SanTanValley.com

Is it fair that families who live within city or town limits receive more than double the police protection?  Almost 212,000 Pinal residents do not live in a city or town and are the primary responsibility of the Sheriff’s Office. We have 209 deputies for 212,000 residents who live in the unincorporated county areas like San Tan Valley, Gold Canyon, Hidden Valley, Queen Valley, Arizona City, San Manuel, Oracle, Saddlebrooke and portions of Casa Grande and Apache Junction.  Local Police Departments have over 540 full time Police Officers to protect 170,000 residents within the city limits and tribal reservations.

After announcing its project, PhoenixMart, in the fourth quarter of 2011, AZ Sourcing and Central Arizona Regional Center have just announced receiving its approval of their EB-5 investments, a federal economic stimulant program.  This official approval now allows PhoenixMart to break ground and begin construction in the fourth quarter of 2013 with a scheduled grand opening in the latter part of 2014.

“This project has required careful planning and timing from all angles from conception to realization.  With the approval of our EB-5 investments, we can now proceed forward at full speed,” states Jeremy Schoenfelder, Executive Vice President of AZ Sourcing.

New Pinal County Assessor Douglas J. Wolf is pleased to announce that a representative from his office will be visiting satellite locations to accept applications for property exemptions from Pinal County residents.

The applications the Assessor’s Office representative will accept are for Widow and Widower’s or Disabled Person Property Exemptions.  The filing deadline for the exemptions is the last day in February.

The 2013 Agri-Country Bluegrass Festival is shaping up to be a real toe-tapping good time.

The year’s festival will once again feature marvelous music, exciting entertainment, classic cars (Saturday only), super shopping and fantastic food.

Held at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center on Eleven Mile Corner Road, this annual event is host to some of the nation’s top Bluegrass artists.  “We have brought in some major national acts this year.  It’s three days jam packed with great talent,” commented Executive Director Michael Searle.  “Whether you’re a long time fan of Bluegrass music or new to the whole scene, this year’s festival is not to be missed.”

Every animal deserves a home.  This time of year family is on our minds.  Adding a pet to your family is a big decision.  Depending on your luck and the age of the pet you adopt, it is a rewarding commitment that lasts 10 to 15 years or more.  Please consider adding the unconditional love of an animal to your family.

On Saturday, December 15, 2012, from 10 AM to 4 PM, Pinal County Animal Care and Control will be hosting “Holiday Hounds and Christmas Kitties.”  The event is being held at the Pet Club located at 1348 East Florence Boulevard in Casa Grande.  Adoptions will range from $15 to $65.  All adoptions will include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchips. 

If you’re looking to get a jump on this year’s holiday shopping, be sure to check out Central Arizona College’s Art Fair, this Sat., Nov, 17.

The fair, which will feature artwork and high-end crafts for sale, will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the college’s Corporate Center, just off of Interstate 10 and Florence Blvd in Casa Grande.  

The Central Arizona College Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Rick Moore will present its swinging brand of music with Jazz Night at the Pence Center on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Don P. Pence Center for Visual & Performing Arts.

Tickets for the show at the Signal Peak Campus are $5 and may be purchased online at http://jazzband-eorg.eventbrite.com/#.

The decision to enroll in college brings with it numerous choices. Which classes do I take? Which major should I choose?

“We’ve cut off the head of the snake. This definitely makes it a lot harder for our children and residents to get drugs. We can go out all day and arrest people with marijuana or a sixteenth of an ounce of meth. Or we can go out and do an investigation like this for six months and affect thousands of people.” -- Tempe police Lt. Noah Johnson, East Valley Tribune story Tempe part of major drug bust connected to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, July 6, 2012

Recovery from Wednesday’s Fourth of July monsoon storms is underway in throughout Pinal County.  Pinal County Public Works crews are still monitoring several closed roads due to high water in and around washes.  It is expected that most of these roads will be opened sometime today.  We will work to ensure that updated information is made available as soon as possible.