February 2023 Issue of GlobeMiamiTimes

A rare opportunity this spring for rafting on the Salt River

By David Abbott

Adventurers seeking one of the most unique outdoor experiences in Arizona will have the opportunity for the first time in two years to enjoy a true gem of the desert when rafting season begins on the Salt River.

This will be the first time in two years rafting companies will be able to host trips and schedules are already filling up fast for the season that will begin in early March.

“The Salt is so special. It’s a magical one-of-a-kind place in the entire country, in all North America really,” says Salt River Rafting owner James Wilkes. “It’s just incredible up there. There are two major geological faults so the canyon you see from the road at the top is nothing like the canyon 15 miles down river.”

The Salt River Canyon, often referred to as the “Other Grand Canyon,” is one of the hidden gems of Arizona and due to the ephemeral nature of the river — and the permit process to get to the more remote and rugged locations — there is little chance of “Disneyfication” any time soon.

RAFTING, Continued on page 15

Ken Reynolds started his business with a cell phone, a Suburban, a single Penski truck and an American Express card. That was 30 years ago.

Today Accurate Cargo Delivery Systems Inc. has a fleet of 85 vehicles. Penski trucks, semis and 26ft. box trucks. 80 drivers make 650 deliveries a day throughout Arizona and southern Nevada.

Every single day they send 18-wheelers to Globe.

“Most of the business we get is referral,” says Ken.

Accurate Cargo delivers to medical facilities, office buildings, distribution warehouses, construction sites, mining sites, reservations, and sometimes to the edge of a 30-mile dirt road on the Navajo reservation. They deliver the Globe-Miami Times to Globe.

“We were doing business with the printer they use in north Phoenix,” says Ken. “It was a referral.”

The Business of Trucking Cargo

“If you bought it, a truck brought it,” says Bob Johnson, VP of Accurate Cargo. “Everything moves on a truck at some point.”

Big trucks can deliver more freight, but sometimes pickup trucks are the only way to get it up the road. When delivering communication equipment to cellular towers, the semi parks at the bottom and a pickup takes it all the way up.

TRUCKING, Continued on page 18

Story by Patti Daley. Photos by LCGross

Although rapids named “Devil’s Pendejo,” “Little Boat Eater,” “Kiss & Tell,” and “Bump & Grind,” might put the less adventurous off, one of the best parts of rafting the Salt is the quality of tour guides leading these unique river runs.

Accurate Cargo’s owner Ken Reynolds praises his VP of Operations, Bob Johnson (standing here) describing him as customer-centric. It is a trait that has come to define the company.

From Super Bowl LVII to the return of Salt River rafting, February is looking very good indeed for Arizona!

Rafting companies have returned to plying their trade on the Salt, after two years of hiatus due to low water levels. This year we talked to two of the companies, and excitement is high for a good season on the river. We look forward to seeing crew members in town on their day off and meeting the adventuresome souls who come up for a spin on the white water rapids. Book early when the water flows are the highest. Trips begin February 25 and run through early April, depending on water levels (p. 1).

The rainfall we’ve gotten promises to unleash blankets of wildflowers throughout this area and a strong showing of our signature poppies from late February through early April. The annual Poppy Fest, hosted by the Chamber, is now a month-long celebration with various events happening throughout April.

Our feature this month on Accurate Cargo is one I especially enjoyed doing and one of the reasons I’m glad I get to make the calls on the stories we cover and proud of what this paper represents. They are our freight company and the reason we no longer have to drive 2½ hours to pick up the

paper. We’re a small company with a small shipment each month, but that shipment is important to us. Accurate Cargo takes that seriously, as they do all the shipments for their customers throughout rural Arizona. The story behind this company starts at the top with owner Ken Reynolds and his VP of Operations, Bob Johnson (p. 1).

And finally, the City of Globe will be hosting its 4th Citizens Academy this Spring. It’s a great opportunity to become familiar with how things work at the City and behind the scenes with our police, fire and public works departments (p. 16). If you haven’t already taken advantage of this program, we recommend it.

As always, we believe in getting to know “the rest of the story,” whether that’s about the freight company that has delivered to you for years or your city leaders who put services in place for the good of community life. It’s part of our dedication to honoring the unsung heroes who keep the wheels turning in Globe-Miami.

As Evelyn Vargas says, it’s the people who jump in and get it done that make all the difference.

Enjoy,

Publisher Linda Gross

Editor Patricia Sanders

Creative Designer

Jenifer Lee

Contributing Writers

David Abbott

Linda Gross

Patricia Sanders

Contributing Photography

Linda Gross Tory Satter

Published Monthly

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“Quality goods for a life well lived.”

February is looking very good

MAYOR’S MONTHLY REPORT

AL GAMEROS | CITY OF GLOBE

Our city made considerable progress towards its goals in 2022 with the vision of the City Council and the dedicated hard work of all our staff to meet these goals outlined in our Strategic Action Plan. We continued laying the groundwork for our city’s future by investing in our aging infrastructure, increasing recreational opportunities for quality of life, addressing our housing shortage, and continuing to provide basic services to our residents.

The passing of the 1% city sales tax increase in 2022 will help pave the way to address three key issues keeping the total burden from our city residents. This increase allows for non-city residents and visitors that utilize our resources and services daily to also share in the cost. We will now be able to work towards replacing our 100-year-old plus fire station, enhance our public works department to be able to sustain the many added recreational opportunities that we have committed to and be able to invest in our employees, who are our most valuable assets. Like everyone else, our city is also working through inflationary costs and competing for a workforce to retain. One keynote is that Council voted not to apply this increase to food purchases used for consumption.

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2023

As we look forward to 2023, we will continue to carry forward the momentum created these past couple of years to build a strong economic base for a sustainable future for our city. We will continue building the important relationships and partnerships needed to help fund projects and bring them to fruition. One of our key goals is to leverage this collaboration and advance our city as a key leader in our rural region in Arizona. Here are some of the things we hope to see in 2023.

COMMUNITY AQUATIC CENTER:

We look forward to opening the newly renovated Community Center Pool for recreation, competition swimming, and other programs. The project includes a newly lined heated pool with zero clearance

entrance, a two-story slide, an adjustable bulkhead for competition swimming, new state-of-the-art entrance with showers and bathrooms, a shaded pavilion for private parties, and a heated splash pad. This project was only made possible by funding from the many partners in the community.

RECREATION: We will be adding more recreational opportunities to the already installed new playground equipment at Veteran’s Park at City Hall and the Community Center Park. We look forward to the installation of new outside exercise equipment at the Active Adult Center park. We will also see drinking water filling stations installed throughout the downtown historic district. Our distribution of CDBG funds that we receive every three years in the amount of 180K will be used for upgrades at our Veterans Park at City Hall. With this grant, we will be adding more shading, seating, and upgrades to the sidewalks leading to city hall.

CONNIES BRIDGE: The groundbreaking was held on January 10th to begin the construction of the new Connies Bridge. The completion of this project is projected for October 2023. This project also includes the upgrades to South Hill Street down to the bridge and the intersection that lines up with it. This project is a 5.5 million dollar project with 2.8 million coming from the state budget.

HILL STREET PROJECT: We look forward to the groundbreaking of this 21-million-dollar project in June of this year to begin the construction. This Gorman Company project provides a 64-unit senior affordable housing facility utilizing the existing Hill Street School building and adding an additional building on the property. This is just one project of many that will address our housing shortage. It will take approximately 18 months to complete construction for an anticipated opening date of the last quarter of 2024.

COMMUNITY CENTER SEWER LINE PROJECT: This project is scheduled to be completed this year that will include the installation of sewer line from the

Community Center Park down and will connect into the current City sewer line on Jess Hayes Road. This will allow all city facilities to be put on city sewer and get them off septic tanks. The project will also provide the opportunity for additional resident hookups that are in the path of the new line installation. The estimated cost for this project is approximately 1.2 million dollars.

NEW FIRE STATION: Our team has completed and submitted the application to USDA for approval of a 13 million loan to build a new Fire Station that will replace our 100-plus-year-old station. This year we anticipate approval of the application to allow us to complete the design and specifications. The property has already been purchased at the old Medical Center building at 703 E. Ash Street. Our city has been awarded federal funding of 55K from the Inflation Reduction Act to begin the abatement at this site. We are waiting for the award from the Rural Area Development Grant to help pay for the design/demolition / and partial build.

MICHAELSON BUILDING PROJECT: Our city was awarded 750K from Congress’s direct spending from the USDA Rural Area Development funds. This is an Incubator and Workforce development project located at S. Broad Street and Sycamore Street in partnership the County. The funding will help move the construction of the project forward this year.

NORTHEAST CORRIDOR SEWER EXPANSION: This year we will see the completion of the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the sewer expansion project to the North-East Corridor. Our growth area is limited, with very little private land available. The northeast corridor on Highway 60 going north towards Showlow is our best option for that growth. Our goal is to work with stakeholders to establish partnerships to provide city infrastructure someday to the Fairgrounds area.

HOUSING: Our staff will continue their hard work to satisfy one of the major deficiencies in our community, and that is housing. We anticipate announcing a couple of proposed projects this year that will help bring new housing developments so that people not only work here but also have the opportunity to live here.

LOBBYIST AND WASHINGTON TRIP

It has been a huge benefit hiring and working with a Lobbyist this past year from Washington DC that is dedicated to seeking out funding opportunities for projects for our city that we may not hear of. We will continue those services this year as we look forward to many more opportunities. Our City Councilmen are looking forward to participating and attending the National League of Cities Conference in Washington DC for the first time in March. Besides the valuable information from the conference, we will also be able to schedule oneon-one meetings to dialogue with our Legislators. Putting a face in front of them on our city’s priorities will have a direct impact as they make decisions that may affect our hometown.

STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

Our annual Strategic Action Planning session is scheduled for February. This session is vital to our city’s future planning vision and goals of our city as we keep our city progressing forward. Our plan includes a one, three, and five-year plan, and beyond while being conscientious about the stability of our finances. Our plan includes assuring a strong fund balance for our city’s future hardships.

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. Everyone is invited to participate in the downtown cruise at 5:30 pm. We invite the community to come downtown and support the participating businesses and enjoy live music, food trucks, and vendors. Anyone wishing to set up a vendor booth during any First Friday event may do so at no cost by contacting Linda Oddonetto. Our next First Friday is scheduled for February 3, 2023.

Our Council and staff will continue to refresh our plans, continue to evolve, and keep moving forward not only this coming year but for many years to come. Our vision is to look and plan for years down the road. We are committed to building a strong, vibrant, and sustainable community for future generations.

INSIDER’S SCOOP

Second annual Pioneer Pitch coming to Globe in March

By David Abbott

Aspiring entrepreneurs and established local business owners with fresh, undeveloped ideas will have an opportunity to pitch their plans for seed funding, as the City of Globe will host a localized version of the popular show “Shark Tank” in March.

Although there will be no billionaire “sharks” on-hand, nonprofit Moonshot AZ will bring its AZ Pioneer Pitch and the opportunity to win a $10,000 prize for the best pitch in 10 rural Arizona-based communities.

“Moonshot is like Shark Tank in the sense that you’re making your best pitch to the judges to win funding, but it’s not like Shark Tank in that they’re not going to point out the weaknesses in your business plan,” says Economic and Community Development Director Linda Oddonetto. “The Moonshot team is going to work with each participant and actually help build up and guide the entrepreneur through their pitch.”

This will be the second year Kiersten and Scott Hathcock have brought the program to Globe and the pair hope to have a big turnout for the two-day competition.

“Our main objective is to boost job creation that raises livable wage levels and employment rates in local economies,” says Scott Hathcock, President and CEO of Moonshot AZ. “We want people who love their communities, and who want to support their communities by creating a better lifestyle for everyone.”

Moonshot is an Arizona-based, 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that is approaching its 23rd year of operation. Its mission is to “help subject matter experts bring products and services to market and help cities develop entrepreneurial eco-systems that create jobs.”

The Pioneer Pitch tour is in its fourth year, and will stage competitions in 10 Arizona cities, culminating in a final competition in Flagstaff on July 28. The overall winner will receive a $10,000 prize and one year’s worth of business consultation through Moonshot.

AZ Pioneer Pitch brings proven entrepreneurial success and mentorship to help diversify the local economy in partnership with the City of Globe.

Kiersten Hathcock pursued her dreams of professional independence from a dusty 400-square-foot garage workshop in her then-California home after she left the world of corporate marketing in 2003 to spend more time with her family.

As a young mother looking for a toy box her kids would actually use, she discovered there was a void in the market for modern kids furniture.

In 2006, she taught herself how to build furniture from her home and established her company Mod Moms Furniture. As word of her product made its way into the world, she suddenly found herself besieged by more work than she could accomplish on her own.

In 2010, she appeared on Shark Tank, but despite winning a bid, Hathcock spent about a year twisting in the wind after the deal fell through. The following year, she signed a deal with a manufacturer in Ohio and Mod Moms took off. She was soon selling her unique product globally and even designed a play table and chairs set for Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in early 2020.

Now the couple is dedicated to passing on the knowledge Kiersten gained from the ups and downs of her business experience. At the heart of her message is learning to pick up the pieces and turn failures into successes. Above all though, “be authentic.”

“Have the courage to stand up for what you feel is right for you, even in the face of experts,” Kiersten says. “Know your strengths and your weaknesses, but don’t give away your power.”

Local business owner Erika “Moqui” Flores and her husband Johnny D. Flores participated in the inaugural event last year, winning $1,000 to help launch a mobile smoothie cart she says hasn’t launched yet, although they have taken it to several “pop-up” events to sell Zona Ice products.

The Flores husband and wife team is already a dynamic economic engine in Globe. Together they run Zona Ice while “Johnnyd” is proprietor of Dominion Cutting Co. a popular local barber shop in the refurbished Valley National Bank building on Broad Street. Moqui Flores is co-owner of Pretty Kind Boutique as well as a part-time professor at ASU.

Despite her depth of experience in the business world, Flores says she learned a lot from her experience during the Pioneer Pitch.

“Johnny and I are always brainstorming new business ventures, but we didn’t have anything solidified when we started out last year,” she says. “The biggest benefit I got from Moonshot is the knowledge and resources they were able to point us to for what building a food truck business would look like.”

Another learning experience she received was pitching her business idea in front of a roomful of people and responding to questions about the plan.

“For someone who has been sitting on an idea and has never opened a business, this is a great opportunity to talk about your million-dollar idea,” she says. “If you are a business owner and you want to take your business to the next level, this is a great opportunity.”

AZ Pioneer Pitch offers Globe a partnership with Moonshot that fits in well with the City’s vision for future economic growth, envisioned with the establishment of the Economic and Community Development Department in 2018.

Municipal leaders have devoted resources into diversifying the economy for future sustainability, and while it is a long process, the seeds of change have been blossoming with the economic renaissance that is taking place in Globe.

“Our economic development program is really expanding and if you look at all the projects we’ve got going right now, it’s exciting to see,” says City Councilmember and former Gila County Supervisor Michael Pastor. “In my younger days I’d advocate for staying small but the times have changed. It’s important to have an economic development strategy that benefits our city.”

Pastor is also excited to see partners like Moonshot take interest in Globe and thinks this bodes well for the future.

“We want to make sure people know we’re inviting them here to do this,” he says. “If they win, it’s seed money to implement their business ideas.”

AZ Pioneer Pitch kicks off with a reception on March 9, with the main event taking place on March 10. In addition to the opportunity to represent Globe at the annual awards banquet in July, there will be second and third-place prizes and plenty of business advice for all participants.

“We’re not only doing work directly with entrepreneurs, we also work with communities to help build these ecosystems,” Hathcock says. “We love community partners like Globe, because we have to have great City staff boots on the ground to help build that momentum.”

Moonshot NACET is a 501c3 funded by contracts with municipal partners to provide these resources in their cities. The AZ Pioneer Pitch is funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as the Arizona Commerce Authority, and an organization called the CIC Community Investment Council, which provides micro loans to qualified applicants.

For more information, go to www.azpioneerpitch.org/ globe, or email the City of Globe Economic Development Department at Econdev@globeaz.gov.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOQUI FLORES

Johnnyd and Moqui Flores, who won the 2022 Moonshot AZ pitch event, were joined by Globe Mayor Al Gameros to accept their $1,000 prize.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOQUI FLORES Globe Mayor Al Gameros joins Moqui Flores and Moonshot AZ President and CEO Scott Hathcock for the presentation of a ceremonial $1,000 check Flores won in the first annual Globe’s first Moonshot pitch event in 2022. The City hopes to have more participants in this year’s competition taking place on March 9 and 10 in Globe.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOONSHOT AZ

Moqui Flores (center) holds the trophy she won after pitching her business idea at the first Moonshot AZ event in 2022. Pictured are participants in the event, Globe city officials and event organizers Scott and Kiersten Hathcock (back row, center).

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOQUI FLORES Moqui Flores gives her pitch at the Moonshot AZ finals last year in Flagstaff. Johnnyd is pictured standing at the far left.

Hearts of Miami Engaged

By Patti Daley

“Miami needs a lot of sprucing up, but you have to start somewhere,” says Evelyn Vargas, leader of the new non-profit organization Hearts of Miami Engaged (H.O.M.E.). H.O.M.E. is a dedicated group of citizens with a common purpose.

Historic Keystone Stairs Project

“It’s not an artistic endeavor. This is to honor our copper miners,” Vargas says. “We want people to feel what the miners felt climbing those stairs, to see what they saw.”

That purpose?

“Economic development,” says Phil Stewart, a local business owner and the group’s treasurer. “We want to help enhance public spaces and preserve the historic and cultural significance of our town.”

When the small group learned that Arizona Highways was going to shoot an episode in Miami, they got to work right away, cleaning up around the businesses that would be on camera. Beginning in late July, all the way up to shoot day in early October, the “night crew” pulled out weeds and cleared trash to spruce things up. It was a good way to begin, the team agrees. It let them see who would show up to put in the time and labor.

“We’re a hands-on group,” says Britta Crone. “We all met with our shovels, and it was a lot of fun.”

Building H.O.M.E.

“It happened organically,” says Melinda Baeza, a Miami native, “by walking and talking and working together.”

The legal organization emerged from Cobre Valley Regional Aquatic Center, the non-profit organization formed to raise funds for a new aquatic center in the tricity area. When the eight-year effort ended as CVRMC shifted their matching funds of $1.5 million to the Globe Community Center Pool, donors were offered three options: get a full refund, split their donation between Globe and Miami water activities, or leave it in the aquatic center’s 501c(3) to be repurposed.

“Most took the third option,” Vargas says.

H.O.M.E. is now receiving new donations. In turn, they’ve donated $250 in candy to the town’s Halloween celebration and $500 toward a small-town Christmas. The group recently applied for a T*mobile grant to kick off their first big project, the Historic Keystone Stairs.

Sim

Maps located along the stairs - at a lookout that dates from 1910 and at the very top, where a larger deck will be constructed - will point out the Freeport smelter and the Van Dyke mine shaft. “The view is phenomenal,” remarks Phil Stewart, local business owner and one of two Miami transplants on the H.O.M.E. team so far.

The Keystone Stairs has always been a topic of the town in Miami. For years people have said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if…?”

“We just figured we have the energy, we have a grant opportunity, let’s jump in - let’s dive in and let’s get it done,” Vargas explains.

The Historic Keystone Stairs Project is scoped in four phases. The first phase, intended to be done by March, includes an engineering study, scope of work, and permitting from the town of Miami. Phase 2 includes utilities, drainage, maintenance of the stairs and handrails, and construction of a retaining wall. Phase 3 involves the installation of silhouettes of miners, photographs from the era, benches, lookout points, mining equipment, and memorial plaques. Phase 4 will involve the installation of lighting that matches the historic period.

The goal is for the Keystone Stairs to receive historic recognition. Miami truly was the copper center of the world in the early 1900s, Evelyn emphasizes, and copper is still essential today, lighting the world and connecting people across the planet.

On January 17, the members of H.O.M.E. met with representatives from other Miami non-profits to share their vision of economic development and the details of the Historic Keystone Stairs Project.

“We want to work in concert to see what we can really do as a collective,” Stewart says.

Noreen Valdez-Prater, born and raised in Miami, wants to revive the fiestas and events that used to fill the streets of Miami. She was drawn to the group by its leadership.

“I really love the work Evelyn has done,” Noreen says. “She’s gone above and beyond for this community.”

For Vargas, it’s all about more funds for the town and more amenities for the kids of Miami.

One thing hasn’t changed: “We still want our pool,” she says with a smile.

Superior’s Mining Festival celebrates its roots in mining

By Mila Besich

The Apache Leap Mining Festival takes place every spring in Superior, and it’s a rare opportunity where you’ll be able to witness – and even take part in – mining the way it was done in the Old West.

The competition events during the festival include jack leg drilling, sawing, spiking, and mucking. People come from across the state and beyond to compete, testing their brawn, skill and strategy. Jack leg drilling, sawing, and spiking are all individual events, but mucking is a team sport: How fast can a team fill an ore cart, move it down the course and back, and then dump it?

The festival gives spectators a chance to see and hear about the mining work that, even at the time, was largely invisible to anyone who didn’t actually work in the mines. It will give you a new appreciation for the miners who worked to bring critical minerals to the surface, and those who continue that work today - albeit with modern tools.

The mining competition has been part of the Apache Leap Mining Festival since its beginning in the late 1980s. The idea of a festival to celebrate Superior started as a way to sustain the town’s economy after the closure of the Magma Mine in 1982.

One of the first community-sponsored events in Superior was called Apache Leap Days - the name celebrated the red escarpment on the east side of town - and it included a mining competition from the very first. Over the years, the name for the event evolved; at one point it was called the Apache Leap Mountain Festival. As the event grew and leadership changed, the emphasis on mining and Superior’s history became more central, and today the event is promoted as the Apache Leap Mining Festival. But you’ll still hear many locals calling it Apache Leap Days.

The festival has grown to include something for everyone: a carnival, live entertainment, chihuahua races, and, of course, a wide variety of food and novelty vendors. And for the curious at heart, lectures by historians and other experts will offer insight and context on our mining culture. And local mines will have booths to educate the public on their projects and the importance of mining and mineral extraction.

When the event first began, the Town of Superior hosted the event, and funds raised were used to support community recreation programs. The Town later handed over the reins to the Superior Chamber of Commerce while still serving as a leading sponsor for the event. The infrastructure built for the Apache Leap Mining Festival, including a stage, restrooms and a food court, has also provided a foundation for eventsbased tourism in Superior including six major events throughout the year. The festival itself has become a primary fundraiser for the Chamber.

Today, it’s believed Superior might be the only town hosting a celebration focused on mining, a tradition the Chamber is proud to continue.

The 2023 Apache Leap Mining Festival will be held March 10-12 in downtown Superior. There will be a carnival on Main Street and live entertainment at the Besich Park stage and beer garden. Saturday morning kicks off with a parade, followed by the chihuahua races and the mining competition. Headliner entertainment for each day includes:

• Friday: Buddy Martell Band 6-10 pm

• Saturday: The Big Sephyr 6-10 pm

• Sunday: Neto & Imagine 3-6 pm

For complete info visit: http://bit.ly/3YoFfj8.

To become an event sponsor or vendor, please contact the Superior Chamber of Commerce at (520) 689-0200.

takes

Participant

part in the Mining Competition

MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL

MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL

With graduation around the corner, Miami High School helps students explore options

By David Abbott

Graduating high school is a defining moment of a young adult’s life, but Miami High School provides students the tools they need to pursue their dreams of collegiate achievement, military service or traditional career paths.

While administrators attempt to instill the importance of post-high school planning throughout students’ time at the school, those efforts really come into focus for seniors preparing to go out into the world as adults.

“It’s an interesting time for seniors if they haven’t been serious about their plans,” says MHS Principal Glen Lineberry. “We’ve already had kids sign their military papers, we’ve already had kids accept offers at colleges and that sort of thing, but if they haven’t been serious, it’s now get serious time.”

Getting serious requires a lot of planning, whether it be filling out forms to ensure financial assistance for schooling or multiple job applications. Many students must also wrestle with the idea of leaving home for population centers like Phoenix, Tucson or cities in another state.

In order to help students find direction within themselves, MHS has hired its first certified guidance counselor in nearly a decade.

Thatcher native Colton Cook is almost through his first year in that position, bringing wide-ranging experiences from his own life to his job as counselor.

After completing a two-year mission with the Church of the Latter-day Saints, Cook worked his way through school, spending the past five years in the construction industry as he earned his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. He says his father encouraged him to pursue a psychology degree because of his abilities to interact so well with a variety of friends when he was younger.

Cook’s approach has not been to push students in any particular direction, but to ensure they develop the skills needed to be successful no matter what they choose to do after high school.

“Our main goal is to make sure they find something they’re genuinely interested in and to be sure they’ve done at least a little bit of research that will help guide them,” Cook says. “And that they have the social and personal skills and the work ethic to be able to go in whatever direction that is.”

He says that he has been impressed with the response from MHS students, particularly since he is not being “annoying about college,” but encouraging them to be successful in whatever they are excited about. That dynamic can lead them to such external programs as the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) to earn two-year certificates in various fields, dual enrollment classes to earn college credits as they complete high school courses, or career and technical education (CTE) taught by qualified teachers at the school.

What it really comes down to for Cook in his role as a counselor is building trusting relationships — some that will last for years — not only with the students, but with parents as well.

“You get to know the students pretty well, because you’re advising them on what you think their career path might look like,” Cook says. “Having more information about the students lends itself to creating more one-on-one relationships with every student, because you’re really trying to discern what they want to do with their lives.”

Cook also encourages his student charges to explore career paths they hadn’t thought of that

might be somehow connected to their post-high school dreams.

“I have a board in my office titled ‘Have you ever heard of this job?’ listing a ton of jobs that people never hear about,” he says. “Even two-thirds of the way through my master’s, I started learning about different jobs I could do within my skill set and my education, so I have a goal to try to educate kids as to a whole lot of oddball jobs they never heard of.”

While Cook helps students navigate possibilities, MHS also offers students help with the technical aspect of continued education.

AmeriCorps staffer Blayze Vanta guides students through the often complex path to higher education, from sharing her own personal experiences to walking them through the process of writing an essay for their college applications.

Vanta is a 2020 graduate of Globe High School who is a self-described overachiever in her third year at Arizona State University. She has a medical assistant certificate through CVIT and hopes to go to medical school once she graduates ASU. Her recent experiences in high school and college — experiences interrupted by the COVID pandemic — give her an advantage working with students.

“I’m so close in age and my experiences are more recent,” Vanta says. “When they come to me they can ask me any questions they have about college, whether it be questions about the FAFSA, questions about scholarships they might have or questions about how to prepare their essays for the scholarships.”

The free application for student aid (FAFSA) form is required for students heading to college or trade school, as the government form can potentially open the door to thousands of dollars worth of help to finance higher education.

As a high achiever, Vanta herself has had her ups and downs and nearly lost her full-ride scholarship as she learned how college works. But she regained her focus by seeking help and getting over her fear of asking questions.

She thinks it is important for students to realize they may change their minds along the way, but they need to be able to adjust quickly. The most important thing she can teach her students, though, is the reality that they are not alone on their life journey no matter how isolated they feel.

“The truth is, none of us are alone,” Vanta says. “What these kids need to understand is you have so many people willing to help and there’s no such thing as a stupid question: It might seem stupid to them, but honestly, they’re probably not the only one who’s had that question.”

While Vanta and Cook are on board to counsel students, MHS has developed external relationships to broaden opportunities for soon-to-be former students.

Nonprofit organizations such as the Helios Foundation and the Saddlebrooke community on the outskirts of Tucson provide resources and scholarships. There are also local opportunities for schooling such as Eastern Arizona College and CVIT as well as a wide range of vocational programs and apprenticeships in the Valley and Tucson area.

It is a dizzying array of opportunities to juggle, even for adults, but Lineberry says his students are up for the challenge.

“Most of our kids are going to do multiple things,” he says. “Maybe they’re seeking full-time employment, maybe they’re seeking part time employment while they go to school, maybe they’re seeking part-time employment while they seek other employment.”

He adds that a certain amount of failure can be expected, but it is important for his students to learn that they need to pick themselves up, dust off and continue to work towards their goals no matter what path they choose or what gets in the way.

“This isn’t beanball that these kids are playing: This is difficult and complicated and scary and they have this feeling that they’re going to fail,” Lineberry concluded. “They are going to fail to some degree some number of times until they figure their way forward. We all forget that we did that.”

Blayze Vanta

Colton Cook

CVIT expands student opportunity thanks to legislation passed in 2021

By David Abbott

Students looking for a leg up in the job market after high school have a new opportunity for training now that the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) has extended funding to recent graduates for technical training.

Thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 1179 and House Bill 2123 in 2021, CVIT can now offer a full year of funding for graduated students to complete an extra year of certificate training for high-paying jobs in targeted industries.

The additional funding — known as 4th-Year Funding for Regional In-Demand Programs — not only benefits students, but helps guide qualified workers toward professions in fields that are experiencing labor shortages throughout the state, based on labor market data provided by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.

“Fourth-year funding allows us to capture education dollars for one year immediately after high school is finished,” says CVIT Superintendent Mike O’Neal. “It broadens opportunities for the students, because it gives them an additional chance as they mature and figure out they want to do something different with their lives.”

Prior to the legislative adjustment, CVIT was only able to provide three years of funding for high school students beginning in sophomore year, and seniors had to have their twoyear certifications completed by graduation. Graduates now have an extra year to finish or can complete a one-year certification as well.

Now the window of opportunity has opened further for those who start late, decide to change direction or are motivated to get more than one certificate over the course of their schooling.

For instance, if a student enrolled in a construction program as a sophomore completes certification in their junior year and decides to enroll in a different program in their senior year, there is now funding available to allow that student to complete the program after graduation.

Likewise, for a student involved in sports or other extracurricular activities who did not have time to complete a program within the high school window. Those “13th-year” students now have an extra year of time to start or finish up a Regional In-Demand CTE Program.

There are many opportunities in the allied health fields available for 4th-Year Funding, from medical assisting services to nursing assistant or dental assisting, that offer quick entry into a well-paying job or career.

Megan Martinez is an associate professor in the nursing program and Director of the Allied Health departments at EAC-Gila Pueblo Campus and teaches the medical assistant and phlebotomy portion of Allied Health for CVIT students.

She says that much of the basic curriculum of Allied Health translates well into each individual field of study and she expects increased participation as word gets out that 4th-Year funding is available.

One of the most important things Martinez imparts to her students is that once high school is over, they have to figure out what they intend to do with their lives. She believes the opportunity will give them a chance to rethink their options through programs available at no cost, and as they learn how expensive post-high school education can be.

“It’s getting the kids to understand that high school is going to be over and they have a life after that,” Martinez says. “I always tell them high school is only four years of your life, and you have to be planning: Yes, you want to enjoy your high school years, but you want to be set for when you graduate.”

Citing the cost of continuing education — her own daughter received significant financial aid to attend ASU, but Martinez says she still had a lot of out of pocket expenses to pay — Martinez sees Allied Health fields as a means to help pay for schooling or as an entryway to a fulfilling career in and of itself.

The curriculum can also offer students a baseline education to work in many different facets of the field. The additional funding can allow students to get multiple certifications that can open the door for even more opportunity.

“We have such a need in health care for all of these positions, so someone that has both their nursing assistant and their medical assistant licenses are able to utilize them in multiple areas,” says EAC-Gila Pueblo Campus Nursing Assistant Program Coordinator and Associate Professor and CVIT instructor Jennifer Carlson. “That’s even more potential for students that have the two programs under their belt. I think that’s awesome and can open the door for future advancement.”

Carlson says that the programs can even build on each other as the basic skills overlap in the healthcare industry. Even those who are not interested in a career in the field can

take advantage of the programs to help them achieve whatever their future dreams might be.

She points to one of her students who knows she does not want to work in the medical field, but is not interested in lowwage employment as she works toward a college degree.

“Her point to me was, when she’s in college, her part-time job is going to be as a nursing assistant,” Carlson says. “That is a significant part-time job compared to a fast food worker, or whatever. She has a good point: Even if you choose not to work in this field you’ve been gifted this opportunity.”

For the undecided student, “This gives them a taste of healthcare to see if it is what they want to do,” she concludes.

Ultimately, CVIT’s programs help students prepare for the world outside of high school where many will have to learn how to navigate a complex system in a professional atmosphere.

“We go back to the basics of having accountability, being responsive, safety and teamwork,” says Nursing Instructor Anjanette Bolinger for EAC-Gila Pueblo Campus and CVIT students. “I really enjoy teaching them at that stage, because when they complete our nursing program they have a solid foundation when it comes to our expectations.”

Bolinger adds that her students are “hirable as soon as they finish our programs,” and have an increased likelihood to find a job as soon as they get certified.

CVIT is part of a system of 14 Career and Technical Education Districts (CTED) in Arizona created in 1990 by legislative statute 15-393, and in 2021 the language of 15-393 was updated to increase funding an additional year for students who want to earn certificates in fields that need workers.

CVIT serves six rural school districts including Globe, Miami, Ray, Superior, San Carlos and Hayden-Winkelman.

For more information, go to www.cvit81.org

Mike O’Neal

Anjanette Bolinger

Globe High School Varsity Boys Basketball

San Carlos High School Varsity Boys Basketball

Miami High School Varsity Girls Basketball

Senior Vaughn Lomayaktewa shoots two free throws after a technical foul was called against Valley Christian.

Senior Wendsler Nosie III drives to the lane for two points for the Tigers. In the second half of the January 4th game, Nosie scored his 1,000 high school career point on a three pointer.

Senior Tayshaun Nosie brings the ball down the court against the Valley Christian Trojans.

Senior Tayshaun Polk dribbles down the court against some tough defense from Arete Prep.

Senior John Mull drives into the lane before dishing it off for one of his many assists in the game.

Freshman Leshawn Browning dribbles around the defense as the San Carlos fans watch intently.

Sophomore Demetria Dosela lays it up for two of her eighteen points for the Lady Vandals. Dosela lead the Lady Vandals in scoring for their 77-12 win.

Senior Allie Roberts went three for four from the free throw line against American Leadership Academy – Anthem South. Roberts had seven points total for the game.

Sophomore Leeyah Goss had fifteen points against the Lady Titans. Goss also made a huge impact defensively with nine steals.

RAFTING Continued from page 1

“For all the years I have been up here, nearly every guest from Phoenix says ‘wow, I didn’t know this place was here,’” Wilkes says. “You don’t want to turn it into Disneyland, but clearly that’s not going to happen since it hasn’t in the 20-plus years I’ve been there.”

Wilkes says he has been working the Salt River since 1997, and became a business owner when a group of fellow river guides bought the company, formerly Blue Sky Rafting in Globe, after working for the former owner for a decade.

“We thought that’s probably the dumbest thing you could do, to buy a raft company in the desert, so we decided, sure, let’s do it,” he says.

Salt River Rafting is one of four companies operating on the Salt, with three located in Colorado and one out of Flagstaff. While it is not a steady source of income for operators, since there is only enough water to support the activities every few years, established adventure outfitters relish the possibility to ply the river whenever possible, in part because they enjoy it as much as their customers.

A rare and unique place

The Salt River Wilderness Area was established in 1984 and covers approximately 32,100 very rugged acres in the Tonto National Forest. The river begins in the White Mountains and flows west, where it has cut a deep canyon in the desert that drops from 4,200 feet on White Ledge Mountain to 2,200 feet where the river meets Roosevelt Reservoir.

While it lacks the size of the Grand Canyon, it rivals the scope, given its rugged geology and scenic beauty. It is one of a small handful of rivers that flow through saguaro cactus forests in the Sonoran Desert.

The landscape is as varied as the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert, as the river winds through myriad rock formations created over millions of years of volcanic activity, wind and water.

There are no maintained trails within the entire wilderness, so travel is basically limited to raft or kayak during the short and temperamental river-running season between March 1 and May 15. Permits are required between these dates and group size is limited to 15 people.

There are 27 sets of rapids and numerous side creeks to explore. The whitewater gets more treacherous as water levels drop, so for the average individual a packaged tour is a must.

As to weather, it is not uncommon to start out the day wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and later wearing winter weather gear or vice versa. There is also no cell phone service in the canyon.

Although rapids named “Devil’s Pendejo,” “Little Boat Eater,” “Kiss & Tell,” and “Bump & Grind,” might put the less adventurous off, one of the best parts of rafting the Salt is the quality of tour guides leading these unique river runs.

“The Salt attracts really good river guides for a couple of reasons: It is beautiful and it is fun,” says Benjamin Dove of Canyon Rio Rafting Company, based in Flagstaff. “All these guides who are really good at what they do on their home rivers get to come for the early season and enjoy being on the beautiful Salt.”

Dove says that due to the weather throughout central Arizona, the Salt River season runs earlier than other rivers further north, where the rafting season does not start until May. The river is fed by snow melt, so when it is running tour companies run as much as they can, because a “warm rain” in the mountains can end a season abruptly by melting the snow pack.

Canyon Rio was established in 1995 by Donnie and Caroline Dove, who moved to Flagstaff in 1991 and fell in love with the rivers and canyons of Arizona. While the main focus of the company most years is on the Grand Canyon, Benjamin Dove says the opportunity to work the Salt is one of the high points of being in the business.

“The Salt is a fantastic river in a beautiful canyon,” he says. “Arizona gets a lot of credit for the Grand Canyon, but a lot of people come to see that and the Salt gets overlooked.”

The rafting experience

Rafting tours range from day trips to five-day epic adventures. Most tours begin at the junction of State Highway 60 and the Salt River, about a 40-minute drive north of Globe.

For those choosing a Canyon Rio tour, a typical one-day trip starts at 9:30 a.m. and lasts about seven hours. At the outset, experienced guides talk participants through

Contacts for the Salt River rafting experience

• Canyon Rio: www.canyonrio.com, info@canyonrio.com, 1-800-2PADDLE (272-3353)

• Salt River Rafting: raftingsaltriver.com, info@raftthesalt.com, 800-425-5253

• Mild to Wild: mild2wildrafting.com, 970-247-4789

• Wilderness Aware Rafting: www.inaraft.com, 1-800-462-7238, 719-395-2112

the day, give an extensive safety orientation and gear everyone up for whatever might be encountered along the way.

The day trip goes through seven Class III rapids — intermediate rapids requiring complex maneuvers — and 13 overall. There is a lunch stop to “dry out,” before the final seven miles of rafting.

A shuttle ride back to the starting point ends the day between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Dove says the rapids are already impressive and he hopes the “stomachdroppin’ action” of the “wave trains of haystack waves” continues for the foreseeable future.

In river guide vernacular, a wave train is a spot in the river with continuous waves, and a haystack is a wave caused by fast water hitting a slower current due to a drop in gradient.

A “swimmer” is someone who falls out of the raft.

Salt River Rafting also offers day trips, The Classic, as well as an abbreviated short trip for people who “need to get back to Phoenix for dinner or are heading to the Grand Canyon” afterward.

There are also multi-day options for a trip of about 50 miles. The three-day tour is wall-to-wall rafting, while the five-day tour gives participants more time to camp, hike and enjoy being outdoors with no cell phone service.

“The Salt River Canyon is stunning,” Wilkes says. “It turns into a granite white polished stone micro canyon, and then you cross a fault that takes you into the Black Rock zone and that’s where the big Class IV rapids are.”

Rafting tours are open to adventurers of all levels, although given the nature of the activity kids under the age of seven are not permitted.

“We’re real family oriented but we have an age cut off and it can change with the water level, just to keep things safe,” says Wilkes. “We’ve also made accommodations for people who can’t see and can’t swim. It can be done safely and it’s quite a spectrum.”

No matter which company one chooses, all offer great adventures in one of the most beautiful and unique places in the U.S. World-class tour guides will take even the greenest novice safely through the adventure, providing good food, historical background, and camaraderie along the way.

“What I love about the Salt and why I think it is so unique is you’re in this high desert environment where you’re coming through these incredible granite rock formations that create incredible towers and structures,” says Canyon Rio’s Dove. “At the same time, you get to boat right alongside saguaro cactuses growing right up to the edge of the river. In addition to being stunning, you get to experience this amount of water flowing through the desert. It’s a truly surreal experience.” u

Courtesy Photo: Salt River Rafting

“The Salt is so special. It’s a magical one-ofa-kind place in the entire country, in all North America really.”

Salt River Rafting owner James Wilkes

COURTESY PHOTO BY CANYONRIO CanyonRIO is one of four rafting companies which are permitted on the Salt River.

HILDRED “POLLY” DARKOVICH, May 23, 1924 – January 30, 2023, age 98, passed away. (BM)

OSMUND FAIRFIELD JR., January 10, 1932 – January 29, 2023, age 91, of Miami, passed away. Osmund graduated from Miami High in 1950. He served more than 45 years in the US Army Reserves, including serving in Desert Storm, and also served as a volunteer patrolman with the Arizona Highway Patrol. (LM)

MICHAEL DUANE KENTON, October 24, 1974 – January 29, 2023, age 48, of Peridot, passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson. Michael worked as a slot technician at Apache Gold Casino. (LM)

DARRELL HOPKINS SR., October 5, 1954

– January 28, 2023, age 68, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. Darrell was a mechanic. (LM)

JOHN DAVIS, March 10, 1932 – January 27, 2023, age 90, passed away. (LM)

ANGELITA SMITH, January 30, 1943 –January 25, 2023, age 79, of Phoenix, passed away at her home. (LM)

CHARLES FRANKLIN BERRY, November 19, 1951 – January 23, 2023, age 71, of Roosevelt, passed away in Payson. (LM)

NICOLE VON HATTEN, October 4, 1975 –January 23, 2023, age 47, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)

JOHNNY C. MADRID, June 24, 1938 –January 19, 2023, age 84, passed away. He worked in the mines, first as a laborer and then a journeyman instrumentation electrician. He also served 8 years in the Armed Reserves. (BM)

CRAIG RODGER LEWIS, September 20, 1939

– January 17, 2023, age 83, passed away. Craig served in the Navy for 8 years. He was a Boy Scout Camp leader in northern Minnesota in the summer and a wildlife area host for the AZGFD in the winter. He was originally from Minneapolis. (LM)

IN LOVING MEMORY

WILLIAM JOHN NICKOL, May 5, 1947 –January 19, 2023, age 75, passed away. (BM)

ANTHONY RAY BECERRA, May 22, 2000 –January 17, 2023, age 22, of Kearny, passed away. Anthony worked at Asarco as a haul truck driver. (BM)

TERESA MARIE TARANGO, December 10, 1960 – January 16, 2023, age 62, passed away. Teresa worked at Circle K for many years and later at the GHS bookstore. (LM)

JORYAN LEE POLK, August 31, 2000 –January 16, 2023, age 22, of Peridot, passed away in Phoenix. Joryan worked as a landscaper. (LM)

SUSAN G. VELARDE, May 24, 1949 –January 15, 2023, age 73, passed away. She was a hairdresser for many years, and also worked as a job coordinator at the Department of Economic Security and a customer service representative for the Social Security Administration. (LM)

MELVIN ANTHONY NOSIE, February 9, 1987

– January 15, 2023, age 35, of San Carlos, passed away in Blackwater. He worked as a cook. (LM)

INFANT JAKE GUNNER STRUCK passed away on January 15, 2023. (LM)

SUE LYNN MCCARTHY, September 5, 1957

– January 14, 2023, age 65, passed away at CVRMC. She was originally from Deming, New Mexico, and enjoyed helping at Horizon Health Services. (LM)

CHARLES J. DERHAMMER, November 8, 1945 – January 13, 2023, age 77, of Top of the World, passed away. Charles was originally from Tipperary, Ireland. He had a varied career, including working as foreman for Brown Tank and Steel. (LM)

MARY LOUISA SALCIDO, May 21, 1946 –January 13, 2023, age 76, of Globe, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)

KAREN DALE BOWYER, November 4, 1948 –January 13, 2023, age 74, of Globe, passed away at her home. Karen was originally from Charleston, West Virginia. She worked for GUSD for 17 years as a bus driver and then at Apache Gold Casino for 23 years. (BM)

ELY GENE SMITH, May 26, 1934 – January 11, 2023, age 88, passed away. Ely had many occupations, including welder, miner, cowboy, well driller, and sawmill worker. For 26 years he was a service unit administrative officer in San Carlos Indian Health Services, and later a cage cashier at Apache Gold Casino. (LM)

MELISSA ANN TORRES, June 27, 1967

– January 11, 2023, age 55, of Superior, passed away. Melissa worked at Superior High School for 17 years and was active in many organizations in Superior. (BM)

EMMANUEL BELVADO, December 8, 1957

– January 10, 2023, age 65, of San Carlos, passed away at Haven of Globe. He worked in landscaping. (LM)

INFANTS WESTON AND WAYLON GILLIAM passed away on January 10, 2023. (BM)

PETER ARTHUR SEITZ, August 7, 1966 –January 9, 2023, age 56, of Casa Grande, passed away. Peter was originally from Cincinnati and was proud to have served in the US Air Force. (LM)

FIDELLA FAST HORSE, January 24, 1947 – January 7, 2023, age 75, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center. (LM)

FELIX LEE HUNTER, February 25, 1965 –January 7, 2023, age 57, passed away. (LM)

ARTEMISA RAMIREZ MARTINEZ

December 23, 1939 – January 6, 2023, age 83, of Dudleyville, passed away. (BM)

TONI DUNLAP, August 1, 1943 – January 6, 2023, age 79, of Kearny, passed away. (BM)

JOANN ALLEN SPARKS, September 3, 1928 – January 5, 2023, age 94, passed away at Haven Health in Globe. (LM)

CHARLOTTE ANN BUCK, December 30, 1946 – January 5, 2023, age 76, of Bylas, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center. She was a certified nurse’s assistant. (LM)

JOHN RAYMOND RAU, January 21, 1956 – January 5, 2023, age 66, passed away at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center. He was originally from Toledo, Ohio, and enjoyed working as a news man at KJAA radio. (LM)

EUGENE V. EDGMON, April 18, 1930 –January 4, 2023, age 92, passed away. Gene was originally from Oklahoma and moved to Arizona in 1950. He worked in the mines, including as a foreman in Superior’s copper mine and later a manager of mines in Indonesia. (BM)

JIMMIE DEAN SHAY SR., February 9, 1938 – January 4, 2023, age 84, of Globe, passed away at Haven of Globe. He was originally from Salem, Ohio, and worked as an SXEW foreman at BHP. (LM)

TINA RINCON VASQUEZ, June 13, 1972 –January 4, 2023, age 50, passed away. Tina worked at a hardware store as a paint mixer and cashier. (LM)

HELEN MAXINE ELSON, May 13, 1923 –January 2, 2023, age 99, formerly of Globe, passed away at her home in Overgaard. (LM)

AVELINA P. MADUENO, November 10, 1936 – January 2, 2023, age 86, of Superior, passed away at her home. Abby worked at Triple X in Superior for 21 years and Motorola in Mesa for 18 years, as well as at Save Money Market in Superior. (BM)

HENRIETTA HENRY, May 8, 1955 – January 2, 2023, age 67, of San Carlos, passed away at San Carlos Apache Healthcare in Peridot. Henrietta had varied jobs, including with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Apache Gold Casino, Gila River Indian Community, and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona. (LM)

Citizens Academy Class #4 Spring 2023 Schedule

Week 1 – March 8, 6-8pm – Council/Manager Overview

City Hall/Host Mayor Gameros

Week 2 – March 15, 6-8pm – Finance Department

City Hall/Host Councilman Pastor

Week 3 – March 22, 6-8pm – Public Works Department

Public Works Yard Room/Host Councilman Rios

Week 4 – March 29, 6-8pm – Fire Department

Fire Department Building/Host Councilman Stapleton

Week 5 – April 5, 6-8pm Economic & Community Development

City Hall/Host Councilman Leetham

Week 6 – April 12, 6-9pm Police Department

City Hall and Police Building/Host Councilman Shipley

Week 7 – April 19, 6-8 pm – Library, Active Adult Center

Besh Ba Gowah Museum/Hosted by Councilman Gonzalez

Graduation Event

April 25, 6pm – City Council Meeting, Council Chambers Call Globe City Hall at 928.425.7146 for more information and to apply.

Property Management

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

An Accurate Cargo truck delivered a treadmill to a helicopter that was traveling to the Havasupai reservation in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. They transported a satellite from Chandler to Luke Air Force Base. From there it was loaded onto a transport plane to Alaska and launched into space.

With Fox Sports and Pepsi as clients, Accurate Cargo helped move products in and out of the Super Bowl in Glendale. Special security clearances, tracking devices.

“We love the pace,” says Ken. “It rarely slows down, so it holds your attention.”

Ken was in commercial real estate, leasing warehouse space when he became partners with a client, a freight forwarder. The business grew, and when his partner wanted to focus on air freight and Ken saw an opportunity to serve rural Arizona, they decided to part ways.

“It was pretty down and dirty back then,” says Ken. “Your options for shipping were a big corporation or a “guy with a truck.”

Ken’s first customers were Petsmart and US West Cellular (now Verizon), but for the first 5-6 years he took every customer he could get.

“You have to fill the truck,” says Ken.

A breakthrough came when Dialysis Solution asked him to deliver 2000-pound pallets to homes and dialysis centers in Wilcox, Kearny and Globe.

“They were the inspiration that got us going because we were making deliveries to all these rural destinations,” says Ken. “We expanded into the rural market based on the need.”

Another benefit that Accurate Cargo offers to rural communities is liftgate service.

“A lot of places in rural settings don’t have delivery docks,” explains Ken. “Whether it’s bottled water going to a golf course in Sedona or a jetski to Lake Havasu, you’ve got to be able to unload.”

A Career in Trucking

“The trucking industry as a whole, rewards hard work,” says Bob. “A lot of people start at the bottom and make a career out of it.”

Bob got into the freight business in 1973 after serving in the Marine Corps. As a student in Sacramento on the GI bill, he worked the docks, unloading trucks at night. He met Ken in Phoenix, their respective companies carrying freight for the same vendor.

“Bob was so customer-centric,” Ken says. “Everytime I brought up an issue, he handled it the same way I would –take care of the customer.”

When Ken asked Bob’s boss if he could hire him away, the boss agreed if Bob would find and train his replacement. Which he did, with a seasoned professional they both knew.

“I’ve never burned a bridge with a customer or an employee,” says Bob. “You always need to treat people properly.”

Accurate Cargo currently employs about 135 people; 80 of them drivers spread out throughout Arizona and Nevada.

“We’ve never laid off a driver in the history of our company,” says Ken proudly. “There was some attrition in 2009, but no layoffs.”

TRUCKING, Continued on page 19

TRUCKING, Continued from page 1

Taking a spin with owner, Ken Reynolds at the wheel.

Accurate Freight driver Gary Besse met his wife, Dedra in Globe while making regular deliveries to Safeway, where she has worked for over 30 years. The couple has been married for eight years now and Besse works out of Globe.

This photo hangs in the office at Accurate Freight.

Dipatchers R-to-L Tyler Kob, Cory Brown and Betty Gotcher are the front line of communication with customers.

Leah Foley, Office Manager

Drivers may be the company’s lifeblood, but the office staff working behind the scenes is its heart. Many staff have logged decades in the shipping business and have been with Accurate Cargo for years.

Driver Al Fletcher is one of 80 drivers for Accurate Cargo who serves customers throughout rural Arizona. In addition, the company was an approved vendor for this year’s Superbowl, making deliveries on behalf of food vendors. The job required a vetting process by Homeland Security of the company and drivers. And put Accurate Cargo in a position to deliver once again when called on.

TRUCKING, Continued from page 18

Every person is a full-time employee with benefits and access to 401K. The execs flip burgers for the staff. Still, employees are hard to find, Bob and Ken agree. Ex-military do well. Very few women apply.

“We cannot bring in green drivers,” says Ken. “Most insurance companies want two years experience with a proven safety record.”

A commercial driver is allowed 11 hours a day. Then they must be off duty for 10 hours. Drivers are paid by the hour, not the mile.

“Our philosophy is to slow down and make more money,” says Ken. “Safety is number one, and everything else is number 2.”

Challenges and Changes

The independently owned company has grown gradually over the years. By intention, according to Ken. Competitors

that grew rapidly, he notes, are no longer in the field. Accurate Cargo survived a big downturn in 2009 by holding true to its customer service principles.

“Don’t cut back on your office staff,” Ken extolls. “Communication is the most important thing to deliver to our customers.”

Instead the company added web support for tracking shipments. The advent of internet technology and Amazon has driven customers to expect more, according to Bob, though Covid and driver shortage has tempered the expectation.

Bob estimates that 10-15% of Accurate Cargo employees were out on any given day throughout the pandemic. Two died from the virus. Despite those hardships, the company delivered freight every single day.

“I don’t know how we did it,” Bob says. “Our employees came to work. When they got sick, they stayed home.”

The industry shift toward online ordering and home delivery has Accurate Cargo carving out a niche in residential deliveries. Gas and diesel prices are a major cost factor.

An electric truck that can go to Globe and back in a day, carrying 44 thousand pounds of freight up the hill does not yet exist, Ken points out.

Trucking companies track by on time deliveries. The right freight at the right place at the right time.

“I can’t guarantee we’ll be perfect 100% of the time, but I can promise that we will listen to the need, the problem, and we will respond to it,” says Ken. “Everybody in the office knows that when a customer calls, that’s their boss.”

A customer in Kingman needed delivery of an x-ray machine; a technician had been flown in to install it. Accurate Cargo got it there in time, at 10 pm.

“They need the delivery to make their business successful,” he says.

When a customer accepted a later-than-expected shipment, Ken offered an IOU of assistance. Three days later, the customer came to Phoenix to get a snowblower. It couldn’t fit in their truck so they dropped it at the dock and the next morning Accurate Cargo got it to their home in Flagstaff, arriving ahead of the customer and 30 inches of new snow. u

Mike Ervin oversees Overages, Shortages and Damage (OSD)

Matt Rushford, Terminal Manager

Gene Showalter, Logistics. As a former Marine, Gene tracked equipment and gear for over 1300 marines.