The PRT Newsletter for the Week of April 16, 2025
Circle Z Ranch is the PRT newsletter’s Premier Sponsor for 2025. We are grateful for their partnership. If you would like to be a newsletter sponsor, click here for more info.
Share your news with this Newsletter’s 2,000 subscribers! Got an eye-catching photo? A noncommercial or nonprofit event announcement or report? Maybe a volunteer opportunity, or birth/graduation/wedding news? Tell us about it. Email your submission to prtadast@gmail.com
Photo of the Week
Where the wild paths meet. Photo by Shannon Dudley
News
Vandalism Spree in Patagonia
By Lynn Davison
On the evening of Saturday, April 5, vandals damaged private and public property between 3rd and 4th Streets and Naugle and Duquesne Avenues in Patagonia. Eleven private vehicles had their tires slashed. The Patagonia Library had four cameras smashed. Decorative plates at the Community Garden were destroyed. A home vending machine was damaged on Duquesne Ave. The public restroom’s toilets were stuffed with PRT newspapers.
Chief Deputy Gerardo Castillo said the County Sheriff’s Office has no leads on the case but the investigation is ongoing. The incident was called into the Sheriff Office on April 7 by a resident on Duquesne Street. Damage to vehicles ranged from $100-500 and ten of the eleven owners agreed to press charges if the perpetrators are identified. He encouraged anyone who had information to call the Sheriff’s Office.
Jan Herron and Gama Leva had the tires punctured on their new Lexus parked on Naugle across the street from the Art Center. Herron said the vandals could not cut through their sidewalls so they punctured the tread. Herron and Leva also made and hung the 12 decorative plates at the Community Garden that were destroyed by the vandals. They were particularly disappointed by the loss of the plates and plan to replace them.
Linda Shore, the President of Town’s Library Advisory Board for the Library and now acting Town Librarian, commented that the cameras were not obviously visible but were destroyed anyway. The library closed at 5pm on Saturday evening and the damage was not discovered until the morning of Monday, April 7.
Theories on who committed the crimes range from a random group passing through town, local kids, or a planned attack that took place in several southern Ariona communities on April 5. None of these theories have been substantiated.
Patagonia Town Manager Ron Robinson did not reply to an inquiry from the PRT regarding the vandalism spree.
Patagonia Town Council schedules April 30 study session on fire/emergency services contract
Patagonia’s Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday, April 9 to hold a “study session” to review the Request for Proposal (RFP) for fire and emergency services for fiscal year 2025-6 that the Town sent to three local fire departments in February.
The study session will be held Wednesday, April 30 at 5pm in Council chambers at the Town Hall. The meeting will be open to the public, and all members of the public will be given the opportunity to speak. Patagonia Mayor Andy Wood stressed that the Town will be seeking “reasonable, proactive ideas,” saying she didn’t want the meeting “to be a shouting match.”
The 100-year-old, 39-member Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue (PVFR) department currently provides fire and emergency services to the Town under a one-year, $65,000 contract that ends on June 30.
Both PVFR and Sonoita-Elgin Fire District submitted proposals for the FY 2025-6 contract ahead of the March 30 deadline.
The RFP was sent out by the Town in February without any public discussion or vote by the Town Council. Patagonia Town Manager Ron Robinson told the PRT that no public notice or deliberation was necessary as issuing the RFP was an “administrative act” by the Town.
For previous PRT coverage, including pertinent public documents, see “Town May Cut Ties With PVFR” (April 3, 2025).
Supervisor Fanning, County officials give updates on Elgin, Sonoita issues
By Dave Lumia
Santa Cruz County District 3 Supervisor John Fanning, County Manager Jesus Valdez and Deputy County Manager Chris Young were invited speakers at the April 12 community dinner at the Elgin Club.
Fanning provided an update on the District 3 citizens advisory committee, which has held two meetings, with the next one scheduled for later this month in Patagonia.
Young reported that the county will be upgrading the water pipes at the Little League field in Sonoita after the current season is concluded in order to better water the grass. He also encouraged residents to “give us some suggestions on how we can maximize” the underused county annex in Sonoita.
Valdez addressed a number of questions related to roads and traffic. He said the design stage for a two-lane bridge over Babocomari Creek, to replace the existing one-lane structure, should be completed by the end of the calendar year. He also reported that the Arizona Department of Transportation has funding to resurface Highway 83 from the Copper Brothel restaurant to the intersection with Lower Elgin Road and is working on some modifications to the intersection to improve sight lines.
About 50 residents were in attendance at the dinner.
Attn. Sonoita/Elgin residents and business owners: Mark your calendars
For more information on the citizen committee-led Sonoita/Elgin Preservation and Planning initiative, read this update from the committee’s Ed Gaines, Gail Christmann, Aaron Gudenkauf and Kiyo Taylor.
The regal horned lizard abides
Above: “Otherworldly regal horned lizards—like this one at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary—are most often spotted near active Harvester Ant nests. The ants constitute up to 95% of this saurian’s diet, with both species becoming active in warmer spring weather.” —Vince Pinto
Remember When?
We’ve posted over 3,200 digitized articles from past years’ print editions on the PRT website, with more to come. Take a walk down memory lane with this article from April, 2016…
The CCC Dam
By Murphy Musick
April 2, 2016
In 1940, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed a 26-foot tall, 210-foot-wide solid earthen dam to prevent flooding in Patagonia. Here’s a look at this very well engineered dam, which still stands today.
School News and Youth Events
Who made honor roll?
Click here to find out who’s on Elgin School’s latest Honor Roll.
Rotary Club college tuition scholarships
From Mountain Empire Rotary Club:
Mountain Empire Rotary Club (MER) is offering local graduating seniors a chance to receive up to $2,000 that can be used toward college tuition. Two scholarships are available.
“These scholarships are intended to recognize graduating seniors who have demonstrated an interest in continuing to develop their own leadership skills and making a difference in their community,” said Mountain Empire Rotary President Annelies Dompe. “The funds can be used to help cover tuition costs whether the students will be attending a technical school, community college or four-year university.”
The application can be obtained by contacting Mary Faley at mufaley@outlook.com. All completed applications must be returned no later than Friday, May 2, 2025. Each recipient can receive $1,000/year for two years.
Eligible students must be graduating from high school, accepted by and plan to attend an accredited post-secondary institution or vocational program, and reside in one of the following ZIP codes: 85611, 85621, 85624, 85637
Upcoming Events
To share information about an upcoming event in this newsletter, please submit a poster/flyer in JPEG or PNG format. Email your submission to prtadast@gmail.com by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
From Borderlands Nursery & Seed:
There are only a few slots still available in our Seed Pelletization Workshop on Saturday, May 3 from 9am to noon! Join us at the Seed Barn to learn about seed-based revegetation methods and then get your hands dirty making some seed pellets that will be used in a restoration project! Sign up for this workshop through our events page at www.borderlandsplants.org.
Recurring Events
THIS SATURDAY Sonoita Produce on Wheels & Local Market, at the VINE Church Saturday, April 19, 8-11 AM
Borderlands POWWOW in Sonoita, AZ is always on the third Saturday of the month. At the same time, we have Local Marketside vendors. At our local market, you’ll find wonderful homemade goodies/coffee/breads/jams, and gift items. If you’d like to share your handcrafted or homemade local goods at the market, we’d love to have you. – please text/call gardenia at 602.292.1616 to reserve a No-Fee spot.
*At POWWOW it is a $15 contribution for 70 LBS of produce. No residential or income requirements.
If you’d like to join the Community Volunteer Team or become a Market Vendor, please text/call Gardenia 602.292.1616. AND if you know of any youth in the community who would like or need volunteer hours, we can provide documentation for those who would like to volunteer.
AA: Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Doors open at 6:30. Highway 83, Sonoita. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
- Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Overeaters Anonymous: to find a meeting go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
The Patagonia Senior Center has received a grant from Delta Dental of Phoenix to help seniors with dental expenses. Vouchers are provided for up to $350 to participating dentists. If interested, please call the Senior Center at (520) 394-2494.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
We are a mustang and a mule who need your help for approximately 1 hr./day to feed, water & pick up manure. Mon.-Thurs. $25. day. Sonoita 520-975-9920
Family Health Care Amigos/Purple Elephant, a certified charity, seeks a dependable part-time furniture mover for approximately ten hours a month at $20 per hour. Please call 520.256.7213 to set up an interview.
Farmers Markets
Patagonia Farmers and Crafts Market – Thursdays 10am-12pm by Red Mountain Foods.
Sonoita Farmers Market – Saturday Mornings 9am-12pm at the Sonoita Post Office parking lot (NW corner of Hwy 82/83)
Sierra Vista Farmers Market – Thursday 10am-2pm at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Nogales “Little” Mercado – Fridays 4-7pm 163 Morley Ave, Nogales.
Church Events and Schedules
Holy Week & Easter services at Santa Rita Abbey in Sonoita
Thursday, April 17 – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 5:15 p.m
Friday, April 18 – Solemn Afternoon Liturgy – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 20 – Easter Vigil – 3:30 a.m.; Easter Day Mass – 8:00 a.m.
All are welcome. For more information contact Santa Rita Abbey at 520-455-5595 or sracommty@gmail.com. Santa Rita Abbey is located at 14200 E Fish Canyon Rd, Sonoita, 85637-6545
St. Therese Parish in Patagonia
Patagonia United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
For information on advertising in the PRT’s print edition, weekly newsletter, website or a custom package, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
Private collector interested in buying good quality minerals from the Patagonia area and other Arizona locations. Please contact Bob Stewart, 315-440-2786 (Sahuarita)
Want to know when a new Newsletter is out? You can receive an email the moment our weekly newsletter is published every Wednesday. Click here to join the PRT email list.