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2007: YEAR IN REVIEW

By Jim Lamb, Green Valley News

Published: Thursday, December 27, 2007 10:35 PM MST

GVR changes, immigration top local list of headlines

Changes and turmoil at Green Valley Recreation was the No. 1 news story of 2007 as chosen by the editorial staff of the Green Valley News.

The other top four stories were, in order:

2. The rancorous debate over where to locate a permanent Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 19, and the local fallout from illegal immigration and drug-smuggling.

3. Threats to the local groundwater and the debate over a local utility’s plan to acquire Central Arizona Project water to meet its needs.

4. Green Valley’s generous heart, raising millions for charities and providing hundreds of people who volunteer to help keep the community running full steam.

5. The continued expansion into the local groundwater of a sulfate plume, drifting north and east from the Freeport McMoRan’s Sierrita copper mine.

In less than two months three people resigned from Green Valley Recreation’s board of directors, and all cited differences with President Lou Lovat.

They were Les Shipley, who quit in late November, and Frank Kalis and Angelika Alfson, who quit in December.

Part of the disagreement apparently stemmed over the search for a new executive director.

Jeff Ziegler left the job in April and was replaced by Operations Director Anndrea Blackshear.

Shipley and Alfson said they were angered by Lovat’s interference with the selection process.

Kalis, who had been GVR treasurer selected by the board of directors, protested that he’d been marginalized in that job by dealings by Lovat. Most of the organization’s financial business was conducted by its Fiscal Affairs Committee, and Kalis said Lovat moved him aside in a deal struck by Lovat in his successful bid to be president.

Lovat has declined to comment on the resignations, other than to wish the resigned members a successful future.

Make no mistake about it. Illegal immigrants and illicit drugs flow north along Interstate 19 from Mexico, and tempers flare because not enough’s done to stop them.

Unlike all other U.S. Border Patrol sectors on America’s borders, there are no permanent checkpoints in the Tucson Sector.

Opponents of a permanent checkpoint say they’re not effective because smugglers can walk or drive around them, forcing criminals into nearby neighborhoods. Proponents say they are effective and would provide state-of-the-art communications and detection equipment.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., organized community workgroups that met several times last summer, including one large open house at Sahuarita High School.

Tucson Sector Chief Robert Graves had originally pushed for a large checkpoint on the interstate about 27 miles north of the border.

He changed his view and joined the recommendation for a smaller, permanent one near the location of the current temporary one at the Agua Linda exit.

How to deal with disappearing groundwater has become as rancorous an issue as how to deal with illegals and illicit drugs.

Community Water Co. has signed a letter of intent with Augusta Resource, which says it will build a 20-inch pipeline from the Central Arizona Project pipeline to the Green Valley - Sahuarita area to help recharge the dwindling aquifer.

Opponents say the 20-inch line is too small to do much good, and are trying to organize an effort to bring a much larger pipeline of up to 72 inches here.

Whether or not there’s enough CAP available water to fill a 72-inch line is subject to debate.

Augusta subsidiary, Rosemont Copper, plans to develop an open-pit copper mine east of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of GV-Sahuarita, It says it will construct the 20-inch pipeline whether or not it gets permission to build the mine.

People in GV-Sahuarita are generous with their time and money, with numerous organizations providing money and volunteers for worthy causes.

Possibly the best known is the Country Fair White Elephant which operates that mother lode of bargains, the thrift shop near the Joyner-Green Valley Library.

In 2007, the CFWE, with more than 450 volunteers, raised more than $1.4 million that was distributed to 133 organizations in Southern Arizona.

Some of the other well-known charitable and volunteer organizations include Green Valley Assistance Services, Community Food Bank, Greater Green Valley Community Foundation, Casa de Esperanza and SAV, the Sheriff Auxiliary Volunteers.

On its Web site, Green Valley Assistance Services says it provides case management, temporary monetary and budgeting help, referral and volunteer support for families and seniors, and also provides special programs for children including back-to-school and holiday assistance programs.

Casa de Esperanza says its mission is to provide high quality, caring human services, which is does from it’s headquarters adjacent to La Posada retirement center.

And it, too, relies on “a large corps of dedicated volunteers,” working with its professional staff.

The Green Valley Community Food Bank is part of a larger food program that covers Pima County.

In a year, the county food bank distributes 14 million pounds of edibles, striving to reduce the impact of hunger and chronic malnutrition

The Green Valley Community Foundation is a member of the Arizona Community Foundation, which last year awarded more than $38 million for good causes.

SAV members are the volunteers who augment the work of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

They help direct traffic when needed, check on houses when the occupants are out of town, patrol parking lots and check on stores and scores of other things.

And the volunteers fund almost the whole operation, receiving very little aid from the Sheriff’s Department. The local organization and its members buy vehicles, a mobile command post, equipment. And each members buys his or her uniforms and personal equipment.

On Jan. 14, 2008, the organization will mark its 25th year of operation.

And volunteers are what makes Green Valley Recreation and Green Valley Community Coordinating Council work.

And the council is working to develop a program to find more volunteers and match their skills and energy with local organizations.

Just west of Green Valley is the Sierrita Mine, a Phelps Dodge property now owned and operated by Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold.

For years a plume of sulfate-laden groundwater water has been seeping eastward from the tailings pond, affecting some locals wells.

Every three months, officials from the mine, state water departments, local water companies and local individuals meet to review the company’s plans to mitigate the plume.

And just this week Freeport McMoRan said it would build a pilot plant to test a new method to cleanse the groundwater.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 520-5 47-9749


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