July 25, 2018 • Vol. 16, No.35
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 | Vistancia
Saguaros in Cave Creek vandalized, MCSO seeking information BY: TARA ALATORRE
Pictured: One of the saguaros that was vandalized on Black Mountain Trail in Cave Creek last week.
Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department
USGS not liable in fatal 2012 Verde River helicopter crash BY PAT POBLETE CRONKITE NEWS
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the government cannot be held liable after a helicopter struck an unmarked U.S. Geological Survey cable and crashed, killing the pilot and three passengers. The cable, installed 40 feet above the Verde River to help USGS workers monitor streamflow and water quality, was “virtually invisible to aircraft pilots” because it had no markers or signs to warn pilot Raymond Perry or his three passengers. But a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that the victims’ families
could not sue the government, which enjoys immunity in the case because the decision by USGS not to mark the cable was not negligent but was carefully weighed. “Because USGS’s decision not to mark the Verde River Cableway was discretionary and grounded in social, economic and political concerns, w affirm the district court’s dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction,” said the ruling by Circuit Judge Margaret McKeown. Calls seeking comment from attorneys for the USGS and HELICOPTER CRASH continued on page 17
CAVE CREEK – Seven saguaros and one boulder were vandalized with bright green spray paint along the Black Mountain Trail last week in the Cave Creek Regional Park, and the Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office (MCSO) is seeking information about the vandalism. On July 16 a hiker reported that saguaros along a popular local trail had the numbers one through seven spray painted on them in sequential order ascending the mountain, and that a boulder was graffitied near the top of the trail.. The Maricopa County
Parks Department believes the vandalism was intentional and occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, July 15. Cave Creek Park Ranger Kevin Smith and a group of volunteers spent several hours on July 19 testing cleaning products on one of the saguaros to see if the paint could be removed without causing damage to the sensitive desert species. “One product removed the paint without causing damage to the saguaro, so they were able to treat five of the seven saguaros,” Dawna Taylor, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department stated in an
email last Wednesday. “The remaining saguaros will be cleaned tomorrow.” The three remaining vandalized saguaros that were spray painted one through three were cleaned on July 20, and the cacti are expected to survive without any long-term damage. The park will seek restitution if the individual(s) is caught, with the fines and punishments determined by the courts. “Our team realizes that the community has a vested interest in the damage that has VANDALIZED SAGUAROS continued on page 11
Sonoran toads stolen from Spur Cross Conservation Area BY: TARA ALATORRE
Pictured: The face of a suspect that illegally removed Sonoran Desert Toads from their natural habitat in the Spur Cross Conservation Area on July 19. Citizens are asked to contact MCSO or AGFD if they have any tips about this crime or recognize the suspects. Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Parks
PRESCOTT:
ANTHEM:
PEORIA:
Thirty-first annual
Free backpack giveaway
Castle Hot Springs
Gathering of Cowboy Poets
at The Outlets
announces executive chef
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Page 6
Page 9
CAVE CREEK – On July 19 between 9 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. three individuals were spotted on video illegally removing Sonoran Desert Toads from the Spur Cross Conservation Area near the Solar Oasis Pond. Two men and one woman can be seen removing at least four of the native toads after park hours and placing them alive in a plastic bag, based on what officials could see in videos obtained by trail camera The perpetrators violated park rules by taking wildlife, but also by allegedly destroying vegetation, damaging county WILD TOADS STOLEN continued on page 11
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
6
• Service Directory
15
• Classified Ads
18