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Straight-Shooting Gunsmithing Pastor Cares for Heirloom Firearms

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Gene Grimm and son, Dave, repair, restore and customize at High Chapparal Gunsmithing.

When 8-year-old Eugene “Gene” Grimm first pulled the trigger on his grandfather’s Harrington & Richardson Model 999 in Ohio, little did he realize that 70 years later, the same weapon would remain a premier showpiece among many in a collection of what has become High Chaparral Gunsmithing.

In fact, from that very first gun, Grimm’s collection has grown to dozens of his own, as well as many more that he has repaired, restored and customized for clients through his gunsmithing practice. Grimm takes pride in being a certified and highly trained gun expert. “Some of my work is totally decorative and restorative, while other efforts may involve totally rebuilding the mechanical functioning of a gun,” he said.

Grimm is a National Rifle Association instructor. He also is a lieutenant in the Arizona Rangers organization and became a designated lifetime Ranger in the past year. Gene is highly focused on gunsmithing; he had to earn more rigorous certification from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and FBI. “Saying you’re a gunsmith doesn’t make you one,” he said. “You have to earn that right.”

Grimm has handled and worked with just about every type of firearm – handmade guns, single-shots, revolvers, automatic pistols and rifles, and a great variety of shotguns. He opened his gunsmithing shop in 1970.

Now he has two complete workshops with sophisticated machinery, technology and tools that allow him handle most any issue that arises. His son, Dave Grimm, is also a professional gunsmith.

“My son began taking guns apart when he was 15.  He continued after high school and attended the Trinidad State Junior College degree program in Colorado. Dave apprenticed with master engravers and has the skills to work in a custom shop. I’m really proud of him – and he has taught me,” he said.

Much of that is because Grimm had a full-time occupation that kept him moving across the country for more than 42 years. He first was a parish pastor in a church in Ohio. He then became a minister in the American Lutheran Church in the same state, and then was called by the national church to consult with congregations in 38 states, seven days a week for several years. “I had weeks when I might be in my car 30 to 40 hours a week.”

Along the way, Grimm earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in theology.

Given his active church career, he says he could not plan on giving active gunsmithing time to service clients on a routine basis. “I never knew where I would be from week to week. But I always stayed contemporary in both disciplines.”

His friends called him “a straightshooter” in two directions – in the church and in gunsmithing.

When Gene retired in 2008, he and his son agreed having a partnership would make a lot of sense, especially because Dave had been trained to handle some really difficult situations in gunsmithing, especially for the high-end clients that they seemed to be attracting.

“At High Chapparal, we pay special attention to the guns people entrust us with. Some of the guns we get are genuinely classics and antiques – in some cases, one of a kind.  For instance, one gun I am adorning for its owner is a priceless shotgun. I am currently creating a custom stock and fore stock, which will have large, ornate large animal carvings, inlaid checkering and a perfectly polished finish. The action and barrel and other metal pieces will be intricately engraved pieces of valuable metal art. I am becoming more and more involved in intricate engraving.”

Grimm says he often loses track of the time when he’s working on guns. “Much depends on what the owner wants: a showpiece? A museum piece that continues to grow in value? Something that can be used for hunting or target-shooting?”

He also works on bows and arrows.

Gene’s wife, Margie, also assists with the gun work. “She’s quite good. In fact, she can be considered highly skilled. What I want people to know foremost about High Chapparal Gunsmithing is that our family takes great pride in keeping a firearm functioning at its best level of performance and reliability. We are trained with the skills to do the job right the first time.”

MY FAVORITE STORY

J.R.R. Tolkien and his creation of an alternative universe in that fascinating book he wrote in 1954, “Lord of the Rings.”

MOST INFLUENCIAL BOOK

“Here I Stand,” the masterpiece biography of 16th century religious leader Martin Luther, who founded the Lutheran Church. Author Rolland H. Bainton blessed us all with that book.”

WHERE I HOPE TO TRAVEL  

Margie and I had hoped to go to the Holy Land and then COVID-19 hit. If it’s possible in the future, yes. But my next favorite travel would be coming back into Arizona and returning to Prescott.”

MY FAVORITE MEAL

“A really good steak, seasoned and grilled just right, with baked potatoes and all the rest.”

BEST PET EVER

“Years ago, we picked up a recue dog – a malamute-shepherd mix we named Jack. He was about 4 and he captured our hearts. When he died at 13, he broke those same hearts.” QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information, visit www.highchaparralgunsmith.com or call Grimm at 928-925-6057

Moon Rover Continues to Gain Traction

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Inventor Bill Tinnin has global fan base; GROVER to be featured at Star Party.

While Neil Armstrong’s and Buzz Aldrin’s footsteps have been imprinted on the moon and in world history, the Moon Buggy they explored in left tracks on the lunar surface and also in the imaginations of the news media and fans. At 88, the Northern Arizona man who played a role in designing the buggy prototype continues to be tracked down by the news media and fans. GROVER, or Geology Rover, spends its days in retirement in the U.S. Geological Survey building in Flagstaff. Bill Tinnin, the inventor credited with inventing the moon buggy, is retired in Prescott Valley. The two have been connected since the 1960s Apollo moon missions.

Since the first moon landing on July 20, 1969, Tinnin has been contacted by people from 12 states and nine countries for his contributions to the NASA space program. He was never featured in international TV and press the way the first astronauts were, but GROVER was.

Tinnin credits a story published three years ago in the Flagstaff Business News (FBN) and Quad Cities Business News (QCBN) with creating public awareness, especially in Central and Northern Arizona. “I had hundreds of people from just Arizona contact me. Some come visit me. They want to hear even more.”

The really big exposure happened when a television team from the Netherlands visited Flagstaff in June 2019 and read the FBN article. They contacted him at his Prescott Valley home, arranged to film a video and posted that video on YouTube. Shortly thereafter, Tinnin began receiving messages from viewers from around the world. He now has fans from coast to coast and border to border – Massachusetts to Washington and Oregon, and Texas to Wisconsin, and many states between.

International contacts range from the one with the Dutch in 2019 to a more recent one this fall with the Czech Republic. An especially intriguing handwritten letter was from a youngster, Sue Jennings, from Victoria, Australia, who said in part: “What an exciting life you led. You must be very clever to be involved in all the ground-breaking activities you have. Will you please autograph the enclosed photo and return it to me?”

Foreign contacts range from throughout Europe and the United Kingdom to Canada and the South Pacific.

For instance, Bill and his wife, Pam, encountered a British couple while on a vacation in Alaska in 2011. They have remained in regular contact since. The couple did some research about Tinnin and his connection to NASA and the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) where Tinnin worked for decades. The Brits, both teachers and cinematographers, made a video focusing on Bill and Grover and shared it with organizations and groups and put it on travel blogs. That stimulated even more contacts from around the world. The couple visited and stayed with the Tinnins in April.

To be clear, Tinnin did not build the actual vehicles that roved the moon. He built the prototype that astronauts trained in from a wrecked truck and auto parts he scrounged from Flagstaff junkyards. He replaced the original wheels with four battery-driven electric wheels. He stripped an old umbrella frame, turned it inside out and used it as the antenna to send and receive radio signals from the spaceship and Earth.

Asked if he could build a lunar rover, Tinnin said, “Sure, why not?” At that time he was working at the USGS where he began work as a mechanic after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force. Tinnin credits Eugene Shoemaker, a distinguished USGS geologist, with having the vision to realize astronauts would need more than foot power to roam a moonscape pockmarked by eons of space debris impacts. Shoemaker also realized the terrain around Flagstaff, with its many craters, lava flows and craggy ravines, would be an ideal location to train astronauts.

Shoemaker and fellow geologists, including the late Gordon Swann, dedicated years of their careers to train and educate astronauts about what they likely would encounter on the moon’s surface. Tinnin traveled with Swann to diverse terrains throughout Arizona and Nevada to train astronauts in GROVER.

“I was one of the lucky ones,” Tinnin said. “I worked with every astronaut who walked on the moon. I have a framed wall display with mission patches and images given to me from every Apollo mission and I’m very proud of it. I’m proud of our team that made it happen – Rutledge ‘Putty’ Mills, Dick Wiser and Walt Fahey.”

The cost for Tinnin’s version of the Moon Buggy was about $2,000. NASA’s version cost $20,000, he said. “And when the ones used on the moon were built by Boeing, it cost more than $1 million.”

Tinnin says he doesn’t have much contact now with the early astronauts and other NASA and USGS personnel. “Many of them are gone now. After all, it has been more than 50 years. But I have my memories, and I have people who still want to learn more. What else could I ask for?”

Tinnin’s achievements are documented in several publications, including “Lunar and Planetary Rovers,” by Anthony Young and “Northern Arizona Space Training,” by Kevin Schindler and William Sheehan. He is cited in dozens of USGS publications.

Guided tours to visit GROVER and other USGS space exploration tools will be offered by the USGS at the free Flagstaff Star Party Field Day, 3-5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, at Buffalo Park.

A SPECIAL MEMORY

Being near CBS newsman Walter Cronkite when he said those now indelible words, “Man is on the Moon.”

A MAJOR CHALLENGE

Building something from scratch for an outer space exploration that had never before been attempted. Our technology then was very primitive.

HOW I DECOMPRESS

Listening to a lot of country music.

GREATEST SOURCE OF PRIDE

All 20 astronauts who were sent to the Moon used the vehicles we built to train on the crater fields that surround Flagstaff.

REALITY HIT

When some of those astronauts returned to Flagstaff and shook our hands. We knew it [driving on the moon] had really happened. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Camp Verde Bicycle Gearing Up for Growing Demand

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Owner James Cornelius is answering the need for outdoor recreation.

Loving the abundance of water, greenery and long country bike rides, Camp Verde Bicycle Owner James Cornelius has found his happy place.

“I’m from Ohio, and my wife, Lani, is from Hawaii, so we really love the climate here in Camp Verde. Plus, it’s unusual to have a verdant area mixed with desert climate.”

Cornelius lived in Flagstaff for 25 years, went to Coconino High School for his senior year, worked at SCA Tissue North America as a maintenance lead for most of his career and, until earlier this year, owned Flagstaff Bicycle.

“We would visit my mom in Nogales and often traveled from Flagstaff and back. As we passed Camp Verde, we would look over and didn’t think much of it. When we finally got around to doing a little exploring, we fell in love with the town of Camp Verde fast. We found out that we really liked the culture, too, so it was a very easy transition for us.”

The township of Camp Verde currently boasts a population of 12,147. As a full service bike shop, Camp Verde Bicycle is the only bike shop that caters to locals, selling bicycles and gear for all ages.

“James is super knowledgeable about his products. He was really kind to us and gave us a good deal. Plus, he was able to get the product in without a huge delay,” said Ruby Road Resale and Vendor Mall Owner Pamela Bridgnell. “We needed a bike rack for our bikes, one of which is an electric bike and a bit bulky. We tried all the major outdoor retailers and no one could actually help us with the size of our problem. He was the guy that helped us find the right rack.”

Human-powered transportation is the future emphasis of Camp Verde Bicycle. “We will be selling scooters, skateboards, hiking supplies and things along that line,” said Cornelius. “Our shop will stay primarily bicycles but Camp Verde is really crying out for some basic outdoor sports gear.”

Cornelius says the bike shop is also starting to work with the schools and recently began a relationship with Verde Valley Wheel Fun, a non-profit organization whose goal is to put Verde Valley kids on bikes.

Michael Woodruff has been in the bike business for 26 years and recently started to work at Camp Verde Bicycle. “I was employed at a busy shop in Sedona and the work was stressful and wasn’t any fun anymore. Plus, I lived in Camp Verde and was getting tired of the commute,” said Woodruff. “James and I started having conversations and after a while, it seemed like a natural fit for me to join his team. We have similar ideas about the bike industry and we both agree that bikes can be expensive and outlandishly priced so we want to help and encourage folks to ride more on affordable bikes.”

Woodruff is encouraged by the community’s interest in developing more trails. “Camp Verde has some incredible plans and I can see that this is going to be a popular place for cyclists to come and ride.”

Though Cornelius was never a professional cyclist, he did start his two-wheel adventure when he was 4 years old. “I rode BMX exhibition for a while, doing little shows for schools and missionary stints on the Navajo Reservation.” He is also a trail runner.

Racking up miles on his bike, Cornelius does two group rides a week, one on the road and one off-road. “Fridays I coordinate a group road ride and on Saturday, a group mountain bike ride. I’m working on getting the shop staffed so we can support more rides and get more people cycling.”

“I ride with older and younger riders. My priority is to help people enjoy the sport so we meet them at whatever level they are at,” said Cornelius.

Camp Verde Bicycle, located at 735 South Main, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call 928-567-6734.

LAST TIME I THANKED MY YOUNGER SELF 

It was something I did a while ago that led to moving to Camp Verde. I’d say the big deal was working at relocating my family before they knew they wanted to move.

ADVICE FOR NEW BUSINESS OWNERS

The most important thing in Camp Verde to remember is it’s about the people; you are always working with your neighbors, so treat everyone that way.

TOPPING MY BUCKET LIST  

I’m doing it. This was my bucket list: family man, local shop. If I succeed at this, I am content with what I’ve accomplished in life. I have no shortage of ambition for things beyond what I’m doing now but I try to stay focused on what’s in front of me.

WHAT I DO FOR FUN  

Running, cycling, landscaping, I love working in the meander land, in our yard by the river. I like making my land into a nice place to share, like a park for everybody who comes over and of course for my children. We swim in the river all the time.

FAVORITE MOVIE  

Groundhog Day does a great job of presenting that even if you accomplish things going exactly to plan and have all of the means to do it, relationships are still the most valuable thing in life. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

New Chef Helps Barley Hound Survive Pandemic

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Tony Burris shares his love for creative culinary cuisine.

I had the opportunity to create a totally new and different culinary experience for diners and I think we’ve done it. But it was challenging.”

That’s how Tony Burris described accepting the role of executive chef at The Barley Hound last October.  The newly remodeled restaurant, located at 234 South Cortez, is in an eye-catching Victorian-style home with roots dating back to the early 1900s.

Burris said owner Skyler Reeves recently had spent a “substantial amount of money” remodeling both the exterior and interior. “We’ve now got not only a distinct visual appearance, but also a varied, diverse menu that we’ll be changing to fit the seasons of the year,” said Burris.

“Chef Tony has created an exceptional menu that’s reflective of his ingenuity,” said Reeves. “He’s been an integral part of building the restaurant into what it is today. We’re fortunate to have him as the executive chef creating our most elevated dishes.”

The restaurant now is being marketed as a gastropub.

Burris explained, “That’s a coined phrase. It combined gastronomy, a British word that means the art of choosing, preparing and eating food from a given culture, with ‘pub’ – a term associated with popular meeting places for people who want to eat and drink in a very social public place. That’s what we have here: a menu with items to please adventurous eaters, along with some of the more familiar items and craft beers from Arizona. Our cocktails are tailored locally, quite unique. The same is true of our menu. For instance, our oxtail soup or sous vide barbecue prime pork ribs or a Scottish egg are every bit as tasty as a ground chuck cheeseburger and fries.”

Burris and his colleagues routinely change the menu, offering items that fit the time of day and season. One major change too, was the adding of a Sunday brunch to the regular hours. Offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, the brunch menu ranges from traditional bacon and eggs to Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict and Chorizo and Black Bean Breakfast Tacos.

Regular hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

The staff has increased to meet the many changes. Four people work in the kitchen, two in dishwashing and eight at the front of the restaurant.

Why Barley Hound?

“Barley refers to one of the ingredients used to make whiskeys – and we have a great selection of them,” said Burris. “Hound refers to the dog-friendly patio, where we encourage our patrons to bring their pets. In fact, customers can actually order a dog bowl – rice and beef – and we’ll serve their dogs on a frisbee out on the patio.”

Burris was recruited by Reeves, a longtime friend and proprietor of the Vivili Hospitality Group (VHG), the largest restaurant group in Prescott. VHG includes The Barley Hound, Rosa’s Pizzeria, Taco Don’s, The County Seat and La Planchada Taqueria. It also supports Hawk & Hound Catering and Events.

Burris was born in Kansas but grew up in Grand Island, Nebraska. He had worked with Reeves earlier in the catering business. “I was excited to move into the remodeled Barley Hound and push people’s boundaries with new culinary experiences,” he said. “I was able to draw upon my experience as a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in 2008 and then my professional experience at a very upscale resort in Tucson: Canyon Ranch Resort. While there, I was lucky. I learned all stations of the kitchen in this very exclusive full-service resort. It has every imaginable amenity for guests. I had a chance to experience some exciting and exotic menus. I am bringing those concepts to the Prescott area.”

No stranger to the region, Burris first moved here when he was 21. He attended Prescott College and earned a degree in environmental sciences. “I always remember the friendly, small-town vibe of Prescott and the sense of community that was here. That’s what brought me back.”

Now 44, Burris says his focus at The Barley Hound is to push people’s dining boundaries. “The inspiration behind our new menu is balancing the creative spins of comfort food I grew up with in an approachable experimentation of different flavor profiles that will surprise tastebuds.”

Favorite Meal

No doubt, a well-seasoned 12- to 14-ounce ribeye steak with mashed potatoes, sautéed carrots and bell peppers, followed by vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate chip cookies.

Most Difficult Food to Prepare

Seasoned scallops because they require absolute attention at every step – from preparation to cooking. Being especially attentive to cooking temperature is critical.

Best Advice Ever Received

I’m paraphrasing Michael Jordan when he said, “Failure is not a reason to create excuses but a reason to find ways to correct mistakes.”

MUSIC I LOVE

I’ll listen to almost anything, but my real favorites are blues and rock, especially sounds from 20 to 25 years ago when I could understand the words.

Favorite Leisure Activity

Being outside in the natural environment, especially when I have my adorable Australian shepherd Zulu with me. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Barber Joseph Bellone Keeps Clients Stylish

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“I appreciate all the people who came to me and have given me a new life. It’s been a long journey.”

Through willpower and perseverance, Joseph Bellone survived a horrific car accident and has become one of the best known barbers in the Quad Cities area.

The crash occurred on Nov. 7, 2016, in Paulden. Bellone was ejected from the vehicle and severely injured. He shattered bones, crushed his sciatic nerve and suffered head injuries. In the first week after the accident he had eight surgeries.

“It took them six months to put me back into one piece, but I still couldn’t walk,” he said.

One year later, he returned to work as a barber. “I had to work twice as hard, but I kept doing what’s best for my little girl,” he said.

Before the car accident, Bellone also had been a brick mason, but that manual labor had become too much for him. So, Bellone has made shaving beards into an art form.

“I see it much differently. You have to take your time and pay attention to every detail,” he said.

Bellone uses three hot towels when shaving a beard, while most barbers just use one or two. He also uses two different strokes, going with and against the grain to give it the best shape.

“That way, I get it just right,” he said.

Bellone received his training cutting hair and beards while attending a military academy in Queen Creek. There were 450 students who needed their hair cut every two weeks.

Today, he can be found at Smooths Barbershop at the Prescott Gateway Mall. “I have a lot of consistent customers because they feel comfortable,” he said. “I appreciate all the people who came to me and have given me a new life. It’s been a long journey.”

Bellone said that long journey has included being part of a wonderful family. “I’m just happy because the kids are beautiful and healthy,” he said.

Born in Glendale, Bellone’s mother moved to Paulden when he was 2 years old. He now lives in Prescott with his wife, Maddy, and three children.

 

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received

Before the car accident, a friend told me, “Don’t let anybody tell you that you cannot do something, because if you believe in yourself there is nothing that you cannot achieve.”

What Actor Should Play You in a Movie About Your Life?

Leonard DiCaprio because people have told me I have similar facial features…funny.

Places I’d Like to Visit

I want to go to Italy and Ireland. My mother’s Irish and my father’s Italian. Ireland has gorgeous countryside and Italy has a ton of culture.

My Favorite Activity Outside of Work

Any activity with my wife and children. I just like watching the children grow and showing them what life is about.

Last Time I Laughed Hard

No one time stands out because we laugh all the time. We have a lot of good times. QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Sole Sister

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Tennies for Tots founder Paula Sedillo Wise is making little feet happy.

Paula Sedillo Wise’s volunteer work with Tennies for Tots is a labor of love that has sprinted across Central and Northern Arizona. The program brings shoes to 3,000 children at 35 Headstart centers in Yavapai and Coconino counties as well as on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. Some days, she delivers hundreds of pairs and “the kids are thrilled,” she says.

Sedillo grew up in Flagstaff, where her parents instilled in her the importance of helping others. That was reinforced in her for the rest of her life when her father came down with cancer. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, her dad, James Sedillo, told her, “Don’t cry for me. Cry for the children.” He died four months later.

And thus, the Tennies for Tots program became a tribute to her dad. “Dad, this is for you. I need to keep this program going for him.”

Paula started the Tennies for Tots program in 2018 with four Headstart centers – two in Prescott and two in Flagstaff. “It has doubled each year,” she said. “I do a lot of shopping when shoes are on sale. People will call me to let me know about sales. We just finished our spring distribution.”

That distribution included trips to Headstart centers in the White Mountains, Winslow, Holbrook and Pinetop.

Tennies for Tots also works with the Firefighter Angel Foundation to bring shoes to children in the Quad Cities area. The Firefighter Angel Foundation gives backpacks with supplies to students during the holidays and helps families in need.

Working as an office manager for Good Samaritan Willow Wind in Prescott for 15 years, Sedillo saw the need when she sent her children to Headstart. “Another reason I wanted to help is because I struggled as a single mom.” Her sons are now 28 and 29.

“What’s really nice is after people’s children are helped, they want to help others. It’s nice when it comes full circle and they want to help somebody else,” she said.

Tennies for Tots is a non-profit organization that operates on donations and the help of volunteers. Currently, it has a donor who will match donations of up to $5,000 by the end of June.

Sedillo says the organization is always looking for more support. “Most of the volunteer work involves delivering and keeping an eye out for sales,” she said.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, call 920-420-4360 or visit tenniesfortots.org. Tennies for Tots also has a Facebook page.

LAST TIME I FELT PROUD

I feel proud when we hear that children would have had the same pair of shoes with holes in them if not for Tennies for Tots. Children cannot focus on their classwork if they have holes in their shoes. I’m proud that we can make a difference.

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED  

One of our biggest supporters said, “I like your concept, but you need to focus on shoes and socks.” That helped us. That was huge because we can’t do it all.

MY SUPERPOWER

Making little feet happy.

FAVORITE CHARACTER TRAIT

The generosity of people. Those who don’t have anything give the most. They say, “I’ve been in that position. I want to help.”

FAVORITE PLACE TO DECOMPRESS

Out in nature where I don’t have to think about anything and can just look at pretty flowers. QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Retired L.A. Detective Stuns with ‘Bombshell’

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Best-selling author Mike Rothmiller pulls from his investigative notes to write about Marilyn Monroe’s death.

Delving deep into political intrigue energizes Mike Rothmiller, a former Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detective, who, in 1977 at age 27, had been the youngest person assigned to the department’s Organized Crime Intelligence Division (OCID).

The division armed a succession of LA police chiefs with intelligence to peddle influence and intimidate opponents, Rothmiller said. Among about 70 detectives active during Rothmiller’s five-year tenure, he noted, not one arrest was made.

“Going back to the 1930s, the police chiefs were the most powerful people in Southern California,” he explained. “It was a very different time.”

New detectives were assigned to learning how the filing system worked. Never dreaming that he would one day be writing books about what he discovered, Rothmiller said he flipped through index cards linked to files about mobsters, actors and actresses, politicians and other icons.

From Detective to Writer

Now a New York Times bestselling author chasing down conspiracy theories, Rothmiller has published 34 books since 1992. Four of those volumes were co-authored and some were written under pen names.

His latest book, “Bombshell: The Night Bobby Kennedy Killed Marilyn Monroe,” incorporates Rothmiller’s handwritten notes, Monroe’s diary, and a 1982 interrogation of the late actor and Kennedy brother-in-law, Peter Lawford. “Bombshell” re-
creates the events of Aug. 4, 1962, at Monroe’s LA home, and has generated media buzz in Australia, England and Germany.

Rothmiller stumbled upon Monroe’s missing diary, the grail in Robert F. Kennedy’s (RFK) frantic search of Monroe’s home on the night she died. Lawford later told Rothmiller that he was at Monroe’s home while Kennedy rummaged for the incriminating volume. Monroe’s diary had not been logged in the OCID filing system, a fact that Rothmiller ascribes to it having been buried. Rothmiller handwrote the entries that interested him.

When Rothmiller interviewed Lawford 20 years after Monroe’s death, he says the actor was an alcoholic and a broken man. Nonetheless, the he said he is certain that the actor was sober and truthful about witnessing RFK mixing a special beverage for Monroe. Not realizing what the concoction was, Lawford allegedly joined RFK in urging the emotionally distressed Monroe to drink it.

Undercover to Mainstream

The undercover experiences of Rothmiller in OCID and the cover-ups he alleges in his books are a far cry from his daily life in Prescott. He and his wife, Nancy, arrived 15 years ago following a stint in Colorado.

He is currently working on his first novel and his next compendium of conspiracies, including RFK’s assassination and the Black Dahlia murder. The fiction book is pure detective drama.

“My wife is reading it now,” he said. “I wrote it actually the way that detectives speak, not the TV stuff. It takes place in Hollywood. I worked there, so that’s where I come from in my writing.”

Rothmiller also has been digging into Hillary Clinton’s 340,000 emails. Despite his intense interest, Rothmiller says those email messages likely will be classified for the next 25 years.

“I enjoy the research more than anything else,” he said. “I dig in. A lot of times, it’s a deadend. My work is true crime, very graphic. There is no candy coating.”

Decoys and Subterfuge

Decoys, misinformation and other subterfuge were used by detectives and their sources to keep OCID’s intervention quiet, Rothmiller said. Often, there would be an official crime investigation and a parallel OCID case. The OCID analysis never saw the light of day.

“We were working under cover,” he explained. “In a lot of cases, the information [from sources] was so startling to you that it was seared/embedded into your memory.”

The backstory behind how he snagged the interview with Lawford and the actor’s concern that Rothmiller was a CIA agent provide interesting reading in “Bombshell.” Shortly after the Lawford interview, Rothmiller was ambushed and badly injured. Ultimately, the attack was traced to another case involving Central and South American gun running and drugs.

“I was in the hospital in the trauma center under an assumed name,” Rothmiller recalled, when intelligence personnel reported that the attacker had returned to Nicaragua and that Nancy also had been targeted. “[The criminals] wanted to send a message to everyone in law enforcement that if you got in their way, they would take out your whole family.”

Rothmiller’s first book was published about 10 years after he had left police work. Titled “LA Secret Police,” the book documented life inside OCID and quickly made the bestseller list. By that time, he had been a TV reporter and had his own ESPN series.

“I thrive on exposing things that the average person does not see,” Rothmiller said. “Intelligence gathering is a completely different world. There are things that people do not want you to see.  There is so much political corruption, but now they are more cautious and devious in the way they cover their tracks.”

Best Advice Ever Received

It came from my mother: I am not sure how old I was, 8 or 9 that I recall, and about to play hardball at the park. I had never played before and I was nervous about it. She said, “Michael, you don’t know what you can accomplish unless you try.” I did well and pitched a no-hitter. Her words always stayed with me. What is the worst that can happen? You don’t know until you try.

Favorite Place to Visit

For vacation, I like Alaska and I have been 20 to 30 times to Hawaii. When not a vacation situation, I like going places that are unusual and different. I am an archeological site steward for Arizona. I have spent plenty of time off the beaten path, hiking two-story cliff dwellings that look like the inhabitants walked away a couple of weeks ago, even though it was the year 1300. Doing the news (as a TV reporter/director), I spent two weeks in the Amazon swimming in clear tributary waters and enjoying the wildlife.

Who I Admire

When I was in San Diego working at Sony and on the USO Board of Directors, I met a lot of military personnel being shipped off to Iraq and other places, not knowing if they would be coming back. I saw them with their spouses and children. The littlest children did not understand where Dad or Mom was going. Even in police work, you can quit anytime you want, but not as a soldier going on deployment to war. You can’t say, “I quit today.” I have to admire those people. In my book, “My Hero: Military Kids Write About Their Moms and Dads,” the kids wrote essays about why their parents are their heroes. I admire those kids, too, for how brave they were talking about their parents.

My Superpower

That goes back to what my Mom said. I am not afraid to try new things, not knowing if I am going to succeed or fail. If I succeed, wonderful. Maybe it’s an attitude toward life.

Five Years From Now

I assume I will still be writing right here. It keeps my mind active. Research and writing are like a treasure hunt for me. Most of the time, I find a gem to answer a question or open others’ eyes to something. QCBN

By Sue Marceau, QCBN

Smoothing Out Life’s Bumps

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Preferred Auto Body’s Cameron and Erika Snow know when you’ve had a bad day.

Cameron and Erika Snow are exactly the people you’d want managing the fallout if your motor vehicle were sideswiped, rear-ended, dented or otherwise damaged in a mishap.

The Snows, owners of Preferred Auto Body, Inc., apply their know-how to making your prized wheels look as good as new. From coordinating with insurance companies to buffing newly repaired auto bodies, their 11-person crew aims for complete customer satisfaction.

Since purchasing Preferred Auto Body in 2014, the Snows have focused on “keeping people happy” and “trying to do everybody right,” Cameron said. He and Erika bought the shop three years after relocating from California to Prescott, where Cameron had enjoyed visits during high school with a friend whose family had local connections. Cameron had been a firefighter until a job-related back injury ended that career. A family friend mentored him in auto body work, Cameron explained, “and here we are.”

In a typical week, the shop repairs about 20 vehicles. After dropping to 15 a week during the pandemic, business is picking back up.

“Our business is a mix of everything from bumpers to ‘train wrecks,’” Cameron said. “It goes in spurts. We can’t predict what will be coming in, so we’re ready for anything. Seventy percent is repeat customers and referrals. There are a lot more customer pays than I ever thought. People are scared to death to use their insurance.”

That fear arises from misconceptions about what causes insurance rates to rise, he explained. The general rule is that a driver hitting something spurs a rate increase, while damage such as that from hail storms, vandalism and grocery carts does not. A collision with a deer or other animal is exempt. Cameron shared that three-year rate increases of $27 to $30 a month have been reported by customers for “chargeable” incidents.

“The average person is going to get into a wreck,” according to industry statistics, Cameron said. “You would have to go 21 years without a loss to justify a $1,000 deductible and you’d only save a small amount a year for not choosing the lower deductible. People should know the fine print of their policies. Everyone thinks they have full coverage, but they don’t. Many go online and pick the cheapest rate, where accident payouts are low and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts are limited.”

Preferred Auto Body takes pride in advising customers on when to use insurance coverage and when to pay cash. “You may be able to repair minor damage for not much money, but you will want to explore if a more expensive repair justifies the cost of having insurance pay for it,” Cameron said. “We can help you figure that out.”

Besides negotiating with insurance companies, Snow says interfacing with customers can be challenging. “There are a thousand different scenarios, but any of them may have one thing in common: customers are stressed and not happy because their prized possession, and their second most expensive purchase after a home, is broken. We apply our knowledge to make them as happy as possible when they get the vehicle back. Circumstances change, so that task can be hard or easy.”

Community is important to the Snows, who have built strong relationships with businesses such as Brinkley Automotive, Big O Tires, Jim’s Alignment & Brake Service Inc., Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz Car Rental. The Preferred Auto Body experience includes, if needed, a ride to or from Enterprise or Hertz or a nearby home, office or similar location.

Of their many philanthropic activities, Erika said they like to keep their donations local by contributing to Prescott High School, Boys to Men Mentoring, Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kiwanis, and Arizona tax credits to area schools. Serving veterans is a favorite cause.

The Snows had collaborated in California with other businesses to raise $10,000 to $20,000 a year to take underprivileged children shopping during the holidays. They said they’d like to do the same in Prescott by aligning with schools and a merchant for after-hours shopping.

On a personal level, the Snows met at a California high desert roping event during the summer between sixth and seventh grades, Erika said. Their parents were friends and Erika later saw Cameron at middle school, though she says “he didn’t know I existed until we were 19.”

Their son, Travis, 21, and daughter, Shelby, 18, focus on “storming their own castles,” Erika said. Travis works in heavy construction and Shelby graduates this year from Prescott High School.

“Finding the right employees is the hardest part of this whole thing,” Cameron explained of opportunities for painters, painters’ helpers, detailers and office managers. “It’s worse because of the pandemic. We try to keep everybody working together as a family. We are blessed to have the people that we do.”

Best advice I’ve ever received:

“My former boss, and now friend, taught me everything I know about the auto body business and continues to give us advice regularly. His best advice was to always make the customer happy and go out of your way to make the repair process as easy as possible.”

If I could obtain a new skill, it be would be:

“To learn how to play an instrument, like a guitar, because it would be fun to play around a campfire.”

The last time I felt gratitude:

“We feel pride and gratitude on a daily basis. Our son is 21 and is working for a local company in construction and loving it. Our daughter is 18 and is graduating from Prescott High School this month. We’re proud of both of them and are grateful to God to have been able to raise them in a town like Prescott.”

In our spare time:

“We like to explore Arizona in our Side by Side, go hunting with our kids and when Cam can, he competes in Bench Rest shooting.”

Our role models are:

“Our dads. We lost them both at very young ages. They were 46 and 49. They both were hard-working men who were leaders both at work and at home. We try to work and live our lives in a way that we think would make them proud of both of us.” QCBN

By Sue Marceau, QCBN

Alexa Scholl: Prescott’s Rising Star

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Smiling broadly, which she does often, 23-year-old Alexa Scholl recalls how a local radio talk show host acknowledged that she shares the name “Alexa” with the Amazon electronic application that answers questions and performs communications tasks. It was suggested that the name recognition may have helped her win a seat on the Prescott City Council (PCC) when she was 20 years old.

“I’d like to think it was a bit more than just ‘name recognition,’” she said. “I consider myself a Prescott native and have family roots here since the 1950s. I attended local schools and graduated from Prescott High School in 2015.”

In high school, Alexa committed herself to representing her fellow students as what she called a “servant leader,” someone who wants to help the community make a sustainable difference in its quality of life. “Being involved in such programs cemented my interest in public service. I was inspired by other students who shared similar values. We really did support each other to make the world a better place,” said Scholl.

Her parents are both highly visible educators. Her father, John Scholl, is superintendent of Chino Valley Schools and her mother, Marti Read, is assistant superintendent of Prescott Unified School District (PUSD).

Alexa graduated from PHS with distinction. She was an award-winning varsity athlete and student leader. She later was named a Tillman Scholar and Truman Scholar – both prestigious honors awarded to exceptional students at Arizona State University (ASU). While there, she enrolled in the Barrett Honors College, where she completed a political science degree with a minor in Spanish in 2019. Currently, she is enrolled in an ASU master’s program in global security.

It seems no matter what she does, she is setting new standards or breaking records.

For instance, while yet an undergraduate at ASU, she ran for and was elected to a four-year term in 2017 to the seven-member Prescott City Council. She did so with the highest number of votes cast for any candidate and became the youngest city council person elected in Arizona history.

“It’s funny. I was not old enough to drink alcoholic beverages, and yet I was voting in council meetings to approve liquor licenses.”

Committed to Public Service

Last month, Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli shared with fellow council members that Alexa had accepted that role as mayor pro tem for the Prescott City Council.

“Having Alexa as our mayor pro tem is something I am very pleased about,” said Mayor Mengarelli. Her continuous thoughtful insight, dedication and knowledge about the greater Prescott community and unique perspectives on various issues the council faces make her truly invaluable in this role. I look forward to working with Ms. Scholl in her new capacity. I am excited to see how her leadership will impact PCC and the city as a whole.”

City Councilmember Billie Orr, who has served as mayor pro tem for the past several years, calls Alexa studious and perceptive. “Alexa is a talented young lady. I have enjoyed working alongside her on the council.”

“Alexa is one of the best examples of why I love being an educator in Prescott,” said PUSD School Superintendent Joe Howard. “She grew up here, represented academically the top levels of our schools in the county and state, and then returned to her community to contribute in the highest manner. We are so proud of this young woman. What’s gratifying is that she accepted a position with PUSD to be our health and safety coordinator in dealing with some of the most threatening situations in our history. She is leading us through this pandemic with incredible skill. I am reminded daily of how important and full circle our efforts are in education.”

Early in her service on the council, she was instrumental in creating the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), which is designed to help area students be aware of local government policies and issues that affect youth.

Scholl also dedicates time to serving on the board of the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Partnerships. She is a member of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States. She also has worked and volunteered for Yavapai Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

In her spare time, Scholl says she listens to podcasts about political, criminal and social issues. She also enjoys a good comedy.

What makes me laugh

I laugh hardest when I spend time with my family. We tend to be sarcastic, so we enjoy poking fun at each other.

My favorite meal

I really love my dad’s chicken curry over rice. But we have some good restaurants in town.

My favorite place to travel

San Felipe, Mexico. We’ve been going there since I was a little kid. It’s like a second home. But I also love, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, where I can study U.S. history. I owe that to Kelly Cordes, my seventh grade social studies teacher.

Prescott is unique

I think our wonderful climate and natural beauty, combined with the history of the region, are major draws. Of course, there’s no place like Prescott during the holidays. Totally spectacular and welcoming.

If I had an unlimited bank account

It would go for non-profits and foundations. These are close to my heart. They have been impacted by the pandemic. They need financial support. QCBN

By Ray Newton

Challenges Ahead for Alzheimer’s Association Director

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Lesley Jenkins, regional director for the Desert Southwest Chapter – Alzheimer’s Association, has a daunting task ahead.

It involves creating more awareness and more support groups for what is becoming the most insidious illness attacking Arizonans – dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the state. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause – 60 to 80% – of all dementia cases.

“Arizona leads the nation as the state with the highest growth rate of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Jenkins. “Right now, more than 150,000 people 65 and older have been diagnosed. That number is expected to increase by as much as 33% in the next five years.”

Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s victims are women.

Jenkins, who accepted the regional director job in February 2019, said the past 10 months have been especially difficult for her and her staff of two. The COVID-19 pandemic essentially stopped face-to-face meetings and training sessions scheduled from her office at 3111 Clearwater Dr., near the northern boundary of Prescott.

“The region for which we are responsible is bigger than some states – more than 66,000 square miles. We work with people in Yavapai, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo and Apache counties. It’s a growing population of more than 773,000. Many of those are older people,” she said.

Despite difficulties with travel and in-person meetings, Jenkins and her team have been recruiting volunteers to help in various areas. “Additionally, we have a variety of resources and programs that help people cope with all aspects of the disease and its progression,” she said.

Among those resources cited by Jenkins:

24/7 Helpline – 800-272-3900
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a professional consultant is available to talk confidentially and provide information about Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

Support Groups – When circumstances permit, free forums conducted by trained individuals are offered throughout the four counties. Most are for dementia care partners, but some are for individuals diagnosed with early-stage dementia.

Ongoing Education – These presentations utilize trained volunteers who introduce the audience to all aspects of the disease and provide resources to help caregivers find assistance.

Early Stage Programming – These programs include specific activities focused on engaging, encouraging and empowering diagnosed persons to utilize their strength and capacities as long as they can.

Safety Services – Jenkins and her teams, in collaboration with the greater Alzheimer’s Association and the MedicAlert Foundation, provide membership plans with 24/7 “Wandering Support,” a nationwide emergency response service for persons with dementia who have a tendency to wander or have other medical issues.

 

The Nashville, Tennessee native earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in journalism, speech communication and theater at Tennessee State University. For several years, she served as assistant director for media relations for The Ohio State University. She also had experience in public relations for the City of Columbus. It was in Cleveland where she met her future husband, Rodney Jenkins.

Her husband has been a college and university administrator most of his professional career. Both Lesley and Rodney were working in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. She was the associate director and member coordinator for the YMCA there. Rodney accepted a position as vice president of community relations at Yavapai College in Prescott in 2017.

They have two sons, Jayden, 16 and Jared, 13. Both are enrolled in Prescott public schools.

Jenkins said her most immediate challenge is to organize the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” scheduled in the Quad Cities Oct. 3, and in the Greater Verde Valley on Oct. 24.

“This is a part of the world’s largest event to raise funds to create awareness and support for Alzheimer’s care and research. Because of the pandemic, we’re pivoting to do it virtually this year. Even so, we are calling on people of all ages and abilities from throughout Northern Arizona to step forward and join in this major effort. We are committed to focus not only on care and support for families in this region, but also to help fund research to find a cure.”

My Favorite Entertainment

I binge watch TV – Hallmark channel and HGTV. And, try this: Watch cheerleading competitions.

Best Advice I’ve Ever Received

From my pastor in my early career, who said, to be a leader, we had to have impeccable character and respect for authority and realize that quality of life is more important than quantity.

The Biggest Influence on My Career

My mom. She sacrificed a lot for me. Now that I’m a mother, I want her to know the time and attention she paid me were not in vain.

Characteristics I Admire in Co-Workers and Colleagues

A solid work ethic and ability to work together as a team. Teamwork makes dreamwork.

If YOU Could Snap Your Fingers for Social Change

I would encourage empathy. Empathy allows us to imagine what it is to be someone else. It allows a person to speak the truth and be respected. QCBN

By Ray Newton

For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association, contact Jenkins at
ldjenkins@alz.org.