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Nebeker Selected to Sculpt Bronze Statue Honoring Fallen Officers

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One of America’s most renowned Western artists, Bill Nebeker, was selected to create a bronze sculpture as a memorial to officers who have lost their lives in service of citizens of Yavapai County.

Nebeker’s selection was announced by the Yavapai Law Enforcement Memorial Committee (YLEMC), chaired by Sheriff Scott Mascher. Nebeker, a lifelong resident of Prescott, said he was humbled and honored beyond his ability to express.

Recognized as one of the nation’s most prominent sculptors of cowboys and horses, Nebeker has been president four times of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America.

Nebeker was not always famous. He and his wife, Merry, scratched out a modest living in the 1960s and early ‘70s, working at a foundry in Skull Valley created by the late Western artist, George Phippen.

It was not until 1974, when he sculpted a small statue of legendary Western actor John Wayne, that he achieved more than regional recognition. He fashioned the sculpture after an image he had of Wayne from the award-winning movie “The Searchers.” Wayne heard about it, contacted Nebeker and invited him to meet him in Stanfield, a small town near Casa Grande, where Wayne owned a ranch. The Nebekers drove down in their pickup truck.

“We sat on the tailgate and talked to Wayne,” said Nebeker. “He ended up buying a couple of my bronzes. Before long, a lot of Hollywood people knew about me.” His works started selling.

Nebeker credits Merry, his wife of 55 years, with being his main supporter and cheerleader during the lean years when he struggled to make a professional career of Western art. Now, his works are showcased in major museums throughout the United States. Private collectors also have his work. Several European galleries and museums display his art.

On Aug. 9, Nebeker’s largest sculpture ever, “If Horses Could Talk,” was mounted on a roundabout at Deep Well Ranch and Crystal Lane on SR 89 going north out of Prescott. The artwork shows a cowboy peering through binoculars to find a deer while his horse is looking downward under a rock ledge where a buck has hidden.

Remembering Law Officers

His newest sculpture, “Lest We Forget,” will memorialize the estimated 18 Yavapai County law officers who have died in the line of duty since the founding of Arizona Territory.

The memorial features an officer of the 1880s-1900 territorial era portrayed in Western style – a gun belt and holster with historic depictions of a pistol and bullets, wearing old-fashioned trousers tucked into high-topped leather boots. Hat in hand, he’ll look down in honor toward an empty pair of boots signifying fallen officers.

The life-size statue will be mounted on a granite boulder approximately three feet by four feet wide and deep. A smaller boulder in front will be inscribed with names of fallen officers and display a pair of empty old-time boots with spurs on them.

When finished, the sculpture will be located on the Courthouse Plaza in a triangular-shaped raised area near the corner of Montezuma and Gurley Streets. It will be highly visible to thousands of residents and visitors who explore Arizona’s first territorial capital and seat of government.

Nebeker spoke about the memorial’s significance to him. “Several lifelong friends and Prescott High School classmates have been policemen, sheriffs, DPS officers and U.S. marshals. In fact, several of their children now are serving our community, county and state. To create something to honor law enforcement officers is a great opportunity. To have it on the Courthouse Plaza in the town where I grew up and near the famous Bucky O’Neill statue is beyond my wildest dreams.”

Prescott Chief of Police Debora Black commented about the choice of Nebeker to create the memorial: “A memorial dedicated to honor law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice will be a fitting addition to our already beautiful County Courthouse Square. It will allow everyone to pay homage to our fallen heroes. Bill Nebeker grew up in our Prescott tradition. His work embodies the legacy of our Western heritage. I can’t think of anyone better suited to create a memorial reflecting the valuable role peace officers play in our community.”

“This statue at the Courthouse Plaza will remind us all that freedom and peace [are] not free,” said Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chair Craig Brown.

Nebeker said he hopes to have the memorial completed by January. It currently is being cast by the Prescott Valley foundry Bronzesmith.

No taxpayer dollars are being spent to construct the memorial, YLEMC committee members said. Instead, a fundraising campaign fund has been established for those who wish to contribute.

Best advice I ever received:

Be honest. A man’s word is his bond.

Favorite celebrity to hang out with:

John Wayne, but he’s gone. Now, probably Sam Elliott, with that gravelly deep voice that fits so many of his Western movie characters.

Favorite meal:

No doubt about that. A couple of eggs, over medium, easy, sausage and hashbrowns – every morning of the week.

Best place to vacation:

Big Island, Hawaii, up north where all the cattle ranches are.

Advise for a long, successful marriage:

Lots of hugging and kissing and dancing. And never go to bed at night angry.

Best character quality to pass along to my children:

For more information, visit billnebeker.com

By Ray Newton

New HUSD Superintendent Facing Unparalleled Challenges

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Acknowledging that his biggest challenge will be finding ways to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on the educational environment throughout the Humboldt Unified School District, John Pothast says he is “beyond excited” to be working in Prescott Valley.

Pothast is beginning his job as superintendent of the largest school district in Yavapai County. He succeeds Dan Streeter, who accepted the superintendency position with the Marana School Unified District in northwest Tucson.

“During my earlier research about schools in Prescott Valley and then during my interviews, I was genuinely impressed with the intense professional commitment of the district’s faculty and staff,” Pothast said.

Though coming to HUSD from a prior four-year administrative position as director of innovation and strategic planning in Soldotna, Alaska, Pothast is not unfamiliar with Arizona. He and his wife, Sheilah-Margaret, were teachers for several years at Cibola High School in Yuma. He taught English and she taught social studies. Also, Pothast earned a master of educational leadership degree in 1999 from Northern Arizona University (NAU). Years earlier, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English and humanities from the University of Minnesota’s Duluth campus.

Sheilah-Margaret is originally from Camp Verde. They have two adult children: a daughter, who just graduated from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and a son who will be a junior at NAU.

The five-member HUSD school board was unanimous in offering Pothast a two-year contract .

Becoming the head administrator for HUSD begins Pothast’s 32nd year in education. He’ll be responsible for administering a multi-million dollar budget, which in 2019-2020 was $35,292,511 in maintenance and operations, and $3,302,243 in capital investments. New budget figures will be announced at the beginning of the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

He will also be responsible for a workforce of approximately 615 employees: 283 faculty members; 310 classified personnel and 22 administrators. All these people keep 10 schools operational – a high school, two middle schools, one traditional school, five elementary schools, and one preschool. They also serve an estimated 5,400 students, an enrollment which generally has been stable the past few years.

Challenges Are Without Precedent

Pothast admits the challenges facing schools and communities in the state and throughout the nation are without precedent. “If we have to continue dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll need to find ways to provide quality education to students in remote learning environments. If we start getting back to ‘normal,’ we’ll be dealing with residual – and possibly ongoing – issues created during the past few months.”

He adds that budget and funding issues will be significant across the nation. “It’s too early to tell what or when the beginning of school will be like. Certainly, the governor has announced he wants schools opened in a normal fashion. HUSD already has a working group put together to look at what our options might include.”

Noting that the dramatic changes occurring in schools, society, culture and industry are influencing education in ways previously unimagined, Pothast said he wants to be visionary in moving education forward to give children some ownership in the learning process. He feels that education is not confined to classrooms, or school days or even particular locations. He believes a positive educational journey requires collaboration and open communications from among all sectors of society.

“I want to be clear,” he said. “The health and safety of everyone is paramount, no matter where we find ourselves in the fall.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“My mom told me, ‘This too shall pass,’ and she was right. Life is full of ups and downs. The past several months of school are among those challenging times. But it shall pass, and we’ll find our new normal and continue.”

 

What’s your favorite recent memory?

“Having both our kids home with us again. When their campuses shut down in March, the circumstances that caused that were unfortunate. But having them home, with all the fun and laughter we have together, was a blessing.”

 

What do you and your family do for entertainment or recreation?

“Hiking in the mountains, biking on trails, boating on the water, skiing in the winter – anything outdoors.”

 

What led you to a career in education?

“I had many inspirational teachers over the years. Mrs. Terri Tiech, my middle school English teacher, personalized learning long before anyone else thought about it. Her impact on my later life helped me move in that same direction.”

 

What’s your favorite
holiday and why?  

“Christmas. That’s a time that reminds us of what should be important in life – helping and giving to others. It’s a time to believe.” QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Mod Mom Furniture Designer Teams Up with Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

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Going from television sales in Chicago for the A&E network to stay-at-home mom in Los Angeles, Kiersten Hathcock was restless. “In addition to the fact that we needed to make up for my lost income, I realized quickly that I was wired to work and create. In 2006, I set up a garage sale and it looked like the display floor of The Gap. At that point, I knew I needed to do something to foster my creative side while I was home with the kids.”

She also knew she needed toy storage for her young children, ages 1 and 5. But she and her husband, Scott, wanted that toy box to blend with the rest of the mid-century modern furniture in their 1,400-square-foot home. She looked online, she looked on Craigslist. She found only one that she would consider modern.

“We were in L.A., a town that appreciates mid-century modern style. I thought, ‘If I can teach myself how to build furniture, there’s a niche here.’ So, I bought a circular saw and Googled ‘how to build furniture.’ The first toy boxes I built were horrible. But I put them on Etsy and sold a couple of them. Later, when I got better, I gave those people new toy boxes.”

Becoming a Carpenter, Building a Brand, Battling Sharks

For four years, Hathcock sawed and sanded and painted, creating more than 300 pieces of mid-century modern-style kids’ furniture and building her Mod Mom Furniture brand in her garage. Celebrities became her clientele. So, she drove her minivan into the L.A. foothills to deliver furniture to people like reality television fashion designer Rachel Zoe and actor Matthew McConaughey.

“I wouldn’t trade that time, but boy, did I get tired,” she said. “I was always covered in sawdust and managing the kids at home 24/7.”

Her dad suggested she watch Shark Tank, the television program in which budding entrepreneurs pitch their business idea to famous multi-millionaires in hopes of gaining an investor. After about 30 minutes of considering making her own presentation, she thought, “I should give it a shot.”

She did and she received two offers on the air: one from Robert Herjavec and one from Kevin O›Leary, a.k.a. Mr. Wonderful. She went with Herjavec and what appeared to be the better deal. Hathcock left the television studio elated, believing her dreams had come true. But not long after the bright lights of the set had dimmed, so did her hopes. She tried to track down her investor, but learned the deal would not be moving forward.

“I believe everything happens the way it should happen. I picked myself back up and said,

‘I can do this.’” Besides, she’d already received all kinds of free press from publications like People magazine.

The television appearance, which continues to be rerun, along with media exposure surrounding her television offer, brought another interested investor. “He called from San Francisco and said, ‘I believe in you, tell me what you want.’”

The agreement included $100,000 and she was able to keep more equity in the company than she would have with previous offers.

Hathcock continued to build children’s furniture as the CEO and founder of Mod Mom Furniture. She also began giving presentations, mostly to high school students and aspiring entrepreneurs, about pursuing their dreams. “I talk a lot about building a brand from nothing, because I didn’t have money to build a brand. I tell them my story and how I went from corporate to carpentry – nobody does that. But, it worked. You can do anything you put your mind to. Be resilient. Don’t quit. Trust your intuition. I had no skill and no money and now I’m designing furniture that’s recognized internationally.”

Teaming Up with Frank Lloyd Wright

A year ago, Hathcock was hired to give a presentation to the American Society of Interior Designers. The new vice president of licensing for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation was in the audience. Three days later, the two were talking on the phone about creating a children’s furniture line for the organization.

In April, a news released announced, “The American-made, modern kids’ furniture brand, Mod Mom Furniture, and leading toddler furniture maker, Little Colorado, are honored and excited to collaborate with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to create a line of modern children’s furniture. Some pieces will be inspired by Wright’s furniture designs, while others will be replicas of Wright furniture scaled down for children.”

Little Colorado is the company Hathcock had chosen because of its environmentally sustainable practices. The Frank Lloyd Wright furniture line is called PlayHouse by Mod Mom Furniture. The origin of the brand name was a drawing of the word “playhouse” Wright had created for a client project.

“This was incredible. All of a sudden, I’m doing business under the name of America’s most famous architect!” Hathcock is now designing and creating multiple kids’ furniture pieces inspired by Wright’s work.

The non-profit organization’s president and CEO, Stuart Graff, said in the news release, “The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation inspires the world through an understanding and experience of Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideas, architecture and design. Developing a new line of children’s furniture that incorporates Wright’s design principles is a fantastic way to show new generations a beautiful and inspired way of living.”

The first product to hit the market is a play table and chair set. Five different Frank Lloyd Wright graphic designs can be printed directly onto the tabletop, or the tabletop can be left in its natural finish. A prototype was on display during Modernism Week in Palm Springs, California. The foundation says feedback throughout and after the event was so positive that the launch of the brand was moved up to April from August.

FOLLOWING HER INTUITION

During the past decade, while Hathcock was intently focused on the extraordinary ups and downs of her children’s furniture business, another astounding development was happening. More children began coming into her life.

“It started in 2011. I started hearing and seeing children in spirit. As a skeptic and believer in scientific data, I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening. I thought maybe I’d inhaled too much polyurethane in the workshop.”

From that moment on, many children who had been killed by predators, or who died suddenly, began to visit her. They would communicate to her about their tragic deaths. She thought she was going crazy until she started sharing what she was receiving with law enforcement and grieving parents who validated the messages as accurate.

“It’s incredibly emotional work so I had to learn to step outside of myself and just record what I was seeing and hearing. I became like a doctor observing a patient and would write down what I was being told that needed to be shared,” she said.

Hathcock became a reluctant undercover medium, volunteering to help police officers and detectives solve crimes against children. “After I’d been volunteering for about two years, visions of myself at a young age starting coming to me. Because I trusted my intuition by that point, I knew to trust what I was getting.”

Long locked-out memories began to reveal themselves to Hathcock. She learned that she, too, had her own history with a pedophile, assaults by a relative that took place when she was between the ages of 3 and 5. Further, during a three-year split from her husband, Scott, she “fell down a deep hole” in a relationship with a narcissistic sociopath.

“Unbeknownst to me, I was living with a predator,” The spirits of the children were warning her. She says, one in particular named Jason told her to, “’Go get the restraining order now. You have to do it now.’ Had I not left, I believe I would be dead.”

Hathcock’s experiences are now captured in her book with the working title, “Undercover Medium.” She expects it to be on the market in 2021.

Retired New York City Police Department Detective Mark Pucci, who continues to work as a private investigator, wrote the foreword. Here’s an excerpt:

 

Thinking back to before we had the opportunity to speak on the phone, I remember asking myself, “What is this furniture company CEO from Arizona doing volunteering to assist on a high-profile missing persons case in Long Island, New York?” That being said, when I finally had the chance to speak to Kiersten on the phone for the first time, my intuition kicked into full gear. Much to my surprise, not long into our conversation, I realized that Kiersten was unlike any other intuitive medium I had spoken to through the years. She explained to me that she had recently discovered that she possessed certain abilities that might assist investigators in finding missing persons, and that she was simply looking to volunteer her time because she cared and just wanted to help. I eventually came to understand, as time went on and I got to know Kiersten personally, that she had truly been given a gift for helping others in this way . . . especially kids. The most amazing part of her journey is that she wasn’t looking for any of what has happened to her . . . it simply found her. 

 

Hathcock lives in Flagstaff with her husband, Scott. The family moved here from L.A. in 2012. Their two children, Grace and Noah, are now adults. For more information about Mod Mom Furniture or the book, “Undercover Medium,” visit modmomfurniture.com/upcoming-book.html. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Baking for Health

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Cookies, cupcakes, donuts and brownies are not typically considered healthy foods, but Health Coach Karen Russell has found a way to bake for one’s sweet tooth without the processed sugar and gluten.

Owner of Sedona-based Karen’s Gluten Free Living, Russell says her introduction to baking started as a child with an Easy Bake Oven.  She recalls making Rice Krispies treats, cookies and brownies. “I was the oldest of seven siblings and I was always hungry, so I made snacks.”

Russell’s pilgrimage into health started in college where she studied nutrition. “I started to eat healthier, but when I was in my 40s, I was diagnosed with chronic insomnia and fibromyalgia. I decided to change my diet to gluten- and dairy-free and threw out all my regular flour, dairy, butter, cheese and sugar and replaced them with gluten-free flour, coconut sugar and other healthier food options,” she said.

As her health improved significantly, she decided to become a health coach, guiding others to a better way to live healthy. During this journey, she published a book called, “Gluten Free Living.”

However, her dissatisfaction with the gluten-free products on the market inspired Russell to begin making her own. “The gluten-free food available didn’t taste fantastic and they were dry and crumbly and full of sugar and processed ingredients. So, I began to formulate recipes that were healthy and tasty.”

Her first product was her Chocolate Chip D-Lites. “I would take my cookies to a party or picnic and people loved them so much I would have to hide a few so there would be some left over for me.”

In 2014, Russell started selling her Chocolate Chip D-Lites at the Sedona Farmer’s Market.  She began to add more products such as her Red Rock Energy Bites, Pecan Delights and her Gluten Free Paleo and Sour Dough Breads. “Two years later, I quit health coaching and decided to devote all my time to this business. I registered as an LLC, and sought investors to finance my kitchen packaging/marketing for the products.”

“We love to support local sellers,” said Flagstaff Natural Grocers Store Manager James Rowe. “Previous to working here, I worked at the Sedona store and Karen’s gluten-free products were a big seller. They are selling well in Flagstaff, too. Pecan Delights are my favorite.”

Karen’s Gluten Free Living kitchen is a Certified Gluten Free Kitchen, which means there is no cross-contamination. “I pay a fee and get audited every year; plus, I have to keep paperwork. It’s an involved process, but worth it because people with serious gluten-free health issues such as celiac disease can be assured they have a genuine gluten-free product.”

During the 2019 Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO) Moonshot Pitch Event, Russell’s products were a hit. “Her passion for her field and quality of product really shone through,” said Moonshot Vice President of Operations and Finance Amanda Kristinat. “On a personal note, after being given the opportunity to try some samples, I was hooked.  My whole family loves Karen’s shortbread cookies.”

A regular shopper at Russell’s weekly Sedona Farmer’s Market, Margaret Weant- Leavitt says she absolutely loves Karen’s cupcakes, cakes and cookies. “I’m a self-professed chocoholic and can’t go a day without these wonderful baked goods. I couldn’t find good bread until I tried her sourdough bread and bagels…they are amazing. When I share with my friends, they are in disbelief that they are gluten and sugar free. Plus, they taste like gourmet baked goods.”

Packaged mixes are available from Karen’s Gluten Free Living, as well. “We have a brownie, muffin, bread and shortbread cookies mix,” said Russell, who plans to add more products.

A heart-warming recollection for Russell was when she was at the Sedona Farmers Market and a young boy walked up. “He was eyeing my cupcakes and told me how good they looked but he was sure he couldn’t have one because of his allergies. His mom came and read the ingredients and he was so happy because he could have one. Those are the moments that make it all worthwhile.”

Born in Japan and raised in Ohio, Russell is married and has lived in Sedona for eight years. She has three adult children and four grandchildren. Her kitchen is currently based out of her home. “Someday, I’d like to grow bigger and get a bigger space.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

To find Russell’s products, visit karensglutenfreeliving.com or call 928-282-8918.

 

Country Doctor Celebrates a Lifetime of Memories in Northern Arizona

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For decades, retired physician and cattle rancher George Yard and his wife, Sharon, a nurse, have impacted the medical, educational and agricultural fields of both Yavapai and Coconino Counties, directly and indirectly.

Though both had their primary careers in hospital medicine in Coconino County, they nevertheless owned and operated a large cattle ranch Yavapai County, just east of Paulden and west of Perkinsville.

For 25 years, beginning in 1991, the Yards managed the Y Bar D Ranch and grew feed crops and fed cattle year-round. George was a member of the Chino Winds Natural Resources Conservation District from 2014 until 2018, and the Coconino Natural Resource Conservation District from 1987 through 1994. They were well-known among ranchers in the area.

Having just celebrated his 90th birthday on Feb. 28, Yard reminisced about his experiences with more than 230 close family members and friends when they attended a party in his honor at the Elks Lodge in Flagstaff.

Friends from throughout the Quad Cities area joined those from Flagstaff and elsewhere to sing “Happy Birthday” to the country doctor. They also heard close friends tease the Yards in ways that only occur when genuine respect and friendship is involved. A sizable number of them made the claim, “Dr. Yard delivered me,” or “Dr. Yard delivered one of my kids.” What Yard likes to brag most about, though, is that he delivered all his grandchildren.

It is true. George Yard delivered them and thousands of other babies during those years that he practiced medicine in Flagstaff and, later, in Williams. In 1960, Yard was honorably discharged as a captain from Army Medical Corp after having served in Germany. He began a family practice in Flagstaff. The population then was only 18,214. At that that time, six physicians were headquartered in the little town. Family doctors were busy with every type of medical issue.

Never Quite the ‘Boy Next Door’

A native of Bisbee, where he lived on a ranch-farm, Yard became an Eagle Scout and went to high school. In 1948, Yard decided he wanted a look at the bigger world. He was one of two outstanding Bisbee High School students to receive a Phelps Dodge scholarship to attend the University of Arizona.

As his grandson, Charlie Moody, described to the crowd at the birthday party, “Grandpa was known for his campus shenanigans. He and his fraternity buddies crept into a sorority house, stole all the toilet seats, took them to Old Main on [NAU] campus and strung them up for everyone to see.”

A pre-med graduate at the University of Arizona in 1952, Yard then was admitted to Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. In just two years, he received his bachelor of medicine degree, “And I am quite proud of that BM,” he said with a grin. In 1956, he earned his doctorate in medicine and soon after, joined the military.

Others who talked about Yard during the celebration were emphatic that Yard, while an excellent physician, was not the traditional “white coat and necktie doctor.” In contrast, he wore cowboy boots, jeans and western shirts, and of course, a cowboy hat – all a reflection of his youth when he was a champion bull rider.

Influential Community Leader

Through the years, as Dr. Yard became involved in the greater Flagstaff community, he joined the State Board of Medical Directors. He served from 1973 to 1977 as president of the Coconino County Medical Association. For a while, he served as a part-time physician at Northern Arizona University (NAU).

He was involved in multiple community organizations, too, such as the Republican Party, Flagstaff Symphony, Turquoise Ball and as chairman of the Community College State Board. In fact, he was a primary leader in the founding of Coconino Community College.

Yard was well-known in the greater community, where he was joined by notable community leaders like the late attorney Douglas J. Wall, the late former NAU president J. Lawrence Walkup, and longtime physician George Hershey, 82. They and their community colleagues formed close bonds, and vacationed and socialized together. In fact, Yard reminisced at the party, “The one guy I really wish was here – Doug Wall. He made a real difference in my life.”

Fellow doctor George Hershey teased the birthday crowd, “I’ve got a lot of stories I could tell you about pranks George pulled on me and other doctors – but there are too many kids here.”

When the Yards moved from Flagstaff Medical Center to Williams so he could become a clinic physician at Williams Hospital, the Yards bought a cattle ranch, the Y Bar D, south of Williams near Perkinsville and Paulden in Yavapai County. They retired in 2002. Yard, then 72, built what he called their dream house, where they lived adjacent to the Verde River until 2019. He and Sharon raised crops and cattle, and “built enough fence to corral any herd John Wayne ever ran,” he said.

Now, the Yards live in Flagstaff, near many of their children and grandchildren. “I still have my horse, too, though getting in the saddle is a bit more than I want to do now.”

Sharon laughs, “Heck, getting in the truck is a chore for you anymore.”

What’s your favorite holiday?

“No doubt, Christmas, because of the spirit involved.”

What is the funniest thing you ever did?

“When I was at the UofA [University of Arizona], one night my frat brothers and I stole a pig from the university farm. We greased it up really good and then at 2 in the morning, we took it to the Kappa Kappa Gamma house and turned it loose in the living room. We sat on the lawn and roared as the girls tried to catch it.”

What is your most memorable experience?

“Taking a pontoon boat trip down the Grand Canyon with my wife. My son, since he was a river-runner, made arrangements and accompanied us in another boat.”

How seriously should we take the coronavirus epidemic?

“People need to treat it as they would any other serious disease. Maintain good sanitation practices, wash your hands regularly with soap, avoid unnecessary exposure to large crowds, and if possible, stay away from areas that have been contaminated.”

What advice would you give a young person starting a medical career?

“If you decide to make medicine a career, you must make it a full life, multifold commitment.” QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Former Green Beret Tackling Jail Issues

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The coming weeks and months will be demanding and intense, says Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chair Craig Brown. Requests continue to come in for more services and facilities. That, he says, coupled with what looks to be an aggressive political year, will heat up the governmental landscape.

“The major issue we supervisors will face in the next month is looking toward the estimated $70 million bond issue to pay for a new jail in Prescott. Some have said we need to spend more, but I am insistent that amount will cover the costs.”

The board has been preparing for the construction of a 144-bed jail just south of the Prescott Lakes Parkway near the Yavapai County Juvenile Detention Center.

“We desperately need that jail to take the pressure off the existing jail in the Verde Valley near Camp Verde. That jail has about 550 people a day in it. What’s worse, about 65 percent of those prisoners are in trials in Prescott, so we – the county – have to transport them back and forth at a cost of about a million dollars a month. Think of the money we can save if we have them in a prison in the city where they are going to be tried,” he explained.  “We’ll be making some final decisions this coming month.”

If approved by voters, a bond to cover the cost of the new jail will be paid off through a combination of property taxes, jail sales tax revenue and the general fund.

Another major issue the board will be addressing is the matter of water shortages, not just in Yavapai County but throughout Arizona. “What most people don’t realize is that we really don’t have much say about water allocations, especially with private owners,” he said. “What is needed is for state legislators, in cooperation with federal authorities, to face up to reality and develop new water management plans and strategies. We have too many independent straws in the ground sucking water, but we at the county level cannot control that.”

Annexation is another matter Brown discussed. “Somewhat like the water issue, how land is annexed from the county into a city or town is not something we have absolute authority over. The reality is, the county cannot say no to annexation. Legal cause has to be demonstrated before it can be denied.”

With county growth, Brown says public safety and improved roads will get a lot of the board’s attention this year, too.

Brown is serving his second term as a county supervisor. He was first elected in 2012 and served as board chair in 2016. Already, he has declared he will run for a third term in 2020.

A resident of Yavapai County since 2005, Brown and his wife, Sandi, live In Williamson Valley’s Inscription Canyon, northwest of Prescott. That makes him the elected supervisor for District 4, which stretches to the county border north and west.

The Browns’ adult children – two sons and a daughter – and their families live in California and Texas.

Brown began his career with the Santa Monica Police Department. He was a detective for seven of his 15 years there, and rose to rank of sergeant. During the same period, he attended Redlands University where he earned degrees in administration of justice and public administration. Injuries forced him to retire in 1985.

Almost immediately, Brown was hired by the Superior Court system of Los Angeles and then, later, by the Los Angeles County Probation Department as a director. He used his organizational and administrative skills to manage a $300 million annual budget and oversee some 6,500 employees.

Before working in law enforcement, Brown was in the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam with the Green Berets along the Cambodian border and earned several citations for his service before he was honorably discharged.

What is your favorite holiday?        

“No doubt about that, the Fourth of July. I love everything that day stands for.”

What is your favorite meal? 

“The same thing I’d eat on the Fourth of July – fried chicken and mashed potatoes.”

What’s your favorite kind of entertainment?         

“I love slapstick comedy – Laurel and Hardy and stuff like that. But I also like good Western movies or historic dramas and books. I’m kind of a history nut.”

If you had unlimited money to contribute, where would you direct it? 

“Locally. Sharlot Hall Museum would get a chunk of it because of all the great preservation of our local Western history. I’d also give a bunch to veteran’s causes, for they have served our country. And certainly, I’d give to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. What it does for terminally ill children is remarkable.”

What music would we find on your playlist?  

“You’ll laugh, but probably elevator music. Or, maybe rhythm and blues.”

 

 

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Photo by Ray Newton

Grand Canyon Saddle Maker Enjoying the Ride

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Across from the Xanterra South Rim is a mule barn sitting on an inconspicuous lot at the Grand Canyon Village. The historic building was a blacksmith’s shop.

Inside, the old wooden floors show their age, while the aroma of worked leather and mules give away its purpose. This is Joe Marshall’s territory: the Saddle Maker’s shop.

Neatly arranged are leather straps and scraps, saddles, tools, machinery, a bottle of soda and a bag of chips. Like a Western Santa in his workshop, Marshall joyfully makes and repairs saddles, chaps, holsters, britches and “anything leather,” for Xanterra’s mule operations.

Marshall has been a saddle maker for more than 50 years and claims, “I’m probably one of the luckiest people on this property here. I’m doing what I love to do.”

All the tools and equipment in his shop belong to him.

Growing up outside of Phoenix, Marshall has worked as an animal control officer, police officer, carpenter and cabinetmaker.

“I then started working on ranches all over Utah, California and Arizona,” he said.

In 1981, Marshall built a house in Cedar City, Utah. He also built a saddle shop behind his house. “When the economy went south and our daughter, Danica, graduated high school, this job opened up here at the Grand Canyon. I applied and was hired, back in 2008. I feel real fortunate to have this job.”

His wife lives at their Cedar City home. He travels back and forth. “I work a four-day, 10-hour schedule and go home about every month or so.”

“Having the best equipment here is vital for the safety of our guests, employees and our mules,” said Livery Manager John Berry. “Joe does an outstanding job in mastering his craftsmanship to assure this.”

Matt Joseph, Xanterra packer supervisor, likes to visit Marshall in the evenings after work. “Joe has a really good sense of humor, so he’s fun to hang out with. He’s a good teacher, too, and if he doesn’t know an answer, he’ll find out. His saddles are great; they fit the mules really well and they’re comfortable. It’s important to have a sense of craftsmanship and Joe obviously has that.”

Marshall puts his mark on every saddle. “When you have a job that enables you to do what you love, it gives you a sense of immortality,” he explained. “I’d like nothing better than 50 to 100 years from now know someone is saying, ‘Yeah, this is a Joe Marshall. He made this for the Canyon.”

What is your superpower?

“I am the leather guy. I’m a mere mortal.”

 

What advice would you give a young person interested in learning your craft?

“Don’t. There are too many of us now. Marry well. Do you know what the difference is between a saddle maker and a large pizza? A large pizza will feed a family of four, a saddle maker won’t.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

“Jameson Irish Whiskey.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“My father said, if you’re gonna do something, do it right. Have a plan, implement the plan and stick to the plan. We’ll review later whether it’s a good plan or not.”

What’s your favorite time of the day?

“I like night. If you come by here late at night and you hear tapping and slow, sad country songs, I’m tooling leather and I’m in my element. There have been times I’ve looked up and it was 3:30 a.m. Just got lost in my tooling and forgot the time.” QCBN

Joe Marshall

Former Trial Lawyer Shares Gentle Side in ‘Birding Arizona’

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Charles Babbitt grew up in Flagstaff. “It was a very different city then,” he recalled, “about 15,000 people. We had a father who was interested in the outdoors, and he encouraged us to take a deeper look at the natural world. We spent a lot of time driving, hiking and exploring Northern Arizona.”

That deep appreciation and love for the natural world, scenic beauty and science have always been important to Charles as well. The grandson of C.J. Babbitt, one of the original Babbitt brothers who started a ranching empire in Northern Arizona in 1886, Charles is a third-generation Arizonan. Some of his earliest memories are watching Great Blue Herons at Lake Mary and feeding birds in the snowy Flagstaff winter. “I’ve always loved birds and their songs, like those of the Pinyon Jay and the Western Meadowlark.”

It is those songs and hundreds of others that Babbitt encourages beginning bird watchers to listen for. He knows at least 300 by heart. “I like to emphasize that birders learn bird songs. When I go on field trips, I really stress that with people. I tell them we’re going to stop along the way, we’re just going to spend time listening and learning songs and calls. Good birders do most of their birding by ear.”

In his book, “Birding Arizona: What to Know, Where to Go,” the author offers locations, descriptions, maps and observations, noting the seasons and migration patterns in a way that reads more like gentle essays from the field than a fact-filled guidebook. And actually, it is both.

“The book covers a lot of ground,” he said. “It was written to help people find, identify and appreciate the many species found in Arizona, now more than 550. Some of the birds I talk about are iconic birds of Northern Arizona forests, like Clark’s Nutcracker and Pinyon Jay. Much of the book is devoted to beautiful under-birded locations like the San Francisco Peaks, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Navajo and Hopi tribal lands.”

Babbitt masterfully describes remote oases, charming towns and “magnificent scenery” of Northeastern Arizona, “carved sandstone canyons, towering monuments, volcanic buttes and juniper-covered plateaus and mesas,” where rare migrant and vagrant birds – those that have strayed from their usual range – touch down.

He writes, “Ganado, Arizona, is a good starting place to explore the eastern tribal lands of the Navajo. On spring and fall birding trips to this area, we often arrive at Ganado Lake late at night, just in time to throw our sleeping bags on the ground under large willows along the shore. We fall asleep listening to the distant barking of Navajo dogs and the calls of America Wigeons out on the water.”

Babbitt, now retired, was a criminal defense and personal injury attorney who practiced law in Arizona for 40 years, mostly in the Phoenix area. His interest in the outdoors and birding, he admits, is the flip side of his personality as a trial lawyer. “Birding is a wonderful avocation, hobby or pastime to have if you have a very stressful occupation. It’s a wonderful contrast and a lovely escape.”

The 75-year-old says he was introduced to birding in a formal, systematic way, starting with Williamson’s Sapsucker, while practicing law in Tucson. “A fellow lawyer, who later became a judge, took me out birding on Mount Lemon. That’s when I got on that train and have never been able to get off!”

Babbitt enjoys helping others step into that journey of birdwatching, too, noting that Arizona is recognized as one of America’s foremost birding destinations, with almost half of all the birds of North America seen here.

He often leads field trips and bird walks for the Audubon Society and at science and education centers like The Arboretum at Flagstaff. “People who go on field trips are usually just very enthusiastic and good-natured. How could you not be in a good mood in these great areas and looking at birds?”

Regarded in the Audubon world as one of the most knowledgeable birders in the state, Babbitt is credited with the “first Arizona state record” (the state’s first documented and accepted record of a bird species) of a Yellow-billed Loon, which was discovered at Painted Rock Dam near Gila Bend and a Black-vented Shearwater at Lake Havasu. He is also recognized for a “second state record” for a Glaucous Gull. “I’ve found quite a few rare species through the years, including Red-throated Loon, Hudsonian Godwit and Mew Gull.”

Babbitt is the recipient of the prestigious 1999 George B. Fell Award from the Natural Areas Association for a lifetime of professional work and personal effort dedicated to the protection and stewardship of the natural areas of Arizona and the Colorado Plateau. Last month at Northern Arizona University, he was honored by the Arizona Field Ornithologists (AZFO) with an award that states, “In recognition of many years helping to further, through field work and the written word, knowledge and appreciation of birdlife in Arizona, and interesting hundreds of youth in birds and birding.”

As the past president of the Maricopa Audubon Society, a former member of the Arizona Bird Committee and a board member of many conservation organizations, Babbitt is not only interested in birds, he is active in environmental matters. He writes, “It’s clear that birds are sending us a powerful message about climate change, and we would do well to listen.”

From the Arctic to the Amazon, he says, birds are moving higher and higher and wintering further north. “Some nesting bird species are now arriving in Arizona earlier in the spring because it’s getting warmer. Many of these patterns of migratory behavior that have been around since the end of the last Ice Age are timed so birds arrive on breeding grounds when there is maximum food production. If they find that their food sources have already diminished or the insects [that are a food source for birds] have died, a lot of bird species will be in jeopardy.”

He warns, “…climate change resulting in warming winters and drought has the potential to seriously impact, if not extirpate, Arizona populations of Canada Jay, Pine Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak. A recent study links drought and extreme temperatures due to climate change to the continued decline of Arizona’s Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl population.”

Ultimately, Babbitt wants to share the joy of birding with others and let people know it does not take a lot of preparation or gear. “You don’t need much: a pair of binoculars and a bird identification book. There’s not a lot of cost involved, and with a little preparation, you can get started on a lifetime of sharpening and honing your birdwatching skills.”

Babbitt will be sharpening his own skills as he and his wife, Eleanor, travel the Pacific Coast this fall on a ship from Vancouver, British Columbia to Los Angeles to study migrating pelagic (ocean) birds. Eleanor is an artist who enhanced the book’s cover with her painting of a Grace’s Warbler.

Where haven’t you visited yet that you’d like to explore?

“I would like to visit and explore the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia, known for its great diversity of bird species including many endemic species.”

What are the quality characteristics you most appreciate in others?

“I enjoy people who are well-read, well-informed and who have an appreciation for science and the scientific method.”

What is your favorite restaurant?
“Virtually any Mexican restaurant.”

If you could have a conversation with anyone from the past or present, who would that be?

“I would like to have a conversation with Charles Darwin, one of history’s most astute observers of the natural world.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

For information about guided bird walks and book signings, visit the publisher’s (R. W. Morse Co.) website, www.rwmorse.com

Tusayan Hotelier Carrying on Family Tradition

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Cleaning hotel rooms, working at the front desk and serving as a hostess and cashier is not typical for most nine-year old girls, but for Ann Serna, it was a way of life and perhaps the boost that landed her in the role she has today as owner and general manager of the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel.

“My father, Franz Rutter, worked for Fred Harvey in Chicago and was responsible for turning six restaurants around so they were profitable,” said Serna. “They were impressed with his work and in 1968, asked him to come to the Grand Canyon to oversee the Fred Harvey restaurants here, Bright Angel, Maswik, El Tovar, Yavapai, Desert View and the Cameron operation.”

Serna was six when they moved to the Grand Canyon.

Serna’s father was later asked to oversee hotels in Tusayan, a small resort town about six miles from the Grand Canyon Village: the Squire Inn, Red Feather and, finally, Quality Inn (which is now Grand Canyon Plaza).

“We lived and went to school in the Grand Canyon Village and after school we would go to work sometimes until 10 at night at the hotel. My dad was German and worked hard. We worked seven days a week.”

Today, the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel has 232 rooms, three complexes, replete with spa, restaurant and saloon as well as a newly renovated atrium the size of a football field. “We’ve been renovating for the last seven years. Once we’re finished, we’ll start the process all over again,” said Serna.

As owner/operators of the hotel, Serna shares her position with her husband, Louie. “He does the outside grounds work and building maintenance and I oversee the inside – accounting, front desk and restaurant operations.”

Serna says the hotel has 110 staff members. “One of my employees has been with us for 43 years and most over 20 years.”

“She loves and adores her employees, and she takes care of us,” said Front Desk Manager Racheal Rivera. “She’s has been a public figure here at the Grand Canyon and she’s a strong supporter of the school and fire department.”

Front Desk Assistant Manager Jamie Hoekstra has worked for the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel on and off for 25 years. “I came here when I was 17 and I keep coming back. I grew up with them. They’re like family to me and I love it here.”

Along with her long hours on the job, Serna also strives to give to the community. “Ann was one of two main people here who have supported the Tusayan Fire Department. I cannot stress how appreciative we are to them,” said Tusayan Fire Chief Greg Brush. “Due to circumstances, our funding could be cut in 2020. The Sernas have offered to sponsor a Friday night fundraiser at their Wagon Wheel Salon once a month. For five hours, 100% of all food and drink revenue go to the Tusayan Fire Department. It’s unbelievable.”

To fulfill her dad’s dream of owning a winery, the Sernas purchased 143 acres outside of Williams and opened Wagon Wheel Winery. “Louie and I bought 1,000 plants from France and planted them, but the vines couldn’t grow at such a high altitude. So, we source our grapes from Arizona vineyards down south and crush, blend, ferment, bottle and label. I’m involved from start to finish.”

The couple lives in Flagstaff on weekends and on the way home, they stop at the winery to check on things. “I love both Tusayan and Flagstaff.”

Another fundraiser that Serna supports is Acts of Kindness in Flagstaff, run by her golfing partner Kathy Flores, owner of several Subways in Northern Arizona. Acts of Kindness assembles bags of gifts to give to people who have lost loved ones to suicide. They also make bags for first responders.

“Ann is one of the most giving people I know and so quiet and soft-spoken, but a very strong woman,” said Flores. “We are very grateful for her support.”

“Louie and I were both widows,” said Serna. “I’ve got three girls and he has two boys and a girl so it’s definitely a Brady Bunch,” said Serna.

“In order to do well, you need to love what you do,” she said. “My advice for women in business is to be diligent, believe in yourself, have faith in yourself and listen to your instincts. Also, whatever you want, go and get it. Don’t let anybody stop you.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

A Legacy of Giving Back

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Learning that Jim and Linda Lee had been named the 2019 Philanthropists of the Year by the Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County was not a big surprise to those who have lived in the Quad Cities area for any length of time.

For decades, the Lees have been major contributors to a diverse number of groups, organizations and individuals who benefit the greater region and, in some cases, the state.
At the same time, the Lees have never sought honors or recognition for what they do as they quietly provide support to the performing arts, schools, health care and medical organizations, social agencies and many others. This has been their nature ever since they arrived in Prescott in 1977, and began developing real estate and commercial development projects. Among projects were the Ponderosa Mall, the Ranch at Prescott, Prescott Gateway Mall, the Walmart Super Center and Touchmark at the Ranch.
When they were announced as “Philanthropists of the Year” during a formal luncheon at the Prescott Resort, Aug. 9, the crowd responded with a standing ovation.

The 2018 Philanthropist of the Year, Mike Fann, founder-owner of Fann Contracting, introduced the Lees as “lovers of humanity and the community.”

Texas Natives Share Common Interests

Although they grew up only a few miles apart in Texas, Jim and Linda never knew each other until years later when they traveled almost 6,000 miles and were both working in Russia. Linda, who holds degrees in English and history from the University of Texas, was teaching in Russia. Jim, who received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy following his service near the end of World War II in China, had returned to Arizona and enrolled in Phoenix College. Later, he accepted a consulting position with People to People in Russia.
What brought them together in that far-away country was opera, classical music and the arts.

“We both love great music,” said Linda. “That’s how we met. We both so enjoyed it that we’ve traveled back to the Bolshoi Ballet many times. We’ve also been to the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg. In fact, we’ve probably been to every great music hall in Western Europe.”
Jim agreed. “And, we love Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Opera. We have this vision that Prescott can equal Santa Fe in being a nationally recognized center for music and the arts. Prescott and this area have so much talent.”

The couple cites the Prescott POPS Symphony Orchestra as just one talented homegrown organization. They especially praise the Prescott POPS for its sponsorship of the annual Music Memory project that brings third through fifth graders from throughout the county to hear classical music at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center.
They also are involved in supporting Dennis Houser, who directs the Prescott Chorale; they contribute to the Yavapai Symphony Association; they help the public schools and their music programs; they are longtime advocates for Prescott Friends of Arizona Opera; and the various musical and artistic programs offered through Yavapai College have their support.

Jim explained, “When we moved here in the late 1970s, we knew Prescott would be our home. We also knew it would grow and become a major cultural influence in Central Arizona. We made a conscious decision to support such aesthetic programs.”

Linda agreed. “It’s mind-boggling, the amount of talent that we enjoy. We want to encourage it as much as we can.”

Beyond the arts, they are vocal advocates for quality educational experiences as well, such as the Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium atop the STEM Building on the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) campus. They wanted to create awareness about ERAU throughout the rural areas of Central and Northern Arizona, so they proposed the construction of the 47-foot diameter domed planetarium.

“Planetarium enthusiasts often have young children. We wanted these youngsters in our part of the state to be able to experience a unique learning experience,” Jim said.

“In just the 20 months since the planetarium opened in January 2018, almost 35,000 people have participated in their programs. That’s not just local people,” said Linda. “Data show that visitors are from throughout the U.S. and several foreign countries.”

They both agree that Prescott has become a desirable cultural, artistic and educational hub that well deserves the reputation as one of the most livable communities in the United States.

What is your favorite pastime?

Jim: “Anything involving classical music and opera.”
Linda: “Especially if it is something by Verdi.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Jim: “I can’t recall who told me this many years ago, but it was, ‘Do not think too small.’ That’s my advice to people in this area. Prescott is in a period of transition and we cannot think too small.”

What makes you smile?

Linda: “Seeing these children from rural areas enjoy musical and artistic experiences like those provided by the Music Memory Program, which the Prescott POPS sponsors every February.”

You endowed a program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine several years ago. What was the reason behind that decision?

Linda: “We believe in quality healthcare programs, so we established the Jim and Linda Lee Memorial Endowment for Cardiovascular Disease there.”

Jim: “The Sarver Heart Center founded at the UofA Medical Center is now recognized as one of the world’s leading cardiovascular research institutions.”

Why did you choose Prescott as your home?

Jim: “When we first moved here from the Valley more than 40 years ago, we left evaporative coolers and oppressive heat. We told people we were moving to Prescott, for that’s where heaven was.”

Linda: “It still is.”

QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN