June 17, 2015 • Vol. 13, No.28
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
ADOT installing new traffic message signs on north valley freeways
Pictured: the new eastbound Loop 303 message board.
NORTH VALLEY – New overhead traffic signs and other traffic-management technology will be added to north valley freeways over the course of the summer.
ADOT photo
This Freeway Management System already is in place along much of the Phoenixarea freeway system and is now being expanded along I-17 north ofLoop 101 and on Loop 303
west of I-17 to 51st Ave. I-17 drivers can expect mostlyovernight restrictions this summer while ADOT installs the new traffic-management technology. Overhead message signs are being added along the freeway between Loop 101 and Anthem Way. Much of the work so far has taken place along the shoulders of I-17. Crews have worked to install sign foundations and other components of the system that will allow ADOT to track traffic flow and provide the information to the public via the agency’s 5-1-1 travel information system, which is based at the
ADOT
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Mail truck catches fire; no injuries reported
Jessica Hermit photo
ANTHEM – A mail truck caught fire in Anthem on June 11, about 3:30 p. m. The vehicle caught fire at Anthem Way and the northbound I-17 exit ramp. No injuries were reported in the blaze. The mail truck appeared to be destroyed. However, the Postal Service has reported that the mail carrier was able to save the mail in the truck.
Local resident Jessica Hermit, who took this photo (left) of the burning truck, reported seeing the mail carrier on the scene working to save the mail from the fire. Hermit noted the carrier was able to get all the mail safely out. Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze by 4 p.m. that day, and the mail truck was towed away. Due to the fire, the exit ramp access was restricted that afternoon. Delays on the I-17 continued for over two hours after the fire because of the exit ramp restrictions. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Journey of an American hero: WWII vet Charles Shibata’s life story Editor’s note: Charles Shibata is a California resident who frequently visits his family in Anthem. His daughterin-law Kim, who lives in Anthem, contacted The Foothills Focus asking if the paper would like to run a story on Charles’ service to his country. Charles regularly shares his story at schools and other locales. He couldn’t be in Arizona for an interview, but he sent us his notes that he uses at each event. We at The Foothills Focus are proud to feature Charles Shibata, an American hero who has a remarkable story to tell. ELIZABETH MEDORA STAFF
NORTH VALLEY – Behind every hero, there’s a story. Charles Shibata’s story began 92 years ago in Indio, Calif. Born Oct. 29, 1922, Charles grew up on his family’s farm. His parents, both born in Japan, settled in Indio in the early 1920s, fashioning a farm out of land they bought. Charles lived in Indio throughout his childhood, then moved to Los Angeles to attend Los Angeles
City College, pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering. In 1941, the tragic Pearl Harbor attack occurred, an event that Charles said in his notes, “was to change my whole life.” “And then on Dec. 7, Sunday morning, a friend knocked at our home and said, ‘Charlie, you better turn on your radio. Something terrible is happening.’” Charles’ life was about to take a turn for the worse. Former
friends began to shun him and other Japanese Americans. In his notes, Charles expressed his shock and distress at this time as he and his family tried to let everyone know that they were “not the enemy. We are Americans,” he wrote. In February 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing removal of people from military areas if
WILDFIRES:
MONSOON:
ADOPTABLE PETS:
Feds discuss
County urging flood safety
Seven kitties
wildfire readiness
during monsoon season
seeking homes
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WWII VET
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Pictured: Charles Shibata, during his military service
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
7
• Service Directory
15
• Classified Ads
18