April Globe Miami Times

by Patti Daley

Before there was a man on the moon, there was a man named Coach Vargas leading Vandals basketball. That era comes to an end as Ken Vargas retires as head coach. It’s a position he has held for over two decades and one he knew he wanted since the second grade.

“The town. The kids. My dad…” Ken recollects, “I always knew I’d be a coach.”

His father, Richard “Dickie” Vargas, coached the Vandals varsity basketball team for 35 years. Known as a disciplinarian, Coach Vargas commanded respect. At home and on the court.

“It’s a strong piece of the Miami tradition,” Ken says, “so it was important for me to carry forth.”

VARGAS, Continued on page 15

BRAVO John Wong Globe’s Synergistic Chef

by Darla Hoffman

Chef John Wong chose to bring his mastery in culinary arts to Globe, where crossroads welcome people from all over the state. By introducing eclectic cuisine, Wong adds a new dimension to a city built on pride.

A third-generation Chinese Canadian, Wong was born in Ontario, Canada. While growing up on a potato farm there, he learned early the value of fresh, local foods. What’s more, his parents had restaurants, so cooking was a part of his life at a young age. After studying math in college, General Electric (G.E.) hired him to do mathematical modeling, predictions, and forecasting in Phoenix, Arizona. He enjoyed his career with G.E. and graciously shares how they paid for his Green Card and MBA at Arizona State University. Although there are some parallels between math and food, i.e., a meticulous mind, ultimately, he was drawn back to food. “Now I’m more hands-on and social, and there is a human factor,

whereas before, my best friend was a computer screen,” reflects Wong.

After leaving G.E., Wong took about 18 months to travel the world, refining his cooking skills and immersing himself in different

cultures. He honed his craft in numerous countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Spain, and Portugal. In time, he opened his first restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, and his second in Mesa,

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where he met his wife. At the Mesa location, he initiated food and wine pairings and engaged in “Chef-Off” competitions with other restaurants in the valley. Most times, Wong was the winner.

Eventually, with rising costs in the valley, Wong and his wife, Deborah Yerkovich, decided to move to Globe to raise their family. Deborah is a native of Globe, so this adventure made perfect sense. A conscientious businessperson, Wong didn’t immediately rush into his next endeavor. Instead, he took his time observing the historic downtown and pondered all it could become. A restaurant downtown became his mission through channeling his travels and experience with food. Although downtown dining was sparse, the sense of community in Globe was solid and lively. Furthermore, many people drive through Globe from places like Tucson, Phoenix, Show Low, and Pinetop, making it the perfect place to stop for a bite.

WONG, Continued on page 19

Cobre Valley Institute of Technology gets new instructors through Eastern Arizona College

by David Abbott

The Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) recently acquired two new teachers through Eastern Arizona College Gila Pueblo Campus as the Career Education and Technical District (CTED) continues to improve programs for students in the Copper Corridor.

The new instructors for the HVAC and Cosmetology programs represent a wide range of experience, from a longtime CTE instructor to a young local business owner passionate about his work.

Tucson native Alison Zache brings years in the classroom to the cosmetology program and has found her comfort zone despite beginning in the middle of the school year.

“It’s always interesting when you first start with new students,” Zache says. “But they’re really starting to feel trust, coming to me with questions, getting more involved and responding. It just takes time.”

Zache has been cutting hair since she was in high school, and spent much of her teaching career in technical schools in the Valley.

In an effort to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Phoenix area, Zache recently moved to Globe with her husband Zachary Zache, a multi-generational product of the Copper Corridor.

Zache began her teaching career 15 years ago at Northland Pioneer College (NPC) at the Winslow campus in Joseph City when she was looking for something to do beyond cutting hair.

“If you’ve ever been to Joseph City, you know there’s not much between Holbrook and Winslow,” she says. “There wasn’t anything to do there, so I went back to school to learn to teach.”

From there Zache’s family moved to the Valley where she held several teaching jobs in CTE schools, including Western Maricopa Education Center (WestMEC) in Buckeye.

But as her children moved on and started families and careers of their own—her son Zachary is a teacher in Marana; Oliver a forest ranger in Prescott and Cassidy a vet tech in Globe—the Zaches decided they wanted to get away from the explosive growth going on around them and get back to a slower pace of life.

“I always had my eye on teaching here because I love Globe,” Zache says. “I love the area and we were ready to get out of the Valley.”

Although she started mid-year, with the help of her experience teaching similar programs, Zache had a fairly smooth transition into the classroom.

The Cosmetology program is a lot more complicated than people might think. In addition to being on their feet much of the day, hair stylists must learn about toxic chemicals and dyes as well as the anatomy of the human head, skin and circulatory system. Those who opt for the second year of the program, which focuses on skin and nails, must learn additional anatomy, more chemistry and some basics about electricity for the tools in the modern salon or barber shop.

“A lot of the general public thinks, ‘oh, you’re just gonna go and play with hair and makeup, and it’s just gonna be a fun time,’ but we’re on our feet for eight or nine hours a day,” Zache says. “There’s math, there’s science, there’s anatomy,

there’s chemistry, there’s electricity, there’s so many things they have to learn and understand.”

Students must also learn the business aspect of cosmetology as well as how to deal with the public and coworkers they may not normally be drawn to. Most of the hands-on learning takes place in a well-appointed salon on the Gila Pueblo campus, initially on mannequins before students get to work on human subjects. The salon is open to the public and the program charges a nominal fee for services with the money going back into the program.

“I didn’t even know we had to learn about that stuff and it was for the nurses to learn, but you have to know it to make sure you don’t do something wrong,” says student Chloe Courtney.

Courtney is a sophomore at Globe High School and enrolled in the program because she enjoys styling hair and wants to have additional skills when she graduates from high school.

“I don’t really know what I want to do for my future, so this is something I can fall back on, or it could be my full-time career,” she says. “It’s something I enjoy, so that’s a really good start.”

The chance to pass on her craft and prepare her students for the future is a big draw for Zache, as well as the opportunity to show high school kids that they have opportunities outside of a four-year college.

“I want them all to be successful” she says. “Ultimately, we’re going to teach them leadership, communication, customer service, all of these skills they’ll need in the future.”

For 26-year-old Justin Henderson, HVAC is more than a career: It’s a calling.

“While working in the mines, I realized HVAC is life for me,” Henderson says. “It’s changed my life in so many ways, from opportunities to just steering me in the right direction in life.”

Despite his youth, Henderson, a Globe native and Miami High School graduate, has led an eventful life that includes opening his own business, Just IN Time Heating & Cooling, at the height of the COVID pandemic.

“It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done,” he says. “I wouldn’t change it though and we made it out of 2020 alive.”

Henderson started working at Kwik Kool Refrigeration in Globe at the age of 16 and his desire to learn more took him to CVIT in 2019. From there he went to work for ASARCO, but became restless when he felt he’d learned as much as he could from the mining company.

“I’m a fast learner, so if I can’t learn something new, I get bored,” Henderson says. “I learned what they had and was working on a lot of low-temp equipment: walk in refrigerators, freezers, stuff like that.”

Even after he went into business for himself, Henderson looked for more things to learn. He took on an electrical apprenticeship at Freeport and traveled the country going to seminars and visiting factories to learn various aspects of refrigeration from the latest equipment to regulation of the industry.

When a former instructor reached out to see if he was interested in teaching, Henderson was hesitant, but eventually took on the challenge.

“At first I really was not

interested, but I come from a family of teachers,” he says. My Aunt Judy was a teacher; my grandma was a teacher and my mom and dad were teachers.”

Entering the classroom was a challenge in and of itself, but Henderson tapped into his desire to pass on his craft and share his passion with students.

Henderson can also offer a fast-track into the business with his connections within the industry and has allowed the program to use some of his modern equipment—such as virtual reality training—as CVIT begins to invest in a growing program.

“We’re still adapting but we’re growing very quickly,” he says. “It’s come so far from when I took the class back in 2019 and it’s way more advanced.”

Globe High School senior Rogelio Contreras is in the last semester of the two-year certification program and will graduate soon.

Contreras plans to use the knowledge he gains to help support himself as he pays for further schooling once he graduates. He appreciates Henderson’s approach to teaching and says it helps him figure things out on his own.

“If we don’t figure it out in a certain amount of time, he’ll give us a hint so that we learn how to do it without relying on someone else,” Contreras says.

For CVIT, the new instructors are vital pieces of the future of both programs, particularly with their deep connections to the Globe-Miami-San Carlos community.

“So far, the students are really pleased with Justin,” says CVIT Central Campus Counselor Aja DeZeeuw. “They loved the previous HVAC instructor so I was feeling like the new instructor was going to have really big shoes to fill, but he’s come in and done great.”

Likewise the initial impression of Zache has been more than good.

“When I heard Alison had experience with Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) and West-MAC, I knew she understands and gets high school kids,” says CVIT Superintendent Mike O’Neal. “She came in with more experience than any of our instructors in the past and. I feel really good about her coming on board.”

Alison Zach

Chloe Courtney

PATRICIA

John Wong, owner of the BRAVO and Bloom restaurants on Broad Street, touches people through their taste buds, but a delicious, nourishing meal feeds more than the stomach (see p. 1). Wong’s dining experiences feed connection and camaraderie, too— whether that’s sharing the community table with friends you haven’t met yet, enjoying new foods from around the globe, or the downtown community that Wong works to build, too.

Meanwhile, the folks at I ART Globe are continuing their mission to make Globe a more colorful place (see p. 8). I ART Globe launched during the pandemic as a public arts program with the goal of giving people reasons to get outdoors and to instill hope during a difficult time. The organization blew past all its initial objectives, in its first 14 months creating 25 murals in and around downtown, plus sponsoring art events including the crowd-pleasing Chalkathon. I ART Globe is the force behind the Stairizona Trail as well as the enormous 130-foot-long mural located at the corner of East and Sycamore.

This month, they’re working on beautifying the Cottonwood underpass with murals from local artists. Look out for the street closures—and the vibrant new look that will follow.

Whether April finds you venturing far away—like Neil King, who walked all the way to New York City from his home in Washington, D.C., and then wrote a fascinating book about it (see p. 5)—or keeping close to home, I hope you’ll find time to pursue your own passions, and share them with the world. You only have to look at Ken Vargas, John Wong, and the people at I ART Globe to see that people pursuing their passions shine a light that makes the whole community brighter.

Sanders

8

Publisher Linda Gross Editor Patricia Sanders

Creative Designer Jenifer Lee

Contributing Writers David Abbott

Patti Daley Linda Gross Darla Hoffman Patricia Sanders

Contributing Photography Linda Gross Tory Satter

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SANDERS EDITOR

A Walk into America’s History

by Patricia Sanders

One morning in late March, almost exactly two years ago, in a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., a man named Neil King kissed his wife, stepped out the front door of his house, turned right, and kept walking.

And kept walking—for three weeks.

He walked all the way to New York City.

He mostly kept to country roads, walking through landscapes that looked much like they did before so much of America was paved over and built up. He stayed in Airbnbs, cheap motels, and occasionally a bed and breakfast or a private home. He carried a backpack with a few items of clothing and basic camping gear in case he had to rough it.

He passed through the cities of Philadelphia and Princeton, and walked through some smaller communities that have become famous for various reasons, like York, Pennsylvania (home of the peppermint patty), and Grover Mills, New Jersey (alien landing site in Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds). But mostly he visited towns and hamlets you’ve probably never heard of: Reisterstown, Maryland; Farmersville, Pennsylvania; Cranbury, New Jersey.

When he came to large rivers, he traversed them on foot or by boat: the Susquehanna he crossed on a bridge built in 1930, the Delaware in a kayak, the Arthur Kill (dividing New Jersey from Staten Island) in a launch named Peanut, and finally the Hudson on a Boston whaler.

Along the way, he met all sorts of people, from all walks of life and all along the political spectrum. A Mennonite farrier who chats while he shoes a bay. A pair of Korean men playing tennis. Housewives tending their flower gardens. A guy in a MAGA hat who’d voted for Obama and gave King a sack of clementines for the road. Archivists, amateur historians, and war reenactors. Farmers and bartenders, roadside preachers and prophets.

King crossed the Delaware—in that kayak—at the same spot where George Washington did in 1776. He walked among the recreated barracks at Valley Forge, wearing shoes where his toes had started to stick out.

He walked along the trails of the Underground Railroad, trudged over battlefields, and paused in cemeteries to pay his respects.

He crossed the Mason-Dixon line thinking about the forces that have divided the nation since before it even

Sim pl y Sim pl y

became a country. Then he walked through the lands of the Amish and the Mennonites, thinking about the alternative ways of thinking and living that have helped hold the country together.

King made many unusual choices of places to visit and things to do. In Philadelphia, he didn’t go to see the Liberty Bell; instead, he visited the Eastern State Penitentiary, where Quaker visionaries tried to create a prison that would renew inmates’ souls instead of destroying them. (Most prisoners probably didn’t experience the enlightenment that the penitentiary’s designers had in mind.)

In Princeton, he did walk through the campus of the Ivy League university there, and he passed by Albert Einstein’s house. But he spent most of his time at the Princeton Battlefield, where Washington’s troops turned the course of the war, nine days after they’d crossed the Delaware.

And when he reached New York, he didn’t visit the Empire State Building or Ellis Island—he went to the top of the Edgeboro Landfill, where much of the wreckage of the Twin Towers lies buried. Then he walked to Ground Zero and contemplated memory: what we remember and what we forget. (King had been on the team of Wall Street Journal reporters whose coverage of 9/11 won a Pulitzer.)

King made the trek for many reasons, but the most powerful, he emphasizes, was his sense of mortality. He

had cancer, which was in remission after years of treatment, and both his brother and a close friend were facing cancer, too. King was grateful—grateful just to be on the Earth, and grateful to be in a position to make the walk.

Every morning, he wrote about the previous day’s experiences and emailed them to a list of friends. Those emails became the book American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal, which just came out from Mariner Books. One reviewer calls it “the story of a traveler intoxicated by life.” But the book is less about travel per se than about life and how to live it.

The whole book is lit up by King’s sense of gratitude. His gratitude makes him pay attention, makes him stay open to all the experience he can possibly grab, whether that’s fly fishing on a creek near Valley Forge or stopping for a chat with schoolchildren in a Mennonite town.

And that intensity of attention gives rise to the wonder and awe that suffuse King’s story. He says over and over that the aspects of the world that create wonder and awe are right there: you don’t have to go looking for them, you only have to look. Really look, be open, pay attention.

Because it isn’t the grand sights and famous places that nearly bring King to tears at times, and that readers will remember long after they finish the book. It’s the tiny moments of vivid attention and awareness, when suddenly the world seems to come alive and become beautiful and precious.

Rain falling outside the window of a tavern where he’s eating fish tacos with a beer. Snow falling on pastures as he walks along a two-lane road through farm country on the first of April. Watching laundry billow in the wind on a laundry line in rural Pennsylvania. Joy passes through him at these moments, for no obvious reason—simply because he’s present and paying attention.

“Attention is the beginning of devotion,” he quotes the poet Mary Oliver.

This is the kind of book that makes you open your eyes a little wider. If you read it—and I do recommend it—King’s book will help you understand America’s history a little better, and might give you new eyes for the country’s present-day struggles. But mostly it will show you new way of looking, and living.

“The reality you encounter as you move from place to place is not a given upon arrival. … You form a space as you enter it, just as you do a conversation. Excitement, enthusiasm, openness, trust—they can radiate outward and stir the same sentiments in people otherwise just going about their day.”

—NEIL

KING, AMERICAN RAMBLE

Downtown Globe (circa 2017). Photo by LCGross

Globe tourism branding changes with the times

by David Abbott

To those who love living here, driving into Globe feels like coming home. In order to share that feeling with visitors the City has partnered with Local First Arizona to create a new marketing campaign featuring a logo reflecting the beauty of the region.

The campaign was approved by City Council at its Feb. 28 meeting and represents a new phase in the evolution of economic development begun in 2018, rolling out just in time for this year’s Arizona Poppy Fest.

“When we talked about growth driving the community and the region, we learned that branding is one of the things you want to start with,” says Councilman Freddy Rios. “Through our staff’s ability to look forward and follow Council’s vision, branding has become an important piece of our forward movement.”

Globe’s new logo features an image of the Pinal Mountains in a desert color scheme with a “G” reflective of the familiar landmark west of downtown. It is a more simplified version of the previous logo and is intended to reflect “Arizona’s original hometown” for visitors the City hopes to attract.

“The state is a great tourism destination and some obvious things get a lot of notice, like the Grand Canyon and other wonderful assets we have,” says Local First Arizona Director of Rural Development Jenna Rowell. “But oftentimes, people from out-of-state are flying into Phoenix and then cruising straight to those end destinations.”

Creating a draw for out-of-state visitors is one of the main goals of statewide outreach efforts. Rowell, an Arizona native who grew up in Cottonwood, says marketing is also aimed at reminding Arizona residents of the gems in their midst that are within driving distance.

“We’re focusing on Arizonans because Arizonans spend more than $6 billion— with a ‘B’—annually, just in California,” she says. “We get that the beaches are popular: We get that California has Disneyland, SeaWorld and all those things. But if you could carve out just a small percentage of $6 billion and get Arizonans playing in their own backyard, that could have a meaningful economic impact to communities like Globe.”

Founded in 2003, Local First Arizona is celebrating its 10th year as the state’s Rural Development Council, a designation first established through the passage of

the 2013 U.S. Farm Bill. The bill created councils at the state level as advocates for rural economies and to help address the “rural resource gap” with urban markets that have larger tax bases and thus more fiscal resources.

RDCs partner with the Arizona Department of Tourism for rural advocacy at the federal level and in order to “help build a rural Arizona economy that is sustainable, resilient, and celebratory of diverse cultures.”

According to Rowell, the City took advantage of funding available through the Visit Arizona Initiative grant program. Additionally, through the Arizona Office of Tourism Globe has joined the Rural Marketing Cooperative, which offers costsharing and other resources available to “destination marketing organizations.”

“For Globe, that is the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce,” Rowell says.

“They are registered with the Office of Tourism as the official organization that markets the area as a destination.”

Through the marketing cooperative, Globe’s branding package costs less than if the City would have contracted with an outside marketing firm and includes a suite of services and other resources such as a profile at ruralaz.com.

Potential visitors can visit the site, choose options and be provided with a printable itinerary directing them to the outdoor recreation, entertainment and

business amenities available in the area.

The new campaign is part of the City’s long-term plan to bring tourism dollars to the region that began with the establishment of the Economic and Community Development Department five years ago. Although the COVID pandemic put a lot of the Council’s plans on hold, many projects are back on track and gaining momentum.

“We’re seeing much success with our tourism marketing in the past five years,” says Mayor Al Gameros. “We’re going to keep moving forward and building upon the momentum. Arizona residents will be seeing more of the Globe tourism campaign in the coming months, to bring tourism dollars to our community.”

The partnership with Local First included a public forum to gather input from stakeholders hosted at Besh Ba Gowah in December 2022 that drew an engaged audience of more than 20 residents and local business owners.

From there, Local First generated a narrative that was provided to a graphic designer who then created a versatile logo that can be broken down into various parts for different purposes, such as icons for use on websites or window stickers for businesses in town to take advantage of the regional campaign and cross promote.

This is the second branding the Economic and Community Development Department has generated, representing

an evolution along the path to economic diversity the City hopes to achieve in the future.

“The City went through an initial branding in 2018 and it was now time to do a refresh for our new marketing campaign,” Gameros says. “It’s always important to look at our brands and refresh them and upgrade them in accordance with the time we’re in.”

Councilman Rios sees the project as the next step in a process to create economic opportunity and help the City fund its vision for the future, which includes improved infrastructure and more housing for residents and those who choose to move to the Copper Corridor in the future.

“We’re still going through growing pains, but through economic development, we feel like we’re making steps forward,” Rios says. “When you can bring visitors into your community and they support our economy, it reduces the burden on the rest of the community. Just about every community you go to in Arizona has some sort of vision for bringing in tourism and bringing in revenues from outside.”

Gameros shared the City’s efforts at building a solid administrative foundation with qualified employees and hiring a lobbyist to advocate in Washington DC, Globe is well-poised to survive in the 21st century.

“One of the great things about Globe is that local stakeholders have a common vision looking towards the future,” he says. “Our City, Gila County, Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center and the mines have truly collaborated to advance the region.”

Loose dogs in Globe lead to questions about jurisdiction

by David Abbott

Social media in Globe has recently exploded with stories of loose dogs threatening or attacking animals or people in public places or behind fences, but questions about jurisdiction and which government agency holds responsibility for the problem have led to a stalemate in enforcement.

“We don’t deal with it: We contract with animal control through Gila County,” says Globe Police Chief Dale Walters. “The County built a huge animal shelter, we contract with them and they deal with all that stuff.”

Walters added that the City might be involved in the initial call or complaint, but responsibility ultimately lies with Gila County Animal Control, a department of Health and Emergency Services.

But locals who have complained about the problem say officials will oftentimes say there is nothing that can be done because it is not their responsibility.

“Dogs are escape artists and can get out if their space is not secured, and it comes down to pet owners taking responsibility for their animals,” says local dog trainer Amanda Haas. “Often, dogs are rewarded for bad behavior and sometimes people are afraid of their own dogs. There are breeds that don’t like to be penned up.”

Haas has recently dealt with a pair of loose German Shepherds that have come to her training field on the east side of Globe. The dogs threatened 4-H students working their animals and have also killed the chickens of a neighbor below her property.

She says in recent weeks, the dogs have not been around, but believes it might be because someone told the owners their dogs would be killed if they kept it up and not because of any action by law enforcement.

“I think it was because of the uproar on social media about those two dogs and so many being pissed off about how they were killing chickens,” she says. “I have not seen them since.”

Jacob’s K-9 Field of Dreams—a training facility Haas built in memory of her late son for the 4-H dog club—is located off of Thornwood Drive in a part of Globe that is also under the jurisdiction of Gila County.

Given her long experience handling dogs in the area, Haas went straight to Animal Control with her complaints, but after an initial talk with officials, did not hear anything for more than a month.

Animal Control

The Gila County Animal Control Department is a division of Health and Emergency Services and provides services

including rabies control, dog licensing, operation of a shelter for strays or unwanted animals, and investigating animal bites, rabies exposure, and citizen complaints. Additionally, they provide low-cost rabies clinics throughout Gila County, as well as adopting out healthy animals or reuniting animals with their owners.

In 2021, the County opened a large facility near the Gila County Fairgrounds, and according to Director John “JC” Castaneda, his department handles between 600-800 animals annually.

Casteneda has worked for animal Control for more than 30 years and was recently recognized as the Arizona Animal Control Association’s Animal Control Officer of the Year for his department’s work after the recent spate of fires and floods in the Globe-Miami area.

Casteneda says that his department gets calls about loose dogs “every day,” and that there seems to be an uptick recently.

“We have a county ordinance that deals with dogs at large,” Casteneda says. “When we receive calls, my officers are dispatched out to the area and we begin looking for the dog.”

The current Dog at Large ordinance No. 01-3 was adopted in January 2002 and defines “dogs at large” to be “off the premises of the owner or on the property of another person without the consent of that person,” or “not under direct control and physical custody or restraint by means of a leash, chain, rope or enclosure of the owner or other person responsible for the dog.”

Enforcement of the ordinance is the responsibility of the Gila County Sheriff’s Office or Gila County Rabies Control.

The ordinance prohibits allowing dogs to run loose off of the owner’s property; on any public street, sidewalk, or public park or thoroughfare. It also includes a leash law for any dog that is out in public.

There are a few exceptions, such as for training or exhibitions, but the ordinance clearly prohibits owners from letting their dogs run loose.

Owners who violate the ordinance are subject to a $500 fine for each violation once the matter is adjudicated in a hearing through the County Enforcement Agency.

Casteneda says his department responded to Haas’ complaints and even set traps out on her property and the surrounding area, but “never caught any of the dogs.”

Globe enforcement

In October 2014, the City of Globe entered into Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) No. 062014, contracting animal control services to Gila County. Globe pays the County $40,000 annually in monthly installments of $3,333.33.

Under the terms of the contract, the County agreed to accept any animals

brought to the shelter by Globe police or residents. Additionally, County law enforcement “will respond to all calls within the Globe city limits” during regular business hours. After 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m., GPD takes on that responsibility “unless the calls involve an animal bite or a vicious animal.”

The County also agreed to take possession of unlicensed animals found running at large, animals exposed to animal cruelty, those quarantined after biting a person or other animal, as well as suffering or unwanted animals.

But ordinances and IGAs have not been helpful for Globe resident Ginnie Scales who is to the point where she is afraid to walk the few short blocks to Globe’s dog park on Noftsger Hill.

Scales says there are several dogs in her neighborhood that have been harassing her LOOSE DOGS Continued on page 9

This smallish-dog goes out of his way - and onto private property - to attack his neighbor and her dog as they walk to her car (parked on her property). She has filed a police report but as of this article nothing has changed. Any attack which leads to dog bites can be dangerous and costly to all parties.

Two loose and aggressive German Shepherds cruise through Amanda Haas’s property which includes the training facility.

I ART Globe strikes again with two amazing mural projects getting underway in April

April 1st weekend was a busy one for I Art Globe!

While the High Desert Humane Society got a new sign, the Cottonwood Underpass Project (aka the CUP) ramped up south of the city. This is an art installation, a community beautification and a graffiti abatement project all in one.

The first Phase, completed over the weekend, included prep and primer. And it couldn’t have been done without the amazing help of Rose and Dave, Ronnie, David and Kristie, Dickey, the Smith Bros: Matthew and Kyle, John from United Rental, Tammy, Rayel, Jackie + Shelby Barrowdale - Gila Monster Construction, Chad @ Uptons, Joe Brown, Buz, Sheryl, Kendall, Uriel, Richard, Vince, Fernando, Samuel, Myron, Rob, and Erica. The 1st Presbyterian Church, too!

Phase 2 follows, and it’s all about the art Featuring the talents of 5 locally sourced, homegrown spray can muralists. And a shout out to Ace Hardware and Ronnie Sanchez for our inside connection to everything paint!

Thank you, everyone. Our cup runneth over with gratitude.

Thea + Regina

three 100-lb Great Dane/Mastiff “puppies” and it is making it hard for her to socialize them or even let them out in her own yard.

“I can see the dog park from my house,” Scales says. “I won’t let my son walk two blocks with them because I have to check the street before we let our dogs out to load them into a vehicle to drive up the hill.”

In the past, Scales has not been bothered by dogs running in the neighborhood she has lived in for 15 years. There was even a time when one neighbor’s dog would escape and hang out with dogs Scales previously owned. She even considered adopting it before finding out who its owner was.

But recently, a different neighbor’s Pitbull mix had puppies and that is when the current problems began. At first, she had a good relationship with the puppies, but as the dogs have aged they have become more aggressive towards her dogs and it is becoming a problem for her.

“I’ve had to pull [the mother] off of pretty much every dog in the neighborhood,” Scales says. “I don’t think that she’s tried to bite any people yet, but when I put her in her yard and closed the gate, she came after me.”

One day Scales, who worked in the Gila County Health Department for a decade, thought she heard the dogs attacking chickens in the neighborhood and called both Animal Control and the GPD.

She says the County told her to call the City of Globe and was told the City would talk to the dog owners.

“They say they’ll talk with the owners but nothing stops, nothing changes,” Scales says. “If they get into my yard I’m pretty sure it’s not going to turn out well, and I will protect my dogs: These are my dogs. This is their property.”

Ultimately, Scales just wants to see local officials take the problem as seriously as other communities in the state.

“My sister lives down in the Valley and one of her dogs bit somebody,” Scales says. “There was no, ‘that’s okay,’ it was: ‘you’re paying the bills, and this is how it is,’ but you don’t see that up here.”

Liability

While owners of loose dogs are liable for attacks on people or other animals, the issue is not black and white and if someone kills or injures a loose dog, they could be liable to civil prosecution themselves.

“The dog owner would have to sue civilly if they wanted any type of compensation,” Casteneda says. “That would be a civil case through Justice Court and if she fired a firearm in a residential area, she would have to deal with the sheriff’s office about that.”

There are also laws surrounding discharge of a firearm within the City of Globe, even in one’s own house, so if someone shoots a dog that enters their house they could be liable to prosecution.

Chief Walters was not aware of Scales’ specific situation, but says while they deal with calls on a limited basis, the responsibility ultimately falls on Animal Control.

“A dog at large call or a dog barking or something like that, we might be involved in

the initial call but it’s all going to go to the animal control center,” he says. “Those guys deal with all that.”

Casteneda says his officers will get involved if there are multiple complaints about specific dogs and they will try to deescalate a bad situation.

“When there’s a dog at large citation given and they go to a hearing multiple times, my officers do get involved,” he says “We’ll go to their house and see if we can help show them how the dogs are getting out and give them some advice on how to keep their dogs in. We’ve done that.”

Costs

The costs of dog attacks can go well beyond medical bills and fines though.

According to Haas, if one of her highly trained dogs is debilitated or killed, it can represent tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage.

A woman she works with who has two scent dogs has more than $50,000 invested in their training. Haas herself has certified therapy dogs as well as obedience training for her more aggressive dogs amounting to more than $20,000.

There is also liability if a 4-H training is attacked from outside.

“You have a bunch of kids under the age of 18 that can barely control their own dogs, much less two aggressive dogs,” she says. “When you have two dogs that gang up on one, as a human being, wouldn’t you try to stop it? What happens to the human that intervenes? You get mauled.”

High Desert Humane Society director Cynthia Carr deals with strays on a regular basis at HDHS’s new facility near Globe Cemetery, but they do what they can with the limited human resources available.

“There have been times where there are loose dogs in the neighborhood and it immediately is a concern for us,” she says.

“It’s our animals and our volunteers at risk, because we don’t know if they’re friendly, where they belong, or if they’ve been vaccinated. It’s not safe for the animal and it’s not safe for the public.”

She added that she tries to maintain a good relationship with the County, which has significantly more resources than her all-volunteer organization, and HDHS even shares donations with the County shelter.

The overarching issue is the sheer number of unwanted animals that are not being cared for or properly controlled.

Carr says there is a statewide crisis of animal overpopulation, and loose dogs combined with overstressed animal shelters are contributing to a building crisis.

“We have these strays and all day, every day we’re getting calls about accidental litters owners don’t know what to do with,” she says. “At any given time, we’re averaging 50-plus dogs between the fosters, the shelter, and the intake.”

HDHS has also participated in a spayneuter program that dealt with more than 700 animals last year from Bylas, San Carlos, Thatcher and the Globe-Miami area, and included dogs belonging to homeless people and strays.

Anyone having problems with stray animals should call 911 if it is an emergency, Gila County Animal Control at 928-425-5882 or GPD dispatch at 928-425-5751. u

San Carlos

Superintendent Deborah Jackson-Dennison Elected to NAFIS Board of Directors

The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Deborah JacksonDennison, Superintendent of San Carlos Unified School District #20 (Arizona), has been elected to the NAFIS Board of Directors. The election took place at the 2023 NAFIS Spring Conference in Washington, DC. Jackson-Dennison previously served on the NAFIS Board for nine years, most recently in 2014.

As a member of the NAFIS Board, Jackson-Dennison will serve as a national leader advocating for school districts that receive Impact Aid. She will also help guide NAFIS public policy work and oversee plans for the association.

Impact Aid reimburses school districts for the loss of revenue caused by the presence of nontaxable Federal property, including military installations; Indian Trust, Treaty and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act lands; Federal low-income housing facilities; and national laboratories and other Federal buildings and property. It helps ensure students who attend schools on or near Federal property have access to a quality education.

Jackson-Dennison brings 20 years of experience as a superintendent to the board, beginning in 2002 when she became the first Navajo woman to serve as an Arizona public school superintendent. She has led three districts on the Navajo and Apache nations, implementing systemic reforms to address the needs of the Indigenous communities and students served.

In May 2010 Jackson-Dennison was appointed by President Barack Obama to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) and currently serves as its chair. She also served four years on former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman’s Indian Education Advisory Council. She has served 17 years on the National Indian Impacted Schools Association (NIISA) Board of Directors and is past president of the Arizona State Impact Aid Association (ASIAA).

“As leaders of public school systems that serve Indigenous students and communities, it is essential that we confront the challenges deeply rooted in historical and intergenerational trauma by first ensuring community members –tribal leaders, parents, grandparents, and especially our elders, as the key holders of indigenous wisdom – have a say in what they want their students to know and be able to do when they graduate.

The time to focus on instructional and organizational effectiveness that is both culturally responsive and relevant as we restructure and reform schools to better educate Indigenous students is now,” said Jackson-Dennison. “The federal Impact Aid program continues to allow us to integrate and correlate such necessary reforms. It is my honor to once again join the NAFIS Board to represent and be a voice for all federally impacted schools and students across America.”

“The NAFIS Board plays a critical role in ensuring students in federally impacted school districts have access to the opportunities they need to be the best version of themselves,” said NAFIS Executive Director Nicole Russell. “Debbie brings important insight into the needs of these school districts, their students, and their communities that will help strengthen NAFIS advocacy. Her success as a transformational leader and unique perspective as a past Board member will help guide NAFIS as we move forward.” Jackson-Dennison’s term will last for two years.

The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) represents the 1,100-plus federally impacted public school districts that together educate more than 10 million students across the nation. Federally impacted school districts are those located on or near nontaxable Federal property, including military installations; Indian Trust, Treaty and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act lands; Federal low income housing facilities; and national parks, national laboratories and other Federal buildings and property. These school districts, which are demographically and geographically diverse, receive Impact Aid, a Federal education program that reimburses school districts for the lost local revenue and additional costs associated with the presence of Federal property. Learn more at www.nafisdc.org.

GLOBE-MIAMI-SAN CARLOS SPORTS

PHOTOS BY TORY SATTER

Miami Varsity Softball

San Carlos Varsity Baseball

Senior Kaleb Derhammer tees off for the Tigers.

Senior Wendsler Nosie III drives it on hole #1 for Globe.

Sophomore Josiah Cutter takes his first swing of the season. All three young men are playing baseball and golf for the Tigers this year.

Junior Gabby Gonzales drives the ball to right field for Miami. Gabby is batting .449 on the season.

Freshman Drianna Dosela pitches one in there for the Vandals. She has pitched 22 innings and has registered 13 strikeouts.

Senior Sara Nesbitt makes the tag at home for the third out in the inning against Willcox.

Senior Aaronson Dosela takes a cut while Coach Terry Antonio looks on from the third base coach’s box.

Junior Darren Chimoni Jr. fouls one back against the Alchesay Falcons. Darren is batting .312 on the season.

Senior Tyronn Kitcheyan is averaging more than one strikeout per inning pitched. He also leads the team with a .562 batting average.

MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL

Miami High School recruits new principal from within, bids farewell to Lineberry

by David Abbott

Miami High School’s next principal came to the Copper Corridor on a “4-year plan,” but 15 years later has found a long-term home.

At the beginning of the next school year, current Athletic Director and Associate Principal Shawn Pietila will step into his new role as principal after Glen Lineberry’s 9-year term ends in May.

Originally from Pontiac, Michigan, Pietila brings an impressive array of educational accomplishments and more than a decade in local school systems to the Miami Unified School District (MUSD).

Pietila’s inspiration for success has been his children, Savannah (16) , Tamia (14) and Michael (7).

“Our kids have been my motivation,” says Pietila. “A lot of the sacrifices I’ve made or goals I’ve had educationwise were centered around them, so I was able to provide for them and be a good example.”

For the past four years, Pietila has been the AD of MHS, but prior to that he spent 11 years at San Carlos High School coaching football and track and field.

Before he moved to the Copper Corridor in 2008, Pietila chased his academic dreams throughout the Midwest, attending colleges in Michigan, South Dakota and Oklahoma.

Pietila holds two master’s degrees from Arizona State University in secondary sports administration and educational leadership. Prior to that, he attended Michigan Technological University, Eastern Michigan University, Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

It was in South Dakota in 2004 that he met his wife Crystal Pietila, who is from San Carlos and currently teaches physical education at Charles A. Bejarano and Lee Kornegay Intermediate to students grades K-5. At the time they met, he played football and she was on the nowdefunct Si Tanka University women’s basketball team.

“Oddly, our school closed the same year that we met, so I ended up finishing my bachelor’s degree in recreation management at Bacone,” Pietila says.

While Pietila enjoyed his work as a coach, he eventually wanted to use his degrees earned at ASU in 2013 and 2019 to work on the administrative side of education.

That opportunity came in when he was hired as associate principal and athletic director by Miami.

“I always wanted to be an administrator and athletic director,” Pietila says “I really enjoyed the coaching part, but after coaching so many years, I was really intrigued by the idea of being a ‘building administrator’.”

His opportunity to become principal came when Lineberry quietly announced his impending retirement last year and now the MUSD’s three schools all have principals that came from within the system. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary is led by 10-year MHS veteran English teacher Rhiannon Oldfield; Lee Kornegay Intermediate, by MHS graduate and long-time math teacher Kevin Hull; and now Pietila.

“I’m really excited that we have that homegrown feel, because they’re familiar with our students and they’re familiar with our community,” says MUSD Superintendent Sherry Dorathy. “They’re familiar with where we’ve been and where we need to go.”

Dorathy has been in local education for the past 32 years after moving to the region from Cody, Wyoming. She also has impressive bona fides, with three master’s degrees and a doctorate.

She began her career as a paraprofessional at MUSD and then spent three years in San Carlos before a stint as MHS principal prior to her 10-plus-year stint as superintendent.

“I feel like I’m not a newbie anymore,” Dorathy says. “All five of my children graduated from Miami High School and I’m seeing the grandkids of former students attending school here.”

Lineberry was an early hire for Dorathy and in the nine years they have worked together, they have overhauled the campus and survived a pandemic.

Among the improvements made with critical contributions from the District are restored science laboratories; rehabilitated wood and metal shops; new athletic fields from tennis courts to the track around the football field; renovation of the auditorium; increased internet access and improvement to the building facades from paint on the entire campus to new roofs on the buildings.

“We’ve made a lot of advancements, for sure,” Dorathy says. “It’s a bright, shining place in the community. We’ve made a lot of improvements and we will only continue to do so.”

The MUSD will not be resting on its laurels as the district continues to look to the future.

Dorathy says there is still work to be done making the campus more aesthetically pleasing and academic programs will continue to be evaluated and updated as needed.

Additionally, she has been around the district long enough to take a philosophical approach to changing circumstances.

“Change happens, doesn’t it?” Dorathy says. “Shawn has all the qualifications needed. He’ll be a great principal and I’m not worried about it at all.”

As to Peitila, his goals are to play a role in the further evolution of the schools and focus on improving students’ reading skills and parent engagement.

“We have some strong parent support around athletics, but we’d like to bring that to other areas of the building,” he says. “We’re excited to try out some new curricular programs and really give the students an incentive to increase their reading.”

Pietila says he knows the names of most of the students and this is a natural progression for him at MHS.

“It’s really neat, because it’s been a four-year cycle,” he says. “The seventh graders who came in with me are now juniors, so I’ll get to see them graduate and I’m familiar with the teachers and what’s going on in each classroom.”

Lineberry plans to leave the area to be closer to family but intends to continue working in education. He’ll be teaching in graduate-level principal preparation programs and “hopefully working far fewer hours.”

He is proud of the work he has accomplished with Dorathy and confident the school will be in good hands with Pietila.

“Dr Dorathy leads the District quietly and effectively, setting and monitoring goals but leaving her principals the running room to get things done,” Lineberry says. “Her sole concern is delivering to students the curriculum, instruction, and supports they need to succeed in school and after graduation. Mr Pietila will fit admirably into that system. He wears lightly his academic qualifications, leads by example as well as direction, and is absolutely committed to real student success.” u

Since 2001, Ken has led the boys’ varsity basketball team, continuing the family legacy. According to his longtime assistant coach Don Wilson, Ken is a lot like his father but more soft-spoken.

“Kenny could chew your butt off without raising his voice,” he says.

Ken doesn’t keep track of his overall record. It’s not how he measures success. Endurance. Dedication. Respect. Determination. Don’t give up. Those are things that are important,” he says.

“How to face the fail, that’s what I learned from Dad,” says Ken. “There’s more. You have to get up.”

His father died on October 31, 2022. There have been other tough losses, too. Lost championships. Missed shots in the last two seconds. The kids he couldn’t reach.

“Education was always the number one priority for Kenny,” says Assistant Coach Don Wilson, “Basketball was a privilege and came second.”

Coaching is not just about Xs and Os. It takes a village to do it. Don Wilson has coached ‘side by side’ with Coach Vargas for 38 years. The two are supported by three volunteer coaches – Chris Goss, Chris Guthrie and Bobby Powel. All of them, Ken says, are vital to the program. Powel, a longtime Vandals supporter and sports team veteran, contributes an old school mentality and stories that connect presentday kids to their past.

“Where we came from, where we’re going,” says Coach Vargas, “I rely on him to be that guy for those kids.”

Their personalities blend into one coaching staff, according to Coach Wilson. Ken took charge of the things that he needed to, and let his assistant coaches take charge of what they needed to do at that level.

“Kenny was extremely good at putting the puzzle together,” he says. “Because of Kenny’s leadership, he could calm the storm and once in a while, let the storm rage.”

Cheerleading Wife

Ken grew up in Miami, AZ, is a 1977 graduate of Miami High School and its Homecoming King. In high school, Ken played football and basketball and was all-conference in both sports. As a player, he worked hard. He’d put on a harness and drag his ‘64 Ford truck on the dirt road behind George Washington school. He dribbled his ball on the way home on the wood railroad tracks.

“He was above and beyond any athlete,” says Evelyn. “He went the extra distance to be better.”

In basketball, he played point guard; his specialty was defense. He began playing football his junior year. As a receiver, he gained over 100 yds in each of the four games he played. In his senior year he broke his hand but recovered enough to play basketball.

“Basketball was more than a sport,” says Ken’s wife, Evelyn Vargas. “He’s always had a passion and love for the game.”

Evelyn cheered for Ken’s team in junior high; a fact they discovered only 50 years later.

The couple first dated as students at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Before long they got married, had a baby daughter,

and worked as janitors for five years while they earned their degrees.

“We took the baby and worked together,” says Ken. “It was the only job that fit our schedule.

Ken was convinced he needed an Accounting degree to financially support his family. He fell asleep during the final exam, and when he woke to an empty room he went home and told Evelyn he didn’t want to be an Accountant. She had a degree in Computer Information Systems and went to work on geological surveys the following Monday.

Ken went back to school for another year to get his teaching credential. He was offered a job at Miami Unified School District. Though hired to teach Business Administration at the high school, within weeks that position was eliminated and he was reassigned to teach math at the junior high. Ken went back to school and got his math endorsements.

He’s been a math teacher ever since (and will continue to teach in the fall). He also taught physical education and coached the junior high teams, leading them to 15 Central Junior High Championships. In 2001 he began teaching

The seniors of the 2022 season with their family and Coach Vargas. The team went undefeated as the 2A South Region Champions.

PHOTO BY EVELYN VARGAS

VARGAS, Continued on page 16

and coaching high school students. He’s led teams to conference championships and been recognized as an outstanding coach by peers and players.

For his countless hours of commitment, Coach has received all sorts of gifts over the years: a blanket and basketballs with signatures, mugs of affection, an American flag made of wood with his name carved into it. There is not enough room in the house for all the plaques and trophies.

A family man, Ken was born into a family of champion athletes and he married one. Evelyn was a three-sport athlete, state tennis champion and a coach. All three of their kids were top athletes.

“Both of us being athletes and knowing the commitment it took and knowing my love for a sport, I know what he had to go through to make his team successful,” Evelyn explains.

She understood the time it took. Clinic, training, films, scouting, summer devotions.

“I was happy to push him along with what he loved to do,” says Evelyn.

One Big Basketball Family

Joy Perry is the mother of four sons –Tyler, Spencer, Logan and Tanner. For 16 consecutive years (2005 - 2021) one of her sons was playing Vandals basketball with Coach Ken Vargas.

“They all love him as much as I do,” she says. “What’s most impressive for me is that he was more concerned about the men they grew into.”

Spencer Perry, 30, credits Coach Vargas with instilling in his players responsibility, accountability and hard work.

“He helped me to deal with disappointment and learn how to use it to our advantage to grow,” he says.

Don’t settle for being mediocre. That’s one of the many lessons Logan Perry, 25, learned from Ken as his coach, teacher and mentor.

“I wanted these boys to help the ones who were coming,” says Coach Vargas. “It’s an inside approach as opposed to an outside approach. They set the tone. The other kids jump in and get onboard.”

Lots of coaches modeled bad behavior, Joy recalls; others tolerated it. Coach Vargas did not.

“If someone was on the court not showing sportsmanship, he pulled them off,” recalls Joy. “He didn’t care if they were the best player.”

Expectations are set at home, acknowledges Coach Vargas. Respect, hard work, intelligence. He hasn’t experienced many difficulties with parental intervention over the years.

“If you can explain what’s happening and what’s going to happen, parents understand,” he says.

For him, the hardest part has been the kids he cannot reach. He bought kids shoes, Christmas gifts, a Fry’s gift card. He knew what their family situation was, how they learn, what challenges they face.

“If a kid hasn’t had breakfast, you treat them differently,” says Ken. “They are all so unique.”

Tyler Perry, now 32, saw firsthand how Coach Vargas took players under his wing and gave them the attention they weren’t getting at home.

“Your influence is more than just basketball,” he says in a letter to Coach Vargas. “It taught me how to treat people.”

The Perry family is not alone in recognizing Ken’s contribution beyond the game of basketball. In 2015, Ken received the Spirit of Cotton award. Named after Cotton Fitzsimmons, longtime coach for the Phoenix Suns, it is given to an Arizona high school coach that exemplifies the qualities of a coach, educator, mentor and community leader.

Greatest Comeback Ever

“Kenny had the ability to watch all 5 players on the court; he was a technician of the game,” says Coach Wilson. “His ability to do that, plus his handling of kids, coaching staff and parents made him a great coach.”

Ken briefly considered a resignation prior to the 2003-2004 season. His oldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer and he wanted to be available to support her. She pleaded with him to keep coaching because she was so looking forward to the season. Ken conceded and it was the season of the “greatest comeback ever” according to Evelyn.

It was the first round in the state playoffs at the America West theater. The Vandals were down 20 points with 3 minutes left.

“You’re only going to get one chance,” Ken told his team. “This is it.”

One player stepped up and said he could hit the 3 pointer. He hit it. With 6 seconds left and down by 1 point, a Vandal player steals the ball and makes the layup. The other team inbounds, throws the long ball down the court and it’s caught by a Vandal. There’s a huge roar and the whole crowd empties onto the court.

“Nothing compares to that,” says Evelyn, “the exhilaration, the roar of the crowd, the excitement…”

Ken doesn’t hear the roar of the crowd during the game. His focus is on the court.

“I could not have done a thing without this lady,” Ken says, admiring his wife.

“Yes you could,” she says, forever his cheerleader.

“You made it possible,” Ken says.

“It’s been a great ride,” Evelyn responds.

For the first time in 38 years, Ken Vargus doesn’t know what he’ll be doing in June. There’s a good chance the ride will continue. On his road bike, alone with his thoughts, or on electric bikes, together with Evelyn. u

“Kenny could chew your butt off without raising his voice. [He] doesn’t keep track of his overall record. It’s not how he measures success. Endurance. Dedication. Respect. Determination. Don’t give up. Those are things that are important.”

– DON WILSON

Ken and Evelyn Vargas

Coach Vargas with the Perry family.

Washington, DC - Globe City Council members Gameros, Gonzales, Shipley, Leetham, and Rios spent five days in Washington DC attending the National League of Cities Conference for the first time in our city’s history. Also attending were City Manager Paul Jepson and Economic Director Linda Oddonetto. The conference provided vital information and access to the millions of dollars of infrastructure funding available.

With the coordination of the city’s Washington Lobbyist, personal meetings were arranged with Senator Sinema, Senator Kelly, Congressman Crane, Congressman Stanton, Congressman Gallegos, Army Corps of Engineers, and USDA. We were able to make personal presentations in their offices on seven city projects in the amount of sixteen million dollars. We have already been guaranteed three million. We want to thank our amazing staff, who prepared all the documents used in our presentations.

Desert Fox Company deeds stair property to Town of Miami

Miami, Az - A recent donation by the Desert Fox Van Dyke Company to the Town of Miami paves the way for the Town to move forward in restoring the historic Keystone Stairs.

After receiving a CDBG grant of $196,590 for repair and restoration work on the stairs, the town discovered the stairs sat on property owned by Desert Fox. Elmer Stewart, the President/ CEO Copper Fox Metals stepped up to work with the town in securing the rights to the property so this bit of Miami history could be preserved.

The Keystone Stairs have been an iconic fixture in Miami since 1915 when they were first built to enable miners and residents to go down to the town’s central business district.

The Stairs have been the site of friendly competition as locals and visitors have tested their endurance in climbing the 155 stairs and made famous by countless photographers who include them in their images from this area.

Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center would like to welcome its newest provider, Caycie Madison!

Caycie Madison is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), with a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Caycie was born and raised in the Globe/Miami area and has practiced nursing for nine years in various specialties. Caycie’s well-rounded nursing practice gave her the inspiration to focus on the health integration of the mind and body. Caycie’s primary focus will be on assessing, diagnosing, treating, and supporting those with mental health concerns and conditions such as but not limited to, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders. She has received specialized training in the holistic treatment of mental health, dual diagnosis, and treating the severely mentally ill (SMI) population. Her passion is supporting those with effective, holistic, evidence-based, gender-sensitive, culturally competent, goal-directed, and recovery-oriented psychiatric treatment. Her goal is to advocate for and destigmatize mental health and mental illness.

Caycie was born and raised in the Globe/Miami area and enjoys attending local events and supporting the community. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé Larry along with being a boy mom. In her spare time, she studies French and world history.

For information or to schedule an appointment with Caycie, please call 928-425-8151.

Copper City Players presents Spring Play

The Copper Cities Community Players present their spring production, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Performances on May 12, 13, 19, and 20th at 7 pm, with a Matinee performance on May 13 at 2 pm. Tickets are $20 ea and may be purchased in advance (recommended) or at the door.

“An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vies for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life-un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.” Music Theater International

“A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. The small cast and unit set make this a perfect option for high schools or community theatres. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced crowd pleaser and an instant theatre patron favorite.” Music Theater International

Bullion Plaza is proud to announce...

... the return of their lecture series, kicking off this month with a presentation by Amanda Moors, wildlife biologist, on her work with the Mexican Spotted Owl. Moors has spent nearly three decades covering southcentral Arizona from the Apache-Sitgreaves forest to the Sky Island ranges in the borderlands. She will share photos and videos and explain what it takes to survey these rare birds, their life cycle, and their adaptation to the forest fires that have plagued Arizona.

IN LOVING MEMORY

JEREMIAH GENNICKS, July 7, 1975 – March 30, 2023, age 47, passed away. (BM)

WILBUR KAY BENALLY SR., January 26, 1948 – March 29, 2023, age 75, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. (LM)

YOLANDA JOY LOTTES, October 24, 1962 – March 29, 2023, age 60, of Globe, passed away at her home. Yolanda worked as a homemaker, for DES Daycare, and at Pinkie’s bar. She also volunteered at the food bank. (LM)

ROBERT SPRATT, January 12, 1965 – March 28, 2023, age 58, passed away. (BM)

MINA JANE MORROW THOMPSON, December 21, 1934 – March 27, 2023, age 88, passed away. Mina taught elementary school in San Carlos and later was a firstgrade teacher at the old East High School for 19 years. In retirement she taught genealogy through the LDS Church. (LM)

BENITO JOSEPH EYLICIO JR., November 26, 1946 – March 26, 2023, age 76, passed away. (BM)

DARWIN DULL, September 7, 1940 – March

25, 2023, age 82, of Kearny, passed away.

Darwin worked for Asarco in Ray. He was originally from Lovell, Wyoming. (BM)

LOLITA GIBSON, February 13, 1941 – March 25, 2023, age 82, of Globe, passed away at CVRMC. She was a seamstress for Levi Strauss. (LM)

SHIRLEY RANDALL, November 26, 1950

– March 24, 2023, age 72, of San Carlos, passed away at her home. She worked as a customer service representative for the Social Security office and at Apache Gold Casino as a security guard. (LM)

SHERRY DIANNE SMITH, October 17, 1943

– March 23, 2023, age 79, of Globe, passed away at her home. Sherry operated Sherry’s Salon of Beauty. She was originally from Port Gamble, Washington. (LM)

DARRYL GOSEYUN JR., June 17, 1990 –March 21, 2023, age 32, of Phoenix, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center.

Darryl was born in Phoenix and worked as an artist. (LM)

RUBEN A. SANTELLANES, August 13, 1943 –March 20, 2023, age 79, passed away. (BM)

RICKY HOPKINS, June 14, 1959 – March 20, 2023, age 63, of San Carlos, passed away in Globe. He worked as a teacher’s aide. (LM)

NAOMI L. LIGHT, February 18, 1930 – March 19, 2023, age 93, passed away. Omi was originally from Silver City, New Mexico. (BM)

GINA TERESA BENAVIDES, March 23, 1972 –March 19, 2023, age 50, passed away. (LM)

BUSTER ALLEN POINTS JR., January 24, 1932 – March 17, 2023, age 91, of Bowie, passed away in Globe. (LM)

LAVAR HOLYOAK, September 7, 1935 –March 17, 2023, age 87, passed away. Lavar worked for the mines in Hayden for 38 years and was an active leader at Maranatha Baptist Church. (LM)

HELEN GENEVIEVE YBARRA, March 2, 1936

– March 17, 2023, age 87, of Globe, passed away. Helen was a branch manager for First Interstate Bank. (LM)

WENDY ERMA KINDELAY, November 19, 1964 – March 17, 2023, age 58, of San Carlos, passed away at Haven of Globe. (LM)

VIOLA TERESA VARGAS, June 3, 1941 –March 16, 2023, age 81, of Mammoth, passed away at her home. Viola was originally from Tucson. (BM)

MARY A. SMITH, September 9, 1925 – March 14, 2023, age 97, of Globe, passed away at her son’s home. Mary had a total of 62 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and greatgreat-grandchildren. (LM)

RANDOLPH “WAYNE” ROBERTS, April 5, 1934 – March 14, 2023, age 88, passed away at his home. Wayne worked in mining and construction as a pipefitter-welder. He was originally from Quinton, Oklahoma. (BM)

MIGUEL SABINO “CHAPO” HERRERA JR., September 21, 1973 – March 12, 2023, age 49, of Globe, passed away. (LM)

LORRAINE LAURA DILLON, April 12, 1964 –March 11, 2023, age 58, of San Carlos, passed away at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa. She worked as a certified nurse’s assistant and was a cultural linguist who enjoyed crafts, including making cradle boards. (LM)

DANIELLE RAY NASH, June 12, 1989 – March 10, 2023, age 33, of Peridot, passed away in Avondale. Danielle worked as a librarian’s assistant for the Apache tribe. (LM)

PATRICIA MARIE DAOU, March 13, 1944 –March 9, 2023, age 78, of Globe, passed away. Pat worked as a waitress, including at Apache Gold Casino for 19 years. (LM)

WALTERIO CARRILLO ROMERO, July 15, 1935 – March 7, 2023, age 87, of Dudleyville, passed away at his home. Walter was a rancher and gardener. He served in the Korean War, where he received a Purple Heart. (BM)

MARY HELEN PACHECO AMADO, August 13, 1939 – March 7, 2023, age 83, of Winkelman, passed away at her home. (BM)

JASON ERIC DEITERS, June 22, 1977 –March 6, 2023, age 45, passed away. (BM)

GEORGE MARK THINKA, July 6, 1995 –March 6, 2023, age 27, of San Carlos, passed away. George worked as a cook for Tribal ceremonies. (LM)

ROSELITA UPSHAW NOLINE, December 2, 1950 – March 5, 2023, age 72, passed away. Roselita had numerous jobs, including as a Head Start teacher and at Apache Gold Casino. She was also a seamstress who made dolls, camp dresses, and quilts. (LM)

CLYDE ELBERT MILLER, January 14, 1946 –March 4, 2023, age 77, of Globe, passed away at his home. Clyde worked for Inspiration Copper as a boilermaker for 40 years. He was originally from Bogalusa, Louisiana. (LM)

ANNETTE BOSTON, January 3, 1960 – March 3, 2023, age 63, passed away. (BM)

ANTHONY JESS PALMER, May 16, 1971 –March 3, 2023, age 51, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. He was a preschool teacher. (LM)

JOHN DAVID ALLISON, June 19, 1968 –March 2, 2023, age 54, of Superior, passed away in Mesa. John worked for the fire department. (BM)

JOHN THEODORE BOISVINE, March 6, 1951

– March 1, 2023, age 71, of San Manuel, passed away at his home. John was originally from Burlington, Vermont, and served 20 years in the US Air Force. (BM)

CLARENCE RAY BULLIS JR. January 8, 2005

– March 1, 2023, age 18, passed away. (LM)

(LM= Lamont Mortuary. BM=Bulman Miles Funeral Home)

Her research of the spotted owls - a protected species- is used by land managers and wildlife agencies to aid in conservation. The Second Friday lecture will be held at the museum on April 14th at 6 pm.

COURTESY PHOTO (Evelyn Vargas (HOME), Elmer Stewart (President/CEO Copper Fox Metals, Alexis Rivera (Mayor of Miami) and Bob Zache (Copper Fox). Standing in front of the famous set of stairs.

His first concept was Bloom Restaurant, an Asian concept, now open for five years. The menu consists of Asian Fusion featuring food from all over the continent inspired by home cooks and distinguished chefs. Moreover, Wong carefully selects his ingredients and makes his sauces to accentuate the differences between each country. “I am amazed you can find some of these ingredients in Arizona. We are well covered in getting product here,” he says. Freshness comes to life in Bloom’s dishes, like the seafood curry from Malaysia and the ancient special fried rice from China. And the response to sushi in this small, rural town has been overwhelmingly positive. The Kamikaze Roll, on Bloom’s signature rolls menu, is a must-try.

While in Europe, Wong developed a love for woodfire cooking and wanted to create some “synergy pizza.” BRAVO Americano Moderno, Wong’s second concept in downtown Globe, embraces European and Asian classics. Open for three years, it sits directly next to Bloom on the same side of Broad Street. One of their fantastic pizzas is the Arugula, Arugula, Arugula, with garlic oil, fresh salami, fresh mozzarella, red onion, and sun-dried tomatoes topped with arugula and roasted balsamic vinegar glaze. The dough to make the pizzas undergoes a 24-hour fermentation. “The dough we make today is the dough we use tomorrow. This allows the yeast to grow and convert alcohol to sugars, so it has more character and has a chance to release gas, making it lighter and better for you,” he explains.

In addition, non-pizza menu items at BRAVO, like the Buttery Garlic Lobster Ravioli, are also delicious. “We are all still learning to expand the menu and grow, like having more chef’s specials and thinking out of the box.” Even further, the restaurant is not just remarkable because of the food; it’s a familiar gathering place. For instance, many patrons greet each other by name, and you might even find the chief of police sitting at the next table. Additionally, the patio has plenty of seating for groups, including one long community table that is particularly adored by Wong. “I like seeing people sitting together and creating conversations; I think that’s interesting.”

Furthermore, the tables and chairs, made from the wood of an old bowling alley, are conversation pieces. When BRAVO was under construction, Wong’s friend, who used to own a bowling alley in Globe, donated all the wood for many benches and tables in the restaurant. The wood originally came from Boston and was shipped to Japan, making its journey to Globe for the bowling alley. Like Wong, the wood has a story, and through travel, it brought a beguiling spirit for all to enjoy in his restaurant.

Another thing that Wong would love to incorporate into both Bloom and BRAVO is a wine experience, and he is hopeful his guests will be interested. “I always had wine pairings at my restaurant in Mesa, which I want to expose here. Most places in Globe don’t have wine”. He currently has about ten reds and ten whites between the two restaurants. BRAVO has more European options like Chiantis and Cabernet Francs, whereas Bloom focuses on lighter, crisp, fresh whites. However, as people expand their palates, he wants to expand the list. “I would love to see people ordering flights of sake and wine, where we could change it weekly,” he exclaimed.

Wong has the utmost respect and gratitude toward the community of Globe and those who visit. He expressed there is no comparison to having a restaurant in the valley and, that in Mesa, he felt like just another restaurant. “Globe has a better following and community that helps a small restaurant.”

The support for downtown businesses is evident as the streets are busy, and the parking spots are often occupied, even during the weekdays.

The camaraderie among business owners in town is something Wong values as well. He enjoys building relationships with a common goal of growing and enriching the city. “You have Tracy across the street, who owns The Huddle, who always supports us and tells us what’s happening with events, as does Tanner, owner of Western Repro, and Waggin’ Vineyard & Estate is nearby, which also brings synergy and exposure.” Moreover, many stores and restaurants in Globe have an event calendar or signs posted at their establishments to bring awareness to the happenings. He is also grateful to the Chamber of Commerce for being on top of things and hosting new events like home tours and spring flings that bring traffic to town.

The culinary scene Wong creates is exciting, and more is to come. He has plans for a third restaurant and is slowly renovating that spot, which is also downtown. This next concept will be a worldwide tapas lounge with items like Japanese street food.

Although ambitious about developing downtown, Wong cherishes the historic old town feel that will always remain. And, having traveled the globe, he is thrilled to be right where he is, making connections through one’s palate. “The people in Globe want to be here; I want to be here.” u

BRAVO, Continued from page 1

A special pairing for Valentine’s Day at Bloom.

The entrance to Bloom leads to an outdoor patio in the back.

Bravo’s lobster ravioli paired with a Franc. Carmelized pear and prosciutto pizza from Bravo. Bravo Patio

Bravo is designed with both indoor and outdoor wrap around bars.

Questions: 808-373-0032 | stairizonatrail@gmail.com