It may not be as noticeable as the cowboys walking the streets or the acting out gunfight shows, but the beautiful white blossoms that cover the trellis every April draw in first time visitors as they marvel at the enormous Rose Tree.

The Rose Tree is the largest in the world, according to Guinness World Records. Its branches entangle the trellis that spreads across an 8,700 square foot courtyard. Wooden poles support the many branches that have been growing since 1885 when it was first planted. The base of the trunk is 12 to 14 feet around and has unique branches that wrap and intertwine with each other.

Throughout the year the Tombstone Livery Stable plays host to many different live-action shooting competitions featuring real cowboys and cowgirls.

The shooters who participated are members of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). Some of the shooters come from as far as Canada, while others come to the livery from nearby Tucson. All of the shooters have an old western-type alias as a name.

These aliases range from High Rock Drifter and Dirty Bob to Gritty Gunslinger and Granny Annie. Aside from the aliases, the shooters share the same passion for intense competition in live-action and horse mounted shooting.

The shooters are also placed in several different categories that they compete in. These categories range from cowboys and duelists to gunfighters and elder statesmen.

"I try to come out at least twice a month," said High Rock Drifter, a resident of Marana. "I also go to Casa Grande and Three Points. I've been to Tombstone about two or three times this year."

On the surface, it might seem that most of these cowboys and cowgirls are just having fun, but that's not entirely the case. However, there's truly a fierce competitive spirit inside all of the cowboys and cowgirls that come to the livery stable.

All shooters fire at eye-level and ground targets using a wide-array of pistols, rifles and shotguns. The shooters fire multiple rounds at each of these targets using a combination of weapons. The shooters are judged on their accuracy and their total time for hitting all of the targets.

SASS stresses accuracy and safety at all of their shooting events. All shooting participants are required to wear protective eyeglasses and are encouraged to wear earplugs. There are also at least three spotters standing behind the shooter to observe the shooter's accuracy in hitting the targets.

Most shooters are seasoned and well experienced when it comes to firing weapons in an open range at targets.

"I come out here at least twice a month," said Dirty Bob, a resident of Tucson.

In addition to hosting weekend shooting events throughout the year the livery stable is also host to many professional shooting competitions. Some of these competitions feature well-known national champions in shooting.

According to the owner of the livery stable, Doug Evans, the goal of the stable has always been the same.

"Our mission statement is preserving our western heritage," Evans said. "Our whole goal here is to keep the legend of Tombstone alive and hopefully promoting Tombstone as the cowboy shooting capital of the world."

Evans also said the livery has greatly benefited from the infamous legend of the O.K. Corral.

"People from out of state or out of the country love to have the opportunity to shoot where Doc [Holliday] and Wyatt [Earp] did some shooting, or to ride horses where Doc and Wyatt rode," Evans said. "We're doing what we can to promote Tombstone's legend about the cowboys and shooting, only we're doing it as a sport and are very safe about it."

Tombstone has felt the effects of the recent economic decline. However, Evans said the steady influx of shooters had a positive financial impact on the livery.

"The cowboys shooting here, both venues mounted and action, as well as the folks that camp here too that support our facility, that's keeping us going," Evans said. "As with a lot of other small businesses, we did not get a bailout program like the big wigs on Wall Street, we did not get any economic stimulus programs, so we rely pretty much solely on the cowboys to help keep our facility going."

To compete in these events, one must first become a member SASS. Memberships range from lifetime and senior memberships to corporate and one-year memberships.

The prices of all memberships vary in price. They start as low as $55 for a one-year membership and go all the way up to $750 for a lifetime membership.

SASS will be sponsoring many more shooting competitions at the livery throughout the year.

The livery will host the "Duel in the Desert" shooting competition on May 25-26. The cost of entering this competition for SASS members is $50. For more information visit www.oldpuebloshootists.com.

The livery stable is hosting a horse-mounted shooting event on Feb. 17 and action shooting events on Feb. 16 and 17. For more information visit www.tombstonelivery.com.

On Sunday, Feb. 3, the livery will be host to many locals and tourists taking part in different types of action shooting events.

The livery stable will also host more action shooting events on Feb. 10, 16 and 17. The stable will also host horse-mounted shooting events on Feb. 2 and 17.

The Tombstone Art Gallery sits in a historic building on Allen Street, the most visited street in Tombstone, and sells and shows a variety of pieces by Cochise County artists. While many are eager to lend a hand to the volunteer-run gallery, getting people to buy is a challenge.

As volleyball season winds down, the Tombstone High School Yellow Jackets have proven to be a scrappy bunch.

“We’ve competed very well,” said head coach Dan Romero, who is in his 18th year of coaching women’s volleyball. “Even against teams that are taller, stronger and have harder hitters than us. We’ve competed with them this year.”

The volleyball team has been able to compete on a high level, because seniors and freshmen alike are making meaningful impacts.

Helldorado Days, one of Tombstone’s biggest events of the year, wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the dozens of volunteers who organize everything, free of charge.

While businesses around town stock up and ready their bars for one of the best moneymaking weekends of the year, volunteers are planning free events, such as the gunfights and parade.

“Someone has to do it,” said Steve Reeder, a Helldorado volunteer for around 20 years. “One way or the other I’ve been doing Helldorado either as a Vigilante and as a player, and or also on the board, for a long time.”

Competition is tough for locals participating in the Helldorado Days Parade.

“Nobody on the outside knows my float theme,” said Carol Pauli, owner of Crazy Annie’s Bordello. “Just the people doing the parade know, but otherwise, I don’t say what I am doing.”

Three days before the parade, she’ll pull her motor home out and bring the float trailer in, to begin constructing the float in private.

There are seven categories to win in, said Steve Reeder, a member of the Helldorado Board of Directors. The board does not like to give out awards for “best float,” or “best decorations,” because it feels that no one is the best, Reeder said.

The high school football culture in Tombstone is alive and well, and it’s helping to shape the outlook of a star varsity player for the Tombstone High School Yellow Jackets.

The Yellow Jackets team has played solid football throughout the season to post a 4-2 record so far, but junior running back James Sargent has riveted crowds in just three games played.

In “the town too tough to die,” gun-fighting isn’t just a part of history. It’s a business.

The gun-fighting business is led by a majority of veterans who have been around the block. But Doc Najarian, the owner of Doc Holliday’s Gunfight Palace, said that he’s always looking for youth and fresh faces to join the fold, “new blood, so to speak.”

In sports, giving the rookie a hard time sometimes becomes the veterans’ favorite pastime. In the gun-fighting world, however, Najarian feels there is no place for that. Gun-fighting is “all business,” he says.

Kyle Truhill, a Helldorado Town employee who’s been at his job for 10 months, held a different outlook.

What started as kids running around Pastor Dave Bales’ store has grown into a youth ministry that provides full meals twice a week, so that no kid in Tombstone goes hungry.

Every Wednesday and Friday night, Bales holds his EDGE Youth Ministry, which attracts about a dozen kids and teens. On some Friday nights, the kids fill the Tombstone City Park to play soccer and football, and to soar on the swings. Along with hanging out with friends, the youth also receive a free meal at every meeting.