February 28, 2018 • Vol. 16, No. 14
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 | Vistancia
Peoria Firefighter awarded National Medal of Valor PEORIA – Peoria FireMedical Department Engineer, Stephen Gunn, was one of 12 public safety officers to be awarded the National Medal of Valor on February 20, in a White House ceremony. The Medal of Valor, created in 2001 by Congress, recognizes extraordinary acts of heroism and bravery on the part of our nation’s public safety officers. It is the highest award for valor a public safety officer can receive. In April of 2016, Peoria Fire-Medical, along with other jurisdictions, responded to a house fire near 75th Avenue and Thunderbird Road. The first unit on scene, Peoria Fire Engine 193, found a house fully engulfed in flames. The report from Phoenix Fire dispatch was that people were trapped. This was a home invasion and arson fire that
ripped quickly and violently through the house. Gunn, the first boots on the ground and firefighter nearest to the home, headed right for the danger. Gunn entered the home through a blown-out picture window at the front of the home and crawled directly into the thick black smoke and flames. For nearly forty seconds, firefighter Gunn worked inside the blaze, helmet melting, turnouts blackening and skin burning. Finally, right before the room flashed, he was able to pass the victim to the waiting hands of his captain. He was treated for his burns at the Arizona Burn Center and was back on his next shift. In 2017, Gunn was named United Firefighter of the Year at an award ceremony held at Arizona State Fire School.
Stephen Gunn at the White House after receiving the National Medal of Valor.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peoria
Daisy Mountain Veterans McDowell Mountain Regional Park to honor 30 local Vets seeks public input on master plan update SCOTTSDALE – The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is updating the McDowell Mountain Regional Park’s Master Plan, which has not been amended since 1967. The goal of the master plan update is to develop a long-range vision for the park that takes into account visitor needs, while also protecting the resources and natural open space found within the park.
MCDOWELL PARK Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Parks
continued on page 6
TARA ALATORRE STAFF
ANTHEM – The Daisy Mountain Veterans Organization is seeking sponsors for its upcoming event that will honor 30 local veterans who served in the Vietnam War. The ceremony takes place at the Anthem Veterans Memorial on March 10, and each veteran will receive a Department of Defense 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Medallion, a lapel pin, a commemorative shirt and hat. The Vietnam War
CAVE CREEK:
ANTHEM:
PEORIA:
Rodeo announces
Rotary Club teacher
Police need help identifying
Purple Night
of the year nominations
robbery suspects
Page 8
Page 13
Page 17
Medallion was created to be issued to all Vietnam Veterans who served on the ground, air or in the seas. This year Daisy Mountain Veterans will also honor several families of deceased veterans, including three who were killed in action in Vietnam at the ceremony. “This ceremony is designed to honor our local Vietnam Veterans,” said Jim Oliveri a
DAISY MOUNTAIN continued on page 7
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
6
• Service Directory
15
• Classified Ads
18