MARIC

201

OP
0

A
ELE
ELECTION C
TIONS
Mayoral candidates:
“Did you know?” Page 12

February 2010 www.InMaricopa.com

The many sides

of Lt. Willie Payne Page 6

NEWS
Maple Leaf explosion: Influx of
Canadians impact Maricopa
Page 10

SPORTS
Sister and brother share passion
for basketball. Page 21
Michael K. Rich

BY THE NUMBERS
“I have sold 70 houses in the past The Education of Maricopa
150 days, and almost all of the buyers Graduate or doctorate degre 15.9%
32.8%
were Canadian.” — Steve Murray, College degree
Associates degree 10.3%
The Maricopa Real Estate Company Some technical or vocational school 6%
Some college, no degree 23.7%
High school/GED 9.5%
POSTAL CUSTOMER Some high school, no diploma 1%
Less than 9th grade 8%
Source: City of Maricopa Labor Study, Elliot D. Pollack & Company 2009
 2 InMaricopa.com February 2010

Maricopa Notebook Sharing the thoughts and

opinions of Maricopa

Lower your taxes: Vote ‘yes’ on override continuation Publisher

Scott Bartle
Volume 2, Issue 4

Editor Contact us
By Scot t Bartle they thought this money would go to help shoulder the tax burden. And un- Jim Williams 85239.com, LLC
dba InMaricopa News
facilities instead of teachers and pro- til some industry comes to Maricopa, Copy Editor 19756 N. John Wayne
We Maricopans tend to complain, and grams. (Does anyone think our teach- the (increasing) costs of running our Joyce Hollis Parkway, Suite 100
oftentimes rightly so, about our high ers are overpaid?) Or maybe they’re community — from schools to streets Reporters P.O. Box 1018
Michael K. Rich Maricopa, AZ 85139
taxes, skyrocketing util- retired or don’t have school- to staff — will continue to be borne pri- Jennifer Stefanow (520) 568-0040 Tel
ity rates, the quality of our aged kids, or send their kids marily by its residents. Photographers (520) 568-0050 Fax
schools and the city’s lack to charter schools and don’t The $75 or so each homeowner will Michael K. Rich News@InMaricopa.com
Jim Williams Sales@InMaricopa.com
of jobs. Next month, we care about our public schools. pay annually — that’s about one venti
can do something to posi- Regardless, the result of this latte a month — to continue this levy is Art Director Published
Carl Bezuidenhout
tively impact these issues. election will affect every sin- a great investment and will ultimately advertisements are
Operations Manager not an endorsement of
On March 9, Marico- gle Maricopan. save us many times that. Carolyn Struble products or advertising
pans will vote for a mayor There is nothing more Do what’s right for our schools and Sales Representative claims by 85239.com,
and three people to join, important to economic de- this community on March 9: Vote ‘yes’ Kathy Dodge LLC. No part of this
newspaper may
or rejoin, the city council. velopment than the quality in support of the Maricopa Unified Classifieds/Events be reproduced by
Voters will also decide on of education. If our schools School District Override Continuation. Kathy Debevec
any means without
whether to allow Maricopa are great, people — and their Customer Service the prior written
Coordinator permission of
Unified School District to scot t bartle employers — will want to lo- Scott Bartle is publisher of InMaricopa. Cynthia Hammond 85239.com, LLC.
continue receiving about cate in Maricopa; and if our Operations Consultant Copyright 2010.
$3 million a year to help fund its main- schools stink, Maricopa will have little Have an opinion you’d like to share? E-mail us at Dick Barkley
tenance and operations, or about 10 chance of recruiting new employers to news@InMaricopa.com
percent of its total M&O budget.
If the override fails, teachers, possi-
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5 InMaricopa.com February 2010
NEWS BRIEFS
Mayor, chamber president
meet with Rocky Point mayor
Mayor Anthony Smith and
Rusty Akers, Maricopa Chamber
of Commerce board president, met
with Puerto Penasco President
Alejandro Zepeda on Friday, Jan. 22
to talk about how the two cities could
better work together.
Smith and Akers hope to
foster a relationship between the
neighboring cities to cross-promote
business and tourism on both sides
of the border.
“The city of Maricopa has a long
history as a gateway to Rocky Point,”
Smith said. “Our two cities share
many of the same problems, interests
and opportunities. I’m looking
forward to exploring how we can help
each other in tourism, public safety
and commerce.”
Cleaning up the air
Details about a plan to clean up the
air expanded on a hot-button issue
at a public hearing at the University
of Arizona Agricultural Center in
Maricopa on Jan. 20, concerning a
proposed non-attainment area map
for the dangerous particle PM10.

 accomplished,”
Ira Domsky, acting director of air
quality for the Arizona Department
of Environmental Quality, led the
hearing that included a diverse crowd
of  residents,  air-quality experts  and
businessmen from all over Pinal
County.

 “We continue to improve this
The Environmental Protection
Agency has eight monitoring stations
in Pinal County., which has inal has
the dubious honor of having five of
the top eight meters for poorest air
quality in the country. The Cowtown
meter, located in Maricopa, is the
most active in the United States with
nearly 222 days a year in violation.
For comparison, the next closest
meter has 49 days per year.
This hearing focused on the
EPA’s letter to Arizona Governor
Jan Brewer, which arrived on her
desk in December. The letter marks
the official beginning of a timeline
of activity that will culminate in a
comprehensive plan to deal with
Pinal County’s air-quality issues.
“We don’t want to declare the
entire county as non-attainment,
which is where the EPA started with
all this.” Domsky said. “There is the
ability to do an analysis of a number
of different factors to identify an area
that should be larger, or, in our case,
it’s smaller, and we want to make
sure we get all the areas that are
contributing to non-attainment as
well as the areas of where we measure
the violations and standards.”
City updates strategic plan
In a year that saw the city add a
new library, open a Walmart and host
an Arizona Corporation Commission
hearing, 2009 will go down as one of
Maricopa’s busiest. And now, with
an improved and upgraded strategic
plan to guide
them, the stage
is set for the
next three years.
“This helps to
give us guidance
in what council
wants us to get
KEVIN EVANS said Nicole Dai-
ley, assistant to
the city manager. The strategic plan
was an idea brought to Maricopa by
City Manager Kevin Evans when he
was hired more than two years ago.
foundational document to ensure we
have the best framework possible for
guiding growth in the community,”
Evans said. The document lays out
the goals of council and city staff in
five areas: economic sustainability,
quality of life, transportation con-
nectivity, managing the future, and
public safety.
To read the complete stories, visit
InMaricopa.com.
.
 6 InMaricopa.com February 2010
Cover Story
The many sides of Lt. Willie Payne
He’s a police officer, DUI expert, singer, Halloween aficionado and buffalo owner
By Michael K. Rich
Michael@InMaricopa.com
It was a cool night just before 1 a.m. as
Marciopa Police Lt. Willie Payne, then
a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputy,
patrolled Interstate 10 outside Toltec.
“I pulled behind a mid-sized car, as
I had countless times before, to assess
the driver for possible signs of driving
under the influence,” Payne said.
After several moments of following
the car, the unexpected happened. A
tire on the vehicle Payne was following
blew out, sending the car rolling off the
highway. “I just counted the number
of times the car flipped,” Payne said.
“I thought I saw a body fly out on the
third or fourth roll.”
Once the car came to a stop, Payne
rushed from his cruiser and looked
into the wreckage of the vehicle, which
was now lying on its roof. He saw no
one inside.
But then he heard a voice scream:
“Help me, please don’t let me die.
I have three …” and then the voice
stopped.
Acting on pure instinct and adrena-
line, Payne grabbed the car and hoist-
ed with all his might. He felt his heart
thumping, to the point he felt it was
going to burst from his chest.
As the vehicle rested halfway on its
side, Payne, his heart still racing, felt
a hand grab his ankle. “It snapped me
back into reality, and I realized what I
was doing,” he said. Payne pushed the
car over the rest of the way; however,
as it flipped, his back gave out, and he
collapsed on the ground beside the in-
jured man. “I couldn’t move.”
Luckily another car had stopped,
and its driver witnessed the entire
episode. The bystander rushed to the
Lt. Willie Payne, shown here at the bridge dedication for Officer Shane Figueroa last fall, is an
accomplished singer and musician.
aid of the two injured men. Payne in-
structed him to get into the police
cruiser and call for help on the radio.
The man who had been trapped under
the car survived and, years later, Payne
still receives a card of gratitude from
that propelled him into the law
enforcement field.
In 1976 Payne had just gotten mar-
ried and was planning to visit a close
friend who recently had been injured.
However, before he could fulfill his
commitment, the man Payne describes
as “like a brother,” died in an auto ac-
cident caused by a drunk driver.
“I vowed from that moment to be-
come a police officer and wage a war
on drunk drivers,” Payne said.
The following year Payne joined the
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office as a dep-
uty, a position he would hold until he
came to work for the Maricopa Police
Department in 2007.
To launch his war on drunk drivers
and make roadways across the county
safer, Payne embarked on an off-duty
mission. He did his own research to
gain a better understanding of alcohol
impairment, utilizing an abandoned
property.
Payne and a friend would go to the
property several times a week with
Payne taking the wheel with booze in
hand.
“We would essentially monitor my
blood alcohol content with a Breatha-
lyzer and take notes on my driving be-
haviors as the amount I drank contin-
ued to increase,” Payne said.
Armed with his research, Payne
became one of the most prolific ex-
perts in the state on spotting alcohol-
MICHAEL K. RICH impaired drivers. His best year came
in 1995 when he was named Deputy
of the Year for issuing 142 DUI cita-
tions, 82 of them were aggravated (a
him each year. more severe DUI charge that is a Class
4 felony).
On a mission “Any officer can spot a drunk driver
While the memory of saving a life if they put their mind to it,” Payne said.
is one that Payne holds close to his While Payne had the knowledge to
heart, it was a memory of tragedy spot the drunken vehicle operators, he
 February 2010 InMaricopa.com 7
Payne’s home reflects his many interests, which include collecting Halloween-themed items such as this coffin (left) and model trains.
initially lacked the knowledge to make
the charges stick. “I had my first DUI
case thrown out because of a bad re-
port,” he said. It would be the only one
Payne lost.
He dedicated himself to perfecting
his reports, questioning prosecutors,
defense attorneys and judges, all in an
attempt to find what they look for in a
DUI arrest report.
“It got to the point those TV law-
yers did not want to take on any of my
cases,” Payne said. Report-writing per-
fection, teamed with his eye for driv-
ers under the influence, has resulted
in Payne removing more than 1,600
drunk drivers from the road.
Now a lieutenant, Payne no longer
sits behind the wheel of a patrol car,
but that doesn’t mean the streets are
MICHAEL K. RICH
any less safe. Payne regularly holds
training seminars to teach other of-
ficers his methods and often plays a
major role in the county’s inter-agency
DUI task force.
“I will keep on working for the de-
partment until I feel I have nothing to
give back,” Payne said. “I don’t want to
keep a job just to get a paycheck.”
Music man
Payne recalls being only 3 years old,
living on a farm in Coolidge and watch-
ing the Ed Sullivan Show. He remem-
bers being intrigued when a young
black musician with dark sunglasses
named Ray Charles took the stage to
play piano and belt out a song.
A young Payne asked his mother
why the man was wearing sunglasses.
She told him the singer was blind. “I
didn’t even know what being blind
meant back then, but I figured if he
could play the piano, so could I,”
Payne said.
Payne immediately took up the
keyboard, teaching himself to play
by ear. His skills grew until he and a
childhood friend, Rick English, formed
a band, nearly 20 years ago, called the
Rick and Willie Band.
The group still plays select venues
throughout the Valley and Casa Grande
when Payne can make time in his tight
schedule. “They say I have a range
from Barry White to Michael Jackson,”
 8 InMaricopa.com February 2010

the 300-pound-plus Payne said.
While Payne’s band is an accom-
plishment he prizes, it isn’t the peak of
his musical prowess.
That came several years ago when
the musician got to play with his child-
hood idol, Ray Charles, at the Celebrity
Theater.
“It is an experience I will never for-
get,” Payne said.
Where the buffalo roam
Growing up on a farm and par-
ticipating in rodeos, Payne had many
firsthand experiences with animals,
but one variety struck a chord with
him: the majestic buffalo.
“I saw a few buffalo when I was a
kid and thought to myself that I would
one day own some of those creatures,”
Payne said.
Then in 2007 a Maricopa area farm-
er informed Payne he had a couple buf-
falo he was looking to unload because
he planned on selling his property.
“They were pretty skinny at the
time, but I jumped at the opportunity,”
Payne said.
To get the buffalo to his three-
acre property in Thunderbird Farms,
Payne, with the help of several friends,
worked day and night to build a pen for
the animals. “It was a lot of work and at
times I wasn’t getting to bed until after
midnight,” he said.
However, it was a sacrifice Payne
said was worth it. “There is just
something great about waking up
and seeing buffalo in your backyard,”
Payne said.
According to Payne, the animals
are similar to cattle; however, they are
not nearly as friendly. Payne has yet to
ride his male buffalo and predicts he
never will. “I’m at the age right now,
I’ll just look at the buffalo and say ‘you
win.’ But if I was a little younger, it
would be a different story.”
Payne eventually would like to
increase the size of his herd to 12
buffalo and raise the animals to be
slaughtered for their meat. “There is
no taste like buffalo meat; it is so lean
and flavorful.”
In his spare time
While law enforcement, music and
raising buffalo consume a lot of Payne’s
time, they are not the Pinal County na-
tive’s only interests.
Payne is fascinated with all things
Halloween and has decorated the en-
tire interior of his home in Halloween
Did you know?
• Bison is actually the correct name
for buffalo, but common usage has
made the term “buffalo” an acceptable
synonym for the American bison.
• A mature buffalo bull weighs
approximately 2,000 pounds.
• The average life span of a buffalo is 20
to 25 years.
• There are approximately 500,000 head
of buffalo in North America.
décor, which includes a coffin, life-size
mummy, a “creepy waiter,” and several
other frighteningly fun figures.
Payne added that he has several
mechanical toys rigged throughout the
house to jump out at the opportune
time to spook people. “I don’t like the
gory, scary stuff, but the old school,
startle-you type of scary,” Payne said.
“I just like to have fun with life. I am
living my dream.”
• Yellowstone National Park has the
largest free roaming buffalo population
in the world, with more than 3,500 head.
Source: National Bison Association

Help Our Kids. Help Our Community.

Vote Yes March 9th!
MUSD Override Continuation
On Tuesday, March 9th, Maricopans will vote whether to continue an existing levy
that pays for school teachers, programs and materials. Following is a partial list
of what the tax override pays for and where Maricopa Unified School District will
likely have to make major cuts if the measure is not approved:
■ Teachers (70 or more may lose their jobs)
■ Full day kindergarten
■ Music education
■ Physical education
■ Art education
■ Gifted programs
■ Sports and extracurricular activities
■ Curriculum and classroom materials
■ Technology in the classroom www.VoteYesMarch9th.org
 February 2010 InMaricopa.com 9
Banner Ironwood
Two hospitals to open in Pinal County;
Maricopa still looking
By Michael K. Rich
Michael@InMaricopa.com
The good news: By the third quarter of
2011, two new hospitals will be open
to serve the traditionally underserved
health-care needs of Pinal County. The
bad news: neither will be in or near
Maricopa.
The first, Banner Ironwood is slat-
ed to open in November near Queen
Creek; the second, 20 miles away, is
the Florence Hospital, which is look-
ing at the third quarter of 2011 to open.
“These hospitals are a great score
to help Pinal County improve the
availability of health care,” said
Heather Murphy, spokeswoman for
Pinal County.
Maricopa has been involved in ne-
gotiations with at least three hospitals
about the prospect of locating in the
city for the past four years, but the
names or details behind those talks
cannot be disclosed due to confiden-
tiality reasons, according to Danielle
Casey, Maricopa’s economic develop-
ment manager.
“It is a complex and timely process
of bringing a hospital to a communi-
ty,” Casey said. However, neither Ban-
ner nor Gilbert Hospital, are in talks
with the city of Maricopa, according to
sources from each company.
Despite the lack of conversations
David Wanger, chief executive officer
of Gilbert Hospital, said Maricopa is
a community that is definitely on the
radar.
“If we were out of the ground on
all three of our other projects and had
financing in place, we would build
a hospital in Maricopa tomorrow,”
Wanger said.
Gilbert Hospital currently has three
projects in the works: the Florence
Hospital, which broke ground late last
year, and two projects yet to break
ground in Peoria and Buckeye.
In the case of the Florence
Hospital, Wanger said the city came
to his company to start negotiations
almost two years ago, but that is not
always the case. “Sometimes, we
contact cities, sometimes they contact
us, or in some cases we are contacted
by other concerned residents of an
area,” he said. An example of the latter
is Buckeye.
Wanger said a member of his hos-
pital-planning department was play-
ing racquetball with a Buckeye resi-
dent and the need for a hospital in the
community came up.
“We crunched some numbers and
determined the community was one
that fit our model,” Wanger said.
Gilbert Hospital’s model is one
that is much different than the larger
While Banner looks at a critical
mass of upwards of 100,000 people,
Wagner said Gilbert Hospital has
a much smaller requirement as
evidenced by the company opening a
location in Florence.
In Florence, Wanger’s company
partnered with Pulte Homes to work
out a deal in which the developer
agreed to sell a 40-acre parcel to the
health-care company as needed at a
pre-determined price.
“Hospitals help to sell homes, and
we are a company that is not large
enough to land bank,” Wanger said.
The Florence Hospital is starting
off on 11 acres of that land with 36
inpatient beds.
“I believe the industry is going
to take a hard look at the hospital-
building model; companies cannot
health-care institutions in the state. afford any longer to come in and
“We build smaller hospitals that grow build $350 to $400 million sites,”
with the community,” he said. Wanger said “You can offer all the
Banner Ironwood is the product same services in a smaller $35 to $40
of a similar model with its newest million hospital.”
hospital. The 220,000-square-foot If Gilbert Hospital eventually does
site located at Combs and Gantzel open a hospital in Maricopa, Wanger
roads is being slated to open with 36 said the process from beginning of
beds, but room is available to expand the feasibility study to opening day is
that capacity to 86 beds with no typically two years.
further building construction. Despite the two companies
When Banner looked at locating representatives stating they are not
in the Queen Creek area, one of the in discussions with Maricopa, Casey
determining factors was the growing said a hospital is one of the city’s top
population base, which was already priorities.
around 100,000 and without a nearby
hospital, according to company A version of this story appeared on
spokeswoman Susan Gordon. InMaricopa.com.
No-go on Catholic Healthcare West
Rumors have been swirling in recent days about possible hospitals coming to Maricopa. Bob
Campbell, vice president of business development for Catholic Healthcare West, can dispel
one: his company has no immediate plans of opening a hospital site in Maricopa.
Catholic Healthcare West is a non-profit health-care organization that owns and oper-
ates hospitals across the western United States, including Chandler Regional Hospital, St.
Joseph’s Hospital and Mercy Gilbert Hospital.
“Maricopa is a market we have looked at, but its population is currently not large
enough to support one of our hospital model,” Campbell said, citing the population base his
company looks for when determining a possible site as in the 100,000 to 150,000 range. In
addition to the population necessary to support a site, Campbell said Catholic Healthcare
West is looking for solid economic growth to return prior to building any more hospitals in
the state.
“We are using this time to make upgrades to our existing sites and plan for the future.”
 10 InMaricopa.com February 2010

Real Estate

Northern exposure
Canadian homebuyers providing economic boost to local businesses
By Michael K. Rich
Michael@InMaricopa.com

Pat Clark is like many business

owners in Maricopa and across the
country struggling in challenging
economic times. Clark, who co-
owns Maricopa Mountain Plumbing
with Bob Stanford, had to make the
difficult decision to reduce her work
force in early 2009.
“Business had slowed, and we just
couldn’t afford to keep everyone on,”
she said.
The clouds would grow darker with
work slowing to a near stop. But then,
a force from the north came blowing
into town, which would not only re-
store the size of her workforce, but also
increase it by one and a half positions.
That force: Canadians.
“Right now, half our business is
coming from Canadians,” Clark said.
“It was totally unexpected.”
However, it isn’t only the doors
of Clark’s business that are swinging
freely these days.
Since the Maple Leaf explosion, lo-
cal State Farm Insurance owner Court-
ny Tyler said she has witnessed a 15 Pat Clark, co-owner of Maricopa Mountain Plumbing, has seen an increase in business from Canadian customers.
Jim Williams

percent surge in business.

In a tough economy that has seen
many people walk away from homes,
Tyler said the Canadian buyers have
really picked up the slack, pushing her
business into profitability and helping
to maintain her current staffing model.
“If they weren’t here, it would be a
lot of lost business for Maricopa,” Ty-
ler said. “Canadians have been a life-
saver for the community, and we need
to find a way to bring more of them
into Maricopa.”
Both Tyler and Clark said they have
noticed a recurring theme with our
neighbors to the north: they like to
keep their shopping and dollars local.
“I get a lot my business from Cana-
dians,” said Maricopa landscaper Sam
Craig. Craig feels they have kept many
local businesses afloat.
Although there is no recent data on
the economic impact of Canadians, a
Valley-wide study of about 300,000
winter visitors done by Arizona State
University six years ago found that
they spent about $1 billion on food, en-
tertainment and other goods and ser-
vices. That equates to roughly $3,300
per visitor, per visit.
Winter visitors also pay sales, gas,
liquor and other taxes.
City of Maricopa Economic De-
velopment Manager Danielle Casey
doesn’t have data on the amount of
money each visitor brings to Mari-
copa, but said any person coming into
the city right now is a plus for the com-
munity. Casey said she would be even
happier if they chose to make Mari-
copa their permanent home so the city
could reap the benefit of their presence
during the census.
Cities receive an allotment of mon-
ey from the federal government and
other sources based on population.
However, since Canadians are only
part-time residents, they cannot be
counted during the census.
“If they are helping our local busi-
nesses stay alive, all I’ve got to say is
O’Canada,” Casey said.
Don and Jean Smith would hap-
pily sing along with Casey. They came
down from Edmonton, Alberta, last
spring to purchase a winter home in
Maricopa.
“It was 50 below today in Edmon-
ton,” Don Smith said on a recent
70-degree day in Maricopa. “We love
it here.”
The Smiths, like so many of the
new part-time Canadian residents,
learned of the city through word of
mouth. “I had some customers who
 11 InMaricopa.com February 2010
Don and Jean Smith (left) don’t miss the snow. The Canadian couple left freezing Edmonton, Alberta for their new winter home in the Glennwilde
neighborhood. Local real estate broker Steve Murray (right) has helped many Canadians buy homes in Maricopa.
had purchased in the area, and they
told me to look at Maricopa and Casa
Grande,” Smith said.
He toured the area in March
looking at both cities. “Casa Grande
looked like a border town to us, while
Maricopa was very clean and well-
manicured.” Smith said. “It was just
what we were looking for.”
Judging by the numbers moving to
Maricopa, it’s what others are looking
for also. From January 2009 to
January 2010, the number of homes
owned in Maricopa by Canadians has
increased from 346 to 1,148, according
to the Pinal County Assessor’s Office.
“Maricopa has a great environment,
wonderful weather and friendly
people,” said Canadian Terry Lumb,
who purchased his Maricopa getaway
home a year and a half ago. “Maricopa
is very strategically located. It is
near beaches, Mexico, Las Vegas and
Sedona.”
In addition to the community’s
aesthetic appeal, the strength of the
Canadian dollar and low housing
prices in Maricopa have enticed
Canadians to purchase investment
properties and part-time homes in
the area.
This wasn’t the case six years
ago when the Canadian dollar was
worth 60 cents against its American
counterpart. However, the turn in the
economy has shifted the valuations,
and Canadian greenbacks are now
regularly trading anywhere from 85
cents on the dollar to even.
“When we started looking for a
home, there was a 15 to 20 percent
difference in the value of the dollar;
today that difference is just 3 percent,”
Smith said.
While the Canadian dollar surges,
home prices in Maricopa remain
among the more attractive in the
state. “Lots alone only cost $3,500 to
$20,000 in Maricopa; compare that
to $150,000 to $200,000,” Smith
said. The cheapest lot I have seen in
our area of Canada was $145,000.”
Lumb has fallen for Maricopa so
hard he has become somewhat of an
ambassador and sales representative
for the community.
“I think about half a dozen
individuals I have told about the area
Only in Canada
While our Canadian friends love
Maricopa, they’d love us more
if we could provide some items
they can’t find in the states.
Here are a few:
Ketchup-flavored Old Dutch chips
Jim Williams
Smarties (they’re like M&Ms)
have ended up purchasing so far,” he
said. “Maricopa is the best in terms of
amenities and cost per square foot.”
It is a phenomenon realtors
recognize well. The local Prudential
One agency has taken to advertising
Maricopa homes for sale in Canadian
markets.
“We have seen about 20 percent
of our home sales coming from
Canadians,” said John Kamouzis,
co-owner at Prudential One Realty. Tim Horton’s coffee
“They know what they want, and they
come with cash in hand.” Ham sausage
Steve Murray, owner of The
Maricopa Real Estate Company, Mackintosh Toffee
agrees. He adds many of the buyers are
also investors. “I have sold 70 houses Coffee Crisp wafers
in the past 150 days, and almost all of
the buyers were Canadian,” Murray Gripe Water (for
said. those with kids)
Murray even has a Canadian
agent, who works the rodeo circuit, Poutine (French
spreading the word about Maricopa. fries topped with
“These Canadian buyers like the cheese curds and hot
Maricopa subdivisions; homes with gravy)
pools, the nearby golf courses and
the casino. These buyers have been a Hockey Night highlights
great boon for us.”
12 InMaricopa.com February 2010
COPA
RI

0
201

MA
Mayoral Three people I’d most like to The one thing people would be Three words that describe me

NS
When I’m not working…
Candidates
EL I have lunch with are___. suprised to know about me is … are...

O
ECT

I enjoy spending time with my • Cormac McCarthy • Honest

Despite years of Catholic school
family and reading historical • Judas Iscariot • Direct
lunches I still hate fish.
fiction. • Antonin Scalia • Amusing
Ken HUNT

• Dave Gahan • Good-natured

I am studying. • Martin Gore I’m a huge Depeche Mode fan. • Fair
• Andrew Fletcher • Athletic
LEON POTTER

• Abraham Lincoln • Reliable

I am golfing or spending time
• Joe Frasier My innovative and artistic side. • Honest
with friends and family.
• Pete Rose • Sincere
ANTHONY SMITH
To read the city council candidates’ responses, visit InMaricopa.com/news/elections.aspx.

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14 InMaricopa.com February 2010

grated into a glossy, magazine-style

BUSINESS BRIEFS
City to partner with ASU to
promote tourism
The city of Maricopa could see the
fruits of a $10,000 investment in local
tourism on May 6.
The Maricopa City Council voted
last July to give the Maricopa Cham-
ber of Commerce $10,000 to develop
a tourism strategy aimed at attracting
outsiders to the city of Maricopa. The
agency has since partnered with ASU
professor Tim Tyrrell and his Tourism
402 class to complete the study.
“Undergrads can do a good job,
but not a great one, so I will shepherd
them in this project,” Tyrrell said.
During the next four months Tyrrell
and his class will make multiple trips
to the Maricopa area to gauge what
the community has to offer in terms
of attractions and history.
This information will then be inte-
publication that describes festivals
in the community, history, tourist
attractions and other items. “These
types of studies can attract visitors
and create jobs,” Tyrrell said.
New Planning and Zoning
chair, vice chair elected
The Maricopa Planning and Zon-
ing Commission on Jan. 25 unani-
mously voted to elect
Mike Robertson and
Courtny Tyler as
new chairman and
vice chairwoman, re-
spectively. Both in-
dividuals will serve
in these roles for at
least the next year. COURTNY T YLER
The Planning
and Zoning Commission is respon-
sible for reviewing various develop-
ment projects for compliance with
MIKE ROBERTSON
the city’s general plan, and providing
recommendations to city council for
legislative action.
The public is invited to attend the
commission’s meetings, which are
held on the second and fourth Mon-
day of each month at 6 p.m. at the
Global Water Center.
Maricopa Republicans named
top club in state
The Maricopa Republican Club
captured the state party’s top honor
during the annual State Chairman’s
Awards Dinner held Jan. 23 at
the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. The
Maricopa chapter was named Club
of the Year in competition with other
Republican clubs from across the
state.
Club president Brenda Herman-
son and past secretary Andy Lock-
ridge accepted the award. Hermanson
said she was “pleasantly surprised to
win the Club of the Year honors. We
were competing against so many
outstanding clubs. After all our hard
work this past year we are excited to
receive this recognition.”
To read the complete stories, visit
InMaricopa.com.

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 February 2010 InMaricopa.com 15
Business
Home sweet home
Ross Nierman, of Ross’ Inspection
Technologies, has a passion for helping
people, doing things right
By Jim Williams
Jim@InMaricopa.com
Ross Nierman enjoys helping people,
especially in stressful moments such
as when they’re buying a home. The
fact that his job as a home inspector
engages this interest is not lost on him.
“I truly enjoy being around people,”
Nierman said. “I like being able to help
put them at ease, make them feel se-
cure and be someone they can trust.”
Nierman is president of Ross’ In-
spection Technologies, a home inspec-
tion company that serves Maricopa,
areas of Pinal County and metropoli-
tan Phoenix. He’s been in the home
inspection industry for four years and
a construction practitioner for more
than 10 years with experience in resi-
dential and commercial construction.
Nierman and his wife, Emmalou,
moved to Maricopa two years ago from
Chandler and could not be happier. “I
love Maricopa,” he said. “The people
are great. Everybody here has been
relocated; therefore, the people are
more open and still are very friendly.
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It’s what I call the true spirit of West-
ern life.”
Ross’ Inspection Technologies cov-
ers the gambit of home-inspection ser-
vices, providing both professional and
residential inspections, pre-purchase
analysis, home warranty and pre-sale
assessment, and pool and spa inspec-
tions.
Nierman said a full home inspection
takes between three and four hours to
complete and involves checking the
entire property, interior and exterior.
“I go room by room, seeing that every-
thing has been properly constructed,”
he said. He also checks water pressure,
air conditioning and heating units,
electrical and plumbing, the roof, ga-
rage, attic and even the foundation
around the house. “I research the soil
conditions and check to see if there are
any fissures in the area.” When he’s
done, he offers his clients an onsite
computerized assessment of their en-
tire home.
Nierman says can do about two per
day. He’s seen some strange things
since he started in the business. “I in-
spected a 2,800 square-foot home in
Thank you for
supporting our
advertisers.
It is because of them
that you are reading
this free newspaper.
Arizona City, a beautiful home, but it
had no insulation in it,” Nierman said.
But for the most part, he feels builders
and contractors do a good job.
One of the most common inspec-
tion issues Nierman sees is planting
shrubbery and landscaping too close to
the house. “This can damage the house
over time,” he said.
Nierman says much of his business
is word of mouth. “But since I moved
down here, I need to get acquainted
with the local realtors, and market that
I’m here.” And he brings an incred-
ible amount to the table. He holds a
civil engineering degree, a master’s de-
gree in organizational behavior, and a
bachelor’s degree in industrial educa-
tion. He taught at the university level
for 17 years.
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Jim Williams
But working in and around the con-
struction industry has always been
Nierman’s passion. “I feel good about
what I can do for people,” Nierman
said. “I get callbacks from clients I’ve
worked for. I love doing what I’m do-
ing. My advice to people is to never
give up on your dreams.”
At a glance:
Business: Ross’ Inspection
Technologies, LLC
Service area: Maricopa, Casa Grande
and Metro Phoenix
Hours: Available by appointment
Cost: Varies by square footage
Information: 480-241-6756 or
RossInspects.com
Commitment Integrity
 16 InMaricopa.com February 2010
Business
Synergy and
richness vs.
stereotypes
and conflict:
You decide
By Ginny McMinn
Special to InMaricopa News
Not long ago, I entered a small
drug store for copies of that day’s
newspaper. The young clerk who
offered assistance had long hair, was
tattooed, pierced and sported a length
of chain he wound from his wrist to
nearly to his elbow.
What should I expect from this
young man? How about the best
customer service I can remember.
He asked how many papers I
needed; he then put the newspapers
in a paper bag because I was “dressed
up” and he didn’t want me to get
newsprint on my clothes. He gave me
my change and sincerely thanked me
for coming into their store.
Employees today represent at least
four generations, four basic personality
types, seven learning-style preferences,
varying education and experience, and
differing communication skills (among
many differences). Do you look at
this workforce and see synergy and
richness? Or do you see stereotypes
and conflict?
To get the benefit of the differences,
try these steps:
Challenge assumptions and
avoid stereotyping. Learn about
individual differences; don’t avoid
them. Push beyond stereotypes to an
Ginny mcminn
understanding of who is present at
work and how they think and feel. If
I had followed my initial reaction, I
might never have experienced the drug
store clerk’s outstanding customer
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service. By smiling and engaging in
conversation, I received the benefit of
an opportunity to reflect a customer
base more accurately. When employee
his skills. differences result in better solutions,
Who is different? Help employees recognize and applaud it.
focus on how they are different Set your expectations. Let
– instead of just how others are employees know that your organization
different. Expand on what employees will be diverse by design, and that you
understand about themselves and value these differences. Expect open
others. Explore natural differences and respectful workplace behavior,
in personality, learning style, and and make working effectively with
communication patterns. Offer others a company value.
education and opportunities for Avoiding sameness in a workplace
interaction. Engage employees with leads to good business and employee
others in new ways, such as work outcomes. Getting started will take
rotations and project teams. education and commitment; and the
Different is good for business! results will be worth the investment!
Focus on how different experience,
education and perspectives contribute Ginny McMinn owns McMinnHR in
to superior teams and better results. Gilbert, Ariz. (www.mcminnhr.com).
Creativity flourishes where not The firm provides advisory services to
everyone looks at situations in the companies to develop the human side
same way. Diversity also provides of business.
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 17 InMaricopa.com February 2010
EVENTS
Running of the Gourds
FEB More than 100 artists and vendors
5-7 will be on hand for the Wuertz Farm’s
7th Annual Gourd Festival “Running
of the Gourds,” which will be held at the
Pinal County Fairgrounds, Casa Grande. The
event features ‘gourd’ games, mini-‘gourdster’
races, sailing ‘regourda,’ mariachis, dancers,
musicians, food booths and thousands of
gourds for sale. For information, e-mail
wuertzfarm@wuertzfarm.com
State of the City
FEB Maricopa will present the State of the
9 City on Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. at Harrah’s Ak-Chin, 15406
Maricopa Road. The official program starts at
6 p.m. There is space for 200 people. To RSVP,
e-mail events@maricopa-az.gov. The event will
be taped and broadcast on M20TV.
Community
Reel time at
Pacana Park
City now taking registration for
annual Fishing Derby
Are the kids still complaining about
“the one that got away? ” Well, they’ve
got another opportunity to land
that lunker. The city’s community
services department is now accepting
registrations for the 6th Annual Parent-
Child Fishing Derby.
The popular family event will be held
at Pacana Park on Saturday, March 6, and
is open to children ages 5 to 12. Check-in
will begin at 1:30 p.m. with fishing lines
cast at 2:30 p.m.
Last year’s event drew 200 anglers,
the most participants in the event’s
history. One 7-year-old girl caught 19
Semi-annual Used Book Sale
MAR Friends of the Maricopa Library are
6 sponsoring its semi-annual used book
sale Saturday, March 6, from 8 a.m. to
noon at Santa Rosa Elementary School, 21400
N. Santa Rosa Drive. The price is $5 per bag
for adult books, videos, DVDs, CDs. Children’s
books are individually priced starting at 25
cents. Special: $10 for library book bag filled
with your choice of books. The sale includes
fiction, non-fiction, mystery, romance, self-
help, Westerns, science fiction and much more.
All proceeds will benefit library programs. In
addition, you may still purchase “Home Cookin’
from Maricopa, Arizona” for $5, “Reflections of a
Desert Town” for $25 and a bookbag for $7.
Childrens’ book author makes
appearance
MAR The Friends of the Library will host
13 award-winning author Conrad
J. Storad at the Maricopa Public
Library. Storad is the author of more than 30
science and nature books for children and
young adults. In May 2009, his book, “Gila
fish, a record for the derby. The city’s
parks and recreation department stocks
the lake with hundreds of pounds of
catfish, providing children with plenty of
chances to hook a fish.
which may be purchased from the Friends of
the Maricopa Public Library the day of his visit.
The library is located at 41600 W. Smith-Enke
Road. For more information about Conrad
Storad, visit conradstorad.com. For more
information about the Friends of the Maricopa
Library, visit maricopafriends.yolasite.com.
For a complete list of community events or to
post one of your own, visit InMaricopa.com.
What makes
us better than
the rest?
Monsters,” won the Glyph Award as Arizona’s You.
Best Children’s Non-Fiction Book from the
Arizona Book Publishers Association. Storad’s
visit will include multiple presentations for
children from pre-school through sixth grade.
Additionally, he will conduct a 90-minute
Maricopa Branch
writers’ workshop called “Writing Non-
Fiction for Young Readers.” Storad will also be COMING SOON!
available to autograph copies of his books, (520) 381-3100 • 1-800-221-4179
www.PinalCountyFCU.com
Quality. Comfort. Convenience.
• Evening hours
• Complimentary
consultation
• Dentures
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• Implants
• Cosmetic
Advance registration for the fishing
derby is required. Young anglers can
(520) 494-7333
sign up at City Hall, 45145 W. Madison 44600 W. Smith-Enke Road, Suite 103
Ave. For additional information, contact (Next to Walgreens)
Brenda Campbell at 520-316-6963. www.CobblestoneDental.com
 February 2010 InMaricopa.com 18
Community
InMaricopa looking
for needy non-profits
When the economy falls, often those most
affected in the community are non-profit
agencies. During economic hardships these
organizations tend to see a dramatic increase
in the number of people needing help and a
dramatic decrease in the number of donors.
To help offset this burden in 2010,
InMaricopa is continuing a program it started
last year of awarding deserving non-profit
agencies an advertising stimulus package,
which will include free advertising in
InMaricopa News, InMaricopa The Magazine
and InMaricopa.com. A different charity will
be “adopted” each quarter whereas one non-
profit was awarded the prize for all of last year.
“One of the most important elements of
any successful business — for-profits and
non-profits alike — is the execution of an
effective marketing plan,” said Scott Bartle,
publisher of InMaricopa. “Whether the goal
is to launch a new program, recruit more
volunteers or raise more money, we look
forward to helping worthwhile charities beat
the recession, and not only accomplish their
goals in 2010, but have a lasting impact on
Maricopa for years to come.”
Carrie Vargas, director for OLC School for
the Arts, was last year’s recipient. “I think there
is a ton of value in having the opportunity to
tell our story,” Vargas said. “It got our name out
there and people started to hear about us. We
got calls and we got traffic; it was great.”
Non-profit organizations interested
in applying for the advertising package
must submit a request in 100 words or less
describing why their organization is deserving
of the advertising-stimulus package by
Feb. 15. The decision will be made, in part,
based on how the charities will leverage the
benefits and what impact it will have on the
community.
Applications can be downloaded from the
“Advertise” page on InMaricopa.com or by
calling 520-568-0040 ext. 5.
Real Estate
Maricopa leads
Pinal County in
new housing
permits
City added 244 new
homes in last 6 months
By Michael K. Rich
Michael@InMaricopa.com
Despite a rash of foreclosed homes
sitting on the market, Maricopa
remains the fastest growing
municipality in Pinal County.
Maricopa added 244 new homes
in the last six months of 2009, more
than Florence (113), Casa Grande (74),
Apache Junction (34), Eloy (22) and
Coolidge (0) combined, according to
numbers from RL Brown, a Valley-
based organization that provides
housing market data and market
analysis.
These numbers come at a time
when cities such as Surprise (157),
Peoria (157), Queen Creek (129),
Avondale (51) and Litchfield Park (12)
are issuing new housing at a much
slower pace. While Maricopa didn’t
fare as well compared with some of
the Valley’s larger municipalities,
the numbers were respectable. Other
Valley cities include Gilbert, 791
permits, Phoenix, 699, Mesa 370,
Goodyear 282 and Chandler 261,
according to RL Brown research.
“We are more consistent with
communities who have experienced
similar growth than the communities
defined by our geographic
boundaries,” said Danielle Casey,
economic development manager for
the city of Maricopa.
“Maricopa has attracted a lot of
buyers from California and the Phoe-
nix metro area who want a small-town
feel, but still want to be near the Val-
ley,” Casey said. “It is not surprising to
us we are continuing to grow.”
One of the reasons new home sales
were so strong is because builders
decided to lower prices to be more
competitive with the prices on
foreclosed homes. A prime example of
this strategy occurred in The Lakes at
Rancho El Dorado subdivision. Prior
to the market collapse, the community
was operating three home centers with
nearly nine different models from
which to choose. However, after the
crashed, the company consolidated
into one office, focusing on just three
less expensive floor plans.
“I would say the prices on the
homes came down about $50,000,”
said John Olkoski, of Meritage Homes,
one of the community’s sales agents.
However, it wasn’t only the lowering
of prices that made the homes more
attractive. Many builders focused
their sales strategy on the monthly
payment. “We post the monthly
payment on each of our model homes
to help people realize what the cost is,”
he said.
A drive around Maricopa model
home centers reveals other builders
have followed a similar marketing
Jim Williams
plan. While the moves have helped
ensure a rise in business, Maricopa
Prudential One Realtor John
Kamouzis said he is finding that many
buyers are now choosing to go with a
new home versus a foreclosure, short
sale or other resale property.
“The resale market is getting to
the point where people are having
to bid on multiple homes, and a lot
of people do not want the hassle, or
would simply prefer a home with a
warranty,” Kamouzis said.
While the last six months of
2009 were strong for the city, 2010
could bring further optimism as the
Province community has reopened
for business. Province was originally
developed by Engle Homes, a
subsidiary of Hollywood, Florida-
based TOUSA Inc., and opened in
2003. However, TOUSA filed for
bankruptcy protection in January
2008, and the developer subsequently
closed its Province sales office in April
of that year. Prior to the sale being
completed, the community had fallen
into receivership.
Province is comprised of 2,200
home sites, of which 882 have been
sold to date. Meritage Homes ac-
quired the remaining available prop-
erty, consisting of 433 finished and
885 entitled/planned lots. Meritage
offers homes priced from the low
$100,000s.
 February 2010 InMaricopa.com 19

Religion

Generosity challenge prompts churchgoers

to give up Cardinals’ playoff tickets
By Michael K. Rich
Michael@InMaricopa.com
Maricopa residents Matt and Missi Boyd are diehard
Cardinals fans. The couple moved to Maricopa in
2004 and became season ticket holders the same
year.
“We had been Cardinals fans for several years
prior, but, when we moved to Maricopa, we decided
to make the commitment on season tickets,” Matt
said.
The duo were so dedicated to cheering on the
red birds they could often be seen at Church of
Celebration wearing their Cardinal red jerseys while
paying homage to their Savior.
“We would attend the early mass on game days
and the middle service when they were on the road,”
Matt said. “We never missed a game or a service.”
However, Sunday, Jan. 3, the couple was struck
with a bewildering dilemma while at church.
Pastor Josh Barrett passed out $4,000 in denom-
inations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 to the
members of his congregation as part of a new series
he was rolling out entitled “Freakonomics.”
“We are generous by nature, but a lot of us just
don’t have the ability to be generous in this economy.”
Barrett said. “The series focused on the economy of
God, and we wanted to give people the opportunity
to be generous.”
The only strings attached to the funds were that
Matt and Missi Boyd are Arizona Cardinals season ticket holders.
people use the money to benefit someone other
than themselves, and that they would post on
freakonomics.me what they did with the funds.
“We have a thing called ‘making His name more
famous’ at the church, and that’s what we wanted
this money to help accomplish,” Barrett said.
Some of the stories on the site detail the
purchasing of gift cards at McDonald’s, handing
them out to random people, while others share their
stories of just gifting the money to the homeless, the
needy and other random folk.
However, the Boyds’ tale is one that stands out
on the list.
The couple took the combined $20 they
received and purchased a Bible. They then
highlighted a few of their favorite scriptures
and inside it placed their tickets to the Arizona
Cardinals’ playoff game against the Packers.
“They were great tickets, in section 115, row
5; it was the area of the field where the fumble
occurred in overtime,” Matt said.
The Bible was then gifted to another
member of the community.
“Giving something you don’t want or need
is easy, but giving a gift straight from your
heart means so much more,” Matt said. “God
didn’t sacrifice some stranger off the street as
a gift to us, but his very own and only son, Je-
sus.”
The church ended the five-week series on
the economics of God on Jan. 24 and will roll
out a new series called “Identity” on Feb. 7.
The new series will focus on helping people learn
how to identify who they are in the eyes of Christ.
About Church of Celebration
Founded: May 2006
Meets: Sundays at 9 and 10:45 a.m.
Where: Maricopa Wells Middle School,
45725 W. Honeycutt Ave.
Phone: 520-494-7714
Web: ChurchOfCelebration.com

Weekend Masses: Saturday at 4 p.m.,

Sunday at 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m.,
12:30 (Spanish) & 5 p.m.

45295 W. Honeycutt Avenue

Across from Maricopa High School

(520) 568-4605
www.OurLadyGraceChurch.org
 20 InMaricopa.com February 2010
Mike McCorry (left), a firefighter with Maricopa Fire, is excited about the department getting a new fire-prevention trailer similar to the one at right.
Education
New fire-prevention trailer is ‘hot’ subject
Maricopa Fire awarded grant to help educate students in fire safety
and prevention
By Michael K. Rich
Michael@InMaricopa.com
As the smoke rolls out the door, a
group of 7-year-olds, on arms and el-
bows, wiggle their way across the floor
and out of the mobile home.
The description above is fictional,
but it’s one that could soon become
reality for students of Maricopa Uni-
fied School District and the Maricopa
Fire Department. Maricopa Fire was
recently awarded a grant to purchase a
39-foot fire-prevention trailer.
“This is going to be a great learning
tool for the community,” said acting
Fire Chief Wade Brannon.
A fire-prevention trailer comes
packed with programs, tools and aids
that simulate actual disasters in an at-
tempt to help children better under-
stand what to do in a particular cir-
cumstance.
“What’s nice about this trailer is that
it gives us very effective visual aids,”
said Maricopa firefighter Mike Mc-
Corry. Those visual tools include fake
flames coming off frying pans and out
of trashcans, fake smoke, warm door-
knobs and screeching smoke alarms.
McCorry said one exciting aspect of
the trailer is a phone from which they
can generate mock 911 calls.
“When a child picks up the phone
to call 911, they are connected to a
firefighter who is stationed in a closet
in the trailer,” McCorry said. This is
helpful for determining how well the
children remember the information
necessary to report an incident he
explained.
However, McCorry said calling 911
from inside the home is not always a
good idea, especially in the case of a
fire. “If there is a large fire, you need
to get out of the home and not worry
about taking anything with you or
calling 911 from inside the residence,”
he said.
The $72,000 trailer, slated for de-
livery by the start of the 2010-11 school
Jim Williams
year, would act as a supplement to the
Fire Pals program McCorry instituted
at MUSD in 2009. “We can teach chil-
dren what they are supposed to do dur-
ing an emergency and use the trailer to
see those lessons actually in action,”
McCorry said.
Currently, the Fire Pals program
consists of firefighters meeting with
children in all of the district’s elemen-
tary schools to educate them on the
basics of fire and personal safety. “We
expect kids to go home and share this
information with their siblings and
parents,” McCorry said.
The trailer will not be limited to
school training and education. It will
appear at city-sponsored events such
as Founders Day and the annual sal-
sa festival to help educate the public
about fire safety.
“Fire awareness and safety educa-
tion are two of the primary respon-
sibilities of a fire department,” Chief
Brannon said. “Us having to pull peo-
ple from a fire is Plan B.”
All systems go
for new charter
Leading Edge Academy received
charter approval from the
Arizona State Board
Maricopa’s newest charter school,
Leading Edge Academy, received its
charter approval from Arizona State
Board for Charter Schools Jan. 25 giving
the school the state clearance needed to
open in Maricopa.
“Our campus will open this August,
and we are excited to be a part of the
Maricopa community,” said Ron Body,
the school’s director. “We will bring the
same academic excellence to Maricopa
that we bring to all of our schools. Our
new school in Maricopa will utilize best
practices in education to provide the
highest quality of instruction to our
students.”
The new charter will initially offer
kindergarten through 6th grade in a
20,000 square-foot campus at 19302 N.
Porter Road in Maricopa. “We anticipate
site development to begin within the
next two weeks,” Body said.
The facility will be shared with
Community of Hope Church.
Leading Edge Academy, which
opened its first campus in Gilbert in 2002,
was founded by Rev. Delmer Geesey,
pastor of Life Community Church in
Gilbert. Geesey also serves as president
of Leading Edge Academy. “Our schools
are designed around traditional family
values and imparting character into our
students’ lives. We are committed to
character-based education, small class
sizes, and a safe-family feel.”
For more information about Leading Edge
Academy-Maricopa, call 520-568-7800 or
visit LeadingEdgeAcademy.com.
 February 2010 InMaricopa.com 21
Sports
Basketball draws siblings closer
Jace and Julia Dickerson know the score in friendly
sibling rivalry
by Jennifer Stefanow
Special to InMaricopa News
Long before the homes sprouted
up in Rancho El Dorado and
Cobblestone Farms, years before
there were Fry’s and Bashas’
stores, Jace and Julia Dickerson
played hoops together in Mari-
copa. “A lot of people don’t know
this about us, but we were play-
ing here with Ak-Chin before
any of this was here,” Jace said.
Jace Dickerson, a senior
guard on the Maricopa High
School boys’ varsity team, has
played basketball since the age
of 5. His sister, Julia, a sopho-
more forward on the girls’
squad, started playing at 6. Both
credit their parents and aunt for
getting them interested in play-
ing the game.
“My aunt, Deena Rom, was
a coach, and she got me started
playing,” Julia said. Julia plays a
variety of sports – softball, soc-
cer, as well as volleyball – but
basketball is her true calling, she
says.
Jace and Julia are both high-
ly regarded on their respective
teams, but they’re each other’s
biggest cheerleaders. “I try to
go to all her games,” Jace said.
“And I try to go to his, when I
can,” Julia countered.
Both Jace and Julia, mem-
bers of the Ak-Chin Indian Com-
munity, played with the Ak-Chin
club team before enrolling in the
Maricopa school system. “We
would go to tournaments and
play other clubs,” Jace said.
There was plenty of sibling
rivalry among the two growing
Julia and Jace Dickerson
up. As the younger sibling, Julia
soon got used to playing with
the big boys. “I used to play
with Jace and our older brother,
Jacob,” she said.
“I used to play pretty rough
with her,” Jace said. “She had to
get better to hold her own.”
For Jace and Julia, their early
experience in playing the game
has helped hone their skills for
competition at the scholastic
level.
Jace began playing for
Maricopa in the eighth grade,
when the middle school was still
Maricopa Middle School. Julia
followed in his footsteps a few
years later and played in the
seventh grade team at Maricopa
Wells Middle School.
Today, Julia is one of
the Rams’ leaders, even as a
sophomore, averaging double
Jim Williams
digits in both scoring and
rebounding. Jace is averaging
10 points a game and five assists
per game.
Both Jace and Julia also
see basketball playing a role in
their future. “I want to make
it all the way to the WNBA,”
Julia said. Jace also welcomes
the opportunity to go pro, but
realizes that it is tougher for men
to make it to the professional
level than women.
“I’ll tryout for a college team
and go from there,” he said.
Whatever they end up doing,
whether it’s on the hardwood
or in life, it is certain that Jace
and Julia will continue to share
a sibling bond that ties them
together forever. “I just want her
to do well in whatever she does,”
Jace said. Julia agrees: “I’m his
biggest fan.”
Roller hockey, anyone?
Marciopa resident looking to start up hockey
league for kids, adults
By Michael K. Rich
Michael@InMaricopa.com
James Valenzano is used to hitting people and upset he can’t do
it in Maricopa. However, it is not the type of hitting that lands you
behind bars.
The 47-year-old Maricopa resident grew up on the East Coast
and started playing hockey at age 6. Now he’d like to start up a
roller hockey program in Maricopa.
“This is the first two consecutive years I have not played since I
picked up a stick,” he said. It is a drought he wants to end.
Valenzano approached Maricopa’s parks and recreation
department shortly after moving to town, but was told there was
no money available to fund a program. So he’s taking the start-up
of a program into his own hands.
“I have talked with a few people about starting up roller
hockey in Maricopa, but we haven’t got together any funding yet,”
he said. To start a team in Maricopa, Valenzano estimates an initial
investment of $2,500 would purchase the goals and removable
baseboards. However, that could be a fee that is recouped
through advertising. “Back East we ran an operation where we
sold advertising on the boards and actually turned a small profit,”
he said.
As far as finding a location for the team to play, Valenzano
said a tennis court or even a paved parking lot is all that would
be required.
“The best part of playing roller hockey in Arizona is the
weather,” he said. “You can play all year around.”
While Valenzano is interested in playing the game, he has
more urgent reason for wanting to start up a program: his two
young children and other youth in Maricopa. “We need some more
activities for the Maricopa youth.”
To start a team a minimum of 11 players is required, Valenzano
said. Parents of the players would have to provide the basic
equipment: stick, roller skates, a mouthpiece and gloves, all of
which he said can be acquired for a fairly modest fee from used
sporting goods stores.
If interested in contacting Valenzano about starting up a roller
hockey league in Maricopa, e-mail him at jvalenzano@gmail.com.
February 2010 InMaricopa.com 22
To place an ad, call 520-568-0040.
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What you need. When you need it.
 23 InMaricopa.com February 2010
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Visit InMaricopa.com/Classifieds.aspx or call
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GARAGE SALES
For a map of garage
sales, including items
available for sale at each, visit
InMaricopa.com/Community/
GarageSaleMap.aspx each
Friday.
Yard Sale 2/6/10, 7AM-3PM,
36509 W Nina St (Tortosa)
Classifieds
GIFTS
DSPA Gems Cookbook on
sale now! Your $10 purchase
supports our non-profit
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kids in Maricopa. 520-483-
8915
Need an inexpensive gift? 
The Friends of the Library
cookbook “Home Cookin’ from
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 in e Moving to
g
ov r
Santa Cruz Elementary School
m e’

19845 N. Costa Del Sol (in Tortosa)

w

t i n g
Star th
b . 1 4
Fe

Sunday School 9:00am

Worship 10:15am
www.JourneyUnitedMethodist.org