A look back at highlights of 2016 shows that area residents, businesses and industry achieved a great deal, as evidenced in the following review.
January
Ten-year-old Isabella Scofield of Winslow was honored by the National Hot Rod Association for her championship win in her age category at the 2015 NHRA Junior Drag Racing Western Conference Finals.
The Navajo County Elections Office acquired new state-of-the-art voting machines that were expected to dramatically reduce operational costs, consolidate voting precincts and simplify the voting process.
The Navajo County Fair Board unanimously voted to retain Redgie Justman, Tim Kelley, Mike Sample and Marshall Losey as board members, as they were the only candidates for the seven available positions. Sample remained as president, Rusty DeSpain as vice president and Valerie Slade as treasurer. Justman was voted into the secretary’s position.
Holbrook Unified School District Governing Board Vice President Linda Yazzie was elected to serve a two-year term as Navajo County director for the Arizona School Boards Association.
Hundreds of people attended a memorial in Winslow for Glen Frey, founder of the band the Eagles and co-author of Take It Easy, a song synonymous with city. Flowers, balloons, candles and wreaths were left at the bronze statue of a lone guitarist. Frey died on Monday, Jan. 18, at the age of 67.
The Arizona Music Educators Association honored Winslow High School Principal Chris Gilmore with the Raymond G. Van Diest Music Advocacy Award for his extraordinary efforts and support of student involvement with music at Winslow Junior High School and WHS.
A federal appeals panel rejected an effort by 27 states and dozens of corporations and industry groups to block President Obama’s regulation on emissions from coal-fired power plants while a lawsuit moves through the courts.
A parade and the annual swearing in of riders preceded the start of the 58th annual Hashknife Pony Express Ride, with Wayne Ramey starting off on the first leg of the journey from the Holbrook Post Office.
The Arizona Department of Health Services unveiled its annual report regarding those who legally use marijuana under the state’s medical marijuana program. The report shows that medical marijuana users consumed more than 19.2 tons of marijuana in 2015, nearly double the amount used the previous year.
February
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that about 900 properties in Winslow would no longer be located in the Special Flood Hazard Area, which required mandatory flood insurance coverage to obtain a mortgage.
Arizona Public Service Co. announced that it would power down Units 1 and 3 at Cholla Power Plant at Joseph City seasonally, to be operated conditionally only during the summer months. Officials noted that the reason for the power down was very low natural gas prices, meaning that power generated from those units would only be necessary for summer months.
Earl Kester was chosen by a majority vote of the Holbrook City Council to fill a vacancy on the council created by the resignation of Myron Maxwell.
The Joseph City School District presented Jack Miller with a Lifetime Wildcat Fan Award. Miller has been a dedicated supporter of the athletic programs in Joseph City for a number of years and continues to be a regular at most of the games.
The City of Holbrook unveiled a new logo that included “Hub City” verbiage, western-influenced fonts and a wagon wheel shape.
A split-decision by the Supreme Court stopped President Obama’s controversial new regulations regarding power plants. In a 5-4 decision the court stopped enforcement of the plan, which is an effort by the administration to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at coal burning plants, until legal issues were resolved.
It was reported that if the Navajo County Community College District Governing Board approved a primary property tax levied at the maximum rate it would still produce a $150,000 decrease in revenues for Northland Pioneer College from last year due to the closures of Units 1 and 3 at Cholla Power Plant. Without the levy, the loss would be approximately $400,000.
March
The City of Holbrook signed up to take part in the Navajo County Regional Dispatch Center, which would serve as the hub for all county emergency response services.
The first financial shockwave of Cholla Power Plant’s looming closure was being felt by Navajo County as Finance Director James Menlove reported that county sales tax revenues were projected to be around $300,000 below the fiscal year estimates for 2015. The projection for 2016 is that there would be a $50,000 deficit.
Winslow citizens voted to continue with the one percent sales tax, renewing the tax that has been in place for decades for five more years. The election drew a 32 percent voter turnout, with 692 voting in favor of continuing the tax and 345 opposing it.
Winslow made the decision to go green and started a curbside recycling program in an effort to reduce waste and save money.
The Joseph City Chamber of Commerce announced that B.G. “Bill” Bennett and Lynn A. Rogers were inducted into the Joseph City Hall of Fame. Those who are included in the Hall of Fame are citizens who have gone the extra mile to serve and help make the community a better place to live.
Joseph City saluted 140 years of history with its annual Founders Day celebration.
Holbrook ushered in its inaugural Happy Holbrook Month as the city council issued a proclamation asking, “citizens to embrace exuberant behavior, a spirit of optimism and dedicate themselves to spending the 30 days soaking up happiness.”
Northland Pioneer College was looking to increase the tax levy by two percent, but the income provided would still present a shortfall of nearly $150,000 over the previous year due to decreased valuations.
Winslow Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Hall reported that despite the nationwide economic downturn, tourism in the city was up 33 percent over the previous year.
April
David Chad DeSpain of Joseph City became a member of the American Angus Association, the largest beef breed association in the world.
Residents of Winslow and across northern Arizona were shaken by the Easter Sunday shooting death of Loreal Tsingine by Officer Austin Shipley following a reported shoplifting incident.
Northland Pioneer College Friends and Family received $22,201 in donations plus a $5,000 bonus from Arizona Gives Day. With 900 non-profits registered for the one-day campaign, the organization finished 24th overall statewide, raising $7,967 more than in its initial participation last year.
Arthur Gonzales was sworn in as the new postmaster of the Winslow Post Office. Gonzales not only served for the past 23 years as a post office employee in Winslow, but also was born and raised in the community.
Winslow High School seniors Judicael Tombo and DJ Chambers were selected as recipients of Gates Millennium Scholarships. Judicael enrolled at Arizona State University, where he will major in engineering. DJ enrolled at Northern Arizona University, where he will major in criminal justice. The Gates Millennium Scholarship is a blank check to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and cost of living. They are two of 1,000 students who were awarded this scholarship nationally.
May
The non-profit Friends of the Holbrook Animal Shelter received accolades at the Holbrook City Council meeting. The shelter had taken in 157 animals since the first of the year and of those, only nine had to be euthanized due to aggressive behavior or illness. Before the volunteers’ assistance, the shelter was euthanizing 95 percent of the animals it received, sometimes six to eight a week.
Renowned artist and Winslow resident John Suttman installed his handcrafted iron lanterns along the Potager Garden walls at La Posada Hotel, adding to the beauty and prestige of the famous hotel.
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office commemorated the addition of the name of Deputy Ronald Adair, who died in the line of duty on May 22, 1970, in Winslow, to the Peace Officers Memorial. Deputy Adair was in pursuit of a vehicle when he became involved in an accident and suffered fatal injuries.
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors lauded the Drug Court Program that has been in effect in the county for the past 11 years. The program has had 80 graduates since it began. County Attorney Brad Carylon pointed out that with a 75 percent graduation rate, the reduction in drug use leads to a substantial reduction in crime.
More than $12,100 was raised at the NPC Friends and Family Scholarship Golf Tournament. That, added to the $27,201 in funds contributed by supporters on Arizona Gives Day, brought contributions to $39,301 in scholarship funds for students.
June
Debra Kester was sworn into the office of Navajo County treasurer. She was finishing the term of Manny Hernandez, who retired.
Eric Miller was named assistant principal at Joseph City Junior/Senior High School.
Petrified Forest National Park archeologist William Reitze received the John L. Cotter Award. The award is presented to archeologists who demonstrate excellence in scientific archeological research, community involvement and public education. Reitze developed and supervised an archeological survey project at Petrified Forest, launching and leading an archeological inventory in the approximately 45,000 acres acquired by the National Park Service since 2004. During the course of the three-year project, summer survey crews walked over 1,000 miles and surveyed 7,000 acres. As a result, evidence of more than 13,000 years of human history was discovered and recorded in the park.
The monsoons arrived, bringing much-needed rain to assist in putting out the Cedar Fire burning in the southern portion of Navajo County. Fire officials reported that there were 554 firefighters still working on the fire, which had consumed 280,278 acres.
Jesse Spangler, a 2013 Holbrook High School graduate, was named to the North Star Athletic Association’s All-Conference Second Team. Spangler was also named the Gold Glove award winner for the center field position. He recorded 136 put outs in 146 chances with just three errors, for a .979 fielding percentage.
Reuben Kee, a 2012 Holbrook High School graduate, became the All-American Recurve Men’s National Champion at the Intercollegiate Archery Championships. Kee is part of the Northern Arizona University Archery Club, which placed third overall at the event.
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Part II will be published in the Jan. 4 edition of the newspaper.
