
August 8, 2018
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The Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile are now over and Prescott’s Andrew Bogdanov came away with a great finish in the doubles event, winning a bronze medal with his partner David Wagner from San Diego, CA.

Recently, I was heading home from a local coffeehouse. Along the way, at one specific intersection, there were a few men in a pickup truck with a Confederate flag. Two men were sitting in the back of the truck, and one of them proceeded to yell at me, “Do you see this flag?!”

Professional wheelchair tennis player Andrew Bogdanov of the Prescott area took off Wednesday to go play in the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile Nov. 19-25, where he will be one of two players representing the USA in singles and doubles competition.

If you haven’t been by the Prescott High School tennis facility, 1050 Ruth St., lately, you should wander by and take a look and then try them out.

The nation and much of the world is reeling from the horrific and unsettling events that have occurred between Israel and Hamas. There’s also a war still going on in Ukraine, and looming overhead is the possibility the federal government may shut down in about a month.

I had just completed a presentation to a watershed conference describing “Ten Reasons to Protect the Verde River” and was taking questions. Vincent Randall, the Apache Cultural Chair of the Yavapai Apache Nation, rose and offered the 11th reason: “The river is alive. If you ask us “Where is the river? we reply ‘the river lives over there . . . .’ ”

When the City of Prescott announced the proposed widening of Highway 89 between the Phippen roundabout and Willow Lake Road roundabout earlier this summer, there was a great deal of discussion, in the form of letters to the City Council, online and the local media outlets.

This is the third of a series to assist you with putting. We will discuss the putting stroke and how to get the most out of your practice putting sessions.

Sterling Fetty is one of our USPTA Tennis Professionals from the Prescott area that is making a huge difference in what the game of tennis looks like for you and me in so many ways.

A putt, even from two inches, counts the same as a booming 300-yard drive. The easiest area of our game (and score) to improve upon is putting.

Getting to go to the U.S. Open is one thing, playing in it is quite another and that’s what our local tennis player Andrew Bogdanov has done in eight short months.

A good putting round makes up for a lot of full shot hiccups. Many golfers get way too technical when it comes to putting. They put their emphasis on the mechanics. Putting is so much more than mechanics, it is a “feel” activity, a natural response to a target.

Last week, I was at the Western and Southern masters tournament in Cincinnati/Mason, Ohio where the finals between Carlos Alcaraz (19) and Novak Djokovic (36) was like a Grand Slam final (Novak winning in a 3rd set tiebreak) and seventh-seeded Coco Gauff won her first masters championship over Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4.

Recently, the State of Arizona has taken action to eliminate the Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT), or sales tax, on rental property. This new law will go into effect in January 2025, and will result in an approximately $1 million reduction to both the City of Prescott’s General Fund and the Streets Fund.

Is our public school system the equivalent of a self-licking ice cream cone? The crazy sounding term refers to a bureaucracy or organization that is self-contained, that evaluates its own performance, and exists with little reference to or influence from the external environment.

Voracious popular culture connoisseur that I am, I have been avidly following the drama surrounding pop icon Lizzo. As an academic who teaches race, gender and sexuality studies, the story has all the intersectional elements that make for a riveting story.

This is the third in a series of three on how to play golf in a timely manner.

During my time as a council member and mayor, there have been many instances of antiquated, outdated and sometimes ineffective ordinances that were not consistent with our current times, or the real world environment.

Ryan Walters, a far-right-wing education official who currently serves as Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, recently caused a political firestorm when he insisted the Tulsa race massacre can be taught in public schools without amounting to “critical race theory” —so long as it’s taught without discussing race.

Richard Evans has had a career as a writer, tennis historian, author (of 22 books) even at times working within the tennis network of the ATP and definitely an authority on the world of tennis since its earliest beginnings.

It’s interesting times in our beautiful city. People move here because they like Prescott and all that we have but once they get here, some would like to change things. Go figure. For example, a rodeo that just finished 136 years and some say move it?

After decades of aggressive and strategic efforts from influential right-wing forces the Supreme Court outlawed race conscious admissions at universities throughout the nation, dismantling decades of progress and crippling the potential of racial diversity and pluralism at our nation’s institutions of higher education.

Many of you remember the cute little girl from Prescott, who went to Abi Judd elementary school, and learned the game of tennis at the Prescott Racquet Club under the tutelage of Sterling Fetty, and spent lots of time on the surrounding courts of Prescott … practicing, drilling and playing matches.

Recently, Prescott was in the news because of several sightings of mountain lions in the area, and reports of several family pets killed while unattended, along with reports of numerous sightings on security cameras.

Kelly Kading claims in his three Daily Courier columns on climate change that the science regarding climate studies is corrupt and broken. ...

The new French Open Champion, Novak Djokovic, not only won his 3rd championship there- which is a crazy feat in itself, he won his 23rd Grand Slam singles title which makes him the GOAT of tennis in so many ways, an achievement that will probably only be broken by himself as he continues his winning ways on the ATP tour.

Two weeks ago, we discussed some common courtesies that as golfers, we should be aware of and apply to make the game of golf better for everyone. Just like before, common courtesies are like common sense.

Open up a copy of the Rules of Golf or on your smart phone, load and open the app USGA Rules of Golf. Start with Rule 1-2a, Conduct Expected of All Players.

Recently, I played in a pickleball tournament, have enjoyed a two-hour playing group and played in two tennis tournaments and a league match, so it’s been an interesting time of getting a feel for what I enjoyed about each and what I maybe didn’t like quite as much.

We hear and read a lot about Social Emotional Learning (SEL), usually linked with Critical Race Theory, and considered by some to be a move to indoctrinate our kids, supplant parents, and even to “groom” our children into some sort of sexual deviancy.

By now, most of you think I am a little different. Sorry to disappoint you, but I am VERY different, not a little!

I’m only 68, but when you’re out on the court from five to six hours a day, six days a week, your body starts talking to you here and there.

I have had the privilege of assisting many high schools in the area with their golf programs (teams), providing professional coaching/instruction these past six years.

It’s been a whirlwind of tennis activity for some of our local and former local tennis players on courts from the Phoenix area, to Texas to Portugal.

I read with interest Chino Valley Mayor Jack Miller’s guest column in the April 25 issue of The Daily Courier. I wish him well in his efforts respecting the development of a regional state park in the Del Rio Springs area of the Chino Valley, provided...

As the City’s Granite Creek Corridor improvements are moving toward a conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to remind our citizens about this project, and provide a factual account of the history and current information about this project.

Balance, rhythm, tempo, and timing are crucial to any golf swing. You cannot be taught these fundamentals, but you can learn how to incorporate them to improve ball contact.

Two weekends ago (April 6 to 9), Andrew Bogdanov won his first singles and doubles ITF professional titles at Indian Wells, California which moved his world ranking in the wheelchair quad division to No. 38. His doubles ranking is now at 31.

Here is another in our series to highlight some of our local Golf Professionals who have significant impact on the Prescott area golf scene.

They needed help with the scoring system, which side to start serving from, not stepping into the kitchen and occasionally letting the ball bounce once instead of serving and approaching; but the name recognition and skills of the former best players in the world of tennis, Andre Agassi (52) and Andy Roddick (40) playing against John McEnroe (64) and Michael Chang (51), as teammates in a singles and then doubles competed for $1 million dollars in what was dubbed the Pickleball Slam in Hollywood.

Here is another in our series to highlight some of our local PGA Professionals who have significant impact on the Prescott area golf scene.

It’s not often a town the size of Prescott has a player who makes the big time in professional tennis, but we are lucky enough to have a person who has done just that, Andrew Bogdanov, after only three professional tournaments under his belt.

Here is another in our series to highlight some of our local PGA Professionals who have had a significant impact on the Prescott area golf scene.

Life is tough enough just by itself in testing our everyday determination and commitment of going to work/school, taking care of our spouse, kids, food, clothing, shelter, learning a trade, getting along with everyone, climbing the ladder, vacations, activities, managing life in general at each stage.

Today, we discover more about Mack McCarley’s past as told with his own words. Enjoy and learn more about the Godfather of Prescott Golf.

This is a follow up to a column published April 15, 2021. At the time, I spoke about the vitriol toward our community leaders to include our educators and elected officials.

Last week, The Daily Courier posted essays, side by side, from the leadership of Dignity Health-Yavapai Regional Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona, each attesting to the virtues of their own heroic efforts in resolving their mutual contract dispute and squarely placing blame on the other.

Many of you know Mack McCarley. He is still active at age 83 sharing his love for golf as an instructor at Antelope Hills G.C. Most of you don’t know his past and his influence on golf in Prescott.

The fifth Grand Slam, the Western U.S. Tennis Open, the Tennis Gardens of Babylon-Indian Wells in the Coachella Valley, Tennis Paradise, are all accurate terms to express the upcoming BNP Paribas Open or Indian Wells Masters held for both ATP men’s and WTA women’s tours Monday, March 6 through Sunday, March 19.

Recently I presented the State of the City address to business leaders at the Prescott Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.

Valentine’s Day – Feb. 14. How can you forget it? We are flooded with ads enticing us to spend money on that day.

Kaitlyn Verfuerth was born and raised in Port Washington, Wisconsin and at 7 years old was injured in an automobile accident. She sustained a T12 spinal cord injury and paralyzed from the waist down.

It looks like we are now facing some cold weather challenges, especially if we love to live here and don’t want to travel to play golf in warmer temperatures (and higher greens fees).

Eight years ago Andrew Bogdanov’s life changed forever…on Valentine’s Day of 2014 he broke his neck snowboarding which paralyzed him from the chest down.

Another flip of a page, another blink, another year is upon us and as seems to be human, we look back and try to figure out how the past 12 months went and then forward to what we always hope is that much more favorable.

Many of us find ourselves with a significant number of days off from work between Christmas and New Year’s! Fantastic! Let’s exit the mundane workaday life and have some adventures in the outdoors for the next couple of weeks! It is exciting just to think about it!

Here are some golf resolutions that we can easily keep all year round, making golf fun for everyone.

As I make my way down to the Yavapai College courts to prepare them from the last couple days of snow, ice and cold weather, my mind takes a walk down memory lane.

With Christmas arriving in fourteen days, let’s discuss what you might consider for that golfer on your list.

Pete Sampras won his last U.S. Tennis Open in 2002, after everyone had written him off, his 14th Grand Slam singles title - and without playing another ATP event retired in 2003. He went out with a “bang” defeating long time rival Andre Agassi in four sets, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Arizona added 269 people every day in 2021, according to Census data – that’s nearly 100,000 new residents. With a high quality of life and businesses with limitless opportunities in all corners of our state, people continue to move here in droves.

You cannot see your swing. For everyone, the swing will be different in “feel” than the way it actually looks. Your “feel” can be misleading and often is.

Today, people from all walks of life - from the many different faiths, races and ethnicities who inhabit this wonderful place we call America - will gather together and give thanks, grateful for the blessings they’ve received over the last 12 months.

In this year’s school board elections as well as the election of the state schools superintendent, a leading platform for some candidates was the elimination of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) from our schools.

It is official. The historic City Hall building at the corner of Goodwin and Cortez streets will be demolished, and replaced by a five-story complex, stretching over half a block, replete with luxury apartments, condos, and at least one gourmet restaurant.

Golf is the only sport where the ball, or object we are trying to hit to a target, is stationary. A baseball is not.

The Daily Courier recently published an article entitled, “Environmental Groups Sue Government over Failure to Approve Mexican Wolf Restoration Plan.” It quotes attorney Matthew Bishop for the Western Environmental Law Center and there were several inaccuracies which beg for correction.

Teaching anything comes with a bit of trial and error, knowing that you’ve got a good education on what you’re trying to teach, decent communication skills and a plan of action that will get the points you’re trying to make across.

As the current president of the Prescott Unified School District Governing Board, I’ve had a front-row seat to the unfortunate divisions and misrepresentations relating to our public schools. I’ve decided it’s time to lend my voice in an effort to resolve some of these misconceptions.

Becoming a professional tennis player is a daunting task, and we have a local player who is doing his best to round that corner.

A putt, even from two inches, counts the same as a booming 300-yard drive. The easiest area of our game (and score) to improve upon is putting.

The Supreme Court decision encouraging the criminalization of abortion, and the domination of the state legislature by anti-abortionists, have brought us to the point where Arizona voters will decide at the ballot box if they want to oppress their fellow citizens.

It’s once again the perfect time of year to get out and play some tennis and the perfect opportunity to enjoy one-another’s company on the courts at our annual “PATA Park of Fame Tennis Clinic” which will be held this coming Sunday (Oct. 9 ) from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Yavapai College Tennis facility.

As you may recall, last time I was hurtling down the road out of Grapevine Canyon on a mountain bike in a hail storm, trying to beat the rising waters of Big Bug Creek to avoid being trapped on the wrong side of the Creek at best or swept away in an attempt to cross at worst.

A good putting round makes up for a lot of full shot hiccups. Many golfers get way too technical when it comes to putting. They put their emphasis on the mechanics.

The bipartisan budget that was passed during the 2022 Arizona legislative session included multiple spending priorities recommended and supported by the Arizona Judicial Council (AJC), the policy-making body that oversees the judicial system in our state.

Tonight at the Laver Cup held in London, the one and only Roger Federer will conclude his illustrious tennis career beside his formidable rival, friend and in this situation, doubles partner, Rafa Nadal.

As many of you know, I am a native of Arizona and was raised here in Yavapai County. Looking back at my youth, I have fond memories of the approachability of many law enforcement officers and recall disappointment with those officers who were distant and aloof.

A “Practice Facility” is sometimes referred to a “Driving Range."

The Talk of the Town column last week by Deb McCasland, chair of the Yavapai Community College board, was simply more spin on a situation happening to YCC’s 50 years of sports excellence.

We have a group of juniors from Northern Arizona, two teams to be exact, that won their sectional divisions which allows them to represent our SW Section at the Nationals which will be in Orlando Florida, Oct. 5 to 9.

Over the past couple of weeks, a few people have approached me as the chair of the District Governing Board for Yavapai College regarding athletics at the college.

Since 1912, when Arizona achieved statehood, groundwater pumping and surface water diversions have severely impacted major groundwater basins and seriously degraded five of Arizona’s major perennial rivers: Colorado, Gila, Salt, Santa Cruz, and much of the San Pedro, all sacrificed for economic development.

Growing up, I never sat at a politically divided dinner table, and throughout my years most conversations I have had with those on the “other side” have been nothing too exciting, issues were discussed, and our views shared. End of story.

Playing golf with your spouse can be fulfilling. The goal is to do something together with your spouse that enhances your relationship. Unfortunately, many times this goal is not achieved.

The end of a long illustrious career is always tough for not only the player, but the fans who have been through their journey as well.

This is a direct response to the Aug. 2 Republican Women of Prescott (RWOP) clarification to the July 26 Courier article, “PUSD, Republican Women of Prescott at odds over alliance with The Launch Pad Teen Center.”

This is the third in a series of three on how to play golf in a timely manner.

So you reach the point of retirement, yet you still love doing what you do — which for me is teaching, playing, writing and scheming on how to keep the game of tennis vibrant in our community, the Southwest and promoted to as many young and old folks as possible.

This is in response to the July 26 Courier article, “PUSD, Republican Women of Prescott at odds over alliance with The Launch Pad Teen Center.”

Well summer is in full swing and it has been very hot and dry so far. I know there is no need to tell you that because you experience it every time you go outside.

I hear grumbles and criticisms through phone calls, emails and even old fashioned letters where displeased and unhappy people express their emotional displeasure regarding developers, elected officials, local government, staff members and anyone else they want to point a finger at because they do not want anymore growth and they are unhappy with the advancement of growth.

Developers design and create housing and commercial complexes without having to consider the larger and consequential infrastructure costs associated with those developments. These costs, incidentally, are always borne by the burdened taxpayer.

We are in a time of our lives where we are experiencing unprecedented violence and total disrespect for others, authority, and property.

The grass court season officially ends with the conclusion of Wimbledon and the US Open Series begins their North American route to Flushing Meadows, with eight tournaments across the states (not to mention the men’s and women’s Canadian Open) with the top ATP men and WTA women players gearing up for the year end Grand Slam the U.S. Open.

The Daily Courier in Sunday’s edition (July 10) published a front-page story regarding two City of Prescott wells near the airport that have been shut down due to chemical contamination, specifically, chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS, perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctane sulfonate acids, respectively.

We have a relatively new family who moved to Prescott about three years ago from the San Diego area, Aaron and Shuko Cooley with their two children Ethan and Clare.

The cost of drugs in the United States is a hot topic. Courier Editor Tim Wiederaenders noted that in a recent column that caught my attention.

Two weeks ago, we discussed some common courtesies that as golfers, we should be aware of and apply to make the game of golf better for everyone.

My good friend Beth Miller, who took up the game of tennis this past year or so, posed the question to me about whether the game of tennis can be played just for fun (with no real pressure or killer expectations) or competitively, where there is a true dedication derived to excel within your age and ability level and time you have to devote.

Regarding Bruce Newsom’s Talk of the Town (June 7): These are the countries with the highest rates of gun violence (death) from guns: Brazil, 49,436; United States, 37,038; Venezuela, 28,515; Mexico, 22,116; India, 14,710; Colombia, 13,169; Philippines, 9,267; and Guatemala, 5,980 (worldpopulationreview.com).

Picture going to the local football field and looking up at a column of water three and a half miles high.

One week ago, May 31, The Daily Courier carried three opinion pieces – two columns and a letter – regarding violence committed with guns.

Ask what and who keeps tennis vibrant in the Prescott area — and the answer is primarily the “Prescott Area Tennis Association.”

Anyone who has played this game for any time, realizes that distance is a big factor.

When life throws you a curveball out of the blue it can be more than tough to not only relearn how to survive, but to find a new way to thrive, a new meaning, different kinds of enjoyable challenges around the hardships that have to be dealt with on a daily basis.

Our youth have suffered a lot during these few past years with lockdowns, zoom classrooms, cancelled sports and social activities, etc. The setbacks they have endured can be life-changing but luckily there is golf.

Most of us avid tennis players kind of “lucked” into the game. My parents put my brother and I into a 4 week clinic taught by local tennis volunteers who were good enough to take the time to do such, and 50 plus years later I’m still at it, reaping the benefits of this special life-long sport.

May I be frank with you? Or Wayne, or Connie or Bob? Seriously, we all have an ego. You would love to hit that little golf ball farther than you do. Admit it – you want more distance, as you think it will help you lower your score.

The question for many in Prescott regarding tennis might be, why does Yavapai College have a tennis facility when it doesn’t even have a tennis team? And that’s a pretty fair question.

Is it weird to say that I hate politics? How can I hate politics when I am smack dab in the middle of it as the mayor of Prescott Valley, and why would I want to be at the forefront of local politics if I don’t like the political arena?

This week’s column deals with the Masters Invitational. It is not a PGA Tour event but is a true invitational, hosted by the members of Augusta National. It is unique and Augusta National is a hallowed place that is revered by all – golfers and non-golfers. Here are a few fun facts and quotes to add to your enjoyment as you watch the final round today.

Billie Jean King, one of the most iconic female athlete’s the world has known to date, has recently published her autobiography, called “All In” and to me it’s a “must read.”

Land development is essential for a community’s success. There is a view and sentiment from our local developers and commercial builders that the City of Prescott is frowning upon development.

By now, most of you think I am a little different. Sorry to disappoint you, but I am very different, not a little! For instance, some have asked me where did I grow up? I honestly reply, “I haven’t yet!”

There’s nothing like a road trip to the BNP Masters tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

What could be wrong about living in an amazing community? Nobody wants to live in a community where there are more people climbing over themselves and fighting to get out of town due to a variety of variables. Here in the high plains of Prescott Valley and Prescott we have created communities that are vibrant, exciting and a desirable place for people from across the country to want to visit or call home.

The way Prescott has handled water sales outside city limits has been a huge problem. Most water deals have had three major issues: They have not helped us manage growth, manage our aquifer, or maximize benefits for the city and the community.

First, I would like to thank the editor for giving the Town of Chino Valley the opportunity to be included in the Talk of the Town monthly columns. Chino Valley town government is rapidly changing with the growth of the town. Engaged leadership is more important than ever.

The short answer is “no”. The swing will be different in feel than the way it really is, or actually looks.

So where are we today in Prescott with the game of tennis, what are the pluses and minuses of where we’ve been and where we hope to take the future of the game, the sport, the history of it all and in our own neck of the woods?

We will discuss getting the most out of the days when we cannot go to the golf course or practice facility. In the winter, even if it is cold outside or the course is closed, you can develop better mechanics and improve your golf game.

It’s back to almost normal business for the March 7 to 20, 2022 BNP Paribas Open Masters Tennis Tournament held in Indian Wells, CA and at the IW’s Tennis Garden site for the 22nd year.

What a great idea, hiking the Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon from the South Bass Trail to the New Hance Trail.

The little things in life become more and more aware to you as you grow into the later years of life, the journey, the people, the carrots that spur you on when it would be so easy to say, “Why go to all that effort, time and expense for something that has a good chance of not going in your favor”?

The “poorest of the poor” sadly describes the inadequate funding of many, if not all, of Yavapai County’s public-school districts. Unfortunately, this is the reality for Prescott, Humboldt and Chino Valley Unified districts, Mingus Union High School District and Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary District.

Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow! A gift such as a nice dinner, roses, candy, perfume, jewelry, vacuum cleaner (just kidding) – all are to show your love for another.

The results of last year’s city elections have been widely viewed as sending a clear message that our voters overwhelmingly support better management of both our diminishing aquifer and future growth.

On March 1st, our public schools in Arizona must cut their spending by approximately 16 percent. Money is available, it’s in the bank and it belongs to our community schools. But, because of a 1980 voter initiative that puts a 42-year-old ceiling on school spending, it can’t be spent.

Balance, rhythm, tempo and timing are crucial to any golf swing. You cannot be taught these fundamentals, but you can learn them.

If you haven’t heard, or if you’d like to be updated, there’s a very exciting mega sports and recreation center (over 100,000 square feet) with a restaurant/sports bar that will be opening in early April called “Espire Sports.”

Show me a golfer who doesn’t want to improve, and I’ll show you a golfer who is either dead or a golfer that has one foot in the grave and another foot on a banana peel. It is human nature to always strive to be better, whatever activity you are passionate about.

The statement, “Any press is good press,” might be true overall, but when it comes to the 2022 Australian Open this year and Novak Djokovic and his COVID problems with the government as the top tennis news story, I’m not so sure.

When the Prescott city government announced it was moving, and that the current City Hall building would be put up for sale, I talked to people about the structure (at the corner of Cortez and Goodwin) being a historic site — one that should be preserved somehow.

As our local tennis programs and play head forward, we are hoping and planning that 2022 will be a great year of junior, young adult, adult, senior and super senior play in all kinds of avenues of play and at a variety of sites in and around the Mile High City.

Here are some golf resolutions that we can easily keep all year round, making golf fun for everyone.

This past summer, there were several rallies on the courthouse plaza that created division in our community. The recurring theme was, “Stop referring to Prescott as ‘Everybody’s Hometown,’ because with all the trouble downtown, we certainly are not!”

After my Oct. 19 op-ed about my proposal for Prescott to sell its share of the Big Chino Project to Prescott Valley, I received many comments. Because the Big Chino Project is the largest project ever proposed by Prescott, I think it’s important to remove any confusion or misunderstandings.

A new movie that is now in the theaters across the country and on HBO called “King Richard”, is about how Richard Williams devised a 78-page written plan to make his two girls (Venus and Serena who weren’t even born yet) become the greatest tennis players of their era — and against all odds achieved that dream.

A May 2021 report by the Morrison Institute’s Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University calls into question the ability of the state’s water laws to assure sustainable water supplies for residents living in areas where groundwater levels are declining.

If you read the headline, you know where this is going. After 17-plus years and more than 850 columns, I’m “retiring.” To be more precise, I’m retiring this column.

The Democratic Party had yet another bad election night recently, and the party is shaking its head, wondering why. After all, polls continue to show general public support for Democratic positions, such as the infrastructure bill, health care reform, the living wage, etc.

Playing any sport and trying to attain better and better ability levels is a daunting task both mentally and physically.

The “cartoon” in The Daily Courier newspaper on Oct. 27 was certainly written with bad taste and a complete lack of understanding of the labor shortage that we are experiencing as a country, community, and industry.

In our quest for finding the right racquet for our tennis games, the question as we get older, a step or two slower and probably not quite as strong armed in our swings is - what head size, length and weight of racquet is in our best interest?

We can all agree that we have experienced hotter temperatures, long-term drought, loss of Verde River flow, declining water levels in Prescott-area lakes, and increased occurrences of catastrophic wildfire here in Arizona and across the West.

Having experienced all manner of controversy as a Prescott City councilman for five years, and county Planning and Zoning commissioner for almost a decade, I am feeling compelled to speak out regarding a disturbing trend I am sensing throughout Yavapai County.

Tom Brady’s first return to Foxboro as a member of the visiting team proves once again that sports is all about the money, and those dollars touch a lot of different hands.

This is the third of a series to assist you with putting.

I am not sure what I expected our country to look like in 2021, but I certainly did not expect it to be so fractured. My oldest son was a year old on Sept. 11, 2001. The wave of patriotism following that day gave me hope for the America that my kids would inherit.

When it comes to saving local newspapers, the solutions won’t be found in web metrics, ad rates or shrinking news holes. The solution, seemingly simple yet terrifying complicated, is for newspapers to reconnect with the people they’re supposed to be serving.

I may sound like a luddite to some. But, I’m not suggesting we go back to the days when Mark Warner constructed a raft out of drift wood to float ponds in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO.

Regarding the Courier column by Editor Tim Wiederaenders, “Trust sprouts wings with Yavapai Ranch development,” and the PAD zoning extension, all citizens have skin in this game because it involves and impacts United States Forest Service land — which is owned by all citizens.

Five years of community advocacy, education, negotiation and dialogue to save Prescott’s Granite Dells from development culminated in July with the Prescott City Council’s historic 7-0 vote to pass Arizona Eco Development (AED)’s proposed Development Agreement and Annexation.

I come from a family of fighting men.

One of the best parts of 2021 has been the return of so many of our great special events here in Prescott. As we’ve begun to return to a sense of normalcy, and venturing out to enjoy local restaurants and shops, we’ve also starting seeing many more friendly faces at events in the community.

So how does a young man from the railroad towns of Hyannis and Ashby, Nebraska (population 287) go from being the son of a rancher to a rodeo cowboy and later a tennis professional?

One late June morning, the day after Prescott came within one degree of its all-time 105°F temperature record, my 82-year-old neighbor called to me as I was watering my garden. Her swamp cooler had failed, it had been 98°F inside her house, and would I install the air conditioner she planned to buy?

This past Saturday the inductions for the International Tennis Hall of Fame took place in Newport, Rhode Island, and in some ways they were kind of the same, and in another kind of different.

Over the past few weeks, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of positive COVID-19 test results in Yavapai County. We knew there would be an increase after the events that took place around our Fourth of July celebrations, but these numbers have me concerned.

Many of us have fleeting moments of thinking, “Wouldn’t it be fun to get back out and start playing some tennis”, and then the thought passes and we go on with what life takes us through on a daily basis.

In a unanimous landmark decision last week, the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a long overdue death knell to the NCAA’s sham argument that college athletes are amateurs.

Prescott City Attorney Jon Paladini recently posted a legal opinion on the City of Prescott’s website asserting citizens’ initiative Proposition 401 does not apply to the development agreement (DA) between the city and Arizona Eco Development (AED).

Those two words, uttered by the attorney for Matt Schembechler, the adopted son of former University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, during a June 10 news conference said it all.

Suppose you owned the Prescott Rodeo Grounds on Fair Street, including land and several buildings. If I came to you and said I’d like a 50-year lease under the terms that I keep at least 95% of year-round receipts and you get 5%, what would you say? And what would you say if the lease had no cost-of-living increase for 50 years?

Last year the game of tennis’ normal inductions and professional lawn tennis tournament was cancelled at the Newport R.I. International Tennis Hall of Fame due to COVID, but this year are excited and ready for a large, fun crowd to attend — Sunday, July 11, to Sunday, July 18, 2021, for the men’s singles and doubles tournament and induction ceremony and special festivities to enjoy!

Mayor Mengarelli has several conflicts of interest with his new job with the rodeo. That’s unfortunate because as far as him having the job, that’s good for him. As far as it helping the rodeo, which is an important part of Prescott culture, that’s good too. But it’s all tangled up with that other job, being mayor.

On Tuesday, June 8, I was contacted by the senior editorial staff at The Daily Courier and informed that Tom Cantlon had written an opinion piece concerning my new position with Prescott Frontier Days (PFD). “In the name of fairness,” the Courier offered me an opportunity to write a counterpoint piece.

Imagine my surprise when my husband brought me The Daily Courier with the Good Samaritan Society — Marley House on the front page. After reading the article, I understand this is an unexpected juncture, although I fail to see how this changes the “community” focus of the Marley House.

The game of tennis, like many things during COVID, took a hit.

The past two weeks for me have been exhilarating and, yet again, eye-opening that nothing in this life is to be taken for granted.

Now into the 26th day of my/our “Bike and Tennis Across American” trip and the end is nearing.

Many of you know I’m in the middle of a bike ride across the country, promoting tennis and biking, going from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida.

It’s not easy to deal inwardly when the ball and your racquet become out of sync, or your opponent isn’t cooperating with what you’re trying tactically against them.

I have gathered some quotes from some famous and some infamous persons. I trust you will enjoy these quotes, maybe identify with some, get a chuckle or two and learn that we have a lot in common with many others that share our quest in playing this fabulous game.

Recently, one of the premier business innovators of the 20th century, Jack Welch, passed away.

The accusations of pedophilia in the Catholic church have never faded from the public eye.

Have you heard of the recent movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”?

Perhaps you’ve heard this old Scottish proverb/poem as a child or read it in a book of nursery rhymes to your own child:

I’m just a little crestfallen now that the college football bowl season has ended.

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they were “stepping back” from their duties as senior royals, it triggered a number of interesting reactions on this side of the pond.

Americans love a good countdown. Christmas is only 330 days from the date of writing this column.

Growing older definitely has both an upside and a downside. Those of us of a certain age know the physical downside all too well.

As you may or may not be aware, I have served on the City of Prescott’s Water Subcommittee for a couple of decades; and, I am so very proud of our water track record. Moreover, I am convinced that what we are discussing regarding the geographical expansion of both our water and wastewater service provisions in the future are really the right things to do.

The coming new year is not only the end of 2019 but also the end of a decade. What better time to let go of old stresses and strains and grab a fresh start with gusto!

From our inception, Save the Dells has worked to secure a fair deal in which Arizona Eco Development (AED) protects approximately 500 beloved acres in the Granite Dells as public open space in exchange for the tremendously valuable benefits of annexation.

Around the middle of October, my wife received a letter from Hisashi Shibata.

Centuries ago, the tribes of Israel were exiled to Babylon, unwillingly but firmly under the domination of a foreign empire.

The entertainment world has offered us an endless selection of singers over the years, but few have endured like the young fellow from Tupelo, Mississippi, who blended country, blues and rock ‘n roll genres into his own unique brand of music.

That special section that the Courier published on November 11 in which veterans responded to an invitation that the paper had extended for them to describe their military experience was, in a word, outstanding.

This past week in Prescott saw the beginning of winter temperatures.

When I hear the word “lynch,” I immediately think of the black experience of torture, persecution and dehumanization that was so prevalent in the first half of the last century in the American south.

There are six to 10 million species of insects in the world with another seven-

Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian or a Green party member, 2020 is shaping up to be an important year.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, “he said, she said,” is quickly becoming, “she said, he cringed and remained silent.” Another variation is, “she said, he apologized profusely and then resigned.”

All of Washington is vibrating like the foam on a latte in the cup holder of a convertible jeep riding railroad tracks over a bridge.

Until a few days ago, the only ‘Epstein’ in the news that I knew about was Jeffrey Epstein.

I never met my great-grandfather, although I’ve seen pictures of him.

We live in seemingly divisive times. Politicians are at each other’s throats. Talking heads on the network news explain to us all the reasons we should hate and mistrust each other. Confidence in public institutions is at an all-time low. There seems to be nothing but bad news.

“I wanna be Bobby’s girl. I wanna be Bobby’s girl. That’s the most important thing to me.” - as sung by Marcie Blane in 1962.

New water policies proposed by the City of Prescott leadership will speed growth, provide water outside of the city without annexation, and increase the overdraft. These new policies depend on “paper water” created by diverting the Groundwater Allowance to new development.

Considering my past is something I do less and less these days.

Nobody was using the old wren house. My grandfather built it. Grandpa started building birdhouses when he retired from milking cows and his second oldest son took over.

My wife and I developed a habit several years ago of reading before we drop off to sleep each night.

Do you long for the days when the only outbursts our delicate ears had to worry about were the Z word (“Zoinks!”) and the J word (“Jinkies!”)?

The results of the municipal election should have been a wake-up call for the Prescott mayor and council. Instead Greg Mengarelli, Billie Orr and others are using the results and the winning tactic (single-shot for Cathey Rusing) to excuse their comparatively poor showings.

Last week, I got an email from my friend Chris Casazza, a partner with the immigration firm Solow, Isbell and Palladino in Philadelphia. He reached out to tell me about something that had happened to a former client, and he hoped that I could tell the story.

On a Sunday afternoon fishing trip with my little brother and late father, I caught 15 fish at the lake in Lewisburg, Tennessee.

“The issue is patents,” Nobel-prize winning economist Milton Friedman explained when asked in 2004 why he opposed drug reimportation, the practice of bring back prescription drugs originally manufactured in the U.S. and exported to other countries to sale.

“Took away our native tongue/And taught their English to our young...” - from “Indian Reservation,” by John D. Loudermilk.

What is the difference between “yard art” and junk? This question has pitted neighbor against neighbor and has evidently caused quite a few heated debates.

Becoming a fireman, police officer, pilot, or joining the military is often a dream of so many young boys and girls. While many of my friends went through the stages of following their dreams to become a police officer or firefighter, I found my passion of flying airplanes – and it took off.

It’s been a week since 31 people were murdered in two mass shootings within 24 hours. Despite numerous differences between the two horrific incidents in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, there was a crucial common denominator: hysterical public reaction.

For various reasons, my graduating class has seen two milestone anniversaries sail by without a class reunion materializing.

I’m a big softie when it comes to children’s books.

Can we all agree that being human means, among other things, that we are flawed individuals?

This past week, my parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, and I stood in front of the greeting card rack for a very long time.

When faced with two women who each claimed to be the mother of the same child, King Solomon announced that he would slice the child in two and give half to each claimant. One woman was pleased. The other wailed in sorrow, and begged the king to give the child to her opponent.

Recently, I found myself standing in front of my old house in Philadelphia. From 1966, when I was 4, until 1969, when we moved to Delaware County, I lived in the two-story quasi-Victorian on the 5400 block of North 12th Street.

Howzabout a little three-part treatise on unrelated matters? Since you have no choice, then here goes:

This is the second of a two-part column focusing on former Navy Flier Chuck Baldock’s nearly seven years as a North Vietnamese POW from 1966 to 1973.

The Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) believes that citizens in the Quad-City area must tell their elected officials they want them to begin now to create a water management plan that will produce long-term water security.

After hundreds of Roman Catholics were killed in an Islamist terror attack last Sunday, Hillary Clinton tweeted out the following:

About the time that the #MeToo movement really started to get traction in 2017, I compared it to the Salem witch trials.

The older I become, the more solace I get from small victories.

When we were kids, reality and imagination were often blurred.

Are you a baseball fanatic? Do you look forward to the smell of freshly cut infield grass and the whiff of leather from a glove? Do you love the sound of a pitch pounding the catcher’s mitt, or the crack of the bat when the ball is squared up?

Spring training is underway, and fans whose passion for baseball dates back decades brace themselves for more game-altering, useless and annoying changes. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob “Meddling” Manfred is back at it with more dumb ideas that will, if implemented, distract from the game on the field.

Since tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, many people throughout the country and the world over have been preparing for the event for quite some time.

The British are coming! Yes, it is that time of year again! Would you like some chips?

This headline in Tuesday’s Courier jumped out at me; “Lawmakers vote to allow parents dropping kids off at school to carry loaded guns.”

Sadie’s name and situation are generalized for purposes of this column, which reflects my volunteer association with Kindred Hospice in Prescott.

There are many questions one might ask of our great institutions of sports. Is the NFL doing enough to protect against concussions on the field?

America has a bunch of foundational myths - George Washington and his famed cherry tree, the belief that anyone can get ahead if they just work hard enough and the stubborn belief that our occasionally sputtering constitutional republic is still more exceptional than any other nation on Earth.

Robert Kraft is being charged with soliciting prostitutes. That’s not news, sadly, since a lot of people - including high-profile people - pay for sex.

If Prescott and its surrounding towns continue with their rapid, rabid growth, population explosion, instant housing developments, and demolition derby traffic – problems mostly attributed to Californians migrating here – we will have to change the areas name from Quad Cities, and begin calling it “Calicott.”

Back in 1959, Alfred Hitchcock came up with that thriller of a movie titled “North By Northwest.”

February the 14th this year is on a Thursday.

It all started in 1896. It ends now in 2019. Here in downtown Chino Valley.

Does your workplace have a tradition of employees giving a Christmas gift (er, holiday gift ... um, scrupulously secular seasonal transfer of goods) to the boss?

For California natives like me, the wildfires are a real gut punch. The wildfires are the deadliest in the state’s history with at least 76 fatalities, and hundreds unaccounted for. More than 10,000 buildings are gone, and more than 230,000 acres have burned.

Did you realize that November 24 marks the 100th birthday of the venerable (and still-published) comic strip “Gasoline Alley?”

I read the news today, oh boy. And by “read” I mean skimmed. And by “news” I mean aggregates.

This column is a painful one. I’ve decided to lay bare the love affair, then the estrangement from my favorite beverage of all time, Coca-Cola.

Say it ain’t so: Alcohol in moderation is bad for us again!

The Democrats and their parrots and lapdogs in the liberal media never stop accusing people on the right of being racists, sexists and homophobes.

For many years, I have been hearing that iceberg lettuce is a worthless form of green leaves that should be shunned and even banned from the kitchen.

An in-depth newspaper investigation revealed that a state-operated home for aged military veterans was providing sub-standard care and that taxpayer money that was to go to improve the home was spent elsewhere. The result was the replacement of the state’s veterans secretary and numerous corrections at the home.

According to the latest Gallup poll, the congressional approval rate is currently just 19 percent, with 76 percent disapproving. Congress’ miserable showing surprises no one. After Election Day, campaign promises abruptly vanish, and are replaced by an agenda that voters would never have supported.

Children seldom complain about vision problems. Rather, according to the Eyes on Learning Vision Coalition, “they believe everyone sees the world the way they do.” But the coalition notes that “80 percent of children’s learning is through their eyes.

It was a long, embarrassing day of drama, tears and ugly partisan bickering. But by the end of last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, I came to the conclusion that both Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford had told the truth.

“The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States: Estimates based on demographic modeling with data from 1990 to 2016,” a new study published in the peer-reviewed science journal, PLOS ONE, found that the illegal immigration population in the United States has been, for years, dramatically underestimated.

Hurricane Florence tearing up the south Atlantic coast is nothing compared to the hypocrisies tearing up our country over Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Brett Kavanaugh tried to pull off her clothes at an alcohol-fueled house party when they were teenage minors.

“Republicans like to talk about fiscal discipline, but when they have control of Congress they spend like drunken sailors!”

I love Lindsay Graham. The witty South Carolina senator, who’s usually more entertaining than most comedians, has been one of the highlights of the otherwise depressing televised Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

From an unlikely place — deep red Kansas — comes a plot to add to the cheap labor workforce. In 2016, President Trump carried Kansas by more than 20 points. Nevertheless, Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, from Kansas’ 3rd District, joined up with other cheap labor addicts to subvert American workers.

Heading into the midterms, it’s a good idea to take stock of what you really want and don’t want from “your” government.

I am of an age that I lose things. Car keys. An occasional train of thought. Family members.

“Here we are in peak vacation season, but I’m afraid to take my paid vacation time off!”

When good people fight for freedom and peace, the rest of us should fight for them.

Social Security is here for young people when a parent passes away. We know that the loss of a parent isn’t just emotionally painful; it can be devastating to a family’s finances. In the same way that Social Security helps to lift up the disabled and elderly when they need it, we support families when an income-earning parent dies.