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Photo of the week
Above: “My wife Jan Herron and I live in the outskirts of Patagonia in Red Rock Acres, off East Harshaw Road. Jan was having her coffee early on Memorial Day morning when she saw this creature drinking water in our front yard water fountain and called me to take a photo. What a beautiful gift. Thanks, Jan!” — Gama Leyva
News
New contract, $52K raise approved for county manager
By Pila Martinez
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday on a new three-year contract — and a $52,000 raise — for County Manager Jesus Valdez.
The contract takes effect July 15 and ends in July 2029.
Under the new contract, Valdez’s annual salary will be $194,000, up from his current $141,665. He also will receive any raises approved for all county employees as well as a car for official use.
Because he is an at-will employee, the board could opt to fire him at any time.
The raise given to Valdez “recognizes his leadership, experience and performance in managing Santa Cruz County operations,” said District 3 Supervisor John Fanning. “Since his appointment in 2023, Mr. Valdez has provided stable executive leadership, guided strategic budgeting efforts, overseen major infrastructure initiatives and successfully managed increasingly complex county operations.”
Fanning said the compensation increase brings his salary closer to other county managers in Arizona.
Valdez, an engineer, was head of the county’s Public Works Department before becoming county manager in 2023.
A day at the barrel races
By Pat McNamara
The north arena and bleachers of the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Grounds in Sonoita was a bustling place on Memorial Day weekend. Families had gathered to support their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and a son or two scurry around horseback on finely tuned, equine athletes over three days of barrel racing in a competition sponsored by the Southern Arizona Barrel Racers Association.
More than 90 contestants with their horses competed in the various age and ability categories, making for a successful event.
One contestant was Amber Bustamante, a California resident competing in the event with her horse, Borracho The Drunk.
“I grew up in gymkhana (speed games on horseback) and rodeo queen stuff and I had kids, then stopped,” she said. “In 2012 I got back into it (barrel racing) and started over from scratch.” Bustamante said that the therapeutic support and supplements for horses had greatly progressed in the interim, spurring her to start her own supplement business, NutriSana EQ.
Bustamante’s Memorial Day visit to Sonoita was a successful one, as she’d been able to cover her expenses, with quite a bit left over, from her and Borracho’s winnings. She said she competes all over the Southwest but tries to make it to Sonoita to compete whenever she can. “Everybody’s friendlier out here!” she explained.
Elgin resident and horse trainer Michelle Heredia was also at the event, competing with her horse, Royally Hot CD, and a client’s horse, Shots On A Train.
“I did OK, won some money, paid for my weekend with a little change left over,” Heredia said. “I’ve been at this since I was 13 and I’m 51 now and been on my own (as a trainer) for 25 years.”
Heredia is in the process of building a barn and is currently taking outside horses for training. For more information, call her at 951-751-2122.
Both Heredia and Bustamante complimented the grounds at the Sonoita venue, saying that the footing, warm-up arenas and the lights are excellent compared with the many other facilities they have competed in.
As an aside, this reporter often competed in barrel racing as a teenager — just after the Ice Age melted, and when timers were sundials. Horses and riders have come a long way since then, and today’s facilities, horse quality and rider talent are truly humbling.
SEFD sets June 22 public hearing
on $2M FY 2026-2027 budget
From Sonoita-Elgin Fire District:
The Board of the Sonoita-Elgin Fire District will conduct a public hearing concerning the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget at its regular meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will take place in the Meeting Room at the Fire Station at 3173 N. Highway 83, Sonoita, AZ. Members of the public are invited to address the Board concerning the proposed budget. The meeting room will be open and accessible to the public by 8:45 am local time. A copy of the proposed budget is [available here], and additional copies are available upon written request during normal business hours at the same location. Following the public hearing, the Board will adopt a final budget.
Here is SEFD’s “District Overview: Past & Present Fact Sheet for 2025”:
Pool publishes schedule, fees for summer season
SIA releases video on wildlife at the San Rafael Valley border wall construction site
From Sky Island Alliance:
Border wall construction in southern Arizona’s wild and scenic San Rafael Valley continues, with 12 of 27 miles completed and new wall going up each day. As you can see in this video interview with SIA Wildlife Program Manager Eamon Harrity, contractors are blowing up sections of mountain to make way for the monstrosity, destroying wildlife habitat in the process, along with their access to food, water, and mates. Through it all, our cameras have been rolling. Since 2020, Sky Island Alliance has had remote cameras along this major wildlife corridor and beyond — documenting wildlife presence in the area, showing which species can and can’t cross, and building the case for future advocacy when the winds change.
In this short video, SmallWheel Films’ Leslie Ann Epperson shows us what life’s really like at the border and what’s at stake.
Obituary
Monika Maria Aylward, 1941-2026
Remember When?
Take a walk down memory lane with this PRT article from nine years ago …
Wilson’s donuts
By Binx Selby
Feb. 3, 2017
Let me introduce you to Wilson. To say that Wilson worked for my father as a mechanic would be misleading. He could make or find anything, and solve employee, customer or logistics issues — whatever no one else could figure out. I had caught onto this by the time I was eight, and cultivated a close relationship with Wilson. He tutored me in the practical arts — welding, machining, scouting junkyards — all the skills needed for a young inventor with little money.
My father was the Lincoln Mercury dealer in Tucson but his real passion was ranching. He had a small ranch called The Umpire that overlooked the San Rafael Valley from the top of Canelo Pass. Dad needed skilled cattle horses for the ranch and word was that the best and cheapest were to be found in Mexico. So, Wilson and I got the assignment.
We went in a 4-wheel drive pick-up pulling a big livestock trailer. Our first stop was Harold’s Heavenly Donut Shop, where Wilson picked up two 144-count boxes of donuts. “What are these for?” I asked. “You’ll see,” he answered.
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 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
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!
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!
Patagonia Museum events
From the Patagonia Museum:
On Friday, June 12, the Patagonia Museum will host a highway cleanup at 7 a.m. Please meet at Beaty Lane and Highway 82 a few minutes prior to 7 a.m. for a safety briefing.
On Saturday, June 13, the Patagonia Museum will host a workday at the Lochiel Schoolhouse from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please bring water, lunch and gloves.
The Patagonia Volunteer Fire Department Annual Steak Fry is set for Saturday, June 27, 2026!
Mark your calendars and stay tuned — more information will be coming in the following weeks. We can’t wait to see everyone there for another great community event!
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 has new hours. It is now 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.
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.