January

There was no shortage of news to start off the new year. In January it was reported the Cochise County Board of Supervisors (BOS), who were embroiled in a lawsuit over the jail tax election, fired their counsel then immediately hired new counsel. The BOS meet and voted to go into executive session, and when they returned to open session Supervisor Frank Antenori made a motion to terminate legal representation with the Sherman & Howard law firm who had been representing the county in the jail tax appeal lawsuit filed by Daniel LaChance and several others, who claimed the county had disenfranchised approximately 11,000 voters on the inactive list by failing to send them ballots in the May 2023 election. After approving the termination, the board again went back into executive session and then came back and voted to approve hiring attorney Timothy La Sota to represent them in the case. In the January 9 issue it was reported that several businesses in the San Jose area sustained property damage after several windows were smashed in with rocks. Also that week it was reported Richard Graeme’s son, Douglas Graeme, manager of Copper Queen Mine Tour shared a plaque honoring his father who was inducted into the Mining and Minerals Education Foundation Hall of Fame. Graeme was captivated as young boy by Bisbee minerals which led to him spending 55 years in the copper industry. Three years after he passed away, he was inducted into the Mining and Minerals Education Foundation Hall of Fame as one of four pioneers in the field. 

In the second issue of the month, it was reported a fast-spreading fire on Strong Row destroyed three homes, more than 30 firefighters from multiple agencies worked to put out the fire. That same week it was reported Stephen Ferreria, 39, Bisbee was booked into the Cochise County Jail charged with four felony counts of child molestation. Ferreria allegedly confessed during an interview with officers from the Bisbee Police Department (BPD) that he had been sexually molesting a 12-year-old girl for months.
In the January 23 issue, it was reported County Recorder David Stevens submitted his letter of resignation last week, stating that he will officially step down from his position on February 28, 2025. Stevens who was also named in multiple lawsuits regarding the 2022 mid-term election said he had enjoyed his time in office but provided no further information.
A court ruling reported on that week made several Yuma Trail residents happy after years of pleading with the city to have a resident clean up their yard. Justice of the Peace/Bisbee City Magistrate, Janus Poppe, issued the minute entry order January 3. The order states the city may make entry onto the Yuma Trail property to abate it based on city code section 9.4.2, littering and maintaining junk. Former City Building Inspector Joe Ward reported in October of 2023 that the property has been an issue.