June 6, 2018 • Vol. 16, 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
AZ Water/Ways Week launches traveling Smithsonian exhibit Black Canyon City will be a hosting city TARA ALATORRE STAFF
BLACK CANYON CITY – Governor Doug Ducey proclaimed June 2-8, 2018, as Water/Ways Week, which is part of a Smithsonian Institute exhibit that will travel to 12 rural communities across Arizona for the next two years. The Smithsonian Water/ Ways exhibit arrived in Bisbee on June 2, and it is designed for small town museums, libraries and cultural organizations. The traveling exhibit is intended to spark conversations about water’s impact on American
culture, while also examining the effects of water on politics, landscape, settlement, migration and spirituality. “It looks at political and economic efforts to ensure access to water and explores how human creativity and resourcefulness provide new ways to protect water resources and renew our relationship with the natural environment,” states the Arizona Humanities website, which is a partner in the exhibit. WATER/WAYS WEEK continued on page 12
Wildfire in Black Canyon City consumes vehicles, homes, firefighters injured BLACK CANYON CITY – On June 2 Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical was called onto the scene of a brush fire that started around noon at a residence in Black Canyon City near Squaw Valley and Topaz roads. Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical (DMFM) arrived on the scene and quickly called for additional units as the fire had already spread to a residential structure. Firefighters from Mayer, Peoria and Phoenix assisted DMFM firefighters in fighting the second-alarm blaze, according to officials. BCC WILDFIRE continued on page 8
Pictured: A wildfire that was sparked on June 2 in Black Canyon City. Structures, vehicles and a DMFM fire engine were all damaged in the fire that consumed about 5-acres.
Photo courtesy of DMFM
Development in New River draws attention to state’s subdivision laws BY BRET JASPERS KJZZ
Neighbors of the new homes in New River have been pushing Maricopa County and Arizona state officials to look into possible attempts to avoid subdivision rules.
Photo by Bret Jaspers/KJZZ
NEW RIVER – Ron Bentley has lived in New River since 1984. Back then, his was the only house on the hill. “Actually, when we first moved here, the deer would come and eat hay scraps along the fence line,” he recalled on a Sunday in April. “I haven’t seen a deer out here in 10 years.” Fewer deer, but many more neighbors. “Now there’s 23 homes up here on the hill. Well, soon as they finish those four, there’ll be 27.” Bentley is referring to four new homes built on 1-acre lots just north of his home. But these houses and the land they sit on have vexed Bentley and his neighbors for more than a year.
Arizona is known for strong property rights, with low levels of regulation on home building. That’s especially true in unincorporated areas of Maricopa County, such as New River. But these residents want stronger enforcement of the rules that do exist. The episode started when they got wind that a 10-acre chunk of land was being sold. “Then we started digging into who actually owned the property, and found out that the two 5-acre parcels were owned by two different LLCs,” Bentley said. LLCs – limited liability corporations – can give business owners privacy and shield them NEW RIVER DEVELOPMENT continued on page 10
OTHER :
ARIZONA:
NORTH VALLEY:
CAREFREE:
New digital archives added
Heat Relief Network
Mayor schedules public
• Bluhm Column
to AZ Memory Project
providing hyration stations
discussions about water
• Service Directory
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• Classified Ads
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