April 24, 2008

More of this story

Medicare health benefits counseling
Many seniors need assistance in understanding the choices available in Medicare health benefits and other health insurance options. In order to assist seniors, the SEAGO Area Agency on Aging is sponsoring several Medicare and health benefits counseling events, free of charge. Grace Murcio, SEAGO’s Health Insurance Counselor, will be available to answer your questions on Medicare regulations, insurance benefits, and other relevant insurance products. The schedule for these events in Cochise County is as follows:

Community efforts make young couple’s dream possible
It may take a community to raise a child, but it takes Pirtleville to send a couple to the Prom.

Giffords meets with Arizona troops and top military leaders in Afghanistan, Pakistan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is calling for a renewed focus on fighting terrorism in Afghanistan after returning from a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to the war-torn country.

County board OKs increased fees at courts, new radios
BISBEE — Administrator fees for those using services in the justice court or Superior Court were raised Tuesday after a unanimous vote of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors.

Census:
 PHOENIX — Arizona is adding more Hispanics to its population each year than all other groups, according to new figures today from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Burns says she won’t seek re-election
TUCSON — State Rep. Jennifer J. Burns, whose legislative District 25 includes most of Cochise County, said that she will not see a fourth consecutive term in office.

Budget fix might not be enough as state tax receipts decline this year
 PHOENIX — A fix in the current state budget approved just this past month may not be enough.

ICE agents shoot at suspected drug smuggling vehicle
Two ICE agents fired their rifles at a smuggler’s truck on Geronimo Trail Tuesday morning when the smuggler attempted to ram his truck through the agents parked service vehicles.

Cochise College presents UA piano concert tour
Cochise College will present a wonderful pian-opportunity on May 2 – a professional-level performance by students beginning a concert career.

Cochise College accepting applications for Fry Foundation Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $1,000 per year are available through the Fry Foundation to students attending Cochise College or another college or university. The deadline to apply is May 15.

Cochise College Events
Saturday, May 3

Cinco de Mayo celebration starts today in SV
SIERRA VISTA — A carnival, folk dance and mariachis are a few of the Cinco de Mayo traditions planned to celebrate Mexican and Latino heritage this weekend.

See archaeology digs at Presidio Saturday
FAIRBANK — On Saturday, an archaeologist will give a one-time tour of recent excavations at the Spanish Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate, prior to backfilling.

Upcoming Stuff
The Friends of the San Pedro are sponsoring a trail ride along the river on Saturday May 10, leaving from the Hereford Bridge parking lot and riding north toward the San Pedro House. The ride will start at 9:00am with a stop for lunch along the river. To register for the ride or for more information call Nancy at 456-1362. Riders must provide their own mounts.

Another windy day, another red flag warning
SIERRA VISTA — For the second day in a row, Cochise County was under a red flag warning due to the “extreme fire danger” from strong winds and low humidity.

Napolitano signs sanctions law changes
 PHOENIX — Gov. Janet Napolitano inked her approval Thursday to changes in the state’s new employer sanctions law.

Blindsided by veto
 PHOENIX — A veteran state lawmaker said Wednesday she was blind- sided by Gov. Janet Napolitano who vetoed her drunk driving legislation without warning.

Community Food Bank experiencing challenges during economic downturn
The folks at the Community Food Bank are experiencing a triple challenge, as the demand for food has risen an unprecedented amount, donations of food are flat and the cost of food continues to rise.

Douglas students, athletes honored at annual college award ceremony
The college recognized dozens of outstanding students selected by faculty and coaches for their academic and athletic achievements. Many of the awards went to students who completed a technical certificate, participated in Phi Theta Kappa honor society, or completed a workplace education experience. The athletic teams, all of which competed into the regional playoffs this year, also named most valuable players, most improved players, and academic honorees.

Are you next?
Depending on your genetics and lifestyle, you just never know when you’ll be hit by a heart attack.

Half of 700-mile fence span done, government says
WASHINGTON — The U.S. fence along the Mexican border is less a wall than a stuttering set of blockades: half barrier, half gaps.

Medicare health benefits counseling
Many seniors need assistance in understanding the choices available in Medicare health benefits and other health insurance options. In order to assist seniors, the SEAGO Area Agency on Aging is sponsoring several Medicare and health benefits counseling events, free of charge. Grace Murcio, SEAGO’s Health Insurance Counselor, will be available to answer your questions on Medicare regulations, insurance benefits, and other relevant insurance products. The schedule for these events in Cochise County is as follows:

Border Patrol fires paintballs at rock-throwers
TUCSON — Some U.S. Border Patrol agents along the Mexican border are packing paintball rifles, but they’re not being used for games.

Volunteers ‘Made a Difference’ in Douglas Saturday
Douglas volunteers truly “Made a Difference” Saturday during a community cleanup.

Douglas taxpayers receive first round of stimulus
payments as early as April 28
According to the IRS, some Douglas residents have begun to receive their economic stimulus rebates on Monday.

Governor vetoes bill on drunken driving
 PHOENIX — Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a series of changes designed to tighten drunk driving laws Tuesday because she didn’t like one provision she said moves in the opposite direction.

Arizona people still need state permit to carry a weapon: Napolitano
 PHOENIX -- Arizonans who carry concealed weapons without the necessary state permit still can wind up behind bars.

Hot days, low precipitation
combine for wildfire danger
TUCSON — The hazardous combination of high temperatures and low precipitation that came together last year will continue this year and make wildfires more dangerous, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service said.

Cochise College Events
Wednesday, April 30

VUHS District proposes drug, alcohol testing of students
The Valley Union High School District Governing Board is proposing a random drug and alcohol testing program.  

Border barriers at the San Pedro Conservation Area could impair the flow of water
PHOENIX — Federal officials warned last September that the design of border barriers through the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area would cause environmental damage, according to documents obtained by foes of the fence.

Cochise College ASL students invited to perform at Deaf event
A group of Cochise College American Sign Language students has been invited to perform for Deaf children at the Northern Arizona University Deaf Expo next fall.

SSVEC planning to ask for rate increase this summer
BENSON — It’s time for a rate increase, said Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative’s CEO.

Douglas fire fighters prepare for the real thing
More than 20 Douglas fire fighters sharpened their life-saving skills Monday morning in an all-station drill.

Charges against agent dropped; woman does not want case pursued
DOUGLAS — Justice of the Peace Alma Vildosola has dismissed charges against a Border Patrol agent who was arrested last week on seven counts related to a domestic violence incident against a woman.

County struggles with deficit
BISBEE — Though just in the beginning stages, the county’s $200 million budget is being scrutinized as the department heads and Board of Supervisors start negotiating decision packages.

Douglas softball coach collapses before game
TUCSON - Douglas High School assistant softball coach David Ybarra suffered a heart attack moments before Monday’s Gila Regional softball game with Amphi.

Government Meetings
WEDNESDAY

Judge considering motions prior to shooting trial
BISBEE — A jury trial in Cochise County Superior Court is scheduled to start May 12 for a man charged with shooting his neighbor during a disagreement last summer in Elfrida.

County gas prices soar
According to the Cochise College Center for Economic Research’s latest biweekly survey of gas prices, conducted during the week of April 21, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Cochise County increased to $3.43 from $3.33 over the two-week period. According to AAA Arizona, the statewide price rose from $3.29 to $3.41 per gallon. Nationally, according to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices increased from $3.33 to $3.51 during the two-week period.

Restaurant Inspections-Douglas
Restaurant inspections as provided by the Cochise County Health Department on the county’s Web site — www.cochisecounty.com:

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 Planning Zone
Keith Dennis, Planner
Cochise County Planning & Zoning

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

Bonus program a relief in taxing times
I am always looking for new ways to save money on groceries, so I was pleased to hear that one chain, Kroger, has recently come up with a real winner. Beginning in May and lasting through the end of July customers can exchange their tax-rebate checks for Kroger gift cards to get a 10 percent bonus on the card’s face value throughout Kroger stores nationwide (including Kroger, Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Hilander, Jay C, King Soopers, Owen’s, Pay Less, Ralphs, Smith’s and QFC stores).

Go crazy for couscous
When cookbook author Kitty Morse moved from Casablanca, Morocco, to the United States in 1964, she says she was thrilled to explore the amazing bounty of American supermarkets. They seemed to have everything, she thought — everything, that is, but couscous. For Morse, this was a cultural and culinary disaster. As she wrote in her book “Couscous” (Chronicle Books, 2000), “What pasta is to Italians, what rice is to the Chinese, couscous is to the inhabitants ... of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.”

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.

The pope’s message
The headlines and dramatic photos rush by during a papal visit, framing the sound bites that journalists uncover in stacks of Vatican speech texts.

Procession is a sign of unity...
NACO, Sonora — The third annual border procession featured food, music and prayer on Saturday, but it was the recently-constructed fence on the U.S.-Mexico border that was the topic of the day.

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

SSVEC awards 18 area students $1,000 scholarships
Eighteen high school seniors from throughout southeast Arizona were awarded $1,000 scholarships last Thursday from Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.

Cochise College employees recognized for excellence
Four Cochise College employees who are members of the college’s Classified Association were recently presented with Achieved Classified Excellence (ACE) awards.

Early Learning Center
The Early Learning  Center will have pre-registrations for preschoolers, every Friday from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Children should be 4 years old before September 1st. 

Cochise College Events
RECENT COCHISE    COLLEGE HEADLINES

Naco Brownfields project receives ASU award
The Naco Brownfields project, an effort to improve the quality of life of the Naco community that is managed by Cochise College, recently received the 2008 President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness from Arizona State University.

VUHS District proposes drug, alcohol testing of students
The Valley Union High School District Governing Board is proposing a random drug and alcohol testing program.  

Bookmobile Schedule
Tuesday, May 6

College presents UA pianist tour tomorrow
Cochise College will present a wonderful pian-opportunity on May 2 – a professional-level performance by students beginning a concert career.

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