The Douglas Fire Department was busy last weekend with a burning building, a burning car and a natural gas leak.

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Murder suspects arrested at port
TUCSON — Two men sought in the deaths of four people near Palmdale, Calif., are being held on million-dollar cash bonds in Cochise County awaiting extradition.

SSVEC seeks power rate hike
SIERRA VISTA — Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative on Monday filed an application with the Arizona Corporation Commission for a rate increase.

2008 Arizona Legislature
 PHOENIX — High schoolers who can’t pass AIMS will continue to get relief.

Court keeps vouchers funded while considering legality
 PHOENIX — The state’s high court has given the go-ahead to keep funding two voucher programs while it considers their legality.

Western governors discuss balancing energy, wildlife at annual conference
TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. — Governors from several Western states voted Sunday to form a council that will study ways to protect wildlife habitat in the face of ever-increasing demand for energy development in their region.

Senate leadership announces plan to cover $2 billion gap
PHOENIX — Senate leaders hope to convince more Arizonans to gamble away more of their money as part of their plan to balance the state budget.

Douglas Police Report
 June 18, 2008

Solar forum in Douglas sees potential
DOUGLAS — It was a day of finding out about solar energy — how it works, how to help pay for it and how to get paid for it. It was all one wanted to know about solar power and much more.

Douglas man arrested for 102 counts of domestic violence, including phone harassment
The day he ended his relationship with his girlfriend, the harassment began. In the end Steven Anthony Rascon, 26, was arrested for 102 counts of misdemeanors and felonies related to domestic violence and harassment.

Governor: Senate's plan acceptable
PHOENIX — While the clock is ticking down for when Arizona needs to have a budget, it’s unclear when that will happen, Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday.

Two Douglas children hit by lightning
Two Douglas children were struck by lightning Tuesday evening.

Remembering a fallen fire fighter
Family of fallen Douglas fireman Frank Garcia gathered at the Douglas Fire Department Wednesday in memory of him. The family presented a plaque to Fire Chief Mario Novoa in remembrance of Garcia. Garcia died June 25, 2007. Wednesday was the one-year anniversary of his death.

Council OK’s items to clear way for call center
A block of city council agenda items were unanimously approved Wednesday in an effort to open up the way for the call center to come to Douglas.

License to speed may come from new legislation
 PHOENIX — A money-raising provision being put in the state budget at the behest of Gov. Janet Napolitano could become a license for people with money to speed.

Man accused in agent’s death released
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Officials were ``shocked and appalled’’ that a Mexican judge released a man who was arrested in the death of an Arizona-based U.S. Border Patrol agent, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday.

Cochise County Superior Court
The following are sentencings in Cochise County Superior Court, as provided by the court system. The listings include disposition date, charge and sentence. “Monetary” can be a fine or restitution, or both.

Douglas Police Report
June 21, 2008

Dispatch dropping to three times a week in August
Due to continuing economic challenges, The Daily Dispatch will change its frequency from five times a week to three times weekly beginning in August.

Just The facts
The Daily Dispatch will be hosting two open houses leading up to the change in August.

Free dump day Saturday
Bright colors will fill the skies of Douglas in only a week as the city prepares for its annual Fourth of July activities, which begin on Thursday, July 3. The two days will include a number of food vendors and entertainment  Thursday night and throughout the day on Friday.  For complete details on Douglas’ events and others, see Page A4.

County OK’s commercial fee increase
COCHISE COUNTY – The County Board of Supervisors have approved a solid waste per ton tipping fee increase to take effect on July 1, 2008.

Attorneys file for change of venue
BISBEE — Attorneys for U.S. Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett have filed a motion for change of venue for his upcoming murder trial scheduled to be held in federal court in Tucson.

Agua Prieta migrant center marks two years
BISBEE — This weekend, the migrant resource center in Agua Prieta, Sonora, will celebrate its second anniversary of helping illegal immigrants who are deported by U.S. Border Patrol officials to Mexico.

U.S. Supreme Court rules for Chertoff fence waiver
The nation’s high court refused Monday to consider the legality of a federal statute that lets the Homeland Security secretary waive environmental and other laws to build border fence.

Body of illegal immigrant found
SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County Search and Rescue recovered the body of an illegal immigrant Wednesday evening after U.S. Border Patrol had taken a group of illegal immigrants into custody.

Hurry up and wait
Hurry up and wait.

U.S. Border Patrol arrests illegal immigrant/felon
 U.S. Border Patrol agents in Douglas on Wednesday arrested an illegal immigrant who is an aggravated felon as a result of a fingerprint checking system.

Arizona Legislative Briefs
Capitol Media Services

Elks statewide membership drive
The Arizona Elks Association (AEA) is kicking off its first ever Statewide Membership Drive July 1st. The drive will continue until November 30th.

Oooh! Aaaaah!
Bright colors will fill the skies of Douglas in only a week as the city prepares for its annual Fourth of July activities, which begin on Thursday, July 3. The two days will include a number of food vendors and entertainment  Thursday night and throughout the day on Friday.  For complete details on Douglas’ events and others, see Page A4.

Mexican man gets 5 years for ID forgery
BISBEE — A Mexican man charged with conspiracy, forgery and identity trafficking was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday in Cochise County Superior Court.

Legislative session finally ends Friday
PHOENIX — State lawmakers shut down the 2008 session late Friday — but not without some acrimony.

Guest worker program doesn’t get a vote at legislature
PHOENIX — Arizona will not get a chance to set up its own guest worker program.

ADOT Director provides view of future
Mayors, council and city staff  from Cochise County as well as Northern Sonora., Mexico, were in attendance at the Monthly Mayors meeting, this month hosted by Douglas and new Mayor Mike Gomez.

Governor signs $9.9 billion Arizona budget
PHOENIX (AP) - Gov. Janet Napolitano on Friday signed into law the budget passed by the Legislature, including steps to erase a big projected revenue shortfall for the fiscal year starting next Tuesday.

Lawmakers narrowly approve $9.9 billion budget
PHOENIX — Without a single vote to spare, state lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a new budget for the fiscal year that begins Tuesday.

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.

County loses more jobs; unemployment climbs
According to figures released by the Arizona Department of Commerce, Cochise County lost 75 nonfarm jobs in May. The county’s unemployment rate in May rose to 4.5 percent, up from 4 percent the month prior. Countywide unemployment in May was at its highest level since December last year, and represents the largest one-month jump in unemployment since February 2003.

Fourth Fun
Plan an inspiring July Fourth in the American West. Looking for memorable festivities? Head to communities in Cochise  County. Benson, Bisbee, Sierra Vista and Tombstone, where lots of activities are planned.

Rainwater collecting
We all recognize that soft rumble in the distance on a hot day, when the wind kicks up and then there’s a flash or two. The charge in the air, followed by that magical random rhythm of raindrops on the roof. What seemed to take forever getting here is soon to be a fact. The tempo increases in a way that only Mother Nature plays so well. The skies open up and now it’s pouring. You dash out of the house, grab the laundry off the line and roll up the windows on the car. A bit soaked, you stand back and watch the spectacle. It’s loud, wet and windy again and it is wonderful!

Month of fun
Teens! Are you looking for something to do in the evenings? Come hang out at the Douglas Public Library on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights after hours from 6:30 — 8:30 p.m. for the whole month of July!

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

Are you really going to eat that?
There’s a genre of culinary preparations that you probably will never find a cookbook devoted to: dishes with unappetizing names. I’m not talking about tongue or liver or snails or other foods that, depending on your cultural orientation, you may find delicious or repulsive. I’m talking about dishes named in such a way that they can cause the diner to lose his or her appetite. “S.O.S.” — the military nickname for chipped beef on toast, which I will translate for a family audience as “stuff on a shingle” — comes to mind. So does British nursery food like Toad-in-the-Hole (sausage in Yorkshire pudding) and Spotted Dog (a steamed pudding). In Italy, a meringue cookie baked around All Souls Day is called Ossi di Morto (“bones of the dead”) and then, of course, there’s the infamous Pasta Puttanesca — or “pasta with sauce of the prostitute.” Or how about the Spanish dish called Ropa Vieja, or “old clothes.”

Update on expired coupons for the military
 A few months ago I shared that our effort to spread the military coupon initiative that my Shopper predecessor, Martin Sloane, started years ago is working. For those new to this column, overseas military base stores have a policy of accepting grocery coupons up to six months after their expiration date.

IDIOT IN THE KITCHEN:
James Bond has no problem shirking the establishment, even when it comes to his cocktails. The tuxedoed secret agent orders his martinis, “shaken, not stirred.”

ON THE TABLE
Watermelon Salad
Part fruit salad, part savory salad, this delicious mix of sweet watermelon and crispy prosciutto from Real Simple magazine is a delicious way to mix up your summer salad repertoire.

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.

Americans still deeply religious, according to recent survey
ERIC GORSKI
AP Religion Writer

Obama impresses ‘faith leaders’
Steve Strang knew the ground rules for the recent meeting between Sen. Barack Obama and a flock of evangelical, Catholic and liberal Protestant leaders.

Mormons distance themselves from polygamist groups
As authorities have investigated a polygamist sect in Texas, Mormon church leaders in Salt Lake City have largely stayed on the sidelines, weighing a response.

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

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