1. How did you find out about the situation—was it your initiative based on a tip, was it an assignment…or purely good fortune?

It was a mundane assignment and a lot of luck. I was given an assignment to photograph washes being cleaned for metro. Rick Wiley (photo editor) gave me info on where TDOT would be working an I showed up thinking I’d get some far off shots of some big equipment moving rubble out of the wash.

2. How were you able to be on site so quickly?

Like I said, it was an assignment. I was really lucky I got there when I did. One of the crew drove up and we chatted a bit. He recommended I walk a block or so up because there was more trash dumped in that area and he thought it was important for people to know about how littered these washes are.

When I got up there the bulldozer operator suddenly stopped. I thought maybe I had done something but soon found out he had spotted these kittens in the wash. I still don’t know how he saw them but he did.

3. Do you know what will happen (or has happened) with the kittens?

From what I know a neighbor took them to PACC. The TDOT crew put took good care of them putting them in a box of t-shirts and asked around to see if anyone knew about them. A neighbor offered to take them to PACC on her way to the vet.

4. Was there any sign of the momma cat during the rescue?

No sign of the mom. The crew looked around for a bit to see if there was any other kittens and the mom but found nothing. They discussed leaving the kittens there for the mom but decided against it when a neighbor offered to take them. I think there was a lot of worry to leave them in a wash.

5. Was running the photos in the Star an easy “pitch” to the editors?

I didn’t really have to pitch. We were running something on the wash cleaning either way. I let Rick know that something really unique had happened. I think as a photo department we all know the strongest photos should be given the best placement. Why run a generic photo of some machines in a wash if there is an image that tells a more unique story of what cleaning out Tucson washes really looks like?

1. Hometown and education:

I grew up moving every two to three years (my dad was in the Army.) I was homeschooled through high school and studied online with Thomas Edison State University while working several different jobs.

2. Star Employee:

I joined the Daily Star last August.

3. Photo journalism jobs prior to the Star:

Prior to the Daily Star I worked at the Casper-Star Tribune in Wyoming as a staff photographer for a little over two years. Before that I worked at the Savannah Moring News in Georgia both as a staffer and freelancer.

4. What’s the key, as you see it, to capturing great images on breaking news stories?

You have to keep you head on a swivel and stay aware of your surroundings. Other than that try to make good pictures that tell a story and convey emotion.

5. Were you part of the team covering the recent marches and protests downtown?

Yes. I covered the first weekend of protests and the first rally at the U of A which spontaneously turned into a march to the downtown police department offices.

A small tornado whisks through the halls of the nearly empty Daily Star building as the rest of us work from home. Most weekdays, this whirlwind zips efficiently from task to task—prepping production documents, sorting incoming mail, hauling other stuff to the post office, helping ship Daily Star merchandise…and other tasks as assigned.

Recently, the tornado known as Elaine Encinas paused briefly to tell us a little about herself.

1. I was Born and raised in Tucson, Proud graduate of Pueblo High School, class of 1979 – Warrior Pride!
2. I am one of six kids. I was the youngest until my little sister came along. I have been very independent for many, many years.  Learned early with Mom being a single parent when I turned 3! I am the one who takes charge when things need to get accomplished—thus, I’m sure, making me a little ornery at times in the eyes of others.
3. Husband Marty is 12 years my senior and a Vietnam vet. My son—my heartbeat—Kris, is in his 10^th year with the United States Airforce. He’s stationed in Las Vegas.
4. I started at the Daily Star Aug.12, 1988. Before that I worked in the print shop at Davis Monthan and the TUSD print shop.
5. Financially, I never dreamed of college, so I’m blessed to have landed this job with no college degree.
6. What’s it like working in the building these days? It’s very lonely to say the least. We have ghosts. I miss the people, of course, but the saddest thing is seeing the property and its contents slowly resembling an abandoned building. Makes me very sad.
7. My typical day? Daily postal run, mail sorting. Production reports and stats still need to be compiled. Just as it was six months ago, there is always something for me to do.
8. I’ve always loved my job, so just being able to continue to assist in whatever needs to get done, for whomever, motivates me. Each day is a new adventure with different tasks.
9. Outside the job, I love camping, entertaining, gym time, dancing and spending time with my family.
10. I think the idea of relocating as planned should be considered instead of trying to return to this building. In essence, it would be a “fresh” start.

Bonus quote:

1. What’s something that might surprise my coworkers? That I’ll be 60 next year. LOL. Yeah, I know I look 40!

Distribution Manager Rick Jennings and his team have been transforming that facility to accommodate approximately 150 contract carriers, while following the new ground rules of the COVID-19 world.

As the coronavirus epidemic has zigged, Rick’s crew has zagged.

Previously all the carriers had work station tables inside the warehouse, but in response to the pandemic, all contractors now use the grab-and-go method for distribution. The Star product team preps papers for each carrier route and loads individual-specific carts for each contractor. When the contractor arrives, papers are brought out to parking lot and distributed to contractor, minimizing personal contact.

And cleanliness is next to efficiency at the distribution center these days.

Every day, all carts and workstations are sanitized before and after use. Social distancing, gloves and facemasks have become routine on a nightly basis, per CDC and company guidelines.

Those safeguards may have changed how the job gets done at the depot, but not the pace:

• The Newsroom files its last page to Phoenix by 7:30 p.m.
• The Circulation team begins to gear up at 10 p.m.
• The Phoenix truck arrives between midnight and 1 a.m., and the Circ team starts the roughly hour-and-a-half prep work.
• Distribution of the product to carriers begins between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
• The last carrier departs at 3:45 a.m.

There’s more in the works at the distribution center—changes that could provide a real boost for your workday in the future. Look for that story in the next edition of STARDOM.

Q: What are the basic rules of Frisbee golf?

A: What people call Frisbee golf is properly called “disc golf” since Frisbee is a trademark for a brand of flying disc. Disc golf is played just as traditional ball golf, with the object of completing a hole in the fewest strokes (or throws). The difference is instead of hitting a ball and holing out into a cup, disc golfers tee off and finish a hole by putting their disc in a target (a basket with suspended chains that catch the disc). Instead of changing clubs for the next shot, disc golfers mark their lie and may change to a different disc for their next throw (there are drivers for teeing off, mid-range discs for approach and putters for putting). Other than that, the game is the same, with stroke or match play formats, handicap leagues and professional and amateur competitions.

Disc golf has been around since the 1970s but has exploded in popularity in the past decade or so;

The Professional Disc Golf Association (pdga.com) is the sanctioning body for disc golf, and sets the rules of play and oversees a pro tour as well as amateur competitions.

Q: Is doing it well all a matter of finesse, or does power-throwing come into play?

A: It’s really both. Like putting a ball on an undulating green, putting with a golf disc takes practice and finesse, as does bending an approach shot around a tree, especially in the wind. It takes some power to drive a disc, but like striking a golf ball or pitching a baseball, most of that power comes from good body mechanics. With some practice, most people who are reasonably fit can learn to throw far enough (200-250 feet) to shoot par at shorter courses, but to compete on longer layouts typically used for tourney play, you need to throw at least 300 feet — and top pros routinely throw 400-plus feet.

Q: Where are local courses located?

A: Tucson has relatively few courses — six — for a city of its size, something the local club, the Tucson Disc Golf Assn., is trying to remedy. Our biggest course right now is the Santa Cruz River Park 18-hole course, one of the first DG courses in the nation (built in 1978). Rillito River park DG course is a shorter 18-hole course on the south bank of the Rillito just east of La Cholla Boulevard, hosted by Pima County. There are two 9-hole courses on the east side, Groves Park near Escalante and Kolb, and Loma Verde (formerly Sears Park) just south of Park Place.

You can find locations for each local course on the website of the TDGA at tucsondiscgolf.com; and you can look up DG courses anywhere at pdga.com or dgcoursereview.com.

Q: Are there local or statewide competitive leagues?

A: There are both, the TDGA and its members hold five or six leagues weekly, and several tournaments each year. There are also many tournaments statewide.

Q: How did you got into it?

A: I played another disc sport called Ultimate (a running 7-on-7 sport played on a football field) in college and later with club teams, for about 25 years before retiring in 2004, so disc golf was a natural progression. I later got involved with running the TDGA, which this year will have about 250 members.

Q: How would someone interested in participating get involved in the sport?

A: There’s tons of information online about how and where to play disc golf. (And you can also find video of top pros playing in tourneys, sometimes with live feeds.) Park courses are free so just get a disc and start throwing. (Golf discs are heavier than tossing Frisbees and are made for maximum distance.) Aside from online, places like sporting goods stores typically have a small selection of golf discs. A good place to start is with putters, which flight-wise are the most like a regular Frisbee you’d toss around. The TDGA also has a youth program and periodically holds beginners’ clinics.

Q: How often do you play?

A: Usually two or three times a week; more if I’m getting ready for a tournament; fewer if I’m battling an injury, which at my age is not uncommon. I run one weekly league and help another league so I at least play those.

• I came to the Star as part of the city desk and inserted myself into what was then called Starlight (I think) as a volunteer music writer. I had a hard news background throughout my career, which started in 1986, covering government, politics and murder and mayhem.

• At every job, I’ve volunteered to do interviews, profiles and reviews of concerts just to shake up and brighten up my work life. I did that here, as well, and when they remade the entertainment section as Caliente, they invited me to come on board.

• I write about music. If they sing, whether it’s classical, country, hip-hop, Hawaiian, Celtic, choral, pop, rap or rock, it’s on my beat. But I also cover the Tucson restaurant, beer and wine industries.

• There are dozens of shows in Tucson every month, particularly when school is in session and the winter visitors are here. It gets slow in the summer months. I don’t get to see a whole lot given staffing considerations, so I am careful to review the ones that I believe have broad interest when it comes to national acts. I try to shine the spotlight on local artists, as well. On the classical scene, we try to review the TSO regularly, and hit the smaller groups at least once or twice a season.

• I think it’s actually a lot easier to judge a bad performance than a good one; the sound is off, the timing is off, the fans are turned off. If you’re watching a concert and the reaction from the audience is to get another beer or talk to their neighbor, something is wrong.

The hard part, especially in classical music, is determining when a concert is good. I am not a musicologist. I go to a concert as a fan or someone who wants to live in the moment of the experience.

• I am reviewing the concert with the intention of putting you in the seat next to me. I want you to read my review and walk away thinking either you wish you were my plus-one or you’re glad you weren’t.

• The best performance I ever reviewed? U2 in Phoenix in 2015—unbelieveable!

• I occasionally get feedback from local artists but rarely from national. But one time the country singer Neal McCoy called me and left a voice message; I still have it.

By Ben Brown, Ad Services, Car nut, car enthusiast, car guy, motor head, gear head, grease monkey, car geek.

What is a car enthusiast? A car enthusiast is someone who loves cars and everything about them; enjoys buying them, collecting them, working on them, modifying them and anything else that comes to mind. We love performance, style, handling, horsepower, speed, even the smell and sound of them.

The pictures are my 1931 Ford Model A, 5-window coupe and my 1969 Chevy C10 pickup. People were smaller in the 1930’s. And the old Model A can be very tight for a 6 foot tall person like myself. I modified it to fit me. The seats can be adjusted all the way back and the pedals have been moved forward. I can’t afford to finish everything all at once so I do a little bit at a time. My plans for the Model A are to get it running and drive it. Paint will come later. Same thing for my pickup. I’ll fix everything mechanical and paint it later. The latest pictures show the doors are off of the Model A. I am still working on them separately, otherwise that’s how the car will look with no fenders and no hood. Does it have a rumble seat? No, the trunk space is storage for the gas tank and battery and tool kit. Building this car from the ground up was very challenging at times. This project was entirely like taking one step forward and two steps back! I did 90% of the work myself. I had a little help from Wild West Rods and Customs Inc.,Tucson.

Model A Fords were built ’28-’31.

Modifications: Body chopped and channeled. Top was wedge cut, 1.5” front, 2” rear. Body was wedge channeled to fit over the frame, 4” front, 3.5” rear.

Modified wheel base, roof, floors, firewall, trunk, wheel wells, seat location, steering location, removable transmission tunnel, 1932 dash and 1932 grill & grill shell.

Chassis: (frame and suspension) New TCI (Total Cost Involved) frame stretched 4 inches from the cowl forward to fit a small block Ford engine. All the suspension parts are polished stainless or chrome. 

Engine: 1985 Ford Mustang, High Output, 5 liter, V8 with 3 Rochester carburetors.

Transmission: World Class Borg Warner, 5-speed manual shift with a hydraulic clutch.

Rear axle: Currie 9 inch positraction, 3.89:1 ratio with 31 spline axles and the housing is centered.

Brakes: 12 inch Wilwood drilled & slotted rotors with polished stainless 4-piston calipers.

’69 Chevrolet C10 CST pickup. 

CST designation means ‘Custom Sport Truck’ and C10 is a half ton truck.

Modifications: New CPP (Classic Performance Parts) suspension and brakes. I relocated the gas tank from the cab to in-between the frame rails and behind the rear axle. I also relocated the gas filler and door to the rear fender. I upgraded to power disc brakes. I changed the wheels and tires. I had new exhaust installed and I swapped the old bucket seats for an original bench seat and a new steering wheel.

Engine: 1970 350 cubic inch with 1969, 10:1 high compression, double hump heads, and a Holley 4160 4 barrel carburetor.

Transmission: 350 Turbo Hydramatic 3-speed automatic.

Rear axle: Chevrolet 12 bolt, 3.73:1 ratio.

Very Brief History of why I’m a ‘Car Nut’ 

I started very young tinkering/repairing/modifying my bicycles, and then advanced to minibikes/lawnmowers, and then motorcycles and cars. My older brother Mike was a real know-it-all like MacGyver and I learned a lot from him! I collected matchbox cars and Hot Wheels cars. I had most of them at one time in the 1960’s. I had a H.O. scale train set and I built it on a 4×8 sheet of plywood. The trains/tracks circled a village in the middle. I also built and raced slot cars on oval tracks and drag racing tracks. I belonged to Revell’s Master Modelers Club at about age 10. To qualify you had to build 100 models and send them a picture.

I started buying Sears Craftsman tools with my paper route money at age 12 and never stopped. I’m still buying tools. I have been playing with cars, trucks and motorcycles most of my life.

1. I was born in Long Island New York but moved to Arlington Texas when I was 7.   I decided to attend the University of Arizona after high school so that is how I made it to Tucson.

2. My wife, Melani, is a Physical Therapist in the Amphi School District. I have two sons, Harrison, a sophomore at CDO, and Drayson, a seventh-grader at Cross Middle School.

3. I started working at the Daily Star in the IT department in January 2001.   Previously, I worked at the Bank of Tucson.   Before leaving the bank, I took night classes in technology to gain the knowledge to get hired here.

4. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional baseball player.

5. When people ask me what I do for a living I tell them I am a business analyst at the newspaper.  Then they stare at me, so I tell them I am knowledgeable in the configuration of the Circulations and Advertising systems and that I analyze various areas of the business to make us more efficient or profitable or reduce expenses.

6. Outside of work, my interests are sports and kid-related.   I have coached my kids’ baseball and basketball teams and spend as much time with them as possible…when I can get them off their phones.

7. I like to travel, with skiing destinations and amusement parks being at the top of the list. 

8. Last April I had a 100% blockage of the LAD artery of the heart.   Fortunately, I got to the hospital in time for them to open the artery and place five stints in it.  Since then I’ve had to adjust to a new normal, where my physical activity and exertion are somewhat limited. 

9. What did I learn from that? I learned that you need to listen to your body and take action as soon as you know something is wrong.  For me, the chest pain was unlike anything I’ve ever had, and my wife called 911 within two minutes of my being in pain.  Getting medical treatment as soon as possible along with getting to a hospital quickly were factors in keeping me alive.

10. If I could give our leaders one piece of advice it would be to create the best possible work place for employees so they can perform at their best. This includes resources, temperature, remote vs. office location, safety, etc.   

Asking Jay Walsh, Senior Graphic Designer on the Advertising Digital Team, if he has a hobby is a little like asking Bob Dylan if he’s written any songs. The list of Jay’s avocations is so exhaustive it might require an entire issue of Stardom to do them justice. For now, here’s just one:

“I kinda got started building electric guitars when I realized it only cost a fraction of the price to build a $4,000 custom guitar.

As usual, I buried myself on YouTube and found dang near every video on: assembly, body shaping, wiring… and the biggie, how to do a finish. What people don’t know is that, back in the late ‘40’s early ‘50’s, Leo Fender – the creator of two of the most iconic guitars in history, the Stratocaster and the Telecaster – relied on leftover auto paint to finish his guitars and gallons of old nitrocellulose lacquer to put his paper-thin finishes on.

The guitar in this photo is in its beginning phases. I found a gorgeous piece of spalted maple and glued it to a hunk of alder I had laying around from a previous job. I use templates and routers to cut the final shape, neck pocket and pickup slots… followed by endless hours of sanding. I find it easier to just purchase a semi-finished neck to go with the project.

In the end, I usually can design, cut, assemble, finish and setup an entire guitar with top-of-the-line parts for less than $800. I’ve sold them for around $1,200 to $1,500… making a bit of poker money and creating a custom instrument for someone without a custom price tag.”

If Justin Spears’ face seems familiar, it may be because he’s featured in a house ad that’s run on the cover of the Daily Star Sports section many times. If his voice seems familiar, it may be because you’ve heard him on his weekday radio gig on ESPN Tucson 104.9. You’ll get to know him a little better in this Q&A:

On his roots

I’m a proud Tucsonan! My family moved to Tucson when I was in diapers so the Old Pueblo has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I attended Cienega High School in Vail before graduating from the University of Arizona.

On his sibling

I have one older brother, Joshua, who’s exactly like me, albeit our favorite sports teams aren’t quite the same. He likes the Rams; I’m a Chargers guy. He roots for the Angels; I cheer for the Dodgers. However, we both share a passion for the Lakers — specifically Kobe Bryant, and Hip-Hop music. We also played football for several years and finished our playing careers at Cienega. 

On his Star career

I began working at the Arizona Daily Star in the Summer of 2017, which was my first professional job out of college. 

On his childhood ambitions

To be honest, sports journalism was something I’ve always wanted to pursue ever since my teenage years. But before then, my all-time dream job was to be the next Steve Irwin. Working with animals was a small passion of mine as a kid and I remember always going out into the desert to catch lizards and observe wildlife. My family hailing from Southern California also allowed me to appreciate marine biology and sea life. 

On his recent interview with UA’s star-crossed quarterback Khalil Tate

Khalil didn’t message me back until the morning of the interview, but I was able to still drive up to Phoenix to write the story. There were no ground rules or forbidden territory, but I knew he wasn’t going to open up right away so I started off the interview with basic questions just to get him comfortable. Since he’s a professional now, I had the ability to contact him personally rather than going through Arizona Athletics. 

On posing difficult questions to Tate

Asking difficult questions is a part of the job and Khalil had several opportunities to improve his media skills over the three years as a starter, which he displayed. Yes, he’s a young man still figuring out this beautiful thing called life, but he’s a professional. It doesn’t get easier from here so why should I hold back tough questions that maybe we weren’t able to ask three months ago? 

On the interview over-all

I was pleased with the 16-minute interview, but we could’ve conversed for at least another 10-15 minutes. Unfortunately, the promoter at the autograph session cut the interview short, because Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego was eager to meet Khalil. Plus, another news station was waiting for us. People knew more about Khalil afterwards, because he shared information that he never told anyone such as when he heard about not starting on senior night. 

On his ESPN radio gig

Every weekday for three hours, I ramble on ESPN Tucson 104.9-FM and 1490-AM about a wide-range of topics: UA sports, NCAA football, NCAA basketball NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.

On the difference between talk-radio sports coverage and Daily Star sports coverage

I utilize journalism ethics whenever I’m on the radio, because it’s only fair that we look at the subject from several angles. Fortunately for me, this [radio] is a platform that allows me to have an opinion. I can’t be harsh or too critical when writing at the Star, because like every journalist, objectivity is always a priority. 

On the death of Kobe Bryant

Kobe’s passing was awful. It hurt me because Kobe was a childhood hero of mine, and he had a huge impact on my work ethic. He is the only athlete that influenced my life, which is why I’ll never struggle to “worship” an athlete in my writing. 

Her full name is Sabrina Lorenza Salinas.

“My family calls me Brina.”

She’s a native in more ways than one.

“I am Native American from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, although I am not enrolled with the tribe. I am Native and Mexican. And I’ve lived in Tucson all my life.”

She’s into kid stuff.

“Outside the job, I read, doodle and color with my kids and enjoying trips to the park with them.”

She worked for Sam Levitz furniture before turning to security.

“I worked in different departments, including as an assistant for a corporate executive for customer service, monitoring all the phone calls coming in and out.”

She’s a proud parent.

“I am a mom of two beautiful young boys Jeremiah who Is ten years old and Jasiah who is five years old.”

His full name is Kent McKinley Adkins.

“I was named after my grandfather, Claude McKinley.”

He’s a Tarheel.

“I was born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina. Some friends convinced me to move here.”

He’s well-travelled.

“The most interesting place I’ve been? Iraq, I guess.”

He’s a vet.

“I was in the U.S. Army, serving in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm.”

He’s a people person.

“I’m just a regular Joe, friendly and will help people when I can.”