Conserving Our Natural Resources – Promoting a Sustainable Economy
Photos courtesy of Billie Hughes
As the ancient Chinese proverb extols, we are indeed blessed to be living in very interesting times here in the White Mountains when it comes to the management and future of our valuable public lands and their natural resources. While public opinion and perceptions on many issues affecting these resources have become increasingly polarized and controversial, heightened by last year’s devastating Wallow Fire, the White Mountain Conservation League (League) remains committed to contributing a well informed and constructive …

by Amie Rodgers
It’s probably no surprise that when it comes to planning your wedding, there are a ton of decisions
to make. The average couple takes anywhere from eight months to a year to plan their wedding, and the bulk of that time will be spent narrowing down reception venues, finding the perfect wedding photographer, and deciding on which wedding style best suits you and your fiance. With a lot of decisions to make and a budget to stick to, turning to local experts can help avoid a lot of undue …

by Amie Rodgers
I’ll admit it. Being a journalist definitely has its sweet moments. One such recent moment was witnessing Tesla rock Celebrity Theater in Phoenix. I’ve been to my share of concerts and granted, theater in the round is definitely an intimate venue, but I have never before seen a crowd love a band like that. Wearing everything from leathers to sweaters, they stood, sang along and over a thousand phones blew up facebook with pictures and footage. It was truly beautiful.
But first, let me back up. As a journalist, …

by Amie Rodgers
Recently, the Knight family invited the Maverick staff out to their cozy 100 year-old homestead near Concho. Treated to warm chocolate chip cookies and an even warmer welcome, we sat down to learn about what makes this successful family-owned business work. The Knight family is comprised of Traegen and Marilyn Knight and their three beautiful children (Tatum, age 5, Roerie, age 3, and Carson, almost 2). They live and work on the ranch which is about 90 square miles and a little over 50,000 acres, which borders the …

by Amie Rodgers
     I don’t believe I will ever be able to say enough about how important and rewarding it is to shop local. Around this time every year, I find it nearly impossible to truly share all the vast options for holiday shopping our local retailers offer.
     One example of a great place to start is the Red Door Consignment Store on Porter Mountain Road in Lakeside. Owner Dana Heck opened this inviting consignment store five years ago and has expanded twice since then to 6,000 square feet. “We …

by Amie Rodgers
As Americans, we enjoy a lot of liberties. As easy as it might be to take for granted, many men and women have fought (and many have paid the ultimate price) for what we call our freedom. If you have never taken the opportunity to say thank you, please let this article be a gentle yet firm reminder to do so. Whether the veteran is in the best of shape or the very worst, a helping hand or simple thank you will be appreciated. Upon attending a few local meetings of the Disabled American …

by Amie Rodgers
A number of shows have been developed around the search for valuable antiques and other ‘cool’ stuff. If you like shows like Antique Roadshow, check out a new series called American Pickers, which takes the search to the barns, sheds, basements and other out buildings where people keep their stores of stuff. The third season has recently premiered on the History Channel.
According to the company that produces it, American Pickers follows two of the most skilled pickers in the business ‘Mike Wolfe’ and ‘Frank Fritz’ as they embark …

 
by Amie Rodgers
When you’re doing your shopping this holiday season, there are far better options available to you than jumping in the car and driving far away so you can join the maddening crowds buying the traditional homogenized fare of the large chain department stores and malls. Aren’t crazy crowds, long commutes and endless franchise chains why you left the Big City or chose never to go in the first place? In fact, if you shop at smaller, locally-owned retailers, you’ll find that your money stays in our local economy, …

by Amie Rodgers, now a card carrying Jeep Club Member
I always knew I wanted a Jeep. I’ve never owned anything else. (Well, there was that one time I had a Mercedes, but that was a long time ago… I was young… and she meant nothing to me. ha/ha) Jeep owners are funny. We often wave at other Jeeps, just because. We are especially complimentary when we see a nice wench, snorkle or safari rack. I have never had a Jeep pass me without stop­ping to help should they see me …

Lavender is wonderful as a landscaping plant. It combines well with so many other plants in the landscape. It is easy to grow, drought resistant when established, and repellent to insects and deer. With its silvery green leaves, it is lovely even when it is not in bloom. As an added bonus it produces fragrant purple lavender flowers and is useful for cooking.
Lavender plants are perennial so once you plant them; you can enjoy them for many years. The fol­lowing are a few ideas of how you can add …