Baseball Season and Interactive TV at PUHS
The playing fields and tennis courts at Patagonia Union High School are back in action. The once untended fields were reseeded and fertilized and received red stabilizer dirt for the infield. Superintendent/Principal Denise Blake reports, “The kids are really looking forward to the season and I hope our community can make it out for some of the games.” The baseball team plays Saint Augustine at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 3. On Tuesday, March 4, all the teams except girls’ tennis play against San Miguel at 4 p.m. The girls play Thatcher away at 3 p.m. Check the school website for more schedule information.
Blake also reports that “back in October, the Patagonia Union High School District received a grant for Interactive Television equipment (ITV). This is allowing us to provide students with courses that we might not otherwise be able to provide. This spring semester we are beginning with our first class by using the ITV equipment to provide our more fluent Spanish students with an advanced Spanish class through collaboration with the Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District #35 Rio Rico High School. We are all learning how to navigate the system of technology as a means for providing new learning experiences. Everyone is excited and interested to try a new style. It really opens up the possibilities for students in rural areas to be able to receive a variety of classes.”
The River Bed’s New Profile
Some Patagonia residents have become concerned about the scraped out bottom of the wash in an area near where it crosses Sonoita Avenue. The river gravel has been removed down to the hard soil below by Brent Bowden, who takes the gravel to his yard for use in construction projects. Town Manager David Teel says that he approved such removal by Bowden, based on the advice of an engineer, who told him that it might reduce the chance of flooding if the bed were deepened.
Doogie R.I.P.
Missing since September 11th, 2013. I discovered Doogie’s little skeleton, bleached white and surrounded by brilliant red tail feathers and some grey ones, on February 8, not far from home. He was so fond of this entire community and vice versa. He blessed many lives with big joy, song, mischief, comedy, companionship, LOVE, and the list goes on. I was overwhelmed in a beautiful way by how so many in Patagonia and the surrounding area helped search for him; cared so much, and offered support in many ways. I’m so grateful, and lucky for that. A big Thank You. —Cindy Mohr
Answer to Tracking Quiz
Though its official name is collared peccary, in Arizona this species is better known as javelina, a Spanish word pronounced “hav-a-LEEN-ah.” Javelina are not wild pigs or boars. Rather, this native species is the only US member of a mammal family that is widespread in Central and South America. In the US, javelina are only found in Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Adult javelinas are typically 34 to 36 inches long, and have short slightly curved tusks and a thick spiky coat. They eat prickly pear, mesquite beans, grubs, roots, and occasionally small rodents. Javelina are highly social animals, traveling in family groups or herds. They have very poor eyesight, so if you encounter one or more in your back yard, make some noise to encourage them to move on. Did you know that the javelina is related to the hippopotamus and that, in some places, their meat is eaten by humans and their hide used to make leather gloves?
Now Covering Sonoita…
John Fielding and Susan Lancaster have raised their hands and volunteered to keep PRT readers informed about what’s going on in and around Sonoita. The couple went to high school together in Arcadia, California, and found each other again after more than 50 years. John moved from the Seattle area two years ago to join Susan, who has lived in Sonoita for 15 years.
John has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has had a career in the retail and hospitality sectors. He’s always had a shadow career as a freelance photographer.
Susan studied journalism at the University of Southern California and has a degree in anthropology. She worked in health insurance for 30 years.
With Fielding and Lancaster reporting, we look forward to telling you more about the things that matter to folks who live and work in Sonoita and Elgin.