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SIERRA VISTA — Anyone looking for a good scream this Halloween would be smart not to overlook the annual Public Safety Haunted House.
Organized by the local Fraternal Order of Police and the Huachuca City, Fry and Sierra Vista fire departments, the theme of the haunted house follows an appropriately judicial theme, said Huachuca City Fire Department volunteer Mark Genz.
“The theme of this,” Genz said, “is the process from someone getting arrested to being executed.”
Starting with a bail bonds shop run by a ghoul named Devil Dan, and ending in a graveyard littered with fresh coffins, the tour is a creepy take on what some of the first responders running the show deal with on a daily basis.
  
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Genz, who also is a lieutenant with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, plays a judge admonishing those passing through his courtroom of skeletal jurors and perpetually guilty defendants.
“I’ll hit a gavel and then reach over them and yell ‘you’re guilty,’ ” he said.
Organizers have been piecing together the haunted house set every weekend for a month.
“It’s all on our own time,” he said.
The group has been putting on the haunted house for nearly a decade, he said, giving them time to collect a huge assortment of props and displays for the event. “We’re at the point now where I doubt if we’ve spent $100 (this year),” Genz said.
All of that experience and dedication really becomes apparent while on the tour, especially when exploring the jail cells.
Before witnessing a live execution by electric chair, those taking the tour can get their measurements taken for their own coffin at no expense, thanks to a helpful mortician.
One particularly gruesome cell, the shower room, brings to mind the classic scene from Alfred Hitchock’s “Psycho.”
A decomposing woman hangs in a shower, the blood spraying from her neck pooling around her feet.
It’s not for “really small children,” Genz said, but anyone who likes being a little frightened will enjoy themselves. “The most fun that we have is when the teenage girls come through,” he said. “You can literally go ‘boo’ and they will just scream like crazy. It’s hilarious.”
Along the way, visitors will pass a butcher shop specializing in human flesh, but they may want to wait for the free popcorn and candy being handed out at the end of the tour.
Proceeds from the event will go toward funding programs for the various departments involved that aren’t covered by their respective budgets, Genz said. “Christmas food drive, public education programs, whatever they think the community needs,” he said.
DEREK JORDAN can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at derek.jordan@svherald.com.
HUACHUCA CITY — Ears, eyeballs and mummies crowded Campstone Transfer’s office this week.
As the company prepared for its haunted house, taking place today and Friday night, all the creepy items had to go somewhere.
“That’s kind of weird when you walk by and see bodies wrapped in plastic,” said Tabitha Jacob, general manager for the company.
The “dead” bodies had to be stored in a back office.
But as the employees get ready for the event, they’re having fun, though a little stressed.
“It’s a little bit stressful,” Jacob said. “Seeing whether we can get it all together by Thursday.”
But on Monday morning, the haunted house, which is set up like a maze built out of moving crates, was already starting to take shape in what Jacob expects to be a family-friendly event.
For anything that they worry may not be kid-friendly, Jacob said they’re setting up a separate entrance for adults to walk through, and the kid-friendly area will end before any of the scenes in question are reached.
“We don’t want to traumatize (the kids),” Jacob said.
This will be the first time the company has hosted the haunted event, and said they just wanted to give children something to do.
“Every year in this area, there’s less and less to do,” Jacob said. “The kids need something else to do on Halloween.”
“So we figured they could come through here, they can get scared, they can get some candy,” she added. “It will be a good Halloween.”
For people looking to help, Jacob said they’re encouraging businesses and residents to come help them hand out candy.
Herald/Review reporter Katie Evans can be reached at 515-4611 or by e-mail at katie.evans@svherald.com.
HALLOWEEN EVENTS LISTING
These are some Halloween events this weekend:
Cochise College
The college’s student government will be hosting “Monsterfest: The Freaks Come Out at Night,” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Halloween.
“It’s just a community event because some parents don’t want to take their kids trick or treating, they want a safe alternative,” said David Payne, student government treasurer.
Payne said the event, which will feature a DJ, will be family-oriented with Halloween activities for all ages.
“There’s going to be a costume contest for pretty much every age group, a haunted house and various clubs here at the school are having games for everybody,” he said.
For information about the event, call student government at 515-5484.
Sierra Vista
The Halloween Fall Festival in Veterans’ Memorial Park takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. this Friday. The Herald/Review, along with Cox and the city of Sierra Vista’s Parks and Leisure Services, are sponsoring the event. Kids can play a variety of fun, safe games for a host of goodies. There will be a Halloween-themed movie, “Scooby Doo 2”, playing, a costume parade and much more. It’s all free. The Cove also will be hosting its annual Fright Night with a Haunted House from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. However, there is an admission charge for that activity.
The annual Public Safety Haunted House began Wednesday and continues today and Friday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cochise County Complex, 4001 Foothills Drive, at the corner of Foothills and Highway 92. The cost of the tour is $2.
Village Meadows Baptist Church is holding a down on the farm fall festival for families on Friday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. There will be fun, food and games for the whole family. Hayrides, inflatables and live entertainment are all apart of the event. Costumes are welcome, but no scary ones pleae. The church is located at 1407 El Camin Real. Call 458-4500.
Sierra Vista First Baptist Church is holding "Trunk or Treat" on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This family friendly event will feature games, face painting, popcorn, candy, balloon art, jumping castle and family priced hot dogs and drinks. Event is geared to children from preschool to sixth grade. Visit sierravistafirst.org.
The Blues Cafe, 185 E. Wilcox, will be hosting a costume party Friday at 8 p.m. There will be a $100 cash prize for first place. Live music will be Jack & the Rippers. Call 417-2583.
A halloween party and $300 costume contest will be held at Club Rendezvous on Halloween. Join them Friday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. for the party and contest. Enjoy a Haunted Happy Happy Hour with 1/2 price all drinks from 4 to 8 p.m. Stay all night and register by 11 p.m. for a chance to win $300: $100 for the Funniest, $100 for the Scariest and $100 for the Sexiest costumes! At 40 Avenida Escuela, in Sierra Vista: www.myspace.com/rendezvousnightclub.com; call 458-2902 or e-mail info@svrendezvous.com.
Celebrate Halloween at the Sorry Gulch Saloon which is featuring live rock ‘n’ roll by Sin Cuervo from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Food, drink specials, prizes for best costumes. There is a $5 cover. The Sorry Gulch Saloon is at 526 W. Fry, call 458-1712 for information.
Hereford
On Friday at 8 p.m. Nick’s Place will have it’s annual Halloween Costume Party with cash prizes. Over the years this party has gotten bigger and crazier. They have Scaryoke starting at 8 p.m. with drink specials and lots of spooktacular fun. Put on your best scary duds and enjoy your favorite spirits at this local haunt.
Huachuca City
The haunted maze will take place Thursday from dark until 10 p.m., and Friday from dark until midnight at Campstone Transfer, 403 Huachuca Blvd., in Huachuca City. The event is free and open to the public.
For information, call Campstone Transfer at 456-1123.
Bisbee
A street party will be at the Copper Queen Hotel on Friday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be music, dancing and a costume contest with prizes. The cost is $5.
St. Elmo’s is hosting Buzz and the Soul Senders and a best costume contest.
The Bisbee Grand Hotel and Saloon will host a costume contest and offer drink specials while the Stock Exchange Bar offers live music.
Mike wrote on Oct 30, 2008 4:11 PM: