South32 has announced their potential transportation route for their ore trucks, running 16 hours per day, using SR 82 from Patagonia to Sonoita and down SR 83 to I-10 and to a rail yard on Kolb Road and return. This will devastate our local communities’ businesses and property owners, not to mention our environment and […]
Kat Crockett
Posted inOpinion
County Blunders at Early Voting in Sonoita
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 was National Early Voting Day. Santa Cruz County set up voting stations in Patagonia from 9a.m. – noon, and at the Sonoita Library from 2 – 5:00 pm. Candidates Liliana Ortega, (Superior Court Judge), Donna Federici, (Supervisor District 3), and Kat Crockett and Patty Scarboro (Sonoita Elementary School Board District) were […]
Posted inLocal News
Board Looking Into Allegations
Fire Chief Joseph DeWolf is on paid administrative leave while an investigation into claims of a hostile work environment at the station is being conducted. Photo by Marion Vendituoli Sonoita Elgin Fire District (SEFD) Fire Chief Joseph DeWolf was placed on paid administrative leave at the October 9 Fire District Board meeting, pending an investigation […]
Posted inLocal News
County Runs Out of Ballots in Sonoita
Santa Cruz County set up early voting stations in Patagonia from 9a.m-12p.m and at the Sonoita Library from 2p.m -5p.m. on Saturday, 24 October 2020, which had been designated National Early Voting Day. At 3:30p.m, however, the county ran out of ballots for most of Sonoita’s 865 active voters. Unfortunately, the county workers did not […]
Posted inOpinion
Let’s Turn Our Loss Into a Win
The courtroom in Sonoita has sat empty since the Court was shut in January 2019. Photo by Marion Vendituoli It has been over a year and a half since the gavel fell for the last time at Eastern Santa Cruz County Justice Court in Sonoita. The building is now a storage facility for excess county […]
Posted inLocal News
Global Crisis, Local Impacts
Wineries, Restaurants Hit Hard by Closures Photo by Marion Vendituoli Rune Winery by Kat Crockett Rune was operating six days a week and business was good until the first case of COVID-19 hit the County on March 20. By order of Governor Ducey, they shuttered their tasting room and offered bottles “to go” on weekends […]
Posted inLocal News
New Code Will Impact Farmers Markets
Research indicates that the popularity of local farmer’s markets is growing, supported by the demand for organic foods and focus on sustainability. They support healthy communities and reconnect people to their food system. Fresh sustainable produce means better health and lower obesity rates. Families in need can use food stamps at the market, placing cash […]
Posted inLocal News
Update on County Health Code and Fee Schedule
Following a public discussion on the proposed SCC Health Code and Fee Schedule on Dec. 18, eight county residents addressed the Board of Supervisors (BOS) and requested the code and fees be postponed and/or not implemented. Three winery owners requested a delay until proposed legislation at the state level to exclude wineries was adjudicated. Notwithstanding, […]
Posted inOpinion
New Health Code Headed for Approval
The county is moving forward on adopting a proposed health code and, in advance of the state, the 2017 FDA Food Code. The FDA Code establishes definitions; sets standards for management and personnel, food operations, and equipment and facilities; and provides for food establishment plan review, permit issuance, inspection, employee restriction, and permit suspension. Nearly […]
Posted inOpinion
The Future of Santa Cruz County
The largest private sector employer in Santa Cruz County is the produce industry. For over 100 years, the Nogales port of entry was the major entry point for fresh produce from Mexico to the US, but recently lost that long time success to Hidalgo, Texas. Arizona’s share of fresh produce imports declined from 44.7% to […]