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July 9, 2014 • Vol. 12, No.34
Postal Patron Cave Creek
ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
r pe pa ! s y ew nt y N ou kl a C e p e W co st ari e M g ar th e L or Th in N
FR
• Anthem
• Black Canyon City
• Carefree
• Cave Creek
• Desert Hills
• New River
• North Phoenix
• Tramonto
Fireworks A second chance at life rained out JCL and DMFD teamwork saves patient’s life ANTHEM – The annual Independence Day celebration in Anthem got rained out this year. Thunderstorms had been predicted for the holiday weekend. The most severe storm of the weekend struck on Thursday night, just after dark. As the lightning became more severe, the fireworks in Anthem were cancelled due to risk of fire. Rides were closed, and park goers were asked to cautiously return home in case the storm got worse. The Anthem Community Council issued text messages and tweets to alert residents of the cancellation. “Independence Day Celebration has been canceled by DMFD (Daisy Mountain Fire Department) due to approaching weather. Please depart the Park safely,” noted a July 3 tweet from the ACC. The Anthem fireworks could not be rescheduled for another night during the holiday weekend due to further storm warnings and permit regulations. Lake Pleasant continued with their holiday show and set off fireworks. Cave Creek also set off fireworks. While the f irst monsoon storm of 2014 hit at an inconvenient time, the rain was certainly welcome. The National Weather Service reported at the end of June that 76 percent of the state was suffering from severe drought conditions. The July 3 storm yielded approximately 0.2 inches of rain.
Inside: PET SALON...............6 Bluhm........................7 Movie Review..... 10 Editorial.............. 14 Services................. 15 Crossword......... 19 Classifieds.......... 19
PHOENIX – Several weeks ago, Campbell Hess came very close to death. Hess was in his Anthem home with his wife when he began feeling ill and short of breath. He thought that he was suffering from heatstroke, but he chose to call 911 in case it was something more serious. That decision helped save his life. When Daisy Mountain Fire Department paramedics came to Hess’ home, they took his vitals and ran preliminary tests. Concerned by the results, paramedics elected to take him to the hospital. The plan was to go down to the John C. Lincoln Hospital at 27th Avenue and Deer Valley Road. However, while being transported in the ambulance, Hess went into cardiac arrest. Paramedics made a snap decision to get off the I-17 and rush Hess to the new JCL hospital at Dove Valley Road and I-17. That was the second decision that helped save Hess’ life. John C. Lincoln Hospital photo
Critical care patient Campbell Hess and his wife got to meet the firefighters and JCL staff who saved Hess’ life several weeks ago.
SECOND CHANCE continued on page 9
Pets at risk: keeping pets safe from wildlife Elizabeth Medora
PHOENIX – It’s been all too common this summer to see an online post or a flyer searching for a lost dog or cat. North valley pets have been falling victim to wildlife predators, even while they’re in their own backyards. How to keep pets safe? Local experts agree that the only guarantee of a pet’s safety is constant supervision, particularly at night. Coyotes and owls are the most common predators of pets. “Coyotes can scale a 7-foot fence without a problem. There’s a reason they’re called wily!” emphasized Lynda Lambert, Public Information Officer at Arizona Game and Fish Department. “They will separate and surround a dog and lead it off.” Lamber t describes great horned owls as another species to “watch out for.” “Great horned owls can take a small dog or a cat,” she said.
PET SAFETY continued on page 9
Arizona Game and Fish/George Andrejko photo
Drought conditions are pushing wildlife, including coyotes, into urban areas. This puts pets at risk.