New federal law allowing guns into national parks takes effect Monday
Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Sunday, February 21, 2010 6:39 pm

A new federal firearms law takes effect Monday that allows visitors to carry loaded, concealed firearms in Saguaro National Park.

Firearms have generally been prohibited in national parks, but Congress passed a bill in 2009 that President Barack Obama signed last May that prohibits the federal government from banning firearms in national parks.

The new federal law still is subject to state law where the parks are located. Arizona allows concealed firearms with a permit.

Saguaro National Park is the only national park in the Tucson area.

Hunting still is prohibited at Saguaro and federal law continues to restrict firearms in visitor centers at national parks. 
 

Havens of nature, history fall to cuts
Wildflower lovers might want to plan a farewell visit to Picacho Peak State Park this spring - even if it's not a banner year for blooms.

The park, a mecca for fans of wildflower color, is scheduled to close June 3 - and officials don't know when, or if, it will reopen.

Picacho Peak, about 40 miles northwest of Tucson, is one of 13 state parks slated for closure in a phased sequence from Feb. 22 to June 3.

Other Southern Arizona parks closing their gates are Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, Roper Lake State Park and Lost Dutchman State Park.

The reason: a budget shortfall of $8.6 million.

"Voting to close these parks was one of the hardest moments of my life," said Reese Woodling, a Tucson resident and chairman of the Arizona State Parks Board. "I love Arizona and I love our parks. To see this happening just makes me sick to my stomach."

Today, we offer a quick-look guide to which parks are closing and when - along with a glance ahead at some possible ways of getting parks reopened.

Parks scheduled to close

Five of the soon-to-close parks are in areas surrounding Tucson. Another, Oracle State Park near Oracle, closed last year and is to remain closed. Here's what we'll lose:

• Closure date: March 29

The park, in the community of Tubac south of Tucson, takes visitors back in time - way back. It preserves the ruins of the oldest Spanish presidio site in Arizona, San Ignacio de Tubac, dating to 1752.

• Closure date: March 29

The 12,000-square-foot courthouse, built in 1882, is now a museum with exhibits on the history of Tombstone as a frontier mining boomtown. For many visitors, it's a refreshingly authentic take on Tombstone - known for its faux gunfights and over-the-top portrayals of Western life.

• Closure date: March 29

The park southeast of Safford has a 30-acre lake, swimming beach, boat ramp, natural stone hot tub, picnic tables and grills, camping cabins and campgrounds.

• Closure date: June 3

Named for a legendary lost gold mine in the Superstition Mountains, the park east of Phoenix is known for its colorful wildflower displays, hiking trails and scenic campsites.

• Closure date: June 3

Vast carpets of brilliant wildflower displays are only part of Picacho's appeal. It's also popular with hikers who come for the challenge of ascending the steep, rugged peak that overlooks Interstate 10.

• Closed last year as a result of previous budget cuts.

The park, in mountain foothills near Oracle north of Tucson, has hiking trails winding through desert grasslands and oak woodlands. It also preserves a Mediterranean-style ranch house that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Parks elsewhere in the state that are to be closed in the coming months include Homolovi Ruins State Park near Winslow, Lyman Lake State Park near St. Johns, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff, Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde, Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park near Payson, Alamo Lake State Park near Wenden and Red Rock State Park near Sedona.

Parks that will remain open

Nine state parks will remain open "because they generate more money than they need to stay in operation," said State Parks spokeswoman Ellen Bilbrey. The nine include these three parks in Southern Arizona:

• Catalina State Park north of Tucson

• Kartchner Caverns State Park near Benson

• Patagonia Lake State Park near Patagonia

Save-the-parks strategies

The state parks department is pursuing several possible means of reopening parks as soon as possible, said Jay Ream, assistant state parks director, and spokeswoman Ellen Bilbrey. Among them:

• Seeking financial aid from communities. Many of the communities near parks "recognize the importance of the park to the town's economy as a tourism draw," Ream said. Some communities are considering ponying up money to pay for park staff and services to keep parks open.

• Supporting proposed legislation that would allocate some money from license plate fees to help operate parks.

• Asking legislators to authorize turning over some state Heritage Fund money to park operations.

For more information

More information on parks and closures is at www.azstateparks.com.

Did you know

Arizona State Parks, in addition to operating the parks, oversees a state trails program, outdoor-related grants program, the state Historic Preservation Office and an off-highway-vehicle program.

Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at dkreutz@azstarnet.com or at 573-4192  

                         Corona De Tucson Fire Department
The Department has been recognized for the energy efficient design of Station #2 and will be receiving a LEED Platinum award as a result. The design was ranked 3rd best nationally and will be featured in the next Fire Chief magazine.

The District Governing Board welcomes a new member. Ed Buster, joined the team in October, replacing JoLynn Powell who served the District well, but has too many family responsibilities to continue. Ed and his family live in Sycamore Canyon.

Congratulations to FF/PIO Todd Cupell and FF/Medic David Surridge, Jr. on their promotions to captain. They are both outstanding members of the Department and serve this community diligently.

The new structural fire truck will be arriving this month and will be in service at Station #2.

The season approaches for decorating your homes for the holidays. Be careful when using ladders and always be attentive when installing lighting and other electrical decorations. We want everyone to enjoy a happy holiday with no accidents and no injuries. If you do have a problem, help is as close as your telephone, call 911 in an emergency. Chief Bruce Whitehouse 
                                                   *Thanks CDTFD and SRFCA for this contribution*

Santa Rita Foothills Community Association November, 2009 Newsletter
                               from President Sandy Whitehouse 

Pima County District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll is sending a recorded statement to voters in the Vail School District in support of the bond issue and override. We appreciate his support of these vitally important initiatives on the upcoming November 3rd ballot. This is the voters’ chance to help restore over a quarter million dollars that have been cut from our School District’s budget by the State. Be sure to vote for Bond Proposition 408 and Override Proposition 409 at the polling place at Sycamore Elementary School on Election Day.

This will be a very busy month for our residents. There will be an Empire-Fagan Coalition meeting on Wednesday, November 4th at 6 pm, at the Corona de Tucson Fire House #1. Local activist and Coalition President Mike Carson announced in a feature article in the Tucson Weekly that the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency have joined 200 regional organizations in opposition to the California CalPortland plan to mine limestone in the environmentally fragile Davidson Canyon area east of Corona. Go to the meeting and learn more about the proposed quarry, the Army Corps of Engineers permitting process and the locals’ concerns over the project.
Several SRFCA members attended the public meeting in Green Valley on the proposed Rosemont copper mine project hosted by Congress-woman Gabrielle Giffords. USDA Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen was here on a fact-finding mission and got an earful from the audience. Ned Norris, Jr., Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation announced the tribal council unanimously opposes the mine which will disturb sacred grounds and archeological sites vital to the tribes culture. CdTFD Fire Chief Bruce Whitehouse addressed his concerns on the mine traffic on US 83.

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas’ (SSSR) President Gayle Hartmann spoke as did Mike Carson of the EFC. SSSR is hosting a fundraiser at Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Ave. in Tucson on Thursday, November 12th from 5 to 8 pm. The cost is $25 for dinner and a raffle ticket. There will be entertainment and a silent auction. Prizes include an airplane ride over the Santa Rita mountains, a weekend getaway to the Mountain Empire B&B, and others. The organization is doing phenomenal work to keep our lovely area the untouched biologically diverse area we love. Call 445-6615 for a reservation. I have Save the Scenic Santa Rita Mountain bumper stickers for anyone who is interested. Give me a call and I will provide one at no cost.

 
Our Community Association meeting on Tuesday, November 10th will include a presentation by Tucson Electric Power representatives on the company’s proposal to run 138kV transmission lines south of Corona from Sahuarita to the site of the Rosemont Copper Mine. Our village is the closest to this proposed project, yet the meetings have been held in Tucson with representatives from the Air Force Base to the City planners and with no formal voice from Corona. We think it’s time those most affected be appraised of the ramification of the project. This should be a very informative meeting, so encourage your friends and neighbors to attend.

Plans are underway for the Association’s Christmas dinner at the American Legion Post on Sunday, December 13th. Mark the date on your calendars, it is always a good time for us all. The Officers of the Association join me in wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Save room for those pies. 

               ** Thank you to SRFCA and CDTFD for thier contributions **

13 of 18 state-run rest stops to be shut

That decision to skip the gas station just off the highway, in hopes of being able to hold it to the next rest stop, might need to be revised. 

    The Arizona Department of Transportation announced Thursday that it is temporarily closing 13 of 18 state-owned rest stops as part of a plan to shore up a projected $100 million shortfall in highway user funds. 

          Among the closures, which could begin as soon as Oct. 19:
• The Canoa Ranch rest area on Interstate 19 south of Green Valley
• The Sacaton rest area on Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande
• The San Simon rest area on I-10 near the Arizona-New Mexico border.
The Texas Canyon rest area, on I-10 between Benson and Willcox, is one of five rest stops that will remain open. Others staying open include ones on Interstate 8 between Casa Grande and Yuma and I-10 between Phoenix and the Arizona-California border.
The closures are deemed temporary, said Linda Ritter, an Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman, with the state reviewing those closures after the 2009-2010 fiscal year ends in June.
    Areas selected for closure were chosen based on several factors, Ritter said, including their distance to other facilities such as restrooms and overnight truck stops.
The Canoa rest area, Ritter said, is only 10 miles from Green Valley, while the San Simon rest area is just 20 miles west of a rest area in Lordsburg, N.M.
    The most heavily affected area is Northern Arizona, where three of the four rest areas along Interstate 40 are slated to be closed. Only the Painted Cliffs rest area, just west of the Arizona-New Mexico border, is scheduled to remain open.
    The rest area closures are part of a "budget road map" the Arizona Department of Transportation has put together to brace for the transfer of $530 million in transportation funding to help address the state budget shortfall, said Bill Pederson, an ADOT spokesman.
Other planned reductions include:
• Elimination of Saturday hours at four Motor Vehicle Division locations, including Tucson's South Broadmont Drive office effective Nov. 7. The Broadmont office is located near East Ajo Way and South Palo Verde Road.
• The state also plans to close 12 of the state's 61 MVD field offices, a plan needing approval from the Department of Justice due to motor-voter registrations laws. That process could take up to three months.
• Limiting snow removal at Grand Canyon Airport to daylight hours only.
• Possible layoffs, which would come above the approximately 450 positions the state agency has lost through attrition since a hiring freeze was put in place in February 2008.
Did you know
The Canoa Ranch rest area on Interstate 19 was renovated by the state in 2001. The entire project was budgeted at just under
$5 million.

                 http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/312442.php

 TUCSON, AZ – Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to designate the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in southern Arizona.

“Congressman Grijalva was a champion for this bill on the House floor today, and we applaud him bringing southern Arizona a step closer to realizing this broad-based bi-partisan community effort,” said Vanessa Bechtol, executive director for the non-profit Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance.

 The proposed National Heritage Area for southern Arizona has been endorsed by every local government in the region, as well as former Governor Napolitano, the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Arizona Office of Tourism, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Metropolitan Tucson Chamber of Commerce, Southern Arizona Homebuilders Association, every federal and state park and land manager in the region, museums and historical societies, non- profits, ranchers and farmers, and more.

  National Heritage Areas stimulate local heritage-based economic development by marketing regional heritage tourism, and promoting place-based foods, arts, crafts, and other traditional products. More information on National Heritage Areas can be found at:www.nps.gov/history/heritageareas/.

The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area encompasses the watershed of the Santa Cruz River, from Nogales and Patagonia, to Marana and Oro Valley. It is a non-regulatory designation made by Congress to honor and celebrate the unique cultural heritage of a region, while utilizing those resources to stimulate heritage-based economic development, primarily through tourism. The increase in tourism in other National Heritage Areas has been significant.

All programs and projects of the National Heritage Area will be conducted on a completely voluntary basis. The designation as a National Heritage Area does not have any regulatory authority and therefore does not affect land use, zoning, property taxes, or private property rights. The legislation authorizes up to $1 million annually in federal funding, which requires a 1:1 match from local or private sources, but does not appropriate any funding.

from http://www.santacruzheritage.org/node/193

September 23, 2009

Contact: Vanessa Bechtol at (520) 429-1394 vanessa@santacruzheritage.org 

Fire causes nearly $700,000 damage to house SE of Tucson
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
  A fire Saturday night at a home under construction caused nearly $700,000 in damage southeast of Tucson, an official said.
  The fire was at a three-story home on South Copper Cut Trail and East Walts Way south of Sahuarita Road.
  The fire is still under investigation, said Todd Cupell, a spokesman for the Corona de Tucson Fire Department.
  The home was under construction, about 70 percent complete, Cupell said.
  The homeowner was not there and there were no injuries. The damage is estimated to be $683,000. The cause of the fire has not been determined, he said.
Corona de Tucson, Rural/Metro Fire Department, the Rincon Valley Fire District and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department responded to the fire at about 9:30 p.m.

     Tucson animal shelter runs out of cat food, seeks public's help
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
About 200 stray kittens holed up at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona need your cat food.
The organization, which is accepting donations at 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd., announced it has run out of its supply and is looking for canned food. Donations are accepted daily between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
If the center is closed, it’s OK to leave the cans at the doorstep.

4.30 pm  Note: I just called the shelter, they are in need of food, especailly canned and will take any donations, canned / dry during hours of operation or left at the door. They expressed ANY donation, 1-2 cans , small bag of food would be greatly appreciated.  

They also have online donation link:

https://secure3.convio.net/hssaz/site/Donation2?idb=565805094&df_id=1260&1260.donation=form1

                                   Vandals keep Vail buses off road

   Officials have yet to determine who vandalized 76 Vail school buses, putting them out of commission Tuesday morning.
   All 76 buses in the fleet were found with flat tires. "Class of '09" was written on a number of windows.
   Although the tires were not slashed, it took a great deal of work to put air back in them because the buses were so low, said Calvin Baker, superintendent of the Vail School District.
   Employees were unable to get jacks under the buses to raise them, so special equipment had to be used, Baker said.
   In addition, the graffiti had to be washed off.
   Nearly two dozen employees worked from 5:10 to 9:15 a.m. to get the buses back in service for the end of the school day.
   The vandalism did not have much of an impact on attendance, Baker said.
   It has not been decided what kind of consequences the vandals will face, but the Pima County Sheriff's Department is investigating, Baker said.
   "The significant issue here is that while we contacted the media and sent e-mails, not all parents were aware, and small children were left unattended at bus stops," Baker said. "Now I'm sure that was not their intent, but it did put those children in danger."
   The district is offering a $1,000 reward for information that helps the district find the vandals, he said. Anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME or 879-1111, the district hot line, or they can talk to school administrators.
   "We will catch the students who did this. We'll look at all of the evidence and make a decision on how to proceed from there." Calvin Baker, superintendent of the VUSD.l                   

                      Santa Ritas site may be affected if breaks are curbed

WASHINGTON — When Congress approved the rules governing the nation's mining operations, Ulysses S. Grant was in the White House, George Armstrong Custer was fighting Indians and Congress was looking for ways to encourage greater settlement of the nation's vast frontier. 
  A lot has changed since the General Mining Law was passed in 1872, but very little has changed about the law itself. Those who want it to be modernized say this finally may be the year they get a significant change.

                      http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/292667.php

                                    http://www.cnbc.com/id/30705878

 2/5/09

Most home valuations decline in area
Tax effect is unclear now; you can appeal until April 3

     New property valuation notices started hitting hundreds of thousands of Pima County mailboxes this week.
    The values will be used as half the formula for how much each homeowner will owe in property taxes on the bills to be sent out in September 2010.

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/278960

1/7/09

Desert plan shifts focus to habitat to cut costs

Pima County officials will try what they say is an innovative and less costly approach toward monitoring the success of their pioneering Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/environment/274808

Desert protection plan takes key step

  The latest and most crucial draft of Pima County's proposed plan to conserve habitat for many rare or endangered species has been submitted to a federal agency for review.
  The key document is aimed at turning much of the broader Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan into reality.

http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/274599

Feds, state must cooperate on area land uses

  As we enter the new year with new administrations imminent in both Washington and Arizona, we have a unique opportunity to approach how best to protect our watersheds and keep them healthy, preserve our Sonoran Desert wildlife habitat and continue to provide recreational opportunities for us and for future generations, while operating within today's economic realities. 

 http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/274219.php

Mining firms squeezed by lower demand

After turning in a robust performance through June, most mining companies stumbled as automobile, housing and other manufacturers who use their metals cut back sharply amid the global recession.

http://www.azstarnet.com/business/274074

1/1/09

Woman's trash dumped illegally by hired hauler

 A woman hired a trash hauler who promised he would take her garbage to a landfill, she told PimaCounty environmental officials.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/274114.php

UA researchers, mining leaders work together

 A $17.5 million UA mining research center unveiled on Tuesday could boost the industry while developing technology that could limit the environmental impact of mines and increase worker safety, researchers and business leaders said.

Known as the Institute for Mineral Resources, the program will pair mining company leaders with University of Arizona researchers to solve several industry problems such as using fresh water to extract certain materials.

The issue of using water in mining is critical in the Southwest, as there is both a high level of minerals that could be mined and an increasingly limited water supply, said Mark Barton, a UA geosciences professor, during a kickoff event for the institute.

 The institute, funded by an $8.7 million grant from Science Foundation Arizona and another $8.8 million from the mining industry, will try to see if there are ways mines could use lower-quality water instead of ground water to separate materials, leaving the fresh water for other purposes.

The institute will be positioned to help find solutions to that question and others because researchers will work closely with industry leaders to develop technology that can be immediately transferred into the work environment, said Gary Jones, a board member for Science Foundation Arizona.

Formed in 2006, the foundation is a nonprofit composed of business and industry leaders throughout Arizona who are dedicated to investing in research that could help develop the state's economy.

The institute's research will bring jobs and new opportunities to Arizona, which has a rich mining history, Jones said.

 "This institute will catalyze research and foster long-term competitiveness for the state," he said.

Using a UA-owned mine near Sahuarita, researchers at the institute will not only work on technology that could help the mining industry, they also will be focused on larger issues such as environmental stewardship, Barton said.

"We have a social responsibility to reduce energy and water consumption and to ensure the health of the community and mine employees," he said.

Among the other projects UA researchers plan to tackle include using video-game software to simulate certain situations such as a mine rescues and creating a GPS-like tracking program for mine workers.

The institute also will try to develop more accurate ways to determine where minerals lie beneath the surface. As it stands now, much of what's known about the composition of the Earth's crust is only skin-deep, Barton said.

 "We're still trying to determine what the meat and bones look like," he said.

One of the institution's biggest strengths is that it will help the industry without hurting production, said Angie Harmon, social investments manager for Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

  "There will be unlimited access to labs without disrupting mine activities," she said.

The potential impact of the research to be conducted at the institute could not only advance Arizona but the entire mining industry, said UA Provost Meredith Hay.

 "We have put this state on the leading edge of mining research, learning better, safer and more productive practices," she said.

 http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/267883