Events in February and March galore in Pinal County

There was so much going on in western Pinal County in February hardly anyone was bored – and if they were, it was their own fault.

There were two parades, new police chief installation ceremonies (Congratulations and welcome to Maricopa Police Chief Steve Stahl), health clinic ribbon-cuttings, a Hog Fest, and nearly two weeks of Cowboy Days and Indian rodeo-ing … just to mention a few events on the calendar.

And March’s events calendar is pretty full as well – more on that in a moment.

Some of you may have missed the announcement, but we’ve added another online search tool to our county website — pinalcountyaz.gov — an interactive zoning map.

On the home page, click on All Departments, then click on Planning & Development, and in the left-hand column of choices, click on Notice of Hearing. Users will see various pins on the county map. They are color-coded to indicate the type of zoning being requested or the level of the hearing for the case. Kudos goes to our planning and IT staff for the innovation.

On a health care note, both the Maricopa and San Tan Valley Public Health Clinics are now open bringing permanent public health services closer to significant populations.

The Maricopa Clinic also houses the Pinal County Vital Records Office, which moved there from Florence.

Among the services available at both clinics are Childhood Immunizations (no charge for children 18 and younger), flu shots, etc. For a full list of services, hours of operation, and/or an appointment, call 1-866-960.0633 or go to the county website.

By the way, a tip of my hat to the PetSmart Charities: this fabulous organization recently sent a $15,000 grant to our Animal Care & Control Department to help with February’s two big hoarding cases that involved 158 cats, dogs, and birds.

The welcome grant was used to cover medical expenses for the rescued animals as well as critical supplies. Although a cat and a dog had to be euthanized, the rest were treated and are on their way back to health thanks to the heroic efforts of the PCACC staff and lots of incredible volunteers who rose to the occasion.

Central Arizona College and the University of Arizona have inked an historic articulation agreement. This may not mean much to many readers but it’s huge for CAC students looking to move into upper division classes as they move toward an undergraduate degree.

The agreement means CAC coursework will be 100 percent transferable (and accepted by) the UA – a significant benchmark in the two institutions’ relationship and a financial boon to CAC students (and their parents) continuing their education past the AA degree.

This is the fifth year the United Way of Pinal County has sponsored free income tax assistance for struggling households. In addition to providing trained personnel to help with basic income tax filings, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) workers are prepared to help residents whose incomes are modest and determine if they’re eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit.

VITA sites operate in the Eloy and Maricopa public libraries, as well as the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center and the Sun Life Family Health Center in Casa Grande. For information on the program or its sites, call 520-836-0736 or go to unitedwayofpc.org/vita.

The Second annual Pinal County Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament will take place March 3 at the Arizona City Golf Course

Proceeds will go to the construction of a long-overdue memorial honoring our Pinal County veterans who’ve given their lives for our country. For more information, contact Steve Ketsdever 520-858-5678 or Palmer Miller 520-431-3399.