Payson Roundup

Gina Swoboda brought her engaging, high-wire act of a campaign for Arizona Attorney General to Payson recently, in the midst of a thunderous hailstorm of controversy. The former county registrar, Secretary of State worker and Republican state party chair is running against lawmaker Alex Kolodin in the July 21 Republican Primary in hopes of then unseating Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes in November. kAm“x =@G6 E96 @77:46[” $H@3@52 E@=5 E96 C@F89=J d_ A6@A=6 82E96C65 2E 2 C646?E !2JD@?

Danzeisen Dairy Creamery Store expanded its offerings beyond milk and ice cream with the addition of coffee and marked the occasion by hosting a free coffee day July 8. Customers filled the shop throughout the day, enjoying complimentary coffee, ice cream or both while sampling the creamery’s new coffee menu. kAmz2E:6 z=6:?[ @?6 @7 E96 @H?6CD[ D2:5 E96 3FD:?6DD 24BF:C65 :ED 4@7766 6BF:A>6?E =6DD E92?

An ordinance intended to streamline Payson Town Council meetings ran into a buzzsaw of opposition recently. So the council just let the plan die without a vote. kAm}@ ?665 7@C 2 D64@?5 962C:?8]k^Am kAm%@H? |2?286C s2CC6? r@=5H6== 925 DF886DE65 !2JD@? 7@==@H E96 =625 @7 >2?J @E96C 4:E:6D 3J 9@=5:?8 2 D:?8=6 AF3=:4 962C:?8 @? ?6H @C >@5:7:65 @C5:?2?46D] #:89E ?@H[ E96 E@H? 92D 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 7@C 2 7:CDE C625:?8 @7 2? @C5:?2?46 – 2?5 E96?

Working in the background to bring world-class production value to local events. Months before Green Valley Park pounded with music and boomed with brightly colored bombs for the Fourth of July, WattsUp Productions was quietly making plans to help bring the sound. kAmu@F?565 3J !2JD@? C6D:56?E $E6G6 w2C56C @FE @7 2 56D:C6 E@ :>AC@G6 =@42= 6G6?ED[ E96 4@>A2?J 92D 8C@H? @G6C E96 =2DE D:I J62CD 7C@> 2 76H DA62<6CD @? DE:4<D E@ 2?

Every week during the growing season, volunteers at the Payson Community Garden harvest baskets of fresh vegetables destined not only for their own kitchens, but for local food banks. Already this season, the nonprofit garden has donated more than 500 pounds of produce to families in need, continuing a tradition that produced a record 10,400 pounds of donated fruits and vegetables last year. kAmQ#:89E ?@H H6 2C6 2 =:EE=6 =6DD E92? =2DE J62C 3FE >@C6 E92? E96 AC6G:@FD J62C[ D@ H6VC6 C:89E :?

A year after a Payson man was arrested on 18 counts of child abuse, including sexual misconduct, the case continues to move slowly through the court system, frustrating the victims and their families. Waylon Rolley White appeared virtually Monday from the Globe jail for a hearing in Payson, where his attorney argued the defense needs additional time before the case can proceed to either a trial or a plea agreement.

After nearly a year without permanent leadership, the Pine-Strawberry Fire District may have found a new chief. The district held a special meeting at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 10, to discuss its final phase of selecting a new fire chief. Board members encouraged members of the public to share their thoughts regarding three finalists for the position, then after about an hour of discussion in an executive session, returned to announce a decision to offer Hunter Scott, PSFD Captain, the job.

State, national and Rim Country real estate markets have all slowed in the face of stubbornly high interest rates, economic uncertainty and prices increasing out of range of many buyers. In Rim Country, the number of active listings has risen from 340 in January to 560 now. The region now has 7.4 months of inventory at the current sales pace – compared to 4.7 months in January, according to a summary by the Central Arizona Association of Realtors. kAm!2JD@? 244@F?E65 7@C cec D2=6D 36EH66?

Payson continues to invest in at least drawing up plans for crucial projects, even if the ultimate funding source remains unclear. The Payson Town Council at its last meeting got an update on planning efforts for the rehabilitation of Taylor Pool, the extension of the Green Valley Parkway and Main Street improvements. kAmkDEC@?8mvC66? '2==6J !2C<H2Jk^DEC@?8mu@C DE2CE6CD[ E96 4@F?4:= 2AAC@G65 2? 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 pC:K@?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@?

Tim Ernst shot a gross 145 to win the Payson Men’s Golf Association Club Championship at Payson Golf Club on July 1 and 8. Ernst shot 72-73—145 to win the A Flight and finish 13 shots in front of runner-up Steve Christianson (75-83—158). kAm|6>36CD 2=D@ 4@>A6E65 :? E96 !C6D:56?ED rFA[ 2 ?6E\D4@C6 E@FC?2>6?E 96=5 :? 4@?;F?4E:@? H:E9 E96 r=F3 r92>A:@?D9:A]k^Am kAmx? E92E E@FC?2>6?E[ q@3 t>49 7C@> E96 r u=:89E H@?