many residents want to contribute these efforts by tracking recycled phone books.

Recycle your trees at no cost until Jan. 19
Now that the Christmas holidays are over, Douglas residents are encouraged to recycle their Christmas trees.

Employer sanctions to be enforced across Arizona
Starting Jan.1, 2007 Douglas employers must now be more vigilant about whom they hire.

American Profile joins The Dispatch Thursdays
The Daily Dispatch is introducing "American Profile" magazine to its inventory of special products offered to its readers

Ariz. joins lawsuit against U.S.
Attorney General Terry Goddard and Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Director Steve Owens today announced that Arizona is joining a lawsuit brought by California against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to uphold the right of states to regulate greenhouse gas pollution from automobiles.

Giffords’ border tunnels bill signed
BISBEE — President Bush recently signed into law a provision offered by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to ensure the federal government can prosecute smugglers who tunnel under the Arizona-Mexico border.

Sex offender sought by Sheriff’s Office
SIERRA VISTA — A high-risk sex offender/absconder, who formerly lived in the Sierra Vista area, is being sought by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office as a result of new child molestation charges in Washington state.

Still a good idea
What started out as a good idea to get Douglas residents into the recycling idea is rapidly turning into an eye sore especially at the Food City parking lot, where the over filled bins are now spilling into the street and parking lot. People dropping off recycled items are urged to exercise common sense and if the bins are full do not leave your items lying on the ground and instead wait for another day to drop off your recycled items. People are also reminded these bins are intended for recyclable items only and not excess garbage. FRV Metals and Recycling, in conjunction with the City of Douglas, is providing these recycling bins free of charge to city residents.

Two boys charged in attack on another boy
SIERRA VISTA — Two boys were charged with aggravated robbery after they allegedly attacked another boy on Monday and demanded that he give them his wallet, according to Sierra Vista police.

Warrant issued for shooting suspect
SIERRA VISTA — A warrant for the arrest of Lawrence D. Hall has been issued in connection to the shooting incident Christmas morning in the Sierra Suites parking lot.

Holiday DUI task force makes 240 stops
SIERRA VISTA — The New  Year’s  holiday  weekend efforts of the Southeastern  Arizona  DUI  Task Force netted 240 traffic stops, three  DUI  arrests,  four  drug  arrests  and  six underage-drinking violations.

Take a culinary adventure, become a locavore!
Every day I take a few minutes to venture out to my scrap of a garden where I clip a few sprigs of parsley or fresh herbs to season or garnish a stew or salad and some chard or kale leaves for our daily greens.  There’s something about growing at least a little of your own food,  nurturing a plant or participating in the miracle of starting some from seeds, that slows you down and connects you to the earth and the world of living green. The fragrance, flavor and intimacy of eating food you’ve tended and just plucked from the earth, adds vibrancy to meals.  It’s also a recipe for increasing feelings of abundance and gratitude.

AARP providing free tax services
SIERRA VISTA — In Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, free tax services are provided by AARP Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

Recycle your trees at no cost until Jan. 19
Now that the Christmas holidays are over, Douglas residents are encouraged to recycle their Christmas trees.

Suspect arrested
SIERRA VISTA — A man accused of shooting two people Christmas morning was arrested early Thursday morning in Tucson.

Napolitano proposing $214 million in ‘savings’ to balance budget
PHOENIX — Gov. Janet Napolitano is proposing what she says is $214 million in savings to balance the state’s books this fiscal year.

Clinton says Iowa results point to Democratic president, brushing aside a third-place finish
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, claiming to be unbowed by a third-place finish in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, hailed a ``great night for Democrats’’ and said the strong turnout pointed to the sure election of a Democratic president in November. She said she would ``keep pushing as hard as we can.’’

Border Patrol agents arrest two felons in Douglas and Naco
Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal entrant in Douglas Friday who in 1994 had been convicted for aggravated assault with a handgun in Cochise County.

Service award
Southeast Arizona Community Action Program honored Liz Ames, second from left,  with a plaque for the work and support given to SCAP by members of St Vincent de Paul. Ames is a member of St. Vincent de Paul.

Agent’s attorneys seek more time before scheduled February jury trial
TUCSON — Attorneys representing a Border Patrol agent charged with murdering an illegal immigrant near Naco are requesting that a U.S. District judge postpone their client’s jury trial scheduled to start in February.

Cochise County Sheriff’s Office
The following are arrests made by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Cochise County Jail.

Around The State
Supreme Court adopts new rules for lower courts on employer sanctions

Iowa Caucuses
Religion played a huge role in Mike Huckabee’s triumph in the Iowa Republican caucuses, though there are some mixed signals for him on the road ahead. On the Democratic side, it was fresh blood - and an outcry for change - that helped propel Barack Obama to his victory in the state.

Get in a DUI accident, lose your license
PHOENIX — State Sen. Jim Waring has a plan he said will prevent drunk drivers from getting back behind the wheel after a serious accident: Take their licenses, immediately.

Major changes for city council in 2008 elections
With major shifts and changes occurring within the Douglas City Council, 2008 may prove to be an interest time for voters and city government.

Realtor Emeritus
Longtime businessman and community leader Everett J. Jones was recently honored by the National Association of Realtors as a Realtor Emeritus. This status is awarded in recognition of Jones’ 40 years of membership in the association and in recognition of his valuable and lasting contribution to real estate in the community. Pictured with Jones (third from the left) in Jones Real Estate Office  Assistant Sandi Johnson, Property Manager Belen Durazo and Joan Jones, far right.

Refunds are waiting for these former or current residents
Douglas

Cloudy days and likely rain forecast for this weekend
SIERRA VISTA — Ready for some rain?

IRS has $110 million in refund checks looking for a home
PHOENIX - - The Internal Revenue Service is looking for 115,478 taxpayers who are due refund checks worth about $110 million after those checks were returned as undeliverable.

New law won’t stop program allowing Mexican trucks into US
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is going ahead with a controversial pilot program giving Mexican trucks greater access to U.S. highways despite a new law by Congress against it.

New Naco police chief seeks better security
NACO, Sonora — The new police chief in Naco, Sonora, said his main goal for 2008 is to improve security in this border town.

Illegal immigration still registers as serious problem for majority of residents
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - A poll released Friday found that illegal immigration registers as a serious problem for a strong majority of people living in four Southwestern states.

Cochise County Sheriff’s Office
Dec. 18

Arizona Chamber wants changes to sanction law
Capitol Media Services

GOP budget-writers propose cuts, withdrawal from reserve
PHOENIX (AP)- Republican legislative budget-writers on Friday offered a $981 million proposal that relies on extensive spending cuts throughout state government and big withdrawals from the rainy day reserve to erase the current revenue shortfall.

Smuggler abandons migrant
Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Sector rescued a woman in critical condition.  

Public hearings big part of Wednesday council meeting
The Douglas City Council will hold a regular meeting Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at 425 10th Street. A study session will be held at 2:30 p.m.

Judge will not postpone trial
BISBEE — A U.S. District judge in Tucson has denied a request to postpone a two-week jury trial for a U.S. Border Patrol agent charged with murdering an illegal immigrant near Naco.

County P&Z to look at missionary’s special-use request
BISBEE — NTMA, a nonprofit missionary organization that trains pilots and aircraft mechanics, is asking the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission to approve a modification of the existing special-use permit to boost the number of planes that can be permanently headquartered at the installation on the 640-acre plot on Davis Road just outside of McNeal.

Online voter registration hits snag
PHOENIX — A national motor-vehicle computer network malfunctioned Monday, preventing Arizona’s online voter-registration system from being used on the day leading up to the deadline to register to vote in the state’s presidential primary.

Expert advice changes for preventing allergies in infants and children
CHICAGO (AP) - Breast-feeding helps prevent babies’ allergies, but there’s no good evidence for avoiding certain foods during pregnancy, using soy formula or delaying introduction of solid foods beyond six months.

American Community Survey looks at Cochise County
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released results from its 2006 American Community Survey. This was the second year Cochise County was included in the survey, which provides annual updates to the census data collected every 10 years. Prior to 2005, only communities with a population of 250,000 or more were included. In 2005, this was changed to include populations of 65,000 or more.

Cochise County’s top economic stories of 2007
It’s time once again to look back at the top economic stories of the past year. Leading the way was the severe housing market correction. From January through September, new single-family residential construction in Cochise County was down 49.5 percent, compared to the same period of 2006. From January through November, single-family residential home sales declined by 9.2 percent. Although the median home price was up 1.2 percent to $192,300, the average price per square foot was down 3.7 percent to $115.13.

Recycle your electronic devices Saturday in Tucson
BISBEE — People will be able to recycle computers, televisions and other electronic devices in Tucson on a monthly basis starting Saturday.

AARP providing free tax services in county
SIERRA VISTA — In Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, free tax services are provided by AARP Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

St. David artist gave life's work to promote learning
Hundreds of art pieces to be displayed at the Cochise College Benson Center this fall will be sold to raise funds for college scholarships.

Chamber players perform Oct. 26
Full of old-world grace, charm and, occasionally, fury, the Daystar Chamber Players present a face-to-face, quadraphonic experience of two violins, a viola and a cello at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26 at the Sierra Vista Community United Church of Christ. The concert is brought to Sierra Vista by Cochise College Cultural Events.

Call to Artists . . .
Interested artists are invited to submit original artwork, completed within the last two years, for the 2008 La Frontera Tucson International Mariachi Conference poster. The conference is scheduled for April 21-26, 2008.

Cochise College Events
Saturday, October 20

Mesquite milling, pancake breakfast Sat.
Bisbee Farmers Market

Drink up! It’s cold outside
Aside from coffee and tea, most of us do not venture forth too frequently into the realm of the hot drink. It’s a shame, as a nicely made cup of something — be it an Italian bicerin (a hot mocha drink from Turin), a Swedish glogg (rhymes with “chug”), an Indian chai or even a mug of hot Dr Pepper (apparently a New Year’s favorite in some households) — can hit the spot, especially on a chilly winter’s night. The new book “Hot Drinks” by Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss (Ten Speed Press, 2007) is devoted to the subject, and three other freshly minted volumes, “Mocha” by Michael Turback (Ten Speed Press, 2007); “Coffee” by Betty Rosbottom (Chronicle, 2007); and “The Ski House Cookbook” by Tina Anderson and Sarah Pinneo (Clarkson Potter, 2007), all devote considerable ink to steaming beverages.

Reader’s smart shopping paving way to secure future
Over the years I have enjoyed hearing from one of this column’s many regular readers, Oren Spiegler of Upper St. Clair, Pa. He’s one of the many of you who updates me with the latest news of local grocery-store policy changes and developments, which I check into and report back to all of you here.

Nothing fishy here-Embrace your inner fish
Like "tree-huggers," we fish-huggers are concerned about the environment, specifically the impact of factory trawlers, bottom draggers, the problem of bycatch (e.g., dolphins caught in tuna nets) and industrialized aquaculture. We worry about the byproducts of bad fisheries management or farming, including mercury, antibiotics and colorants in fish. We want to save the fish so we can ... eat them. A little self-interest can, environmentally speaking, be a good thing.

Take rain checks when the shelves run dry
I recently shopped at my drugstore and was disappointed that the best bargains were out of stock. I had waited until the last day of the sale week, and other clever shoppers had cleared out the bargains.

Slippery slope of athletes and their religion
One of the big questions during last year’s National Football League playoffs was whether Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears would make it to the final game.

Rabbi Botright is local synagogue’s honorary leader
Tucson-born James Botright is leading services at Temple Kol Hamidbar in Sierra Vista. A “military brat,” he traveled the nation with his parents, living largely in Texas, Arkansas and California. It was a very religious home, he says. But now his world is centered in Cochise County ... and leading its 35-40 Jewish families at the temple.

Slippery slope of athletes and their religion
One of the big questions during last year’s National Football League playoffs was whether Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears would make it to the final game.

Rabbi Botright is local synagogue’s honorary leader
Tucson-born James Botright is leading services at Temple Kol Hamidbar in Sierra Vista. A “military brat,” he traveled the nation with his parents, living largely in Texas, Arkansas and California. It was a very religious home, he says. But now his world is centered in Cochise County ... and leading its 35-40 Jewish families at the temple.

Entertainment versus religious messages
The idea for the movie began with a vision of three fake pirates falling from the sky into the ocean, transported in a magical rowboat back to the 17th century.

Religion In The News
Students now required to observe moment of silence in Illinois

View All Ads
Place an Ad

Jobs

View All Jobs

Homes

View All Homes

Autos

View All Autos