The PRT Newsletter for the Week of July 31, 2024
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News
Unofficial Election Results
Following is a brief summary of the unofficial results for yesterday’s primary election, as published on the Santa Cruz County elections website early this morning. There are still around 1,000 ballots that need to be verified and counted. They hope to finish by the end of the working day on Thursday, August 1. We will update the election results article on the PRT website as we have more information.
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
Two-term incumbent Supervisor Bruce Bracker is running far behind challenger John Fanning in District 3’s Democratic primary. Fanning has received 1,222 votes and Bracker has received 759 votes. The winner will face Republican challenger Jesus Jerez in the Nov. 5 general election.
In District 1, incumbent Manny Ruiz is trailing challenger Luis Carlos Davis by 23 votes in the Democratic primary. Davis has 517 votes, Ruiz has 494 votes, and challenger Robert Rojas has 238 votes.
In District 2, incumbent Rudy Molera, with 565 votes, is leading his two challengers in the Democratic primary. Bettina Damon has 404 votes, and Arturo Garino has 343.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff
In the Democratic primary, incumbent David Hathaway, with 2,411 votes, is trouncing all his challengers: Mario Morales has received 911 votes, Rafael Corrales has 896 votes, Jose Agosttini has 244 votes and perennial candidate Andrew Ibarra has 112 votes. The winner will face Independent Travis Arnold in the general election.
Patagonia Town Council
Patagonia Town Manager Ron Robinson has confirmed the following result to the PRT: 102 voters—about 16% of those eligible to vote—cast their votes for Town Council candidates. Incumbent Francesca Claverie was the top vote getter with 84 votes, incumbent Michael Stabile got 71 votes, challenger Gary Retherford got 60 votes and incumbent Ron Reibslager got 41 votes. Claverie, Stabile and Retherford will now serve on the Town Council.
Santa Cruz County Justice of the Peace
Adriana Olaiz, a court interpreter, is leading Miguel Lopez for the Democratic nomination, 2,279–2,194. The winner will face Rachel Sedgwick, who is running as an Independent, in the November 5 general election.
Santa Cruz County Assessor
Incumbent Pablo Ramos, with 2,762 votes, is far ahead of his challenger Octavio Gradillas, who has received 1,671 votes in the Democratic primary.
Santa Cruz County Treasurer
Democrat Alejandro Paz, running for the office of County Treasurer as a write-in, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors this spring after the resignation of former Treasurer Liz Gutfahr. He will be running in the general election against Independent Carola Romero.
It Only Takes a Minute
Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue reported on their Facebook page this past Monday: “Excellent turnout [pictured above] for our new weekly readiness drills!!! Preparing to help you when you need us most. The goal was to be fully geared up in one minute, out of the firehouse and responding in less than three. Success was achieved.”
Elgin School Staff Ready for New School Year
From the Elgin School Facebook page: “This dedicated group of individuals [pictured above] has collectively 354 YEARS of educational experience, and 153 YEARS of that experience has been collected here at Elgin School! We are excited and ready for the new school year. We are also rolling out new taglines that we feel encompass what our school and district mean: ‘Elgin Elementary School – Every Eagle Shines’ and ‘Sonoita Elementary School District – Successfully Empowering Students Diversely'”
Time for a Refreshing Drink
Courtesy of Borderlands Restoration Network, here’s a highlight reel of recent visitors to a critter-friendly waterhole deep in the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve in Patagonia…
Requests From the Sonoita Food Pantry
Helping Hands of Sonoita food pantry posted this plea on Facebook yesterday:
“[We are] in need of canned chicken, canned tuna, sardines, spam, peanut butter, jellies, powdered milk or shelf life vitamin D milk, cereal (hot or cold), canned fruit, pork and beans, mac and cheese.
“The freezer is empty: BarS bologna or wieners, any kind of farm processed meats — anything you have in the freezer you’re not wanting. Thank you to all that have donated. You have been a blessing to folks that need your help. Special thanks to the person that dropped off the coffee pot today.
“Please drop at the Corner Scoop (3166 AZ-83, Sonoita). Do not leave anything in front of the pantry door. We will be open again Friday around 9:30am to 1:00pm and then again Tuesday at 9am to 1pm.”
Remember When?
Over the last two years, we’ve posted over 2,800 articles from past years’ print editions on the PRT website, with more to come. Here’s a timely poem from our August/September 2017 issue…
Did you know that as part of our mission, the PRT does not charge to publish obituaries?
Please support the PRT — every dollar counts!
Upcoming Events
The PRT is committed to sharing information about upcoming events in our weekly newsletter. We will publish a link to your event page or poster/flyer, or a brief description of each event, provided by you. Poster/flyer submissions require an image in JPEG format, along with a brief typed description of the event. Email your submission to prtadast@gmail.com by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date.
Patagonia artist/musician Cindy Mohr is having an opening celebration for her new art exhibition this Sunday, Aug. 4 from 1-4pm at the Hilltop Gallery (730 N. Hilltop Dr., Nogales). Rock trio Lue, Buck & Cindy will perform. Click here for more information.
Santa Cruz County is holding a ‘Truth in Taxation’ hearing for property tax increases on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 10:30am at the Supervisors’ Meeting Room #120 in the Santa Cruz County Complex, 2150 N. Congress Drive, Nogales. You may also view the presentation and have the opportunity to comment virtually, via Zoom. Click here for all the details.
The newly formed Sonoita Creek Watershed Group is conducting a Community Workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 2-5pm at Patagonia Town Hall. There will be a Zoom meeting option, but bandwidth may limit participation for virtual attendees. Click here for all the details.
School Announcements
An announcement from Elgin School:
Here is the Lobos’ 2024 Soccer Schedule:
| Aug. 20 | Bisbee (H) | 4 p.m. |
| Roadrunner Invitational Aug. 23 Aug. 24 | Rumsey Park, Payson Round Valley Pima Winslow Basis Flagstaff | 10:40 a.m. 6:40 p.m. 1:20 p.m. 5:20 p.m. |
| Aug. 26 | at St. Augustine | 5 p.m. |
| Sept. 3 | at Pima | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 13 | at Highland Prep West | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | at St. Augustine | 4 p.m. |
| Sept. 26 | Benson (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 3 | at Bisbee | 4 p.m. |
| Oct. 11 | The Gregory School (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 17 | Pima (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 18 | Highland Prep West (H) | 4 p.m. |
| Oct. 22 | Willcox (H) | 6 p.m. |
Here is the Lobos’ 2024 Volleyball Schedule:
| Aug. 28 | at Bisbee | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | Tombstone (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 4 | San Manuel (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 6 | ASDB (H) | 5 p.m. |
| Sept. 7 | at Hayden | 3 p.m. |
| Sept. 10 | at Baboquivari | 5 p.m. |
| Sept. 19 | at Valley Union | 5 p.m. |
| Sept. 21 | Ray (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | at St. David | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 27 | at The Gregory School | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 8 | Baboquivari (H) | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 9 | San Simon (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 14 | Valley Union (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | St. David (H) | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 19 | Superior (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 21 | Lourdes Catholic (H) | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 22 | at ASDB | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 25 | at San Simon | 5 pm. |
| Oct. 29 | at St. David | 6 p.m. |
Local Items of Interest
The summer 2024 Bowman-Stradling History Center newsletter can be accessed HERE. It is filled with upcoming events, new acquisitions and news of the center’s annual community project, refurbishment of the Elgin Cemetery.
The Patagonia Senior Center recently 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.
The Patagonia Museum has joined the Jim Click Millions for Tucson Raffle fundraiser. The grand prize is a 2024 Jeep Wrangler. 100% of proceeds sold by the Patagonia Museum will benefit the museum. Please contact a board member of the museum to buy your chance(s) to win. Click here to learn more about the grand prize. To learn more about the additional prizes that are available, click here. Museum Members, save the date – Oct. 19, from 4-8 pm for a complimentary meal, refreshments and entertainment at the museum facility.
Raffle for the Elgin Cemetery Refurbishment Project. Click here to learn more.
The Arizona Rangers Sonoita Company meets the third Thursday of each month at the SEFD training room in Sonoita. For more information contact Lt. Phil Burdine at (520) 990-4390
Employment Opportunities
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
St. Therese Parish in Patagonia
Patagonia United Methodist Church
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