Maricopa Historical Society incorporates as non-profit
The Maricopa Historical Society has announced that they have incorporated as a non-profit corporation. They will hold their first meeting on August 2nd at 6:00 pm at the Maricopa Public Library, 41600 W Smith-Enke Road, and welcome anyone who is interested in History, especially the history of Maricopa, to join them.
The Society began meeting in 2005 as the History Committee of the Friends of the Maricopa Public Library. Thanks to many generous donations from local individuals and businesses they were able to republish a book by former local teacher, Patricia Brock, “Reflections of a Desert Town”. Those donors were honored with a “Benefactors of Maricopa’s Heritage” plaque which hangs in the library meeting room.
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Melvin named president of national organization
Maricopa’s Assistant City Manager, Patrick Melvin has assumed the duties of national president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Melvin, who previously served as first vice president, was installed in his new position during NOBLE’s 34th Annual Training Conference and Exhibition held in Baltimore the week of July 10th.
Melvin said as president he plans to focus on three new areas of concentration – two dealing with safety and the third aimed at enhancing NOBLE’s financial health.
“I want to do all I can to encourage seatbelt usage nationally for the communities we serve, our law enforcement colleagues, family members and friends,” said Melvin, a former motorcycle officer who witnessed first hand the results of not buckling-up. “NOBLE will provide recommendations for policy initiatives aimed at avoiding injuries and deaths related to non-seatbelt usage.”
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Maricopa swears in new Fire Chief
Although he’s been filling the role for the past two years or so, it’s now official. On Wednesday evening, the Maricopa Fire Department welcomed Wade Brannon as its new Fire Chief!
Brannon came to MFD in July, 2005 from the Gila River Fire Department where he had served as Captain and Acting Deputy Chief, and brings 20 years public safety experience to the job. He started his career with American Ambulance in 1990 as a Emergency Medical Technician, and is well-versed in the emergency medical and fire services.
Born in Phoenix, Brannon is a third generation Arizonan. He has been married for 13 years to his wife Jennifer, a native to New York City. The Brannons have two children, 12 year-old Jacob and 9 year-old Riley Ann, and two beagles. The family have been residents of Maricopa since 2006.
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Local singer/songwriter tackles immigration issue
Singer/songwriter, and Maricopa resident, Freddie Duran will be celebrating the completion and release of the video for his song, “Where the Birds Sing in Spanish” at El Zocalo Mexican Grille in downtown Chandler this Monday July 12th at 8:00 pm.
The video will be projected on a 12-foot screen in the elegant courtyard of El Zocalo which is located at 28 South San Marcos Place. “The song addresses the immigration issue from a softer, less rebellious point of view – perhaps what the average Mexican immigrant may be contemplating. And the video? It will speak for itself” says Duran.
The video was directed by John Koop of Arizona Virtual Studios. “We’re sure it will become a substantial portrait that succeeds in capturing an unstable point of time in Arizona’s history,” Duran added.
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Maricopa ED Director appointed to state economic board
Danielle Casey, CEcD, EDFP, Economic Development Director for the City of Maricopa, was recently voted to the Arizona Association of Economic Development (AAED) Board of Directors by the membership as a non-metro community representative for a two-year term. Danielle was appointed during the AAED Spring Conference held in Flagstaff earlier this month.
In addition to her board appointment, Danielle has served as co-chair of the Business Retention and Expansion Committee. In 2009, the committee completed the first-ever statewide analysis report of business retention interview data and provided recommendations for local, regional and statewide ways in which retention and expansion efforts can be advanced. The committee recently gave a presentation overview of the report to the Governor’s Council on Small Business.
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Former Maricopa mayor appointed to State Transportation Board
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has announced the appointment of Kelly Anderson as the newest member of the State Transportation Board. Anderson will represent the District Four Region, which includes Gila, Graham and Pinal Counties, in the planning and development of Arizona’s transportation network. He replaces outgoing board member Delbert Householder.
“I am very pleased to announce my appointment of Kelly Anderson to the State Transportation Board,” said Governor Brewer. “As a lifelong resident of Pinal County and former mayor of the City of Maricopa, Mr Anderson brings to the board a strong familiarity of the region as well as his experience as a well-respected community leader and businessman.”
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Two Maricopa councilmembers gain NLC committee appointments
Maricopa has become well-represented at the National League of Cities (NLC). Two local councilmembers received NLC committee appointments this week:
Councilmember Marquisha Griffin was reappointed to Council on Youth, Families and Education.
Griffin has made it no secret that her passion lies with finding ways to support the needs of Maricopa’s youth, stating “I look forward to continuing to contribute to the guidance of the Institute for Youth, Families and Education in areas such as gang prevention, aligning early education and public school systems, and helping disconnected youth obtain jobs and education.”
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Maricopa middle school student named one of Arizona’s top two youth volunteers
12 year-old Austen Pearce of Maricopa has been named one of Arizona’s top two youth volunteers for 2010 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 15th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Austen was nominated by Maricopa’s Desert Wind Middle School. As a State Honoree, he will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where he and Arizona’s other top honoree, 16 year-old Michael Young of Scottsdale, will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2010 at that time.
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Pinal County Sheriff joining photo radar protest
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu will be speaking at a protest being held this weekend at the Arizona Headquarters of Redflex Traffic Systems, an Australian Photo Radar Company.
Protests of the company by an activist group have been ongoing since Redflex signed a Contract in 2008 to operate fixed photo radar machines and mobile vans on the interstates and freeways throughout the state. The protest will be happening Saturday, beginning at 12:00 noon. Representatives of Arizona Citizens Against Photo Radar (ACAPR) are also scheduled to speak.
Babeu and ACAPR have been allies since he took office in early 2009 and ended the Photo Radar operations of Redflex in his county. The newly elected Sheriff cited the safety risks posed by the cameras to motorists in Pinal County as well as the argument that the system is unconstitutional. Babeu credits his stance on photo traffic enforcement with winning him the election for Sheriff in 2008.
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Santa Claus is coming to town… tonight!
For the fourth year in a row, the Christmas season is bringing two "famous guests" to Maricopa, and this year local firefighters are helping them out!
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