Globe Miami Times August 2023

Kayaking in the Copper Corridor

Offering magnificent scenery and a cool alternative

by David Abbott

Record snowpack over the winter and spring and record heat this summer offer a glimpse into the yin and the yang that comes with living year-round in Arizona.

Given Globe’s location and with several lakes and rivers a short drive away, there are plenty of options to get out on the water to cool off in the triple-digit heat.

For those who don’t own a boat or have time to devote to extended excursions, many locals find kayaking to be a good option, either for a serene evening paddle or a white-knuckle trip through whitewater rapids.

For the former, local insurance agent and 2022 Globe City Council candidate Matthew Storms and his wife Shelbi have found kayaking to be a good escape and a way to get out of the house to socialize with similar-minded friends.

Gila Community College enters uneasy peace with Eastern Arizona College

by David

Abbott It’s been a rocky road in the relationship between the Gila County Provisional Community College District (GCC) and Eastern Arizona College (EAC) in the months since the district announced its intention to split from EAC to seek independence.

Just when it looked like the situation had completely deteriorated and GCC would be left hanging without an

accredited partner—leaving students scrambling to find viable alternatives and instructors wondering if they would still have jobs—negotiations resumed with a nudge from Senate President Warren Petersen, (R-Gilbert).

As a result, students who thought they would have to change their educational plans,

Nursing Staff Ranked Best in the Nation

relocate or make the long drive to Thatcher in Graham County—a 150-mile round-trip—will have a short reprieve as GCC works to finalize a deal with another community college in the state.

An uneasy standoff between the schools came to a head at the end of July when GCC held a pair of bruising public forums to explain its decision, but an angry public that was largely

supportive of EAC was still skeptical in the end. Much of the anger was due to a lack of communication, as most were unaware of what was happening behind the scenes and only had information provided by EAC or what they had gleaned from threads on social media.

KAYAK, Continued on page 14 Paddle Pirates during a recent full moon jaunt on Roosevelt lake. Photos courtesy of Paddle Pirates

Publisher

Linda Gross

Editor

Patricia Sanders

Creative Designer

Jenifer Lee

Contributing Writers

David Abbott

Linda Gross

Patricia Sanders

Contributing Photography

Linda Gross

Tory Satter

Copyright@2023 Globe Miami Times/ Globe Miami Visitors Guide 175 E Cedar Street Globe, AZ 85501 Office: 928.961.4297 Cell: 928.701.3320 editor@globemiamitimes.com www.GlobeMiamiTimes.com

This month had more than its share of challenges, with the excessive heat and the uncertainty swirling around our community college, but things are looking up as we head to press with the August issue.

A community college is more than the classes it offers. It’s a vital piece of the community, delivering services, providing jobs, creating a gathering place, and, yes, educating the next generation of nurses, welders, wildland firefighters, and college-bound students. It’s both a stakeholder and a placeholder of our rural values. So it was a shock to see the discord play out between GCC and EAC, which threatened the very existence of the college. A lack of communication exacerbated the situation and created unnecessary angst. (See our story on p. 1.) We’re glad to see the situation resolved for the near future and GCC moving forward to identify a new partner.

SUMMER SALE

Our story on kayaking local waterways shows there’s always the lake, even on the hottest days of summer, to cool off or enjoy a full-moon paddle with friends (p. 1). The Paddle Pirates is a loosely formed group that posts a meet-up location each month. “Sometimes it’s just four or five of us,” says Matt Storms, who regularly goes out each month with his wife, Shelbi. “And sometimes we’ve had as many as 14 or 15 people show up,” he adds. Sounds like just my kind of group. All it takes is a kayak and a paddle. And a glow stick.

LINDA GROSS Publisher

We’re anticipating the arrival of this year’s Annual Guide to Globe-Miami, which should arrive soon. There’s even more to see in this year’s edition, and we’ll be sending it around the state to over 90 Chambers and visitor centers. It’s a joy to put together this project on behalf of our local businesses, industry, organizations, and leaders. We hope you enjoy your copy and share it throughout the year with others.

August in Arizona is always a challenge, but fall is just around the corner, with cooler temps and special celebrations to come. We especially look forward to this year’s Old Dominion Days at the end of September and Miami Fiesta mid-month. Whatever your calendar holds for you, we hope you enjoy the time with friends and family.

“Quality goods for a life well lived.”

It Will Be OK

by Patricia Sanders

Many years ago, someone gave me a little sticker, only about a half inch wide and two inches long, that read, in friendly blue type, It will be OK

At the time, I just slipped the sticker into an envelope along with some others, and forgot about it.

Much later, the envelope came apart and the stickers all spilled out of it. This happened when I was in the middle of a move, and it seemed like my life was falling apart just like the boxes I had stuffed too full. The sticker slipped out of the box I was carrying and I found it later, lying on the ground face-up like a message that had dropped from heavenIt will be OK

This kind of thing happened over and over. I would tuck that sticker into a drawer or a box and it would mysteriously slip out, and I would find it on the floor at my feet, or sometimes it would turn up unexpectedly among papers, reassuring me when I didn’t even know I needed it.

I’ve kept that sticker all these years. Today I have it on display in my kitchen, tucked into the corner of a picture frame. The picture is a little watercolor painting of a wren perching on a pine twig, and it somehow communicates the same message as the sticker.

I feel a little embarrassed to have this little bird picture and the sticker out in my kitchen, where other people can easily see them. I know how they might come across - as showing some naivete, maybe, or weakness. One person came into my kitchen and saw the sticker and actually laughed out loud at it. This made me wonder what kind of life that person had lived, that he could be so condescending to the need for reassurance.

I know the sticker might also seem false. Things don’t always turn out OK, or the way we’d like, and hoping for something that’s impossible doesn’t really help and doesn’t even feel good. It’s always better to face things bravely.

But the thing is, things really do always seem to turn out OK, in the long run.

When I was little, I had a children’s book called Fortunately, Unfortunately It started like this:

Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party.

Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away.

Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane.

Unfortunately, the motor exploded. Fortunately, there was a parachute in the airplane.

Unfortunately, there was a hole in the parachute.

It goes on and on in this vein, one reversal after another: Fortunately, Ned lands in a haystack, unfortunately, there’s a pitchfork sticking up in the haystack. I don’t remember how the book ends, but I’m guessing it must have concluded with a Fortunately.

It would have to be that way, because it’s all about that last Fortunately. That last Fortunately makes everything that went before - all the ups and downs - just a big adventure.

There’s a similar story I’ve heard, that seems to be very old. I’ve heard it called either a Zen parable or an ancient Portuguese tale. In this story, an old man who lives in a tiny village owns a magnificent white horse. Although the man is very poor and the horse is his only

wealth, he refuses to sell it.

One day the horse is missing from its shed, and people shame the old man for not having sold it when he could.

The old man says, “Don’t speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know, the rest is judgment. How can you know if I’ve been cursed or not?”

A couple of weeks later, the horse returns - bringing along with it a dozen wild horses. Everyone congratulates the old man on his incredible good fortune.

But the man says, “Again you go too far. Say only that the horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don’t judge. How do you know if this is a blessing or not? You see only a fragment. Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge?”

The old man has a son, his only child, and the young man begins to break the wild horses. One day he’s thrown from a horse and breaks both legs.

The people of the town once again bring judgments against the old man, telling him he had been right in the first place not to call the horses a blessing. Instead, the horses were a curse, and now the old man will be alone for the rest of his life.

Again the old man tells the people not to judge: “Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse? No one knows. We only have a fragment of the whole.”

Soon war breaks out and all the young men of the country are conscripted to fight. The enemy is strong, and all the parents fear they will never see their sons again. But because the old man’s boy had been injured, he is allowed to remain at home. Now the people of the town reverse their judgment and tell the old man how lucky he is, and that the son’s accident had been a blessing after all.

The old man simply says, “Why do you always draw conclusions? No one knows. Say only this: Your sons went to war and mine did not. No one is wise enough to know if it is a blessing or a curse. Only God knows.”

When people make guesses about what will happen in the future, especially when they assume the worst, I always think of the chickens on the farm. Sometimes we’d be carrying them to a pasture where they could hunt for bugs - a chicken paradise - but they would be squawking and trying to get away, probably thinking they were on the way to the chopping block.

It’s so easy to imagine the worst. It can be hard to believe in the best, or even the good.

And that’s why I’ll stand behind my It will be OK sticker. It’s not just a feelgood slogan, it’s a statement of spiritual truth, the truth I believe: that “the universe,” God, life, whatever you choose to call it, can be trusted.

Recently, someone came into my kitchen and saw the bird picture and the sticker, and he didn’t laugh. This guy had been through a lot recently - health, financial, relationship - and his struggles aren’t over yet.

It’s during tough times that it helps to be reminded we just don’t know what’s in store for the future. It’s reasonable to withhold judgment, like the old man with the horse.

But it’s also reasonable to expect that in the end, all our stories will end with a Fortunately. u

MAYOR’S MONTHLY REPORT

AL GAMEROS | CITY OF GLOBE

FINAL 2023-2024 BUDGET ADOPTED

On July 20th, the Globe City Council had a public hearing and adoption of the final budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 for $65,334,122.00. This reflects an approximately $23 million increase from last year’s budget. The largest increase in this year’s budget is the allocation of $21 million which is included in possible unfunded grants for future projects. If this amount is not included in our total budget and a grant is awarded, we will not be able to accept and spend the grant. Our General Fund operational budget increased from $14,515,359.00 last budget year to $18,094,144.00. The main increase is due to including the $2.9 million fund balance carried forward this year that normally is not reflected in the total budget amount. This year’s budget is even more complex due to all the federal and state funds being appropriated to our city for numerous projects. We want to thank our staff and financial consultants for their hard work and commitment to bring a balanced budget for approval.

This year’s budget reinforces our commitment to the priorities listed in our Strategic Action Plan for the benefit of our city residents. Our focus has remained consistent on economic development to provide the necessary funding to continue to grow our city with priorities of quality of life, recreational opportunities, housing, and infrastructure.

CITY PROJECTS IN PROGRESS

Public Works Director, John Angulo, presented an updated list on the many city projects in progress. Here is a list of those projects and a brief description of their status and funding sources.

• Community Center Pool – Complete –Cost $4.4 million - Funding from multiple partners and stakeholders to help build this state-of-the-art facility. The City of Globe has committed to the annual operations and maintenance costs.

• Community Center Sewer Line Project

– Complete – Cost $1.5 million – WIFA funds

Connies Bridge – Projected completion at the end of 2023 – Cost $5 million - $3.4 appropriated from state funds through ADOT.

• Veteran’s Park Playground Equipment –Complete – Cost $100K – Funding BHP

• Veteran’s Park Cement / Lighting –Complete – Cost $140K – Funding

CDBG Grant

• Community Center Playground

Equipment – Complete – Cost 100KFunding BHP

• Hill Street School Senior Affordable

Housing – Projected completion date

2024 – Cost $22 Million – DeveloperThe Gorman Company

• Jess Hayes Sidewalk Project – In Design Phase – Cost $3.5 Million –Appropriation from State funds 2023

Cottonwood Bridge Replacement – In Design Phase – Cost $3.8 Million –Appropriation from State funds 2023

• Active Adult Center Outdoor Space Project – Complete - $46K – 23K grant and 23K from city funds

• Hill Street Sidewalk Project and Road Alignment – Complete - $1.5 Million –Appropriation from State Funds 2023

• Michaelson Building Downtown Center – Roof replacement construction in progress – 750K Federal allocation funds

• Northeast Corridor Water and Sewer Project – In study phase – Cost $2.1 million – Appropriation from the Federal infrastructure funds

• McCormick Wash Project – In Study Phase – 100K For Study – Appropriation from Federal Funds

Cemetery Expansion Project – In the planning and design phase to expand for more plots

New Fire Station – In Design Phase / Property already purchased – Cost 13 Million – Application pending approval from USDA and anticipated Federal funding award

These are some projects our city staff is involved in to move them forward. I want to commend our staff for their work in securing funds to make these projects possible. Without outside appropriated funding, some of these projects would not be affordable. Our staff is very busy managing the different phases of each of these projects. We await a decision on additional funding for projects from the City Council Washington trip.

RENEWAL OF PHI AIR AMBULANCE INSURANCE

City Council approved the renewal membership contract with PHI Air Ambulance (Air-Evac). This membership covers costs above any insurance policies to all city households. This coverage only covers costs if you are flown anywhere in Gila County by PHI. The reason PHI coverage was chosen is that they are the only Air Ambulance company that has a base in our local area at the Pinto Valley Mine property. The total cost for this membership to the city is $24,235.00.

FIRST FRIDAYS

First Fridays have become a monthly signature event and continue to grow each month with more participation from downtown businesses, vendors, and cruisers. Our Economic Development team spends an enormous number of hours planning this event. This event is not only enjoyed by our local residents in the community but by many more people who are now coming from out of town on this day with an average participation of approximately 9,000 people. Everyone is invited to participate in the downtown cruise that begins at 5:30 pm starting at the Active Adult Center. We invite the community to come downtown and support the participating businesses and enjoy live music, food trucks, vendors, and even a Historic Fire Truck shuttle ride. Anyone wishing to set up a vendor booth during any First Friday event may do so at no cost by contacting Linda Oddonetto or Melissa Steele at 425-7146. u

Globe Police Department Ensuring Public Safety through a Community-based Approach

By David Abbott

Globe Police Chief Dale Walters is quietly celebrating his five-year anniversary as head of the Globe Police Department, bringing stability to an organization that suffered for years due to understaffing, employee turnover and public distrust prior to his arrival in 2018.

In response to public comments made to City Council earlier in the month, Walters provided an update at the July 26 meeting, addressing the challenges associated with traditional data collection methods that might work for urban areas, but do not paint a complete picture of the challenges faced by rural departments.

In his presentation, titled, “Is Globe safe? You decide,” Walters also responded to reports claiming Globe has the third-highest crime rate in the state.

The reported crime rates were calculated at a ratio of crimes per 1,000 residents, but Walters explained that can be misleading, since in addition to the Globe’s population of about 7,800 residents, the Globe Police Department is one of the main law enforcement agencies located at a crossroads that sees tens of thousands of travelers pass through every month.

Globe is also a “retail hub,” the only place for rural residents throughout the Copper Corridor to purchase goods and services outside of a long trip to the Valley. That population includes San Carlos, Roosevelt, Tonto, and El Capitan, among many other small communities, who come to Globe to shop, eat, seek medical care, access services, pay bills, conduct business at the Gila County offices or visit family members.

According to Walters, the “service population” for his department is “at a bare minimum” 24,000 to 26,000,” but given the amount of traffic on major throughways such as State Route 60, SR 188 and SR 77, the department serves a much larger population of up to 36,000 annually.

“You have to take into consideration we are the only retail hub for 85 miles in any direction,” Walters says. “If you’re down in the Valley and have to go to Safford or Show Low or Payson you depend on us. If you want to go to Tucson, you’re coming through here, and a lot of people going up to Roosevelt from the Valley will come this way.”

Bringing stability and community to GPD

In the months prior to Walters’ arrival, the City went through several interim chiefs—at least three in the first half of 2018 and four total from 2014 to 2018—and had a bad reputation for unacceptable behavior in its ranks and neglect of basic duties such as investigating criminal cases in the community.

But from the moment Walters took over the position, it was clear he was in it for the long-haul.

A third-generation Arizonan from Flagstaff, Walters was assistant police chief in Chandler. He brought 28 years of law enforcement experience and beat out three other candidates for the position.

“Dale is doing a fantastic job and is one of the best hires we’ve made,” says Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton. “He’s increased the number of officers and is doing a phenomenal job. We could not ask for more.”

Stapleton, who in addition to his years serving on council owns the Copper Hen restaurant across from the fire and police department buildings, has a front-row seat to the changes both from his council seat and the streets of downtown Globe.

In the past five years, he has seen more community participation from Walters and his officers, as well as better communication from the department.

Increased staffing, higher visibility

The GPD has a budget of nearly $4.5 million for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, up from about $3 million when Walters first arrived. The increase is due in large part to increased staffing that has been critical to creating a stable department.

“The staffing model they had was inaccurate for the size of our service population, so we’ve worked diligently to improve conditions at the police department,” Walters says. “If it were not for the goals of the City Council, the City Manager, and City leadership, we would not be where we are today. They have been incredibly supportive. Through hard work

and forward focus, we are developing an organization that is going to be sustainable for some time to come.”

The department now has five detectives, including three full-time and two task force members. Additionally, when Walters started in 2018 there was a staff of fourteen officers with five additional positions unfilled on the force. Through aggressive recruiting and retention efforts, the City is now maintaining 30plus sworn staff.

In addition to overseeing a complete overhaul of the police facility downtown, Walters has worked to upgrade equipment throughout the department and has identified and captured funding from outside sources to enhance the process. So far, he estimates GPD has received about $1 million in grant funding.

He has worked with local school districts to provide school resource officers for every Globe School campus (SRO) as well as creating partnerships with the State Department of Public Services and the Gila County Sheriff’s Office to fill critical positions including detectives and investigators.

GPD has partnered with other agencies for training and is working to create a police academy to grow more local officers and administrators with direct links to the community. Walters estimates that about 70% of his force has some connection to the Copper Corridor.

Walters has also secured funding through the Department of Homeland Security to update communications systems to be on par with other law enforcement and fire agencies throughout the region.

“We had to update everything: There wasn’t an aspect that didn’t need work, it didn’t matter if it was the police department itself, the quality of the personnel that we had, the equipment that we had property and evidence, investigations, all our vehicles and our equipment,” Walters says. “Everything had to be updated.”

Taking a long view of his role as chief, Walters has also created a succession plan for the day when he eventually retires to the property he owns in Gila County and has created a plan for growth that goes together with the City’s long-term goals.

Given the limitations on available funding, Walters has had to take a phased approach to rebuilding the department, but as his goals reflect the goals of City Council, he has been able make progress with each passing year.

Higher profile and community involvement

Another hallmark of Walters’ tenure has been increased visibility in the community.

“I was shocked to see that the police department wasn’t heavily involved with the Christmas Light Parade, Halloween and all the other downtown events,” he says. “That’s common sense to me. We should be absolutely involved and as far as I’m concerned, it’s all hands on deck for the police department. We want it to go off without a hitch and all pull together.”

Additionally, the department has increased its presence to include more business checks, traffic stops and patrols.

Walters reported that last year, GPD did twentythree business checks, but in the first six months of this year that number increased to 196. Traffic stops have increased from 2,100 per year five years ago to 3,000 just in the first six months of this year.

Regarding burglaries, Walters said in 2017, there were 160 burglaries, which was a high point. As a result, burglaries were reduced to forty-six last year. So far in 2023 there have been only twenty-two. He added that given the transient populations in the service area, much of the crime that takes place can be attributed to non-residents.

Numbers aside, Walters has intentionally raised his profile in the community by getting out in the streets and participating in local organizations intended to improve lives throughout the Copper Corridor.

“He hits the streets himself and doesn’t just sit behind his desk,” Stapleton says. “His officers like him and he’s turned morale in the department around. Before, there was low morale, but the department is coming together, and he shares the same vision as the Council. Communications are good and his door is always open.”

Walters has even managed to impress members of the community who have previously been critical of GPD and by extension the City.

Local realtor and property manager Debbie Cox has interacted with the department quite a bit over the course of over a decade in Globe, due in part to the location of her office on East Ash Street and the 180 rental units her office manages that are mostly within Globe’s city limit.

Cox also serves with Walters on the GILA House board, which she says gives him added insight to community challenges.

“He’s treating the community with respect and that’s something we haven’t seen in a long time,” Cox says. “He’s giving his officers proper training and is very community oriented. He established the Copper Hills Family Advocacy Center and is serving on the Gila House board. Everything he’s doing is going in the right direction.”

She adds that Walters is exceptionally good at explaining his decisions when necessary and is “instilling pride in the community” for his officers.

“Some of the officers were downtrodden for so long and they didn’t even want to be here and felt they were not getting support,” she says. “He’s a serious-minded person, he does his research and I’m a big fan.”

Under the leadership of Chief Walters, the Globe Police Department has focused on working with community members to provide a safe, healthy, and vibrant environment for residents and visitors alike. When the statistics are seen in context, it is clear the department has made great strides in the past five years towards becoming a stronger and sustainable model.

Chief Walters. Courtesy Photo

“Dale is doing a fantastic job and is one of the best hires we’ve made.”

– Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton, owner of the Copper Hen

The Globe-Show Low Highway An Engineering Triumph

by Patricia Sanders

The very first road in Arizona was established in 1846 by Capt. Philip St. George Cooke as he led the soldiers of the Mormon Battalion across southern Arizona. It was during the Mexican American War, and the battalion had been tasked to create wagon road between Santa Fe and San Diego, for Army use. The road – really just a track in its early days – came to be known as Cooke’s Wagon Road.

By 1927, Arizona had a state highway system with just over 2,000 miles of roads criss-crossing the state. The year 1926 saw out-of-state drivers logging more than 250 million vehicle miles on the state’s roadways. Some of Arizona’s highways were regularly carrying 5,000 cars per day – despite the fact that only ten percent of the state’s road miles were paved.

By this time, major highways connected Globe to Phoenix, Tucson, Safford, and Show Low. But reaching Show Low meant circling to the south to San Carlos and then through Fort Apache and McNary.

The formidable Salt River Canyon stood in the way: a 2,200 foot-deep gorge that served as the boundary between the White Mountain Apache lands to the north and the San Carlos Reservation to the south.

Today known as the “mini Grand Canyon,” in 1908 the Arizona Silver Belt called the Salt River Canyon “one of the roughest pieces of country on earth” – but also “some of the grandest scenery on the continent.”

The construction of a road across the Salt River Valley was finally begun in 1931. Depression-era Federal highway dollars, plus developments in engineering and construction, made the project possible –and the need for an all-weather route to the north made it necessary.

The stretch of highway crossing the Salt River Canyon was one of the first roads in the country to be built with modern heavy construction equipment and techniques, including bulldozers, portable drills, blasting, and the use of massive cuts and

fills to master the extremely tough terrain. The highway hugs the cliffs, forcing drivers to negotiate hairpin turns as the road switchbacks down to the river and up the other side of the canyon.

The William A Sullivan Bridge across the Salt – the centerpiece of the project – was built in 1934, with a design by architect Lee Moor and funding from the Public Works Administration. The construction involved many engineering challenges. Due to a shortage of concrete, the bridge had to be designed as a single free span over the canyon – resulting in its two-hinged steel deck arch design.

The bridge was the first that the state Highway Department built with a girderribbed steel arch. Thanks to its design, the bridge also could be built more quickly than the usual spandrel-braced arch, so the new technique soon became standard.

When complete, the bridge awed observers with its grace, thanks in part to the decorative steel pylons at the arch corners and the ornamented guardrails along the curving concrete deck.

As a landmark of design and technology, the Salt River Canyon bridge appears on the National Register of Historic Places. The original bridge has been replaced by a modern, wider one, but it’s still possible to cross the old bridge, as it now carries a footpath.

completed in 1938 and is still regarded as an example of outstanding road engineering.

YOLANDA NAVARRO, February 5, 1948 – July 30, 2023, age 75, passed away. (BM)

TOBY LEE TALKALAI, April 13, 1984 – July 30, 2023, age 39, of San Carlos, passed away at Abrazo Central Hospital in Phoenix. He worked as an administrative assistant for the San Carlos Tribe. (LM)

CHARLENE H. BROWN, August 28, 1951 – July 29, 2023, age 71, passed away. Charlene worked for the San Carlos USD. (LM)

LYMAN CHATLIN August 5, 1954 – July 29, 2023, age 68, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. He worked as a seasonal firefighter for the BIA Division of Forestry. (LM)

TERESA LEAORA SANDOVAL, July 7, 1968 –July 28, 2023, age 55, of Miami, passed away St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. Tracey worked at the Cobre Valley Community Hospital. (LM)

DONOVAN JAMES BROOKS JR., August 17, 1989 – July 28, 2023, age 33, of San Carlos, passed away at Haven of Safford. He worked installing fencing. (LM)

PAUL DANNY RIVERA SR., August 2, 1943 – July 27, 2023, age 79, of Globe, passed away at his home. (LM)

EDWARD LESTER PATTERSON SR., October 20, 1948 – July 25, 2023, age 74, passed away at San Carlos Apache Healthcare Center in Peridot. Edward worked as a mechanic. (LM)

VIRGINIA LEE HARMON, October 6, 1926 – July 23, 2023, age 96, passed away in Globe. Virginia was originally from Long Beach, California. (LM)

CHRISTOPHER MILES DAVIS September 25, 1985 – July 23, 2023, age 37, of Phoenix, passed away at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. He was raised on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. (LM)

BETTY V. BARTLETT, September 15, 1924 – July 21, 2023, age 98, passed away. Betty was involved in civic groups, community organizations, and local, state, and national politics in Kearny. (BM)

VONDA MAE HUDSON, October 24, 1975 – July 20, 2023, age 47, passed away at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. Vonda worked at The Rock House daycare in Flagstaff, at Walmart as a cashier, and at Apache Gold Casino as a line cook. (LM)

FRANKLIN BELVADO III, November 12, 1991 –July 20, 2023, age 31, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. (LM)

BYRON JAY SIGN, October 9, 1998 – July 20, 2023, age 24, of San Carlos, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center. (LM)

CATHERINE TRUJILLO, April 30, 1926 – July 19, 2023, age 97, passed away. Katie was originally from Sonora, Arizona, and raised her family in Kearny. (BM)

ANTONIO M. SANCHEZ, October 20, 1931 – July 19, 2023, age 91, passed away. Tony retired from the Army National Guard as a colonel and served as a dentist in Miami for over 36 years. (BM)

DONNA MAE BLEVINS, June 5, 1937 – July 19, 2023, age 86, of Globe, passed away in Maricopa County. Donna retired from the UofA Cooperative Extension Office. She was a CASA volunteer, a member of the Gila Literacy Program board of directors, and a Boy Scout leader, among many other community and church activities. (LM)

CYNTHIA SUSAN YBARRA, July 28, 1972 – July 19, 2023, age 50, passed away. Cynthia had a certificate in heavy equipment maintenance and was a certified ATTSSA flagger. (LM)

COLUMBUS MACK PETTY, February 24, 1931 –July 18, 2023, age 92, of Globe, passed away at his home. C.M. Worked at Phelps Dodge in Ajo in the 1950s, served in Korea, and later worked for Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company as a journeyman boilermaker. He was also a musician and part of a band called the Cobre Valley Wranglers. (LM)

DAVID PETERSON, February 13, 1947 – July 18, 2023, age 76, passed away. (BM)

FELICIA MAE CAMARENA March 18, 1985 – July 18, 2023, age 38, passed away. (BM)

BUDD “BOB” LANE EKELMAN, January 24, 1955 –July 17, 2023, age 68, passed away. (BM)

GERALD GARRETT ROPE, March 21, 1980 – July 16, 2023, age 43, passed away at Gilson Wash in San Carlos. (LM)

MAHALA CHARLENE DEVENPORT, April 20, 1943

– July 15, 2023, age 80, passed away. Micki was a stay-at-home mom and a businesswoman. (LM)

RICHARD ALFRED BREITRICK, July 11, 1930 –July 14, 2023, age 93, of Globe, passed away in Tucson. Dick was originally from Appleton, Wisconsin. (LM)

ADELINE JANE TIFFANY, November 12, 1944 –July 14, 2023, age 78, of Superior, passed away at Heritage Health Care Center in Globe. She worked as a nurse’s assistant and was originally from San Carlos. (LM)

MICHAEL JORGE MCGINLEY, May 28, 1949 –July 14, 2023, age 74, passed away. Mike worked for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in Wisconsin and later for the Copper Basin Railway as chief mechanical officer. (LM)

JOHN ANDREW SMITH August 15, 1980 – July

14, 2023, age 42, of Phoenix, passed away at San Carlos Apache Healthcare Center in Peridot. (LM)

VERNELDA MAE PORTER, March 20, 1956 – July

12, 2023, age 67, passed away at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center. Pogo was a homemaker, childcare services worker, and Air Force Base service worker. (LM)

MICHAEL JAMES ROGERS SR., February 11, 1958

– July 11, 2023, age 65, of Peridot, passed away at his home. He proudly served in the US Army. (LM)

GEORGE LONGSTREET, November 3, 1944 – July

10, 2023, age 78, of Morenci, passed away at Haven of Safford. He proudly served in the US military. (LM)

CASEY ROLAND ROGERS SR., March 4, 1960 –July 10, 2023, age 63, of Peridot, passed away at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center. He worked in construction as a carpenter and was a rancher. (LM)

HORTENCIA B. GONZALEZ, July 6, 1926 – July

9, 2023, age 97, passed away. Hortencia was originally from Hayden. (BM)

ALAN HARNEY, March 23, 1968 – July 9, 2023, age 55, of Peridot, passed away at his home. He worked as a seasonal firefighter for the BIA Division of Forestry. (LM)

BETTY ANN DOMINGUEZ, September 30, 1945 – July 8, 2023, age 77, of Globe, passed away at her home. Betty was a bank teller for 40 years and worked at MVD for 10 years. (LM)

JOHN MICHAEL JOSEPH BABICH, March 26, 1952 – July 8, 2023, age 71, of Globe, passed away in Globe. John served in the US Army, 1st Cavalry, 1970-72, and was a proud member of the IBEW local 518 and American Legion. (LM)

JEFF “BIG T” GENE TURNER SR., February 5, 1967 – July 8, 2023, age 56, of Globe, passed away. Jeff worked in the maintenance department at ASARCO Hayden for 14 years and later at Freeport-McMoRan for four years. (BM)

BARBARA MULL BUSH, June 20, 1953 – July 6, 2023, age 70, passed away. Barbara was born under the acorn trees in the Ranch Creek area with her grandmother Agnes Victor Thompson in attendance. (LM)

CRISS E. ROMERO, December 17, 1930 – July 5, 2023, age 92, of Superior, passed away at his home. Criss worked for Magma Copper Co. for 31 years and later for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security for 10 years. He was originally from Pecos, New Mexico. (BM)

EDDIE OMANS January 30, 1955 – July 4, 2023, age 68, of Globe, passed away at Plaza Healthcare in Scottsdale. Eddie worked as a construction worker, carnival worker, and firework pyrotechnician. (LM)

TAMMY LYNN HALL July 26, 1958 – July 3, 2023, age 64, of Globe, passed away. Tammy worked as a secretary for Bowhunters and for Sullivan Paving. (LM)

MERCEDES H. HERNANDEZ September 24, 1929 – July 2, 2023, age 93, of Mesa, passed away at her home. Mercedes worked at Motorola and volunteered at the senior center in Mesa. She was originally from Miami. (BM)

ESPERANZA SOTO ODDONETTO, July 28, 1934

– July 2, 2023, age 88, of Globe, passed away at her home. Hope opened one of the first full-service salons on the mountain in Wagon Wheel and later operated a salon in Globe for 15 years. (BM)

JOAN EVELYN BERRAY-ALLEN, December 5, 1936 – July 2, 2023, age 86, passed away at Heritage Health Care Center in Globe. Joan was originally from Los Angeles. (LM)

JULIAN MARCELINO PEREZ, January 28, 1943 –July 2, 2023, age 80, of Dudleyville, passed away at his home. Ticho worked as a diesel mechanic at ASARCO for 38 years. (BM)

Globe-Miami and Local First Arizona join hands to promote rural development

The Rural Policy Forum, hosted by Local First Arizona, is one of the premier conferences in the state, bringing together a host of people working in diverse fields for the betterment of rural communities. The success of this conference stems partly from the “deep bench” they draw from, and we are all the better for it. People attending the conference are those who are making a difference in communities throughout Arizona.

Each year Local First Arizona chooses a location from one of Arizona’s many rural communities to host the event. It is both an honor and a huge responsibility for the host. And as a community, Globe-Miami rose to the occasion when we were selected as this year’s host. Key among the partners was Bullion Plaza Museum, headed by Executive Director Tom Foster, which provided the main facility for the conference’s keynote speakers and breakout sessions.

But a big shout out goes to the following local businesses as well, from Cobre Valley Center for the Arts and Demarco’s, who hosted the dinner on Thursday night, and Jordan Baker and her staff at Vida e Caffe, who catered breakfasts for over 300 people on both Thursday and Friday.

Strong mention also needs to go out to the Copper City Players - Kim Stone and Lee Ann Powers - who provided history and entertainment on Thursday evening for those who came downtown. The City had hoped to showcase Globe’s First Fridays, which has begun to attract thousands to the downtown district each month, but the event was canceled due to the unbelievable heat wave we’ve been experiencing. Still, the City brought in a live band on Oak Street, and Sip and Saddle were set up outside to serve the attendees on Thursday night.

Local First Arizona reported a sold-out conference, with 340 tribal and rural leaders attending this year. Workshops over the two-day event featured presentations on innovative ways people tackle community needs, such as building affordable housing, launching farmers’ markets, training a new generation of skilled workers, attracting families to move to small towns, finding grant funding to build infrastructure and renewable energy projects and more.

“It’s one of the best conferences I go to all year,” said Sally Holcomb of Bisbee, who works for Arizona Complete Health, a health insurer. “It’s outstanding for networking, and it’s truly representative of rural. It’s not being talked at, like ‘We know better.’ It’s,‘Here’s how this can help you. I always walk away with new connections and great resources I didn’t expect to have.”

Drake Meinke, director of the Arizona Copper Museum in Clarkdale, said he was the only person from his town to attend, but he planned to bring back what he learned to other residents and business owners who are part of the downtown business alliance.

Meinke said he is energized to see rural communities in Arizona experiencing a rebirth.

“The image in many folks’ heads about a rural community isn’t good, but then they come to a rural community, and they are blown away,” he said. “They are almost always overwhelmed at how good things are in my little town.”

According to Rebekah Sanders with Local First Arizona, one of the exciting new programs they’ve launched is the Arizona Economic Recovery Center.

Sanders explained that after the Great Recession in 2008, Arizona was the last state to return to pre-recession economic health.

Local First Arizona didn’t want to see that happen after the COVID-19 pandemic too. So the organization launched the Arizona Economic Recovery Center in May 2021 to enable qualified Arizona cities, towns, counties, tribal communities, and nonprofits to win competitive federal, state, and foundation grants by increasing their capacity to compete.

Grant writing and grant management were two of the biggest barriers to successfully competing for grant dollars. Local First now has over 30 grant writers on their roster, all with different areas of expertise.

“We provide no-cost grant research, writing, and management services to organizations throughout the state,” says Sanders. The program has assisted more than 800 organizations in securing more than $33 million to fund projects including recreation facility renovations, tourism marketing, health care initiatives, bike paths, infrastructure, and more.

“None of the towns, tribes, and nonprofits we work with have a dedicated fundraising staff,” says Sanders. “Their employees are playing multiple roles so that grant-writing may be relegated to the wayside, or the staff may not have the expertise to write grants.” The Economic Recovery Center provides a successful, no-cost way to fill that gap.

You can find a step-by-step guide to working with the Recovery Center by visiting their website at www.localfirstaz. com/economic-recovery-center. Or contact Katie@localfirstaz.com for more information.

The Rural Policy Forum and the Economic Recovery Center are just two of the ways Local First Arizona is supporting small communities like Globe-Miami - and Globe-Miami’s civic organizations and small businesses are proud to partner with Local First in helping transform our state’s rural regions for the better.

Kim Stone and Lee Ann Powers of the Copper Cities Players provided some insight into local lore and history of the area to attendees on Thursday night.

Sally Schwenn, the Arizona Market President for Gorman & Company, and Linda Oddonetto at the site of the Hill Street Project which will provide 64 apartments when completed in the fall of 2024. The $ 20 million dollar project will preserve the historic Hill Street School while adding an additional building to the south side.

Pindrop Trailers was a popular stop on Wednesday for those who had come in early to tour the area. Owner Tim Elinski discussed local sourcing and why he set up manufacturing in Miami.

Caressa Shipley and Molly Cornwell hosted the early bird attendees who came in on Wednesday to tour the Globe-Miami communities. Lunch was served at the Depot.

Jay Johnson is officially the Rural Program ManagerWorkforce Development expert for Local First, but he was the drink ticket guy on Thursday night.

Sue Pontel, Miami Librarian, Angel Ruiz, Director of the Globe Miami Chamber of Commerce and Evelyn Vargas, with H.O.M.E and newly appointed Economic Director for Miami.

Despite the heat, spirits were high as attendees enjoyed Thursday night in downtown Globe, where dinner was hosted by the Center for the Arts and catered by Demarcos.

Amy Conlee, Robin Bradford, Laura Phelps, and Cherie Rankin with Freeport -AZ, NM, and IA operations/sites.

Chandler Ballinger with Nalwoodi Denzhone Community (San Carlos) and Rebecca Serratos with the Prescott Farmers Market discussed their programs.

Clint Kaasa,(Left) a Business and Cooperative Program Specialist with the USDA was one of the speakers at this year’s conference. The program provides loans, loan guarantees, grants and payments designed to increase economic opportunity in rural America.

Mayors Al Gameros and Angel Medina welcomed attendees who had arrived a day early for a special four-hour tour of Globe-Miami.

On the right is Kimber Lanning, CEO of Local First Arizona and Rafael Tapia, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Local First Arizona Director of Tribal Community Connections, and to the left is White Mountain Apache Tribe Economic Development Manager Milfred Cosen with Councilmember Gary Alhesay (White Mountain Apache Tribe).

KAYAK, Continued from page 1

Storms’ friend Vince Mariscal founded a Facebook group called Paddle Pirates after discovering a Valley group that paddles Canyon Lake. Once he created Paddle Pirates Mariscal invited Storms to join in moonlight paddles on Roosevelt Lake.

“We started doing it at the end of COVID and thought it was safer because we weren’t sharing boats and were spread out,” Storms says. “It’s grown organically since then, but it’s not really a club, club. We just post when the weather’s nice, when the full moon dates are, and then kind of see who shows up.”

The Paddle Pirates like to meet at nearby launch points such as School House Campground or, in the case of the upcoming Aug. 29 excursion, Windy Hill Recreation Site, that are close enough for participants to attend even if they work during the week.

“Those places are a little less busy with boats, so it’s a little bit safer,” Storms says. “We always tell people to bring lights to be safe on the water, then we just go and hang out, talk and chat and then watch the moon come up.”

Organizers bring glow sticks and in certain situations even loan out spare kayaks, if they are available, for people who don’t have them. Storms says there is a core of five or six people who show up fairly regularly, but they’ve had as many as 13 or 14. There was even a pair of paddle boarders on one excursion last year.

Storms prefers hardshell kayaks and has a vehicle that can handle transport. Given that there are no outfitters in Globe-Miami, he purchased his kayaks at Tractor Supply Hardware and since they get such gentle use, they have worked fine for his purposes.

According to NASA, this August will see two full moons: One appeared on the first of the month and the second, a “Super

Blue Moon,” will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The group has plans to go out on Tuesday, Aug. 29 for the Blue Moon Paddling event that can be found on its Facebook page.

Participants must have lights and safety equipment to participate, but otherwise it’s a mellow event that doesn’t go out more than a few hundred yards from the dock.

The Paddle Pirates also avoid cold weather, so there are no events scheduled in the winter months.

“It’s not very organized, we just show up and hang out and watch the moon come up,” Storms says. “It’s pretty awesome and the group’s nice.”

Lazing in the moonlight is a good use of kayaks, but for the more adventurous souls amongst us, there are more daring options and a wide range of equipment to get them there.

“I’ve been an outdoors person all my life, an avid bicyclist—road and mountain—so I decided to invest in kayaks because we’re so close to all these lakes and rivers,” says retired orthopedic surgeon Bryan Gunnoe. “I’m not a fisherman, I just paddle to get out in the boonies to enjoy the outdoors.”

Gunnoe and his partner GMT writer Patti Daley moved to Globe in 2015 after Gunnoe accepted a position at Cobre Valley Medical Center. An early retirement left the couple with a lot of free time for the outdoor activities they love, so Gunnoe invested in a pair of inflatable kayaks.

And while he enjoys “getting out in the boonies,” his idea of getting out also includes hitting the rapids whenever he has a chance.

He chose inflatables because they were easier to transport and store. His first

kayak was one designed for whitewater adventures—he has used it with organized excursions down the Salt River through the Forestry Department—and the second is designed for calmer waters when the pair are looking for leisure on Roosevelt Lake.

“We can decide, spur of the moment, to go out to Roosevelt and within an hour we can be on the water,” Gunnoe says. “We like to go super early in the morning or late in the evening when we can avoid the boats.”

While he enjoys the eastern end of the lake with its shallows, flora and fauna, Gunnoe has been on a mission to hit every body of water or lake he can within driving distance.

Lying between Globe and Show Low on SR77 is one of his favorites, Seneca Lake, which requires a permit from the San Carlos Tribe. But there are plenty of other nearby options such as Apache Lake, Canyon Lake and both the upper and lower arms of the Salt River, which makes its way west through the Superstition Wilderness west to Saguaro Lake.

He particularly enjoys the water up on the Mogollon Rim and the Coconino National Forest and says it is well worth the drive.

There are several State Parks in every region of the state from north to south and there is even a website devoted to activity at azstateparks.com/kayaking-in-arizona.

As to Gunnoe’s gear choices, ease of transport is important, but there is always the chance his kayak can spring a leak. He stressed the importance of knowing how to patch his own equipment, particularly if something happens out on the water.

In a graphic reminder of the importance of self-reliance on the repair front, Gunnoe learned an important lesson when a rat chewed a hole through his kayak.

“I was keeping it in the garage semiinflated and a rat got into it and chewed about a 6-inch hole in my $900 kayak,” Gunnoe says. “I’m kind of a DIY guy and a surgeon and seem to recall Patti teasing me about operating on the kayak. Working on those little holes and trying to reach places was very much like operating, but fortunately, nobody was gonna die.”

Although there are no true outfitters in the Copper Corridor, there are plenty of options down in the Valley.

Riverbound Sports in Tempe about a mile from the Arizona State University campus is licensed to operate in the Tonto National Forest and offers services from sales to rentals to organized tours, lessons and events on the waterways around the Valley.

Owners Teri and Corey Carlin came to Arizona from Southern California in 1998 and found there was nowhere in the area that served kayakers and paddleboarders. The couple celebrated 10 years in the business in July.

TOPO JOES, which just opened up in downtown Globe, is focused on bikes, but is looking into handling kayaks and rentals in the future. Plus, they have a 15-passenger van to shuttle both bikes or kayaks to a location of your choice. Check them out!

Open Wed-Sat, 10am-6pm (928) 351-6411.

“When we arrived, there were no resources in the Valley so we eventually quit our day corporate jobs and figured we’d give it a chance,” says Teri, who has been heavily involved in the sport for about 14 years. “This kind of work is not very lucrative, it’s a labor of love.”

Corey still works his day job, but Teri devotes her days to caring for the business and answering phones, even on days when the business is closed.

She says it took more than a year to get licensed to operate in the Tonto National Forest, and Riverbound has recruited a lineup of licensed, qualified tour guides to lead their excursions.

The shop is open year-round, with reduced winter hours as March through November are the busiest months.

“The best paddling is in the winter though, because there is more to see and it’s less crowded,” she says. “A lot of people see the Salt and don’t understand how the water flows all the time, but it’s very controlled and they do a spectacular job preserving the flows. It’s a very special place.”

A basic start-up kit for the novice kayaker starts at between $450 to $550, but the avid sportsperson can spend thousands of dollars for a wide range of equipment and accessories. Beginners can sign up for lessons and groups can plan tours.

“We recently did a tour with 40 people and it’s very popular for bachelorette parties,” Teri says. “There are many different types of kayaking and paddleboarding, even paddleboard yoga. It’s a nice, fun way to get out and burn calories.”

The company’s website offers a wealth of information about everything from river flows to the latest watersport apparel.

For more information, go to riverboundsports.com. u

Patti at Hawley Lake (8000 ft elevation) in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. It’s a serene spot and Gunnoe highly recommends it. Photo courtesy of Bryan Gunnoe

Dogs often like kayaking or paddle boarding as much as their owners. Photos courtesy of Paddle Pirates

Patti and Bryan at a meet-up event on the lower Salt River (below Saguaro Lake). It is a 3-6 hour easy paddle and is “super popular” says Bryan. Photo courtesy of Bryan Gunnoe

Within the next 48 hours, Petersen intervened with the threat of legislative action to re-open negotiations leading to an extension of the contract through 2025.

The contract was penned in 2019 and expired in June 2022. According to GCC Interim President Janice Lawhorn, it automatically extended for one year, “unless either party provides notice of termination,”allowing either party a way out with a 90-day notice.

Quest for independence

Under the terms of the agreement, EAC provides accredited courses, programs and services such as IT and human resources, including payroll.

GCC’s budget is nearly $6 million, according to Jan Brocker, president of the GCC governing board. Gila County reimburses EAC to cover expenses, which charges an additional 25% for administrative fees, amounting to about $1.2 million annually from the Gila County coffers above operational costs.

“Most of our income comes from Gila County, but we do have state funding primarily for workforce development,” Brocker says. “I don’t think people understand that and think EAC gives us our operating budget. No, we pay them.”

The district owns all of its property, equipment and facilities, including the Gila Pueblo Campus in Globe and the Payson Campus, the Globe/Miami Regional Training Center and the Hayden Wellness Center. GCC has operated for 20 years and, according to Brocker and Lawhorn, is completely debt free.

Independence would allow local control for Gila County and save more than $1 million annually. It would also consolidate all of the school’s functions and administration within the boundaries of the county.

Additionally, the legislation that initially created provisional districts in the state mandated those districts seek independence at some point in the future.

In the fall of 2022, GCC and EAC representatives met to discuss finances and personnel issues to replace two retired deans on the Payson and Gila campuses. Two previous searches had failed and GCC wanted to reopen the search.

That December, the GCC board also approved a new marketing position, but EAC did not follow up to fill the position, according to Lawhorn. EAC subsequently cut off all communications between the GCC board and students or employees of the district.

The board interpreted these actions as a way for EAC to assert control and impede the district’s ability to manage personnel as well as its chances for a successful bid for independence. It also believed EAC wanted to keep Gila County students taking online classes on the books to up enrollment counts in order to increase state revenues.

“In April of this year, I met with the two vice presidents at Eastern Arizona College,” Lawhorn said. “At that time, they told me that there would not be any additional communication between me and the senior dean or financial coordinator or the campus coordinators or anyone on either of the campuses, or they as the employee would face disciplinary action.”

The threat led to frustration on the part of both the GCC board and the staff and students of the college due an informational vacuum that followed as the issue was publicly aired on social media with no opportunity for the district to respond to increasingly heated criticism and unsupported theories.

On May 9, Brocker and Lawhorn released a statement indicating that GCC would terminate its agreement with EAC, effective June 30, 2024, in order to “work through its impending transition” and give students the opportunity to finish programs in a timely manner.

The board reasoned that it had not recommended any changes to the agreement with EAC, and that the extra time it proposed would facilitate a more orderly transition to any future agreement with another institution.

But EAC was not on board with that schedule, and on June 12 informed the GCC governing board that it would “terminate the already terminated contract” on Sept. 10, 2023, leaving students, faculty and administrators in a state of chaos as the beginning of the school year rapidly approached.

Public backlash

The kibosh on communications did not sit well with the community, which was quick to blame GCC for the mess.

“The community felt like they were put in the middle between us and the board. To threaten disciplinary action for communicating was a little harsh,” Lawhorn says. “We certainly didn’t want to jeopardize any of the students or employees. We said that very clearly. That was the last straw for us, because it was totally inappropriate.”

Regardless, two Town Halls—a second was held in Payson on July 27—brought waves of angry citizens questioning the GCC board’s decisions.

Many of the people on hand were either employees of the district, alumni or students expressing dismay at the idea they would either lose their jobs or educational opportunities if the district collapsed.

Globe native and local business owner Erica Flores, who earned her teaching credential through the GCC/ EAC partnership, called the GCC board to task for what she considered a series of bad decisions.

“It has been such a service to our rural communities to get certified teachers in the classrooms and this decision directly impacts that,” Flores said. “There should have been a plan in place and part of that plan should have been knowing

at least who some of these new partners would be.”

Lawhorn responded that schools are not run the same way as private business, due to the regulatory framework involved, the way in which funding is allocated, and relationships with multiple public entities.

Throughout the forum, Lawhorn and Brocker indicated there was a potential partner in the wings, but the GCC board was unable to pursue that option while the district was still in an agreement with EAC.

“How many of you have gone through a divorce?,” Lawhorn posited. “How many of you could start a new relationship while you were still married? Not a good idea. Right?”

Formation of the provisional district

There are 10 community college districts in the State of Arizona with 61 locations serving nearly 300,000 students, 1,400 of whom are in Gila County.

Due to a small population and limited tax base—94% of Gila County is on vast tracts of federal or Tribal land— the County did not qualify to have its own independent community college, so access was limited for many residents.

In 1999, two provisional districts were created as a result of legislation enacted allowing counties to levy taxes to create schools offering accredited courses through partnerships with accredited independent community college districts.

In 2002, Gila County voters passed Proposition 400, giving a green light to the tax levy and in March 2003 the Gila County Provisional Community College District filed articles of incorporation.

After a brief and acrimonious relationship with Pima Community College, GCC entered into an agreement with EAC in 2005. It is not clear why the previous relationship ended, although Lawhorn and Brocker believe it had something to do with a disagreement over property ownership.

In 2009, the State ended the creation of new provisional districts, but GCC was grandfathered in and the threshold for the number of students required for enrollment, should the school gain independence, was reduced from 900 to 450, thanks to the efforts of Representative David Cook in 2011.

The other provisional district is in Santa Cruz County, located in Nogales, which has a contract with Pima Community College. The school’s website states that its governing board is “investigating the possibility of developing a pathway to future accreditation.”

The problem for both districts is that when the State Legislature gave the green light to create the districts, it provided no pathway, or even any breadcrumbs, to attain that goal.

Nevertheless, the statute directs them to “maintain a regional accreditation and oversight relationship with another community college district until the district achieves initial candidacy status from a regional accrediting agency,” but must “actively seek accreditation from a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.”

In GCC’s case, that agency is the The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an independent corporation based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1895 as one of six regional organizations in the U.S. that accredits degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions.

“We are definitely establishing our own organizational structure we had to get in place,” says Lawhorn. “And now I feel like we can move forward more efficiently.”

Lawhorn is uniquely qualified to lead the transition, as she was employed by EAC as an instructor and administrator for more than two decades. She is now working with GCC’s five-member volunteer governing board, composed of Gila County residents from regions created through the legislation.

Her salary is paid through a five-year intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Gila County that provides GCC with $250,000 annually to hire consultants in the bid for independence, which was addressed in executive session at the board of supervisor’s Aug. 1 meeting.

At the end of the session, the supervisors returned to open session to unanimously authorize county attorneys to work with GCC’s attorney on any potential new contract between GCC, the county and any future community college partner.

“If it wasn’t for this agreement, we would not have been able to contract with Interim President Janice Lawhorn, or any of our other specialists/consultants,” Brocker stated in an email to GMT. Due to the nature of the meeting, Brocker was unable to provide more details, but stated that “the Supervisors are very supportive of our moving forward toward independent status.”

Decisions that affect important programs and the local workforce

Despite the number of community college districts in the

state, there are only a select few with the ability to accredit the school’s nursing program, one of the best in the state that brought many concerned citizens to the Town Halls.

The program must receive the blessings of the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), a national certification the current program has.

“We know that when we partner with someone else, we need to ensure that they have at least that ACEN accreditation,” Lawhorn says. “Our first priority is to ensure that, because we think everything else can fall in place. … An accredited nursing program is a top priority for us.”

As a result of a meeting with Petersen earlier in the day on July 25, on Friday, July 28 GCC announced that thanks to that intervention, EAC had agreed in principle to extend the contract through June 30, 2025.

The extended date allows one final group of students to enroll in two-year programs that can be completed at the Gila Pueblo and Payson campuses, including high school students in dual-enrollment classes and job training programs.

After the upcoming fall semester, there will be no two-year program enrollments and students in one-year programs can enroll through the fall of 2024. Single-semester programs will be available through the spring 2025 semester.

The announcement elicited a sigh of relief to Mike O’Neal, superintendent of the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT), which has operating agreements through both GCC and EAC.

CVIT is one of 14 Career and Technical Education Districts (CTED) in the state, working with school districts and private business partners throughout the region.

O’Neal, who has been in the position for nearly three years and has worked hard to stabilize the district’s seven certification programs that range from Cosmetology to Welding, has been on a roller coaster in the wake of COVID and now has to maneuver through this potential setback.

He says that if EAC had ended the contract this fall it would have put CVIT’s efforts back at least three years.

“The impact would have been that our largest program, medical systems, would not be available to new students,” O’Neal says. “Traditionally, we get about 30 students a year in the first year of the two-year program. That would have impacted us significantly for funding student opportunities and it would impact our local workforce needs because about 80% of our students are placed right after they complete the program, when they’re done with high school, with some of them placed while they’re still in high school.”

He says that while CVIT is still “behind the 8-ball,” now that the timeline has been extended, he and his staff members can work to get back on track.

“Unfortunately, we had to turn some students away so hopefully we can recoup those and recover,” O’Neal says. “I am really, really thrilled EAC was able to come to these terms and make this possible for our students, because it’s what’s best for our students, it’s what’s best for our community, it’s what’s best for our local workforce needs.”

An uneasy peace

On July 28, GCC released a statement announcing the extension of the contract, praising Petersen and EAC for the work that went into the agreement that is pending approval from both school’s boards.

“We’re elated that EAC has agreed to do what’s right for the students of Gila County,” Brocker stated. “We look forward to implementing the orderly transition we proposed when we gave EAC 14 months’ notice that GCC would seek a new accreditation solution.”

The announcement caught EAC off guard, as Kris McBride, EAC’s director of marketing and public relations, expected there would be a joint press release at some later point.

“We always had the best interest of Gila County students at heart,” McBride said in a subsequent interview. “When we received the initial notice [from GCC] and asked who the new provider would be, we were concerned because there was no provider in place.”

As to the halt of communications with the GCC board, McBride stated that EAC was not stopping communication, but “enforcing best practices for effective board governance,” since EAC expected all communication to go through its president or vice president.

“While the Gila Board can certainly be cordial with our employees, it is not their role to provide direction to individual employees,” McBride wrote in an email.

According to McBride’s office, EAC reversed its position on the extension of the contract through June 2025 after the GCC board paid nearly $2 million in overdue payments.

“EAC’s contract extension temporarily bridges the gap for students caught in the middle,” McBride stated in EAC’s press release on Aug. 2.

In response, the GCC board stated that the invoice it received was $500,000 higher than expected, but no documentation or itemized invoice explained the charges.

“When it became clear that this payment would be a sticking point in terminating the contract, we made the payment immediately,” Lawhorn stated. “To date, we have not received all the documentation from EAC about the entirety of this billing.”

Now the clock is ticking for the governing board, but everything appears to be falling into place. The district is financially stable with the support of the Gila County Board of Supervisors and the plans that were briefly derailed can now get back on track.

With a bit of luck, the college can take its next step to independence—working with a new partner—and can announce its new beginning in 2024. u

Photo courtesy of Bryan Gunnoe