September 30, 2015 • Vol. 13, No.39
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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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
DVUSD seeks override to fund teachers’ YCSO Sheriff Mascher salaries and specialized programs appointed to Body Camera Study Committee ELIZABETH MEDORA STAFF
NORTH VALLEY – Like the average school district, the Deer Valley Unified School District is no stranger to working around budget issues. The existing Maintenance & Operations override will expire soon, leaving budget shortfalls if a new override is not passed. This November, the district will be asking voters to approve a maintenance and operations override that would continue to fund salaries and special programs. If the override on the ballot does not pass, budget cuts totaling $16,500,000 will
OVERRIDE
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This image from Deer Valley Votes 4 Kids, which is advocating for the override, notes details of the proposed M&O override.
Land exchange discussed at Cave Creek Council meeting TARA ALATORRE STAFF
CAVE CREEK – The Cave Creek Town Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would create a land exchange between the town and the Horny Toad Restaurant on Sept. 21, which will be used for a nonmotorized trail easement for the entertainment district when it passes final reading. The Horny Toad Restaurant will receive a portion of the Desert Awareness Park at 38050 N Vermeersch Road, located directly in front of the Horny Toad, in exchange for signing
over the wash located north of the restaurant. Since the Horny Toad Restaurant is located in the entertainment district, the land exchange would provide Cave Creek a much-needed walkway for pedestrians and equestrians, “providing a much safer route,” said trails planner Bambi Mueller, who has been working on this project for the last year. “I have been working for years on getting easements near that wash that provides a much safer route, and will add more
LAND EXCHANGE continued on page 8
YAVAPAI COUNTY – Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher has been appointed by Governor Doug Ducey to the ‘Law Enforcement Officer Body Camera Study Committee,’ formed as a result of legislation in Arizona House Bill 2511. Mascher is the only Arizona Sheriff selected for membership in the study committee. Additional law enforcement representatives include DPS Director Frank Milstead and Surprise Police Chief Terry Young. The YCSO office reported that the sheriff is honored with the opportunity to participate and share insights into YCSO’s
Photo courtesy of YCSO
Pictured: YCSO Sheriff Scott Mascher
recently implemented body camera program and listen to recommendations by other committee members. The committee has been tasked to study and recommend polices
YCSO SHERIFF continued on page 8
Foothills Focus columnist Judy Bluhm wins ANA award NORTH VALLEY – Judy Bluhm’s column ‘Around the Bluhmin’ Town’ is known and loved throughout the north valley. She has now been recognized by the Arizona Newspapers Association for her exceptional writing talents. Judy won the Best Column award in the ANA’s Division 3 category for ‘Remembering Kayla,’ a column she wrote last February about humanitarian Kayla Mueller. Read it here: w w w. t h e f o o t h i l l s f o c u s . com/022515-Bluhm.asp. Judy wrote a beautiful column from the heart about Kayla,
Pictured: Judy Bluhm
KIWANIS PARK:
OUTLET MALL:
MIM CONCERT:
Volunteers renovate Kiwanis
Shopping Extravaganza to be
Renowned teen composer
park in New River
held on Saturday, Oct. 3
to perform at MIM
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focusing not on her tragic death but on what Kayla wanted her legacy to be. Her words brought comfort to a grieving community and reached Kayla’s heartbroken family. Kayla’s family loved Judy’s tribute to Kayla and asked her to write a follow-up, which she did this past August (www.thefoothillsfocus. com/080515-Bluhm.asp). Judy’s weekly columns vary from funny to thoughtful to inspiring – and they are all meaningful. Thank you, Judy, for your years of writing. We at The Foothills Focus are proud to run the Bluhmin’ Town column.
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
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• Service Directory
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• Classified Ads
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