On The Border

Ukrainians fleeing the ravages of war in their homeland have started seeking asylum in the United States through the Douglas Port of Entry.

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In December the number of encounters federal agents have had with undocumented migrants has been higher than any December since 2018. The number? 178,840 undocumented individuals were encountered along the Southwest border. Again, that’s in the month of December alone. That’s more than twice the number of individuals who were apprehended or encountered in December of 2020.

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The number of migrants attempting to enter the US illegally via the Southwest border continues to swell based on figures from November. The situation is front and center in Cochise County where the Sheriff’s Office says it has spent an additional $830,000 at the jail for housing, feeding and medical attention of inmates arrested in border-related offenses.

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No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, we might all be able to agree that the open border is a problem, and right now it looks like there’s no solution in sight. Unless, that is, you are Glenn Spencer of Palominas. He says he has invented a solution to protect the border and keep people from sneaking in.

Also, at an age when most law enforcement officers have long retired, 70-year-old Tom Alinen, the new chief of staff at the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, is still putting on the uniform and looking forward to helping the agency surge ahead.

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Starting today, non-citizens from Mexico traveling to the US for leisure will be allowed back across the border. This follows an 18-month shutdown by US officials that stopped these individuals from coming into this country to shop, eat and stay at local accommodations.

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Today -  In the last two to three weeks dozens of undocumented people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have landed at the doorstep of CAME — the Center for Migrants in Exodus — in Agua Prieta which borders Douglas.

Also, more than providing a selfless humanitarian act, a local woman is taking it into her hands to care for a growing segment of society confronting cancer. In 2001, Wilma Mrosek-Richards started her nonprofit The Butterfly Club, a charity organization that provides free wigs for those battling cancer.

Read more at myheraldreview.com

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Today - Mayors in at least two Cochise County cities that border Mexico are hoping to reignite a group that would unite the local politicians with their Sonoran counterparts. The goal is to jump-start commerce that was dealt a blow by pandemic-induced travel restrictions.

Also, longtime Douglas resident and rancher Warner Glenn is featured in this month’s national magazine of Western Horseman. The article, written by Kate Bradley Byars, talks about the 85-year-old cattle rancher and how he can still track a mountain lion along some of the most rugged canyon rims in southern Arizona.

Learn more about these stories at myheraldreview.com

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Good morning, it’s Tuesday August 24th and this is The Herald Review’s podcast, the Daily Chirp. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories, events in the community, local history, sports, and more. 

Today - Cochise County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Zavala is the Naco Elementary’s first school resource officer. He’s also the second Cochise County Sheriff’s deputy to work as a school resource officer. 

Now, some local history.

Did you know that Eusebio Francisco Kino, known as Father Kino, was a Tyrolean Jesuit, missionary, geographer, explorer, cartographer and astronomer born in the Holy Roman Empire? For the last 24 years of his life, he worked in the region then known as the Pimería Alta, which was modern-day Sonora in Mexico and southern Arizona. He explored the region and worked with the indigenous Native American population and proved that the Baja California Peninsula was not an island by leading an overland expedition there. By the time of his death, he had established 24 missions and visitas. Today, you’ll find all kinds of things in Arizona named for him.

Today’s history is brought to you by Benson Hospital. Benson Hospital’s comprehensive rehabilitation team strives to get you back on your feet and improve your lifestyle. Offering Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy. For more information visit bensonhospital.org or call 520-586-2262. 

Now, our feature story. 

Cochise County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Zavala is the Naco Elementary’s first school resource officer. He’s also the second Cochise County Sheriff’s deputy to work as a school resource officer. 

To him, this is truly a blessing, he absolutely loves it.

Naco Elementary School Superintendent Tim Mayclin said he had been trying for two years to get someone like Zavala to become the school’s first SRO. But there was never any grant money available at the state level to make it happen.

That changed about a year and a half ago when Arizona Superintendent of Schools Kathy Hoffman visited the Naco School and was struck by a poster created by first graders during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

The poster read that the first graders had a dream that we could get rid of all the guns and drugs. And when Hoffman went back to Phoenix, she saw there was a need for way more school resource officers out in the country. 

She took some of the federal money and made it happen.

That’s when Mayclin embarked on a search for an SRO. It was challenging, until he heard about Zavala.

The veteran deputy said he received a call about the job at the Naco School while he was living in Phoenix with his family. Zavala said he had been a full-time deputy with Cochise County since 2010, but became a reserve in 2019 because he wanted to pursue a graduate degree. 

But after discussing it with his wife, Zavala decided that coming back to Cochise County was the best thing.

So he became a full-time Sheriff’s deputy again — a requirement to be an SRO — and started his new gig at the Naco School in mid-July.

Mayclin explained that the need for an SRO at the Naco School has a lot to do with its location and the demographics of the area.

Being on the border adds a different dimension to things. They're in high poverty, and they’re extremely rural. 

So the fact that Zavala is a Bisbee native who is also bilingual improved the situation.

Mayclin said that someone coming here from Phoenix or Tucson just wouldn’t have the same understanding.

Zavala says he wants to teach these young children that law enforcement here in the United States is here to help. Here to protect, and here to serve.

And so far the majority of the students have responded favorably to Zavala’s presence, as have many nearby Naco residents who have told Zavala that they feel safe that he’s at the school. 

In the afternoon, after school lets out, Zavala sees to it that the same youngsters who crossed the international border without an adult get accompanied by him to the port of entry.

Most days he must make the same trip five and six times, until all the children have gone home to Sonora.

The daily walks to the border, like teaching the classes on Arizona law, have created a special bond between Zavala and the children.

To learn more about Zavala’s amazing work visit us at myheraldreview.com

And before we continue, a quick message from our sponsors, Prestige Family Living. 

Next - After serving as an assistant on the Buena volleyball team, it is Breanna McDaniel’s time to shine.

With longtime Buena coach Todd Bradbury stepping down as head coach, McDaniel has been promoted. Now, McDaniel is focusing her efforts on building the program.

She’s played the sport since she was 13 and for her, volleyball is a way of life.

Those close to McDaniel would describe her as a tough, hard-nosed coach who is focused on the task at hand.

The Colts host their Blue and White match on Thursday, Aug. 26. Buena’s regular season begins on Tuesday, Aug. 31, hosting Marana Mountain View.

 -- brought to you by our sponsors, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.

Bisbee artists and crafters have been busy creating art pieces from used books for the Altered Books event on Thursday! These one-of-a-kind creations will be displayed at the Central School Project from 4:00-7:00.

The number of attendees is limited to 36 people at a time and masks are required. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Copper Queen Library to pay for free books and programming for our Bisbee community.

Before we go, we’d like to take a moment to remember the life of 

Wallace Atkins of Willcox. A native of Rockford Illinois, Wally was born in 1927. He was an only child. Wally attended Rockford schools and - after serving in the United States Army Air Corps - the University of Illinois. He spent much of his adult life involved in real estate and construction in Rockford and neighboring communities, and later started his own companies. Wally was a proud member of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, and was a Master Mason of the 32nd degree, Scottish Rite.

Everything and everyone was of interest to him. There were no boring life stories in his world. He never stopped exploring everything life offered. Skiing and sailing were early passions later replaced by travel. He studied languages all his life - the fact that he was never able to master another language was a disappointment to him but never an impediment to his pleasure in trying. Music in all forms was his lifelong joy and solace. At the age of 92 he was taking piano lessons. His greatest regret when leaving Illinois to relocate to Arizona was that he would be losing his evenings attending performances of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.

He will be greatly missed. Thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate Wally’s life.

Thanks for tuning in to the Herald Review podcast today, join us again on Wednesday! And remember, the Herald Review is here for you with local news you can trust. For more information on any of the stories you heard about today, visit us at myheraldreview.com. Right now you can become a member starting at just $1.99 per week.

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Good morning, it’s Friday, August 20th and this is The Herald Review’s podcast, the Daily Chirp. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at top stories, events in the community, local history, sports, and more. 

Today - Governor Doug Ducey announced that the Arizona National Guard troops deployed to the southeastern portion of the state would be staying another year. 

Now, some local history.

Did you know that Rosemont Copper is the name of a proposed new large open copper mine project by the Canadian company, Hudbay Minerals. Originally proposed by Augusta Resource Corporation in 2007, the mine would be located in the Santa Rita Mountains in the Coronado National Forest. In 2017, the US Forest Service approved the mine, however the permits were overturned in 2019. The decision is currently being appealed.

Today’s local history is brought to you by Benson Hospital. Benson Hospital is doing more than treating illnesses, they’re building a healthier community through prevention. Access to affordable fruits and vegetables is essential to good health. Their collaboration with Produce on Wheels Without Waste brings more than 12,000lbs of affordable produce to the community every month. For more information and dates follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/bensonhospital.

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Now, our feature story.

Governor Doug Ducey announced that the Arizona National Guard troops deployed to the southeastern portion of the state would be staying another year. And on the same day the top member of the Guard visited her troops in Cochise County to let them know their mission is essential and appreciated.

Adjutant General for the Arizona National Guard Maj. Gen. Kerry L. Muehlenbeck spent time in Bisbee and Willcox this week. She talked to the soldiers who were sent to help the Cochise County Sheriff's Office in April when Ducey declared an emergency on the U.S.-Mexican border.

Muehlenbeck said it's important for her to let the soldiers know that they are not forgotten and that their mission is supported.

At least 32 members of the Guard were sent to Cochise County on April 30 by Ducey to help out in various non-law enforcement duties. The majority were assigned to the Sheriff’s Southeast Arizona Border Region Enforcement team in Benson. Other National Guard members were tasked with administrative duties in the Sheriff’s Willcox and Bisbee offices.

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels has said that monitoring cameras is one of the key functions aimed at helping authorities hold back the number of illegal crossings into the area by undocumented migrants. That’s one of the things they’ve been tasked with.

The arrival of the National Guard was prompted by an announcement Ducey made on April 16. He said that Arizona would take matters into its own hands regarding the onslaught of undocumented migrants pouring into the state. 

And Ducey’s statement came after the Arizona Department of Public Safety spotted 20 undocumented migrants in Chandler, but were rebuffed by both the Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they asked for help. The migrants were then released.

The governor’s law enforcement and military liaison, Megan Fitzgerald, said Ducey had asked the federal government for support in deploying the National Guard — known as Title 32 — but the support never materialized. Ducey decided to declare an emergency along Arizona’s four-border counties and deployed the National Guard under State Active Duty.

And on Wednesday morning Ducey announced an extension of the National Guard's mission for at least another year.

The governor said the extension was fueled by information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that reported "a stunning 21-year record high number of illegal border crossings" in July as compared to June. 

According to statistics releases by U.S. Customs and Border Protection last week, the number of undocumented migrants encountered at the Southwest border of the U.S. during July was 212,672. That's compared to 188,934 undocumented persons encountered in June.

The governor said money appropriated for the emergency mission will help support the more than 150 troops deployed to southeast Arizona in April.

To learn more about this story visit us at myheraldreview.com

Thanks for listening, before we continue, a quick message from our sponsors, Prestige Family Living. 

Now, an early look at our upcoming special feature, remembering 9/11 twenty years later. Stay tuned for the full episode which will be released on Friday September 10th….

Next - Leaving a legacy of relentless dedication, civic pride and years of hard work behind, Sierra Vista’s Paul Cimino is retiring from his position as fire marshal of Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services. His last day on the job will be Aug. 31.

 -- brought to you by our sponsors, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.

Paul Cimino came to Sierra Vista as a young child when his father was stationed at Fort Huachuca. He graduated from Buena High School in 1977 and has resided in the area ever since. He attended Cochise College to obtain his associate’s degree and later obtained his bachelor’s degree from Madison University.

Since then, Cimino has dedicated three years of accredited volunteer work with Sierra Vista Fire & Medical, alongside 37 years of salaried work.

Cimino began working for the city as a volunteer firefighter and became a full-time firefighter EMT in 1984. He moved through the ranks, fulfilling roles as engineer, fire captain and battalion chief. He was reclassified as fire marshal in 2005. He specialized in certified public management and earned several accreditations through the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Cimino says he was blessed with work supervisors and chiefs who saw his potential and credits the mentorship he received from the beginning to the end of his career.

Finally, today we’re remembering the life of Grace Marie Kovacovich Neal.

Grace was born on August 29, 1952 in Cottonwood, Arizona. She graduated from Mingus Union High School in Jerome in May of 1970. She then went on to attend NAU - receiving an Associates degree in Secretarial Science. She married Robert Neal in 1973 who was also attending NAU at the time. They were married for 48-plus years. They took many vacation trips around the country. She and her husband lived in Sierra Vista for 5 years.

She is survived by her brother and sister, her three step-sisters, her step-brother, and half-sister Jean. Thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate Grace’s life.

Thanks for tuning in to the Herald Review podcast today, join us again on Monday! And remember, the Herald Review is here for you with local news you can trust. For more information on any of the stories you heard about today, visit us at myheraldreview.com. Right now you can become a member starting at just $1.99 per week.

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Good morning, it’s Thursday, August 19th and this is The Herald Review’s podcast, the Daily Chirp. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at top stories, events in the community, local history, sports, and more. 

Today - The Douglas Port of Entry is poised to become a state of the art facility with plans to shift all commercial trucks to a new port of entry just west of it.

Now, some local history.

Did you know that “El Jefe” is an adult, male North American jaguar that was seen in Arizona? From November 2011 to late 2015, El Jefe was the only wild jaguar verified to live in the United States. He was first recorded in the Whetstone Mountains in November 2011, and was later photographed over several years in the Santa Rita Mountains. He has not been seen since 2015 and it is presumed that he returned to Mexico, where the nearest breeding population of jaguars is located.

Today’s history is brought to you by Benson Hospital. The team at Benson Hospital is always working towards building a healthier community. For example, when the Benson Food Pantry needed a new home, they worked with them to find one, and their staff even helped them apply for grants to support the mission. You can learn more about everything they’re doing for our community by following them on Facebook at facebook.com/bensonhospital.

Now, our feature story.  

The Douglas Port of Entry is poised to become a state of the art facility with plans to shift all commercial trucks to a new port of entry 5 miles to the west.

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly explained that a new bill would dedicate $216 million for the new Douglas Port of Entry. $184 million of it would go towards rehabilitation at the current Douglas Port of Entry.

Kelly, who paid a visit to the Douglas POE in May, saw firsthand the condition of the aging port.

A consortium of partners including Douglas Regional Economic Development Corporation, Douglas International Port Authority, Douglas Industrial Development Authority and Cochise County have been working to improve the border crossing experience for goods and people. 

Efforts have focused on a two-port solution that would redirect commercial traffic to a new facility.

Officials say the Raul H. Castro Port of Entry is outdated, overburdened and in desperate need of significant investments to modernize.

In 2017, the port was the gateway for approximately 60,000 trucks, 3.5 million cars and 8 million people in two-way traffic - making Douglas one of Arizona’s principal gateways for trade and tourism with Mexico.

The continual flow of oversized and overweight trucks that support major mining and smelter developments in Cananea and Nacozari de Garcia, Sonora, disrupt cross border traffic for hours at a time and can pose a threat due to hazardous materials transported by tanker–trucks.

Rerouting the truck traffic out of the downtown area will allow the existing port to be dedicated to pedestrian, vehicular and bus traffic. 

And a modernized port will support expansion of the downtown business and retail sectors to serve the millions of visitors from Mexico that spend approximately $740 million per year in the community, Bisbee and Sierra Vista.

The new commercial POE will be located on county land 5 miles west of the city on 80 acres on James Ranch Road at the border.

Douglas Mayor Huish was happy to hear the news and said that they’re grateful that Sen. Kelly understands the unique needs of border towns like Douglas.

The state and the county will be responsible for the roads and infrastructure and they’ll definitely be able to use the additional funding in the bill to do so.

Cochise County Board of Supervisors member Ann English said that she’s ecstatic to see it in the Senate bill/ The county has been working for years to get the ‘two port solution’ for the Douglas ports. 

The county has already hired Stantec to provide the engineering plan for roads, sewer, fiber optics and water for the new port, she said.

Learn more about this story at myheraldreview.com

Thanks for listening, before we continue, a quick message from our sponsors, Prestige Family Living.

Next - Arizona Arts Academy, a new hybrid school in Hereford, was forced to close last Wednesday because of storm damage. But two local contractors came to the school’s rescue.

Aaron Kerr, the owner of Mr. Fix It of Sierra Vista, and Issac Niu of Niu Construction, purchased materials and sent crews out to the school property to repair the damage…. at no cost.

Brad Richardson, who co-owns the school with his wife, Darci, said they had three lightning strikes on the property. 

Richardson praised the employees of both contractors for going “above and beyond,” and doing what was needed to get the school reopened for the kids.

Every year, Mr. Fix It commits to a couple of community service projects. When Kerr saw the damage at Arizona Arts Academy, he immediately reached out to the Richardsons and offered to make the repairs.

And Niu Construction had eight crew members working on drywall repairs across the school campus.

 -- brought to you by our sponsors, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.

Blues in Bisbee will be here before you know it! Mark your calendars for September 18th for some great food, fun vendor booths, and of course awesome music. You won't want to miss this year's headliner, Blackcat Zydeco. 

Donnis Pearl Self, who was born in 1941 in Collins, Mississippi. Donnis was a proud mother of four children, fifteen grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. Donnis worked for the Civil Service at the Ft. Huachuca base in Sierra Vista for 25 years as a contracting officer. She loved spending time with her family, gardening, working on her puzzle books and passionately talking about politics. Donnis is very much missed by her whole family, she always had an ear to lend, experience to share, and always without fail an opinion to let you know about. 

Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate her life.

Thanks for tuning in to the Herald Review podcast today, join us again on Friday! And remember, the Herald Review is here for you with local news you can trust. For more information on any of the stories you heard about today, visit us at myheraldreview.com. Right now you can become a member starting at just $1.99 per week. We also encourage you to rate and review our podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Want to stay up to date on what’s going on? Join NABUR

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