Long before Google, Alexa, Instagram and the internet, news was gathered through miles of legwork and worn-out shoes. A journalist was only as good as the relationships he cultivated and the sixth sense he developed. Reporting and uncovering stories required a tenacious and genuine interest in people, places and things that mattered, and a relentless hunger to know one more thing and to get it right before going to press. Ray Newton, a savvy street kid in the San Francisco Bay area in the … [Read more...] about Quintessential Newsman Trained in a News Field of Dreams
Ray Newton
Local Leader Billie Orr Makes Impact on Prescott
Billie Orr has made a habit of becoming involved in her community, no matter where she lives. That’s definitely true in Prescott, where for the past five years she has served on the Prescott City Council, elected the first time in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. Since 2017, she served as mayor pro-tem for Mayor Greg Mengarelli. Until her resignation, which was effective on Jan. 19, Orr was especially involved in a new program – the Commission on Well-Being. “A Gallup Poll cited Prescott as … [Read more...] about Local Leader Billie Orr Makes Impact on Prescott
Low-Income Housing to Accommodate Local Families
Dozens of apartments currently under construction are designed to benefit low-income families from the Quad Cities area under local, state and federal guidelines. Creekview Village Apartments, a 72-unit family apartment complex, will provide affordable rental housing for tenants. Located at 519 Miller Valley Road, the complex will contain six three-story walk-up apartment buildings. It also will have a one-story clubhouse. The complex will have 24 two-bedroom and 48 three-bedroom … [Read more...] about Low-Income Housing to Accommodate Local Families
Bashford Courts Renovation Expected to be Completed This Month
Renovation of the Bashford Courts Atrium Mall in historic downtown Prescott is expected to be completed this month. Located in the Bashford-Burmister building on Gurley Street, the popular retail center of specialty shops is undergoing an estimated $350,000 renovation. Craig Hannay, through his Phoenix-based investment and management company, bought the historic property from businessman Richard Calabrese for $4.95 million in July 2018. Hannay, who grew up in Prescott, recalls when the … [Read more...] about Bashford Courts Renovation Expected to be Completed This Month
ERAU Named One of Arizona’s Top 125 Companies for Employees
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott (ERAU) has been named one of the “Top 125 Companies in Arizona to Work For,” based on results of a statewide survey sponsored by the Arizona Commerce Authority and Republic Media, which partnered with Best Companies Group (BCG) and BestCompaniesAZ. It is the sixth year the survey has been conducted, said Heather Kivatinos, regional executive with the USA TODAY NETWORK. She indicated that identifying the top companies had become even more … [Read more...] about ERAU Named One of Arizona’s Top 125 Companies for Employees
Halfway ‘Home’ – Literally and Figuratively
Tom Biel, executive vice president of Touchmark at the Ranch, has a gleam in his eye and broad smile when he tells prospective buyers that the upper-end retirement living facility is half complete. He is right on two counts. First, more than 50 percent of the 45 single-family homes and even more of the 162 units in the Grand Lodge have been sold. Second, construction at the 45-acre site atop a hill overlooking the east side of Prescott is now more than half done. All this progress … [Read more...] about Halfway ‘Home’ – Literally and Figuratively
Valuing, Protecting the Verde River
Yavapai-Apache leader shares spiritual beliefs about water, urges awareness The Verde River should be treated as “a living spiritual entity,” says Yavapai-Apache Director of Cultural Resources Vincent Randall. Randall was the featured speaker at the Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) at a May 13 meeting in Prescott. An active in water rights and water issues almost his entire life, Randall is insistent that people throughout Arizona and the Southwest must begin to acknowledge that water … [Read more...] about Valuing, Protecting the Verde River
Housing Arizona’s Softball Hall of Fame
What could be more appropriate in “The Softball Capital of Arizona” than the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame? That is what is in the Grace Sparkes Activity Center at 824 E. Gurley Street in Prescott. For the past 12 years, memorabilia paying tribute to renowned Arizona softball players – male and female – to coaches, sponsors, umpires and other contributors has been housed in a small alcove of this facility operated by the City of Prescott. On display are trophies, plaques and photographs … [Read more...] about Housing Arizona’s Softball Hall of Fame
Prescott Scores with Softball Women’s World Series
Prescott, already known as the “Softball Capital of Arizona,” just hit another home run to bolster that image. The city has been selected by the National Softball Association (NSA) as the site for the women’s 2017 Southwest World Series, July 11-16. It is the first time NSA has designated the community for such a prestigious sanctioned tournament. City of Prescott Recreation Services Department Director Joe Baynes said the city was honored to work with NSA in offering that level of … [Read more...] about Prescott Scores with Softball Women’s World Series
Seen By Millions, Recognized by Many
Most of us can go shopping locally or travel throughout the country and generally be anonymous. Not so with Alice Ferris. Prescott residents may know Ferris because of her longtime “hands-on” commitment to fundraising, strategic planning and leadership training at the Highlands Center for Natural History. That is a role she has had for almost 15 years. It is also a role that Ferris takes considerable pride in, as the Highlands Center was her first client when she founded GoalBusters … [Read more...] about Seen By Millions, Recognized by Many