Ajo Copper News

The Ajo Copper News is a Weekly Newspaper
Serving Ajo, Why, & Lukeville in Southwestern Arizona since 1916.

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Issue
 News
 Deaths, Services
 Weddings, Births, Happy News
December 31, 2008
 •  It was both a quiet week and a busy week in Ajo -- organizations and individuals celebrated two holidays and rested between.
•  Temperatures dipped toward freezing with highs in the low 60sF during the week with almost a third of a inch of rain.
 •  Don Michael "Mike" Carr, 62, died at his home in Ajo on December 25, 2008. He moved to Ajo in 2003. Private services are planned.
December 24, 2008
 Merry Christmas!
•  Santa will make his annual first stop in Ajo on Christmas Eve. The community gathering in to Plaza starts about sundown.
•  Churches will celebrate the birth of Christ.
•  Local businesses offered support to the Ls Artes GED program sponsored by the International Sonoran Desert Alliance.
•  The water level has risen at Quitobaquito.
 •  There were no obituaries in the December 24 issue of the Ajo Copper News.
 •  Gilbert Rene Granillo Jr. is now an airman first class in the US Air Force.
•  Happy birthdays Carol Klinefelter, Alicia Montijo, Thelma Leatherwood, and Thelma Schnell!
•  Welcome home Keith Campbell!
December 17, 2008
 		•  Plans for the Plaza, most of which has been purchased by the International Sonoran Desert Alliance include input meetings, marketing, and signage.
•  Bob Dooley has been honored by the Arizona School Boards Association and Arizona Schools Association  as the All Arizona School Superintendent of the Year for district with fewer than 1000 students.
•  A new license plate law amendment goes into effect on January 1. Arizona plates with covers that obscure the word ARIZONA will earn warnings or tickets that can cost up to $200.
•  A warm, dry fall is leading into a chilly, wet winter.
•  The ports of entry between Lukeville and Sonoyta  will be expanded to accommodate growing numbers of traveler. Funds will come from a public and private partnership between Arizona and Mexico.
 		•  Elizabeth Evelyn Armstrong Johnston, 95, died December 6, 2008, in Tucson. She lived in Ajo for many years. Services were held in Tucson on December 11, burial was in Ajo. Adair Funeral Home.
•  James B "Tex" Lahm, 83, died December 11, 2008, in Tucson. He was a  longtime area resident. Graveside services were held December 18; he was buried next to his wife in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
 		•  Rayne Thorne Mackey was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on November 24, 2008.
•  Coy Yarberry celebrated his 90th birthday in October.
•  Irene Douglass is recovering from a broken leg after a fall.
December 10, 2008
 •  Freeport & Ajo Improvement, grants, the Plaza, the school, and law enforcement were all topics at the meeting of the  Western Pima County Pima Community Council last Thursday. An election, at which all incumbents were re-elected to the council, was also held. Minutes of the group will be available at their website.
•  The assassination of the Sonoyta area Federale commandante and two police officers at a restaurant in Sonoyta a little over a week ago have raised fears that Sonoyta may erupt in drug-war violence similar to that in Nogales.
•  In addition to handling personnel matters, the Ajo school board heard from superintendent Bob Dooley that incoming state governor Jan Brewer is not expected to be as sympathetic to education as was her predecessor.
 •  Richard Germack died November 30, 2008. He was a part-time resident who worked on the Curley school restoration. His ashes will be scattered in California. Garcia Mortuary of Oxnard, California.
•  Mia Amor Delgado, 9 months 5 days old, died November 23, 2008, in Phoenix. Services were held in Laveen on December 6. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Sandra Manuel died December 5, 2008, in Mesa. She was a former Ajo resident. Services were held in Vah-ki Prebyterian Church.
 •  Thelma Schnell, who will soon be 89, was feted by family and friends at a party at the Ajo Federated Church.
December 3, 2008
 •  In addition to speakers, this Thursday's Western Pima County Community Council agenda includes an election for odd-numbered districts.
•  The holiday season is in full swing with concerts by the community choir and band, art shows & sales, lectures. tours, parties, food sales, and more.
•  There will be a flag-raising by veterans in the Plaza at 7:30 a.m. on December 7 in remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day.
•  State Route 85 in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has been proposed as a parkway by the Arizona Parkways Historic and Scenic Roads Advisory Committee with the support of the Arizona Office of Tourism and the Arizona Department of Transportation.
•  Deb Miller, assistant to county supervisor Sharon Bronson, will be making a monthly trip to Ajo. Besides attending the Western Pima County Community Council meeting, she will be available at the Ajo Community Center in Walker Park from 9 a.m. to noon the Friday after the WPCCC meeting.
•  The weather has been nippy with a little bit of rain and overcast skies alternating with clear. The high last week was 83F and the low was 49F.
 •  Frank Cesarec, 90, died November 26, 2008, in Tucson. He had lived in Ajo since 1997. Memorial services in Ajo will be held December 13 at 1 pm. in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church; Catholic services will be held later in Wisconsin.
•  Garland Brown, 92, died in Tupelo, Mississippi, on November 23, 2008. He was a former long-time resident of Ajo. Graveside services were planned for December 3 in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home
•  Ana Contreras died November 26, 2008, at a hospice in Peoria. Mass will be celebrated at 1 a.m. on December 6 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home.
 •  Happy Birthday Thelma Schnell!
November 26, 2008
 •  The Tohono Sonoran Jam on Saturday will feature music and exhibits from the Ajo Memory Project with pictures of Indian Village and Mexican Town. It's an ISDA event.
•  Former Ajo resident Marge Hagen pled guilty in Tucson to forgery in a plea bargain that will net her probation or as 27 months in prison. She has previously served time for arson and has been investigated for murder.
•  Among the groups starting new seasons is the Ajo Archaeology Society, which will meet at the library at 6:30 p.m. on December 3.
 •  There were no obituaries in the November 26 issue of the Ajo Copper News. •  Happy birthdays, Corky Sipe & Darrell Bathurst!
•  Two students share the honor of being the Ajo Rotary Club's student guest for November: Stephanie Carrera and Linda Guan.
November 19, 2008
 		•  The Great Western Street Fair. Desert Dust & Classic Rust Car Show, and Pet Parade made for a busy Saturday morning and afternoon while a jackpot roping filled Saturday evening and a home tour Sunday.
•  Veterans Day saw a flag raising in the Plaza by local veterans. The Elks held a flag retirement service the next day.
•  The school board met and made personnel decisions, approved a capital plan, agreed to dispose of obsolete and non-working equipment and sell the 1983 Raider bus, and voted to purchase an SUV.
 •  There were no obituaries in the November 19 issue of the Ajo Copper News. •  Happy Birthday Diane Schumacher and Eleanor Guthrie!
November 12, 2008
 •  John Byrnes and Rose Cameron were re-elected to the school board, defeating challengers Ken Kermode and Bridget Rendon. Kate Garmise, Arlene Dreste, and Jan Ducic were elected to the Ajo-Lukeville Heatlh Service District board; Tracy Taft also ran. Results of Pima County elections may be found at their website.
•  The Western Pima County Pima Community Council met last Thursday and heard about community college courses, grief & caregiver counseling, a border art project, local law enforcement issues, and household hazardous waste. Minutes of the meeting will be available at their website.
•  The Great Western Street Fair, along with a car show, pet parade, and home tour, will be held this weekend. Primary sponsors are the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce and the local  NAPA store.
•  The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has announced that Gringo Pass Inc. will pay $45,000 for leaking underground storage tanks in Lukeville, along with a portion of the corrective action costs. More information can be found at the ADEQ website.
 •  There were no obituaries in the November 12 issue of the Ajo Copper News. •  Ariel Hernandez was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received in Iraq more than two years ago.
November 5, 2008
 		•  Election time! Results of Pima County elections may be found at their website. Election for the Western Pima County Pima Community Council will be held in December.
•  Halloween was celebrated with lots of parties and traditional events such as the kids' Halloween costume parade and a spookhouse.
•  Pima County staff members from development services, the health department, and flood control met with community leaders in a lively and well-attneded session.
 		•  There were no obituaries in the November 5 issue of the Ajo Copper News.
 •  A reception to honor newlyweds Ruthie (England) and Shannon Severance was held at the home of Patti Bush.
October 29, 2008
 •  Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. has announced that it will not resume mining operations in Ajo at this time. Spokesman Richard Peterson cited current economic conditions and a decline in copper prices as the reason for the deferral of several expansion projects, including consideration of developing Ajo.
•  The annual Halloween parade of costumes. sponsored by the Xi Gamma Pi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, will be held in the Plaza at 4:30 p.m. on October 31.
•  The polls will open for the general election on Tuesday, November 4. At stake are offices from the presidency down to seats on the local school board and health service district board. Many have opted to cast early ballots by mail or at the library.
•  Last week's high weekday temperature was 97F; the low was 54F.
 •  David Y. Romero, 64, died October 22, 2008, In Tucson. He was a native of Ajo and longtime resident. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Ida Monreal, 61, died October 22, 2008, in El Centro, California. She was a former Ajo resident. Services will be held in El Centro on November 8.
•  Danny Lopez. 71, died October 21, 2008. He was a Tohono O'odham storyteller and educator. Services have been held.
•  Graveside services for Helen Karnik will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 1, in the Ajo Cemetery. She died July 27, 2008.
 •  Rupert Schmidt will launch his new book, The Interview & Other Poems, will a reading at the Ajo Library on November 8.
•  Marshall Brett Hipp Jr. was born in Phoenix on September 26, 2008, to Marshall & Diana Hipp of Gila Bend.
October 22, 2008
 •  Many homeowners may not realize they are underinsured. Home improvements, furniture, and appliances are often not covered because policies haven't been updated or less expensive policies were purchased. Another factor in rebuilding cost when a home is destroyed is paying high per diem costs for out-of-town crews if an out-of-town contractor is chosen.
•  Problems with aggressive dogs while walking? Contact animal control. Take a picture of the animal for positive identification.
•  Flu shot clinics are scheduled at Desert Senita Community Health Center.
•  Many activities are being sponsored by the Salazar-Ajo Branch Library, the International Sonoran Desert Alliance and Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation.
 •  There were no obituaries in the October 22 issue of the Ajo Copper News. •  Terry Orr, retiring after a teaching career that began in 1977, was honored by the Ajo school board. Orr, who was also a coach for many years, was Arizona Game and Fish educator or the year in 2005 and has received many other awards for his teaching and coaching.
•  Michael Flynn Kaczmarek was born June 9, 2008, in Boise, Idaho, to Molly (Weyers) & Jim Kaczmarek.
October 15, 2008
 •  HOMECOMING! The Ajo High School Red Raiders celebrated Homecoming with a week of festivities, ending with a football game against their traditional rivals, the Gila Bend Monsters. The Raiders won the game in double overtime, 40-34. Brisy Nunez and Eddie Vega were crowned queen and king with Stephanie Carrera and Bran Runge runners up. Other candidates were Katie Fout, Alex Flores, Layla Leon, and Richard Roman.  The sophomore class took first place with their float, the seniors second, the freshmen third, and the juniors fourth.
•  Weekday temperatures were all under 100F during the past week.
•  Loads of trash and other debris being taken to the county landfill must be covered with a secure tarp. It's the law.
 •  Marjorie Alice Cole, 88, died September 28, 2008. She grew up in Ajo. A memorial service was held in Tucson on October 13.
 •  Ron Russell and Michelle Soto were united in marriage in a ceremony in Yuma on October 11.
•  Jazmyne Shae Dorament was born in Tucson on August 29, 2008, to Donnell Lynn Dorame.
October 8, 2008
 		•  The Western Pima County Pima Community Council heard about a certified wildlife habitat program from Viv Sartori of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, local law enforcement efforts from Pima County Sheriff's Dept., a household hazardous waste program, and events at the public school. The council's minutes and other information can be found on their website.
•  The Red Raiders will celebrate homecoming on Friday, October 10.
•  The roping arena on Well Road is managed by WALD under an agreement with Pima County. Donations for renovation may be sent to WALD, 2141 N. Ajo-Gila Bend Hwy, Ajo, Z 85321.
•  There may be a new Pima Animal Care Center if a bond issue in 2009 goes through. The current structure is part of the Pima County Sheriff's Dept. building; the new structure would be separate.
 •  Martha Fleming, 91, died October 1, 2008. She lived most of her life in Ajo. Services were held in Springville, Utah, where she most recently made her home.
•  Richard McGinnis, 82, died October 2, 2008, in Phoenix. He was a former long-time resident of Ajo. Services were held October 8 at West Valley Chapel in Peoria.
 •  Happy birthday, Susie O'Connor! Happy birthday Frances Leon!
October 1, 2008
 •  The pupfish population at Quitobaquito is declining; there are now an estimated 5000 to 7500 fish, a decline from a high of 10,000 to 15,000 but only a little below the average of 5000 to 7500.
•  Sunday is World Communion Day. ecumenical services, sponsored by the Ajo Pastors Association, will be held at 6 p.m. at the First Assembly of God.
•  Voters are reminded to have their identification, which should match the address on their voter registration card, read when they go to vote. Information and online registration can be found online at www.recorder.pima.goav/regvote.html. The deadline to register or make changes is October 6 to vote in the November 4 general election; early voting will be offered at the Salazar-Ajo Library October 20-31.
•  Both local internet providers, Table Top Telephone and AjoWiFi are offering fast service, with speeds up to 1.5mb.
 •  Salena Gaetjens, 82, died September 29, 2008, at her home in Ajo. She lived most of her life in Ajo. Services were held at Douglass Funeral Home in Ajo on October 3.
 •  Mia Page Yanez was born September 11, 1008, in PHoenix to Heather Page and Carlos Yanez.
•  Julia Fulkerson was feted by family and friends at a surprise birthday party. A special treat was a visit from great-granddaughter Marissa Jordan.
September 24, 2008
 •  International Day of Peace was celebrated by a large crowd. Among the events were a free breakfast (food provided by Olsens IGA and cooked by Ajo in the Wall) and a jazz concert sponsored by the Ajo Council for the Fine Arts. Main sponsor and coordinator of the festival was the International Sonoran Desert Alliance.
•  The Ajo school is a big larger with 15 more students than last year as well as several new programs.
•  The admission fee for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is being waived on September 27, National Public Lands Day.
 •  There were no obituaries in the September 24 issue.
 •  Happy 4th birthday Elizabeth Hernandez. Happy 16th birthday Samantha Weber.
September 17, 2008
 •  The Pima County Library will hold a forum at the Salazar-Ajo Branch on Thursday to learn how it might better serve the community.
•  The fifth annual Ajo celebration of the International Day of Peace will cover two days -- Sunday and Monday -- with a variety of events.
•  Desert Senita Community Health Center is planning to open an in-house pharmacy and is proceeding with its renovation of the former assisted living center into the new dental center. They are still seeking another dentist and another physician.
•  The Ajo Copper News is now on volume 85, though its actual age is 92.
 •  Earl Albert Steiner, 90, died August 18, 2008, in Oak Harbor, Washington. He was a winter resident. Services have been held in Oak Harbor.
 •  Happy Birthday Ashlee Durham! Happy Birthday Danielle Durham! Happy anniversary Forrest & Patricia Rickard! Happy birthday Cienna Nicole Goodwin!
September 10, 2008
 •  The Western Pima County Pima Community Council met. The full agenda of six featured speakers and several impromptu ones saw topics such as Victim Witness in Ajo, law enforcement issues, the Air Evac membership plan, a grant for upgrading Ajo street lighting , the new dental center, and the library. Meeting minutes are available on the council's website.
•  The primary election results for Pima County can be found at  election result website.
•  The International Sonoran Desert Alliance has received a $25,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco through the National Bank of Arizona to help revitalize the Plaza, which ISDA recently purchased.
 •  There were no obituaries in the September 10 issue.
 •  Bethany Ann Puffer was born in Phoenix on June 9, 2008, to Michaela & Boyd Puffer.
•  Happy birthday Gia Valentina Pilar Ramirez! Happy birthday Frankie Bustamante Jr.!
September 3, 2008
 •  The September 3 issue of the Ajo Copper News was printed while the primary election was still being conducted so results weren't available. Information can be found at the Pima County election result website.
•  The US Department of the Interior effectively brought work on the virtual border fence to a halt when it announced it has yet to authorize use of its lands for the construction of radar and camera towers;
•  The Western Pima County Pima Community Council is resuming meetings after a summer hiatus. The agenda for the September 4 meeting includes a speaker from the Pima County Attorney's office who will discuss the Victim Witness program coming to Ajo; a talk by Nick Francis who is managing the Plaza for the International Sonoran Desert Alliance ; information about the programs at Desert Senita Community Health center from its CEO, Fatima McCasland; air medical transport insurance from Air Evac, and updates on community concerns. Meeting minutes will appear on the council's website at www.wpccc.info,
 •  Lawrence L. "Larry" Palmer Jr., 73, died in Tucson on August 19, 2008. He had lived in Mexico before moving to Rocky Point in 1998. Services were held at the VFW in Ajo on September 6; Rocky Point services will be held on September 27. Abbey Funeral Chapel.
 •  Brianna Luz Soto was born June 19, 2008, in Tucson to Rosemary Gradillas and Roman Soto.
•  Happy Birthday Gery Krehbiel!
•  Happy 25th Anniversary Doris and Dennis Segura.
August 27, 2007
 		•  The primary election, which will decide which candidates appear on the November general election ballot is Tuesday, September 2, In Ajo, voters who haven't cast early ballots by mail or at the library may do so at the Ajo Federated Church social hall between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
•  CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a Citizen Corps program that trains volunteers to assist emergency response crews and community members in the event of a disaster. The Ajo group has become tiny and is seek new members. Training is available through the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
•  Temperatures are still high, in the low 100s, with high humidity. Next week's temperatures are expected to be in the 90s.
 		•  Anita Yanez, 82, died August 21, 2008, in Tucson. She was a native of Ajo who lived here most of her life. Mass will be celebrated by her son, Fr. Horacio Yanez in Ajo at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Leonard W. Bagby Jr., 79, died August 17, 2008, in Tucson. He was a resident of Why. No service information was available.
•  Clifford Pudlas, 84, died August 22, 2008. He was a former longtime Ajo resident. Graveside services are being held in Payson on August 27.
 		•  Triplets Michelle Ann, MIchael Edward, and Jessica Megan Markham Garcia were born in Tucson on June 20, 2008, to Cheryl Markham & Alfonso Garcia of Ajo.
•  Happy Birthday Michelle & Lesi!
•  Happy 61st Anniversary Jose & Otilia Mendez.
August 20, 2008
 •  Cell phone calls to 911 made in Western Pima County are now being routed to the Pima County Sheriff's Dept. in Ajo. Enhanced 911 allows the dispatcher to identify the location of a cell phone caller in the desert. There is still a 10-second delay for all callers accessing the 911 system in Ajo while the call is routed through Tucson to Ajo.
•  A house of Jefferson burned to the ground and neighboring house suffered fire damage early last Friday morning. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
•  A recently constructed pedestrian fence flanking the Lukeville Port of Entry has been cited as the cause of flood damage to a store and to government facilities on both sides of the border during a storm on July 2, according to a report by the National Park Service.
•  Activities for both youth and adults are being offered through Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, the Pima County Public Library, and the International Sonoran Desert Alliance.
 •  Leon J. Dutcher, 77, died August 11, 2008, in Tucson. He had lived in Ajo since 1986. No services are planned.
•  Gerald Wayne Polley, 78, died July 19, 2008, in Santa Cruz, California. He grew up in Ajo. Arizona memorial services will be held in Binghampton Cemetery in Tucson at 10 a.m. on November 1.
•  Anthony Xavier Perriello, 7 months & 8 days old, died in Phoenix on August 10, 2008. Mass was celebrated in Ajo on August 19. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Derek Brendan Ayala, 48, died in an accident on August 9, 2008. He was a native of Ajo. Services were held in Buckeye on August  16; burial was  a cemetery in Buckeye.
 •  Happy Birthday Joe Pacheco!
August 13, 2008
 •  School started on Monday.
•  National Health Center Week will be celebrated at Desert Senita Community Health Center on Thursday with an open house and other activities.
•  A US Border Patrol agent was briefly held at gunpoint by Mexican soldiers just north of the border on August 3. While both nations are dismissing it as a accident, a BP spokesman said the border is clearly marked in the area where the incident took place.
 •  Robert Garcia, 55, died August 8, 2008, in a Tucson medical facility. He was a lifelong area resident. A wake was held at his home in Ajo; graveside services were held in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home. •  Sara Violeta Vega is engaged to marry Guadalupe Contreras. She is the daughter of Roy & Licha Vega.
August 6, 2008
 •  School starts Monday, August 11. An open house for students, parents, and teachers will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 7. Most classes will start at 8:45 a.m. but middle school students in band and high school students in band or a JTED course will start the day with a zero period at 7:40 a.m.
•  APS has filed for an interim base rate surcharge; this is the same as the charge granted in June 2007 which expired at the end of July.
•  Over a ton of marijuana was found by Border Patrol in an abandoned vehicle near Gunsight.
•  The Ajo school board will meet on Tuesday, August 5, and Thursday, August 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the board room on the school campus. On Tuesday, the board will discuss items to be voted on at the Thursday meeting.
 		•  Edmundo Mota, 100, died  August 3, 2008, in a Tucson facility. He was a longtime Ajo resident. Visitation and rosary will be held Thursday at Douglass Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 8. Burial will be in Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Helen Maxine Aich Karnik, 84, died July 27, 2008, in a Mesa Hospital. She was a resident of Ajo. She will be buried in Ajo Cemetery; no services have been announced.
•  Randy Rojo, 43, died July 26, 2008, in Chandler. He was an Ajo native and lifelong resident. Mass was celebrated  August 1; burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Margarita Gray died August 3, 2008. Visitation and rosary will be held at Douglass Funeral Home on Friday with mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home.
 •  Kim Arlene Mitchell an Dwayne Adams have announced their engagement. A November wedding in Bisbee is being planned.
July 30, 2008
 •  Freeport McMoRan held another in its series of community partnership meetings. According to those who attended, concerns from previous meetings were addressed and Freeport representatives said the company is exploring the possibility of resurrecting the rail line between Ajo & Gila Bend.
•  Three seats on the Ajo-Lukeville Heath Service District are open; none of the incumbents plans to run for re-election.
•  Temperatures ranged stayed in the triple digits with the 0.24 inches of rain keeping the humidity up.
 		•  Ruben Del Rosario, 78, died in a Mesa hospital on July 22, 2008. He was a native of Ajo and lifelong resident of the area. Mass was celebrated July 26; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Hunter Ray Hawn, 23, died July 20, 2008, in Ajo. No services have been announced.
 		•  Cindy G. Pedreira Diaz and Anders T. Peterson were married July 11, 2008, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
July 23, 2008
 		•  Hunter R. Hawn, 23, was found dead with obvious signs of trauma in his vehicle near Sixth and Washington in the early morning hours of Monday, July 21, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Following an investigation, deputies arrested Luis Ernesto Veleta, 19. Both men were Ajo residents.
•  With a 3-2 vote, the Ajo school board hired Dave Emmers for the position of head baseball coach; Amy Runge and Hop David voted nay with Rose Cameron, John Byrnes, and Lisa Rossi. Emmers will replace longtime baseball coach Leonard Lopez who had sought to retain the position.
•  The new Virtual Fence towers may offer 911 cell phone service. The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to have the service added and the Department of Homeland Security is now researching the technical aspects.
 •  Curt McCasland has been promoted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to manager of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. He has served as acting manager since April when Roger DiRosa retired.
•  It's hot and humid. Though the high temperature last week was only 107F, the nearly half inch of rain and overcast skies created humidity that made it feel hotter.
 		•  Vernon L. Rockwell, 70, died July 18, 2008, after a long battle with cancer. He was an Ajo resident. At his request, no services are being held. His ashes will be interred next to his son in San Diego, California.
•  Muriel L. "Pat" Gilbert, 88, died July 16, 2008. She was a longtime Ajo resident. Services were held July 19 in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. Douglas Funeral Home.
•  Marzelo Yanez died at his home in Ajo on July 17, 2008. He was a lifelong resident of Ajo. Services will be held at a later date. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Richard Velasco, 62, died July 10, 2008. He was a resident of Charco 27. Services were held July 18 in Santa Cruz followed by burial in the Charco 27 Cemetery. Cole & Maude Gardens Chapel.
 		•  The Ajo Elks donated $400 to the Ajo Gibson Volunteer Fire Department.
July 16, 2008
 •  The federally funded Secure Border Initiative virtual fence project appears to be moving forward again. Local land managers from the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument want SBI to work but are leery of its impacts.
•  With summer storms on the way, residents are reminded to be ready for emergencies. Local residents who want to become a member of a Community Emergency Response Team to deal with emergencies such as power outages and flood should call the Ajo office of the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 387-8539.
 •  Floydine "Deanie" Friend, 64, died July 4, 2004, in Oregon. She was a winter resident of Ajo. Memorial services were held in LaPine, Oregon, on July 10. Baird Memorial Chapel.
•  "Rito L. "Chino" Quesada died July 13 at his home in Ajo. He was a former longtime resident of Ajo. Services were held in Cottonwood. Wescott Funeral Home.
 		•  Vincent Saiz and his sister Danae Saiz received their college degrees the same day, May 9. Danae graduated with honors from ASU with a degree in elementary education. Vincent obtained a degree in business management.
July 9, 2008
 •  Ajo's 4th of July was hot and, for most people, happy.
•  Fire consumed the home of David & Cynthia Wells near Kilbright & North Street on Sunday. Efforts to extinguish the flames were hampered by the extreme heat of the fire and of the ambient temperature. Fire crews were on the scene for seven hours and one firefighter was transported to a Phoenix medical facility for treatment of dehydration.
•  Three men were arrested in the past week in connection with the rash of burglaries in the community. Orlando Robles was arrested on four counts of second degree burglary, five counts of theft, and trafficking in stolen property. Joe Kaster was charged with trafficking in stolen property. Kelly Jacobs were arrested on charges of trafficking in stolen property and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia but was released when the county attorney dismissed charges due to insufficient evidence.
 		•  Joseph Heairld,  87, died June 25, 2008, at a care center in Yuma. He was a former resident of Ajo. Services were held July 3 in Winterhaven; burial was in Ajo Cemetery.
•  Wade Terrell, 65, died July 4, 2008, at a Phoenix area hospital. He was a resident of Ajo. No services are planned at this time; Ganley Funeral Home of Buckeye.
•  Dale W. Thielen, 59, of Ellenton, Florida, died May 7, 2008. Rosary will be recited in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m. on July 12, followed by mass at 10 a.m. Burial will be next to his wife in Ajo Cemetery.
 		•  Happy Birthday Gary Chatham.
July 2, 2008
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
•  The 4th of July will be filled with several events: parade at 8:15 a.m., Plaza flag raising, booths, and more starting about 9 a.m., swimming pool events at 1 p.m., roping at 7:30 p.m., and fireworks at 8:30 p.m. There are also food sales, a chicken dump at the VFW, and dances.
•  A solar generating plant is being proposed by Arizona Public Service for a location west of Gila Bend. If built, it would generate enough electricity to power 70,000 homes, according to APS.
 		•  Alvaleah Ortega, 19, of GuVo, died June 23, 2008.  Services were held in GuVo's St. Anthony Church on June 27; burial was in the GuVo Cemetery. MFC Burial Services.

 •  Happy 90th birthday, Frank Cesarec!
June 25, 2008
 		•  The 4th of July planning committee is worried over the lack of entries for the parade and booths in the Plaza. They're hoping for the usual last-minute rush but concerns remain over local groups being able to comply with county health department regulations and permits.
•  The International Sonoran Desert Alliance took home the grand prize from the Governor's Heritage Preservation Awards for 2008 for their renovation of Ajo's historic Curley School.
•  The Ajo school board tabled a proposal to hire David Emmers as baseball coach after an appearance by current coach Leonard Lopez and supporters at the board's June 19 meeting. Lopez has been coaching for 21 years. The contract will be voted on at a meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on July 15.
•  Home security has become a hot topic following a rash of burglaries. The Pima County Sheriff's Department asks that anyone with information about the burglaries call the local office at 387-8539 or the 88-CRIME line at 1-520-882-7463 (calls may be anonymous and may be made collect).
•  The weather may be hot, but there are lots of cool activities in town, ranging from the pool to classes and programs and social events.
 		•  Barbara Jean (Workman) Hebern, 65, died at her home in Tucson on June 17, 2008. She was a native of Gila Bend who grew up in Ajo. She was cremated. Vistos Mortuary, Tucson.
•  Francisco Cañez, 80, died in a Kingman hospital recently. He was a native of Ajo who retired from PD in 1984. Graveside services were held in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
 		•  Casey Lozano Jr. was graduated from junior high in Anthem on May 21.
•  Vanessa Vega, 14, took home a championship from the 2008 Body Bar Women's National Championships, a USA Wrestling sanctioned event. She is the daughter of former Ajo resident Adam Vega and his wife Veronica.
June 18, 2008
 •  The Plaza is being purchased by the International Sonoran Desert Alliance. A purchase-and-sale agreement has been signed by ISDA and Plaza owner Mer-Mel Investments, Inc. ISDA will assume property management and maintenance at closing later this month.
•  Changes are being made at the Ajo school. Courses are being added, middle school students will no longer be assigned to just one teacher, band will meet before school, and a late bus will allow students from Lukeville to participate in after-school activities.
 		•  Suzie M. O'Neil died June 1, 2008, at a Tucson hospice. She is a former Ajo resident. Services were held in Ohio. Newcomer Funeral Home.
 •  Camila Bianca Vega was born May 19m 2008, in Goodyear to Maria & Rolando Vega Jr. of Phoenix.
June 11, 2008
 •  Sharon Vaughn of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge as the featured speaker at the Western Pima County Pima Community Council meeting last week. Other topics included the roping arena, sheriff's department activities, holiday fireworks, and fire department operations.
•  This spring, 25 Sonoran pronghorn fawns were born on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, a number that delights biologists working to help the endangered animal make a comeback.
•  Mexico has plans to expand its side of the Lukeville Port of Entry and is urging the US to follow suit. Increased popularity of Puerto Peñasco as a tourist destination has clogged the border crossing, especially on weekends.
•  A two-vehicle head-on collision in a no-passing zone on Highway 85 just north of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument's visitor center last Friday resulted in patients being flown to trauma centers. Traffic was stopped for five hours and backed up for at least five miles in both directions.
 		•  Mary Hickman, 91, died May 11, 2008, in Tucson. She was a longtime resident of Ajo. Mass was celebrated May 16 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ajo; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
 •  Juelz Ali Monreal was born in Phoenix on December 24, 2008, to Chris & Jamie Monreal.
•  Chandler Joy Ann Bayens was born in Cottonwood on May 24, 2008, to Michael & Mindy Bayens of Sedona.
June 4, 2008
 •  Free breakfasts and lunches are being served to everyone from toddlers through 18-year-olds in a program sponsored locally by the Ajo Food Bank and the Ajo Unified School District.
•  A free shingles immunization clinic is being held by Desert Senita Community Health Center on June 4 & 6.
•  Plans are being made for the 4th of July. Funds are needed for the 4th of July fireworks (donations may be sent to the Ajo/Gibson Volunteer Fire Dept., PO Box 909, Ajo, AZ 85321 with a memo that the money is to be used for fireworks). A food handling class is being held June 13 to help individuals and organizations comply with health regulations.
 		•  Frank T. Kramer, 70, died in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on May 25, 2008. He was a former Ajo resident. His family will hold a memorial service at a later date. Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home.
 •  Bishop Gerald Kicanas will visit Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on June 9 for the sacrament of confirmation and a pastoral visit.
•  Congratulations to graduates Ylesia Jones, Sarah Yvette Ramon, and Britny Dayne Stephens.
•  Ken Farmer received Official of the Year award at the Everyday Heroes recognition.
May 28, 2008
 		AHS GRADUATION will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22, Dicus Auditorium. Valedictorian Roxanne Christine Gradillas and salutatorian Hector Antonio Campa were joined in graduating with honors by Robert Gene Runge III, Aaron Joel Sepulveda, and David Manuel Moreno. Other members of the Class of 2008 were Brad Michael Grooms, Edgar DeLeon, Nicholas Esteban Montijo, Jordan Michael Lopez, Leticia C. Valenzuela, Mark Louis Miller, Aaron Duarte, Yadira Dolores Netherlin, Hector A. Reveles, Trini Yanet Griffith, Berenice Ruiz Castillo, Emma Vasquez, Randall Allen Owen,
Calletano Barba, Gilbert Rene Granillo Jr., Anna Liese Munoz, Siakam Flores, Ana Luisa Prisilla Vasquez, Brittany Lynn Nelson, and Idelba Denise Figueroa. Alumni Mitch Ellis was the guest speaker.
•  There will be controlled blasting in the Ajo pit during early June as part of preliminary temps Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold is taking t evaluate possible future mining here, according to company spokesman Richard Peterson.
 		•  Fran Haynes, 92, died at in nursing home in California on May 13, 2008. She was a longtime resident of Ajo. Mass was celebrated May 17 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ajo; burial was in the Ajo Cemetery.
•  Edina "Nena" Vanegas Coe, 69, died may 10, 2008, in Seattle, Washington. She was a native of Ajo. Services have been held in Washington in St. Cosmas & Damn Catholic Church; burial was in Tahoma National Cemetery.
 		•  The pool is open for summer fun. The library and county parks and recreation program are both offering lots of activities.
May 21, 2008
 •  The driver died and a passenger was seriously injured when a vehicle carrying 15 bundles of marijuana swerved to avoid tire spikes set by Boarder Patrol agents near milepost 77 on Highway 85 last Saturday.
•  The Lukeville Port of Entry is expected to be busier than usual on Memorial Day weekend as high temperatures lure people to Puerto Peñasco beaches.
•  Immunizations and booster shots are being recommended because of the measles outbreak in Pima County.
 		•  Katherine Ortega, 83, of Gila Bend, died May 10, 2008, in a Goodyear hospice. She was a native of Ajo. Burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.

 		•  The library is gearing up for summer. The summer reading program starts soon.
•  Berenice Castillo is the Ajo Elks student of the month for May.
•  Ken Farmer is an official of the year finalist in the Arizona Interscholastic Association's Everyday Heroes program.
•  Valerie Annette Bishop of Peoria will be graduated from Centennial HIgh School on May 22.
May 14, 2008
 		•  Desert Senita Community Health Center received a grant with three other southern Arizona health centers to build an interface for electronic medical records and health information exchange.
•  Use of 88-CRIME (1-520-882-7463) is being encouraged to solve crimes committed in the Ajo area.
•  Pima Community College plans to offer a list of "starter" classes in Ajo, according to Dr. Louis Albert. Initial courses would be performing arts classes and speaker's bureau workshops.
•  The next in the An Evening in the Sonoran Desert series will be held May 17 at an archaeological site. The event is sponsored through a collaboration among the International Sonoran Desert Alliance, Bureau of Land Management, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
 		•  Mary Hickman died May 11, 2008. She was a longtime Ajo resident. Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, May 16, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ajo.
 •  Anne Adams Gibb, 74, died May 7, 2008, in Casa Grande. She was a winter visitor. Services will be held in Alaska. Sime Mortuaries Casa Grande Chapel.
•  Heriberto Lopez Felix, 42, died in Tucson on April 6, 2008. He was a native of Ajo. Services and burial were in Tucson.
 		•  Megan King will graduate from Dobson High School in Mesa on May 22. She has strong family ties to Ajo.
May 7, 2008
 		•  Cinco de Mayo was celebrated  in the Plaza with lots of color, music, and fun.
 •  College classes, law enforcement, recycling, the floodwater detention basin, Border Patrol activities, the school system, and an information & referral service were on the agenda at the Western Pima County Community Council meeting last Thursday.
•  The Pima County Sheriff's Department will be enforcing the bicycle helmet law. It requires all children under 18 wear an approved helmet.
•  Border Patrol incepted more than three tons of marijuana after a multiple-vehicle breach of the border vehicle barrier near Menager's Dam last Thursday.
 •  Mothers will be honored at the Elks Lodge on Sunday.
 		•  John Lang died April 21 in Idaho. He was a former Ajo resident. Services have been held.
•  Belia H. Olea, 72, died may 2, 2008, in Tucson. She was an Ajo native and longtime resident. Mass will be celebrated May 9 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
 		•  Connor Flanary Taylor was born April 20, 2008, in Chandler to Eric & Kathy Taylor.
•  Adeli Ella Hunter was born in Phoenix on March 3, 2008, to Cliff and Tara Hunter of Ajo.
April 30, 2008
 •  The Cinco de Mayo fiesta will be held this Saturday, May 3, in the Plaza by the American Citizens Social Club.
•  The virtual fence at the border is still a "go" despite media reports otherwise.
•  Sharon Bronson came to Ajo to announce she is running for re-election to the Pima County Board of Supervisors. She is being opposed by Donna Branch-Gilby. Democrats Alex Hingle and Jesse Baxter have announced they are running for the Arizona House of Representatives.
 		•  James John "Jim" Wallis, died April 16, 2008, in a Phoenix hospice. He was a former Ajo resident. Graveside services were held in the Ajo Cemetery.
 •  Keshia Olea, Stephanie Carrera, Savannah McCasland, Chanel Garcia, Ariel Fry, Aaron Sepulveda, David Moreno,  Andrew Maya, and Mandi Macias were inducted into National Honor Society. Jose Sepulveda was named teacher of the year.
April 23, 2008
 		•  The Ajo Copper News was first published April 29, 1916, making the newspaper 92 years old this year.
•  Shots were fired from the other side of the border near the Lukeville Port of Entry. A Mexican citizen who fed across the border was taken into custody by Border Patrol.
•  More than $84 in overdue book fines were paid off with donations to the Ajo Food Bank during Food for Fines Week at the Salazar-Ajo Branch Library.
 		•  Frances Mary Dunn, 92, died April 15, 2008, in Flagstaff. She and her late husband, Donald "Shorty" Dunn, lived in Ajo for many years. Norvell Owen Mortuary.

 		•  Allen Hernandez received the Boy Scout medal of merit for heroism in stopping a moving vehicle when his pregnant mother slipped and fell.
•  Koen Jackson Pfau was born in Tucson on March 19, 2008, to Zen & Leslie (Segura) Pfau.
•  Pastor Kelby Milgrim is coming to Ajo to minister at the Ajo Indian Assembly of God.
April 16, 2008
 •  Bee season has started. Since many bees are Africanized, extra caution is advised when dealing with swarms.
•  Many seasonal programs are winding down while others, especially those for youth, are just starting.
•  Was PD the benevolent employer or a cold corporation? Letters to the editor indicate differences in opinion.
 		•  George Tinnin, 76, died April 9, 2008. He grew up in Ajo. No services are planned. Cole & Maude Gardens Chapel of Casa Grande.
•  Horacio "Vito" Alvarez died April 12 2008 in a Prescott Hospital. Mass was celebrated in Prescott Valley on April 18. Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel.
 		•  Julia and Bob Fulkerson received the yard of the month award from the Ajo Garden Club.
•  Elinor Luz B. Campion received the Academic Success Award and the Intel Scholars Scholarship from the School of Computing and Informatics at ASU.
April 9, 2008
 •  Local soil sampling by Shaw Environmental for Freeport-McMoRan, Ajo school news, recycling efforts, local law enforcement, summer youth employment programs, and barking dogs were all on the Western Pima County Community Council agenda.
•  The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved an application for acquisition of the Curley School gym by Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation.
•  April is Earth month and is being celebrated with a variety of activities in the Ajo area.
 		•  Glenn A. "Abie" Davis jr., 89, died April 1, 2008, in the Arizona Pioneer's Home in Prescott. He was a longtime resident of Ajo. Services were held in Ajo Federated Church on April 7; burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Maria Luisa Caraveo Tonkin, 92, died in Marana on April 5, 2008. She lived in Ajo for 78 years. Rosary was recited in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  William M. Snider, 64, died April 3, 2008. He was an Ajo native living in Bisbee.  Services were held April 12 in Thatcher. Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
 		•  Christopher Dario Favot was born in Glendale to Gary & Becky Favot.
•  Hop David's art is included in the recently released book "Eye Twisters" by Burkhard Polster.
•  Roger DiRosa is retiring as mamger of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.
April 2, 2008
 •  The Ajo Skate Park opened with much fanfare.
•  A tribute to late Fire Chief Jim bush was held in the Ajo Community Center. The department and the Bush family were presented proclamations by Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson.
•  Is the virtual fence a success or not? It depends on whom is asked. Border Patrol says that needed improvements are being found as the virtual fence is tested.
•  APS is seeking an 8.1% rate hike for electricity.
 		•  Jo Dean Morrow, 78, died March 25, 2008, in a Casa Grande hospital. He had lived in Ajo since 1987. He requested there be no services.

 		•  Harold Wayne Ramsey has opened Ajo's Hidden Treasures -- half store, half museum.
•  Eddie Smith is the new Elks Lodge exalted ruler.
March 26, 2008
 •  Freeport-McMoRan is establishing an Ajo Community Partnership Panel with the purpose of more effectively interacting with community members.
•  Applications are being taken for home repair assistance for county homeowners over the age 60; preference will be given to those with the greatest social and economic need. Information can be found on the Pima Council on Aging website.
•  The grand opening of the Ajo Skate Park will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
•  Ajo District Chamber of Commerce cosponsored an discussion on sustainable growth with the Pima County Economic Development and Tourism Department last week.
•  The statue of John C. Greenway, the man who established modern mining operations in Ajo and who was responsible for the building of Ajo's Plaza and the two nearby churches, may soon be replaced in the National Statuary Hall in Washington DC.
 		•  Cordie Adella Davis, 95, died in a Phoenix hospice on March 18, 2008. She was a longtime Ajo resident. Graveside services were held in the Ajo Cemetery on March 22. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Maria Imelda "Mela" Valadez died March 23, 2008, in Tucson Medical Center. Mass will be celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on March 29. Douglass Funeral Home.
 		•  Happy birthday Chloe Cowhig Krehbiel!
•  Happy birthday Sunni Cox!
•  Chelsie Renee Bigger was united in marriage with Donald James Francisco Peterson on March 15 in Arizona City.
March 19, 2009
Happy Easter!
•  Easter Sunrise services will start at 6:30 a.m. in the Plaza. The community celebration will be led by Pastor Gary Ramer and other members of the Ajo Pastors’ Association.
•  Registration for free soil sampling in the Ajo area is underway. Testing will look for metals associated with mining and copper operations, especially arsenic, copper, and lead. Testing is being done by Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, a company contracted by Freeport-McMoRan. (Freeport-McMoRan acquired Phelps Dodge.) For more information, or to request soil sampling, call 387-3055. Absentee property owners may call 866-535-7006.
•  Library lectures, open artist studios, a jazz guitar concert, dance, food sales, and other events are keeping the calendar crowded.
•  Temperatures finally hit 90F on March 12. The low last week was a cool 55F, according to Phelps Dodge Mining.


 •  Maggie Lee Woolf Downey 95, died at her home in Mobile, Alabama, on March 8, 2008. She was a former Ajo resident. Services were held in Alabama on March 10. Serenity Funeral Home.
•  Anita Aros Reyes, 83, died in a Tucson hospice on March 16, 2008. She was a lifelong Ajo resident. Mass is 10 a.m. Wednesday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Doris F. Odom died at her home in Talladega, Alabama, on February 28, 2008. She was a former Ajo resident. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on March 21 in the Ajo Assembly of God; her Ajo burial will be private.
•  Patricia Lawand Cecil Mallonee, 77, died at her home in Ajo on March 12, 2008. She had lived in Ajo since 1993. Her ashes will be scattered at a lter date. Douglass Funeral Home.
 •  Kristen Robertson is the Ajo Elks teacher of the month for March and Francisco Valdez is the student of the month.
March 12, 2008
 •  The Western Pima County Community Council agenda last Thursday included the possible transfer of the Curley School gym to Pima County, recycling, the spa and restaurant projects of Barranca Del Cobra, law enforcement news, streetlight complaints, and the new skatepark at Walker Park.
•  The Ajo Community Players’ production of The Kitchen Witches has been postponed to early April.
•  Ajo Improvement Company is proposing a surcharge that would have a maximum of $1.05 for residential customers and a maximum of either $39 or $117 for non-residential customers, depending of usage. More information is available at www.azcc.gov online.
•  Warmer temperatures are here, though nights are nippy. Last week Phelps Dodge recorded a high of 78F and a low of 41F.		 •  Lucy Bennett, 82, died Marc 9, 2008, in a Tucson hospice. She was a longtime resident. Services are pending through Douglass Funeral Home.
 •  Alexandria Louise LeMaster was born February 15, 2008, in Silver City, New Mexico, to former Ajo residents Katie (Walters) and Frank LeMaster.
•  Edgar De Leon was the Ajo Rotary Club’s student of the month for March.
•  Happy birthday Joaquin Betancourt Jr. and Codi Ross.
March 5, 2008
 		• Saturday will be busy with the annual Sonoran Shindig and an art show during the day and a saddle roping Saturday evening.  Other events during the week include a rummage sale, flea market, dances, lectures, food sales, and caregiver classes. The Shindig is sponsored by the Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association, Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, and the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce. The roping, along with a barbecue and dance, are sponsored by the Ajo Rotary Club.
•  The Curley School gym is on the agenda for the Thursday WPCCC meeting.
•  Spring break is expected to add to the already long weekend lines at the Lukeville Port of Entry.  ASU's break is March 8-16; UofA is March 15-23; and NAU is March 17-25. Ajo High School's break, March 17-21, probably won't have much effect.
 		•  Robert James Patmythes, 68, died in Ajo on February 29, 2008. He was a winter resident. His ashes will be returned to his hometown in Wisconsin.
 •  Bernie Berry celebrated his 93rd birth on March 5. He has lived in Ajo since 1945.
•  The Ajo Masonic Lodge awards grants to three reaches: Tom Stidham, Julia Tiell, and Olivia Garcia.
February 27, 2008
 •  Ground has been broken for a new recycling containment area donated by Kord's AutoCare. The group Recycle Ajo! will meeting Tuesday, March 4, at the Roadrunner Cafe.
 •  The Tucson Symphony Orchestra will make its annual appearance at Dicus Auditorium on Saturday. The local sponsor is the Ajo Council for the Arts with support from the TSO and the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
•  Salsa & chili contests will fill the day, along with entertainment, at Chu Chu Club on Sunday.
•  The Sonoran Shindig is coming March 8
•  Two new buildings are being built at the US Border Patrol station in Why. One is a vehicle maintenance facility and the other is an illegal alien processing facility.
•  Ajo students will compete against students from Baboquivari High School in a first-of-its-kind knowledge bowl on March 9 in Sells. Winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the National Native America Knowledge Bowl in North Dakota in March to watch 52 tribal colleges across the country compete.
•  The spring weather is being enjoyed by golfers at the Ajo Community Golf Course.
 		•  Evelyn Leona Mills Davis, 85, died February 17, 2008. She was a longtime Ajo resident. Services were held March 1 in the Ajo Federated Church; burial was in the Ajo cemetery.
•  James A. Woodring, 78, died February 17, 2008. He was a former Ajo resident. Private services are being planned.
•  Barbara C. Tallant, 67, died February 9, 2008, in Safford. She was a former longtime Ajo resident. Memorial services were held in Virden, New Mexico.
•  Bruce G. Allen, 50, died February 21, 2008. He was a native of Ajo.  Services were held February 18 at Tempe Mortuary.
•  Evan Mecham, 83, died  February 21, 2008. He was a former Ajo resident and a former governor of Arizona. Services were planned for March 1 in Glendale.
 		•  Elizabeth Zinky is the new adult probation officer in Ajo.
February 20, 2008
 •  The Health Fair on Saturday at Desert Senita Community Health Center will include health tests, refreshments, and prizes.
•  Ajo is USBP puzzle piece. While Arizona metropolitan newspapers claim the Secure Border Initiative virtual fence will soon be approved and SBI towers built, Business Week claimed the virtual fence isn't working. Local agent Alex Harper said both points of view have validity but the technology does work.
•  A marijuana bust near Menager's Dam was joint effort. Border Patrol agents called in local fire crews from Ajo and Why to use jaws of life to pry open a hidden compartment in a flatbed trailer, revealing 1400 pounds of of marijuana.
•  Lenten services start February 24 at the Full Gospel Fellowship.
•  The archaeology dig between Ajo and Why proved to be one of the most popular Evening in the Sonoran Desert events ever. Organized by International Sonoran Desert Museum, the series also involves many other local organizations as well as Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and the Bureau of Land Management.
 		•  Arminda L. Rodriguez, 75, died February 11, 1008. She was a former longtime Ajo resident. Services were held February 19 at Most Holy Trinity Parish in Tucson. Hudgel's Swan Mortuary.
•  Amada Monreal Mota, 93, died in Tucson on February 16, 2008. She was a former longtime Ajo resident. Services were arraned by Douglass Funeral Home; burial was in Ajo Cemtery.
•  Jennie Ann Forcier, 90, died February 11, 2008, in Dawson, Minnesota. She was a resident of Ajo for several years. Services were held in Minnesota on February 16. Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home.
 		•  Sharon Bargabos and Peggy Cole were feted as their respective chapters' sweethearts at the annual Valentine party of the Xi Alpha Sigma and Xi Gamma Pi Chapters of Beta Sigma Phi.
February 13, 2008
 •  The Ajo Historical Society has had a new security system installed at the museum.
•  The Pima County Sheriff's Department is advising residents to make sure they lock their doors before retiring for the night following multiple reports of a prowler.
•  The Western Pima County Community Council met last Thursday. Topics included Pima Community College educational opportunities; a letter from Judge Kearney about court in Ajo; the community garden consortium, updates about law enforcement, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, skatepark status, and a report from county supervisor Sharon Bronson's office.
•  Activities for the week include a Valentine's dance, rummage and food sales, Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association field trips, and lectures and storytime at the library.
 		•  Oscar Perez, 49, died February 4, 2008, in a Phoenix hospital. The family is asking for donations to pay for funeral arrangements through Douglass Funeral Home. (Enough funds were raised.)
 •  Happy Birthday Hoppy & Moppy David!
•  Carmen Maya is celebrating her 85th birthday on Valentine's Day.
February 6, 2008
 •  A fire on Thompson was determined to be arson.
•  The Desert Senita Community Health Center continues to search for a second physician. It is planning its annual health faire, expansion of its dental facilities, and possible addition of limited pharmacy services.
•  The local Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers have a new fingerprint machine and a new location. They now have offices in a building next to the Pima County Sheriff's Department building.
•  A new 15'x25' flag will be raised on the 50' flag pole in front of the Greenway house on Saturday morning.
 •  There will be library lectures, programs through ISDA and the county parks & recreation, GED classes, a classical music program, food & rummage sales, and many other events over the next week.
 		•  Albert G. "Sonny" Ramirez, 70, died February 3, 2008, in Phoenix. He was a native of Ajo. Mass will be celebrated in Ajo on February 9, Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Aurora Ramirez, 91, died December 4, 2007, in California. She was a former longtime Ajo resident. Services were held in Glendora, California.
•  Gail E. Shively died at a Phoenix hospice on January 29, 2008. She was a former Ajo resident. Memorial services have been held in Chandler.
•  Dora Casillas died February 2, 2008, in Tucson. Services are pending.
 		•  Gabriel Antonio Sanchez was born in Phoenix on January 21, 2008, to Juan & Kari Sanchez of Ajo.
•  Happy birthday Joseph Jaye Bejarano.
•  Sandra Martinez-Rivera has been named Best Nurse Practitioner in Planview, Texas.
January 30, 2008
 •  The annual Old Time Fiddlers' Contest and the quilt show are held the first weekend in February. The two shows draw people from all over the southwest. They are joined this weekend by annual Vaudeville Show and many other events.
•  The Presidential Preference election will be held Tuesday, February 5.
•  Hugs for Heroes, an ongoing program of the Ajo Piecemakers, sends quilts to troops stationed in Iraq.

 		•  Ruth Nadine Bryant, 92, died January 20, 2008, in Sahuarita. She was a longtime resident of Ajo who spent her last years in the Tucson area. Services will be held in the Ajo Federated Church at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 31. Burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Barbara Phillips, 65, died January 21, 2007, in a Phoenix Hospital. She had lived in Ajo since 1985. Services were held in Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church on January 26. Burial was in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Josefina Martinez Miller, 85, died January 25, 2007, at a hospice in Mesa. She lived in Ajo from 1960 to 1976. Mass was celebrated in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on February 1. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Manuel "Pasy" Ballesteros, 39, died January 22, 2008, in Phoenix. He was a native of Ajo. Services have been held in Tempe. Tempe Mortuary Chapel.
 		•  Brad Grooms was the Ajo Rotary Club's student guest for January.
January 23, 2008
 •  The weekend will again be a busy one with the Ajo museum open house, a performance by Ballet Folklorico El Cobre,  the  Knights of Columbus hoop shoot, and other activities.
•  Water is flowing through the lines installed in phase one of the Ajo Improvement's upgrade program. Phase two is now being planned.
  •  Pleasant daytime temperatures get chilly or downright cold at night. Next week we may have some rain .		 •  There were no obituaries in the January 23 issue of the Ajo Copper News.
January 16, 2008
 •  The grande finale celebration will bid farewell to the Smithsonian Institute's traveling exhibit at Curley School.
•  Arizona's state balladeer, Dolan Ellis, will appear in concert at Dicus Auditorium this Saturday evening. Authors Emma Bull & Will Shetterly will speak at the library as part of a lecture series sponsored by the Friends of the Ajo Library.
•  Assaults on US Border Patrol agents in the southwest have nearly tripled over the past year.
•  New speed limit signs have been posted in town, though one set is causing confusion by indicating the speed limit is 25 mph northbound and 35 mph southbound between First Street and North Street.
 		•  Thomas Jose Celaya, 35, died January 10, 2008, in Ajo. He grew up here and recently returned to Ajo. Burial will be at 11 a.m. on January 17, in Childs Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Heriberto L. "Milliones"  Lopez died Tuesday, January 8, 2008, in Phoenix. He was an Ajo native. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on January 19 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home.		 •  Don Olsen has been chosen as president of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance.
•  Happy birthday Paula Krehbiel Call!
January 9, 2008
 •  The  Western Pima County Community Council met Thursday and discussed recycling, the superior court system,  Curley School artisan, local law enforcement, streetlights, and other items. Ernie Green was introduced as a new council member; he will assume duties as the council secretary.
•  Ajo may face a streetlight crisis, especially in the area served by Arizona Public Service. Ajo Improvement received a grant and is gradually replacing old lights with new fixtures but APS has not yet started upgrading lights in their area,  which is expected to cost $45,000 and  involve the untangling of red tape.
•  Activities continue at Curley School and through the library, county parks and recreation, the public school, and organizations such as the VFW, American Legion, Elks Lodge, and American Citizens Social Club. The Ajo Community Players are presenting three one-act plays.
 		•  Emily Frances Chiono Hughes, 86, died in Mesa on December 29, 2007. She was a  longtime Ajo resident before moving in 1996. Services were held in Mesa.
•  Susanna Miranda-Antone, 65, died  January 2, 2008, at her home in Hickiwan. She was buried  January 9 at Darby Wells Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Stanley Joseph Ortiz died January 3, 208, in a Tucson hospital. He lived in Ajo as a youth and made his home at Menager's Dam where services were held January 12. MSC Burial.
 		•  Happy 101st birthday Mary Millsap!
•  Happy 2nd retirement, Toni Cubillas!
January 2, 2008
 		•  Ajo Ambulance has two new ambulances, thanks to a grant from the Tohono O'odham Nation facilitated by Pima County.
•  The generous winter rains of December have filled wildflower lovers with hope for a spectacular spring bloom.
 •  Much of the January 2 issue was filled with a recap of the news from 2007.
•  Though the holidays are over, activities haven't slowed much. Curley School and the International Sonoran Desert Alliance, along with the Salazar-Ajo Branch Library, the public school,  Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, and a host of clubs, churches, and organizations offer plenty to do.
 		•  There are no obituaries in the January 2 issue. •  Jose Castillo is recuperating well after a stroke and heart attack.
December 26, 2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
•  Churches celebrated, throngs filled the Plaza on Christmas Eve to watch Santa light the square, and families and friends enjoyed time together.
•  Next up, New Year's Eve with dances, parties, and many other events.
Looking for news from 2007? Try the archives.
•  Fr Floyd Stomburg, 75,  died December 22, 2007 in Tucson. Services are set for January 2 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson
 •  Theodore R. "Ted" Doran, died July 29, 2007, in Cottonwood. He was a native of Ajo.
 		•  Thelma Schnell celebrated her 88th birthday on December 25.
•  Thelma Leatherwood celebrated her 83rd birthday on December 26.
•  Ava Eloise Hammett was born in Tucson on October 5, 2007, to Alison & Shawn Hammett of Tucson.

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