The Arizona Youth Partnership Youth Advisory Council is sponsoring a Hygiene Drive to benefit the Gila County Safe House.

Donations can be dropped off at the Arizona Youth Partnership Office at 143 S. Broad St. in Globe. All donations should be in new and unused condition. Donations are due by Aug. 28th.

Items Needed are:
Diapers and Wipes
Toothpaste & Tooth Brushes
Shampoo & Conditioner (all sizes)
Soap
Toilet Paper
Deodorant
Feminine napkins
Disposable razors

Youth Advisory Council members are 12 to 18 years old and committed to providing service to their community through leadership while being drug and alcohol free.

The site of the proposed land exchange wherein Resolution Copper Co. will get approx. 2,400 acres near Superior in trade for roughly 5,500 acres of environmentally sensitive land that would be given to the federal government will be getting a visit by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. He'll be visiting the site on Aug. 21st.

Gila County Sheriff John Armer is alerting all Gila County residents of a scam involving an official looking letter claiming that a homeowner's property qualifies for a 'property tax reduction review' and requests $189 be sent for processing. This solicitation is not affiliated with any government entity. This warning came from Attorney General Terry Goddard and even a local victim.

If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud, contact the Attorney General's Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6504, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1-800-352-8431.

Customers will hardly recognize the interior of the Sun City Branch Library, when it re-opens to the public on Monday, Aug. 10th, at 9 am. There are new books, new carpet, newly painted walls, more comfortable furniture, updated computers, and a newer, more user-friendly layout.

"The refurbishment has taken a little longer than expected," said library manager Mary Goitia, "but we think these improvements will help us better serve our customers and provide them with a greater variety of materials and library services."

"We know that it will take our usual library-goers a little while to become accustomed to the new layout and surroundings. We are sure they will appreciate how we have retained some of older materials and added many more best-sellers, faster Internet access, and many more DVDs to our collection," Goitia added.

The Sun City Branch now welcomes all-comers—the young and the young-at-heart. Any Maricopa County resident who has a valid library card can check out books and media. Library cards are free and can be obtained by visiting the library or applying online at mcldaz.org.

There are now designated areas in the library for both children and teens. There’s a "Special Collections" area that houses non-circulating Civil War and other historical books and documents. Some classic videos, books-on-tape, and paperbacks are available for check-out.

The library staff is a host of familiar, friendly faces that traditional customers have known many years. They will be more visible than ever before, helping visitors with book suggestions and way-finding. Volunteers will continue to assist customers as well.

"Library customers are abuzz with the news of the opening of the more modern library facility in Sun City," said Harry Courtright, Library District director. "In a few weeks, we will invite the entire community to celebrate this new beginning at an open house. Until then, please feel free to stop by, mingle with friends, register for a library card, and enjoy the myriad of resources the Sun City Branch Library offers," he concluded.

Sun City Branch, 16828 N. 99th Ave., Sun City 85351, is one of 17 Maricopa County Library District libraries.

During the District’s last fiscal year, its circulation of materials went up by 22%.

Flagstaff Medical Center's Aura Leaf Edmondson, R.N., A.C.N.P., has been selected as a finalist in the regional NurseWeek/Nursing Spectrum Nursing Excellence awards, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. She was nominated in the category of Advancing and Leading the Profession. Edmondson, a nurse practitioner in FMC’s Trauma Services, will join other finalists from Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Washington at the Mountain West Regional Awards Ceremony on Aug. 28th, in Tempe.

Each year in conjunction with the Nursing Excellence awards, FMC nurses are nominated by their peers for distinction in the following areas: Advancing the Profession, Clinical Care, Community Service, Management, and Mentoring and Teaching.

Edmondson’s colleagues nominated her for building unified trauma services between community physicians and FMC to provide a continuum of care for patients; for successfully reducing the length of stay for trauma patients below national averages; and for increasing communication between all healthcare providers in an effort to improve patient care.

“I am extremely honored to have been nominated by my peers and to be selected as a regional finalist,” Edmondson said. “Working as a trauma nurse practitioner is both uniquely challenging and rewarding, allowing me care for patients who have traumatic injuries.”

Edmondson has worked at FMC since December 2006. Her role includes assessing and caring for patients who have life-threatening injuries through FMC’s Trauma Program and providing education to patients and families related to injury prevention and follow-up care.

Edmondson is certified in neonatal resuscitation, pediatric advanced life support, advanced trauma nursing care, advanced cardiac life support and basic life support. In addition, Edmondson is an instructor in advanced trauma nursing care. Her professional memberships include Northern Arizona Nurse Practitioner Group, American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International, and American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Edmondson received her bachelor’s in nursing Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona, Tucson; and her master’s in nursing as an acute care nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist from the University of California, Los Angeles.

FMC is the only Level 1 Trauma Center north of Phoenix. FMC cares for more than 1,200 adult and pediatric trauma patients each year. Unlike trauma centers in greater metropolitan areas, which see a large number of violent crime victims in their trauma departments, the majority of FMC’s trauma patients come from motor vehicle accidents.

'Jaded' will perform at the Miami Memorial Park on Sullivan St. on Aug. 14th, from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs, & your coolers. Staff from the Miami Rec. Dept. will be on hand selling various food items during the evening as well.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley is warning the public of a potential scam of someone calling and soliciting $50 donations for a fund-raising raffle in the name of the Boys & Girls Club of Casa Grande.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley would like everyone to know that they have not or have ever conducted any fund-raising activity by telephone. All of their donation requests are done in person by a board or staff member, by direct mail, or by invitation to an event.

The person that brought this to their attention resides in the Globe area. They don't know if the calls are limited to Globe or if other areas have been targeted. If you have been contacted, or have recently purchased a raffle ticket - please report this to your local law enforcement.

If you are concerned about anyone asking for a donation on their behalf, please contact their Administrative offices at (520) 876-5437 for verification. They value the trust their donors have given them and that your continued financial support is appreciated.

Well, if you can then take part in the Globe Rotary Sunrise Challenge on Aug. 8, starting at 6 am. The challenge will take participants through the rigors of Round Mountain Park. If you'd prefer taking a more leisurely pace, then sign up for the walk rather than the race. Call (928) 425-4495 to find out how to register.