February 6, 2019 • Vol. 17, No. 12
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
Second bald eagle egg eaten at Lake Pleasant by a ringtail AZGFD holds hope for more eggs from new breeding pair BY TARA ALATORRE
Pictured: The bald eagle nest at Lake Pleasant, which also has a nest camera live streaming during the (Photo courtesy of AZGFD) breeding season available at:www.azgfd.gov/livecams.
LAKE PLEASANT — The second bald eagle egg laid in the Lake Pleasant nest was eaten this past weekend by a ringtail shortly after sunset, after the new breeding pair just recently lost their first egg to ravens that swarmed the unoccupied nest on January 24. Wildlife specialists are hopeful that the female could lay more eggs before the breeding season is over, and thousands will be watching egg-citedly for a third egg to be laid over the nest’s livestreaming web camera. Typically, a female bald eagle clutch, which is a group of eggs, consists of one to four eggs so
there might be at least one more egg in the clutch. The pair could breed again before the season is over too, according to Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) Watchable Wildlife Coordinator, Jeff Meyers. “Our eagle biologists wouldn't call the season a complete bust until the end of March, so there is still time,” stated Meyers in an email this week. Thousands of people have livestreamed the dramatic events of egg burglary and carnage on the AZGFD’s bald eagle nest camera that allows anyone to
BALD EAGLE EGG continued on page 11
Anthem water rates could increase NRDHCA announces new Daisy Mountain Area Action as EPCOR files interim rates BY TARA ALATORRE
PHOENIX – Water rates for all EPCOR customers in Anthem could increase by about 36 percent for typical residential consumers because the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) could not come to a majority decision regarding the utility company’s consolidation and rate case during its Special Open Meeting on January 25. The ACC’s vote was split, so it directed EPCOR to begin the process of determining interim rates in the meantime. EPCOR filed its request on January 31, proposing to impose
a $2.65 surcharge per thousand gallons of water consumed, according Anthem’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Kristi Northcutt. “That amount is better than the Judge’s recommended standalone rates, which would have resulted in a 59 percent increase for Anthem, but the lesser of two evils necessarily doesn’t count as a win,” stated Northcutt in an email, who has also been serving as team colead on the EPCOR rate case
EPCOR WATER RATES continued on page 10
alliance, other committees BY TARA ALATORRE
DESERT HILLS – At its January 22, meeting the New River Desert Hills Community Association (NRDHCA) announced the formation of the Daisy Mountain Area Action Alliance along with several other new committees designed to address issues that threaten the unique life style of the rural area. The Daisy Mountain Area Action Alliance (DMAAA) was formed with the intent of bringing together residents from New River, Desert Hills
AZ CAPITOL:
CAVE CREEK:
ANTHEM:
Environmental Day at the
Free lecture opportunity about
Candidates announced for
Arizona Capitol on Feb. 13
Chaco Canyon/Pueblo Style
Parkside Board of Directors
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and Anthem, so it can take a leadership role in protecting and preserving the area, according to press release from NRDHCA last week. “The DMAAA brings our communities together to work with Maricopa County, the state and others to promote responsible growth, keeping top of mind our limited natural resources and preservation of the varied lifestyles offered in the Daisy Mountain foothills,”
DMAAA
continued on page 6
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
6
• Service Directory
15
• Classified Ads
18