SanTanValley.com

The city of Apache Junction is one step closer to becoming a member of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Au­thority with the town of Queen Creek and other local governing bodies.

At their June 5 meeting, members of the Apache Junction City Council voted unani­mously to approve the intergovernmental, joint powers and loan agreements neces­sary to serve on the authority’s board of directors.

A theater chain is one step closer to build­ing an entertainment complex in down­town Queen Creek. During their June 5 meeting, members of the Queen Creek Town Council voted unani­mously to approve a site plan for phase one of the movie theater complex being proposed by Los Angeles-based Maya Cinemas. If complet­ed as planned, the complex would occupy a 19-acre parcel of town- owned property north of Maya Boulevard, south of Rittenhouse Road, east of Ellsworth Loop Road and west of Ellsworth Road, according to a staff report to the council.

The town would serve as landlord for the project, but could negotiate a sale or lease of the property, according to Wayne Balmer, the town’s planning administrator.

Phase one of the three-phase plan includes a 59,000-square-foot, 2,300-seat theater; 7,500 square feet of restaurants, retail space and parking, according to the report.

With more than 200 event days at Horse­shoe Park and Equestrian Centre every year, the park has become more of a second home than place of employment for general manager Tim Lynch and his staff.

Mr. Lynch can recall many days he and his employees have put in long days, work­ing into nights and weekends, according to a press release from the town of Queen Creek. He remembers when senior pro­gram technician Tammy Kelly parked her camper outside the arena to catch sleep in between coordinating stalls for horses and getting RVs hooked up for event contestants arriving to the park late at night.

The Maricopa County Supervisor of Elections recently announced that Queen Creek residents have approved Town plans to purchase of the H2O, Inc. Water Utility, a family owned business that has served the Pinal County/Maricopa County area for more than 40 years, in an all mail special election that took place from April 25 through May 21, 2013. The final vote was recorded as 2,550 in favor, 379 opposed.

On 04/30/13 at approximately 4:00 PM a male subject successfully lured a ten year old child into his vehicle while she was walking alone in the area of the 18500 East Block of Ryan Road, Queen Creek.

The suspect displayed a weapon after the child refused to be given a ride. The suspect exposed himself to the child but released the child unharmed in the area when the child refused to comply with the suspect’s requests.

Detectives have limited information and are seeking the public’s assistance with any information that may help identify the suspect in this case. 

Center to treat adults and children includes imaging, lab services

Banner Health will open its first medical facility in the Town of Queen Creek on May 1, with the Banner Health Center offering primary care, basic imaging and lab services for adults and children. The Center, located at 21772 S. Ellsworth Loop Road in Queen Creek, will join Banner Ironwood Medical Center in San Tan Valley in providing outstanding medical services to the region.

Staff physicians will include a family practitioner and pediatrician, with more physicians already planned as the Center grows with community needs. The Center includes 18 exam rooms, and its electronic medical records are accessible from all Banner hospitals and facilities.

As the Phoenix Metropolitan Area continues to grow, plans are constantly being developed to accommodate the transportation needs of the public. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is currently conducting a study to evaluate seven alternatives for passenger rail corridors, as well as how a bus rapid transit system can potentially meet the need for future transportation options between Tucson and Phoenix. Based upon input received from stakeholders, as well as the public, the seven alternatives will soon be narrowed to two to three alternatives and ultimately there will be one alternative selected. There is currently no funding identified to construct a passenger rail system. 

Ellsworth Loop Road between Cloud and Aldecoa roads (street at post office) - Crews will be working in the  median and on the shoulder with limited, intermittent north- and southbound traffic restrictions. Work is anticipated to continue through Friday, April 26, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Queen Creek residents are giving a thumbs up to a proposed movie theater megaplex with an adjoining entertain­ment district and hotel in the downtown area.

“I’m really excited to have it super close,” Kyndra Westover, 14, a student at Queen Creek High School, told the Independent, referring to the movie theater during a phone interview Wednesday. “It is kind of a hassle to travel so far.”

Starting April 2, Pinal County Air Quality will only issue 3-day open burning permits.  All permits will expire by May 1 and Pinal County will suspend the issuance of open burning permits on April 26.

Burn permits allow for the disposal of plant material by open burning during limited daytime hours.