June 21, 2017 • Vol. 15, No. 28
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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Anthem | Black Canyon City | Carefree | Cave Creek | Desert Hills | New River| North Phoenix | Tramonto | Vistancia
Maggie Fire burns 1,400 acres; forward progress now stopped ELIZABETH MEDORA STAFF
BUMBLE BEE – A fire sparked in the Bumble Bee area on Sunday afternoon has currently burned approximately 1,400 acres. The fire is located near Maggie Mine Rd., west of I-17. As of Monday evening, 140 personnel were engaged in fighting the fire, and orward progression of the fire had been stopped. Daisy Mountain Fire Department crews have assisted in the firefighting efforts. “We are at 50 percent containment,” Bureau of Land Management staff member Mariela Castaneda said in a phone interview on
Monday afternoon. On Monday evening, crew members were using helicopters to perform bucket drops, and crews were continuing to secure and check the line around the fire, according to incident information system InciWeb. The exact cause of the Maggie Fire isn’t yet known, but the BLM is currently investigating. “It’s believed to be humancaused,” Castaneda said. The Sunset Point rest area was closed through Monday due to the fire. Firefighters were using the rest stop as a staging area. Bumble Bee Ranch faced possible evacuation Sunday night; the evacuation recommendation was lifted on Monday afternoon.
BLM engine 2311 photo
Drivers on Sunday faced long delays due to the wildfire. The Arizona Department of Transportation issued updates on freeway conditions and closures throughout Sunday
ADOT photo
afternoon, noting around 4 p.m. on Sunday that the southbound
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Corporation Commission approves EPCOR wastewater district consolidation ELIZABETH MEDORA STAFF
ANTHEM – Anthem eastside residents will be seeing their wastewater bills steadily decrease over the next five years, as the Arizona Corporation Commission voted 4-1 on June 13 to approve full consolidation of the EPCOR Water wastewater districts. The plan was approved with some amendments from the Commissioners, and minor adjustments will be applied to rate schedules. Customers will be receiving more information
about consolidation in communications from EPCOR in the next several weeks. Anthem customers have been paying about $60 per month for wastewater services. The consolidation plan will usher in a flat rate for Anthem customers and other EPCOR wastewater customers, and a 5-year phasein period of the plan will begin on July 1, 2017. Ultimately, after five years, all customers will be paying a flat rate of no more than $39 per month. The plan includes a new credit for deployed military, as
well as a new wastewater low income program. The rate case that resulted in the consolidation vote was brought forth after Agua Fria district customers registered complaints about their high wastewater bills. The Corporation Commission ordered EPCOR Water to look at three alternatives for wastewater rates, including fully consolidating the districts, fully deconsolidating the districts, Photo courtesy of EPCOR Water
Pictured is an EPCOR staff member working at the Anthem plant.
BURROS:
EDUCATION:
EVENTS:
Aerial survey on number,
West Wing School
Phoenix Herpetological Society
location of burros underway
receives A+ award
hosting Croc Walk
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WASTEWATER VOTE continued on page 6
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
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• Service Directory
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• Classified Ads
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