Payson Roundup LOCAL Friday, April 29, 2016
4B
aroundthe rim
Big response keeps recent Rim fire small Christopher Creek had an early intro- That she couldn’t recall that interview duction to wildfire season. On Sunday, the following day gives you some indiMay 13, 2013 a lightning strike ignited cation of her distress. Air assets were brought in to keep the tinder dry brush halfway up See Canyon. By Monday the fire had grown the fire from spreading around the and began its creep down the canyon south face of Promontory. Crews contoward Mountain Meadows Bible Camp. tinued to work the perimeter near the Hotshot crews and engine crews subdivision. The Promontory Fire was a were called in for structure protection and dozers were on another week good fire. There was little torching and most of the ponderosa hand to make the firebreaks. in the creek survived. Years of undergrowth By that Tuesday the and grasses were burned off in Promontory Fire had grown an area that had not see fire in to several thousand acres. more than 50 years. The burnIncident command had a strategy to push that fire around as it ing of See Canyon was said to offered the opportunity to burn offer some protection from a out See Canyon. catastrophic fire for years to Wednesday afternoon a come. thunderhead collapsed on the Rod Britain All that was brought to mind Rim at the neck of Promontory last Friday afternoon. It was a Point and the outflow from that storm breezy day in the Creek. Dean Dodson had that fire all over the place. Smoke received word that there was a fire up was thick in town and that evening the on FR284. Minutes after he called, we sheriff’s department ordered the diners loaded up in his golf cart and headed up at Creekside to evacuate. to investigate. Dean’s son, Bob, was ridLater that evening, the smoke hung ing shotgun and taking pictures while in the ceiling of the building about my job was to hang on for dear life in head high. Phoenix Channel 3 television the back. Passing Tall Pines Market, we saw crews remained to watch the NBA playoff action along with one or two others. an engine from Hellsgate standing by. Debbie Ballner, a See Canyon cabin Evacuated campers were coming down owner, was a nervous wreck. Javier the road. About halfway up the 284 we Soto interviewed her for a newscast. came upon a deputy who wanted to
Rod Britain photo
A fire off Forest Road 284 was kept to less than a half-acre of grass and underbrush Friday afternoon. A quick, sizeable response kept the fire from blowing out into a serious incident. turn us around. We buffaloed our way through with some weak excuse that a newspaper article hung in the balance. While he thought about that, we were on by and heard him holler to stay out
of the way. The fire was reported at around 3:30 that afternoon and by 4:10 there were 13 assets at the scene, including three engines and four personnel from our
department. They were joined by 11 firefighters from the Forest Service. We witnessed a large, still-active campfire alongside one of our engines parked in the campsite. By dusk, there was no more smoke in the canyon. In a Monday morning debriefing, CKFD Chief Bob Lockhart confirmed the size of the man-caused fire was under a half-acre of dry grass and underbrush and given the conditions it could have been much larger were it not for the rapid response of fire units. Lockhart further heralded the cooperation and camaraderie between our firefighters and Forest Service personnel. He said, “The number of joint training sessions have the guys on firstname basis and they work quite well together.” He went on to say that recent thinning in the area would do much to give us protection from a major event. We will define further thinning programs in a future column. While this may well be an active fire season, bear in mind that fire is a crucial benefit to the health of the forest. Here in the Creek, everyone should be mindful of red flag days and follow the rules. No timeframe has yet been set for restrictions.
Interesting activity around the Village recently I am looking out my office window absolutely amazed by the logging equipment and the way that it handles the logs and cuts them to just the right size for the logging trucks. Right now there is a big stack of moveable logs for the logging trucks. One piece of equipment brings the downed trees to the cutter and the cutter saws them. It’s an amazing sight to watch. Not only is the logging operation
Janet Snyder photo
The work of the logging equipment around Tonto Village is truly amazing. These huge machines do incredibly intricate maneuvers — all making the community safer in advance of fire season.
going on throughout the Village, but a Senior Center and a certified trainer new resident of the Village was having with the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, a 16-foot-wide manufactured who illustrated how many of home delivered to their lot and the games we play can help the the the trailer and truck could not village brain stay active. There was a make it around the corner and great deal of useful information almost jack-knifed. Actually it from each one of the featured looked as if there was nowhere speakers. I enjoyed the whole to go. The truck driver was program immensely. so adept at handling this type Domino Divas of situation that by inches he maneuvered everything so that April is just about gone and it was back on the pavement May is just a few days away, and straight — remarkable Janet which means the ladies who driving by that truck driver. Snyder winter in the Valley will be I did not follow the truck and returning to their cabins for trailer to its final destination, the summer months. The group but I assume he did all right. will increase by double by summer. All the members of the winter group will Women’s Wellness Forum be happy to see their friends again. The MHA Foundation did it again, Remember, the group meets at 1 p.m. it organized a wonderful program full every Wednesday at the Tonto Village of a wealth of information such as: Fire station. Participants are asked to a detailed explanation of Alzheimer’s park in the back of the fire station. Just memory loss and what happens to brain follow Johnson Boulevard to Thompson cells by Dr. Ed Zamrini, who is a neurol- Road and make a right hand turn, fologist and director of the Memory Center low the road until you see the empty lot, Banner Sun Health Research Institute; stop and park. If you would like, bring Kim Alten, Nurse Practitioner, on the a snack or some side dish to share. workings of the heart/brain health; Dee Domino play does not get started until it McCaffrey, organic Analytical Chemist is blessed and the Pledge of Allegiance on the heart/brain health diet; and is said. Stop by some Wednesday and Joanne Conlin, director of the Payson check it out. Activities usually end
Jeff Daniels of Colcord Estates will have his big day on May 4 along with Kendra Lewinson of Tonto Village II. Happy birthday to each and every one. Three cheers from me to you on your birthday. Have one of Kendra’s wonderful cupcakes with a candle on it! Recipe of the Week
Janet Snyder photo
A near jack-knife incident with this manufactured home being moved into Tonto Village could have become a disaster, but the skills of the driver kept everything on an even keel. about 4:30 p.m. You just might get to meet our mascot, Jake the Hound dog. He’s a lover and he greets everyone and then looks for a handout. A few of the players bring doggy bones for him. Birthdays
This week starts off the May birthdays. Hellsgate firefighter Bob Evanson celebrates his birthday on May 1. Lucy Karrys of Tonto Village II will also celebrate her big day on May 1.
Characters Under the Rim - Dr. Christian Risser III, Part 1 A cold rain beat upon the doc- ated from the Chicago Medical tor’s face and water soaked his School and then became the head clothing as he urged his horse on of medicine at the University of the trail through Tonto Basin. The Pittsburgh Medical School. His 55-year-old physician had spent strong calling to serve people several days at a ranch nursing drew him into Civil Service and a family back from their sick- next he was practicing mediness. For the previous 21 years cine among the Navajo people it had been his custom to make in northern Arizona. Sensing these visits on far flung the need for additional ranches, never hesitating education, he moved his to answer a call for help. back when practice to Tempe and Now by the time he had there he met and was climbed Ox Bow Hill and in love with a schoolteacher named Marie. returned home where his They would have a rathwife Marie could care for er long courtship before him, Dr. Christian Risser they were married in was himself sick. He who 1917, but in the meanhad cared for the people time exploring over the of Payson and the Rim Stan Brown Mazatzal Mountains, Dr. Country since his arrival Risser found an area in in 1912 fought a losing battle for himself, and he died of desperate need of medical help. What little medicine the Rim pneumonia. The year was 1933. He carried his name proudly, Country folk had was limited to the third generation to be named folk remedies or the occasional Christian Risser. And when his presence of a part-time doctor son was born the name went to a employed by the nearby mining fourth generation. He would not companies. A gunshot wound live to see is grandson, the fifth or an accident was often fatal generation to also bear the name. and diseases like diphtheria and The frontier doctor was born small pox untreated meant cerin Pennsylvania in 1878, gradu- tain death. There was also a high
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percentage of fatality among children and newborns. It was a need the doctor could not ignore, and in 1912 he moved to Payson and bought a small cattle ranch to help support himself. Soon after he and Marie were married, they built a house at the corner of Oak and Main streets with an additional room where he could meet with patients. The trip bringing his bride home to Payson set the tone for their 16 years of marriage. It took seven days to negotiate the trail, with Wash Gibson driving eight horses pulling two wagons. Stopping at the Hardt ranch in Tonto Basin for refreshment they found that the Hardt twins were sick, so they remained to care for the little ones until they could travel. The doctor then brought the children on with them for additional care in Payson, where they were able to get well. It was not unusual for Dr. Risser to be gone from home many days at a time when called to one of the ranches. He wore out several horses during his time faithfully caring for the sick. He carried his supplies in saddle-
bags and wore chaps to protect his legs from brush along the trails. On one occasion he was called to the Pecos McFadden ranch in Pleasant Valley (the old Ellison “Q” ranch). The cowboys were all sick with flu and the work had come to a halt. The doctor tied his small bedroll behind his saddle, put on a heavy coat and left for Pleasant Valley amid deep snow. It took him two days, and when he got there he found all hands in bed with no one to care for them. He built up the fire, cooked food for them and attended to their medical needs. After four days the boys were well enough to care for themselves and Doctor Risser left for the two-day ride back home. It had been eight days altogether that Marie did not hear from him, but she had learned early on of his primary devotion to the needs of the people. In 1919 their son Christian Risser IV was born, delivered by his dad in the family home. They called him “Christy.” To be continued
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It is almost summer and salad time, so this week the Fireflies cookbook has a really good-tasting salad submitted by Lana Miller and Karen Fausz. Taffy Apple Salad 1, 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons flour 1 egg 2 tablespoons vinegar Stir sugar and flour together, add egg, then combine with other ingredients and cook in heavy saucepan until thick. Chill. 3 to 4 unpeeled apples, cored and diced 1 cup salted peanuts (chop coarse) 8 ounces Cool Whip 1 to 2 cups mini marshmallows Add apples to cooled mixture to coat. Fold in rest. Enjoy, and see you next week, if the creek don’t rise — Fat chance, still no rain.
Payson author shares wonderful fable, lessons in new juvenile fiction Author Sherry E. Engler of Payson captivates the attention of preschool readers with the nationwide release of her new children’s book, “Daisy Doo! Daisy Doo? What? Who?” “Daisy Doo! Daisy Doo? What? Who?” is perfect for a child of preschool age who is learning to read, incorporating rhyming words in a fascinating tale Sherry Engler of adventure as Daisy Doo tries to discover her identity with a comical flair. Colorful illustrations depict the difference between Daisy Doo and others, such as Leroy Lee, the ant. Follow her journey as she wiggles through her world, trying to figure out the answers in this delightful book written and illustrated by Engler. Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com. Engler, who is a mother of two, is also the author of “Living With LEO: Law Enforcement Officer,” a book she has written in a humorous, lighthearted manner from the perspective of being a wife of one law enforcement officer for more than 30 years.
Law Office of
Shannon S. Bradley A practice dedicated to family law. Shannon S. Bradley, Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 2116, Payson, AZ 85547-2116 Phone (928) 492-0092 Fax (888) 958-4968 ssb@ssbradleylaw.com www.ssbradleylaw.com