This last weekend, Dik Mickle, who owns the Howlin’ Javelina in Miami AZ opened up his bar early and invited his friends over for an early morning jam session for riders who are participating in the Five and Dive Summer Tour.

I took the opportunity to catch the group on a video clip which includes Dik Mickle, Dan Corradi, David Cluff, Sal Pizzo and Tim Hileman. Drummer/Songwriter, Tim Hileman toured nationally before coming back to his roots in Miami, and Dik Mickle and Sal Pizzo both used to play in various rock-n-roll bands in and around Tempe as far back as 1967. Although they knew of each other – they hadn’t met until now, but give that feeling of having played together for years. Dan Corradi, on electric guitar relocated to Globe several years ago where he and wife opened up a Radio Shack store, but music is still his passion. And the youngest member of the group – David Cluff- moved here from LA  to “take a break”.  He fills in with base guitar when needed, but can play anything.

There are others who join the core group for Fourth Friday’s including some ‘famous’ folks. Several months ago, Amy Schugar, sat in with the group. You just never know what talent will show up on stage at the Javelina….but it’s a show you don’t want to miss. Everyone has a good time and it’s hometown entertainment at it’s best!

By: Laura Stennerson

Good times at Howling Javelina. Fourth Friday at Howling Javelina, 508 W. Sullivan Street in downtown Miami, is an experience not to be missed! I have loved visiting the Howling Javelina ever since Dic and Marilyn Mickle first opened. I thoroughly enjoy talking to Marilyn and Dic. Dic is the type of person who focuses on meaningful conversation. After talking with him, I feel renewed. Conversations with Dic do not just end, instead they are a jumping ground for my own thought extensions. I think all good conversations are like that, they make me think. They alter my perspective, they inspire me, change me. I can probably recall every conversation I have had with him. That is a huge thing for me to say, considering how much I forget.

Marilyn is a beauty inside and out. Smiling, genuine, caring, she has the sweetest soul with the most amazing hair. When she speaks, she has the faintest drawl. She has the voice of a singer. Even though I have never heard her sing, I envision her on stage belting out soulful melodies. She just seems balanced, a sweet soul that exudes a passionate soul as well. Their friendliness is a huge motivator for me to visit when I can.

The Howling Javelina sits in an old building in Miami. The Javelina is a tribute to the town of Miami’s past. Old pictures grace the walls. There are collections behind glass. From the tin ceiling to the hardwood floors the place is just cozy, clean, and welcoming. I was excited to actually attend my First Friday Open Mic at the Howling Javelina.

When I arrived the place was filling up. The musicians were setting up their equipment. I was thrilled to see Sal Pizzo hooking up his keyboard. Sal is a long time friend, and I like to see him play locally, so I can enjoy his easygoing keyboard fun more often. Dan Corradi was tuning his guitar and Dic Mickle was everywhere at once, I heard there was a promise that my friend Liz Weibler, artist extraordinaire, was going to sing. I had my fingers crossed, the first time I heard her sing to an audience, she sang acappella at open mic night at Jim Coates, Copper Mine Picture Cafe, and I didn’t write about it. It was one of those situations where I was blown away by someone’s talent I didn’t know existed. All those times, Liz and I sang loudly to Modest Mouse, setting up art shows, and I was not aware of the beauty of her voice. Wow!

So I was anticipating a fun filled evening of good music, and good conversation.

Dan Mickle, Dan Corradi, Sal Pizzo, and John Owenspy started the evening with a few bars of Stray Cat Strut. The jovial patrons on the couch were offering encouragement and suggestions to the musicians. The evening began with interactive motion and sound. The musicians sang and played on stage. The folks on the couch tapped their tambourines, and shook their maracas. These experienced musicians know how to cooperate. They move with each others style, in a free form of structure. It is like they create some form of swirling music mass as they jam together.

Dik Mickles behind the bar

I have mentioned before these musicians should have their own venue, and I guess they do. But where was David Cluff the third “D” of the Jam group, the 3Ds? A little later, I saw Dic on the phone, as he walked by, I heard him say something about needing the band’s bass guitarist, and I was hoping that meant David. After a few more jams, Dave did show up ready to play. The group played the Stray Cats, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, the Animals, and more. Their rendition of Gloria was great fun. I think the whole place was singing along having a wonderful time. I love those scenarios where everyone seems to be in the moment.

Guitarist, Michael Williams, and drummer Adam Buzan, were set to play next. Dic gave them a resounding endorsement. They played three of their original songs. I do appreciate bands that play their own music. They were high energy with good vocals. There were some drum malfunctions, but I think that was due to the sheer energy Adam put into those drums. They are two members of Unknown Spirit a local band. I hope the local community, and me, gets to see them perform again soon.

Liz W. with friends during the Art Walk earlier this Spring

Dic, Dan, David, Sal, and John took up places again entertaining the crowd. Liz Weibler was going to sing! She sang Wade in the Water. Her voice was smooth and blue. The gentleman next to me said smokey and sultry in describing her voice. He sure pegged it. She looked beautiful, and her delivery was calm and focused. It was rather bittersweet. I found out Liz was moving to Tucson. I am going to miss her cheerful fun personality.

Then back with the band. They played some Bob Marley and some other artists I did not take note of. As a matter of fact my notes begin to get a bit sparse here. Liz came up and sang Stay Cat Strut which was a big crowd pleaser. The crowd had been egging them to play that song in entirety all evening long. Actually that is the last thing I wrote that evening, even though the music and merriment went on. Might have been my numerous conversations, or my be bopping to the great sounds, or my consumption of that tasty yet heady Wild Blue, or maybe, I forgot what I was doing, and just had fun in the moment too. Thank you Marilyn and Dic Mickle for opening up the Howling Javelina every fourth Friday for a howling good time.

Don’t Miss the Morning Blues – playing at Howlin’ Javelina for Five and Dive Riders on June 26th from 8am – 10am.  YES, we’re opening up early for this event, so riders can get in a morning ride, catch some blues music, and get breakfast in the area before it gets hot.  Everyone is welcome – even if you don’t come in on two-wheels!

(photos of performers to follow… pending arrival!)

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.

Five and Dive Summer Tour 2010

We call it the Five and Dive and we hope to heat things up (economically) this summer while offering you some cool reasons to ride our roads, meet our people, drink our beer and have a good time. We’re offering up specials to help you save money – while spending money; good causes to help you add to your lifetime-karma points; and clues, riddles and scavenger hunts to introduce you to things you never knew you wanted to know about us – but now you do.

We initially called the tour the Five and Dime which was a nod to our incredible array of cheap thrills and lo-cost fun throughout this region. It also tied in with our feature on Woolworths. (One of those things you’ll want to pay attention to because it is the answer to a clue)

The Open Road at Roosevelt

But then one of our friends suggested the Five and Dive, over beers at The Huddle. And aren’t all ideas better with beer?  It’s seemed tailor-made for what we were putting together. Of course, I now have to pay Gerry royalties for coming up with the idea. (You can help me out by stopping by Pinal Lumber this summer and picking up a few nails, screws, wood, paint,… whatever you can fit on the bike.)

So, back to the meaning of the Five and Dive.

Did you know the spiritual meaning of number Five deals with travel, adventure, and motion?

According to this woman who runs a site, whats-your-sign.com, she goes on to say that Five “draws our attention to the wonder of life, and beckons us to appreciate the perception of chaos all around us. Five has wild vibrations: primitive and erratic.”

There has got to be a FIVE hidden inside every biker.

Really. Just log on and take a look at what the number two means for instance. You’ll see clearly why TWO does not work here. We could not have a Two and Dive Tour. Wouldn’t work.

And Dive? Well, I don’t have to explain that right?

So, now that I have your attention… let me explain how the Tour works.

It includes a punch card with over 30 merchants and local events throughout this region who invite you to stop in this summer. They have each come up with a special promo just for Tour Riders with punch cards and in exchange for dropping some cash along the way – remember this is an economic stimulus plan – you’ll get your card stamped, a big welcome from these merchants and a good reason to ride!  OK, maybe more – but you’ll have to do the Tour to discover what it is.

The Road Map at Superstition Harley Davidson

As for the clues and the scavenger hunts, we’re going to give you FIVE chances each week to solve a clue, riddle or scavenger hunt which will require some collective brain power. Solving these will result in earning our cool wooden nickels (don’t believe what your father said about not taking wooden nickels.*) worth points towards raffle tickets. Plus, as an added bonus, you’ll discover the inside jokes, arcane facts and local lore which will put you one step closer to being
“one of us.”

(*Even if you don’t “tweet”, check out the hottest Twitter account about Father’s advice. The account is Sh** My Dad Says. The author is a 29 year old, living with his 74 year old dad, who just started tweeting the things he said. He has now published a book & been on Larry King. Here is one from last week: “No. Humans will die out. We’re weak. Dinosaurs survived on rotten flesh. You got diarrhea last week from a Wendy’s.”)

OK, back to the Tour.

To begin, you can pick up the Tour Punch Cards at these FIVE locations beginning June 15th. Cards are $5….
(OMG – there is that number 5 again. Must be a sign!). Superstition Harley is waiving the fee for any riders who come into the Dealership to pick up the card!

Ohter locations include:

The Huddle Sports Bar, The Drift Inn, or 2 Lanes Saloon in Globe,

The Butcher Hook, or Jakes Corner up in Tonto Basin.

You can get your weekly CLUES/RIDDLES by going to globemiamitimes.com

Here you’ll find our EVENTS PAGE  and a link to our FACEBOOK PAGE.
Your first tip of the Tour…..  Bookmark these pages.

Since Globe Miami Times is sponsoring this Tour, we have designed it so you will read the paper, check out the website and – get to know us better during the Five and Dive.  You’ll discover answers to clues by looking at the ads in this summer’s edition, reading the stories and following the links on our website. Interesting Mr. Watson. Is this a plot to corrupt the mind? You decide.

Overlook of the Valley between Globe and Miami

Now for the pay off.  Yes, there will be prizes and good things given away to the deserving. But remember what Robert Pirsig said, in his cult classic, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycling”

“The only Zen you find on tops of mountains is the Zen you bring there.”
See you this Summer!

Rosemary Castenada, Ray Pini, Marlene Tiede, Darryl Dalley,and Wes Sukosky enjoy the view and the fanfare of the morning

This morning passengers flooded the Old Depot in downtown Globe, Az to board the Copper Spike for a special VIP trip to Miami and back. Over 150 people, made up of mostly local media,  area merchants, and political and community leaders found seats throughout the train’s five passenger cars.

The ride was free this morning. It’s intent to drum up enthusiasm and local support for extending the excursion rail line to Miami.

While this idea has floated around for decades, it seems the combination of Globes’ success in restoring their old Depot and drawing ridership from all over the State, plus the support of Mr. Ellis who owns Arizona Eastern and operates both the freight line and excursion train in this region, and the political will of those in charge at both the City and County levels may just move this idea from pipe dream to possible.

Ken Bitten, Director of Operations and Steve Torrico, Engineer with Arizona Eastern both have strong backgrounds in operating passenger and excursion rail lines.

According to Arizona Eastern engineer Steve Torrico, who is working his 3rd season with the Copper Spike and makes his home in Miami during the Nov-May season, this latest incarnation of bringing rail service to Miami began with the Genesis Group out of Miami, now headed by Susan Hansen, the Miami City Council, Kip Culver of Globe’s Main Street program and the Arizona Eastern Railroad.

“We all wanted to make an effort at building local interest at restoring the track between Globe and Miami and bringing back passenger service between the two communities,” he said.

To do so will cost approximately 1.5 million which includes rebuilding ten miles of railroad to enable the train to go 25 miles per hour. This would reduce the time between towns over what passengers experienced today on older track. (Avg speed was closer to 15 mph). The railroad would need to build a 50 car siding to replace the storage area currently used by the freight trains (which are the bread and butter of any rail operation.) Just HOW it all gets paid for has not been determined yet, but Torrico indicated that funding could come from a combination of City, County, Az DOT, Arizona Eastern, the Federal Railroad Association and grant monies.

Susan Hansen, Councilperson and local merchant, Co-Chairs the Genesis Group with fellow Councilman Darrel Dalley and has worked steadily with Az Eastern and others to bring back rail service to Miami

If the local group can get this idea off the drawing board and into production, Ellis, with the Arizona Eastern has indicated he would restore a steam engine similar to the one which sits in Globes’ City Park, and would add this to the line.

Torrico adds that “…once we have these tracks rehabilitated, it’s possible to run regular transit service.”

While this is still just one of those ideas floating around, it has merit when you look at the gain to both communities and the railroad itself to provide easy (and entertaining) access to both communities via a rail line.With a train depot and departure located in Miami, the Copper Spike rail line is 20 minutes closer

Phoenix and offers more opportunities for the two communities to share tourist traffic during events hosted by either community.

Bob Zache owns the Old Depot in Miami and supports the idea of extending the excursion train to Miami.

As Ken Bitten, with Arizona Eastern noted, tourist dollars brought in by an operation of this nature offer low impact and high return to communities looking for ways to generate income without adding a great deal of infrastructure. In today’s economy that adds up to a winning combination.

Delvan Hayward, stands with her mother's old train book in hand.

Today’s event showed the local community just how far this idea of rail service to Miami has come. Thanks to the vision and volunteer efforts of a handful of people….

A passenger train pulled into the station in Miami for the first time in 77 years.

It probably won’t be the last time.

You can catch the piece done on today’s event by Channel 15 news tonight at 10 and see more photos of the day’s festivities by checking out GMT’s Facebook Page.

Globe Hot Shots

By Linda Gross

This morning was the 9th running of the Copper Hill Crawl which starts at Adonis street and winds it’s way into the hills above

Miami, Az. It was perfect weather and the run attracted over 100 runners:.both local and out of town-ers.  According to race organizer, Brandon Parker, there were over 40 new entrants from people outside of Globe-Miami this year.

This year, also saw the local Hot Shot crew, headed up by Mark Babieracki turn out for the 13K; including Dennis Woods, Nate Barrett, Barry Johnson, Adam Pahl, Phillip Daw, William Roller,

Globe Mayor Fernando Shipley, Pat Ricklefs,Bill Nowak and Kandi Gabler were on hand this morning at the start of the Copper Crawl. Kandi & Pat were there supporting Justin Gabler who was signed up to run the 13K.

Aaron Bechdolt, Michael McCoy, Thomas Dowd, Tyler Lewellyn, Brend Sheppard, Anne Sharpe, Conner Hughes and Nate Lane.

Deborah Harper, came in from Florence and Teresa Durbin from Queen Creek for the race.

The race attracts runners ages 8 – 80 and every age in between. Although everyone has to do the HILL, which is walked by 9 out of 10 participants, the course cuts back home after the hill for the 5K participants while the 13K takes them all the way to the top of the water tower and through the back hills.

Matt Kannegard was in for the 5K run this morning. He and I talked about my exercise program.We both started at Globe Gym, months ago. Matt, stuck with it; has lost 40+ pounds and still going...AND he is running now ...And I...well, i was a drop out. Kudos to you Matt!

Miami's Volunteer Fire Department was on hand for any emergency

Sisters, Cheryl and Deb Yerkovich share many things. They are both competitive, signed on for the 5K...and are expecting their first child this year. As Deb says...yeah, but I'm due first!

Brandon Parker, race organizer, goes over the rules

Steven Patten, with the San Carlos Young Warrior Program (working with local youth), and Nathan Bendle of Globe's Engine Crew were entered in the 13K.

Photo by LCGross. Bullion Plaza originally served as a school for Native American and Mexican kids, but was de-segragated in 1954. It wasn't until the early 1990s that efforts to create a museum and cultural center were begun.

By: Linda Gross

Jo Foti,and husband Vince in front of the Bill Hardt display at the museum.

Last night, Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum hosted the monthly Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce mixer and many in the community turned out to see the progress being made after months of hard work by the Executive Director, the Board and several dedicated volunteers who put in hundreds of volunteer hours to re-paint, strip wood, build exhibits, showcase historic photos and more.

The results are stunning and those in attendance last night marveled at the Red, White and Blue room which highlights the careers of many politicians and state leaders who hail from Miami including Senator Bill Hardt, who became a Senator at 60 and spent 30 years in political office – retiring when he was 90. His daughter, Jo Foti and husband Vince, were on hand last night to support the efforts of the Museum.

Current Senator, Ed Pastor provided his desk which sits proudly in the lobby and serves as a reminder of the leadership which is still coming out of the area.   Board President Joe Sanchez and Board member Linda Pearce welcomed guests at last nights event.

Rosemary Castenada, who is also on the Board, worked with her former employer, Bank of the West, to secure copies of historic photos which the bank purchased years ago to hang in the museum. The images were blown up and re-matted and now hang throughout the lobby of the Museum.

Executive Director, Tom Foster, Photographer Linda Gross, and Board Member Rosemary Castenada with just some of the original historical photographs owned by Bank of the West, who graciously allowed them to be reproduced for the Museum's use.

The Museum includes many displays including a large room showcasing the Bob and Charmion McKusicks work  which spans nearly 50 years and includes an “almost forgotten 13th century technique” which allowed them to reproduce the Moorish-style types used in the original haciendas, as well as work tile series which depict desert animals and Native American symbols. The Walls in the McKusick room are lines with articles and accolades of their work and today, they continue to produce ceramics for health care and industry.

Other displays showcase the ranching and mining history in the region, as well as those who have served in the military.  If you missed your opportunity last night to see what’s new with Bullion Plaza’s Museum, be sure to put it on your list when you are in the area. It is worth the stop.  The Museum is kept open Fridays and Saturdays  11am – 3pm. (Although, since these are volunteer hours – they may vary)

And, you can also reach Tom Foster, Executive Director to arrange for a special tour of the facility by calling  602-432-7474. (Except April 30th – May 15th when he will be in China)

Rosemary Castenada, along with Fred Barcon and wife Joannie

Fiddler and hometown boy, Bill Bell has returned to his roots in the Miami-Globe area to make a music video for his CD “Vicar’s Son.” The scenes from the music video have Bill walking along familiar terrain for anyone who has lived or visited this area. Some of the most haunting images show Bill playing his fiddle as storm clouds cross over the old Globe cemetery whose graves date back over one hundred years. Bill Bell will be one of the many artists who will be participating in the Miami Loco Artists walk this weekend, along with his wife, Gloria “Toti” Bell who is well recognized for her striking paintings revolving around the Day of the Dead.  The couple lives in California, but has a home in Miami.

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) .

The school was abandoned in 1994 and later purchased by the town of Miami for $75,685 in 1997. Then mayor, Joe Sanchez, appointed a committee to determine the future use of the building and in July of that year, it was decided to establish a Cultural center and Museum.

In April 2009, the museum was awarded a $2000 grant, thanks to the efforts of Tom Foster and Cynthia Bach who submitted the grant application to the program known as “Wings Like Eagles.” This allowed the museum to enhance many of the mining, and ranching displays and begin to develop more areas within the facility for public displays etc.

The Fall of 2009 saw the “…completion of a five-year effort by the Museum to remove and replace the deteriorated roof of the main Bullion Plaza School

building. Thanks to Congressman Ed Pastor, the Museum received two Housing and Urban development grants in 2004 and 2005 totaling $146,716 which, combined with hundreds of hours of volunteer labor enabled the museum to replace/repair the roof.

The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts First Fridays, a program of speakers who give talks on the people and culture of this region.

This is part one is a series on Miami’s Sewer woes and the politics of service.

Time to Pay the Piper

The phrase, ‘Up S*&% Creek without a paddle comes to mind when one looks at Miami’s sewer problems. It’s not that Miami is unique in its unenviable position in facing a complete break down of its sewer lines.  Communities from Kingman to Glendale are raising sewer rates, floating municipal bonds and hoping on a prayer and a song that their sewer systems will last just long enough to allow them to find a solution.

In Miami it seems, the prayers have run dry. There is no option but action on a sewer system which has seen one too many repairs. There are places in Miami where sewage has been seen flowing in the streets and down hillsides as a result of broken or over-taxed pipes and several major collapses have cost the city big bucks they don’t have just to make temporary fixes.

It is time to face facts…and pay the piper.

The case of fact-finding

A lack of leadership and political will has plagued many communities where good leadership is more often defined by how many of your neighbors like you than by all effort spent in crafting good public policy.  It is, afterall easier for the average politician to understand what makes their neighbor happy, than to wade through regulations, financial statements and personnel policies and try to make sound judgments about big, stinky, expensive issues like aging sewer pipes and rising landfill costs which affect everyone.

It is easy to say “something must be done about this!” It is quite another to accept the task of spending countless hours, in countless meetings to come up with good policy. In Miami, newly elected council members, Susan Hanson and Darrel Dalley, stepped in last March to find a solution to the problem after another volunteer left the position.

“I was against the rate hike at first,” says Don Reiman, who has since been instrumental in helping the Miami Town Council to craft the new ordinance . “Or atleast I felt I needed more information before I could agree to it,” he explained.  At the time, “…I asked how much new revenue the rate hike was going to bring into the town and no one knew. I asked  how much was it costing the Town to operate today. No one knew. I asked what it was going to cost in the future. Again, no one seemed to know.”

It left an opening for Hansen, Dalley and Schaefer to step in and offer to do their own research on behalf of the town and draft an ordinance . Their offer was accepted by the council and they were given the go-ahead.

Mark Endicott and Wes Sukosky with Public Works discuss problems with the Sewer system in Miami. One issue is lard which finds its way into the sewer pipes as home owners dump grease down the drain. Mayor Canizales has asked residents to not dump grease down the drains as this causes big problems with an already fragile system. And the cost of repairs falls on tax payers.

Councilmember Susan Hanson approached local businessman, Don Reiman and said, “Since you’re the guy asking all the questions would you help us?” Reiman, who not only has a law degree and a good understanding of federal and state regulations,  spent 25 years in utilities billing with a company which serviced over 2 million subscribers. It was sheer providence to have someone with Reiman’s street credentials in this process volunteer his time to help in putting together a new rate structure . One which would stand up under  Federal and State scrutiny – and local scrutiny. Despite his qualifications for the task at hand, Reiman was still submitted to a process which involved fingerprinting and background checks since even a volunteer doing this kind of work is privy to private information.

Don Reiman, Miami businessman has put in hundreds of hours on helping to draft a a new ordinance for sewer,water and trash for the Town of Miami. Before coming to Miami he spent nearly 30 years in public utilities. He was recently elected to fill the vacant spot left by Levi Schaeffer on the Miami Town Council.

Reiman began by getting answers to his own questions. Ones he felt had to be asked to arrive at a valid end point. What does it cost to operate today? What was a new system going to cost? And how does the current fee system compare to the actual costs to provide services.

“What we found is that the sewer fees have been paying for trash service. ” Reiman explained. The town charges $11 for garbage pick up (household trash etc) and $1.95 for all bulk trash which consists of yard debris, old engines, etc. Yes, you heard right. NOT $1.95 per pound but $1.95 for the whole thing!  “That may have been fine 20 years ago, but it isn’t today ” he said. “Landfill fees have skyrocketed and it was actually costing us more money than we were collecting to provide  these services. We were going in the hole by about half ” Reiman concluded.

It was also discovered that only 70% of the population receiving services actually pay for them. There is an additional 30% delinquency in paying for services which the Town now addressing. The new collections process is working. People are hearing that the Town is serious about collecting. In the past  residents could beg ignorance saying they didn’t know they needed to sign up for Sewer and that no one ever asked them about it.  True. No one ever did.

But it’s a new day in the neighborhood.

So not only was the formula flawed in terms of charging enough to cover costs, but the administration tasked with collecting and recording payments was flawed. The sewer rates were being used to pay for the shortfall in garbage and trash. There was no money left to go back into a sewer fund.  According to Hanson, ” No one knew that.  No one had really done their homework so they didn’t know what they didn’t know.

“The ship was afloat without a captain,” Hansen says.

Not only that, but the seas below that ship were anything but calm. And the water isn’t blue.

“We don’t really need a new sewer. We can just fix the one we have. ” comment made at Council by a citizen upset over new sewer rates.

When Miami Resident, Susan Hanson went to check on her rental house in September ’08, she found a yard full of raw sewage. It’s no secret that Miami has struggled with an aging system which continually breaks down, so although distressing – the situation was not totally surprising. Since the home was vacant at the time, Hanson didn’t have to also cope with relocating renters. She just had to address the lake of sewage.

“I called the Town and told them about the problem and because they are understaffed and had the guys on garbage pick up that day, no one came out to address it then. However, the next day when I went back to check on things it seemed the sewage in the front yard had gone down and I thought – ‘great they were able to get out here after all and fix the problem.’ That’s when I opened the front door. ”

The sight that greeted Hansen was a river of S*%$ which snaked through the hallways, into the bedrooms, across the living room floor – for as far as the eye could see. She could hear a funny sound towards the back of the house and followed it to the bathroom where she found more S*%$ erupting from the toilet like a geiser and hitting the ceiling.  It seems the main sewer pipe had clogged and the only pressure release for the backed up slurry was the pipe which led into Hansen’s rental home.

“I called my plumber and asked what do I do?”

He told her to run outside. Find the main pipe leading to the house and bust a hole in it…” and then stand waaaay back.”

She did and a new geyser erupted out of the break in the pipe.  This  relieved the pressure in the house. The toilet stopped bubbling over and the sewer flow stopped in the house.

In the end this little incident cost the Town $15,000.  It included a five thousand dollar out of pocket payment with the balance picked up by the Towns’ Risk Management insurance policy.  It seems that one of the benefits of living in an incorporated area and paying taxes for services like police, fire…and sewer is that layer of accountability when S*%# happens.

As Hanson explains, ” The actual cost of this fiasco was actually more than the $15,000 the Town paid. We had to put additional money into the property to bring it back into use. But the liability of the Town could have gone much higher if it (the house)  had been occupied at the time. ” According to EPA standards, the walls and floors had to be cut 12″ up (anywhere it had come into contact with the sewage) and in some cases gutted. It was four months before the home was livable again.

Councilperson, Susan Hanson asked Reiman to step in and help the Council draft a new ordinance for the Town which would help show the State and Federal agencies that Miami could set up a rate system which would beable to pay for a new system. Their research included 3 public workshops, many one-to-one discussions with residents, public comment and research into other communities and Federal and State guidelines.

“We looked at the pipe which had broken and found it had been poorly wired together.” Susan said. “Later, we also walked down the gully to see if the homes below us had been affected. Built fairly recently they are some of the newer, up-scale homes. Yet the occupants seem un-surprised at the question. Sure, they said. There had been overflow. But there had been overflows in the past.

In fact the homeowners even had a name for the flow of sewage that ran down the hillside on a semi regular basis: Shit Creek.

Hanson got elected to a seat on City Council the following month and four months into her term found herself involved in the renewed effort by the Town to tackle the sewer problems which threatened the literal foundation of the the Town.

“I try to tell people my experience and let them know, …this town simply can’t afford the liability of collapsing sewer pipes. This same situation could happen easily – at any time.”

PART II: The Research. The Public. The Ordinance. The Money.

Channel 15 came to Miami and did a story on the towns problem. Reporter: Jay Reynolds. See full account HERE.

Submitted by Danilo Gurovich

Petrana was Danko Gurovich’s mother. She came from Montenegro to the United States through Ellis Island in 1901. When she and her husband, Elia, landed they were met by a man who spoke Montenegrin. He gave them train tickets to go to Montana, where a job was waiting for them. For the entire time on the train, they only ate ham and eggs, because that was the only food Elia could request in English!

Elia worked in the mines around Helena until 1908, when he heard about a large masonry dam being built in Arizona. Elia was a trained stone mason, so he moved to Miami, Arizona to work on the Roosevelt Dam. When the dam was finished, he settled in Miami and began working at the Miami Copper Company as a blacksmith. Elia saved enough money to purchase a boarding house.

The mines didn’t pay that well and, having to pinch pennies to feed children and boarders, Petrana melded a bean recipe from the old country with the local beans that were available – good old cowboy/Mexican Pinto beans. In what is an early form of Native American/Mediterranean fusion cuisine, here is Petrana’s “meatless” bean recipe, which is now nearly 100 years old. This is similar to a lot of bean recipes, but this is the way it was written down for us, so it’s near and dear to my heart.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound Pinto Beans
• 3 T Butter
• 1/3 C Olive Oil
• 3 C Water
• 1 large white Onion, chopped into slivers
• 5 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
• 5 Tomatoes, chopped (this is a “home-style dish”, so only peel and seed if your want)
• 1 big Bell Pepper, chopped
• 1 T Chili Powder
• 2 t Salt
• 1 t Pepper
• 1 t ground Cumin
• 1 t dried Oregano

INSTRUCTIONS

• Cover the Beans with water and soak them overnight. Don’t skip this step!
• Melt and brown the Butter in a pot.
• Add the Onions and let them simmer until they’re about halfway to clear.
• Add the Olive Oil and Peppers and let it all cook down.
• Add the Garlic, then the Tomatoes. Tomatoes cook pretty fast, so you need to add them last.
• Add the Salt, Pepper, Cumin and Oregano. Everything should be getting nice and cooked in the bottom of the pot. Don’t let anything burn.
• Drop the fire to warm & toss in the (pre-soaked & drained) Beans and the three cups of Water.
• Bring everything to a boil and then drop the fire down so it is just under a boil.
• Cook until the beans are done. This should take the better part of 3-4 hours. This is an all-day deal. The beans won’t go bad or get over-cooked as long as you keep them covered with water.

COPPER HILLS STYLE

• Throw a big friggin’ Ham Hock in there. Not meatless anymore, but it really brings in some great flavor. Remove hock after cooking.
• Add 1 t Tarragon

ADDITIONS & ALTERNATIVES

• If you want, put it all in a crock pot and let it cook for 8-10 hours.
• Throw in some julienned Green Chilies. My faves are Big Jim’s from New Mexico. Go on, be brave and enjoy!
• Add more herbs like Thyme, Tarragon, Chervil or whatever you like. Don’t get too crazy or you lose the bean taste in the mix.
• Beer is a good substitute for Water.

EDITOR’S NOTE: T (big T) = Tablespoon, t (little t) = teaspoon, C = cup