Copper Basin News Celebrating More Than 50 Years of News Coverage in the Copper Basin
Vol. 53 No. 19
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Periodicals Postage Paid at Hayden, Arizona 85235
50 Cents
Kearny native has big job in Afghanistan By Lance Cpl. Phillip Clark CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – A four-year-old boy rode in a parade with his father, who was in his unmistakably identifiable uniform: the Marine Corps dress blues. From that day forward, the Kearny, Ariz., child wanted to be a United States Marine, exactly like his father. That young boy was Matthew E. Jenkins, and he is now living his dream of being a Marine as a corporal and intelligence specialist for 2nd Marine Division (Forward). As an intelligence specialist his job consists of gathering information about enemy activity that is happening in the area of operations for 2nd MarDiv (Fwd) and providing it to his section leaders and command members. “I wanted this job, because I thought about my future inside
and outside the Marine Corps. Also my dad was a Marine, and his father before him, and his father before him; and as far back as I can remember with my dad’s side of the family, the males were Marines,” said the Ray High School graduate. “I figured I would get a good job while I was in and one that would benefit me when I left the Marine Corps.” Jenkins is currently on his second deployment overseas. His first was in Iraq with Regimental Combat Team 8, and now he is here with the division. “I think he is handling his second deployment really well, and he shows great Marine qualities,” said Capt. Paul C. Croom the 2nd, the production and analysis officer in charge for Task Force Leatherneck, headed by 2nd MarDiv (Fwd). “There will be a few turnovers throughout the year when people go home and
others replace them, but since he is here for the full year, his capability and expertise will make that change a lot smoother, and he will be able to handle that change proficiently.” Jenkins also supports subordinate units in the area and recently visited 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd MarDiv (Fwd), in southern Helmand province. He went there to support the unit with its shortage of Marines in the intelligence section. “For their intelligence section, they only have a total of four people [who are junior Marines] -- two of them worked in the [Combat Operations Center] day and night shift, and two worked in the [Counter Intelligence/ Human Intelligence Branch] day and night shift; and one of them had to go down to See Jenkins, Page 5
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Kearny, Ariz., native Cpl. Matthew E. Jenkins sits behind a map of the area he is responsible for, serving as an intelligence specialist for 2nd Marine Division (Forward). He collects information about enemy activity in the area of operations for 2nd MarDiv (Fwd) and provides it to his leaders and command group members for their awareness. Jenkins recently traveled to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd MarDiv (Fwd), to support the unit with its shortage of Marines in the intelligence section. (Lance Cpl. Phillip Clark photo)
$2,000,000 in the town. The town decided to decrease tax rates at that time to maintain their tax revenue at $128,500. Now APS has removed $1,600,000 in property. “Although our real property assessment went up,” Eide said, “our overall assessed valuation went down.” In order to make up the
difference and keep tax revenue even, the town is proposing a tax increase. “If we just left everything alone we would be short,” said Eide. At current rates tax revenue would fall below $100,000. It would be $32,731 lower than last year. “It would be disastrous for the Town of Kearny,” he said. Eide pointed out that while
Kearny property tax increase to be discussed By Lana Jones The Town of Kearny is proposing a property tax increase. The Town will hold a public hearing on the increase May 25 at 7:30 pm at Town Hall. The proposal would raise primary taxes by over a third. The increase is necessary to maintain the town’s tax revenue at $128,500. This
revenue has been unchanged for the past few years. The increase would not be necessary except for last year’s decrease in property tax rates. Kearny dropped their tax rate last year after a jump in their centrally assessed value. Gary Eide, Kearny Town Manager, said that APS had parked property worth around
the increase would be close to $53 per $100,000 in assessed value, most homes in Kearny are assessed at closer to $50,000. For a home assessed at $50,000, property taxes would increase about $26. At the public hearing, the Town Council will determine whether or not to maintain the $128,500 tax revenue or
reduce it. “People in the community can come and listen to the explanation and they can make their concerns known to the Council,” Eide said. The Council will make a decision on the property tax rate at the hearing. The new rate would go into effect next fiscal year, which starts on July 1.
Celebration of CAC’s graduating students at the Aravaipa Campus begins Friday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. EASTERN PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. – Fifteen students will receive 17 degrees and certificates on Friday, May 13, during the 2011 Central Arizona College Aravaipa Campus commencement ceremony. The outdoor ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. on the Aravaipa Campus which is located at 80440 East Aravaipa Road just off of Arizona State Highway 77 between Mammoth and Winkelman. Pete Guzman, Pinal County native and a highly-respective educator in the county, will serve as the commencement speaker,
while Amanda Hughes and Aracelli Castañeda have been chosen as the student speakers for the ceremony. Castañeda is an All-Arizona Academic Third Team recipient. A 1969 graduate of Hayden High School, Guzman eventually earned his associate of arts degree in 1971 and his bachelor’s of arts degree in 1973. He later earned his master’s in education degree and his administration certificate from Northern Arizona University. Guzman worked for the Hayden-Winkelman District
as a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal. In 2001 he left the district to build the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology in Globe, from the ground up. The C.V.I.T. now has a membership of five local schools. In 2002, Guzman was named the superintendent in the Superior Unified School District. Today, he is superintendent of two school districts and is the principal of the John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Superior Junior High School and Superior High School.
In 2007, Guzman was selected by the Arizona School Boards Association to receive the All-Arizona Superintendents Award. This summer, he and his wife Roberta, will celebrate 39 years of marriage. During the graduation ceremony, CAC students will don a variety of medallions, tassels, stoles and colors signifying their accomplishments in the classroom. Some students will graduate with honors after posting a minimum grade point average of 3.5, while several students will earn both a degree and
certificate. Students gold stoles are members of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, while students donning blue cords are members of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program. Graduates wearing white tassels will receive associate of arts degrees, while gold tassels signify associate of science. Associate of business degree recipients sport drab tassels, associate of applied science students wear green, and those earning an associate of general studies degree don gray tassels.
Students earning certificates have caps adorned with blue tassels. Female graduates at the Aravaipa Campus outnumber male graduates 12-3, with the oldest graduate crossing the outdoor stage at the age of 49 and the youngest graduate being 21. For the district, CAC will deliver 653 degrees and certificates to 616 students with 399 representing women. The oldest graduate is 71, while the youngest is just 17. Both students will graduate from at the Signal Peak Campus.
H-W Little League to host opening ceremonies and mud volleyball tourney
It’s installed! Members of the 50 Years of Kearny Committee are happy to see the fruits of their labors – the commemorative fountain installed in the Kearny Mall. (James Carnes photo)
“Take me out to the ball game … take me out to the crowd.” Yep, you guessed it – it’s baseball time again. On Friday, May 13, come out and watch the HaydenWinkelman Minors, Majors and Softball Opening Ceremonies, at 5:30 p.m., at the HaydenWinkelman Little League Field. Be introduced to the coaches, and, teams, enjoy concessions for sale and watch and cheer through the games to be played. Muddy Fun On Saturday, May 14, the losing teams name is mud, the winning teams name is mud, your name is mud, and, the name of the game is mud: Mud Volleyball! From 9 a.m., until the first place team’s knees are quaking like jello and the other teams have collapsed
like so many sand castles at high tide, the Winkelman Flats Public Park will be the scene of much filthy fun. Sign up for the Mud Volleyball tournament is on May 12. There will be prizes for the first place team. The registration cost is $10 per person. Food and split the pot tickets will be sold. All proceeds are for Hayden -Winkelman Little League. Contact Ana Lopez at 520-237-1289 or Rita Pina at 520216-1054 for more information. “So it’s root, root, root for both teams … win or lose - lose or win we’re all the same … oh, won’t you, please take me out to the old ball game.” (Lyrics by Christine Lavin)