e-Press

- BREAKING NEWS -
Golden Shores Road Closed Tonight,
Fire Nearly In Check - Posted: September 30, 2008 3:45 PM
TOPOCK, AZ - A brush fire that's made itself visible all across the Tri-State area through very hazy skies has now consumed about 225 acres of salt cedar trees and thick underbrush along both sides of Route 66 just north of Topock Marina. The blaze also forced the closure of the road that's accessible from Exit 1 and Interstate 40, then runs some five miles north to Golden Shores. The incident commander is Jon Earl from the Havasu Wildlife Refuge (HWR), who said wildland fire teams are keeping the burning salt cedar trees in check. Earlier today, HWR firefighters were working alongside crews from the Mohave Valley Fire Department.
"I was talking to some of the crew and they said that [some areas] are still very hot," Earl told TSN. "The duff and what's burned over is extremely hot. Last I heard, the road is going to be closed through tonight."

Fatal Accident Victim Identified - Posted: September 30, 2008 1:52 PM
KINGMAN - The name of the Kingman man killed in a Monday traffic accident in northwest Arizona was released Tuesday by the Mohave County Sheriff's office. Spokeswoman Trish Carter said Robert Pernal, 48, was dead at the scene of the 2:21 a.m. accident about 22 miles north of Kingman on Stockton Hill Road.
Carter said Pernal was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his 2003 Toyota pick-up truck. He was ejected as the vehicle rolled approximately 3 1/2 times.

Topock Brush Fire Shuts
Down Road To Golden Shores - Posted: September 30, 2008 10:43 AM
TOPOCK, AZ - A brush fire visible from as far south as Lake Havasu City has consumed about 200 acres of salt cedar trees and forced the closure of the highway just north of Topock, near Exit 1 and Interstate 40. Mohave Valley Fire Chief Bob Kemp told TSN the blaze started sometime this morning about a mile-and-a-half north of I-40 along Route 66.
"There is a road closure, on Highway 66 from I-40 all the way to Golden Shores," he said, adding that drivers using the five mile stretch of road will need to find a different route while the fire is active.
"It will probably be closed all day and throughout the night," Kemp said. He added it is not known at this time what started the blaze and as of 9am this morning, fire crews have it 20% contained.

Employment Odds Favor The Casino
LAS VEGAS, NV - Management at Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas says some 65,000 job applications have been turned in since July from those people interested in working at the new $2.3-billion Encore Resort and Casino -- but there are only 5,300 jobs available.
The Las Vegas Sun reports that Owner Steve Wynn is planning to put 1,700 employees from Encore's sister property, Wynn Las Vegas, at the new mega resort. If Wynn does go through with the transfer, the Encore will then employ around 7,000 workers. The 2,034-room resort is scheduled to open this December.
Wynn added the interview process he plans to use is a bit unique. Basically, he wants to sit with potential employees at a hotel bar to test their small talk skills. Available positions include housekeeping, food and beverage, retail and casino gaming.

Four Men Arrested, Suspected In Gun Store Theft
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ - Four Bullhead City men have been arrested in connection with a weapons theft case that allegedly took place at a local gun store this past Friday.
Police say at around 2:15pm, officers were called to the store on Camino Del Rio, where the owner claimed three assault rifles had been stolen with an estimated value of $3,000.
Public Information Officer Emily Montague told TSN, "The store owner was helping a male customer who was carrying a large plastic drinking cup, when another male subject came into the store and said he was interested in buying a gun. Moments later, the man with the cup spilled his drink over the counter." She added that while the store owner was cleaning up the spill, the man who was looking at guns left the property with three rifles. Montague said he drove off in a black Suburban with California plates. The man who spilled his drink also later left the shop.
Nearly 12 hours later at around 2am (Saturday morning), "a police officer pulled over a black Suburban that matched the description of the suspect’s vehicle in the theft of weapons investigation. There were four occupants in the vehicle and the male driver, 33-year-old Leonardo Leo Pineda, matched the description of one of the suspects in the store surveillance video," Montague said. Detectives working the case say the video shows Pineda walking briefly into the store, then talking to the man who was looking at the guns. Police also believe Pineda was the ‘getaway’ driver.
All four men were eventually arrested and booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman on a several felonies, including burglary, theft and trafficking in stolen property.
Detectives added that one of the assault rifles is still missing and the investigation is ongoing.

Sentencing Delayed For Former Prosecutor
PRESCOTT - Sentencing for a former prosecutor who pled guilty to drug charges was postponed Monday in Prescott. The case against Craig Friesner, 58, is being handled by Yavapai County officials because of conflicts associated with Friesner's long-term associations with local legal authorities.
Friesner retired in March, 2005 after serving as a deputy Mohave County attorney for more than 18 years. Friesner previously pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit the sale of dangerous drugs for alleged sales of small amounts of methamphetamine.
Yavapai County Superior Court Judge William Kiger is expected to impose sentence following a several hour long presentence hearing set October 31 in Kingman. Prosecutor Dennis McGrane said the hearing will take place in Kingman to make it easier for Friesner's character witnesses to speak on his behalf.
The key sentencing decision involves whether Friesner is placed on probation or sent to the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Hagemyer Launches Write-in Challenge Of Sockwell
MOHAVE VALLEY - An unemployed Mohave Valley resident who last worked in the railroad and real estate arenas is making a late entry into the District 2 Mohave County Supervisor’s race. Republican Roy Hagemyer is challenging incumbent Tom Sockwell in the general election.
With no democrats or independents in the field Sockwell had been unopposed after a nominating petition challenge knocked Diane Vick out of the republican primary. Hagemyer won’t make the ballot either and can only be elected if he convinces thousands of voters to write-in his name.
``That is going to be an uphill battle, but I believe that we’re getting the word out every day,” Hagemyer said. ``I’m out pounding the pavement every day talking to people and I’m getting a lot of good reception.”
The former southern Californian said he’s worked on many political campaigns, but that this is his first bid for public office. He said his disconnection to local politics actually strengthens his candidacy.
``I have no connections to anybody and I owe nobody a dime,” Hagemyer said. ``It’s very important for our elected officials to only have connections with the public, not any special interest.”
Hagemyer said the Board of Supervisors is dysfunctional and can use some new blood.
``I’m a firm believer that the three supervisors who sit on this board in this county should be a team and they need to work together,” Hagemyer said. ``That’s not happening now and that will happen when I get elected.”

Bell Sounds New Round In
Ongoing Walker-Fabrizio Bout - Posted: September 29, 2008 1:23 PM
KINGMAN - Mohave County Manager Ron Walker questions the investment practice of the office of Treasurer Lee Fabrizio and suggests creation of an Investment Oversight Committee to serve in a consulting capacity. Walker's recommendation is an action item for the October 6 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Walker is asking for authority to form a committee whose members would include himself, Finance Director John Timko, a certified investment advisor and others.
``A majority vote of this committee will be required prior to the acquisition or sale of investments involving County funds," Walker said, in a communication to supervisors. ``Recent events have illuminated the investment practices in the Mohave County Treasurer's Office which may not have been in the best interests of the County."
Fabrizio said investment decision-making is vested with him under Arizona law. ``They can do anything and advise all they want, but the Treasurer makes the ultimate decision about how to invest and with who."
Fabrizio previously accused Walker of election tampering after the County Manager made public a personnel report siding with an employee who brought a grievance against the Treasurer. That employee, Melissa Havatone, beat Fabrizio in the September 9 republican primary election.
The Treasurer said any committee creation or other reforms should be implemented after his term is completed at the end of December and that Walker should end his anti-Fabrizio crusade.
``I don't really care what he does...I'm out of it," Fabrizio said. ``I'll advise that they ought to be doing this for the next Treasurer, not in my term."
In his memo to the Board of Supervisors, Walker indicates the separate authority of the Board and the Treasurer might be in conflict. ``While recognizing the Treasurer's statutory authority to invest funds entrusted to him, the Board of Supervisors cannot abdicate their ultimate fiduciary responsibility for safeguarding all of the County's assets, including investments."

Speed Suspected In Fatal Rollover
North Of Kingman - Posted: September 29, 2008 4:05 PM
A fatal traffic accident is under investigation in north Mohave County. Sheriff's office spokeswoman Jody Schanaman said a Dolan Springs man was dead at the scene of the single vehicle rollover reported Monday at 2:21 a.m., about 22 miles north of Kingman.
Schanaman said the victim was ejected in the accident on Stockton Hill Road near Pearce Ferry Road. She said excessive speed is a suspected factor in the accident.

Kingman Man Charged In
Homicide Arson Case- Posted: September 29, 2008 3:19 PM
KINGMAN - Investigation of a fatal residential structure fire in north Kingman has led to a homicide determination by the Mohave County Sheriff's office. A man whose name is withheld was found dead early Saturday when firefighters responded to a mobile home fire in the 3000 block of Packard Avenue.
Mohave County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sandy Edwards said neighbors heard a loud noise and saw a vehicle speed from the scene shortly before the fire was reported at 6:42 a.m. She said a car matching the description was stopped Sunday in Tempe and its driver, Shawn Avery Guerrero, 26, Kingman, was initially booked into jail on misdemeanor warrants.
The Sheriff's office said first degree murder and arson charges were added Monday and that Guerrero will be returned to Kingman for prosecution.