Issue

2011 News

Deaths, Services

Weddings, Births, Happy News

• The Ajo Unified School Disrict board met in regular session to handle employment and a vacancy, and equipment disposal. They discuseed lunch pricing and heard an update on the School Improvement Grant assessment project.The agenda also included reports on bullying issues and a dire prediction from Superintendent Robert Dooley on new potential budget cuts for state education.

• The holiday excitement continues with a dessert theater from the Ajo Community Players, a candlelight service at Good Shepherd, the annual Christmas Bird Count, and more.

• Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association reminds photographers to start thinking about entries for the annual Sonoran Shindig photo exhibit.

• Evelyn Ruth Runge, 82, died December 2, 2011, in Globe. Mass Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Douglass Funeral Home.

• Howard A. Tiell, 84, died December 12, 2011, in Toledo, Ohio. Mass will be celebrated December 15 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Tiffin, Ohio.

• Petra Brown Moreno, 62, of Clarkdale, died December 8, 2011. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, December 17, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood.
www.westcottfuneralhome.com

• The Western Pima County Community Council held its final regularly scheduled 2011 meeting, learning about Pima Community College classes, staffing at the local Pima County Sheriff's Department station. During elections, Carol Yokum was re-elected to serve District 4 and Arlene Dreste for District 10. District 6 chose Robert Brown-Moreno; and District 8, Ernie Green. District 2 is open.

• After three years and 63 games, the Lady Raiders ended their losing streak in a 17-15 victory over the Gila Bend Monsters. 

• Events include the Desert Artists Guild show, the community choir & community chorus concerts,

• The annual Angel Wish Tree is being sponsored by the Ajo Food Bank in conjunction with Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation.

• Edward Encinas died November 11, 2011, in Mesa. A private memorial service was held in Mesa. Queen of Heaven Mortuary.

• Dorothy Genevieve Gibbons, 89, died in Monmouth, Oregon, on November 27, 2011. Mass in Independence, Oregon. Farnstrom Mortuary.

• Mildred Ellett Hammons died November 28, 2011, at a hospice in Mesa. Memorial services in Mesa. Burial was in Louis B. Hazelton cemetery in Buckeye.

• Jessica Rae Celaya & Daniel Falcon were married July 23, 2011, in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. 

• Charles & Josephine Meeden celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary; they wed September 22, 1951.

• Happy 20th anniversary Joe & Michelle Pacheco!

November 30, 2011

• As the holiday season gets into full swing, residents will have lots to do. On Friday evening there will be a party for Mimi Phillips, who has retired from ISDA. On Saturday, there will be an art show at the Federated Church as well as a handbell concert. The original play "The Crazy Beckerman Family Has a Reunion" will be staged Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Craft and rummage sales are planned. To learn more, check the print edition of the Ajo Copper News.

• ATV riders are reminded by the Pima County Sheriff's Department that they are bound by rules and regulations on and off road.

• Many local properties have been tested under the Brownfields property assessment program. The program was funded by grants.

• Albert James Childs, 46, died in Ajo on November 19, 2011. Mass November 26 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

• Happy December birthdays to Martha Waterman, Yolanda Walls, Lonnie Guthrie, Hector Sotelo, Mariano Parra, Concha Lopez, Conchita Sotelo, Sara Julander, Eva Casillas, Vangie Casillas, Irma Castillo, Ana Lorenia Mitchell, Elsa Martinez, Irene Zozaya, Carol Klinefelter, Jewel Montes, Horacio Y Cubillas, Victor Parra, Jerry Wohlgamuth, Jim McKay, Carolyn Price-McKay, Louise Larremore, Mary Ellen Nogales, Jaime Kesler, Stevie Olea, Chris Zevallos, Imelda Maya and Hank Martinez

November 23, 2011

• HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

• Members of the HOPE Coalition heard from Ginger Arun of First Things First about early childhood education and daycare.

• A bevy of LDS members were joined by local residents in sprucing up the Plaza and the Ajo Cemetery last Saturday.

• John C. "Jack" Steel, 84, died November 18, 2011, at the Phoenix area hospital. Memorial services November 26 at the Ajo Elks Lodge. Samaritan Funeral Home of Phoenix.

• Debra Ann Pruitt, 51, died at her home in Why on November 16, 2011. Services will be held in Wisconsin. Douglass Funeral Home.

• Pvt. Zachary Taylor, USMC, was graduated from boot camp in San Diego.

• Gordon & Loretta Russell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November 12 with a family gathering at their home.

November 16, 2011

• At their November 8 meeting, the Ajo Unified School District 15 governing board heard from Mercy Arancon, the district's new academic coach. They also accepted the resignations of Mike Morales & Paul Joseph; approved employment of Jose Yon as director of maintenance & transportation and Hipolito Montijo III & James Henderson as maintenance workers; approved Tom McGoldrick as assistant boys' baseball coach, Moni Alvillar as assistant boys' basketball coach, and Amanda Ballard as assistant track team coach.

• A driver reportedly under the influence of intoxicants went through a rock wall before hitting a house in the Plaza area. There were no serious injuries.

• A slow, steady rain last Monday was gauged at 1.5 inches at several location in Ajo.

• John R. Galliazzo, 80, died at his home in Ajo on November 9, 2011. No services are planned. Douglass Funeral Home.

• Mary Moreno Quesada died November 12, 2011, at a nursing facility in Cottonwood. Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood.

• Author Series at the public library, sponsored by the Ajo Friends of the Library, starts off with local author Rupert Schmitt.

November 9, 2011

• A school tax credit for donations, the Plaza work day, and the Brownfields property assessment program were among the items discussed at the November meeting of the Western Pima County Community Council

•  Catrina Prather, FNP-C is the new nurse practitioner at Desert Senita Community Health Center.

•  The Ajo Rotary Club is buying the community an early Christmas present: a 16-foot artificial Christmas tree for the bandshell. The tree can be added to in 2-foot increments, up to about 40 feet.

•  The regular Second Saturday events will be joined by the CofC-sponsored A Fair in the Plaza.

•  Gertrude Guthrie, 85, died November 2, 2011, in New Mexico. Services November 18 in Silver City, New Mexico. Terrazas Funeral Chapels.

•  Ernest David "Ernie" Martinez, 24, died October 31, 2011, in a Phoenix hospital. Memorial services November 12, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

•  Tim Tomsic, 47, died October 31, 2011, in Virginia. Amory Funeral Home of Grafton, Virginia.

•  Allen G. Berry, 93, died at a Goodyear hospice on November 6, 2011. Arrangments pending through Douglass Funeral Home.

•  The Ajo Garden Club's Yard of the Month award for November went to Audrey Mitzel.

November 2, 2011

•  Butterflies, Super Mario, pirates, and other wondrous creatures populated Ajo's annual Halloween parade of costumes and parties. Spooky creatures abounded at the Haunted Hospital.

•  Following a drug dog search at the school, two students were cited for possesion of marijuana.

•  On November 19, LDS volunteers will be reseeding the Plaza and planting trees. Contrary to rumor, no palm trees are being taken down; some old stumps will be removed. The project is part of the LDS international day of service.

•  Benito "Benny" Lopez, 82, died October 27, 2011, in Phoenix. Rosary & Mass Friday, Nov. 4, in Ajo.

•  Belvia "Bel" Gilliam, 93, died October 25, 2011, in Goodyear. Services Ajo Calvary Baptist Chruch on Oct. 28; burial in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.

•  Happy birthday Jennifer Guthrie, Ralph Cubillas, Cruz Bon, Quetta Estrella, Esperanza Nicholson, Hope Noyes, Tate Staples, Nicola Jensen, George Moreno, Raymond Gonzalez, Don & Joyce Schneck, Tony Montes, Arcelia Munoz, Eleanor Guthrie, Viviana Gray, Kristina Crowell, Sandra Leatherwood, Luis Moreno, Lorraine Eiler, Tracy Traft, Rosa R Rendon, Ronnie & Donnie Whitley, Joan Bassett, Benny Roberts, Eric Krznarich, Lonnie Alvarez Sr, and Lonnie Alvarez Jr.

October 26, 2011

•  The town filled with people returning home to celebrate Red & White Weekend.

•  Cassandra "Candy" Parish and her children Tessa & Cody lost their home on North Street to fire. The community is donating items to help them start a new household. A Facebook page has been started to keep track of donations and needs. For those who want to give money, a bank account has been set up at National Bank of Arizona, 101 La Mina, Ajo, AZ 85321. The account number is 7633014906.

•  Three local store clerks were cited for selling tobacco to minors as the Pima County Sheriff's Department helped the Arizona Attorney General's office in a sting operation.

•  Theresa M. James, 83, died October 2, 2011, in Tucson. Services were held October 10 in San Simon Village.

•  Happy birthday Kacy Tryon!

October 19, 2011

•  The annual Red & White Weekend will fill the weekend from a mixer Friday night at Curley School to a breakfast Sunday morning at the ChuChu Club with a wide variety of events, including a Plaza festival, on Saturday. Pick up a print issue of the newspaper for the schedule and news of other weekend events.

•  The Ajo school board heard a presentation on teen dating violence from Kaity's Way and voted to approve extesive anti-bullying policies. In other business they handled personnel matters, adopted supplemental math curriculumns, and approved minor expenditures.

•  There were no new obituaries in the October 19 issue of the Ajo Copper News.

•  A salute to veterans Louis Moreno, Richard Snyder, and Juan Garcia, all of whom were honored by the American Legion and VFW at a ceremony on Sunday.

October 12, 2011

•  The Western Pima County Community Councilheard from Arizona Public Service about smart lights; Pima Community College about courses, including those offered online at www.pima.edu; and the county on Brownfields Assessment Grant. The concil also got updates from Pima County Sheriff's Department, US Border Patrol, and the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce. Council Chris Dimitrakopoulos has resigned.
•  BP101 will offer the public insight into Border Patrol operations at meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wedesday, October 12, in the Ajo Ambulance training room.
•  Michael A. Colmenero has been assigned to Ajo as deputy county attorney. Starting in November, he will be at the Ajo courthouse office on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Friday mornings.

•  There were no obituaries in the Octobder 12 issue of the Ajo Copper News.

•  Happy 80th birthday Evelyn Pugh!
•  Happy birthday Michael Mason.
•  Dominic Andrew Montijo was born in Phoenix on September 3, 2011, to Zosha Duncan and Stephan Montijo of Ajo.

October 5, 2011

•  AHS Homecoming:
Red Raiders lost to Patagonia in double overtime, 50-52;
King and Queen were Anitza Mariscal and Alic Martinez-Celeya; runners up Arely Nunez & Kene Richardson; court Selena Jerez, Cinthia Manjarrez, Jose Valezuela, and Estevan Garcia;
1st place float went to the juniors; second place sophomores; third place seniors; and fourth place freshmen.
•  Almost 100 years old, the Ajo Cemetery is operated by the Ajo Cemetery Association.
•  A family fun fall festival in the Plaza will be an added feature of this month's Second Saturday. Events range from a farmers' market in the morning to a tour of Childs Mountain in the evening.
•  A bevy of letters to the editor expressed opinions on a variety of topics.

•  Donald Oglesby, 81, died in a Tucson hospital on September 7, 2011. Mass October 8 in Ajo.
•  Glory Ann Moriarty, 74, died in California on September 22, 2011. Graveside services October 23 in McArthur, California. Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel.
•  Eugene E. "Gene" Johnson, 86, died September 24, 2011, in Colorado. Services were held in Colorado. Ertel Funeral Home.

•  Happy birthdays Susan Gilbert, Frances Ann Guthrie, Betty Peed, Judy Guan, Sandra Miller-Stephens, Maria P. Ramirez, Jasmine Johnson, Birdie Nixon, Terry Luna, Alex Gonzales Sr, Lonnie Alvarez, Marie Ross, Olivia Castillo, Jack Wheeler, Pat McCormick, Chabelita Betancourt, Gracie Woodard, Terry Canez, Patti Bush, Weldon "Bud" Corn, and Bertha Castro.

September 28, 2011

•  It's Homecoming Week at Ajo High School!
•  Route 685, which provides bus service between Ajo and Phoenix, has been retained. Rural Metro say the overwhelming feedback from the community was a big factor in the decision. The route is operated by Ajo Transportation.
•  A bomb scare at Olsens IGA turned out to be a false alarm.

•  Alexis Mia Vega, 11, died September 25, 2011, ending a long fight against cancer. Services Oct. 1 in Maricopa.

•  Happy birthday Cierra Reid.

September 21, 2011

•  Beginning in October, Social Security representatives will no longer visit Ajo. Those who cannot transact business by mail, phone, or on the Internet (www.socialsecurity.gov) will have to travel to one of the offices that remain open. The nearest office is in Sells.
•  The Ajo school board voted to reinstate insurance benefits for full-time employees; heard an update on the fire supression system project; approved new lunch charges; accept the resignation of Gina Ortiz as food service director and hired Robert Ogden as her replacement; and heard from two frestrated employees - Dave Emmers about the existing golas for increased performance and Mike Morales about workload-related issues.
•  The International Day of Peace kickoff on Sunday was popular and the actual day celebration of Wednesday is expected to be even more popular.

•  No obituaries appeared in the September 21 issue of the Ajo Copper News.

•  Happy birthday Destiny Sky Otterson.

September 14, 2011

•  Sinkholes on Morondo and Fundacion are the result of aging pipes and a sudden burst of rainwater. Meridian Construction is repairing the damage on Fundacion while the county is handling the problem on Morondo.
•  The peace train was a popular attraction with children at the Plaza during the September Second Saturday.
•  A $6000 grant from ProNeighborhoods and Communities Putting Prevention to Work was awarded to an Ajo community garden and orchard project spearheaded by Gayle & Don Weyers.

•  Alicia Christina Ortiz Rojo, 20, died at her home in Gila Bend on September 8. Mass September 17, 2011, in Ajo. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Travis Michael Garcia, 37, died September 7, 2011, at a Tucson hospital. Services September 15 in Topawa.

•  Raquel Elizabeth Reyna was born in Wolf Point, Montana, on August 1, 2011, to former Ajo residents Jeannie & Angel Reyna of Wolf Point.
•  Happy birthday Ashlee Durham, Danielle Durham, Darin Pino Vega, Cienna Nicole Goodwin.

September 7, 2011

•  9-11 services have been planned by local churches and at the VFW. A display commemorating the tragedy is on exhibit at the library.
•  The Western Pima County Community Council heard about the withdrawal of the street light proposal, updates on the schools and law enforcement, a demolition project, and renovation of the Plaza. Visit the WPCCC website for more information about the meeting and the non-governmental council.
•  Both the Pima County Sheriff's Department and US Customs & Border Protection have been busy with drug interdiction, death investigations, and detaining illegal immigrants. PCSD turns illegal immigrants over to Border Patrol.

•  Fred Stermer, 78 died August 27, 2011. Mass was celebrated in Ajo September 9.

•  Happy 50th anniversary to Juanita & Don Candelaria.
•  Ian Roy & Ellenore Grace Severance were born June 18, 2011, To Shannon & Ruthie (England) Severance of Renton, Washington.
•  Evelyn-Faye Sandoval Rojo was born in Phoenix on August 8, 2011, to Griselda E. Sandoval & Richard O. Rojo of Ajo.

August 31, 2001

•  Monica Loop is the new postmaster in Ajo.
•  A sale at Pima Animal Care Center allows people to adopt certain animals for as little as $15. Others badly in need of homes also have reduced fees.
•  ISDA's renovation of Curley School and other activities was given coverage in NEW Arts, the publication of the National Endowment for the Arts.

•  William David "Dave" Miller, 70, died August 25, 2011, at Alamo Lake. Services were private.

•  Happy birthday Gery Krehbiel!

August 24, 2011

•  AIMS scores for the past year showed a little improvement. "We still have a long way to go," said school superintendent Bob Dooley, "but these fighres are substantial improvements." Visit the state's site for AIMS results.
•  Readers wrote letters to the editor either praising or condemning the lighting of the cross.

•  No new obituaries in the August 24 issue of the Ajo Copper News.

•  Father Peter Nwachukwu celebrated his silver jubilee as a priest with a Mass in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church followed by a reception in the parish.
•  Happy birthdays Michelle Pacheco & Lin Vanegas.

August 17, 2011

•  The Ajo school board learned about changes in the school system, the property tax rate increase to pay the $600,000 settlement with the state (about $45 per year on a home valued at $50,000), and AIMS test results at their August 10 meeting.
•  The lighting of the Greenway memorial cross on Camelback Mountain (better known as A Mountain) ignited controversy. An anonymous writer sent letters to local pastors citing religious exclusion and stating the lights violated state and county ordinances and codes.

•  Virginia "Tiny" Sanriquez Hood Keoloha, 65, died June 18, 2011, in Tucson. Mass was celebrated in Sells on June 23.

•  Happy birthdays Joseph D. David, Joe Pacheco, and Xitlali Chichil Betancourt.

August 10, 2011

•  School starts at 8:15 a.m. Monday, August 15, for all students in the Ajo Unified School District. The district is making many changes this year - read about them in the print edition of the Ajo Copper News.
•  It's a busy weekend with Second Saturday events, an Evening in the Sonoran Desert, a PCSD child safety seat event, and continuing National Health Center Week events.
•  The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to again give the Ajo area colonia status.

•  No new obituaries in the August 10 issue of the Ajo Copper News.

•  Happy first birthday Eli Eziah Sandusky.

August 3, 2011

•  Controversy continues over whether to allow ATV and motorcycles access to three public-use roads on Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Congressman Raul Grijalva has weighed in on the side of the against allowing the vehicles.
•  A decision on the fate of Route 685, which connects Ajo, Gila Bend, and Buckeye, to Phoenix by bus, is unlikely to be made before September or October.

•  Justice John E. Simonett, 87, died July 28, 2011, in Minnesota.

•  Averie Elisabeth Silano was born June 5, 2011, in North Carolina to Vincent & Macey (Nogales) Silano.
•  Julianne Lewis will be sealed to Charl Ron Koozer at the LDS Temple in Mesa on August 13.

July 27, 2011

•  A stabbing with a box cutter in Walker Park left Joel Morris with non-lifethreatening injuries, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Larissa Velarde, Wesley Frazier, and Frank Rolbes will face charges in the assault.
•  The Ajo/Lukeville Health Service District board will meet July 26 in the public library to consider approving the district's annual budget.
•  A performance audit by the state's auditor general showed areas in need of improvement in the Ajo Unified School District - student achievement and account procedures.
•  Local Customs and Border Protection agents continue to interdict illegal aliens, smugglers and drugs crossing the border from Mexico.

•  Brandi Michelle Collins, 41, was killed in an accident in Texas on July 22. Services July 30 Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ajo.
•  Rita Garcia, 83, died July 25, 2011. Services with her granddaughter Brandi Collins on July 30 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ajo.

•  Happy birthday Abigail Kornack.
•  Myra Workman received a bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene from Northern Arizona State University.

July 20, 2011

•  The Ajo school board hired four teachers and set limits on lunch charges at their meeting last week.
•  The Ajo Landfille hours are changing. As of August 2, the landfill will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and will be closed on Sunday and Monday.
•  A community discussion about re-certifying Ajo's colonia status will be held by Pima County on Monday, July 25, at 6 p.m. in the community center in Walker Park. A pdf explaining colonia status can be downloaded at gis.pima.gov/data/layers/colonias
•  Comments are due on August 22 regarding the Ajo to Phoenix bus route. Go to the ValleyMetro public hearing site for more information; click on the electronic comment card link to voice an opinion.

•  Gail Kenneth Ricahrdson, 91, died June 30, 2011, in Globe. Services July 5; burial Ajo Cemetery. J. Warren Funeral Services.
•  Jason Jose Miguel, 38, died July 14, 2011, in Casa Grande. Services July 22 in Ventanta. J. Warren Funeral Services.

•  Happy 18th birthday Dominique Pacheco! Happy birthday Gleason Antone!

July 13 2011

•  Downed APS power lines were the cause of an 18.5 hour power outage. Cell phone service was also disrupted.
•  ISDA is receiving an Our Town grant for $100,000 to revitalize the Plaza.
•  New exhibits are arriving at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument where entrance and caming fees have been waived for the month of July.

•  There were no obituaries in the July 13 issue.

•  Congratulations to Horacio Casillas on retiring.
•  Happy Birthday Nellie David, Joey Call, Abrahan Alvarez Jr., Alma Montijo

July 6, 2011

•  Ajo had a hot 4th of July, including fireworks. The three pages of pictures in the paper can be downloaded as pdf documents: Front Page  Page 10  Page 11 The files can be viewed on Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 and higher.
•  Ajo is in danger of losing the bus route to that makes trips to Gila Bend, Buckeye, and Phoenix possible for many residents. Go to the ValleyMetro public hearing site for more information; click on the electronic comment card link to voice an opinion.
•  The Ajo school board extended superintendent Bob Dooley's contract two years, approved the proposed budget, and approved hiring personnel.
•  Lorie Christy, RN, PHN, is the new county public health nurse in Ajo.

•  Henrietta Daniels, 74, died at her home in Ajo on June 1, 2011. Memorial services at a later date. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Charles Almond "Chuck" Turk, 94, died June 28, 2011. in Peoria. Services July 1, Douglass Funeral Home.

•  Happy birthday in July to Morgana Wallace-Cooper, Sherry Marquez, Sara Olea, Nellie David, Rigoberto Serventi, Nathan Pullum, Nancy Scholl, Yolanda Gonzalez, Dominique Pacheco, Gayle Weyers, Martin Gray, Jose Luis Valenzuela III, Belia Espinoza, Angie Olais, Horacio Casillas Sr., Barbara Miller-Staples, Adrian Rendon, Darlene Crowell, and Gleason Antone.

June 29, 2011

•  4th of July in Ajo! 
Parade down Solana at 8 a.m. Juan Garcia is the grand marshall.
Plaza flag raising at 9 a.m., then booths open and entertainment and games begin. There will be music from 5 to 8 p.m. in the evening.
Pool open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; admission is a can of food for the food bank
More - there are several other events (see print edition ads)
Fireworks about 8 p.m. from the slag dump
across from the school baseball field. Acting on a motion by Supervisor Sharon Bronson, the county board of supervisors voted 3-2 to approve exempting Ajo from the county's fireworks ban. The exemption is only for the fireworks display set off by the Ajo/Gibson Volunteer Fire Department; personal fireworks are still banned and those setting them off will be arrested.
•  The $600,000 settlement between the Ajo school district and the state department of education will be paid for though an increase in property taxes. It's estimated the property tax for a house valued at $50,000 will increase about $5 per year. The settlement was over a complaint about students bussed to the school from Lukeville who may have been citizens of the US but could not prove they were residents of the school district.

•  La Rosa Segundo Antone died at her home in Pisinemo on June 22, 2011. Services June 29 in Pisinemo.
•  Marjorie Allen, 62, died June 13, 2011, in Port Orchard, Washington. Memorial service in Ajo at Douglass Funeral Home, 2 p.m. Saturday, July 2.

June 22, 2011

•  With wildland fires consuming thousands of acres of desert and no rain in sight, it appears the Pima County Board of Supervisors will be canceling fireworks permits. Even if there are no pyrotechnic displays, the parade and Plaza celebration should be held as usual on Monday, July 4.
•  The street light district effort has failed. The streets in the portion of Ajo served by APS will remain dark.
•  Vandalism and the theft of copper irrigation line have prompted a decision to close the Ajo Cemetery gates between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

•  There were no new obituaries

•  Happy birthday Brandon D. Larremore, JD Allen, Romero Cubillas.
•  Happy Anniversary Paula & Joey Call.
•  Congratualtions Mitch Ellis on being named Regional Refuge Chief for Alaska by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

June 15, 2011

•  The school met June 8 with more than 60 people in attendance, most of them due to the petition circulating calling for the termination of the superintendent and several people made comments. Other agenda items included receiving two grants totaling $1,230,000, the retirement of Benda Mojica; the resignation of Sherri Hurd, and the hiring of Joni Jaramillo and Hipolito Montijo in non-teaching positions; and a 3-2 vote against disposing of books culled fro the library.
•  Ned Norris Jr. won a second term as Tohono O'odham tribal chairman; his vice chair will be Wavalene Romero.
•  Recent GED recipients through ISDA programs were Chris Aroz, Deanna Arviso, Adrien Granillo, Juan Soto, Maricela Subia, Leslie Paul Jones, Randy Cruz, Robert E. Lee, Julian Moore, Eli Manuel, Joe Atkinson, and Brandi Gates Vannasdale.
•  Area young people are working outdoors in summer programs of Pima County Department of Transportation and Tucson Youth Development.
•  A monitoring committee known as Ajo-As-Victim will gather information on so-called victimless crimes and keep track of repeat drug possession offenders, notifying the community of significant cases.

•  Mary Millsap, 105, died June 9, 2011, in Santa Ana, California. Services June 17 at Ajo Calvary Baptist Church; burial in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Margie L. Walker, 89, died at her home in Ajo on June 6, 2011. Services June 11 in Ajo Assembly of God; burial in Ajo Cemetery. Douglass Funeral Home.
•  Nellie Joyce Victor, 74, died in Goodyear on June 1, 2011. Mass June 11 at San Lucy Catholic Church; burial in Ajo Cemetery. J. Warren Funeral Service.

•  Happy 60th anniversary to Lina & Aniceto Olais and to Ray & Marcia Fober.
•  Happy birthday Louie Walters, Mary Black, Mike Mekelburg.

June 9, 2011

•  The Ajo High School Class of 2011 received their diplomas on Friday, June 3. Graduating with distinction were valedictorian Adriana Treviño and salutatorian Kimberly Robles. Graduating with honors were National Honor Society members Kacy Tryon, Chad Coyle, Sonora Rogers, and Carlos Flores; also graduating with honors were Ismael Sepulveda, Ashley Rhea, Anjel Kanan, Joseph Bailey, and Alexandra Ogden. Other graduates were Amanda Best, Jonatan Campa-Acosta, Jessica Cota, Eric DeLeon, Susanna Esquivel, Eleanor Guthrie, Kayln Kristoff, Alma Montijo, Ashton Olea, Dominique Pacheco, Eduardo Padres, Shane Poole, Justin Renner, Daniel Strickland, Christian Veckey, Leigh Watkins, and Austin Wells. AHS alumna Scylvia Danese-Dicola was the guest speaker.
•  At the Western Pima County Community Council meeting topics included the failure of the effort to from a street lighting district, a movement to have the school superintendent discharged, and a report from State Representative Peggy Judd. The council declined to write a letter supporting the discharge of Dr. Bob Dooley but did urge parents and other community members to get involved in the school and attend school board meetings. A petition calling for his discharge is being circulated.

 •  The Rev. Frank M. Cartwright, 95, died Friday, May 27, 2011. Memorial services pending through Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood.
•  Nina Mary Brake, 69, died May 27, at her summer home in Grand Junction, Colorado. Callahan-Edfast Mortuary of Grand Junction .
•  Hugh Franklin Montgomery, 86, died May 24, 2011, in Kentucky. Goad Funeral Home of Scottsdale, Kentucky.

•  Chelsey Petersen will graduate cum laude with a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene from Eastern Washington University on June 11. Her mother, Kimberly Petersen, received a master's degree in curriculum & instruction from Lesley University on May 21.

June 2, 2011

•  National news stories saying the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument hindered Border Patrol agents was called old news and termed inaccurate by monument superintendent Lee Baiza. He pointed out that reports that agents had to chase suspects on foot over 40 acres by Quitobaquito was wildly exaggerated; the area amounts to a single acre and is not accessible to vehicles, legal or illegal.
•  An finding of no impact and final environmental report have been issued by the federal government for the housing project planned for 55 Sahuaro. Many Ajo residents are vehemently opposing the project.
•  Volunteers from Arizona Site Stewards and the Tohono O'odham National joined Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument staff in removing vegetation and sediments behind a cement dam to lessen damage to a prehistoric archeological site.

•  Cora Jeannine Knapp, 63, died May 17, 2011 in Anchorage, Alaska. Services May 20 at Palmer Pentecostal Church in Palmer, Alaska.

•  Happy June birthdays to Josie Castro, Gloria Robles, Paul Colarich, Virgie Leatherwood, Willie Marquez, Nicholas Leatherwood, Rachel Wheeler, Mike Mekelburg, Sammy Rodriguez, Deborah Whittemore, Pamela Martinez, Jan & Liz McKay, Bob Guinn Sr., Bob Hickman, Romeo Cubillas, Juanita Lozano, Larry Torgerson, Robert Johnson, Virginia Garcia, and Katie Martinez.

May 25, 2011

•  Dr. Richardson will join Desert Senita Community Health Center as its newest provider. His first day will be June 13.
•  Brian MacKenzie has been hired as the new principal of the Ajo school, replacing Dr. Joen Painter who resigned. His contract begins July 1.
•  Scholarships were handed out and high school honor students recognized at the annual honors banquet sponsored by the Ajo Rotary Club.
•  Delays in the postal system have caused late arrival of out-of-town subscribers' issues of the Ajo Copper News.

•  Landon Dean Callahan, 75, died May 7, 2011, in Mesa. Services May 24 at Bunker Garden Chapel in Mesa.

•  Toni Cubillas was feted as Woman of the Year at a tea held by the Xi Gamma Pi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi at the Guest House Inn.
•  Happy Birthday Pia and Lucian.

May 18, 2011

•  Landfill hours and zoning violations were addressed by Deb Miller of Supervisor Sharon Bronson's office.
•  The Ajo Unified School District board hired a new principal, approved a one-time signing bonus for employees, and dealt with a variety of administrative issues at their May 11 meeting.

•  Jose G. Nogales, 72, died May 5, 2011. Services May 12 at East Palms Mortuary in Tucson.

•  Happy birthday Don Weyers, Jade Weber, and Mackenzie Weber.