Author: Tommy Acosta

Tommy Acosta is the publisher, editor, and lead opinion writer of Sedona.biz, the hyperlocal cyber magazine known as "The Voice of Sedona and the Verde Valley." He writes on local issues, politics, national affairs, culture, and personal reflection, often with a provocative or satirical tone.In addition to his work as a writer, Acosta is a working musician and reflexologist. He has written extensively about the challenges Sedona's musicians face, noting their low pay despite the town's vibrant music scene.Acosta describes himself as a "political actualist," rejecting strict party affiliations and instead focusing on how people are manipulated by political processes. His coverage spans local Sedona issues, tourism, short-term rentals, cultural events, community building, as well as national commentary and critiques of political figures, sometimes through imaginative pieces like "What Would Tommy Do?"Acosta is deeply engaged in Sedona's cultural and spiritual community, advocating for local musicians, artisans, and businesses, and writing about Sedona's unique identity as a spiritual and artistic hub.

Phoenix AZ (August 6, 2020) – Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning Arizonans to look out for COVID-19 test result scams. COVID-19 testing providers and patients are reporting a possible imposter scam. Fraudsters may be calling consumers claiming that they have COVID‑19 test results, but are really trying to acquire patients’ personal information or tricking patients into incorrectly paying money.”Right now while countless Arizonans anxiously await their COVID-19 test results, con artists are preying upon their anxiety,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “Consumers must keep their guard up. If someone calls asking for personal information like your Social Security number or your Medicare account…

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Many highway segments still available for adoption Phoenix AZ (August 7, 2020) – A lot has changed over the last few months, but there is still a need for volunteers to help keep our state looking its best. Last weekend about 50 volunteers in Heber-Overgaard cleaned portions of state routes 260 and 277 as part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program.The Aug. 1 cleanup was initiated by the Heber-Overgaard Chamber of Commerce, which  recently adopted a 2-mile segment of SR 260. The chamber was joined by Heber-Overgaard Fire and EMS, the Ponderosa Lions Club, NAPA Auto Parts…

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KSB Virtual Speaker Series on Tuesday, August 11 Sedona AZ (August 6, 2020) – The City of Sedona’s Sustainability Coordinator, McKenzie Jones, will speak at Keep Sedona Beautiful’s Preserving the Wonder™ Speaker Series on Tuesday, August 11th at 5:00 pm.  Due to the pandemic, KSB will be hosting this event on Zoom. Please visit the KSB website, www.keepsedonabeautiful.org for details. 

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By Ted Grussing… as the comet NeoWise makes its way back out into the solar system and beyond it is still scoring a ten for overall beauty. This is a composite image that I put together with a photo I took in the hospital room at Oasis over the weekend … a mirror on the wall and reflections of a multi colored wall … it also worked out for a ten!

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Sedona AZ (August 5, 2020) – The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) concluded their investigation into the officer-involved shooting of Jonathan David Messare, determining the officers were justified in their actions and that with Messare closing in on officers with an edged weapon held over his head and ready to use, non-lethal use of force was not an option. The Coconino County Attorney’s Office has also reviewed this incident and determined charges against the officers are not warranted.Messare died on scene when two Sedona Police Department officers fired their weapons at the 41-year-old on Jan. 20, 2020 as he…

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Prescott AZ (August 5, 2020) – UPDATE – In the early evening hours of July 27th, Officers with the Phoenix Police Department located suspect Matthew Scott Bywater in the 4300 block of 19th Avenue in Phoenix.  Bywater was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail.  He was wanted on a probation violation warrant stemming from a 2018 burglary in the Cordes Lakes area.  Bywater has since been transferred to the Yavapai County Jail where he is currently in custody.###Prescott AZ (July 19, 2020) – It’s day 19 of Yavapai Silent Witnesses Catch 22 Program.  Today the Yavapai County Sheriff’s…

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By Ted Grussing… apologies for not getting a photograph out last night, but it just didn’t happen. I got home from Oasis down in Phoenix very late afternoon and rather collapsed in a heap … I had a total knee replacement of the right knee Friday morning and was more in crash mode than creative mode. So here is the image I had planned to use last night. Kendrick Peak, NW of the San Francisco Peaks. Seemed like a good way to escape the heat that permeates Arizona during the summer.

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Cornville AZ (August 4, 2020) – On Monday August 3, 2020, at approximately 8:30 PM, the Verde Valley Fire District responded to the report of a wildland assignment in the 5000 block of Homestead Trail.VVFD was dispatched to the report of a yard on fire and spreading. On arrival crews deployed hand lines to the fire in order to control the fire’s spread. The fire was controlled and extinguished with hose lines and hand crews. Nearby organizations, Cottonwood Fire and Medical and Verde Valley Ambulance Company sent crews to help with suppression activities. One person at the scene was evaluated…

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[NOTE: The sewage spill occurred on August 4, 2020. Information from the City of Sedona was first made available on August 5. Updates appear below with the original story.]Thursday, September 3 update on sewage spillSedona AZ (September 4, 2020) – Water quality counts taken between 8:40 and 10:01 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2020 show E.coli levels at all test sites remain below the state and federal water quality E.coli limit of 235 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/100mL of water for recreational swimming. It takes approximately 24 hours to receive test results, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 235 CFU/100 mL Beach…

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“Let Your Voice Be Heard – Vote” Election Day is tomorrow – Tuesday, August 4, 2020Prescott AZ (August 3, 2020) – Yavapai County Recorder, Leslie Hoffman would like to announce that tomorrow, Tuesday, August 4, 2020 is Election Day… “Let Your Voice Be Heard – Vote”.All registered voters are eligible to vote in the 2020 Primary Election. Emergency Voting is available today Monday, August 3, 2020 at the Yavapai County Recorder’s Offices 1015 Fair St. RM 228, Prescott and 10 S. 6th St., Cottonwood through 5pm.

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Dealers beware, you never know who is watching …Cottonwood AZ (August 3, 2020) – On July 28, 2020, around 5:15 PM, detectives from the Partner’s Against Narcotics Trafficking Task Force (PANT) observed 30-year-old John Gonzales in the Cottonwood area and saw him eventually stop in the parking lot of the Cottonwood Walmart. Detectives know John for his involvement in the use and sale of fentanyl. He is usually associated with a dark brown GMC 2500 truck. John exited his truck and quickly jumped into a gold Mercury passenger car that had pulled up next to his truck. Based on this…

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Cottonwood AZ (August 1, 2020) – On Saturday August 1, 2020, at approximately 1:00 AM, the Verde Valley Fire District responded to the report of a Wildland fire threatening structures in the 2000 block of S. Eastern Dr. in the Verde Villages.On arrival crews found 2 separate fires burning, one in vacant land spreading into the wash nearby and the other in a residence front yard that was immediately threatening the structure. Verde Valley Fire District crews deployed attack lines to both fires and were able to knock the fires down before it damaged the residence or spread into the…

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Sedona AZ (August 1, 2020) – Shungopavi Village is under covid lock-down restrictions. This village, the most traditional one at Hopi, has almost 1,000 people and about 110 covid cases as of July 29.  Gatherings are not allowed. School this fall will most likely be by remote learning.  Hopi families welcome in-home learning enrichment supplies. Crossing Worlds Hopi Projects invites tax-deductible donations for learning enrichment support for 280+ Shungopavi youth ages 3 to 18 during the coming school year.  CWHP is communicating with the village administration on needs of the youth. 

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Cottonwood AZ (July 31, 2020) – Due to lack of precipitation and high temperatures, Verde Valley Fire District will continue to enforce the burn restrictions. These restrictions prohibit all open fires, fire pits and campfires. However, this does not include cooking on propane grills and use of charcoal barbecue grills that have covers. Residents are still encouraged to exercise caution and good judgment.Please contact Verde Valley Fire District Fire Chief Joe Moore or Fire Inspector Kyla Rolfes at 928-634-2578 if you have any questions.

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By Leslie M. Hoffman, Yavapai County RecorderPrescott AZ (July 31, 2020) – All 25 Vote Centers are scheduled to be open on Election Day, August 4th at 6 am and will remain open until 7 pm. Any Yavapai County voter can choose to vote at any Yavapai County Vote Center. There is no assigned place to vote.  A list of Vote Centers can be found on our website at: .We are supplying each Vote Center with a “hygiene kit” which contains:

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