ALL YEAR FOR ONE WEEKEND
How 4-H Youth Bring the County Fair to Life
by Jenn Walker
The sun is barely up, and already the Gila County Fairgrounds are humming with activity.
A teenager clips down the hair of a nervous steer. The scent of hay and livestock mixes with the morning air, the anticipation thick. For hundreds of kids involved in 4-H, this is what they’ve been preparing for all year.
From gardening and fiber arts to reptiles, poultry, goats, and steers, these young competitors have spent months caring for animals, planting seeds, preserving vegetables, and learning the fine points of showmanship. Now, they’re preparing to show it all at the Gila County Fair, running this year September 17–20.
One could argue this is a rite of passage in a rural community.
4-H is the nation’s largest youth development program, engaging kids from ages 5 to 18. In Gila County alone, there are 18 active clubs that cover everything from robotics and shooting sports to livestock, cooking, and agriculture, all of which are focused on the 4 H’s of 4-H.
“It’s head, health, heart, hands,” explains Erin Sanders, leader of two local clubs—Farm to Table and Buddies (4-H Cloverbuds), the latter of which introduces younger kids to the
world of 4-H, allowing them to participate in the fair without formally competing.
For Sanders, who learned how to grow food from her grandfather and great-grandfather, 4-H is a passion she shares with her family. Under her guidance, along with that guidance of co-leader Trini Hurtado, the Farm to Table club has been growing and harvesting produce from their garden at the Gila County Food Bank and learning to preserve it—canning pineapple zucchini, pesto, spaghetti sauces, and salsa. It’s a hands-on lesson in self-sufficiency.
The club has been involved in every aspect –they built the garden beds, filled them with soil, planted seeds, watered, harvested, and canned everything.
“These 10, 11 kids that we have this year have built all of this,” Hurtado says, looking around the garden.
The 4-H year kicks off in January. From then until September, members attend club meetings, track their progress in record books, pursue their projects, and prepare for the fair.
Mia Wagner and her sister Allison Wagner, club members of Outlaw Livestock, work with animals year-round. 4-H members working with livestock are expected to work with their animals daily.
Miami High School Track Star Makes History
Ryder Guerrero Takes First Place at the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics by Jenn Walker
Back in July, one of our own, a small town kid from Miami, made Junior Olympic history.
In late July, more than 7,000 young athletes and families congregated at Savannah State University’s Ted Wright Stadium in Georgia for one of the most prestigious competitions in Track and Field. Amidst the stifling summer humidity and heat was 16-year-old Ryder Guerrero, one of Miami High School’s track athletes, who was competing in the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships for the first time. During six days of races, he went on to take first place in the 15-16 age bracket of the boys’ 800 meter race at 1:59, and placed fourth in the 400 meter race.
He’s likely the first from the community to have ever competed at that level, says Shawn Pietila, San Carlos Unified School District Superintendent and former Miami Junior Senior High track coach, who coached Guerrero back when he was in 6th grade.
“It is a humongous deal for one of our very own Arizona Track and Field young stars,” he adds.
This was Guerrero’s first time traveling out of Arizona. He headed into the meet as the number one seed in the 800 meter dash and within the top 5 in the 400 meter dash, representing Arizona Flames Track Club, a regional team.
Mia Wagner travels around the state participating in livestock shows, sometimes as many as 10 a year, including those hosted by Southern Arizona International Livestock Association (SAILA). This helps her prepare for competition at the Gila County Fair. Photo provided by Kristina Mikeworth
Guerrero shares a moment with Arizona Flames Coach Jay after winning the 800 meter race at the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships. Photo by Elisha Argentinis with Just Shoot Sports
RIP Arizona Silver Belt
(May 1, 1878 - August 6, 2025)
News Media Corp shutters newspapers across 5 states.
by Linda Gross
On August 6, 2025, News Media Corporation—the parent company of the Arizona Silver Belt and Copper Country News—shut down all operations without warning. Employees were told the company was closing permanently, effective immediately, and the doors were locked the same day.
It was a sudden and ignominious end for a newspaper that had endured more than a century of economic depressions, political upheavals, and social change while maintaining continuous publication. In its early years, the Silver Belt was guided by notable figures like Judge Aaron Hackney and his son Joseph Hamill. Over a century later, it became the first of many rural papers acquired by NMC founder John C. Tompkins, who often referred to it as his favorite and vowed never to sell it—something he kept true to throughout his lifetime.
Just before Tompkins’ passing in 2023, leadership passed to his son J.J. Three years later, under mounting financial pressure and reportedly failed attempts to find a buyer, NMC shut down all 25 of its newspapers across Arizona, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
An editor of a South Dakota newspaper was quoted as saying, “It’s no secret that it is tough times out there for all print media…but make no mistake- we’re closed for now as a result of poor corporate management.”
That rings true for me, as I have never believed that print is dead if it is done right.
I was deeply saddened by the recent news, but after I got over the shock, what immediately came next was a conviction that this closure cannot mean the loss of a weekly newspaper for our community.
As your local monthly, Globe Miami Times has focused on the people, culture, and events that define our region—distinct from the role of the weekly. That will not change.
But we will expand.
Beginning in September, we plan to launch a new bi-monthly paper designed to fill the gap left by the Silver Belt. Look for the first issue to come out on September 3.
We are working with a team of professionals to help us take this step and ensure we land on our feet, so we can deliver a product worthy of your time. We will start small, but if my hunch is right, we will grow.
Because as Diane Syvester of E&P Magazine wrote recently, “Trust, relevance and community connection may still be local journalism’s secret weapon.” And we are betting on that.
Stay tuned for more.
(Inquiries for content and advertising can be directed to me: gross@globemiamitimes.com or 928-961-4297.)
Arizona
Gateway to Copper Corridor – Globe, AZ Arizona Silver Belt – Globe, AZ Copper Country News – Globe, AZ Lake Powell Chronicle – Page, AZ Gateway to Canyon County – Page, AZ
Illinois Rochelle News Leader – Rochelle, IL Peak on the Go – Rockford, IL Ogle County LIFE – Oregon, IL Clinton Journal – Clinton, IL Ashton Gazette – Ashton, IL Rochelle Shopping News – Rochelle, IL Saturday Advertiser – Clinton, IL Amboy News – Amboy, IL Mendota Reporter – Mendota, IL The Money Saver – Mendota, IL
South Dakota
Brookings Register – Brookings, SD Moody County Enterprise – Flandreau, SD The Daily Plainsman – Huron, SD Redfield Press – Redfield, SD Payday – Huron, SD
Nebraska The Business Farmer – Scotts Bluff, NE
Wyoming Pinedale Roundup – Pinedale, WY Platte County Record-Times – Wheatland, WY Guernsey Gazette – Guernsey, WY Torrington Telegram – Torrington, WY Lusk Herald – Lusk, WY Uinta County Herald – Evanston, WY Bridger Valley Pioneer – Lyman, WY Kemmerer Gazette – Kemmerer, WY
We’re committed to keeping the Globe-Miami area connected, informed, and proud of the place we call home.
Linda Gross, Publisher
Publisher
Linda Gross
Editors
Patricia Sanders
Jenn Walker
Creative Designer
Jenifer Lee
Contributing Writers
David Abbott
Linda Gross
Carissa Pool
Jenn Walker
Contributing Photography
Linda Gross
Jenn Walker
Getting the News
Copyright@2025
Globe
175 E Cedar Street Globe, AZ 85501
Office: 928.961.4297
Cell: 928.701.3320
editor@globemiamitimes.com www.GlobeMiamiTimes.com
Advertising Deadline
Artwork is due the 25th of the month preceding publication. Design and photography services are available beginning at $55 hr.
Display Advertising Rates Contact Linda at 928.701.3320 or gross@globemiamitimes.com Annual
The Dog Days of August are certainly upon us! Scorching hot, long days followed by slightly less hot nights with no rain in sight. So I’ll take comfort in the fact that the weather report is showing cooler weather at least for next week - 87! And what a month this has been so far, and it’s only half over!
The abrupt closure of our weekly newspapers on August 6th came as a shock to us all, including NMC employees. They were informed that their job was terminated “effective immediately” in an email from the CEO of NewsMediaCorp on Wednesday, after the last issue of the Silver Belt and Copper Country News hit newsstands. Word spread through social media, and reports by national media soon followed. They confirmed the details and outlined the scope of the closures. We were not the only ones feeling a sense of shock and sadness at losing our weeklies.
This loss of our weekly leaves me with the same sick feeling in my gut as the loss of KIKO did last March. Where do we go now to hear from (or about) our neighbors each week? Has it all come down to the fancy of social media platforms? No! Tell me it’s not so. I refuse to go gently into that dark night! GMT will expand to offer a weekly publication, published every other week.
Our first paper will be published on September 3, and then every two weeks thereafter. We may stumble at first and get some things wrong, but we will learn
as we go and strive to be a worthy weekly. As Bill Gates was famous for saying, “Ship it now. We will fix it later.” Yes - we are launching a new publication with a new name/branding, and purpose, but with the same investment we’ve always shown in delivering value to readers. Whereas GMT has enjoyed a broad audience, ranging from locals to visitors, and is distributed throughout the Globe-Miami region each month, the new weekly will remain focused on a hyper-local audience and be available only in Globe-Miami and San Carlos. (see pg 2) Stay tuned for more.
This month in GMT, we’re spotlighting the dedication and achievements of local youth—from the 4-H kids who spend all year preparing for their moment at the Gila County Fair (p. 1) to Miami High junior Ryan Guerrero, who is racking up firsts, from clocking the fastest 400-meter dash time of any Miami track athlete since at least 1968 to qualifying for the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships. Change isn’t easy, but it’s in moments like these that community matters most. Whether it’s celebrating the hard work of our youth, preserving our stories, or making sure our neighbors’ voices are heard, we’re committed to the process and to keeping the presses rolling.
Join us.
Linda Gross, Publisher
A Hammock on an Iceberg
by Patricia Sanders
It’s hot. I know that goes without saying, but sometimes it feels good just to say it anyway. It’s bonemeltingly hot.
Summertime does have its perks, though – ice cream cones, swimming at the pool, watermelon, fresh tomatoes from the garden, peaches so juicy they drip down your face.
When I lived at Reevis Mountain School, on hot summer days we would take a dip in the cistern and then I would get on our old bicycle and coast down the path in my wet clothes – heaven.
One summer, years ago, I went to Baja, and it was so hot in the afternoons, I just collapsed into a hammock with a cold beverage. I was reading Ice!, by Tristan Jones, He was a sailor – born on his father’s tramp steamer – who crossed the Atlantic 20 times and circled the globe nearly four times, all solo. Ice! tells the story of his Arctic voyage, from Iceland around Greenland and toward the North Pole, attempting to sail farther north than anyone had before, alone with his three-legged, one-eyed dog Nelson.
In the middle of the trip, his boat got caught in an ice pack and he ended up stuck there for a full year, waiting for the ice to melt. The book is full of icebergs, cold winds, snow drifts, frigid temperatures, and the Northern Lights. Perfect for a sweltering summer afternoon.
Speaking of ice, the news anchor Diane Sawyer tells a story about when she first met Johnny Carson. If I recall correctly, it was at the Ascot horse races, and Sawyer happened to be seated right next to Carson. She was flustered and didn’t know what to say. First, she blurted out, “You’re Johnny Carson!”, to which he replied, “I have to be somebody.” Then she
panicked about what to say next, and ended up asking him, “Would you rather die by fire or ice?” He said, deadpan, “Ice, it’s colder.”
I love that story because it shows anyone can get social anxiety, even somebody who speaks every day on TV with millions of viewers. And it gives me a line to use at parties when I can’t think of what to say.
But to get back to the point (being so hot makes it hard to stay focused), reading Ice! shows why I love books. When life is uncomfortable or difficult, you can read about something completely different. When you’re melting in Mexico, you can read about freezing in the Arctic. When you’re bored or uninspired, you can follow along with fantastic adventures. And when your life feels like a little too much, you can immerse yourself in someone else’s troubles, and put your own out of your mind for a while.
You don’t even have to have a book, though –because you always have your own imagination and memory. You can go back in time to when things were different (a vacation in the mountains, for example), or imagine forward to when things will be, or could be, different. Skiing in the Alps, or trekking in Nepal, say. You don’t have to stay trapped in the here and now.
I had a teacher in high school who required every student to memorize poems and recite them in front of the class. She said it was in case we were ever in prison and needed something to do to pass the time – I guess she meant we could have recited our poems to each other.
Hard to imagine that happening, but life itself can feel like a prison cell sometimes. And books – and imagination itself – are like a fourth dimension, a place you can go when you can’t go left, right, up, down, backward, or forward. Books and imagination and
memory enable you to go inward and outward –or backward and forward in time.
Some people call reading escapism, but I beg to disagree – it isn’t escapism to open your mind to a wider world, bigger perspectives, and marvelous possibilities, going beyond what’s right around you.
Reading can remind you you’re not the only one sweating it out — or stuck in the ice.
Sometimes I wonder if reading about cold places actually cools the body, even just a little. I used to think this was just my imagination, but it turns out it might be true. Neuroscientists have found that when you imagine something vividly, your brain often reacts as if it’s really happening. The same brain circuits light up — the sensory cortex, the motor cortex, even the parts that regulate temperature and pain.
Scientists have found that when people imagine themselves doing workouts, their muscles actually grow, and when stroke patients practice walking in their imagination, their balance and walking skills improve.
It’s miraculous, when you think about it — that just by picturing something, you can shift your physical state. That the mind, with no snow in sight, can conjure a chill. That’s not escapism. That’s the power of the imagination.
Which means that if you’re deeply engrossed in a story about frostbite, ice floes, and snowy wind, your brain might actually start to believe you’re cold.
Not that I’m giving up on iced drinks or strategic fan placement — I’m not that enlightened. But until the weather cools off, I’ll also be grabbing a book –my A/C for the soul.
And maybe another peach. Possibly eaten directly in front of the refrigerator.
IMAGINED IMAGE PROMPTED BY JENIFER LEE | GENERATED WITH CHATGPT
CITY OF GLOBE
CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS FINAL BUDGET FOR FY 2025-2026: At the July 8th meeting, the City Council approved Resolution 1912, officially adopting the final budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026. The approved budget totals $57,562,961.00. This action marks the final phase of this year’s budget process.
PROPERTY TAX LEVY RATE ADJUSTMENT: At the July 28th meeting, City Council approved Ordinance No. 892, adopting the FY 2025-2026 property tax rate of $1.1892 per 100 dollars of assessed valuation. Although property values have increased, the City has lowered the tax rate to keep your tax bill approximately the same as last year. This adjustment ensures residents are not paying more in property taxes solely because of rising property values.
FLIGHT INSURANCE FOR GLOBE RESIDENTS: Following the completion and adoption of this year’s budget, the City of Globe has purchased flight insurance coverage for all city residents through PHI AirEvac, the primary emergency air medical service provider for our area. This coverage is provided for medical flights in and out of the Globe-Miami area.
There are some key points to be aware of:
• If you are a resident of the City of Globe, you are automatically covered. You should not receive any bill for flights provided by PHI AirEvac
• Please note that other helicopter providers, such as Banner Air or LifeNet, may also operate in our area. Flights from these providers are not covered under the city’s agreement.
If you would like to ensure that your entire family is covered or want protection for flights with other providers, you may purchase additional coverage directly through those companies at reasonable rates.
For Banner Air, call 800-793-0010 or go online at airmedcarenetwork.com/ banner air.
For Air Methods, call patient advocacy at 855-896-9067 or go online at customercare@airmethods.com.
by David Abbott
From pulling permits to building a fence or home addition, to doing the paperwork to open a new business, the City of Globe has been working to streamline processes and regulations to align with modern standards while continuing to prioritize public life safety. These standards are in place not just to check a box, but to help protect residents, businesses, and neighborhoods as the Globe community continues to grow and evolve.
Although the process may seem overwhelming to those facing the prospect of applying for various permits or licenses, City staff is on hand to help assist applicants through each step. Staff members are dedicated to making the experience as smooth and successful as possible.
CITIZENS ACADEMY #7: We are excited to announce the launch of Citizens Academy #7, a seven-week program designed to give residents a deeper understanding of how their city operates. This is a great opportunity to learn more about city departments, daily operations, and the overall direction of the city. Classes are held every Wednesday, 6:00 pm – 8 pm at the various department locations. Each participant is provided by a meal as part of the class. Each week will focus on a different aspect of City Government, including City Council, Administration, Finance, Public Safety, Public Works, Library, Besh, Active Adult Center, and community services.
SPOTS ARE LIMITED! Don’t miss your chance to engage, learn, and get involved. Applications are online on the city website or available at city hall. For more information, contact our City Clerk, Shelly Salazar at 928-200-8535 by email at ssalazar@globeaz.gov.
ARIZONA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION PROGRAM: A team of assessors from the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP) will arrive on August 7th to examine all aspects of the Globe Police Department. This assessment will evaluate the department’s policies, procedures, operations, and support services. The assessors will focus on whether the department complies with ALEAP’s rigorous standards and best practices. This review is a key step in the department’s voluntary effort to achieve accreditation, which is a mark of professional excellence in law enforcement.
Accreditation is a significant achievement that demonstrates the department’s commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, and service to the community. Chief Dale Walters and the Globe Police Department are proud to participate in this process and look forward to the opportunity to showcase its dedication to professional standards.
AUGUST COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR CANCELLED: The August Coffee with the Mayor has been cancelled due to the City Council’s attendance at the annual Arizona League of Cities and Towns Conference that week. The next Coffee with the Mayor is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17th at 1:00 pm, hosted by Copper Cities Coffee, located at 1100 N. Broad Street, Suite F. This event offers a great opportunity for residents to meet with the Mayor and Vice-Mayor, ask questions, and get the most accurate and up to date information on city projects— past, present, and upcoming. A special thank you to Copper Cities Coffee for graciously hosting this community event.
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Beyond the Paperwork: People Behind the Process
“The intention behind these requirements is public health and safety and not bureaucracy for the sake of it,” says Councilman Jesse Leetham. “We all have to play by the same rules, even if we don’t like them, and I encourage residents to reach out directly to City Hall, attend public meetings, or use the city’s official website to ensure their concerns are heard and properly addressed.”
For most of the past decade, the City of Globe has focused attention on economic development, public safety and quality of life. Permits, reviews, and approvals are not new, but are now being more consistently and equitably enforced. These regulations are not meant to slow down or confuse citizens, they are designed to help projects succeed and flourish into the future.
The strategies to achieve those goals include a more equitable law enforcement of the rules and regulations that maintain and encourage sustainable growth.
“I hear the frustration from my constituents that some of our regulations feel like overreach,” Leetham says. “These regulations ensure that requirements are enforced consistently and fairly.”
While it may feel productive to air grievances on social media, there are established processes to follow for rectifying misunderstandings. City staff is composed of people who are dedicated to seeing the community thrive.
“While Facebook and local radio can be useful for spreading awareness, they’re not the best places for resolving issues involving city code, and often lack context and accuracy, which can lead to confusion or misinformation,” Leetham says. “It’s also important to remember that our city employees and elected officials—whether lifelong residents or professionals who’ve come from outside the area—are your neighbors, parents at your kid’s school, fellow grocery shoppers. They deserve the same level of respect we’d offer anyone else in our community.”
Anyone needing information about the process for opening a business or making property improvements can start by contacting staff at City Hall or visiting the City’s website at www.globeaz.gov. For business licensing questions, residents can contact Mary Helen Sanchez, Licensing Administrator, at (928) 425-7146, ext. 202, who brings both knowledge and a helpful approach to the process. For permits related to building, signage, or property improvements, please reach out to Katrina Estrada, Permit Technician, at (928) 425-7146, ext. 219. Estrada is available to assist applicants through requirements, forms, and the timeline.
Globe’s Economic and Community Development Departments recently rolled out its “People. Process. Progress.” campaign as a reminder that local government exists to serve the people of Globe, that process matters, and that real progress happens when everyone works together.
Accurate information about what is happening within City government is important as well, so attending City Council meetings that take place on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month can be an invaluable tool to understanding municipal government. The meetings are also streamed on the City of Globe’s YouTube channel on the “Live Stream on YouTube” link at the City’s website.
Additionally, information and updates are available via the City of Globe’s app that can be downloaded and set to provide notifications of the goings-on in the City of Globe.
For those interested in a more detailed education on local government, the City organizes its bi-annual Citizens’ Academy, a multi-week, in-depth immersion into City functions from the rules surrounding Council operations to the way water gets to the tap. “Citizens Academy is a hands-on, behindthe-scenes look at how your city operates, and it’s a great way to get involved, ask questions, and see the full picture,” says Leetham. “Your voice matters. Just make sure it’s heard in the places where it can truly make a difference.”
For information regarding the next Citizens Academy, contact Shelly Salazar, City Clerk at (928) 200-8535.
Mia spends at least four hours each week with her sheep—not including the time she spends traveling to up to 10 shows around the state a year, a large part of her training process for the fair.
For these sisters, livestock is a lifestyle passed down through their family. Their mother, Kristina Mikeworth, has been leading Outlaw Livestock for two decades, which was started by her family more than 30 years ago.
“I bought their first animal, their first feed for them,” Mikeworth says of her daughters. “After that, it was their responsibility if they wanted to continue to do it or spend their money.”
Budgeting is a lesson 4-H teaches early.
“My first daughter, she was $900 in debt her first month,” she adds.
And it’s not just about feeding and grooming. Kids study animal nutrition and illnesses, grooming techniques, and even how to trim hooves.
“The kids won’t necessarily see these things on their own even if they’re taking good care of their goats,” says Karen Donaldson, who leads “We’re Those Kids,” a club that focuses on goats and fiber arts. (She is also co-leader of the Gila Monster League, a reptile club in its second year.)
Most recently, she’s been working with We’re Those Kids on trimming goats’ hooves, ever since she saw one of the club goats with overgrown hooves.
“It will cause problems if we don’t deal with this,” she says. “We started on trimming this goat’s hooves, and every week now, we’ll look at this goat’s hooves to get them trimmed correctly. That way, by fair time, she’ll be standing on her toes like she’s supposed to.”
Kids also prepare their animals for showmanship— training them to walk on a leash, stand still, and respond to subtle cues.
“I started right off this year teaching them to get their goats to follow them for fun. No collar,” says Donaldson. “Just carry around some treats in a little coffee can and rattle it and get your goat’s attention.”
Whether showing a rabbit or a steer, kids are judged on their ability both to present and care for their animal. There’s showmanship, and then there’s the animal’s quality, explains Sanders.
“You might have a beautiful looking bird,” she says. “But if your meat and your fat ratios are off, you know, the judge is going to know that.”
Poultry kids learn how to hold and flip turkeys or chickens so judges can inspect them. Steer kids must guide their animals with confidence and control.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” Mia admits. “The competition and just the whole showmanship aspect, and everybody there watching.”
There may be more than 50 animals in any given round.
“We have to try to win against all of them, and we have to go in multiple times,” Allison says.
If a student wins showmanship, they’re invited to Round Robin—a contest where they must demonstrate showmanship with various animals, including animals they may have never handled before.
One year, a small boy won rabbit showmanship and then had to show a steer in Round Robin, which he wasn’t familiar with.
The 1200-pound steer, though it was gentle, got nervous and stepped sideways, lifting the boy off the ground, pinning the boy between him and the fence.
“Isaac didn’t let go. Isaac stayed calm,” Donaldson recalls.
That was her son.
During the fair, it’s common to see steer kids learning from Cloverbuds how to hold a chicken properly, or poultry kids learning to lead a pig.
“So they exchange information,” Sanders says. “You know, it takes two different kids from two different worlds and it crosses them over.”
In the days leading up to the fair, families camp out in RVs near the barns. Trailers haul animals, feed, tools, and supplies. Kids are up before dawn, grooming animals, cleaning stalls, and preparing for the long weekend.
“The days of the show, those are crazy days,” Donaldson says. “You’ve got 100 kids out there and their families in that little tiny space, grooming and bathing pigs, grooming steers with the blow dryers and fluffing the steers up, trimming the sheep and goats one last time and bathing them and keeping slinkies on them so they stay clean.”
Sometimes a goat gets loose and the kids have to work together to catch it.
And it’s not just about livestock. Farm to Table kids enter their canned goods and vegetables in judged competitions. Judges taste-test pickles and pesto to determine which young chef is the winner.
One night, everyone gathers for Old-Fashioned Fair Night, a major fundraiser. Families donate everything from homemade quilts and sofa blankets to chocolate pies and grills for prize-winning raffles. Proceeds fund various scholarships, from $500 scholarships for graduating seniors to $100 summer camp stipends.
“This is our one and only opportunity as a program to raise the money to cover scholarships,” says Donaldson. And, it’s open to the public—even the pieeating contest.
COUNTY FAIR, continued from page 1
Erin’s son James Sanders won reserve champion last year for showmanship in junior poultry. Photo provided by Erin Sanders
Trini Hurtado’s daughter, a Farm to Table club member, harvests chilis from the garden. Photo by Jenn Walker
4-H club members James Sanders, Wyatt Gregory, Garrett Gregory, and Kaydin Sanders speak to a judge about their poultry behind the scenes. Photo provided by Erin Sanders.
Farm to Table garden at Gila County Food Bank.
Kristina’s daughter Allison Wagner won reserve champion last year for showmanship in the junior goat category at the county fair. Photo provided by Kristina Mikeworth
COUNTY FAIR, continued from page 6
While the fair provides entertainment and competition, the deeper lessons for 4-H kids are about responsibility, discipline, and confidence that have been developed throughout the year, from early mornings, budgeting, feeding, cleaning, and accurate record-keeping.
These responsibilities are all the more present during the fair.
“Those children are responsible for their stall, their cleanliness every day. They get up, crack of dawn, they’re feeding, watering, changing shavings,” Sanders says. “You might walk through the barn and not see a kid in sight. But if it’s clean, guaranteed it was them.”
“Because the parents are actually not allowed to do it,” she adds. “If they’re caught doing it, the kids are the ones that get docked… If you show really well in your show, but
that judge realizes you don’t take care of your animal, that costs a buckle for you.”
Behind the scenes, 4-H members develop people-skills, talking to judges, interacting with and informing buyers.
“They’re learning life skills and they don’t even realize it,” Sanders says.
Fair week also brings kids from across different schools and backgrounds together.
“They might not hang out at school, ever,” Sanders says, “but during the fair, they’re the bunny barn kids.”
“And they hang out and they want pictures together. And they ride bikes together. And they’re helping each other out,” she adds.
4-H also builds resilience. “You’re not going to place well every time you show,” Mia says.
Humility is key.
Back in January, Farm to Table kids mapped their
garden plots and generously scattered flower seeds between rows of vegetables when it came time to plant. They’d learned about bees and pollination.
“It’s agriculture at its finest,” Sanders says. “The kids are learning the basis of the life cycle of the plants.”
“This is a livelihood,” she adds.
That connection—from planting to harvest, from feeding livestock to sales—is what drives 4-H.
As Mikeworth puts it: “It’s all hands-on and you’re doing it as you go. You’re not sitting in a classroom. This is a life skill that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”
And come fair time, all that work—every garden diagram, every 5 a.m. feeding, every canned jar of pickles— comes together under the lights of the fairgrounds.
For one weekend in September, the whole community sees what these kids have accomplished. And then, they’ll start all over again.
Kristina’s daughter Allison Wagner is shown here competing with her goat for showmanship. Photo provided by Kristina Mikeworth
4-H club member James Sanders works with his goat on a stand in preparation for the fair. Photo provided by Erin Sanders
4-H club member Garrett Gregory works with his goat on a stand in preparation for the fair. Photo provided by Erin Sanders
dine, shop, explore
*Please note: This map is not to scale, it is intended for informational purposes only.
Globe Antique Mall
SCUSD heads into school year with new leadership
By David Abbott
A new school year at San Carlos Unified School District has brought changes to leadership from the superintendent’s office to the schools that make up the district.
Incoming Superintendent Shawn Pietila has assembled an administration comprised of longtime SCUSD alums as well as new talent committed to the community and the values of the District.
“We’ve assembled a team that is dedicated to the longterm success of our students and our schools and to build on the successes of my esteemed predecessor, Dr. Deborah Dennison,” says first-year Superintendent Shawn Pietila. “We have deep connections to this community and are here for the long-run.”
Pietila takes the lead from Dennison—who held the post for nine years—after spending the past year in an interim position. His connections to SCUSD run deep, as Pietila spent 11 years at San Carlos High School, teaching, coaching football and track and field, and serving as an instructional coach. He moved to Miami Jr./Sr. High School for five years before returning to the District and birthplace of his wife, San Carlos Apache Tribe member Crystal Pietila.
In addition to changes in leadership, SCUSD has merged Rice Intermediate and Rice Primary schools into a single entity, Pre-K through fifth Rice Elementary.
“Now we can use our best practices down to the primary level and across the curriculum for all grade levels,” says Rice Elementary Principal Dr. Jennifer Madrid.
Madrid not only brings an impressive resume to the job, but also a track record that stands the test of time within the District.
She received her physics degree in the Philippines in 2002 and taught there for six years. From there, Madrid moved to Baltimore to teach physics for four years and landed in the SCUSD in 2012 after meeting and marrying her husband, a Globe native who works for Capstone Copper.
Along the way, she taught a variety of subjects in the science field, introduced science research at San Carlos High School and acted as a coach in the District’s robotics program, as well as an advisor for the San Carlos 4-H Club. She was the Gila County Teacher of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2023. In May 2025, Madrid received the Roberta Patten Award representing the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
She became assistant principal at Rice Intermediate in 2023 and will now oversee the newly combined schools led by two assistant principals.
“I’ll do everything I can to educate these kids, because they are the future of San Carlos. We have high expectations and believe all students can learn,” she says. “I love the San Carlos Apache people and feel like I’m part of the community, so I’m not going anywhere.”
In addition to her years spent working with Pietila in the District, Madrid also worked with incoming Rice Elementary Assistant Principal Paul Fine, who also began his administrative career in the Miami Unified School District to become the Athletic Director and Vice Principal there. Fine is returning to a place he considers to be home, and is looking forward to working with Madrid and Pietila again in relationships that have been established over the course of the past 15 years.
“I think already having a working relationship with somebody is important to me, because you can quickly get on the same page,” Fine says. “Familiarity is really important in any job, but having that trust was the big attraction and just being able to work with a really strong leader I already had a working relationship with appeals to me.”
Fine has worked from coast to coast, from his native state of New York to an alternative school in San Diego. He even taught in Moscow, but feels he has found a home in San Carlos.
“I’ve lived in Las Vegas and couldn’t find a community where I had a community of friends,” says Fine. “I went to San
Diego for three years, but I’ve just always felt accepted here.”
Change has come to San Carlos Middle School as well, and the school is the beneficiary of an experienced educator, who is one of a dozen or so new administrators with master’s degrees in educational leadership.
Zariffe “Zeffy” Magana is the new Associate Principal at San Carlos Middle School in her first year at the SCUSD. Magana is entering her 20th year in education, half of them as a primary school teacher in third, fifth and sixth grades, also as a coach and a principal at a school district in the Valley.
Originally from Colorado, Magana moved to Southern Utah with her family and went to high school in Page, Arizona. She moved to Philadelphia on a whim, where she finished her formal education and completed her student teaching. Eventually, she returned to the West to be closer to family.
“If you go from a balcony view, the thought of truly shaping minds, little minds, big minds, staff, it’s so humbling, and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” she says.
“I just love being at the school. I love greeting kids and staff in the morning, and even the late nights. It becomes your family.”
Magana is also drawn to the challenges San Carlos students face and finding solutions to the problems that plague the community.
“I knew there was a need here and we’ll continue to support our kids with food, shelter, warmth and caring individuals,” she says. “Along with connecting their academics so that whether they want to be an artist or a doctor or whatever, we build that self-confidence and that grit that is needed.”
The SCUSD administrative makeover has touched the high school too, as the District has recruited San Carlos Tribe member Isaiah May to be Associate Principal. SCHS was recently upgraded to a “B” school in the State’s academic grading system, so May’s task is to help maintain that level of improvement.
May grew up in San Carlos, graduating from Globe High School. He held several jobs in the region, including with the San Carlos Housing Authority, before he found his calling in education. He earned his teaching degree at Arizona State University in a program connected to Gila Community College, eventually gaining credentials in educational leadership.
“My father, my mother, my brothers, my sister, they’re all still here, and all my many family members and friends, so I feel like I’m going to have good success in this role,” May says. “I know there’s a lot to learn, and I’m thankful the school district, the principal, and everyone else is so supportive, and they’re just not throwing me in to sink or swim.”
Pietila is grateful for the experience his long-time colleagues are bringing to his initial year leading the District, as well as the perspective the newcomers will add to his new administration.
“We plan to build on the successes of the leadership, staff and students of the past and carry on the compassionate approach to education that has been created within the District,” Pietila says. “With the help of everyone in the community, from my office to our students’ parents, we’re looking towards continued success in the future.”
Associate Principal at San Carlos Middle School Zariffe “Zeffy” Magana
Jennifer Madrid
Rice Elementary Assistant Principal Paul Fine
Alfredo Gutierrez showed Arizona the power of marching in the streets
From student protests to immigrant rights, the legendary activist never stopped fighting for justice
by James E. Garcia
The last time I saw Alfredo Gutierrez was at this year’s May Day rally outside the State Capitol. He was standing toe-to-toe with a MAGA supporter who had shown up at the protest and was marching through the crowd, wielding an oversized Trump flag, determined to start trouble.
While I couldn’t hear what he was telling the man over the din of the protestors, it was clear Alfredo wasn’t having it. Even at his advanced age age, Alfredo let the surly MAGA loyalist know he wasn’t about to let him cramp the enthusiasm of rally-goers, even going so far, at one point, as to jerk down the man’s flag before onlookers stepped in to keep the face-off from escalating.
The incident was quintessential Alfredo Gutierrez, who died this week at 79 of cancer.
To say that Alfredo Gutierrez was passionate about social justice would be a colossal understatement. A follower of civil and human rights icons like Cesar Chavez, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the arc of Alfredo’s life was driven by the struggle for civil rights here and nationwide.
Booted out of Arizona State University in the 1970s for helping lead a student protest to raise the wages of laundry workers — though he returned last year to complete his undergraduate degree — Alfredo possessed a piercing and daunting intellect.
Born in Miami, Arizona, a small mining town east of Phoenix, to engage Alfredo was to know that this was a man
who spent a great part of every day pondering the state of the world. He was never afraid to share his opinion, whether on stage or from the audience — and when he stood to speak, he commanded attention.
There was a presence about him, a physical and intellectual quality that ensured he would not be ignored, attributes that no doubt came in handy later as a state legislator, lobbyist and born-again protest leader.
After an extended stint as a businessman, Alfredo returned to grassroots activism with unfettered passion in the 2000s eager to fight against the state’s growing antiimmigrant tilt. Partnering with other established Latino leaders and a deep bench of young, up-and-coming immigrants rights activists, Alfredo helped organize the largest protest march in Arizona history in 2006. By some accounts, as many as 100,000 people marched that day in support of immigrants rights.
Later, Alfredo would help organize Arizona’s opposition to Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Senate Bill 1070, then the most stringent anti-immigrant bill in the nation. More recently, he’s been a vocal critic of right-wing, Trump-era policies against immigrants.
In his later years, his reputation as a firebrand evolved not so much to temper but refine his unquenchable spirit.
I didn’t always agree with Alfredo — like when he once suggested that Latino voters should step away from voting as a way to remind party leaders of the value and power of our burgeoning electoral bloc — but I always knew that he had arrived at his points of view honestly and logically.
As confrontational as he could be, he was also capable of great humility. I saw an example of this up close at a luncheon honoring former Arizona Gov. Raul H. Castro, the state’s first
“Quality goods for a
and only Latino governor, when Alfredo approached our table to show his deep respect for the aging ex-governor despite a decades-long rift between the two men.
At heart, Alfredo was the consummate Chicano activist, a true believer in El Movimiento. Despite his forays into Democratic Party politics and later as a lobbyist, he always remained convinced that marching in the streets could effect change.
In a fictionalized version of Alfredo in my play, American Dreamer: The Life & Times of Raul H. Castro, I imagined him making this point to Castro:
GUTIERREZ: Your problem is you think the system is here to help you. All that talk about the founding fathers. They’re not my founding fathers. My people are proud mestizos, who, despite the rejection of this country at almost every turn, had the courage to push off the yoke of our oppression so we could live our lives with dignity.
CASTRO: How? By marching in the streets?!
GUTIERREZ: Sí, hombre, sí. How do you think we passed the Civil Rights Act? The Voting Rights Act. It’s because we marched in the streets. We didn’t need an army or guns to do it. All we needed was the people’s army and our faith in justice man, justice. Rest in justice, Alfredo Gutierrez, rest in peace.
Reprinted by permission. Arizona Mirror https://azmirror. com and author.
Alfredo Gutierrez, 78, returned to ASU in 2024 after being kicked out in 1968 for protest activity. In May 2024, he graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts. Photo courtesy ASU
Kismet Foundation Supports 40+ Local Teachers with Over
$3,600
in Supplies
Globe, AZ — As the new school year kicks off, more than 40 teachers in the Globe-Miami area are starting strong with fully stocked classrooms, thanks to the Kismet Foundation’s Kismet Klassroom initiative.
Through Amazon Wishlists and direct reimbursements, the nonprofit provided $3,616 in supplies to local educators—helping ease the personal financial burden many teachers face.
“Thank you, Kismet Foundation! Your generous donation means so much to me and my students,” said local teacher Tesha Gonzales.
Board member Erika Flores emphasized the importance of recognizing teachers: “We see you. We value your hard work. Have the BEST year!” Fellow board member Sarah Alexander added, “It was a joy picking out items for your classrooms—we saw so much heart in every wishlist.”
This year’s effort was fueled by the Kismet Summer Movie Program, a six-week series at Hollis Cinema, where the first 100 kids received free admission. Ticket proceeds helped fund the Klassroom project, alongside sponsors including Daisy Flores Law, Pretty Kind Boutique, Dairy Queen, State Farm – Cami Lucero, Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, and In Memory of Diana Jones.
When teacher needs exceeded expectations, Carlota Mine contributed an additional $2,000, ensuring every participant received support.
“Your support for teachers means the world,” said recipient Colette Schwenk.
The summer series closed with The Smurfs on July 25, wrapping up a season of family fun and community impact.
Learn more or get involved: www.kismetfoundationaz.org/ kismetklassroom
IN LOVING MEMORY
JO ANN PEREA, March 1, 1966 – July 30, 2025, age 59, passed away at her home. Jo Ann worked as a juvenile detention officer for nine years. She was born in Kearny. (BM)
RUBEN JESUS DUARTE, December 24, 1961 –July 25, 2025, age 63, of Miami, passed away in Phoenix. Ruben retired as a Sergeant with the Arizona Department of Corrections after a 26-year career. He also served as a gang intelligence officer with the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and as the property and evidence manager for the City of Globe Police Department. He was a wrestling coach for the Globe Tigers for over 31 years. (LM)
CLAUDIA DIANE HERNANDEZ, July 22, 1944 –July 18, 2025, age 80, of Globe, passed away. (LM)
DELFINA O FLORES, July 17, 1934 – July 16, 2025, age 90, of Miami, passed away. Delfina worked as a dietitian for Gila General Hospital, and at R-Dells, Fast Stop in Miami, and Gen’s Café. She was originally from Mogollon, New Mexico. (LM)
DANNY L. NELSON, November 7, 1947 – July 16, 2025, age 77, passed away. Danny was a Navy veteran. (BM)
TERRELL VICTOR JR., April 25, 1943 – July 14, 2025, age 82, of San Carlos, passed away in Scottsdale. (LM)
HARRIET WILLIAMS, May 20, 1950 – July 14, 2025, age 75, of San Carlos, passed away at the Infinite Hope assisted living facility in Glendale. She worked for the BIA for 52 years. (LM)
WANDA LUNDY, December 26, 1940 – July 13, 2025, age 84, of Kearny, passed away. Wanda worked for Mountain Bell at the office in Kearny. She was born in Yonkers, Oklahoma. (BM)
RICHARD ALVARADO JR., October 20, 1975 –July 12, 2025, age 49, of Mesa, passed away at his home. Richard was born in Globe and raised in Superior and Mesa. (BM)
ANGELITA (HELA) BUSTAMANTE CAMPOS, January 27, 1937 – July 11, 2025, age 88, passed away in Mesa. Hela was born in Miami. (BM)
ELISA RIVAS, December 8, 1937 – July 10, 2025, age 87, passed away in Globe. Elisa was a businesswoman and served as mayor of the town of Zacapa, Santa Barbara, Honduras. She was originally from Copan, Honduras. (BM)
MARVIN BRUMLEY, May 30, 1955 – July 10, 2025, age 70, passed away at his home. (BM)
LARRY KENDAN GREENWALL, February 14, 1963 – July 9, 2025, age 62, of Globe, passed away at his home. Larry was a U.S. Army veteran. (BM)
ELISA C. BRYAN-KEIR, October 30, 1937 – July 8, 2025, age 87, of Mesa, passed away. Elisa worked for the Globe school system for 33 years, retiring as secretary to the school board and the superintendent. She was born in Globe. (LM) ABRAM D. ARBIZO JR., October 20, 1971 –July 6, 2025, age 53, passed away. Abe was a corrections officer in Florence, co-owner of Rides N Motion in Peoria, and regional manager of Rides N Motion in Scottsdale. He was state champion in football and wrestling for San Manuel High School, and a Marine veteran. (BM)
ISAAC YSLAS, February 26, 1959 – July 4, 2025, age 66, passed away. (BM)
IRENE RODRIGUEZ, April 14, 1940 – July 3, 2025, age 85, passed away. (BM)
ELVIRA ANN MACIAS, July 30, 1945 – July 1, 2025, age 79, of Globe, passed away. Vera was a nurse at Miami Inspiration Hospital and then with Dr. Bejarano and Dr. Garskof. She later helped establish a home health program in Tonopah, Nevada, and was an ESL teacher in Wright, Wyoming. She was born in Globe. (LM)
Our beautiful and amazing sister Claudia Louise Cubitto passed away peacefully in her home on August 1, 2025. She is survived by her sisters Carole Cubitto and Marilyn
It's here. It's there. It's Everywhere!
Cubitto Stone, 4 nieces, 2 nephews, her beloved dog Mari and numerous friends, family and many of the children to whom she taught PE to on the San Carlos Reservation who meant so much to her. A Celebration of life will be held at the Upton's Event Venue in Globe, 10/18/25 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, 247 S. Broad Street, Globe, AZ.
Claudia Louise Cubitto
Paul Fine returns to San Carlos
Paul Fine returns to the San Carlos Unified School District after a 2-year stint as Athletic Director and Vice Principal at Miami High School. Fine taught for 13 years in San Carlos and will be the Associate Principal at Rice Elementary School. The 39-yearold New York native attended school in Maryland and has traveled the world, from Moscow to Las Vegas, where he attended UNLV. He taught at an alternative school in San Diego before landing in San Carlos in 2012. Fine returns to work with his colleague, Shawn Pietila, the new Superintendent of the SCUSD.
RECOGNITION
Winners of the Moonshot
Moonshot Pitch Competition – Entrepreneurs and innovators gathered at Dacite in Miami, AZ for the 6th Annual Moonshot Rural Pitch Competition in July. This “Shark Tank”-style event is designed to spotlight bold business ideas in rural Arizona
1st Place: NEO TAT, ($1500)
NEOTAT, founded by Ray Webb, is a precision-engineered tattoo machine company based in Globe, Arizona. Webb, a machinist and inventor, revolutionized the tattoo industry with his patented linear tattoo machine. The money will go towards a variety of support and guidance for the next year as Neotat works to expand.
2nd Place: JP Technology & Design (1,000)
Juliana Powers of JP Technology & Design, won for her innovative contribution to the Globe-Miami entrepreneurial scene in providing corporate-level tech advantages to small businesses
Stairizona Trail was honored
The Stairizona Trail was honored this year with the Governor’s Award for Best Cultural Preservation at the Arizona Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Spearheaded by I Art Globe co-founders Regina OrtegaLeonardi and Dr. Thea Wilshire, this set of urban trails transforms Globe’s historic stairways into colorful, story-rich pathways that celebrate the community’s heritage. The award recognizes their vision, creativity, and commitment to preserving local history while engaging residents and visitors in an unforgettable cultural experience.
takes lead at San Carlos Unified School District
Shawn Pietila is the new Superintendent of SCUSD, after spending the past year in an interim position. Pietila takes over from Dr. Deborah Dennison, who held the post for nine years. A Michigan native, Pietila spent 11 years at SCHS, coaching football and track and field. For four years, he was Athletic Director of Miami High School and for one year was MHS principal. Pietila holds two master’s degrees from Arizona State University and is married to Crystal Pietila, a San Carlos Apache Tribe member who teaches at MUSD.
Pietila
The humidity and heat were overwhelming, he admits. Nonetheless, he didn’t let it stop him when it came time to run the 800 meter race.
“The second lap, I just decided to make sure I could get the guy in first place close to me,” he recalls of the race. “I just stayed with him until the last 100.”
And then he passed him.
Despite winning first place in the 800, his winning time wasn’t even his personal best.
His current PRs for the 400 meter and 800 meter are 48.86 and 1:57, respectively.
This spring, at the end of his sophomore year, he took a Division V State Champion win in the 400 meter dash on behalf of Miami Junior Senior High School. The school’s track and field records show that this was the school’s first win at a state track and field event in at least 40 years, and Guerrero’s times are the fastest documented times of any Miami track athlete since at least 1968.
Guerrero’s success prompted him to join the Arizona Flames after the track and field season at the high school had ended for the year.
“I wanted to accomplish a lot more,” he says. “I wanted to pursue track a lot more, invest a lot more time into it. Just continue running.”
He began traveling to the Valley three times a week for practices and meets.
Other days he trained at home. In total, he was training six days a week, and continues to do so.
He won the regional championship in the 400 and 800 meter, and the 4 x 100 relay. His performance led to his qualification for the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships as one of eight competitors from the region.
16-year-old Ryder Guerrero is both a Miami High School track athlete and a member of the the Arizona Flames Track Club, a regional team.
He attributes his success to a positive mentality and to his coaches.
“I’m very thankful for all of them,” he says of his club and school coaches, as well as Pietila.
“He’s a big part of it,” Guerrero says of Pietila. “Because even after he left, he would still send me workouts and check up on me. He helped so much.”
“He had confidence in me, even when I didn’t at first,” he adds. “I didn’t see what I truly could do, how much damage I could do, and he helped me truly see it, the big picture. Now I have a lot of confidence.”
He also credits his coaches with helping him stay positive.
“It’s mentally hard because you have to always have positive thoughts,” he says. “One negative thought can ruin your whole race.”
“You’re always trying to be better,” he adds. “During the race, and out of the race, you just have to stay positive all the time.”
Case in point: his win at state.
“It was very nerve-wracking,” Guerrero says of his state win. “It was so close, our times. Anybody could have won it.”
“We both dove. I got this right here to win state,” he adds, showing a severalinch scar on his forearm. “I only won it by thousandths of a second. I don’t know. It was very exciting, and it made me really want to improve.”
Previously, he was also playing football in addition to track. From here on out, though, he plans to focus only on track year-round. He is hoping to qualify for the Junior Olympics again next year.
“I still want to put some damage into it,” he says.
Looking ahead, Guerrero is aiming to continue competing in Division I track and field in college.
“I never thought it would come to this,” Guerrero says. “But I’m glad about how it’s turning out.”
Miami High School’s track athletes Ryder Guerrero competed in this year’s USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships, taking first place in the 15-16 age bracket of the boys’ 800 meter race at 1:59. Photos by Elisha Argentinis with Just Shoot Sports
Guerrero hits the finish line.
