Prescott eNews

A local creative arts competition will be held today through Wednesday. The Bob Stump Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is hosting the Creative Arts Festival in its theatre building, located on Highway 89 North in Prescott. All hospitalized and out-patient veterans who are actively enrolled have been invited to submit their artwork for the competition. There will be judging in fine arts, applied arts and craft kit categories. There will also be a special commemorative category entitled "The Military War Experience." The first place winners in each category will move on to the regional and possibly national competition that will be held in October in Wisconsin. The artwork of 6 veterans from the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System placed in the top 3 at the national level in last year's festival.

A caregiver has been arrested for alleged fraud schemes. According to Cottonwood Police, 30 year old Cottonwood resident Circe Mattison was employed by a private care facility to provide specialized care for a developmentally disabled juvenile. It was discovered Mattison had allegedly submitted time sheets and forged signatures to receive payment for work she did not perform. It was also found the juvenile she was to care for was out of the country at the time the care was allegedly being given. From June until October, Mattison received 49 hundred dollars in pay, for time which she never worked. Police detectives took her into custody on 2 counts of fraud schemes, 26 counts of forgery and 2 counts of theft.

District One Representative Ann Kirkpatrick will kick off her new telephone town hall series at 3 tomorrow afternoon. The first conversation will focus on what Washington can do to help protect Arizona seniors. Officials note Kirkpatrick has been fighting hard to make progress on the issues that matter most to seniors. She supported the House Health Insurance Reform Bill in part because it met her commitment to close the Medicare Part D "Donut Hole" and make prescription drugs more affordable. Residents who want to participate in the discussion can dial in to 1-877-269-7289 and press 15024 when prompted. They can then ask the Congresswoman a question by pressing *3.

A new Health Reform Advisory Committee will have representation from Northern Arizona. District One Representative Ann Kirkpatrick has announced the launch of a non-partisan advisory committee to counsel her on health insurance reform. Committee members in Arizona can share their experiences with Congress as a final reform bill is crafted and enacted. Those who have agreed to serve on the Board include President and CEO of Yavapai Regional Medical Center Tim Barnett, Prescott chiropractor and owner of the Bennett Clinic Doctor Wayne Bennett, co-founder of Mountain Heart Cardiology in Flagstaff Doctor Jim Carter, President of the Northern Arizona Nurse Practitioner Group Karen Holder, Vice-Chair of the Verde Valley Medical Center Jim Ledbetter, Prescott resident and Chief Executive Officer of Altius Health Care Kevin Nestrick and President and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Wesselholf.

Possible changes to the Prescott City Council's Rules of Procedure will be back for more discussion. At the end of last year, Council expressed interest in initiating a 3 month trial period for holding 2 council meetings a month. However, during Council's voting session on January 26th, action was not taken due to further changes that had to be made. Discussion on the adjusted schedule will take place during Council's study session at 3 tomorrow.

Council members are expected to be in attendance at tonight's Regional Association of Local Governments meeting, which starts at 6 at the Manzanita Grille at the Antelope Hills Golf Course. Discussion items include Highway 89 area revenue sharing, Regional Associations of Government and an Airport Authority.

The Dewey-Humboldt Town Council also meets at 3 tomorrow, for presentation and discussion on revenue estimates and an informational dialogue with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. The meeting will be held at Town Hall on south Highway 69.

Prescott National Forest fire managers plan on burning accumulated slash piles this week. Weather permitting, piles located on Spruce Mountain and at various locations in Groom Creek and Ponderosa Park will be treated today through Friday. Specific days to burn are determined by current and expected weather patterns. Depending on conditions, any of the areas may be treated during the 5 day period. The piles will be monitored and allowed to completely burn themselves out. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas. Last week, fire managers treated 40 acres of accumulated piles.

The Arizona Sundogs suffered 2 more one goal losses over the weekend. The Sundogs had a 2 to nothing lead in Friday's game against the Rapid City Rush thanks to goals by forwards Marc Belanger and Joey Sides, but the Rush was able to tie the game in the 2nd period. Rapid City took the lead late in that period and extended that lead by 1 as the final period got underway. Sides scored his second of the game with just over 3 minutes left as the Rush got the 4 to 3 win. Belanger says the team is trying to keep a positive attitude:

Saturday's game saw all 5 goals scored in a back and forth 2nd period that saw Arizona pull even twice. The Rush opened scoring before forward Linus Fagemo tied it up, then Rapid City regained the lead before Belanger tied the game again. Thirty four seconds later, the Rush scored and went on to get the 3 to 2 win. Fagemo explains the Sundogs fought hard in this contest:

Arizona now leads the Central Hockey League with 17 one goal losses.

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