This news has been shaking up the borderlands since Saturday (Sunday via the media). Updates are coming in slowly as the sheriff's department is still investigating the case. A suspect(s) has not been identified yet.
This is the first murder of a US citizen in Arizona by an illegal since I have been here. We get car jackings, hold-ups, break-ins, but Mexican criminals are normallyrespectful of Americans in the United States.
At any case I'm sure "La Raza" (or "La Racistas") will defend the Mexican(s) at any cost. Here in this country an illegal has more rights than a US citizen-landowner-homeowner.
We were out hiking in an area known for drug smuggling yesterday and Kevin carried his rifle with him even before this news broke out locally. Now I'm sure he's never going to set foot into the mountains without a rifle again.
I hope Krentz's death was not in vain.
___
Douglas rancher reported encountering illegal immigrant before he was shot
By Brian J. Pedersen and Tim Steller Arizona Daily Star Posted: Monday, March 29, 2010 10:50 am
Related: Well-known Douglas-area rancher is found slain -->
A longtime rancher killed Saturday on his property northeast of Douglas was shot while sitting in his all-terrain vehicle, authorities said.
Robert Krentz, 58, and his dog were found shot to death just before midnight Saturday, several hours after Krentz’s brother called the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department to report Krentz missing, according to a department news release.
No suspects have been identified in the shooting, department spokeswoman Carol Capas said.
Krentz and his dog were spotted by an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter following a search of the Krentz Ranch, a 35,000-acre property along Arizona 80 between Douglas and Apache, about 20 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, the release said.
Investigators determined Krentz and his dog were shot then Krentz drove about 1,000 feet before passing out, the release said.
Search crews from the Sheriff’s Department, DPS, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Arizona Department of Corrections found foot tracks at the scene and followed them 20 miles south to the U.S.-Mexico border, the release said.
Phil Krentz told authorities he and his brother were working the ranch in separate vehicles between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Saturday when Robert called him on a hand-held radio phone, according to the release.
Phil Krentz said his brother mentioned the words “illegal alien” and “hurt” and assumed Robert was assisting someone in need but couldn’t reach Robert on the phone again, the release said.
After Robert failed to meet up at noon family members searched the area before contacting the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department at 6:20 p.m., the release said.
Krentz was out checking the water on his ranch when he spotted somebody, said Wendy Glenn, who lives on the neighboring Malpai Ranch.
Glenn said she heard Krentz radio to his brother Sunday morning on a radio network used by area residents.
“He said ‘There’s an illegal here that needs help’ and ‘I’m out at such and such windmill’ and ‘Please call the Border Patrol,’” Glenn said. “His brother said ‘I can’t hear you.’ ”
In that area, most ranchers use All Terrain Vehicles to check water supplies, fences, cattle and do other jobs on the ranch, Glenn said.
When Krentz’s body was discovered that night, Glenn’s husband and daughter helped officials track a person’s footprints from the crime scene south to the Mexican border.
The Krentz brothers’ conversation was routine for the area between the New Mexico border and the Chiricahua Mountains, which has been an active corridor for border crossers, she said.
Agents from the Border Patrol’s El Paso sector have helped in the area, but they have difficulty communicating with the agents from the Douglas station because of differences in their radio systems, Glenn said.
Krentz was a member of the board of the directors of the Malpai Borderlands Group, an organization of conservation-minded ranchers. The Krentzes also had a conservation easement on the family’s land, meaning the land can’t be subdivided.
“They really believe that if you take care of what’s out here, it will take care of you,” Glenn said.
Krentz’s family had been ranching their property since 1907, and in 2008 the Krentz Ranch was inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame.
Officials have scheduled a news conference in Bisbee this afternoon.
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/db544bc6-3b5b-11df-843b-001cc4c03286.html
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_db544bc6-3b5b11df-043b-001cc4c03286.html
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Empire Ranch
I spent most of yesterday with my digital photography class out at Empire Ranch, north of Sonoitaoff Highway 83 in beautiful wine country. We had to do landscapes, portraits and still lives as a project and were divided into three teams. I dreaded the portraits because I don't like photographing people I don't know. I want to capture their personality whereas the guys in the group were looking for provocative poses. It was an interesting observations of what both genders think is attractive.
It turns out the work with all three models was quite nice. Two of them are in my class and one is the daughter of a former student. I got to chat with some of my classmates and strike a few interesting conversations. The gals made the assignment easy for me.
It was a long day out at Empire Ranch, a former ranch now tended to by BLM. I had been in the area last spring but never walked around the ranch per se. There were many interesting angles to photograph from. The ranch is not in very good shape: the adobe structure in all areas is cracking. The foundation is uneven. Paint is peeling off the window sills. Rusted abandoned farm equipment lies carelessly across the property. Signs warn of rattlers. Yet it's the "rustic" part that adds charm.
My biggest learning experience was working with light diffusers and reflectors. I enjoyed working with them so much, that as soon as I got home I ordered one from Amazon.
It was a mild day with a cool breeze. I never took off my wind breaker. Cottonwoods were already in bloom but I didn't find too many birds around the dry creek bed. The only wildlife I saw were various ant species and a few raptors flying overhead. The surrounding mountains were brown-dry, except for the tallest peaks of the Santa Ritas and Mount Wrightson.
I stopped in Patagonia on my way home at 3pm to drop off recyclables. Then I drove around Sonoita and Elgin and discovered a few more interesting corners of this beautiful state. Highways 82 and 83 are designated "Scenic Byways." I can see why.
I was quite tired when I got home around 5pm. I guess standing around in the sun all day and walking around looking for things to "shoot" is more exhausting than it looks.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Agua Caliente
Today was supposed to be a six-mile hike up and around Picacho Peak, a two-hour drive and five-hour hike up an old Confederate look-out. I really was in no mood after a week of suffering from what we think is the H1N1 virus. The virus knocked me out shortly after coming home from the book festival, and which kept me in bed for three days, listless and lacking any appetite. My energy is slowly coming back but I'm still not up to par.
So, when Rod suggested that we try a different hike in Tucson, I agreed. There were only four of us: Rod, Casi, Steve and I, so we didn't care. This place was closer and that meant less time on the highway. I could always try Picacho Peak again next Sunday, when I'm surely feeling better again.
Rod took us to Agua Caliente, a trail I quickly recognized from five years ago. This was one of the first hikes I had done with the club and he had led it then with many more people. I was in awe of the desert beauty because I didn't know Tucson had such beautiful creeks and canyons so close to town. It was like hiking a mini-rim to a mini-grand-canyon. Poppies and other purple wildflowers were also in bloom, but this time we were in the Sonoran desert with ocotillo, chollas, prickly pears, saguaros, mesquites, palo verdes and various yellow and orange sages in bloom. The desert was alive with fresh scent.
Steve's car registered 58F at 9am with a cool breeze. That breeze lasted all day and was quite refreshing come noon. It was a perfect day for a perfect hike.
We started this seven-mile hike from the north end, parking the cars at the Horsehead/Suzenu Roads intersections and heading in a NE direction along the canyon paralleling the creek. It was a 3.29 mile hike to the creek bed where we rested by a deep but not-too-tall waterfall. Oh, if only Sadie had been with us, she would have enjoyed this water. I must come back! Even Steve said this was a beautiful place and worth repeating again in the fall or spring.
None of the trails were marked, though, so I am taking Rod's word that the creeks were called Agua Caliente and Millo Grosa (?). We started this hike at 9:05am and Steve and I, walking back in a loop, made it back to the car by 1pm. I did pretty good for still being under the bug.
The canyon vistas and the many saguaros were absolutely beautiful. What a gorgeous day to welcome home spring!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tucson Festival of Books
I spent the entire weekend in Tucson at the Festival of Books. It was the city's second annual affair with twice as many attendees. I can't wait for next year's event!
I love books. My home office shows that. I have books everywhere. I may even have too many books, as many haven't been read yet. But I love the feel of real books, I love the smell of old yellow pages and I love the sensation of flipping through the pages and smelling history whaff up toward me. So it wasn't hard for me to leave my hiking books and dogs behind with Kevin and head out to Tucson for the weekend. I had a full schedule planned both days.
I took off early Saturday and arrived at the UA campus shortly after 8am. I wanted time to get oriented to the campus, as I've never really walked around the place. Giant white fest tents were already up and vendors were getting their places ready. The authors didn't start until 10am and that gave me some time.
My first hour was nondescript, listening to a website designer talk about making one's website more marketable, but after that first hour the fun began. Luis Alberto Urrea was my first author. He talked in the Student Union's Gallagher Theatre. It was sitting room only. Any one not in a designated seat had to leave. I sat up front to the far left, a few seats from another author, Tom Miller, and got to chat with Luis' wife Nancy. I had heard good things about Urrea's books but had never read any of his stuff. His vivacious personality and good sense of humor, however, is tempting me to try his fiction out. All I have his is Pulitzer "Devil's Highway" from a few years ago. He writes almost exclusively about the Mexican-American borderlands, Mexican immigrants and people torn between either country.
"The paradigm has changed" he said about Mexicans' view on immigration. They want the northern border wide open but they close their southern border to Guatemalans, Salvadorans, etc." He was able to switch back and forth from English to Mexican Spanish and make people from either side of the border laugh out loud.
"Mexicans love my books and admire me for fighting for their rights, but when they see me they almost step back in shock because I look like a Gringo!"
His presentation was so entertaining that it was hard to dash off to the next writer, Bonnie Henry and Nancy Turner, at 1pm.
I had to dash across the UA Mall, pass crowds of people, dogs and performers in odd costumes. Aromas from all kinds of foods tempted me, but neither day did I stop to eat or drink from any of the vendors. I was more concerned about getting to the front of the line for the writers so I could get good photographs.
Bonnie and Nancy presented their forum in an exchange format. Bonnie would speak about something historical about Tucson and then Nancy would give us her story. Both are regional writers about Arizona and Tucson and both have lived most of their lives in the Old Pueblo. Both were entertaining again, but this time it was Nancy's animated facial features that stole the show. She reminded me of a white-haired Linda Ronstadt. Turner, I've learned, is quite a prolific writer.
I love books. My home office shows that. I have books everywhere. I may even have too many books, as many haven't been read yet. But I love the feel of real books, I love the smell of old yellow pages and I love the sensation of flipping through the pages and smelling history whaff up toward me. So it wasn't hard for me to leave my hiking books and dogs behind with Kevin and head out to Tucson for the weekend. I had a full schedule planned both days.
I took off early Saturday and arrived at the UA campus shortly after 8am. I wanted time to get oriented to the campus, as I've never really walked around the place. Giant white fest tents were already up and vendors were getting their places ready. The authors didn't start until 10am and that gave me some time.
My first hour was nondescript, listening to a website designer talk about making one's website more marketable, but after that first hour the fun began. Luis Alberto Urrea was my first author. He talked in the Student Union's Gallagher Theatre. It was sitting room only. Any one not in a designated seat had to leave. I sat up front to the far left, a few seats from another author, Tom Miller, and got to chat with Luis' wife Nancy. I had heard good things about Urrea's books but had never read any of his stuff. His vivacious personality and good sense of humor, however, is tempting me to try his fiction out. All I have his is Pulitzer "Devil's Highway" from a few years ago. He writes almost exclusively about the Mexican-American borderlands, Mexican immigrants and people torn between either country.
"The paradigm has changed" he said about Mexicans' view on immigration. They want the northern border wide open but they close their southern border to Guatemalans, Salvadorans, etc." He was able to switch back and forth from English to Mexican Spanish and make people from either side of the border laugh out loud.
"Mexicans love my books and admire me for fighting for their rights, but when they see me they almost step back in shock because I look like a Gringo!"
His presentation was so entertaining that it was hard to dash off to the next writer, Bonnie Henry and Nancy Turner, at 1pm.
I had to dash across the UA Mall, pass crowds of people, dogs and performers in odd costumes. Aromas from all kinds of foods tempted me, but neither day did I stop to eat or drink from any of the vendors. I was more concerned about getting to the front of the line for the writers so I could get good photographs.
Bonnie and Nancy presented their forum in an exchange format. Bonnie would speak about something historical about Tucson and then Nancy would give us her story. Both are regional writers about Arizona and Tucson and both have lived most of their lives in the Old Pueblo. Both were entertaining again, but this time it was Nancy's animated facial features that stole the show. She reminded me of a white-haired Linda Ronstadt. Turner, I've learned, is quite a prolific writer.
"You must see Janis Ian!" told me one older woman sitting next to me. "She gives on quite a show!" I hadn't planned on listening to her, but remember her from a long time ago. Had she done anything recently?
But the highlight for me on Saturday was meeting Timothy Egan. He appeared at 4pm in the Gallagher theatre, but the audience wasn't nearly as full as with Luis Urrea. Both times, though, the audience was older and greyer. Where were the younger people? Outside in the UA Mall?
Egan described the 1910 Big Burn of western Montana (the premise of his last book) and spoke the way he wrote. C-Span was filming this presentation and I might be seen in the front row. When I got outside for the autographs I somehow managed to land in the front again (I guess it pays to be a "youngin!"). When he asked me how I managed to get a soft copy of his "Big Burn" I explained that I get free books to review from Amazon. I told him I was the first reviewer of his book to which he interrupted me graciously and replied "I remember that review! You're the one who helped sell my book!" He liked the review and thanked me for it. He was genuine. So, I will carry Egan's praise with me. It's nice to know authors actually read reviews from laymen like me.
Sunday was just as much fun although the crowd didn't seem as intense all day anywhere, even from the start. I walked silently around the small historical campus for an hour, admired the flora, and returned to the Student Union where the first two of my choices were scheduled. Even the Gallagher theatre wasn't nearly as crowded at 11:30am for Hampton Sides/James Donovan and Jeff Guinn. I came to see Sides but enjoyed listening to all three, although Donovan acted like he wasn't enjoying himself and wanted to be elsewhere. Sides and Guinn, though, were gentlemen.
But the highlight for me on Saturday was meeting Timothy Egan. He appeared at 4pm in the Gallagher theatre, but the audience wasn't nearly as full as with Luis Urrea. Both times, though, the audience was older and greyer. Where were the younger people? Outside in the UA Mall?
Egan described the 1910 Big Burn of western Montana (the premise of his last book) and spoke the way he wrote. C-Span was filming this presentation and I might be seen in the front row. When I got outside for the autographs I somehow managed to land in the front again (I guess it pays to be a "youngin!"). When he asked me how I managed to get a soft copy of his "Big Burn" I explained that I get free books to review from Amazon. I told him I was the first reviewer of his book to which he interrupted me graciously and replied "I remember that review! You're the one who helped sell my book!" He liked the review and thanked me for it. He was genuine. So, I will carry Egan's praise with me. It's nice to know authors actually read reviews from laymen like me.
Sunday was just as much fun although the crowd didn't seem as intense all day anywhere, even from the start. I walked silently around the small historical campus for an hour, admired the flora, and returned to the Student Union where the first two of my choices were scheduled. Even the Gallagher theatre wasn't nearly as crowded at 11:30am for Hampton Sides/James Donovan and Jeff Guinn. I came to see Sides but enjoyed listening to all three, although Donovan acted like he wasn't enjoying himself and wanted to be elsewhere. Sides and Guinn, though, were gentlemen.
When asked who inspired them to become writers, Sides answered "Shelby Foote. I was best friends with his son Huggy. We were in a rock band together and would often practice in the garage. One day Shelby comes running in screaming "You boys turn down that racket! I'm trying to finish the chapter on Appomattox!" to which he then feigned inhaling a joint. He (and Guinn) had the audiences laughing over this and other remarks.
Afterwards the autograph line for Sides was long and for the other two barely existent. (Guinn's next book will be on Wyatt Earp, somebody I may be interested in).
The rest of the writers for the day were lesser-known or regional writers, but all gave good performances. I was ready to leave at 3:30pm when I noticed I had no one else scheduled, but then I walked past the Janis Ian tent and ended up listening to her and her mystery-book writing partner Jane Januck banter back and forth. They went from funny to sad to funny, until Janis ended the session with her old 1970s song "At Seventeen" and had the audience captivated again. When the song was over so was her hour-long show and the two women broke down for autographs. The festival was now officially over and people headed home.
For someone who hadn't originally planned on listening to Janis Ian, I must admit her performance was awesome. The old woman was right: she gave her audience quite a show!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Earthquakes and Oscars
The world had another impressive temblor this morning, this time a 5.9 in eastern Turkey. Are we getting more-than-usual amounts of earth shaking this year? It sure does feel that way!
The Oscars were last night. I was too busy writing a Steinbeck paper to even remember to watch TV, and not that I would have watched the Oscars anyway. (I just prefer to hear who won the coveted award rather than listen to politically-geared Hollywood blah.) Naturally not one movie sounded familiar to me. So either I'm no longer in the movie-watching demographics or Hollywood has been making shit lately, inter fused with tit-bouncing, subjugated bimbos with dumbed-down dialogues and plots. I'd rather read a good history book or watch a captivating documentary than spend big money supporting the stuff Hollywood has released recently.
But this year's winners do actually sound interesting. Jeff Bridges won for Best Actor. Sandra Bullock won Best Actress. I still laugh quietly watching "The Big Lebowski." I can't think of a man who could play a loveable tramp as well as he can.
Even the foreign movies this year are all new to me. An Argentinian movie won over a German war movie. That is good news as I have refused to watch war-related movies for a while now. I've been inundated with Nazi films all my life and I'm tired of it all!
It rained and stormed again overnight. This morning the car windshields were frosted over. It's still chilly out, and a new layer of snow has covered the Huachucas. At this rate the snow at 8000' is never going to melt! I already told Steve I'm postponing my Baldy Saddle hike slated for 20 March.
I need to hit the college library now and finish my Steinbeck paper. I should be able to find good citations for my research by the end of the day and then I can say I am all caught up with assignments. Even my digital photography instructor wrote me back after grading the last assignment saying he likes my still lifes but that my exposure needs work.
The Oscars were last night. I was too busy writing a Steinbeck paper to even remember to watch TV, and not that I would have watched the Oscars anyway. (I just prefer to hear who won the coveted award rather than listen to politically-geared Hollywood blah.) Naturally not one movie sounded familiar to me. So either I'm no longer in the movie-watching demographics or Hollywood has been making shit lately, inter fused with tit-bouncing, subjugated bimbos with dumbed-down dialogues and plots. I'd rather read a good history book or watch a captivating documentary than spend big money supporting the stuff Hollywood has released recently.
But this year's winners do actually sound interesting. Jeff Bridges won for Best Actor. Sandra Bullock won Best Actress. I still laugh quietly watching "The Big Lebowski." I can't think of a man who could play a loveable tramp as well as he can.
Even the foreign movies this year are all new to me. An Argentinian movie won over a German war movie. That is good news as I have refused to watch war-related movies for a while now. I've been inundated with Nazi films all my life and I'm tired of it all!
It rained and stormed again overnight. This morning the car windshields were frosted over. It's still chilly out, and a new layer of snow has covered the Huachucas. At this rate the snow at 8000' is never going to melt! I already told Steve I'm postponing my Baldy Saddle hike slated for 20 March.
I need to hit the college library now and finish my Steinbeck paper. I should be able to find good citations for my research by the end of the day and then I can say I am all caught up with assignments. Even my digital photography instructor wrote me back after grading the last assignment saying he likes my still lifes but that my exposure needs work.
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