By: Linda Gross
The History of the Old Dominion Mine
The community of Globe-Miami was built on copper and the East Coast money which flocked here at the turn of the century to cash in on the rich bodies of copper ore. At one time there were over 35 operating mines around Globe and none were bigger than The Old Dominion Mine. … Continue Reading
By: TED LAKE
Staff Writer AZ SilverBelt
Reprinted with Permission: AZ SilverBelt June 30
For the first time since its inception in March 2007, the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation has two very aggressive leaders who want the organization to move now and get more jobs in the community by pushing for new private prison developments in town, but not factories or small industries.
However, public relations with SGCEDC in this big push to support a prison have been badly damaged starting with a quasi press conference with tense discussions with reporters, being told they could only ask one question and others not even getting a chance to ask their questions in full about the medium security prison complex, in particular more information about its developers. On top of this, Globe city councilman Terry Wheeler came out saying the EDC told him he wasn’t welcome at the early June press conference and to stay away.
Was that a smart idea, telling a city councilman who has voted in the past to give bed tax monies to the SGCEDC to get out of their business? … Continue Reading
By Vince Yanez
The Private Prison sales pitch finds a receptive audience among small, economically challenged communities who want to find jobs and a way of paying the light bill at City Hall. Or, perhaps more to the point in the case of Globe – a way of getting a new sewer line for the NW Corridor.
Yet, it turns out the sales pitch is does not give the whole story.
The Information Highway goes both ways
Consider the information provided by the Prison Policy Initiative, a non-profit, non-partisan organization which researches and documents prison policy. They report that in spreading the gospel of privatization, our friends at Corrections Corp of America (James Parkey) and its competitors (Emerald Companies, Management & Training Corp (Kingman),Cornell and others)”… have used a small body of professional literature that purports to approve the superiority of for-profit corrections. What they fail to mention is that much of this literature has been written by analysts who are either being funded by the industry or have an ideological predisposition in favor of privatization.”
What were murderers doing in Kingman?
In the effort to package their message to local communities who are more open to warehousing the “not so violent” residents are often told by the pitch men, “Prisoners housed in private facilities are far less likely to be convicted of serious or violent offenses, or to have high medical and mental health needs,than prisoners housed in public facilities used to generate cost comparisons.”
In actuality, PPI reports, Public prisoners were seven times as likely to be serving time for violent offenses, three times as likely to be serving time for serious offenses and twice as likely to have high medical needs than those housed in private facilities.
You need look no further for proof of this than our own example here in Arizona recently, when 3 murderers escaped last week, from the 1400 bed facility in Kingman which was approved in 2004 by voters as a minimum to medium security prison to house DUI and Substance Abuse Cases!
According to Management & Training Corporation – the needs of the DOC “expanded.”
Next week, we will look at the issue of funding and how that plays out in the debate over Private Prisons. You know that saying, “Freedom isn’t Free”? Well, Neither are Private Prisons.
Jim Moss Born at Miami Inspiration Hospital, 1955. Attended Globe-Miami schools through 8th grade. Graduate, Arizona State University; B.S., Political Science; B.A., Elementary & Secondary Education. Graduate, Northern Arizona University; Masters, Educational Leadership After career in Public Education, returned to hometown in 2003 with wife, Kelly, to create a new businesss: The Pickle Barrel Trading Post in Downtown Globe.
By: Linda Gross
The Public Debate Begins
This week the AZ Silver Belt begins a series of debates in the local newspaper over the proposed Prison project. Each week the SilverBelt will issue a question involving some aspect of the prison debate to Jim Moss, who launched “Globe Citizens Opposed to Becoming a Prison Town” and Bob Zache who sits on the Board of the EDC and has been picked by them to represent their side of this argument.
While there has been a few closed- door presentations and private assurances regarding the merits of the project, there has been little public debate. A piece by staff writer, Jesse Bryant, for Gila 1010.9 entitled Damage Control Press Conference Held by EDC, suggests a pattern of evasiveness by local officials, the EDC and the prison developer James Parkey and the Emerald Companies in addressing the local media and general public.
Bob Zache: Born and raised in Miami, Robert J. Zache graduated from Miami High School in 1955. After spending time in the U.S. Army and the mines, he graduated from ASU with a BA in Journalism, and went on to work for the Phoenix Gazette, Gila Pueblo College and the Arizona Silver Belt. He sits on the Board of EDC.
The news this week regarding a riot and lock down at the Eloy prison where 13 prisoners pummeled a guard when he tried to break up a fight over an X-Box and the escape of three murderers from a Kingman prison both have one thing in common.
They are both private prisons.
Since Globe is now “on the short list” for a private prison of their own, it is time every voter in this community evaluate the proposal and the ramifications of placing a private prison in town.
Private prisons have a long and inglorious track record of problems like the ones in the news last week. … Continue Reading
By: Paul Woleterbeck
Labor Day Road Trip
Labor Day Weekend lures motorcycle riders to escape the Valley, heading to points east, and on Saturday morning, Sept. 4, Boyce Thompson Arboretum will open one hour early with a “Bikers’ Breakast” event as part of the Five+Dive Tour.
Don’t miss this singular chance for a morning ride and breakfast outdoors — complete with live Native American cedar flute music played by Chino Valley recording artist Joseph Leal (and Joe is a brother biker — he rides a Victory Kingpin 1700).
New Release
Joseph Leal will play at BTA for a Biker's Breakfast Photo by: AndrewHenry
Leal will celebrate the release of his new CD of Native American flute music by serenading fellow riders from 7:00-8:30 am in the picnic area at the Arboretum, giving motorcycle riders a place to stop before hitting the highway and continuing on to rallies, runs and roadtrips througout Arizona. … Continue Reading
By: Linda Gross
The $500,000 Dog Park Challenge
The news spread rapidly when Purina/Beneful announced a half-million dollar contest for a dream dog park in May. All the lucky winner had to do was to submit a 2 minute video showcasing why they were the most deserving of such largess. The winning entry would get a $500,000 “extreme make over” which would obviously result in one amazing facility for dogs and dog-owners. The contest began in May and this August viewers will vote for the winner.
You won’t find the Globe Park video in this coveted circle. And maybe you will decide after looking at the entries, that we didn’t deserve to be in the final ten. But like the award winning ALLY BANK commercials which drive home the point about fair play and transparent communication, we found the Beneful contest rife with potholes for contestants trying to play by the rules.
Instead of generating good will and positive branding for the Beneful/Purina name, our experience through this process soured our opinion about the company. Here’s why.
Where to get your CARDS, Your CLUES and General Info …
It’s a fact that Arizona Summers are sizzling hot and, as a rule, most sane people will spend the next six months in a mall or on their couch in air-conditioned comfort in front of their Big Screen.
Not Bikers. Bikers are always breaking the rules.
Few things in life will keep one from riding. They’re like those mail carriers who brag:
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds”
Bikers? They have a different motto.
“Whatever it is, it’s better in the wind.”
So, this summer, long after the last of the winter visitors have left for cooler climes, and even lizards have disappeared under their rocks to get away from the heat, we’ve designed a Summer Road Tour for The Children of the Wind. … Continue Reading
A local group intent on developing an on-line community of growers, gardeners in the Globe-Miami region will be launching a facebook page called,”Homegrown-A Farmers Market” this month. The only restriction is that it will be limited to only those products which come from the ground. This is a food-only Farmers Market. There will be a planning meeting for all interested parties on Saturday, May 22, at 9am at Vida E Cafe. see HOMEGROWN. … Continue Reading
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