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As number of town's needy rises, donations do not
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
As the economy sours, local organizations are struggling to raise money to help those in need this Christmas.
On Monday night, members of the Benson Junior Women's Club and the San Pedro Valley Assistance League asked City Council for help in getting food and toys out to local families.
Michele Freeark, president of the junior women's group, said this year more than 100 households need food baskets, and they already have a list of 287 children needing toys.
The toys are part of the Benson Fire Department's annual toy drive. Fire Chief Keith Spangler said they have not come close to getting the same amount of donations as last year.
Ann Roberts, president of the Assistance League, said the food baskets are $30 apiece, and toys are estimated to cost about $20. In total, the effort needs about $4,000, and in a tight year has only gathered about $2,500 in donations.
After some discussion, the council voted unanimously to donate $1,500 to the cause. The funding will come out of the community enrichment fund, which Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols said currently has an $8,000 balance.
To make donations or to help these groups with the annual food and toy drive contact Roberts at 586-2292.
Roberts' employment with the city was also a topic of discussion Monday night, as she declined a council offer to serve as the interim city attorney for a six-month period.
The council is searching for new legal counsel after Thomas Benavidez and the Benavidez Law Group's year-long contract with the city expired on Nov. 30.
In a Dec. 1 letter to the mayor and council, Roberts said, "I want to thank all of you for your consideration and support in offering me the position of interim city attorney. However, after long discussions with my husband regarding the matter, I have decided that I will not be taking the position."
In an interview after the Nov. 24 council meeting, she said it would be tough to accept because there is an election in six months, and when her contract comes up for discussion again there may be an entirely new council and the unknowns are a big concern.
There are four members of the City Council up for reelection, including Mayor Mark Fenn, Vice Mayor Toney King and council members Lori McGoffin and David Lambert.
While it appears the four are planning to run for reelection, recalled council members Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton are also planning to run again. The two were removed by voters from the council in a special election in September.
Suagee and Tipton have continually stressed that Roberts is not good for the city, and not only should she not be the city attorney, but they have also objected to her being the city prosecutor.
Roberts is currently the city's prosecuting attorney for $54,000 a year, a position the council appointed her to last year after she resigned as city attorney when Benavidez took over.
After a short discussion, the council agreed to start advertising in various publications to search for a new firm over the next two months, and in the meantime, Benavidez has agreed to stay on under the terms of his recently expired contract.
In other business, the council voted to give city employees a holiday with pay the day after Christmas and the day after New Year's. Councilwoman McGoffin excused herself from the discussion, stating she had a conflict of interest with her husband's being a city employee.
The council also approved a contract to allow T-Mobile to install an antenna on top of the water tower. The city will get $7,000 a year for the service.
Brad Hamilton, the city's public works director, said three other companies already rent space on the tower, and T-mobile would be the last as they are running out of space.
As the economy sours, local organizations are struggling to raise money to help those in need this Christmas.
On Monday night, members of the Benson Junior Women's Club and the San Pedro Valley Assistance League asked City Council for help in getting food and toys out to local families.
Michele Freeark, president of the junior women's group, said this year more than 100 households need food baskets, and they already have a list of 287 children needing toys.
The toys are part of the Benson Fire Department's annual toy drive. Fire Chief Keith Spangler said they have not come close to getting the same amount of donations as last year.
Ann Roberts, president of the Assistance League, said the food baskets are $30 apiece, and toys are estimated to cost about $20. In total, the effort needs about $4,000, and in a tight year has only gathered about $2,500 in donations.
After some discussion, the council voted unanimously to donate $1,500 to the cause. The funding will come out of the community enrichment fund, which Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols said currently has an $8,000 balance.
To make donations or to help these groups with the annual food and toy drive contact Roberts at 586-2292.
Roberts' employment with the city was also a topic of discussion Monday night, as she declined a council offer to serve as the interim city attorney for a six-month period.
The council is searching for new legal counsel after Thomas Benavidez and the Benavidez Law Group's year-long contract with the city expired on Nov. 30.
In a Dec. 1 letter to the mayor and council, Roberts said, "I want to thank all of you for your consideration and support in offering me the position of interim city attorney. However, after long discussions with my husband regarding the matter, I have decided that I will not be taking the position."
In an interview after the Nov. 24 council meeting, she said it would be tough to accept because there is an election in six months, and when her contract comes up for discussion again there may be an entirely new council and the unknowns are a big concern.
There are four members of the City Council up for reelection, including Mayor Mark Fenn, Vice Mayor Toney King and council members Lori McGoffin and David Lambert.
While it appears the four are planning to run for reelection, recalled council members Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton are also planning to run again. The two were removed by voters from the council in a special election in September.
Suagee and Tipton have continually stressed that Roberts is not good for the city, and not only should she not be the city attorney, but they have also objected to her being the city prosecutor.
Roberts is currently the city's prosecuting attorney for $54,000 a year, a position the council appointed her to last year after she resigned as city attorney when Benavidez took over.
After a short discussion, the council agreed to start advertising in various publications to search for a new firm over the next two months, and in the meantime, Benavidez has agreed to stay on under the terms of his recently expired contract.
In other business, the council voted to give city employees a holiday with pay the day after Christmas and the day after New Year's. Councilwoman McGoffin excused herself from the discussion, stating she had a conflict of interest with her husband's being a city employee.
The council also approved a contract to allow T-Mobile to install an antenna on top of the water tower. The city will get $7,000 a year for the service.
Brad Hamilton, the city's public works director, said three other companies already rent space on the tower, and T-mobile would be the last as they are running out of space.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Frank Edward Blanchard wrote on Dec 11, 2008 8:48 PM:
" Well I said it before I guess I will say it again.
No one can believe what they read in the Benson newspaper, living in a fantasy world the reporter seems to leave out a lot of facts. Of course most of us know that this absolutely on purpose.
Let's just call it what it truly is someone who is writing for the newspaper and a personal interest in writing in this manner it is unfortunate this time of year. Happy holidays! Maybe it's delusions" of grandeur only the reporter knows.
I absolutely agree maybe someone should start thinking about opening a newspaper locally in Benson to get the actual truth rather than half articles that are only one-sided how absolutely despicable.
It is indeed the same old business of a smear campaign which has no business in reporting the truth.
Maybe Cave radio can start running a local News Hour to get the truth to the community. That would certainly set things straight to get the actual truth. I'm sure they can find someone on their staff to be an investigative reporter and get the real truth out to the people. It would go a long way in proving the local newspaper is not reporting all the facts.
I am rather appalled by that a smear campaign discrediting a former consul member who is trying to run again in the election. In a political sense its muddying the water trying to ruin the candidate before they even get out of the gate.
Does anyone see a parallel from the past smearing, muddying the water, and half-truths in our local newspaper discrediting candidates.
Do a little dance single little song" and point the finger in the wrong direction same old story different day the reporter must think the people of Benson just fell off the turnup truck,
Despicable behavior from the local newspaper and the reporter who would write in such a manner. "
No one can believe what they read in the Benson newspaper, living in a fantasy world the reporter seems to leave out a lot of facts. Of course most of us know that this absolutely on purpose.
Let's just call it what it truly is someone who is writing for the newspaper and a personal interest in writing in this manner it is unfortunate this time of year. Happy holidays! Maybe it's delusions" of grandeur only the reporter knows.
I absolutely agree maybe someone should start thinking about opening a newspaper locally in Benson to get the actual truth rather than half articles that are only one-sided how absolutely despicable.
It is indeed the same old business of a smear campaign which has no business in reporting the truth.
Maybe Cave radio can start running a local News Hour to get the truth to the community. That would certainly set things straight to get the actual truth. I'm sure they can find someone on their staff to be an investigative reporter and get the real truth out to the people. It would go a long way in proving the local newspaper is not reporting all the facts.
I am rather appalled by that a smear campaign discrediting a former consul member who is trying to run again in the election. In a political sense its muddying the water trying to ruin the candidate before they even get out of the gate.
Does anyone see a parallel from the past smearing, muddying the water, and half-truths in our local newspaper discrediting candidates.
Do a little dance single little song" and point the finger in the wrong direction same old story different day the reporter must think the people of Benson just fell off the turnup truck,
Despicable behavior from the local newspaper and the reporter who would write in such a manner. "
Tired of it all wrote on Dec 20, 2008 1:57 PM:
" I am so friggin tired of hearing about the city council and who did what to who!!! Even in an article that should promote helping the children in the area!! There is no escaping it!!! They need to flush the whole council, anyone that ever had anything to do with it and start all over! Including Tipton and Suagee! Benson has become a political circus!!! All politicians are crooked, and all newspapers have their own motives!! This is nothing new people!! "
Why are you hiding wrote on Dec 10, 2008 10:07 AM:
I was at this meeting and a whole lot more than what is reported here went on.
Information about the council meetings should be reported as such with the proper heading so that people can find it, see it and read it.
This news paper is such a poor excuse for a NEWS PAPER. It is a disgrace and the public should run it out of town.
Please someone needs to start another paper with factual information. Something that is not an opinion piece but reports the facts. "