The Gila Herald Your trusted source for news of the Gila Valley and more jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com the Safford City Council unanimously approved an emergency ordinance to temporarily maintain operations at the Safford Regional Airport/1LT Duane Spalsbury Field.  Safford Regional Airport Manager Cameron Atkins addressed the council after meeting during executive session and encouraged it to adopt the emergency ordinance.  “Due to change in the fixed-based operator at the airport (the FBO) the city of Safford needs to declare an emergency to maintain operations at the airport in the interim basis,” Atkins told the council Counselor Steve McGaughey moved to approve the ordinance The ordinance authorizes emergency purchasing authority to sustain aviation fuel availability at Safford and adopts a new fee schedule The city is stepping in after Ponderosa Aviation did not renew its agreement to be the fixed-based operator (FBO) the city is still attempting to work with Ponderosa and has a term sheet for a 30-day extension During an economic partnership breakfast forum on health care put on by Mt Graham Regional Medical Center earlier this month the owner of Ponderosa Aviation and Ponderosa Metal Works—which is based at the Airport Industrial Park—advised that the city’s fees and administrative processes led him to decide not to renew the operator agreement. He has further commented on social media posts that his issues with airport management are one of the reasons why Ponderosa has declined to serve as FBO any longer The Gila Herald offered Ponderosa Aviation an opportunity to comment Ponderosa Aviation has been in business for 50 years and provides air attack services including monitoring wildland fires and directing fire suppression activities Ponderosa Aviation also offers maintenance services and air emergency medical transport In addition to building four new T-hangers Safford has agreed to design a new terminal building Commercial flights through Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines to Phoenix Sky Harbor and back began in January the load factor for the service has increased from 25 percent in January to 29 percent in February and 31 percent in March The council also approved the city’s FBO fees After being admonished by the general aviation community the city has changed its landing fees to be free for any aircraft up to 4,000 pounds Aircraft between 4,001 pounds and 12,499 pounds will be assessed a $2 per 1,000-pound landing fee and aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or more will be assessed a $3 per 1,000-pound landing fee Landing fees are waived for all aircraft purchasing a minimum level of fuel.  No hype. Just real science, powered by real people. That’s you. What is a Jeffrey pine doing above 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) While Jeffrey pines do grow in mountainous regions in the Sierra Nevada Safford ended up finding them as high as 12,657 feet (3,958 meters) elevation That’s 1,860 feet (567 meters) higher than the previous highest-known elevation of a Jeffrey pine it’s higher than trees that are normally seen at elevations higher than Jeffrey pines So that makes the Jeffrey pine California’s highest tree Safford’s work shows that other trees are also growing at higher elevations than they used to Safford published his peer-reviewed study in the journal Madroño March 4 are moving to higher elevations than was their traditional range the snow is melting earlier with warmer air temperatures So this land is now more hospitable to plants that previously couldn’t live there Jeffrey pine seeds are germinating on land that would have been frozen a few decades ago But how did these big pine seeds get so much higher so quickly? Likely with the help of birds. Safford suspects Clark’s nutcrackers are responsible for getting the seeds up the mountain Safford said these birds can carry the seeds up from thousands of feet lower down on the mountain to store them in the cooler upper zones for later in the summer Safford found not just one tree high up in the Sierras He was able to hike to 14 Jeffrey pines above 11,800 feet (3,597 meters) elevation He noted that some were at least 20 years old But there were even more – at least a dozen – that he couldn’t get to Safford plans to return to the High Sierra this summer with other researchers to investigate these Jeffrey pines While trees (and other plants and animals) are expanding their range upward And the uphill movement is too slow to keep pace with what they’re losing I’m looking at trees surviving in habitats where they couldn’t before but they’re also dying in places they used to live before They’re not just holding hands and walking uphill This crazy leapfrogging of species challenges what we think we know about these systems reacting as the climate warms Even with the older Jeffrey pines that Safford saw high on the mountain, none of them had pine cones. These trees are at their limit of their tolerances. As Safford told Dave Adalian in EarthSky’s livestream: These trees are not enjoying their time there Safford made this discovery because he was out in nature seeing for himself the conditions on the ground It shows the value of firsthand experience as opposed to relying on satellite imagery People aren’t marching to the tops of the mountains to see where the trees really are What science does is help us understand how the world functions where you see the impacts of climate change most dramatically are at high elevations and high latitudes If we want our finger on the pulse of how the climate is warming and what the impacts are Bottom line: A record tree in California signals that the Jeffrey pine is now the highest tree to grow in the state but at a rate that doesn’t keep up with what’s dying lower down Source: New Elevation Records for Jeffrey Pine (PINUS JEFFREYI A.Murray Bis & Al.) Via UC Davis Read more: Extreme weather and climate change with Davide Faranda We invite you to visit our campaign page to discover why we need your contributions now more than ever to preview an illustration from Guy Ottewell’s great book that we're helping finalize and to learn more about EarthSky’s history “Things are always so much more peaceful when looking up.” We couldn’t agree more we apologize for the popup and greatly appreciate your support My basketball story began on the east side of Columbus My parents put me on a little YMCA basketball team and I was so nervous that I wouldn’t even go on the court without my mom.  I fell in love with playing sports pretty much immediately after that I was faced with a pivotal decision: which sport to focus on standing under the sun for endless stretches It lit something inside me that baseball no longer could I had no idea how deeply that decision would shape my life Things started looking up when I joined the AAU circuit but my momentum stalled after skipping my U17 year I didn’t have a single scholarship offer to my name She advised me to start applying to colleges as a regular student—essentially but the truth was I hadn’t filled out a single application and 35 points — put me on the radar of local schools like Youngstown State and Ohio University I believed in what Coach McAuley was building there and Wofford’s academic reputation appealed to me to leave Ohio and experience something new and it became the next chapter of my journey My time at Wofford taught me how to be an elite college basketball player I learned from incredible teammates and competed in high-stakes games and it was one of the hardest periods of my life gave me advice that would become my mantra: Work while you wait I could still work on my craft and be ready for my moment That same determination carried me through my transfer to Miami University I repeated that process again at Kent State sitting out due to the timing of my transfer But I don’t know how to do anything else but work Each stop on my basketball journey — Wofford and now Kent State — has taught me something different I learned to carry myself like a professional; I was watching and learning from teammates who went on to play at the highest levels learning how to find positivity in tough situations I’m chasing something bigger than myself: championships Kent State’s championship pedigree is what drew me here Basketball has been my greatest joy and my toughest challenge It’s more than a game — it’s a microcosm of life It throws curveballs when you least expect them Basketball has taken me places I never imagined and given me experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything My dream is to play basketball for as long as I can and chasing that dream until I can’t anymore and I’ll keep choosing it — because I can’t imagine my life any other way For more Kent State of Mind narratives, click here Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Former Georgia Southern defensive back and graduate assistant coach Darius Safford returned to Georgia Southern in 2024 and serves as the defensive backs coach for the Eagles Safford came back to Statesboro after five seasons with Kennesaw State after serving as the defensive backs coach in 2023 Thanks for visiting SAFFORD — The city of Safford encourages motorists to be aware of work scheduled by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) on some of the area’s traffic signals ADOT will upgrade the signal traffic cabinets at several intersections Both upgrades are scheduled to be performed from 8 a.m law enforcement will be on hand to direct traffic ADOT will continue the following week at the intersection of U.S It looks like nothing was found at this location HOLLYWOOD – Safford sensational singer Zalie Windsor wowed the audience and judges during her Showstopper round performance on season 23 of American Idol on Sunday night and was one of four contestants who advanced to the Top 24 The rest of the contestants will be determined during a head-to-head competition of the remaining 42 contestants on Monday night’s show After performing an original composition for her audition Windsor returned with a deafening rendition of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” and blew the judges and audience away with her range and sound during the Showstoppers round “She has put herself definitely in the top 10,” said judge Luke Bryan who previously voted against Windsor during her initial audition Judges Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie agreed Windsor will wait for the rest of the competition before heading into the next round Watch Zaylie Windsor and the rest of the competition on American Idol on ABC or Hulu.  SAFFORD – The 2025 Safford Rotary Track and Field meet will have some of the state’s top performers in attendance on Thursday A total of 17 schools will be represented in Division I Queen Creek; Division III Douglas; Division IV Globe Tucson Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind the Tucson Salpointe Catholic Lancer Lightning state qualifying meet Among the state’s top five-ranked participants are Thatcher senior Wyatt Nicholas 1 Safford senior Brian Villegas in the shot put (50-4 2 Show Low junior Luke Taylor in the javelin (156-10 3 Show Low senior Lincoln Taylor in the javelin (154-5 3 Safford junior Matthew Madrid in the 200 (22.64 4 Show Low senior Ethan Beeler in the 110 hurdles (15.91 4 sophomore Drew McBride in the pole vault (13-0 5 Thatcher senior Nathan Schnebly in the 110 hurdles (15.93 1 Morenci senior Yedidia Luputa Kanyinda in the 110 hurdles (15.37 1 Pima senior Brock Haws in the discus (156-3); No 1 Pima junior Charles Richardson in the javelin (152-11 2 Miami senior Aiden Falquez-Goss in the 110 hurdles (15.61 2 Bisbee senior Spencer Anthony in the pole vault (13-3 3 Willcox senior Avery Edington in the 200 (23.50 3 Miami sophomore Ryder Guerrero in the 800 (1:57.21 3 Thatcher senior Callum Welker in the triple jump (44-7 3 Bisbee senior Mason Richardson in the pole vault (13-0 4 Morenci senior Marcus Lucero in the javelin (149-5 5 Morenci junior Derek Lytle in the javelin (148-9 5 Morenci junior Lyndale Waterhouse in the high jump (6-0 Other Top 5 ranked relay teams include the No 3 Division IV 4×100 relay from Show Low (43.64 and Jayden Waite along with junior Dane Roosma; the No 4 Division V 4×100 relay from Willcox (45.30 5 Division IV 4×400 relay from Safford (3:29.27 Statewide ranked participants include the No 3 Division I 4×800 relay from Queen Creek (9:39.27) with junior Hadlee Hardt 4 Queen Creek junior Nya Campbell in the pole vault (11-9 1 Thatcher sophomore Lillie Welker in the triple jump (35-1.25); No 2 Thatcher junior Kylia Nelson in the triple jump (34-10 3 Show Low junior Stevie Buschschulte in the shot put (33-6 3 Show Low junior Sarah Gibbens in the javelin (117-5 3 Safford sophomore Payton Abalos in the high jump (5-3 4 Thatcher senior Susie Mack in the high jump (5-2 5 Safford sophomore JayCee Gable in the shot put (32-4 1 Pima sophomore Hanna Ashby in the 200 (26.24 March 21); Pima senior Sadie Richardson in the 100 hurdles (15.70) and triple jump (35-3.5 March 29); Benson junior Rayleigh Owen in the 300 hurdles (46.81 April 11); Pima sophomore Cheyenne Alder in the pole vault (9-3 April 4); Morenci junior Rozlyn Funari in the javelin (109-9 3 Willcox sophomore Paislee Adams in the long jump (16-7.5 April 11); Valley Union senior Angela Vasquez in the javelin (108-0 4 Division IV 4×100 relay from Show Low (50.78 2 Division V 4×100 relay from Morenci (51.89 5 Division IV relay from Thatcher (4:17.80 3 Division V 4×400 relay from Morenci (4:24.28 4 Division V 4×400 relay from Benson (4:24.49 The annual Safford Spring Festival returns to the Safford City Hall Lawn on Friday This vibrant weekend of celebration will bring together the best of Southern Arizona’s wine This year’s festival will feature six  Arizona winemakers: the award-winning Elgin Distillery will be offering tastings of its finely crafted spirits Wine lovers can purchase a commemorative wine glass and 3 tasting tickets for $20 at the Graham County Chamber of Commerce tent DRG Technologies has partnered with Michelob Ultra and III Counties Distributing to host a beer garden for beer enthusiasts Beer tickets will be available for $5 each for two days of tastings and small-town charm The Safford Spring Festival is a celebration of the culture of Southern Arizona For more information, go to www.grahamchamber.org/events SAFFORD – Out with the old and in with the MacNeil.  The Safford School District is set to announce its new football coach pending approval from the school board during its monthly meeting on Thursday night In addition to being the head football coach MacNeil will also serve as a science teacher at the school.  MacNeil previously spent the last five years at Wickenburg High School as a physical education and biology teacher and has headed the football team there for the past three seasons his teams improved each year to 5-5 in his second year and 7-4 last year for a combined 14-17 record.  who has been the coach since the 2021/22 season Park finished with an 18-24 record and failed to make the playoffs in the last two seasons Park also retired from being a physical education teacher at Safford Middle School effective May 23 The Safford School Board will meet Thursday in the Gail Curtis Boardroom of the Safford Schools District Offices at 734 W Eastern Arizona College Cheer welcomed three new additions to its program on Thursday and Alexis Castro—all from Safford High School Head Coach Jody Judd expressed her excitement about the new signees "We're excited to have them join our amazing cheer family at EAC." All three athletes will receive full tuition scholarships and are part of the incoming 2025 class The additions mark a strong start to the next chapter of EAC Cheer as the team continues to build a talented and spirited roster We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience on our website. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service RIO RICO – The Safford Bulldogs’ baseball team notched their third win in a row on Monday at Rio Rico when junior pitcher Darren Maldonado went the distance and pitched a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory.  Maldonado threw 96 pitches and walked four in his historic game.  10-7 overall) was boosted offensively in part by Cole Goodman who went 2-3 on the day and scored the game’s only run.  The Bulldogs are currently sixth in the 3A South but will finish the regular season with four straight region games They will start at home on Thursday against region leader Tucson Tanque Verde Hawks Safford will then host Tucson Pusch Ridge on Wednesday The Arizona Department of Transportation is conducting traffic signal cabinet work at the U.S Highway 191 intersection in Safford from 8 a.m the traffic signals for all travel directions will be turned off and darkened slow down when approaching the intersection Contributed Article/Courtesy City of Safford SAFFORD — The City of Safford Electric Division has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2024 The city was awarded the Gold designation in the category for utilities with 15,000 to 29,999 worker hours of annual exposure “We are incredibly proud of our team and the safety-first culture we’ve worked hard to foster,” said Michael Cook Electric Division Supervisor for the City of Safford “This recognition reflects the dedication of our team to follow best practices and ensure a safe work environment for both employees and the community we serve.” More than 200 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards for 2024 Entrants are grouped based on the number of worker hours and ranked by the most incident-free records and overall strength of their safety programs and culture during the year The incidence rate is determined by OSHA standards considering the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses against total worker hours “Harnessing electricity to keep our communities powered is vital work that can be dangerous if the proper attention isn’t paid to tried-and-true safety practices,” said Jon Beasley Chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Vice-President of Electric Cities of GA “This award honors utilities that hold fast to these practices and – in doing so – put the safety of their personnel and their customers above all else.” The American Public Power Association has conducted the Safety Awards annually for over 66 years community-owned utilities that power more than 2,000 towns and cities nationwide SAFFORD—Commerce continues to improve at Safford Regional Airport—1LT Duane Spalsbury Field the city is poised to debut daily passenger air service to Phoenix beginning in January 2025 after the Safford City Council unanimously approved moving forward with a passenger airline contract during its Monday night meeting After roughly half an hour of discussion during an executive session behind closed doors the Safford City Council reconvened Monday night and listened to Airport Manager Cameron Atkins explain the pitch Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines will offer two daily flights from Safford to Phoenix on a 9-seat Cessna Caravan turboprop aircraft the airline is the oldest aerial tour company on earth and has flown more than 100 million passengers through places like the Grand Canyon It has celebrated its 90th anniversary and has terminals in Grand Canyon National Park To help assist with the implementation of air service the airport will need to provide baggage handling and other customer service tasks Atkins recommended reclassifying a part-time airport operations officer position to full-time and adding a new part-time position He said a customer service contract with the airline would partially offset supporting costs Atkins also recommended entering into an agreement with Grand Canyon Airlines with a monthly revenue guarantee (MRG) of no more than $172,800 to offset any deficits in revenue not generated by ticket sales and “to allow the city to market tickets at reasonable prices to encourage use by area residents and businesses.” The city released on Tuesday that tickets will initially be priced at approximately $300 per round trip the city received an $800,000 federal grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) in October and a $100,000 grant from the Freeport Community Investment Fund last year leaving a net income of $3,000 at the end of the fiscal year in June 2025 utilize $961,000 from contingency funds to start the air service contract and said he believed those funds would be reimbursed through flight revenues by the end of the fiscal year $900,000 will be from grant funds for this first year “We are thrilled to partner with Grand Canyon Airlines to offer more travel options to our community,” said Cameron Atkins “This air service will not only enhance accessibility to Phoenix but will also contribute to strengthening our local economy by connecting our residents to opportunities in business the city of Safford stated that it is excited to partner with these agencies to bring scheduled airline service back to Safford for the first time since 1974 “The City of Safford remains committed to improving infrastructure and services that benefit residents and foster regional growth and prosperity.”  I think it will be interesting,” Safford Mayor Richard Ortega said.   SAFFORD — You may have noticed our City of Safford Streets Department out and about during winter applying a tar-like material to cracks on city roads and it is an important step we take every year to keep our streets in great shape Crack sealing uses special materials to fill both small and large cracks This helps extend the life of our roads and prepares them for the next step in the maintenance process: street sealing (also known as fog sealing) Fog sealing is scheduled for April 7 through May 8 and involves applying an asphalt emulsion that seals and strengthens the pavement—helping prevent future damage our team will deliver a flyer to your door with the specific date you’ll be affected the road will usually be ready to drive on within just a few hours City crews will place and remove traffic cones and barricades as needed We kindly ask that you not move barricades but instead use alternate parking and travel routes while work is underway Every paved city street is on a three-year rotation so we can continue to preserve our infrastructure and keep Safford moving smoothly We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we continue to improve our streets Thank you for helping us keep Safford a great place to live contact City of Safford Public Works at 928-432-4170 SAFFORD — The Safford Downtown Association’s presentation of the 23rd annual Merry Main Street and Tree Lighting Ceremony in Downtown Safford is Friday beginning with the Tree Lighting Ceremony in front of City Hall Safford Mayor Richard Ortega will be tasked with officially lighting the tree which kicks off the Christmas season in the Gila Valley come all for a chance to see the big man himself the Ponderosa Air Ambulance Merry Main Street begins including a chance for children to share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus in the historic Safford Theatre There will also be food vendors and other activities So come out to Downtown Safford on Friday night from 5:30 to 8 p.m for the 23rd annual Merry Main Street and Tree Lighting Ceremony has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of tampering with physical evidence regarding the Jan 9 early morning collision with Thatcher Middle School Principal Jessica Medlin.  as Medlin was jogging eastbound along the northern shoulder of 200 North (Tripp Canyon) Bateman – who worked for the city of Safford – was eastbound in a city of Safford Chevrolet 5500 service truck when he crossed over the westbound lane and onto the northern shoulder striking Medlin from behind and severely injuring her The police’s accusation is backed up by an eyewitness from an adjacent residence and video surveillance footage from a residence off Center Street more than 600 yards away that shows traffic on 200 North.  he was on his front porch when he saw Medlin jog by in her reflective clothing and headlamp The witness said this was a common occurrence and he knew exactly who it was by her penchant for early-morning runs the witness said he saw the city of Safford truck go by and heard a thud The witness said he then saw that Medlin had been struck and the driver of the truck walking around in front.  Bateman was already on his phone – but to his wife ( a nurse) and not 911 The second passerby then called 911 and went to assist Medlin Bateman initially said Medlin’s headlight “caught his eye,” and he then saw her already lying on the ground He claimed he didn’t know who hit her and that he came upon her that way He said he used her headlamp to search for more of Medlin’s belongings before placing it by her body and holding her hand Bateman’s wife arrived at the scene and provided pressure to Medlin’s head to help with the bleeding.  Medlin was initially flown to a Tucson hospital for treatment of several broken ribs and multiple skull fractures which has resulted in paralysis on the right side of her face forcing her to manually blink her eye with her hand While Bateman declared he came upon Medlin already injured authorities believed otherwise and moved to examine the city of Safford truck By the time investigators received a search warrant to examine the truck Authorities allege that Bateman intentionally placed dirt in the crack; however he said it was just from everyday use at a job site authorities canvassed the area and located surveillance footage from a residential home on Center Street that faces 200 North from across a cotton field.  the zoomed-in image from the video surveillance shows Medlin reflecting off the truck’s headlights just before being struck The truck’s brake light illuminated just before striking Medlin and then went off and back on after running her over The time of the collision was also recorded on Medlin’s running application which showed her exact position along the shoulder when she was struck Online court records show Bateman was given a $10,000 bond that he posted after his initial appearance on April 1 His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 17 come all to Downtown Safford on Saturday to visit Santa and gaze with childlike wonder at the more than 50 entries in the 27th annual Holiday Light Parade Nick will be at the historic Safford Theatre from 4 – 5:45 p.m to hear last-minute requests from the area youth.  including performances by the Safford Dance Academy Plenty of stores and vendors will be open late to accommodate holiday shopping A fun and festive atmosphere Downtown will include food vendors and more and proceed down Main Street from the Graham County Courthouse to the intersection with 8th Avenue PHOENIX – The Arizona Interscholastic Association has announced that Nathan Slater and Toni Corona will join the staff as Associate Executive Directors beginning July 1 the AIA was able to bring aboard both administrators by enhancing the day-to-day governance of the association without increasing operating costs Both administrators have vast experience at the school and state levels and have had success working with parents to achieve success for students “To move forward and realize our vision of prioritizing the needs of our member schools having two Associate Executive Directors with outstanding reputations in large and small school settings gives us the opportunity to meet those needs of our member schools Slater comes to the AIA from his position as District Athletic Director for Scottsdale schools Slater has also previously worked as principal of Arcadia High School assistant principal at Saguaro High School and Athletic Director at Coronado High School He currently serves as the 5A Conference representative on the AIA Executive Board an appointment from which he will step down at the end of the school year “I’m excited to join the team at the AIA to continue the legacy David Hines has built with Dr Dean and support all of our AIA member schools,” said Slater “I’m happy to be working directly with schools that I have built relationships with over time I am also extremely thankful for my 31 years in the Scottsdale Unified School District and now looking forward to the opportunity to serve Arizona education-based athletics.” athletic director and district athletic director brings a great perspective to the association Nathan has worked with many schools from various communities which only helps us understand the needs of those communities.” Corona previously served two terms on the AIA Executive Board including as president during the COVID-19 pandemic the AIA was able to function at full capacity while giving guidance to the member schools through that difficult period and keeping Arizona high school sports going In her current role as athletic director at Safford High School Corona has been a go-to figure for small school administrators in Southern Arizona “Having spent 26 years working in educational athletics I have experienced firsthand the transformative power of sports in shaping young lives,” Corona shared “Not only am I eager to bring my background and passion for educational athletics to the AIA staff and member schools but I am particularly excited for the opportunity to serve the stakeholders I have worked alongside for years to continue our shared mission of fostering growth and development It is an honor to provide guidance for our athletic administrators as we continue to create positive experiences for student-athletes across Arizona.” “We’re excited about the experience Toni brings to the association,” Dr “She has worked within the 1A and 3A settings as well as being a consistent resource for small school athletic directors from around the state Her skills and expertise will be a major boost for the association.” Both Slater and Corona will have important roles in corresponding with the member schools and stakeholders and serving as leads for bylaw and policy inquiries They will also be tournament coordinators for selected sports and activities leading the Student Leadership Advisory Committee and working with the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee the AIA has created and sustained interscholastic activities that encourage maximum student participation by providing member schools with an even playing field to ensure fair and equitable competition the AIA reaches more than 125,000 participants in high school activity programs The organization hosts 1,400 postseason contests officiates more than 45,000 regular season events and handles 110,000 official assignments annually TUCSON – The Bureau of Land Management selected Lance R Brady will manage more than 2 million acres of desert and grasslands in eastern and southeastern Arizona through the BLM Safford and Tucson Field Offices “I am excited to be back in my home state and to manage familiar landscapes that are important to the communities the Gila District serves,” said Brady Brady was most recently the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program manager for the U.S where he oversaw critical advancements in UAS technologies for USGS and the Department of the Interior He began his career with the BLM in the Rock Springs Field Office in Wyoming He later worked within the fire program in the Idaho Falls District where he became the district’s geospatial program supervisor Brady previously worked in the Safford Field Office as assistant field manager in 2007 where he led the Renewable Resources Division before moving to the BLM National Operations Center in Denver he led geospatial activities for the BLM fire program and was instrumental in developing the Bureau’s UAS program Brady returned to the Idaho Falls District as the Associate District Manager He later served as the Associate District Manager in the Southeastern States District and completed several details as Acting District Manager in Idaho and Eastern States “We are excited to welcome Lance Brady as the new Gila District Manager With his deep roots in the state and extensive leadership experience in geospatial technology Lance brings a wealth of knowledge that will greatly benefit our team We look forward to his leadership and vision as he steps into this role,” said Raymond Suazo Brady holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from Northern Arizona University He also studied anthropology at Eastern Arizona College and aviation technology at Cochise College They share a love for traveling and spending quality time with their four children and three grandchildren He enjoys exploring the deserts of the Southwest on the many back roads SAFFORD – The Graham County Chamber of Commerce has announced the opening of vendor applications for its 2025 events The events cover both the Safford Spring Festival in April and the NatureSweet SalsaFest in September And while non chamber members are looking at shelling out about $240 per event chamber members will only have to pay $20 per space per day Those interested in having a space and selling their wares at two of the most attended events in Downtown Safford can apply online for the desired events Applications require uploading a City of Safford business license and merchandise photos to assist with event promotion The Safford Spring Festival will take place April 25 through 26 and the NatureSweet SalsaFest will take place Sept Both events offer vendors exceptional exposure to thousands of attendees eager to enjoy local food the Safford Spring Festival and NatureSweet SalsaFest are excellent opportunities to showcase your products and engage with the community Take this chance to be part of two of Graham County’s signature events. For full details and to apply, see our online application For additional information or questions, contact the Chamber’s Event Liaison, Chelsea Cortez, at chelsea@grahamchamber.org SAFFORD – Are you a first-time homebuyer or interested in purchasing a home Join us for the Fair Housing Open House and learn how you can take the next step toward homeownership in the Gila Valley Come speak with local lenders and housing professionals about the Equal Housing Opportunity Act and discover resources available to help you find your dream home The event will feature representatives from Key Hole Properties Don’t miss this opportunity to get the information and support you need to become a homeowner contact Joan Soto at (928) 432-4140 or email jsoto@saffordaz.gov SAFFORD – The Thatcher Eagles got a 28-point effort from MVP Isaac Palmer and Thatcher distanced itself from Safford late in the fourth to prevail 71-59 on the road Wednesday night at Norma Bellamy Gymnasium The game was a battle as the teams traded blows and Thatcher had to overcome an early deficit “That’s what we expect when you come here,” said Thatcher head boys basketball coach Kyle Hull 15-10 overall) was at (Tucson) Tanque Verde on Friday and left with a massive 76-74 victory over their region opponent The Eagles will also be on the road for its next game on Tuesday Thatcher will finish the regular season hosting Morenci on Wednesday and then on the road at (Tucson) Sabino on Thursday The Bulldogs will travel to Tucson on Tuesday to take on the 4A Gila Cholla Chargers and finish the season with a regional game against the Tanque Verde Hawks with Thatcher drawing first blood on a 3-pointer by Bronson Stringfellow (each team finished with nine 3’s each) and the Bulldogs answering with feisty guard Nick Yentsch who did most of his damage on drives in the paint Nick hit for 9 of his co-team high 17 points in the first quarter to help propel Safford to a 16-11 lead after the first period of play.  Things were engaging in the second quarter as the teams traded blows each time matching the other’s offensive prowess Isaac Palmer went off for Thatcher in the second getting offensive rebounds for second-chance-points and Palmer went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs’ defense as he hit three of his four triples of the game in the quarter and went for 13 of his game-high 28 points.  Safford countered with its phenom freshman Trae Gaines who hit for 9 of his co-team-high 17 points in the quarter it seemed that Gaines and Palmer were dueling with long-ball shots but both had plenty of support from teammates including Wyatt Nicholas (11 points) for Thatcher And a late 3-pointer from Stringfellow (8 points) made it a 1-point game heading into halftime with Safford on top Thatcher opened a slight lead in the third behind work by Isaac Palmer and Nicholas And then Chad Johnson (15 points) started to get involved and ended up with a couple of triples of his own and Thatcher took a halftime deficit and turned it into a 52-46 lead after three-quarters of play and Cole Goodman came up big on defense with a couple of big blocks in the paint.  Goodman poked the ball away from an entry pass attempt Jace Jameson snagged the loose ball and hit a sprinting Gaines from half court who floated the ball through the hoop for the score to drop Thatcher’s lead to one But the Eagles came back and found an open Jay Carter who sunk a triple to start a 12-1 run that would doom Safford’s chances of a comeback After Nicholas knocked the ball loose late in the fourth and Isaac Goodman finished the ensuing fast break with a rebound put back the Eagles were up by 12 with 1:38 left to play.  and Fernando Felix (5 points) had a nice drive Thatcher left Safford with the win and bragging rights “The difference was we played their game the first half – got caught up in the run-and-gun type thing – and we talked about this Get a few stops and take control of the momentum of the game SAFFORD – A contract employee at the Safford mine was hospitalized on Thursday after being injured in an electrical incident at Freeport-McMoran’s Safford Operations Freeport External Communications Manager James Telle stated that FMI has released this statement “A contractor employee suffered injuries from a suspected arc flash incident that occurred Thursday at the Safford mine,” said FMI Communications Vice President Linda Hayes “The contractor was treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries We are investigating the cause of the incident and will make any necessary changes to prevent similar incidents.” The mine has run mostly without serious medical incidents there was a fatality in the early operation of the mine in September 2007 in which electrical contractor Gilbert Guerra died from injuries sustained when he contacted an electrical fuse and gear switch handle A report released by the Mine Safety & Health Administration listed the mine’s policies regarding the electrical circuits as inadequate due to not ensuring the circuit was not live before anyone performed work on it was fatally injured in an electrical incident when he was electrocuted by an energized flange on the electrolyte return the accident occurred “due to management’s failure to insulate or guard energized flanges on the electrolyte return and failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the electrical hazards that existed” TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A trip to Tarpon Springs isn't complete without a visit to the historic Safford House Museum It was owned by Anson Safford back in 1883 The city started to restore the house in 1997 bringing it back to its original Victorian condition "One of the major things is that especially with Tarpon itself—I'm sure you drove through here—you've seen how historic just downtown is The fact that we can kind of keep that alive is a huge boom for us economically because it's a huge tourist attraction," Gabriel Castaldi Patron Services Coordinator for Tarpon Arts you'll learn all kinds of information about the Saffords' day-to-day back in the 1800s like how the home's design helped them live without air conditioning To continue your historic tour of Tarpon Springs, walk on over to the Heritage Museum This self-guided tour will feature the area's long connection to Greece an introduction to Native American artifacts the history of the Tarpon Springs Women's Club and so much more Report a typo SAFFORD — The city of Safford is hosting a household hazardous waste collection event for Safford residential trash customers on Saturday line up on Discovery Park Boulevard facing eastbound across from the Safford Cemetery then enter the household hazardous waste drop-off area to the south in the city of Safford yard Safford residents must bring a recent Safford utility bill showing you pay for trash service and matching photo identification