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(Last Update on 9/16/01)

Palominas restaurant under new management

(UPDATE 5/30/06 - THE RESTAURANT IS CLOSED AND UP FOR SALE)

By Ted Morris
Sunday, June 26, 2005 12:56 AM MDT

Cathy and Jesus Ruiz are the new managers of The Brite Spot in Palominas. The restaurant was established in 1932 and reputedly is haunted. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)

Herald/Review

PALOMINAS - The Brite Spot restaurant is under new management.

Cathy and Jesus Ruiz, respectively serving as manager and chef, took over May 9 from Dale Johnson with help from private investors. The couple have brightened up the place a bit and maintained the essential character of the establishment.

Why do customers keep coming back?

"They come for the ribs," said Sue Ruderman, mother of Cathy. The Ruderman family moved to this region in 1969. Sue's father was a cowboy in northern Arizona.

Sue's husband, John, serves as repairman for the operation.

"They called us," said Sue. "We were retired, and, so, what do parents do?"

The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.

Dinner is served 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 4-8 on Sunday and Monday. Lunch hours are planned for the future.

In addition to babyback ribs, the restaurant also serves up hand-cut steaks. The establishment also features a bar and a smoking lounge.

The Brite Spot employs approximately 24 workers, according to the family.

According to Sue, the restaurant has stood there since 1932. Legend has it that a former owner was gunned down there long ago.

Some say the man's ghost still haunts the building, reputedly resulting in occasional flickering lights.

The managers would appreciate it if anyone could provide clues to the restaurant's past.

For more information, call The Brite Spot at 366-5203. The address is 10989 E. Highway 92, Hereford.

HERALD/REVIEW City Editor Ted Morris can be reached at 515-4614 or by e-mail at cityeditor@svherald.com.

 

Good eat'n: Palominas business allows
customers to pick their own produce

BY DANA COLE

Herald Review (June 16, 2003)

Palominas -- Row after row, lines of metal trellises stretch over a plot of ground thick with tomatoes, about 3,000 plants. Sturdy bailing twine is attached to the base of each trellis, helping to support the heavy branches, lifting those that are close to the ground upward toward the metal that will bear their weight.

The tomatoes are just one of several crops at Gray's Garden of Eat'n, a new Palominas business of naturally grown produce, scheduled to open Friday.

While tomatoes are the most visible crop, a number of fruits and vegetables are being grown at the family farm, a place where visitors are invited to pick their own produce. Clinton Gray, who developed the idea of starting the family's you-pick-it, all natural garden -- no pesticides are used --said the project has been a long-time dream of his.

"I've always had a green thumb," Gray said. "Even while we were living in town (Sierra Vista), we always had a vegetable garden." Gray's backyard garden, however, pales next to the family's newest endeavor. This year, Gray, his wife Shauna, and their four children all pitched in to plant three acres of vegetables, with future plans of transforming most of their recently purchased approximately 18 acres into a garden paradise.

Located at 10501 Dove Song Lane, just off Highway 92 next to the Miracle Valley Bible College, Clinton jumped at the opportunity to purchase the property, an old dairy farm called Miracle Valley Dairy. "I wanted this particular piece of property because it has good soil and is a highway frontage location," he said. He purchased the acreage last November and the whole family worked together to get the first crops planted.

Shauna Gray is keeping a watchful eye on their 2-year-old son, Hyrum, who is busily digging up plants with his shovel. "I hope those are weeds," she said, squinting at the youngster from beneath a straw hat.

Just inside the doorway of the barn, Shauna Gray is painting a sign for the business. "We have a lot of work ahead of us. But we're excited about how much we've accomplished so far. It's a matter of tackling this one project at a time."

The barn, a long narrow structure which was used when it came time to milk dairy cows, is now destined to be a greenhouse once the necessary renovations are finished.

"I'm planning to replace the roof and will eventually have all types of plants in this area," Clinton Gray said, pointing toward the long section of the barn where milking had once been done. The couple hopes to open a store at the front of the barn, complete with walk-in cooler, restrooms and an office.

But for now, the immediate focus is getting the property ready for the second round of crops, a time-intensive task that involves installing drip systems, making trellises and hauling in semi-truck loads of fertilizer.

"Our drip system is buried a couple of inches under the soil," Clinton Gray said. "We've installed timers with controls that are set specific to the different types of plants."

The goal is to be able to water efficiently, conserving as much water as possible. Huge semi-trucks, 46-feet long, haul in enough fertilizer to cover 26 cubic yards.

After visiting other produce farms with similar you-pick-it formats, the Grays were able to gather ideas and capitalize on what other businesses tried. "We visited Dave Stutzman's farm in Camp Verde and got some good ideas from him," Clinton Gray said. "His place is very successful -- people come all the way from Phoenix for produce. We also visited Young Farms in Dewey, another successful produce business."

Shauna Gray added, "For those who don't want to pick their own vegetables, we'll make arrangements to pick for them."

In the meantime, the Gray children continue to work. The couple's oldest son, 9-year-old Clint, is helping his father stretch bailing twine from trellis to trellis, gently lifting tomato plant branches over the twine to give the plant more lift.

Seven-year old Benjamin, squatting down in the midst of the tomatoes, said he's proud of the garden he helped his family plant. With outstretched arms, he offers two ripe tomatoes to a visitor, while describing his role in the family's gardening project.

"I helped my parents with all this," he said with a wave of his arm. "I did lots of weeding and planted tomatoes and other things. We all helped," he said of his two brothers and sister.

"He's right," Shauna Gray said. "We're all out here every single morning while it's still cool." Hyrum has now joined his 11-year-old sister, Sariah, who is digging weeds. Out of the corner of his eye, the youngster spies the Herald/Review photographer, and scuttles off.

But older sister, Sariah, isn't quite so shy, as she talks about different crops the family has planted. "We have all kinds of squash, peppers, cucumbers, and now we have blackberries," she said. "We're going to have pumpkins later in the year and green beans."

When he's not gardening with the family, Clinton Gray works as a certified public accountant at Haymore and Gray, CPA, a Sierra Vista business he owns with a partner. A fourth generation Arizona native, he was raised in the Cottonwood area, later moving to Camp Verde and then to Sierra Vista.

"I was raised on home gardens, and always enjoyed gardening myself," Clinton Gray said.

"This business just seemed like a good fit for our whole family."

Local wildfire is contained
(April 14, 2003)

A large cottonwood tree gets caught in the path of a raging fire Sunday afternoon near the San Pedro River. A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management said the fire was contained around 10 p.m. Sunday. (Justin Levesque-Herald/Review)

BY BILL HESS

Herald/Review

PALOMINAS -- The first major wildfire of the year grew from 1,000 acres Sunday to nearly 1,500 today, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. He added that the fire was contained around 10 p.m. Sunday.

Winds this afternoon are expected to reach as high as 30 mph and are a concern for those fighting the fire, David Peters said.

The blaze is along the San Pedro River and its riparian area, he said this morning. "It's on both sides of the river."

The fire was apparently started by an illegal immigrant, Peters said, adding the assumption of the cause was based on a U.S. Border Patrol agent spotting an illegal entrant and seeing a fire in the area where the individual was standing.

The agent chased the illegal immigrant, did not catch him and when he returned to the site "the fire was growing and it was too late to put it out," Peters said.

The Border Patrol, U.S. Forest Service, Cochise County Sheriff's Office and Palominas Volunteer Fire Department are assisting BLM, he said.

Sunday, 65 firefighters, 11 engines and two water tenders were being used, Peters said, adding today crews are working on hot spots.

A burn out was done Sunday to protect a dozen structures near the fire, he said. None of the structures were in immediate danger but the burn out -- 100 feet wide and a half-mile long -- ensured the fire would have no fuel in case winds drove the blaze toward the homes, Peters said.

It will still take several days to completely control the fire, Peters said.

Today's wind forecast from noon to 7 p.m. is not good, he added. "It's a matter of wind and weather."

Palominas Now Receiving Service From New 9-1-1 System
(Dec. 6, 2002)

Palominas residents woke up Thursday a little safer because new enhanced 9-1-1 systems for the community are now at work.  Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department, said the enhanced system has taken years to receive and implement.  Now that the work is complete, the community should feel safer, she said.
"If someone called from Palominas  before today, (Thursday Dec. 5, 2002) and they were having a heart attack and dropped the phone, it could take up to 45 minutes to trace it," Capas said.
"Now, we know where the call is coming from.  This is good news for the citizens and this is good news for law enforcement."
With the enhanced 9-1-1 system up and operating, Palominas and Huachuca City join Sierra Vista and Willcox as communities with the improved emergency system.
(This article adopted and edited from The Sierra Vista Herald, 12/06/2002, written by David Rupkalvis- this edited version does not include the entire article which included similar information about Huachuca City.)

RESOLUTION NO. 02 -103

A Resolution of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors whereby the Board of Supervisors does not sanction the formation of civilian militias and vigilantism for the purpose of controlling illegal immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border and further petitioning the Federal Government to take responsibility for the problems associated with illegal immigration. 

Whereas private groups have issued public calls to form citizen border patrol militias to combat illegal immigration along our international border;

 Whereas unsanctioned armed militias and vigilantism historically breed animosity among communities by propagating hate, malice, and ill-conceived perceptions;

Whereas untrained and armed individuals operating in pseudo-enforcement activities along our international border could lead to confrontations and violence for community residents;

 Whereas the Board of Supervisors understands the frustrations experienced by property owners who have to deal with the daily impacts of illegal immigration and recognizes the right of such persons to protect their private property;

Whereas the Board of Supervisors believes in enforcement guided by the rule of law, recognizing there are legitimate and sanctioned authorities such as the United States Border Patrol and others who can and must address the issues of illegal immigration;

Whereas the United States Government has utterly failed to provide adequate resources or a comprehensive immigration plan to deal with illegal immigration, thereby resulting in inadequate security along the international border and the transfer of unacceptable costs and impacts to Cochise County and the communities within the county;

Whereas the United States Government must take responsibility, fiscal and otherwise, for a national problem that impacts the well-being, safety, and security of the residents of Cochise County and other border communities;

Now be it therefore resolved, that the Cochise County Board of Supervisors does not sanction the creation and operation of armed or unarmed militias and vigilantes for the purpose of controlling illegal immigration at or near the U.S. Mexico border; 

Be it further resolved, that the Cochise County Board of Supervisors demands that the Federal Government recognize and take responsibility, fiscal and otherwise, for problems associated with illegal immigration. Cochise County urges the Federal Government to consider comprehensive reform of the nation’s immigration policy and to ensure that communities, health care agencies, and local government agencies are not burdened by the costs of and responsibility for illegal immigration.

Passed and adopted this 26th day of November, 2002

APPROVED: 

_______________________________

Patrick Call, Chairman 

ATTEST AS TO FORM: 

________________________________

Nadine M. Parkhurst, 
Clerk of the Board

The (Naco) Border Light Problem & Updates

UPDATE 11/19/02: Work was begin on Nov. 18th to shield and redirect the 16 remaining light standards that were shining brightly into Palominas. By the afternoon of the 19th, the modifications seem to be complete.  And they have significantly decreased the light pollution seen here in Palominas and at the observatory.  I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE OFFICIALS  AT THE NACO STATION FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND QUICK ACTION (It only took a little over 5 months to get the modifications done!). AND thanks to everyone in the community for their efforts and action to get this resolved!
UPDATE 11/01/02: I received a call from the Chief B.P. Agent in Naco - the funding for the modifications to the lights has been approved and they should be complete by NOVEMBER 18, 2002.  We sure appreciate this cooperation from the B. P.!
UPDATE 10/21/02: No Progress - But we've been promised action before too long.
UPDATE 9/25/02: NO Progress - But we've been promised action before too long.
UPDATE 7/19/02: PROGRESS! Four of the light poles (8 lights) have been modified to shield the lights and angle them more to the south.  Once a suitable arrangement is achieved with these eight lights, the remaining lights will also be modified. We're very pleased that the officials at the Naco Border Patrol station is taking this prompt and positive action.
UPDATE 6/28/02: I have spoken with the Deputy Chief of the Tucson Sector concerning the lighting impact on Palominas.  They are aware of the issue and have assigned a team to look into the problem.  Let's hope there is action soon!
UPDATE 6/18/02:  I have met with officials at the Naco station, and efforts are underway by the B.P. to minimize the effects of these lights on Palominas. 
You can also inform the headquarters of the Tucson Sector at (520) 670-6871 (Chief Patrol Agent David Aguilar).  These lights were activated on June 14, 2002.
These lights have destroyed the nighttime rural character of Palominas, and have essentially killed all operations and research at Palominas Observatory.  The situation can be somewhat corrected if the lights, instead of facing west into Palominas, be directed to point directly south and shielded.

Palominas Enhanced 9-1-1 Coming Soon!  ( News item dated 2-25-02)

It is official.

The latest simulation test, for the 366 phone prefix area and the
other areas that are grouped together with the 366 prefix area,
exceeded the 95% accuracy required by the State of Arizona.  The four
areas include: Benson, Douglas, Huachuca City, and Palominas (BDH&P).

These four areas are the next to "go enhanced". The Arizona State
9-1-1 coordinator has given the "thumbs up" to these areas to purchase 
and install the necessary equipment in preparation for Enhanced 9-1-1
service.

Presently, these areas have 9-1-1 service, but the dispatcher who
answers the call does not receive any address information.  When these
areas become enhanced, this will change.

The Palominas area does not need to purchase any equipment because the
calls from Palominas are routed to the Cochise County Sheriff's office
which is already equipped to accept enhanced 9-1-1 calls. However, the
Palominas enhanced 9-1-1 service will not be activated until the other
three areas are ready.

The projected date for the upgrade to enhanced 9-1-1 service is the
first week in June, 2002.

Tommy Stoner
Assistant Chief
Palominas Volunteer Fire Department

Neighbors' fight ends in compromise

He still will have to quit working on March 1, but can hold onto the equipment until he can get a legal business going.

The Palominas Christmas Parade! - Read the story (S.V. Herald) & See The Pictures (Doug's pictures)

Schools Get First Running Track  (S.V. Herald, November 2001)

The Palominas School District is on track with its first running track.  Friday (November 30, 2001), the finishing touches were put on the track at Valley View School.
"We're really excited about this." said Valley View Principal Martin Ellsworth.  "Up until now, we've been taking our students to Barnes Field House or all the way to Benson for track and field practice and events."

With some of the stricter regulations for access onto Fort Huachuca, Ellsworth is relieved that the track has been completed.

The track was paid for with money the district saved in its capital funds budget.  Ellsworth said that the school board and superintendent supported the idea of providing a running track for the school district, which will be used for all three of its schools - Palominas, Coronado and Valley View.

Ellsworth added that Valley View's gymnasium is only half the size of a regulation gym, which means Valley View's students use the gymnasiums at Palominas and Coronado for special events and competitions.

"So this is a trade-off.  In the spring, during track and field season, the other two schools will be using our running track," Ellsworth said.

The community of Palominas has no recreational facility, and Ellsworth said the track will be open to the public except when school is in session.

Available for use next week, the track is a regulation quarter-mile oval, 20-feet wide, with six lanes.

The school hopes to add lighting to the facility later.

An email letter recently received (9/15) from Deborah Divver, a Palominas resident now living out of state:

"Dear folks back in Palominas,

As I sit here, far from home, I wonder if the troops have been sent to guard our border in Cochise County. We have had such a gaping hole in our nation that has funneled many humans of unknown and known origins into our country. Can anyone tell me if they see a difference in the "watch" on our southern corridor. I certainly hope so. If not I urge all of you on the border to write the folks in Washington and remind them that the back door is wide open as usual. Now is the time to get action, and, we must keep our eyes and ears open as we are the government. God help us all thru these tough times.

Deborah Divver"

Here is another email message that was forwarded to me regarding contemporary America:

BAD AMERICAN
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001

Written by Ted Nugent, the rock singer and hunter/naturalist, upon hearing that California Senators B. Boxer and D. Feinstein denounced him for being a "gun owner" and a "Rock Star". This was his response after telling the senators about his past contributions to children's charities and scholarship foundations which have totaled more than $13.7 million in the last 5 years!!

I'm a Bad American-this pretty much sums it up for me. I like big trucks, big boats, big houses, and naturally, pretty women. I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some Midlevel governmental functionary with a bad comb-over who wants to give it away to crack addicts squirting out babies. I don't care about appearing compassionate. I think playing with toy guns doesn't make you a killer. I believe ignoring your kids and giving them Prozac might. I think I'm doing better than the homeless. I don't think being a minority makes you noble or victimized. I have the right not to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird or make me mad. This is my life to live, and not necessarily up to others expectations. I know what SEX is and there are not varying degrees of it. I don't celebrate Kwanzaa. But if you want to that's fine; I just don't feel like everyone else should have to. I believe that if you are selling me a Dairy Queen shake, a pack of cigarettes, or hotel room you do it in English. As of matter of fact, if you are an American citizen you should speak English. My uncles and forefathers shouldn't have had to die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come disrespect ours, and make us bend to your will. Get over it. I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry butt if you're running from them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the previous line. I don't use the excuse "it's for the children" as a shield for unpopular opinions or actions. I know how to count votes and I feel much safer letting a machine With no political affiliation do a recount when needed. I know what the Definition of lying is, and it isn't based on the word "is"-ever.
I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you qualify for any special loan programs, gov't sponsored bank loans, etc., so you can open a hotel, 7-Eleven, trinket shop, or any thing else, while the indigenous peoples can't get past a high school education because they can't afford it. I didn't take the initiative in inventing the Internet.
I thought the Taco Bell dog was funny. I want them to bring back safe and sane fireworks. I believe no one ever died because of something Ozzy Osbourne, Ice-T or Marilyn Manson sang, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to that crap from someone else's car when I'm stopped at a red light. But I respect your right to. I think that being a student doesn't give you any more enlightenment than working at Blockbuster or Jack In The Box. I don't want to eat or drink anything with the words light, lite or
fat-free on the package. Our soldiers did not go to some foreign country and risk their lives in vain and defend our Constitution so that decades later you can tell me it's a living document ever changing and is open to interpretation. The guys who wrote it were light years ahead of anyone today, and they meant what they said - now leave the document alone, or there's going to be trouble. I don't hate the rich. I help the poor. I know wrestling is fake. I've never owned, or was a slave, and a large percentage of our forefathers weren't wealthy enough to own one either. Please stop blaming me because some prior white people were idiots - and remember, tons of white, Indian, Chinese, and other races have been enslaved too. It was wrong for every one of them. I believe a self-righteous liberal Democrat with a cause is more dangerous than a Hell's Angel with an attitude. I want to know exactly which church is it where the "Reverend" Jessie Jackson preaches; and, what exactly is his job function. I own a gun, you can own a gun, and any red blooded American should be allowed to own a gun, but if you use it in a crime, then you will serve the time. I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and
continue to make more. If it makes you mad, then invent the next operating system that's better and put your name on the building. Ask your buddy that invented the Internet to help you. I don't believe in hate crime legislation. Even suggesting it makes
me mad. You're telling me that someone who is a minority, gay, disabled,
another nationality, or otherwise different from the mainstream of
this country has more value as a human being that I do as a white male.
If someone kills anyone, I'd say that it's a hate crime. We don't need more laws! Let's enforce the ones we already have. I think turkey bacon, turkey beef, turkey fake anything sucks. I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child-it takes a parent with the guts to stand up to the kid and spank his butt and say "NO!" when it's necessary to do so. I'll admit that the only movie that ever made me cry was Ole Yeller. I didn't realize Dr. Seuss was a genius until I had a kid. I will not be frowned upon or be looked down upon or be made to keep silent because I have these beliefs and opinions. I thought this country allowed me that right. I will not conform or compromise just to keep
from hurting somebody's feelings. I'm neither angry nor disenfranchised, no matter how desperately the mainstream media would like the world to believe otherwise. Yes, I guess by some people's definition, I may be a bad American. But that's tough.

Ted Nugent

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