ST. JOHNS — A judge postponed a hearing to determine whether to dismiss one of two murder charges against a 9-year-old boy from St. Johns. Two hearings were scheduled in the case Thursday, one which was behind closed doors and another that was open to the public. After the closed-door hearing was completed, the second hearing was postponed.
They say the hottest spot in hell is reserved for hypocrites–people who preach one thing and then do another.
I was reminded of that old adage during a recent trip back up to Colorado City.
Ever since that big raid down in Texas, every FLDS lawyer and spokesperson has been whining to any stupid reporter who will listen about religious persecution.
Please!
This coming from a people who have become experts at persecuting those who have left their group, have been thrown out of their group or disagree with their group.
Go ask some of the apostates (former FLDS members) how their are being treated in Colorado City these days.
Go ask a disabled man named Ron Cooke how he and his family are being treated by FLDS leaders in Colorado City.
Go ask the sweet young couple that recently tried to reopen Colorado City’s tiny zoo, only to have most of the animals that they had painstakingly collected stolen or killed. Ask that same young couple about the FLDS man who was recently arrested by a Mohave County sheriff’s deputy (Colorado City’s FLDS cops still can’t be trusted) for allegedly harassing them because of their efforts to improve the community by reopening the zoo.
Here’s a hint: the bully who was arrested is the brother of the FLDS spokesman who is now screaming the loudest and the most publicly about his people being persecuted.
….more to come……mw
It looks like we’re going to have another year of great weather for the FBR Open. Frost delays are possible the next couple of mornings as we deal with cold air settling over the Valley after Monday’s storm. Wednesday morning’s low temperatures could approach freezing in outlying parts of the Valley, including at TPC Scottsdale. Afternoons, however, look to be picture perfect. Highs are forecast to be a couple degrees above average for late January, with temperatures topping out in the low ’70s each afternoon. Plenty of sunshine should make for great golf (and golf-watching) weather!
PHOENIX – Already Wisconsin and West Virginia have banned photo radar and now, depending on the voters, Arizona could be nextffdsafdsafsa sdf asdf sda fsda fdsa fdsa fsda f/ 
Last night, after my story aired I received a voice message. It began, “I think all of that bleach has affected your brain.”
You know when a message starts out like that it is probably all down hill from there.
The woman proceeded to tell me, in her angry voice, that I had basically abandoned my “Hispanic” roots.
What you need to know to understand her phone call is this:
I had just aired a story about a woman named Patsy Perez. She’s a sweetheart of a woman who cleans houses for a living. The name of her service is Nana’s House Cleaning. Patsy had recently donated her kidney to one of her client’s, a man whose house she cleans. She saved his life.
It goes without saying that Patsy is a remarkable woman and her story was a very positive one. Or so I thought.
The woman who left me said voice mail was upset because she felt that I had “Americanized” Patsy’s name. That I didn’t roll my R’s when I said “Perez” and that I failed to say “Nana” with proper Spanish pronunciation.
As often happens when someone leaves a nasty message, she neglected to leave her name or call back number. Had she done so, I would have gladly called back to clear a few things up.
First, Patsy doesn’t roll her R’s when she pronounces her own name. Neither does she say Nana with a Spanish accent. I did not find it appropriate to arbitrarily alter her name or the name of her business.
Second, while my last name is Peña, I find it presumptuous for her to assume anything about my heritage or background.
For the record, my Father was actually half Spanish, half Greek. My grandfather, Emilio Peña came to the United States (as an orphan) from Spain. While my grandfather does speak fluent Spanish, I was not brought up speaking the language.
The irony in all of this is that I’ve had people tell me I’m not really Hispanic (in fact, one of my co-workers said this to me not long ago).
The definition of Hispanic, as I understand it is: “Of or relating to Spain or Spanish-speaking Latin America”. I’m pretty sure since my grandfather is from Madrid — that includes me.
So, I’m either not really Hispanic or not Hispanic enough. I’m not sure which one it is.
The one thing I can say for sure, I don’t bleach my hair. It’s called highlights!
MESA — A wreck caused by an alleged drunk driver has put one man in the hospital.
According to police, a semi driver had left his rig with the hazard lights on to make a delivery. A short time later, a man in a pickup truck slammed into the back of the semi.
The truck driver reportedly admitted to investigators that he had been drinking. Witnesses said they saw the truck weaving before the wreck.
According to police, there were no skid marks and no indication that the driver tried to stop before plowing into the back of the rig.
The pickup truck driver suffered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries and air-lifted to taken to the hospital.
The driver of the semi was away from his rig when the pickup slammed into it and was not hurt.
SCOTTSDALE – A Gilbert Police investigation report indicates Charles Barkley was in a hurry to get or
al sex when stopped by an officer in Scottsdale.
The report also indicates a handgun was found in Barkley vehicle, which was impounded. The former Suns player also reportedly joked to a Gilbert police employee that he would “tattoo your name on my ass” if the employee could get him out of the DUI arrest.
The report goes on to say Barkley was cordial and respectful throughout the officers’ investigation.
FLAGSTAFF — A judge has denied a defense motion to appoint a therapist for a 9-year-old St. Johns boy charged in the deaths of his father and another man.
The boy’s attorney says his client wants someone to talk with for emotional support.
Apache County Superior Court Judge Michael Roca raised concerns about the initial request from attorney Benjamin Brewer and ordered it amended. The request would have kept the therapist from having to testify about her exchanges with the boy.
Brewer complied, but Roca says in an order that his concerns were only superficially addressed. Brewer said Thursday he’ll try again.
The boy faces two counts of premeditated murder in the Nov. 5 shootings of his father and a co-worker who rented a room in their home.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
St. Johns boy incompetent to stand trial, psychologist says
ST. JOHNS – A psychologist who evaluated a 9-year-old St. Johns boy charged in the deaths of his father and another man has determined the boy is incompetent to stand trial.
The expert nominated by the defense also found the boy can’t be restored to competency within the time frame allowed by law.
So says the boy’s attorney, Benjamin Brewer.
Age and intelligence are among the factors Brewer says would keep the boy from understanding the two counts of premeditated murder he’s facing.
The defense report wasn’t made public, but a court document briefly mentioned it.
As the case of the boy moves into the new year, the looming question is whether the boy will be found competent to stand trial.
An expert nominated by prosecutors conducted a separate evaluation of the boy last week.
PHOENIX — A 17-year-old is in the hospital after a New Year’s Day shooting in Maryvale. 
Phoenix police were called out for reported gunshots in a neighborhood near 56th Avenue and Palm Lane just before 8 p.m. Thursday.
Witnesses said the victim approached somebody on the street and said he’d been shot.
The teen was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Police believe the shooting might have been gang related.
They are looking for two suspects, also believed to be teens.
PHOENIX – Thousands of Valley residents are expected to attend the annual Fiesta Bowl Parade, which is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3 in Central Phoenix.
3TV will air the 38th annual Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade, and azfamily.com will also stream the parade in its entirety online.
The parade is a Valley tradition and is being sponsored by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
Thousands of spectators are expected to fill the two-mile parade route.