Wildlife Habitat Restoration, One Step at a Time
In just four years, Anne Vogt has radically expanded the wildlife populations and biodiversity on her Wood Canyon property—even the fireflies have come back. Here’s how she’s done it.
WHAT’S NEW?
Scheid Sentenced to 32 Years in Murders of Father, Stepmother
A plea bargain avoided a trial and a possible ‘guilty but insane at the time’ defense.
LOCAL NEWS
County Schedules Meetings to ‘Clear the Air’ on Hermosa Discharge Levels
Activists and residents have registered concern over an October spike in the toxic metal antimony.
ADOT Attempting to Ease Wide Load Traffic on 82, 83 and 90
Cochise County sheriff Mark Dannels is one of the motorists who has been nearly run off the road by a wide load. “There’s got to be a better solution than this,” he said. “People are frustrated. This is an ADOT problem. ADOT needs to fix it.”
State Education Head Visits Elgin School, Addresses Hot Topics
Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne defended his department’s controversial policies during a Q & A session with staff and media on Tuesday.
Ike Isakson, Former PVFR Chief and Patagonia Mayor, Has Passed Away
The beloved community elder passed away on the evening of December 23, surrounded by friends and family. A gofundme page has been established for memorial services, which will be held Jan. 17.
Sheriff’s Blotter – Jan. 2026
A log of calls to the Sheriff’s office from eastern Santa Cruz County from Dec. 1 through Dec. 29, 2025.
COMMUNITY
Wildlife Habitat Restoration, One Step at a Time
In just four years, Anne Vogt has radically expanded the wildlife populations and biodiversity on her Wood Canyon property—even the fireflies have come back. Here’s how she’s done it.
Special Delivery: Sonoita Bids Farewell to UPS Tom
UPS driver Tomas Rojel, whose last day on the job was Christmas Eve, has been a fixture in the area for the past 22 years. “We will miss Tom,” said one local. “His service has been above and beyond.”
The Way It Was
Longtime locals reminisced at the Patagonia Library’s second ‘Living Treasures’ event.
The Headless Horseman at the Circle Z
The irrepressible Gilbert Quiroga brims over with tales about life in Patagonia over the last 70 years.
Harry Hower: A Legacy Set in Stone
Patagonia mason and arborist Harry Hower has left a lasting mark on the private homes and public spaces of the town. Here is how he ended up here—and why he stayed.
SCHOOL NEWS
Lobos Continue Late-Season Push for State Playoff Berth
The Lobos have eight games remaining in the regular season, beginning Friday at Baboquivari. “We don’t have any wiggle room,” Coach Nate Porter said. “We need to win some ball games.”
State Education Head Visits Elgin School, Addresses Hot Topics
Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne defended his department’s controversial policies during a Q & A session with staff and media on Tuesday.
New Biking Program Launched at Patagonia Middle School
This fall, Patagonia sixth-graders had something new to look forward to in PE class: riding brand new mountain bikes.
![[News Release] Sonoita Elementary District’s Erickson Named AZ Superintendent of the Year](https://i0.wp.com/patagoniaregionaltimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DanErickson.png?resize=1200%2C900&quality=80&ssl=1)
[News Release] Sonoita Elementary District’s Erickson Named AZ Superintendent of the Year
Superintendent Daniel Erickson is the Arizona School Administrators’ Superintendent of the Year for small school districts serving fewer than 1,000 students.
New Teacher at Elgin School: Rachel Lyman
The Elgin resident is enjoying the transition from being a specialist to teaching in a classroom with 13 students. “I feel blessed and so thankful to be working here,” she said.
ARTS & CULTURE
Our Falstaff
Writer Jim Harrison, a winter resident of Patagonia for 24 years, wrote a lot, and lived a lot. The recently published ‘Devouring Time: Jim Harrison, a Writer’s Life’ by Todd Goddard is a full and fascinating biography.
Great Trees of Eastern Santa Cruz County: The Grand Sycamore of Harshaw Road
Generations have come and gone, each with their own history, each with their own memories of their time under this grand tree, estimated to be around 200 years old.
What Is That? – Jan. 2026
The obvious answer is a trophy, but the story behind it remains unknown. Can you help?
Great Trees of Eastern Santa Cruz County: The Contorted Oak of Piper Gulch
This could possibly be the most contorted oak in the entire county. Here’s how to visit it.
Check It Out at the Library: What’s New
Looking for something to read to welcome in the new year? We’ve just received a shipment of highly acclaimed bestsellers.
COLUMNS
Nature Journeys: Vanishing Winter
Climatologists predict increasingly warm weather for the planet. What specific effects can we anticipate in the Madrean Archipelago?
Notes From SEFD: Responding to Highway Accidents
Traffic collisions on our local highways are taking a toll on everyone, from those injured to those who respond.
Take a Hike!: Dutch John Spring Trail #91
This trail is one of the shortest in the Santa Ritas. It is by no means the easiest.
Starstruck: Andromeda, John Muir and Me
Every time I find Andromeda I let go a muffled shout and I think of John Muir trying to grasp the enormity of what is now Yosemite National Park. I am seeing so far into the past I can barely comprehend the view.
OPINION
Sing Along If You Know the Words
I wanted so bad to remain relevant to my niece and nephews that I unleashed something that I could not control.
The PRT Needs More Writers
Help the PRT give the people something good to read: volunteer as a citizen journalist!
Food Insecurity in an Uncertain World
The lapse in SNAP benefits in November was a crisis for many of our neighbors. Here’s how we responded—with help from our generous community—and some thoughts on where we go from here.
You Say Tomato, I Say Treemato
I’ve planted, watered and fertilized five trees over the past two and a half years and been rewarded with nothing that even reaches my chin. But now, Mother Nature has come to the rescue.
Letter to the Editor – Dec. 2025
Bronwyn Zuchowski of Wisconsin writes a letter of praise for the PRT.
FROM THE PRT ARCHIVES…
Locals Share Memories of Growing Up in Patagonia
Maureen De La Ossa, Cynthia, Matus-Morriss, Emma Matus-Voss, German Quiroga and Sylvia Benedict shared memories of their early years here during the May 3 “Living Treasures” event at Patagonia Public Library.
Taxes, Secession Topics at Sonoita Town Hall Meeting
More than 100 Sonoita and Elgin residents gathered on Nov. 12 at the Sonoita Fairgrounds to discuss property taxes and the possibility of joining Cochise County.
Rotary Park Opens in Sonoita
The Sept. 29 opening ceremony for the Fred Sang Memorial Park was the culmination of eight years of hard work by the Mountain Empire Rotary Club.
Informed Mowing: Sustaining the Sonoita Grasslands
Haying our high desert native perennial grasses at the peak of their green growth can be a real threat to the long-term sustainability of our grasslands.
SEFD Reports High Number of Fire Calls
“I’m glad it’s almost over,” SEFD Fire Chief Joseph DeWolf said about this year’s fire season.