Top Story June 3, 2009

Why Are We Launching the Rim Country News?, by Carolyn Wall

Pictured:(L to R) Front : Pat Rollins Back: Carolyn Wall, DeJo Goodman, Jenny Dennis, and Carole Mathewson: Sometimes there is such a strong confluence of events that it cannot be ignored and one is forced to take action. The action we refer to in this instance is the birth of a newspaper-supported by an amazing number of people, all committed to presenting the news in a balanced manner, free of political prejudice or petty malice. This has been done before, but sometimes occurrences put pressure on the original vision causing it to splinter and divide. But Payson and the surrounding communities are tilled with honorable people. We have become familiar with the hundreds of small businesses that operate in the Rim Country, and we recognize that they are run by good, hardworking individuals who love their country and who love these mountains and the communities in which they live. We want to support them and help their businesses grow. We have noticed that things are picking up and businesses are beginning to prosper again. This is good. Part of our vision is to support individual volunteers and the numerous charitable organizations that support those in need and that house and feed the hungry. They are too numerous to mention in a community such as ours, which is generous to a fault. But some that come to mind are the Senior Citizens Center, the Time Out Shelter, the Northern Arizona Humane Society, the food bank and many, many more. We are not choosy when dishing out praise. We do not hold our noses when it comes to praising segments of our community who have served those in need. We are thankful for the help that has come from ordinary individuals who see a need and take action. We are grateful to our gated communities that house many of our wealthier residents. They have been extremely generous in helping those in need. And we praise the churches that have provided solace and aid to many who were downhearted and without resources. In short, we live in a wonderful place. This includes the surrounding communities of Pine, Strawberry, Christopher Creek, Kohl’s Ranch, Heber, Young and south to Oxbow Estates, Rye, Gisela and Tonto Basin. When we look around these great communities, we ask, “What’s not to love here?” And so, we launch the first edition of the Rim Country News inviting all of you to partake of this free newspaper, which is supported by another free newspaper, The Copper Country News of Globe. We could not do this without their generous financial and spiritual help. We hope you will read us and use our classified and display ad services. And we want to hear from you. Please bring your news to us and tell us what you want to see in this, your newspaper. That about sums it up.

Featured Stories

Payson Businesses Dedicated to Helping, by Carolyn Wall

Photo by Carolyn Wall:P.A.Y.S., a coalition of 45 businesses in Payson dedicated to helping worthy causes, found a worthy cause in Veterans Helping Veterans and raised $1,400 Friday at a barbecue fundraiser in the Swiss Village Shopping Center. From left to right are Travis Hill, Taka Okamoto, Deborah Roberts, Misti Isley DeCaire (of Veterans Helping Veterans), Tauna Moody and Earl Chitwood.

Gila County Heritage, By Carole Mathewson As told by Eddie Armer

Eddie Armer, with roots that extend into early Gila County history, and who is known and loved throughout the county, shares with readers his life and the lives of those by whom he has been touched.: One year, to the day, after the death of his first child, who died shortly after birth, Eddie Armer's son, Cliff Allen Armer, was born, on June 13, 1967. While drag racing in 1968, Eddie, then a resident of Globe, was stopped by Arizona Highway Patrolman Dick Lewis. Officer Lewis struck a deal with Eddie whereby he would not write a ticket if Eddie agreed to ride with him on patrol at least two nights per week. The deal with the highway patrolman brought about a total change in Eddie's life. "One night in late October 1968, while riding with Officer Lewis," Eddie said, "the officer got a call on the radio of a fatal accident. He was advised to stop a U-Haul truck heading north and return him to the scene of the accident." Eddie drove the U-Haul truck, while Officer Lewis took the man to the accident scene. Upon arrival, they found a vehicle with 30 feet of guardrail extending from the back window. The wife of the U-Haul driver was the driver of the vehicle. A little girl who had been standing beside her mother, started to fall forward, and her mother, in attempting to prevent the fall, pulled the steering wheel to the right. The vehicle struck the end of the guardrail, which went over the right tire, through the dashboard, through the child's stomach and out the back window. Eddie was asked to use a cutting torch to separate the front portion of the guardrail from the child's body, and then he was asked to slide her body off the rail. Later, he accompanied Officer Lewis to the mortuary to take required photos. Eddie said he arrived home at about 3 a.m., picked up his baby, sat in a rocking chair and cried. The life of the drag-racing young man had been changed forever. On March 19, 1969, Eddie joined the Arizona Highway Patrol. In July of that year, he was sent to his first duty station, Franconia Wash, located at Milepost 14 on US 66 (I-40). He loved working the highway, he said. One early memory is that of having written a speeding ticket to Cassius M. Clay, better known as Muhammed Ali, on Dec. 14, 1970. In February of 1971, Eddie's wife left him for the love of a fellow officer, and Eddie was transferred to narcotics work in Phoenix. Eddie's story will continue in next week's edition.

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