INSIDE:
CO M M U N I T Y P. 22| A RO U N D A F P. 27 | O P I N I O N P. 31| B U S I N E SS P. 34 | G E TO U T P. 39 | S P O RT S P. 44| C L A SS I F I E D P. 48
www.ahwatukee.com
ALL-AROUND CHAMP
Wednesday, February 26. 2020
. 22
NEW PRACTICE
. 34
P
T
he failed attempt by four investors to begin an approval process for 162 houses on the Club West Golf Course has given birth of a nonprofit group of homeowners that is challenging the HOA board’s handling of the beleaguered site. The Club West Conservancy, an incorporated organization of about 30 retired and active executives and professionals who own homes in the community, contends the board violated state statutes and the homeowners associ-
Ordeal ends
ation’s covenants, conditions and restrictions in a way that made it possible for the investors to even submit their ill-fated plan. Stressing they are seeking “to identify longterm sustainable solutions to the current issues facing the” course, the Conservancy’s lawyer last week delivered a letter to the HOA board demanding it retract a secretly made amendment to the CC&Rs governing the golf course. The Conservancy also is demanding that the board “perform a thorough, objective and data-driven assessment of alternative uses” of the course that will have “minimal overall en-
CELEBRATE BASEBALL
T
. 39
PRIDE, THUNDER ROLL
. 44
As 10-year-old Braydon Felix of Ahwatukee celebrated the end of his treatment for a rare form of cancer, his mother Lori Young, marked the victory by having her words of encouragement during his ordeal tattooed on her arm: “You have to fight to the finish.” See their story pon page 3. (Special to AFN)
vironmental impact to the community.” And it is citing the decision in the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf course case, demanding that the board take legal action against Club West Golf Course owner Wilson Gee to force the virtual restoration of the site as a “first class golf course” that the CC&Rs require. The Conservancy’s emergence poses the possibility of a two-pronged legal fight – one against the HOA board and the other against Gee. But Conservancy President Matt Tyler and
see WEST page 13
Her drug dogs help, not arrest, people BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
P
P
@AhwatukeeFN
Club West group challenges HOA board BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
P
@AhwatukeeFN |
here are all kinds of services that people across the nation provide for dogs, but Amy Halm’s two canines provide a service to people – making hers the only business of its kind in Arizona. The Ahwatukee resident’s two Malinois are drug dogs, not unlike those used by law enforcement to sniff out suspected contraband in vehicles, buildings and other hiding places. Only Halm and her business, Desert Drug Dog, are all about finding suspected stashes in private homes, schools, businesses
and vehicles before they come to the attention of police. “So, here’s what I like to tell people,” explained the onetime public relations and corporate communications manager: “Don’t add a legal problem to your drug problem. Since these dogs are basically the same dogs without a badge as the police are using, if a police dog finds your marijuana, you’re going to have to call a lawyer. If my dog finds your marijuana, you’re going to call a counselor.” And so, Halm gets called by worried parents – and spouses – to
see SNIFFER DOG page 14