UPDATE: Tempe police have arrested Dan Ray Gukeisen, 37, for second degree murder for the stabbing death of Garrett Hohn, 22.
Police said after conducting interviews in the investigation they learned that Hohn and his 21-year-old friend were walking on 1st Street when they became involved in a verbal altercation with Gukeisen. The altercation then became physical.
A search warrant at the Gukeisen's home gave probable cause for the arrest. Police are not sure why the altercation started as both parties are giving conflicting reports.
Tempe police said the incident appears to be a random and isolated incident and no more outstanding suspects.
If you have any information that could help the investigation you are asked to call Tempe police at 480-350-8311.
ORIGINAL:
Police are talking to "people of interest" in the deadly overnight stabbing of a young man in Tempe.
It happened at about 2 a.m. at Fifth Street and Farmer Avenue, which is near Mill Avenue and University Drive.
According to police, two men in their early 20's were walking home from the Mill Avenue Downtown District when they apparently got into was some kind of argument with a man who was in the area of a nearby apartment complex.
The argument turned physical and ended with the stabbing. It's not yet clear what sparked the argument. The young man who was stabbed was taken to the hospital where he died a short time later. The man who was walking with the stabbing victim was not hurt.
At this point, police do know think the victim knew the person who stabbed him. Police surrounded the apartment complex and pulled out several people.
Sgt. Steve Carbajal said investigators are talking to two "persons of interest" to try and determine their involvement in the incident.
So far, no arrests have been made. Police said they do not known if any of the people involved in the incident is affiliated with ASU.
Because the investigation is ongoing, police are not releasing any names at this time.
Anybody with information about this incident is asked to call the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
pimp of 2 Valley teens sentenced to 16.5 years
Uawndre Larue Fields, 32, of San Diego, Calif., was sentenced on September 24, 2008 by U.S. District Court Judge David G. Campbell to 16½ years in federal prison.
Fields and co-defendant DePaul Brooks, 27, of National City, Calif., were found guilty of two counts of Child Sex Trafficking and two counts of Interstate Transportation of a Minor for Prostitution by a federal jury in Phoenix earlier this year.
Brooks was sentenced on July 1, 2008, to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison.
Fields and Brooks picked up the victims, 15- and 16-year-old girls, in Mesa, Ariz. after they had run away from a juvenile detention facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fields convinced the two to work for him as prostitutes so the men bought bus tickets for the girls and met them in San Diego. While there, a female prostitute taught them how to commit acts of prostitution, created and posted Craigslist ads for their services on the Internet and arranged their jobs. The other prostitute collected the proceeds and turned all of the money over to Fields. The defendants brought the girls back to Phoenix and put them out on the street to work as prostitutes.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Tracey A. Bardorf, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Fields and co-defendant DePaul Brooks, 27, of National City, Calif., were found guilty of two counts of Child Sex Trafficking and two counts of Interstate Transportation of a Minor for Prostitution by a federal jury in Phoenix earlier this year.
Brooks was sentenced on July 1, 2008, to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison.
Fields and Brooks picked up the victims, 15- and 16-year-old girls, in Mesa, Ariz. after they had run away from a juvenile detention facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fields convinced the two to work for him as prostitutes so the men bought bus tickets for the girls and met them in San Diego. While there, a female prostitute taught them how to commit acts of prostitution, created and posted Craigslist ads for their services on the Internet and arranged their jobs. The other prostitute collected the proceeds and turned all of the money over to Fields. The defendants brought the girls back to Phoenix and put them out on the street to work as prostitutes.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Tracey A. Bardorf, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Arizona woman protects herself from predator
UPDATE: Monday morning
Police have identified the man killed in a confrontation at a woman's home Sunday, and they say there was a history of violence there.
According to police, Terry Milburn, 45, went to the victim's house near 40th Avenue and Thunderbird Road at about 2:30 Sunday morning.
The woman, whose name has not been released, refused to let Milburn into her house and called 911. While she was on the phone, Milburn broke a window and forced his way inside, police said.
Investigators said Milburn then followed the woman to her bedroom where she shot and killed him.
While the exact relationship between the two is not clear, police said the woman had a restraining order against Millburn and that there was a history of violence between them.
ORIGINAL STORY: Man killed after armed woman with restraining order opens fire
PHOENIX - A man is dead after trying to break into a woman's home and she opened fire on him.
According to police the woman had a restraining order against the man although their exact relationship is unclear.
Investigators say around 2:30 Sunday morning that man forced his way into the woman's house near 40th Avenue and Thunderbird and she was prepared
A police spokesperson tells 3TV, “The victim basically armed herself and when the suspect broke into the house the victim fired several rounds.”
Police said the woman will most likely not face any charges. The suspect's identity has not been released.
More suspected illegals, coyotes found at Phoenix drop house
Several suspected illegal immigrants are in custody after a drop-house bust in the West Valley.
Police said it was one of the suspected illegals who led them to the house at 75th Avenue and Indian School Road.
Officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the home Monday night. They discovered six suspected illegal immigrants, including one child.
Those people were being held against their will in exchange for money. None of them was hurt.
Investigators said somebody inside the house tipped them off when he called his sister Monday morning and told her that he was being for ransom. Police were able to track the call to the home.
Three alleged coyotes were also taken into custody.
Police said it was one of the suspected illegals who led them to the house at 75th Avenue and Indian School Road.
Officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the home Monday night. They discovered six suspected illegal immigrants, including one child.
Those people were being held against their will in exchange for money. None of them was hurt.
Investigators said somebody inside the house tipped them off when he called his sister Monday morning and told her that he was being for ransom. Police were able to track the call to the home.
Three alleged coyotes were also taken into custody.
Woman Shoots, Kills Man Who Breaks into Home
Phoenix police say the woman had an order or protection out against 45-year-old man.
A woman shot and killed a man after he broke into her northwest Phoenix home last night.
Phoenix police say the woman had an order or protection out against 45-year-old Terry Milburn.
The woman had called 911 after Milburn showed up at her house. Police say after being refused entry, Milburn got in by breaking a window.
Still on the phone with the 911 operator, the woman retreated to her bedroom. Police say Milburn followed her and that's when the woman shot and killed him.
Police say they aren't recommending prosecution of the woman, but that it will be up to county prosectors to determine if any charges are filed.
This woman should be given the protection and praise she deserves. She did what she had to do to protect herself from someone who would have most likely hurt or killed her. There should be absolutely no charges filed against her! Think of the trouble this man caused her in her life. Think of what this woman has to remember know because of what this man did to her. This man got himself shot and killed when her violated her rights to live a peaceful life.
We need to stand behind victims such as this lady and protect our rights to live a happy life without harassment.
Protect yourself and your family from predators like this Terry Milburn. As you can read, the police can't always get there in time.
Ruger firearms
Glock firearms
A woman shot and killed a man after he broke into her northwest Phoenix home last night.
Phoenix police say the woman had an order or protection out against 45-year-old Terry Milburn.
The woman had called 911 after Milburn showed up at her house. Police say after being refused entry, Milburn got in by breaking a window.
Still on the phone with the 911 operator, the woman retreated to her bedroom. Police say Milburn followed her and that's when the woman shot and killed him.
Police say they aren't recommending prosecution of the woman, but that it will be up to county prosectors to determine if any charges are filed.
This woman should be given the protection and praise she deserves. She did what she had to do to protect herself from someone who would have most likely hurt or killed her. There should be absolutely no charges filed against her! Think of the trouble this man caused her in her life. Think of what this woman has to remember know because of what this man did to her. This man got himself shot and killed when her violated her rights to live a peaceful life.
We need to stand behind victims such as this lady and protect our rights to live a happy life without harassment.
Protect yourself and your family from predators like this Terry Milburn. As you can read, the police can't always get there in time.
Ruger firearms
Glock firearms
County Board Votes Again to End Guadalupe Law Enforcement Contract
Deputies had to clear the auditorium as protesters become uncontrollable.
In another chaotic meeting, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to end police protection for the town of Guadalupe.
Deputies had to clear the auditorium as protesters demanded the opportunity to speak.
"Yet again, we see that Sheriff Arpaio does not let the Board of Supervisors let the public speak on these issues that have to do with our tax-dollars, that have to do with our safety," said one protester.
Two people were arrested in the protest for their actions.
Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox wanted to hold off on a vote until a lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio is over, and the county completes its own investigation, but the board rejected her motion.
The vote confirmed the outcome of a meeting two weeks ago, where the board voted 3-1 to cancel the law enforcement contract.
In another chaotic meeting, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to end police protection for the town of Guadalupe.
Deputies had to clear the auditorium as protesters demanded the opportunity to speak.
"Yet again, we see that Sheriff Arpaio does not let the Board of Supervisors let the public speak on these issues that have to do with our tax-dollars, that have to do with our safety," said one protester.
Two people were arrested in the protest for their actions.
Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox wanted to hold off on a vote until a lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio is over, and the county completes its own investigation, but the board rejected her motion.
The vote confirmed the outcome of a meeting two weeks ago, where the board voted 3-1 to cancel the law enforcement contract.
Phoenix Home Prices keep going down...FAST!
Phoenix is faring worse than most cities according to the Standard & Poor's 20 City Housing Index.
NEW YORK (AP) _ A closely watched index shows Valley home prices tumbling by the sharpest annual rate ever in July.
The newly released Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city housing index showed a record drop of 16.3 percent in July from the year-ago period - the largest drop since its inception in 2000. The 10-city index plunged 17.5 percent, its biggest decline in its 21-year history.
Home values in all 20 cities fell year-over-year, with Phoenix faring worse than most cities. Prices Valleywide plummeted more than 29 percent in July from one year ago.
The only metro area doing worse than Phoenix is Las Vegas, where prices are plunging at nearly 30 percent.
However, the pace of declines has slowed over the last three months, but there is still no sign of a bottom, one of the index creators said.
NEW YORK (AP) _ A closely watched index shows Valley home prices tumbling by the sharpest annual rate ever in July.
The newly released Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city housing index showed a record drop of 16.3 percent in July from the year-ago period - the largest drop since its inception in 2000. The 10-city index plunged 17.5 percent, its biggest decline in its 21-year history.
Home values in all 20 cities fell year-over-year, with Phoenix faring worse than most cities. Prices Valleywide plummeted more than 29 percent in July from one year ago.
The only metro area doing worse than Phoenix is Las Vegas, where prices are plunging at nearly 30 percent.
However, the pace of declines has slowed over the last three months, but there is still no sign of a bottom, one of the index creators said.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Arizona gets $121 million to fight foreclosure problem
Arizona will receive $121 million in federal funds to ease neighborhood blight in areas affected by home foreclosures, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Friday.
That's more than state officials expected for Arizona's share of the $3.9 billion in so-called neighborhood-stabilization funding authorized in July's federal housing bill.
The Arizona Department of Housing will receive $38 million to buy foreclosed-on homes, rehabilitate them and sell or lease them to residents.
Phoenix received even more money. It will have nearly $40 million to address foreclosure-related blight.
Eight other county and municipal governments will receive funds, too.
The federal money, although not nearly sufficient to buy and clean up all foreclosed-on properties, could improve the situation in some neighborhoods and return many unwanted homes to a safer and more marketable condition.
"Arizona communities need substantial help in fighting the effects of foreclosure, and this funding will do a great deal," Gov. Janet Napolitano said Friday in a statement. "I'm glad that the federal government has taken action on this problem and that Arizona has received a healthy share of resources to deal with the pressing effects that foreclosures are having on our communities."
The recent surge in foreclosures has left neighborhoods littered with abandoned residential properties as would-be homeowners vacate in anticipation of bank foreclosure. The residents who remain are concerned about health issues, crime and property-value declines as a result of the abandoned homes.
1 goal: Rehabbing, selling
Until HUD releases the rules under which states must use the money, it's difficult to speculate on the best way to spend it, Arizona Housing Director Fred Karnas said.
Those rules are expected to be issued Monday, he said.
The most likely scenario would be a revolving fund that grants money to buy and rehabilitate homes and then receives the proceeds once those homes are resold.
Federal officials already have decided that at least 25 percent of those homes must provide shelter for residents at or below 50 percent of the median family income, which in Arizona is $32,000 a year.
Because it's unlikely such families could afford to buy a home, Karnas said, it's possible the rehabbed homes could be turned into low-income rental housing.
Still, HUD officials have not yet made it clear where proceeds from each home sale or lease would go, whether it is to the city or non-profit agency selling or leasing the home, the state or the federal government.
Ariz. is 9th on the list
The $121 million constitutes about 3 percent of the federal pot, placing Arizona ninth on the list of states receiving the most cleanup money.
Florida ranked first with $541 million, followed by California ($530 million) and Michigan ($264 million). Arizona ranks third in the nation in terms of foreclosures per capita. Nevada, which has the nation's highest foreclosure rate, received just $72 million.
Karnas said federal officials considered population in addition to the number of foreclosures and subprime loans, which is why Arizona received less than some other states.
"Nevada, despite them being Number 1, got about $50 million less than we did," Karnas said. "I think you'd always like to get more; I think you can debate the methodology in a variety of ways."
Still, Karnas said, the $121 million was about $20 million more than state officials had expected based on preliminary information about the methodology.
Every state received at least $19.6 million as part of the federal blight-mitigation plan. Those with a greater risk of residents abandoning their homes received more, including most states in the Southwest, Rust Belt, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
For most states receiving more than the minimum, HUD divided the money into state and local funds.
In Arizona, the list of local governments to receive foreclosure-cleanup money is interesting primarily because of the communities not included on the list.
Areas hit hard by foreclosures such as Pinal County, Buckeye and Queen Creek will not receive money directly from the federal government, while Pima County, Surprise and others will get an allotment.
Karnas said that HUD officials took money that would have gone to smaller communities and combined it with the Department of Housing allocation, adding that the state agency will redistribute those funds in the geographic areas where they are most needed.
That's more than state officials expected for Arizona's share of the $3.9 billion in so-called neighborhood-stabilization funding authorized in July's federal housing bill.
The Arizona Department of Housing will receive $38 million to buy foreclosed-on homes, rehabilitate them and sell or lease them to residents.
Phoenix received even more money. It will have nearly $40 million to address foreclosure-related blight.
Eight other county and municipal governments will receive funds, too.
The federal money, although not nearly sufficient to buy and clean up all foreclosed-on properties, could improve the situation in some neighborhoods and return many unwanted homes to a safer and more marketable condition.
"Arizona communities need substantial help in fighting the effects of foreclosure, and this funding will do a great deal," Gov. Janet Napolitano said Friday in a statement. "I'm glad that the federal government has taken action on this problem and that Arizona has received a healthy share of resources to deal with the pressing effects that foreclosures are having on our communities."
The recent surge in foreclosures has left neighborhoods littered with abandoned residential properties as would-be homeowners vacate in anticipation of bank foreclosure. The residents who remain are concerned about health issues, crime and property-value declines as a result of the abandoned homes.
1 goal: Rehabbing, selling
Until HUD releases the rules under which states must use the money, it's difficult to speculate on the best way to spend it, Arizona Housing Director Fred Karnas said.
Those rules are expected to be issued Monday, he said.
The most likely scenario would be a revolving fund that grants money to buy and rehabilitate homes and then receives the proceeds once those homes are resold.
Federal officials already have decided that at least 25 percent of those homes must provide shelter for residents at or below 50 percent of the median family income, which in Arizona is $32,000 a year.
Because it's unlikely such families could afford to buy a home, Karnas said, it's possible the rehabbed homes could be turned into low-income rental housing.
Still, HUD officials have not yet made it clear where proceeds from each home sale or lease would go, whether it is to the city or non-profit agency selling or leasing the home, the state or the federal government.
Ariz. is 9th on the list
The $121 million constitutes about 3 percent of the federal pot, placing Arizona ninth on the list of states receiving the most cleanup money.
Florida ranked first with $541 million, followed by California ($530 million) and Michigan ($264 million). Arizona ranks third in the nation in terms of foreclosures per capita. Nevada, which has the nation's highest foreclosure rate, received just $72 million.
Karnas said federal officials considered population in addition to the number of foreclosures and subprime loans, which is why Arizona received less than some other states.
"Nevada, despite them being Number 1, got about $50 million less than we did," Karnas said. "I think you'd always like to get more; I think you can debate the methodology in a variety of ways."
Still, Karnas said, the $121 million was about $20 million more than state officials had expected based on preliminary information about the methodology.
Every state received at least $19.6 million as part of the federal blight-mitigation plan. Those with a greater risk of residents abandoning their homes received more, including most states in the Southwest, Rust Belt, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
For most states receiving more than the minimum, HUD divided the money into state and local funds.
In Arizona, the list of local governments to receive foreclosure-cleanup money is interesting primarily because of the communities not included on the list.
Areas hit hard by foreclosures such as Pinal County, Buckeye and Queen Creek will not receive money directly from the federal government, while Pima County, Surprise and others will get an allotment.
Karnas said that HUD officials took money that would have gone to smaller communities and combined it with the Department of Housing allocation, adding that the state agency will redistribute those funds in the geographic areas where they are most needed.
Terence Greenwood, Chandler Sunday school teacher molested girls, gets 35 years
County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced today that Terence Greenwood, 63 (DOB 6/12/45), has been sentenced to 35 years in prison and three counts of lifetime probation.Greenwood had pled guilty to charges related to the sexual molestation of young children who were under his care during Sunday school sessions at a Chandler church.
Additional instances of abuse occurred at his home. The sentence was issued on September 24, 2008 in the courtroom of Judge David K. Udall.
Greenwood pled guilty on August 21, 2008, to two counts of Molestation of a Child, class two felonies and dangerous crimes against children, and three counts of Attempted Molestation of a Child, class three felonies and dangerous crimes against children.
He received prison sentences of 18 years and 17 years for the molestation charges. They are to be served consecutively.
Chandler Police arrested Greenwood on December 21, 2007. He was originally indicted on December 31, 2007 on charges concerning the molestation of a five-year-old girl.
When a continuing investigation discovered additional underage female victims, a second indictment brought new charges on April 15, 2008, on behalf of four additional victims.
“This sentence effectively prevents the defendant from harming other young children for the rest of his life,” said Thomas.
Deputy County Attorney John F. Beatty prosecuted the case.
More violence in Avondale, Arizona
The incident happened near 107th Ave. and Buckeye Rd.
Police have arrested a suspect.
An Avondale, Arizona shooting left one teen dead and three others injured, according to police.
The incident happened near 107th Ave. and Buckeye Rd.
Although details are sketchy at this time, police said one male has been arrested and they are not looking for any other suspects.
Police have arrested a suspect.
An Avondale, Arizona shooting left one teen dead and three others injured, according to police.
The incident happened near 107th Ave. and Buckeye Rd.
Although details are sketchy at this time, police said one male has been arrested and they are not looking for any other suspects.
Arizona getting $121 million to help foreclosure crisis
The Arizona Department of Housing will get over $38 million from the federal government to help local communities deal with foreclosures.
City governments from around the state will receive over $121 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the newly created Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.
“Arizona communities need substantial help in fighting the effects of foreclosure, and this funding will do a great deal,” said Governor Janet Napolitano in a statement.
“I’m glad that the federal government has taken action on this problem, and that Arizona has received a healthy share of resources to deal with the pressing effects that foreclosures are having on our communities.”
The real question is, who will be in charge of this money and how it is spent? Who will be hired to fix up these broken down houses and relist them in the open Real Estate market? How will this really help the people of Arizona when it has already been said that foreclosures will continue to rise as a result of people losing their jobs and the effects of a horrible economy. We need more answers.
City governments from around the state will receive over $121 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the newly created Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.
“Arizona communities need substantial help in fighting the effects of foreclosure, and this funding will do a great deal,” said Governor Janet Napolitano in a statement.
“I’m glad that the federal government has taken action on this problem, and that Arizona has received a healthy share of resources to deal with the pressing effects that foreclosures are having on our communities.”
The real question is, who will be in charge of this money and how it is spent? Who will be hired to fix up these broken down houses and relist them in the open Real Estate market? How will this really help the people of Arizona when it has already been said that foreclosures will continue to rise as a result of people losing their jobs and the effects of a horrible economy. We need more answers.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Teen at center of bus brawl earlier this year found guilty
UPDATE: Taylor was found guilty of one count disorderly conduct for starting th school bus brawl back in February.The judge sentenced her to unsupervised probation including 24 hours of community service, counseling as determined by her mother and a three page essay outlining her life goals.
ORIGINAL - The teenage girl who was at the center of a brawl on a school bus that made news across the country will go before a judge Tuesday to learn her sentence.
Samantha Taylor, now 15, faces charges of disorderly conduct and could get up to six months in a juvenile detention center.
The charges stem from an incident caught on surveillance tape back in February.
The bus driver, Kim Sullivan, had stopped the bus to calm some students. When Samantha, who was 14 at the time, demanded to get off the bus, Sullivan would not let her.
The situation escalated into a shouting match and ended in an all-out brawl.
Two other girls got involved in the melee -- Samantha's friend and Sullivan's daughter. Those two girls had to complete a restitution program.
Sullivan was not charged. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas determined that her actions were reasonable to maintain discipline under the circumstances.
Samantha was suspended for six days and charged with disorderly conduct.
Her trial is slated for 1:30 Tuesday afternoon.
While the teen could be sentenced to time in a juvenile detention center, she'll probably get probation.
Could the drop in violent crime be linked to illegals leaving?
The latest FBI crime reports show an overall decrease in violent crime around the Phoenix area in 2007 and some observers believe it's the result of illegal aliens leaving Arizona for other states, such as Texas.
Based on data from 18 jurisdictions in metro Phoenix, violent crimes and property crimes both decreased 0.3 percent.
The city of Phoenix saw the same decrease in total crimes as the overall area, with a 0.3 percent decrease in total violent crimes and a 0.3 percent decrease in total property crimes.
Texas had over 1,000 more violent crimes, while violent crimes in Arizona dropped by over 750. Some attribute the drop to Arizona's Employer Sanction's Law. The bill's author, State Rep. Russell Pearce, said the numbers don't surprise him.
"It's a direct correlation," said Pearce. "As our numbers decrease in the area of illegal aliens, you will see the violent crime rate decrease."
The only community in the state that showed an increase in violent crime was Mesa. Rep. Pearce thinks that is due to the reluctance of Police Chief Gascon to enforce immigration laws.
"We have a police chief who has ignored his responsibilities to do his job," said Pierce.The FBI says Paradise Valley had the greatest decrease in total violent crimes of any metro Phoenix jurisdiction - down 50 percent from 2006 to 2007. The jurisdiction did see a 3.2 percent increase in total property crimes.
About half of the Phoenix-area jurisdictions included in the data saw an increase in reported crime from 2006 to 2007.
Statewide Photo Radar Program Begins Friday
The Department of Public Safety will add 100 mobile and fixed cameras across the state.
A state official's decision Tuesday to let a contract award take effect means Arizona will launch its groundbreaking photo speed enforcement program on Friday, the Department of Public Safety said.
"We're going to be ready come Friday with some sort of photo enforcement,'' said Lt. James Warriner, a DPS spokesman.
The contract with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. provides for 100 mobile and fixed cameras to be deployed statewide. Arizona's program would be the first such statewide deployment by a U.S. state though similar programs are used in other countries.
The DPS' contract with Redflex had been put on hold because of a challenge by competitor American Traffic Solutions Inc., but Department of Administration Director William Bell vacated the stay.
Bell said the state law authorizing the photo enforcement program clearly states that the program is in the state's public policy interests.
ATS' challenge remains pending, and it wasn't immediately known when the company would go to court to try to block implementation of the contract.
"We've just received the DOA document on the stay and we have several days to respond,'' said ATS spokesman Josh Weiss. "We're keeping all of our options open.''
Friday is the effective date of the budget law that was approved by lawmakers on June 26 and signed into law by Gov. Janet Napolitano on June 27.
Citing public safety benefits demonstrated by cameras deployed by Scottsdale on a state freeway, Napolitano in 2007 directed DPS to develop a photo speed enforcement program.
Lawmakers balked but she won authorization for the program in the current state budget approved in June. She included a projected $90 million in new state revenue from citations.
Though the contract challenge and stay delayed preparations for the program's launch, "we're going to try and do exactly what we were asked to do by the Legislature and the governor,'' Warriner said.
DPS will deploy some mobile units starting Friday but it will take longer to put fixed cameras in operation because DPS is still awaiting information from the Department of Transportation on suitable sites, he said.
The statewide program dramatically expands a two-vehicle pilot program already under way, also run by Redflex.
Redflex asked Bell to lift the stay, and DPS urged him to do so. The agency argued that launching the program was important to public health and safety because photo enforcement would reduce crashes on Arizona highways, let Highway Patrol officers focus on apprehending drunk drivers and improve safety for highway workers.
ATS argued that lifting the stay would allow Redflex to unfairly oppose the contract challenge on grounds that the program was already under way.
However, with a retroactivity clause in the law and wording that overrides any laws that conflict, "it is difficult to imagine a more emphatic statement by the Legislature that it considered the photo enforcement project necessary for the health and safety of the public of Arizona,'' Bell wrote.
A state official's decision Tuesday to let a contract award take effect means Arizona will launch its groundbreaking photo speed enforcement program on Friday, the Department of Public Safety said.
"We're going to be ready come Friday with some sort of photo enforcement,'' said Lt. James Warriner, a DPS spokesman.
The contract with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. provides for 100 mobile and fixed cameras to be deployed statewide. Arizona's program would be the first such statewide deployment by a U.S. state though similar programs are used in other countries.
The DPS' contract with Redflex had been put on hold because of a challenge by competitor American Traffic Solutions Inc., but Department of Administration Director William Bell vacated the stay.
Bell said the state law authorizing the photo enforcement program clearly states that the program is in the state's public policy interests.
ATS' challenge remains pending, and it wasn't immediately known when the company would go to court to try to block implementation of the contract.
"We've just received the DOA document on the stay and we have several days to respond,'' said ATS spokesman Josh Weiss. "We're keeping all of our options open.''
Friday is the effective date of the budget law that was approved by lawmakers on June 26 and signed into law by Gov. Janet Napolitano on June 27.
Citing public safety benefits demonstrated by cameras deployed by Scottsdale on a state freeway, Napolitano in 2007 directed DPS to develop a photo speed enforcement program.
Lawmakers balked but she won authorization for the program in the current state budget approved in June. She included a projected $90 million in new state revenue from citations.
Though the contract challenge and stay delayed preparations for the program's launch, "we're going to try and do exactly what we were asked to do by the Legislature and the governor,'' Warriner said.
DPS will deploy some mobile units starting Friday but it will take longer to put fixed cameras in operation because DPS is still awaiting information from the Department of Transportation on suitable sites, he said.
The statewide program dramatically expands a two-vehicle pilot program already under way, also run by Redflex.
Redflex asked Bell to lift the stay, and DPS urged him to do so. The agency argued that launching the program was important to public health and safety because photo enforcement would reduce crashes on Arizona highways, let Highway Patrol officers focus on apprehending drunk drivers and improve safety for highway workers.
ATS argued that lifting the stay would allow Redflex to unfairly oppose the contract challenge on grounds that the program was already under way.
However, with a retroactivity clause in the law and wording that overrides any laws that conflict, "it is difficult to imagine a more emphatic statement by the Legislature that it considered the photo enforcement project necessary for the health and safety of the public of Arizona,'' Bell wrote.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sheriff Joe takes candy away from kids in jail - what will they do for Halloween?
Juvenile inmates have referred to Sheriff Joe Arpaio as many things, usually unkind four letter word descriptives. Now the name calling list will grow to include “former sugar daddy” and “sourpuss.”
Effective immediately, nearly 50 of their favorite candy items and cookies to purchase and eat will no longer be made available to the 200 juvenile inmates currently housed in the Sheriff’s jail system.
Everything from Snickers to Cherry Cola to Girl Scout Cookies to glazed donuts is off the menu, Arpaio says, as he endeavors to improve the health of the juveniles remanded into his custody.
With the recent news of the growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes, especially among Hispanic and African-American youth, sugary products which the juvenile inmates spend an average of $1000 week to buy from the Sheriff’s canteen operation will be replaced with healthy snacks like raisins, sugar free vanilla wafers, yogurt pretzels and beef jerky.
“I don’t expect this to be a welcomed policy change,” says Arpaio. “But since taxpayers pay for inmate dental work and medical care, it’s a bad idea to furnish these young people with the very products that can cause all kinds of medical problems.”
Arpaio made the announcement in person today to a number of juvenile inmates, many of whom had just returned to their cells from Hard Knocks High School, the nation’s only jailhouse high school started by Arpaio in 2001.
These are juveniles remanded to adult custody in jail for crimes of armed robbery (65), aggravated assault (40), murder (12), drive by shooting (14) and other serious crimes such as kidnapping, sexual assault, burglary and attempted murder.
He also handed out a fact sheet about diabetes as a way to explain his decision and educate inmates. Juveniles and adult inmates alike purchases millions of dollars of canteen items each year, many of them food products as a way to augment the 17 cent meals inmates are served twice daily.
An austere jail system has been the hallmark of Sheriff Arpaio’s administration. Since he became Sheriff in 1992, Arpaio has made several significant cost saving changes in the jails. He has taken away cigarettes, coffee, rental movies, radios, pornography magazines. He offers only very limited access to television viewing. Even condiments like salt and mustard were removed from the menu as a cost savings measure.
Additionally, inmates can no longer write letters mailed in traditional envelopes, instead can communicate with loved ones through postcards only to reduce contraband.
Keep up the good work Sheriff Joe!
Phoenix police officer dies after a boxing match
He was participating in a charity boxing event to benefit the families of fallen police & firefighters. Phoenix police officer Barry Scott, 22, died Wednesday afternoon at a Valley hospital after he collapsed following a boxing match last Friday night, (Sep. 12). Police say Scott had just fought in a boxing match against a firefighter in a charity event called "Guns and Hoses," pitting a police officer against a firefighter in the ring at Fort McDowell Casino.
Sgt. Andy Hill says Scott's match was stopped by the referee for unknown reasons, and Scott left the ring. A short time later, he was with his family when he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. A statement from Phoenix police says Scott died Wednesday afternoon surrounded by friends and family.
Hill said it's not yet known whether Scott suffered any blows in the ring that might have caused an injury. Officer Scott served 18 months in Iraq with the Arizona Army National Guard before joining Phoenix police in May, 2007. He and his wife recently had a baby girl. Scott served in the Maryvale precinct.
Hill says it's ironic that the promoters of the boxing event chose as their beneficiary the 100 Club, which provides financial assistance to the families of police and firefighters who are injured or killed in the line of duty. However, he noted this was not a line-of-duty injury; Scott was off duty at the time.
In a statement, the 100 Club said it's "saddened by the injuries sustained by Officer Scott in the 'Guns & Hoses' Boxing Match." It added, "Our prayers are with the Scott family and we will provide support to the family as outlined in our programs and policies."
Jason Brown, One of FBI's Most Wanted Spotted Near Salt Lake City
Jason Brown is accused of shooting courier Robert Keith Palomares five times in the head at close range with a .45-caliber handgun on November 29th, 2004, outside a Ahwatukee theater. A man sought in the fatal shooting of an armored truck courier in Ahwatukee apparently has been spotted around Salt Lake City, and FBI agents are canvassing his associates for information.
Agents say 39-year-old Jason Brown speaks French, has a master's degree in business, prefers flashy cars and hangs out at gyms and nightclubs. He is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
Brown is accused of shooting courier Robert Keith Palomares five times in the head at close range with a .45-caliber handgun on November 29th, 2004, outside a Ahwatukee theater.
The FBI says Brown made off with $56,000 on a bicycle he ditched that yielded his fingerprints. The matching fingerprints came from an application Brown submitted weeks earlier in Utah for a concealed-weapons permit.
Utah authorities held the license because of the shooting, and it was never issued.
Maricopa County to Drop Guadalupe Police Protection
The move, which some on the board said they approve of, would put Guadalupe on a 180-day notice for cancellation of a contract originally set to expire in 2010.
The Town of Guadalupe is facing a loss of police protection from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. On Wednesday, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors could vote to cancel sheriff's office protection for the Phoenix suburb.
The move, which some on the board said they approve of, would put Guadalupe on a 180-day notice for cancellation of a contract originally set to expire in 2010.
A heated confrontation between Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the former town mayor, Rebecca Jimenez, and her goofy antics led the sheriff to cancel a contract between the sheriff's office and the town.
The contract pays Maricopa County $1.2 million annually for providing police protection in Guadalupe. Town officials are hoping for a change of heart from Arpaio and the board.
"At this point, we have no alternatives to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office,'' Guadalupe Mayor Frank Montiel said. He is the new mayor of Guadalupe.
Montiel replaced Rebecca Jimenez as mayor earlier this month. Jimenez remains on the town board.
Montiel said he wants to establish a better relationship with the sheriff's office and is hoping that the two sides can reach an agreement before the contract expires. "I hope Mr. Arpaio will see it that way, also. We do have new leadership,'' Montiel said.
Arpaio said he might be willing to continue police protection in Guadalupe if things go his way.
"If I want to come back in there with my suppression operation, I will,'' he said.
It was a crime suppression operation that stirred anger in former Mayor Jimenez. She called the sweep racial profiling and said she planned to consider other options for law enforcement. During one sweep, Jimenez confronted Arpaio on live television, which led the sheriff to cancel the policing contract.
Supervisors have been inclined to go with Arpaio's recommendation on the matter. The sheriff originally made it in April, when the discussions with Guadalupe officials were most heated.
"The sheriff is determined to move on, (and) outside law enforcement is largely a creation of his own ability and desire,'' Republican Supervisor Don Stapley said.
"When he calls me and says, "We're not going to continue there, it's real hard for me to say, "Yes, you are."
Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, a frequent critic of Arpaio's immigration policies, will oppose the cancellation. Wilcox's district includes the town. "Guadalupe is going to become a casualty of these immigration battles, and we're going to leave a small town without services,'' Wilcox said. "It's really irresponsible of us.''
As far as alternatives, Phoenix and the Department of Public Safety have declined to contract with Guadalupe.
Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris says doing so could lead some neighborhoods without adequate police protection.
The DPS also told town leaders it could not provide police services, DPS Deputy Director Pennie Gillette-Stroud said.
The Town of Guadalupe is facing a loss of police protection from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. On Wednesday, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors could vote to cancel sheriff's office protection for the Phoenix suburb.
The move, which some on the board said they approve of, would put Guadalupe on a 180-day notice for cancellation of a contract originally set to expire in 2010.
A heated confrontation between Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the former town mayor, Rebecca Jimenez, and her goofy antics led the sheriff to cancel a contract between the sheriff's office and the town.
The contract pays Maricopa County $1.2 million annually for providing police protection in Guadalupe. Town officials are hoping for a change of heart from Arpaio and the board.
"At this point, we have no alternatives to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office,'' Guadalupe Mayor Frank Montiel said. He is the new mayor of Guadalupe.
Montiel replaced Rebecca Jimenez as mayor earlier this month. Jimenez remains on the town board.
Montiel said he wants to establish a better relationship with the sheriff's office and is hoping that the two sides can reach an agreement before the contract expires. "I hope Mr. Arpaio will see it that way, also. We do have new leadership,'' Montiel said.
Arpaio said he might be willing to continue police protection in Guadalupe if things go his way.
"If I want to come back in there with my suppression operation, I will,'' he said.
It was a crime suppression operation that stirred anger in former Mayor Jimenez. She called the sweep racial profiling and said she planned to consider other options for law enforcement. During one sweep, Jimenez confronted Arpaio on live television, which led the sheriff to cancel the policing contract.
Supervisors have been inclined to go with Arpaio's recommendation on the matter. The sheriff originally made it in April, when the discussions with Guadalupe officials were most heated.
"The sheriff is determined to move on, (and) outside law enforcement is largely a creation of his own ability and desire,'' Republican Supervisor Don Stapley said.
"When he calls me and says, "We're not going to continue there, it's real hard for me to say, "Yes, you are."
Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, a frequent critic of Arpaio's immigration policies, will oppose the cancellation. Wilcox's district includes the town. "Guadalupe is going to become a casualty of these immigration battles, and we're going to leave a small town without services,'' Wilcox said. "It's really irresponsible of us.''
As far as alternatives, Phoenix and the Department of Public Safety have declined to contract with Guadalupe.
Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris says doing so could lead some neighborhoods without adequate police protection.
The DPS also told town leaders it could not provide police services, DPS Deputy Director Pennie Gillette-Stroud said.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Dog called a hero after calling 911 to help owner who was having a seizure
An assistance dog called a hero after calling 911 and saves his owner's life last week in Scottsdale, Arizona. A dispatcher with the Scottsdale Police Department took a call from an assistance dog who barked on the other end of the line.
The dog is trained to call 911 whenever his owner lays down and is unresponsive. This isn't the first time the dog has called 911.
What a great dog!
Catalytic converter theft in Arizona on the rise
Since the middle of March, Peoria police say 87 catalytic converters have been stolen, including 34 from Younger Brothers Construction.
The 34 thefts occurred from Aug. 22 to Aug. 25, said Mike Tellef, at the media relations office for the Peoria Police and Fire Departments.
Eighty percent of vehicles hit in Peoria are Toyotas, with the Tacoma ranking No. 1, Tellef said. Older models, 1995 to 2001, appear to be targeted more often, he said.
Converter thieves slip under vehicles and with a battery-powered saw, cut through the exhaust pipe or use a ratchet to unfasten the bolts and unscrew the converter, Tellef said.
Thieves steal converters because of the three rare metals found inside:
• Platinum (current value $1,278/oz).
• Rhodium (current value $6,008/oz).
• Palladium (current value $395/oz).
The average converter only contains about 1 to 2 grams of the metals, a maximum of about 7/100th of an ounce, Tellef said. Metal recycling companies pay anywhere from $25 to $150 a piece for converters, he said.
Tellef said to help prevent these thefts, try not to park your vehicle in the driveway of your home or on the street.
Great advice right?! HA!
How sad. It's obvious that they are taking them from trucks because they have the room to crawl under them. The lower to the ground cars are probably fine left in your ow driveway. I guess everyone needs to invest in cameras now...
Bill Heard auto dearship closing the Arizona locations
A Valley auto dealer closing due to low sales numbers.
Bill Heard Chevrolet in Scottsdale closed its lots and laid off all of its nearly 150 employees.
The Georgia-based Bill Heard Enterprises wrote a letter to its Scottsdale officials saying surprisingly poor financial results and recent adverse actions by lenders caused the closure.
Both Scottsdale sales centers and the service department will be closed.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Home invasions skyrocket in Arizona - Protect your family!
The number of home invasions in Phoenix have doubled from this time last year, police said.
One Phoenix family who found themselves a random victim described the ordeal as a nightmare.
"I was coming in our RV gate about one o'clock in the morning and they asked for a phone book to call a taxi cab," said Steve Locke.
Locke said he fell for the bait and within seconds three men were inside the family's home.
The invaders tied up the Locke family, forced them to the ground with pillow cases over their head, ransacked their home stealing valuables and even took the family's dog, police said.
"I was scared to death," Locke said. "I just wanted to live. I thought we were going to die.
Police said in the past three months there have been 122 home invasions, amounting to more than one a day. Investigators said that's double normally seen this time of year.
Phoenix police have set up a task force to handle the case loads.
"If you look at it, it's really all around the city," said Lt. Laurie Burgett of the Phoenix Police Department.
Police said they believe multiple groups could be involved. They said while many of the victims are involved in criminal activity, the Lockes were innocent targets.
"They appear to be true victims," Burgett said.
Random victims no longer feel safe in their own home.
"It has completely changed our lives," Locke said. "We don't come and go like we used. We're in before dark. We lock the gates and the doors. Everything has changed."
The family said they are still searching for their blue pitbull.
Police cautioned residents to pay careful attention to their surroundings and notify police dispatchers of suspicious activity.
This is surely due to the horrible economic times we are in, however, that doesn't help the victims of these terrible crimes. It's sad to say, but you can't talk to strangers anymore, meaning you can't trust people these days. You have to use your own judgement and always be alert. It's hard to try and think that everyone is a criminal, but these are the times we live in. Protect yourself and your family, buy a firearm and learn how to use it correctly.
Here are a couple of great links for people who want to protect themselves and their families:
Friday, September 12, 2008
Scottsdale man, 28, killed in alcohol related ATV wreck
A man was killed in an ATV wreck in north Scottsdale late Wednesday night.
The man, 28 year old Jonathan Metzger, was riding an ATV with a female passenger from Metzger's house.
According to police, metzger was travelling at a high rate of speed as he entered the intersection of 95th street and Union Hills.
Metzger took a turn incorrectly and struck a sign, flipping the ATV. The man died at the scene from apparent blunt force trauma to the head. The female passenger was taken to the hospital and released.
Police say alcohol appears to be a factor in the incident. Both riders were not wearing helmets.
This is a sad event that took the young life of this man and almost of his passenger. The lesson to be learned here is to NEVER drink and drive and WEAR A HELMET!
Many people still powerless after massive dust storm
APS said it has nearly 50 power poles down in the Buckeye area. At the height of Thursday's storm, some 3,500 customers were without power. By Friday, that number was down to about 1,600.
While APS is working to repair those downed line, the utility is anticipating that several hundred of its customers could be without electricity until about 8 p.m.
Tartesso Elementary School was closed Friday due to the power outages.
ORIGINAL STORY
A massive dust storm bowled over the Valley Thursday evening, bringing the evening commute to a halt as visibility was reduced to zero in many areas and high winds caused damage that turned the power off to thousands of customers.
The cloud of dust looked to be devouring local land marks as it stretched across the city and swept over downtown Phoenix, the Glendale arena and Sky Harbor Airport.
Wind gusts up to 56mph were recorded in the Valley, with most areas seeing winds in the 40mph range.
One of the the worst hit areas was the Buckeye area, where APS reports 30 power poles were blown over between Woods road and Cotton center.
3,500 customers lost power, with repairs expected to take well past Thursday night.
SRP reported up to 6,500 customers lost power at the height of the storm. Power was restored to more than 4,000 customers shortly afterwards.
RECORDED WIND GUSTS:
Luke Air Force Base 56 mph
Chase Field 51
South Mountain 51
Sky Harbor 51
Goodyear 48
Peoria 48
Glendale 47
Deer Valley 46
Scottsdale 43
East Phoenix 42
The Department of Public Safety issued a warning to drivers as the storm rolled through:
•DPS recommends motorists seeing a dust storm approaching exit the freeway/highway at the first available off ramp.
•If you find yourself in a dust storm with limited visibility, slow down and use the lines on the roadway to guide you.
•If you find you’re in a dust storm without visibility, pull completely off the freeway/highway into the dirt. Turn your lights off, take your foot off the brake, due not use your emergency flashers. Wait for the storm to pass.
•If your lights are on while you are pulled over during a dust storm, you stand a good chance of being struck by motorists trying to follow you thinking you’re still moving along the roadway.
•Always stay in your vehicle with your safety belt fastened. Never exit until the dust storm has passed.
Thieves stealing catalytic converters in Arizona on the rise
Police say thieves are stealing catalytic converters from vehicles in Arizona and Toyotas are being targeted the most. Crooks are stealing the converters because of the three rare metals found inside -- platinum, rhodium and palladium.
Police say crooks can remove a converter in less than 90 seconds and warned that thefts can happen even while victims are in restaurants, at the movies or shopping. Since the middle of March, Peoria police say approximately 87 catalytic converters have been taken, including 34 from Younger Brothers Construction on Grand Avenue between Aug. 22 and Aug. 25.
In Peoria, 80 percent of vehicles hit are Toyotas with Tacoma being the most targeted. Police say vehicle models between 1995 and 2001 appear to be targeted more often.
Converter thieves slip under vehicles and with a battery-powered saw, cut through the exhaust pipe or use a ratchet to unfasten the bolts and unscrew the converter.
Metal recycling companies pay anywhere from $25 to $150 apiece for converters. Replacement costs for the victim can run upward of $1,300.
Police say to prevent these thefts, try not to park your vehicle in the driveway of your home or on the street. If you see vehicles cruising your neighborhood or parking lots or people under vehicles in parking lots, call the police.
This is also happening in Avondale. Many people have been getting their catalytic converters stolen. I don't know enough about recycling centers, but why are these places not taking down drivers license's or some other form of documentation so that they can spot someone who brings a lot of these things like he stole them? I know there are ways to get around every type of crime prevention, but I doing this would help put a small dent in the criminal activity.
How sad to think that we cannot park our cars in our own driveway these days without some jerk damaging it. Maybe if the courts would have stronger penalties for doing crap like this things would settle down some.
65 Arrested by Sheriffs in Chandler Business Raid
One of the employees arrested was allegedly using the Social Security Number of a White House staffer.
Authorities raided a Gold Canyon Candle Company, a manufacturing plant near Phoenix on Wednesday, in an investigation into whether the business hired illegal immigrants. While no employer sanction allegations were filed against the Gold Canyon Candle Company in Chandler, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the investigation will continue into whether the business knowingly hired illegal workers.
Authorities raided a Gold Canyon Candle Company, a manufacturing plant near Phoenix on Wednesday, in an investigation into whether the business hired illegal immigrants. While no employer sanction allegations were filed against the Gold Canyon Candle Company in Chandler, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the investigation will continue into whether the business knowingly hired illegal workers.
65 people – most of whom were in the country illegally – were arrested in the raid. Twenty-three people were booked on identity theft allegations. Another 37 were taken into custody simply for being in the country illegally. Five U.S. citizens were arrested on outstanding criminal warrants.
The company said it conducts background checks on all hires and cooperated with investigators. "Gold Canyon is in compliance with state and federal requirements for hiring co-workers and proactively verifies the work status of every co-worker prior to hiring,'' CEO Curt Waisath said in a statement.
Sheriff Arpaio said a woman who has worked at the plant for seven years was using the Social Security number of a man who works in the White House. The sheriff declined to name the White House employee, citing security reasons.
No business operators have been formally accused of civil employer sanction violations in the eight months since Arizona has prohibited employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. Maricopa County deputies had previously raided two other businesses in similar cases, but none have yet been accused in court of committing such a violation, though employees of the firms were arrested on ID theft charges.
Foreclosures 44 percent of Phoenix Home Sales according to ASU
That's a two percent increase from July and more than double the 20 percent of sales recorded in August 2007.
Sales of foreclosed homes in the metro Phoenix area made up nearly half of all existing homes sold in the area last month, a new study shows.
Of the 7,505 resale home transactions recorded in Maricopa County in August, 44 percent were bought out of foreclosures, according to the Realty Studies department at Arizona State University. That's a two percent increase from July and more than double the 20 percent of sales recorded in August 2007.
There's no end in sight for the housing market slump, according to the director of Realty Studies at ASU's Polytechnic campus in east Mesa.
``Most potential buyers still confront a weak economy, slumping levels of confidence and tighter underwriting guidelines,'' Jay Butler said. ``Thus, the local housing market still contains considerable uncertainty over when any potential strengthening can be expected.''
The federal government takeover of the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) has driving mortgage prices down, bad economic news is keeping buyer sentiment low, Butler said.
The median price of a home bought out of foreclosure in August was $161,875, compared with a non-foreclosure price of $193,550. A year ago the median prices were $220,010 and $258,000 respectively.
Prices varied widely by location. In North Scottsdale, the median price in August for a foreclosed property was $545,000, while the traditional market was $525,000. In South Scottsdale the splits were $219,855 and $242,000, respectively. In Maryvale, traditional transactions were $98,000 and foreclosures were $123,580.
The steep drop in prices is beginning to bring out investors expecting to see prices rebound in the next few years, Butler said.
Interest is especially high in the lower-priced ranges because more capital is available for those homes, he said.
Sales of foreclosed homes in the metro Phoenix area made up nearly half of all existing homes sold in the area last month, a new study shows.
Of the 7,505 resale home transactions recorded in Maricopa County in August, 44 percent were bought out of foreclosures, according to the Realty Studies department at Arizona State University. That's a two percent increase from July and more than double the 20 percent of sales recorded in August 2007.
There's no end in sight for the housing market slump, according to the director of Realty Studies at ASU's Polytechnic campus in east Mesa.
``Most potential buyers still confront a weak economy, slumping levels of confidence and tighter underwriting guidelines,'' Jay Butler said. ``Thus, the local housing market still contains considerable uncertainty over when any potential strengthening can be expected.''
The federal government takeover of the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) has driving mortgage prices down, bad economic news is keeping buyer sentiment low, Butler said.
The median price of a home bought out of foreclosure in August was $161,875, compared with a non-foreclosure price of $193,550. A year ago the median prices were $220,010 and $258,000 respectively.
Prices varied widely by location. In North Scottsdale, the median price in August for a foreclosed property was $545,000, while the traditional market was $525,000. In South Scottsdale the splits were $219,855 and $242,000, respectively. In Maryvale, traditional transactions were $98,000 and foreclosures were $123,580.
The steep drop in prices is beginning to bring out investors expecting to see prices rebound in the next few years, Butler said.
Interest is especially high in the lower-priced ranges because more capital is available for those homes, he said.
Chandler company has created a new miracle bandage
A Chandler company has created a new bandage that some call a miracle.
Vomaris Innovations, formerly known as Silverleaf Medical Products, says its Prosit bandage has tiny batteries that start micro-electric currents when the wet bandage is applied to a wound.
"And, this electrical activity then kills bacteria, keeps the wound clean and, in the studies we've had so far, have shown that this stimulates the wounds to heal," said company president and CEO Jeffry Skiba.
Skiba said the bandage, currently available by prescription for about $100 a box, can help heal severe wounds.
"We've added technology to the surface, so the surface of the bandage or dressing, if you will, becomes more of a medical device."
Skiba recalled one case in which the Prosit bandage produced miraculous results.
"The individual had lost his right leg to amputation, was scheduled to lose his left leg, he was already diagnosed by doctors in the hospital. With three weeks of treatment with this product, he was not amputated. He still has his leg today."
Doctors in South Carolina are using the bandage to treat nursing home patients.
"They're putting it on a variety of pressure wounds, pressure ulcers. They're finding the pain is universally controlled and that the wounds are healing up nicely."
Dr. Robert Frykberg, chief of podiatry at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Phoenix, plans to conduct a clinical trial on use of the bandage for diabetic food wounds. Prosit also is being tested by Dr. Scott Sheftel, a Tucson dermatologist.
Prosit was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006 as an antimicrobial barrier to infection.
Among those who has tested the product is Dr. Robert Frykberg, chief of podiatry at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Administration Medical Center in Phoenix. He is preparing to conduct a clinical trial on use of the bandage for diabetic food wounds. Dr. Scott Sheftel, a Tucson dermatologist, also is testing the product.
Click here to see the bandage!
Vomaris Innovations, formerly known as Silverleaf Medical Products, says its Prosit bandage has tiny batteries that start micro-electric currents when the wet bandage is applied to a wound.
"And, this electrical activity then kills bacteria, keeps the wound clean and, in the studies we've had so far, have shown that this stimulates the wounds to heal," said company president and CEO Jeffry Skiba.
Skiba said the bandage, currently available by prescription for about $100 a box, can help heal severe wounds.
"We've added technology to the surface, so the surface of the bandage or dressing, if you will, becomes more of a medical device."
Skiba recalled one case in which the Prosit bandage produced miraculous results.
"The individual had lost his right leg to amputation, was scheduled to lose his left leg, he was already diagnosed by doctors in the hospital. With three weeks of treatment with this product, he was not amputated. He still has his leg today."
Doctors in South Carolina are using the bandage to treat nursing home patients.
"They're putting it on a variety of pressure wounds, pressure ulcers. They're finding the pain is universally controlled and that the wounds are healing up nicely."
Dr. Robert Frykberg, chief of podiatry at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Phoenix, plans to conduct a clinical trial on use of the bandage for diabetic food wounds. Prosit also is being tested by Dr. Scott Sheftel, a Tucson dermatologist.
Prosit was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006 as an antimicrobial barrier to infection.
Among those who has tested the product is Dr. Robert Frykberg, chief of podiatry at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Administration Medical Center in Phoenix. He is preparing to conduct a clinical trial on use of the bandage for diabetic food wounds. Dr. Scott Sheftel, a Tucson dermatologist, also is testing the product.
Click here to see the bandage!
Ex-Walgreens employee , Matthew Kell, has been arrested on suspicion of robbing seven pharmacies
An ex-Walgreens employee has been arrested on suspicion of robbing seven pharmacies from June to July, police said. Matthew Kell, 30, was arrested in Anaheim for a warrant on charges of robbery, burglary and theft in connection with crimes committed in the east Valley.
Kell is accused of stealing OxyContin pain pills, detectives said.
Chandler and Mesa detectives said they worked closely with the Anaheim and Los Angeles police in locating, tracking and arresting Kell.
Kell was recognized by another former Walgreens employee through an RXPatrol bulletin issued about the string of thefts, robberies and burglaries, said Detective David Ramer
In addition, an off-duty Chandler officer recognized Kell in the bulletin as a person he had seen at a fitness center.
The East Valley Gang & Criminal Information Fusion Center coordinated the multiple investigations out of Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and Gilbert, Ramer said.
Could Arizona lift the hold on highway projects soon?
Arizona may be close to lifting its hold on six highway projects because of a shortfall in federal funding.
Congress on Thursday sent President Bush an $8 billion rescue package for the federal highway trust fund.
Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Doug Nintzel says state officials will review the legislation but that the state's hold on the projects likely would end when President Bush signs the bill.
Nintzel says the state remains concerned about the lack of a long-term fix to the federal government's transportation system.
Arizona's $6.5 billion five-year highway construction program gets 44 percent of its funding from the federal government.
The biggest Arizona project put on hold was widening U.S. 93 near Hoover Dam.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Detention officer, Clayton Darnell Buycks, arrested for sexual assault on female inmate
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says a detention officer employed by the office for five years, was booked Tuesday on charges of sexual assault and kidnapping and immediately placed on administrative leave with pay.
Clayton Darnell Buycks, 28, allegedly fondled a female inmate in the elevator of the East Courthouse in downtown Phoenix late last month while she was being transported to court to face drug charges.
The inmate was apparently handcuffed at the time of the assault resulting in the kidnapping charge.
Clayton Darnell Buycks, 28, allegedly fondled a female inmate in the elevator of the East Courthouse in downtown Phoenix late last month while she was being transported to court to face drug charges.
The inmate was apparently handcuffed at the time of the assault resulting in the kidnapping charge.
Countrywide warns customers to be alert for ID theft
Countrywide Financial Corp. is sending letters to customers, telling them to be on the alert for identity theft after a former Countrywide employee was arrested last month and charged with stealing and selling the personal information of at least two million customers.
In addition to advising customers to watch their monthly statements for credit cards and other business, Countrywide also offered the affected customers free credit monitoring for the next two years.
Countrywide home loans is offering two years of free credit monitoring service to customers who get a letter that a former employee may have stolen their personal information.
But some customers said trying to sign up for that service was frustrating.
Phyllis Sparks is one of them. She doesn't like giving her social security number on the Internet.
"There is nothing on the Internet that you can assume is absolutely secure."
She called the credit service only to here a recorded message. So, Sparks then called Countrywide. "They really couldn't be that helpful as far as being able to get enrolled and the free two-year monitoring." She's since gotten through to the credit service, but was told her husband needs to call because the loan is in his name.
She said, in the future, she'll be more careful with mortgage companies. "In the future, I'm going to be asking them what kind of security do you have in place to safeguard our personal information and our Social Security numbers. You know, what kind of background check do you do on your employees? I'm going to be asking a whole lot more questions."
Paul Stevens with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse said the danger of ID theft might not be as serious as it first appeared.
"In this one, it appears to be most likely that it was for marketing purposes," Stevens said.
He added, "The value of this information probably was greatest for the purpose of marketing mortgages rather than for fraudulent activities."
Identity theft expert Jim Harper with the Cato Institute said the case demonstrates that consumers are in a pickle when it comes to giving up information.
"On the one hand, you're supposed to keep things like your Social Security number secret and, on the other hand, you have to give it out when applying for credit, applying for a new phone, for all kinds of different purposes," Harper said. "Medical records often use the SSN."
Harper said ID theft can strike close to home -- in many cases, relatives can be some of the most dangerous ID thieves.
So far, there have been no cases of ID theft reported because of the Countrywide theft. Rene L. Rebollo Jr., 36, a former employee of Countrywide Home Loans, was arrested in August at his home in Pasadena, Calif. Also charged in the case is Wahid Siddiqi, 25, of Thousand Oaks, Calif. According to court documents, Rebollo was fired in July after he allegedly acknowledged to the FBI that he had given account information of Countrywise customers to third parties over the course of two years.
Countrywide, engaged primarily in residential mortgage banking and related businesses, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America. It operates throughout the United States, including Arizona.
In addition to advising customers to watch their monthly statements for credit cards and other business, Countrywide also offered the affected customers free credit monitoring for the next two years.
Countrywide home loans is offering two years of free credit monitoring service to customers who get a letter that a former employee may have stolen their personal information.
But some customers said trying to sign up for that service was frustrating.
Phyllis Sparks is one of them. She doesn't like giving her social security number on the Internet.
"There is nothing on the Internet that you can assume is absolutely secure."
She called the credit service only to here a recorded message. So, Sparks then called Countrywide. "They really couldn't be that helpful as far as being able to get enrolled and the free two-year monitoring." She's since gotten through to the credit service, but was told her husband needs to call because the loan is in his name.
She said, in the future, she'll be more careful with mortgage companies. "In the future, I'm going to be asking them what kind of security do you have in place to safeguard our personal information and our Social Security numbers. You know, what kind of background check do you do on your employees? I'm going to be asking a whole lot more questions."
Paul Stevens with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse said the danger of ID theft might not be as serious as it first appeared.
"In this one, it appears to be most likely that it was for marketing purposes," Stevens said.
He added, "The value of this information probably was greatest for the purpose of marketing mortgages rather than for fraudulent activities."
Identity theft expert Jim Harper with the Cato Institute said the case demonstrates that consumers are in a pickle when it comes to giving up information.
"On the one hand, you're supposed to keep things like your Social Security number secret and, on the other hand, you have to give it out when applying for credit, applying for a new phone, for all kinds of different purposes," Harper said. "Medical records often use the SSN."
Harper said ID theft can strike close to home -- in many cases, relatives can be some of the most dangerous ID thieves.
So far, there have been no cases of ID theft reported because of the Countrywide theft. Rene L. Rebollo Jr., 36, a former employee of Countrywide Home Loans, was arrested in August at his home in Pasadena, Calif. Also charged in the case is Wahid Siddiqi, 25, of Thousand Oaks, Calif. According to court documents, Rebollo was fired in July after he allegedly acknowledged to the FBI that he had given account information of Countrywise customers to third parties over the course of two years.
Countrywide, engaged primarily in residential mortgage banking and related businesses, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America. It operates throughout the United States, including Arizona.
Photo Radar Van Driver busted for DUI
The driver was identified as 53-year-old Redflex employee Roderick M. Ruffin. He reportedly failed field sobriety tests and was booked and released on an extreme DUI charge. Police in Scottsdale say they've arrested a man driving a photo-enforcement van on suspicion of drunken driving. Sgt. Mark Clark says the van owned by Scottsdale-based Redflex Traffic Systems was spotted driving erratically by a citizen Saturday evening. Clark says in a statement released Tuesday that the witness reported the driver had hit the curb twice and nearly caused a crash.
A Scottsdale officer caught up with the van, saw it weaving and made a traffic stop. The driver was identified as 53-year-old Redflex employee Roderick M. Ruffin. He reportedly failed field sobriety tests and was booked and released on an extreme DUI charge.
A Redflex statement says Ruffin had undergone a background check that came back clean. He has been fired.
Gold Canyon Candle Company raided by Sheriff department!
Maricopa County sheriff's deputies raided Gold Canyon Candle Company at Arizona Avenue and Riggs Road today.
According to a press release, as many as 23 people are involved in identity theft, a White House staff member connection and an internal plan by plant employees to avoid capture by immigration or law enforcement authorities.
An employee's mother said deputies were inside, asking for immigration papers. Authorities say 65 people, most of who were illegals, were arrested in the raid. Twenty-three of those were booked on identity theft charges and 37 taken into custody based on their illegal status. An additional five U.S. citizens were arrested on outstanding warrants.
Gold Canyon Company spokeswoman Rebecca Clyde said deputies showed up with a search warrant, looking for specific individuals on charges of identity theft.
"Gold Canyon has always participated in e-verify, verifies all documentation with the government as required, and makes sure that there's appropriate W-2s and I-9s for every employee," according to a person named Clyde.
She said MCSO showed the human relations director the search warrant, but did not allow the attorney to review it. Clyde said the company didn't receive prior notification of the raid.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas will provide more details later tonight.
Funny how the Gold Canyon Candle Company tries to say they follow all the required laws, but they get raided and are found to have over 60 illegal aliens working for them. I hope this company gets a large penalty like the law intended for these type of employers.
According to a press release, as many as 23 people are involved in identity theft, a White House staff member connection and an internal plan by plant employees to avoid capture by immigration or law enforcement authorities.
An employee's mother said deputies were inside, asking for immigration papers. Authorities say 65 people, most of who were illegals, were arrested in the raid. Twenty-three of those were booked on identity theft charges and 37 taken into custody based on their illegal status. An additional five U.S. citizens were arrested on outstanding warrants.
Gold Canyon Company spokeswoman Rebecca Clyde said deputies showed up with a search warrant, looking for specific individuals on charges of identity theft.
"Gold Canyon has always participated in e-verify, verifies all documentation with the government as required, and makes sure that there's appropriate W-2s and I-9s for every employee," according to a person named Clyde.
She said MCSO showed the human relations director the search warrant, but did not allow the attorney to review it. Clyde said the company didn't receive prior notification of the raid.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas will provide more details later tonight.
Funny how the Gold Canyon Candle Company tries to say they follow all the required laws, but they get raided and are found to have over 60 illegal aliens working for them. I hope this company gets a large penalty like the law intended for these type of employers.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
VCAT arrests 16 fugitives in Arizona within one week
Sixteen fugitives were arrested in Arizona during the last week of August by the Arizona Department of Public Safety Violent Criminal Apprehension Team.DPS was instructed to develop a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional statewide plan to identify and arrest individuals with outstanding felony warrants, or VCAT, on May 12th.
According to officials, VCAT has arrested 250 fugitives and 330 felony warrants have been cleared.
Recent arrests include David Herriges for a felony warrant for Probation Violation on Molestation of a Child charges. Herriges reportedly admitted to touching children in the bathrooms while attending church in Avondale.
Thomas Wright was arrested for a felony warrant for Burglary, Forgery, Theft, Taking Identity of another, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Burglary Tools.
Carmen King was arrested for a felony warrant for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Theft of Means of Transportation.
Marlee Sharp was arrested for a felony warrant for Aggravated Assault.
Undercover operation loses 75lbs of pot and a cop car
An undercover drug ring is busted in Casa Grande, but aren't exactly happy with the results.
It was a month long undercover operation.
As Pinal County Sheriff's deputies went to make the exchange of marijuana for a Hummer something went wrong.
Four of the five suspects still ended up in custody but the fifth got away with 75 pounds of pot and a cop car.
They say these kinds of failures don't happen often and added they're more upset with the loss of the car than the pot.
SRP to raise rate, AGAIN!
The Salt River Project, SRP, expects to raise its rates by 5 to 7 percent in November to help pay or higher fuel costs.
Chief financial executive Mike Bonsall says the higher rates are needed even though fuel prices have dropped in recent months. Dropping prices will keep the rate boost in check but not eliminate it entirely. Bonsall says fuel cost overruns totaled 80 million dollars through July. The average monthly bill is expected to rise by $5.40 to $7.45 depending on the size of the rate hike. The utility board will meet in October to decide how high to raise prices. Because S-R-P is a quasi-public agency, it isn't regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. That means it can raise it rates without approval by regulators. But Bonsall says the utility won't make a profit from the rate increase. It's just passing on its costs. S-R-P serves 935,000 customers, primarily in Maricopa and Pinal counties.
This comes after SRP raised rate nearly 20% only a few months ago. This comes at the worst time possible.Gas prices are outrageous, people are losing their jobs left and right, and the housing market is horrible. To top it all off, this rate hike comes just before Christmas!
Chief financial executive Mike Bonsall says the higher rates are needed even though fuel prices have dropped in recent months. Dropping prices will keep the rate boost in check but not eliminate it entirely. Bonsall says fuel cost overruns totaled 80 million dollars through July. The average monthly bill is expected to rise by $5.40 to $7.45 depending on the size of the rate hike. The utility board will meet in October to decide how high to raise prices. Because S-R-P is a quasi-public agency, it isn't regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. That means it can raise it rates without approval by regulators. But Bonsall says the utility won't make a profit from the rate increase. It's just passing on its costs. S-R-P serves 935,000 customers, primarily in Maricopa and Pinal counties.
This comes after SRP raised rate nearly 20% only a few months ago. This comes at the worst time possible.Gas prices are outrageous, people are losing their jobs left and right, and the housing market is horrible. To top it all off, this rate hike comes just before Christmas!
Shooting in Laveen, 1 dead
A teenage boy was fatally shot and three other people were wounded during an altercation at a home in Laveen, authorities said.
Three teenage boys visited the home of a teenage girl about 9 p.m. on Friday and the group was talking in the doorway of the home when an argument broke out, according to police. Shots were fired after the girl's father tried to break up the fight.
It's unclear who opened fire but one of the teenage boys was killed, according to authorities. They said the girls' parents were shot along with one of the other boys but suffered non-life threatening injuries. The names of the teens and parents were not immediately released by police.
Three teenage boys visited the home of a teenage girl about 9 p.m. on Friday and the group was talking in the doorway of the home when an argument broke out, according to police. Shots were fired after the girl's father tried to break up the fight.
It's unclear who opened fire but one of the teenage boys was killed, according to authorities. They said the girls' parents were shot along with one of the other boys but suffered non-life threatening injuries. The names of the teens and parents were not immediately released by police.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Montana motorcyclist dies in 239 mph crash at the salt flats
A 47-year-old record-setting motorcycle racer from Montana has died when he lost control and crashed while traveling at 239 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Investigators weren't sure what caused Cliff Gullett, of Bozeman, Mont., to lose control of the motorcycle Wednesday during a time trial.
The American Motorcyclist Association said on its Web site that Gullett was competing in the 500cc Streamliner class at the Salt Flats, where drivers go for speed records every summer on the flat, open space just east of the Nevada state line.
Gullett owned Team Bozeman Motorsports, a motorcycle and snowmobile dealership. He had set a handful of world land-speed records and wanted to eventually become the first to reach 400 mph on a two-wheeled Streamliner, according to an interview last week with The Billings Gazette.
Curt Lance, Team Bozeman's general manager, said "Cliff always told me that if anything happened on the Salt, he wanted it to be quick and not lingering. He died doing the thing he loved to do most _ racing at Bonneville."
Verizon senior engineer arrested on suspicion of having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl
A Verizon senior engineer was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl over a six-month period, Pinal County sheriff's deputies said. Greg Andersen, 45, of Maricopa, was booked into the Pinal County Jail on charges of sexual conduct with a minor, stalking and exploitation of a minor. A search warrant was served on his home outside of Maricopa.
Deputies said the girl reported that Andersen also took nude photographs of her and then placed some of the photos on a Web site.
The victim said that she recently returned a cell phone Andersen had bought her, left the state and obtained another cell phone that Andersen would not have the number for, deputies said. However, Andersen was able to get her new phone number, which was also a Verizon number, sheriff's investigators said.
While the victim was out of state, Andersen purchased a car and told the victim it was for her, deputies said.
He also reportedly asked the victim to marry him on different occasions, though Andersen is currently married, investigators said.
Deputies said the case is an ongoing investigation and additional charges may be pending.
Dad, daughter firefighters make history in Tucson
Christa Clayton had a burning desire to follow in her father's footsteps. Her dad's feet just happen to be clad in bulky, flame-proof boots.
Tucson Fire Department Capt. Tim Clayton, 56, is in his 34th year of service. His daughter, 23, joined after graduating from the Tucson Fire Department's Public Safety Academy in June. They are the first father-daughter duo in department history, said spokesman Capt. Norm Carlton.
Christa Clayton is one of 35 women in the ranks of about 640 uniformed Tucson firefighters. Clayton said that she did not grow up playing with plastic fire trucks but that she had always been a tomboy.
She also recalls bringing her father's name plaque to her first-grade class's show and tell. "I was so proud that my dad was a firefighter,'' she said.
She still is, even though her choice to follow suit didn't happen until some time later.
Clayton was a University of Arizona junior majoring in psychology when she asked herself, "Why am I doing this?'' "I needed to find a real career,'' she said. "I like doing something different every day. I knew I didn't want to sit behind a desk.''
So she moved back in her with her folks and signed up to join the Fire Department.
Clayton knows she made the right choice, but she did have moments wondering what she got into during the 22 grueling weeks at the academy. "You won't believe how many people come out the first day and don't come back the second day,'' Carlton said.
She never thought of giving up. "Every day we would have a moment of silence at the flag and I would tell myself, 'You can do this.'''
No one else had any doubts.
"It's wonderful for me,'' Tim Clayton said. "I'm very proud of her. She's here for the right reasons, not to champion any cause but because she wants to be a good firefighter.''
Public service runs in the family. Mom Melisa Clayton, 54, is a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital. Older brother, Matt, 29, is an emergency medical technician with Southwest Ambulance. He too hopes to join the Fire Department.
Both grandfathers were in the military. One grandmother worked in a doctor's office. The father and daughter firefighters work at different stations but share days off and talk daily. Christa Clayton is at Station 12. Her father has been at Station 1 for more than three decades.
"He always has a smile, a positive attitude,'' Carlton said. "People are always like, 'All right! I get to work with Tim.'
Christa Clayton is also well-accepted in the department except, she said, for a little ribbing. "I'll hear 'Daddy's on the phone,' when he calls,'' she said. "It's all in good humor.''
In reality, she said, it's like she has several dads and plenty of big brothers and sisters since she knew so many firefighters growing up.
"She came here as a kid and she would watch TV, people would offer her something to eat,'' Carlton said. "Now they are saying, 'There's the mop. Go clean the bathroom.'
Christa Clayton is not the only one who has made a major adjustment. She said her mom now has to get used to a husband and a daughter being away for days during lengthy firefighting shifts.
"She bought a dog,'' Christa Clayton said. "That's her new baby.''
Duck Stamp has Phone Sex Hotline number on it!
About 3.5 million stamps sold by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service include a telephone number connecting customers to a phone sex hotline. The Feds said it was a typo, but too costly to reprint.
The Federal Government said they will continue selling a stamp directing customers to a phone sex hotline because it would cost too much to reprint them.
About 3.5 million duck stamps sold by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were supposed to include a telephone number so customers could buy the Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Edition.
Instead, the correct number, 1-800-STAMP24, the number printed was 1-800-TRAMP24, a number for a phone sex hotline called "Intimate Encounters."
Josh Winchell, a spokesman with Fish and Game, said it's a typo and too expensive to reprint.
The $15 stamp is required for any waterfowl hunter over 16 years of age. The stamps raise $25 million annually for wetland acquisition. They are sold at post offices and sporting goods stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses.
The number longer works as of this writing.
The Federal Government said they will continue selling a stamp directing customers to a phone sex hotline because it would cost too much to reprint them.
About 3.5 million duck stamps sold by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were supposed to include a telephone number so customers could buy the Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Edition.
Instead, the correct number, 1-800-STAMP24, the number printed was 1-800-TRAMP24, a number for a phone sex hotline called "Intimate Encounters."
Josh Winchell, a spokesman with Fish and Game, said it's a typo and too expensive to reprint.
The $15 stamp is required for any waterfowl hunter over 16 years of age. The stamps raise $25 million annually for wetland acquisition. They are sold at post offices and sporting goods stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses.
The number longer works as of this writing.
U of A Sued by Parents of Murdered Student
A University of Arizona student was fatally stabbed last year. Her roommate was charged with her murder, along with ID theft and forgery.
The parents of a University of Arizona student fatally stabbed in her dormitory room have sued the university, the Arizona Board of Regents and the state. Mia Henderson was stabbed nearly two dozen times on Sept. 5, 2007 as she lay in bed.
Roommate Galareka Harrison, a fellow Navajo Nation member, has been charged with first-degree murder, identity theft and forgery. She awaits trial in Pima County Superior Court.
The lawsuit alleges that the university failed to separate the two Native American freshmen despite knowing that Henderson had filed complaints with university police and officials.
She alleged that Harrison had stolen her Social Security card, a university-issued debit card and had withdrawn $500 from her bank account.
The parents of a University of Arizona student fatally stabbed in her dormitory room have sued the university, the Arizona Board of Regents and the state. Mia Henderson was stabbed nearly two dozen times on Sept. 5, 2007 as she lay in bed.
Roommate Galareka Harrison, a fellow Navajo Nation member, has been charged with first-degree murder, identity theft and forgery. She awaits trial in Pima County Superior Court.
The lawsuit alleges that the university failed to separate the two Native American freshmen despite knowing that Henderson had filed complaints with university police and officials.
She alleged that Harrison had stolen her Social Security card, a university-issued debit card and had withdrawn $500 from her bank account.
Broker's Car Found in California
Irving Shuman, 84, was found dead inside his 7th Ave. business, Standard Realty & Development Co. Tuesday night and his car was missing.
The vehicle of a slain Phoenix real-estate broker has been located in California, authorities said. Phoenix police Detective Stacie Derge said a San Bernardino officer ran across the vehicle Thursday while on routine patrol.
The car's license plate had been entered into a nationwide database following 84-year-old Irving Shuman's murder. Derge said investigators are speaking with persons associated with the vehicle's recovery, but no arrests have been made.S human's body was found Tuesday inside his office and his luxury car was missing.
Police have not released a cause of death, nor have they publicly speculated about a motive. Those who knew Shuman described him as "a giant" in the Jewish community in Phoenix. Shuman was the recipient of several top local honors for his service, including the Tree of Life award by the Jewish National Fund in Arizona and the Medal of Honor, the highest prize from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.
The vehicle of a slain Phoenix real-estate broker has been located in California, authorities said. Phoenix police Detective Stacie Derge said a San Bernardino officer ran across the vehicle Thursday while on routine patrol.
The car's license plate had been entered into a nationwide database following 84-year-old Irving Shuman's murder. Derge said investigators are speaking with persons associated with the vehicle's recovery, but no arrests have been made.S human's body was found Tuesday inside his office and his luxury car was missing.
Police have not released a cause of death, nor have they publicly speculated about a motive. Those who knew Shuman described him as "a giant" in the Jewish community in Phoenix. Shuman was the recipient of several top local honors for his service, including the Tree of Life award by the Jewish National Fund in Arizona and the Medal of Honor, the highest prize from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.
The "Green Summit" Underway at Phoenix Convention Center
The second annual "GreenSummit" runs Friday and Saturday at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix. The first event, held last year, was a student event on the ASU campus. It was so successful that APS signed on as a major sponsor and moved the event to downtown Phoenix. (See photo below)It features dozens of workshops and over 100 exhibitors on everything from making your home and your personal life more environmentally-friendly to helping your business be more "green." Exhibits included cleaning products, energy-efficient lighting and insulation, kitchen appliances, and even porous concrete, which allows water to filter through to the groundwater below.
For more information, visit www.greensummit.net
Coach is a hero after saving a student from drowning in pool
A Valley teen suffered a seizure during swim practice and lost consciousness underwater but she survived thanks to her coach’s quick thinking. Kandace Jilek did not swim in Thursday’s swim meet but she still attended thanks to her swim coach at Chandler High School, a man Kandace now calls her hero.
Ordinarily in the water winning races, on Thursday Kandace was the Chandler High School’s swim team’s #1 fan. She has not yet been medically cleared to dive back in after an epileptic seizure in the pool nearly cost her her life. It happened when she was swimming the 100-meter freestyle during practice on Tuesday.
She explains how she was swimming before she says it got “kinda blurry.” It got blurry because the 16 year old was at the bottom of the pool drowning in Lane 1. Luckily her coach, Kerry Croswhite, was nearby and without thinking twice dove in after her.
He says, “Kandace wasn’t breathing and she didn’t have a pulse so I immediately started rescue breathing and I was hoping and praying that what I was doing was gonna help Kandace and help bring her back and revive her.
Thankfully, it did but still Kandace says she cannot believe the great lengths her coach went to to save her life. She says, “Once I found out one of coaches gave me CPR I was like ‘Wow, that’s how much he cares’.”
Now with a renewed love of life and swimming, Kandace says she will not be taking any more chances with her epilepsy. She is anxious to compete again. Epilepsy or not, she says she is ready to swim but until her doctor gives her the green light she says, “I’ll be here being a cheerleader.”
This was not the first time Coach Croswhite has rescued and resuscitated students. In fact, twice before he has performed CPR to save students’ lives. That is the reason he says it is so important that everyone knows CPR because you never know you are needed.
Thank you so much Coach Kerry Croswhite, you are a hero!
Ordinarily in the water winning races, on Thursday Kandace was the Chandler High School’s swim team’s #1 fan. She has not yet been medically cleared to dive back in after an epileptic seizure in the pool nearly cost her her life. It happened when she was swimming the 100-meter freestyle during practice on Tuesday.
She explains how she was swimming before she says it got “kinda blurry.” It got blurry because the 16 year old was at the bottom of the pool drowning in Lane 1. Luckily her coach, Kerry Croswhite, was nearby and without thinking twice dove in after her.
He says, “Kandace wasn’t breathing and she didn’t have a pulse so I immediately started rescue breathing and I was hoping and praying that what I was doing was gonna help Kandace and help bring her back and revive her.
Thankfully, it did but still Kandace says she cannot believe the great lengths her coach went to to save her life. She says, “Once I found out one of coaches gave me CPR I was like ‘Wow, that’s how much he cares’.”
Now with a renewed love of life and swimming, Kandace says she will not be taking any more chances with her epilepsy. She is anxious to compete again. Epilepsy or not, she says she is ready to swim but until her doctor gives her the green light she says, “I’ll be here being a cheerleader.”
This was not the first time Coach Croswhite has rescued and resuscitated students. In fact, twice before he has performed CPR to save students’ lives. That is the reason he says it is so important that everyone knows CPR because you never know you are needed.
Thank you so much Coach Kerry Croswhite, you are a hero!
Pot bust at Phoenix hotel
Three people are in custody after an early morning pot bust at a Phoenix hotel.
About 30 lbs. of pot
According to the Phoenix Police Department, security guards at the Inn Town Suites at 51st Avenue and Interstate 10 noticed a suspcious odor emanating from one of the hotel rooms at about 3:30 a.m. Friday.
While talking the three people inside the room, the guards spotted what appeared to be several small bales of marjuana. After a short struggle, guards were able to detain the trio until police arrived.
According to Det. Marysol Larrison of the Phoenix Police Department, officers discovered about 30 pounds of pot and $2,000 in cash, as well as miscellaneous drug paraphenalia inside the hotel room.
The three individuals were taken into police custody and investigators from the drug enforcement bureau were called in.
Police are not releasing any information about the suspects at this time.
About 30 lbs. of pot
According to the Phoenix Police Department, security guards at the Inn Town Suites at 51st Avenue and Interstate 10 noticed a suspcious odor emanating from one of the hotel rooms at about 3:30 a.m. Friday.
While talking the three people inside the room, the guards spotted what appeared to be several small bales of marjuana. After a short struggle, guards were able to detain the trio until police arrived.
According to Det. Marysol Larrison of the Phoenix Police Department, officers discovered about 30 pounds of pot and $2,000 in cash, as well as miscellaneous drug paraphenalia inside the hotel room.
The three individuals were taken into police custody and investigators from the drug enforcement bureau were called in.
Police are not releasing any information about the suspects at this time.
Mayor Gordon shows off back brace
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon held a press conference on his recent back injury Friday morning. The Mayor said that he is back on the job as of the press conference, but is "moving slower" due to the injury.
Gordon sported his back brace during the presser, which wrapped around the bottom of his torso and the top of his hips.
He said that medicine is helping subside the pain from the injury.
Gordon said that it was someone from his staff that forced him to go to the hospital emergency room on Tuesday. The Mayor had reported to work but complained of back pain.
During his examination doctors told the Mayor that he had fractured the third vertebrae from the bottom.
==================
PREVIOUS REPORT: Spokesman Scott Phelleps confirmed that Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon is recovering from a broken vertebrae. The injury occurred while Gordon was tending to yard work at his house. The mayor had climbed up a tree to clear broken limbs and storm debris from the tree this past weekend. He fell out of the tree, falling approximately 13 feet. The mayor went to work Tuesday morning, but went to a doctor after complaining of pain. Doctors have fitted Gordon with a back brace and he is expected to return to work this week, possibly even Wednesday. Gordon fractured the third vertebrae in his back.
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