PHOENIX — Tonto National Forest firefighters are planning two fuel treatments on the Payson Ranger District while also preparing four “pit burn” locations for property owners and planning a prescribed fire near the Payson Helibase in neighboring Star Valley.

Weather and related conditions permitting, the first fuel treatment could begin Nov. 27 with the remaining three operations occurring sometime through March 2024.

The Rim Country Bonita Creek Piles project will use prescribed fire to burn 24 acres of debris piles made of woody fuels resulting from the construction of the fuel break around Bonita Creek Estates.   more...

The following information has been updated on a shooting that occurred North of Payson near the Rim Trail subdivision in the Tonto National Forest.

On September 30, 2023 at approximately 4:30 A.M., the Gila County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a female that reported hearing gun shots and was heading towards Payson with a female who had come running out of the woods. The initial call reported that there could be several people involved. Law enforcement officers from the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the Payson Police Department, and the Tonto Apache Police Department responded to the area to investigate the incident.

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Tonto Basin, AZ - On May 1, 2023, at approximately 6:30 a.m., The Gila County Sheriff’s Office served multiple search warrants in the Tonto Basin area south of Payson. The warrants were initiated due to information received regarding drugs, burglaries, and thefts in the area and the following three subjects were taken into custody and booked into the Gila County Jail.

Patrice Chambers, age:64, of Tonto Basin was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of narcotic drug and theft.

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The meeting began with a public hearing to receive comments regarding a Series 12 Restaurant License for Your Behind BBQ Birds & Bones, located at 270 N. Main Street. The Town Clerk’s Office posted the Notice of Public Hearing on February 28, 2023, at the address above in accordance with statutory requirements and did not receive any comments. During the public hearing, Council member Cordes asked Justin Coffini, agent for Your Behind BBQ, when they will be opening, and Mr. Coffini stated June 1st, 2023. This item was unanimously approved by Council.

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Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd has released the following updated information regarding a death investigation in the Whispering Pines subdivision north of Payson, Arizona.

On October 27, 2022, at approximately 10:53 a.m. the Gila County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a 911 call in reference to two subjects found deceased inside a residence in the Whispering Pines subdivision, north of Payson, Arizona.

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At a Public Hearing in Florence on Wednesday, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors were presented with options to pay down the County’s entire unfunded public safety and corrections employee pension obligations, which make up the County's largest unfunded and growing debt profile.

The County currently has nearly $75 million of unfunded liabilities for its Sheriff, Detention, and Dispatcher pensions managed by the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS). The County’s public safety and corrections pension accounts were negatively impacted by since-replaced unsustainable pension increases and lawsuits in state courts.

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