Helldorado Days 2008 - School of Journalism

Prop. 202 worries
business owners
Page 2
Guns in town:
It’s about respect
Page 2
No arrests yet
from biker brawl
Page 3
NO TOMBSTONE IS COMPLETE WITHOUT ITS EPITAPH
50 CENTS
VOL. CXXVII NO. 4
128
YEARS IN
LOCAL EDITION
THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008
Helldorado Days 2008
PHOTO
Actors and actresses shoot off their guns and rejoice for Tombstone’s Helldorado Days. 2008 marked the 79th annual celebration of the town milestone.
DRAW!
Clinic’s opening stalled;
waiting for state permits
By Amanda Druce
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
The Sierra Vista Regional Health
Center has put the opening of the
Tombstone Family Health Clinic on hold
as they wait for a permit from the state,
according to Tombstone City Clerk
George Barnes.
SVRHC is pushing back the opening
date to what could be as far away as
January 1, according to Linda
Kamrowski, marketing and public relations director at SVRHC.
“I don’t know where or what the hold
up is,” Kamrowski said.
According to previous reports, the
Tombstone Family Health Clinic was
originally scheduled to open on Oct. 19,
but due to the long process of obtaining
the permit, the opening date is now
unknown.
“There is no firm plan or deadline,”
Kamrowski said. “We don’t want to say
anything until we have a clear idea ourselves.”
The delay isn’t a grave concern for
city officials.
“We don’t anticipate it as a problem
but it takes a while,” said Barnes. “I don’t
have an update on time but it is in the
process of being reviewed.”
According to Barnes, the clinic can’t
operate without a state permit. The
Tombstone Family Health Clinic is using
the spare time to update the building with
new carpeting and a paint job.
Staff and doctors will not be hired until
the permit is received, Kamrowski said.
Carol Turner moved to Tombstone two
weeks ago and is interested in working at
the Tombstone Family Health Clinic.
Turner, 64, is a nurse who can’t wait until
the clinic opens.
Andrea Grimaldi, an employee at the
Tombstone Gambler, said she’s not bothered about the delay in the clinic’s opening and feels it’s normal for Tombstone to
fall behind.
“I hate to say it, but sometimes I feel
like we are in the 1800s, “ she said.
Grimaldi has had two recent accidents
where the EMT has had to come from
Sierra Vista.
“This way we wont take up the time of
the ambulances so they can be used for emergencies,” she said. “To have a health clinic is
great for the tourists,” Grimaldi said.
Tom Olah, a self-employed construction worker, said that he worries about
finding care in the event of an accident.
“Being in construction, I am always
worried something might happen,” said
Olah.
Randy Davis of Big Iron Shooting
Gallery is not expecting to use the clinic
at all. Davis is from Los Angeles where
he served on the LAPD.
“I am still on the LAPD health plan
and I wouldn’t use the clinic anyways,”
Davis said.
Davis uses the University Medical
Center in Tucson for emergencies and
doctor appointments every other month,
he said.
“It gives me an excuse to get out of
town,” Davis added.
Barnes is not upset by the move City
Hall had to make in order for the
Tombstone Family Health Clinic to take
over their building located at 7 N. San
Diego St.
“We are here in the new building and
happy,” he said.
According to Barnes, the San Diego
Street building was originally constructed
for a health clinic so it is just a waiting
game now.
“Good things come to those who
wait,” Barnes said.
BY
ANTHONY GARICA
For more coverage and photos
of the festivities, see Page 4
Current and former mayors
face off in Nov. 4 election
The Incumbent
By Andres A. Navarro
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
The Challenger
Tombstone mayor Don Aiton looks to out-duel former mayor Dustin
Escapule and retain office for another term. With several issues being key
to this election, Aiton hopes to show how he will be the better man for the
job.
Crime issues are something all mayors have to deal with at one point
or another, and Tombstone is no exception. There’s violence, as the bar
brawl two weeks ago showed, and drugs like methamphetamine are also a
problem.
“There is always room for improvement,” Aiton said. “It’s a small town
and it was handled as best as we could. We kind of learned a lesson from
it.”
Following the bar brawl, arrangements were made to provide better
safety for the city, Aiton said.
The biker group responsible for the bar brawl has been targeted by law
enforcement in Tombstone and word has been sent to other organizations
about the group’s association with violence, he said. Arrangements have
been made with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department for assistance if
any is needed as well as the Arizona Rangers, he added.
“Drugs are certainly a problem, but drugs are also a problem everywhere else,” Aiton said.
Officers are constantly investigating for drug trafficking and there may
also be an undercover officer on duty, he said.
“We have a great police force and they are all dedicated,” Aiton said.
“It’s just if we had more money, we could have more policemen and more
enforcement.”
Funding has also been a major concern in Tombstone. It’s a small town
that relies on its tourism and sales tax for most of its revenue.
“We’re always looking for grants,” he said. “There is only so much
money you can get and that is always budgeted to what the city needs.”
Recently, the mayor and the city council obtained a $1 million grant for
the restoration of Fremont Street. The city needs more grants like these to
help with the preservation of the historic district as well as the funding for
other public services, he said.
The development of Tombstone depends on the availability of funding
and what the city is allowed to do, he added.
Former mayor Dustin Escapule hopes his previous experience will help
him gain incumbent Don Aiton’s seat and reclaim the title of mayor of
Tombstone.
Crime and law enforcement issues are some issues that Escapule would
like to work on if he is elected.
“The bottom line is the marshal is trying to be a big city department and
not a small town department and take care of the locals like it should,” he
said. “We need to keep officers within the city limits and let the sheriff
handle the rest.”
The bar brawl at the Crystal Palace two weeks ago reached the level it
did because of the lack of law enforcement in the area, he said.
“The marshal was already informed of the bikers,” he said. “If there
was enough law enforcement in the streets, then those two boys should not
have had such an ass kicking.”
With the retirement of Tombstone Marshal Merlin Jay Smith in
November, Escapule said he would replace him with someone experienced in law enforcement and able to work within the city’s budget.
Tombstone is a small town but Escapule said it’s a city that needs more
development.
“Over the last 30 years, Tombstone has changed from a fine city to just
a tourist attraction,” he said. “There is no department store, no grocery
store, nothing that would keep locals from going to Sierra Vista.”
One of Escapule’s plans is to have a strip mall built that would encompass everything local residents need. This shopping area would be built
outside the historic district so the values would not be affected, he said.
“One of the main reasons why our schools drop attendance is because
people are looking for the things they need elsewhere,” Escapule said.
“We need to get a modern- day Tombstone.”
Although Escapule feels the city needs to be more than just a tourist
attraction, he also sees the beneficial funding it brings to the town.
Should he be elected, a marketing strategy would be developed that
would include Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma, and other parts of the Southwest.
This would show what Tombstone has to offer instead of just being a cowboy town, Escapule said.
“People don’t know about the mine tours, the stage coaches, the steak-
Incumbent/page 3
Challenger/page 3
PAGE 2
Packing pistols
can go wrong
even if a right
By Michael Macaulay
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
A man from Oklahoma
rode his horse into town last
summer and boasted that he
was going to shoot up the
town, or rather the Bird Cage
Theater ceiling, just like during the gunfights in the Wyatt
Earp days.
Guns and Tombstone go
together like cowboys and
beef jerky, but owning and
shooting firearms isn’t the
same today as it was back in
the Wild West. Today, even
though people are still
allowed to have guns holstered while walking around
in town, safety is the law of
the land.
Regardless, some members of groups such as the
Viet Nam Vets and Legacy
Vets biker gang that instigated the Crystal Palace brawl a
couple weeks ago, brandished their guns in town and
even offered to show them to
deputies, according to authorities.
“I think especially for
towns like Tombstone, a historical town, firearms are
probably one of the most
important visual aspects of
the
Old
West,”
said
Tombstone Marshal Merlin
Jay Smith. But “the fact that
(people) have a right to carry
a gun doesn’t mean they have
a right to draw that gun and
fire it anytime they feel like
it.”
According to Smith, when
deputies brought in the bragging Oklahoman, he said all
he really wanted was to get
someone at the Bird Cage
Theater to let him shoot a
blank inside. Deputies let the
man know that even speaking
of firing a gun in such a manner is taken very seriously.
The man stayed in town for
about four months, drank a
lot, and even got arrested a
couple of times for riding his
horse under the influence of
alcohol.
“If we have somebody
that thinks (Tombstone is)
still like in the 1870s, we may
look that way but we’re not,”
Smith said.
Some groups, like the
Single Action Shooting
Society (SASS), an international organization dedicated
to promoting the sport of
Cowboy Action Shooting
(CAS), aim to preserve the
image of guns and the Old
West
in
towns
like
Tombstone. The organization requires members to don
authentic clothing and use
firearms of the period during
shooting competitions. These
measures help to ensure the
link between guns and
Tombstone stays strong.
From a young age, CAS
2007 Arizona resident and
state champion Amber Sortor
spent time working with the
target range crews with her
brothers when their father
competed in shooting events,
but the sport didn’t catch her
interest until a year or two
after graduating college.
“It was Father’s Day
weekend in 2002, and dad’s
request for Father’s Day was
that I spend the weekend with
him and mom in Payson at a
shooting match,” Sortor said.
“After that, I was hooked.”
Sortor said the most
rewarding aspect of guns and
competition is the time it
allows her to spend with her
family.
“Those are truly great
times, when the whole family
is together on the range,” she
said.
A couple of Sortor’s other
titles include the 2007 and
2008 Ladies Modern World
Champion and 2008 Ladies
Modern National Champion.
Competitive shooting isn’t
the only thing keeping the
relationship between guns
and Tombstone alive.
To further strengthen the
link between guns and
Tombstone, Lefty’s Corner
Stores Guns & More has Old
West firearm replicas and displays some used in the movie
“Tombstone.”
Store owner Jim
Newbauer said he often gets
customers who compliment
him on the Old West atmosphere of the gun shop.
“It kind of takes (customers) back in time a little
bit,” Newbauer said. “We try
to be as Old West-ish as possible.”
Virginia resident Kevin
Hogge has visited Tombstone
twice and said he enjoys the
town, period firearms and the
feel of the gun shop.
“I’m very involved with
history, especially southwestern history,” Hogge said.
“The particular thing that
stood out for (him and his
wife) was the memorabilia
from
the
movie
‘Tombstone’.”
Despite the positive and
historical influences guns and
shooting can have in sustaining the image of Tombstone,
some people still choose to
disregard gun safety.
Newbauer said he recalled
one night about a year ago
when only he and another
employee were in the shop
and a Tucson woman and her
15-year-old son walked in
and the teen said he was
going to rob the shop. When
the teenager pulled out a
handgun, Newbauer picked
up a gun from behind the
counter and confronted the
would-be robber. The teen
then yelled and bolted out the
door.
“If he would have done
that in any other shop up in
Tucson, he probably wouldn’t have lived to see 16 years
old,”
Newbauer
said.
“Basically, he was a young
kid who had no idea. He
thought he was being funny
but it’s a very serious matter.”
It turned out that the teen’s
gun wasn’t even real, but
plastic.
“I guess he just decided to
pull the stunt in a place that
he thought we’d think it was
funny, well I don’t think anyone thought it was funny,”
Newbauer said.
The teen’s mother apologized and said that she had no
idea her son was going to
attempt to hold up the store
and that she had problems
with him before. A few minutes later, the teen came back
in and cockily told Newbauer
to show him one of the guns,
but Newbauer told him to
leave. After the incident, the
mother and her son were
never heard from again.
Even though Tombstone
isn’t as wild as it was back in
the Old West, boasting to
shoot blanks inside buildings
or using a fake gun to bluff
about robbing a gun shop are
still taken very seriously.
“Guns are just a secondnature tool,” Smith said.
“Like any other tool, a
mechanic’s tool or saw.
(Guns) are dangerous if used
improperly.”
Businesses fret about Prop. 202
OCTOBER 24, 2008
By Megan J. Mazurek
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
The November elections are fast
approaching and some business owners
are worried that the outcome of
Proposition 202, better known to some as
the Arizona Stop Illegal Hiring Act, will
affect their influx of workers.
Proposition 202 would amend the current Arizona law, Proposition 102, allowing citizens to anonymously report businesses that are hiring illegal immigrants.
The proposition would mandate citizens to sign and date their complaints.
Employees would also need to provide
state, county or federal proof of work
authorization.
This is all part of an effort to stop the
use of fraudulent identification to obtain
employment.
Tombstone City Hall hasn’t received
any feedback concerning the measure
thus far, said George Barnes, Tombstone
City Clerk.
“I haven’t gotten one phone call
regarding it,” Barnes added.
These changes will affect many companies, including the usually thriving
chili farm of Ed Curry. His 1,200-acre
field in Pearce, Ariz., needs about 200
employees to work the fields and manage
the processing for Curry’s Seed and Chile
Company.
Most of his workers are from Mexico,
he said.
The workers show identification to
Curry, but he said he can’t be certain
they’re not fraudulent.
“The average American doesn’t
understand that we not only help them
(illegal immigrants), but we need them
for our country’s food supply,”
Curry said.
Curry and his partner, Phil Villa, estimate that 80 to 90 percent of the nation’s
commercially grown chilies can be traced
back to his farm in Southern Arizona.
“We want to do it the right way and be
law abiding citizens,” Curry said. “But
it’s just not enough. It would be a huge
advantage if I’d have a worker’s
program.”
Curry said he is a supporter for worker’s rights — allowing immigrants the
right to come work in the United States
for a specified amount of time, and
requiring them to go home after the job
has ended.
“Americans aren’t going to want to do
this work,” Curry said. “This is an entrylevel job. We’re not taking jobs away
from the Americans. You can pay an
American $50 an hour, and they’re still
not going to do it. I mean I don’t want to
do it. I’m just being honest.”
Entry-level jobs such as farming and
construction in the desert heat are strenuous jobs, but most people make enough
money in three months to support their
families for the rest of the year,
Curry said.
“Those guys (immigrants) want to
work 12 hours a day,” Curry said.
“They’re really serious about it. Most
make more than minimum wage.”
One worker, Avel Estrella has been
coming from Mexico and working during
the farm seasons since 1988. He has
worked at Curry’s Chile farm for the past
two seasons, he said.
“I have two girls in Aqua Prieta,”
Estrella said in Spanish. “I have been
here for a few months and will leave
whenever work is done.”
Curry said he doesn’t try to hire illegal
citizens, and has few illegal immigrants
this season due to tighter borders and
quicker background checks for employees through Integrated Automotive
Fingerprint System (IAFIS).
“Proposition 102 affected us because
for years everyone had fake cards,” Curry
said. “We couldn’t tell who was who; we
were ignorant to it. It was just the way
of life.”
The proposition has not affected local
hotels in the Sunrise/ Pearce area near
Curry’s farm, where many workers usually stay during the season, said Cheryl
Pastika, manager of the Sunsite Motel.
“Business has been just about the
same,” Pastika said.
The motel has a lot of farmers come in
from the Curry and Johnson farms,
she said.
Pastika estimates the business of the
motel is about 25 percent farm workers
and 75 percent retired people.
“We have a pretty captive audience
right now with kids coming to visit,” she
said. “Pearce has a lot of retired people.”
This year, Curry has sent farmers who
have previously worked on his farm
away, because of Proposition 102.
“There’s some sad stories of guys that
have been coming over for years, and we
have to send them away,” he said. “If we
had a program, we could do it a
lot different.
Arizona currently has no worker’s
rights for illegal immigrants. However,
there are worker’s rights for immigrants
who enter lawfully into the United States.
Those who enter unlawfully and use
fraudulent identities to work are penalized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
Some U.S. citizens advocate worker’s
programs for illegal immigrants, and say
Proposition
202
handicaps
PHOTOS BY MEGAN
J. MAZUREK
Above: A man
works at Ed
Curry’s chili
farm near
Pearce. The
farm produces 80 to
90 percent of
chilies for the
nation, Curry
said.
Left: Another
employee
works the
crop.
pro-immigration.
“It will affect America’s food chain,”
Curry said. “The border affects people
much differently here than it does everywhere else in the United States.”
Curry has known many farmers
throughout the southwest region who had
to give up their crops because they didn’t
have enough manpower.
“One by one, farmers are just quitting,” Curry said. “I know a huge onion
farm in New Mexico just quit because
they can’t afford workers.”
Without the help of workers it will be
hard and very expensive for Curry to continue providing the country chili breeds
that can produce almost double their
average harvest, he said.
“The Minute Men in the area feel like
we’re causing the problem,” Curry said.
“Our thoughts are they’re the ones eating
so they’re causing the problem.”
Read an online wish and help a Tombstone teacher
By Kelly Miller
List successful.
After months of consulting with an attorney and the
school district, Scherer received permission to go ahead
Frank Scherer found inspiration to help the with the Wish List program in May. The district asked
Tombstone Unified School District in an unlikely teachers what they would need for the upcoming school
place: Craigslist.
year, and the district created the
As he scanned the online lists of
Wish List on their Web site.
merchandise, tickets and housing for
This fall marks the first
rent, the Web site gave him the idea to
semester of the program, and
HOW TO HELP:
develop something similar to help
Scherer said they have collectWhat: Teacher Wish List
Tombstone’s schools.
ed $900 last month alone for
Where: www.tombstoneschools.org
He wanted to create a Teacher Wish
supplies
and
equipment
Wishes: donations for such items as
List for the district — a site on which
through large and small donapens, dry erase markers and folders
schools could list needed supplies and
tions.
The story: Frank Scherer modeled
equipment, and Tombstone residents
“There’s a need (to make up
could donate whatever they could
for) the lack funds available to
the list after Craigslist as a way to
to help.
provide various items and suphelp kids and teachers in Tombstone.
Scherer, treasurer of the local St.
plies to the schools,” Frank
Paul’s Episcopalian church, has a long
said. “Teachers have to take it
history of helping people in need
out of their paychecks. They
through his faith by working with the Episcopalian have to pay for items out of their pockets.”
Community Services Diocese of Arizona, he said. But
Scherer has also received grants on behalf on the
he knew he would need help from his church to adver- church to buy supplies such as televisions and volleyball
tise and encourage donations to make the Wish equipment for Huachuca City.
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
Editorial Policy
Items on the Wish list include dry erase markers,
poster board, glue sticks, multiplication flash cards and
a CD boom box.
“It’s actually been successful,” said Karl Uterhardt,
superintendent of the Tombstone Unified School
District. “We’ve had several donations. I think it’s a
good program. It helps our teachers out. Anything that
will help them in the classroom is what we want to do.”
The donations are divided up between each school
unless the donation is specified for a certain school,
Uterhardt said.
Schools will prioritize their needs and buy supplies
with the money, Uterhardt added.
“Schools are looking everywhere to where they can
find money, where can they find funding?” Uterhardt
said. “This is a good way for the community and the
church to help out. You don’t have to give a lot of
money. Anything you want to give would be very useful
in the supply area for what kids need.”
The wish list is available to view online at
www.tombstoneschools.org, under the “news” link, and
donations are accepted at the district office at 815 E.
Fremont St. or by mail at P.O. Box 1000, Tombstone,
Ariz. 85638
Contact Us
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Founded on the Southwestern frontier by John P. Clum, May 1, 1880
300 words.
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Megan Mazurek
Janelle Montenegro Chelsey Killebrew
Andres Navarro
Kelly Miller
Ashli Woods
Kimberly Quiroz
The local edition of The Tombstone Epitaph is published by
the students of the University of Arizona Department of
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Use of the name is by permission of the owners of the
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Tombstone Epitaph. The corporation grants permission for the
use of the name of the local edition of The Tombstone Epitaph
on February 2, 1975.
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PAGE 3
OCTOBER 24, 2008
Don Aiton
Age: 66
Experience: Ward 4 councilman two years; Ward 4 councilman, Mayor Pro-tem four
months; Mayor of Tombstone
March 2007 to present
Background: Don Aiton is a
retired United States Navy officer
with tours in the Gulf War, Bosnia
and Herzegovina with the
Marines. Aiton has lived in
Tombstone since 1990 and has
been the Commander for the
American Legion Post 24 for four
terms.
Dustin Escapule
Age: 60
Experience: Ward 1 councilman two years; Mayor of
Tombstone 2000 to 2004
Background:Dustin Escapule
is a fourth generation native of
Tombstone as well as a former
mayor of Tombstone. Escapule
has previously worked with the
Cochise County Sheriff’s Office
and has been a business owner in
Tombstone for many years.
Escapule is also the editor for The
Tombstone News.
Incumbent/page 3
“We’re limited with the space we can develop because we’re surrounded by state lands,”
Aiton said. “We annexed a couple of parcels
last year but it takes two to do something like
this—the city and the property owners.”
Aiton is also pushing for a fire district in
Tombstone. Once the fire district boundaries
are set, the city council can plan to get the
proposition ready for a citywide vote. With a
fire district, the land included within the
boundaries is a prime candidate for annexation,
Aiton said.
As for the future of Tombstone, Aiton hopes
to see new development in the area.
“I would like have a new city hall and a city
complex built for the city,” he said. “Along
with that, I would like to give Tombstone all
the public facilities in one area like modern
cities have them.”
Aiton plans to share his ideas with the
Arizona Department of Transportation to build
a bypass around Tombstone. This will
undoubtedly bring new jobs and new development to Tombstone like shopping strips, he
said.
“I feel like I’ve done a good job so far,”
Aiton said. “There is also a lot of things I
would like to help become a reality in the city.”
Challenger/page 3
houses or any other attraction we have,” he
said. “They just think this is a movie set.”
Tombstone should take advantage of grant
money for the restoration of historic buildings,
to extend sewer services in the area and find-
ing a permanent city hall, he said.
Escapule also said he wants to establish a
youth program and find more funding for senior activities in the community center of
Tombstone.
No arrests made yet
following biker brawl
By Kimberly A. Quiroz
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
PHOTO BY JANELLE MONTENEGRO
Tombstone’s Cody Rosengarten crosses the finish line for second place in the junior boys race
of the Old Pueblo Cross Country Invitational in Tucson on Saturday Oct. 18.
Tombstone CC prepares for meet
By Stephanie Jerzy
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
Cody Rosengarten has one good run left
in him in the 2008 season.
Rosengarten and the Tombstone High
School cross country team are in the midst
of training for the 1A/2A High School State
Championships, which will be held at Cave
Creek Golf Course in Phoenix on Saturday
Nov. 8.
The junior had immeasurable success in
the 2007 cross country championships,
where he placed third in a field of more than
128 athletes. He finished with a time of 16
minutes, 33 seconds.
As a team, the Tombstone boys finished
in ninth place with a combined time of
96:51. The girls finished 13th out of 17
teams.
Rosengarten’s ability to improve comes
with experience and preparation.
He led a squad of 10 cross country athletes from Tombstone in the 2008 Old
Pueblo Invitational in Tucson on Oct. 18,
finishing in second place in his race categorized by high school grade.
Rosengarten finished the 3.1-mile course
at Lower Lincoln Park in Tucson in a time of
17 minutes flat, just 22 seconds behind Rio
Rico’s Jose Luis Muñoz. He finished in fifth
place overall.
Rosengarten was supported from performances in the junior race by Angel
Garlant and Sean Hector who finished in
17th and 18th places, respectively.
Sophomore Daniel McGowan finished in
the top half of his age group, with a time of
19 minutes, seven seconds.
Seniors Lee Lovorn and Dan Dickey
turned out times in their bracket of 21:56
and 25:24, respectively.
The invitational was formatted differently than most traditional meets, to the disadvantage of Tombstone. The meet arranged
students by high school class and took the
top time from each grade to make a team
total. The Tombstone boys did not have a
cross country athlete in the freshman bracket, disqualifying them from team standings.
The unusual format also weakened the
girls squad, which did not bring a freshman
runner to the 23-team invitational.
Jacqueline Brown turned out the fastest
time for the Yellow Jackets, running the
course in the junior class in 25 minutes, 30
seconds. Junior Hayley Bueschel finished
right on her tail, crossing the finish line just
two seconds behind Brown.
In the senior race, Katie Young finished
the course in 27 minutes, two seconds.
Sophomore Dee Dee Brown recorded a time
of 28 minutes, 29 seconds.
Jacqueline Brown has been the leading
force of the Yellow Jackets and will aim for
both a higher individual and team score than
the 2007 championships produced. She finished 31st in the individual standings in last
year’s state meet.
Tombstone’s cross country teams are still
young and both look to improve upon past
experiences for the duration of the season.
Driven by juniors Rosengarten and
Jacqueline Brown, the Yellow Jackets are
undoubtedly capable of surpassing their own
expectations and yielding great results at the
season’s final meet.
Breast cancer a tragedy here, too
By Amanda Druce
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
Like most women, Leila Lopez lives in fear everyday that she
might be diagnosed with breast cancer, the number one cause of
death among women next to skin cancer. Breast cancer runs in her
family which increases her chance of contracting the cancer.
“I do my self-exam everyday,” said Lopez, an employee at Spur
Western Wear located at 509 E. Allen St. “Yes, I am very worried.”
October 1 marked the beginning of the National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. Across the country, men and women unite to
fight for a cure of breast cancer.
Breast cancer rates have dropped as of 2004 according to the
Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease
Control and Prevention. Since 2004, there have been less then five
new reported cases of breast cancer in Tombstone according to the
Arizona Department of Health Services. The women of Tombstone
are making sure to keep up with their yearly mammograms.
While it has not been determined exactly what causes breast cancer, the American Cancer Society said there are many risk factors
that can induce it. There are two types of risk factors, ones people
can change in their everyday lifestyle and others that are not under
one’s control.
According to the American Cancer Society, risk factors that are
not under one’s control include gender, aging, genetics and race.
“My mother had breast cancer,” said Nikki Duhamel of Annie’s
Place located at 514 E. Allen St. “I am very nervous.”
Duhamel gives herself examinations as well as receiving yearly
mammograms.
“I think I am more aware then others because breast cancer runs
in my family,” said Lori Allen, employee of Apothecary Shoppe
Museum. Allen has a mammogram every year.
“I like talking to people and making sure everyone is aware and
I encourage mammograms,” Allen said.
Did you know?
• Breast cancer is the fifth biggest cause of death in
women in the United States
• In 2007, an estimated 178,480 new cases of invasive
breast cancer were diagnosed, an estimated 40,460
women died from breast cancer and more than 2,000
cases were diagnosed in men with 450 deaths
• Arizona has the fourth lowest incidence level per
100,000 white women and the third lowest among
African American women
-SOURCE: THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, 2007 DATA
While many risk factors cannot be controlled, there are lifechanging decisions women can make to lower their risk of breast
cancer including not drinking much alcohol, exercising and having
a healthy diet.
“I don’t drink,” said Duhamel. “They also told me to quit caffeine, but I don’t stop that.”
“I just take care of myself and try not to eat a lot of additives,”
said Tanya O’Neill. “I try to eat a lot of fresh veggies and fruits.”
While many women in Tombstone make sure they are taking care
of their bodies and health, others don’t let it affect their everyday
life.
“I don’t have health insurance,” said Susan Hernandez of Casa
Paloma located at 18 S. 5th St. Hernandez says overall she is healthy
and hopes she will not get breast cancer.
“I am taking the ostrich approach and sticking my head in the
sand.”
Nearly three weeks have passed since two
Tombstone locals were attacked by members of
a motorcycle gang at the Crystal Palace Saloon
on Oct. 4, but local authorities are still struggling
to make any arrests, said Marshal Merlin Jay
Smith.
The incident, which led to the hospitalization
of Danny Ramirez, 23, and Michael Molina, 22,
began with a confrontation inside the saloon and
turned into a riot in the middle of Allen Street in
a matter of minutes, witnesses said.
Police were called immediately and arrived
promptly, but by the time they pulled up to the
scene, the damage had already been done. The
crowd of up to 30 bikers quickly dispersed and
many fled to their hotels.
In the wake of the incident, the Police
Commission, which consists of five Tombstone
City Council members and Marshal Smith, gathered last week to discuss the events of that night.
Ramirez’s family attended the meeting to see
what measures the marshal’s office would take to
find the men involved in the attack.
“The police commission said that the only
reason that they didn’t arrest people that night is
because there was only two cops and pretty
much they were outnumbered,” said Tonia
Ramirez, Danny’s sister.
Tonia Ramirez recalled many of the bikers
having firearms and one in particular carrying a
metal baton, which he used to strike another
unidentified victim in the face.
Ramirez’s family has been in contact with a
motorcycle group called the Cochise Ghost
Riders, who tried to break the fight up that night,
Tonia Ramirez said.
The Cochise Ghost Riders informed her family that they have spoken with the Sergeant at
Arms for the Veteran/Legacy Vets and he told
them that the man with the baton has left the
state, Tonia Ramirez said.
“They (Veteran/Legacy Vets) just moved him
to a different state,” Tonia Ramirez said. “So
they’re pretty much just like hiding him, from
my understanding.”
Smith said that the investigation is still under
way and that three men have been positively
identified, but have not yet been taken into custody.
The Marshal’s office has asked for the assistance of an investigator from the sheriff’s department to help move the case along, Smith said.
“There were probably 20 to 30 individuals
who were involved in the video tapes,” Smith
said. “We’re going through those things, trying
to identify as many as we possibly can.”
The names of the three men who have been
identified will not be released until formal
charges have been filed or they have been arrested, Smith said.
He added that his office will ask for charges
of aggravated assault and also inciting a riot,
both of which are felony charges.
Authorities are seeking two of the men in
Tucson. However, the marshal’s office has not
asked for help from the Tucson Police
Department, Smith said.
“We will probably be seeking assistance from
the state gang unit that maintains information on
some of the active gangs and motorcycle
groups,” Smith said.
“If we need some assistance from Tucson PD
once we make the identification for arrest purposes, then we’ll do that.”
As for Danny Ramirez and Michael Molina,
both are slowly recovering.
“Danny’s doing OK. He’s back working and
he has just scars on his back and stomach now,’
Tonia Ramirez said. “Michael, his eyes are still
black and really bloodshot. He’s supposed to go
back to the doctor pretty soon, because he’s
probably going to have surgery on the bone
that’s broken in his face.
Smith said that with any luck arrests will be
made within the next couple of weeks.
“Following the weekend, we’ll probably get
back on it this week and see if we can’t make
some progress,” Smith said.
Music festival arrives
for seventh town visit
By Chelsey Killebrew
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
People may remember the Red River Valley
or hear the Tumbling Tumbleweeds as they walk
through the dusty streets of Tombstone during
Halloween weekend.
The Tombstone Western Music Festival
returns for its seventh year to fill the town with
melodies from new and returning musicians.
“It’s Western music as opposed to country,”
said Richard Dollarhide, vice president of the
Tombstone Western Music Festival.
The music is about the traditions and history
of the land and people, Dollarhide said.
“Think along the lines of the Sons of the
Pioneers,” Dollarhide said about the early 1900s
American cowboy band.
However, this is more modernized with musicians writing their own songs too, he said.
The festival begins on Friday and runs
through the weekend with performers including
Rena Randall and the Due West, Kip Calahan
and Doc Stovall. Patty Clayton, who won the
Academy of Western Artists album and artist of
the year in 2007, will perform Saturday and
Sunday.
The main stage is on Allen Street in the historic district. Musicians will also perform on
other street stages and inside local businesses.
Admission to the Western Music Festival is
free, except for the 7 p.m. shows at Schieffeilin
Hall on Friday and Saturday. These shows cost
$15 for adults, $10 for students and free for kids
12 years old and younger.
The Silver Nugget, Dragoon Saloon, and OK
Corral are some venues that will offer free
shows.
If the music festival sounds like a good way
to spend the weekend, you can look up the
schedule at http://www.tombstonewesternmusicfestival.org/sched.htm or call (520) 457-2295
for more information.
PAGE 4
OCTOBER 24, 2008
Helldorado Days
bring out masses
The dancing troupe Trashy Women of Cochise County perform on Allen Street on Saturday Oct. 18, day one of Helldorado Days.
PHOTO
BY
JOE PANGBURN
By Anthony Garcia
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH
“This event helps keep Tombstone alive.”
That’s Betty Krug’s opinion of Helldorado Days – the event where cowboys,
cowgirls and their young-ins from all over the world mosey into Tombstone for
the biggest celebration of the year.
When many of Tombstone’s mines closed because the silver ran dry and mining hit the water table flooding some of the mines, locals began dubbing the town
Helldorado. Many people began to leave. In an effort to bring people together,
bring people back and celebrate the history of the town, Helldorado Days was
established in 1929.
The tradition has continued 79 years since. It is held the third weekend of
October to correspond with the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on Oct. 26, 1881.
Tim Montemayor, an actor from Sierra Vista, says he enjoys performing in
Helldorado Days.
“There’s nothing better then helping a town as interesting as Tombstone,” he
said.
Fiona Dodd, a visitor from London, England, spent the weekend with her mother at Helldorado Days.
“My mom is mad for Wild West stuff and always wanted to go to Tombstone,”
Dodd said. “I loved all of it especially the gun fights and friendliness of the town.”
Tombstone citizens also enjoy seeing people enjoying Tombstone.
“I love meeting people who come in,” said Lillian Turner, an employee at
Visitor Center.
She feels it’s a good boost for the economy of Tombstone and it keeps the
morale of the town up.
“We have more fun in three days then we do in the whole year,” said Turner.
PHOTO BY
JANELLE
MONTENEGRO
Right:
Tony
Redburn
is flipping
his gun
and dancing to Will
Smith’s
“Wild Wild
West”
song as
entertainment to
the
guests.
PHOTO BY
CHELSEY
KILLEBREW
Far right:
A Cochise
County
shriner
motors
down
Allen
Street.
PHOTO BY JANELLE MONTENEGERO
Jayne McClure and her daughter Ali McClure, 5, are riding on a tilt-a-whirl ride that was
offered during the annual Helldorado Days in Tombstone on Saturday Oct. 18.