Editorials

Editorial: Douglas needs to take lead from local leaders on teacher walkout

Fortunately, she does not seem to have much support on the Arizona Board of Education, but State Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas’ zeal for disciplining teachers who participated in last spring’s state teacher walkout is troubling nonetheless.

Editorial: Separating children from families proves America’s moral compass askew

In an era of political divisiveness as wide as the Grand Canyon, there is one point on which many Democrats and Republicans alike agree. The current practice of separating children from their families to enforce U.S. immigration policies is morally wrong.

Editorial: No real bite in laws designed to protect animals from being left in locked cars

Three police calls in two days last week concerning dogs left in locked cars in 100-degree heat proves two things: • You cannot legislate common sense. • The laws addressing such acts are inadequate.

Editorial: Where can members of Congress live?

The fervor seems to never stop over the people who we as Americans have sent to Washington, D.C., to represent us. At a basic level, concerns about exactly where they live continues with each passing election cycle.

Lack of volunteers not a problem unique to Jerome

The talk of getting rid of all of Jerome’s advisory boards and commissions is a sign of the times.

Editorial: Carter’s office should shy away from Verde Valley offers of help on school district consolidation

Memo to Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter: Just say, “No thank you.”

Editorial: Water quality reporting a black eye for city, but problem resolved seven months ago

There are a lot of “would’ve, should’ve, could’ve” laments this week at Cottonwood City Hall following the revelations about careless, sloppy perhaps even fraudulent documentation of the water quality delivered by the city.

Editorial: Take a ‘moment’ to remember war dead

Try to fathom the number of men and women who have died fighting our nation’s enemies over the centuries. It’s overwhelming. It’s stunning. It’s certainly worth a moment of our time.

Editorial: 2018 political landscape taking shape in Verde Valley

The final touches on the picture will not be complete until 5 p.m. May 30, but the landscape of the 2018 Verde Valley political season already is taking shape.

Editorial: Much can change before sales tax hike becomes official

For those still not convinced the Cottonwood City Council is acting in your best interests by raising the municipal sales tax a half-cent on the dollar, rest assured that there is still plenty of time to make your voice heard on this one.

Editorial: Taxation issues front and center in Verde Valley this week

Your money was in the political bulls-eye this week.

Editorial: City’s sales tax debate becomes theater of unexpected

Cottonwood City Hall became the theater of the unexpected this past week. People were showing up to City Council meetings begging that their taxes be raised. They were waving signs and actually cheerleading the idea of an increase in the city’s sales tax levy.

Editorial: Private, public partnerships needed to make special events in Camp Verde successful

With lagging volunteerism prompting the plug to be pulled on this year’s Camp Verde Cornfest, the community’s attention is now focused on the town’s longest-running weekend event: Fort Verde Days.

Editorial: Planned teacher walkout a call to end empty promises of state lawmakers

The problem with the way the state funds Arizona’s classrooms has been a constant source of contention between Arizona lawmakers and the state’s education community for well over a decade now.

Editorial: Groseta is wearing a good poker face; let’s see what cards he is holding

Groseta isn’t blinking as he awaits the final card to be dealt his way. That card involves the successful passage of Senate Bill 1254, a “striker bill” introduced late in this legislative session.

Editorial: All eyes on Beaver Creek as tiny district looks to expand to K-12 school system

The latest wrinkle in Verde Valley school district consolidation discussions very well may be happening across the Valley in the tiny Beaver Creek School District.

Editorial: By taking a step down, Nancy Erickson has never stood taller

OK, hands down, no doubt, the Verde Valley hero of the week is Nancy Erickson. With the realignment of schools in the Cottonwood-Oak Creek District and school board approval of a principal-assistant principal model for the down-sized school system, Superintendent Steve King was left with the unpleasant job of having to demote one of two existing principals.

Editorial: Upper Verde school district consolidation debate finds its way to state capitol

Not since a citizen initiative in 1997 forced an election to consolidate the Upper Verde Valley’s three school districts into one has the community seen such serious discussion about the long-debated prospect of a marriage between the districts.

Commentary: Date for Easter a moving target, but message stands test of time

Easter is the most revered day in Christianity. It is the observance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet it is unique among holidays in that it has no set date on the calendar, other than a guarantee it will fall on a Sunday.

Editorial: Many questions remain concerning hazing at Mingus

There remains many questions concerning what was first reported as “an incident” on one of the Mingus Union High School athletic team buses.

Editorial: School closure debate was exercise in civil discourse with emphasis on civility

Closing down a school is usually a nightmare for a school board and its administration.

Editorial: Like consolidation and annexation, new city hall for Cottonwood a matter of all talk, no action

Fast forward five years and guess what? There wasn’t nearly as much resolve, consensus and determination as council members claimed was the case in 2013. For whatever reasons, the deal was never consummated and the city continued to do business at 827 N. Main St., along with 12 other city-owned properties in Cottonwood.

The Verde Independent

Commentary: Big challenges await new Mingus Union School Board 4 hours, 13 minutes

Letter: Decline of Sedona pretty much true for all of Arizona 4 hours, 15 minutes

Letter: Thanks to all for making Trunk or Treat a huge success 4 hours, 17 minutes

Letter: Why is 12th Street a mess again? 4 hours, 19 minutes