Terrance Thornton
Terrance Thornton
The Queen Creek/San Tan Valley Independent is YOUR newspaper for local news! Published every Wednesday, the Independent is distributed to 16,000 homes every week. The Queen Creek/San Tan Valley Independent is published by Independent Newspapers of Arizona. Independent is owned by a unique trust that enables this newspaper to pursue a mission of journalistic service to the citizens of the community. Since no dividends are paid, the company is able to thrive on profit margins below industry standards. All after-tax surpluses are reinvested in Independent's mission of journalistic service, commitment to the ideals of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and support of the community's deliberation of public issues.
Contact Details
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Address850 S. Ironwood Drive, No. 112
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CityApache Junction
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State or ProvinceAZ
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Zip Code85120
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CountryUnited States
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Telephone480-982-7799
Social Profiles
FacebookPinal County Board of Supervisors submit new boundaries to DOJ
Moving from three to five supervisor districts, the unanimous vote came during the Oct. 19 meeting of the governing board.
The Department of Justice will scrutinize the map — vetted by various public meetings and online comment — to ensure the proposed boundaries of the political districts comply with the Voting Rights Act, Pinal County officials say.
Jenkins under investigation
Central Arizona College President Dennis Jenkins is the subject of an internal investigation prompted by votes of “no confidence” by three employee associations of the educational institution.
At its Oct. 18 meeting, the Central Arizona College Board of Governors voted 5-0 to begin an investigation Monday, Oct. 24 over allegations of the general operations and leadership of President Jenkins during his tenure at the helm of the college.
Mr. Jenkins assumed the role of college president in July 2007.
Horseshoe Park update points to more revenue, expansions
Queen Creek Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre has cost more than $17 million to design, construct and maintain, but town officials are optimistic revenue tallies are moving in the right direction.
The equestrian center is set to gross $460,000 this fiscal year, but the operating budget for the facility is set at $629,192 leaving a projected operations shortfall of $169,192, town officials confirm.
Future plans
HPEC Manager Tim Lynch provided Queen Creek Town Council with an update Wednesday, Oct. 5 of operations and revenues received and projected.
Queen Creek issues RFP, incentives for entertainment facility
The town of Queen Creek has issued a request for proposal for the design, development and management of a multi-use entertainment facility on a 17-acre parcel owned by the municipality within Town Center.
Town Center, a specialized taxing district meant to separate the community’s center from the rest, spans much of the central region of the municipality, according to Queen Creek officials.Mass transit in STV - Regional plan to be sought in coming months
If you want to get anywhere in San Tan Valley you had better have an automobile.
The 64-square-mile tract of unincorporated land in northern Pinal County has no major public transit option, but county officials say that hasn’t been much of a voiced concern.
A San Tan Valley Realtor says transit options are not a particular selling point, but prospective homebuyers he has spoken to say new resident transportation concerns revolve around roadways and employment options for their teenage children.Recent thefts of political signs prompt PCSO to increase patrols
Recent thefts of political signs in the Saddlebrook area have prompted the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office to increase patrols in popular posting sites throughout Pinal County including San Tan Valley.
“Right now it is just really in the individual area, but we do think with elections coming up we want to try and discourage people from doing this,” Elias Johnson, PCSO spokesman, said in a Sept. 21 phone interview. “We always see these things happening.”
In November 2012 Pinal County residents will be voting for five representatives for the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, according to county officials.Project Challenge to use bad money for good things, officials say
A statewide program aimed at rehabilitating at-risk youth is facing funding challenges, but despite a full sweep of funds by the Arizona Legislature in fiscal year 2011-12 a funding source may have been found.
Arizona’s Project Challenge is a two-part program with both a residential and post-residential phase shaping the lives of male and female cadets participating in a five-month rehabilitation program, according to http://www.ngycp.org.
A service of the National Guard, the program has existed since 1993 in Queen Creek, hosting two classes per year with 60-65 cadets per class, the website states. Arizona Project Challenge is at 2039 E. Rittenhouse Road in Queen Creek.3 to 5: New districts mapped
New lines have been drawn, maps have been presented and public meetings are planned for when Pinal County will be divided into five governing districts prompting an expansion from three to five members on the county’s governing board.
“It appears that the county might have a more conservative slant, which would be a much more conservative board and that would be the first time in the county,” Bryan Martyn, Pinal County Board of Supervisors member, said in a Sept. 14 phone interview of redistricting maps presented to the board Sept. 14.
Queen Creek incubator spurs economic development
In an effort to spur economic development, Queen Creek Inc. was opened in February.
Eleven businesses have participated and town staff are planning to present to council in six months seeking an extension to the fledgling incubation program.Notice of violation: A decade’s worth of issues at Queen Creek Landfill surface
Queen Creek Town Council has had closed-door meetings — and is slated to partake in one Sept. 7 — over allegations of county and federal air-quality regulations at the Queen Creek Landfill, 20224 E. Riggs Road.
The October 2010 notice from the Maricopa County Air Quality Department outlines 12 violations — spanning from 1996 to 2003 — including lack of reporting requirements ranging from gas control system plans to failure to submit emission rate reports, according to notice of violations obtained by Independent Newspapers.
