Teen helps Apache Junction shelter with mural

Teen helps Apache Junction shelter with mural

By: Anita Roman

POSTED:APR 06 2016 03:39PM MST

UPDATED:APR 06 2016 05:38PM MST

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. (KSAZ) – A high school student went above and beyond when she was assigned a service project, turning a local animal shelter into a work of art.

It wasn’t long ago that Carlee and her boyfriend adopted their special pup Zeus from the Paws and Claws Care Center in Apache Junction. So when the high school student was assigned a service project, she knew just where to go make a difference.

“I came in, and I was talking to Jenny, I asked her if I could collect donations for her paws for Paws and Claws, she said to me what we really need is a mural,” said Carlee Fowler.

Since she’s not an artist herself, at first, the task seemed daunting, but not impossible.

“In my head I’m like ok, I don’t know how to paint, but my dad does, so I’ll talk to my dad, and I’ll talk to my teacher to see if my dad can help me with this project,” said Fowler.

Once permission was granted, Carlee and her crew got right to work.

“It’s amazing and what it does is it falls with our paradigm shift of a government shelter to our current environment of the Paws and Claws Care Center, instead of just a government shelter,” said Apache Junction Police Department Captain Arnold Freeman.

Capt. Freeman oversees operations at the center and says the mural adds excitement to the room among other things.

“It’s inviting, it’s more of a center where you can look at animals, you feel like you are here for the animals,” said Freeman.

As for Carlee, her masterpiece might be complete, but her work here at the shelter certainly isn’t.

“I’m hoping to get more donations for them, I would love to continue collecting for them and raising money for them, I’ll always be open to getting more donations from people,” said Fowler.

Carly says she wants to study veterinary medicine after she graduates from high school.

Source:  http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/118249654-story

Segments of Apache Junction roads to close temporarily due to repaving

Mar 20th, 2016 · by Apache Junction Independent staff reports

The city of Apache Junction will be paving segments of Baseline Avenue and Idaho Road from March 28 through April 16.

The work will result in the closure of the two streets during this time. Baseline Avenue will be closed from Idaho Road to Winchester Road and Idaho Road from U.S. Highway 60 to Baseline Avenue.

Motorists can use Tomahawk Road to access businesses along Baseline Avenue within the industrial park, including those on Winchester Road. That will also allow drivers on Baseline to access the Arizona Department of Transportation motor vehicle emissions testing facility, the Apache Junction Public Works Department and the city’s Paws and Claws Care Center for animals.

In addition, repaving began March 14 on Ironwood Drive between Broadway to Apache Trail, according to a press release. Work is expected to take about three months.

All construction will be conducted during daylight hours for the safety of construction workers. Any questions related to this project should be directed to the Public Works Department at 480-982-1055.

Source:  http://apachejunctionindependent.com/news/segments-apache-junction-roads-close-temporarily-due-repaving/

Arizona Media Not Doing Its Job; Fails to Inform the People

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 7. 2016) – Arizona media apparently has little interest in informing Arizonans about what is going on in their state legislature if it doesn’t fit its agenda.

Last week, the Arizona Tenth Amendment Center hosted a press conference in support of nine measures making their way through the state House and Senate that would serve to limit federal power and reestablish state control. Several state legislators showed up, but zero members of the media bothered to take advantage of an opportunity to learn about an important movement currently gathering momentum in the Arizona State Legislature.

The press conference highlighted nine bills pending in the Arizona Legislature that would serve to limit federal power in some way. Legislation addressing constitutional tender, the right to keep and bear arms, NDAA indefinite detention, presidential executive orders and asset forfeiture law reform were among those featured. These aren’t bills simply languishing in committees. Legislation to prohibit state cooperation with federal indefinite detention without due process, to define gold and silver as legal tender and to bar state cooperation with the enforcement of future federal gun control have all passed one chamber of the legislature.

But this apparently doesn’t count as news in the Grand Canyon State, and major media players don’t deem it an important responsibility to inform Arizonans about these initiatives. The Arizona TAC sent out some 50 invitations to members of the media.

Rep. Sonny Borrelli suggested the press might suffer from partisan bias, noting that the media has a long tradition of ignoring Republican efforts to inform the electorate while Democrats can garner media attention, “at the drop of a hat.”

Prominent Arizona activist Joel Alcott said it was no coincidence that the press ignored the event. He said that because these bills are among the most controversial before the legislature this session, it was a deliberate move to avoid lending them any additional credibility.

The press might not care about efforts to limit federal power, but Arizonans do. The proposed laws build on a state constitutional amendment passed in 2014 that enshrined the anti-commandeering doctrine in the Arizona constitution. The amendment explicitly affirms the state’s right to “exercise its sovereign authority to restrict the actions of its personnel and the use of its financial resources to purposes that are consistent with the Constitution.”

Since Arizona voters approved the measure, efforts to put it into action have stepped up with legislators introducing numerous bills.

Journalists love to talk about their responsibility to the people and opine about their integral role in democratic self-government. They sometimes even refer to themselves as the “Fourth Estate.” But in practice, it seems like nothing more than pious talk. In the real world, far too many media outlets have become shills for the status quo and left-leaning establishment politics. That may sound unfair, but the crickets at the Arizona TAC presser testifies to this truth.

Source:  http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2016/03/arizona-media-not-doing-its-job-fails-to-inform-the-people/

Apache Junction to collect hazardous waste, electronics and shred documents

Feb 8th, 2016 · by Apache Junction Independent staff reports

The city of Apache Junction will hold its annual household hazardous waste, white goods, electronic recycling and document shredding collection event from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The event will take place at the city of Apache Junction‘s public works operations yard at 575 E Baseline.

This collection event is for items that typically cannot be deposited into a regular trash load.  An effort will be made to recycle most of the items collected.  Residents may bring from their homes items such as anti-freeze, motor oil only, paint, tires with no rims, refrigerators, air-conditioners, freezers, etc.

Electronic recycling will be held for items such as PC’s, laptops, flat panel monitors, power cords, keyboards, typewriters, etc.

Document shredding of confidential documents will be done on-site.

For additional information on the event, call Heather Hodgman at 480-474-8500.

Source:  http://apachejunctionindependent.com/news/apache-junction-to-collect-hazardous-waste-electronics/

STATE OFFICIALS TO BE GUEST SPEAKERS AT SMRC

The February 11, meeting for the Superstition Mountain Republican Club will host our elected State Senate and  Legislative officials in a Legislative Forum at the Justice Court, Roy Hudson Complex located at 575 N. Idaho Rd., in AJ.  Thursday, February 11, 2016 beginning at 6:30 p.m.   Senator David Farnsworth, Representative Doug Coleman and Representative Kelly Townsend will be featured in a forum that will focus on upcoming issues and how our officials are planning on dealing with them.  This will be an audience participation event with questions coming from the participants.  This will not be a campaign event.

UPDATE ON THE AZ STATE SENATE BILL SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK

Monday, January 11, 2016

 12:00 Noon 2^nd Regular Session for the 52^nd Legislature Convenes

The Senate floor can be viewed here: http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=3

 2:00 PM Governor Ducey Delivers his State of the State Address

The address can be viewed here: http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=6

 Natural Resources

9:00 AM

Room 109

NOT MEETING

 State Debt & Budget Reform

9:00 AM

Senate Hearing Room 3

 NOT MEETING

 Commerce & Workforce Development

2:00 PM

Senate Hearing Room 1

NOT MEETING

Water & Energy

2:00 PM

Senate Hearing Room 3

 NOT MEETING

 Tuesday January 12, 2016

 Federalism, Mandates, & Fiscal Responsibility

9:00 AM

Senate Hearing Room 3

 NOT MEETING

 Appropriations

2:00 PM

Senate Hearing Room 109

 NOT MEETING

 TRANSPORTATION

2:00 PM

Senate Hearing Room 1

 NOT MEETING

 Wednesday January 13, 2015

 Public Safety, Military & Technology

9:00 AM

Senate Hearing Room 1

 NOT MEETING

 Finance

9:00 AM

Senate Hearing Room 3

 NOT MEETING

 Health & Human Services

9:00 AM

Senate Hearing Room 3

 NOT MEETING

 Government

2:00 PM

Senate Hearing Room 3

 * SB1009 confidential data; criminal records check (Kavanagh)

* SB1010 recycled materials report; state agencies (Kavanagh)

* SB1017 municipal service access cards; requirements (Kavanagh)

* SB1040 department of administration; continuation (Kavanagh)

* SB1042 Prescott historical society; continuation (Kavanagh)

* SB1043 state personnel board; continuation (Kavanagh)

* SB1044 special census; lawful presence (Kavanagh)

* SB1045 pioneers’ home; miners hospital; continuation (Kavanagh)

* Pending Introduction, First Reading and Committee Assignment

 Financial Institutions

2:00 PM

Senate Hearing Room 109

* SB1003 securities; exempt transactions (Farnsworth D,Burges, Farley, et al)

* SB1005 private fund advisers; exemption (Farnsworth D: Shooter, Cobb, et al)

* SB1006  institutional investor; definition (Farnsworth D, Begay, Farley, et al)

* Pending Introduction, First Reading and Committee Assignment

 Thursday January 14, 2015

 Education

9:00 AM

Senate Hearing Room 1

Presentations Spotlight on School Success:

Joint Technical Education District

Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology

Advanced Placement Academy

Flagstaff High School

Career and Technical Education

Mingus Union High School District

Flagstaff Unified School District

 Judiciary

10:00 AM

Senate Hearing Room 109

 NOT MEETING

 

Source:  Personal email from State Sen. Steve Smith

Superstition Fire and Medical District begins providing emergency patient transportation Jan 6th, 2016 · by Dave Montgomery

Superstition Fire and Medical District’s new ambulances are 2015 Horton models and will match looks and colors with the rest of the SFMD fleet of emergency vehicles. (Courtesy of Superstition Fire and Medical District)

Superstition Fire and Medical District began a historic new service to the area Monday, Jan. 4. With the addition of five new ambulances into its fleet of state-of-the-art emergency rescue equipment, SFMD paramedics and EMTs will be responding to calls where the transport of critical patients is needed. Less critical, or low-acuity medical transports, will continue to be provided by Southwest Ambulance.

Southwest Ambulance has provided all ambulance service to the citizens of the fire district for the past two decades. But as Fire Chief Paul Bourgeois explains, the environment has changed and it’s opened the door for a new partnership and new service delivery model for the SFMD.

“There is a basic expectation everyone in our community should have – to be transported to an appropriate medical destination in a timely manner when you call 911,” said Chief Bourgeois. “In this new system, we will retain care of our most critical sick and injured patients all the way to the hospital, providing a more efficient and effective service to our community.”

SFMD successfully worked with Rural-Metro Corp., Southwest Ambulance’s parent company, to develop a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding to capture the spirit and intent of this arrangement.

“The MOU helps to stabilize and strengthen our relationship with Rural-Metro,” said Chief Bourgeois.

SFMD staff was able to present a cost model showing conservatively that the new ambulance service will be fully self-sustaining in three to four years, with total investment recovery and positive revenue within four to five years.

“Our finance division worked very hard to show the Department of Health Services that this will be a benefit to our community,” said Chief Bourgeois.

The new ambulances are 2015 Horton models and will match looks and colors with the rest of the SFMD fleet of emergency vehicles. Each ambulance costs approximately $208,000. We received a $200,000 grant from the Gila River Indian Community for one of them.

The new units are equipped with many new features for both patient comfort and care, and items that will assist the paramedics while treating a patient while in route to the hospital.
Loading and unloading patients will be made much easier based on the latest technology and equipment available. Each new ambulance is equipped with a Stryker Power Pro Cot – Power-PRO XT. This innovative battery-powered hydraulic system that raises and lowers the patient with the touch of a button is coupled with the Stryker Power-Load cot fastener system, which lifts and lowers the gurney into and out of the ambulance, reducing the risk of injuries.

Helping to allow the paramedic to do the work needed in the safest manner possible, the new ambulances are also equipped with liquid-filled suspension springs, providing significant ride and handling performance improvements over conventional steel and air spring suspension systems.

It is also a much more comfortable experience for the patient. With the high temperatures of our summer months to contend with, each unit’s newer air-conditioning technology allows average cool down times of about nine minutes compared to the average 22 minute cool down time in older units.

“We are excited to be taking this step towards providing the very best pre-hospital service anywhere” said the fire chief. “We believe this is the next wave of change adding to the community para-medicine phenomenon that is changing the way fire-based EMS will look.”

If you would like to know more about the SFMD, visit our website or call our offices at 480-982-4440.

Editor’s note: Dave Montgomery is the assistant fire chief and public information officer for the Superstition Fire and Medical District. The SFMD encompasses 62 square miles and serves Apache Junction, the unincorporated areas of Gold Canyon, Superstition Foothills, Goldfield Foothills and Entrada Del Oro.

Source:  http://apachejunctionindependent.com/police-sheriff-fire/superstition-fire-and-medical-district-begins-providing-emergency-patient-transportation/

Heritage Days at Superstition Mountain Museum

[Courtesy Superstition Mountain Museum]

Staff Report

Hightail it to Superstition Mountain Museum for Heritage Days, Jan. 16-17. The weekend celebration will highlight the history and lore of the Superstition Mountains ranging from the earliest human history with indigenous Native American culture to recent events such as the Apacheland Movie Ranch. Performances by the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers will wow audiences with their award-winning dances. Performances will be on both days at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. There will also be Native arts and crafts for sale by the craftsmen and women themselves. Learn how they make their distinctive wares and the meanings behind the patterns, materials and designs.

Ermal Williamson, a bona fide John Wayne impersonator, will offer Western entertainment along with his wife Paola — a champion yodeler. They will be performing each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. More Western fun will be had with Cowboy Steve Cassat and his rope tricks. Teton Ken will provide burro rides and lead gold panning expeditions.

Film and TV actor Michael Dante will be present all weekend selling and signing his books and discussing the filming that took place at Apacheland Movie Ranch. Fellow Apacheland alumni, Ron Nix and Hank Scheffer will also be there.

Food will be available on the museum grounds and everyone is invited to explore the various trails and walks. This is the perfect family event to explore the East Valley’s historical backyard. With so much fun to be had, you might want to come both days!

DETAILS>> Jan. 16-17. Superstition Mountain Museum, 4087 N. Apache Trail, on Highway 88 (SR88). $5 per person. Children 10 and under free. 480-983-4888.superstitionmountainmuseum.org.

Source:  http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/events/article_6f096476-b006-11e5-b7c1-9392f26b6b5c.html

Animal Care and Control will be expanding their hours of operation

FLORENCE – Beginning in 2016, Pinal County
On Wednesdays, the shelter located at 1150 South Eleven Mile Corner, Casa Grande, 85194, will be open from 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM. On Saturdays, the shelter will be open from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
‘We have had a lot of people ask us to remain open longer so they can come in after work,’ Audra Michael, Animal Care and Control Director said. ‘So we changed our schedule around to accommodate extra hours for people who need to come in later. We’re going to see how this goes for a couple of months. If we need to change it to make it more accommodating for people, we will do that.’

Hours of Operation:

• Sunday-Closed
• Monday-8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Tuesday-8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Wednesday-8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Thursday-8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Friday-8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Saturday-10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

You can reach Animal Care and Control through the Pinal County Citizen Contact Center at 520-509-3555 or within any part of Pinal County at 3-1-1.

To see the animals the shelter has for adoption: www.petharbor.com.

 

Pinal County jobless rate drops as population climbs

Pinal County’s population grew 2.6 percent this year, but its unemployment rate has steadily dropped over the past seven months.

The county’s jobless rate dropped from 6.3 to 6 percent, its lowest since May’s 5.6 percent. The state’s seasonally adjusted rate is also 6 percent, a drop of 0.1 percent. The U.S. rate is unchanged at 5 percent.

“We’ve grown, and we’re still gaining jobs. That’s very, very, very difficult to do,” said Tim Kanavel, Pinal County Economic Development manager. “People are getting jobs, whether it’s at home or in stores or somewhere out of the county.”

Pinal’s estimated population growth was 10,231 people in the past year. The growth rate of 2.6 was the highest in the state. Overall, Arizona’s population grew 1.4 percent in 2015.

 Pinal gained 500 nonfarm jobs in November. The state gained 29,800 nonfarm jobs last month.

Research administrator Doug Walls of the Arizona Department of Administration said the state is nearing pre-recession levels of jobs but still has 7.3 percent to regain. Ten years ago, the state’s unemployment rate was 4.5 percent.

All indicators in the employment outlook are “pretty positive,” he said. Ten of 11 job categories showed growth so far in 2015. The only sector reporting losses was natural resources and mining.

According to the state data, the biggest job gains during 2015 have been in education and health, which picked up 13,800 jobs. Leisure and hospitality grew 10,900 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities (TTU) gained 10,800 jobs.

TTU had Arizona’s biggest month-to-month growth in November with a pickup of 14,600 jobs. Education and health serviced gained 3,400 jobs.

Construction, a large job sector before the recession, remains one of the smaller categories. After nine Novembers in a row reporting over-the-month job losses, construction showed a job gain of 1,600 last month.

“Construction has not recovered the majority of its jobs,” Walls said. “They were clearly at an unsustainable level before the recession.”

Source:  http://www.inmaricopa.com/pinal-county-jobless-rate-drops-as-population-climbs/