Bike Night Inspires Saturday Night Mesa River View Car Show

Organizers of a new weekly car show and cruise-in at Mesa Riverview plaza hope to mirror the success of the Friday Bike Nights that have drawn hundreds of motorcycles and spectators.


"The (Riverview) merchants tried to do a cruise-in on their own, but it wasn't real successful," said Nancy Perry, who promotes car events around the Valley through Nancy Perry Productions. "They brought in Bike Night, and that really helped them (get business). This will be the first big cruise-in for the plaza."


The car show kicks off Saturday with a bang: An early Indy racing car will be displayed, the Still Cruisin' Band will play classic rock and doo-wop and T-shirts will be given to the first 150 entrants in the event. Entry is free, and all entrants will receive dash plaques.

Perry said she got some input for her casual cruise-in from her friend Barry Caraway, who created Bike Night and is launching a new season Friday.

Matta's Grill & Cantina, Cactus Moon Sports Grill, Chili's Grill & Bar, the Cinemark Mesa 16 theaters and other sponsors have contributed to "goody bags" for those showing their vehicles.

Nearby restaurants will offer food and drink specials during the show, and those who patronize businesses in the plaza will get tickets for a raffle with such prizes as gift cards and hotel stays. Live music will continue weekly with a rotating lineup of bands.

"My kids and I love cars," said Peter Matta, owner of the restaurant bearing his family name. "That's all there is to it. These kinds of events are fun. They bring everyone out. Families love cars."

Perry said all makes, models and years of cars and trucks are welcome at the show, but classics from the 1920s through the '70s are expected to make up the lion's share of entrants. Awards for the top 10 cars will be given each week. Judging will rotate among merchants, community groups and spectators.

Perry said she hopes to raise funds for a different charity each week.

Two retired New York firefighters will drive a firetruck to the kickoff show and sell T-shirts to benefit victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

A Phoenix veterans home and area food bank are in line to benefit from two of the shows in November.

"I'm open to ideas for charities," Perry said. "There are so many good causes that need help."

Because of the struggling economy, she said, organizers decided to make the event free for those entering vehicles and for spectators.

"This is the type of thing that helps people get along during these horrible times," she said.

courtesy of Azcentral.com

Thief steals wheelchair from 8-year-old girl; mother now forced to carry child

Thief steals wheelchair from 8-year-old girl; mother now forced to carry child: "An Arizona mother is asking how anyone could steal a wheelchair from an 8-year-old girl who depends on it.

“We depended on that wheelchair,” said the girl’s mother, Sonia Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said her daughter, Aurora, is severely disabled. The child suffered brain damage, kidney failure, renal failure and much more when an unknown infection entered her bloodstream back in 2005, according to Rodriguez.

Her insurance company purchased a wheelchair for Aurora that was supposed to last another two years, but about two weeks ago, someone stole it from their driveway."

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EVIT hopes facility takes aviation program to new heights - EVIT Has Come Along Way Since it First Took Flight!

EVIT hopes facility takes aviation program to new heights - East Valley Tribune: Education:

[Tim Hacker/ Tribune]

"From their desks in the third floor classroom at the new East Valley Institute of Technology campus, students can look out and see Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport sprawling out before them. If the automated window shades are not down, they can watch planes land and take off, and dream about one day flying planes of their own, or working on the aircraft, or in the air traffic control tower.

The room is a perfect place to envision a career in aviation and the building it is in represents EVIT’s commitment to take its programs to new heights."

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University of Ariz. wins wildfire research grant - CBS 5 - KPHO

University of Ariz. wins wildfire research grant - CBS 5 - KPHO: "
Researchers at University of Arizona have won a $1.5 million grant to study the interaction between people and wildfires in communities near the edge of forests.

The university said a team of experts in tree-ring science, fire ecology, archaeology and other fields will examine how people in the Southwest have responded to changes in surrounding forests over multiple centuries.

The experts are focusing on the Jemez Mountains northwest of Albuquerque, N.M., where native people lived in a ponderosa pine forest for centuries before Europeans came to North America.

The team includes experts from the University of Arizona, Harvard University and Southern Methodist University.

The grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation."

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FBI's 'Stingray' Cellphone Tracker Stirs a Fight Over Search Warrants, Fourth Amendment - WSJ.com

FBI's 'Stingray' Cellphone Tracker Stirs a Fight Over Search Warrants, Fourth Amendment - WSJ.com:

"And on Thursday in U.S. District Court of Arizona, Judge David G. Campbell is set to hear a request by Mr. Rigmaiden, who is facing fraud charges, to have information about the government's secret techniques disclosed to him so he can use it in his defense. Mr. Rigmaiden maintains his innocence and says that using stingrays to locate devices in homes without a valid warrant "disregards the United States Constitution" and is illegal.

His argument has caught the judge's attention. In a February hearing, according to a transcript, Judge Campbell asked the prosecutor, "Were there warrants obtained in connection with the use of this device?""

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Boy Scouts Troop 653 Accepting Donations for the Upcoming 9/24 Scouts Garage Sale Proceeds Help with Scouting Needs

Arizona Boy Scout Troop 653 Courtesy Photo EVT

Troops are accepting Vehicles such as auto's and RV's. Appliances, Furniture and more for their sale. Proceeds from the Boy Scouts Garage Sale will assist in supplementing the increasing costs of of scouting - including Merit Badges, Supplies, Park Fees and other Scout items.

The Garage Sale will be on Saturday, September 24th @ Central Christian Church, 993 North Lindsay Road in Mesa, Az. starting at 6:30 A.M. The Scout Garage Sale will run until 1 P.M. (on Saturday).

Call or E-mail Chris Schneck for more info or to make a donation for the sale @ 480-924-7964 email chris.troop653@gmail.com

Shutterfly Job Fairs Being Held - Hiring 600 Valley Seasonal Workers

Shutterfly, a leading photo share site,  is looking to hire around 1,300 positions. Half of these positions will be seasonal and right here in the Valley. Job Fairs will be held throughout October, so keep an eye out!


The Shutterfly website has linked a nice list of positions.  Several of the positions are related to Manufacturing and these positions are limited to our state. Other Arizona opportunities with Shutterfly include positions listed in Operational and Engineering.
Pay ranges vary from $9 - $12.

"Please check our open positions below. If you don’t see a position that matches your skill,submit a general application to let us know how you can make a difference at Shutterfly. You can also sign up for job notification emails that will alert you when a position becomes available in your field of interest."

Shutterfly Positions

Engineering
Sr. Mgr/Dir Engineering - Photo Books	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ

Manufacturing
Digitial Press Technician Evening Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Digitial Press Technician Weekend Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
IGen Press Operator- Weekend Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Indigo Press Operator- Weekend shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Photo Lead -2nd Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Photo Operator- Weekend Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Photo Operator- Weekend Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Photo/Cards Lead 1st Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Press Operator - Temporary Position	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Shift Manager 2nd Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Shift Manager Weekend Shift	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Team Lead - Temporary Position	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ
Technical & Facility Manager	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ

Operations
Client Services Manager	Shutterfly - Phoenix, AZ

Seasonal Positions
Bindery Equipment Operator (Seasonal)	Phoenix, AZ/Charlotte, NC -Shutterfly
Digital Press Technician (Indigo) (Seasonal)	Phoenix, AZ/Charlotte, NC -Shutterfly
iGen Technician Job Description (Seasonal)	Phoenix, AZ/Charlotte, NC -Shutterfly
iGen/Indigo Digital Press Operator (Seasonal)	Phoenix, AZ/Charlotte, NC -Shutterfly
Photo Operator (Seasonal)	Phoenix, AZ/Charlotte, NC -Shutterfly
Production Designer - Part-time Temporary (Arizona)	Tiny Prints - Tempe, AZ
Seasonal Customer Service Representative – Customer Service Center	Tiny Prints - Tempe, AZ
Warehouse (Seasonal)	Phoenix, AZ/Charlotte, NC -Shutterfly

Payson Couple Finds Meteorite, Man Makes Meteorites his Life

For more than two decades, Marvin Killgore, once a plumber turned gold prospector right here in Sells, Arizona, has made meteorites his life.  Marvin has made his way finding some huge meteorite pieces,  going by gut , in a Ford pick-up truck. He hunts, collects, sells and trades his treasured meteorite pieces with some pieces dating back over 4.5. million years!


One morning, while driving through rural Wisconsin, Marvin had a hunch.  Against the wishes of his wife, to continue their travel, Marvin urged her to pull over. Sure enough, Marvin's hunch paid off. He Scored a decent piece of meteorite when he spotted a large , black slab on the side of the road. His family quickly followed suit, finding even more pieces of meteorite.  This leaves the family with possibly the largest space rock find yet for this particular Wisconsin space rock. The piece comes from an estimated 3.3, foot long meteorite that had broken up over Mineral Point (b/t Wisconisn and Iowa).  Marvin's family rock weighed in over half a pound!


Check out his find from China, 2000! That is some piece of space rock!


 
Charlie Leight, Arizona Republic

"Marvin Killgore holds a slice of his Fukang Pallasite meteorite that was found in 2000 in China."

Learn more about Marvin and meteorites in this awesome Azcentral story!

Arizona program helps inmates' transition out of prison

Arizona program helps inmates' transition out of prison: "Mentorship program

Last fall, AWEE received a two-year, $300,000 federal grant to begin working with women before they left prison.

It had a mentorship program before, but this new one is different, said Lisa Armijo Zorita, an AWEE community developer who oversees the program.

Instead of waiting to see the women after their release, "we match people with mentors while they are incarcerated," Armijo said."

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Crowding at jail hits crisis level

Crowding at jail hits crisis level: "This week, the inmate population at the Coconino County Jail Detention Facility reached "crisis" levels for the third time in three years, according to jail managers.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office says the surge in prisoners is making it harder to manage various groups of inmates in a way that prevents conflict and is reducing how much money the jail can make from renting beds to state and federal agencies.
And if the problem persists, the jail might have to erect a "tent city" next summer to handle the overflow, especially if it must house more state prisoners for free."

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Hal Earnhardt’s roping skills are no bull

Tim Hacker/East Valley Tribune

Pro Rodeo Team Roping

Victor Aros,left, and his team roping partner Hal Earnhardt practice Monday, September 12, 2011 in Queen Creek. Earnhardt, who is 55, competes with teams that are much younger. [Tim Hacker/Tribune]

Hal Earnhardt’s roping skills are no bull - East Valley Tribune: East Valley Local News: "Horsepower is a theme in Hal Earnhardt's life.
He's the 30-year president of Earnhardt Auto Centers, a business founded by his dad Tex Earnhardt 60 years ago and now comprised of 11 Valley dealerships. He's been a thoroughbred horse breeder since 1990. And for the last year and a half, the 55-year-old has taken to hurtling down a rodeo arena at 30 miles per hour on a 1,200-pound horse.
Earnhardt is a team roper in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - a pursuit he returned to last year after more than 30 years away from competing. He and his roping partner Victor Aros, 40, won the Pro Rodeo team roping event at the annual World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo in Payson last month. The win qualified them for the Turquoise Circuit Finals rodeo, which begins Sept. 29."

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Ahwatukee.com's Stacie Spring Covers the Scottsdale Six Drive-in Closure

http://www.ahwatukee.com/news/valley_and_state/article_a938930c-846e-5ef8-b01a-10390255788a.html:

Check out Stacie Springs' , Ahwatukee.com article on the Scottsdale Six Drive-in Closure. Lovers of the Drive-In will sure appreciate having more coverage. Her write up includes some nice comments from the locals, too.

Residents mourn closing of drive-in, loss of Americana

Scottsdale Six

The Scottsdale Six Drive-In theater has closed after nearly 34 years, shown Thursday, September 15, 2011. [Tim Hacker/Tribune]

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In small Arizona towns, politics can turn bitter

Who can forget the Wild West politics in Quartzsite, Az?

Quartzsite politics, aka corruption, became well known after the arrest of Jennifer Jones during a local Council Meeting.

Small town politics have big city troubles in Arizona. Azcentral provided a small update to some of our states small town issues today.

Check out the article below and as usual, click on the link for the full story:

In small Arizona towns, politics can turn bitter: "Small towns are mostly serene places, free of serious political drama.

Council meetings seem anesthetically uneventful.

But, once in a while, all hell breaks loose in America's rural burgs. Residents get their dander up, often over some relatively minor slight. Sides are chosen. Rumors spread. Insults are traded."

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Remember George? George was 'the best accident description ever' man. He coined "Reality Hits You Hard, Bro' " and Now has the Merchandise to Prove it!

I am sure many of you remember our local George's accident testimony video from Fox 10. George's claim to fame was his comment that "Reality hits you hard, Bro." Soon after Georges testimony aired, he became a local sensation. Matter of fact, George became such a hit that his hit catch phrase, "Reality Hits You Hard, Bro' " , has a merchandise line at Zazzle!

Way to go , George! Glad you are safe and I hope reality hits you hard in a good way, bro!!!!

Grats on your Zazzle goods!

Get your own Reality Hits gear now!
http://www.zazzle.com/reality+hits+hard+gifts

See George's tape and his follow up below:

Power Lines Fall on Crashed Vehicle, Driver Trapped: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

'Reality Hits You Hard, Bro' Merchandise: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

'Reality Hits You Hard, Bro' Merchandise: "The valley man who gave one of the most hilarious and animated descriptions of a car crash we’ve ever heard has already inspired a new line of merchandise.

The Web site Zazzle.com is selling T-shirts, caps and gift cards with George Lindell’s catchy phrase: “Reality Hits You Hard, Bro.”"

That was one of the more memorable things Lindell said Thursday after his minivan was rear-ended by an SUV that collided with an electrical pole. Ever since, our story has gone viral.

Power lines trapped Lindell and the other driver in their vehicles near 19th Avenue and Northern in Phoenix on Thursday, and Lindell gave our photographer a long, animated description of how it all played out.

Friday night, we brought George Lindell into the FOX 10 studio to hear how his 15 minutes of fame is treating him. The second time around -- is he just as unforgettable an interview?

Online: www.zazzle.com/reality+hits+you+hard+gifts

Arizona Ready pushes to get kids reading at grade level, beyond

Arizona Ready pushes to get kids reading at grade level, beyond: "In an age of rampant distractions, like cellphones with games and iPads with movies, teachers face more pressure than ever to help kids learn to read well.

A new state initiative, Arizona Ready, will require all third-graders to read at grade level by 2013. Those who still read like second-graders will be held back from fourth grade.

And Mesa Public Schools is setting an even higher goal for its elementary school teachers: Kids should not just be able to read but should have a passion for the printed word by the time they get to junior high."

'via Blog this'

Sheriff Arpaio's posse assigned to review Obama birth certificate

Sheriff Arpaio's posse assigned to review Obama birth certificate: "Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona has constituted a special law enforcement posse to investigate allegations brought by members of the Surprise, Ariz., Tea Party that the birth certificate Barack Obama released to the public April 27 might be a forgery, WND has learned."

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Panel wants volunteer’s name on preserve’s amphitheater and trailhead - Arizona News from The Arizona Republic

Panel wants volunteer’s name on preserve’s amphitheater and trailhead - Arizona News from The Arizona Republic: "When Chester “Chet” Andrews set out to join the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust in 1992, he wanted to do more than just preserve views of the McDowell Mountains.

Andrews, an avid hiker and co-organizer of the group’s steward program, said the land was meant to be explored and, at the same time, respected.

“We knew there were a lot of people who were interested in having the land preserved so they could go and hike in it,” Andrews said.

Scottsdale has set aside nearly 17,000 acres for its McDowell Sonoran Preserve, with plans to acquire another 4,500 acres this winter."

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Arizona Court of Appeals hears Mesa tattoo case - Arizona News from The Arizona Republic

Arizona Court of Appeals hears Mesa tattoo case - Arizona News from The Arizona Republic: "The Arizona Court of Appeals is weighing whether the Mesa City Council denied the constitutional rights of two tattoo artists by denying them an operating permit 21/2 years ago.

Attorneys argued both sides of the case Thursday morning at Coronado High School in Scottsdale. The court from time to time will hear a case at a school as an educational exercise.

The case stems from the council’s denial in March 2009 of permission to Ryan and Laetitia Coleman, who live in Nice, France, to open Angel Tattoo in a strip mall on the southeastern corner of Dobson and Baseline roads."

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A Mother’s War on Germs at Fast-Food Playgrounds - NYTimes.com

A Mother’s War on Germs at Fast-Food Playgrounds - NYTimes.com: "Dr. Carr-Jordan, a child development professor and a mother of four from Chandler, Ariz., has visited dozens of restaurant playgrounds in 11 states in recent months to test them for cleanliness. What the inspections and lab analyses have revealed is the widespread presence of an array of pathogens, from coliform bacteria to staphylococcus, at levels that experts said indicated that restaurants might not be disinfecting their playlands as diligently as they should.

Those same experts pointed out that germs are everywhere and that they are not always dangerous. They add that hand washing is an important safeguard."

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