The PRT Newsletter for the Week of Sept. 11, 2024
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Breaking News
Supervisors Report Progress in Securing All Known Assets of Former Treasurer
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors released the following statement this afternoon regarding the County’s civil lawsuit against former Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr:
Since the County filed its lawsuit initiating the receivership action less than six weeks ago on August 1, 2024, the County has aggressively pursued all avenues of recovery from the former County Treasurer. As a result of those actions, the Court-appointed receiver has secured or is in the process of securing all known assets of Ms. Gutfahr.
Since the last Court hearing when Ms. Gutfahr objected to the scope of the receivership order, she has now voluntarily agreed to cooperate with the County and the Receiver and to withdraw her objection. Accordingly, the parties have agreed to vacate the upcoming evidentiary hearing that was scheduled for September 20, 2024. The County expects the receiver to file an interim report of the assets secured in the coming weeks.
News
Making Horses From Clay
High school students at Crossroads Christian Academy (CCA) in Elgin have created a group entry for the fine arts division at the Santa Cruz County Fair, happening this weekend, Sept. 13-15, at the Sonoita Fairgrounds.
Working with renowned sculptor Deborah Fellows of Sonoita, the students created clay sculptures of horses in various poses.
“Fred and Deborah Fellows have spent countless hours working with CCA students to capture through sculpture one of the most valuable treasures in the rural AZ community: the horse,” wrote Thomas McDonald, headmaster of CCA.
For more information on this weekend’s County Fair, scroll down to ‘Upcoming Events.’
Mammoth Fossil Returns to Sky Islands for the County Fair
Press Release
Not every kid gets to make history. But in 1968, 12-year-old Juan Padilla did just that when he stumbled upon some fossils on his way to school.
Lucky for us, the Elgin youth knew what he was looking at. And subsequently, the “big guns” from the University of Arizona were called in to extract the relic.
The relic happened to be a mammoth (genus Mammuthus), an extinct group of elephants that roamed the earth from 300,000 B.C. to 1,650 B.C. Weighing roughly six tons and standing 10 to 12 feet tall, the herbivores are believed to have become extinct as a result of a warming climate that reduced habitat.
Now, for the first time in 56 years, the Elgin mammoth returns to the area for a limited engagement at the Bowman-Stradling History Center (BSHC) as part of the Santa Cruz County Fair. Located inside Pioneer Hall at the fairgrounds, 3412 S. Highway 83, Sonoita, the History Center will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 13, 14 and 15. Admission is free.
In addition to the mammoth fossil and mammoth teeth, other fossils on display will include trilobites, a saber-tooth tiger skull cast, a T. rex tooth, ammonites and the ever-popular dinosaur poop.
“We are delighted to bring the mammoth home, even for a short visit,” said Cami Cheatham Schlappy, BSHC Historian. “While the history center is committed to communicating the area’s rich ranching heritage, we cannot forget that before cattle, other species roamed this land. We are excited to introduce at least one of them to fair attendees.”
Also present for this event will be Ron Hyde, curator of the Sierra Vista’s Southern Arizona Museum of Science & Technology, who loaned some artifacts for this limited fair exhibit.
For more information on the exhibit or the Bowman-Stradling History Center, contact Carrie White at carriettalumia@gmail.com. For more information on this weekend’s County Fair, scroll down to ‘Upcoming Events.’
Buck vs. Buck
Local resident Brian Tognoni captured this video last week of two male pronghorns locking horns near Lower Elgin Road:
Here’s some commentary on this video from wildlife biologist, naturalist and longtime PRT columnist Vince Pinto:
This herd of pronghorns is present year-round in the Sonoita-Elgin area, but their movements are fluid between the grasslands near town and those of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. I’ve lived in the local area for the past 16 years, but have yet to witness such a fierce battle between pronghorn bucks as the one we see in this video.
Pronghorn bucks duel for herd supremacy by locking horns in a pushing contest to establish who is the alpha male. The species breeds in the fall, so the males here were fighting for access to multiple females, given that they are polygamous—top bucks mate with multiple does. Note that towards the end of the video that the male with the smaller horns won, chasing his rival away. Perhaps he was the younger and more fit of the two, at least on this occasion.
In general, pronghorn, which are often erroneously referred to as “antelope,” use their speed to elude predators such as coyotes. The second-fastest land mammal on Earth, pronghorns are also the only mammal species that sheds its horns each year—generally in November or December, after mating season has ended.
Don’t Forget: Sept. 18 Public Meeting Regarding Cross Creek Connector Project
Santa Cruz County staff will present an update on South32’s Cross Creek Connector project at a public meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 4:30-6:00pm at the Patagonia Union High School Cafeteria. This will be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and provide feedback. County Supervisor Bruce Bracker, County Manager Jesus Valdez and other County staff will be in attendance to answer questions.
Newcomers Help Propel Lobos Volleyball Team to 5-1 start
By Dave Lumia
So far, so good for the Patagonia Lobos 2024 volleyball team.
The Lobos have a 5-1 record under first-year coaches Andres Cuevas and Brenda Somoza after Tuesday night’s 25-17, 25-21, 25-14 victory over Baboquivari. They are 2-0 in 1A South region play and now have more than a week to prepare for their next match, on Sept. 19 at region rival Valley Union.
“We are learning together,” said Cuevas. “This is my first time as a head coach. Coach Somoza, our assistant coach, this is her first year. Some of the ladies are new, but we are getting better and better.”
Cuevas inherited four regulars from last year’s team, but only one, middle blocker Alexis Fimbres, is a senior. Juniors Brianna Majalca and Emma Lewton and sophomore setter Amaya Somoza were key contributors to last year’s team, which finished with a 12-7 record, and they’ve been joined in the rotation by juniors Lulu Donnelly and Ximena Gonzalez and freshmen Monique Snell and Marion Koloto.
Majalca and Snell have given Patagonia a pair of strong outside hitters, and Somoza has been the team’s most effective server and a steady presence directing the offense.
“We have two awesome outside spikers and two awesome middle blockers, an awesome libero,” Cuevas said. “They are working and playing as a team, and that’s the key for our success.”
The Lobos opened the season by splitting a pair of matches against 2A schools Bisbee and Tombstone. But even in the lone loss to Tombstone there were promising signs. After losing the first two sets, Patagonia fought back to win the third before falling 25-23 in the fourth set.
The Lobos bounced back from the loss by stringing together four consecutive wins over 1A conference schools San Manuel, ASDB, Hayden and Baboquivari, losing only one set in the process.
“They are enjoying the game, they have a lot of enthusiasm,” Cuevas said. “That makes it easier to coach.”
Crickets and Grasshoppers Beauty Pageant
We’re looking for great photos (and videos!) of this year’s crickets and grasshoppers to share with the 2,000+ readers of this newsletter. If you’ve got one (or two, or three), please email it to prtadast@gmail.com — the higher the resolution, the better. Thank you!
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Remember When?
Over the last two years, we’ve posted over 2,900 articles from past years’ print editions on the PRT website, with more to come. Take a walk down memory lane with this article from October, 2014…
Grasshoppers: The New Superfood?
By Molly McCormick
October 2, 2014
Who knew grasshoppers and cicadas could taste so good? And, according to local medical researcher Binx Selby, the thing that could give us greater arterial health is also the largest local grassland predator insect: grasshoppers! But stay away from ‘rainbow’ grasshoppers—these species eat poisonous plants and are therefore toxic…
School Announcements
Upcoming Events
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Local Items of Interest
The Food Bank distributes supplemental food bags using a drive-up, drive through system, once a month from its Patagonia food bank location. Volunteer staff load groceries into clients’ vehicles. If one cannot travel to the Food Bank, one can contact the Food Bank to arrange to receive food (ph 520.302.4450, eastsantacruzcountyfoodbank@gmail.com).
Each bag we give out contains healthy, nutritious, nonperishable foods such as canned soup, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, beans, corn, chicken, pork, rice, cereal, as well as perishable foods including fresh eggs, hot dogs and tortillas.
Pick up your September Supplemental Food Bag this Saturday, Sept. 14 8:30am-11:30am at the Food Bank at 772 Harshaw Ave. in Patagonia.
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.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
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
Our Advertisers
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