January 31, 2018 • Vol. 16, No. 10
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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Anthem | Black Canyon City | Carefree | Cave Creek | Desert Hills | New River| North Phoenix | Tramonto | Vistancia
Abondoned Desert Hills home ravaged by fire TARA ALATORRE STAFF
DESERT HILLS – The Daisy Mountain Fire Department responded to a call after an abandoned home caught fire and became engulfed in flames near 7th Avenue and Irvine Road on the morning of January 25. Jenny Shae, a Desert Hills resident, called 911 after she noticed smoke billowing from a home on the corner of her block. “Several fire trucks and sheriff vehicles responded within minutes,” Shae said. When fire crews arrived on scene they immediately called for additional resources due to the size of the fire. When firefighters kicked in the door they were instantly met with high-heat and heavy smoke indicating the house was well
engulfed in flames. Fire crews initially believed it was a onestory home, but quickly realized there was a basement, which was putting firefighters at serious risk due to the likelihood of the floor collapsing. “Soon it was determined that this house had a basement which adds serious challenges in a firefight,” said Paul Schickel, DMFD Community Services Program Coordinator. “Because of the intensity of the fire, crews decided to withdraw and fight it from the outside.” Shortly after firefighters arrived the roof and floor collapsed into the basement. Crews remained on the scene
DESERT HILLS FIRE continued on page 11
Photo courtesy of Daisy Mountain Fire Department
Pictured: DMFD battles a fire that destroyed an abandoned home in Desert Hills on the morning of January 25.
Fountain Hills named as a International Dark Sky Community TARA ALATORRE STAFF
FOUNTAIN HILLS – Arizona just added its fourth official Dark Sky Community; Fountain Hills will now join Flagstaff, Sedona and Oak Creek Village for officially being recognized as a community that vows to preserve dark sites through lighting policy and public awareness. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) designated Fountain Hills as a Dark Sky Community earlier this January, Photo courtesy of Rob Mains
Pictured: A full moon over Fountain Lake in Fountain Hills, Ariz.
FOUNTAIN HILLS continued on page 13
Congressional District 8: Voter plan approved NORTH VALLEY – The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a voting plan presented by the Maricopa County Recorder that will guide officials and voters in the upcoming special elections in Congressional District 8, including dates for the election. The special election primary will take place on February 27, and the general election will take place on April 24. The plan calls for as many as six poll workers per site with electronic poll books, a “ballot
on demand” system and a tabulation machine so ballots are counted on the spot. Voters on the permanent early voting list will also receive their ballot by mail. “It was important the voters in CD-8 had a polling place to visit on election day if that is how they choose to cast their ballot,” said Supervisor Clint Hickman, District 4, who represents most of district 8. “We are planning on 53 polling places for these two dates and the Elections
OTHER :
DEER VALLEY:
PHOENIX:
YCSO:
DVHS baseball team
VA opens new
Offering $500 reward
trains with D-Backs
dental clinic
for fraud suspect
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CD-8 ELECTIONS continued on page 9
• Bluhm Column
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• Service Directory
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• Classified Ads
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