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News
Border wall construction claims Lochiel cottonwoods
Fisher Sand and Gravel has been contracted for the downing of the cottonwoods and the widening of the easement along the U.S,/Mexico border. 
Under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and the Secure Fence Act, the Department of Homeland Security can bypass private land acquisition to build 30-foot steel bollard walls and 150-foot-wide border patrol roads through eminent domain and legal waivers. 
One of the Freemont cottonwood trees (Populus fremontii) destined for removal to make way for a new border wall across the San Rafael Valley. The wall, like the previous barrier, will cut through Lochiel. 
During the removal of the current wall and downing of cottonwoods, the easement road will remain closed in Lochiel. 
Vegetation on the Mexico side of the border experiences collateral damage as a result of the removal of the current border fencing. 
A Mexican rancher discusses the recycling of barricade metals with government contracted workers. 
Protest signs adorn the original Lochiel customs house on the U.S. side of the border. 
Kate Scott, co-founder of Madrean Archipelago Wildlife Center located in the Chiricahua Mountains, discusses the delicate ecosystem being impacted by the downing of border cottonwoods. 
A banner on the Mexico side of the border details the costs – both financial and environmental – of the border wall.
The Trump administration’s construction of a 30-foot steel bollard border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has made its way to Lochiel in the San Rafael Valley. As part of a $309 million contract to build approximately 27 miles of border wall in Santa Cruz County, Fisher Sand and Gravel, a North Dakota-based corporation, has widened the easement along the border and on Tuesday began tearing down the existing fence and wall. Next, Fisher’s crews will begin removing historic 200-year-old cottonwood trees to make room for the new wall. The Department of Homeland Security waived dozens of environmental laws to make way for the project. Further reporting on the construction will be available on the PRT website in the coming days. Photos by Carrie White
County renews legal action to recoup Gutfahr embezzlement losses
By Dave Lumia
Reacting to unspecified “positive developments,” the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted on June 9 to take legal action “in all litigation matters related to the embezzlement by former County Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr, including but not limited to appeals of recent decisions and refiling a complaint against the Auditor General.”
The vote was held following an executive session to discuss the county’s legal options. John Fanning, board chairman and supervisor for District 3, which includes eastern Santa Cruz County, said he was not at liberty to discuss the details of what was discussed, but “coming out of that meeting, I’m confident that based on recent activity at the state court level, we will reap positive benefits for the county and districts negatively affected. In the long run, I’m optimistic it will be a positive outcome financially.”
Robert May, civil bureau chief for the county attorney’s office, told the supervisors “there are some new avenues that are opened up now.”
The lawsuit against the Auditor General alleged gross negligence on the part of Auditor General Lindsey Perry in not discovering approximately $38.7 million in county funds embezzled by Gutfahr over a 10-year period. The suit, filed in November 2024, contends that the state’s annual audit of county funds should have discovered the embezzlement, and therefore the state is liable for reimbursing the county.
The county’s suit was declared null and void by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dewain D. Fox due to a violation of the state’s Open Meetings Law, since the county failed to hold any public meetings to vote on initiating legal proceedings related to Gutfahr’s actions.
Gutfahr pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $51 million in restitution. According to court documents, she transferred public funds earmarked for school districts and fire departments to fake companies she had created and then used the money to purchase real estate, renovate her family ranch, pay expenses for her cattle business and buy at least 20 vehicles.
Her assets are being held in receivership and being sold off to make restitution. According to the Arizona Republic, the receiver has recovered approximately $7 million through the end of February. A ranch house in Tumacocori listed at $4.9 million and a Tucson condominium listed at $269,000 are still on the market.
As Humane Society winds down, County ponders options
By Dave Lumia
The clock is ticking on the impending closure of the Santa Cruz Humane Society, and the cavalry won’t be riding to the rescue.
Sue Rogers, the Humane Society’s executive director, said she and the shelter’s staff have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support and contributions since the closure was announced earlier this month, but she accepts the hard truth that the annual expenses of about $384,000 to run the nonprofit’s no-kill shelter make it impossible to continue operations.
“I would love to see it happen, but with today’s economy, the cost of everything, it isn’t sustainable,” Rogers said.
“We’re very grateful to the people who have sent in donations, helped us, brought in supplies, dog food. There’s been a tremendous amount of people willing to help. I’m just heartbroken.”
Click here to continue reading this article.
County sets early July hearings in Nogales on potential request to increase the expenditure limitation
From Santa Cruz County:
The community will have two opportunities to voice their opinions regarding the county’s potential request to increase the expenditure limitation.
Public Hearings will be held on July 1 and again on July 8, 2026. Following the public hearing on July 8, the Board of Supervisors will immediately vote on whether to place the measure on the November ballot for voters to decide.
HEARING SCHEDULE:
Both public hearings will be held at the following location:
Location: Santa Cruz County Complex
Address: 2150 N. Congress Drive, Room #120, Nogales, AZ 85621
• First Public Hearing: Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 9:30 AM or thereafter
• Second Public Hearing: Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 9:30 AM or thereafter
For more information, visit santacruzcountyaz.gov
Elgin Community Club honors local historian, awards scholarships to graduating seniors
By Pat McNamara
The steaks were sizzling on the grill at the annual steak fry and membership meeting of the Elgin Community Club this past Saturday evening. Held each year to install new board members, plan the coming year’s activities and present awards, the historic club continued the tradition with many members, both old and new, in attendance.
Local historian Alison Bunting presented a history of the club and community, complete with pictures of the area and residents of the past. Bunting is also a very active historian for the Bowman-Stradling museum, located at the Sonoita Fair and Rodeo Grounds, as well as serving as a historian for the Empire Ranch and writing her long-running “Glimpses Into Our Past” column for the PRT.
Jim Cosbey presented Bunting with the third annual Founders Award in honor of her tireless service in maintaining the historical significance of Elgin, Sonoita and Patagonia’s past.
The annual meeting is also the time when the Elgin Club presents the Fern Collie Scholarships to hard-working students in the community for their continued education. This year the scholarships were presented to Miguel Salbador Albarran and Adahir Ayon by scholarship committee members Gay Moss (who is also Fern Collie’s granddaughter), Mary Faley, Char Brown Stockton and Mary Recker. Each recipient will receive a total of $2,000.
The Elgin Community Club welcomes members any time of the year and would like to invite both old and new residents to join in to participate in their local activities. Email donkgal@gmail.com for more information.
Los Milics, Pronghorn Pizza nominated for USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards
By Dave Lumia
The Sonoita-Elgin region has racked up four nominations for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the best of the U.S. wine scene.
Los Milics Vineyards garnered nominations in two categories: Best Wine Tasting Room and Best Wine Country Hotel. Los Milics has earned three consecutive top five rankings for its tasting room. This is the first nomination in the hotel category for the Casitas at Los Milics.
Pronghorn Pizza in Sonoita, operated in conjunction with Dos Cabezas WineWorks, is again nominated for Best Winery Restaurant.
And as a testament to all the wineries in the area, Sonoita is one of 20 nominees for the nation’s Best Wine Region.
Votes can be cast here: 10best.usatoday.com.
How rattlesnake moms bring up their young
From Sky Island Alliance:
Ready to explore the surprising world of rattlesnake families and learn how these remarkable reptiles care for and protect their young? In this virtual Coffee Break, our guest speaker Melissa Amarello, co-founder and executive director of Advocates for Snake Preservation, draws on more than two decades of studying and living with reptiles to show us what snakes are really like.
Remember When?
Take a walk down memory lane with this PRT article from 12 years ago …
School District Honors Two Legends
June 5, 2014
Members of the Patagonia Schools and the community joined on May 17 at Old Main School to honor Kate Musick, who is retiring from teaching after 41 years, and Old Main itself, which is closing after 100 years as Patagonia’s elementary school. In her opening comments, Patagonia School Superintendent Denise Blake described Old Main as “our community’s matriarch” and noted that it is the longest running continuously operating elementary school in Arizona.
Click here to read the full article.
Public Service Announcements
To submit an announcement, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
From Santa Cruz County:
JP-East Justice Court will resume its services on July 17, 2026.
JP-East Justice Court services are available every first and third Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Sonoita Community Space/County Building. We provide civil services, including small claims, civil complaints, evictions, orders of protection and weddings — bringing access to justice closer to Elgin, Sonoita, Canelo and Patagonia. We’re here to serve our community with fairness, empathy and integrity. Call: (520) 375-7661.
PRAC IS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR SWIM LESSONS!
We will be teaching swim lessons at the Patagonia Pool starting in July! We will have age and skills specific curriculum based on the Starfish Swim School Protocol. We will be taking students ages 4 through 17. We will have one 2-week session, and each child will get 10 lessons over this time.
Sessions will be held on the following dates: July 6-10 & July 13-17
Lesson times will be:
- Age 4-6 – 3:00-3:50 PM
- Age 7-10 – 4:00-4:50 PM
- Age 11-17 – 5:00-5:50 PM
If your child has swim goggles, they are encouraged to bring them, along with towels and sunscreen.
We are taking donations to cover the cost of the lessons, with an ask of a minimum of $10 per child (for all 10 sessions, that’s $1 a day!). But we also want to ensure that EVERY child can take these lessons, so if a donation is not something a family can do at this time, we will make sure the kids get in the water anyway!
Please note that if classes get canceled due to weather, we will have a make-up session on a Saturday morning. Depending on the volume and skill level of registered kids, we may adjust the time slots. You can register online, or come to the pool and fill out a paper form by July 2.
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. To list an event, please submit by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
From Elgin School Parent Teacher Club:
The Elgin PTC is looking for new members to join our team and help make our school an even more amazing place for our students, staff, and families! Whether you can volunteer a few hours a month or help with a specific event, there is a place for everyone in the PTC! Interested in learning more? Send us a message at Elginptc@elgink12.com. We’d love to have you join our flock! Together, we can help Elgin soar even higher!
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!
From Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue:
Join us as we celebrate 102 years of service at our 49th Annual Steak Fry on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM at The Gazebo in Patagonia Town Park.
Steak Dinner – $25
Vegan Dinner – $25
Children 12 & Under Ground Steak Dinner – $15
Dinner includes: Steak or Burger, Beans, Coleslaw, Salsa, Tortilla, Drink
Live Music by Slack & Friends, Raffle, Live Auction, Fun for the Whole Family!
All proceeds and donations will be used to help improve department equipment and facilities, allowing us to continue serving our community.
Mark your calendars and come enjoy a great evening of food, music, and community while supporting your local volunteers. We look forward to seeing you there!
To purchase tickets:
• Send us a message on Facebook
• Contact any PVFD volunteer
• Pick up tickets at The Velvet Elvis
• Pick up tickets at Red Mountain Foods
No worries if you can’t purchase tickets ahead of time, they will also be available for purchase at the event!
Don’t wait—tickets are limited, and this is always a great community event. We look forward to seeing everyone there for a great meal, good music, and an evening supporting your Patagonia Volunteer Fire Department!
From Sky Island Alliance:
Join us for our next virtual Coffee Break on Thursday, July 9, at 9:30 a.m. SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel will take us on a deep dive into the different cottontail and jackrabbit species that make their home in the Sky Islands and bring so much joy with their every hop and step. Together, we’ll learn how to identify each species in the field and on camera. Meagan will also share their life history and distribution across the region using data from our FotoFauna and Border Wildlife Study cameras.
To register, visit: https://ow.ly/cFCm50ZbkQO
Recurring Events
To list an event, please email prtadast@gmail.com. Image files should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
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.
The Sonoita Food Pantry at The Vine Church is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Monthly bird walks at the Paton Center
From the Paton Center:
Fun news: we will now be having regular monthly Paton Center bird walks led by docent Wayne Smith on the fourth Saturday of every month! Join us for a relaxing morning featuring short, easy walks (less than a mile total) along trails like the Cuckoo Corridor and Gray Hawk Birding Trail. We’ll also spend some unhurried time enjoying the activity around the bird feeders.
-Alexis Stark, Paton Center Site Manager
Boat tours at Patagonia Lake State Park
Every Saturday and Sunday, $7 per adult, $5 per child (13 years and under)
- 9 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
- 10:15 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
- 11:30 a.m. Lake Discovery Tour
- Twilight Tour on Saturdays only. Time varies.
Call the park to make your reservation: 520-287-2791
Boat rentals are available at the Patagonia Lake Marina.
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.
We are hiring seed collection seasonal positions in Tucson and Patagonia, AZ this season!
These jobs primarily consist of field work collecting seeds and digital data collection. Applicants should be comfortable working outside in a variety of weather conditions, be prepared for some weeks of camping in the field, be interested in native plants, and enjoy working on a team. Crew Lead applicants should also have some experience with data collection and leading crews. Apply by July 10th.
For more details visit www.borderlandsrestoration.org/employment.
Questions email phmcnelis@borderlandsrestoration.org
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
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A 2026 CORE Grant from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona provides the Patagonia Regional Times with valuable operating support.