Roadway Caution Advised After 5 Collisions with Animals
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1916-2016 Ajo, Pima County, Arizona Tuesday, June 7, 2016 Volume 92, Number 40, ©2016 Roadway caution advised after 5 collisions with animals Stray burros are not the only his return trip and had to brake concern for highway motorists hard to avoid striking two of them. in the area. Four vehicle colli- “With a guardrail on one side sions with cows following closely of the road and a cliff on the other, on the heels of a vehicle colli- the two burros just stood there and sion with two burros have raised stared at me,” said Boozer. “Don’t awareness for traveling caution in be surprised if you have to stop Ajo and the surrounding region. suddenly [for animals]. There’s By coincidence, the first two still more out there.” collisions with cows occurred the Clements told the audience at same night within about two hours the community meeting to exer- of each other. cise caution because some ani- Shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday, mals “won’t get out of your way.” May 30, a small four-door sedan He said it can be especially dan- struck a large, pregnant cow at gerous on the roads near sundown milepost 37 on Highway 85, just and sunrise. Clements added that one mile north of Hayworth at the the burros do not fall under the north edge of town. Of the four Wild Horse Act and a coalition occupants in the sedan, the driv- of agencies including Bureau er and both rear-seat passengers of Land Management, Arizona were able to remove themselves Department of Agriculture, Shoppers at Thursday’s Authentically Ajo Farmers from the vehicle with minor or Arizona Game & Fish, and US Market had a variety of vegetables to choose fromas no injuries, according to a police Fish & Wildlife are organizing an- well as loaded baked potatoes from Christina Vega- report by Pima County Sheriff’s other roundup. Zubiate and Dion Vega. The Ajo/Gibson Volunteer Fire Department Sgt. Zack Rapaich. After a notice of public auction Department offered a slip & slide for kids to cool off – The front seat passenger, how- flyer from the state department of shown here is Capt. Mark Coyle helping his grandson ever, was rendered unconscious agriculture appeared offering to Brody Coyle. This Thursday the fire department will by the impact and was unable to sell 16 burros to the highest bid- operate a dunk tank, there will be free bike safety exit the heavily damaged vehicle. der, with a starting price for each checks, and carnival games will be offered by a variety Arriving Ajo Ambulance and Ajo/ of $90, in a sale last Saturday, of local organizations. There will also be live music, Gibson Volunteer Fire Department there was concern that the burros personnel were able to extricate rounded up in Ajo might be sold food sold by Desert Rain Café and Emily’s Popsicles, the patient and provide medical at auction and slaughtered instead and fresh produce. For more information, see the ad care until a medevac helicopter of living out their lives at Peaceful on page 3. (Market photo by Bobby Narcho; slip & slide arrived on scene for transport to Valley Donkey Rescue in Texas. photo by Kattie Allen) a Phoenix hospital. One other pa- Arizona Department of tient was taken by ground ambu- Agriculture spokesperson Laura lance to a Phoenix facility. Oxley said they are required by Candidate & local speakers gave reports at WPCCC The sedan was described as “a law (ARS 3-1402-B) to put stray The last meeting of the sea- as well as the 24 members of the US citizen and one undocumented total loss” with the roof peeled animals up for public auction first, son for the Western Pima County swim team are fun to mentor. She migrant were arrested and 4,000 back and relocated into the rear the idea being to collect funds Community Council was held added that swim lessons and water pounds of marijuana seized. seat. PCSD Ajo District com- to reimburse the state for shel- last Thursday with an interactive aerobics begin this week. Clements said there were no mander Lt. B.J. Clements said at ter and feed costs. She said any crowd on hand. Topics of discus- Lt. B.J. Clements, command- Memorial Day Weekend fatalities a community meeting it was for- animals that are not bid on may sion included a candidate for Pima er of the Pima County Sheriff’s in the area, and deputies did a lot tunate the front seat passenger had then be released to an animal County School Superintendent, Department Ajo District, said a of traffic stops. He talked about his head down while sleeping or rescue organization. She added a letter of support for a blighted county coalition of departments the recent vote to outlaw texting reading because otherwise there that agencies such as US Bureau structure demolition program, lo- has been working on the struc- and driving, noting use of a cell- likely would have been major of Land Management, Barry M. cal parks & recreation activities, ture demolition project, which in- phone is still allowed while driv- head trauma involved. Deputies Goldwater Range, and state land sheriff’s department, Ajo schools, volves numerous time-consuming ing. A traffic stop may be made if reported they did not find any gaps are not required by law to auction health center, and chamber of steps. He said one option is for a vehicle occupant is seen without in the fence or open gates. stray animals and, had they taken commerce. the county to take over properties a seatbelt on. Later that night at about 11:15 charge of the burros, would have A new domain has been ob- with blighted structures if back Dr. Robert Dooley, superin- p.m., an ambulance returning from been able to work directly with a tained for the WPCCC website: taxes are due. He noted that lead tendent of Ajo Unified School delivering a patient collided with rescue agency. Oxley said she un- www.wpccc.net online. Councilor paint requires a special disposal District, talked about a 23% in- a cow on Route 15 at milepost 12 derstands Peaceful Valley Donkey Andrew Sisk said it should be op- site, which adds to costs. The cur- crease in the Ajo High School on the Tohono O’odham Nation Rescue in Texas was notified of erational before the next meeting. rent list of property candidates graduation rate over the last five south of Casa Grande. The ambu- Saturday’s auction, but does not Margaret Burkholder, the comes from a list compiled by years. He cited numerous exam- lance was rendered unserviceable. know if they bid on any animals. Republican candidate for Pima Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers and ples of successful AHS graduates. As in the earlier incident the cow Kacy Tryon, who helped bring County School Superintendent, prioritized by county department Dooley discussed some teacher was killed on impact. No injuries Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue said the current county school heads. Permission must be given salary issues and training opportu- were reported although both crew- into the picture, said she is aware superintendent is retiring. Her by property owners to be included nities. His presentation will be the members of the unit reportedly that Wild Horse Ranch Rescue presentation will be the topic of a in the list. topic of a separate article. took time off work afterward. in Gilbert – the organization she separate article. Burros, cows, and other animals WPCCC chair Lil Jones, Something of a repeat occurred volunteers with – has gone to Pima County housing planner are on the roadways in increasing who is also on the Desert Senita last Saturday when a pickup truck public auctions in the past to bid Josue Licea was unable to attend numbers, Clements warned, and Community Health Center board, hit a cow near the intersection of on strays but has no space avail- the meeting. The WPCCC coun- motorists should drive with extra reported that there is one part-time Well Road and Cole Road at 9 able at the moment. She suggested cil voted to give Licea and the care, especially at dusk and dawn doctor and two full-time nurse p.m. Although the cow died there that Ajo area ranchers and others county a letter of support in its bid and after dark. practitioners on staff. She said was minimal damage to the truck. with captured burros may elect to to secure funds from the Tohono A new deputy started serv- sometimes making an appoint- Also on Saturday an ambulance call Wild Horse Ranch Rescue at O’odham Nation for a blighted ing with Ajo District a week ago. ment can take one day, sometimes had a calf run into it near Covered 480-503-5497, or Peaceful Valley structure demolition program, Clements said the deputy is a for- two weeks. Remodeling the clinic Wells on Highway 86, which Donkey Rescue at 325-655-7400 which will include the Ajo area. mer Marine with a wife and sev- will start soon. caused a flat. and deal directly with them. It was noted that the $50,000 re- en-year-old son. The Ajo District Councilor Andrew Sisk, who A number of other local resi- WEATHER REPORT quested would go toward environ- is now fully staffed. is also the executive director dents have posted reports of near TEMPERATURES Max Min misses on social media sites. mental assessments of qualifying Deputies recovered a body in of the Ajo District Chamber of Sunday, May 29 91˚ 65˚ Mark Boozer told the Ajo properties, which will save other the desert earlier that day (June 2).