Community

Did you know that randomly firing a weapon into the air is a felony offense in Arizona?

On Nov. 2 the ballots were cast; the votes were counted and the results are in. The Republicans won clear majorities in the state House and Senate as well as the governorship and other state offices. Now the Republicans must do something that they have failed to do for the past 40 years -- govern.

Maricopa Seniors, Inc. offers local residents and their friends an opportunity for fun and cash prizes during Bingo sessions held twice each month at the Villages clubhouse.

This year will be the 6th annual live Christmas tree pick up for the Scouts, who hope to raise funds while preventing Christmas trees from becoming fire hazards at the same time.  

Kids from all over the area have the opportunity to participate in a Maricopa High School cheer camp on Monday, Jan. 17.

Officials are forecasting a strong cold front to bring heavy rain and freezing temperatures into the state beginning tomorrow, with the mercury dipping to 18 degrees in Maricopa. The Red Cross offers these steps people can take to stay safe and warm:

This is a good time to take stock of the past and look ahead to the future. As you consider how you would like the New Year to unfold, I invite you to look at the people you surround yourself with and the communities with which you associate. Your community is a critical part of your life and helps to determine your happiness. 

For Our City-Maricopa's community-wide, December clothing drive provided jackets, pants, jeans, shirts and backpacks for students in need.

The Arizona Affiliate of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America announces the launch of its new name and website, providing useful resource links for parents and teens.

This holiday season you can do something nice for yourself and your community by donating a car you don't use anymore to charity.

On Dec. 19 these three children put their disease behind them as they participated in United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation's first annual Arizona Energy for Life Walkathon.

Animals and children are the subjects of photos, billboards, even entire advertising campaigns. Their antics make us laugh and sometimes bring tears to our eyes.

Goldie Richmond stood 6'4'' and weighed about 350 pounds. She wore a man's size 13 shoe. However, probably her size and great strength saved her life and that of her husband's during one of their many hunting trips.

 

Members of the Optimist Club of Maricopa brightened the holidays for Pinal Gila Community Child Services Head Start students in Maricopa.

As a special service to residents, the city of Maricopa will again provide a way to dispose of Christmas trees while keeping Maricopa beautiful and free of fire hazards.

Just wanted to give you an update as to what has been happening this month with Senate-related business because, after all, I work for you and you have a right to know what is going on with your elected official.

 This past Saturday, Dec. 18, 22 children ages 5 to 15 gathered at the Casa Grande Target. All were victims of tragedy in 2010, experiencing the wounds and sorrow of death, murder, theft and fire.

Saucity is a 14-year-old Paint mare.

Inhalant abuse refers to the deliberate inhalation or sniffing of common products found in the home and communities with the purpose of "getting high."  

Maricopans don't usually see snow, but Tortosa residents did on Saturday during the first annual Tortosa Winterfest.

While it's tempting to put fitness and healthy eating on the back burner for the duration of the holiday season, it's easy to maintain your healthy lifestyle with a little planning.

Here are locations to watch for if you have highway travel plans approaching the Christmas and New Year's weekends.  

God's house has always been a place that welcomed people of all walks of life - the poor, rich, and afflicted. However, as people learned the truth about God's word and accepted Christ as their savior, transformation was evident in the lives of people. They no longer mirrored the world in which they lived; now they live by a different set of standards - God's standards.

Angels, shepherds, wise men or kings, a donkey, a mother goat and her two babies plus, of course, the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph were all part of the Living Nativity hosted by Community of Hope Church Saturday evening.

To aid job seekers, the Pinal County Library District has announced the launch of Career Cruising, a new job search and career assessment tool.  

They come in flavors as diverse as the Christmas goodies grandma cooks up for the special day. Yet their basic ingredients remain the same, conveying messages of kindness, forgiveness and happiness.

Goldie Tracy Richmond was an amazing woman who lived every day to its fullest with the people she came to love on this strange and beautiful Arizona Sonoran Desert she called home. 

The Board of Directors of United Way of Pinal County announced last week that Beverly Prueter has joined the staff as the new executive director.

Mama kitty is a perfect example of people leaving their pets behind when they vacate a foreclosed home.