Snider: Reach out to those who can’t afford food

We’re officially in the monsoon season but it started slowly.

I read somewhere that we’re supposed to have a wetter-than-normal summer, which would be OK for most of us. However, noting that I should “Be Careful What You Ask For” – I’d like to pray that any rain we may get arrives a lot slower than the 5 inches an hour that Tropical Storm Debby unloaded on Florida in June. Thank you in advance, Lord.

Before we go any further with this column, I’d like you all to join me in a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday U-S-A … Happy 236th Birthday to You!” That’s right – this grand old country of ours was 236 years old on July Fourth.

Kudos go to the departing and newly seated city council members in Coolidge, Eloy and Maricopa. New and re-elected members were sworn into office in June.

Eloy bid farewell to long-time Mayor Byron Jackson, as well as Vice Mayor Frank Acuna and Councilman Jesse Rosel. Taking their place on the dais were Mayor Joseph Nagy and Council members Micah Powell, Augustine Sauceda and (returning) J.D Tidwell.

In Maricopa, departing Mayor Tony Smith and Council members Carl Diedrich and Marquisha Griffin were praised as Mayor Christian Price and Council members Bridger Kimball, Leon Potter, and (returning) Marvin Brown were installed.

Coolidge thanked Randall Rushing and William Pertzborn for their service on council and (re)administered the oath of office for Mayor Tom Shope and Council members Jacque Hendrie-Henry, Steven Hudson, and Judy Rotz-Lopez.

We all owe a debt of thanks to all of these elected officials (past and present) for their service. I appreciate their willingness to serve as well as their passion and vision for the future. I look forward to working with all of you in the future as we meet our mutual challenges head-on.

From my calendar:
• On June 13, I was honored to attend a special recognition ceremony for former Marine (and current Apache Junction resident) James Keller to honor him for the Purple Heart Medal he was finally awarded. This very moving event was orchestrated by the Pinal County Law Enforcement Association. Mr. Keller received wounds in his legs from shrapnel (and a permanently detached retina) as he participated in the landings on Iwo Jima. We all thank him for his service then and now.
• On June 14, Goodwill of Southern Arizona opened the doors of a retail store operation that includes a Donation Center and a Job Connection Center. Located in the former Walmart building on Florence Boulevard, the store was packed on opening day. Kudos and welcome to Goodwill – their investment in Pinal County and the Casa Grande area is welcome indeed.
• Thanks to Union Pacific Railroad for its willingness to come back to the at-grade railroad crossing at Peart Road for some repairs. Both the city of Casa Grande and our county’s public works crews worked together to handle the necessary detours for June 26-27 as UPRR’s private contractor made the improvements.
• On July 18, the Pinal County Planning & Development staff will be holding an informational meeting to present a revised process and time frames for the review of applications for licenses and permits that the department issues. The meeting will start at 2 p.m. in the E.O.C. Room, Building F in the Pinal County complex in Florence. Questions may be addressed to Arlene Studley at [email protected].