Immigrant’s death won’t bring charges for agent
The Cochise County Attorney’s Office does not plan to prosecute a U.S. Border Patrol agent who fatally shot an illegal immigrant near Douglas in early January.

Cochise County Sheriff’s Department
March 6-7

Shelton, Quinonez win
Who will be the City of Douglas councilman for Ward 2 may still be undecided as the city prepares to move ahead with a possible recount.

Tuition will rise slightly at Cochise College
The Cochise College Governing Board has voted to slightly increase tuition for in-state students beginning July 1.

University of Arizona South OK’d for large increase
SIERRA VISTA — University of Arizona South students will be among those seeing substantial tuition increases after the Arizona Board of Regents on Thursday approved hikes at state universities.

Horse racing returns on April 10-11
Horse racing is returning to the Cochise County Fairgrounds.

Douglas Police investigating marijuana seizure
Douglas Police are still investigating the seizure of more than 140 pounds of marijuana discovered more than a month ago.

Border Patrol Reports
March 10

Gas prices increase across the county
 According to the Cochise College Center for Economic Research’s latest biweekly survey of gas prices, conducted from March 8 through March 12, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Cochise County increased from $2.65 to $2.71 over the preceding two-week period. According to AAA Arizona, the statewide price increased from $2.65 to $2.74 per gallon. Nationally, according to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices rose from $2.66 to $2.75 during the two-week period.

Presses moved
Former Douglas Dispatch Head Pressman Bert Young looks on as the old presses at the Douglas Dispatch are removed in preparation for a trip to Louisiana to be used in another Wick Communication publication. The Douglas Dispatch is now being printed in Sierra Vista and the presses in Douglas had not printed the local newspaper in nearly a year. Young, who retired in 1994, worked for the Dispatch for 46 years. The presses that were just recently removed had been in Douglas for more than 35 years. “Like all newspapers, we have had to adapt, but this is not the end of the book, just a beginning of a new chapter,” said Editor and Publisher Larry Blaskey.

Divorces Granted
Jan. 4

Huber teacher quits due to student intimidation
In a special meeting on March 12,  the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board addressed only one issue, the resignation of Huber Middle School instructor Donna Howard.

All-American lesson
Bruce Whetten
Douglas Dispatch

Ward 2 results remain same after recount
It may have taken two weeks, but incumbent Mitch Lindemann was officially declared winner in the Douglas City Council Ward 2 race following a recount.

Free Dump Day this Saturday in Douglas
The Douglas Solid Waste Refuse Transfer Station will be hosting a Free Dump Day to allow residents the opportunity to clean up both their private and public areas. If you need to clean out your shed, backyard or even lend a hand to a neighbor in need, this is your opportunity to do so without paying fees to dispose of any material you may have.

Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 3, at Copper King
The 12th annual Douglas Dispatch Easter Egg Hunt will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, at Copper King Baseball Stadium in Douglas.

Officials tell how census helps bring Cochise County cents
 Getting an accurate count of all the people who call Cochise County home is imperative in order to get federal dollars, and the county Be Counted committee has fostered ideas that are beginning to show some success.

Border Patrol cameras capture parts of incident
 U.S. Border Patrol cameras captured video footage of some actions involving the fatal shooting of an illegal immigrant near Douglas in January, despite a previous claim to the contrary.

Striking Mexican miners block Federal highway
Hundreds of striking workers at the Cananea copper mine in Sonora, Mexico, blocked the federal highway between Cananea and Agua Prieta for two consecutive days this week to demand that the authorities resolve the 32-month-old mine strike.

Road Construction
The City of Douglas continues work on various projects.  This work is being completed by the Department of Public Works and is part of the Mayor and Council’s ongoing infrastructure improvement program.

Cochise County Sheriff’s Department
March 10

Emergency exercise held in Douglas Mar. 24
An Emergency Preparedness Exercise was held at the Douglas High School Cafeteria on March 24t.  This exercise was the second in a series of four exercises slated to be held in Douglas from 2009 to 2012.

Rancher warns of growing border danger
 John Ladd, who ranches on the east side of the San Pedro River and south of Highway 92, with his property along the border, said he was in Douglas on Sunday, meeting with other ranchers about the shooting death of friend Robert Krentz a day earlier.

Cousin’s shooting brings nine-year sentence
BISBEE — A man was sentenced in Cochise County Superior Court on Friday to serve nine years in prison for shooting his cousin during a gang-related fight in Pirtleville last year.

Higher taxes to pay for healthcare
PHOENIX — Hospitals want all Arizona voters to approve higher taxes on the richest of them to help pay for health care for the needy.

Streamlining: Floodplain, Planning/Zoning merged
BISBEE — With a unanimous vote, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors appointed Benny Young, director of Highways and Floodplain Department, as the new head of a new department.

Lawman dies in Nogales, Sonora
NOGALES, Ariz. — The second-highest-ranking police official in Nogales, Sonora, was murdered along with his guard. A gang of hit men reportedly emptied more than 30 bullets into the victims’ minivan.

Cochise County Sheriff’s Department
March 23

Border Patrol Reports
March 23

Scout reunion
Several scouts from Tony Alvarado’s former Boy Scout troop came back to honor him during his 85th birthday.. Former Douglas Boy Scouts, front row from left, George Sabin, Tucson; Gilbert Ortiz, Sahuarita; and Eddie Gutierrrez, Denver. In the back row, are Xavier Somoza, Tucson’ Robert Wyler, Tucson; Raul C. Reyes, Tucson; Angle Elzy, Douglas and Joe Durazo, Douglas. Not pictured that attended the event are George Somoza, Tucson; Eddie Ortiz, Douglas; Martin Chavez, Phoenix; Fernando Moreno, Tucson; and Anthony Robinson, Tucson.. For more information on this celebration, see Page 8. 

City gets new ambulance
The City of Douglas was recently awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) State Special Projects (SSP) grant from the Arizona Department of Housing for the purchase of a new ambulance.

Assessor tries to simplify state’s complex property tax laws
BISBEE — “Arizona has one of the most complex property tax laws in the nation.”

Emotional reaction to shooting
Outrage and disbelief has been the key emotions expressed in the comments from friends, fellow ranches and state and federal officials following the shooting death of Robert Krentz on Saturday.

Gas prices continue to increase across Cochise County
According to the Cochise College Center for Economic Research’s latest biweekly survey of gas prices, conducted from March 22 through March 26, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Cochise County increased from $2.71 to $2.77 over the preceding two-week period. According to AAA Arizona, the statewide price climbed from $2.74 to $2.84 per gallon. Nationally, according to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices increased from $2.75 to $2.82 during the two-week period.

DUI checpoints on April 3-4
D.U.I. checkpoints are scheduled to be set up at various locations around Cochise County April 3-4.

Mexican Army discovers 4 bodies near Agua Prieta
 Four dead bodies were recently found in a grave a few kilometers outside of Agua Prieta, Sonora, by members of the Mexican Army, according to a newspaper article.

Tucson hearing set in border agent suit
BISBEE — A hearing is set for April 16 in federal court in Tucson for a civil suit against a U.S. Border Patrol agent who fatally shot an illegal immigrant between Naco and Douglas in 2007.

Krentz described as a humanitarian
 People in the county and the state are still reeling from the news that county rancher Robert Krentz, 58 years old, was shot and killed Saturday, allegedly by an illegal immigrant he had stopped to help.

Rancher shot
Questions continue to swirl as to why a well known Douglas rancher was shot and killed Saturday.

Boy Scouts: Alvarado provides lifetime of memories
One doesn’t want too many surprises on their 85th birthday, but former Douglas Boy Scoutmaster received a shock when 13 members of his old troop were in attendance to honor him Saturday night at the Bushmasters.

Statement from the Krentz family
The Krentz family released the following statement regarding the recent shooting death of Robert Krentz on his Southern Arizona ranch.

Driver loses control doing 75
Excessive speed appears to be the cause of a one-vehicle accident that took place Monday evening in the 1400 Block of 20th St. According to Mark Gonzalez of the Douglas Police Dept. a Blue Honda Civic, that had been modified to be a type of racing car, was doing 75 in a 25 mile per hour area when the driver lost control hit a chain link fence and a concrete wall. Debris from the wreck struck a vehicle that had been properly parked at a residence in the area. Gonzalez said the Civic was impounded and the driver, who was not identified, was cited for reckless driving. The driver nor his passenger were hurt.

Customs seize $346,000 of marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped a drug smuggling attempt when they seized 155 pounds of marijuana from a 50-year-old man.

Time to ‘Listen to us’
  “Listen to us. Take action. Don’t turn away.”

Local gun sales on the rise
The murder of a well known local rancher has sparked an increase in gun and ammunition sales at a local gun store.

Exercise will have local skies busy soon
SIERRA VISTA —  Parts of Cochise County will be used for a major Air Force exercise later this month, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base’s Angel Thunder 2010.

Horse racing is back this weekend
After taking a year off due to state budget cuts horse racing is returning to the Cochise County Fairgrounds this weekend

Identity theft is a serious problem at Douglas Port
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped an identity theft when they arrested a man who was attempting to make entry into the United States by using someone else’s identity.  

Cochise County Sheriff’s Department
March 27-28

Border Patrol Reports
March 30

Two dead after apparent murder/suicide in Fairbanks
On Sunday April 4, 2010 at approximately 7:20 pm the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a male subject advising of a dead body outside of his residence.  The caller identified himself as David Diaz and he was at his residence in Fairbanks, east of Whetstone.  After speaking with the Communications Officer for awhile, Mr. Diaz advised that he “had shot his wife and now he wanted to join her”.

AP Lions celebrate 29th 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 10  at 9 p.m. at the Casino Club de Leones.

350 kids at annual Easter Egg Hunt
A total of 350 area children, ages  10 and under took part  in the  12th annual Douglas Dispatch Easter Egg Hunt April 3 at Copper King Baseball Stadium in Douglas.

Cochise County loses 200 jobs in January
According to figures released by the Arizona Department of Commerce, the number of jobs in Cochise County declined by 200 from December to January.  From January 2009 to January 2010, Cochise County lost 450 jobs for a 12-month job-growth rate of -1.2 percent.

Dr. Peggy Avina joins Copper Queen Medical Associates
Jim Dickson, Copper Queen’s Community Hospital’s President & CEO recently announced the addition of  Peggy Avina, MD, a well-known family physician in the community, to the medical teams at the Copper Queen Medical Associates Clinics in Bisbee and Douglas.

SEAGO assists seniors to apply for Food Stamps
The SEAGO Area Agency on Aging is working in partnership with the United Way of Southern Arizona to assist individuals aged 60 or older to apply for food stamps.  Call for an appointment, and a staff member can schedule a trip to a senior center or a library in your home community.  Documents you may need when applying include a photo ID, birth certificate, income statements, childcare expense, utility expenses (for most recent month), bank account statements, rent/mortgage for most recent month, terminated income if applicable, unemployment statements, and social security cards.

Road Construction
The City of Douglas continues work on various projects.  This work is being completed by the Department of Public Works and is part of the Mayor and Council’s ongoing infrastructure improvement program.

Dinosaur’s story appeals to kids of all ages
“Scottosaurus, the Little Dinosaur,” is a children’s book by former Douglas High School English teacher Lucinda Sage-Midgorden, and llustrated by her husband, Barry Midgorden.

Douglas Bookmobile Schedule
The season is changing and the outdoors is welcoming.  It’s time to enjoy it!  Visit the bookmobile and check out books on gardening, landscaping, and other outdoor activities for anyone at any age.  Looking for something specific?  Just ask.  For a map and schedule of bookmobile stops, visit \http://cochise.lib.az.us.  For more information call the Cochise County Library District, at 800-231-1574 or 520-432-8930.

How would you like that cooked?
Bruce Whetten
Douglas Dispatch

Southeast AZ chamber alliance formed to meet rural needs
Eight local chambers of commerce met in Bisbee Feb. 2 to discuss the specific needs of their member businesses. The outcome of this meeting was the development of the Southeastern AZ Rural Chambers Alliance.

Retail sales up in January across the county
Retail sales, Cochise County’s largest category of taxable sales, were up 3 percent in January after adjusting for inflation. The increase followed a 5.7 percent decline in December. Cochise County’s retail sales have been up in 3 of the past 4 months after declining for 21 of 23 months.

Housing decline slows, improves in some areas of Cochise County
In 2009, the pace of decline in existing home sales in Cochise County slowed considerably, and some areas of the county saw improvement, according to data on the Southeast Arizona Multiple Listing Service. Overall, home sales countywide dropped 2.7 percent in 2009, following declines of 20.7 percent in 2006, 10.6 percent in 2007, and 20 percent in 2008. The volume of homes sold throughout Cochise County in 2009 was 44.8 percent below the housing market peak reached in 2005.

Cochise College presents medieval music concert by LIBER
A cappella vocal quartet LIBER will perform “Crowned with Laurels,” a free concert of French and Italian medieval music, in a debut performance in Bisbee March 24, just prior to a tour of San Francisco, Chicago and Europe.

U.S. Air Force Band to perform in Bisbee
 Southwest Winds, from The United States Air Force Band of the West, will be presenting a concert at the Central School Project on Saturday, March 27.  at 7:30 p.m.

Preventing child abuse
Angel Acosta, president; and Rosie Jaramillo, treasurer of the Douglas for Stronger Families Council; and Mario Merino, DES Employment Administration, look on as Douglas Mayor Dr. Michael Gomez signs a proclamation declaring April “Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation states that effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community.

Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 3, at Copper King
The 12th annual Douglas Dispatch Easter Egg Hunt will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, at Copper King Baseball Stadium in Douglas.

Military News
Army Pvt. Martin P. Armendariz has graduated from the Basic Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

Second edition of ‘To Animas with Love’ released
The second edition of “To Animas with Love” is now in print. The new edition features two new chapters and old pictures have been added, according to author Carol Dunagan Smith.

American Masters
The Bisbee Community Chorus, under the direction of Bill Bennett, will present “American Masters”—a musical tribute to those composers, arrangers and lyricists who have impacted our listening experiences.

Bisbee Fiber Festival scheduled May 15
 The 18th annual Bisbee Fiber Arts Festival will be held at Vista Park in the Warren neighborhood of Bisbee in conjunction with the Bisbee Farmers Market from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on May 15, 2010.

New ideas for improving your community and your operation
The Arizona Rural Development Council and the Cochise County Farm Bureau are hosting a Rural Development Workshop on April 13, 2010 at the Valley Telecom Office in Willcox, AZ.  The topic of this “Rural Connection” will be two tiered.  The morning session will feature information targeted to community and economic development opportunities and the afternoon session will be targeted toward production agriculture funding opportunities.  Each informational session will be followed by an hour of one-on-one meetings with the presenters, giving an opportunity for personal discussion of your ideas and projects. 

Douglas Bookmobile Schedule
The season is changing and the outdoors is welcoming.  It’s time to enjoy it!  Visit the bookmobile and check out books on gardening, landscaping, and other outdoor activities for anyone at any age.  Looking for something specific?  Just ask.  For a map and schedule of bookmobile stops, visit \http://cochise.lib.az.us.  For more information call the Cochise County Library District, at 800-231-1574 or 520-432-8930.

Pet clinic April 15-16
Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Vaccination Clinic, Douglas Animal Shelter/Animal Health Care Center, 2017 Rogers Avenue in Douglas.

Church seeks artwork for cause
BISBEE — In an effort to support organizations that work to promote border justice, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Old Bisbee is asking artists to donate artwork in what could become an annual event.

Now THAT’S a tough Lent
It was a decade ago during Lent that author Lauren Winner was visited by an angel, unawares.

The archbishop vs. the ghost of JFK
In the beginning, there was candidate John F. Kennedy, who told an assembly of Protestant ministers not to worry about his Catholicism because, “I believe in a president whose religious views are his own private affair.”

Hitchens vs. Hitchens rivalry lasts 50 years
When Peter Hitchens was 8 years old, and his brother, Christopher, was 11, their father asked the two hotheaded young Brits to sign a peace treaty.

First Assembly of God Revival meet Easter Sunday
First Assembly of God in Douglas is beginning a Revival Meeting with Evangelist Chris Klock on Easter Sunday, April 4, at the 6:30 p.m. service and continuing Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.

Quest for the common Easter
Motorists across America saw a strange sight this past Sunday morning if they stopped at a traffic signal near an Eastern Orthodox sanctuary and then, shortly thereafter, passed a Catholic parish.

What does ‘C’ochise mean to you?
Earlier this semester, I was pleased to address students, faculty, and community members gathered to celebrate substantial completion of construction and renovation projects at our Douglas and Sierra Vista campuses. I asked our guests to notice the letter “C” located on signage across campus and talked about all of the things that letter can mean.

Cochise College projects earn national honor
For the second consecutive year, Cochise College has earned a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can get for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

Qualifications set for next superintendent by board
During its March 2 meeting, the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board approved qualifications and abilities it is looking for in its next superintendent.

Douglas Bookmobile Schedule
The season is changing and the outdoors is welcoming.  It’s time to enjoy it!  Visit the bookmobile and check out books on gardening, landscaping, and other outdoor activities for anyone at any age.  Looking for something specific?  Just ask.  For a map and schedule of bookmobile stops, visit \http://cochise.lib.az.us.  For more information call the Cochise County Library District, at 800-231-1574 or 520-432-8930.

Kindergarten registration kicks off in April
Kindergarten registration is continuing at Douglas Unified District schools at the New Student Center at Douglas High School.

Cochise College student named Coca-Cola Scholar
 Cochise College elementary education student Kimberly Swift was recently named a 2010 Coca-Cola Gold Scholar, a prestigious designation that recognizes top community college students for which she’ll receive a cash scholarship.

College students nail home-improvement project
It all began as an idea in late January. A thought that grew in the months that followed took on a life all its own as a group of students and instructors from Cochise College planned a project to help the community during spring break.  This year, students transformed the appearance of a house, helped clean-up Ash Canyon, and worked to change minds about the concept of service learning.

Register for Cochise College camp beginning April 12
Cochise College will offer nine camps for kids at the Sierra Vista Campus this summer and is branching into new topics sure to engage students in the fun of learning.

Huber Students of the Month
Huber Middle School March Students of the Month celebrated recently with a luncheon.  They are front left to right:  Bobbi Olivas, Yamatzy Urquiza, Cesar Estrada, Jeremy Chavez, Dominic Meza, and Deyanira Hurtado.  Back row:  Student Council Advisor Mrs. Carol Messersmith, Assisstant Principal Mr. Cliff Dunlap, German Padilla, Sebastian Ramirez, Fernando Chacon, Adrian Gonzalez, and Fredy Gomez.  Students of the Month not pictured are Yazmin Vasquez and Ivan Pereida.

Kindergarten registration kicks off in April
Kindergarten registration is continuing at Douglas Unified District schools at the New Student Center at Douglas High School.

Walkathon raises $3,700 for charity
Stevenson School held another successful Walk-A-Thon on March 12th to raise funds for the school, the Rotary End Polio Now campaign, and the Douglas Food Bank. $3700 was collected for the Walk-A-Thon. Stevenson PTSO President Mary Anderson presented the check in a school assembly hosted by Mr. Rafael Ortiz, Principal at Stevenson School. Douglas Rotary and the Food bank will share $1850 for their projects; the balance will remain with Stevenson.

Cochsie College Events
Sierra Vista Economic Outlook Luncheon