Commentary

As Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Governing Board president, writing as a private citizen, I recommend a “No” vote at this time on consolidating the Mingus Unified (MUHSD) and Cottonwood-Oak Creek (COCSD) school districts.

With school district consolidation now firmly on the November ballot, there is no shortage of misinformation being peddled on social media about this proposed marriage of the Cottonwood-Oak Creek and Mingus Union school districts.

The problem is this isn’t an elective decision; Arizona State Statutes require that the Board of Supervisors “shall” provide the facilities for the sheriff to house prisoners.

By rejecting a sales tax ballot initiative, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors presents the false dichotomy that, we the people, somehow elected to pay for the proposed jail through a property tax increase instead.

I cannot accept that creating two independent systems and response plans to serve the children and families in one community is an effective way to handle this crisis.

As a retired superintendent of the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District (COCSD), I am in support of the unification of Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District (COCSD) and Mingus Union High School (MUHS)

What I found my jaw firmly on the floor over was assertions that wearing a mask reduces oxygen levels in individuals to the point of making them dangerously hypoxic.

The “Committee for Better Upper Verde Valley Schools” wants to thank the 2,028 registered voters who signed petitions to consolidate Mingus Union High School into the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District on the ballot for the November 3, 2020 General Election.

Independence Day is here and this year we celebrate our country's 244th birthday. America is in a time of major transition and transformation right now. We are facing a public health crisis, along with challenges in our economy and a powerful social justice movement.

Wearing a mask blocks the intake of adequate oxygen levels that are vital for the health of cells. Blood oxygen levels have been shown to drop substantially when a person wears a mask.

Wear a face mask because it’s a wise safeguard for public health. Wear a face mask because our leaders have encouraged it and you want to be a good citizen. Wear a face mask because it’s the right thing to do.

In these unprecedented times, our goal from the beginning of the pandemic crisis has been to do everything within our power, to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. There has been quite a divisive approach from concerned citizens of Camp Verde, sharing their pros and cons of mandating the community to wear a mask. As your Mayor, I will not be issuing a mandatory requirement to wear face masks, at this time. I am not a fan of enacting something that is not enforceable. The reality is, there is not enough man power, and deputies to enforce such an order. In addition, there are some residents who have underlying medical conditions that prevents their ability to wear a mask. I am, however, a fan of education. We strongly urge all residents and visitors of Camp Verde to adhere to and follow the safety guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Yavapai County Community Health Services. The best way to encourage people to wear a mask is through public education and by setting a good example. As your Mayor, elected officials and Town of Camp Verde staff, we can set an example, by wearing a mask. Today, I ask the residents of Camp Verde to join me in using personal accountability in how you interact with the public. We need to work together as a community by taking these responsible steps. Only then, we will slow the spread of COVID-19. You may save the lives of your friends, family, and neighbors. We will continue to monitor the number of cases as it will dictate our next phases in continuing to educate the public. Be wise Camp Verde, and please, Mask Up.

The simple act of wearing a mask in public whenever possible can ensure that they remain a safe place for us all to enjoy.

If you are sick, please stay home until your symptoms are gone. If you feel you may have the symptoms of COVID-19, or came in contact with someone who tested positive, contact your healthcare provider and get tested.

For a robust civil discourse requires open, honest dialog: The bottom line is the killings and mistreatment of citizens must stop.

Find ways to celebrate the history and diversity in our Verde Valley, and to heal wounds which may be generational. We’ve been through a lot in this valley, but we have come ahead united.

The greatest loss of freedom is the loss of life. Those that have died prematurely before their children were grown, or those close to retirement, or those who simply went to work one day at a factory, grocery story or a hospital.

As we come to the end of a school year unlike any other, I want to briefly reflect on the past months, but more importantly give you a glimpse of what our schools may look like this summer and when we return.

‘This spring has been a great social experiment -- in communal living, in family cohesion, in national purpose, in personal group selflessness. It also has opened our ears to birdsong and sharpened our eyes to nature. It may not have changed the Earth. But it may have changed us’

In one full swoop, Danny Howe went from puffing out his chest to doing a classic duck-and-run. He went from hero to shrinking violet in the blink of an eye.

I want to recognize that we are all in this same pandemic storm, however, as many have already observed … we are not all in the same boat.

The next time you see a police officer just doing his or her job, take a moment to say thank you. It will mean more to them than you may realize.

From a healthcare perspective, reopening Arizona’s economy on a statewide basis could be just as disastrous as keeping it closed has been economically.

During the worst of times we’ve seen the very best of the Verde Valley.

Watching those rent-a-mob bands of bearded he-men swaggering around state capitols with their Confederate flags and symbolic AR-15s -- what were they going to shoot at, after all? -- reminded me of a scene in the old Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movie “Key Largo.”