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This is the time of year when all the towns of the Copper Basin have a lot in common. The school year is coming to an end, and most of the activities focus on the future lives of our senior students – scholarship awards, baccalaureate, and graduation. Ray will have its baccalaureate in the auditorium on Sunday, May 21. Eighth grade promotion is Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m., and the class of 2017 will be graduated on the school field on Friday, May 26.
Sam Hosler
This is also when all the town swimming pools come into play. The Town of Mammoth’s pool will open first, on Sunday, May 21. Kearny’s pool is set to open on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day) for swimming from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Kearny pool will be open all days but Sundays. ASARCO made a very welcome $8,000 gift for pool operations.
The Town of Hayden was aiming for a Memorial Day pool opening, but problems with the water pump may cause a delay for as much as a week. Call Hayden’s town hall for information about the schedule.
In Kearny, Lieutenant Garric Berry of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is serving as interim Chief of Police. The PCSO is also providing some officers to help provide 24-hour coverage. Joseph Turrito will become Chief of Police after background checks and the formal contract are completed.
For Hayden, Winkelman, and Mammoth, Tamatha Villar continues as interim Chief of Police until assuming full office on Thursday, June 1.
The mayors of most of the towns of the Copper Basin and southern Gila County met together earlier in May for a discussion on blight and redevelopment. All the towns have blight issues, though each town has a distinct pattern. Defunct vehicles are a concern for all.
The Town of Kearny has a list of organizations which will gladly accept vehicles and tow them away. Best of all, vehicle donation to a non-profit is tax deductible. Both running and non-running cars and trucks can be donated, your driveway will be clear, and your taxes will be less of a burden.
There are many opportunities for our children this summer, including ASARCO’s basketball camps in Kearny on June 5-6 and in Hayden on June 12-13. The ball fields will be busy with Little League athletes, and the College for Kids will take place at Central Arizona College in Aravaipa. There will be other events, too. All these events are possible only through the work of caring volunteers.
Now, here’s a fun (and educational) event. The students in the Ray Schools have been studying buoyancy and structural engineering. On Tuesday, May 23 , the students will test out their work by launching boats which they have made – out of cardboard! The Kearny Town Pool is the test site from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and viewers are welcome. Yes, the students will ride in their boats… unless something happens, of course. Good fun, good learning, and a great gift to our kids. Hint: Most of the action will begin about 10 a.m.
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