Serving Ajo, Why, & Lukeville in Southwestern Arizona since 1916.
| Issue |
News |
Deaths,
Services |
Weddings, Births, Happy News |
| December 27, 2006 |
• Christmas
celebrations, both sacred and secular, filled the community with
activity. After a short rest, residents began getting ready for New
Year's Eve. • The Second Avenue bridge will be dedicated on Thursday, January 4, at 4 p.m. with a ceremony held at the bridge and Railroad Drive. Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson and the Pima County Regional Flood Control District invite everyone to attend. • The Desert Senita Community Health Center board met on Wednesday evening, December 20. They heard reports and discussed a variety of topics, including a new record keeping system, lead in Ajo water, recruitment efforts, a possible new board member, and future events. |
• Maria M. Bon,
67, died December 15, 2006, in Phoenix. She was a longtime resident of
Ajo. Graveside services in Ajo Cemetery will be held at 10 a.m. on
Saturday, December 30. Douglass Funeral Home. • Consuelo Martinez Parra, 88, died December 23, 2006, in Harrah, Oklahoma. Services are pending and will be in Ajo. Douglass Funeral Home. |
• Santa kept his
promise and made Ajo his first stop on Christmas Eve. |
| December 20, 2006 |
MERRY
CHRISTMAS!
• Santa Claus is
looking forward to stopping in Ajo on Christmas Eve, according to his
public relations officer, Tom D. Elf, who has made arrangements for
Santa's visit through the Ajo Rotary Club. People are expected to begin
gathering in the Plaza about sunset on Sunday, December 24, to visit
with friends and wait for Santa to appear in the belfry of Curley
School soon after it gets dark. From the school, he will make the short
trip to the Plaza in the sleigh float he has kept in Ajo for
generations.• Concern mounted after Pima County began notifying residents of lead in Ajo's water. • Many churches are planning special services and other events, as are several local organizations. A living nativity scene will be enacted at the Ajo Indian Assembly of God on December 22 & 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church invites the community to a Christmas play by the church youth on December 20, at 6 p.m. Other churches are going caroling and holding celebrations. Among the many holiday festivities planned by organizations is a potluck dinner at the VFW Post at 3 p.m. on Christmas Day. • A meeting for those interested in participating in the 107th annual Christmas Bird Count will be held at the Cabeza Prieta visitor center on December 20, at 1 p.m. The count itself will take place on December 23. • Both the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are imperiled by budget cuts. Though neither is expected to close, there may be reductions in personnel and programs. |
• Shane Angel Williams, 16, of
Glendale, died December 11, 2006. Mass was scheduled for 10 a.m. on
Tuesday, December 19, at St. Thomas More Parish in Glendale. Heritage
Funeral Chapel. • Fred Ramsey Palka, died at his home in Safford on Friday, December 1, 2006. He was a native of Ajo who lived here for many years. Services were held in the First Southern Baptist Church in Thatcher on December 8. McDougal’s Caldwell Chapel. • Julia C. Santiago, 79, of Ajo died December 11, 2006, at her daughter's home in Glendale. She was a native of Ajo and a lifelong resident. Mass was celebrated Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday morning, December 16. Burial was in the Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. • Pedro “Pete” Moreno Jr., 71, of Bisbee, died December 8, 2006, in St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson. He was a native of Ajo who lived here until 1976. Mass was celebrated in Cottonwood on December 15. Westcott Funeral Home. |
• Christian Robert Heidinger was born
November 11, 2006, in Northwest Medical Center to Justina Ornelas &
Ian Heidinger. • Nellie David was awarded her bachelor of arts degree in political science by Arizona State University on Thursday, December 14. She was graduated with honors from Ajo High School in 2001. Her parents are Hollister & Margarita David of Ajo, better known as Hop & Mop David. |
| December 13, 2006 |
• The Ajo
Skatepark Association was awarded their grant by the Neighborhood
Reinvestment Fund. The project now goes to the Pima County Board of
Supervisors. • The school board accepted resignations, hired coaches and a head cook, and accepted a donation from the Ajo Council for the Fine Arts. • Flood control projects, CDBGs, the 2nd Avenue bridge, a blood drive shared the Western Pima County Community Council agenda with the election. Chris D and Debra Morrow were elected to serve on the council and Lil Jones, Faye Miller, and Ken Freese will continue to fill their council seats. • Dora "Dolly" Evans was arrested in Iowa to face charges in Oregon on an alleged murder conspiracy plot. • Concerts, parties, exhibits, lectures, tournaments, and other activities continue to give residents a wide choice of things to do. |
• Jonathan
Edward Leon, 38, died December 8, 2006, in Phoenix. Services are
pending through Douglass Funeral Home. • Julia Santiago, 79, died December 11, 2006, at her daughter's home in Glendale. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home. • Pete Moreno Jr., 71, of Bisbee, died December 8, 2006. Mass will be celebrated at the Catholic church in Cottonwood. Westcott Funeral Home. |
• Kerry Williams
was one of a few seniors at Northern Arizona University chosen to
receive the school's Golden
Axe award. |
| December 6, 2006 |
• Ajo is heading
into another busy weekend with a movie, concert, art shows, receptions,
open houses, meetings, and more. • Since the trailer court in Lukeville closed, students bused from the border town have lost the residences they must claim to attend school in Ajo. Their solution may be to find legal guardians who live in Ajo or Why. • Firefighters from Ajo and Why, aided by area law enforcement and EMS, worked to extinguish a blaze that destroyed the home of Barbara & Lloyd Wiltse on Elliott Road around noon on Thursday, November 30. The Red Cross and neighbors are helping the couple whose biggest need, right now, is a mobile home or even a camp trailer to live in. • Pima County Neighborhood Reinvestment Commission members inspected the proposed Ajo Skatepark location north and west of the parking lot for the community swimming pool on Saturday and also enjoyed a skateboarding demonstration. The group made positive statements which led to hope the group will approve the project; if they do, the next step is approval by the Pima County Board of Supervisors. • Following a warm Thanksgiving, a cold snap sent residents outdoors to cover sensitive plants and into closets to find winter jackets. |
• Vern Doty, 91, died at 12:10 p.m. on
November 27, 2006, in Tucson. He had lived at Coyote Howls for many
years before moving to a home in Tucson. • Alvaro Sepulveda, 74, died at his home in Ajo on November 29, 2006. He was a longtime Ajo resident. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on December 2. Douglass Funeral Home. • Jane Ann Ogden, 60, died at her home in Ajo on November 26, 2006. She had lived in Ajo for most of the past 17 years. Memorial services were led by Pastor Gary Stacy in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church on December 2. |
• Good Shepherd
Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 75th anniversary at its services
this Sunday. • Happy anniversary, Joe & Michelle Pacheco! Happy birthday Lonnie Guthrie! |
| November 29, 2006 |
• A protest in
Sonoyta against a proposed hazardous waste facility that may be built
near Quitovac in Mexico blocked traffic to the Lukeville Port of Entry
on Sunday. Several people from Ajo joined the protest. The facility
would be less than 60 miles from Ajo and some of the waste would be
trucked through Ajo, Why, and Lukeville. • The Ajo Skatepark Association will be welcoming representatives of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund to Ajo to inspect the proposed skate park site at Walker Park on Saturday, December 2, at 3 p.m. The representatives will be evaluating the proposed site and community support. ASA members plan an exhibition and will have T-shirts available for sale. • Rummage and craft sales herald the beginning of the holiday shopping season. • The Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge will hold a scoping meeting on December 6, 2006 from 7 to 8 pm at The Ajo Community Center at Bud Walker Park on a proposal to construct a forage enhancement plot for the endangered Sonoran pronghorn in the Cabeza Prieta Wilderness. • After having the continental US high temperature with 85F on Thanksgiving Day, the Ajo area cooled down, though it's warmer than much of the US. |
• Jane Ann Ogden, 60, died at her home
in Ajo early Sunday, November 26. Memorial services will be held
Saturday, December 2, at 1 p.m. in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church.
Douglass Funeral Home. • Graveside services were led by Pastor Roger Smith Wednesday morning, November 22, in Ajo Cemetery, for Avis Hobbs who died November 19, 2006. |
• Good Shepherd
Presbyterian Church, which passed its 75-year mark this fall, will
celebrate the anniversary on December 10. The congregation hopes former
church members will return to Ajo to share their memories. |
| November 22, 2006 |
Happy
Thanksgiving!
• A four-hour outage of Internet and
long-distance phone calls on November 16 was caused by a fractured
fiber optic cable, according to Table Top Telephone. The
outage slowed business and perplexed many residents.• Phelps Dodge has agreed to a $25.9 billion buyout which will merge the copper mining company with Freeport-McMoRan to form the world's largest publicly traded copper company. The deal is subject to approval by stockholders and regulators. • Weather was sunny and rather warm for the annual Great Western Street Fair last Saturday. • A toxic waste management facility has reportedly been approved by the Mexican government for a location near the US/Mexican border by Quitovac, Sonora, Mexico, about 37 miles south of Sonoyta and about 70 miles south of Ajo. Protests are being planned by groups on both sides of the border. |
• Services for Avis Hobbs, an Ajo resident since
1946, are pending through Douglass Funeral Home. |
• Sarah Lynn Hunt and James David Alexander Antone have
announced their engagement. A December 2008 wedding is planned. • David McSherry celebrated his 80th birthday on November 17 with family and friends. |
| November 15, 2006 |
• The school
board election results are still unofficial. Hollister "Hop" David led
with 466 votes, followed by Amy Runge 369, Lisa Rossi 290, Ken Kermode
289, Bridget Rendon 272, Kord Klinefelter 253, and Alex Harper 192.
The top three vote getters will be seated on the board; however, only
one vote separated the third and fourth place candidates in early
results a week after the election. In other
races, Maria Alvillar, who was unopposed, gathered 1782 votes in her
bid to remain justice of the peace and George Gradillas, running
unopposed for constable, received 1760 votes.
Tom Branson was voted to serve on the Ajo-Lukeville Health Service
District board with 619 votes while Dick Ducic reportedly received
enough write-in votes to join him at the board table.
Proposition 400 passed in Ajo with 559 voting for the Joint Technical
Education measure and 201 voting against it. All other districts
involved also passed the proposition.
Pima County election results can be found at www.pima.gov/elections/results.htm online; final results are expected
within a week. • The Great Western Street Fair will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Events include a pet parade, car show, and lots of booths. • School superintendent Bob Dooley and principal Don German were chosen to give a presentation at the Title 1 Mega Conference in Phoenix on Wednesday, November 15, about how the high school went from an underperforming status four years ago to achieving Adequate Yearly Progress and a ‘performing’ label two years in a row. Ajo High School was the only high school chosen in the state to tell its story this year at the conference. |
• Services for David
Webb were Thursday, November 9, with full honors by Border Patrol
and other uniformed law enforcement, public safety, and military
agencies participating. • Sharon May Antone, 46, died November 10, 2006, in Sells. Rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated there at 10 a.m. by Father Peter Nwachukwu. Her ashes will be buried in the White Mountains and in Pia Oik. Douglass Funeral Home. • James Robert “ Jim” Kerr died Friday, September 29, 2006, in Mesa. He was a former longtime resident of Ajo. Services were held at Gateway Fellowship in Gilbert on October 2. A military burial service followed on October 3 in Cave Creek. • Linda Woods Susong died peacefully at her home in Reno, Nevada, on October 25, 2006. She and here husband have been winter residents of Ajo. No services were planned. |
• Jonathan Joel
Zarraga Grijalva was born in Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix
on
October 27, 2006, to Yesenia Grijalva & Joel Zarraga. • Maria Ramirez celebrated her 80th birthday on October 14. She has been an Ajo resident for 60 years. |
| November 8, 2006 |
• Senior Patrol Agent David Webb, 35, was killed when a tire
on his Chevy Tahoe blew out and the vehicle rolled near milepost 56 on
State Route 86 near Why about 5 p.m. on Friday, November 3. He was on
duty as a Border Patrol agent when the accident occurred; he was not in
pursuit and speed was not thought to be a major factor. • The Western Pima County Community Council met November 2. They discussed the Pima County bond process, status of the rural transit system in Pima County, local fire district plans, the Second Avenue bridge, the intersection in front of the Curley School, and a proposed rate increase by APS. • The general election ended Tuesday after the print edition of the Ajo Copper News appeared. Internet surfers can get results at the Pima County election website. Early returns on Wednesday showed H.J. "Hop" David, Amy Runge, and Lisa Rossi leading in the election for three school board seats. • Sidewalks were being poured at the Second Avenue bridge and paving over the bridge should be completed in a week. • There are five projects up for bond consideration in the Ajo area: easements around the two churches near the Plaza; easements in the Plaza; Ajo landfill development; a radio system with additional capability for local law enforcement and emergency agencies; and a youth arts and education center. • Applications are coming in for Curley School artisan lofts. The next phase will feature condominiums. It was reported at a project public meeting that property values are increasing around the former school. • Weather is cooling. The weekday low was 57F and the high was 86F. |
• Services for David Webb will be held in the LDS
Church in Ajo at 1 p.m. on Thursday. A cavalcade of law enforcement and
other public safety vehicles will proceed from the Ajo Border Patrol
Station in Why to the church just before the service, which will be led
by Pastor Ken Kermode of the Ajo Assembly of God. • Teresa "Terry" Hill, 55, died at her home in Ajo on July 2, 2006. A memorial service was held in Long Beach, California, on August 27. |
• Shannon Walters and Jose Escalante were wed in the
chambers of Justice of the Peace Maria Alvillar on Tuesday, October 31. • Cliff Hunter and Kyle Whitley were recognized as agents of change by AzYP for their work to get a skatepark in Ajo. • Tom Kiefer is among 29 artists named to the Tucson Pima Arts Council's public art roster. |
| November 1, 2006 |
• Voters who
haven't cast early ballots either by mail or at the library may vote at
the social hall of the Ajo Federated Church on Tuesday, November 2. • More community input is sought for the 4th of July celebration. The 2007 theme will be Celebrating Ajo's Traditional 4th, reflecting the desire to return a small town carnival atmosphere. The next meeting will be Wednesday, November 15, at the fire station. * Holiday fundraisers, bazaars, and other events are beginning. • A celebration of the completion of Michael Chiago's mural on the ISDA building on Vananda will be held on Saturday, November 4. • The community was shocked by the suicide of Bill Ned. |
• Billy Ray Ned, 47, died October 26,
2006. He was a longtime resident of Ajo. Memorial services will be held
at Calvary Baptist Church at 10:30 on Saturday, November 4. Burial will
be in Oklahoma. Douglass Funeral Home. • Emma Leon Nixon, 67, died October 8, 2006. She was born and raised in Ajo, later moving from the community. Services were held in St. Francis Xavier Church in Phoenix. Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home. • Jeanne M. Harris, 76, died August 24, 2006, at her home in Eau Claire Wisconsin. She had lived in Ajo for several years. Services were held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Eau Claire. Golden Funeral Home. |
• Maggie Downey, a former Ajo resident
now living in Mobile, Alabama, will celebrate her 94th birthday on
November 14. • Happy Birthday to Jennifer Guthrie! |
| October 25, 2006 |
• Halloween is
coming soon and many in Ajo are celebrating early. The annual carnival
and spook house for tots to twelve-year-olds will be held on Thursday
evening, October 26, at the Ajo Community Center by Pima County Natural
Resources, Parks & Recreation. A free Kids Halloween Party
will be held at the Ajo Elks Lodge midday on Saturday, October
28. There will be lots of parties and a dance at the Mocambo
Saturday night. Following tradition, the children's costume parade in
the Plaza will be held on Halloween afternoon, October 31, sponsored by
Xi Gamma Pi. After the parade, hordes of ghosts, goblins, princesses,
and superheroes will hit the streets to trick or treat. • A question-and-answer forum for the seven candidates running for three open positions on the Ajo school board last Wednesday at the Dicus Auditorium. The forum was sponsored by the Xi Alpha Sigma chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority. • Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Week is being observed at the Ajo school Monday through Friday to increase awareness of drug and alcohol abuse. There is a different theme for each day of the week. • Early voting is in progress. Voters may request a vote-by-mail ballot for the General Election at www.recorder.pima.gov online, request a ballot by calling 1-800-775-7462 extension 4330, or they can vote at the Salazar-Ajo Branch Library. The deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. Friday, October 27. The last day to vote at the library is Friday, November 3. |
• James S. “Jim” Boyd, 65, died
October 17, 2006, in Tonto Basin. He was born in Ajo and grew up here.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, at Douglass
Funeral Home. Following the service, a celebration of his life will be
held at the American Citizens Social Club. • June L. Littrell, 84, died October 15, 2006, in Sun City. She was a former resident of Ajo. She was buried next to her husband in Greenwood Cemetery in Phoenix. • Emma Leon Nixon, 67, died October 8, 2006. Mass was held at St. Francis Xavier Church in Phoenix on Friday, October 13. |
• At a dinner
party Monday night to celebrate their new business, Amigo's Liquor, Tom
Branson proposed again to his wife, Marty. Pastor Ken Kermode
promptly led them in a renewal of their vows and it became a double
ceremony when their son Tom and his wife Mara also renewed their
marriage vows. |
| October 18, 2006 |
• A public forum
for school board candidates will be held Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 7
p.m.
in Dicus Auditorium. Candidates for three seats are Ken Kermode, Lisa
Rossi, Amy Runge, Kord Klinefelter, Bridget Rendon, Alex Harper, and
H.J. "Hop" David. Three other candidates for local office are unopposed: George Gradillas for constable, Maria Alvillar as justice of the peace, and Tom Branson & Dick Ducic for the Ajo-Lukeville Health Service District. • Desert Senita Community Health Center has received 400 doses of FluViron, the common flu shot, and will be immunizing at-risk patients on October 18 and 19. No appointment is necessary. • Utility trenching for the Curley School Project will close the intersection of Vananda Street and Candelaria from October 23 through November 3. • As legislators vacillate over a 700-mile border fence and its exact placement, Tohono O'odham tribal council members are seeking a say in what may be constructed along the 75-mile stretch of international border that essentially cuts their traditional lands in two. The Tohono O'odham Nation has agreed to the installation of a vehicle barrier along the border, but balks at the hybrid two-layer fence currently being proposed to prevent people and wildlife, as well as vehicles from crossing. • The 4th of July planning committee will meet on Monday, October 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the fire station. |
• Don Floch, 84, died August 28, 2006,
in Spokane, Washington. He was a winter resident of Ajo. Mass was in
Spokane Valley, Washington. Burial will be in Lewiston, Idaho. • Alejandro O. Garcia, 81, died October 9, 2006, in Yuma. He came to Ajo in 1959 and lived here until his health prompted him to move to Yuma. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. |
• The
congregation of Ajo Calvary Baptist Church have chosen Pastor Gary Ramer to lead their
church with his wife Martha as secretary. • Matthew Rossi is the Ajo Rotary Club's student guest for October. |
| October 11, 2006 |
• Stefanie
Esquivel and Adrian Encinas were crowned Homecoming queen & king.
Runners up were Amy Alvillar and Kenny Haynes. Other court members were
Matthew Rossi, Johanna Bauer, Billy Arviso, and Lacy Tryon. The king
and queen were crowned by last year's royalty, Denise Mariscales and
Andrew Mendez. Crown bearers were Charlee Harper and Devon Rendon.
Floats followed a super heroes theme with the senior class coming in
first, juniors second, sophomores third, and freshmen fourth. The Red
Raiders lost the football game to the Salome Frogs 41-0. • A skatepark will be built in Walker Park with access from North Street. The Ajo Skatepark Association is seeking $500,000 in grants for construction. • The new Second Avenue bridge, which is being built to avoid flood problems caused by the old bridge, will soon be open to traffic. • Work on the Curley School Project is expected to finish a month early, with artists' lofts available in March. Renovation of the old hospital into an inn and spa remains in the planning & zoning stage and is expected to stay there for about 18 months. • A 4th of July planning committee meeting will be held October 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the fire station. |
• Patricia Ann Merrill Jones, 63,
died September 26, 2006, in Bend, Oregon She grew up here and was
graduated from Ajo High School. Services have been held in Oregon. |
• Jasai Ruben Del Rosario was born in Banner Thunderbird Samaritan Medical Center in Glendale on September 17, 2006, to Ruben & Di’Ana (Mesquita) Del Rosario of Ajo. |
| October 4, 2006 |
• It's time for
Homecoming at Ajo High School. Floats are being built, a pep rally is
planned for Wednesday, and there will be a parade, football game
against Salome, and crowning of royalty on Friday. • Michael Blake, author of "Dances with Wolves" will talk and sign books at the library at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, in an appearance sponsored by the Friends of the Ajo Library. • WPCCC meetings resume on Thursday after the summer break. The full agenda includes the proposed skatepark, renovation of the old hospital, the public school, the annual 4th of July celebration, bridge construction, emergency supplies grant, Curley School project, and street lights. • Following the resignation of CofC president Jim Welker to allow him to travel, vice president Don Olsen is stepping in to head the organization. |
• Gwynn William "Glen" Barrett, 79,
died at his home in Ajo on September 23, 2006. He was a historian,
author, and professor. Memorial services were held in Ajo on September
30; interment will be in Logan, Utah. Douglass Funeral Home. |
• Aidyn Michelle Bradley was born in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, on August 14, 2006, to Iona & Terence
O. Bradley. • Jacqueline E. Vega and Jeremy Bucher were untied in marriage on September 9 in the Ajo First Assembly of God Church. • Susan Gilbert was feted at a surprise party on the eve of her birthday. Julia Fulkerson was also given a surprise birthday party. • Happy birthday Marcos Acosta, Scott Boyd, Frances Ann Guthrie, Tom Branson, and Carolyn Barger. |
| September 27,
2006 |
• A World
Communion Sunday Service will be held October 1 by the Ajo Pastors
Association. Pastor Bruce Culver will lead the service at the Full
Gospel Fellowship. • Public Lands Day will be celebrated Saturday with a clean-up on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and free admission at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument • The International Day of Peace celebration held by ISDA brought together local residents, members of the Tohono O'odham Nation, and students from a high school in Sonoyta, Mexico together in an afternoon of • Intentionally or recklessly feeding wildlife in now illegal in Pima and Maricopa counties according to a law that went into effect September 21. Feeding birds is still allowed. • The high weekday temperature, according to Phelps Dodge, was 94F while the low was 68F. No rain was recorded. |
• Beverly Morehead, 69, died at her
home in New Mexico on September 13, 2006. A nurse, she was a former Ajo
resident. Services will be held Saturday in New Mexico. Kirikos
Family Funeral Home. |
• Congratulations to newlyweds Heidi (Grissom) and Josiah Conway. |
| September 20,
2006 |
• The
International Day of Peace will be celebrated with a festival and
parade on Thursday, September 21. The tri-cultural event is being
organized by ISDA. • Readers were nearly unanimous in opposing the idea of traffic being directed around Ajo. In an opinion poll, 96% said a bypass was a bad idea while 4% said it was a good idea. • The school board voted to sell some of its used vehicles and to expand the sports eligibility check period from every two weeks to every three weeks. The also heard a report on AIMS results, accepted resignations, and hired personnel. • Eduardo Aaron Leon was sentenced to sixteen years in prison after being convicted of second degree murder in the April 4, 2005, shooting death of his friend David Norman Davis. • Weather is cooling. The high for the weekday temperatures was 98F and the low was 70F. There was no rain. • Rich Ralstin is the new pastor of the Ajo Church of Christ. |
No obituaries
appeared in the September 20 issue of the Ajo Copper News. |
• Jasmine Estella Huerta was born in
Rogers, Arkansas, on June 23, 2006, to Joey and Jennifer Huerta. • Kyle Anthony Evans was born August 20, 2006, in Crescent City, California, to Kimberly Schumack and Ronald Evans Jr. • Happy birthday Samantha Weber. |
| September 13,
2006 |
• The primary
elections ended Tuesday after the print edition of the Ajo Copper News
appeared. Internet surfers can get results at the Pima County election
website. • A Patriot's Day celebration led by local Woodmen of the World with veterans' organizations to remember the victims and heroes of 9/11 was well attended. • ISDA's Ajo Unidas Girls' Philanthropy Program will be doling out $7500 in grant money with the young women in the program setting the criteria and deciding which applicants will receive funding. |
• Two women were
struck and killed by hit & run driver in Gila Bend early
Monday morning, September 11. Corine
Turner and Linda Henry Davis were longtime GB residents and
had many friends in Ajo. |
* Happy birthday
Ashlee Durham and Danielle Durham! • Happy birthday Cienna Nicole Goodwin! |
| September 5, 2005 |
• The early
evening weather was perfect and the atmosphere
emotional for the patriotic balloon release last Wednesday with music,
speeches, and a roll call of local military personnel. • In Honor and Remembrance, a patriotic ceremony to honor the heroes and victims of September 11, 2001, will be held by the Woodmen of the World, Ajo Lodge 93, next Monday, September 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the Ajo High School girls' softball field. • Should traffic be encouraged to bypass Ajo by using Well and Mead Roads? Readers were asked to take part in an opinion poll. • Nine new teachers were welcomed at school: Rich Ralstin, Albert Perry, Anastacia Dalisay T Decinal, James "Michael" Noland, Jennie Lyons, Karen O'Keeffe, Milagros M, Semilla, Carolina G. Muñoz, and Marichou Tobias Beltran. • The vehicle barrier erected along the US-Mexican border on Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has cut illegal vehicle traffic by 95% according to OPCNM chief ranger Fred Patton. • The polls will be open for the Primary Election from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12. Many voters have already cast early ballots by mail or at the public library. • Though the area has had rain over the past several weeks, the drought is far from over. According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office at www.wrh.noaa.gov, extreme drought conditions continue to exist in Western Pima County. • Weekday weather: There was .02 inch of rain on Wednesday. The high temperature for the week was 108F and the low 77F, according to Phelps Dodge. |
• Wegalia Ann “Gay” Ivey,
66, died September 2, 2006, in Glendale. She was a longtime resident of
Ajo. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 8, in the
Ajo First Assembly of God Church; burial in Ajo
Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. • Gabriela Marie "Gabbi" Sanchez, daughter of Kari (Gonzalez) & Juan Sanchez, died soon after her birth on Friday, September 1, 2006, in Phoenix. Mass will be celebrated Friday, September 8, at 4 p.m. in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. • Ruth M. Bryan, 85, died in a hospice in Tucson on Friday, August 25, 2006. She was a resident of Ajo. Her ashes will be buried in the Dunville Cemetery in Bloomfield, Iowa. |
• Rhea Alice Cheney
was born in Phoenix Indian Medical Center in Phoenix on July 3, 2006,
to Alicia Rojo & Erik Cheney. • Happy birthday Gery Krehbiel! • Heidi Grissom and Josiah Conway will be married in the LDS Temple in Mesa on September 15. A reception will be held at the LDS Church in Ajo from 6 to 8 p.m. on September 16. |
| August 30, 2006 |
• County
supervisor Sharon Bronson sent a message to be delivered at a meeting
of the Ajo Skatepark Association — "The skatepark is happening." Though
hurdles remain, sites by Walker Park and construction types are now
being discussed. • Phelps Dodge workers said farewell to a caboose, built in Ajo in 1947, that was one of the final pieces left of the Tucson Cornelia & Gila Bend Highway. The caboose was taken to the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler. • A patriotic balloon release will honor area residents serving in the military. Organized by Pat Schnell, the event will start at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the Plaza. • After 14 long months, Sandy Rogers has had the satisfaction of seeing one of the men who invaded her home in April 2005 sentenced to 6.5 years for armed robbery with a deadly weapon, first degree burglary, kidnapping, and theft of a means of transportation. |
• Services were
held Saturday morning, August 26, for longtime resident Benigno "Benny"
Macias Jr. who died in a Chandler hospice on August 18, 2006.
Douglass
Funeral Home. |
• Marian Arthur,
who came to Ajo as a teenager in 1935, celebrated her 90th birthday
with parties in Tucson and in Ajo. • A quinceañera was held for Blanca Leticia Montes with a church service at the Ajo First Assembly of God and a reception at the Mocambo Ballroom. • Happy birthday Lesi Jones and Ralph Castillo. |
| August 23, 2006 | • Two new
businesses
plan to open soon. Dollar General is hoping to open in mid-September
after construction is finished and shelves are stocked. Burstin'
Berries, a restaurant offering healthy food, hopes to open at the end
of August or early September. • School started on Tuesday, a day late because of the power outage. Football and volleyball season begin soon. • A grassroots effort is trying to help college bound Denise Mariscales who lost nearly everything she owned in a fire in Lukeville last Sunday. An account has been opened at The Stockmen's Bank in Ajo and a local family is accepting donations of clothes, school supplies, and other items for Denise and her mother Sara. |
• Benigno Macias
Jr.,
57, a longtime resident of Ajo, died August 21, 2006, at a hospice in
Chandler. Visitation is at Douglass Funeral Home from 3 to 5 p.m. on
Friday, August 25, followed by a rosary at Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated there at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Douglass Funeral Home. • Michael F. Zink, 56, died August 13, 2006, in Colorado. Survivors include his mother, Barbara Totten, who is an Ajo resident. Services have been held in Colorado. |
• Zeno Stephen
Pfau was born in Tucson on August 5, 2006, to Zeno J. &
Leslie D.
(Segura) Pfau. • Happy 95th birthday, Marceline Marietti! • Happy 59th anniversary Jose & Otilia Mendez! • Happy birthday Michelle A. Pacheco! |
| August 16, 2006 |
• Power was out
for about half of Ajo from Sunday evening to Monday afternoon after a
storm felled eight power poles. The outage caused the first day of
school to be delayed by one day and caused some businesses to close for
the day or offer limited services. • A grant has been received from ProNeighborhoods to buy a projector and other equipment and rent movies to show in Ajo. • Cooler temperatures accompanied the rain. High for the week was 106F and the low was 72F. There was a total of .26 inches of rain August 6-10. |
• Larry L. Wycoff, 71, died in Mesa on
August 9, 2006. He had lived in Ajo since 1980. Services will be held
August 19 in Calvary Baptist Church. Douglass Funeral Home. • Mass was celebrated for Jose R. "Fito" Mendez in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on August 9. Douglass Funeral Home. |
• Happy 85th
birthday Emily Hughes! * Happy birthday, Joe Pacheco! • Happy birthday, Joe David! |
| August 9, 2006 |
• School starts
Monday! An open house will be held Thursday evening. Families are
encouraged to attend, meet teachers, get class schedules, and enjoy an
ice cream social afterwards. The Pima County Sheriff's Department plans
to strictly enforce traffic laws in the school vicinity as school
begins. • Monsoon season is pelican season. Several of the birds have been rescued after they were either blown here by storms or lost their way. • The Desert Senita Community Health Center is celebrating National Health Center Week with a variety of activities, including an open house Thursday afternoon. • Ben Blackburn, PA-C, has joined Dr. Carol Johnson, Dr. Richard Quigley, and Kathryn Gradin, PA-C on the DSCHC staff. • A cool spell saw temperatures in the 90s with a high for the past week of 100F. The low was 75F. Temperature information provided by Phelps Dodge. |
• Harold G. Weatherby, 83, a former
longtime Ajo resident, died August 1, 2006, in Farmington, New Mexico.
Memorial services were held at the Elks Lodge in Ajo. Douglass Funeral
Home. • Jose R. Mendez, 80, died August 3, 2006, at his home in Ajo. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. • Paul E. Schlinkmann, 89, died in a hospice in Casa Grande on August 3, 2006. He and his wife moved to Ajo 26 years ago. a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Good Shepherd Presbyterian church. |
• Aidan Diego Rosado-Gilson was born
July 12, 2006, to Tia Gilson & Ivan Rosado. Rita Nord of Ajo is his
great-grandmother. • Happy birthday Arturo Encinas, Concha Klinefelter Montes. |
| August 2, 2006 |
• Deaths of
undocumented migrants are again making the news. At least four bodies
have been recently found in the desert on the Tohono O'odham Nation and
the Air Force's Barry M. Goldwater Range. Ajo Ambulance personnel say
they have seen a recent increase in the number of undocumented migrants
they treat for dehydration and heat exposure. • Eduardo Aaron Leon, 57, has been convicted of second degree murder in the April 4, 2005, shooting death of his friend, David Norman "Davy" Davis, 54, near Ajo. In his trial, Leon asserted he only wanted to scare Davis. The two men had been drinking and Leon was upset that Davis was slow in repairing Leon's Bronco. Prosecutors had asked that Leon be convicted of first degree murder, saying he intentionally shot and killed Davis. The defense said that the shooting was accidental. Jurors in the Superior Court trail before Judge Michael Cruikshank decided Thursday, July 27, that Leon was guilty of the lesser charge of second degree murder. Sentencing is scheduled for August 25. • In celebration of National Health Center Week, Desert Senita Community Health Center is planning a week filled with activities starting next Monday, August 7. • School starts soon. Classes begin Monday morning, August 14. |
• Elisia Adlina Neblina, 94, died in
St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson on July 27, 2006. She was an Ajo native
and the oldest living Hia-Ced O'odham. Rosary will be recited in
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 6 p.m. on August 4, followed
by an all-night wake at 831 Rocalla. Mass will be celebrated in the
church at 11 a.m. on August 5. Douglass Funeral Home. • Ernesto Velasco, 64, died in Ajo on July 25, 2006. An Ajo native, he lived in Ajo and North Hickiwan. Services were held July 31 in North Hickiwan. Douglass Funeral Home. • Heriberto Vega "Beto" Bon Sr., 66, died Monday, July 24, 2006, in Glendale. He came to Ajo in 1961 and lived here for 45 years. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on July 29. Douglass Funeral Home. |
|
| July 26, 2006 |
• The school
board hired two teachers and approved the use of the gymnasium as an
emergency shelter. • Red Raider football and volleyball will be starting soon; some team members are getting ready. • An accidentally broken gas line at Curley School was quickly handled by utility and emergency personnel. • People who want to run for the school board, health service district board, or the Why fire district board need to file the necessary papers soon. So far, there are few candidates. |
• Terry Lee Gray, 50,
died at his home in Ajo; death was pronounced on July 17. Private
services are being planned. Douglass
Funeral Home. • Shirley Glasby, 76, died July 10, 2006, at her daughter's home in Portland, Oregon. She and her late husband Bill had lived in Ajo for several years. • Heriberto Bon, 66, died Jully 24, 2006, in a Phoenix hospital. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home. |
• Happy
birthdays to Corina Abril, Dustin Lockamy, Jace Ryan Julander, and Jose
E. Mendez. |
| July 19, 2006 |
• Table Top
Telephone has announced plans to lay fiber optic cable which would
vastly increase Internet connection speeds and open the company
providing TV service. • Roofs and trees were the major victims of storms, especially the violently windy storm on Sunday. Power outages were minimal. • AIMS test scores remained low but improvement was shown in some areas. Information about the scores is available from Arizona Department of Education and from Great Schools. • National Guard troops from Kentucky have been deployed to assist Border Patrol in the ajo area with construction and dispatch. The troops are being housed in Gila Bend. |
• Francisco
Salcido Jr. 59, died outside GuVo on July 9, 2006. He was a
resident of Menager's Dam. Mass was celebrated July 15 in Sts. Peter
& Paul Church in Menager's Dam. Douglass Funeral Home. • Jerry S. Flores Sr., 50, died outside GuVo on July 9, 2006. He was a resident of Menager's Dam. Mass was celebrated July 15 in Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Menager's Dam. Douglass Funeral Home. |
•
Congratulations newlyweds Liz (Keefe)
& Joseph Smith! • Happy Birthday Joey Call! • Happy Birthday Dominique Pacheco! |
| July 12, 2006 |
• Jim &
Patti Bush served as grand marshals of the 4th of July parade. Pictures
of them and of all the holiday events filled five pages of the Ajo
Copper News. • The Lillie C. Salazar - Ajo Library continues to be the site of many summer events and classes. • Roads are reopening on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge . • Summer storms caused a several hour power outage in Lukeville. |
• Dwight J. Ogden, 62, died July 9,
2006, at his home in Ajo. He came to ajo in 1991. Memorial services
will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 16, in Good Shepherd Presbyterian
Church. Douglass Funeral Home. • Services for Randolph Ortega, who died June 25, were held in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on July 1. |
• Happy Birthday
Nellie Jo David! • Congratulations Anne Hendren on becoming a citizen of the USA. |
| July 5, 2006 |
• Happy 4th of July! Ajo's Independence Day included the
traditional parade down Solana, festivities at Walker Park, Fun and
games at the swimming pool, a concert at Dicus Auditorium, and
fireworks at night. The newspaper's front page art was by Claire
Bistline. • Newly restored windows at Curley School were vandalized. • Anna Ivey and Ted Moe, each back from tours of Afghanistan, shared pictures and memories with the Ajo Copper News. • The Desert Sharks swim team is having a full summer of meets. • A downed power pole between Ajo and Gila Bend caused a 14-hour outage. |
• Lillian M. "Peggy" Garrett, 85, died
in a Tucson nursing home on June 30, 2006. She had lived in Ajo since
1985. No services are planned. Douglass Funeral Home. • Timothy J. Bennett, 50, died June 26, 2006, in a Tucson Hospice. He was born in Ajo and was living in San Miguel. Mass was celebrated June 30 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home. |
• Happy Birthday
Gayle Weyers, Gary Chatham, Carlos Yanez, & Carlos Yanez. |
| June 28, 2006 |
• The 4th of
July parade will follow the traditional route through town. The county
permit has been received and the state permit is ready for signing,
said Kris Black of the community parade committee. The parade will be
followed by festivities in Walker Park, a concert at Dicus Auditorium
in the afternoon, and fireworks at night. • Tying dogs out in yards is illegal in Pima County and may lead to hefty fines or even jail sentences under the animal cruelty ordinance. • The Curley School Project construction celebration was a hot party in more ways than one. Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson, Governor Janet Napolitano, and Tohono O'odham chairwoman Vivian Juan-Saunders joined other dignitaries in touring the facility which is being renovated as artisan lofts with community facilities such as meeting rooms, classrooms, computer lab, gymnasium, and auditorium. |
• Dominic Jose Lopez, 22, died June
19. He was a lifelong resident of Ajo. Mass was celebrated Tuesday
morning, June 27, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass
Funeral Home. • Guadalupe "Lupe" Ramirez, 88, died June 25 at a Tucson hospice. She has lived in Ajo since she was an infant. Services will be held later. Douglass Funeral Home. • Randolph Ortega, 58, died June 25, 2006, in a Tucson hospice. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home. • Timothy Bennett, 51, died at a hospice in Tucson. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home. |
• Happy
anniversary Paula and Joey Call. |
| June 21, 2006 |
•
Will the 4th
of July parade follow the traditional route? The answer is probably.
The CofC is working with community members to get a last-minute
approval from the Pima County Board of Supervisors for the change. • Curley School Project celebration is Thursday morning. Dignitaries expected to attend include Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson, Governor Janet Napolitano, and Tohono O'odham chairwoman Vivian Juan-Saunders. • Kathy Billings of Organ Pipe cactus National Monument and Mitch Ellis of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge testified in Washington DC about boarder issues affecting public and tribal land. • After hearing a presentation about Joint Technical Education District, the Ajo school board voted to place the issue on the November ballot. JTEDs are tax-supported vocational education programs; a JTED in Ajo would cost most property owners the cost of a meal at McDonalds, said Superintendent Bob Dooley. • Weather: June 11 - 15 high was 108F, low 73F, no rain . Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining. |
•
Enriquetta
Robles Ross Pino, 77, died June 15, 2006, in Goodyear. She was a
native of Ajo and longtime resident. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home. • Jose V. Soto, 76, of Gilbert, died June 18, 2006, in Mesa. He was a native of Ajo. Services were held at the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Ajo. Douglass Funeral Home. • Jean Price Sanson, 76, died May 28, 2006, in Dana Point, California. She grew up in Ajo. Services were private. • Clyde Edward Patterson Jr. died at his home in Buckeye on June 18, 2006. He was a native of Ajo who lived here until his retirement in 2000. Services have been held. Ganley Funeral Home of Buckeye. |
•
Nathaniel
Rolando Vega was born June 4 in Goodyear to Maria & Roy Vega
Jr. • Jeannie Marie Hoch and Angel Reyna have announced their engagement. They are planning a June 2007 wedding. |
| June 14, 2006 |
•
Joint
Technical Education Districts (JTED) will be discussed at the school
board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15. • The Elks Lodge will hold their annual Flag Day celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14. The Woodmen of the World will join them and the public is invited to attend. • An ACN poll showed that 78.6% of those responding preferred the traditional 4th of July parade route; 16.7% like the new route: and 4.7% don't care. The Ajo District Chamber of Commerce has called a community meeting for Wednesday, June 14, at 6 p.m. in Walker Park to discuss the 4th of July celebration. • The jazz concert in the Plaza drew an appreciative audience last Saturday. • Weather: June 4 - 8 high was 108F, low 79F, no rain . Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining. |
*
Margaret
Frances "Marta" Manuel, 91, died June 1, 2006, in Phoenix. She
was born
near Darby Well in the Ajo area and lived here most of her life. Mass
was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on June 7.
Douglass Funeral Home. • James Monroe Johnson, 81, died June 7, 2006, in Ajo. He had lived in Ajo since 1955. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on June 14, in Douglass Funeral Home. |
•
Welcome home,
Sgt. Anna Ivey! • Happy birthday, Sonia Peterson, Oscar Abril, Keali'i Diego Bates. • Happy anniversary Carlos & Annette Yanez, Ralph & Lianna Castillo. |
| June 7, 2006 |
•
Controversy
continued to swirl around the change in the 4th of July parade route.
Articles in the June 7 issue of the newspaper included reports on an
informal meeting, the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce meeting, and an
opinion poll.
The CofC is holding a public meeting to discuss the
holiday at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, in the community center in
Walker Park. • The Plaza will fill with hot summer music when the Arizona Classic Dixieland Jazz Band plays at 7 p.m. The Ajo Council for the Fine Arts and Tucson Pima Arts Council are the sponsors. |
•
Margaret F.
Manuel, 91, died June 1, 2006, in Phoenix. • Mass in memory of Elena S. Vega will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on June 10 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Ajo Cemetery. Mrs. Vega died April 20. |
|
| May 31, 2006 |
•
Pima County
Supervisor Sharon Bronson brought Dr. Robert Breault and Bob Horn to
Ajo to speak to a luncheon gathering at the Ajo Country Club about the
cluster concept and economic development. • The community swimming pool is open! • Summer activities are starting at the public library and county parks & recreation. • A meeting to discuss changes in Ajo's traditional 4th of July will be held by an ad hoc committee in the Plaza on Wednesday, May 31. • Pupfish populations are thriving in sanctuary pools at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. |
•
Charles
"Chuck" Orr, 78, died May 19, 2006, in Kingman. He was a
resident of
Ajo in his youth.
Services were held May 26 in St. Johns' United Methodist Church in
Kingman. |
*
Diane
Schumacher is retiring from the school library. She has taught
and
worked in school libraries for 24 years. • Happy 50th anniversary Tom & Marty Branson. • Happy Birthday Lucian Ramirez. |
| May 24, 2006 |
•
At 8 p.m. on
Thursday, May 25, the 24 members of the AHS Class of 2006 will receive
their diplomas. Valedictorian Elinor Luz B. Campion, salutatorian
Monica Mey Griffith, and Kayla Nicole Petersen are all graduating with
distinction. Denise Y. Mariscales, Ashley Maria Maya, Shannon
Michelle Riner, and Marcos Alejandro Acosta are all graduating with
honors. Completing the class are Sara Danielle Alvarez, Erick
Arizequetta, Josue Barba Cordova, Maribel R. Betancourt, Samantha Jean
Burkenbine, Stephanie Jo Burkenbine, Jesse Chavez, Raul Fabian Chomina
S., Rosemary Cecilia Gradillas, Jared Lund Grissom, Amanda Louise
Hansen, Vanessa Marie Juarez, Diamond-Grace Maldonado, Andrew David
Mendez, Nadia Nogales, Tania Ortega, and Pedro Ernesto Zamora. • Ajo's community pool opens Saturday! • Though Ajo voted no on all four questions, the rest of Pima County voted yes to pass both the transportation questions and both the psychiatric questions. It appears a sales tax increase is in the future for everyone in the county. • The fall general elections will determine several local seats, including constable, justice of the peace, two seats on the health service district board, three seats on the Ajo school board, and possible seats on the Why fire district board. • An ad hoc committee is calling a public meeting in the Plaza at 6 p.m. on May 31 to air opinions about the changes in the 4th of July. • Weather: May14 - 18 high was 102F, low 72F, no rain . Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining. |
• Samuel J. Prohart, 87, died May
10, 2006, in Tucson. He was a longtime Ajo resident. A memorial service
will be held at Ajo Calvary Baptist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May
27, with Pastor Mike Watkins officiating. Burial will follow in Ajo
Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. • Angelina S. Montijo, 72, died May 16, 2006, in Glendale. She was a longtime Ajo resident. Mass was celebrated by Father Peter Nwachukwu on May 20. Burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. • Elena S. Vega died April 20, 2006, in Goodyear. She was an Ajo native. Services were held April 26, 2006, at Greer Wilson Funeral Home in Phoenix A memorial service will be held later. Greer Wilson Funeral Home. |
•
Thelma Branch Leatherwood and William L. Johns were untied in
matrimony in an afternoon ceremony in the Parkside Church of God in
Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 25, 2006. Mrs. Johns is a longtime Ajo
resident. • Frank Alvillar Jr. was graduated from Northern Arizona University on May 12, 2006, with a bachelor's degree in history. |
| May 17, 2006 |
•
The governing
board of the Ajo Unified School District 15 met Thursday, May 11. They
hired classified employees as well as hiring both classified and
certified employees for summer school. They authorized two summer camps
for girls basketball and volleyball teams, discussed possible changes
to next year’s class schedule and accepted a donation. Superintendent
Bob Dooley talked about the possibility of Ajo schools participating in
a vocational education program. • The Ajo/Gibson Volunteer Fire Department wants to form a fire district that could receive money from property taxes. They say they believe a district is necessary in order to continue fire services. • The announcement by the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce that the traditional route of the Fourth of July parade would be changed this year has caused dismay among some parade parade entrants. • The Red Raiders of nailed down some of their best times and scores of the season at the state track meet. The Ajo girls’ team tied for 16th place out of the 18 teams that scored points, coming in with three team points. The Ajo boys tied for 17th place out of 19 teams, scoring four team points. • Weather: May 7 - 11 high was 101F, low 63F, no rain . Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Kenneth W. Lindner, 74,
died May 11,
2006, in Tempe. He was a longtime Ajo resident. Graveside services will
be conducted by Mr. Lindner’s family and Elks Lodge 1576 at 11 a.m. on
Saturday, May 20, in the Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. • Thomas V. “Rudy” Barragan, 78, died May 9, 2006, in Hospice of Arizona in Phoenix. He was a longtime Ajo resident. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on May 12. Douglass Funeral Home. |
•
Guadalupe Ruiz and Raymond Martinez, were united in
marriage at the couple’s home in Phoenix in an evening ceremony on
April 22, 2006. The groom is • Mass was celebrated in Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church for Elvia
Celaya's 70th birthday. A party followed. • Happy Birthday Jim Bush! |
| May 10, 2006 |
•
The Western
Pima County Community Council met May 4 to hear updates from the
Ajo/Gibson Volunteer Fire Department, Desert Senita Community Health
Center, and the Pima County Sheriff's Department. The fire department
said response to fundraisers has been poor and it is going to continue
efforts to form a fire district. • An election May 16 will allow Ajo area voters to join other voters in Pima County at the polls: questions include two on the Regional Transportation plan and two about psychiatric treatment facilities. • The Cinco de Mayo celebration sponsored by the American Citizens Social Club was a popular event, as always. • Windshield damage claims are being taken by the Arizona Department of Transportation for damage caused by gravel during the chipsealing of Highway 85 between Ajo and Gila Bend. |
•
Karl W. Hess, 76, died
March 25,
2006. He was born & raised in Ajo, later moving to the Phoenix
area. Services were held April 1 in Tempe. Tempe Mortuary. • Arthur P. Nogales, 80, died April 28, 22006. He was born in Ajo and moved to California as a young adult. Mass was celebrated in Lone Pine, California, on May 4. |
*
Katherine Schumacher will
receive
her degree as a doctor os osteopathic medicine from Midwestern
University in Phoenix on June 2. • Happy birthday Lisa Rossi, Gabrielle David, Virginia Celaya. • Spc. Calvin G. Miguel is being welcomed home after his tour of duty with the US Army with a festival at the village of Charco 27 on May 13. Miguel served in Baghdad, Iraq, and was also stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. |
| May 3, 2006 |
•
The Cinco de
Mayo fiesta will be held Saturday, May 6, in the Plaza with afternoon
events at the American Citizens Social Club, sponsors of the fiesta.
There will also be a jackpot
roping Saturday afternoon at Doyle's Arena and hip hop/rap music at the
Mocambo on Friday. Bingo and food sales are also being held during the
weekend. • The Ajo District Chamber of Commerce met and discussed several items, including reaction to the change in the 4th of July parade route. They also learned about $1000 is still need for the 4th of July fireworks, a presentation about the Curley School Project, and a talk by Tom O'Hare of ACT. • The Red Raider baseball team, ranked number one in web polls last week, lost three games and now may not make the state playoffs. • The All-Ajo Reunion at Rawhide near Chandler was attended by many. Pictures of the AHS classes of 1957 and 1962 appeared in the print edition of the newspaper. • Weather: April 23-27 high was 85F, low 53F, 0.11 inches of rain on April 26 and 0.27 inches of rain with hail on April 27 . Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
No obituaries
appeared in the May 3 issue. • A man was found dead near the mine rock dump after a companion alerted authorities. Both were reportedly illegal aliens. |
• Gabriel Valenzuela was born to
Martha Trejo and Conrad Valenzuela on April 7, 2006. * Nicholas Korolsky and Nickie Browne of Chandler were united in marriage in Laughlin, Nevada, on April 22, 2006. The groom's family is from Ajo. • Happy Birthday Lari Kznarich & Hilda Alvarez. |
| April 26, 2006 |
*
A man was
killed in a hit & run accident near Why on Friday, April 21. He was
reportedly a resident on the Tohono O'odham Nation. The incident is
being investigated. * The Ajo Copper News is celebrating its 90th anniversary on Saturday. The first official issue was published April 29, 1916. • Dr. Robert Dooley, superintendent of the Ajo Unified School District, took issue with reports of student test exemptions that appeared in metropolitan newspapers. • Bob and Julie Fulerson were crowed king and queen at the American Citizens Social Club's 60th anniversary celebration. • A community computer lab is being set up by ISDA and classes will be available. • Weather: April 9-20 high was 89F, low 54F, no rain . Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Arthur Miscione died
April 14,
2006, in Tucson. He was a member of the Santa Cruz River Band, a
popular group with family ties to Ajo. |
• Larry Ortega III was born to
Kenlyann Ortiz and Larry "Junior" Ortega on April 8, • Happy Birthday Rachel Bryant, Lional, Lilia Mia, JJ Acosta, and Lewis Edward Black. |
| April 19, 2006 |
•
Fire destroyed a vacant residence at Dorsey & Lyons
despite efforts of the Ajo Gibson Volunteer
Fire Department . It was just one of several
calls the AGVFD responded to in the past month. • The school board approved staff changes and accepted donations. They also heard that only two seniors are in danger of not graduating with their class because they have not passed the AIMS test. • The problem of illegal migrants and their detritus on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge was termed "intractable" by refuge manager Roger DiRosa. • The American Citizens Social Club, known informally as the ChuChu Club, is celebrating its 60th anniversary will a day-long celebration this Saturday. A history of the club appears in the print edition of the Ajo Copper News. • Weather: Because of the Easter holiday, no weather report was received from Phelps Dodge. Information will appear next week. |
•
Warren Weems
Funeral
Monday morning, April 17, LDS Chur.ch. Douglass Funeral Home. • Ronda Leatherwood, 31, a former Ajo resident. Mass Tuesday morning, April 18, Immaculcate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home. |
|
| April 12, 2006 |
•
Easter Sunrise
Services will be held by the Ajo Pastors Association in the Plaza at
6:30 a.m. A pancake breakfast at the Presbyterian church will follow. • The annual Easter Egg Hunt for kids will be held in Walker Park on Saturday, April 15. Other weekend events include food sales and a car wash. • The Western Pima County Community Council heard about local flood control issues from county representative Russell Wise, a report from Lonnie Guthrie about Ajo Ambulance, and a report from Lt. Clements about the sheriff's department. • Some Ajo sites may be on a MapGuide of the Sonoran desert region that is expected to be complete early in 2007. More information can be found at www.sonorandesertgeotourism.org online. • US Customs & Border Patrol delivered several loads of computers from their offices at the Lukeville Port of Entry to the Ajo school. The used machines, their drives erased, will be used by students learning to repair computers and then placed into the schools computer system. • Weather: April 2-6 high was 87F, low 44F, rain April 4 was 0.02 inch. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
• Ronda Lynn Leatherwood, 31, died April 8 after being struck by a truck in Tucson. She was a former Ajo resident. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home. | • Tomas Angel Ramirez was born
February 21, 2006, to Denise Ramirez of Ajo. • Happy Birthday Lauren Weber, Amanda Weber, Mike Hipp, Jack Garchow. |
| April 5, 2006 |
•
4th of July
parade route is changing. Instead of progressing down Highway 85, it
will form in the health center parking lot and proceed down Cedar to
Fifth Street to Walker Park where the annual festival will be held. • The Ajo District Chamber of Commerce heard a report about plans of Table Top Telephone Company from Lisa Rossi, made 4th of July plans (including changing the parade route), discussed the success of the Sonoran Shindig, the Curley School Project job fair, the Greenway Greenbacks, and other business. Member of the month is NAPA Auto Parts. • A dinner theater play, gymkhana, lectures, and food sales give residents lots to do this weekend. • American Citizens Social Club is planning its 60th anniversary celebration as well a preparing for Cinco de Mayo. • Weather: March 26-30 high was 80F, low 52F, rain March 26 was 0.02 inch. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Denver Ray Nixon died
March 31,
2006, in Tyler, Texas. He was a former Ajo resident. Services have been
held in Texas. Chandler Memorial Funeral Home. • Adelaida Cruz, 76, died March 31 in Tempe. She was a former Ajo resident. Services will be held in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on April 8. Douglas Funeral Home. • Betty Eastwood, 71, died March 26, 2006, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She was a winter resident of Ajo for many years. Services have been held In Sandpoint, Idaho. Lakeview Funeral Home. • Virginia Russ, 86, died April 2, 2006. She was a former Ajo resdient. Services are being held in San Diego on April 7. Greenwood Mortuary. |
•
Bridgett Marion Walters
was born in
Laramie, Wyoming, on March 28, 2006, to Sarah & Patrick Walters. • Maria Isabel López León was born in San Luis Rio C., Sonora, Mexico, to Joaquin and Leticia López of Sonoyta. Happy Birthday Ruth Runge. |
| March 29, 2006 |
•
It will be
another busy weekend in Ajo with a gala
reception and art
exhibit at the Hotel Cornelia, a ice cream social in the Plaza, library
lectures, a bowl-a-thon, dances, food sales, and more. • Rain continues with occasional brief showers. • The Friends of Ajo plan an all Ajo reunion April 28-29 at the new Rawhide theme park in Chandler. Further information and a registration form are available at www.cunews.info/reunion • Weather: March 19-23 high was 78F, low 41F, rain early March 19 was 0.11 inch. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
No obituaries
appeared in the March 29 issue. • Articles and pictures of the Montana services for Border Patrol agent Nick Greenig can be found on www.billingsgazette.net by searching for Greenig funeral. A memorial service will be held in Ajo on April 4. |
•
Etienne Luc Gagnon
was born March 18 in Page to Paul &
Corina Gagnon. His mother's family are former Ajo residents. • Happy birthday Dick Park, Reyes Valenzuela, and Chloe Arianna Cowhig Krehbiel. • Congratulations to Brian and Andrea Peterson. |
| March 22, 2006 |
•
Nick Greenig
was killed and his partner Roberto Easterbrooks was injured when their
unmarked Border Patrol vehicle struck a large bull on Highway 86 near
San Simon. Both were USBP senior patrol agents. Greenig was
pronounced dead on the scene. Easterbrooks, who was not critically
injured, was flown to a Tucson hospital and is recovering. • Young people between 14 and 21 may apply for the county's Summer Youth Employment & Education Program. For applications or more information, contact Mary Garcia at 520-387-5611 or visit her office at 120 Estrella in Ajo. • The public school board met March 16. The board heard a report on the Ajo Lions reading team, accepted a resignation, hired a teacher's aide, and accepted donations as well as transacting routine business. • The next ecumenical Lent service will be held March 25 at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. • Weather: March 12-16 high was 74F, low 40F, rain early March 19. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Pauline Price,
86, of Goodyear, died March
15, 2006. She was a former Ajo resident. Mass was
celebrated March 22 in Avondale.
Ganley Funeral Home. • Darrel Allen Van Sickle, 81, died February 22, 2006, in Minnesota. He was a former Ajo resident. Private family services are being held. Morris Nilsen Chapel. • Nicholas Darren Greenig, 28, was killed in a motor vehicle accident while on duty as a Border Patrol agent. Services are being held in Billings, Montana, on March 23. A memorial may be held in Arizona in mid-April. • Jaunita Viltakis, 72, died March 18, 2006. She grew up in Ajo. Private services are being held in Lompoc, Californai. |
*
Happy birthday |
| March 15, 2006 |
•
RAIN! The dry
spell ended Saturday
with a day-long drenching that unofficial records set at 2 inches. One
good rain does not end the drought, however. • The library anniversary open house, the art show, and the dance went on as scheduled on Saturday. The fire department's golf tourney was canceled. • While more rain would be welcome, many hope the rain will avoid the weekend when the Sonoran Shindig, a roping, a chuck wagon dinner, and events at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are planned for outdoors. Other weekend events include food sales, pool tournament and a concert. • School lets out early on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday this week, then students get a whole week off for spring break. • A job and business opportunity fair is being held on March 21 for those interested in working on the Curley School Project construction. • Weather: March 5-9, high was 78F, low 47F. Rain on March 11. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Dallas Gordon,
73, of Sun City West,
died suddenly March 6, 2006. He was a former Ajo resident. Funeral
services were held March 11 in Scottsdale. Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary. • O'Brien Jones, 55, of Santan Village, died March 4, 2006, in Chandler. His survivors include nieces and nephews in Ajo. Services were held at the family home in Santan Village on March 10. J. Warren Funeral Services. • Edward Jancic, 66, died February 28, 2006 in Montana. He was born in Ajo but raised in Montana. Services have been held. Michelotti-Sawyer Mortuary. |
•
Happy Birthday
Jessie
Mann, Randy Owen, Nikki Gomez |
| March 8, 2006 |
•
The Lillie C.
Salazar -
Ajo Branch Library will celebrate its 60th anniversary with an open
house on Saturday, That same day, the Desert Artists Guild will hold
its annual spring show. Saturday night the Baile de las Estrellas will
offer smooth sounds under a canopy of stars in the Mocambo Ballroom.
The Ajo/Gibson Volunteer Fire Department's annual golf tourney is the
day's sporting event. • At the Western Pima County Community Council meeting on March 2, Alice McNary was sworn in as a board member. The group heard a report about rural transportation, reported on their visit with county supervisor Sharon Bronson, noting construction of a flood control bridge at Second Avenue should start in July, discussed street light issues and the need for an emergency generator, and heard a report from Lt. Clements of the sheriff's department. • Read Across America, Reading is Fundamental, a book fair, and a family fun night all combined in a celebration of reading at the public school. • Weather: Feb. 26-March 2, high was 75F, low 53F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
William Tredway,
93, died March 2,
2006, in a Phoenix hospice. Private family services are planned.
Douglass Funeral Home. |
•
Summer Rose Molina
was born February
23, 2006, in Tucson to Breezy Richardson and Eldon Molina Jr. of Ajo. • Happy birthday Bernie Berry, Isabel Trebes, Joshua Jordan Mendez, & Sebastian Blount. |
| March 1, 2006 |
•
The school
board
accepted the resignation of high school math teacher Cleopholus Culp
and hired former teacher Barbara Silva to teach his classes until the
end of the year. They also discussed the budget for the next fiscal
year; it is hoped no staff will be cut and that pay levels will remain
the same or increase. • Areas of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Bureau of Land Management will be closed to the public during the endangered Sonoran pronghorns' fawning season. Closed areas are expected to reopen July 15. • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is holding its annual Season of Tradition with cultural demonstrations by O'odham during March. • New officers of the Desert Senita Community Health Center board of directors are president George Gradillas, vice president Mari Zimmermann, and secretary/treasurer Fred Fout. • The American Citizens Social Club will hold its chili/salsa cook-off and swap meet this Saturday. Other events include a book sale, rummage sales, and food sales. • The Western Pima County Community Council will meet March 2. • Weather: Feb. 19-23, high was 73F, low 42F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
No obituaries
appeared
in the March 1, 2006, issue of the Ajo Copper News. |
•
Happy birthday
Isaiah
Nez, Joaquin Betancourt. |
| February 22 |
•
At their
February 16
meeting, the school board accepted grants from International
Baccalaureate and Minerals Research & Recovery; accepted
resignations from Judy Quiroz, Elizabeth Sims, and John Bloomquist;
hired Kathy Morales, Jacqueline Vega, Gloria Grainger, and Mike
Morales; heard of the desire to resign of Cleo Culp; assured Paul
Crawford he would receive back pay; and handled routine issues. • Plans are being made for this year's Sonoran Shindig which will include booths, a photography contest, music, and more. To rent booths, call the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce at 520-387-7742. For information about the photo contest contact the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge at 520-387-6483. • The Arizona Corporation Commission has approved a rate hike for Southwest Gas. The average gas bill is expected to increase about 21%. • Both the Salazar-Ajo Branch Library and the American Citizens Social Club are turning sixty this year. Both are planning anniversary celebrations. • The AHS Red Raiders fell before the Pima Roughriders, 71-52, in the first round of the state basketball tournament. • Weather: Feb. 12-16, high was 81F, low 45F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Simon "Sammy" Leon,
53, died
February 16, 2006, in a hospice in Phoenix. Mass will be celebrated in
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on February 25.
Douglass Funeral Home. • Sally Jo Bromley, 83, died February 15, 2006, in a Tucson hospital. Services will be held February 22 in the Ajo First Assembly of God Church. Douglass Funeral Home. • Services for Tommie Boyd were held Saturday, February 18, in Ajo Calvary Baptist Church. |
|
| February 15, 2005 |
•
This weekend
the Ajo
Copper News is having a two-day grand opening for its new bookstore
& art gallery. The
Santa Cruz River Band will play at the Mocambo on Saturday night.
During the week there are clown workshops, lectures at the library,
bingo, and more. Food sales abound. • A wildfire near Painted Rock outside Gila Bend is one of the first in what is expected to be a busy wildland fire season. The continued drought has turned the desert into a tinderbox. • Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson was one of many speakers at the dedication ceremony naming the local airport in memory of the late Eric Marcus. He was a pilot, airplane mechanic, and a staunch advocate for the airport and the community. The airport's new official name is the Eric B. Marcus Municipal Airport. • The Curley School Project received an award for $750,000 from the Arizona Department of Housing to assist in creating affordable housing. The project plans to provide artists with living & working space while preserving the historic school building. • The AHS Red Raider basketball team is seeded #4 for the west side of the conference heading into the state playoffs. • Weather: Feb. 5-9, high was 85F, low 49F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
• Tomasita "Tommie" Boyd, 90, died February 12, 2006 in a Tucson hospital. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home in Ajo. | Happy
Birthdays
to Pili
& Mariah Alegria, Carmen Maya, Roxie Gradillas, and Hop &
Margarita David! |
| February 8, 2006 |
•
The Western
Pima County
Community Council met February 2. They welcomed Alice McNary as the
representative for the Lukeville area, heard the airport is being named
for the late Eric Marcus, heard the skatepark movement is gaining
momentum, and heard a report from Superintendent Kathy Billings about
the border barriers on Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument. • A rabid fox was found by Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument staff near Highway 85. • The old New Cornelia Hospital has been purchased by Allan Dunstan & Ramona Heinekamp who plan to develop the property as a wellness center and spa. Dunstan spoke at the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce meeting. • The fiddlers' contest, quilt show, vaudeville show, and other weekend events were all well-attended. David Kaemmer was the grand champion at the fiddlers' contest. • The fireworks fund needs $1200 more in donations. Money may be sent to the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce, 400 Taladro, Ajo, AZ 85321. • Weather: Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, high was 78F, low 49F, no rain. Information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Maria Elena Bustamante
Thielen, 54,
of Mabank, Texas, died there December 25, 2005. She was an
Ajo native. Mass will be celebrated in Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church in Ajo at 10:30 a.m. on February 11. • Angelita Mark, 80, of Pia Oik, died there January 29, 2006. Services were held in Ajo in the Indian Assembly of God Church. • Eva M. "Brownie" O'Neill, 89, died January 16, 2006, in Tempe. She was a former Ajo resident. Services were held in Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tempe. • Wendell Jordan, 57, died in Arroyo Grande, California, on February 1, 2006. He was a native of Ajo. No service information was given. |
|
| February 1, 2006 |
•
A full weekend
is ahead
with three main events -- the 28th annual Old Time Fiddlers Contest,
the annual Piecemakers quilt show, and the annual Ajo Community Players
vaudeville show -- plus lots of food sales and other events. • The Western Pima County Community Council will meet Feb. 2 and hear a presentation about border barriers. • Stella Krznarich is retiring after for the post office in Ajo since December 2, 1967. The post office is holding an open house in her honor from 9 a.m. to noon on February 2. Another recent retiree is Bernice Hammon who has been an integral part of Ajo Insurance Services since 1986. • Desert Senita Community Health Center's board welcomed Dick Ducic as a new member and voted to add Tracy Taft to the board. They also voted to approve a lease agreement with Ajo Ambulance. • Blanca Montes was the school spelling bee champ and Kathia Vasquez was the runner-up. • Weather: Jan. 22-26, high was 75F, low 43F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Ruby Russell, 97,
a former longtime
Ajo resident, died January 28, 2006, in Tucson. Services are being held
February 2 at 11 a.m. in the Ajo Federated Church. • Norman Paden of Why died December 20, 2005 in Tucson. Services and burial were in his old hometown of Hugoton, Kansas. • Ronald Bailey, 41, a former Ajo resident, died January 24 in Tucson. Services are being held February 1 at 9:30 a.m. at Lady of Joy in Cave Creek. • Sharon Richardson, 59, died January 28. Services are being held February 3 at 10 a.m. in Ajo First Assembly of God. |
•
Charles Nathaniel Bauer
Jr. was born
in Phoenix on January 12, 2006, to Mandy Pickle and Charles Bauer of Ajo. • Jose Ramon Yon Jr. was born in Phoenix on December 15, 2005, to Fernanda Osorio and Jose Yon of Ajo. |
| January 25, 2006 |
•
Annette Yanez
was named
teacher of the year and eight new members were inducted in a ceremony
held by the AHS chapter of the National Honor Society. New members are
Chelsea Petersen, Roxanne Gradillas, Brad Groom, Hector Campa, Sarah
Spitzer, Mathew Rossi, Miguel Nogales, and Jessica Mann. • Father Richard Rego is leaving Immaculate Conception Parish to serve as chaplain to a Latin Mass community in Tucson. The new parish priest is Father Peter Nwachukwu. • Weekend activities include a Tucson Symphony Orchestra concert, a potluck to honor Father Rego, a dance at The Hut, an Ajo Riding Club jaunt, the VFW Chili Cookoff, the Desert Senita Community Health Center health fair, a field trip on Childs Mountain, a festival of films made in Ajo, music at the ChuChu Club, and the Fifth Sunday Sing. Events continue at the Salazar-Ajo Branch Library and, coming next week, are the annual fiddlers' contest, a quilt show, and the annual vaudeville show. • The public school board met Thursday, January 19, and elected Lisa Rossi as president and Ken Kermode as clerk. Personnel resignations were accepted and new teacher aides hired. The board heard a report about the school library. • Controversy rose over the closing of Ajo Calvary Christian Academy. Letters to the editor filled most of a page of the Ajo Copper News. • Weather: Jan. 15-19, high was 67F, low 37F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Memorial
services for Dorothy
Corp, who died January 8,
2006, will be held Monday, January 30, at 10:30 a.m. in Good Shepherd
Presbyterian Church. • A memorial service and airport dedication is planned for Saturday, February 11, at the airport north of Ajo to honor the late Eric Marcus. |
|
| January
18,
2005 |
•
Ajo Calvary
Christian
Academy
will close its doors January 31. Funding & a teacher shortage were
cited
as the reason. • Volunteers cleaned up the Cameron Tank area making it accessible to pronghorn and other wildlife. • Ajo Improvement Company is finishing tests on upgrades to its water treatment plant made to comply with the more strict federal standards going into effect January 23. • Ajo/Gibson Volunteer Fire Department has begun its annual fund drive. Last year only 88 residents and businesses contributed. Contributions may be sent to PO Box 909, Ajo, AZ 85321. • Weather: Jan. 8-12, high was 77F, low 44F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
• Frances E. Trammell,
90, died
January 9, 2006, in Phoenix. Her son John Trammell lives in Ajo.
Services were held in Clarkdale. • Memorial services for Jean Clark, who died November 9, 2005, will be held at the Ajo Elks Lodge at 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 21. |
•
Nathaniel Ryan Espinoza
was born
October 7, 2005, in Miami, Florida, to Lori Lynn Espinoza. • Hannah Joy Guthrie was born December 13, 2005, in Phoenix to Shannon and Marissa (Espinoza) Guthrie. • Angelina Maria Castillo was born December 12, 2005, in Safford to Michael and Ilsa (Espinoza) Castillo. Yes, all three are cousins. |
| January
11, 2006 |
•
Peter Marquez
of Ajo
died of
injuries after being struck by a USBP vehicle near Why. The vehicle had
swerved to miss Marquez' brother Paul who reportedly was walking on the
highway. • The Western Pima County Community Council welcomed new member Joe Martinez, who was elected president to serve with vice president Lil Jones, secretary Edith Vance, and treasurer Margaret Anderson. The council heard from Pima County about grants and flood control plans. • The controversy over off-road racing continued with more letters to the editor. • Former Ajo resident Vio Celaya is the author of First Mexican. He will be in Ajo to sign his books at the library on Monday, February 6, at 7 p.m. His books are available in the bookstore area of the Ajo Copper News. • A horseriding group is forming. • Weather: Jan. 1-5, high was 79F, low 49F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Eric Marcus, 63,
of Ajo, died
January 5, 2006, in Hospice of the Valley in Peoria. Memorial services
may be held in early February according to Douglass Funeral Home of
Ajo. • Peter Marquez, 46, of Ajo, died January 3, 2006. Services were held in Ajo. • M.W. "Shive" Shively, 75, a pharmacist and former Ajo resident, died January 8, 2006, in Scottsdale. Services were held in Chandler. • Dorothy Corp, 88, of Ajo, died January 8, 2006, in Phoenix. Memorial services may be held in early February according to Douglass Funeral Home of Ajo. • Richard Clemans, 61, died near Ajo on January 4, 2006. No service information was available. • Ann Cammack Thorton, 50, died at her home in Scottsdale on January 4, 2006. She was a former Ajo teacher. Services were held in Scottsdale. |
• Mary Millsap was feted by family and friends at a party held in honor of her 100th birthday. |
| January
4,
2006 |
•
Although
parties and
dances
abounded on New Year's Eve, 2006 entered Ajo relatively quietly. • The price of stamps is going up January 8. • The Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association has a new website, cabezaprieta.org, which is growing in popularity. • Flu season is hitting hard. • Controversy over offroad racing continues in letters to the editor. • Weather: Dec. 18-29, high was 81F, low 44F, no rain. Weekday weather information from Phelps Dodge Mining Co. |
•
Roger
Miranda, 51, of Ajo, died
December 30, 2005. He worked in repair and maintenance. Services
were held in Ajo. Douglass Funeral Home. |
•
Jonathan
Tyler Korolsky was born
December 23 in Chandler to Nicholas Korolsky and Nickie Brown. • Aric Teancum Peterson was born October 26, 2005, in Germany to Laurie Ann and Hans Peterson. |