Bullion Plaza Museum featured

Arizona Highways will be doing a feature piece in their August issue on historic schools throughout the state . Photographer, Richard Mack was in town yesterday to photograph Bullion Plaza in Miami which now serves as a cultural center and museum.  The school was “…opened in 1923 as a segregated school for Mexican and Indian children in the area. It became a place of pride and through the efforts of many,evolved from a close-minded,segregated school system, to one of equality and opportunity.  (See our piece on the Mighty Vandals of 1951) . … Continue Reading

It’s a Paver Party for Broad street

Spreading gravel to complete streetscaping on Broadstreet

The Historic Downtown District of Globe and the City will be completing the final stages of a major streetscaping project on the north end of Broad street this month. The monies came through a $98,000 grant tagged specifically for this type of improvement which took 2 years to move through the approval process. It was awarded last Fall. The project has involved enhancements to a pedestrian walkway and the entrance off Hwy 60 to the Historic Downtown District.  The City has enlarged the pedestrian walk-way on the north end of Broad to include trees, lighting and benches. This time, plans were made to run underground electrical and water lines to the area which, among other benefits,  will allow for automatic watering for the trees (something which was not done years ago when trees were planted in central downtown and which now requires hand watering).

Still to come is signage to enhance the trestle entry-way and installing a walkway which will tie the east and west side of Broad street together and make it pedestrian-friendly.  The walk-way project will be happening this month, on the 20th.

New Street lighting at the North end of Broad will help to pull traffic into the Downtown area and light the pedestrian walkway which now extends the entire length of Broad street.

…. On Saturday, March 20th, the MOB (My Own Backyard), a group of business and civic leaders- we will be hosting a “Paver

Party” to lay the concrete pavers on the north end which will tie in the walk way between El Ranchito and Yuma street. They are asking for volunteers and encouraging anyone who would like to help out, or simply lend support to the workers to show up at 8am. For more information you can contact Pat Dodd at the Center for the Arts.  928-425-0884.

Would JESUS Support ‘ObamaCare’?

By: Jim Moss

It appears that the U.S. Congress is on the verge of passing ‘historic’ health care & insurance reform legislation.
The year-long debate about health care reform has brought America to the brink of big CHANGE, Obama-style.   Now is the time for all good citizens to ask a simple, yet sobering question —

Would JESUS support ObamaCare?

Whenever the name of Jesus Christ is invoked for the purpose of making a political point, Jesus always wins.  In other words, IF it is obvious what Jesus would do — then, any public policy that is clearly contrary to the teachings of Jesus simply can not stand.
So, to be fair, it is important to probe the true meaning of ObamaCare, and to uncover what it will really do to America. … Continue Reading

Musicians Play To a Packed Crowd at First Friday Open Mic at Vida e Caffe

By Laura Stennerson

(On the eve of this piece going to press, we are two days away from another Open Mic night at CopperMine Cafe over in Miami, so put it on your calendars!)

Have you ever had one of those days where you just couldn’t keep the smile of your face? I had a day like that on Friday, from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed, I smiled. I know this smile had a lot to do with a severe lack of sleep, the fact the students didn’t vote me off the island yet, the dawning of Spring break, and Open Mic Night at Vida e Caffe. I first stopped off at another establishment to see friends that I have solely neglected and then, with smile in place went to Vida.

As I was navigating through tracks and traffic, having only been able to find a parking place in front of the Silver Belt, I hear,  “Mrs. Stennerson! You Missed our act”.  Oh no. I was late again. I missed Brandon Buchanan, Josh Dobbs, and Michael Cook. I said my apologies, but all was not lost. Thanks to the miracle of technology I was able to watch the video tape of their performance. They played their own version of the famous Eagle’s song, “Hotel California”, but with a twist. They played “Hotel Arizona”. So before I even made it to the door I watched my first act. What a great life!

With a chuckle, and that crazy smile on my face I walked in to Vida. Packed again! The place was buzzing with energy, music, conversation, and the omnipresent buzz of the espresso machine. As I settled in, which was tricky due to the sheer number of people, I saw familiar faces and new faces. As I stayed put for a few minutes, as I watched my second favorite man in black, David Haynes. I hear he has a new guitar to play to us now as he sings those ballads. Nice David! Earl Knoob played next, as I was wandering around again, he did a favorite Bob Dylan. Brought those old memories back. Thank you Earl. … Continue Reading

Spring Break Fever

By: Laura Stennerson

I could hardly remember my user name for News and Views. I think it’s been at least four weeks since I have posted. That is how long it has been since I have written anything but comments, lesson plans, and a few random poems. Yes, I have found a paying gig. I have stepped up to join the ranks of the working poor. But luckily, I have found; creative minds, a piece of native silver in the wash, and a $1,000,000,000 bill on the sidewalk in downtown Phoenix. My family couldn’t believe my luck. My children all wanted to know who this Richard Nixon was, and how did he get his face on a million dollar bill?  They were happy to know we were richer today than we were yesterday. It is good to be lucky. … Continue Reading

The Great Soul Trial

Excerpt: The Great Soul Trial 
 Posted: Saturday, Feb 2, 2008
One of the longest and most sensational trials in Arizona history revolved around a Miami man, James Kidd who lived in the area and worked for the Miami Copper Company for nearly 30 years in the early 1900’s. While his life in the area, as well as his disappearance in 1946 was barely noteworthy, his final will & testament launched him into the history books and initiated what became known as, The Great Soul Trial. 

Kidd disappeared from his little cottage in Miami in November of 1946. When the police investigated they found nothing missing in his apartment, and very little information on the man: he had no driver’s license, or police record. He had no family. He had few friends. He left behind little for the police to go on. Was he murdered in the Superstition Mountains looking for gold, or killed and thrown into one of his own mine shafts? … Continue Reading

Once they Moved like the Wind

Once they moved like the wind… 
 a recommended read

“To the living Apache of Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma- 
In sorrow at what they lost, and awe at what they saved.” 

So begins the account by David Roberts of the Apaches of the Southwestern Deserts. It is one of the best accounts of the resiliency and strategic brilliance of the Apache leaders including: Cochise, Geronimo, Victorio, Mangus and others. … Continue Reading

Black History Month: Again,& Again…

by V.Yanez

There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of even one small candle. ~ Robert Alden

The fight for equality began in North Carolina, in 1961, at a Woolworth. That day, four young black men demanded to be served lunch at a whites-only counter. The battle for civil rights also began in Montgomery, when a young woman refused to move to the back of the bus. It also started with the resulting bus boycott, led by a young man named Martin, who later marched into our nation’s capital and told the American people about his ‘Dream’. … Continue Reading

The Keystone

By: John Michael

A reprint from an article submitted to GMT Fall ‘07. It reflects the memories of growing up in Miami, and a close encounter with a famous “destination” known simply as “The Keystone.”

At a time when there were few jobs in town, especially for a 15 year old boy, Ryan-Evans Drug Store was hiring a stock boy that year. I had been told in no uncertain terms by my parents that they would not provide me with money, nor would they allow my grandmother to do so, and so I jumped at the opportunity to apply. Much to my surprise, I was selected for the job which paid 50 cents an hour and thus began my working career. I worked every night after school until 9 O’clock, all day Saturdays and 3 hours on Sundays.After several months on the job, Alan Robertson, store manager, decided I had enough intellectual ability to work both the floor and the fountain and he promoted me. Of course, this reduced the number of hours he had to pay the higher paid help. … Continue Reading

The Urgency and Importance of “Home Rule”

By: Dr. Thea Wilshire, Councilwoman District 2 Globe

OK, some English please!  “Alternative Expenditure Limitation”?  Huh?  And, even the simpler “Home Rule” name doesn’t explain much on the surface.  So what exactly is this item and why is it on the Globe primary election ballot?

In 1980, Arizona voters approved a tax reform package that placed limits on expenditures for cities and towns.  This means that regardless of the money coming into the community or their actual needs, the city cannot spend over the state-imposed ceiling.  The limit is the community’s 1979-1980 budget with a small cost-of-living increase built in for each subsequent year.  However, the cost-of-living increases have come no where near to keeping pace with actual costs of supplies and services, so the limits set 30 years ago are now less tax reform and more economic shackles.  Fortunately, a back door was built into the legislation wherein local voters could approve an exception to state-imposed expenditure limitations and decide locally what is best for their own city or town.  This back door is lovingly referred to as “Home Rule.”  … Continue Reading