SEFD Board members Reba Webber and Chairman Chris Johnson study the report on the investigation into charges of a toxic work environment at the Sonoita Fire Station at the Jan. 26 Board meeting. Photo by Marion Vendituoli During a special meeting on Jan. 8, 2021, the Sonoita Elgin Fire Board voted unanimously to sustain the […]
Kat Crockett
Posted inLocal News
Community Weighs in on County Building in Sonoita
It has now been a little over two years since the county moved judicial services to Nogales. Largely unused, the building that housed the courthouse still contains our library, a few county offices and is a storage facility for excess county equipment. 81 people responded to a survey sent out last summer focusing on possible […]
Posted inOpinion
South32 “Transparency” Turns Opaque
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 […]
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, […]