Its almost time to hand over the keys.

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Downtown visit
Santa Claus arrived in Downtown Douglas in style. He got a lift from the Douglas Fire Department. Santa was in town for the Downtown Extravaganza sponsored by downtown merchants.

Price of gas hits lowest point in nearly 5 years
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of U.S. gasoline fell 22 cents a gallon during the past two weeks, bringing it to its lowest level in nearly five years, according to a national survey released Sunday.

Cochise County Superior Court Sentencings
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.

Mexico wants to shrink coins, use cheaper metal to save a few cents
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico, following the lead of several countries around the world, has proposed making coins smaller and using cheaper metals to keep cost low amid the financial crisis and volatile metal costs.

No special session on deficit
Republican legislative leaders have pulled the plug on plans for a special session to deal with the state’s budget deficit.

Mexican man enters deals for his role in series of break-ins
BISBEE — An illegal immigrant charged in connection with a string of three break-ins in Cochise County entered into plea agreements Friday that carry a total sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison.

Douglas Police Report
Nov.  25, 2008

Road Construction
The re-paving of A Avenue from 10th St. to just north of 23rd St. is set to begin on Friday (12-5-08). 

Yard sales are fun, but permits are needed
Yard sales are a great way to clear out the garage and make a few dollars. But Douglas residents who are interested in having a yard sale must first take out a permit at City Hall.

Douglas man arrested for shooting man on thigh
Douglas police arrested a Douglas man Dec. 14 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and endangerment.

16-year-old stabbed during argument
A 16-year-old Pirtleville male spend the night at Southeast Arizona Medical Center after being stabbed in the back following an argument that evening.

Three remain in jail after arrest on charges including attempted murder
Two juveniles and an adult remain in custody after being charged in a beating of a fourth individual.

Santa is here!
Santa begins his visit in Douglas, bringing lots of presents to hand out. Anakin and Andrew Miller, 4, with their mother, Jennifer Lyn, with Halilyn Miller, visited with Santa and received their presents early. Border Patrol agents at the Douglas station provided 189 presents to Douglas families through Child and Family. The agents selected names of Douglas children and bought them each Christmas gifts.  The agents have been providing gifts for children for the last eight years.

Cochise County tries to find $600,000 to cover high court costs
BISBEE — The Cochise County Board of Supervisors and staff are facing another budgetary challenge in a year wrought with decreasing revenues and increasing costs.

Douglas Poliice Department
December 10, 2008

ELC News Briefs
Ms. M Hernandez and Ms. Alma – 4 year olds

McCain visits Sierra Vista, asks for ways he can help with water issues
SIERRA VISTA —  Ensuring the San Pedro River survives gets down to federal dollars, but U.S. Sen. John McCain said that resource in Washington, D.C., “is scarce.”

Donations to local food bank dwindling
Every day a truck from the Douglas Area Food Bank makes it rounds to the local supermarkets. The driver takes whatever donations these stores have to offer.

Inmates give back to Douglas
“Getting Ready”  is more than just a catch phrase for the Arizona State Prison-Douglas program. It is a goal.

Prison inmates active in assisting city, county and schools
The Arizona State Prison-Douglas has been a vital part of the community since 1983.

Scam artists in full swing during Christmas
Christmas is a time of giving, but for some people it’s a time for taking–taking you for everything you’ve got.

Salvation Army gets backup
The Salvation Army will add an extra treat to Christmas baskets this year. Two local boys donated 117 stuffed animals to the Salvation Army. These stuffed cuties will be placed into Christmas basket and be given out at the YWCA on Pan American. The two boys, Kalani, left, and Raymond, right, had collected the stuffed animals during the year. In the photo: Kalani Alvarez,10, Raymond Alvarez, 12; sitting on bench, Annaida Luna, president of the Douglas Salvation Army and Tina Jaime, treasurer of the Douglas Salvation Army. The baskets will be given on Saturday, Dec. 20 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Senate, House chiefs want Napolitano to back off
PHOENIX  The incoming chiefs of the House and Senate want lame-duck Gov. Janet Napolitano to stop issuing executive orders.

Free trees will be accepted for recycling
 COCHISE COUNTY - It’s not too early to think about recycling your Christmas tree and now anyone in the county can participate. The City of Sierra Vista Public Works Department has offered to expand their Christmas Tree recycling program to include all residents of Cochise County.

Agents at port make three drug arrests
DOUGLAS — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped three drug-smuggling attempts on Wednesday, seizing approximately 250 pounds of marijuana, the agency said.

Rotary Club provides Dictionary to third grade students
The Douglas Rotary Club provided every single third grader in Douglas with a new Student Dictionary. Third grade classes from the Douglas Unified School District, as well as C.A.S.S., Alpha Omega, and Loretto schools received the books. This Douglas Rotary project is aimed at literacy awareness.

Douglas Mayor meets Sen. McCain
Douglas Mayor Dr. Michael Gomez met with Senator John MacCain Dec. 17,  2008 to discuss the community’s concerns. The Senator was very receptive to the Mayor. Dr. Gomez will brief the community on the discussions held after the holidays in the year end report which will be available immediately early January 2009.

Authorities crack Arizona immigrant smuggling ring
PHOENIX — Authorities say they have busted an immigrant smuggling ring that specialized in driving illegal border-crossers from the human trafficking hub of Phoenix to nearly two dozen states.

City hands call center keys to ACCT
By Monday, the City of Douglas will turn over the keys of the call center to ACCT officials. The call center is located at 1701 10th Street. In his monthly City Manager’s Report, Curtis Shook said that a tour would be conducted at the center for City and ACCT officials. Shook said the community is also encouraged to attend the tour of the facilities.

GIITEM detectives locate major marijuana load in Cochise County
On December 11, 2008, at about 11:10 a.m., Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) detectives on patrol in Cochise County, observed some men running in the area north of State Route 80, 20 miles east of Douglas.  GIITEM detectives followed their trail and located 27 bundles of marijuana hidden in the brush.  The total amount of marijuana weighed over 600 pounds.  No arrests have been made.

Prosecutors won’t retry Corbett
BISBEE — The Cochise County Attorney’s Office does not plan to continue to prosecute U.S. Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett for killing an illegal immigrant from Mexico in the desert near Naco last year.

‘Crossing the Line’ authors in Douglas Tues.
Classmates Doloris Huerta Lloyd and Sharon McCracken Heston have published a history of their families and of the mystery surrounding their grandfathers. It is a tale that extends from Spain to Cuba and the Mexican border during revolutionary days of Pancho Villa all the way to a homestead near Grants Pass.

Whetstone billboard permits denied
BISBEE — Billboards will not be marring the scenic views along Highway 90 in Whetstone — at least for now.

Authorities crack Arizona immigrant smuggling ring
SIERRA VISTA — The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory and hazardous weather outlook for Cochise and Santa Cruz counties.

Displaying license plate incorrectly after Jan. 1 could cost you $150
Roger Vanderpool, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Stacey K. Stanton, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation/ Motor Vehicle Division (ADOT/MVD), want to advise the motoring public of an important change to the requirements for the attachment and display of the Arizona license plate that will affect every motorist or business with a vehicle(s) registered in this state.

BREAKING NEWS
All of the drama concerning the status of Douglas Unified School District Superintendent Earl Pettit ended with a thud Monday evening when the meeting to discuss his future had to be cancelled because there wasn’t a quorum.

Bringing home human rights
Protesters marched from Pirtleville to Castro Park Wednesday to commemorate  the 60th anniversary of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Border and immigrant communities and local community groups, youth, and religious leaders from southern Arizona, participated in “Bringing Home Human Rights” walks in Douglas and Tucson. As part of celebrating this sixty year anniversary, participants will call for an end to the enforcement only approach to border and immigration policy that imposes dire social, human, and environmental costs across the border region. Border Action Network and their supporters will be taking 100 steps and more to ensure that president-elect Obama and his new administration remain focused on their promise of immigration reform in the first 100 days of office and are properly equipped with clear and sensible recommendations from those that live day to day with their policy decisions.

Best Western to be finished by April
The new Best Western Hotel is only a few months  away from completion.

Superintendent’s future subject of Dec.15 meet
Questions  arose concerning the future of Superintendent Earl Pettit  in the Douglas Unified School District at the end of the regular meeting Tuesday.

Road projects are cut
BISBEE — A $1.3 million shortfall in state funding has caused the staff of the Cochise County Highway and Flood Department to scale back on some projects that were planned during last year’s budget talks.

Carne Asada funds scholarships
The Douglas Elks Lodge is hosting Operation Community Awareness  Carne Asada on Saturday, Dec. 13  from 10 to 4 pm

Man found guilty of assault
SIERRA VISTA — An Elfrida man was found guilty of assaulting another man in Hereford during a trial in Justice Court in Sierra Vista on Tuesday.

Douglas Police Report
December 3, 2008

Outdated systems, recent troubles spurred the effort
BISBEE — The Cochise County government has been experiencing computer problems on a large scale, and the Board of Supervisors is now looking to begin upgrades to resolve those issues.

BP agent sued for wrongful death
 BISBEE — A law firm representing the parents of a Mexican man killed by Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett recently submitted a $7.5 million claim notice, which is a prelude to filing a lawsuit, against him and the government.

Supervisors OK creation of green building effort
BISBEE — Cochise County now has a voluntary green building program after a unanimous vote by the county Board of Supervisors during Tuesday’s meeting.

AARP Tax-aide seeks volunteers
This year AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service, is seeking volunteers who are bilingual in English/Spanish to assist the increasing numbers of Spanish-speaking taxpayers who are seeking assistance preparing and filing their tax returns.

Lobbyists, special interests make up Brewer team
PHOENIX  Secretary of State Jan Brewer is defending the makeup of her gubernatorial transition team despite its heavy reliance on lobbyists and executives from firms with special interests.

More doctors added to SEAMC
With the shortage of doctors throughout the country, attracting physicians to rural hospitals has always been a challenge. Recently, though, the CEO at Southeast Arizona Medical Center has brought a few new doctors here, which helps round out the type of health providers available to this area.

Choir opens meeting
The Sarah Marley Elementary School choir recently performed to open up the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board meeting. For more information see article "Board takes care of business during monthly meeting."

Fake Candadian ID fails to fool Customs
Sunday, December 14, at about 3 p.m., two families  of 17 people, attempted to make entry into the United States through the Douglas Port  by presenting Canadian Citizenship Cards that appeared to be authentic.

Border Patrol agents seize vehicle with marijuana
TUCSON, Ariz. – Border Patrol Agents from the Naco Station successfully interdicted a pickup with a false bed loaded with 920 pounds of marijuana.

A New Year's Eve Bash just for Kids!
Parents looking to have New Year’s Eve night out will be able to drop their children off to a fun and safe party just for them. Faith Ministries Youth Group is sponsoring its first “Kiddo’s Rockin’ Eve for ages 2-12 at the church, 901 11th Street from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m..

Firefighters halt fire by San Pedro River
SIERRA VISTA — Firefighters were called to quell a brush fire that burned nearly five acres near the San Pedro River early Saturday morning.

House, Senate leaders want to embargo non-budget items to focus on fiscal crisis
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona House and Senate leaders plan to place embargoes of varying intensity on most non-budget legislation early in their 2009 session to help lawmakers focus on the state’s fiscal crisis right from the start.

Gas prices drop across county
SIERRA VISTA — According to the Cochise College Center for Economic Research’s latest biweekly survey of gas prices, conducted during the week of Dec. 15, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Cochise County dropped from $1.92 to $1.74 over the two-week period.

ADOT announces online participation opportunity
With nationwide dialogue dominating the headlines about public works as an economic stimulus, weighing in on the state’s transportation future is more important, and easier, than ever.

Students of the Month
Huber Middle School recently named its December Student’s of the Month. Assistant Principal Clifford Dunlap stands with honorees  Sophia Morales, Veronica (Ruby) Samaniego, Harley Villalobos, Dora Valencia, Nathalie Arias, Student Council Advisor Pat Kehl, Jason Soto, and Jose Baltierrez.

Mexico extradites record 85 suspects to U.S. in 2008
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico says it has extradited a record 85 criminal suspects to the United States so far this year.

Border fence project surpasses 500 mile mark
The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced today that fence construction along the southern border has surpassed the 500-mile mark.

Card winner
Paul H. Huber Junior High School Principal Martin Muecke, PHJHS art teacher Michelle Hurtado, art student Elizabeth Duarte, DACFAB member Pat Ortega and DACFAB Chair Chuck Hoyack pose after Duarte’s art was selected to win the DACFAB holiday card contest.

Mexican national get trapped in well
On Sunday, December 21,  agents from the Douglas Border Patrol Station received a call from Mexican law enforcement informing that they received a phone call from a third party concerning of an individual that had fallen into a mine shaft and was severely injured 7 miles east of Douglas.  

6 ‘body carriers’ attempt to fool CBP at the Douglas Port of Entry
Douglas, Ariz —U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers were busy this past week as they stopped 6 drug smugglers concealing marijuana on their bodies. The Officers also seized 7 more loads of marijuana being smuggled in vehicles.

Holistic Healing and Wellness Center offers full range of healthcare
   Dr. Jay D. and Dora Zamora provide alternative healing options for Douglas residents at their Holistic Healing and Wellness Center, located at 614 N. G Avenue.

Pamper yourself at De Nailspa on San Antonio
   De Nailspa, located at 1350 N. San Antonio (Food City Plaza) opened in October of this year.

Arizona Home and Land is your one-stop shop for all your property needs
Arizona Home and Land Realty is ready to help you find that perfect home.

Be safe this holiday season
Those who celebrate Christmas know that a Christmas tree is often the centerpiece to holiday decorating and celebrating. Presents are tucked beneath the bows, and for many it's a family affair choosing and decorating the tree. While there will be debates on both sides of the fence as to whether a real or artificial tree is better, it comes down to personal preference. Each has its share of advantages and disadvantages.

Child Ident Program scheduled for Dec. 20
Every day about 2,000 children go missing or are abducted in the United States. With that in mind, the Masonic Lodge invites the Douglas community to register their children with the Child Identification Program on Saturday Dec 20th at Wal-Mart

Douglas Williams House presents the late Bette H. Levra doll collection
The Doll Collection of the late Bette H. Levra will be shown at the Douglas Williams House, located at 1001 D. Avenue, during December. Included are Shirley Temple dolls and a Sonja enie doll with skates, childhood gifts to Mrs. Levra.

Wings over Willcox celebrated January 15-18
The annual celebration of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and other wintering birds is coming soon. This is your opportunity to learn more about the birds and other natural history subjects as well as past and present human life in the Sulphur Springs Valley.

Consider heirloom beans for holiday gifts & snacks
According to Native Seeds/SEARCH store manager J.P. everyone is buying beans for Christmas, picking up four bags of their favorite kinds of heirloom beans.  When I stopped by last week for beans to sell at the farmers market the shelves were almost bean bare. He can’t keep them in stock and is having a hard time getting enough beans from growers as they are in such demand.

Military News
Navy Seaman Arturo Hernandez, son of Irma and Jose L. Perez of Douglas, Ariz., recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Frugal Living
FRUGAL LIVING BY SARA NOEL

Cookbooks: The perfect gifts for food lovers
“An interest in cooking leads, invariably, to an untidy accumulation of recipes” write Dusha Bateson and Weslie Janeway in their introduction to “Mrs. Charles Darwin’s Recipe Book” (Gliterrati), 2008). And, I might add, “of cookbooks.” If you know someone with “an interest in cooking,” you can add to that “untidy accumulation” this holiday season. Here are some suggestions from 2008.

Luscious latkes
Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 21 this year: Let the eating of latkes begin!

Happy holiday hosting
The holidays are upon us! Whether planning for a gathering with friends or preparing to host relatives from out of town, it can get a little overwhelming. So this year, spend less time getting wrapped up in stresses of the season, and more time being a jolly holiday host.

Disgraced pastor promoting documentary
Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard has agreed to help promote a new documentary following his life in exile after a 2006 sex scandal — no longer bound by an agreement with his former church that prohibited him from talking publicly about the events that led to his downfall.

The Box Theatre shines with Christmas spirit
Carlos Rodriguez and Itzel Vasquez of The Box Theatre show off the 267 cans of food that will be donated to the Douglas Food Bank. The food was collected during special movies shown after Thanksgiving. Admission was two cans of food.

Sobering numbers about teen behavior
Take comfort in this: The items on the following "to do" list do not apply to all teens today.

Mormon church imprint releases first book in Smith series
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — For a man considered by many a confident and charismatic religious prophet, the first sentence of Joseph Smith’s journal betrays an inkling of self-doubt — it’s scratched out.

Jurors deliberate case of NM sect leader
TAOS, N.M. (AP) — Jurors on Friday began deliberating the case of the leader of an apocalyptic New Mexico sect who is accused of illicit sexual contact with 14- and 16-year old female followers.

Religion is at the core of many stories
It takes only a few words to call back the memories from 30 years ago, all those nightmare images from the jungle sanctuary in Guyana.

College looks to expand technical training programs
Two lecture classes scheduled for the Douglas Campus during the spring 2009 semester cover the basics of culinary arts and offer local students a foundation for pursuing further training in the hospitality field.

Vouchers Fight over legality
PHOENIX  Supporters of taxfunded vouchers asked the Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday to rule they are legal despite a constitutional provision banning the use of public funds for private and parochial schools.

Early Learning Center
Ms. Jody Pirtle – Special Ed Teacher     

Nationally acclaimed fiction writer to present at conference
Melissa Pritchard, professor of English and women’s studies at Arizona State University, nationally acclaimed author, and recipient of numerous awards, will be the keynote presenter at the Cochise Community Creative Writing Celebration in Sierra Vista next semester.

Cochise College Events
√ Nationally acclaimed fiction author to present at writing celebration; contest deadline Feb. 23

Board takes care of business during monthly meeting
The Douglas Unified School District Governing Board reviewed and approved several action items during its Tuesday, December 9 meeting.

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