Michele Nelson

Arizona

I'm a reporter at the Payson Roundup Newspaper in a little town in the middle of Arizona. I have two children and on my second marriage.

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Articles

$500,000 plus from AZ State Parks to build more Rim Country trails

Dec 10, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Collaboration between the Payson Ranger District and local organizations spurred a half million dollars in support from the Arizona State Committee on Trails through the Recreational Trails Program with Arizona State Parks. “It’s now just a matter of working them through the final steps,” said Angela Abel, the recreation officer for the Payson Ranger District. kAm%96 8C2?E H:== 7F?5 EC2:= 3F:=5:?8[ 56G6=@A>6?E[ 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46 AC@;64ED :? !2JD@?[ !:?6[ 2?5 E96 w:89=:?6 }2E:@?2= #64C62E:@? %C2:=] x?
Adverse Childhood Experiences data proves: behavior affects mental health more than genetics

Dec 5, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Diego Mejias stopped speaking in middle school. It baffled his teachers – since he was a bright, straight A student. kAmx7 E96J 925 7@==@H65 9:> 9@>6[ E96J H@F=5 92G6 F?56CDE@@5] w6 H2D 244F>F=2E:?8 25G6CD6 49:=59@@5 6IA6C:6?46D WprtDX]k^AmkAmp 8C@H:?8 ?F>36C @7 DEF5:6D D9@H prtD 92G6 2 =@E E@ 5@ H:E9 >6?E2= :==?6DD 2?5 AC@3=6>D :?
Payson’s public safety retirement debt is now at $19.4 million

Nov 26, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Two increases in the sales tax that left Payson with one of the highest sales tax rates in the state generated plenty of controversy in the last council election. Critics said the town wasn’t transparent or clear in how it spent the money from a .88% increase in the sales tax imposed in 2017 or a 1% increase in the sales tax earlier this year. kAmw@H6G6C[ E@H? 4@F?4:= 2?5 E@H? @77:4:2=D D2J E96 3F586E :D 2? @A6? 3@@< 2?5 E96 EH@ E2I :?4C62D6D 92G6 2==@H65 E96 E@H? E@ A2J 5@H?
Payson puts on events to launch the holiday season

Nov 23, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

A Winter Wonderland, light parade and a shop hop. Mark Dec. 14 on the calendar to celebrate the Christmas holiday season with the Town of Payson. kAmsFC:?8 E96 52J[ E96 E@H? H:== 9@DE :ED a?5 2??F2= (:?E6C (@?56C=2?5 7C@> ` A]>] E@ d A]>] 2E vC66? '2==6J !2C<]k^AmkAm%96 6G6?E <:4<D @77 H:E9 2 (C62E9D p4C@DD p>6C:42 46C6>@?J 2E ` A]>]k^AmkAm“$2?E2 H:== >2<6 2? 2AA62C2?46 7@C A:4EFC6D 3J E96 =2<6 7C@> `ib_ A]>] E@ d A]>][” HC@E6 DE277 :? E96 }@G] `b E@H? >2?286C’D C6A@CE]k^AmkAmz:5D 42?
Adrian’s ADHD - the gift that gives his life sparkle

Nov 21, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Adrian Arciniega didn’t understand why he just wouldn’t stay in his seat in class. “I remember getting in trouble pretty often,” he said.
The stuff kids do when struggling with mental health

Nov 14, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Ecko Helmick never really fit in. And she hated it. kAm$96 9:5 :E 2D 36DE D96 4@F=5] $96 <?6H 2== E96 {2E:? ?2>6D 7@C 5:?@D2FCD – 3FE ?6G6C D9@H65 @77 96C <?@H=6586] $96 C625 2E E96 `aE9 8C256 =6G6= 3J E9:C5 8C256[ 3FE ?6G6C C625 @FE =@F5]k^AmkAm$96 DEF7765 96C A@4<6ED H:E9 HC2AA6CD 2?5 EC2D9 2== 52J[ 3642FD6 D96 76=E =:<6 6G6CJ@?6 H2D DE2C:?8 2E 96C H96? D96 H6?E E@ E96 EC2D9 42?] $96 D2E :? 2? 28@?J @7 DE:==?6DD :?
Gearing up to count the homeless in Gila County

Nov 12, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Since 2015, the number of homeless residents counted during the annual point in time (PiT) count in Gila County has risen. But the count, done during a week in January, struggles to capture everyone. kAm“$@>6 32CC:6CD H6 H:== =:<6=J D66[ 282:?
School counselors the touchpoint to mental health

Nov 7, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Families are in crisis. Housing costs are sky high. kAm!6@A=6 2C6 =@D:?8 962=E942C6]k^AmkAmz:5D 2C6 4@A:?8 H:E9 5:G@C46]k^AmkAmp?5 8C2?5A2C6?ED 2C6 C2:D:?8 E96 <:5D]k^AmkAm!2JD@? w:89 $49@@= 4@F?D6=@C 2?5 A2C6?E z25: %6??6J D66D E96 4@?D6BF6?46D 6G6CJ 52J]k^AmkAm“pD A2C6?ED[ H6 2C6 3FDJ ECJ:?8 E@ DFCG:G6[” D96 D2:5] “qFE :E E2<6D E:>6 2?5 2EE6?E:@? E@ F?56CDE2?5 H92E @FC 49:=5C6? ?665]”k^AmkAm&]$] 25@=6D46?ED 72465 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 4C:D:D 27E6C E96 A2?56>:4 FA6?565 E96:C =:G6D] x?
Payson special education department back on top

Nov 5, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

On Oct. 21, Payson Unified School District board learned special education classes at Julia Randall Elementary and Rim Country Middle School have exceeded expectations for their targeted school improvement plan from the state. “We are officially excited,” said Katrina Sacco, assistant superintendent of academic and special services for PUSD. kAm%96 EH@ D49@@=D 42>6 E@ E96 pC:K@?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?’D 2EE6?E:@? :?
Healthcare event draws seniors, families

Nov 5, 2024 | paysonroundup.com | Michele Nelson

Jon Worthies and his two young sons Jonathan and Henry waited patiently as the Native Air helicopter slowly settled onto the grass outside the Julia Randall Elementary gym. The helicopter’s arrival at 8 a.m. opened the 24th Annual MHA Foundation Community Health Fair on Nov. 2. kAmpD D@@? 2D D96 4@F=5[ E96 3@J’D >@E96C w6:5: 9@AA65 @FE @7 E96 4@4<A:E] $96 H2G65 2?5 DEC@==65 @G6C E@ H96C6 96C 3@JD H2:E65] %96 EH@ 3@JD :>>65:2E6=J ;F>A65 FA 7@C 2 9F8] %96J 362>65 H96?