AZ Daily Star articles from July 2006

AZ Daily Star archives from July 2006

Demo forgoes Dean for astronaut boyfriend.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Daniel Scarpinato Jul. 1--While the rest of the Demo-crats in the race for retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe's seat cheered on Howard Dean during his Thursday visit to Tucson, Gabrielle Giffords was taking a brief vacation from the...

Annexation, tech park hung up: Plans for groundwater for golf course snag city-UA talks on SE Side area.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Rob O'Dell Jul. 1--A dispute between the city and the University of Arizona over how to water a planned golf course is jeopardizing a proposed annexation and threatening the future of a related biosciences park on the South Side....

OV collision kills one woman and seriously injures another.
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--One woman was killed and another hurt Friday in a vehicle collision in Oro Valley. A car that stopped on East Vistoso Commerce Loop Road at North Oracle Road about 11:45 a.m. then pulled out in front of a pickup truck headed south...

Same-sex suit settled for $120K: Paving workers allege retaliation, sex harassment.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Becky Pallack Jul. 1--A paving contractor has agreed to pay $120,000 to settle a same-sex sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of four Tucson workers. The suit was...

'It's a done deal': Monsoon blows in: Friday's dew point reading makes it official.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Josh Brodesky Jul. 1--For the last week, the signs were all around the valley: claps of thunder echoing across the Catalinas, sudden pounding bursts of afternoon rain and lightning-streaked skies. When the dew point averaged...

School's finally out for 165 grads.
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--Better late than never. About 165 high school students from the Tucson Unified School District received diplomas Friday in the city's only formal graduation ceremony of the summer. The event was held at the Tucson Convention...

'Selfish' drunken driver gets 12.5 years in fatal crash.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Kim Smith Jul. 1--A Tucson man to was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison Tuesday for a fatal crash after a judge called his decision to repeatedly drive while drunk an act of "overwhelming selfishness." Judge Christopher...

Local diocese exceeds goal for donations: Parishioners pledge $3.6 million to fund 23 Catholic ministries.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Stephanie Innes Jul. 1--Less than one year after it emerged from bankruptcy, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson has received a record amount of donations in its Annual Catholic Appeal. During "Amen Sunday" services this...

Judge: New evidence OK during molestation retrial.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Kim Smith Jul. 1--Prosecutors will be allowed to introduce several new pieces of evidence when they retry a Tucson child molestation suspect whose first trial ended in a hung jury, a judge ruled Friday. Pima County Superior...

Congress hopeful's petition disputed.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Daniel Scarpinato Jul. 1--Perennial candidate Joe Sweeney is facing a court challenge to his run for Congress. Alan Lageschulte, an Avondale resident, has filed a petition challenging the nomination petition signatures of...

Tubs of dead dogs lead to arrest of owner's son, 18.
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--Marana police arrested a man Wednesday in connection with three dead dogs found in the desert near Interstate 10 last month. Curtis Aaron Matthew, 18, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of animal cruelty, said Sgt. Jose Alvarez,...

Ben's Bellings.
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--The recipient of this week's Ben's Bell is Dr. Marla Husz, a local optometrist who volunteers with the visually impaired. Husz was nominated by her friend, Laura Cyphers, who said the kindness Husz shows in everything she does makes her...

Alcohol suspected in collisions that killed 2 women Thursday.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Eric Swedlund Jul. 1--Two unrelated fatal collisions Thursday night were both alcohol-related, a Sheriff's Department spokeswoman said. In the first wreck, John Tighe, 65, was arrested on one count of second-degree murder in...

Corrections.
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1----A story on A1 Tuesday said Reliance Commercial Construction lost a $25,000 judgment in a case involving The Lofts at Fillmore Condominium Association in Maricopa County. The company won the judgment. --The Miss Gay Teen Tucson...

Luhtala Canyon Bank's new head.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Joseph Barrios Jul. 1--New leadership roles won't require new faces at the Northwest-centered Canyon Community Bank. Steve Halverson is stepping down as bank president to make room for Chuck Luhtala, chief credit officer since...

EDITORIAL: Interstates made 'Zonies' a San Diego thing: Our view: Highway system has paved way for great American vacations for 50 years.(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--'If you want a meeting with Tucsonans in July and August, hold it in San Diego" is a common lament. Yup, it's a Tucson Thing: "Zonies" (San Diegans' not-so-complimentary term of endearment for vacationing Arizonans) flock to...

EDITORIAL: We need skilled workers from other countries.(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--Editor's note: We are offering excerpts from editorials on immigration from other newspapers. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect ours. President Bush is pushing for a guest-worker program, and the Senate wants to boost...

Graf selects GOP veteran as new campaign manager.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Daniel Scarpinato Jul. 1--Republican congressional candidate Randy Graf named a new campaign manager on Friday afternoon, two weeks after dismissing his previous manager. R.T. Gregg will replace embattled former top aide Steve...

McKasson visits Mideast for views on Iraq war.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Daniel Scarpinato Jul. 1--The closest most American civilians will ever come to seeing the impact of war is reading the newspaper and watching cable news. But Molly McKasson, former Tucson City Council member and a one-time...

Over 800 lbs. of pot seized near Naco.
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--Border Patrol agents seized more than 800 pounds of marijuana after smugglers fled from a pickup truck near Naco, about 90 miles southeast of Tucson. The agents were patrolling at about 8 a.m. Thursday when they spotted the Dodge...

Delivery services increasing cargo operations at airport.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Thomas Stauffer Jul. 1--Passenger service isn't the only thing growing at Tucson International Airport. While JetBlue Airways made headlines this week when it announced it would start passenger service from Tucson to New York...

Track star, fiance killed by wreck days before nuptials.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Shannon Conner Jul. 1--She was the senior-class president and a track star. He was a hard-edged musician. Samuel Zawada and Valerie McGregor met at a Mountain View High School talent show more than three years ago. Soon...

Ex-Cats: Adams, Budinger to thrive.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Ryan Finley Jul. 1--If former UA standout Hassan Adams is worried about making the New Jersey Nets as a second-round pick, his new teammate Richard Jefferson has his back. In town Friday for the Lute Olson Advanced Skill and...

Cazares KOs Guillen in first.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Bruce Pascoe Jul. 1--Hugo Cazares did not need long to make a lasting impression. Cazares took a quick jump Friday night toward his goal of getting on the undercard of Marco Antonio Barrera's Sept. 16 rematch with Rocky...

Former Wildcats shine in lopsided USA victory.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Claire Landowski Jul. 1--For the Arizona Heat, Team USA proved too hot to handle on Friday night, overpowering the Heat on its way to a 17-1 win at Hi Corbett Field. For the first four innings, the Heat matched the national...

Man, inactive grenade threaten family of four.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--A South Side family had to wrestle a grenade from a man Friday night after he threatened to blow everyone up, a Sheriff's Department official said. No one was hurt and the grenade turned out not to contain any explosives. Four...

TREO's 1st year strong: Local leaders hope for more private funding.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Richard Ducote Jul. 2--Local leaders give Tucson's new regional economic development agency strong praise for its first-year performance. Now, they hope success can lure increased private funding in the future. Tucson Regional...

A short life, a great love: 5-year-old Benny Petz loses his 21/2-year battle with cancer, but not before sharing his courage and spirit with his community.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Carla McClain Jul. 2--"Is Benny still going to die?" Benny, only 5 years old, was listening when his brother asked this question. His huge and beautiful eyes grew wide. He burst into tears. He punched the couch. He...

With $1M spent, TUSD now won't seek tech subsidy.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Jeff Commings Jul. 2--Officials in Tucson's largest school district are taking themselves out of the running for up to $40 million in federal funds for badly needed technology and communications upgrades -- and will spend more than...

Weather doesn't dampen country festival.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Cathalena E. Burch Jul. 2--MARANA -- Old Man Monsoon didn't waste any time kicking off the 2006 season. Less than 24 hours after the summer rainy season officially began, the ominous black clouds rolled in over the Catalina...

New UA president takes the reins: Shelton has plenty to do, gets advice from community.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Eric Swedlund Jul. 2--Robert Shelton faces a long and daunting list of challenges as he starts this week as the new University of Arizona president, with recommendations coming from all sides about what to tackle first. Top...

The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Ernesto Portillo Jr. column: Barber takes his clippers, stories into retirement.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Ernesto Portillo Jr. Jul. 2--It's a quiet Friday morning at Leonardo Otero's two-chair barbershop on East Broadway near Park Avenue. It's nice that way. It's quiet and the empty shop gives Otero time to catch up with unread...

Interest rates on education loans increase.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--College loan interest rates increased Saturday, meaning Arizona students will pay up to $2,834 more in total on their loans, according to a report released Friday by the Campaign for America's Future. Interest rates on Stafford...

Retirement is hectic, leader of former teachers finds.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Jeff Commings Jul. 2--It's a little misleading to be president of the National Education Association's retired teachers group. Barbara Matteson, 74, a former Tucson teacher, just completed her first year as head of the group of...

'A' Mountain use curtailed July 4.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--Reminder: The city's July 4 fireworks show atop "A" Mountain will restrict user access to Sentinel Peak Park. The park will be closed to vehicles all day Tuesday, and city officials ask walkers and joggers to use the nature trail...

Loyal manager gets new post at old plant.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Richard Ducote Jul. 2--Shane Gesbeck finally had to let it go. The mangled metal "cassette" from the accursed Slim-Fast machinery symbolized failure. It spent 18 months in Gesbeck's office in the nearly vacant plant on...

EDITORIAL: TEST YOUR AMERICAN IQ: There's more than fireworks to our country's biggest holiday.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--Sound the fifes and drums, put the burgers on the grill, bust open the watermelon and get set for fireworks shows that illuminate the night sky with brilliant bursts of color in celebration of our nation's founding. Tuesday the...

EDITORIAL: New legislation adds reliability to voting process: Our view: Recounts in close races, plus selected hand-counting, are mandated.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--Everyday, frustrating computer experiences -- network failures or crashes that send data into a cyberspace black hole -- and security vulnerabilities make some voters nervous, wondering if one of our most precious rights as U.S....

Truck runs off I-10, crashes into house.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--Jennifer and Enrique Segura awoke early Saturday to the thunderous rumble of a semi-tractor-trailer crashing into their South Side home. The couple lives in the 6600 block of South Plantain Place near Valencia Road and Interstate...

EDITORIAL: A protection prompted by colonists' hardship.(Editorial)
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--Editor's note: The United States Constitution lays down the structure of the government and separates the powers among three distinct branches -- the legislative, executive and judicial. The landmark document was adopted Sept. 17, 1787....

EDITORIAL: Test your patriotic smarts with this quiz.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--For more mental exercise, here is a quiz on the two great documents that give us great guidance and create great controversy in their interpretation: the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. 1. What makes up the Bill...

County asks halt to golf courses: Huckelberry voices concern about use of groundwater.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Tony Davis Jul. 2--Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry wants to kill previously approved plans for up to seven new golf courses that would slurp groundwater. His plan marks a significant policy shift for the county,...

Flag rules: There need never be a dull moment in this friendly Northern Arizona haven.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Doug Kreutz Jul. 2--FLAGSTAFF It might take no more than two numbers to get you here. 107. 82. Those were the respective high temperatures in Tucson and Flagstaff one day recently. Relief from the blast-furnace Tucson...

The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Bonnie Henry column: It's time to look for mukluks and fleece, say the retailers.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Bonnie Henry Jul. 2--Summer's over. Remember, you read it here first. Now, I know that may come as a shock to some of you, as your fingers fry on the steering wheel and the sweat runs in rivulets across your otherwise parched...

This hike not for the faint of height.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Doug Kreutz Jul. 2--HUMPHREYS PEAK -- It's all downhill from here. I savor that fact as I laze on the 12,633-foot summit of this grand heap of volcanic rock -- the highest point in Arizona. The 4.5-mile trek to the top of...

Do Not Enter When Flooded: 'Fair-weather road crossings' create hazard.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Tim Ellis Jul. 2--Now that the rainy season has begun, motorists should remember that they're going to encounter hazardous conditions all around Southern Arizona. Heavy rainfall can create runoff that floods roadways,...

Prospect Hairston watches and waits.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Bruce Pascoe Jul. 2--PHOENIX -- Scott Hairston turned a three-day major-league stint into at least three weeks. He earns big-league paychecks and coveted major-league service time. Here's how he celebrates: Daily massages....

Candid Stoops delves into family history, emotions in TV special.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Ryan Finley Jul. 2--Growing up in blue-collar Youngstown, Ohio, Mike Stoops was a typical coach's son. He spent all day practicing and all night watching game film as his football-coach father projected the black-and-white...

Phoenix recruit to play for Wildcats.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Tyler Hansen Jul. 2--The UA men's basketball team received another verbal commitment for the 2007 recruiting class Saturday when Phoenix-area standout Zane Johnson immediately accepted an offer from Lute Olson to play for the...

Team USA turns back Heat again.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Claire Landowski Jul. 2--Team USA took both games of a doubleheader from the Arizona Heat Saturday night at Hi Corbett Field, winning 4-1 and 10-3. In the first game, Monica Abbott, a junior at the University of Tennessee,...

Bisbee ready for coaster race; film is being shown.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Josh Brodesky Jul. 2--For generations now, Bisbee has celebrated Independence Day with a coaster race that winds its way through the heart of the old mining town. Beginning at the underpass of Arizona 80, coasters driven by...

D-M group rescues man on cargo ship.
July 2, 2006... Jul. 2--Two helicopters from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base were called Saturday to rescue an American who suffered what appeared to be a stroke about 500 miles off the California coast. The helicopters, from the 943rd Rescue Group, were...

ICBM sites resurface.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Story and photos Jeffry Scott Jul. 3--As he looks up the 35-foot-deep access portal that takes up a corner of his living room, Eric Neilson wonders aloud how long it will take the vines he's planted to scale the walls -- then a...

Constructing faith for the displaced.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Carmen Duarte Jul. 3--Editor's note: This article appeared previously in La Estrella, the Star's Spanish-language edition. In the thick pine and oak forests in the highlands of Chiapas -- the most southern state in Mexico --...

DUI force arrests nearly 50.
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3----Almost 50 people were arrested for driving under the influence during a weekend deployment by the Southern Arizona DUI Task Force. A total of 23 officers made three felony and 44 misdemeanor DUI arrests, the task force...

New gates installed to keep drivers from flooded NW crossing.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Erica Meltzer Jul. 3--Fed up with drivers who ignore barricades and warning signs, Pima County has put up a barrier even stupid motorists will have to heed. The county has installed gates where Overton Road crosses the Canada...

Accord reached over fire inspectors: Department, union negotiate on extra perks.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Rob O'Dell Jul. 3--The city's fire union and Fire Department officials have ended a stalemate that threatened the fire inspections of the buildings that it is mandated by law to conduct. The two sides had been at odds over the...

The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Road Runner column: Speed statutes match road conditions.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Andrea Kelly Jul. 3--Fred Urbina, a first-year University of Arizona law student, almost baffled Road Runner with his question on a Latin phrase and speed limits: "Why are the speed limit statutes 'prima facie' and not absolute...

Two fires near Tucson still burning, no threat.
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--Two small wildfires continued to burn out the outskirts of Tucson on Sunday, but neither one was expected to become a threat to people or property. The 20-acre Sauce Fire, on the north side of the Catalina Mountains, was about 50...

Retired teacher hard at work at NEA.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Jeff Commings Jul. 3--It's a little misleading to be president of the National Education Association's retired teachers group. Barbara Matteson, 74, a former Tucson teacher, just completed her first year as head of the group of...

Convergys employees not getting back pay: Many moved; checks sent to mailing address at time.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Thomas Stauffer Jul. 3--The checks are in the mail -- somewhere. That's the reality for former employees of a local call center who have yet to receive back pay from a settlement in February with the U.S. Department of Labor, a...

Landscaper had it all, except a business strategy.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Tiana Velez Jul. 3--The story For 12 years Roxanne Dobosz oversaw the design and installation of some of the largest themed environments across the country -- the kind of rock walls and formations seen at public aquariums and...

The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Moving up column: Moving up.
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--Cactus Quill honors Pender At the fifth annual Cactus Quill Awards, Steve Pender of Family Legacy Video received an award of excellence for his monthly newsletter, and an award of merit for the Family Legacy Web site,...

The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Neighbors Briefs column: Neighbors Briefs.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Angela Soto Jul. 3--central Sun Tran buses detour Tuesday Several Sun Tran buses will be on detour Tuesday for community events in the Downtown area. Due to the Tour for Tucson's Children event, Sun Tran Routes 7, 16,...

Transplant brings women close: Donor's mom says daughter's spirit is in OV recipient.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Shelley Shelton Jul. 3--Dianne Miller, 58, will probably spend the rest of her life trying to pay back the world for a gift she received 25 months ago. That's when the Oro Valley resident, who was in a coma in a Phoenix...

EDITORIAL: Mistreating flag disrespectful but protected: Our view: Well-meaning patriotism falls flat if U.S. flag is not flown with proper etiquette.(Editorial)
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--Burning the U.S. flag may be reprehensible. It is not, however, illegal. Nor will it be in the immediate future. The proposed 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would have granted Congress the power to prohibit physical...

EDITORIAL: U.S. needs to do more to track visa violators.(Editorial)
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--Editor's note: We are offering editorials on immigration from other newspapers. Their views do not necessarily reflect ours. With all the focus on America's southern border -- on fences, National Guard troops, and detection -- one might...

Expatriates join Nogales voters to cast ballots.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Lourdes Medrano Jul. 3--NOGALES, Sonora -- Schools, storefronts, house porches, vacant lots and even a car wash became makeshift polling places Sunday as throngs of Mexicans turned out to vote for a new president. In this...

Toxin fears are groundless after Saturday derailment.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Carol Ann Alaimo Jul. 3--A Saturday night train derailment on Tucson's Southeast Side ended without serious incident after initial concerns that toxic substances may have been involved. The only spillage was a small amount of...

Accident shuts down part of I-10.
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--Westbound traffic on Interstate 10 was shut down for two hours Sunday afternoon at South Kolb Road after a three-vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer. The accident occurred about 2:30 p.m., officials said. There were reports...

Play sports with Gavin, 10.
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--Hundreds of children in Tucson are looking for adults to be their friends and mentors. The nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters program matches kids with adults who have similar interests, such as sports, reading and the outdoors. ...

The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Bonnie Henry column: Citizen Khawam.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Bonnie Henry Jul. 3--He's celebrated the Fourth of July for more than a dozen years. Tomorrow, Roger Khawam does it for the first time as an American citizen. "I feel very free, very happy," says Khawam, the last in his...

No escape: Many Americans each year fail to use allotted vacation days.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Becky Pallack Jul. 3--Scott Camp has enough leftover time to play hooky for more than a month, and his two weeks of paid vacation are only partly used. The 35-year-old Tucson delivery driver is among the one-third of workers...

Osterman baffles Heat from head to toe with no-hitter.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Claire Landowski Jul. 3--Team USA pitcher Cat Osterman's pitches curved away from the elbows of Heat batters, rose sharply toward their ears and dropped from their knees in such a startling fashion that the Heat never managed a hit...

Dog linked to fatality now up for adoption.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Jane Erikson Jul. 3--Cosita -- the dog taken from a Tucson assisted-living home after it was found licking or biting the flesh off an elderly woman's arm -- can be adopted this morning at Pima Animal Care Center. Cosita -- the name...

Steep dip in June for Ariz. economy: Business Conditions Index falls nearly 9% for month.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Richard Ducote Jul. 4--The monthly Arizona Business Conditions Index dipped sharply last month as the housing market cooled and inventories grew. The index fell to 53.8 in June from 59.1 in May, a decrease of 8.97 percent,...

FBI: Woman abducted teen, had sex with him.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Ken Sweet Jul. 4--A 32-year-old Sierra Vista woman was arrested on charges that she kidnapped a 15-year-old boy and took him to Indiana while being involved in a sexual relationship with him, officials said. Denise Green, also...

Robbery suspect crashes into patrol car.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Ken Sweet Jul. 4--A man sought on suspicion of robbing a Wienerschnitzel rammed his vehicle into a police car during a chase on the East Side on Monday, an official said. At 2:50 p.m., John Allred, 41, entered the restaurant in...

UA gets grants to help small-town libraries, digital curation.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Eric Swedlund Jul. 4--Small-town libraries across the state will benefit from $1.9 million in grants the University of Arizona has received for graduate fellowships serving libraries in rural communities and a new program in...

Spirituality Center offering free British kung fu movie.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Danielle Sottosanti Jul. 4--A kung fu movie, free popcorn, coffee, ice water and a chance to learn about another culture -- the Tacheria Interfaith Spirituality Center will present it all Friday night. The center will be...

New spaces emerge from old.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Joseph Barrios Jul. 4--All that's left is to let the paint dry at two very different local loft projects -- one an artist's haven and the other with historic Downtown chic. It might be hard to recognize the renovated and...

'Lost Boy' finds home as U.S. citizen.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Dan Sorenson Jul. 4--Turbans, bright billowy-sleeved prom dresses, flip-flops, Mexican cowboy boots and at least one kilt -- Tucson's melting pot got some new ingredients Monday. Chris Koor Garang, 22, went with a...

UA study to test benefits of tomatoes.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Carla McClain Jul. 4--Trying to find out just how healthy tomatoes really are, University of Arizona researchers are looking for volunteers to eat the red vegetable for several weeks. At issue is a key nutrient found in...

UA president starts first day with student, staff welcome.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Eric Swedlund Jul. 4--A cheering crowd of more than 500 people -- led by the Alumni Pep Band's boisterous rendition of "Bear Down Arizona" -- welcomed new UA President Robert Shelton to campus as he started his first day Monday. ...