December 2011 Oracle Towne Crier

“Almost all the news, part of the time.”Volume 1, Number 8 December 2011 FREE

Also In This Issue:

Fun & GamesCheck Out the ‘Tickle Your Funny Bone’ & Crossword Puzzle on

Page 13

Who you gonna call?

Ghost hunters visit Acadia Ranch MuseumSee Story, Pages 8 & 9

Dr. Michael Miles Discusses Dietary

Supplements,See Pages 14 & 15

Oracle Bids Farewell to Glen & Carol Merriman,

See Page 16

Page 2 Oracle Towne Crier, Oracle, Arizona December 2011

Oracle Towne CrierJames Carnes…...........................................PublisherJennifer Carnes.................................… Managing EditorMichael Carnes….......................General ManagerJohn Hernandez.........................................ReporterJanis Graham….........................Office ManagerJoanne Lapa................................Advertising Sales

Email: Submisions & Letters: [email protected]

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Advertising InformationWe have very attractive rates available.

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TRIAD is a cooperative project composed of seniors, Pinal County Attorney’s Office, Pinal County Sheriff’s Department, Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens, and other community partners who are dedicated to preventing the victimization of seniors, improving their quality of life and reducing consequences associated with abuse and misuse of

prescription medications and alcohol. Community members are welcome. Call to sign up for volunteer opportunities.

Oracle Triad – Meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month at 3 pm at the Oracle Fire Department.Clean out your medicine

cabinet & cupboards:Medications must be in the original containers.

No needles, inhalers or liquids please.

Drop off: Sun Life Family Health Center

23 McNab Parkway, San Manuel • 385-22348 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Unsung Heroes ... For many in our community, volunteers are the “Unsung Heroes” who quietly provide assistance whenever and wherever it is required. We at TRIAD would like to honor those among us who go out daily to be of service, and who often go unnoticed. If you know of someone who fits this description and would like to see them honored, please contact [email protected] or call 520-896-2108 with that person’s name, and a description of their work. They will receive a certificate of achievement and be mentioned in this news page.

Oracle TRIAD aims to:• Increase community knowledge on the harmfulness of abuse/misuse of alcohol and prescription medications.• Protect older adults from neglect, abuse and fraud.• Understand the risks of depression, isolation and suicide for older adults.• Educate, provide resources and promote services for a healthy and safe quality of life.

By Sedona Sunrise Just four and half years ago five women got together at the “Sonoran Bed & Breakfast” in

Oracle to celebrate a birthday. These five women were all business owners and friends. They had so much fun during

the celebration they decided they would get together once a month and support each other in the growth of their businesses as well as the growth of their community. This was the birth of the Oracle Women’s Network (O.W.N.). Today O.W.N. has grown into an organization of 25 women whose mission is “To provide women entrepreneurs in Oracle an opportunity for education, networking, and business services”. Growing and developing the community is their goal. The group gets together once a month usually on the first Friday at 8 a.m. Most months they meet at the C.O.D. Ranch out on Mount Lemmon Road for an incredibility delicious breakfast put on by C.O.D.’s master chef David Raneri. When not meeting at the C.O.D., they meet at the facilities of their various members. At each meeting members and guests have a minute to introduce themselves, tell a little about their business, explain their ideal client and share their “tag” line with the group. Each month two members have five minutes to go into greater depth regarding their business. These presentations help each member to focus on how to best present their businesses as well as allow members to become

On Dec. 9, two very lucky children were awarded a full year music scholarship from the O.W.N. (Oracle Women’s Network) for the year 2012. The awards were presented by Mary Gibson, outgoing President of O.W.N., and Elaine Helzer. Shown left to right in front row is Elaine Helzer next to Rickey Tucka first place award winner and Aiko Robles second place winner. Back row left to right is Rickey’s grandmother Diana Hall and Aiko’s mother Flora Robles with Mary Gibson. (Submitted photo)

What is O.W.N. (Oracle Women’s Network)?familiar with the other businesses represented. In this way, the members are able to refer their friends and family to each other. After the introductions, the meeting consists of presentations by outside speakers and/or members. The presentations are on topics such as marketing techniques, communication skills, using technology to grow their businesses.

Periodically, they do not have a speaker and will have group discussions on their goals, tag lines, their 30 second “elevator” speech and other relevant topics. O.W.N. is open to women business owners in Oracle and the surrounding communities and is currently recruiting new members. In addition to business owners, O.W.N.

encourages retired business owners and board members of non-profit organizations such as Friends of Oracle State Park, the Business Success Center and the Oracle Community Center to join. O.W.N. also supports several of these organizations with their financial contributions and encourages their membership to support

See OWN, Page 14

December 2011 Oracle Towne Crier, Oracle, Arizona Page 3

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Pinal County Sheriff’s Report

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Report is taken from the daily logs, based on the information provided by deputies. All persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nov. 6 A two-vehicle accident was reported in the area of South Mount Lemmon Road and East Campo Bonito Road, Oracle. Nov. 7 Burglary was reported in the 2000 block of West American Avenue, Oracle. A flat screen television was taken. Nov. 9 An accident with injuries involving a bus and a pedestrian was reported in the 2000 block of West El Paseo, Oracle.

No other information was available. Nov. 12 A fight was reported at the football field at Mountain Vista School, Oracle. Two adults were fighting. Nov. 12 Criminal damage was reported in the 2100 block of West American Avenue, Oracle. A rock was thrown through a window. Nov. 12 Deanna Lynn Martinez, 32, Mammoth, was arrested in the 2600 block of West El Paseo, Oracle, and was charged with disorderly conduct and assault. She was transported and booked into the Pinal County Jail in Florence. Nov. 13 Brandon Scott Grosshans, 26, Tucson, was arrested on Highway 77 near the Chaparral Market in Oracle on a warrant for probation violation. He was transported and booked into the Pinal County Jail.

Nov. 14 Theft of miscellaneous items from a yard was reported in the 2000 block of West Paseo Redondo, Oracle. Nov. 14 Ronald Johnny Valenzuela, 22, Oracle, was arrested in the area of Highway 77 and American Avenue, Oracle, on a warrant for failure to appear. He was transported and booked into the Pinal County Jail. Nov. 16 Theft was reported in the 2000 block of West Calle Grato, Oracle. Nov. 21 Theft of a dog was reported in the area of North John Adams Street, Oracle. The dog was later located and returned to its owner. Nov. 22 Criminal damage was reported in the 2300 block of West Paseo Redondo, Oracle. A vehicle’s windshield was broken. Nov. 22 An oven fire was reported in the 400

block of North Circle Place, Oracle. Oracle Fire Department responded to the call. Nov. 25 Criminal damage was reported in the 800 block of North Two O’Clock Hill Road, Oracle. A chain was cut. Nov. 25 Theft of services

was reported in the 400 block of American Avenue, Oracle. An unknown person threw their trash into a dumpster that belongs to someone else. Nov. 27 Assault was reported in the 300 block of East American Avenue, Oracle.

Nov. 28 Jack Howard Ashby, 55, Globe, was arrested at milepost 97 on Highway 77, Oracle, on a warrant for failure to appear. He was transported and booked into the Pinal County Jail. Nov. 30 An unattended

See Sheriff, Page 14


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By John Hernandez Several weeks ago, a young girl and her teachers made national news when the girl’s life was saved by an Automated External Defibrillator. The girl collapsed after her heart stopped beating. Her teachers recognized her symptoms and quickly applied the school’s AED, shocking her heart back into rhythm. The Oracle Fire

Department has been working hard to ensure that the children (and adults) of Oracle have access to an AED if, heaven forbid, a situation such as the one above arises at one of the local schools. The Oracle Fire Department last week installed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at Sierra Oaks School. The device was donated by a private citizen who wishes

Installing the new AED at Sierra Oaks are from left, Larry Southard, Carol Mulholland, Paul Farrell, Bryant Thomas. (John Hernandez photo)

Sierra Oaks latest recipient of AED from Oracle Fireto remain anonymous. Staff at Sierra Oaks School also received training at the Fire Station in use of the AED as well as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). This makes the fourth device that the Oracle Fire Department has installed in Oracle. AEDs and staff trained in their use are located at the Oracle Post Office, Mountain Vista School, the Community Center and now Sierra Oaks. An AED is a portable electronic device that is used in cases of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias which lead to cardiac arrest. They are designed to be used by lay persons with the proper training. “I hope the school never has to use the device but if they do, I am glad it is there for them,” said OFD Battalion Chief Larry Southard.

By Gary Every Recently I moved to the quaint little town of Oracle, Arizona on the edge of the Santa Catalina Mountains. As I was exploring my new home town I wandered the local cemetery, or “cementery” as the mislabeled trash

The Prospectorcans call it. It is a beautiful graveyard; many of the graves are decorated in the traditions of Mexican folk art – there are many paper, plastic, and real flowers. There is the headstone of a famous writer. The bodies are scattered across the hillside, forcing visitors to follow a meandering path through an oak forest filled with scrub jays and rabbits. Tucked off in one corner at the base of a gnarled tree trunk is a tombstone that reads, “James McAvoy - prospector and friend.” It lists his date of birth as 1889 and the place as Ireland. This is one Celt buried a long way from home. You have to wonder what it would take to lure a man to leave behind his native land and family to be willing to end up dying here alone. In this case the mystery is solved by the tombstone. James McAvoy was a prospector and for some men, once they get the thirst for gold in their blood, they can think of nothing else. Who knows what kind of tales James McAvoy had heard about

the American frontier as a boy. Perhaps he had a grandfather or great great uncle who had come over as a 49er and returned to Ireland a prosperous man. Only James McAvoy never returned. He must have fallen in love with the mountains or perhaps he spent his whole life believing he was on the verge of discovering some great treasure. I know which treasure story it must have been to lure him here, to these mountains, the same treasure story which lures every prospector who comes here - the legend of the lost mine with the iron door. The legend dates back to the days of Spanish conquistadors and an old mission established by the Jesuits on the north side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, just beyond Tucson. The church was established among Native Americans whom the friars described as “fierce”. These Native Americans would come to be known as the Apache and the church was called Santa See Prospector, Page 15


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Merry Christmas from Family First Pregnancy Care Center! A child’s first haircut is a milestone. For some youngsters, there is fear and trepidation. For others, however, it is a moment of triumph. Either way, that first haircut is one of many milestones on the way to adulthood. At Family First, we understand that those milestones begin not at age one, two or three, but in the very beginning. At conception, our DNA is established and we begin

marking our milestones. At 18 days our heart is beating. After 6 weeks, we have brainwaves. Three weeks later we are grasping objects. Our dream is simple. We want every woman and man who comes into our center to understand the joy of life, so that these early milestones lead to a first birthday, a first step, and yes, a first haircut. Join with us will you? Your support creates milestones everyday! Family First qualifies for the Arizona Charitable Organization Tax Credit of $200 for individual

filers or $400 for a married couple filing jointly. For information on this, or on any of our programs, call us at 520-896-9545, go to our website at www.familyfirstpcc.org, or stop by our center at 1575 W. American Ave on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Finally, at this holiday season, WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH for your donations and financial support this past year. Without you, we wouldn’t be here helping the mothers, youth and families of our community!

Golfers of all abilities are invited to a benefit golf outing at the championship SaddleBrooke Ranch Golf Club on Saturday, January 14, 2012. The four-person scramble competition includes 18 holes on the lush desert terrain, a cart, lunch at “The Shack on the Lake at #9” and dozens of give-aways and prizes. Sponsored by Friends of Oracle State Park (FOSP), all proceeds will be dedicated to funding a

limited re-opening of Oracle State Park. In February, March, and April 2012, the park will be opened for the general public every Saturday, and opened on selected weekdays so the popular school environmental education programs can be resumed. Over the last two decades, thousands of students from area and regional schools learned key environmental principles on the trails and natural washes of the park’s oak-

manzanita woodlands. Prizes for golfers include a free golf cart to be awarded for a hole-in-one on a yet-undesignated hole. There will be prizes for the longest putt, longest drive, shortest drive, in-the-circle par threes, most lost balls, most unusual play of the day, and many more. Golfers can sign up as a foursome for $200, or individually for $50. Full information is available from Neil Krupicka at 520-818-

Fun-Day Golf Outing helps Oracle State Park reopen in February7883 or [email protected]. Oracle State Park was closed in October 2009 due to severe state budget cuts. Since then, FOSP has partnered with Arizona State Parks to help preserve the historic Kannally Ranch House and grounds, maintain its 15 miles of hiking

trails including those linked to the Arizona Trail, coordinate removal of dead treees. More importantly, FOSP has worked to reach an agreement with State Parks to help fund limited park operations for three months this spring and three months in the fall.

The golf outing will help FOSP reach its fund-raising goal of $21,000. A membership drive and donations outreach will continue. More about Oracle State Park and its non-profit “Friends” is at www.azstateparks.com and www.friendsosp.org.


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By John Hernandez When it comes to grant funding, you can never have enough. Just ask the Oracle Fire Department. Some new funding has allowed it to extend and expand the brush abatement program. The Oracle Fire Department has received grants totaling $121,400 from the Arizona State Forestry Division that can be used for brush abatement around private homes. The funds allow a private homeowner living within a quarter mile of Federal land to receive a signifi cant savings in the cost of clearing brush from their land by the Arizona State

Forestry Division and their Arizona Department of Corrections Wild Land Fire Crew. Under the grant private homeowners will only have to pay 10 percent of the cost with the grant providing the remaining 90 percent. There are many homeowners living within a quarter mile of the Coronado National Forest. The Oracle fi re Department sent out 114 letters to qualifi ed property owners in Oracle. They have received 65 requests for brush abatement work. Firefi ghter Tina Acosta manages the pre-work evaluation walk through with the homeowner. During the walk through potential fi re hazards are pointed out

Crews from the Arizona Department of Corrections’ Wildland Fire Crew work to clear brush in the Oracle Fire Department’s brush abatement program. The department received grant funds to clear a fi re break between private land and state land and forest land. (John Hernandez photo)

Oracle brush abatement program to expandand the areas that will need clearing are identifi ed. The National Firewise Communities D.O.C. Wild land Fire Crew is then brought in and the abatement objectives are

explained to them. “The main objective is to create a defensible perimeter around the homes,” said Oracle Fire Department Battalion Chief Larry Southard.

The Arizona Department of Corrections Wild Land Fire Crew has been doing an excellent job with brush abatement projects around Oracle. This is part of the Community Wildfi re

Protection Plan which has been developed between the community of Oracle and government agencies to identify wildfi re hazards and minimize the dangers should a wildfi re occur.

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By Sigrid Settle I woke up this morning to my sunburned neck hurting and snow on the ground outside; I mean who gets sunburned at the beginning of winter season? This seemed no more strange to me than the fact snow had fallen but the leaves on the mesquite trees were still attached. I knew the chill winter air was on its way despite the fact that the trees hadn’t forecast winter’s early arrival. I had an ace-in-the-hole so to speak, my woodpeckers and they were the reason I woke up with a blistering sunburn. It had started several weeks before; the sound of the woodpecker circling around my house and yard, trying this corner or that corner with its sharp beak to start it’s inevitable search for the perfect place to burrow in and build a warm and cozy home for itself before winter struck. And so the pre-winter season started for me; going around to various locations, filling in holes it had started with wood patch and smiling when it had become so desperate that it tried to drill a hole in the metal sheets that surrounded the garden shed or seeing it up on the metal eagle sculpture trying to find a likely hole for its home. With my pre-season adversary’s advice echoing in my mind I got my cooler winterized and started insulating the pipes in between searching for new holes that could be found in some of the strangest locations possible. So by yesterday I thought my preparations were complete, but the woodpecker knew no limit; it started trying to peck through a plastic cover over a vent on my house. Up went the ladder and I had to install wire across the plastic grate to try and convince this most

And so it goes at the ranch …persistent creature to give up and move elsewhere. And there I stood in the full warm sun yesterday working on the latest challenge only to find last night I had acquired a

painful sunburn. So here I am this morning in my warm cozy home, snow lying outside on the ground; my pipes safe from frost because an adversary knew, even

before the trees, winter was just around the corner. His obstinate actions had made me prepare for winter even though the trees had given me no such warning. It

does seem some of time an adversarial situation is, in fact, a blessing in

disguise. And so it goes at the Ranch ...

By John Hernandez The Acadia Ranch Museum currently has a new exhibit on display: Elizabeth “Leslie” Fuller – Deerfield’s Gift to Oracle. The exhibit includes paintings, photographs and artifacts associated with Fuller. The exhibit was curated by history writer Cathy

Ellis and architectural design/history expert Chuck Sternberg. It will be on display through the fall. Leslie Fuller came from a family of admired artists from Deerfield, Massachusetts. She spent her winters in Oracle painting the surrounding landscapes. She also supplied many elegant

Museum exhibits Leslie Fullerdrawings and water color illustrations of Hohokam and other Native American artifacts that had been excavated by her good friend Alice Carpenter. The Oracle Historical Society is interested in any stories, paintings, or artifacts associated with Leslie Fuller. If you would like to share information about Leslie please contact OHS at (520) 896-9609, email: [email protected] or call Chuck Sternberg at (520) 896-9574.


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Ghost hunters By John Hernandez Do you believe in ghosts? According to a 2011 Rasmussen survey 31 percent of Americans believe in spectral phenomena (ghosts). A belief in ghosts and spirits has accompanied mankind since before recorded history. Ghost stories

abound in all cultures from the story of the headless horseman in Dutch and German folklore to the Llorona in Mexican tales. There has been an increase in the interest of paranormal studies in the USA. Television shows such as Ghosthunters, Paranormal State and Ghost Adventures have

On Saturday, Dec. 10, close to 70 people filled the Acadia Ranch Museum in Oracle. They were there for the Best of Arizona Wines wine tasting event. The event was hosted by Oracle Historical Society. It included fine wine from Dos Cabezas Wine Works, Lightning Ridge Cellars and Canelo Hills Winery. The Oracle Inn provided some good food and everyone had a great time! There was also a special exhibit of antique toys from the 30s, 40s and 50s. Many of the toys belonged to some of the Oracle Historical Society’s members from when they were kids. The exhibit also included some old Christmas cards from Oracle’s past and a sled from the 1920s. (John Hernandez photo)

A different kind of spirit ...

Antique toys are displayed at the Oracle Historical Society’s Museum. (John Hernandez photo)

become popular. There are websites on the internet listing place around the country that are haunted. Some hotels in Arizona advertise that their hotel is haunted and offer ghost tours as part of a package. These hotels include the Grand Hotel in Jerome and the Copper Queen in Bisbee. Recently a group of “ghost hunters” (paranormal researchers) visited the Acadia Ranch Museum. The Arizona Paranormal Activity Team is a group of people in Tucson interested in the paranormal. The team that visited the Acadia Ranch Museum was Eric, Gary and Clinton. They are relatively new to paranormal investigating but have an intense interest in the unknown. Eric, who appeared to be the leader of the group, said that he became interested in the paranormal after he and his wife had rented a house in Tucson where some unusual phenomenon took place. He said that from the first day they moved in, the place had an eerie feeling to it. Eric said he heard and saw some unusual things. He told his wife who was skeptical about such things but after awhile she became convinced something unusual was happening in the house. They ended up quickly moving out of


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visit Acadia Ranch Museumthe house which Eric is convinced was haunted. His interest in the paranormal grew and now with some friends and co-workers they formed the Arizona Paranormal Activity Team. The team is dedicated to the study of the paranormal. The team has gone out to sites around the state that have been reported to be haunted. Eric said they heard about the Acadia Ranch Museum being haunted and saw it on a website about haunted Arizona. I had personally heard about some unusual activity at the museum from museum board members who had experienced some of the activity. The sound of running water was heard and then when the sinks in the building were checked, they were dry. The sound of footsteps on the wooden floors could be heard but no one would be there. Interior doors would be slammed shut but again, no one else was in the building. I decided to visit the websites that had the information about haunted places in Arizona and see what they said about the Acadia. There were a couple of sites that listed the Acadia Ranch Museum as haunted. A few of the places called it the Arcadia Ranch. They told the story about a nurse who had worked at the Acadia when it was a tuberculosis sanatorium. She apparently contracted TB from working with the sick people. They said her spirit walks the halls tending to her patients. They also said that there was a ghost who did not like anything hung on the north wall in the museum. A painting would be hung on the wall and when the caretaker left in the evening the painting would still be hanging. When staff arrived in the morning

the painting would be sitting on the floor. I don’t believe the second story as the museum has paintings and photos hanging on all of its walls. On the websites there were some interesting ghost stories told about San Manuel and Winkelman. I will research the stories and deaths they speak about. There was also a ghost that haunted the Magma mine. There version was that a miner had been buried in a cave in when the mine was first built. His body was never recovered. His ghost supposedly haunts the mine. I have heard the story of “White Boots” a ghost who supposedly roamed the drifts of the mine. I always believed it was a story the old miners told the new young guys to scare them a little. The Oracle Historical Society allowed the

Arizona Paranormal Activity Team to set up their equipment inside the museum and to search through most of the rooms for a four hour period. They set up an infrared video camera and sound recording equipment. They also had handheld meters that recorded electromagnetic field fluctuations. The lights were turned off. I left them alone for awhile. When I returned, they told me that they had heard footsteps and picked up electromagnetic readings that indicated some type of activity. They also said that they had set up their infrared camera on a mini-tripod in the middle of one of our large tables in the Great Room. They had gone into another room when they heard a crash as if something fell to the floor. They ran back into

the Great Room and found their camera on the floor with the tripod folded up. As I was not with them at the time I cannot attest to what they told me but they were excited when talking about what happened to the camera.

There was one incident I can say I experienced. While walking with one team member, we walked through an area we had passed through numerous times before. He said, “I smell pipe tobacco.” I sniffed the air and must

admit I smelled a sweet smell of what seemed to be pipe tobacco. No one was smoking and smoking is not allowed inside of the museum. Eric told me they felt that there was some paranormal

See Ghosts, Page 14


NEED EXTRA HOLIDAY $$$$?Adrian Darimont of Oracle Inn Steakhouse and The Country

Cottage Antiques & Collectables has teamed up withJoan Long, Precious Metals Professional. Joan will be purchasing

your unwanted GOLD, SILvER & PLATINuMSaturday, December 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

at The Country Cottage, 270 E. American Ave, Oracle, AZ 85623

Coupon must be presented before metals are evaluated to be valid.Questions? Contact: Joan Long, GBA Manager, Foothills Mall

Cell: 281-804-0421 • Store: 520-297-3024 • [email protected]

Oracle

electric

Service llc

Diesel electric896-2144

rePAirs ON

equipment A/clight & Heavy construction equip.

Generators

A circle of doves ...A round of good cheer ...To wish you the best in

the upcoming year!

With sincere gratitudefrom all of us.

By Skylar Khan A petite, charming Kari Darimont welcomes guests and takes time out of her busy schedule at the Oracle Inn on American Avenue in Oracle, Arizona to answer a few questions. Ever the professional, she purposefully moves around the place, surveying dining room and kitchen as we make our way to the bar area. Nothing seems to escape her eyes. She picks up an empty box off the floor and moves it into a back room without ever losing track of our conversation. Under Darimont’s management together with executive chef Steve Shimmin, the Oracle Inn has become very popular with locals as well as people from the surrounding areas. Some guests come all the way from Tucson on German food weekends. Husband Adrian Darimont Kari Darimont pauses during a busy day at the Oracle Inn. (Skylar Khan

photo)

The Woman behind the Oracle Inn Steakhouseand his late father had been purchasing land in Oracle for investment purposes. As they continued to buy up

properties around their 3-C Guest Ranch, the family soon fell in love with the town and its people. Over

the years, family members would drive up from Tucson to rehab buildings on the ranch. First the Bunk

House, then the Nixon House, and finally the Ranchhand House which is now the couple’s new home. The investment had turned into a labor of love. The latest project of the guest ranch is the restoration of the Main House that will accommodate indoor seating for as many as 300 guests and therefore eliminate weather concerns for future events. Weddings and other special affairs are currently being held in

outdoor areas of the ranch. When son Justin, the original manager of the Oracle Inn, left to pursue a different career path, Kari Darimont was the natural choice to take over the reins. On German weekends, she personally prepares dishes according to her in-laws’ original German recipes, including Sauerbraten, Pork and Veal Schnitzels, with all the accoutrements. “I love to cook, and I love the people,” she smiles “I have really found my niche in life!”Son Nicholas is also learning the business by bartending three nights a week in the sports bar. Nicholas has been a major force behind the remodeling jobs of the restaurant and the buildings on the ranch. The Oracle Inn is located at 305 East American Avenue in Oracle and features a main dining room three private dining rooms for small and large size parties. The Sports Bar includes billiard tables and live entertainment on weekend nights. The restaurant is also in the catering business for school graduation and delivers all meals for visitors who stay at Biosphere II guest quarters. Darimont feels that a

positive attitude is very important. She likes to smile, no matter what. “I tell my staff to never say No to a customer. The customer is always right.” With a laugh, she shrugs off compliments about her sunny disposition and explains that being the baby of the family she was rather spoiled.As she walks through the bar, she greets the regulars by name, in an atmosphere reminiscent of the Cheers sitcom.

A brief Graphoanalysis of Kari’s handwriting sample reveals some interesting aspects of her personality. Overall impression is that of an engaging personality as seen in the spontaneous script. The writing is characterized by rhythm and speed. She has the ability to learn fast and act promptly.Rounded letters such as O’s and A’s have full loops. Constant mental activity and imagination are prevalent, whether she shares her thoughts with you or not. Large capitals are a testimony to self-esteem, and the clean, unencumbered lines of writing represent a levelheaded approach to business. Some of the s and p formations are topped with a smooth arc, indicating a willingness to be accommodating whenever possible. The handwritten sheet has a wide margin on the left and a narrow one on the right side of the paper. This tells us that Kari is not afraid to embrace new ventures. Add the slightly leftward slant and know that she has already checked out all the pros and cons before taking that leap of faith!


From

Dr. Bunch and Staff896-9334 • Oracle

Dr. Norman BunchSpecialist in Children’s Dentistry

• MUSIC CDs • SPOKEN WORD • MP3s • RADIO SPOTS• COMMISSIONED WORKS • LOCATION RECORDING

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Southern Arizona’s talent chooses Barn Jazz Productions for all of their recording needs!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Barn Jazz Productions, and Best Wishes for a creative and

productive New Year.

Here at Barn Jazz Productions we’re looking forward to a CD release event

for both Barn Jazz Volume 2 – The Night of the Dancing Vegetables and the new CD from Phil Maffetone and

Coralee Thompson.

Watch for the announcement right here in the Oracle Town Crier.

The Oracle Firewise Board and volunteers served approximately 450 meals at the community appreciation Thanksgiving dinner at the Oracle Fire Station. This included 54 home deliveries made by the volunteers. This was 150 more meals than what they served last year. The annual dinner is funded by donations including food. The Oracle Firewise Board and volunteers organize the event. They help organize, cook, bake, deliver and serve the dinner to show their appreciation for the community and their support of the Oracle Fire Department and the Firewise Community Program. (John Hernandez photos)

Oracle Fire Department, others give thanks

For the past two years, local nature enthusiasts and visitors from across the country have been unable to visit Oracle State Park due to its closure as a result of state budget cuts. Student environmental education programs centered on Oracle’s unique biological diversity have been been put on hold. The financial impact on the local community, estimated at nearly $218,000 annually, has dried up. Through it all, Friends of Oracle State Park (FOSP), a non-profit organization of citizens from Oracle, SaddleBrooke, and beyond, never stopped working to find a way to reopen the 4,000-acre wildlife reserve park, center for environmental education, and

Fundraising continues for Oracle State Park’s reopening in February

See Park, Page 12


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Call 385-2266 or email [email protected]

to sign up!

Stocked WithJoy

May all of our “deer” friends enjoy a seasonoverflowing with the milk of human kindness

and a new year as sweet as honey.

Thanks for shopping with us!

Oracle Market“Your Hometown Grocery”

760 E. American Ave., Oracle520-896-2232

historic Kannally Ranch House. In October, FOSP president, Cindy Krupicka, and Arizona State Parks executive director, Renée Bahl, crafted a plan to fund park operations and open it to the general public on Saturdays for three months in spring (February-April 2012) and three months in fall (September-November 2012). More importantly, the park will be opened on selected weekdays in order to resume its curriculum-based student environmental programming with a ranger and volunteers. As a result of a FOSP membership drive and intensive fund-raising efforts, businesses and individuals have responded generously. Membership has increased by 46 percent, with a large contingent from the Oracle community. “We are close to the $11,000 needed in new dollars,” reported FOSP treasurer Mary Ann Pogany, “but we aren’t there yet.” The organization is matching the first $10,000 with existing funds from its treasury. Those monies, in conjunction with dollars Arizona State Parks had already budgeted, will allow the reopening of Oracle State Park. It is the last state park to reopen. Although donations are still needed to complete the FOSP obligation of this public-private partnership, plans are already underway for a “grand re-opening” on Saturday, February 4, 2012. Hikers, bikers, bird-watchers, picnickers, horseback riders, photographers, and other nature lovers will have Saturday access to the park once again. Tours of the ranch house and grounds, which FOSP and park volunteers continued to repair and maintain, will resume. Local businesses will benefit from more visitors to Oracle. Letters are being sent to schools in the tri-community and Tucson area inviting them to schedule environmental education field trips again. A schedule of special public programs and events will be announced in January. Information about FOSP and how to make a tax-deductible donation is at www.friendsOSP.org or by calling 520-896-9269.

ParkContinued from Page 11

Students in Merry Lewers art class showed just how easy it is to be green. Students at Mountain Vista used cardboard, bottle caps, yarn, wrappers and paint to create a school of fish. (Submitted photo)

Recycle, reuse, reduce …


Solution to last month’s puzzle

Crossword: Holiday Movies

Look for the solution in the Jan. Crier.

ACROSS1. Happens in back6. *”Santa Claus is Com-ing to Town” originally aired on this network9. Popular white fish12. Before Part II13. Follows soh14. “Put your thinking ___ __”16. Madama Butterfly’s soli, e.g.17. a.k.a. Tokyo18. Not together19. *Boy who’s told, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid”21. *Misfit ungulate23. Actor ___ Holbrook24. ____ in captivity25. Western European Union28. 100 centavos in Mexico30. Start of basketball

game35. Chunk or lump37. Rounded protuberance39. Young eel40. Ayatollah Khamenei’s home41. “World” in Italian43. Troubled currency44. Drinker46. Thick, messy sub-stances47. ____ Alda48. Attitude of admiration50. Place for mutinous sailor, e.g.52. Old age, archaic53. Kids often say this to claim something55. “But I heard him exclaim, ____ he drove out of sight, Merry Christmas to all ...”57. *This happened on 34th Street61. Koko or Sampson, e.g.

65. Lobe at back of palate66. “To Kill a Mocking-bird” author68. *”The _____mare Before Christmas”69. Lively dance70. Not in good health71. “_____ as a whistle”72. Maiden name indicator73. Newt in terrestrial stage74. Laughing predator

DOWN1. Boxer training2. “For” in Spanish3. Seed cover4. Type of infection5. Unfortunate outcome6. Toward the lee7. *Like Billy Bob’s Santa8. Laundry, e.g.9. Chief or top dog10. October stone11. Village or hamlet in South Africa14. Attendant to Tiger, e.g.15. ___ degree20. Part of small intestine22. Last month24. Rubs elbows with25. *Like Bing Crosby’s Christmas

26. Plural of #43 Across27. Unfit or inappropriate29. Smoke plus fog31. Type of bargain32. Immature ovum33. Like domesticated cat gone wild34. Compound leaf of a fern36. Location of MCL38. O in B.O.42. Twig of a willow tree45. Member of military police in Britain49. One thousandth of an inch51. *His heart was two sizes too small54. Misrepresent56. Poet Dickinson57. Type of shot to crimi-nal58. Director Reitman59. ____ of thumb60. Medicinal plant61. Pepper or bombard62. “A Death in the Fam-ily” author63. Conjunction used in comparatives64. Sicilian volcano67. *Will Ferrell character in 2003

Advertise in the CrierCall (520) 385-2266

Tickle your funny bone

It’s not too early to think about 2012!Dear God,

My prayer for 2012 is for A fat bank account & a thin body.

Please don’t mix these up like you did last year.

AMEN!

A Christmas Story for people having a bad day:

When four of Santa’s elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum.. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with

a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, ‘Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn’t this a lovely day? I have a beautiful

tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?’

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the

Christmas tree.


HELEN VINSON, BROKER, 400-0242• AGENTS •

BONNIE BUSHEY, 487-9211ANGIE SALAZ-CONTRERAS, 975-4483

THERESA TROOP, 400-8292DIANE ESTRADA, 419-6888

GREG CURTIS, 241-0712

REALTOR

ORACLE OFFICE 1812 W. American Ave. • 896-9099 [email protected] • www.OLHoracle.com Se habla Espanol~

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

Oracle Listings - Homes•Solid brick home on 1/3 ac., with oak trees and a spacious backyard. Wood, slate and travertine fl oors, ceiling fans, wood burning heat. $159,000.•Excellent MH on 2.5 ac. with fantastic views, split fl oor plan with large MB, block skirting, covered deck. $78,500.•Very well maintained home surrounded by oak trees, lovely fi replace, large kitchen, quiet neighborhood. $86,500. •Over 1 1/2 ac. completely fenced ready for your children, horses & pets, 2 story home with 2 bd upstairs, 2 down. $120,000.•Lovely slump block home high on a hill with unobstructed views, 4 bd, 2 ba in pristine condition. $199,000.•Stunning farmhouse on 3.3 ac in Cherry Valley, horse facilites, garden area, peace and quite, lovely interior details. $325,000.•Enjoy the wildlife and views from this immaculate home on an acre. So many upgrades inside, fl agstone patio. $225,000.

•Almost new MH, 3 bd., plus bonus room, large kitchen with lots of cabinets, breakfast bar and DR, 360 deg. views on 2 1/2 ac, horse propoerty. $199,900.•Views in every direction from this lovely MH on 1.25 ac., heated swiming pool, horse property, everything you could want! $195,000.•Beautiful 2300 s.f. MH on 2.5 ac. with amazing views, plenty of room inside and out. $130,000.•Open plan 5bd, 2 ba home on a very private lot with great landscaping, a playhouse and lots more. $178,900.•Nice brick home in school neighborhood, large fenced backyard, large lot, remodeled kitchen. $89,000.•4 bd, 2 story home also includes a rented duplex, home has new AC, carpet & remodeled bath. Only $130,000.•Country living on Hwy 79, 2.49 ac., desert wonderland with private well, fully fenced. $110,000.•Excellent business opportunity on America Ave. Offi ce or retail space, recently updated. $39.995.•Lease with option to buy. Spacious MH on 1.25 ac. Rent for $750 and have $150 go to closing costs. $125,000

LAND LISTINGs NOT IN AD

•Great lot in center of Oracle. Ready to build on, utilities at lot line. $31,900.•Best price for 5 ac. in Oracle area, can be split, shared well. Reduced to $44,900•4 lots, 1.25 ac. each, custom home area. Owner will carry. Submit offers. $82,000.•Horse Property! Build your home or put a manufactured home on this great 3.34 ac parcel. $109,000.•Unique .69 ac parcel, awesome views, no impact fees. $55,000.•Commerical property on America Ave. owner has started construction on approximatly 6,000 sq. ft. bldg and is including building materials on site. $145,000.•Choose your own parcel from 1.25 to 3.75 ac., fl at, easy to build on, utilities at street. $84,900 to $210,000.•40 ac. for your own ranch, can be split, great investment property. $60,000.

Surrounding Area•3.92 ac. on Barrows Pl. with hilltop views. You can have site-built or MH, horse property. $59,000.•Block home new interior paint, great views, carport. $58,900.•Beautiful wooded 3 ac. lot with like new Cavco MH, great price for this home & land. $94,000.•2 ac. parcel in Mammoth w/older MH & shop. Has been surveyed into 4 parcels or you can build on it. $79,000.•Almost 1/2 ac. with MH that has a lot of upgrades added recently, hanidcap ramp. $40,000.•Well-kept home on 3 lots, wood kitchen cabinets, workshop, 2 car carport, great views. $86,500.•80 ac. with lots of desert vegetation and great views of the San Pedro Valley on Scaton Ln. $150,000.

•Privacy at the end of the road in Mammoth. Many upgrades in the home, cozy home, country charm. $114,900.•PRICED REDUCED! Hilltop views beautiful open plan, custom kitchen cabinets, SS appliances, wood burning fi replace. $125,000.•Great mountain views from this 3.75 ac. south of Mammoth. $47,000.•Just under 44 acres for your own little ranch, hilltop location south of Mammoth. $344,000.•Mammoth Bar, all equipment. $99,000 Liquor license also available. Call for details.•Nice large lot, covered patio, wheel chair ramp, metal skirting on MH, fenced yard. $19,500.•Historic Mercer Ranch, HQ parcel, 47 ac., remodeled home, corrals, hay barn, hanger & airstip., great well. $295,000.

•4 view lots, 1.25 ac. each in high view area of Oracle, homes only. Utilities at lot line. 3 lots for $95,000; 1 lot for $96,000.•REDUCED!! 3.3 ac. on Linda Vista Rd with great views, ready to build, utilities at road. $164,900.•Two Lots with shared well 1.5 ac each. Price reduced to $26,500.•Half acre plus lot with all utilities, paved road, homes only area. $33,000.•Beautiful hilltop views from 5 ac. parcel. Can be split. Horse property. Well Share. $89,500.•14 to 19 ac. lots on Florence Hwy in beautifully developed Painted Sky Ranch. $185,000 to $195,000.•1.25 to 10 ac., buy part or whole, has excellent well, borders State land, no fi nancing necessary, owner will cary. $32,000 - $125,000.

•20 ac. of fl at usable land on Florence Highway, 2 wells, completely fenced. $189,900.•.34 acre with concrete slabs and a single car garage/work area $61,000.•One acre with new access off Linda Vista, boulders, views, trees. $105,000.•7.14 ac. in Oracle with 360 deg. views. Can be split, horses allowed, MH or site built ok. $150,000.•Just over 1 ac with beautiful views, very private. Utilities in. $39,000.•1ac. in homes only area with fantastic views & natural features. $69,900.•Corner lot .48 ac zoned commerical. Easy access to American Ave. and Hwy 77. $35,000.•Sunrise, sunset and Catalina Mountain range all in your view from this 1 ac. lot. $74,900.

Oracle-Land

Surrounding Listings not in Ad

•Secluded area with great views, being sold as is for value of 1.3 acres. $39,000.•3-lots to choose from. Hill top views shared well, horse property, leveled off areas for home sites. Two lots $50,000 each & one lot $70.000.•Hwy 77 and Main, zoned commercial/residential, water, sewer and electric at property line. Leveled off pad area, great views. Owner will carry. 2.1 ac. Price reduced to $24,500.•Beautiful MH with fantastic views and 3.3 ac. to spread out in, well, fi replace, large MB, $119,000•REDUCED!! Stunning views from this elevated property on high side of Redington Rd. Can be split. 8.48 ac $149,500.•Beautiful views, 37 ac in secluded area, State land on 2 sides, zoned for site build or MH. $240,000.•4 lots with great mountain views, lots range from .34 to .60 ac. Lot 2 is $12,500, other lots are $14,500.•Large well-kept home, great views, 3 bd, 3ba, 616 sq. ft. basement with its own entrance, rock fi replace with pellet stone insert, large RV carport includes a 500 sq.ft. beauty shop with equipment. $249,000. •5 bd. home on 40 ac. on Redington Rd., quality home, artesian well. Views. $250,000•2 view lots, city water, sewer, paved roads. $16,500 each.•Spectacular 7 ac. in Aravaipa Canyon, well and septic already installed, rustic barn on property. $147,000.

We Wish You A Happy Holiday Season!

activity in the building and that he would let me know if anything shows up on the camera or on the digital sound recorder. He said they would like to come back and search some more and maybe spend the night with their equipment monitoring the area. The team then thanked me and left. They were going up to the Oracle Cemetery to see what they could find. They ain’t afraid of no ghosts! If any of you readers know a ghost story you would like to share about the Tri-Community or Copper Corridor area or a building or area that you have heard or believe may be haunted, I would like to hear from you. You can contact me at [email protected].

GhostsContinued from Page 9

death was reported in the 1000 block of North Calle Granada, Oracle. Dec. 1 An unattended death was reported in the 800 block of North Stewart Drive, Oracle. Dec. 2 Deputies made a traffic stop in the area of Highway 77 and West American Avenue, Oracle. The driver was cited and released on charges of possession of marijuana. Dec. 3 Theft of beer was reported in the 300 block of West American Avenue, Oracle. Taken was a 24-pack of Budweiser valued at $38.16.

Dec. 6 Criminal damage was reported in the 1300 block of North White Oak Place, Oracle. A window was broken. Dec. 6 Andrea Kay Gonzales, 36, Oracle, was arrested in the 500 block of North Timberline Drive, Oracle, and was charged with aggravated assault (adult on minor), child abuse and failure to appear. She was transported and booked into the Pinal County Jail. Dec. 8 Possible theft of two dogs was reported in the 33000 block of South High Jinks Road, Oracle. Dec. 8 Burglary was reported in the 2000 block of West Highway 77, Oracle.

SheriffContinued from Page 3

them as well. It is important to the group that they support the community in addition to their own individual businesses as an important part of their mission is to create a more viable community in Oracle. One of their concerns is that so many people in Oracle work in Tucson or go there to spend their

money. Tucson is in Pima County and when people spend their money there, the tax revenue leaves Pinal County. One goal of the O.W.N. group is to promote services and businesses that will help keep the tax revenue in Pinal County. O.W.N. most recently sponsored a music scholarship for a deserving child in the local area. The scholarship provided piano lessons for a year with Oracle’s local piano teacher, Elaine Helzer. After reviewing all the applications, it was narrowed down to two

finalists. Each finalist showed a great deal of promise and both were very deserving. Finally, the Team Leaders of O.W.N. made their choice. When the child’s name was announced at the December meeting, everyone was happy for the recipient, but disappointed for the other finalist. Almost immediately an O.W.N. member, who wishes to remain anonymous, volunteered to sponsor the other finalist. This is just an example of how O.W.N. and its individual members support the community.

OWNContinued from Page 2

By. Dr. Michael Miles I thought this would be a good follow-up to the recent article about vitamins. This article contains a list of supplements that I feel are worth considering for optimal health given the condition of our world today. A good multiple vitamin as described in the previous article is important when considering that our food supply has deteriorated significantly over the past century. The most sensitive components of

food, and therefore the first to be destroyed, are the vitamins. They are the keys that turn on all of our biological processes and they need to be present in order for us to work well. You should become aware of how important the multiple vitamins are to you personally within one week of starting to supplement with them. If you don’t notice a significant energy increase, then perhaps you are getting enough vitamins from your food or perhaps you have an illness that masks your shortfall in

vitamins. Another fundamental supplement that I would recommend considering is Vitamin C. It is a strong anti-oxidant and therefore protects us against all the degenerative processes in our bodies like cancer, hardening of the arteries, glaucoma, and aging itself. It also pulls out toxins that we are exposed to and is a strong support for all of the connective tissue in our bodies that hold everything in place. There are some biological trends in humans that make me especially recommend

a few supplements after the age of 50. Our production of CoEnzyme Q10 drops off dramatically after fifty. This enzyme is used to transport sugar (fuel) from the blood vessels (highways of our bodies on which are trucked essential nutrients like fuel) to the inside of the cells (through a door that is unlocked with an insulin “key”) where it is shoveled into the mitochondria (furnace) and is transformed into energy that is used to operate that cell. For example, a muscle cell will contract, a brain

cell will think, a liver cell will detoxify, etc. Because heart muscles are constantly contracting they need more energy than other cells in the body and therefore more furnaces (mitochondria) and therefore more Q10. This is why many people refer to Q10 as a “heart pill.” Vitamin B12 often drops off after the age of 50 as well. It has a very complex route of entry into the body which requires good operating stomach cells. This is why when supplementing B12 it is a good idea to dissolve it

under the tongue or take it as a shot. This will bypass the stomach and enter directly into the body. B12 is important for red blood cell production. The next supplement that I would recommend considering is N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). This is an amino acid (building blocks of our bodies). This particular amino acid is useful in many different ways. Number one is that it converts into glutathione inside each cell. Glutathione is one of the strongest

Health Issues: Recommended Supplements

See Health, Page 15


Church Directory

Oracle

Assembly of GodORACLE

Sunday School 9:45 a.m.Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.Evening Service 6 p.m.Wednesday 7 p.m.Thursday Royal Rangers 5 p.m.

Pastor Jack Siddle, Jr.Residence 896-2507 Oracle Seventh-Day

Adventist Church2150 Hwy. 77, Oracle

Saturday: Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m.

Pastor John Roybal

First Baptist ChurchAmerican Way, Oracle

520-808-3171Pastor Ray Lott

Living Word Chapel3941 W. Hwy. 77, Oracle896-2771 • 896-9020

Sunday: First Service 9:00 a.m. Fellowship Time 10:30-11:00a.m. Second Service 11 a.m.Children & Youth classes available for both services

Pastor James Ruiz

Oracle Union ChurchAmerican Ave., Oracle • 896-2544

Near Mt. Lemmon Turnoff“A community church for a world community.”Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Pastor: Dr. Ed Nelson

Sunday: School 9:30 a.m. Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m.

Free food distribution 2nd Tuesday, 11 a.m.

Psalm 1:2

To be included in the monthly church listing, call the Oracle Towne Crier 385-2266.

Oracle Churchof Christ

2425 El Paseo896-2452 896-2067

SundayBible Study • 10 am

Worship • 11 amDUB’S PLUMBING SUPPLIESand SERVICE

• BACKFLOW ASSEMBLY TESTING• SEPTIC TANK CLEANING SERVICE• ELECTRIC ROOTER SERVICE

RV STATIONPropane * Water

Waste * Trash

– PORTABLE TOILETS –INSURED, BONDED

Residential, Mobile Homesand Commercial

896-2648 FAX: 896-95803835 W. hWY. 77,

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related items

FurnacesFurnace Start-Ups

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anti-oxidants known. NAC also contributes to neurotransmitters that help the brain to work. And, cysteine is an amino acid with a sulfur atom in it that attracts toxic metals to it and flushes them out of the body. This is of great interest because of our ever increasing exposure to toxins as our industrialized world closes in on us. Another nutrient that I consider important is omega 3. These are the oils found in fish. They

get incorporated into every cell in the body and help them communicate with each other. Unfortunately farmed fish often lose their omega 3 oils because they are fed grain and essentially become cows. On the flip side, wild fish often accumulate large quantities of mercury, a known neurotoxin. This is where supplementing with NAC comes in handy as it will attach (or “chelate”) to the mercury and wash it out of our bodies. I hope you find value in some of these suggestions and that your life is enhanced by them.

HealthContinued from Page 14

Catalina de Cuitabaga, an Apache word meaning “spring where the people gather mesquite beans” but it later became known as the Lost Mine with the Iron Door. This is how the story appeared in print in the Arizona Weekly Star of February 4, 1880. “The principal gold mines were situated in these mountains and there was a place called Nueva Mia Ciudad, having a monster church with a number of golden bells that were used to summon the laborers from the fields and mines, and a short distance from the city, which was situated on a plateau was a mine of

such fabulous richness that the miners used to cut gold out with a ‘hatcheta’. At the time of the Franciscans acquiring supremacy, the Jesuits fled, leaving the city destitute of population; before their flight they placed an iron door on the mine and secured it in such a manner that it would require a considerable time to unfasten it. There were only two entrances to this city and they also were closed and all traces were obliterated so as to throw the Franciscans off the road to this Nueva Mia City.” It was quite a legend and a tremendous earthquake in the late 1800s created rumors that the Iron Door Mine had been buried beneath a massive avalanche. James McAvoy,

the adventurous young man from Ireland, was not the only prospector to fall under the legend’s spell. The mountain pass, Charleau’s Gap, is named after a Swiss man who had lost the family fortune in Guatemala before searching for treasure in the Santa Catalinas. The town of Oracle was founded by prospectors and miners such as Alexander McKay. Harold Bell Wright wrote the novel The Mine With The Iron Door, which became a movie in 1925. MacAvoy was renowned as something of a hermit, but from time to time he would leave his mine workings behind and venture into town to acquire supplies. Oracle, like most frontier towns, had problems with stray dogs. In the days before spaying and neutering, canine populations frequently soared out of control. For a time, Tucson passed a law which stated that if a man saw a dog

without a collar roaming the street and did not shoot it immediately, he could be arrested on the spot for not performing his civic duty. James MacAvoy would pull into Oracle for supplies and his first stop would be the local butcher shop. There MacAvoy would purchase meat scraps and proceed to feed all the stray dogs in town. For the next few days, a pack of dogs would follow MacAvoy wherever he went about town, and he would toss them scraps from time to time. When his business had been transacted and it was time to leave town, MacAvoy would make one last stop at the butcher shop. As the Irish prospector walked out of Oracle, all the stray dogs in town followed like he was the Pied Piper of Hamlin. The hungry dogs would follow him all the way to his remote mountain shack. It wasn’t that MacAvoy loved dogs… saw himself as more of a rancher.

ProspectorContinued from Page 4

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By John Hernandez It is hard to believe, but the Oracle Market will have been open for three years during Christmas week. Thanks to General Distributors Incorporated (GDI) and especially Carol and Glen Merriman the town of Oracle was able to get a hometown market. “I have appreciated how the company treated us and gave us the opportunity to work in the community of Oracle,” said Glen.

Sadly Glen and Carol are moving on and will no longer be at the Oracle Market. I was lucky enough to catch Glen on his last day at work. He wanted the opportunity to say goodbye to the community. As we were talking, customers kept coming over to say goodbye to Glen, shake his hand or hug him and wish him luck. One lady brought him a container of homemade soup for him to take home that evening.

Are you being served?Carol and Glen Merriman are sad to be leaving the Oracle Market that they helped open in late 2008. In this file photo, they are pictured with the employees who began this journey with them. Pictured from left are (front) Jason Auten, April Hernandez, Carol Merriman and Marie Davis; (back) Glen Merriman and Ray Davis. (Jennifer Carnes photo)

Oracle says farewell to the Merrimans I asked Glen what he was going to do now that he was leaving Oracle. He said he was heading home to Sun City the following morning where Carol was waiting for him. They would take some time off and make some decisions on their future. “Whatever we do it will not be as demanding as the Oracle store was on our time,” Glen said. He said he wanted to spend some more time with his family. He has

children and grandkids in Arizona and out of state. I told Glen there had been a rumor that he was going to open another store in Gila Bend. He said that it was a possibility. “My gift is to start businesses but I don’t like finishing them,” he said. “I did the same with churches. I would help build them up and once the congregation was going would move on.” Glen said he would like to do transitional

ministry. Glen is an ordained minister for the International Church of the Four-Square Gospel. He has been preaching for 32 years. He talked about doing outreach ministry in Alaska. Whatever Glen and Carol do it will involve people and his church. Glen said that he and Carol would like to give a big thank you to the people of Oracle and how they welcomed them. “This has been

emotionally hard on us. People were no longer just customers; they became friends,” he said. “Of all the communities I worked in grocery stores, this is the only time we ever had such an outpouring of affection and friendship from our customers. It makes it hard to leave. It amazed me how many people have given me hugs and shared tears. It’s never happened to me in the grocery business; churches yes but not grocery.”

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December 2011 Oracle Towne Crier