Freedom Academy Charter School Chosen to Create State Ornaments

Governor Jan Brewer today announced Freedom Academy Charter School was selected to create the state tree ornaments for Arizona to be featured at this year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting event hosted by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. The event will be held this evening on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.

At Coolidge Unified School District’s December 8th Regular Governing Board meeting, Member Tina Moore was recognized for her eight years of service on the CUSD Governing Board.  Member Moore chose to not run for another term and officially ends her appointment at the end of this month.

Governing Board President Kristi Freader and Superintendent Dr. Cecilia Johnson (pictured below with Member Moore in the middle) thanked Tina Moore for her dedication to the district, and commended her on her passion for education.

Construction has begun at the 20-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in Pinal County. SRP will purchase all of the solar energy produced at the Copper Crossing Solar Ranch Facility, which is expected to be online in 2011.

The plant will be located on property located between Quail Run Lane and Attaway Road, and between Judd Road and Bella Vista Road.  The property is adjacent to the Abel receiving station, which will be near a planned natural gas peaking plant.  In addition to meeting peak customer demand, this natural gas facility is also needed to support intermittent renewable resources.

While the holiday season is typically a time for giving, it is seen less charitably by criminals engaged in consumer scams. Here are few helpful tips to avoid becoming a victim to charity and fundraising fraud:

(1)   Never give on impulse or give into high-pressure requests for contributions or donations. Always review all written information before making a donation. If a solicitor refuses to provide written information, refuse to donate. Don’t be afraid to ask if the person is a volunteer or a paid fundraiser.

On December 7, 2010 at 8:20 a.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call from Union Pacific Railway Dispatch indicating one of their trains had struck a pedestrian in the area of Hunt Highway and Hiller Road (1/2 mile west).

A sixteen-year-old male was walking along the side of the railroad tracks and evidently did not hear or see the southbound Union Pacific Train. It appears at this time, the train was traveling at approximately 50 mph when its front cattle guard struck the teenager.

Is the best job-seeking strategy to pound the pavement or to surf the web?  Career experts would likely say a combination of both is best in this economy.  The Pinal County Library District today announced the launch of Career Cruising, a new job search and career assessment tool.

Career Cruising helps users explore career options and find recommendations suited to their interests and skills.  From the main website interface, job seekers can use the Assessments menu to find a career ‘Matchmaker” tool that helps users identify possible career paths.  There are more than 500 occupations profiled where you can view job descriptions, education and training requirements and earnings potential.  Some profiles feature photos and interviews with people who are in those careers.

Three Florence High School students were recognized for leadership and achievement at an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School conference at the University of Arizona on October 29, 2010. Cedar Marshall, Janet Courtright and Sibyl Cornell, all juniors, received certificates acknowledging their superior academic achievement and their involvement in school activities. All three students maintain a grade point average above 4.2 and are active in National Honor Society and other student organizations.

FLORENCE – Ammonia leaking out of a rail tanker.

Several rail cars derail leaking sulfuric acid.

A train derails with several tankers loaded with chlorine.

All of these accidents happen within an hour of each other.  Coincidence – or a coordinated terrorist attack?

On Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 the Pinal County Regional DUI Task Force was working in the City of Maricopa. At 7:17 p.m. task force members attempted to stop a silver colored Pontiac Grand Am traveling southbound on Highway 347 for several traffic violations. The vehicle failed to yield for the emergency lights and sirens and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle eventually stopped in the Fry’s parking lot at 20797 North John Wayne Parkway.

I'm sure you will see a number of articles posted or printed in the next few days "looking back at 2010".  Many of them will discuss the challenges and the troubles that the area has experienced. They'll write about death, theft and suffering.  Maybe they'll write about the economy, poor schools or are hard it is to find work.  Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be quite depressing really.  So I started thinking, if today were my last day, would these be the things that I "looked back" on?  Honestly, no, but maybe because I'd rather look at the good that comes out of every situation.  So I got to thinking and decided to write my own version of "looking back at 2010" that I will simply call San Tan Valley 2010.

Two events will close Ellsworth Road in Town Center this weekend. On Friday, Dec. 3, beginning at noon, Ellsworth Road between Ocotillo and Rittenhouse roads will be closed for the Hometown Christmas event at the Queen Creek Library.

Local traffic will be able to use Ellsworth Road south of Rittenhouse Road as far south as Victoria Lane. Northbound traffic from Ocotillo Road will be allowed to access businesses in the area, but will not be able to access the library or event site. Traffic traveling to the event can enter the library parking lot from either Ocotillo Road or Ellsworth Loop Road or can park in the lot north of the library, entering from Victoria Lane between Ellsworth and Ellsworth Loop roads.

In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals, Co. (JJMCP) is recalling, from the wholesale and retail level, twelve MYLANTA^® liquid products and one AlternaGEL^® liquid product. JJMCP is conducting the recall in order to update the labeling for these products. The specific products involved, listed below, are being recalled in the United States and Puerto Rico.

JJMCP initiated the recall after an internal review revealed that information about the presence of alcohol from flavoring agents was not noted on the packaging. Certain flavoring agents contribute small (

The Combs High School Marching Band will make their first appearance in the Queen Creek Holiday Parade this Saturday, December 4.

The parade starts at 10:00AM and the parade route runs north on old Ellsworth Road turning west onto Heritage Lane and ending at the Queen Creek Library.

The CHS marching band joins other community groups, floats, and equestrian entries in this annual holiday event; the band is proud to represent Combs High School and the J.O. Combs District for the first time in the parade.

On November 21st, 2010 at 11:40 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call regarding an assault which had occurred near Picacho Lake (Selma Highway and Wheeler Road).

Prior to deputies arriving, the victim (age 71) was transported by air ambulance to the Maricopa Medical Center for his injuries. The victim later reported, at 7 p.m. he was getting ready to go to bed for the evening. The victim lives in his 1995 Volvo station wagon which was parked near Picacho Lake. A dark colored Ford truck pulled up to his campsite. The victim reported two or three Hispanic males got out of the truck and began harassing and yelling at the victim and his dog. One of the suspects described as a Hispanic male in his mid-twenties, short dark hair with a large build punched the victim in the face. The males then got into the truck and left.

Below is a summary of cases investigated during the past few weeks.

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Deputies discovered a 2002 Ford F250 truck driving with no lights in the desert area. Deputies followed the vehicle for a short distance but the truck fled. Deputies located the vehicle a short time later abandoned. The truck had been reported stolen by a city of Phoenix resident. The rear tail lights were smashed out. The paint was badly damaged as a result of the vehicle being driven through the thick desert brush. The vehicle appeared to have been used to transport illegal aliens.

Deputies attempted to stop a 2000 Chevy minivan near Interstate 8. The vehicle fled and was traveling in excess of 100 mph. Deputies backed away from the vehicle because of the dangerous driving. The vehicle was located abandoned a short time later. Deputies followed foot tracks from the vehicle and took an illegal immigrant (age 17) into custody. The van was packed with eleven bundles of marijuana and an additional bundle was located near the suspect.

Calling all San Tan Valley businesses!  Do you have a "CyberMonday" special that you would like to promote to the residents of San Tan Valley, AZ?  If you do,  please let us know!  To submit your CyberMonday special you may:

• Email us here;
• Post Your Special on SanTanValley.com's Facebook Page here;
• Or post your special as a comment on this article by creating an account (top right hand corner).