Foothills Focus 3-4-2020 Issue

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March 4, 2020 • Vol. 18, No. 13

POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK

www.thefoothillsfocus.com

ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ

Anthem | Black Canyon City | Carefree | Cave Creek | Desert Hills | New River| North Phoenix | Tramonto | Peoria

New 7th Street signage aims to protect equestrians

SPRING

Tragic horse accident leads to installation of six new signs BY TRACY DEMETROPOLIS

PHOENIX – Motorists making their way down northbound and southbound 7th Street near Maddock Road in Desert Hills will soon notice more street signs alerting them to an important fact – equestrians are often present. Speeding, absent-minded/distracted driving and a lack of regard for horseback riders are just some of the concerns area equestrians expressed after a January 15 accident involving a horse that was struck and killed by a car near the intersection. The

horse, a mare named Aspen, had broken free from her owner who was on foot leading the horse to the nearby state land, according to witnesses and a Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office (MCSO) spokesperson. Aspen died at the scene, and the driver of the vehicle that hit her was treated for minor injuries. The tragic accident prompted many area equestrians to take to social media and express their concerns about speeding and a perceived lack of concern for

SIGNAGE

continued on page 12

HAS

SPRUNG!

Wildflowers are popping up on hiking trails all over the Valley, but an invasive weed called Stinknet (Globe Chamomile) is also coming to life. The Cave Creek Town Council discussed ways to combat Stinknet at its regular town council meeting February 24. See story on page 3. Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation

Maricopa County becomes largest county to approve Second Amendment sanctuary measure BY FARAH ELTOHAMY CRONKITE NEWS

rejecting gun laws that infringe on the Second Amendment’s right to PHOENIX — The bear arms. How measures Maricopa County Board are enforced vary from of Supervisors, in a place to place. tense public meeting The terminology was February 26, voted 4-1 coined after sanctuary to declare Maricopa as a cities, which try to protect “Second Amendment undocumented commuPreservation County.” nities by restricting the The resolution follows use of public resources a growing movement of to cooperate with federal “Second Amendment immigration agencies. sanctuaries” across the Board of Supervisors United States. Although Chairman Clint Hickthere is no set definition of man said he brought up the term, it refers to states, the resolution to represent counties and municipali- his constituents’ views. ties that adopt resolutions Hickman said his district,

After the 4-1 vote, a member of Moms Demand Action voiced concerns about protecting Maricopa County residents from gun violence.Photo by Michael Hannan/Cronkite News

which encompasses a majority of the West Valley and borders La Paz and Yavapai counties – which already have adopted

the sanctuary measure. Mohave and Yavapai counties also have declared themselves “gun sanctuary cities.”

NORTH VALLEY:

CAVE CREEK:

Experts weigh in on invasive weed problem

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Supervisor Steve Gallardo of District 5 emphatically disagreed with his four colleagues, who moved the resolution forward only on condition that the last paragraph be removed. In the original draft of the resolution, the last paragraph stipulated county resources can’t be used to infringe Second Amendment rights. With the exclusion, the Maricopa County resolution became more of a symbolic decree for gun rights. During the heated public meeting, Gallardo took

CAMP VERDE:

a strong stance against the resolution – criticizing fellow supervisors for acting hastily on an issue where lives are at risk. In his impassioned speech, he mentioned the 1997 shooting of Mary Rose Wilcox, a Maricopa County supervisor who, Gallardo said, was shot by an individual who “never went through a background check, never had a mental health evaluation but was in possession of a firearm.”

SANCTUARY

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OTHER :

Dark Skies art show draws art enthusiasts, town officials

20th Annual Pecan & Wine Festival March 21, 22

• Bluhm Column

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• Pet of the Week

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• Arts Column

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