by 
Sam Hosler
Many Copper Basin citizens are taking part in the Christian celebration of Holy Week, from last Sunday’s Palm Sunday service through Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night, and the Day of the Resurrection itself, Easter Day. May you all be filled with joy and strength.
This past weekend was a quiet day of closure to an era. The Haddad family has been part and parcel of Sonora and Kearny since Arizona’s earliest days. Many Lebanese families came to the western United States to serve as hometown merchants and traveling sales forces for Americans who would otherwise not have access to good clothing and other merchandise. The Lebanese went to the small and lonely places of America and cast their lot with the people they served.
The story of the Basha family in Arizona is well known. They started in Ray, and became an economic success story. Their stores are all over Arizona. The Haddads are well known too, but mostly to the people of this area. Now Navval Haddad (also known as Noelle) has sold her home. Her family came in force to help her through this difficult transition. It is hard because Noelle has lived here in the Copper Basin since she arrived from Lebanon as a young bride. Her husband, Kelly, was a well-known judge as well as a merchant. Noelle is moving to Casa Grande to be closer to family and to medical care. Caretakers of our history, take note of this time.
The Kearny Town Council will have a presentation on the proposed plan for the Town of Kearny on Monday, April 17, starting at 7:30 p.m. I hope that many citizens will be present as the plan is presented and considered by the council.
Congratulations to former Kearny resident JoEtta Gonzales who will become Superintendent of the Casa Grande Elementary School District on July 1. JoEtta was born and raised in Kearny, and educated in Arizona schools and colleges. She is presently Area Superintendent with the Washoe County School District in Nevada.
Stormee Galka, pitcher for the softball team at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, is setting records there. She won 11 games for the season, which is an NCAA record for the school. She also had a pair of three-hit games, making her batting average .324. (Be sure to read the full story in this week’s Copper Basin News.) My gosh! Pitchers don’t usually bat that well! Well, it all started here.
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