Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page A008

A8 TUCSON REGION Saturday, June 30, 2012 ARIZONA DAILY STAR Rio Nuevo board passes $11 million budget "I think it's a very transparent budget with a lot of supporting documents and people can see how we built it." Fletcher McCusker, elected the board's new chairman during Friday's meeting the district's bond money. Collins said the 2008 revenue-bond expenditures expired in November 2011 and the 2009 certificates of participation expenditures expire this November. Collins said he had yet to determine how much, if any, money was still in those two accounts and what options the board had in regards to spending any unused money. Also, the board heard a confirmation from its auditors they will be sitting down with city officials next week to discuss which documents they need to account for the $33.8 million of questioned and undocumented costs alleged in the west -side audit earlier this month. Contact reporter Darren DaRonco at ddaroncoazstarnet.com or 573-4243.

New chairman says issues on audits still need to be resolved By Darren DaRonco ARIZONA DAILY STAR Despite being together less than a month, the reconstituted Rio Nuevo board managed to pass budget of just over $11 million Friday. That includes a tentative $9.8 million is revenue from the special taxing district tentative because city Finance Director Kelly Gottschalk informed the board it can expect to receive $2.7 million for this month, a record amount for Rio Nuevo. The money is slated for distribution similar to last year, with the majority of it ($10.2 million) designated for debt service and $831,000 for administrative expenses the board expects to incur in fiscal year 2013. "I think it's a very transparent budget with a lot of supporting documents and people can see how we built it," said Fletcher McCusker, who was elected the board's new chairman during the meeting. One significant line item is increasing auditing and banking services from $64,536 in fiscal year 2012 to $150,000.

The increase is needed in part to complete all of the forensic audits, such as the west-side and depot-plaza audits, previously commissioned, McCusker said. McCusker said even though critics have insinuated the new board members are there to brush the city's past mismanagement of The board also set aside $300,000 for legal services -down from $572,898 last year to continue fighting its various legal battles. "We have four, possibly five, lawsuits and claims in action," McCusker said. "And obviously that needs to be lawyered so we anticipate some continued high-level of legal expenses." The board also allocated $150,000 for a chief financial officer to untangle some administrative issues and to ensure the district's day-to-day affairs are managed correctly in the future. In other board news, Rio Nuevo attorney Mark Collins determined the deadlines for spending some of Man slain by police was Tucsonan, 19 -1 JEANETTE MARE Jim Tallmadge, holding the Ben's Bell he was awarded, continues to volunteer at Sam Hughes Elementary School almost a decade after retiring.

Educator has inspired thousands of children the district under the rug, the audits will not end until the issues surrounding the prior projects are resolved. But he quickly added, they will not be the sole focus anymore, since the board needs to spearhead some growth downtown if it wants to survive. "None of us on the board currently have any desire to slow that down or stall it out to any degree," he said, adding that Senate President Steve Pierce "made it clear to me" that the Legislature wants to see economic development. McCusker said if the board can't exhibit some discipline and start moving forward by December, it's likely the Legislature will pull the plug once and for all. THE PROJECT Ben's Bells promote kindness and community.

Each week a person who betters Tucson is "belled." Go to www.bensbells.orgBellingForm to submit a name. Goto www.bensbells.org or call 628-2829 for information. Recipients also are featured on Friday's Morning Blend on KGUN9. "When you teach you always try to be kind I didn't start teaching to be recognized for that, but it was wonderful." After 35 years of teaching at Sam Hughes, Tallmadge retired in 2003, but he continues to teach weekly chess lessons and math exercises and coach the school's chess team. "He really loves the kids and he respects them as people rather than just Whitaker said.

"He doesn't think that he has all the answers. He knows the kids have their own wisdom and he's willing to learn from them and listen to them." Contact reporter Veronica M. Cruz at vcruzazstarnet.com or 573-4224. sentence, saying Paz had never been arrested before, has a great deal of family support and is remorseful. Paz must serve every day of his prison sentence.

Kim Smith Man sentenced to 9 years for trafficking, kidnapping A Mexican man was sentenced to nine years in prison after Arizona prosecutors said he tried to distribute 600 pounds of marijuana and was involved in holding a man hostage in a Tucson house while demanding ransom. Guillermo Leon-Rivera, 55, was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute marijuana, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Leon-Rivera and four other men were indicted in May 2010 on marijuana, hostage -taking and possession of a firearm during a violent crime charges. One of the other men was sentenced to 10 years in prison; the other four are to be sentenced in coming weeks.

The group held a man hostage, bound with duct tape, and threatened his life if his family didn't pay them $180,000. The Associated Press azstarnet.comrionuevoforthe Star's special reports on Rio Nuevo. over the radio that Hunter was known to carry firearms, and officers asked if he was armed and tried to pat him down. Hunter pushed Green to the ground and climbed over a block wall into his backyard. While running through the yard, Hunter dropped a gun, and Green pointed his gun at Hunter, who bent down to reach for the gun, the release said.

Green fired at Hunter, who first stepped away from the gun and then reached out again to try to pick it up, police said. Green fired again at Hunter, who fell to the ground. Both officers gave him medical attention until paramedics arrived, police said. Hunter was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hunter served six months in prison in 2011 for endangerment and weapons misconduct, according to Arizona Department of Corrections online records.

He was released in October 2011. Contact reporter Veronica Cruz at vcruzazstarnet.com or 573-4224. 131 H0WT0HELP Credit-card donations: www.azsendakidtocamp.org donations Send checks, payable to Send a Kid to Camp, to: Send a Kid to Camp, P.O. Box 16141, Tucson, AZ 85732-6141. For more information: Contact Reader Advocate Debbie Kornmiller at 434-4080 or Our goal To raise $190,000 to send 700 children to overnight camps.

So far we have raised: $82,579 Total donations 874 Number of donations in 2012 35,100 number of children readers and the Sportsmen's Fund have helped send to camp since 1947 Why I Give My husband and I have been very fortunate to have raised three healthy, active children. They have all played in some organized sports activity. They now have children of their own and are able to provide them the opportunity to participate in all sorts of activities. I hope that by contributing to this worthy cause some other less fortunate child will have a wonderful summer experience by goingto camp. Harold and Patricia Hacker Former Pima judge confirmed as US atty.

ARIZONA DAILY STAR Former Pima County Superior Court Judge John S. Leonardo was confirmed Friday by the U.S. Senate as the U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona. U.S.

Sens. Jon Kyi and John McCain issued a joint statement announcing the confirmation, saying, "We are pleased that the Senate confirmed Judge John Leonardo to serve as U.S. Attorney. "Judge Leonardo's decade of experience on the bench and previous work in the U.S. Attorney's Office will be strong assets as he continues his public service in this new, cnai-JohnS.

lengingrole." Leonardo Leonardo said in an email that the president still needs to sign his commission before he can be sworn in, which should occur next week. "I am very pleased and honored by the Senate confirmation and I am looking forward to serving the people of Arizona in this new capacity. "I consider it a privilege to join the very dedicated and capable staff of the Arizona U.S. Attorney's Office," he wrote, before expressing his appreciation to Kyi and McCain, as well as U.S. Reps.

Raul Grijalva and Ed Pastor for their support and assistance. He will fill the federal prosecutor's job vacated by former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, who resigned in August during the investigation into Operation Fast and Furious, the botched "gun-walking" operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Phoenix office. Leonardo served on the Superior Court bench from 1993 until his retirement in February. Before becoming a judge, Leonardo was an assistant U.S.

attorney for the Northern District of Indiana from 1973 to 1982 and for the District of Arizona from 1982 to 1993. Leonardo was also an assistant state's attorney for Prince George's County, Md. Leonardo graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1969 and from the George Washington University Law School in 1972. The city's police radar van is scheduled to snap photographs of speeders at these locations today: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

on Campbell Avenue between Broadway and Sixth Street. 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on 12th Avenue between Drexel Road and Nebraska Street. By Veronica M.Cruz ARIZONA DAILY STAR An armed man shot and killed by police Thursday has been identified. Aaron Hunter, 19, was shot by Officer Ryan Green after a struggle ensued between Hunter, Green and another officer, said Sgt.

Chris Widmer, a Tucson police spokesman. Green and Officer Michael Burson went to the 3200 block of South Marc Drive, near East Stella and South Prudence roads, around 6:17 p.m. for a report of suspicious activity, the release said. A 911 caller said a man was in an alley hiding against a wall. The officers found Hunter in the alley, and he gave them his name and date of birth.

He told the officers his ID was at his home and he would walk with them to pick it up, Widmer said in a news release. When they got to Hunter's home, the officers noticed he was "fidgeting with his hands near his waistband," the release said. A dispatcher told the officers ARIZONA DAILY STAR The Arizona Daily Star's Sportsmen's Fund Send a Kid to Camp program raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout and Camp Courage burn camps. Five years ago, the Send a Kid to Camp mission was expanded to send children whose parents or guardians are in the military to these local camps for free. The Sportsmen's Fund is one of the oldest 501(c)(3) charities in Southern Arizona and was founded in 1947.

Your contribution is tax-deductible, qualifying for the state's working-poor charitable tax credit of up to $400. Recent donations included: John McGregor, $200. Hugh McKenzie, $500. Robert McKinnon, $200. Nathaniel McMullen, in memory of Edward and Teresa McMullen and Byron Ranee, $100.

Carol McPhetres, $50. Sandra Meaker, $25. Albert Millbrandt, $25. Roy Morey, $100. L.Morgan, $100.

Minna Moskowitz, $25. Judi Mullikin, $50. Kathleen Munter, $100. Helen Murray, $100. A.W.Newman, $200.

N.G. Newman, in memory of Jack Newman, $100. Jim and Norita Nickerson, $50. Betty Ojeda, $100. Linda Peil, $100.

Andrew and Shirley Potter, $60. ReneRedondo, $100. Dennis Richards, $35. Barbara Riggs, $200. Dorothy Roberson, $100.

Margaret and John Ross, $100. Saguaro Tucson Rotary Club Foundation, $200. John Schmidt family, in memory of our parents, Florence and William, and other departed family members, $2,500. Margaret Sevier, $25. More donations will be reported in the coming week.

By Veronica M.Cruz ARIZONA DAILY STAR The recipient of this week's Ben's Bell is Jim Tallmadge, a chess coach at Sam Hughes Elementary School and retired teacher. He was nominated by Martha Whitaker, whose twins attend Sam Hughes, 700 N. Wilson Ave. "Tallmadge has inspired thousands of children to love chess, and has inspired some to coach chess teams at other Tucson schools as adults," Whitaker said in her nomination letter. Tallmadge, known as Mr.

started a chess team at Sam Hughes in 1974 at the urging of a student who had interest in the game "Tallmadge told him, don't know how to play' Whitaker said. "The student replied, 'Don't worry, I'll teach Since then, several of Tall-madge's teams have won state competitions and placed in the top five teams in national competitions. Tallmadge was surprised to learn he had been awarded a Ben's Bell. "It was a little overwhelming. It's quite an honor," he said.

LAW ORDER BRIEFS Man, 38, gets 10-year term in child-pornography case A 38-year-old Tucson man will spend the next 10 years in prison and a lifetime on probation after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Rafael Paz was arrested in March after Tucson police detectives from the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit found multiple child pornography files on his computer. Paz pleaded guilty last month and faced between 10 and 39 years in prison. Deputy Pima County Attorney Ben Mendola asked Pima County Superior Court Judge Paul Tang to impose a 17-year prison term, plus lifetime probation. Assistant Pima County Public Defender Michael Mussman asked for the minimum sentence.

The defense attorney said he has had clients who committed far worse crimes receive better plea offers. Tang imposed the minimum.