Local News

After a traumatic accident at a Winslow sawmill, hours of surgery and months of physical and occupational therapy, 44-year-old Mickey Rosenquist can almost fully straighten and bend his arm and turn his wrist from side to side. To have his arm at all is the result of quick action by co-workers, first responders and a team of leading surgeons.

Rosenquist was hired to cut standing-dead trees and lumber into firewood to be sold at convenience stores. He was feeding the wood into the band saw. The next memory he had was a experiencing “a very odd feeling.”

“I yelled at my coworker that my arm was gone,” recalled Rosenquist. “He thought I was joking. I yelled again and he realized I was serious. He sat me down, took off his belt and we used it for a tourniquet on my upper arm, then he ran 60 yards to the office to get help. I saw my arm laying a few yards away from me. When the paramedics arrived, they worked to stop the bleeding and called for a medical helicopter. My arm was placed in a clear plastic bag and tucked in beside me for the flight.”

Rosenquist was flown to the region’s only state-designated Level I Trauma Center at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). Fortunately, at least four of the country’s top surgeons work in Flagstaff.

Patrick Cole, M.D., is one of few who performs microsurgery (surgery at the “nano” level that requires special equipment and specialized training), as well as complex reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery. Dr. Cole is a physician member at the Plastic Surgeons of Northern Arizona.

This was not the first time Dr. Cole had performed such extensive surgery. In 2016, he did a successful hand replantation at FMC on a man whose hand was detached from an explosion.

Replantation is the surgical reattachment of a finger, hand or arm that has been detached from the body. In some cases, a replant is not possible because the body is too damaged or too much time has elapsed between injury and surgery. Rosenquist was a good candidate because the detachment was a “clean cut” and he was quickly transported to a trauma center.

Dr. Cole was joined by fellow Flagstaff surgeons Andrew Aldridge, M.D., Brandon Clark, D.O., and Mark Donnelly, M.D.

Dr. Aldridge specializes in all aspects of surgery, including trauma surgery. He was instrumental in the development of FMC’s Trauma Center and is part of the physician group at Flagstaff Surgical Associates.

Dr. Clark is an orthopaedic traumatologist. He specializes in orthopaedic trauma and adult post-traumatic injury reconstruction, which often include numerous complex fractures. He is part of the physician group at Northern Arizona Orthopaedics.

Dr. Donnelly specializes in vascular and trauma surgery and was instrumental in the development of FMC’s Trauma Center and Heart & Vascular Center.

The surgeons worked together to perform the arm-saving surgeries, each bringing his expertise and training to the surgical table to repair bones, muscles, nerves, arteries and veins, all in an attempt to save the arm and restore function.

According to Dr. Cole, surgeons only have about six hours from the time of the injury to restore blood flow. Drs. Donnelly and Aldridge performed the first surgery, which took four hours.

Dr. Aldridge explained, “We needed to bring the greatest amount of blood flow back to the arm in the fastest time. We used small tubing, like that used for IVs, to create vessels to move the blood between the upper attached and lower detached arm. Without this immediate blood supply, the arm would not be able to be replanted.”

The following day, Drs. Clark and Cole performed a second surgery. Dr. Clark used grafts, plates, screws, pins, wires, shunts and more to reconnect the bones, muscles and other soft tissues. Dr. Cole performed microsurgery to reconnect the nerves, which are just one-quarter the diameter of a strand of human hair.

“We can restore blood flow and reconnect the bones, muscles and tissues, but the amount of movement is dependent on the nerves, which are the connection between the brain and the body,” Dr. Cole said. “Without nerve regeneration and connection to the brain, there is no muscle movement.”

The third surgery entailed removing a large vein from Rosenquist’s leg to repair, connect and create three veins and two arteries in the arm. Skin grafts were the final stage of the surgical replant process.

“The level of function Mickey has is unprecedented,” Dr. Cole said. “He has a great deal more use than expected. I attribute the success to an extraordinary team of physicians, nurses, first responders, therapists and support staff. And, of course, to Mickey, for his determination and steadfastness to make the best of the situation and do everything he was directed to do.”

Rosenquist is more than grateful to the first responders, surgeons and trauma team at FMC.

“I am so grateful to the four amazing surgeons who brought their expertise to the table, literally. Without them, all the people at the hospital and my physical and occupational therapists, I would not have an arm, much less some use of both my arm and hand. I am eternally grateful.” QCBN

By Starla S Collins, QCBN

When “Flip This Town” author and podcaster Ron Drake explored Prescott, he was impressed by the friendliness of the people, the natural beauty of the area and the look and feel of the downtown. “I appreciate a community that’s doing well, but wants to be better,” he said. “I love a community that doesn’t want to get complacent.”

After three days in sessions with more than 100 locals – city leaders, business groups, investors and students – which included a stroll around the downtown and foot tours of historic buildings, he and Prescott residents saw things differently.

“The No. 1 take-away is there’s a lot that can be done pretty soon to bring more life to the downtown,” said Drake. “For example, the climate is amazing. The average temperature is 70 degrees year-round; yet, there wasn’t that much outdoor dining. San Diego probably has about the same outdoor temperature and there’s outdoor dining everywhere. When someone comes into town and sees people all over the sidewalks, when restaurants bring the inside outside to spill onto the streets, it’s much more attractive and friendly.”

The City of Prescott, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Prescott Downtown Partnership and APS brought in the downtown revitalization expert to facilitate connections, problem-solve challenges and help create a workable plan for the future. Drake’s late-January visit fit with his mission to “Inspire-Equip-Restore the Heart of America, one downtown at a time.”

“Our downtown is a real gem, with tremendous potential,” said Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli. “There is a lot of momentum to bring more activity to the downtown area, beautification projects, improvements and diversity. We have to think differently.”

Drake helped the group think differently about old buildings. “So many of us have just focused on what’s on the ground floor of places downtown and we’ve never looked up,” said 22-year-old Arizona State University master’s student and Prescott native Haylie Smith in a recent podcast with Drake. “Now that we’ve seen those spaces, we’ve seen how valuable they are, how they could make incredible edgy downtown lofts. I honestly had never thought about what was above some of those establishments.”

Drake brings a message of “Practical Preservation” to cities like Prescott. “We oftentimes think preserving old buildings automatically means a lot of money. We’ve discovered practical ways to restore buildings. One of the cool side effects of some of our projects is letting the building be the design. For example, leave that plaster wall, leave the old wallpaper half on and half off, keep the original wood floors even if they are really rough, keep the open trusses. Expose it. Don’t feel like you have to hide the electrical, plumbing and duct work.”

He emphasized that people living in the downtown bring life, safety and money into the area. “It quite possibly is the most successful means to giving the heart of your community a healthy life. It creates vibrancy, especially after 5, after dark. There are lights on all over. It feels safer, it is safer, and there’s less trash because the sidewalk is the front porch. When you’ve got a community that is vibrant, you can just feel it.”

“I had no idea there was so much vacant space in these old buildings,” said Ponderosa Hotel Management Services Vice President of Marketing Margo Christensen. “It was eye-opening that we were missing the ‘live’ part of ‘live, work, play’ in the downtown and the focus on locals and the local experience.”

Drake says developers often give up on revitalizing older buildings because of the expense. “They can’t get it to pencil out. I’m getting these projects to pencil out all over the country. Part of the reason, the developers are trying to make them too nice. Instead of keeping original walls, floors and ceilings, they put in new trim and a fancy floor, and now you’re spending a lot money when today’s downtown tenant doesn’t want all that stuff.”

Smith, who commutes from Prescott to Tempe and also works for the City of Prescott, says she and her friends would love to live downtown. Drake asked if she would mind if urban living meant parking her car around the corner or walking up three flights of stairs with groceries.

“I would love it if I got to live downtown,” she said. “I absolutely love everything that you said: exposing the brick, the wood and keeping everything in there and not worrying about making it perfect. People our age, we don’t care if it’s perfect. We just want it to be affordable.”

“A lot of conversations were about the difference between designing for locals, not tourists,” said Drake. “It seems right now we are more geared toward the tourist, but I think today’s tourists are looking more for an authentic experience. They want to go to the local hangout, rather than feeling like a tourist in a community.”

He cited the John Hancock Barbershop as an example of the kind of downtown business that is geared toward locals and offers an experience. “The barber shop guys have nailed it. They’re doing great and actually expanding into a bigger space. By exposing the building, it looks and feels great in there. They’ve combined some modern ideas and the history of the building. It’ a place where the locals go, and a lot of young people.”

Attracting and retaining young people was a point that resonated with Smith. In the podcast conversation with Drake, she said, “Prescott does have quite a few job opportunities, but not a lot of career opportunities. Many people have to leave to start their career and come back later.”

She added that there is a lack of things for college-aged people to do and often wonders, “Where are all the young people hiding?” She called Prescott a college town but said activities for college students are on campus, not in town. “We don’t have activities that would draw young people here.”

Mengarelli said bringing Drake to town was “totally worth doing. It’s one of the best things we’ve done since I’ve been mayor. Ron brought a fresh look and new ideas. We can rally around the downtown and how to improve it.”

“There’s a lot we can do in the short term, without investing a lot of money,” said Christensen, a member of the steering committee tasked with moving concepts from the sessions forward.

In addition to utilizing vacant upper floor space in downtown buildings, ideas include extending parking hours, offering more ethnicity in food options, keeping establishments open longer and considering more places for locals to shop.

Smith, dubbed “Haylie the Hero” in Drake’s podcast, shared her vision. “I want downtown Prescott to embody the ‘live, work, play’ model. I want it to be a place where I can live in an affordable, edgy downtown loft and a place where I can walk or bike to work and then a place where I can play, which really means just having restaurants that offer experiences such as different activities, games, anything this is engaging the community. I want it to be more than a place where people come together, [it’s] where the community comes to connect.”

Drake added, “The answers lie in your community. I just want to help you find them.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN 

Courtesy photo 

On the “bucket list” for people all over the world is to hike the Grand Canyon, most notably, the Bright Angel and Kaibab Trails. Of the six million-plus annual Grand Canyon visitors, it is estimated that less than 7 percent actually hike down into the canyon (only 1 percent to the bottom). Even so, that adds up to 434,000 hikers a year on the corridor trails.

Maintaining these popular trails for safe passage are many people who work in both high heat and low temperatures to ensure hikers and mule riders a safe journey.

The key player is the National Park Service (NPS), which, when fully staffed, employs up to 75 people and maintains about 126 miles of trails (there are approximately 358 established trails). “This includes up to 40 NPS staff and the conservation corps volunteers,” said NPS Trails Program Manager Christopher Brothers. “Right now, we are understaffed, which is a big challenge.

“Trail work is very physically demanding. In order to succeed, workers have to be physically and mentally conditioned to work in a harsh environment. Those of us who have worked on trail crews for many years have endured harsh weather, dangerous working conditions, injury and days away from family,” said Brothers, a volunteer who has worked on the Grand Canyon trail crew for more than 23 years.

Perhaps the most visible members are those in the conservations corps, which employs youth for projects on public lands. Two of these agencies are located in Flagstaff: the American Conservation Experience (ACE) and the Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC).

ACE was founded in Flagstaff in 2004. The program is for young adults between the ages of 18-25 who are considering land management as a career path or potential course of study. Corps members serve in professionally supervised teams as they explore future outdoor careers, learn practical field skills and develop confidence as emerging leaders in the field of conservation. Corps members are supported during their three- to 12-month service terms with cost of living stipends, food on projects and free common housing on off days.

“One of ACE’s greatest achievements is breaking down prejudices and stereotypes through work relationships, finding a common cause of improving our national and state public lands such as the Grand Canyon trails,” said Brad Bippus, a member of the ACE Board of Directors since 2004 and owner of AZ Irrigation and Maintenance. “It’s an amazing model of cooperation and teamwork with individuals that would otherwise never have met. “

James Allen, professor and executive director of the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University (NAU), also serves on the ACE Board of Directors and contends that ACE does “exceptionally good quality trail work. In addition to all the work they’ve done at the Grand Canyon, other claims to fame include Walnut Canyon National Monument trail following a rock fall, and building the trail to the Granite Mountain Hotshot Memorial. One of ACE’s major points of pride is the quality of the work they do and how they instill that culture of quality in their corps members, which is something I hope they carry with them the rest of their lives.”

The Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) focuses on connecting youth, young adults and recent-era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. With operations throughout Arizona, the focus is on engaging individuals and strengthening communities through service and conservation. “Our work is very similar to ACE — except we have different approaches, with the same outcome,” explained AZCC Field Supervisor Michael Welleford.

“I worked at the Grand Canyon for two years and every day we got to work in a place that people spend their lives thinking about visiting,” said Welleford. “It’s the hardest work you’ll ever do in your life with the greatest outcome, plus I met the greatest people of my life there.” Welleford has worked in low-visibility, freezing, snowy trail conditions, to be rewarded by an “incredible view” when the weather clears.

Currently, Anna Schroeder is working on the South Kaibab trail, about two miles from the rim. “We’re doing cyclical maintenance, which involves de-rocking the trail, digging out drains, and putting dirt back on the trail.”

Schroeder says she enjoys working at the Grand Canyon because of the beauty and people. She has worked for ACE for years.

“Collectively, there are about 130 programs across the United States doing this work,” said Laura Herrin, ACE president and CEO. “Our programs are built from the original Civilian Conservation Corps. ACE has been working to restore and conserve the trails at the Grand Canyon for more than 15 years. It was our first site and we have been there ever since.”

Keeping the trails clear for the Xanterra Mule rides is one of the main objectives, says Xanterra South Rim Mule Operation Livery Manager John Berry. “When it snows, we clear the trail and work closely with the NPS for rock removal and other trail maintenance. Last year, we had an all-women trail crew. They were incredible and replaced dirt on South Kaibab Trail. They must have hauled at least 50 mule loads of dirt a day. It was pretty amazing. “

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the CCC in 1933. This was a work relief program that gave millions of young men employment on environmental projects during the Great Depression. The program became a model for future conservation programs engaging young adults in community service and conservation activities. Ironically, CCC built the Colorado River Trail (the most difficult Grand Canyon trail ever constructed), along with trails and walls around and in the Grand Canyon Village. The organization also did extensive work at Phantom Ranch. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

City of Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli infused his Jan. 17 State of the City address to the Prescott Chamber of Commerce with a call to action from Ancient Greece: “Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” 

Having become a grandfather last fall and pondering that marvel, Mengarelli asserted that “the best legacy is to sacrifice today to ensure the prosperity of tomorrow. So, that is the question I ask each one of you: What legacy will you leave behind; what trees are you planting today? What sacrifices are you making today that will benefit those who come behind you?”

His challenge augmented last year’s achievements by the city, Chamber and allied organizations. Serving Prescott since 1938, the Chamber currently boasts 108 years of combined staff experience and more than 10,000 volunteers, saving upwards of $100,000 annually. Many volunteers staff the Visitor Information Center, which last year managed 1,595 conference packets; 26,467 walk-ins; 16,677 phone calls; 1,090 walking tours; and 619 relocation and visitor packets.

“You are the hardest working people I know,” Mengarelli said. “You are the reason I have hope in our local economy and I am grateful for all you do for our community and local charities.”

The mayor reinforced three strategies he identified in 2018 to maintain the Prescott that citizens know and love: 1) A government mindset that promotes free enterprise; 2) Controlling the future through strategic partnerships; and 3) Thinking about the next generation.

Among related success stories for 2018, Mengarelli cited the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) sales tax-funded debt pay down from $86 million to $69 million;  new regional jet service by United Express/SkyWest Airlines surpassing a milestone 10,000 enplanements and thus qualifying for additional critical federal funding; downtown redevelopment of the city-owned Granite Creek Corridor at Montezuma and Sheldon streets earmarked for a Hilton Garden Inn; open space preservation featuring the Granite Dells; and water conservation and management, including a current audit of the city’s water portfolio. 

“Prop 443 passed because community leaders ran an effective information campaign and the business community provided financial support for that campaign,” he said of the voter-led initiative to reduce the PSPRS debt. “This was a courageous and bold move by our community to address this problem up front and not kick the debt down the road to burden future generations. Our generation created that debt and we have taken on the responsibility of paying that debt off.”

For decades, Prescott “has struggled with establishing reliable, affordable and modern air service at the airport,” Mengarelli said. “How did all this progress happen so quickly, when we had failed so many times before? It was because of great staff leadership, strategic partnerships with you in the business community, regional partnerships with local municipalities and the county, and, finally, with Embry-Riddle [Aeronautical] University. Our team at City Hall had a plan, but it required our partners in the community and region to be successful.”

SkyWest Airlines reported that the startup service in Prescott broke records as the most successful launch in the company’s history. Ongoing planning is underway to add more flights and destinations to current air service and a new terminal is anticipated to open in summer 2020. 

The revitalization of the Granite Creek Corridor represents one of the largest private investments in downtown Prescott in the past 20 years, he noted, adding that “the new Hilton Garden Inn will be the anchor for a wonderful park setting along Granite Creek, the use of the Sam Hill Warehouse for conferences and the historic train trestle, [which] will be the centerpiece of it all. This project is an example of innovative cooperation between city government and the private sector, and generations to come will benefit from its amenities.”

Regarding land preservation, Mengarelli explained that “our breathtaking landscapes are one of the hallmarks of the Prescott lifestyle, particularly the Point of Rocks and other prominent rock features in the Granite Dells.

One year ago, he stated, the city bought 160 acres of the Granite Dells, bringing its total Dells ownership to 578 acres, excluding Watson and Willow Lakes.

“As controversial as [the Arizona Eco Development (AED) project] seems to many in our community, we cannot lose sight of the fact that this is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for the city to acquire this privately-owned property,” he said. “It is our job to find a workable development agreement that maximizes preservation of this open space, while still providing the developer with the proper incentive to proceed with the annexation. If a suitable agreement can be reached with AED, this acquisition will be a landmark deal and become a tremendous legacy gift for future generations to enjoy.” 

As for water, Prescott’s supply comes from the Little Chino Aquifer and not the Central Arizona Project, so the associated state drought contingency plan will not apply locally. Water usage since 2014 has declined about two percent a year, he noted. Still, he suggested, much more needs to be achieved through conservation.

“When we put others ahead of ourselves, we will accomplish great things,” Mengarelli concluded. “I ask and challenge each of you to help make Prescott a better place today and, more importantly, a better place for my grandson and your grandchildren.” QCBN

By Sue Marceau, QCBN