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Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Cave Creek Rodeo nominated for awards BY TARA ALATORRE Foothills Focus Contributing Writer
World-renowned bowler dies in Carefree
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espite 2020 being epic for all the wrong reasons, it wasn’t all that bad, and the Cave Creek Rodeo is proof. Cave Creek Rodeo Days was recently recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association as one of the top �ive best “Medium Rodeos of the Year” and was awarded with the “Outstanding Rodeo Committee Partner Award”
by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. This is no small feat, as these recognitions are international in the professional rodeo world. “It is a pretty huge honor for us,” said Beth Cornell, the president of Cave Creek Rodeo Days. Although Cave Creek Rodeo Days has been recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) before, taking the Outstanding Rodeo Committee and being recognized as one of the best rodeos on the world circuit is on another level.
Cornell explained that these awards are essentially the Super Bowl of rodeo. So, although Cave Creek Rodeo Days did not win best Medium Rodeo of the Year, the nomination was still an honor, and it is thrilled to be the Outstanding Rodeo Committee during a year that had canceled so many rodeos and other events worldwide. “It says a lot to win an award like that,” she said.
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Trust gains donations and land despite COVID-19
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Burglars steal 2 bikes from Sunset Cyclery
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Cave Creek honors its past to close 2020
OPINION ................... 12 BUSINESS ................. 15 FEATURES ................ 16 YOUTH ...................... 21 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 22 Zone
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BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer
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t’s no question that the pandemic has presented many people, businesses and organizations with major setbacks. The �inancial struggle was evident for Desert Foothills Land Trust, a Cave Creek-based nonpro�it that relies solely on donations. Desert Foothills Land Trust has a mission of preserving land and connecting people to the outdoors and holds some of its biggest fundraising events in March, April and May. However, when COVID-19 started running its course in the spring, it left the land trust’s staff “scratching their heads,” wondering how to raise money, said Vicki Preston, executive direc-
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Jewel of the Creek Preserve, located along the northern edge of Cave Creek. Desert Foothills Land Trust owns this preserve and says this is its most popular for hiking. (Photo by Thomas Baker)