Athletic sponsorships will be the subject of a special Prescott Unified School District Board meeting at 11 this morning. The Board will consider a Facilities Use Agreement for use by the District with Athletic Booster Clubs. The agreement would allow Clubs to place athletic sponsorship banners on District property. The Board will also consider an agreement with the Prescott Education Foundation for banners and other fundraising events, as well as giving authority to the Athletic Director to negotiate and approve athletic sponsorship or advertising agreements on the District's behalf. The Board may go into a closed executive session for discussion on these items during the meeting, which will be held in the District Office Boardroom on South Granite Street.

The Prescott Valley Town Council is expected to approve nearly $49,000 in grant funding related to management of the Upper Verde River. The town, on behalf of the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition, has been notified of a technical assistance grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. According to Water Resources Manager John Munderloh, the grant will help pay for activities related to the Coalition's Watershed Restoration Initiative that started back in March. The goal of this initiative is to restore watershed functioning in order to increase natural aquifer recharge. This is the only item that will be before Town Council at 5:30 tonight. Munderloh says approval is needed before next Wednesday in order for the grant money to be available to the Coalition. The meeting will be held in the Library Auditorium on Civic Circle. Following the meeting, Council will take a tour of Superior Industries.

Novelty powders such as spice and bath salts are now banned in Yavapai County. In a 14 page ruling Monday, Superior Court Judge Michael Bluff has affirmed a permanent injunction against 9 of the 12 retail stores that allegedly sold these substances. Bluff has also issued a preliminary injunction against the 3 remaining known retailers. The ruling comes after 3 days of testimony in court in late August. Bluff has written that novelty powder drugs have effects similar to marijuana and methamphetamine, but are more intense, unpredictable, dangerous and addictive. The novelty powders extension is in addition to the ban on synthetic drugs that is already in effect.

If you have information about anyone selling synthetic drugs, you're asked to call the County Attorney's Office at 771-3344.

The Prescott Valley Police Department has a new procedure for people wanting to get rid of their prescription drugs. When you drop off your pills, tablets or capsules, you will be asked to remove them from their containers and put them into a zip lock bag, which will be provided by the Department. Police won't dispose of pill containers, so don't put them into the plastic bag. Liquids, salves, ointments and aerosols can stay in their original containers, but you should check to make sure the caps are on tight before placing these items in a plastic bag. Syringes won't be disposed of, so you should call your trash company for options. Once you bring your items for disposal to the counter, you will be given a key to a drop box. The large steel box is located in the lobby and its sole purpose is for the collection of unwanted prescription drugs. Disposal hours are 8 to 5 Monday through Friday at the Department facility, located on Civic Circle.

An alleged Wittman area robber is in custody thanks to an alert rancher. A witness told Yavapai County Sheriff's Deputies last week he had seen a truck pulling a flatbed trailer containing stolen horse panel sections. The man knew they belonged to a neighbor because he had borrowed them previously. Sheriff's Office spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn explains the rancher followed the truck and tried to get the driver to stop. Thirty-nine year old Wittman resident Isaac Malone was identified as the driver and owner of the abandoned truck. Malone wasn't home when deputies went looking for him, but D'Evelyn says he turned up on Monday.

In addition to the 32 panels valued at $100 each, deputies also located bolt cutters, a hacksaw and 2 flashlights inside the truck that have been seized as burglary tools.