Due to continued concern over possible action by the leadership of the Tonto National Forest to curtail access to the Pinal Mountains, Supervisor Shirley Dawson organized a rally which was held near the old Civilian Conservation Camp at the base of the Pinal Mountains on Feb. 12th. Although the Board of Supervisors & the City of Globe had passed resolutions opposing any changes, & the Town of Miami sent a letter, Supervisor Dawson did not feel that the opinions & feelings of the local residents were being heard. With the comment period running out, the rally was held.
In spite of the short notice, approx. 100 people braved the cold weather to support the effort to keep the mountain accessible. Several speakers addressed the proposal including Velma Hodson & Sylvia Allen. Lee Thornhill, Globe District Ranger, was present to answer questions & see that local sentiments were relayed to his superiors. Petitions were signed & distributed. Supervisor Dawson promised to personally present all petitions to the Tonto Forest Headquarters.
True to her word, Supervisor Dawson met with Delvin R. Lopez, Public Service Group Leader of the Tonto National Forest office in Phoenix on Feb. 14th, & delivered more than 500 signatures of Gila County citizens on petitions gathered in only 24 hours. The meeting turned out to be constructive & productive. Mr. Lopez was stationed at Roosevelt Lake earlier in his career, has family in Miami, & was understanding of the local concerns.
In addition to the desire to keep the Pinal Mountains & Roosevelt Lake areas available to local residents, a wide range of topics were discussed. Supervisor Dawson & Mr. Lopez explored ideas on how to create partnerships with local governments & the Forest to develop & maintain parks on the Tonto Forest. Mrs. Dawson also will be contacting the Sheriff’s Office to discuss ideas for obtaining additional funds to support their law enforcement activities on the Tonto. In March, Supervisor Dawson will take her efforts to keep the Pinals accessible to local residents to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in Washington D.C.