Former JP2 Judge Keith Barth, pictured here standing outside the Sonoita Courthouse, is considering a run for Santa Cruz County Sheriff. Photo by Marion Vendituoli The closing of the Sonoita Courthouse last December, a controversial move by the County Board of Supervisors, brought to an end Keith Barth’s 12-year tenure as Justice of the Peace (JP) […]

Pat McNamara
From Toledo to Sonoita via the Grand Canyon
After a career in the Park Service, Patty Wands now works as a promoter for musical performers. An Ohio girl with dreams of the Grand Canyon, Patty Wands came west as a 17-year-old adventurer. One of six children born in Toledo Ohio, Wands began her career with the National Park Service in 1980. Starting as […]
Assology 101
Why have some equine enthusiasts made the decision to use mules and/or donkeys instead of the more beautiful, malleable and popular horse? Perhaps a look into the animal’s behavior will help.
Sonoita Sculptor Honors Fallen Firefighters
Deb Fellows stands with her sculpture titled, “She Rode Good Horses.” A cowgirl’s heart with the soul of an artist describes Sonoita resident and nationally acclaimed artist Deborah Fellows. As the creator of the cowboy on the quarter horse statue that adorns the entrance to the Santa Cruz CountyFairgrounds and as the designer of the […]
Elgin Woman Working to Rescue Cats in Need
Nancy Dryden holds one of her charges at her Elgin cat refuge. Having grown up on a northern Indiana farm, Nancy Dryden never lost her passion for animals. specially cats. Dryden, a veterinary technician since 1995, has become Elgin’s cat rescuer extraordinaire. Her love of cats has grown into a haven for orphaned kittens, cats […]
Sonoita Man Completes 13-Year Ride
Bob Peterson and his horse NP have completed the 1,350-mile Chief Joseph Appaloosa Trail Ride. The grueling event, done in 100-mile segments each year, traces the route the Nez Perce tribe took as they tried to escape the U.S. Calvary in 1877.