The Santa Fe Indian School Exhibit begins in Prescott January 18th. Quincy Tahoma, Andrew Tsinajinnie, Harrison Begay and Pop Chalee will be featured in the exhibit, which runs through June. The Smoki Museum’s Nancy Guitguiten tells Quad Cities Business News says the museum is open seven days a week. More information is available at www.smokimuseum.org
Local News
Trauma Intervention Volunteers Sought in QC
The group TIP, the Trauma Intervention Program, is seeking volunteers in the Quad Cities. Training will begin March 20th in Prescott. Individuals interested in helping traumatized victims, working closely with police officers, firefighters and other emergency responders should consider becoming a Certified Trauma Intervention Program volunteer. Volunteer. TIP is a group of specially trained citizen volunteers who provide emotional and practical support to victims of traumatic events. Volunteers are called to a crisis by authorized police officers, firefighters, and hospital personnel. Training starts March 20th in Prescott. For more information visit www.TIPofAZ.org or call Sue at 928-445-4655.
Starting 2014 With a Hike through the Library
If walking is included in your New Year’s resolutions, but bad weather, rabid animals, and unfamiliar terrain are not the kind of adventure you’d like, consider “taking a hike” at the Prescott Valley Library.
Walk in the Library (more fun than the mall) from Jan. 7 to Feb. 11. The weather is perfect, you can learn about Arizona’s outdoor attractions, and win prizes.
Each week in the PC Lab on the Library’s second floor, library “hikers” will talk for 30 minutes about an outdoor destination, with a few extra treats thrown in, such as map reading, edible plants, water purification, etc., followed by a hike in the library. Stair hikers with the lowest heart rate win a gift certificate to the café or bookstore, your choice.
When the weather improves, you’ll know all about some great outdoor hiking destinations to try. Library hikes will be from 1:30-2:30 p.m. each Tuesday.
On Jan. 7, learn about Maricopa County Parks and map reading. On Jan. 14, take a tour of the Grand Canyon and learn about edible plants. The Jan. 28 program will feature Organ Pipe National Monument and route finding. On Feb. 4 learn about Death Valley and water purification, and finally, on Feb. 11, unravel the mysteries of the Superstitions and get ready to view spring wildflowers.
Start the year with a healthy choice to be active and informed about outdoor activities in Arizona. For more information call or email Ted Johnson, Assistant Library Director, 928-759-3036, tjohnson@pvaz.net
Seeking Citizens for PV Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to be more engaged in your community in 2014, the Town of Prescott Valley has several volunteer opportunities on boards and commissions to put your expertise to work in ways that will positively impact the community for years to come.
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION
The Town of Prescott Valley is accepting applications from area residents to serve on the Arts and Culture Commission. This commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Town Council on matters pertaining to the visual and performing arts and culture within Prescott Valley. This is a volunteer position by appointment of the Town Council, requiring some experience and knowledge of the arts and culture. First priority for membership is given to those who live and reside within the Prescott Valley town limits; however, persons residing outside of the town limits who are uniquely qualified for membership may be considered for appointment.
BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS
The Town of Prescott Valley is presently accepting applications from Town Residents to serve on the Building Board of Appeals. This is a volunteer position filled by appointment of the Town Council. Those appointed must live and reside within the Prescott Valley town limits. The board meets to review and decide appeals of town building staff decisions. The town encourages prospective board members with backgrounds in building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical trades to apply.
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Town of Prescott Valley is accepting applications from area residents to serve on the Board of Directors of the Municipal Property Corporation (MPC). This is a volunteer position appointed by the Town Council. The MPC facilitates financing of selected capital projects for the Town. Related experience is desirable. Preference will be given to those applicants who live and reside within the Prescott Valley town limits, but applicants living outside the town limits will also be considered.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
The Town of Prescott Valley is accepting applications from Town Residents to serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission. The Commission provides advisory support on land use matters and makes recommendations to the Town Council on all land use changes, subdivisions and comprehensive plan proposals. This is a volunteer position by appointment of the Town Council, requiring some knowledge of and experience with land use planning. Those appointed must live and reside within the Prescott Valley town limits.
Applications for all positions are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Town Manager’s Office on the 4th floor of the Civic Center at 7501 E. Civic Circle. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Trebesch Appointed to Yavapai Superior Court
Governor Jan Brewer is appointing Patricia Trebesch to the Yavapai County Superior Court.
“Ms. Trebesch brings a diverse professional career, a longstanding passion for public service and a strong commitment to enforcing the rule of law,” said Governor Brewer. “Her judicial demeanor and extensive legal background will be a valuable asset to the court and the community.”
Ms. Trebesch has been a Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore since 2011, a role in which she presides over civil and domestic relations matters and is responsible for civil appeals from lower courts.
She previously worked for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, where she also served on eight committees regarding issues including case management, open meetings and domestic violence (1991-2011); was a research attorney with the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee (1989-91); and served as an attorney with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office (1987-88). In these roles, she practiced in the juvenile dependency, child welfare, child support, legislative and criminal areas. She also has significant trial, managerial and appellate experience and has argued in front of the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Currently a member of the Arizona Judges Association, Ms. Trebesch also has served as Secretary of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association Charitable Foundation Board (2010); as President and Secretary/Treasurer of the Northern Arizona Women Lawyers Association (2007-2008); and as Rules Chair for the State Bar Juvenile Law Section (2007-2010).
Ms. Trebesch also has trained dependency attorneys and judges (2000-10); presented to attorneys on matters of dependency, testimony, confidentiality and mental health issues; and conducted trainings for Arizona Department of Economic Security and Child Protective Services case managers and supervisors (1995-2000).
In addition to receiving multiple awards from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for her trial and managerial work (1997-2000, 2008), Ms. Trebesch has earned the Advancing Women in the Profession award from the Arizona Women Lawyers Association (2009); Appreciation for Service award from the Arizona Supreme Court (2008); Jack Ogg Award for Community Service from the Yavapai County Bar Association (2007); and Arizona Leadership Honoree from the Hispanic National Bar Association (1994).
Aside from her legal service, Ms. Trebesch has served on the Prescott High School Basketball Booster Club (2007-10); Yavapai County Community Advisory Board (2006-10); Prescott YMCA Board of Directors (2007-10); Prevent Child Abuse Arizona “Best for Babies” Think Tank (2005-10); and Arizona Foster Care Review Board (2006-10).
Ms. Trebesch received both her undergrad degree in Political Science (1983) and law degree (1986) from the University of Arizona. Her appointment to the Yavapai County Superior Court was made to fill the vacancy created by the governor’s appointment of Judge Kenton Jones to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
A Merry Christmas in Yarnell
Some residents of Yarnell, which was devastated earlier this year by the deathly fire through the area, are in their rebuilt homes in time for the holidays. Some certificates of occupancy are expected today, allowing homeowners to move in to the homes.
Steve and Debi Keehner shared the celebration with supporters are a ribbon-cutting ceremony of their rebuilt house. The Keehner’s were uninsured, so the rebuild was made possible by the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group, and many other generous parties.
Friday, a home tour of the area included five homes that were rebuilt for uninsured homeowners by the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group using donated funds and mostly volunteer labor. They include three site-built homes in various stages of construction, and two completed manufactured homes.
The sixth home is the first site-built home to be completed for an insured homeowner. That home was built by Mike Manone and Yarnell Homes,Yarnell’s newest business. Manone came to Yarnell as a volunteer and stayed. He is rebuilding two homes for insured homeowners (one was the first home to break ground after the fire) and celebrated the grand opening of his business last month.
The Yarnell Hill Recovery Group committed to replacing nine homes for uninsured primary homeowners at no cost to the homeowners. Three groups volunteered most of the labor: Apostolic Christian World Relief, Mennonite Disaster Services and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
The first two site-built homes are in the final stages of construction and residents should be in the homes before Christmas.
Four more site-built homes are in various stages of construction and should be finished in January.
The last of three Cavco manufactured homes, purchased from Best Buy Homes in Prescott Valley, was installed Dec. 10. Two will be on the tour, including one modified to accommodate a wheelchair-bound resident.
“We are very grateful for the donations of time and money that allowed us to replace these homes,” said YHRG Steering Committee Chair Chuck Tidey. “But there is still a lot to be done. This is just the first step in a long recovery that we anticipate will take two or three years.”
About Yarnell Hill Recovery Group
Exiled from their homes and divided by the closure of Highway 89, a group of 20 Yarnell and Peeples Valley residents conferred in person and by phone about how to rebuild their fire-ravaged community.
Out of that conversation, the all-volunteer Yarnell Hill Recovery Group was formed with a steering committee made up of five key leaders representing organizations that have long provided services to residents: the Yarnell-Peeples Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Yarnell Community Center, the Yarnell Community Presbyterian Church, the Peeples Valley Fire Department and People Who Care-Weaver Mountains.
Under the direction of the steering committee, a dozen volunteer sub-committees have been formed to provide resources for everything from emergency housing and financial assistance to clean up and rebuilding. The group’s website, www.YarnellHillRecoveryGroup.org, provides a single place for residents to get news about recovery efforts and connect with services.
The group has been recognized by Arizona and Yavapai County as the official recovery group for the Yarnell Hill Fire. The Steering Committee was recently recognized for its outstanding work by Yavapai County.
The Yarnell Community Presbyterian Church, acting as the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group’s fiscal agent, has set up an account for the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group though the National Bank of Arizona, account #76 0000 2730, Routing #122105320. There is a Pay Pal button for donations at www.YarnellHillRecoveryGroup.org. Checks payable to Yarnell Hill Recovery Group can be sent to Yarnell Hill Recovery Group, P.O. Box 1086, Yarnell, 85362. Donations are tax-deductible.
Celebrating the New Year in QC Style
The 3rd Annual Boot Drop will be the centerpiece of Prescott’s New Year’s Eve celebration, Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Historic Whiskey Row.
Presented by the City of Prescott and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, a six-foot illuminated cowboy boot will be slowly lowered down from a 70-foot Prescott Fire Department engine truck ladder to honor the fallen Hotshots.
Much like the tradition in New York’s Times Square, where a large ball has dropped annually since 1907, the Boot Drop event is a new tradition that will continue year after year. The event will include a DJ from the station spinning tunes, local food vendors and prize giveaways throughout the night. Thousands are expected to attend.
“With the great success of the last two years, we decided to continue to have two drops; one at 10 p.m., and the second at midnight with fireworks that will ignite off the top of the parking garage right behind Whiskey Row. The early drop will coincide with the traditional ‘Ball Drop’ back east as well as letting the folks who turn in early celebrate the New Year,” said Tracey Horn, owner of Helken & Horn Advertising Agency, who is assisting with the event planning. “This is a community event to help the businesses downtown and the area at large. Hotel rooms and restaurants benefit from the out-of-town crowds the event attracts.”
The Boot was created two years ago by Stephan Markov of Morgan Signs as a unique piece of art. It is entirely decorated with LED lights that come into play as the clock counts down. QCBN
For more information, contact Horn at 928-776-0234 or Dave Maurer at the Prescott Chamber of Commerce 928-445-2000.
QC Toy Drive Continuing
The Northern Arizona Law Enforcement Toy Drive is underway at the Walmart in Prescott on Highway 69.
The Prescott Police Department, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Game and Fish Department and Forest Service are uniting to make sure no child in the Quad Cities area has to go without a holiday gift!
For more than 25 years, officers have delivered holiday cheer to thousands of families. You can help by dropping off a new unwrapped toy or making a cash donation from through Dec. 22.
Officers from all over Northern Arizona will be at Walmart stores during the holiday season to thank you. Gifts will go to boys and girls up to age 16.
Prescott Valley Police Dog Retiring
Prescott Valley Police Officer Dave McNally gets a little emotional when he talks about Ike, his K-9 partner for the past six years. That’s why it might be a good idea to bring a tissue or two to Thursday night’s town council meeting, where Ike will officially retire from officer to designated couch potato in the McNally home.
Ike, a Belgian Malinois, came to Prescott Valley from Waddell Kennels in Waddell, Ariz., the day after Thanksgiving in 2007. Now, at a little over 9 years old, he’s slowing down a bit and ready to be a family pet.
McNally said Ike’s certification is good through January, and he probably could serve another year, but police work is physically tough, and the longer the animal’s service, the more their quality of life after retirement is diminished.
During his career with McNally, Ike has been responsible for the seizure of $1.7 million in illegal drugs – including marijuana, methamphetamines, heroin, and cocaine – and 12 vehicles used in criminal activity. He helped apprehend 27 suspects involved in burglary and other crimes.
McNally particularly remembers his first drug bust with Ike, in which the dog sniffed out two lbs. of marijuana in a car on Navajo Drive during a traffic stop. In another incident, Ike alerted to drugs in a car during a stop on Glassford Hill Road. Officers couldn’t find the hiding place, until they put Ike inside the vehicle and sniffed out about a half pound each of cocaine and meth in a cleverly concealed compartment behind the dash.
“If Ike hadn’t pinpointed the location, we’d have never found it by ourselves,” McNally said. “It was a good job on his part, and his first bust of the harder drugs.”
During his career, Ike also stopped burglars in two notable incidents. In one, suspects had broken into and vandalized a local church and were still inside. When McNally announced that he was sending Ike in, the burglars quickly came out of hiding and surrendered.
During another event in Jerome, officers and volunteers had set a perimeter around some suspects that had burglarized a local jewelry store and also were wanted for carjackings in Nevada. Jerome Police called McNally and PVPD Officer Paul Hines with their dogs to help locate the burglars. Ike tracked the men, who surrendered, and Hines’s dog located their vehicles and stolen property.
After about 5,000 hours on patrol, and another 2,812 hours in training, McNally has forged a special relationship with Ike.
“He turned out to be such a great dog, one of the best we’ve ever seen. I love that dog,” he said. He’s now transitioning Ike into his new life as a house dog.
Residents who would like to come and share retirement wishes with Ike may do so during a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday night during the regular town council meeting at the Library Auditorium, 7401 E. Civic Circle.