ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
Op-Ed: Ducey used his head PAGE 6
Keeping the Valley safe Serving the communities of Anthem, Black Canyon City, Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Phoenix, Tramonto and Peoria
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
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This Week
NEWS............................. 4 Spending alternative to be on Cave Creek ballots
NEWS............................. 5 Some graduation ceremonies announced
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Deena Goldstein has a wild mind and disciplined eye
OPINION................................ 6 ARTS........................................ 9
FEATURES.......................... 10 PET OF THE WEEK........ 14 CLASSIFIEDS......................15
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Long-term facilities hit hard, but no extra testing BY TOM SCANLON Foothills Focus Staff Writer
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even people died of COVID-19 in Maricopa County April 30, according to the Department of Health. All were residents of long-term facilities. Seven more died of COVID-19 the next day, with five coming from long-term facilities. All nine deaths reported in the county May 2 came from long-term facilities, according to county health data. In Maricopa County, 168 people have died from coronavirus; 112 of those (67%) have been residents of long-term care facilities (including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities and hospice facilities). At least 110 long-term care facilities have reported COVID-19 cases to the county. That leaves approximately 400 long-term
Spectrum Retirement Communities of Denver, which owns Palos Verdes Senior Living in Peoria, Lone Mountain Memory Care in North Scottsdale/Cave Creek and the Enclave at Anthem Senior Living in Anthem, provided a chart showing 1% of all residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19. (Image courtesy Spectrum)
care facilities in Maricopa County. Despite a testing “blitz” that started last weekend, facilities for the most vulnera-
ble to COVID-19 are not being targeted for
The approximate acreage that will be appraised is 94 acres split between 12 parcels, which includes the Harmony Hollow Ranch. The Desert Foothills Land Trust (DFLT) has been a proactive partner with the Town, providing the request for proposal (RFP) of the appraisal and utilizing contacts with appropriate appraisers. The RFP identifies a parcel or parcels of land best suited for the acquisition of open space and conservation. Although DFLT had an appraisal done on the Harmony Hollow property last year, the listed price was much higher than appraised, which prohibited DFLT from moving forward in its attempt to purchase the land. “There are properties that are contiguous to Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
that are privately held that could be developed with residences,” Cave Creek Planning Director Luke Kautzman said. “Some of them are hillsides, so there is a potential that there would be houses looking down at you while you’re walking into the park.” The properties have been on and off the market for the last several years, so Kautzman said it’s time to move. “We understand there may be some motivation for those people to sell,” he said. “We need to work so we can get our appraisal values back and look at what the value would be, then we could consider moving forward.
see TESTING page 2
Cave Creek takes first step to expand Spur Cross
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
ARTS............................... 9
PAGE 11
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The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will discuss during its May 19 meeting an intergovernmental agreement with the town of Cave Creek to split the cost of appraisals for property along the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. The hope is to expand Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. The Town Council unanimously agreed to enter into the IGA with Maricopa County. Now the county must do the same. However, appraisals do not guarantee that the town will allocate funds to purchase any parcels.
see SPUR CROSS page 3