Briefs: Agents rescue diabetic hiker

Border Patrol agents rescued a diabetic man Tuesday morning who became ill while hiking in a canyon near Nogales.

The man, a U.S. citizen, was hiking in Sycamore Canyon Monday evening when he reportedly began to feel sick and called the Border Patrol, according to Agent Mario Escalante, a Tucson Sector spokesman.

When BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue) agents found the man around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, he was stable but in need of medical attention, he said. He was taken to Tucson hospital by helicopter.

Escalante said he believes the hiker called the Border Patrol on a cell phone.

“We’re glad to see people know they can count on us to help,” he said.

Tubac artists

display their work

Green Valley members of the former Otero Gallery of Tubac are having a show of their recent paintings through June 16 at Canoa Hills rec center.

The Otero closed in April, but the group has continued to paint and show their art.

On display at the rec center, 3660 S. Camino del Sol, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., are the photography if Alma Laumann and Kathy Edds and paintings by Grace Dallaneghra, Georgia Doubler, Shirley Flynn and Sandy Brodie.

Photos sought

for Wall of Honor

The American Legion Madera Post 131 in Green Valley is looking for photos and information on members of the military who served after Oct. 7, 2001, for a “Wall of Honor.”

Contact the post from 9 a.m. till noon Monday through Friday, or call 398-6245.

Desert Museum

has evening shows

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will be starting its Saturday Evenings programs and summer hours on June 6. They will run through Aug. 29.

Visitors will have a chance to tour the museum at a time when many animals are at their most active once the summer heat hits.

The Saturday night programs begin at 6 p.m. There will be a discounted admission of $6 for adults after 4 p.m.

In June, July and August, the museum is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Information on rates, programs: 993-2702 or www.desertmuseum.org

Agents find $400,000

pot load in Nogales

Border Patrol agents discovered an abandoned load of narcotics worth more than $400,000 in a remote area of Nogales on Monday.

A drug-sniffing dog led agents to the eight bundles of marijuana, which were partially hidden by bunches of mesquite branches. They weighed 530 pounds, according to Tucson Sector spokesman Mario Escalante.

He said the marijuana was found near Kino Springs, a subdivision north of a remote area off of State Highway 82.

He said it is common for large loads of drugs to be hidden in remote areas to be picked up later by smugglers.

Arivaca man gets

prison in drug case

William Louis Loveall, 54, of Arivaca, was sentenced May 19 to 15 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge David C. Bury.

Loveall pleaded guilty on Feb. 9, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

On June 18, 2006, Border Patrol agents and Pima County Sheriffs deputies responded to a 911 call of shots fired in Arivaca. Loveall had barricaded himself in a trailer but left shortly thereafter. He was aggressive toward officers and became compliant only when threatened with additional force. Loveall admitted that he had an argument with his girlfriend and officers decided that a welfare check was appropriate after finding a spent bullet casing in the defendant’s pocket.

During the welfare check, officers smelled marijuana from a bag within a trailer and saw a Romarm/Cugir 7.62x39 mm rifle with an obliterated serial number

The girlfriend was not in the house and after deputies obtained a warrant, a search of the property revealed more than 18 pounds of marijuana, the rifle and 16 other firearms.

While held at the Pima County jail, Loveall assaulted a correctional officer and escaped. When Loveall was caught, he was in possession of a handgun. The Pima County Attorneys Office charged Loveall with attempted first-degree escape, dangerous/deadly assault and possession of a deadly weapon by a felon. Loveall was convicted of all three charges and was sentenced to 12.5 years in state prison.

While Loveall was pending the escape charges, lab results from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the rifle was an automatic machine gun.