Good morning, it’s Monday April 19th and this is The Herald Review’s Daily Chirp podcast. We’re bringing you a closer look at one of our top stories, along with other important things going on in our community.
Today - According to Sheriff Mark Dannels the Mexican cartel has threatened deputies with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.
Before we begin, some local history.
John Harris Behan served as the first Sheriff of Cochise County when the county was formed back in 1881. He was sheriff during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Behan was known for his opposition to the Earps. And after the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Behan testified at length against the Earps. He supported the Cowboys' statements that they had raised their hands and offered no resistance, and that the Earps and Doc Holliday had murdered three cowboys.
The Earps ultimately left Tombstone under a cloud of suspicion. Behan was later arrested for graft and failed to win re-election as sheriff. Eventually, he was appointed as the warden of the Yuma Territorial Prison and had various other government jobs until his death in 1912.
Today’s history is brought to you by Benson Hospital - they’re doing more than treating illnesses in Benson, they're building a healthier community. Benson Hospital is now collaborating with the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona to provide diaper assistance to families in need. For more information visit their website at bensonhospital.org.
Also, The Daily Chirp podcast is giving away 5 Amazon Echo Dots - one every month now through July. You can enter for your chance to win twice a day! Today's code is PUDDLES and find the other codeword in our “Daily Chirp Podcast Alert” e-newsletter. To enter the sweepstakes go to myheraldreview.com, again today's codeword is: PUDDLES
Now, our feature story.
Sheriff Mark Dannels recently stated that the Mexican cartel has threatened deputies with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff shared the information with a small group of ranchers and homeowners gathered at the First Baptist Church in San Simon on Wednesday evening last week.
The meeting aimed to help residents learn more about the situation with undocumented migrants coming across the border from Mexico.
Dannels told the crowd that the Mexican cartel is extremely organized on both sides of the border and no one crosses from Mexico into this country unless they pay a member of that organization first. He also noted that recent decisions being made in Washington DC have actually empowered the cartel.
Another focus of the conversation was on the rising number of people coming to the U.S. illegally — including unaccompanied children.
In the Tucson Sector — which includes Cochise County — there were “encounters” with 7,079 unaccompanied migrant children in March. That’s up 83 percent from March 2020.
Encounters with single, migrant adults trying to enter the country illegally also jumped in the Tucson Sector, with over 68,000 last month, compared to just over 21,000 in March 2020.
This ongoing issue has prompted several government and law enforcement entities to reach out to federal officials. Even the Western States Sheriffs Association of Laramie, Wyoming, expressed solidarity with the Southwest border sheriffs.
Following the meeting in San Simon we spoke with Dannels about the cartel threat and he told us that they’ve had threats. They’re taking safety precautions to protect Cochise County deputies. He also noted that if there are any new developments he’ll let the public know.
Then, on Friday, Governor Doug Ducey announced that Arizona would take matters into its own hands.
Ducey’s statement came after the Arizona Department of Public Safety spotted 20 undocumented migrants in Chandler. The state agency said it was rebuffed by both the Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they asked for help. Ultimately, the migrants were released into Chandler.
Ducey said that the Biden Harris administration needs to get its head out of the sand when it comes to the crisis at our border. In his eyes, this lack of action defies all logic, and flies in the face of the law.
Ducey continued to say that this administration is asleep at the switch, and their total lack of action is having real consequences here in the state of Arizona.
Ducey is hopeful that US Senators and Congressional delegation will join him in calling for the President to deploy the National Guard to the border.
It was then when he noted that if the federal government isn’t going to do its job, then Arizona will take matters into our own hands and provide support to sheriffs and local law enforcement.
To stay up to date on this story visit us at myheraldreview.com
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Thanks for listening, before we continue, a quick message from our sponsors, Prestige Family Living.
Now, we’d like to take a moment to recognize military children as April is the Month of the Military Child. Department.
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7 year old Elaina Calkins doesn’t fully comprehend the significance of her father’s job in the U.S. Army. But as a military child, the first-grader is beginning to understand that people come and go and that a favorite house or school is not always permanent.
Elaina and her 5-year-old sister, Gabriella, are among the hundreds of thousands of military children around the world who are honored each April by the Department of Defense during the Month of the Military Child.
The event was created in the mid-1980s by then Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. The Pentagon and other military support organizations and agencies use the month to recognize military children for their sacrifice and bravery on the homefront.
While a lot of military youngsters get to live in places that many adults would never see, the constant change and upheaval can often be emotionally taxing.
But military parents say that the moves can also build resiliency. That’s what Army 1st Sgt. Michael Hull, who is stationed at Fort Huachuca, says about his two sons.
Hull said his boys have always embraced the moves and the adventures that come with them.
But the Hull children are about to experience a bit more permanency in their young lives. In June, Hull completes his second year at Fort Huachuca. The 41-year-old soldier plans to retire and stay in Tucson. His oldest son started high school there two years ago and he wants to see him finish. His youngest is in fifth grade.
Meanwhile, the Calkins sisters are just getting started on their adventure. Their father, Army Maj. Robert Calkins, the battalion executive officer in the 309th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Huachuca, said moving to the installation almost three years ago was the first significant move experienced by his daughters.
Calkins said he’s starting to see resiliency in both his children. They now understand when he has to finish work at home after a long day or if he’s going to be a little late picking them up at the after-school center on the installation. But neither child can really understand the gravity of his work or that he commands 850 soldiers.
When he gets home he’s just dad.
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Next, an upcoming event in our community that you should know about -- brought to you by our sponsors, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.
Music, art, and tacos! Six great bands, local artists, and tacos... not bad for a Tuesday!
Head over to The Jonquil Motel tomorrow starting at 4pm for live music by Juniper Djinn, Tapestries, Alex Wilkerson, John & Eli Beach, Horny Siren and Bad Shaman.
Primo's Outlaw Tacos will be slinging delicious grub, and La Fortuna will be onsite with premium herbals and ethnobotanicals.
Don’t miss out on the live art and artisan goodies!
The event is BYOB and don’t forget your masks, please! Suggested cover is between $5-10 to support the arts in Bisbee.
Finally - we’d like to remember the life of Steve Whitecotton of Hereford. Steve was son of the Bennie and Betty Whitecotton. He was born in Blytheville, Arkansas on November 14, 1952.
Steve was a 1971 graduate of Rivercrest High School and went on to attend Arkansas Tech University. In 1973, he joined the United States Air Force and proudly served his country for 15 years.
He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant before transferring to the Army in 1988, serving for 10 years. Steve was a Gulf War Veteran, serving with the First Armor Division and retired with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2.
Steve enjoyed riding his motorcycle, he had his pilot’s license, he enjoyed scuba diving as a Master Diver, and he loved tinkering in his shop on projects, and working on his “farm”.
His smile and laughter will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him, especially those closest.
Steve is survived by his daughter, his grandchildren, a brother, a sister, a nephew, his former wife and friend Pam, and his “adopted son” George and his family.
Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Steve’s life.
And remember, the Herald Review is here for you with local news you can trust. For more information on any of the stories you heard about today, visit us at myheraldreview.com. Right now you can become a member starting at just $1.99 per week.
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