Cochise County Government Targets Bible College for Renting to Minuteman Project Volunteers

email | 14 April 2005 | Russ Dove

[BrianP]

If any of you have ever been to the Miracle Valley Bible College, you would know that the place is an absolute wreck.
I went there for services while church shopping a while back, and a cieling panel fell out, a cieling fan was next.
The small assisted living center has been done up pretty nicely, the 'dorms' at that time were really not habitable.
Melvin Harter and the County have been going around in circles for years over the poor state of repair of the "College".
That piece of land has some pretty bad history attached to it, and it is interesting reading if anyone would care to.
Someday maybe, Melvin will be able to raise enough money to put the old place back in shape and make it habitable, but for now, it is not. At least it wasn't a short while back.

[Spiff]

If any of you have ever been to the Miracle Valley Bible College, you would know that the place is an absolute wreck. I went there for services while church shopping a while back, and a cieling panel fell out, a cieling fan was next. The small assisted living center has been done up pretty nicely, the 'dorms' at that time were really not habitable. Melvin Harter and the County have been going around in circles for years over the poor state of repair of the "College". That piece of land has some pretty bad history attached to it, and it is interesting reading if anyone would care to. Someday maybe, Melvin will be able to raise enough money to put the old place back in shape and make it habitable, but for now, it is not. At least it wasn't a short while back.

The Church and a number of the buildings are a wreck. Harter is trying to fix the place up into something nice. He's got a lot of work ahead of him.

I know a bit about the history of the area down there. My wife's great uncle, Jimmy Judd, was the Sheriff of Cochise County at the time of the shootout. I know the people who bought the old dairy and have converted into a U-pick-it type vegetable farm.

And, yes, the dorms are barely habitable at this time. But it sure beats sleeping on the floor of a tent in the campground if you ask me.

[AZ Rangers Wifey]

Do I smell blood?

Melvin Harter has been in building and health code violations in Cochise County for literally YEARS. I am amazed that the Cochise County Officials have waited this long to wag their collective fingers in Harter's direction.

For years the Bible College was a corridor for illegal entrants (aliens), after personally hearing Harter brag that the County could not touch him, this is a refreshing change. We paid a visit to this "Bible College" and the sanctuary and dormitories were in shambles! The ceiling was falling through where the church services were being held and the place reeked of the smell of mold. They did however have an assisted living building that was in good condition. There was only one "client" living in the facility at that time.

It would seem that Harter's loyalties sway with whoever has a quick dollar for him. To invite armed individuals to occupy what is supposed to be God's own anointed land is most probably a lot more than the average "MAN OF GOD" would do. I will have to write to the powers that be in the religious organizations that he claims to be associated with to make sure if I am right about that. I already KNOW the answer.

The last time I was at Miracle Valley it was probably full of lead paint, asbestos and termites. Holes in the roofs on the buildings and mold growing on the pews in the sanctuary. I do see this as an issue for Cochise County and they should have done something about it long before now! In my opinion.

Here is a link that will let you know about some of the history of Miracle Valley Bible College (not all of it is a happy story).
http://www.palominas.com/history02.htm