BY JOYCE LOBECK

The cost of the criminal justice sys-tem in Arizona has a price tag of more than $1 billion annually.

Meanwhile, over 42,000 people are incarcerated in the state prison system, a rate of 596 per 100,000 population, well above the national rate of 385 per 100,000. In addition, nearly 14,000 people are in county jails and 85,000 on probation in Arizona.

Those are among the statistics reported in the research document for the recent South West Arizona Town Hall: Criminal Justice in Yuma County.

Most of those offenders, except for the most violent and dangerous, will be coming back into the community at some point, remarked Honorable David Haws, presiding judge of Yuma County Superior Court who served as a panelist and a participant in the town hall. That raises the challenge of how to help them integrate into society as productive citizens rather than cycle back into the criminal justice system. According to one study, 18 percent of those released return to prison within six months.

In partnership with the Yuma County criminal justice system, the steering committee for SWATH (South West Arizona Town Hall) decided to tackle a variety of issues related to Arizona’s and Yuma County’s adult and juvenile criminal justice systems, including what should be the principal goals of the system, how to prevent incarceration and how to improve the

system after incarceration.Discussion in five breakout groups

– each representing a cross-section of public and private sectors of the com-munity – led to the final report and three priorities:1. “Improved and more readily avail-

able support services for at-risk children and adults to address the underlying issues that often lead to criminal behavior, such as mental health, substance abuse, poverty, life skills, parenting, ca-reer development and education-al disparities.”

2. “Community education and out-reach that fosters community awareness of, funding support for and engagement in the pro-grams and services identified in goal No. 1.”

3. “Involvement in the state’s rule-making bodies to allocate ad-equate funds for the support pro-grams needed and identified in

goal No. 1, as well as to reevalu-ate the criminal justice system, including mandatory sentencing provisions and the accessibility of the criminal justice system.”

This final report will go the Arizona Town Hall when it meets in Phoenix Nov. 8-10 to address the criminal justice statewide. Yuma’s report will also include the consensus that came out of the Yuma Youth Town Hall held in mid-October to engage the county’s high school students in a similar dis-cussion titled Law and Public Safety.

The final report that comes out of

November 2018 Volume 4 – Issue 11

See JUSTICE continued on page 10

CONGRATULATIONS!New Members pg4

Ribbon Cuttings pg6

Yuma Visitor’s Bureau Nov. Calendar pg15

Fly Dallas pg11

Member of the Month, Weld Like A Girl

pg3

Photos courtesy of City of San Luis, Ariz.South West Arizona Town Hall steering committee members Shelley Mellon (from left), Frank West and Wayne Benesch listen to panelists describe innovative programs adopted in Yuma County to address criminal justice issues.

South West Arizona Town Hall Discusses the Justice System at a Plenary Session in Yuma

Mission Statement:“To Represent Our Membership By

Advocating A Healthy Economic Climate Through The Effective Use Of Our Unique

Regional Resources To Enhance The Quality Of Life In The Greater Yuma Area.”

Tania Pavlak, Events & Outreach Coordinator

NOVEMBER 2018 Volume 4 – Issue 11

Published and direct mailed monthly by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.

For information or to ask about submitting articles, call the chamber office at 928-782-2567 or send us an e-mail at info@yumachamber.org

928-782-2567180 W. 1st St., Ste A

Yuma, AZ 85364

Sheryl Hehe, Administrative Assistant

Your Chamber team is so very proud to present the brand new, 2018 - 2020 Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Relocation Guide and Business Directory. This colorful 132 page book is the result of our collaboration with the Yuma Sun, to make sure the product was sold, created, produced and distributed locally. Please join me in extending hearty congratulations to the team of salespeople, ad designers, and world class writers and photographers. The product is top shelf . . all the way!

We changed the actual name to include “Relocation Guide’ because

that’s what it is primarily used for. Of course, it is also a ‘membership guide’ to list all 800 members of the chamber, but it is extremely useful to sell others about SouthWestern Arizona. We mail out over 500 of these books per year to people, and businesses, that are considering a move to Yuma County. Thousands more are picked up at the Welcome Center and Yuma’s City Hall. We are thrilled that this edition is truly the best one ever produced!

The publication serves as a reminder for those of us that live here what a truly remarkable place it is - because of its rich history, it’s amazing industries, it’s abundant amenities, it’s terrific people, and dedicated leaders. If you want a copy, send us an e-mail at info@yumachamber.org, and we will either mail one to you, or drop one off. If you are in the recruiting business, like YRMC or YUHSD, give us a call, and we will deliver a bundle or two to you so you may use these to inform prospects about our engaging community.

Presenting the 2018 - 2020 Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Relocation Guide and Business Directory

Wreaths are $15 each. To purchase or donate for a Yuma veteran,

please call 928-341-0994 or email wreathsforyuma2018@roadrunner.com

Ceremonies will be held on December 15, 2018

10am @ Desert Lawn Memorial Park 12pm @ Sunset Vista Cemetery

Photo by Allen Applehans

National Wreaths Across America Day is December 15, 2018

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

Do you know of a woman in our community that demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in her business and profession - AND - outside her scope of work? Does she exemplify exceptional mental and moral qualities and ethics while assisting women in their full leadership potential? Then, you should nominate this woman soon for the 2018 Athena International Award presented by National Bank. E-Mail the Chamber at info@yumachamber.org for a nomination form.

Athena Award Nomination Deadline Is Near

A T H E N AI N T E R N A T I O N A L

2 YUMABIZ November 2018

From her blog on April 6, 2017, self-proclaimed Wellness Welder, Shanen Arnmor: “Standing on the top of a mountain, it sorta felt like this voice inside of me said, ‘Do it. Take the leap of faith. You need to do this.’ I shared my dream of starting up a company with the express purpose of empowering women using the exciting medium of welding. Friends, acquaintances and even total strangers shouted, ‘Yes! It’s about time! I want to do this!!!’ So Weld Like A Girl was born.”

Us-ing 100% reclaimed or re-purposed metal, Weld Like A Girl pro-vides a safe place to explore the mysterious world of welding and cutting hot metal, understanding that this world may be completely foreign and many will need some guidance navigating along the way. Shanen serves as co-chair for the National SkillsUSA Welding Sculpture Com-petition, and is also a member of the

National Technical Committee for Welding. Being an active alumnus of SkillsUSA is a way for Shanen to give back to the industry and help guide future welders of America.

Weld Like A Girl has partnered with the Yuma Airport for a flight-themed welding sculpture contest to

beautify the airport. Sculp-tures are going to be

judged and the winners cho-

sen will be proudly

displayed at the airport. Among the entries so far are but-terflies,

planes, birds, and

a space capsule! On

October 25, Weld Like A Girl

unveiled three sculp-tures in front of historic

Lutes Casino that were built with the assistance of Foster and Adoptive Families of Yuma County. This project was funded by a Union Pacific Down-town Beautification Grant.

Congratulations on all your hard work, your vision, and your enthusi-asm for the arts and Yuma County.

Congratulations to our November Member of the Month: Weld Like A Girl

November Calendar of Events

FOR info, CALL THE CHAMBER AT (928) 782-2567

8 - Good Morning, Yuma! 6:30 am ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE 3C SCHOENING CONFERENCE CENTER. Sponsor: AWC Continuing ED program, AWC: Your Community College! Cost: $25 Members $15

9 - Ageless Aviation Dream Flights 8:00 am at Million Air FBO sponsored by Sport Clips

14 - Ambassadors, Al's Tavern 11:30 am Next to Bobby's Harley on Gila Ridge Rd

14 - Monthly Mixer - D & H Electric 5:30 pm 2333 E. Palo Verde St CUSTOMER APPRECIATION EVENT!! $No Charge

28 - Military Affairs Committee 8:00 am AL Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Ave

29 - Transportation Committee Lunch 11:30 am (Please RSVP) Old City Hall Conference Room

29 - SOUTH COUNTY SOCIAL - All Businesses invited - Rolls & Bowls, San Luis 1627 Juan Sanchez Blvd (corner of 8th Ave) $5

MEMBER OF THE MONTH

1415 S. Third Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364928-482-2288

hello@weldlikeagirl.us | www.weldlikeagirl.usYuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 3

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERSC

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!

4 YUMABIZ November 2018

The City’s Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex marked its one-year anniversary in September. And its initial report card was better than expected.

Prior to the PAAC’s opening, the City hosted an average of 16 softball and youth diamond sports tournaments per year. This includ-ed both those run by the City’s Parks and Recreation depart-

ment and those run by private organizations who rented City fields.

In the PAAC’s first year, the complex hosted 28 tournaments, almost doubling the previous average. These tournaments were often open to out-of-town teams as well as local ones. In 2017-18, 275 out-of-town teams came to play at the PAAC. These team members most likely rented local hotel rooms, ate at local restaurants, and celebrated (or perhaps commiserated) at local bars – all of which generate not only local sales taxes but also the hospitality tax that partially

funds parks and recreation.The design and amenities of the PAAC

allowed for two new revenue sources to pay for the complex’s operation: gate fees and concession stand charges. Add those together with rental charges and league fees and the PAAC collected $447,190 in its inaugural year.

That more than covered the facility’s labor costs of $302,516, which puts the PAAC on a good trajectory for when its bond is paid off. Like other City recreation programs, softball fees typically do not recoup the entire cost of providing that program to residents, as doing so would price that program beyond most Yumans’ means. Rather, the public benefit is in providing quality-of-life opportunities for residents so they may be more willing to live here, making Yuma more attractive for busi-nesses to locate or expand here.

Tax receipts for both general sales taxes and hospitality tax revenues showed year-over-year increases since the PAAC’s emergence.

All told, it adds up to an overall estimated economic benefit to Yuma-area businesses and the City of $1,380,000, under the for-

mula used to measure the impact of tourism both in Yuma and across the state.

Despite all of that, word-of-mouth skepti-cism persists in some corners. One argument that the City has corrected on a number of previous occasions but still pops up in online threads is the idea that funds used to build the complex could have been used to fill the overall City budget’s other pressing needs, notably road repair and competitive salaries for recruitment and retention of hard-to-find employees, particularly in public safety, water and wastewater treatment, and community development. The fact is that money used for PAAC construction came from dedicated fund sources that legally cannot be used for those other purposes under penalty of law. For example, the voter-approved hospitality tax has very specific use limitations and can-not be moved for other purposes. The City must pass an outside audit each year, verify-ing that these monies were spent correctly.

Another complaint that the City hears is the idea that these tournaments could have been accommodated in the Ray Kroc Sports Complex. First, there is a difference in the construction of baseball fields vs. softball

fields, but more importantly, the fields at Ray Kroc are heavily used for both practice and play. In fact, even with the PAAC, the recre-ation supervisor overseeing softball activities reported to Council that the City still finds itself at times without enough fields to meet all the requests for field time. Since the PAAC opened, there has been an increase in youth participating in co-sponsored sports and new organizations are seeking rental opportuni-ties on City fields.

Sorting out field usage should go more smoothly now that the City has a year’s expe-rience with the PAAC. While being booked for 270 days is quite an accomplishment for a first-year facility, there were still 95 open days last year – days that despite summer condi-tions the City has had inquiries about. And some organizations may have been waiting to see how the complex would do in its first year before being ready to book a rental.

Overall, it was a solid first year. With a year’s worth of kinks now behind, the PAAC should continue to deliver recreational op-portunities for locals and economic activity for local businesses for years to come.

PAAC delivering on promises for Yuma

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 5

The Arizona Historical Society hosted an evening gathering on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 6:30 pm to unveil their new exhibit: CLUE. Food, drinks, live music, and a ceremonial ribbon cutting took place at this ceremony. The exhibit was available to guests for a private viewing. You can visit this new exhibit at the Sanguinetti House Museum at 240 S. Madison Ave. Yuma AZ 85364.

Al’s Tavern had their Ribbon Cutting on Friday, October 5, 2018 at 1:00 pm. They hosted the Chamber team and welcomed everyone throughout the day for drink specials and Live music! Check out their football specials or just stop in for lunch! They are located at 2175 S. Harley Dr, Yuma AZ 85365 and are open at 11 am!

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Escape Room is under new ownership and management. We celebrated with Danielle Sundwall and her team to welcome them as new members and host their ribbon cutting on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 9:30 am. Tours of their rooms and new features were provided. Please make sure to visit them soon at 285 S. Main Street Yuma AZ 85364 for a one of a kind experience!

6 YUMABIZ November 2018

2035 S. Arizona Avenue • Yuma, AZ 85365Phone: (928) 246-2327 • Fax: (928) 539-6870

Email: info@freedomlibrary.org • Website: www.freedomlibrary.orgThe Freedom Library & Applebee’s present

A Freedom Library Takeover

Stop by

NAU Yuma, Arizona Western College & Yuma Insurance

present

22nd Annual Constitution ForumBill Of Rights Celebration

Featuring

3101 S. 4th Avenue (Catalina & 4th Avenue) Yuma, AZ

Constitution class begins Jan. 15, 2019 from 6–8 pmEconomics class begins Jan. 17, 2019 from 6–8 pm

Check www.Freedomlibrary.Org for details

Thu., Dec. 13, 2018 3-10pm

Applebee’s will contribute a portion of all sales to The Freedom Library Education and Scholarship Program

Must RSVP at www.Groupraise.Com/events/68870

Come out and support liberty with your appetiteRSVP to The Freedom Library at info@freedomlibrary.org or 928-246-2327. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE FREEDOM LIBRARY

SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO HELP YUMA AREA INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND THE “FREEDOM PHILOSOPHY” AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. The Freedom Library, Inc. is a 501 © (3) corporation under Internal Revenue Service guidelines

NO CHARGE TO ATTEND

Door Prizes, Books for Sale, and a 50/50 raffle available

Come have a great time socializing with friends and making new ones to celebrate liberty and learn from an individual who

truly knows the value of individual freedom

Thurs., Dec. 6, 2018 @ 6–8 pmArizona Western College, Frances Morris Board Room

2020 S. Avenue 8E, Yuma, Arizona

Javier Garcia Hernandez

Venezuela’s Economic Disaster

Dr. Craig Barrows hosted an incredible Open House celebration on Thursday, October 11 from 4:30pm – 7:00pm at this new location on 2201 S. Avenue A Yuma AZ 85364. Amazing food, plenty of drinks, tours, music, shaved ice, and friendly staff made this event a huge success! They even had a masseuse on-site for the guests! Keep up the great work Barrows team and we can’t wait for your next milestone celebration!

RIBBON CUTTINGS

THANK YOU TO THESE MEMBERS WHO RENEWED THEIR MEMBERSHIPSAdult Literacy PlusBooth MachineryBrewer's RestaurantChurch For The City

Homewood SuitesHyundai of YumaM & M General Contracting

Olsen Properties dba Olsen's Marketplace

Papa San Rice BowlRam Pest Management

Snap FitnessWalMart - Avenue BYuma County

Airport Authority

MEMBER RENEWALS

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 7

Skillful interviewing is critical to choosing the right person for the job, but it doesn’t happen without careful

planning. Follow these quick tips for preparing and conducting an effective interview:

Before the inter-view

At this stage, your main goal is to further clarify what you’re looking

for and begin to seriously assess the candidate’s qualifications in light of your requirements.

• Review the job description for the position. For additional insight, talk to people familiar with the po-sition to learn what they think is most relevant.

• Develop interview questions that target the requirements you’ve

identified. Avoid questions unre-lated to these requirements.

• Review the candidate’s resume and any other application documents. Note any issues or questions you want to follow up on.

• Secure a comfortable, quiet space for the interview, and schedule suf-ficient time to conduct it effectively and allow for unexpected ques-tions.

At the interviewDuring the interview, your main goal

is to further assess how well the candidate meets the requirements you’ve identified by carefully monitoring their responses.

• Start with a bit of small talk before beginning. This sets the tone for the rest of interview and puts the can-didate at ease.

• Follow the interview questions you’ve prepared, but expand be-yond as needed to further assess the applicant.

• Let the candidate do most of the

talking. This is the best way to as-sess the applicant’s qualifications.

• Watch for body language (like sud-den lack of eye contact) that may indicate that the candidate is un-comfortable with a particular situ-ation.

• Always leave time for candidate questions. These can help you fur-ther assess a candidate’s level of in-terest and preparation.

Post-interview reviewThe candidate may have performed

flawlessly in the interview and have impeccable credentials, and still not be the right person for the job. So do a careful review.

• Revisit the notes you made, and record any additional thoughts that come to mind. Pay particular attention how well you think the candidate will adapt to your envi-ronment.

• If anyone else interviewed the can-didate, get their feedback. What

was their gut impression? Do they have any concerns that warrant fur-ther investigation?

• Review results of any tests or other assessments the candidate complet-ed. If the results suggest training might be needed, consider whether the investment is warranted.

• Complete reference and other re-quired checks (degrees earned, credit history, etc.). The candidate will generally supply positive refer-ences, go beyond them if necessary.

• Before you make your final decision, make sure that all steps you have taken along the way are nondis-criminatory and legally defensible.

• You’ve done your homework, make the offer.

Our ARIZONA@WORK professional Business Services Team is here to serve your business needs. Call us today at 928-329-0990.Information obtained from www.careeronestop.org/businesscenter/

The Right Fit Makes the Difference

By Patrick Goetz

8 YUMABIZ November 2018

Yuma County is asking residents for help in addressing a potential increase in mosquito popula-tions resulting from the recent rain, by helping us iden-tify and eliminate potential mosquito breeding areas.

Vector Control is currently surveying many areas of Yuma County. They are primarily concerned with plastic pools, wheel barrows, empty planters, and assorted kids’ toys that lay in the yard. “People don’t generally think about these items as potential breed-ing grounds, yet many times they are the source of the problem,” explains Diana Gomez, Yuma County Health District Direc-tor. “Something as small as a bottle cap full of water is enough to create an ideal mosquito breeding ground.”

The vector control division actively monitors mosquito population trends throughout the county and conducts fogging and spraying efforts to miti-gate issues as necessary. Spraying for mosquitoes reduces adult mosquito populations, but it’s important to take proactive steps to eliminate breeding grounds. Citizens can help by looking in their yards for ANY standing water and remember to drain, empty, and cover any items that can collect water at least once a week. Residents can also help by reporting large, stagnant bodies of water and green pools by us-ing the Service Request feature found at www.yumacountyaz.gov or by call-ing (928) 317-4584.

Mosquitos can carry viruses that

may cause illnesses such as Dengue, West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephali-tis, and Zika so it is important to both manage mosquito populations and take steps to prevent bites. Residents should wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and apply mosquito repellant.

County Health District asks community to help FIGHT the BITE

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 9

the Arizona Town Hall will be shared with stakeholders in the state and its communities as a basis for policy changes.

“Our voice will be heard from youth and adults,” said Shelley Mel-lon, SWATH chair since 2012 and a member of the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board who was instrumental in organizing both town halls.

She is particularly enthused about this year’s town hall, considering it the most successful one so far. “I believe all the participants left enlightened and encouraged by the amazing leaders of our community who impact our judi-cial system,” she said, noting that inno-vative programs have been developed in Yuma County to provide alternative solutions and preventative measures.

Morning and luncheon panelists described them: mental health court, drug court, a program to keep those in the juvenile system current with their schooling, a one-stop program at the probation center to provide resources for newly released offenders such as health care and housing, and an

exciting program called Kids at Hope – versus Kids at Risk – driven by the belief that “all kids are capable of suc-cess, no exceptions.” Another impor-tant component, noted Judge Haws, is the willingness of businesses to provide employment.

Added Machele Headington, co-chair of the SWATH steering commit-tee: “Truly an amazing experience! I have to admit I was a bit ashamed that I was that ignorant about the impres-sive dedication and collaboration that is occurring right here in our own community. So deeply proud to live in a community where ‘collaboration for the betterment of our community’ is truly a normal part of who we are. … I left Friday with such a joy in my heart knowing that the dialogue, relation-ships and new knowledge that oc-curred as a result of one day will have a lasting impact on our community.”

The networking and education that occur at town hall are a vital part of the process, said Mellon. But so, too, is the coming together of a diverse cross-section of Yuma County from business and government leaders to its citizens, among them students, to engage in

civil dialogue on a topic important to the community’s future. “We’re able to come up with recommendations that will have a positive impact. It gives everybody a voice … to invest in the community and the direction we want it to grow.”

Over the years he has seen a big im-pact the various town halls have had, said attorney Wayne Benesch, who first got involved in the Arizona Town Hall process in 1979 when the topic was the Indian tribes in the state. “What an education,” he reflected. He became “enamored of the process” where he rubbed elbows with key business and government leaders and experienced the flow of ideas that were “hammered” into a final report.

About that time some local lead-ers came up with the idea of having a Yuma County town hall with sponsor-ship by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce. That declined after 15 years, but got a revival in 2005 with re-organization as the Southwest Arizona Futures Forum.

Later the organization became known as SWATH and a new concept was begun of partnering with local

stakeholders to address an issue of con-cern to them. Such examples are the town hall on Joint Technical Educa-tion Districts that led to the develop-ment of STEDY (Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma), a town hall on wellness in partnership with Yuma Regional Medical and a session on water that was followed by a large contingent of Yuma residents attending the Arizona Town Hall as advocates to protect Yuma’s water.

In addition, the local town hall became aligned with the Arizona Town Hall, which decides on the topic, spon-sors the research document and crafts the questions to be used first by the local event, then by the state group.

This year, SWATH has decided to hold a second town hall to address a more local concern, that of the concern about mental health, its impact on the criminal justice system and the lack of local treatment options. It has yet to be scheduled.

As a resource, research documents and final reports of previous Yuma County town halls are posted on the SWATH website at

www.southwestarizonatownhall.com.

JUSTICE continued from page 1

10 YUMABIZ November 2018

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YOUR LOCAL CREDIT UNION

everydayAEA Federal Credit Union is Yuma’s only local credit union and has been a part of the community for over 75 years. As a member-owned financial cooperative, we are inspired by the lives and financial dreams of our members everyday. Whether you’re starting a new business or expanding, we’re here to help you along the way.

Call today to find out more about the benefits of working with a local community credit union.

ART MORALESSr. Director of Business Development

amorales@aeafcu.org 928.373.5252

aeafcu.org | 928.783.8881

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 11

Really...How Did I Not Know That?

Local Public Records Sent to Your Email Inbox Weekly

public recordsYUMA

928.580.8001info@yumarecords.com

dosomethingTodaythat your future self will be proud of. azwestern.edu Wa l k - I n C l i n i c | P r i m a r y C a r e | D i a g n o s t i c I m a g i n g | L a b o r a t o r y

NOW OPEN: Primary Care - FoothillsWELCOMING Friends of all agesOur team of experts is dedicated to providing you, our friends and neighbors, with a new level of convenient, same-day care. At our new clinic, you can schedule an

appointment or walk in for minor injuries, illnesses or other immediate care needs – seven days a week.

11142 S. Scottsdale Drive, Yuma, AZ 85367928-336-1815 | Monday - Sunday 8:00am - 8:00pmyumaregional.org

Convenient Carein the Foothills

12 YUMABIZ November 2018

Wa l k - I n C l i n i c | P r i m a r y C a r e | D i a g n o s t i c I m a g i n g | L a b o r a t o r y

NOW OPEN: Primary Care - FoothillsWELCOMING Friends of all agesOur team of experts is dedicated to providing you, our friends and neighbors, with a new level of convenient, same-day care. At our new clinic, you can schedule an

appointment or walk in for minor injuries, illnesses or other immediate care needs – seven days a week.

11142 S. Scottsdale Drive, Yuma, AZ 85367928-336-1815 | Monday - Sunday 8:00am - 8:00pmyumaregional.org

Convenient Carein the Foothills

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 13

Each year on November 11, we celebrate Veterans Day, a time we can come together and honor those who have served in the military to protect our free-dom. At APS, we work to honor

and include veterans every day be-cause it’s simply the right thing to do. Nearly one in five of our employees is a veteran as these qualified and dedi-cated individuals put their skills to work helping us provide safe and reli-able service to 2.7 million Arizonans. We remain committed to supporting our nation’s heroes and their families because their experience, leadership and work ethic are second to none. 

As a community affairs manager, I’m always looking for ways to give back throughout the year. Today, I

wanted to share with you just a few of the amazing things I get to do to help veterans in Yuma County thrive. Just last month, the Yuma Veterans Task Force, a group of non-profit and civic organizations, in addition to govern-ment, state and local agencies came together to bring back the Western Arizona Stand Down. Volunteers at the one-day event provided assistance to military veterans and their fam-ily members who were experiencing housing insecurity, might have been on the verge of homelessness or were transitioning to permanent housing. As a group, we provided them with support and resources that will help them gain and maintain housing, connect with legal consulting when needed, and promote health and wellness services. All of these services were free to veterans. It was so inspir-ing to see smiles and hope return to the faces of those that came in the door with worry and stress.

In addition to working with veter-

ans, we get to work with active service men and women based at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma. You may have heard that APS constructed and, in December 2016, began operat-ing a 25 megawatt microgrid at MCAS Yuma benefitting both the military and residents in our area. This unique project allows for back-up power in case of an emergency to MCAS Yuma and also allows us to provide reliable power when energy demand is the highest in the hot summer. In fact, microgrids in Yuma and North Phoenix operated for almost 40 hours during the hottest days of summer 2018, ensuring reliability for all of our customers.

Recently, I had an eye-opening experience with MCAS Yuma that makes me even more appreciative of our military. I was asked to participate in an incredible exercise hosted by the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). On Oc-tober 5, I rode in two different heli-

copters for a humanitarian and disas-ter relief exercise that was coordinated with 29 Palms. I now have much more empathy and respect for the work our Marines do and the conditions under which they perform some of the most difficult tasks. Seeing them train for the unexpected with precision, com-passion and patience was just terrific.

While November 11 reminds us to thank veterans and appreciate active-duty military, we don’t stop after the single day on the calendar. As a member of the Military Affairs Com-mittee of the Yuma Chamber of Com-merce, we are planning our Chamber Military Appreciation Day for March 2019, and will let you know how you can be a part of this wonderful event. It is truly an honor to be able to say thank you, on behalf of APS, to our veterans and military members for all you do for our community.

APS Supports Military and Veterans Year Round

By Anna Chaulk, APS Community Affairs Manager

Investing in ArizonaWe believe it’s our responsibility to contribute to the growthand vitality of the communities we serve. That’s why wepartner with local business leaders to help attract new jobsand investments to our state. Every dollar that goes backinto our community helps create a stronger, more vibranteconomic future for all Arizonans and that’s a goal wellworth achieving.

www.aps.com

14 YUMABIZ November 2018

copters for a humanitarian and disas-ter relief exercise that was coordinated with 29 Palms. I now have much more empathy and respect for the work our Marines do and the conditions under which they perform some of the most difficult tasks. Seeing them train for the unexpected with precision, com-passion and patience was just terrific.

While November 11 reminds us to thank veterans and appreciate active-duty military, we don’t stop after the single day on the calendar. As a member of the Military Affairs Com-mittee of the Yuma Chamber of Com-merce, we are planning our Chamber Military Appreciation Day for March 2019, and will let you know how you can be a part of this wonderful event. It is truly an honor to be able to say thank you, on behalf of APS, to our veterans and military members for all you do for our community.

This is the time of year leisure trav-elers and winter visitors start flocking to Yuma to enjoy the sunshine, sights, sounds and activities that have caused so many of us to become Yumans. Visit Yuma celebrates those great aspects of Yuma with a full slate of guided tours and unique dining ex-periences that inform, engage and de-light participants of all kinds. Tickets are available now at www.VisitYuma.com for our agriculture, military, din-ing, and biking opportunities, begin-ning with the first of the popular Date Night Dinners on November 16.

The hugely popular Dorothy Young Memorial Electric Light Parade will be happening on Saturday, December 8th in Historic Downtown Yuma. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Yuma Ag-riculture” and the deadline for entry submissions is November 30. The en-try form and information are available under “Featured Annual Events” on www.VisitYuma.com. Don’t miss out - this event is even more exciting to be a part of than it is to watch!

And, of course, there are a lot of other terrific Yuma events throughout November:

And this is not all! You can get more information on the above and plan for your own Yuma fun at www.VisitYuma.com. Our Visitor Information Center is located at 201 N. 4th Avenue and helpful staff members are happy to fill you in on additional things to do and see. It is also the home of the Yuman Interest Gifts & Souvenirs shop, and don’t forget that we now have an online shopping option for cool Yuma stuff: www.YumanInterest.com.

November 2018 Events:Nov. 3 — Children’s Festival

of the Arts Yuma’s Historic Main Street

Nov. 3 — Telegraph Pass Challenge Telegraph Pass Trail

Nov. 3 — An Evening in Havana Residence of Dr. Greg and Deb Pear

Nov. 9 — Discover the World UnWined The Patio Restaurant & Bar at the Hills

Nov. 10 — Turkey Trot Fun Run & Walk Gateway Park

Nov. 10 — Harvest Sky Canoe Trip West Wetlands

Nov. 16 — North End Art Walk Yuma’s Historic Main Street

Nov. 16 - 18 — Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival West Wetlands / Desert Sun Stadium

Nov. 24 - Feb. 2 — Sunniest Place on Earth Juried Show Yuma Art Center

Nov. 30 — It’s a Christmas Ball Yuma Civic Center

November: Great weather and events for locals and visitors

APS Supports Military and Veterans Year Round

YUMA BUSINESSES!

Welcome the Winter Visitors to Yuma and introduce them to your business

and your products and services at the

ATTENTION

For vendor booth information please contact your Yuma Sun Account Manager or call

Alex Espinoza, Event Manager at 928-539-6837 or by email at events@yumasun.com

SPACE IS LIMITED

Last day to sign-up is Monday, November 26th.

Tuesday, December 4 from 9:00am to 1:00pm

at the Yuma Civic CenterNEW LOCATION

157165

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce YUMABIZ 15

Terry FrydenlundCEO/President

It’s Your Bank!We Support Yuma County!

The team at 1st Bank Yuma is heavily involved with these local organizations through participation and support!

Amberly’s Place • American Business Women Association • American Cancer Society • Arizona Bankers AssociationBetterYuma.Org • Bible Baptist Church • Boy Scouts of America • Caballeros de Yuma • Cibola High School • City of San Luis

City of San Luis Economic Development Commission • EverFi • Fort Yuma Rotary • Gila Ridge High SchoolGreater Yuma Economic Development Corporation • Humane Society of Yuma • Independent Community Bankers of America

Kofa High School • Navy League • Pow Wow • Precious Treasures • Rio Colorado Chapter of Arizona Historical SocietyRotary International • San Luis High School • San Pasqual High School • Society for Human Resource Management

Somerton Chamber of Commerce • University of Arizona Alumni Yuma Chapter • Vista Alternative School • Young LifeYRMC Hospital District • Yuma 50 • Yuma Association of Realtors • Yuma Catholic High School • Yuma Children’s Museum

Yuma Community Food Bank • Yuma County 4-H Leaders • Yuma County Chamber of CommerceYuma County Historical Society • Yuma High School • Yuma Legends • Optimist Club • Yuma Lettuce Days

Yuma Optimist Club • Yuma Regional Council for First Things First • Yuma Rotary Yuma United Way • Visit Yuma

Frank EnriquezVP/ Commercial

Loan Officer

Theresa WineVP/Director of Mortgage

Loan Services

Travis HiceVP/Commercial Loan Officer

Maria GonzalezAVP/Branch Manager

San Luis, AZ

Ricardo PerezAVP/Branch Manager

Main Office

Brian GerenVP/Commercial

Loan Officer

Tom ThompsonVP/Senior Lending Officer

Terry FarrEVP/Chief Credit Officer

Wayne GaleEVP/Chief Operating Officer

Jeff ByrdAVP/Community Relations Officer

Kathi MarcusSVP/Regional Manager

John MarinoEVP/Chief Financial Officer

Hometown Banking – 1st in Service

2799 S. 4th Ave. (Corner 28th St. & 4th Ave) (928) 783-33341800 S. 4th Ave. (Corner 4th Ave & 18th St.) (928) 783-1170645 N. 1st Ave. San Luis, AZ (928) 344-288811600 S. Fortuna Rd. Yuma Foothills (928) 783-3335

Locally owned and operated

www.1stbankyuma.com

Laurie RamosAVP/Branch Manager

Main Office

Damian LiskaManager

Fortuna Branch

Howie JorajuriaVP/Commercial Loan Officer

16 YUMABIZ November 2018