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.
Photo of the Week
Senior Lenin Albarran (left) and sophomore Jorge Sotello won the first-place medal for No. 3 doubles at the HT Clothier Invitational on Saturday in Duncan with a victory over a team from St. David. The Patagonia boys team also won its season-opening dual match over Duncan on March 2, getting singles victories from Skylar Sanchez and Alex Ruskowitz and a doubles victory from Jaxon Yslava and Luis Reyes. — Dave Lumia
News
Patagonia council approves $2.3M community investment agreement with South32
By Dave Lumia
The Patagonia Town Council voted unanimously on March 4 to approve an Early Actions Community Investment Funding Agreement with South32 that will result in up to $2.31 million in Patagonia-specific projects.
Town Manager Ron Robinson emphasized during the special Town Council meeting that the early actions agreement is distinct from the Community Protections and Benefits Agreement that is being negotiated by Patagonia, Nogales, Santa Cruz County and South32, and that the projects being funded can begin prior to approval of the CPBA.
The CPBA is an ongoing negotiation between the governmental entities and South32, an Australian company that will be mining for zinc, silver, lead and manganese at the Hermosa Project in the Patagonia Mountains, south of town.
The early actions agreement — also approved last week by Nogales and Santa Cruz County — encompasses 16 projects that were identified in a “gap analysis” conducted by the University of Arizona College of Engineering, College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, and the Eller College of Management that highlighted significant gaps in services and infrastructure in Santa Cruz County.
Six projects are specific to Patagonia. Nine of the items address countywide gaps, and one is directed to Nogales. The countywide projects will provide additional benefits for residents of Patagonia and eastern Santa Cruz County. All told, the 16 items will result in $4 million in investment from South32.
The Patagonia-specific projects are:
- Up to $630,000 to expand fire and emergency medical service infrastructure. This would involve replacing broken signal repeaters, increasing the strength of the repeaters in place and developing a plan with a 911 contractor to ensure that communications systems are thorough and without gaps.
- Up to $300,000 to Patagonia’s town office to create space for a town marshal’s office, which would restore local policing capabilities, rather than the current contracting with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. The funding would be used to extend the courthouse building by 40 feet to accommodate the marshal’s office.
- Up to $380,000 for Phase II of the Patagonia Flood Control Study.
- Up to $500,000 to design an expansion of the Mariposa Community Health medical clinic to allow for imaging, a small emergency room and crisis counseling.
- Up to $150,000 for design and concept drawing for a day care center on town-owned property on Harshaw Road for children up to age 5.
- Up to $350,000 for design and engineering of an affordable housing project on Harshaw Road, next to the RV park. Plans call for five duplexes to house 10 families.
Action items that are categorized as countywide include:
- Up to $200,000 for an independent emergency services audit.
- Up to $200,000 to support a Mariposa Community Health mobile clinic for remote and underserved areas.
- Up to $100,000 to purchase a county mobile vehicle/clinic to increase convenient access to primary care, immunizations, screenings and health education.
- Up to $150,000 to study and design a housing project for a Mariposa Community Health residency program.
- Up to $200,000 to purchase a vehicle for Mariposa Community Health transportation programs.
- Up to $150,000 to create a strategic child care plan for the county.
- Up to $150,000 to create a countywide parks, recreation and open-space master plan, including parks, birding, trails (horse, hiking, walking), cycling, sports facilities and recreation programming.
- Up to $150,000 to update the Santa Cruz County Housing Strategy, emphasizing housing for middle-income professions such as teachers.
Patagonia Town Council to discuss conversion of old classrooms into apartments at tonight’s meeting
Following last week’s special meeting and study session, the Patagonia Town Council will hold its first regular meeting this month on Wednesday, March 11, at 6 p.m. 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 include:
- A public hearing for the presentation of the “alternate expenditure limitation” report by Town Manager Ron Robinson, including a Q & A with council and public. This will be followed by a presentation of a request for a use permit by Michael Young for the Patagonia Elementary School District’s proposed apartments, with an opportunity for public comments and council questions.
- Following the above, a discussion and possible action on Michael Young’s request for a use permit to remodel classrooms into apartments on approximately 2,148 square feet at 350 School Street.
- Discussion and possible action to approve an intergovernmental agreement for election services provided by Santa Cruz County: “The town will be on the County’s ballot and everyone in town will vote at Cady Hall for Town elections.”
- Heidi Rentz Ault will present a re-cap of the Daydreamer trail running event held Feb. 6-7 and plans for the 2027 Daydream trail run.
Click here for the meeting’s complete agenda.
Board and officer selection tops agenda for revitalized Sonoita-Elgin Chamber of Commerce
By Carrie White
The Sonoita-Elgin Merchants Chamber of Commerce will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at the Bowman-Stradling History Center in Sonoita to select a board of directors and officers.
Members in good standing – those paying the $200 chamber fee – make those selections. Additionally, attendees will review bylaws and create a succession plan, the latter being a transfer of duties from the previous board, which has been dormant for the past nine years. To view a copy of the bylaws, click here.
Businesses or individuals interested in joining the chamber can submit an electronic version of the membership application by clicking here. Checks or cash can also be sent to Sonoita-Elgin Merchants Chamber of Commerce, 290 Elgin Canelo Road, Elgin, AZ 85611.
The History Center is located inside Pioneer Hall at the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association, 3142 Highway 83, Sonoita.
Lobos continue hot start, improve record to 4-1
Kannon Shore delivers a pitch in the first inning against Fort Thomas. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Diego Padilla gets some encouragement from first-base coach Adan Rodriguez after drawing a walk. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Second baseman Josh Woods makes the grab on a pop fly. Photo by Dave Lumia 
The Lobos take in the action from the dugout railing. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Troy Hawkins makes contact on one of his three hits. Photo by Dave Lumia 
Kannon Shore eyes a pitch that’s low and away. Photo by Dave Lumia
By Dave Lumia
The Patagonia Lobos are no strangers to baseball’s mercy rule.
The rule, which is designed to encourage sportsmanship and focus on competitive, respectful play, shortens a game to five innings when the score differential is 10 or more runs or four innings with a differential of 15 or more.
Patagonia has been on the short end of the mercy rule 26 times over the previous three seasons.
What’s different about 2026 is it’s the Lobos’ opponents who are in need of mercy.
Patagonia improved to 4-1 on the young season with a five-inning, 12-1 victory on Tuesday over Fort Thomas. That’s the Lobos’ second mercy-rule win – following a 14-4 win over San Simon in the season’s opening week. Junior Kannon Shore pitched all five innings, giving up two hits, walking four and striking out 13 Apaches. Freshman first baseman Troy Hawkins led the Lobos at the plate with three singles, a walk and three runs batted in.
It was the second consecutive dominant outing for Shore, who struck out 10 and gave up no hits over 4 1/3 innings in an 8-2 victory over Baboquivari on Friday.
“He’s starting to get some confidence going, starting to believe in his stuff, throwing strikes, not nibbling,” coach Ryan Shore said. “Overall he’s doing really well.”
Click here to continue reading.
Four days to clean up Patagonia
Monthly potluck presentations at the Research Ranch continue through May
By Steven Prager, Research Ranch Director, Audubon Southwest
This year’s Potluck Presentation season on the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch of the National Audubon Society is officially half over!
During the March event, nearly 40 guests heard from Olya Weekley, Tucson Bird Alliance’s Applied Conservation Program Manager, about how they can reduce hazards facing birds and other wildlife on their own land and in their own backyards. Olya covered everything from rodenticides, to glue traps, to window collisions, to death-pipes (open-topped pipes that can entomb unsuspecting wildlife), and more, and in true Tucson Bird Alliance fashion, she provided easy, accessible solutions to each.
Many of us take pride in creating welcoming spaces for birds: hanging feeders, planting native vegetation, and adding water features to help wildlife thrive in our desert environment. These are all vital components of a bird-friendly yard, but true stewardship goes beyond providing food and water. With more birds navigating human-altered landscapes, ensuring safe passage has become an essential part of habitat. To learn more about the hazards that may be lurking on your property and what you can do about them, visit Tucson Bird Alliance’s website here: https://tucsonbirds.org/reducing-hazards-to-birds/.
Next month, the Research Ranch’s Potluck Presentation series will dive more deeply (pun intended!) into ways private property owners can participate in wildlife conservation. During this April 10 event, Brett Montgomery, Topminnow/Pupfish Specialist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), will introduce participants to two endangered fish, the Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis) and desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius), and discuss the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Safe Harbor Program, a collaboration with AZGFD and private landowners to put private lands to work for threatened and endangered species.
The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the potluck dinner beginning at about 5:30 p.m. The presentation will immediately follow the meal. Come join the community, invite a friend, and bring a dish to share. There will also be a collection bin for food items to donate to the Santa Cruz food bank.
RSVP Required! Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/audubon-southwest/event/872622/
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: click here for more information
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.
(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.
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!
For more on “Roll On, America!: Hard Travelin’ Songs of Woody Guthrie,” see “New musical turns classics into an original” by Mary Tolena.
Green Things at the Paton Center with Pam Mowbray-Graeme
Sunday, March 15, 1:00 pm
There’s still time to sign up for this weekend’s family-friendly event: Green Things at the Paton Center on March 15! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a wander through the hummingbird sanctuary! We’ll begin with a short talk on native plants and their traditional uses, then head out on a guided walk along the Cuckoo Corridor and into the Richard Grand Memorial Meadow to discover the wonderful flora that call this special place home. All ages are welcome; come learn, explore, and enjoy the beauty of spring together!
More details and registration for this event here: https://tas.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/tas/event.jsp?event=18335
The Patagonia Community Garden is hosting a fun celebration of the Spring Equinox on Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10 am – 2 pm.
We’ll have Games in the Garden for all to play… Bocce Ball, Croquet, ping-pong, checkers and more. Be sure to stop by and take home some free seeds and a plant. Music and light refreshments, and garden tours.
Are we excited that 2026 is the Year of the Horse? You bet your boots we are!
Come ride through rolling hills on trails that cowboys have travelled for over 100 years during our annual Spring Trail Ride on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Historic Empire Ranch in Sonoita, AZ.
Two-hour guided rides depart at 8:00 am, 11:00 am & 2:00 pm. Rent a horse or Bring Your Own. Enjoy live music, docent tours, and lunch before or after your ride.
Registration closes on March 23, 2026. Don’t miss your chance to experience a piece of authentic western history! Sign-up today: empireranchfoundation.org
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.
Thursdays: ‘Open Forum‘ at Patagonia Senior Center
A time to share personal stories, interests and ideas.
Thursdays at 1 p.m. after senior lunch
March 12: SHARING STORIES — Lila Davison: Facilitation of people sharing personal experiences.
March 19: HISTORY OF MUSIC — Janet Palmer on Camina Burana
March 26: ANXIETY — Patra Kelly on coping with the stresses of life.
An 80-year-long study by Harvard University found that the quality of our relationships helps us live longer, happier lives, more so than genetics.
Community provides the grounding force of being seen, known, and supported through life’s ups and downs. There is space in our lives for both self-care and community care.
The phrase “inconvenience is the cost of community” has become a popular slogan online, referring to the effort required to maintain meaningful connections with others—effort which we seemingly are less and less willing to make, even as we crave connection.
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.
Research Fellow at Appleton-Whittell Ranch
We’re now accepting applications for our 2026 cohort of Appleton-Whittell Research Fellows.
Each year this program awards up to three early-career scientists with:
- A cash award of $1,000 to be used on any research-related expenses; gear, books, travel, conferences, etc.
- A $500 housing voucher to be used for lodging on the Research Ranch
- Opportunities to share their work through our annual AWRR Fellowship Webinar Series and Audubon websites, newsletters, social media, and more
Applications are due by midnight on March 30 and more information (including eligibility details, information about past fellows, and a scoring rubric) can be found here.
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.