Mother’s Day collision sends four to hospital

(Howard Waggner/Maricopa360.com) – Mother’s Day started out in a bad way for several local motorists.

The Maricopa and Ak-Chin Fire Departments, as well as Southwest Ambulance and air rescue were called to the intersection of State Route 347 and Papago Road, around 9:30 am, for an injury accident involving extrication.
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Hidden Valley road work happening this week

(Pinal County Press Release) – Pinal County Public Works crews will be placing an Asphalt Dust Rock Palliative (ADRP) layer on roads in Hidden Valley Monday, May 14th. ADRP is similar to a chip seal and it is used to renew the road surface and cut down on dust. Crews should finish up the work in three weeks, weather permitting.

This pavement preservation project will include a combined total of 74,887 square yards of material used or approximately 4.30 lane miles of improved road. The project will use 1695 tons of chip and 160 tons of oil. The ADRP will lengthen the life of the road while also helping improve air quality by minimizing dust.

The roads to be affected by the pavement preservation project include:
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Legacy softball team wins second consecutive championship

(Press Release) – The Legacy Traditional School Jr. High Girls Softball Team won back-to-back state championships on Saturday May 5 at Salt River High School. The Lions defeated Dobson Academy for the second straight year with a final score was 8-5.

The team was 15 – 1 for the season and was confident going into the tournament, knowing that their only loss was to Dobson Academy. It was no surprise that there would be a rematch for the championship last Saturday.

Jordan Turpen, seventh grader, was named Most Valuable Player by the Arizona Charter Athletic Association at the Junior High Softball State Tournament for her efforts. She had an exceptional game, striking out three batters in a row at the bottom of the sixth inning.
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Animal Care & Control sees increase in parvo among new intakes

(Pinal County Press Release) – Parvovirus is a serious, extremely contagious viral infection that primarily affects dogs. Recently, Pinal County Animal Care & Control has seen an increase in the number of new intakes, strays and puppies that appear sick with parvo infection.

Parvo infection is preventable with a vaccine. All dogs coming into the shelter are vaccinated against a variety of infections, including parvo, but the vaccine does not help an already sick dog. Even after vaccination, there is a period of susceptibility that can last up to two weeks until the vaccine reaches full effectiveness.
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Multi-agency operation in Maricopa nets over 1000 pounds of marijuana

(MPD Press Release) – Over the last week, the City of Maricopa Police Department (MPD) implemented a multi-agency anti-drug smuggling operation. The operation, titled “Eagle Talon”, was comprised of Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Federal, State, Tribal and Local law enforcement. The focus of the operation was to coordinate crime-fighting efforts at persons, vehicles and criminal activity involved in the transportation of illegal drugs through the City of Maricopa.

During the week long operation, three arrests were made. During three separate traffic stops, the occupants fled on foot from their vehicles and ran into the desert. Unitizing the PCSO air support and all the other units involved in this operation, all subjects were found and arrested.
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Sheriff Paul Babeu to seek re-election

Friends and supporters,

First, let me say how much your friendship and support means to me. When I announced my candidacy for Congress, I promised the citizens of Pinal County that I would ensure continuity of leadership in the Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Steve Henry’s candidacy not only ensured continuity of leadership, it also safeguarded the improved service we’ve delivered to Pinal families with the same passion and commitment since taking office.

The federal Office of Special Counsel has advised Chief Henry that because our office receives federal funds and Steve supervises those who are in control of federal funds, he is not able to run for Sheriff while serving as our Chief Deputy.
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May update from Supervisor David Snider

With all due respect to the Farmers’ Almanac, the month of April certainly didn’t produce many showers around here so we’ll all have to use our imaginations in order to see those May flowers. Unless of course you went on the UofA Garden tour last month – in which case you’ve stored away lots of mental photos of some beautiful landscapes.

But before I totally move away from this topic, I need to remind everyone that the danger from wild fires this spring and summer is very high due to the aforementioned lack of rainfall. In fact, Pinal County’s Air Quality Department has ceased issuing burn permits for the unincorporated areas of the county. The only exceptions to the ban on open burning are those farming operations that have already received a permit for agricultural burning.
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