September 11, 2019 • Vol. 17, No. 43
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
Firefighters making slow, steady progress containing River Fire BY TARA ALATORRE
Ground crews working to suppress the River Fire, which has burned 7,772 acres since it ignited on September 3. As of September 9, it was 35 percent contained and still posed no risk to communities.
(Photo courtesy of the Tonto National Forest)
Couple robbed, tied up at gunpoint in their North Phoenix home BY TARA ALATORRE
NORTH PHOENIX – A husband and wife were tied up inside their residence and robbed at gunpoint by a masked intruder on the evening of September 4, near the 34000 block of north 2nd Street, according to law enforcement. Reports say that an unknown masked suspect restrained the couple and then removed $400 from the victim’s wallet. Neither victim was harmed during the incident. The Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office (MCSO)
NEW RIVER – The River Fire that sparked last week on the evening of September 3, has ravaged 7,772 acres, including New River Mesa, in the Tonto National Forest. United States Forest Service officials estimate that the fire is about 35 percent contained (at the time this was written on September 9). The lightning-caused fire is not a danger to surrounding communities and is burning about four miles east of New River, seven miles north of Cave Creek and 14 miles east of Black Canyon City. It has not grown in the last 24 hours, but continues to be challenging for firefighters, stated Tonto National Forest Service’s Public Affairs Officer, Carrie Templin, in an email
ROBBERY
RIVER FIRE
continued on page 8
U.S. Census Bureau employees have started canvassing neighborhoods WASHINGTON, D.C. — Arizona residents will soon begin to see the U.S. Census Bureau employees, also referred to as “listers,” canvassing local neighborhoods as field operations have officially kicked off. Address canvassing improves and refines the Census Bureau’s address list of households nationwide, which is necessary to deliver invitations to respond to the census. The address list plays a vital role in ensuring a complete and accurate count of
deployed deputies to the scene, setting up a perimeter with the assistance of the Phoenix Police Department. A helicopter and K-9 units were also dispatched by MCSO to assist in searching for the suspect. The suspect was not apprehended but is being described as a six-foot, heavyset male, who was last seen wearing a gray mask, gloves and camouflage clothing. He was armed with a gun and MCSO continued on page 5
to The Foothills Focus on the afternoon of September 9. “Challenges include steep rugged terrain, lack of road access, thick layer of grass that burns rapidly because of our wet winter and spring. Other factors also included excessive heat warnings and afternoon thunderstorms which made it unsafe for firefighters to be on top of the Mesa because of outflow winds pushing fire in different directions, and the unpredictability of being able to pick them up by helicopter to get them off the Mesa during a storm,” Templin stated in the email. The River Fire continues to burn northeast away from communities and structures,
Residents in the area might start to see Census "listers" canvassing the neighborhoods. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau)
ARIZONA:
ANTHEM:
CAVE CREEK
Author of mugshot law speaks
MTA receives 7 National Youth
Bids are open for the annual
to its ability to reform justice
Arts Awards, 37 nominations
Empty Bowls Art Auction
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CENSUS
continued on page 10
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
6
• Service Directory
15
• Classified Ads
18