Cochise County

?? Let's Talk Employee Benefits! ?? Cochise County offers a generous package of benefits to employees, including enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System. ?? In this video, we explain the many reasons why you should consider employment opportunities with Cochise County. Don't miss out on the chance to secure your future with us! ?? Watch now and learn more about the perks of being part of our team. #CochiseCounty #EmployeeBenefits #JoinOurTeam #ArizonaStateRetirementSystem

? Kathleen Talbot, Branch Manager at the Myrtle Kraft Library in Portal, is the first staff member from a Cochise County library to earn an Arizona Library Support Staff Certification through the Arizona State Library. ?? The certification program is recognized statewide and requires proficiency in six competency areas including reference and information services, collections, technology, and communication. The State Library introduced the current certification program in 2021, and Talbot is the first person from Cochise County to complete the requirements. “I got a lot out of this program,” Talbot said. “The course on adult readers’ advisory – helping people find their next great read – was especially useful right away, but I was also interested to learn about cataloging, youth services, and other aspects of library work. I am excited to use what I have learned to help our community.” Library District Director Amadee Ricketts said, “Kathleen went above and beyond to complete her certification. She has been the branch manager in Portal for more than 15 years, and I am impressed with her drive to keep learning and improving library services.” ??

? Cochise County Comprehensive Plan 2045 Open House, You're Invited! Join us for an open house to discuss the future of Cochise County! We want to hear your thoughts and ideas as we develop our Comprehensive Plan. ?? Wednesday 11/20/24 Time: 5:00 PM Location: 504 Gonzales Blvd, Huachuca City, AZ (Huachuca City Activity Center) OR ?? Thursday 11/21/24 Time: 5:00 PM Location: 1415 W Melody Lane, Building G, Bisbee, AZ This is a great opportunity to: ?? Learn about the Comprehensive Plan and its impact on our community ?? Share your insights and feedback ?? Engage with county staff and fellow residents There will be several outreach events over the coming weeks for community members to participate in if this not a convenient time or location. For more information about upcoming meetings, please check out the project website: https://lnkd.in/gucB3spe ? Your voice matters! Together, we can shape the future of Cochise County. For more information, please contact: Christine McLachlan ?? 520-432-9266 ?? [email protected] Please feel free to forward this invite and help us get the word out. We look forward to seeing you there!

It can be tough to keep the spark alive when it comes to action committees, but that’s exactly what we did this morning in Douglas, Arizona. Cochise County work force action committees dug deep identifying assets, strategies and tackling barriers to put plans in motion toward work force development in Cochise County. Stay tuned for our spring 2025 Regional Cochise County Workforce Development Forum to hear about the great work the committees have done, along with their goals for the year, in addition to networking and educational opportunities. A special thank you to Cochise County Board Chair, Ms. Ann English for taking the time to provide inspiration and to share her knowledge. #bettertogether #livewellstaywell #workforcegrowth #cochisecares

?? Exciting News, Portal! Cochise County Comprehensive Plan 2045 Open House. You're Invited!? Join us for an open house to discuss the future of Cochise County! We want to hear your thoughts and ideas as we develop our Comprehensive Plan. ?? Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024 ? Time: 5:00 PM ?? Location: 1216 West Portal Road, San Simon (Portal Fire and Rescue Classroom) This is a great opportunity to: ? Learn about the Comprehensive Plan and its impact on our community ? Share your insights and feedback ? Engage with county staff and fellow residents There will be several outreach events over the coming months for community members to participate in if this not a convenient time or location. Your voice matters! Together, we can shape the future of Cochise County. For more information, please contact: Christine McLachlan ?? 520-432-9266 ?? [email protected] We look forward to seeing you there! In consideration of the use of Portal Rescue’s Classroom: All persons who attend functions in the Portal Rescue Classroom are expected to exercise safe personal behaviors (such as carrying flashlights for nighttime events, avoiding trip hazards, and being watchful for snakes). Attendees assume responsibility for their own safety and for any damage personally attributable to them.

?? NEWS RELEASE Cochise County Welcomes Four New Deputy County Attorneys to Strengthen Legal Team Bisbee, Ariz. (10/31/2024) This week, Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre officially swore in four new Deputy County Attorneys—Kenneth Beane, Raymond Haight, Josh Jones, and Dylan Hendel—bolstering the County Attorney’s Office to address recent vacancies. They join Jonathan Chavez, who was sworn in earlier this summer. Josh Jones brings years of experience representing defendants in serious felony cases to his new role as the Prosecutor for Justice Precinct 5 in Sierra Vista. He recently transitioned from the Office of the Legal Advocate. Raymond Haight rejoins the Criminal Division after a brief stint with the Office of the Attorney General in Phoenix. With 24 years of legal experience, he and his wife are excited to return to Cochise County. Jonathan Chavez, who joined the CAO Criminal Division in June, previously worked at the respected Phoenix law firm Lewis Roca. He now serves in Justice Precinct 2 in Douglas, utilizing his bilingual skills in the felony General Crimes Unit while also managing the newly renovated Warner Hotel with his husband. Kenneth Beane, with over 20 years of legal experience, joins the CAO Criminal Division from Mohave County. He is currently assigned as the Justice Precinct 1 Prosecutor in Bisbee, focusing on felony cases within the Drug Unit. Dylan Hendel, a recent addition to the County Attorney Civil Division, relocated from the Phoenix area. A native Arizonan, he earned his B.A. and J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU. During his law school internship at the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, he contributed to important revisions to the Arizona Elections Procedures Manual and published a law review article on state and federal water law. Notably, Dylan is part of the Arizona Supreme Court’s new Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program (ALAP), which aims to attract new lawyers to rural counties, often referred to as "Legal Deserts." Under this program, he is fully authorized to practice law as defined by Arizona Supreme Court Rule 31(b), including preparing, signing, and filing legal documents and representing clients in court. Filling these vacancies comes at a critical time, as Cochise County's legal offices face ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. The competition for legal talent is particularly fierce due to rising salaries in urban areas like Phoenix and opportunities with federal jobs at Ft. Huachuca. For more information on the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program and efforts to combat "Legal Deserts," please visit the Arizona Administrative Office of the Court’s website at: ALAP and the American Bar Association's resources at: American Bar Association. https://lnkd.in/gJRg-a8t. ####

The Breastfeeding-Friendliness (BFF) Recognition Program is a free community program that seeks to increase support for nursing families throughout Cochise County. Recognizing that nursing can be affected by day-to-day work life, the BFF Recognition Program strives to support community sites and organizations in becoming breastfeeding-friendly, creating supportive environments and policies for nursing families and staff. The program also looks to recognize community partners who create these supportive environments, acknowledging the positive impact that they can have for families and youth in our communities. The program is a collaboration between the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Cochise SNAP Team (AZ Health Zone), the Cochise WIC team, Cochise County Health & Social Services, and the Cochise County Breastfeeding Taskforce. Any sites, organizations, or businesses that are interested in learning about this program or about the benefits of breastfeeding can reach out to Jacob Salcido (520-626-7271, Ext. 5 or [email protected]) or Priscilla Lord ([email protected]).

?? Exciting News! Cochise County Comprehensive Plan 2045 Open House You're Invited! Join us for an open house to discuss the future of Cochise County! We want to hear your thoughts and ideas as we develop our Comprehensive Plan. ?? Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024 ?? Time: 5:00 PM ?? Location: 300 West Rex Allen Drive, Willcox, AZ (Willcox City Council Chambers) This is a great opportunity to: ?? Learn about the Comprehensive Plan and its impact on our community ?? Share your insights and feedback ?? Engage with county staff and fellow residents There will be several outreach events over the coming months for community members to participate in if this not a convenient time or location. Your voice matters! Together, we can shape the future of Cochise County. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact: Christine McLachlan ? 520-432-9266 ?? [email protected] We look forward to seeing you there!?

?? NEWS RELEASE Cochise County Launches User-Friendly Portal for Public Records Requests BISBEE, Ariz. (10/21/2024) Cochise County is pleased to announce the launch of a new, easy-to-use portal for submitting and tracking public records requests. Powered by NextRequest, a trusted platform widely utilized by government agencies, this innovative portal is designed to simplify and streamline the public records request process for both requestors and county staff. Records can now be requested online at: https://lnkd.in/gNZ8grm6. Key Features of the New Portal Include: ?? Personalized Accounts: Requestors can create accounts to view and manage all their public records requests to Cochise County in one convenient location. ?? Searchable Archive: Users can easily search previous public records requests and access responsive records, enhancing accessibility. ?? Guidance and Tips: The portal provides helpful tips and guidance to make the request process easier and more efficient. Cochise County believes this new portal will significantly enhance transparency and foster an informed and engaged community. ### NextRequest FAQ: https://lnkd.in/gMPuHda7

Deputy County Administrator Sharon Gilman and Health Director Barbara Lang attended the Cochise Celebrates Giving event this week, hosted by the Arizona Community Foundation . This inspiring event showcased the grant awards to many worthy organizations, and was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the community we call home.