July 27, 2011 • Vol. 09, No. 34
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 • N. Phoenix • Tramonto
STAMPEDE
Cave Creek to host running of the bulls MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
It’s an event that has drawn people to Pamplona, Spain for more than 400 years. In October, though, adrenaline junkies looking to get their fix will have the chance to experience the same thrill right in Cave Creek. During the same week as the Taste of Cave Creek Festival, Cave Creek will host the 4th Running of the Bulls USA Festival Oct. 14-15. “We’re looking to draw at least 5,000 people and hoping for 10,000,” event director Phil Immordino said.
Immordino, a Phoenix native, said the plan for Cave Creek to host the event has come together over the last couple months. “We held the event in Mesquite, Nevada in 1998 and 1999 and then we had it in Scottsdale at Rawhide in 2002, but ever since then insurance became really expensive to put it on. I always knew we would put it on again, but we’ve just been waiting for the right opportunity.” Cave Creek, which has labeled itself, ‘Perfectly Uncivilized’, will host a two-day festival on nine acres of land directly west
of the Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse, at 6811 E. Cave Creek Road. Along with the bull runs there will be live music, exhibit booths, as well as food and drink vendors. “We’re definitely marketing it as a family event, but we’re also promoting it to the college aged crowd,” Cori Harris, the event’s marketing director said. Immordino said he anticipates the event drawing participants from all over the western United States.
BULLS
continued on page 4
Submitted photo
Cave Creek will be the site of the 4th Running of the Bulls USA Festival Oct. 14 -15. Those interested can pay $25 to run a quarter mile course while being chased by 32 bulls weighing approximately 1,500 pounds each. There will be six opportunities to run during the course of Saturday’s event.
Boulder Creek, Cactus Shadows prep for new sports landscape MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
Wes Kar/Special for The Foothills Focus
After a breakout sophomore season as both a defensive back and as a return man at Boulder Creek junior Isaiah Houston will be counted on for big things in 2011.
Inside:
THEATER:
In less than a month the Boulder Creek Jaguars football team will host the 2011 season opener against the Cactus Shadows Falcons on Aug. 26 in the first matchup in the history of the North Valley programs. For fans of both schools’ sports programs the 2011-2012 school year will have schedules dotted with new rivals. Every two seasons the Arizona Interscholastic Association goes through a realignment process in which schools are placed based on their projected attendance figures for the upcoming year. In the most drastic overhaul in recent memory Boulder Creek went from a 5A Div-II program in the Northwest Region to a
SPORTS:
Division I program in Section III. Cactus Shadows went from a 4A Div-I program in the Desert Sky Region to a Division II program with their different sports being placed in any of the three different sections. “Financially school districts across the state have less and less to work with in their budgets,” Cactus Shadows athletic director Rich Swearengin said. “Our sports programs at Cactus Shadows have to be self sufficient. We have an athletic participation fee because we don’t get any money from the district. When it came to athletics our input to the AIA was that cutting down on travel would make a lot of sense.” For the last two years, the Cave Creek school, located at
EDUCATION:
5802 E. Dove Valley Road in Cave Creek, has been part of a Desert Sky Region, which included Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Campo Verde, which is located in Gilbert and Combs, which is located in the San Tan Valley along with Tempe McClintock and their closest region rival Scottsdale Saguaro. “For us to take the football team, the band, the training staff and coaches to places like Combs and Poston Butte you’re looking at close to $3,000 in expense,” Swearengin said. For the 2011-2012 school year Cactus Shadows, using football as an example, now resides in Division II, Section III where
SPORTS
continued on page 3
OTHER :
Starlight auditions near for Fall musical, Willy Wonka
Anthem athlete represents community in national weightlifting competitions
Black Mountain begins Fall registration at PVCC north campus
• Editorial Page
Page 4
Page 5
Page 13
• Classified Ads
16
• Service Directory 17 22