Circle Z Ranch is the PRT Weekly News Bulletin’s Premier Sponsor for 2026. We are grateful for their partnership. If you’re interested in sponsoring the Bulletin, click here for more information.
Got an eye-catching photo or video? A community or nonprofit event announcement or report? Maybe a volunteer opportunity, or birth/graduation/wedding news, or an obituary? Share your news with the PRT’s Weekly News Bulletin’s 2,000 subscribers! Email us at prtadast@gmail.com
News
South32 water monitoring, Spirit World biking event on tonight’s Town Council meeting agenda
The Patagonia Town Council will hold its second regular meeting this month on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 6pm. As always, members of the public may attend the Council meeting in person or via Zoom: Meeting I.D. 957-511-4862, password 338501.
Agenda items for this Wednesday’s meeting include:
- South32 will present water monitoring results update.
- Zander Ault will present a review of the 2025 Spirit World 100 gravel bike race event and present the plan for the 2026 Spirit World 100 to be held Nov. 5-8, 2026.
Click here to view the complete agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.
Coronado National Forest pushes final environmental impact statement for Hermosa project to March 6
From US Forest Service – Coronado National Forest:
The release date for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Hermosa Critical Minerals Project on the Coronado National Forest has been shifted to March 6, 2026. This was a joint decision made between the Coronado National Forest, project partners, and project proponents. This shift will allow for accuracy and consistency of information provided to the public. We appreciate your understanding and are actively working to ensure best possible project planning outcomes.
Project information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coronado/projects/65668
Sup. Fanning set for ‘community check-in’ at Elgin Community Club this Tuesday, Feb. 3
District 3 Supervisor John Fanning is hosting a community check-in in Elgin
Location: The Elgin Community Club
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 8am-10:30am
This is a great opportunity to connect with Supervisor Fanning, hear updates, and share questions, concerns or ideas directly. Community members are encouraged to stop by and take part in the conversation.
Lobo boys win third in a row
Gus Varela applies the defensive pressure against North Canyon’s Jesse Thompson. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Center Alex Ruskowitz anchors the Lobos defense while Diego Padilla guards the perimeter. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Kannon Shore leads teammates Diego Padilla and Jose Quiroz on a fast break. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Noah Gallardo pushes the pace for the Lobos. Photo by Dave Lumia
By Dave Lumia
The Patagonia High boys basketball team continued its late-season surge Tuesday night with a 63-54 victory over North Phoenix Prep on Senior Night.
It was the third win in four days for the Lobos, who improved their overall season record to 11-12 and continued to make their case for a state tournament berth. Because their early season tournament games aren’t calculated for state tournament rankings, their “official” record is now 6-7, but all six of those victories have come in January. They are 6-2 since an overtime loss to 21-2 Bagdad at the Phoenix Suns’ arena on Dec. 27.
“That game in Phoenix set the bar for where we can be as a team,” senior co-captain Jaxon Yslava said. “The difference is we’re just putting everything together. Practices, just working on every little detail we missed out on, like communication. Our defense has really gotten better. After Christmas break we just really turned up our intensity.”
Patagonia entered Tuesday’s game ranked 24th in the Class 1A rankings—which would qualify them for the last of 24 playoff berths. With four games remaining over the next seven days, they are hoping to continue climbing in the rankings.
Click here to continue reading this article.
Seniors come up big for Patagonia girls on Senior Night
By Dave Lumia
Much like their male counterparts, the Patagonia High girls basketball team is hoping to force its way into the state playoffs with a strong finish.
The Lobos held off North Phoenix Prep for a 38-31 Senior Night victory on Tuesday, their third victory in four games over the past week.
It was only fitting that the seniors carried the load for the Lobos, accounting for 35 of the 38 points. Emma Lewton led the way with 14, Brianna Majalca scored 13, and Valeria Castellanos and Ximena Gonzalez had four apiece.
The Lobos improved their record to 7-13 overall and 4-7 in games used to calculate state rankings. They entered Tuesday’s play ranked 24th in Class 1A with three games remaining. The top 24 teams qualify for the state tournament.
Majalca and Lewton have played together since the fourth grade, and while it was rewarding to walk off their homecourt after a victory, it also came with other emotions.
“Very sad,” Majalca said. “We were little fourth graders when we first played in this gym, and now it’s all over.”
Click here to continue reading this article.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which means…
Our most remarkable migrant bird: Lawrence’s goldfinch
By Vince Pinto
Of all the migrant bird species that seasonally grace the Sky Islands region, perhaps the most remarkable one is Lawrence’s goldfinch. Everyone knows, of course, that in the northern hemisphere birds migrate south in autumn and north in spring. Many montane species also execute altitudinal migrations, moving to lower elevations as cold weather and its attendant challenges hit their normal high country habitats.
Then there is Lawrence’s Goldfinch. Seemingly breaking the ”rules” of migration, select members of this strikingly beautiful species do a lateral movement—west to east in Autumn, then east to west come spring—from their coastal and valley breeding range in California and northern Baja, Mexico to locales in the southwest. Some of these troubadour flocks somehow make their way to the Santa Cruz River and nearby habitats. This means that they move at least 500 to 700 miles from at or near the west coast to our local haunts. In the process, they traverse some of the most foreboding terrain in North America: think Death Valley and the Sonoran Desert. Despite these obstacles, these diminutive birds show up locally, though only in certain years and then in often highly variable numbers.
Why does this goldfinch species make such a seemingly bizarre, lateral migration to the Sky Islands when coastal California retains rather amenable temperatures throughout winter? What resources are they seeking in southeast Arizona and how do they know which years might supply those resources? Click here to find out…
Remember When?
We’ve published over 3,500 articles from past years’ print editions on the PRT website, with more to come. Take a walk down memory lane with this article from just about eight years ago…
Sonoita Neighbors Upset by Deer Hunters
February 2, 2018
Two representatives from Arizona Game and Fish met with more than 50 residents Saturday, January 20, at the Sonoita Fairgrounds after complaints were raised about hunters seen taking a deer in the Sonoita Hills area.
“I have six kids,” one resident said during the meeting. “I am concerned for the safety of my family. I wanted to press charges for misdemeanor endangerment, but the sheriff’s department said that wasn’t going to happen.”
Obituary
Fredrick Carlyle Roberts III, 1935-2025
Public Service Announcements
To submit an announcement, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
ADOT’s SR 83 lane restrictions in Sonoita are scheduled to continue through April, with temporary driveway closures now extended to run through Feb. 6: click here for more information
BLM is offering permits to collect dead and downed mesquite west of Cieneguita Campground through March 1: click here for more information
School News and Youth Events
To report school news or list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
Elgin School announces honor rolls
Click here to view Elgin School’s honor rolls for the second quarter.
Free Fridays STEAM class for 4th-8th graders in Patagonia
Upcoming Events
To list an event, please submit an image file 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!
Friends of Patagonia Library is hosting its annual trivia night fundraiser on Saturday, February 7 at Cady Hall. Players can buy individual tickets or reserve a table by contacting the Patagonia Library. 520-394-2010
Recurring Events
To list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
Fresh vegetable distribution Mondays at the Patagonia Senior Center
Come with friends and pick up your weekly fresh vegetables from East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank every Monday at the Patagonia Senior Center (100 Quiroga Ln, Patagonia) at 10:30am. Take what you need and give what you can.
Borderlands POWWOW in Sonoita, AZ is always on the third Saturday of the month. 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;
If you’d like to lend a hand, this is what you would be doing… Sorting and Packing fresh produce, and assisting participants as they go through our farmer’s market style line. The shifts are 6:30-9:30 AM and/or 8:30-11:30 AM. *Those who volunteer for a shift will receive a complimentary unit of produce. If you’d like to give back to your community in this way, please call/text gardenia 602.292.1616 and let us know which dates and shifts you’re able to volunteer. Thank you all in advance! What we do, we do together! GM
Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Highway 83, Sonoita. Doors open at 6:30. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
- Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Crossroads Quilters: Are you a textile artist (weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting)? The Crossroads Quilters invites all interested textile artists to our meetings. Bring a project to work on and enjoy a morning of information sharing and camaraderie. We meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 9am at the Sonoita Bible Church, 3174 N. Highway 83. For more information email: alisbunting@gmail.com
Overeaters Anonymous: The OA Sky Islands Recovery group meets every Wednesday 11am-12noon at the East Santa Cruz County (ESCC) Food Bank at 772 Harshaw Ave in the meeting room at the end of the driveway. For additional meeting info, go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
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 Community United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
To advertise in the PRT’s print edition, Weekly News Bulletin or website—or a custom package—contact Priscilla Bolanos at prtads@gmail.com or 520-313-6062.
Want to know when a new PRT Weekly News Bulletin is out? You can receive an email the moment our Weekly News Bulletin is published every Wednesday. Click here to join the PRT email list.