Village of Oak Creek resident Peter Gersten, 70, left a lasting impression after spending much of the day atop Bell Rock on Dec. 21.
Many speclated Gersten would leap from the red rock landmark in his belief a vortex or cosmic portal would open there. Gersten himself, a retired lawyer, denied he ever intended to leap from the edge, despite earlier news reports that indicated he planned a “leap of faith.” A crowd of onlookers visited Bell Rock on Dec. 21, hoping to get a glimpse of Gersten at the top. Besides the winter solstice, Dec. 21 also marked the end of the Mayan calendar, which many believed to indicate the end of the world.
Since Dec. 21, some have speculated how much Gersten’s alleged leap of faith cost taxpayers, particularly due to the presence of law enforcement — a rescue team from the Sedona Fire District and a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office rescue helicopter that flew nearby during the course of the day.
For the full story, see the Wednesday, Jan. 2, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
