Why let this house burn?
On Monday, Jan. 23, at approximately
9:15 p.m., a home bordered by Antelope Run Rd. and Abra in Paulden became
engulfed in flames. Of the seven people that lived in the home, all escaped
injury, but two of their beloved family pets were not so fortunate. As two
Yavapai County Sheriff units and many neighbors stood with the family, all they
could do was watch it burn.
Many people this past week, including several neighbors who stopped by to view the smoldering rubble the next day, are asking how such a tragedy can happen, and why firefighters, with the closest station only three miles away, did not respond.
Chino Valley Fire District Chief John Ginn said it's a matter of boundaries, not necessarily distance. The CVFD district includes much of Chino Valley and some outlying areas, including a small portion of Paulden. However, the majority of Paulden is out of the CVFD district, requiring residents to obtain a contract with the CVFD to receive service. Ginn said the district bases fire protection contracts for out-of-district homes on an assessment of the structure. The contract price can vary from as low as $50 up to several thousand dollars annually.
"We have a group of people that are inside the district boundaries that pay for the service," said Ginn. He added that if CVFD personnel were to go outside of the boundaries and respond to non-contract fires, they run the risk of neglecting those for which they are responsible.
"If we are outside those boundaries and someone's house or business catches fire, we're obligated to them, not the people outside of our district," said Ginn. "They are the ones that have been paying the bills all these years. The fire department can't exist on contracts. There just isn't enough to support the district at any level of service."
A supervising board that sets policy governs the fire department.
"It has been the decision of the board, that to go outside of that boundary we are jeopardizing those that live inside the boundary," said Ginn.
Paulden resident Greg Shideler says he understands the boundary issue, but feels that with the amount of taxes collected, firefighters should respond to any call.
"The thing that bothers most of us is the fact that you can have the fire department only if you have the contract, and that feels like extortion to me," said Shideler. "Most of us realize that these things are paid for by the American people, which most of us are. How is it they can let this thing burn to the ground? We go overseas and help all these other people and then an American is going to stand there and watch another American's place burn to the ground. Everybody out here pays property taxes and it gets distributed throughout. What do we get for that? This is their Katrina right there. Where's their help?"
Fellow Paulden resident Karen Shumway echoed Shideler's statement.
"We have all paid and paid and paid and paid. They (CVFD) are still sitting there earning an income, plus they've got their retirement and their benefits and they do nothing. It is wrong," said Shumway.
Ginn recognizes these concerns, but feels that many property owners aren't aware of how the CVFD operates financially.
"The people that live inside the district boundaries pay the taxes that come to us and make up our annual budget," explained Ginn. "Our contracts are just a small portion of our budget. People outside the district pay taxes, but those taxes do not come to us. We only get tax money from those people that live in our district boundaries."
Ginn said some of the confusion comes from a tax, based on ARS 48-807, which is assessed to property owners in Arizona.
"There is a place on the tax bill that says Fire District Assistance Tax and we get a little portion of that. It's divided up among fire districts across the state," said Ginn. "It was put into place by the state legislature primarily to cover people who are traveling through your jurisdiction that are involved in an accident or something. We do get a portion of that, but that tax was not designed to cover our residents. It was set up to help cover costs that come up from serving people passing through a district."
Aside from the financial aspect, some have expressed concern that fire protection is a moral issue.
"Why can we go to every country in this world, help everybody in the whole world, but we can't help our own people," said Shumway. "They (CVFD) sit there and watch it? That's ridiculous. It's immoral."
"I called 911 that night," said Marilyn Warren, who lives two streets over. "They told me 'Everyone's safe', but the fire department never showed up. How do they know everyone is safe if they never show up?"
When the homeowners called 911 the night of the Paulden fire, the homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the operator asked if all persons were safely out of the house.
"We told 911 that the we were all out. But they wouldn't come. We all got out safe, except for two dogs that died," said the homeowner, who also stated that the family had no knowledge about needing a fire service contract on the home they've lived in since 2007.
The Prescott Police Regional Public Safety Communications Center is responsible for handling 911 calls for three local law enforcement agencies and five fire districts, including the CVFD. According to Lt. Andy Reinhardt, spokesman for the Prescott Police Dept., which oversees the dispatch center, outlined the process for incoming calls to the local fire districts.
"Calls for those eight agencies are routed to us. In the case of Chino Valley Fire, when a call comes in, dispatch punches up the info and if it's not in the district or on contract, they don't contact the station," said Reinhardt.
Ginn confirmed that in the case of the Paulden fire, dispatch did not contact his stations.
"Dispatch knows that if life is threatened then we will go and try and solve the life threatening issue. In those cases, we will respond regardless of district boundaries. In those cases, my goal is to save the life and not the structure," sated Ginn. "I don't want anyone to burn to death, to lose a child or a parent, and when we know that there is life safety we will send a truck.
"It's not about money. It's not money before people's lives like some people think, but it is about money before people's possessions. We will come out when someone's life is in danger," stated Ginn.
Over the years, Ginn said, his district has tried to inform the public so property owners know what risks they may face.
"We have had it mentioned in the paper, we put up flyers in the Pink Store, at the post office, and at Depot 89. I had one man tell me 'I don't read the newspaper and I don't go to those stores.' I don't know what else we can do," said Ginn. "After the last fire similar to this one, we received about 25 or 30 calls, resulting in only two or three new contracts. I don't know what to do. We tell people, and it's a sad story, but we can't seem to change it."
Ginn says he realizes many are not satisfied with his explanation and encourages any who wish to see changes to attend the CVFD Board meetings that are held at CVFD Station 61, 1133 W. Road 3 North the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., or by calling the CVFD at 928-636-2442.
The Paulden Area Community Organization has amended the agenda for the February PACO meeting to include representatives from the CVFD who will be on hand to talk about the concerns and questions of Paulden residents. PACO president Creagan McConnell hopes to see a large turnout for the meeting, hoping many Paulden residents will have their questions answered.
"The main problem being is that, for whatever reason, people are not told or have explained to them how important this is," said McConnell. "Whether it be the people selling a house or the realtor, someone needs to explain if a house is protected by the fire district or not."
McConnell said this is not the first time he has had to deal with this issue as PACO president.
"Every time this happens, and this is the third or fourth time, people say 'What do you mean I'm not in the district?' And I think, gosh, it's been in the paper, we've had meetings about it, we talk about it. It's nothing new, but we do have new people moving into the area and they need to be informed. And that's the sad part about it."
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on tomorrow night at the Paulden Community Center, 24050 Marblehead Avenue near the corner of Highway 89 and Big Chino Road in Paulden.
Many people this past week, including several neighbors who stopped by to view the smoldering rubble the next day, are asking how such a tragedy can happen, and why firefighters, with the closest station only three miles away, did not respond.
Chino Valley Fire District Chief John Ginn said it's a matter of boundaries, not necessarily distance. The CVFD district includes much of Chino Valley and some outlying areas, including a small portion of Paulden. However, the majority of Paulden is out of the CVFD district, requiring residents to obtain a contract with the CVFD to receive service. Ginn said the district bases fire protection contracts for out-of-district homes on an assessment of the structure. The contract price can vary from as low as $50 up to several thousand dollars annually.
"We have a group of people that are inside the district boundaries that pay for the service," said Ginn. He added that if CVFD personnel were to go outside of the boundaries and respond to non-contract fires, they run the risk of neglecting those for which they are responsible.
"If we are outside those boundaries and someone's house or business catches fire, we're obligated to them, not the people outside of our district," said Ginn. "They are the ones that have been paying the bills all these years. The fire department can't exist on contracts. There just isn't enough to support the district at any level of service."
A supervising board that sets policy governs the fire department.
"It has been the decision of the board, that to go outside of that boundary we are jeopardizing those that live inside the boundary," said Ginn.
Paulden resident Greg Shideler says he understands the boundary issue, but feels that with the amount of taxes collected, firefighters should respond to any call.
"The thing that bothers most of us is the fact that you can have the fire department only if you have the contract, and that feels like extortion to me," said Shideler. "Most of us realize that these things are paid for by the American people, which most of us are. How is it they can let this thing burn to the ground? We go overseas and help all these other people and then an American is going to stand there and watch another American's place burn to the ground. Everybody out here pays property taxes and it gets distributed throughout. What do we get for that? This is their Katrina right there. Where's their help?"
Fellow Paulden resident Karen Shumway echoed Shideler's statement.
"We have all paid and paid and paid and paid. They (CVFD) are still sitting there earning an income, plus they've got their retirement and their benefits and they do nothing. It is wrong," said Shumway.
Ginn recognizes these concerns, but feels that many property owners aren't aware of how the CVFD operates financially.
"The people that live inside the district boundaries pay the taxes that come to us and make up our annual budget," explained Ginn. "Our contracts are just a small portion of our budget. People outside the district pay taxes, but those taxes do not come to us. We only get tax money from those people that live in our district boundaries."
Ginn said some of the confusion comes from a tax, based on ARS 48-807, which is assessed to property owners in Arizona.
"There is a place on the tax bill that says Fire District Assistance Tax and we get a little portion of that. It's divided up among fire districts across the state," said Ginn. "It was put into place by the state legislature primarily to cover people who are traveling through your jurisdiction that are involved in an accident or something. We do get a portion of that, but that tax was not designed to cover our residents. It was set up to help cover costs that come up from serving people passing through a district."
Aside from the financial aspect, some have expressed concern that fire protection is a moral issue.
"Why can we go to every country in this world, help everybody in the whole world, but we can't help our own people," said Shumway. "They (CVFD) sit there and watch it? That's ridiculous. It's immoral."
"I called 911 that night," said Marilyn Warren, who lives two streets over. "They told me 'Everyone's safe', but the fire department never showed up. How do they know everyone is safe if they never show up?"
When the homeowners called 911 the night of the Paulden fire, the homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the operator asked if all persons were safely out of the house.
"We told 911 that the we were all out. But they wouldn't come. We all got out safe, except for two dogs that died," said the homeowner, who also stated that the family had no knowledge about needing a fire service contract on the home they've lived in since 2007.
The Prescott Police Regional Public Safety Communications Center is responsible for handling 911 calls for three local law enforcement agencies and five fire districts, including the CVFD. According to Lt. Andy Reinhardt, spokesman for the Prescott Police Dept., which oversees the dispatch center, outlined the process for incoming calls to the local fire districts.
"Calls for those eight agencies are routed to us. In the case of Chino Valley Fire, when a call comes in, dispatch punches up the info and if it's not in the district or on contract, they don't contact the station," said Reinhardt.
Ginn confirmed that in the case of the Paulden fire, dispatch did not contact his stations.
"Dispatch knows that if life is threatened then we will go and try and solve the life threatening issue. In those cases, we will respond regardless of district boundaries. In those cases, my goal is to save the life and not the structure," sated Ginn. "I don't want anyone to burn to death, to lose a child or a parent, and when we know that there is life safety we will send a truck.
"It's not about money. It's not money before people's lives like some people think, but it is about money before people's possessions. We will come out when someone's life is in danger," stated Ginn.
Over the years, Ginn said, his district has tried to inform the public so property owners know what risks they may face.
"We have had it mentioned in the paper, we put up flyers in the Pink Store, at the post office, and at Depot 89. I had one man tell me 'I don't read the newspaper and I don't go to those stores.' I don't know what else we can do," said Ginn. "After the last fire similar to this one, we received about 25 or 30 calls, resulting in only two or three new contracts. I don't know what to do. We tell people, and it's a sad story, but we can't seem to change it."
Ginn says he realizes many are not satisfied with his explanation and encourages any who wish to see changes to attend the CVFD Board meetings that are held at CVFD Station 61, 1133 W. Road 3 North the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., or by calling the CVFD at 928-636-2442.
The Paulden Area Community Organization has amended the agenda for the February PACO meeting to include representatives from the CVFD who will be on hand to talk about the concerns and questions of Paulden residents. PACO president Creagan McConnell hopes to see a large turnout for the meeting, hoping many Paulden residents will have their questions answered.
"The main problem being is that, for whatever reason, people are not told or have explained to them how important this is," said McConnell. "Whether it be the people selling a house or the realtor, someone needs to explain if a house is protected by the fire district or not."
McConnell said this is not the first time he has had to deal with this issue as PACO president.
"Every time this happens, and this is the third or fourth time, people say 'What do you mean I'm not in the district?' And I think, gosh, it's been in the paper, we've had meetings about it, we talk about it. It's nothing new, but we do have new people moving into the area and they need to be informed. And that's the sad part about it."
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on tomorrow night at the Paulden Community Center, 24050 Marblehead Avenue near the corner of Highway 89 and Big Chino Road in Paulden.
Tragedy... again
Family's home burns second time
Investigators from the Yavapai County
Sheriff's Office and Central Yavapai Fire District are looking into the cause
of a Thursday afternoon fire in Paulden that destroyed the same family's home
for the second time in four months.
At about 1 p.m. on Thursday, the Chino Valley Fire District responded to a report of a structure fire at Robin lane and N Ironwood drive, just two blocks from the scene of a Jan. 23 fire on Antelope Run that burned the family's home to the ground.
"The family just purchased the home recently and, to the best of our knowledge, no one was home when it started," said CVPD Chief John Ginn. "One of the neighbors thinks that it started outside then came into the house, but we don't have any idea yet. The Central Yavapai Fire district will be investigating it."
Ginn added that the family's 1,800-square-foot doublewide mobile was out of the CVFD coverage area, but that the family applied for a contract with the district just three days ago. The contract was scheduled to begin May 1.
"The contract hadn't started yet, but when we arrived we began fighting the fire to save the home, but it was pretty well engulfed when we got here, so we concentrated on keeping it from spreading to the neighboring property," said Ginn.
In addition to the CVFD's two water tenders and two engines, several neighbors could be seen hosing down their own property in an effort to keep the fire from spreading.
Andie Smith, an investigator for the Central Yavapai Fire District, will be leading the investigation into the cause of fire.
Central Yavapai Acting Fire Marshal Rick Chase said he understood that an insurance investigator would also be investigating the fire on Friday.
The family was unavailable for comment, but a family friend, Bishop D. Ross Nickle, of the Paulden ward of the LDS Church, stated that the family still is recovering from the devastation of the January fire.
"She (the home owner) is just an amazing person who is willing to give all she has for others," said Nickle. "We just want to let people know that they are covered by insurance, but this family is still recovering from the last fire."
At about 1 p.m. on Thursday, the Chino Valley Fire District responded to a report of a structure fire at Robin lane and N Ironwood drive, just two blocks from the scene of a Jan. 23 fire on Antelope Run that burned the family's home to the ground.
"The family just purchased the home recently and, to the best of our knowledge, no one was home when it started," said CVPD Chief John Ginn. "One of the neighbors thinks that it started outside then came into the house, but we don't have any idea yet. The Central Yavapai Fire district will be investigating it."
Ginn added that the family's 1,800-square-foot doublewide mobile was out of the CVFD coverage area, but that the family applied for a contract with the district just three days ago. The contract was scheduled to begin May 1.
"The contract hadn't started yet, but when we arrived we began fighting the fire to save the home, but it was pretty well engulfed when we got here, so we concentrated on keeping it from spreading to the neighboring property," said Ginn.
In addition to the CVFD's two water tenders and two engines, several neighbors could be seen hosing down their own property in an effort to keep the fire from spreading.
Andie Smith, an investigator for the Central Yavapai Fire District, will be leading the investigation into the cause of fire.
Central Yavapai Acting Fire Marshal Rick Chase said he understood that an insurance investigator would also be investigating the fire on Friday.
The family was unavailable for comment, but a family friend, Bishop D. Ross Nickle, of the Paulden ward of the LDS Church, stated that the family still is recovering from the devastation of the January fire.
"She (the home owner) is just an amazing person who is willing to give all she has for others," said Nickle. "We just want to let people know that they are covered by insurance, but this family is still recovering from the last fire."
Boy, 4, recovering after dog attacks
Police jail owner on charges of aggravated assault, child abuse
After attending a family gathering in
Prescott on Feb. 4, the Mulkey family returned to their Chino Valley home to
unwind. Mom, dad, and two sisters were inside deciding what to make for dinner,
while the Mulkeys' three boys, Matthew, 10, Jayden, 8, and 4-year-old Levi went
outside to play.
As the boys played catch in front of their house, the Frisbee they were tossing landed across the street. Levi went to retrieve it, and in that moment, at about 6 p.m., the Mulkeys' world was turned upside down.
Across the street, from behind a wobbly wire fence, two dogs owned by Katrina Vidaurre reached through the fence and attacked Levi.
"Matthew came running into the house screaming 'Levi's face!'" recalled Tiffaney, the boy's mother. "Matt (the boys' father) jumped over the couch and ran outside."
Within seconds, Matt rushed inside with Levi in his arms, the young boy covered in blood. After dialing 911, Tiffaney relayed instructions from the operator to Matt and another family member who was present, and within minutes, representatives from the Chino Valley Fire District, Chino Valley Police Department, and Lifeline Ambulance were on site.
"There was just so much blood I thought he might not make it," said Matt. "If they wouldn't have gotten here so fast, he would have bled to death. He was right on our floor dying."
What the family didn't immediately realize was that while Matthew ran to alert his parents, young Jayden rushed to his brother's aid, kicking at the dogs and pulling his brother free.
"The EMTs got here in less than five minutes, and when I went to Jayden, he said his arm was hurt. That's when we realized he had been bitten too," said Tiffaney.
As Jayden was rushed to Yavapai Regional Medical Center, where he received seven stitches on his shoulder, mom and Levi went via helicopter to Children's Hospital in Phoenix.
"I didn't know what was going on with Levi, I was just trying to be strong for Jayden," said Matt, who accompanied his son to Prescott. As soon as family members arrived at YRMC, dad rushed to Phoenix to be at Levi's side.
While on the highway south, mom and dad were finally able to communicate, and Matt was told of the extent of Levi's injuries. Through the course of the evening, Levi underwent surgery to repair damage to his eye, jaw, shoulder, and back.
"It wasn't until later, when he was stable and we were alone in the hospital, that I finally broke down," said Tiffaney, who said she normally would have passed out at the sight of blood. "I think it was the adrenaline and the fact that it really hadn't set in yet."
In the wake of the attack, with the help of their family, friends, and pastor from First Southern Baptist Church in Chino Valley, the Mulkeys have tried to find a silver lining to put around their experience.
"Mainly, I am thankful that the boys are alive," said Matt. "Levi could be dead right now. But he's here with us, so that's a very positive thing."
Matt adds that he hopes this tragedy will inspire local residents to evaluate the risk and responsibility that pet owners have to their families and the community.
"I don't blame the dogs, it's not their fault," said Matt. "When you own a dog, whatever the breed, you have to train them and make sure that the area they're kept in is safe."
According to CVPD interim chief Chuck Wynn, the fence that separated Vidaurre's dogs from the public apparently was not sufficient.
"At the request of the County Attorney’s Office, we have seized a good portion of the fence as evidence," said Wynn. "It had a lot of give and the wire that it was made of had openings that were too big to hold the dogs in."
"The spaces on the fence were big enough for the dogs to stick their whole head through," observed Tiffaney.
After an initial investigation, police arrested Vidaurre on Feb. 21 and booked her into the Yavapai County Jail, where she remains in custody on three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of child abuse, all felonies, according to Wynn. The two dogs involved have been euthanized and are being stored as evidence in the case. Six dogs still reside at Vidaurre's residence - four are hers and two belong to family members.
CVPD records show that this was not Vidaurre's first run-in with the police in connection with her animals.
In March 2009, police responded to Vidaurre's home, which at the time was in the 800 block of N. Hwy 89. The report listed an issue between a 9-year-old neighbor and Vidaurre's "aggressive dog.".
Another report, listing the same address and parties, was dated June 2009. In the complaint, the Chino Valley Animal Control Officer who responded reported that the neighbor complained Vidaurre's dog had chased her daughter, but Vidaurre claimed the young girl had called out to the dog and the dog then ran to the girl.
In a June 2010 report listing Vidaurre's current Bucky Oneill address, a CVAC officer responded to a complaint that Vidaurre's six dogs acted aggressively to people passing by the fence line. According to the report, the reporting party stated, "If you get too close to the fence, the dogs act very vicious, barking and growling." The report further stated that the reporting party "is afraid to play with her child in her back yard because the dog growls and barks at them. She also said that the dogs can push their heads through the fence."
The report adds that Vidaurre knew about the situation and "is working on training her dogs." The report stated that Vidaurre had built an inner fenced area and would put her dogs inside when she leaves her house. According to the Mulkeys, the dogs were in the outer yard and no one was home during the Feb. 4 attack. The CVPD confirmed that Vidaurre was informed of the incident while she was at her place of employment.
CVPD Sgt. Vincent Schaan, who is leading the investigation of the Feb. 4 attack, said that while the CVPD and animal control officers have been dispatched to Vidaurre's home in the past, she had no violations or citations and no one had reported previous animal bites.
Chino Valley town ordinances regarding animal restraints require animal owners to "provide adequate fencing." The ordinances list no restrictions or guidelines for specific breeds. Chief Wynn stated that the CVPD is compiling records for presentation to the town council for review.
"I'm planning to talk to the town," said Tiffaney. "I have reviewed the town code and it's really vague. I think there needs to be some clarification so that this type of thing doesn't happen again. I hope another kid doesn't have to go through what we're going through."
The Mulkeys, who have two dogs of their own, Sally and Samantha, are confident that Levi will recover with the support of family and friends. Watching his son play with Samantha, a Chihuahua pup, Matt observed that the healing process would take time, both physically and emotionally.
"He's fine at home, he laughs and plays, but around other people, in crowds or at church, he shies away," said Matt. "He used to be a real social butterfly, but that will come back."
Friends and family have set up a fund to assist with the medical expenses and anyone interested in donating may do so to Team Levi at Chase Bank. Additional information is available through Facebook by searching Team Levi.
As the boys played catch in front of their house, the Frisbee they were tossing landed across the street. Levi went to retrieve it, and in that moment, at about 6 p.m., the Mulkeys' world was turned upside down.
Across the street, from behind a wobbly wire fence, two dogs owned by Katrina Vidaurre reached through the fence and attacked Levi.
"Matthew came running into the house screaming 'Levi's face!'" recalled Tiffaney, the boy's mother. "Matt (the boys' father) jumped over the couch and ran outside."
Within seconds, Matt rushed inside with Levi in his arms, the young boy covered in blood. After dialing 911, Tiffaney relayed instructions from the operator to Matt and another family member who was present, and within minutes, representatives from the Chino Valley Fire District, Chino Valley Police Department, and Lifeline Ambulance were on site.
"There was just so much blood I thought he might not make it," said Matt. "If they wouldn't have gotten here so fast, he would have bled to death. He was right on our floor dying."
What the family didn't immediately realize was that while Matthew ran to alert his parents, young Jayden rushed to his brother's aid, kicking at the dogs and pulling his brother free.
"The EMTs got here in less than five minutes, and when I went to Jayden, he said his arm was hurt. That's when we realized he had been bitten too," said Tiffaney.
As Jayden was rushed to Yavapai Regional Medical Center, where he received seven stitches on his shoulder, mom and Levi went via helicopter to Children's Hospital in Phoenix.
"I didn't know what was going on with Levi, I was just trying to be strong for Jayden," said Matt, who accompanied his son to Prescott. As soon as family members arrived at YRMC, dad rushed to Phoenix to be at Levi's side.
While on the highway south, mom and dad were finally able to communicate, and Matt was told of the extent of Levi's injuries. Through the course of the evening, Levi underwent surgery to repair damage to his eye, jaw, shoulder, and back.
"It wasn't until later, when he was stable and we were alone in the hospital, that I finally broke down," said Tiffaney, who said she normally would have passed out at the sight of blood. "I think it was the adrenaline and the fact that it really hadn't set in yet."
In the wake of the attack, with the help of their family, friends, and pastor from First Southern Baptist Church in Chino Valley, the Mulkeys have tried to find a silver lining to put around their experience.
"Mainly, I am thankful that the boys are alive," said Matt. "Levi could be dead right now. But he's here with us, so that's a very positive thing."
Matt adds that he hopes this tragedy will inspire local residents to evaluate the risk and responsibility that pet owners have to their families and the community.
"I don't blame the dogs, it's not their fault," said Matt. "When you own a dog, whatever the breed, you have to train them and make sure that the area they're kept in is safe."
According to CVPD interim chief Chuck Wynn, the fence that separated Vidaurre's dogs from the public apparently was not sufficient.
"At the request of the County Attorney’s Office, we have seized a good portion of the fence as evidence," said Wynn. "It had a lot of give and the wire that it was made of had openings that were too big to hold the dogs in."
"The spaces on the fence were big enough for the dogs to stick their whole head through," observed Tiffaney.
After an initial investigation, police arrested Vidaurre on Feb. 21 and booked her into the Yavapai County Jail, where she remains in custody on three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of child abuse, all felonies, according to Wynn. The two dogs involved have been euthanized and are being stored as evidence in the case. Six dogs still reside at Vidaurre's residence - four are hers and two belong to family members.
CVPD records show that this was not Vidaurre's first run-in with the police in connection with her animals.
In March 2009, police responded to Vidaurre's home, which at the time was in the 800 block of N. Hwy 89. The report listed an issue between a 9-year-old neighbor and Vidaurre's "aggressive dog.".
Another report, listing the same address and parties, was dated June 2009. In the complaint, the Chino Valley Animal Control Officer who responded reported that the neighbor complained Vidaurre's dog had chased her daughter, but Vidaurre claimed the young girl had called out to the dog and the dog then ran to the girl.
In a June 2010 report listing Vidaurre's current Bucky Oneill address, a CVAC officer responded to a complaint that Vidaurre's six dogs acted aggressively to people passing by the fence line. According to the report, the reporting party stated, "If you get too close to the fence, the dogs act very vicious, barking and growling." The report further stated that the reporting party "is afraid to play with her child in her back yard because the dog growls and barks at them. She also said that the dogs can push their heads through the fence."
The report adds that Vidaurre knew about the situation and "is working on training her dogs." The report stated that Vidaurre had built an inner fenced area and would put her dogs inside when she leaves her house. According to the Mulkeys, the dogs were in the outer yard and no one was home during the Feb. 4 attack. The CVPD confirmed that Vidaurre was informed of the incident while she was at her place of employment.
CVPD Sgt. Vincent Schaan, who is leading the investigation of the Feb. 4 attack, said that while the CVPD and animal control officers have been dispatched to Vidaurre's home in the past, she had no violations or citations and no one had reported previous animal bites.
Chino Valley town ordinances regarding animal restraints require animal owners to "provide adequate fencing." The ordinances list no restrictions or guidelines for specific breeds. Chief Wynn stated that the CVPD is compiling records for presentation to the town council for review.
"I'm planning to talk to the town," said Tiffaney. "I have reviewed the town code and it's really vague. I think there needs to be some clarification so that this type of thing doesn't happen again. I hope another kid doesn't have to go through what we're going through."
The Mulkeys, who have two dogs of their own, Sally and Samantha, are confident that Levi will recover with the support of family and friends. Watching his son play with Samantha, a Chihuahua pup, Matt observed that the healing process would take time, both physically and emotionally.
"He's fine at home, he laughs and plays, but around other people, in crowds or at church, he shies away," said Matt. "He used to be a real social butterfly, but that will come back."
Friends and family have set up a fund to assist with the medical expenses and anyone interested in donating may do so to Team Levi at Chase Bank. Additional information is available through Facebook by searching Team Levi.
Heritage students earn the title of 'author' in NaNoWriMo project
Nine hundred and fifty thousand. That's
a whole lot of anything, but for 38 students in Al Parnell's eighth-grade
Language Arts class, the number represents a month's worth of brain-twisting,
gut-wrenching, finger-cramping, and sometimes anxiety-laden word creation.
These Heritage Middle School students, along with their instructor, each produced a 25,000-word novel for a group total of nearly a million words. And they accomplished it all in a month.
Parnell designed his project around the National Novel Writing Month program, or NaNoWriMo as it is known, which bills itself as the world's largest writer's challenge. NaNoWriMo began in 1999 and requires its writers to create a work of fiction during the month of November, then the organization assists the best submissions to find a publisher.
Parnell does the national competition one better. He publishes his students' work so they end their year with a bound novel of their own.
"I began this project several years ago," explained Parnell during a recent break from his own typing. "I began to notice that some of the students weren't being challenged creatively in class. As a writer myself, I knew that given the right motivation and encouragement, these kids could create some amazing things."
What surprised Parnell was that when he began this project he expected to see certain students, those who were known on campus for their academic skills, show enthusiasm for the project. What he has learned over the years is that creativity knows no boundaries.
"We have students participating that I expected to see, but we also have wrestlers, football players, kids that are involved in FFA, and band," he said. The authors working with him all face the same time management issues that face most struggling writers.
"None of these kids are just working on their novels. They are also keeping up with all their other class work, their afterschool activities, and their family as well," he said.
Support from family is vital to succeed in any project, but especially one as demanding as this. Liam Blankemeier said his father is a source of not only encouragement, but he also based one of his main characters on him.
"My book is about a kid who's trying to find a guy who almost murders his father with the help of the CIA. Even though he almost gets killed in my book, my dad really encourages me in my writing. I'm excited about writing, but I also can't wait until it's over," said Blankenmeier, adding that as he entered into the last days of his novel, "I can almost taste the finish line."
Understanding and inspiration from parents is particularly evident in T.J. Marley's project, as his mother has decided to join him in his journey, writing a book of her own.
"She's a little behind in her word count, though," said Marley, who was putting the final touches on his mystery revolving around a case of missing dogs.
Many of the students said the initial challenge took them by surprise. They felt they weren't up for such a huge undertaking.
"When Mr. Parnell first told us about it, I thought he was nuts," said Madelyne Bartels, "But as I started working on it, taking it one step at a time, it got a little easier."
Bartels drew on a dream she had, and her desire to be a baker.
"My story's kind of weird," she explains. "It's about a girl who goes to college and opens a bakery. That part is based on a dream I had - I want to open a bakery. But then, when she opens the bakery, the cupcakes turn into people and begin to talk."
The subject matter for the students' work spans a wide range of genres, from fantasy, action and adventure, mystery, and even a post-apocalyptic zombie thriller.
In contrast to many of their characters who battle adversity alone, the HMS authors receive support not only from family members, but from past participants of Parnell's project. Parnell arranged to have of a few past HMS authors and current Chino Valley High School students give a video pep talk to this year's writers to encourage them during the month.
With the cheering of past authors, their teacher Parnell, moms, dads, and siblings, on Dec.1 the students pressed their "save" buttons for the final time, and the project came to an end - sort of.
After 30 days of writing on average of 800 words a day, the editing and polishing phase begins. In a few short months, these students will hold in their hands the final product and will have earned the title of author.
These Heritage Middle School students, along with their instructor, each produced a 25,000-word novel for a group total of nearly a million words. And they accomplished it all in a month.
Parnell designed his project around the National Novel Writing Month program, or NaNoWriMo as it is known, which bills itself as the world's largest writer's challenge. NaNoWriMo began in 1999 and requires its writers to create a work of fiction during the month of November, then the organization assists the best submissions to find a publisher.
Parnell does the national competition one better. He publishes his students' work so they end their year with a bound novel of their own.
"I began this project several years ago," explained Parnell during a recent break from his own typing. "I began to notice that some of the students weren't being challenged creatively in class. As a writer myself, I knew that given the right motivation and encouragement, these kids could create some amazing things."
What surprised Parnell was that when he began this project he expected to see certain students, those who were known on campus for their academic skills, show enthusiasm for the project. What he has learned over the years is that creativity knows no boundaries.
"We have students participating that I expected to see, but we also have wrestlers, football players, kids that are involved in FFA, and band," he said. The authors working with him all face the same time management issues that face most struggling writers.
"None of these kids are just working on their novels. They are also keeping up with all their other class work, their afterschool activities, and their family as well," he said.
Support from family is vital to succeed in any project, but especially one as demanding as this. Liam Blankemeier said his father is a source of not only encouragement, but he also based one of his main characters on him.
"My book is about a kid who's trying to find a guy who almost murders his father with the help of the CIA. Even though he almost gets killed in my book, my dad really encourages me in my writing. I'm excited about writing, but I also can't wait until it's over," said Blankenmeier, adding that as he entered into the last days of his novel, "I can almost taste the finish line."
Understanding and inspiration from parents is particularly evident in T.J. Marley's project, as his mother has decided to join him in his journey, writing a book of her own.
"She's a little behind in her word count, though," said Marley, who was putting the final touches on his mystery revolving around a case of missing dogs.
Many of the students said the initial challenge took them by surprise. They felt they weren't up for such a huge undertaking.
"When Mr. Parnell first told us about it, I thought he was nuts," said Madelyne Bartels, "But as I started working on it, taking it one step at a time, it got a little easier."
Bartels drew on a dream she had, and her desire to be a baker.
"My story's kind of weird," she explains. "It's about a girl who goes to college and opens a bakery. That part is based on a dream I had - I want to open a bakery. But then, when she opens the bakery, the cupcakes turn into people and begin to talk."
The subject matter for the students' work spans a wide range of genres, from fantasy, action and adventure, mystery, and even a post-apocalyptic zombie thriller.
In contrast to many of their characters who battle adversity alone, the HMS authors receive support not only from family members, but from past participants of Parnell's project. Parnell arranged to have of a few past HMS authors and current Chino Valley High School students give a video pep talk to this year's writers to encourage them during the month.
With the cheering of past authors, their teacher Parnell, moms, dads, and siblings, on Dec.1 the students pressed their "save" buttons for the final time, and the project came to an end - sort of.
After 30 days of writing on average of 800 words a day, the editing and polishing phase begins. In a few short months, these students will hold in their hands the final product and will have earned the title of author.
http://www.cvrnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=48483&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&S=1
Chino man, 73, joins international riders for ice racing
The year is 1935, "The Bride of
Frankenstein" and Porky Pig make their debuts, FDR is in the White House,
and Shirley Temple's "on The Good Ship Lollipop" is on the top of the
music charts. And oh yeah, Chino Valley resident Bob Riggle is born.
Seventy-three years later much has changed, but Riggle is still going strong. This past weekend, while many younger men are content to sit and watch the action, Riggle donned his leathers and climbed atop his quad to compete against some of the best riders in the world at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley during the Xtreme International Ice Racing's (XIIR) Professional Tour.
XIIR events feature steel-studded tires on nitro-burning quads and motorcycles with no brakes racing on the ice at blinding speeds. The event roster is filled with internationally known names such as Anthony "the British Bulldog" Barlow, James "the Demolition" Mann, and seven-time world champion Charlie Venegas. But along with these stars of the sport, local riders were also invited to compete and Riggle jumped at the chance.
Riggle is no stranger to motor sports, spending much of his life on the national drag racing circuit where he is known as Bob "Hemi Under Glass" Riggle, famous for racing muscle dragsters. But Xtreme ice racing?
"My career was drag racing, but I've always been into quads and motorcycles" said Riggle between heats on Friday night. "My family and I ride quads out in the desert, my wife and son in law and my daughter, the grand kids; we all go out and ride for fun. So the quad part isn't new, but the ice part is."
When the scheduled rider for Hales Motors of Prescott was unable to make the event, Hales management called on old pal Riggle to fill in. What kind of preparation does a rider make in the weeks prior to competing against the superstars of the sport? Riggle didn't have time to find out, as he explains "They (Hales) called and said 'Just take the quad and have some fun.' I found out I was racing yesterday (Thursday)."
As a substitute rider, Riggle was a great fit. Aside from his drag racing experience, he has spent much of his life riding motorcycles of all types, including motor cross. Even ice racing wasn't completely foreign to him.
"Years ago we used to ride on the ice back in Ohio, in the winter we would ride on the lakes" Riggle explains, adding that the equipment was a little different back then. "We didn't have studded tires or anything like that, and I can't tell you how many times I threw that bike away on the ice, but that was just for fun."
Riggle said he enjoyed the competition, which was held both Friday and Saturday evenings, and hopes to return next year when the racing returns.
While he didn't place in the finals, he did finish third in one of his last heats of the weekend. "I'm just out here to have some fun, that's what it's all about."
Another late entry in the competition was Edgar Enriquez, also of Chino Valley. Originally scheduled to wrench on the pit crew for brother Ivan of Prescott Valley, Enriquez found out that more riders were welcome and stepped up to the plate.
"I was going to be a mechanic for my brother, but they needed more riders so this afternoon I decided to do it" said Enriquez on Friday, adding "I've never ridden on the ice before, but I've been riding trail and dirt bikes for most of my life." While not placing in the finals, Enriquez was able to stay with the pack for much of the competition.
Late Saturday night, after the last checkered flag waved, the trophies were handed out, and the pro's return to the circuit, Riggle and Enriquez packed up their quads and headed home. Done but not defeated, these two guys from Chino held their own with the big dogs.
Seventy-three years later much has changed, but Riggle is still going strong. This past weekend, while many younger men are content to sit and watch the action, Riggle donned his leathers and climbed atop his quad to compete against some of the best riders in the world at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley during the Xtreme International Ice Racing's (XIIR) Professional Tour.
XIIR events feature steel-studded tires on nitro-burning quads and motorcycles with no brakes racing on the ice at blinding speeds. The event roster is filled with internationally known names such as Anthony "the British Bulldog" Barlow, James "the Demolition" Mann, and seven-time world champion Charlie Venegas. But along with these stars of the sport, local riders were also invited to compete and Riggle jumped at the chance.
Riggle is no stranger to motor sports, spending much of his life on the national drag racing circuit where he is known as Bob "Hemi Under Glass" Riggle, famous for racing muscle dragsters. But Xtreme ice racing?
"My career was drag racing, but I've always been into quads and motorcycles" said Riggle between heats on Friday night. "My family and I ride quads out in the desert, my wife and son in law and my daughter, the grand kids; we all go out and ride for fun. So the quad part isn't new, but the ice part is."
When the scheduled rider for Hales Motors of Prescott was unable to make the event, Hales management called on old pal Riggle to fill in. What kind of preparation does a rider make in the weeks prior to competing against the superstars of the sport? Riggle didn't have time to find out, as he explains "They (Hales) called and said 'Just take the quad and have some fun.' I found out I was racing yesterday (Thursday)."
As a substitute rider, Riggle was a great fit. Aside from his drag racing experience, he has spent much of his life riding motorcycles of all types, including motor cross. Even ice racing wasn't completely foreign to him.
"Years ago we used to ride on the ice back in Ohio, in the winter we would ride on the lakes" Riggle explains, adding that the equipment was a little different back then. "We didn't have studded tires or anything like that, and I can't tell you how many times I threw that bike away on the ice, but that was just for fun."
Riggle said he enjoyed the competition, which was held both Friday and Saturday evenings, and hopes to return next year when the racing returns.
While he didn't place in the finals, he did finish third in one of his last heats of the weekend. "I'm just out here to have some fun, that's what it's all about."
Another late entry in the competition was Edgar Enriquez, also of Chino Valley. Originally scheduled to wrench on the pit crew for brother Ivan of Prescott Valley, Enriquez found out that more riders were welcome and stepped up to the plate.
"I was going to be a mechanic for my brother, but they needed more riders so this afternoon I decided to do it" said Enriquez on Friday, adding "I've never ridden on the ice before, but I've been riding trail and dirt bikes for most of my life." While not placing in the finals, Enriquez was able to stay with the pack for much of the competition.
Late Saturday night, after the last checkered flag waved, the trophies were handed out, and the pro's return to the circuit, Riggle and Enriquez packed up their quads and headed home. Done but not defeated, these two guys from Chino held their own with the big dogs.
Cougars Baseball by the numbers
Baseball is a game of numbers. Three
strikes, four balls, nine players. Statistics can sometimes sound more like
mathematical formulas than descriptions of a game.
Take the Chino Valley High School (CVHS) Cougars trip to Goodyear for instance. They arrived down south for the Estrella Foothills Wolves Classic on Thursday and the numbers started to fly.
Four was the number of runs they gave up to Fountain Hills to start game one, but two was the number of runs scored as Nathan Zavos smacked a walk off home run to win the game 6-5.
How about 10? That was the number of strike-outs newcomer Kyle Dennis recorded as CVHS defeated Payson in game two Friday morning 9-3.
Zero? That was the entire Verrado box score on Friday night when Dylan Tucker pitched a no hitter against one of the toughest 4A teams in the state, putting them down 6-0.
What about 6-2 and 15-5? Those were the scores respectively as the Cougars, led by Logan Morris, put down Blue Ridge Saturday morning and Snowflake in the Championship game, where Tucker recorded another win, this time in relief.
But the most important numbers of the weekend were five and one. Five wins and the number one spot to claim the first-place trophy.
After the final pitch, Cougar Head Coach Bruce Nesbitt took a minute to breathe easy - but just a minute.
"We came down here because we knew we were going to see some good teams, and we know we need that to prepare for State. This was a good tournament and we're going to savor this win for a couple of days," Nesbitt said just moments after his crew accepted the first-place trophy.
As he watched his players celebrate with each other and the family and friends that made the trip to Goodyear to support the team, he was careful not to get too caught up in the moment.
"This group gets better every day, both physically and mentally," Nesbett said. "They're getting mentally tough and they can battle back when we're behind. In two of these games, we spotted them three and four runs right out of the shoot. But we're mentally tough enough to get back into the game and make things happen. We need to stay focused."
Focus didn't seem to be a problem for Tucker when he shut down the Vipers of Verrado on Friday. He was so in the zone, he didn't realize what the box score read.
"Before the game I was really pumped up and told coach I really wanted it," Tucker said. "I knew I had a job to do, but I was in my zone and not really aware of what was going on around me. I was just throwing the ball and having a good time."
If the Cougars can maintain their momentum with a 17-1 record winning the last 16, it looks like the State title may just find a home in Cougar Country this year.
Take the Chino Valley High School (CVHS) Cougars trip to Goodyear for instance. They arrived down south for the Estrella Foothills Wolves Classic on Thursday and the numbers started to fly.
Four was the number of runs they gave up to Fountain Hills to start game one, but two was the number of runs scored as Nathan Zavos smacked a walk off home run to win the game 6-5.
How about 10? That was the number of strike-outs newcomer Kyle Dennis recorded as CVHS defeated Payson in game two Friday morning 9-3.
Zero? That was the entire Verrado box score on Friday night when Dylan Tucker pitched a no hitter against one of the toughest 4A teams in the state, putting them down 6-0.
What about 6-2 and 15-5? Those were the scores respectively as the Cougars, led by Logan Morris, put down Blue Ridge Saturday morning and Snowflake in the Championship game, where Tucker recorded another win, this time in relief.
But the most important numbers of the weekend were five and one. Five wins and the number one spot to claim the first-place trophy.
After the final pitch, Cougar Head Coach Bruce Nesbitt took a minute to breathe easy - but just a minute.
"We came down here because we knew we were going to see some good teams, and we know we need that to prepare for State. This was a good tournament and we're going to savor this win for a couple of days," Nesbitt said just moments after his crew accepted the first-place trophy.
As he watched his players celebrate with each other and the family and friends that made the trip to Goodyear to support the team, he was careful not to get too caught up in the moment.
"This group gets better every day, both physically and mentally," Nesbett said. "They're getting mentally tough and they can battle back when we're behind. In two of these games, we spotted them three and four runs right out of the shoot. But we're mentally tough enough to get back into the game and make things happen. We need to stay focused."
Focus didn't seem to be a problem for Tucker when he shut down the Vipers of Verrado on Friday. He was so in the zone, he didn't realize what the box score read.
"Before the game I was really pumped up and told coach I really wanted it," Tucker said. "I knew I had a job to do, but I was in my zone and not really aware of what was going on around me. I was just throwing the ball and having a good time."
If the Cougars can maintain their momentum with a 17-1 record winning the last 16, it looks like the State title may just find a home in Cougar Country this year.
A little respect of his own
CVHS Head Coach Bruce Nesbitt
CVHS Head Coach Bruce Nesbitt
Respect The Game. That's the motto that Bruce
Nesbitt has been repeating to his group of young ball players since he first
took the field in his role as head coach for the Cougar baseball program at the
start of the 2006 season.
In his two short years heading the Chino Valley High School (CVHS) club, Nesbitt has lead his team to consecutive post-season appearances, and this year, Nesbitt earned the honor of the 3-A West Coach of the Year award. The coach who preaches Respect The Game has earned a little respect of his own.
I began covering the local sports beat for the Review soon after Nesbitt took over the Cougar post. Our first meeting was on a cold February morning in 2006. After a long week working their regular jobs, Nesbitt, along with the rest of his coaching staff, a group of his players and a few dedicated parents, spent a frosty Saturday morning painting fences, repairing batting cage nets and picking up trash - all to show respect to their field and the game of baseball.
On that chilly early morning, as I tried to shake the cobwebs from my head, I stood listening and watching as Nesbitt told me about the program. I watched a middle-aged coach transform himself into a kid again as he talked baseball.
While visibly exhausted, his grey eyes sparkled and a smile crossed his lips as he described the club saying, "We've got some real ball players here." He praised his coaches, the parents and of course, the dedication of his players. He talked about the basics that would be drilled; he talked about the excitement that the team would bring to the community. What he didn't talk about was Bruce Nesbitt.
That's par for the course in Nesbitt's book. The Review received a tip recently that Nesbitt had received the Coach of the Year honor, yet the coach had not said a word. I called Nesbitt on a recent Saturday to get the details.
"Where'd you hear that?" was his first comment.
"A tip," I replied, trying to sound like the serious journalist that I am.
"Well, that was kind of undercover news" he said.
"So it's true, you are the 3-A West Coach of the Year?"
"Well, yeah, I guess so. It's definitely a team effort. I think it's more of a reflection on the coaching staff than on me," Nesbitt said, referring to his staff, consisting of Varsity Assistant Coach Buzz Ahrendt, and J.V. Head Coach Danny Petrie and Assistant Troy Koski. Nesbitt spent the remainder of the conversation discussing the accomplishments of his players, many of whom were named to the All-Conference team. When I tried to steer the conversation back to him, he replied, "Well, there's some great coaches in this league. I feel blessed to have it. They saw what the kids and the program accomplished."
The award, voted on by the other coaches throughout the division, is a testament to Nesbitt, and yes, his staff. They battled week in and week out against teams that were often more experienced, bigger, stronger and faster. Yet each game they played was the toughest game the competition faced. The Cougars made it known throughout the league that even if the competition brought their best, they better be prepared to go home with an L in the scorebook.
The leagues coaches sat up and took note - Nesbitt and the Cougars were the team to beat the past two seasons. Although the 2007 season ended earlier than he had hoped, Nesbitt and his crew will be back and they are committed to two things: a State title and respect for the game.
In his two short years heading the Chino Valley High School (CVHS) club, Nesbitt has lead his team to consecutive post-season appearances, and this year, Nesbitt earned the honor of the 3-A West Coach of the Year award. The coach who preaches Respect The Game has earned a little respect of his own.
I began covering the local sports beat for the Review soon after Nesbitt took over the Cougar post. Our first meeting was on a cold February morning in 2006. After a long week working their regular jobs, Nesbitt, along with the rest of his coaching staff, a group of his players and a few dedicated parents, spent a frosty Saturday morning painting fences, repairing batting cage nets and picking up trash - all to show respect to their field and the game of baseball.
On that chilly early morning, as I tried to shake the cobwebs from my head, I stood listening and watching as Nesbitt told me about the program. I watched a middle-aged coach transform himself into a kid again as he talked baseball.
While visibly exhausted, his grey eyes sparkled and a smile crossed his lips as he described the club saying, "We've got some real ball players here." He praised his coaches, the parents and of course, the dedication of his players. He talked about the basics that would be drilled; he talked about the excitement that the team would bring to the community. What he didn't talk about was Bruce Nesbitt.
That's par for the course in Nesbitt's book. The Review received a tip recently that Nesbitt had received the Coach of the Year honor, yet the coach had not said a word. I called Nesbitt on a recent Saturday to get the details.
"Where'd you hear that?" was his first comment.
"A tip," I replied, trying to sound like the serious journalist that I am.
"Well, that was kind of undercover news" he said.
"So it's true, you are the 3-A West Coach of the Year?"
"Well, yeah, I guess so. It's definitely a team effort. I think it's more of a reflection on the coaching staff than on me," Nesbitt said, referring to his staff, consisting of Varsity Assistant Coach Buzz Ahrendt, and J.V. Head Coach Danny Petrie and Assistant Troy Koski. Nesbitt spent the remainder of the conversation discussing the accomplishments of his players, many of whom were named to the All-Conference team. When I tried to steer the conversation back to him, he replied, "Well, there's some great coaches in this league. I feel blessed to have it. They saw what the kids and the program accomplished."
The award, voted on by the other coaches throughout the division, is a testament to Nesbitt, and yes, his staff. They battled week in and week out against teams that were often more experienced, bigger, stronger and faster. Yet each game they played was the toughest game the competition faced. The Cougars made it known throughout the league that even if the competition brought their best, they better be prepared to go home with an L in the scorebook.
The leagues coaches sat up and took note - Nesbitt and the Cougars were the team to beat the past two seasons. Although the 2007 season ended earlier than he had hoped, Nesbitt and his crew will be back and they are committed to two things: a State title and respect for the game.
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