editor: fred miller October 25, 20234 #80/October 24
Hello,
I'm having some trouble with this newsletter so it may be a bit disjointed
Lots of good stuff going on this weekend, hope you partake.
There were quite a few queries about my endorsement of Lorrie Zucco for county attorney on my cheat sheet. I simply think Zucco will do a better job. She knows the county better than Mr. Eckstein who moved here only two years ago. She has more administrative experience. She isn't an ideologue, at least from what I know. If the dems were going to run someone, they should have put somebody up in the primary against McIntyre before he didn't qualify. If they had, it is likely they could have won the office but Zucco stepped into the breech with some dough and a very public presence through her signs. It's not that I'm rah rah for Zucco and I may be proved wrong in my assessment.
Mike Thornton and I will be doing a two hour show on kbrp radio and kbrpradio.com on Friday November 8 9-11 am. We'll be going over the local, state, and national election results. Most races should be called by then. I hope you'll tune in. If you have questions or topics you think we should address please send them to me at bisbeewire@gmail or http://kbrpweeklymagazine@gmail.com
A Scooplet! KBRP will be moving the studio and offices to Warren effective December 1! They will be leasing most of the building at 400 Arizona St. It is a wonderful space and will allow for a couple studio setups, a larger room for live performances and maybe some outside concerts since there is a significant area that could be used for gatherings. There is ample parking and the building is in good condition. I think the radio station will be a good addition to the burgeoning Arizona Street business district.
They may be putting out a call for help in moving because it is likely that some pickups will be needed as well as a lot of hands helping out.
And more...KBRP will be celebrating their 20 birthday in late December. Planning has started for some sort of event, maybe in conjunction with the annual membership meeting. More on that later.
If you can, renew or sign up for a membership and support this valuable communication resource in our community. Good things are happening and there is a forward looking board of directors with a desire to better serve the entire community. Go to http:// https://www.kbrpradio.com/ to check it out.
I am looking for some help with QR codes, we may want to put one on Bisbee Foundation materials. Anyone familiar with both static and dynamic? effectiveness? please contact me at bisbeewire@gmail.com so we can talk.
The Bisbee Foundation 2025 grant and scholarship cycle will open Jan1-Feb 28. Applications and details are here
Go here to read my recent letter to the editor in the Herald Review.
Apologies in advance, I didn't proof very well-too much info, too little time-so you may find a few errors.
fred
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...............ELECTION ................
EARLY BALLOT RETURNS
If you are generally interested in how early ballots are coming in, this site has daily total returns from the state and each county-updated every day, However if really interested in-depth, those totals are broken out by party percentages, age, and gender. There is a lot of info on the site, but is very accessible.
For Cochise County....Not everyone votes early but for those that have, this is a site that does a daily count to keep an eye on how the number of early ballots returns vary by county and party registration. Updated daily, the count is about two days behind the current date, and while not an official count it gives a very good idea of how many people are voting.
There are 81,638 registered voters. 19,050 dems with 16,249 requesting early ballots requested, 32,700 repub with 29,993 early ballot requests, 29,888 other with 29,993 early ballot requests.
As of 10/24 in Cochise County, there were 14,633 early ballots turned in 17.9% of eligible voters; 4516 dem ballots-about 23.7% of eligibles, 6563 repubs-about 2 23.7% of eligibles, There were 3554 other-about 11.9%. of indies.
Early ballots counted are about evenly divided among men and women with about 18.5% each returning ballots so far.
And as expected, the 65-74 age group is the largest group of registered voters and requesting early ballots and lead the percentage of returned ballots/registered voters at about 32%. There were 17.9% returns from indies.Gender was about the same for rates of returns with females slighty more.
For all AZ...There have been 1,200,000 early ballots turned in the state. Dems return rate was 33.4% and repubs 32.6%.
................AROUND TOWN................
BRATS ON MAIN
The 15th annual Bisbee Rolling Art Transport Society will take place at 4:00 Saturday Oct 26.The participants will be rolling down Tombstone Canyon/Main from the Iron Man. One of the very best events of the year, the non motorized decorated and costumed 'floats, 'cars', 'carts', 'bikes', 'people' .bring out the best in Bisbee. There usually is an afterparty on Subway.
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ARTEMSIA OPENING AT 818 TOMBSTONE
Universal, a solo exhibition by Cey Adams, open: Saturday October 26 from 1pm - 4pm in 818 Gallery at Artemisia Foundation, 818 Tombstone Canyon. Adams, is a well known artist, known for his cover art for many famous hip hop musicians on the Def Jam label of which he is creative director. His street savvy work also includes exhibitions, murals, lectures, and workshops.
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UPPER VISTA PARK CELEBRATION
Project Wildlife is hosting a celebration fundraiser on Sunday, October 27 from 4-6 pm at the Gazebo in upper Vista Park in Warren. Music light refreshments and beverages. Donation suggested.
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MELISSA REEVES/PHILLIP BYNOE/FRANK TORNOE/SAM PANTHEROooh baby, this is a goody. Sunday Oct 27 7:00, Sweet Hall/St. John's,19 Sowles. Doors open at 6:30. Pay what you can.
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MARIACHI FESTIVAL & MINERS REUNION
Saturday Nov 2 10-7:00 pm, gates open at 9 am. Ninth annual fest at the Warren Ball Park. $15 at the door. The event is a benefit for the Bisbee Coalition for the Homeless and the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
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OPEN HOUSE AT LETTER PRESS BOOK PRINTING
Lone Goose Press will display their work made on a traditional letter press and an opportunity to hand crank the machine that is used in the exacting process of making a book. Sunday November 3. 1-4 at 309 Black Knob (access on Van Dyke).
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FREE VET CLINIC
Cats, dogs, spay, neuter, vaccinations, wellness. Bisbee/Naco residents only. November 9, 10. Call 520 261-4664 for appointment. The clinic will be behind the dog park in San Jose.
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GRANT OPPORTUNITES FROM SPARKLIGHTSparklight® will begin accepting fall 2024 applications on October 1 for the company's Charitable Giving Fund, which annually awards $250,000 in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2024. Charitable Giving Fund grants will be made available across communities served by Sparklight and will concentrate support in the following priority areas: Education and Digital Literacy; Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity; Community Development
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FREEPORT REPORTAmong several others, I attended an open meeting at the senior center with two reps from Freeport. They each gave updates on projects and what the company was doing in some of the communities in which they operate. Additionally there was a report from their quarterly newsletters.
They didn't really clear up what is happening with Lowell. They seemed to give no credence to a published interview with another FMI employee (as well as fb rumors) that subsidence was responsible for not renewing leases on the buildings they own. What they did say was that the buildings were not in good shape, there is a liability problem, and they would be costly to repair. They said that likely the facades would be kept in place. Although there were a few pointed questions seeking more info, not much more was said about that.
I asked their community representative, R?ita Lloyd-Mills in a follow up email about the subsidence and the future plans for Lowell. Here is her response.
"Over the past 16 years, Freeport has acquired several properties in the Lowell District near Freeport’s historic mining operations. These properties were acquired specifically based on their proximity to the adjacent Freeport-owned mining operations and as an additional safety buffer due to anticipated continued subsidence around the perimeter of the existing open pit.
Freeport does not own all parcels or buildings within the Lowell District. Regarding the BBC building, once the occupant has vacated the building, Freeport will work to safely secure the property and minimize the potential for vandalization. It is anticipated that the structure will eventually be torn down to prevent safety risks while leaving the facade intact."
A few highlights:
SOIL SAMPLING AND REMEDIATION AVAILABLE
Freeport Minerals Corporation restarted the Bisbee and Douglas soil program. The program offers soil sampling and remediation in the Bisbee and Douglas areas specifically for property owners who did not previously participate in the programs. Sampling and remediation are voluntary and free of charge for developed residential, commercial and public properties Sampling began in Q2. Properties sampled: Bisbee - 70, Douglas - 70.f you have additional questions or concerns about the soil sampling program, please call (520) 203-0690 or (520) 432-5418.
They are making money. The stock price this month is hovering around $48 a share. Consolidated sales are expected to approximate 4.1 billion pounds of copper, 1.8 million ounces of gold in 2024. (Gold is selling for about $2,750 an ounce!)
As best I can tell FMI has 13 employees with one vacancy, and 14 contractors working in Bisbee
They are in the process of completely demolishing three 'thickener' concentrators' along Hwy 80 near Lowell.
They are waiting on permits from ADOT for fence repairs around the pit.
They have partnered with Greenway Elementary and Watershed management to construct a rain garden, which will also serve as an outdoor classroom.
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BISBEE MEDIA MENTIONS
Ghost Towns
Ghost Hotels
https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2024/10/18/arizona-haunted-hotels/75708246007/?utm_source=azcentral-
Copper Queen Hotel
https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2024/10/21/bisbees-copper-queen-ghosts/75692040007/?utm_source=
Oliver House
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FIRE DEPT GETS FIRE FUEL REDUCTION GRANT
The $ 122,000 grant from the AZ Department of Forestry is for reducing fire fuel in selected areas in Bisbee. A company from Hereford has been selected to begin the project the latter part of October.
In Old Bisbee
· The area along Old Bisbee City Trail from the end of Zacatecas Canyon that winds its way to Moon Canyon.
· West Blvd & Spring Canyon
· Spring Canyon to the end of Juniper Flats
In Warren
· School Terrace Rd & Laverne Williams Park nr intersection with hwy 92
In San Jose
· The area behind Safeway
(from the Herald Review)
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COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED ON AIR FORCE PLANS
If you don't favor low flying fighter planes, very loud noise, and more than tell it to the Air Force.
The U.S. Air Force has extended its period of public comment related to its proposed plans to expand and intensify training activities over much of Cochise County and southwestern New Mexico. If you have not commented yet and wish to do so, here is the Air Force’s online comment portal.
Visit Peaceful Chiricahua Skies website for more info.
From Cochise Regional New
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CHICKEN RECALL ALERT
Nearly 12 million pounds of precooked chicken used in a wide variety of ready-made burritos, pastas, salad bowls, sandwiches, wraps, and other foods have been recalled due to the risk of listeria.
The recalled products were sold nationally under the store brands of major retailers including 7-Eleven, Aldi, Amazon Kitchen, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart, as well as large regional grocers such as Albertsons, H-E-B, Giant Eagle, Kroger, Meijer, Save Mart, and Wegmans. Other products were sold nationally under brand names including Atkins, Boston Market, Dole, Jenny Craig, Rao, ReadyMeals, and Udi’s.
The recalled products were produced between June 19, 2024, and Oct. 8., 2024. They may be printed with establishment numbers "51205 or P-51205" near the USDA mark of inspection. However, because the USDA says some of the recalled products may be marked with other establishment numbers and because the array of products and brands that contain the potentially contaminated poultry is so vast, consumers should refer to the full list of affected products in this 345-page PDF. The agency recommends checking it frequently because more products may be added.
More details here
...............BISBEE ECONOMY................
NEW PHARMACY TO OPEN IN WARREN
The BeeWell pharmacy will be opening in early November. Located next to the Copper Queen Hospital in Warren, the Sierra Vista owned business will be open to all and will take most major insurances. They currently operate one pharmacy in SV.
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HAMBURGER JOINT TO OPEN IN OB
The unfortunately named Bisbee Badassery, a biker themed restaurant, will open their doors in late October. Located at 105 Tombstone next to Copper City Inn, they will be featuring burgers and bbq, salads, full bar.
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HOUSES SOLD
(all stats are from Multiiple Listing Services (MLS) does not include any houses sold by owner.)
The housing market continues the up/down sales seen this year. The interest rate is now about 6.6% on a 30 yr. fixed. That is about a full percentage point down from September of 2023. As the fed seems likely to continue cutting fund rates, that will percolate through the economy with the effect of lowering interest rates. That may or may not impact Bisbee. Because I have no access to data, it is unclear how many houses sold were with mortgages or all-cash deals.
As seen below the years of 2021 & 2022 were smashing for sales. It is important to note because some portion of those sales circulates in the Bisbee economy. When there are less sales, likely less dough floating through.
These sales were similar/Sept. of 20 24 compared to Sept. of 2023
9/2024....10 sold/Total $2,360,245
9/2023....14 sold/Total $2,477,900
2024 Total houses sold year to date; 80/Total $22,337,945
2023 Total houses sold year to date; 82/Total $20,442,000
2022 Total houses sold year to date; 125/Total $27,621,448
2021 Total houses sold year to date; 122/Total $27,157,291
Address/original/list/sold price (September 2024)
814 Pittsburg 110k/110k/$109,000
409 Hazzard 139k/139k/142,845
117 Wells 167k/155k/$155,000
231 Brewery 184,900/184,900/$167,500
122 Mountain View 199k//189k/$181,500
500 Bisbee Rd 275k/250k/$249,900
43B OK St. 280k/280k/$275,000
705 W. Yuma Trail 449,900/359k/$342,000
151 Quarry Canyon Rd 359k/359k/$351,500
183 Quality Hill 380k/380k/$386,000
OB-4/W-3/SJ-1/O-2
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BUILDING PERMITS
September residential work was down significantly from August,$400,603/$1,595,835, but about the same as September in three previous years. There was $839,828 worth of work permitted in September. Of that amount about half was for commercial work and of that amount $275k was for county and the hospital.
To date this year, building permits are significantly outpacing previous four years. The past two years have been about the same in total value but the number of permits is 65 more than last year. Although there were significantly more houses sold in 2021 & 2022, the number of permits were roughly the same. The higher totals the past two years would indicate the effects of inflation (costs of building materials and labor were up substantially) plus more expensive work being done.
2024 Total work performed year to date; 412 permits/$4,763,240
2023 Total work performed year to date; 347 permits/$4,735,452
2022 Total work performed year to date; 322 permits/$3,563,384
2021 Total work performed year to date; 335 permits/$2,679,344
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SALES TAX (for July sales)
Retail sales have been down this summer. People holding on to their money more? It has not been the best summer for Main St. business in OB.
$19,301 Bed Tax + $4k over last month about the same as 9/2023
$13,654 hotel = + $2k over last month about the same as 9/2023
$38,839 Rest./Bar -$12k from last month about -$6k from 9/2023
$80,088 Retail -$33k from last month about $100k from 9/2023
$45,350 Food for home -$15k from last month -$10k from 9/2023
$24,224 internet -$6k from last month about the same 9/2023
First FY quarter 2023 First FY quarter 2024
Rest/bar 112,584 123,303 +$11k +9.5%
Retail 386,868 314,638 -$72k -22%
Hotel 38,801 43,430 +$5k +11.9%
Bed tax 54,943 59,396 +$4500 +8.1%
Food 148,156 154,697 +6k +4.41%
Internet 74,188 84,697 +10k +14.1%
..............POLITICAL SHORTS............... Supremes toss challenge to Stephanie Money for Cochise Cochise County Community College District governing board Eli Dalton-Webb, a libertarian, filed a suit saying that Money did not include two different statements when she filed for the position. In a previous note, I mentioned the the challenger wanted law books, internet access, and a bunch of other requests to file his challenge. Seem bogus.Dalton-Webb also is suing the SV police in a kerfuffle at Veterans park about getting signatures for the libertarian party at an Art in the Park event. @@@@@@@@@The Arizona Agenda is about the best newsletter available for keeping track of AZ politicos and what they are up to. If you are interested in who is doing what to us and how they are doing it, subscribe.Some of the tidbits below come from their current newsletter that has some info on the anemic 'punishment' for politicians filing late campaign expenditure reports.@@@@@@@@@As far as seeing who is paying for what politico, there is the “dark money nesting doll” that makes it hard for voters to see who’s funneling money into state elections. The dark money reports are here, or you can use the Advanced Search. (see the sister publication Tucson Agenda, that has a blurb on this very subject.)@@@@@@@Arizona’s campaign finance law requires politicians to file campaign finance reports detailing who’s given them money and how they’ve spent it, about every quarter of the year. The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office hosts those reports on its “See the Money” website.@@@@@@@@@@LD 21 Dem. Representative Consuelo Hernandez is running as well as Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton. Hernandez still owes about $16,000 in fines for late campaign spending reports in 2022 and 2023. Hernandez was also instrumental in getting the several members of the legislature to take a trip to Israel during the session this year that virtually shut down the lege for a couple of weeks. Also tried to get a newcomer elected in the primary rather than Stahl Hamilton. So although she has done some good, her personal behavior is not so hot.@@@@@@@@@@@@Arizona has seen an invasion of politicians flying, driving, walking around Arizona. They are everywhere but mostly in the big cities, although Kelly was in SV as well as Kirsten Engels (CD6). The prez (Biden), veep (Harris), veep wanna-bes (Walz & Vance), liar (trump), sycophant (trump jr.), former prezes (Clinton & Obama), current senator (Kelly) and a ton more. @@@@@@@RIGHT WING TERRORIST ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING TEMPE DEM HQ(reprint from the Arizona Mirror)Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, was arrested in connection to his alleged involvement in four separate incidents of political violence. Police have tied him to a series of shootings at a Democratic National Committee office in Tempe, as well as placing anti-Democratic signs with razor blades and bags of white powder attached to them in nearby Ahwatukee. During an initial appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court on Wednesday, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said that a search warrant of Kelly’s home found 120 guns, 250,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor and a grenade launcher. Prosecutors said that law enforcement believed that Kelly was leaving his home Tuesday to “potentially do something” and was preparing for a “mass casualty” event.@@@@@@@@@TEEN CHARGED IN THREAT TO BOMB PRIDE FESTThe Maricopa County Attorney's Office is prosecuting an Arizona teenager on terrorism charges, accusing him of acquiring materials to make an explosive device he planned to use in an attack on the Phoenix Pride Festival.A grand jury indicted Marvin Jalo, 17, of Peoria on one count of terrorism and one count of conspiracy to commit terrorism, court records show@@@@@@@@DARK MONEYTo find the dark money reports, go to seethemoney.az.gov, click on the “Advanced Search” link in the top right-hand corner, and select “VRKA” under the categories and the election cycle you want to look at. Click “Search." |
............... WORD...............
Sagacious Comments (tip of the hat to RC)
We hang petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. ~ Aesop, Greek slave & fable author
A Politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country Texas Guinan. 19th-century American businessman
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~ Plato, ancient Greek Philosopher
Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. ~ Nikita Khrushchev, Russian Soviet politician
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When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~ Quoted in 'Clarence Darrow for the Defence' by Irving Stone.
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Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. ~ John Quinton, American actor/writer
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Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. ~Oscar Ameringer, "the Mark Twain of American Socialism."
I offered my opponents a deal: "if they stop telling lies about me, I will stop telling the truth about them". ~ Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952.
I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. ~ Charles de Gaulle, French general & politician
Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks. ~ Doug Larson (English middle-distance runner who won gold medals at the 1924 Olympic Games
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I am reminded of a joke: What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution?
What happens if all of them drown? That is a solution?
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I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two are lawyers and three or more are the government ~John Adams (1735 - 1826)
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Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Government. But then I repeat myself. ~ Mark Twain (1835- 1910)
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