Late morning fender-bender an inconvenience without injuries
January 21, 2009
An accident at Carefree Highway and Tom Darlington Drive late Thursday morning didn’t appear to result in any injuries, although it did render this Hyundai un-drivable. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies directed traffic around the disabled vehicle until a tow truck showed up to remove it from the intersection.
Bush commutes sentences of agents Ramos and Compean
By Linda Bentley | January 21, 2009
Border agents’ sentence to expire March 20
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On his last day in office, President Bush responded to two years of public outcry by commuting the 12 and 11-year prison sentences of Border Patrol agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio “Nacho” Ramos, who have spent the majority of the past two years in solitary confinement after being convicted of shooting a Mexican drug smuggler in 2005.
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Parents responsible for misconduct of under-18 drivers
By Linda Bentley | January 21, 2009
‘To a third party or juror, it still looks like you’re stealing’
CAVE CREEK – Just two weeks shy of his 17th birthday, M.O. was pulled over in Cave Creek for making an unsafe lane change when it was also noted he was driving with only an instruction permit and no adult beside him in the vehicle. The citation didn’t end there.
M.O. was also charged with driving in violation of restrictions, not having a valid license, driving with a suspended, revoked or cancelled license, and for failure to provide proof of financial responsibility.
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Cave Creek sales tax goes to 3 percent March 23
By Linda Bentley | January 21, 2009
CAVE CREEK – Council passed the second reading of an ordinance on Tuesday to increase sales tax from 2.5 percent to 3 percent for two years, effective March 23, 2009, by a vote of 6-1, with Vice Mayor Gilbert Lopez dissenting.
Town Accountant Marian Groeneveld said the increase will bring in approximately $500,000 per year.
Randy Simpson’s application for a non-conforming use modification to the roof of his home passed unanimously.
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Gary Neiss to replace retiring Jon Pearson
By Curtis Riggs | January 21, 2009
The benefits of staying in-house
CAREFREE – The town council voted unanimously to stay in-house with the appointment of Planning Director/Zoning Administrator Gary Neiss to fill the position of retiring Town Administrator Jon Pearson on Tuesday.
Pearson will retire after 22 years of service to Carefree, on May 1.
Councilmen discussed wanting to hire someone who was already familiar with the community and a reduction in the staff workload. Consideration was also given to the potential cost savings of combining three jobs. Neiss was hired as Carefree’s Planning Director in May of 2003. Soon after coming on board he assumed the Zoning Administrator’s position from Pearson and has worked closely with him ever since.
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