Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Ajo, Pima County, Arizona
YOUR
HOMETOWN
NEWSPAPER
SINCE 1916
Volume 98, Number 46 ©2022
Local business aid program announced grant winners
Center stage at the most recent meeting of the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce was the
announcement of 25 local businesses, winners of assistance grants in the Kickstart Ajo program.
Grant-winning local entrepreneurs were present at the meeting along with Kickstart committee
members and supporters, including (first row) Victor Garcia, Cristal Franco, Bo Johnson, Mary Pat
Jennings, Jovita Wallace, Glen Kenoyer, Deborah Mullins, Ariella Walker, and Cinnamon Robles;
(second row) Christian Cotay, Jean Vernon, Jody Proscia, Sylvia Schroeder, Caitlyn Allen, Rita
Lloyd-Mills, Klaila Neblina, and James Baxter; and (third row) Dominque Segundo, Patti Mars,
Aaron Cooper, Rona Cotay, Anthony Molina, Sergio Hernandez, Arlene Dreste, Karen Sucharski,
Carol Spencer, Morgana Cooper, Sherri Hurd, Kelley Wilbur, and Nick Sarro.
Business owners who were awarded assistance who are not pictured here include Arria Palos
and Jason Horton.
Kickstart Ajo, an economic de-
velopment project now a half-de-
cade old, recently awarded a new
round of small business assistance
grants. At the most recent meet-
ing of the Ajo District Chamber
of Commerce, 25 local businesses
were announced as recipients of
forms of assistance totaling nearly
$30,000.
The program is a rural business
support initiative funded by the
Freeport-McMoRan Foundation.
Its stated goal is one of strength-
ening and attracting small busi-
nesses to the community.
One challenge in starting and
running a business in a place like
Ajo is the high-risk to low-reward
ratio that small businesses face in
all rural locations with a seasonal
economy.
Kickstart Ajo tries to balance
the risks and benefits by assisting
small business owners with ad-
vice, mentoring, networking, and
loans.
Rita Lloyd Mills from the
Freeport-McMoRan Foundation
said the total award this year was
the largest so far. “Ajo is such a
special place,” said Lloyd Mills,
“near and dear to my heart.”
This year there was an unprec-
edented number of participants.
Jason Horton received funds to
help purchase a dump trailer for
Jason Horton Construction.
Sergio Hernandez was awarded
matching funds to purchase pool
tables and other things to help
Tacos El Tarasco expand its eve-
ning business.
Glen Kenoyer accepted funds
to improve the website for Desert
Sky Jeep Tours, and to purchase
equipment.
He also accepted tenant im-
provement funds on behalf of
Cindy Phelps to refurbish guest
areas at the Ajo Community Golf
Course.
Arlene Dreste was awarded
technical assistance for business
plan development to aid Desert
Haven Animal Clinic.
Jody Proscia received a mini-
grant to buy equipment for her
baked goods business Jody’s
Delectables.
Cinnamon Robles accepted a
mini-grant to expand her business
Cinnamon’s Creations.
Karen Sucharski picked up a
matched savings grant that will
let her purchase equipment for the
Ajo Clay Studio.
Kathie Kooken received mini-
grant funds to buy raised beds for
her developing business, Sonoran
Garlic.
Dominique Segundo accepted
a mini-grant to buy baking equip-
ment for a new food business.
Patti Mars was awarded techni-
cal assistance, branding develop-
ment and a mini-grant for equip-
ment for Desert Flour Bread.
Kelley Wilbur was given a
mini-grant for a massage table and
other equipment for Central Reiki.
James Baxter accepted a
matched savings grant, marketing
support and technical assistance
for the artistic enterprise Subtle
Flux Studio.
Arria Palos was also awarded
funds to help her in her work as an
artist.
Carol Spencer received tech-
nical assistance and help with
professional development for
her massage therapy practice,
Massage with Carol.
Jean Vernon was given grants
for equipment purchases for
Horsefly Studio.
Sylvia Schroeder was awarded
technical assistance and a matched
savings grant for Maddie Made
Buns.
Klaila Neblina received a mini-
grant for cooking supplies and
food certification for Antonio &
Klaila’s Mexican Food.
Morgana Cooper accepted
matching funds to help buy youth
boxing equipment for Bonzai
Studio.
Anthony Molina was awarded
funding for photo editing software
and equipment upgrades. for Big
Tone Photography.
Mary Pat Jennings received
technical assistance and building
electrical upgrades for Cornelia’s
Curations & Curiosities.
Nick Sarro accepted funds for
upgraded equipment to help in his
work as a photographer and app
developer.
Rona & Christian Cotay were
awarded assistance to help expand
Ajo Snow.
Pat Fisher and Deborah Mullins
received technical assistance for
social media development and
other things for the Ajo Store.
Caitlyn Allen and Sherri Hurd
of Ajo Fitness were awarded mon-
ey to replace worn out exercise
equipment.
Ajo school board talked
personnel and funding
At last week’s meeting of the governing board of Ajo Unified School
District, the board considered personnel issues, the approval of a pro-
posed 2023 budget, and the disposal of unused library books.
First on the agenda was the consideration of the resignation of
Certified Technical Education teacher Angela Garcia. Garcia is leaving
the CTE position to take a job with Head Start, also located on the cam-
pus of Ajo schools, but is not administered by the district. Head Start is
a federal program and is administered independently.
A sticking point in the move is that Garcia already signed a contract
with Ajo schools as the CTE instructor for next school year. Leaving
one job for another can be considered a breach of that contract.
AUSD includes something called a liquidated damages clause on
working contracts with teachers. The clause states that if the teacher
breaks their employment agreement during the school year, they will
have to pay a monetary penalty to the district. In Garcia’s case, it would
be around $1,000.
School Superintendent Dr. Roman Soltero, in his first board meeting
as the new superintendent, recommended activating the liquidated dam-
ages clause and imposing the penalty in Garcia’s case but he also noted
that the board has the discretion to waive it.
Soltero noted that in some cases, districts with similar clauses waive
the penalty if a teacher accepts a new job that could be considered a
promotion, like from a teacher to a principal. In Garcia’s case, both the
new and the old positions are considered teacher positions, so it’s not a
promotion.
Soltero also pointed out that Garcia signed the 2022/2023 contract
with AUSD back in March of this year. The new position she applied for
wasn’t advertised until after that date, a fact that could be considered out
of Garcia’s control.
One reason the school includes the liquidated damages clause is the
hardship for the school to replace a teacher that resigns before the end of
their contract, in some cases, having to ask other teachers to cover until
a replacement is found.
School board president Rodney Hopkins said it was his understand-
ing, with the school year not even started yet, that a replacement for
Garcia had already been hired. School Principal Dr. Lance Chebultz
said that’s not exactly true. A new CTE instructor is up for consider-
ation, namely Dionne Vega, but Vega is being brought on to teach culi-
nary arts. Garcia’s specialty is instructing highschoolers in early child-
hood education. The district was hoping to offer both CTE electives in
the coming year.
In addition, district & superintendent secretary Angelina Valenzuela
said getting a credit for CTE classes may require a student to take a class
in the same category for two years, one year building on the next. So,
offering an early childhood education elective would still require find-
ing another teacher to cover it.
The board is expected to vote on the issue at Wednesday’s board
meeting.
The board discussed other personnel issues including Vega’s em-
ployment as CTE/culinary teacher, hiring English teacher Gena Lapez,
the resignation of special education secretary Candice Moore, and the
re-assignment of Debbie House as the new SPED secretary.
The board also discussed Pre-K funding, a budget proposal for Fiscal
Year 2023 from business manager Laura Smith, approving the funding
of the school’s Jump Start program, and the disposal of unused library
books as recommended by school librarian Dawnell Connelly.
Woman’s remains
were found in Ajo
Pima County Sheriff’s
Department is seeking informa-
tion about a woman whose body
was found in a wash in Ajo.
According to Lt. Jeremy Olsen,
“On 7/10/22, deputies responded
to the area of 5th/Railroad for a
report of a man down. They dis-
covered a deceased female in the
wash. At this time, the cause of
death and the identity is under in-
vestigation. At this time, there is
no indication of suspicious activ-
ity or suspects. Anyone with in-
formation regarding this incident
is requested to contact PCSD.”
The PCSD Ajo phone number
is 520-387-8539. Their office is
located at 1249 N. Well Road.
Weather Report
TEMPERATURES Max Min
Friday, July 1 106° 81°
Saturday, July 2 107° 82°
Sunday, July 3 102° 78°
Monday, July 4 102° 79°
Tuesday, July 5 103° 73°
Wednesday, July 6 103° 79°
Thursday, July 7 106° 76°
Weather information is provid-
ed by Freeport-McMoRan.
For the week, expect partly
cloudy skies, a chance of rain, and
a predicted high of 107˚ with a
low of 81˚, according to weather.
com.
Excessive heat warnings in Arizona were issued earlier this
week including for Pima County. High temperatures for the Ajo
area are expected to stay around 107°. The National Weather
Service considers sustained temperatures above 105° as
potentially dangerous.
The NWS says heat should be taken seriously. On average,
excessive heat kills more than any other single weather
phenomenon, including extreme cold, tornadoes, or hurricanes.
