Cottonwood Journal Extra

01/11/2025

Bridge of Mercy, a Verde Valley nonprofit food pantry currently located in the Hope Community Church at 412 N. 10th Street in Cottonwood, will be leaving its location at the end of January and is looking for a new space.

“We need a different space, and I either need it to be a space that is donated for our use by someone who owns a building or someone who’s willing to rent us the space for a nominal fee,” CEO Stacey Hayden said. “It is, I believe, a tax writeoff for someone who would be willing to do that. And if not, I mean, the service that we have been providing just comes to an end. Or we have to find a way to serve differently.”

Bridge of Mercy, a Verde Valley nonprofit food pantry currently located in the Hope Community Church at 412 N. 10th Street in Cottonwood, will be leaving its location at the end of January and is looking for a new space. “We need a different space, and I either need it to be a space that […]

01/10/2025

More blood transfusions are required in January than during any other month of the year. That’s why the Arizona Renaissance Festival has stepped in with a resolution to make sure that Arizona hospital patients have the lifesaving blood transfusions they need to survive.

More blood transfusions are required in January than during any other month of the year. That’s why the Arizona Renaissance Festival has stepped in with a resolution to make sure that Arizona hospital patients have the lifesaving blood transfusions they need to survive. January donors will help pe...

01/09/2025

Since 2014 Luis Guevara and Bill Meyer have been running a program they call “Cruising and Blessing” to provide direct aid to Verde Valley families in need during Christmas. The program began when the duo were in the now-defunct car club Classic Treasures along with cofounder Ruben Machado.

This year, the duo presented gifts to Sydney and Dylan Aker and their children Mason, Rowan and Adaline at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood on Saturday, Dec. 21, after the family lost all of their possessions in a home fire in Globe on May 22.

Since 2014 Luis Guevara and Bill Meyer have been running a program they call “Cruising and Blessing” to provide direct aid to Verde Valley families in need during Christmas. The program began when the duo were in the now-defunct car club Classic Treasures along with cofounder Ruben Machado. This...

01/06/2025

Telecommunications provider Optimum, a brand of Altice, presented $30,000 to Camp Verde Elementary School on Dec. 9, which the school will be using to purchase two 32- unit Chromebook carts.

“Chromebooks are individual laptops for students, and Chromebook carts are large storage devices for a class set of Chromebooks,” Camp Verde Elementary School Principal Jaclyn Campbell explained. “In the cart, there are dividers and chargers for all Chromebooks. They lock for safekeeping, and they’re on wheels, so they’re easily able to move from classroom to classroom as needed.”

Telecommunications provider Optimum, a brand of Altice, presented $30,000 to Camp Verde Elementary School on Dec. 9, which the school will be using to purchase two 32- unit Chromebook carts. “Chromebooks are individual laptops for students, and Chromebook carts are large storage devices for a clas...

01/03/2025

Russell “Rusty” San Felice was promoted from assistant chief to chief of the Jerome Police Department, succeeding Allan Muma, on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The department has five full-time officers, three part-time officers and two parking enforcement officers.

“I want the residents of Jerome to know you are also family, and I will sincerely miss all of you. These last 25 years have been some of the best years of my life,” Muma wrote in his retirement announcement on Oct. 4.

Russell “Rusty” San Felice was promoted from assistant chief to chief of the Jerome Police Department, succeeding Allan Muma, on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The department has five full-time officers, three part-time officers and two parking enforcement officers. “I want the residents of Jerome to know ...

01/01/2025

See the news stories and photos that shaped events in Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome and the Verde Valley

January ■ Following a report of sexual harassment of a female city of Cottonwood employee by Cottonwood City Councilman Derek Palosaari, a subsequent investigation discovered numerous incidents of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior toward at least six female city staff...

01/01/2025

January ■ The Camp Verde Town Council selected Columbia Ltd. to recruit the town’s next manager. ■ The Camp Verde Disc Golf group and the Camp Verde Recreation Association began a fundraising effort for the 18-hole disc golf course at the Camp Verde Sports Complex. ■ Camp Verde’s 13th annu...

12/31/2024

The Clarkdale Town Council unanimously approved a resolution on Dec. 10 demanding that the Cottonwood City Council take action to address complaints by Clarkdale residents regarding flight training at the Cottonwood Airport.

The resolution argued that the quality of life of Clarkdale residents is being impaired by the frequency of flight training at the Cottonwood Airport and that in 2018, representatives from the airport informed the council that “they were considering changing the turning altitude from 500 [above ground level] to 750 AGL. The Clarkdale Town Council vehemently objected to such change as this would have training flights turn over Clarkdale versus over Cottonwood,” according to the resolution.

The Clarkdale Town Council unanimously approved a resolution on Dec. 10 demanding that the Cottonwood City Council take action to address complaints by Clarkdale residents regarding flight training at the Cottonwood Airport. The resolution argued that the quality of life of Clarkdale residents is be...

12/30/2024

Shawna Figy, who has been with the Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Division since June 2016 and has been the acting manager of the division for the town of Camp Verde since the July 20 retirement of Michael Marshall, has been appointed to fill the position permanently.

“Mike and I were a strong team because we each had different strengths,” Figy said. “ He had more knowledge of trails and like trails and park systems, where my experience was more programming and sports-oriented … Originally, when Mike was here, he was the only [employee], and then when he added my position, our department doubled, and we were able to do a lot more. I had a lot of good ideas, and we were able to put those into play, and then we were able to continue to grow our division.”

Shawna Figy, who has been with the Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Division since June 2016 and has been the acting manager of the division for the town of Camp Verde since the July 20 retirement of Michael Marshall, has been appointed to fill the position permanently. “Mike and I were a strong te...

12/29/2024

The Cottonwood City Council voted once again on Wednesday, Dec. 18, to sell the Rough Cut building and directed staff to explore building a new municipal center.

Council had directed staff to list the property for sale in September before directing that the bidding process be halted in order to further discuss the city’s needs and space assessment in November.

The Cottonwood City Council voted once again on Wednesday, Dec. 18, to sell the Rough Cut building and directed staff to explore building a new municipal center. Council had directed staff to list the property for sale in September before directing that the bidding process be halted in order to furt...

12/29/2024

By Kathy Hellman

Wendy Cook-Roberts is definitely one of those people with the right mix of potential and personal motivation. She has served Camp Verde Community Library exceptionally well since 2013, when she started as a volunteer. Within a few months, Cook-Roberts was hired as a part-time library clerk, in which role she willingly took on challenges like running the children’s STEAM Time program. Due to her proclivity for self-motivated learning, her capacity to take on new responsibilities and her desire to contribute to patron services, she quickly advanced to senior library clerk. In 2021, Cook-Roberts moved to the full-time position of library specialist in charge of the PC help desk and reference services and proceeded to revitalize the area with more efficient and accessible services to patrons.

By Kathy Hellman Special to Larson Newspapers The one aspect of my position as library director that I have found the most rewarding has nothing to do with building a new library or creating new programs in the community. It has been about taking chances on people, seeing hidden potential and connec...

12/27/2024

Yavapai Community College Governing Board District 3 representative Toby Payne and District 1 representative Bill Kiel were sworn into office on Dec. 18 by Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter.

Appointed on March 21, 2023, Payne ran uncontested in the 2024 election, representing Sedona, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, the Village of Oak Creek, the Verde Villages and the western portion of Cornville.

Kiel unseated 18-year board member Ray Sigafoos on Nov. 5 and will represent southwestern Prescott and southwestern Yavapai County.

Yavapai Community College Governing Board District 3 representative Toby Payne and District 1 representative Bill Kiel were sworn into office on Dec. 18 by Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter. Appointed on March 21, 2023, Payne ran uncontested in the 2024 election, representing Sedona, C...

12/26/2024

People of all faiths and walks of life are welcome to the annual menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate the fourth night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Patio Del Norte at Tlaquepaque, located at 336 State Route 179.

People of all faiths and walks of life are welcome to the annual menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate the fourth night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Patio Del Norte at Tlaquepaque, located at 336 State Route 179. The event has been taking place since 2018 and is hosted....

12/25/2024

Being given the assignment to interview Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus felt like a premise for a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.

While I walked away from this story with a rekindled holiday spirit and goodwill to all, I did so without meeting a new love interest, which is fitting perhaps since we are bound by reality and not Hallmark’s fantasy.

I quickly realized that Santa and I share some similar job duties. After all, what is a local newspaper but both the first draft of history and a copy of the Naughty or Nice list?

Being given the assignment to interview Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus felt like a premise for a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. While I walked away from this story with a rekindled holiday spirit and goodwill to all, I did so without meeting a new love interest, which is fitting perhaps since we are....

12/24/2024

The Cottonwood City Council discussed a draft code of conduct on Tuesday, Dec. 10, before hearing a report on this year’s Thunder Valley Rally from Parks and Recreation and Library Director Jak Teel.

The Cottonwood City Council discussed a draft code of conduct on Tuesday, Dec. 10, before hearing a report on this year’s Thunder Valley Rally from Parks and Recreation and Library Director Jak Teel. Code of Conduct The council previously declined to adopt a code of conduct by a 4-3 vote on Dec. 1...

12/23/2024

Efren Lopez of Route 66 Images, who is also a member of the recently formed Verde Valley Cultural Collective nonprofit, opened the 369 Little Gallery on Nov. 15 at 369 S. Third Street in Camp Verde. The gallery will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“I’m going to continue to do the mid-century decor here,” Lopez said. “So even the beds will be midcentury. The whole vibe is to make art look like what it would look like in a home.”

Efren Lopez of Route 66 Images, who is also a member of the recently formed Verde Valley Cultural Collective nonprofit, opened the 369 Little Gallery on Nov. 15 at 369 S. Third Street in Camp Verde. The gallery will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. “I’m going to continue to ...

12/20/2024

After growing up in the Verde Valley and starting her law enforcement career three and a half years ago — as of Dec. 2 — Clarkdale Police Department Officer Jakii Montijo, 29, has been assigned as a school resource officer at Clarkdale-Jerome School.

SRO Derek Johnston has returned to patrol as a night patrol supervisor.

“Derek is a lead officer and we were looking to get him back onto the streets but we didn’t want to do it until we were sure we had somebody the same quality as him going to the school,” CPD Chief Randy Taylor said. He added that Montijo spent a year working at Synergy Public School in Phoenix through a state grant while continuing to work for CPD.

After growing up in the Verde Valley and starting her law enforcement career three and a half years ago — as of Dec. 2 — Clarkdale Police Department Officer Jakii Montijo, 29, has been assigned as a school resource officer at Clarkdale-Jerome School. SRO Derek Johnston has returned to patrol as ...

12/19/2024

The proposed merger between the Albertsons and Kroger grocery chains, which would have resulted in the sale of the Albertsons-owned Safeway at 1635 E. Cottonwood Street in Cottonwood, all four Prescott-area Safeway stores and all three Flagstaff Safeway stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers LLC as part of Kroger’s divestiture plan, has collapsed after judges in Washington and Oregon blocked the merger on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

The proposed merger between the Albertsons and Kroger grocery chains, which would have resulted in the sale of the Kroger-owned Safeway at 1635 E. Cottonwood Street in Cottonwood, all four Prescott-area Safeway stores and all three Flagstaff Safeway stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers LLC as part of Kro...