Author: Tommy Acosta

Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward(August 20, 2015) Yesterday, in a 3 to 2 vote, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) gave in to part of electric utility APS’s request for more money from solar customers. The ACC did not decide to grant the money APS wanted (about $21 per month instead of the current $5 average) but they did decide to move forward with the issue instead of waiting for APS’s next rate case. Thus the ACC has paved the way for APS to get more money sooner rather than later from solar customers and, in so doing, stop the growth…

Cottonwood AZ (August 20, 2015) – All of Verde Valley Humane Society’s 40 lb+ dogs can be adopted for $40.  The adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccines, and free vet visit but excludes all VIPs.  You can see all of them in the VVHS Facebook album at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.868467159899100.1073741888.232514220161067&type=3 – or go to the album “40lbs+ for $40” under the photos tab.Also, 2 for 1 adoptions on VVHS cats and kittens.  See some of them in their Facebook album https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.873475072731642.1073741893.232514220161067&type=3 or go to the album “Cats and Kittens 2 for 1”. Don’t miss out!  Your new best friend is waiting for you at the Verde Valley Humane Society…

Sedona AZ (August 19, 2015) – On Friday, August 28th, at 5 pm Pumphouse Poetry and Prose Project will present local legend and hero James Bishop as well as welcoming award winning visiting poet Christine Swanberg from Illinois.  Pumphouse Poetry and Prose Project has a show the last Friday of every month during the outdoor literary season.  Located on the southernmost end of the Creekside Plaza parking lot in Sedona on the steps of the old historic stone pumphouse beneath the shade of the giant sycamore trees, the Pumphouse crew would like to take a moment to thank the growing audience…

By Ted Grussing… I got this shot of a Great Blue Heron heading across the pond towards a new fishing position on the edge of the rushes on the shore ahead of him … there he will stand quietly waiting for fish to swim by him at which time he uses his head like an arrow and spears them or grabs them with his beak if they are small enough. I took the shot at Bubbling ponds and the day was more than warm …

Story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse returns to Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (August 19, 2015) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present ENCORE screenings of “Amy” — an award-winning documentary about the late Amy Winehouse featuring such music legends as Tony Bennett, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé and more. The film will show Monday, Aug. 31 at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.The film showed to sold out shows earlier in the month and is being brought back by popular demand!

By Ted GrussingIt is not uncommon to see feathers on the ground, perhaps the host is okay, perhaps the host is sustaining other life, but in any case the feather has seen its last flight … you have to wonder at how it helped the bird fly and the places it has gone before it settled on the water in one of the ponds at Bubbling Springs Fish Hatchery. I like the look of the water too as it does not have a very watery look to it.

Motivational speaker and global adventurer brings his “Giving Back Tour” to Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (August 18, 2015) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to host motivational speaker Leon Logothetis and “The Giving Back Tour” featuring a free lecture and presentation entitled “I See You: The Power of Human Connection”. The event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.“The Giving Back Tour” is one man’s quest to ignite goodwill and transform lives around the world.

YCSO detective discovers additional victim during Investigation    Verde Valley AZ (August 18, 2015) – Recently, YCSO has handled several cases involving suspects luring a known child victim for sex. With early notification to law enforcement by victims and their families, or the discovery of a predator through internet investigations, detectives have been able to intercede before further harm is done to the child.   As reported in prior YCSO media releases, Sheriff Mascher has made the effort to catch child predators a priority for YCSO through special operations that involve enticing predators out of the shadows into custody. These operations range…

New acclaimed independent films premiere at the Mary D. Fisher TheatreSedona AZ (August 17, 2015) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premieres of “Jimmy’s Hall” and “Best of Enemies” showing Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.

Sedona, AZ (August 17, 2015) There’s no doubt education in our state is dismal. Our elected officials at the state level have betrayed the students and parents of Arizona, cutting education by an unconscionable amount and using the money for other budget shortfalls and pet projects. The sadness is our elected leaders would rather spend our tax dollars building jails rather than educating our children.Some might say our state’s educational system is falling apart. Others might say our system is being systematically dismantled by those standing to make a great profit from jails populated by high-school dropouts who do not…

By Ted Grussing… I had the good fortune to see  a number of Western Tiger Swallow Tail butterflies feeding on a neighbors Bird of Paradise bushes this morning … 270 shots later I continued my walk and having fun going through the photos this evening. I’ll eventually get the number down to about 15. I especially enjoy this shot where two of them were on neighboring blooms. The entanglement of insect limbs and flower parts make for a complicated vision of life forms coming together; one for nourishment and the other for pollination … somehow nature always seems to work…

A One Stop Shop for Pet RecordsVerde Valley AZ (August 17, 2015) – The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is excited to announce a new website at that provides dog owners the ability to obtain licenses, maintain pet records, and even report an animal missing among its many other features. This web service is provided free of charge to any dog owner in Yavapai County. Simply create an account to access all the features. These license requirements apply to dog owners who reside in unincorporated Yavapai County. Those residents in cities or towns should check with their local animal control authority…

Sedona AZ (August 17, 2015) – On Thursday, August 27th, at 6:30 PM, The Inspiration of Sedona, will show part 5 of James Cameron’s, Emmy Award winning, nine-part “Years of Living Dangerously” documentary series. The remaining four parts of the series will be shown consecutively on the following 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.

Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward(August 16, 2015) IntroductionLast May I appealed “smart” meter Decision # 75047 made by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). The Decision was illegal in many ways. Plus the commissioners lied repeatedly throughout the Decision.I detailed all the lies and lawlessness in my appeal to the ACC, but the commissioners denied my appeal by not responding to it within the 20 days specified in law. (My appeal is here: http://images.edocket.azcc.gov/docketpdf/0000163221.pdf . Don’t be put off by its 108 pages. The appeal is really only 17 pages long; the rest is supporting material).I then brought the ACC’s serial…

Sedona AZ (August 16, 2015) – Hi. My name is Zeke and I am a neutered, male Domestic Short Hair cat who is 1 years old. I am a sweet and affectionate cat with jet black soft fur. If you want to meet me, I am at the Sedona PetSmart.  I would love a new pet parent to love. Can you take me home?Hi. My name is Kimmy and I am excited to find a new home. Can you help?  I am a 2 year old spayed female American Bulldog Mixed breed kind of girl.  I am a dog who…