THE VOICE OF THE EAST VALLEY SINCE 1891 AND WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING
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Tempe Union weighs going into land business
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This Week
NEWS ............................. 3 Roses show off spring colors at Mesa Community College
EAST VALLEY
Where to find Cinco de Mayo deals in East Valley PAGE 24
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Mesa Sen. Worsley is the man in the middle BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
B
ob Worsley never dreamed of pursuing a political career as he raised a family and entered into successful business ventures such as the once-ubiquitous SkyMall catalog, where airline passengers could buy virtually every conceivable gadget.
But even though Worsley never envisioned himself as a politician, the Mesa Republican has emerged as a critical swing vote this session in the sharply divided Arizona Senate – a man in the middle. He has been at the center of many controversies, often bucking his party colleagues in hopes of finding a solution to nagging problems.
Whether it was his controversial attempt to arrange financing for a new Arizona Coyotes arena, a carefully crafted compromise on an expanded school voucher program, or his cautious approach to a narrow driver-texting ban, Worsley has not shied away from charting his own path “I think someone has to play this role,” See
WORSLEY on page 4
Modern-day cowboys ride through East Valley COMMUNITY........... 11 Girls modestly push against revealing prom dresses
BUSINESS . ................16 Cactus Sports celebrates 25 years in Tempe
ART .............................. 26 Kahlo-Rivera exhibit attracts crowds at Heard Museum
BUSINESS........................16 OPINION.........................18 SPORTS...........................20 FAITH............................... 22 CLASSIFIED....................30
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
W
hitney Wiltbank saw the documentary “Unbranded,” the story of four cowboys riding wild mustangs from Mexico to Canada, and was inspired to step away from his desk and launch a unique Arizona adventure from the East Valley. A certified public accountant, he started “Whitney’s Epic Trail Ride” April 24 with 10 riders and four outfitters making a 250mile trek from the Wolverine Pass Trail in Apache Junction near the Superstition Mountains. The first leg traveled nearly 25 miles through some of the East Valley’s most stellar scenery – a rocky, steep trek through the Goldfield Mountains, Bulldog Canyon north of Usery Mountain Regional Park, across the Salt River and past Saguaro Lake. In all, the 11-night trail ride will go through six counties until the intrepid riders will reach Sprucedale Guest Ranch in Eagar, owned by Wiltbank’s family. The riders were already sore the night of April 24 when they reached their first camp site near the Saguaro Lake exit on Beeline Highway. A 79-year-old man was overcome by heat and had to be rescued. Their horses are a far cry from the wild mustangs in “Unbranded,” and the ride is much shorter than the 3,000 miles covered in the documentary, through Arizona and four other western states.
(Kimberly Carrillo/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Riders in “Whitney’s Epic Trail Ride” make their way into camp. The riders will go through six counties until they reach Sprucedale Guest Ranch in Eagar.
But it is still a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the riders. The rugged ride has its share of modern convenience. A team of outfitters moves one step ahead of them to set up the camp, bringing hay for the horses and cooking dinner. “I think it’s gorgeous. We just came through Bulldog Canyon. It’s just amazing,” said Billy Wiltbank, Whitney’s brother, who handled all the planning and logistics.
Stops along the way on the long trail ride include Sycamore Creek, Pumpkin Center and Young. The home stretch will wind past Big Lake and Mount Baldy, making for a scenic finish. “I love our state and I love the diversity of our state,” Whitney Wiltbank said, noting the riders were climbing from the desert up into the mountains on the Mogollon Rim. See
HORSES on page 6