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More than 50 illegals captured at downtown apartment

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Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:08 PM MDT

More than 50 illegal immigrants were captured and detained after the apartment they were using was discovered by Douglas Police.

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Breaking News

Huber put in ‘Lockdown’ over suspected intruder
Huber Middle School was put in lockdown for approximately one hour due to a perceived threat coming from an individual.

Top Stories

County hiring freeze ‘working’
 “The policies that have been enacted are working.”

Stimulus package could cost state tens of millions of dollars, for now
PHOENIX — Some good news for individuals in the new federal stimulus package could end up losing Arizona tens of millions of dollars in state tax revenues, at least in the short term.

Interim named
Earl Simmons has been named as the interim assistant superintendent for the Douglas Unified School District.

Progressive Dinner
Father Seth A. Polley, president of the Douglas Ministerial Association (DMA) presents Elsa Varela, coordinator for theDouglas House of Hope shelter for battered women, a proceeds check for $4,144.00. Each January, a prime rib dinner is presented by the four corner churches, with support from St Luke’s Catholic and La Salette Mission. All expenses are incurred by the churches, and the entire monies collected are given to the House of Hope

BP sees ‘new element’ coming over
TUCSON — From Friday to Monday, six illegal immigrants who crossed the border were found to have records for sexual offenses, and five of those were taken into custody in Cochise County.

County forced to cover Indigent Defense Office budget deficit
BISBEE — The Indigent Defense Office of the county has run over budget by $572,000 so far in the fiscal 2008-09 year.

Burned body found next to blazing pickup truck
SIERRA VISTA — A burned human body was found next to a blazing pickup truck on Ramsey Road on Monday, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Gang incident results in accidental stabbing
Hector McGrew was stabbed in what he said was a mistaken identity as part of a gang incident on Friday evening.

Historical photo exhibit concludes March 28 at Douglas Visitor Center
More than 800 visitors have marveled at the photography and collection of Austin Victor Casasola, which remains on display through Saturday, March 28.

Agency: Three smuggling attempts are thwarted
DOUGLAS — Officers at two Cochise County ports of entry seized drugs and an illegal export of ammunition in three separate incidents last week, according to Customs and Border Protection.

Arizona Town Hall
Housing needs and wants was the subject of a one-and-a-half hour presentation by Arizona Town Hall to Douglas and county leaders last week at the Douglas Golf Course.

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.

Sex Offender Notification
In adhering to the Community Notification on Sex Offenders Law, the Douglas Police Department has released information that a sex offender will live in Douglas or the surrounding area.

AZ CHIP provides security for parents
Nothing strikes more fear into a parent than a lost child.

American Legion Auxiliary
collecting ‘Cell Phones for Soldiers’

Making contact with someone half a world away serving their country is the greatest gift one can receive, and it is the reason for the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” program, which provides free cell phones and minutes to families of soldiers.

Douglas man convicted for sex crimes
A Douglas man has been convicted of sexual conduct with a minor.

State will have to start borrowing money: Treasurer Dean Martin
PHOENIX -- Arizona is poised to do something next month it hasn't done since the Great Depression: borrow some cash to make sure its checks don't bounce.

Meridian welcomes residents to open house
Meridian Rehab Services recently held an open House as part of Community Day at La Solana Care and Rehabilitation, located on 15th Street and San Antonio in Douglas..

Jobless rate drops a little
PHOENIX  The number of people working in Arizona last month picked up a bit.

93rd Arizona Town Hall summary report
As the ‘think tank” for Arizona’s business and community leaders, Arizona Town Hall has a proven record of creating solution  for critical issues facing Arizona. Participants in the 93rd Town Hall, held at the Grand Canyon on November 2~5,2008, brought high levels of energy and knowledge to complex conversations  about housing in Arizona. Traveling from  throughout the state, these committed individuals met for three days during an historic national election as they sought to understand the issues and forge cconsensus-based solutions for improving the availability and quality of housing for all Arizonas

Feds detail efforts to beef up border security
BISBEE — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano laid out plans during a press briefing Tuesday in Washington to help improve the security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Downtown goals set at meeting tonight
Downtowns throughout the country have experienced a decline in popularity, and Douglas is no different.

Cruz named a national scholar
Douglas High School Senior Francisco J. Cruz has been selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).

Strongin honored by state Fair Association
Cochise County Fairgrounds Manager Karen Strongin was recently honored by the Arizona Fairs Association for her dedication and outstanding service.

GOP push for budget with no new taxes
PHOENIX — Legislative Republicans are preparing a budget for next year that involves no new taxes, a move that could court Jan Brewer’s first veto.

Board gives Health Department oversight of county jail’s mental health care services
BISBEE — Mental care for prisoners held in the Cochise County Jail will be returned to the county Health Department after a unanimous vote of the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

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.

Ward Neighborhood meetings begin on Tuesday
A series of neighborhood meetings in the individual City of Douglas council wards will begin this Tuesday, March 31.

Brush fire forces the evacuation of 20 families
Carol Broeder
Wick News Service

DPD has busy Saturday
Douglas Police Department officers had their hands full Saturday afternoon investigating two separate accidents that occurred within less than an hour of each other.

Hudgins appointed to fill Governing Board vacancy
McNeal resident Don Hudgins will represent Precinct 2 on the Cochise College Governing Board beginning in April.

Downtown committee prioritizes needs for city
Solving the city’s parking woes, rehabilitation of buildings downtown and developing a signature event for Douglas were the three primary goals set on Thursday during the Downtown Revitalization Planning Workshop.

Proclamation
Mayor Dr. Michael Gomez officially proclaimed the month of April in Douglas as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation calls upon all citizens, community agencies, religious organizations, medical facilities and businesses to increase their participation in  efforts to prevent child abuse and strengthen our community. Accepting the proclamation from Vice Mayor Bob Fernandez, center, are Jennie Molina and Angel Acosta from Douglas for Stronger Families.

Big tax increase on cigarettes begins today
WASHINGTON (AP) — However they satisfy their nicotine cravings, tobacco users are facing a big hit as the single largest federal tobacco tax increase ever takes effect Wednesday.

Traffic restrictions ahead in highway project
SIERRA VISTA — Work will continue this week on the Highway 92 widening project between Carr Canyon Road and Hunter Canyon.

Border Patrol has busy weekend
Friday, March 27, agents working east of Douglas successfully arrested 80 people after a Border Patrol Horse Patrol unit tracked their foot sign.

Average countywide gas price unchanged
According to the Cochise College Center for Economic Research’s latest biweekly survey of gas prices, conducted during the week of March 23, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Cochise County stayed the same at $1.98 over the two-week period. According to AAA Arizona, the statewide price went down from $1.98 to $1.94 per gallon. Nationally, according to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices increased from $1.94 to $1.96 during the two-week period.

Grijalva, Giffords praise border steps
PHOENIX (AP) — Two members of Arizona’s congressional delegation are pleased with steps the Obama administration is taking in protecting areas along the border against warring drug cartels.

Community cleanup set for Saturday, April 4
Make a Difference Day Saturday, April 4 at the Visitor’s Center

Turning up the heat
PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer is turning up the heat on state lawmakers in her push to get a temporary tax hike to balance the budget for the next three — and maybe four — years.

Stimulus provides tax breaks for first-time homebuyers
SIERRA VISTA — The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the $780 billion package signed into law by President Obama just over a month ago on Feb. 17, is already a significant impact on tax returns, especially for first-time homebuyers, local tax advisors said.

CBP seizes $500,000 in pot
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers stopped an illegal exportation of nearly $200,000 while working Outbound-Operations.

House votes to get rid of state photo radar... soon
PHOENIX — A House panel voted  to make the new statewide photo radar system go away.

Easter Egg Hunt April 11
The 11th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by The Douglas Dispatch, City of Douglas, and participating merchants, will be held on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. sharp at Copper King Baseball Stadium.

Chiricahua Community Health Centers plans ‘Unball’ fundraiser
SIERRA VISTA — In an effort to raise money for a therapeutic play room for children with special needs, Chiricahua Community Health Centers Inc. is holding its first ever Unball.

Dever tells House panel that changes needed
BISBEE — Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever offered ideas to a federal government subcommittee that was examining preparedness and coordination efforts of first responders along the country’s Southwest border on Tuesday in Washington.

Teen pleads guilty in Valley Union arson
A juvenile pleaded guilty Monday in Cochise County Superior Court to burning an administrative building at Valley Union High School in Elfrida last year.

Agent involved in shooting responds to suit
BISBEE — U.S. Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett filed a response in federal court in Tucson on Friday for a civil rights lawsuit over the death of Francisco Dominguez-Rivera, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, in 2007.

Drug smuggler is ‘framed’ with his own paintings
While it ia, thought that artwork can appreciate in value over the years, one border crosseer tired to speed up the process.

DARC Carne Asada
Bordermart and the Douglas ARC are preparing for its annual Carne Asada fundraiser. The goal for this year is $10,000. The cost of this year’s plates are $7 and include  Carne Asada, beans, macaroni salad, tortilla, jalapeno, chips, dessert and a soda. The event will be held on April 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For tickets, call 364-6558. Gary Clark of DARC and Olga Salazar and Raul Montano  are ready to take your call.

State should OK tax increase to balance budget
PHOENIX  A group of state university economists, faculty and administrators say Arizona should temporary raise both sales and income taxes and use accounting maneuvers to balance the budget rather than relying largely on spending cuts.

Gentle Birth offers free classes
Gentle Birth Services and Family Center, located at 821 Highway 92 in Bisbee, will be offering free programs.

Road rage causes midnight fight
Road rage leads to a fistfight, flying chairs and blood at Denny’s restaurant on March 25.

Registration under way for luncheon
DOUGLAS — Registration deadline is May 27 for the 14th Annual Douglas Economic Outlook Luncheon, presented by the Cochise College Center for Economic Research.

Easter Egg Hunt Sat.
The 11th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by The Douglas Dispatch, City of Douglas, and participating merchants, will be held on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. sharp at Copper King Baseball Stadium.

More than 90 volunteers take part in Community cleanup
The April 4 Make a Difference Day was a huge success agaqin.

Former city employee arrested for smuggling
Larry Blaskey
The Douglas Dispatch

Local ties
Miss Arizona Alicia-Monique Blanco will be competing for the Miss USA title on April 20 in Las Vegas. Relatives will be there to support her effort, including Olga Salazar and Raul Montano of Border Mart. Blanco is their cousin. Even though she is from Phoenix, she still has roots in Douglas. Look in your local television listings to see when the pageant will be held.

New football coach resigns
Less than two months after being named the new head football coach at Douglas High School Trevor Highfield unexpectedly resigned late Monday due to “extenuating circumstances”.

Easter Egg Hunt a big success last Saturday
More than  150 braved cold, clooudy weather to attend the 11th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by The Douglas Dispatch, City of Douglas, and participating merchants, Saturday morning at Copper King Baseball Stadium.

Drop house holding 20 illegals found in Douglas
SIERRA VISTA — Law enforcement officials apprehended 20 illegal immigrants after discovering a drop house in Douglas last week, according to representatives of three agencies on Tuesday.

Prisons prepare for cuts
PHOENIX (AP) — Budget cuts ranging from $40 million to possibly more than $185 million in the state prison system will likely lead to fewer inmates, corrections officers and prison programs, officials said.

Pettit back at work
Superintendent Earl Pettit went back to the Central Administration office this week after the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board lifted his reassignment at a special meeting last week.

Supervisors put together plan for grant funds
BISBEE — When it comes to deciding who gets a piece of the Community Development Block Grant pie, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors must weigh the anticipated advantages and the odds of getting a certain project funded.

New tax will hit individuals
PHOENIX — The new tax burden Gov. Jan Brewer wants to impose on Arizonans is more likely to hit individuals than businesses.

Countywide gas price unchanged
According to the Cochise College Center for Economic Research’s latest biweekly survey of gas prices, conducted during the week of April 6, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Cochise County remained the same at $1.98 over the two-week period. According to AAA Arizona, the statewide price went down from $1.94 to $1.92 per gallon. Nationally, according to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices increased from $1.96 to $2.04 during the two-week period.

Douglas teacher wins 2009 Cochise County High School Teacher of Year
 Jill Forsythe, Douglas High School English and Literature Teacher, was named the 2009 Cochise County High School Teacher of the Year on Friday, April 3rd, at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center in Sierra Vista.   Forsythe, who has been teaching for twenty years, was one of three teachers nominated for the title. 

DARC Carne Asada Friday
Bordermart and the Douglas ARC are preparing for its annual Carne Asada fundraiser. The goal for this year is $10,000. The cost of this year’s plates are $7 and include  Carne Asada, beans, macaroni salad, tortilla, jalapeno, chips, dessert and a soda. The event will be held on April 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For tickets, call 364-6558. Gary Clark of DARC and Olga Salazar and Raul Montano  are ready to take your call.

Douglas teen found strangled in Agua Prieta
A 19-year-old Douglas man was found strangled to death in the back of a vehicle in Agua Prieta.

“Lightning Bug and Lightning”
The President recently hailed a “new era of fiscal responsibility” and said that “the best way to bring our deficit down in the long run is ... with a budget that leads to broad economic growth by moving from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest.”

Business

El Italiano restaurant adds to its menu
El Italiano recently added two new specialties –pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs.

Chiricahua Community Health Centers’ First Annual Unball April 1
Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. First Annual Unball is not scheduled for April 1st, 2009.  This unevent is a fund raising activity to purchase equipment for a therapeutic play room for children with special health care needs.

Joe Delgado brings his years of experience on insurance and finance with State Farm Insurance
Joe Delgado brings his years of experience on insurance and finance to his work at State Farm Insurance, located at 805 Cochise Avenue.

Joe Delgado brings his years of experience on insurance and finance with State Farm Insurance
Joe Delgado brings his years of experience on insurance and finance to his work at State Farm Insurance, located at 805 Cochise Avenue.

Make your house a home with the help of Susan Kramer, Interiors by Decorating Den
Full service in-home interior decorating is in Cochise County. Susan Kramer and Interiors by Decorating Den has been serving Douglas and Cochise County since 2006.

Joe Delgado brings his years of experience on insurance and finance with State Farm Insurance
Joe Delgado brings his years of experience on insurance and finance to his work at State Farm Insurance, located at 805 Cochise Avenue.

Features

Food

Dinner? It’s child’s play
Most cookbooks aimed at children have several huge flaws. The first — and most fatal — is the presumption that there is such a thing as “kid food.” This notion — that every comestible has to be shaped like a cartoon character, multi-(and artificially) colored and smothered in cheese or chocolate — is downright insulting to children everywhere, and deprives them of the joy of tasting. The corollary to the “kid food” notion is the equally damaging idea that all children hate all vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish and lamb, and that these foods especially have to be artfully disguised or outright banned from the child’s plate. As any parent knows (and parents are often the pickiest eaters in the family — but that’s another story), each child’s taste buds are different, and the youngster who can’t abide fresh tomatoes will be the one to develop a jones for hot peppers, or sushi, or quinoa.

Local eateries among state’s top 25
Southeastern Arizona’s restaurants are well represented in Arizona Highways’ best restaurants edition. The magazine’s April issue, which is now on newsstands, features 25 of the editors’ favorite places to grab a bite in Arizona.

Puff the magic pastry
Puff pastry is the flaky, many-layered pastry dough familiar to anyone who has ever scarfed a Napoleon. It is related to the flaky Middle Eastern phyllo dough, but it rises high when baked.

Frugal Living: How to cook stuffed shells
DEAR SARA: Do I really need to cook pasta shells beforehand when making stuffed shells? I never cook my lasagna noodles when I make lasagna. — Julie, Florida

Rock(et) your world
Arugula burst upon the American culinary scene sometime in the 1980s, where it appeared with alarming frequency on menus as “(Name of Food Here) served on a bed of arugula.” Usually with goat cheese. A favorite cartoon by New Yorker magazine artist Ed Koren shows a diner, placing his order: “I’ll start with the arugula-and-goat-cheese salad, and then I’ll have the blackened wolf.”

In praise of Lidia
When it comes to TV food stars, Rachael Ray may rule the roost, but my heart belongs to Lidia.

Frugal Living: Remove perspiration odor from shirts
DEAR SARA: I’d like to know what can I do to remove the perspiration smell out of clothes. Even after washing T-shirts, they still smell in the underarm area. Any way to remove the yellowness from there, too? Our family has like-new T-shirts that are already ruined. I hate to keep buying new ones. — Jen, e-mail

Religion

Jehovah’s Witnesses mark anniversary of Jesus’ death April 9
“Keep doing this in remembrance of me,” Jesus Christ told his disciples.

Rush Limbaugh’s sins and virtues
The joke was old, old, old, and Rush Limbaugh knew that when — tongue firmly planted in cheek — he tweaked it for his flock at the Conservative Political Action Convention.

Survey: More Americans say they have no religion
A wide-ranging study on American religious life found that the Roman Catholic population has been shifting out of the Northeast to the Southwest, the percentage of Christians in the nation has declined and more people say they have no religion at all.

Easter Sunrise Service at college
 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will hold sunrise service on April 12th on the  soccer fields at Cochise College.  The community is welcome to join at  6:00 a.m. Easter Sunday.

Bishops warned in '50s on abusive priests
NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of a religious order that treats Roman Catholic priests who molest children concluded in the 1950s that offenders were unlikely to change and should not be returned to ministry, according to his letters, which were obtained by plaintiffs' lawyers.

Jehovah’s Witnesses mark anniversary of Jesus’ death April 9
“Keep doing this in remembrance of me,” Jesus Christ told his disciples.

Jehovah’s Witnesses mark anniversary of Jesus’ death April 9
“Keep doing this in remembrance of me,” Jesus Christ told his disciples.

Holy Week schedule set in Douglas
The Holy Week schedule has been set for Immaculate Conception, St. Bernard’s and St. Luke’s Catholic churches.

Easter Sunrise Service at college
 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will hold sunrise service on April 12th on the  soccer fields at Cochise College.  The community is welcome to join at  6:00 a.m. Easter Sunday.

Grace United Methodist to host Good Friday Services
The Douglas Ministerial Association Good Friday Service will be hosted by Grace United Methodist Church, located on the corner of 11th Street and E Avenue.

Meet a modern exorcist
It was clear from the man’s testimony that all hell was breaking loose in his life and he needed help.

School News

Arizona teachers still waiting for job status
PHOENIX — Arizona’s 50,000 public school teachers are going to have to wait a little longer to find out if they have a job next school year.

Early Learning Center
On Friday March 27 the Early Learning Center will start to pre-register for the next school year (2009/2010) from 9 to 10:30am and 12 to 2:30pm  or by appointment at the Early Learning Center.

Cochise announces spring musical performances
The Cochise College Music Department has scheduled four vocal and instrumental performances that will take place through early May. Admission to the performances is free.

Speaker to give public presentations about Islam
Azra Hussain, president of the Arizona Islamic Speakers Bureau, will present “Islam 101” during two public sessions Monday, March 30 at the Douglas Campus of Cochise College.

Kindergarten registration begins April 1
Kindergarten registration will begin in April for Douglas elementary schools.

Voucher law is illegal, court says
PHOENIX  A state law which gives tax dollars to private and parochial schools to educate youngsters is illegal, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

Early Learning Center
Ms. Jody Pirtle – Special Ed Teacher     

Nationally known poet to visit
Renowned poet William Pitt Root will talk about his work during a free poetry reading Monday, March 30 at the Sierra Vista Campus of Cochise College.

AIMS assessments scheduled
The AIMS assessments are scheduled throughout Arizona over the next few weeks. AIMS, Arizona’s instruments to Measure Standard, are structured to cover content that is expected to be taught throughout grades three through twelve. That content is based on Arizona Academic Content Standards. The tests measure student proficiency and are required by law. High school students must pass the Reading, Writing, and Mathematics tests to graduate.

Sarah Marley Students of the Month
Sarah Marley Elementary School recently honored its students of the month. Pictured, front row, from left, are  Melissa Noriega, Antonio Moreno, Julian Palafox, Angel Garcia, Lally Ochoa, Evelyn Trujillo, and Javier Salcido. In the back row, from left, are Jacelyn Ballesteros, Judith Ramirez, Andrea Cruz, Angela Gutierrez, Anahirany Valdez and Roberto Ramos

AIMS testing starts this week at area schools
The AIMS assessments are scheduled throughout Arizona over the next few weeks, according to the Cochise County School Superintendent’s Office.

Cochise College Events
Wednesday. April 1

College faculty published in journal
Gene Gandy, lead instructor for the Cochise College paramedicine program, has co-authored an article published in the March issue of the Journal of EMS, a national trade magazine.

Honor Roll
Huber Middle School

Biology students’ DNA posters on display at Douglas Library
Science in action can be seen at the Douglas Public Library through a series of posters created by the Douglas High School Biology 100 class.

Friends of the Library Book Sale April 17
 The Friends of the Douglas Public Library are delighted to announce their annual Spring Book Sale. This popular event, which helps raise monies for the Friends to sponsor a number of programs at the Douglas Public Library, including the Summer Reading Programs, will be held April 17 through April 19. 

Former student headed to Johns Hopkins
Mario Teran of Douglas, is topping off a very successful college career with a residency in general surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, one of the most prestigious facilities in the country.

University artist to give public lecture at Cochise College
 

Early Learnign Center
Ms. Jody Pirtle – Special Ed Teacher     

Schools will have less money per students than anticipated
PHOENIX  Arizona schools are going to have less money per student than they anticipated this year  and even less than that next year  because of poor sales tax collections and lousy returns on the state’s investment.

Ariz. budget revives debate over school funding
PHOENIX (AP) — For nearly a decade, Arizona lawmakers have followed a voter-approsed law and increased basic school funding every year to keep up with inflation.

Cochise College, ASU, host engineering open house
Cochise College, Arizona State University, and engineering professionals will offer advice and answer questions about the field of engineering during open house events at the Douglas and Sierra Vista Campuses.

Local ties
Miss Arizona Alicia-Monique Blanco will be competing for the Miss USA title on April 20 in Las Vegas. Relatives will be there to support her effort, including Olga Salazar and Raul Montano of Border Mart. Blanco is their cousin. Even though she is from Phoenix, she still has roots in Douglas. Look in your local television listings to see when the pageant will be held.

College receives $1 million in grant, scholarship funding for new technical program
Cochise College has received a $500,000 grant from Science Foundation Arizona to start training students in mechatronics, an applied engineering program that prepares students to enter the workforce or continue their studies. The grant will be matched with a $500,000 endowed STEM Pathway Scholarship, established by the Cochise College Foundation, which will provide financial support to students enrolling in the new program.

Cochise College Events
Wednesday, April 15

AP Lions Club celebrate 28th Debutante Ball
The Lions Club of Agua Prieta, CA, the Ladies Committee of Agua Prieta Leonas is sponsoring the annual Debutante Ball on Saturday, April 18 at Club Campestre Cueva de los Leones.

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