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COCHISE COUNTY'S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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COCHISE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES HOLDING FREE DRIVE THRU FLU VACCINATION EVENT IN DOUGLAS
This Saturday March 4, CHSS will hold a drive through Flu vaccination event in the parking lot at Douglas High School.
Flu vaccines will be delivered free of charge to people aged 6 months and older. Pre-registration isn't needed and the event will open at 10:00am and close at 2:00pm.
If the event proves popular, more will be scheduled - watch this space!
EVENT LINK
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IN THIS ISSUE
- FREE DRIVE THROUGH FLU VACCINES IN DOUGLAS
- LIBRARY NEWS:NEW ACT ONE CULTURE PASS, HOME DELIVERY
- WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS
- EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS GRADUATE
- JAIL DISTRICT PUBLIC MEETINGS
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- ENGINEERING & NATURAL RESOURCES
- WHAT'S HAPPENING IN I.T.?
- SABRE PROGRAM:34 NEW JOBS IN COUNTY WITH NEW GRANT FUNDING
- HUMAN RESOURCES & JOB OPENINGS
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MULTIPLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SABRE PROGRAM AS NATIONAL GUARD MANPOWER WITHDRAWS | |
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Since 2017, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office has operated the Southern Arizona Border Regional Enforcement Team (SABRE), which uses cameras to monitor known drug and human smuggling corridors for criminal activity.
Members of the Arizona National Guard assigned to the SABRE program can then dispatch law enforcement personnel to investigate when needed. Since its inception, SABRE support has assisted in detecting 116,700 undocumented aliens, apprehending 37,423 undocumented aliens and arresting 437 drug smugglers. Hundreds of pounds of illegal drugs including methamphetamine have been seized.
With the National Guard personnel set to depart in March 2023, SABRE is now poised to continue for the next 5 years as a self-sustaining program employing local recruits following agreement on an $18 million grant from Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA), at no cost to the taxpayers of Cochise County. This agreement, approved at the regular Board of Supervisors meeting on February 7, fully funds 6 sworn peace officer positions and 28 civilian positions for a period of 5 years, as well as much-needed upgrades to equipment and supplies.
The impact of 34 quality jobs on the local economy in the form of these stable and well remunerated positions is great news for the Cochise County community.
"On behalf of the men and women of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office in support of our citizens, I commend and appreciate the dedicated soldiers of our Arizona National Guard." Sheriff Mark Dannels said today.
"These military professionals have provided vital support to this office during a time where our southern border presents a plethora of complex public safety challenges. As their service mission comes to a conclusion, I applaud and salute these soldiers for helping making Cochise County a better and safer place to live. Thank You!"
Sheriff Mark Dannels
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COCHISE COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS | |
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The Cochise County Library District has partnered with Act One to provide Culture Passes at libraries across Cochise County.
Culture Passes provide admission for two people at participating museums and cultural destinations and may be checked out by any county resident with a library card. Cochise County libraries join more than 120 other libraries across Arizona that participate in the Culture Pass program.
“We are very excited to bring Culture Passes to Cochise County,” said County Librarian Amadee Ricketts. “Arizona has amazing museums and other attractions, and this is a great way to expand access for families in Cochise County.”
Participating destinations are: Amerind Museum, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Cave Creek Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, The Heard Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, Reid Park Zoo, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedona Heritage Museum, Superstition Mountain Museum, Tohono Chul Park, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson Museum of Art and University of Arizona Museum of Art.
CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION
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At Bowie’s Jimmie Libhart Library, branch manager Saundra Laden welcomed 90 visitors and started planning for summer reading and other upcoming events.
At the Elfrida Library, new branch manager Kim Wagner-Hemmes started work on January 9. Kim has a background in art history, education, and filmmaking, and she is excited to launch new programs for the community.
In Portal, the Friends of the Myrtle Kraft-Portal Library held their annual meeting in January, and planned a Fall in Love with Your Library event for February. The Library District has been working with the Friends and the San Simon Unified School District, which owns the library building, to update the existing agreement for the operation of the branch library.
At Sunizona’s Alice Woods Library, branch manager Judy Campos powered through assorted computer problems in January, and circulated more than 800 items.
The Sunsites Community Library offered lots of public programs in January, including genealogy workshops, drop-in tech help, and English conversation classes. The library also introduced a new LEGO Club for kids, and announced a new partnership with the Willcox Garden Club.
The Friends of the Pearce-Sunsites Community Library held their annual meeting on January 13, and Library District director Amadee Ricketts was pleased to at-tend and provide an update from the Library District.
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Did you know that the Cochise County Library District offers a home delivery service for qualified citizens?
The Mini-Bookmobile Service
We can deliver library materials to your door each month, or help you sign up for the Arizona Talking Book Library. Both services are FREE!
Who can use this service?
Anyone who finds it difficult to visit the library on a regular basis due to extended illness, disability, limited mobility, or other special circumstances, may use the Mini-Bookmobile.
Patrons can request library materials over the phone or online, or we will select materials based on their reading interests.
What materials are delivered and how often?
All types of library materials are available for delivery,
including:
- Books (Regular or Large Print)
- Audiobooks
- DVDs
Items are delivered once each month.
CALL NOW TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS FREE SERVICE
OR TO SIGN UP
8 am - 5 pm | Monday through Friday
1-520-432-8930, ext. 3 (for Barbara) | 1-800-231-1574
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WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS | |
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To assist our residents at our urban transfer stations, Cochise County Public Works Department Solid Waste Division now accepts credit cards at all the Urban Transfer Stations. Previously we only accepted cash or personal checks.
This includes Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, and Willcox Transfer Stations as well as the Western Regional Landfill in Whetstone, AZ. Although the department accepts all major credit and debit cards there is a convenience fee to do so. The convenience fee is a minimum of $2.00 or 1% for debit and 2.19% for credit whichever is higher.
This is the same credit card vendor that is used by the Treasurer’s office to pay your property taxes. If you have any questions about using credit cards at the Transfer Stations please contact the main office at (520) 803-3770.
*Please note that none of the Rural Transfer Stations have credit card capabilities and still only accept cash or check payments.*
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CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023! | |
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Kudos to the Public Safety Telecommunicators Training Academy class who graduated in February at the Sierra Vista campus of Cochise College!
This new class was created thanks to a collaboration between Cochise College and the Cochise County Sheriff's Department to address the chronic shortage of emergency dispatchers that is experienced both locally and country-wide, and as a result SEACOM (the agency responsible for emergency dispatch in Cochise County) will have 13 new work-ready dispatchers to add to the team of 10 now in place.
Huge thanks to Sheriff Mark Dannels, Cochise College's president Dr. J.D. Rottweiler and SEACOM interim director Tammi-Jo Wilkins who was the instructor for the class, as well as the many agencies who provided support and resources to make this possible.
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PUBLIC MEETINGS COMING SOON FOR THE COCHISE COUNTY JAIL DISTRICT BALLOT QUESTION AND SPECIAL ELECTION | |
CLICK LOCATIONS FOR ONLINE EVENT INFO
04/17/2023
Last day to register to vote in this election
04/19/2023
Ballots mailed to all active registered voters
05/16/2023
ALL-MAIL SPECIAL ELECTION
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Cochise County Aviation:
The Cochise County Airport in Willcox has a new Fixed Based Operator (FBO), Willcox Aviation, which recently contracted with the County to oversee airport operations. FBO owner Mike Wear, a certified flight instructor with over 18 years in aviation and leadership, has big plans. As a flight instructor at the airport, Mike sees the potential to improve the airport services that will promote and attract new businesses that contribute to and grow the Cochise County economy. The airport already serves numerous businesses in the Willcox, regional military flight operations, and general aviation. At the Cochise County Airport, there is nowhere to go but up.
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Development Services:
Cochise County will receive approximately $498,872 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). CDBG grants are intended to help local governments revitalize and improve their communities, particularly in poverty and economic distress areas. The program gives local officials significant discretion in deciding how to use the funds as long as the activities are consistent with the program's goals and benefit low- and moderate-income people.
Examples of eligible activities under the CDBG program include rehabilitating housing units, building new community facilities such as health clinics or senior centers, improving streets and sidewalks, and supporting small business development. The program has been in place since 1974 and is considered one of the most important federal funding sources for community development initiatives.
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Economic Development:
An abundance of land, sunshine, and wind provides opportunities for investment in alternative energy from solar and wind turbines to supply power to a growing and energy-thirsty southeast Arizona. The economic impact is substantial. Hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investments from alternative energy have a future economic and fiscal impact to provide millions in direct construction impact, creating construction and related jobs and millions in wages over months and sometimes years of construction. In addition, when completed, significant tax revenue for Cochise County and other entities. Over the 40-year life of most solar projects, millions of dollars contribute to the local tax base funding the county and school districts – without an increase in the need for services a conventional development would require.
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ENGINEERING AND NATURAL RESOURCES | |
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The Engineering and Natural Resources Dept. has responsibility for the survey, design, engineering, planning and management of the county's floodplains, transportation and drainage systems and natural resources. This includes the review of civil site plans for construction, permits and inspection for right-of-way improvements encroachment and and floodplain use permits.
We look forward to getting into detailed permit information in future newsletters.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN I.T.? | |
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Random email? Think Before Calling Back!
Cybercriminals are STILL up to no good! A common trick these days is sending you an email requesting that you call them back. These emails impersonate a wide variety of businesses and organizations, including Apple, Microsoft, PayPal, banks, credit card companies, antivirus vendors and even tech support.
There is almost always a sense of urgency – maybe a big purchase was recently made, or they see suspicious bank activity using your account. But beware – if you call the phone number provided, it leads to a FAKE call center! They may try to trick you into sending money (Amazon cards!!!), get your credit card information, or try to take over your computer.
SLOW DOWN!
Take a moment, there are things you can look for. First, criminals often use lookalike email addresses or free email services (Gmail, AOL, Yahoo!, etc.). Second, if you suspect foul play, contact your bank or to the company in question using the official website or a known, good, official phone number.
DO NOT call a number listed in a suspicious email. More information about Phishing emails and instructions for reporting them to the federal government can be found here: https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/report-phishing
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HUMAN RESOURCES -
YOUR LOCAL GUIDE FOR COCHISE COUNTY
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As Cochise County’s Human Resources Department, we are here to offer support to the citizens of Cochise County. One certainty in life is that nothing stays the same. The world is constantly evolving, and our community must meet each new challenge that is presented and 2023 is no different.
Looking for employment opportunities?
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