Marana named one of the most successful cities in Arizona

Marana was named the sixth most successful city in Arizona by career planning website Zippia. The website formulated their findings based upon criteria used by the U.S. Census Bureau in their American Community Survey.

The criteria used in Zippia’s poll was Poverty Level, Median Household Income, and Unemployment Rate.

The company admits that success is a subjective term, they felt set criteria could help define what makes a successful city.

“Here at Zippia, we like things that we can neatly measure and then expound upon,” they explained in a press release. “So yes, with the Power of Math, we have determined the unarguable, totally objective 10 most successful cities in Arizona.”

Zippia looked at all 59 communities with 5,000 or more residents and then ranked each city in the three categories on a scale of 1 to 59. The community with the lowest overall score was deemed the most successful.

Marana was bolstered by the second lowest poverty rate in the state. At 4.2 percent they trailed only Litchfield Park. The Town was also sixth in median income at $74,817 and 14th out of 59 in unemployment rate at 7.3 percent.

Of the communities ranked in the top-10, Marana had the third highest population, trailing only Chandler and Gilbert.

The full list and article can be found here.

Cotton Festival Blog #5: Community Choir/Blue Monsoon set to entertain

The Marana Cotton Festival will feature two distinct musical performers at the October 21 event.

Taking the stage at 6:00 p.m. will be the Marana Community Music Theater’s Community Choir.  This choir consists of residents from around Marana ages 13 and up. He goal of the choir is to bring the arts to the community in a tangible and fun way. They will be performing several pieces to kick start our live music.

At 6:45 Blue Monsoon brings their version of modern country with rock influences that they dub “Nu-Country” to the Cotton Festival. While the band admits they are fans of pop influenced country music, they also come from a rock and heavy metal background and feels that gives them a unique take on country music.

The name Nu-Country comes from the Nu-Metal scene of the late 1990’s where bands added disparate styles like hip-hop, electronica, and pop and combined them with more traditional heavy metal music. In much the same way Blue Monsoon hope to take styles of music that does not typically get associated with country music and meld them into their sound. Lead vocalist Celeste cites current country artists adding DJ’s and drum machines to their sound as an inspiration for Blue Monsoon to play around with traditional country tropes.

Celeste grew up listening to punk and the Grunge bands of the early 90’s and that was the gateway to Nu Metal and Heavy Metal bands like Korn and Tool. She played in rock bands for years but was also influenced by family members who loved country music.

She DJ’s and hosted a karaoke night at the now defunct Toby Keith’s All-American Grill and was encouraged to start playing country music by those who heard her sing. In 2013 she formed Blue Monsoon.

Although the music is country, their influences are all over the musical map. While traditional country artists like George Strait, Alan Jackson, Marty Robbins and Garth Brooks are cited, so are hard rockers like Ronnie James Dio, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden. The band posted a video of the band covering pop/punk band the Offspring’s “Gone Away”, transforming the epic rocker into a slow, almost sultry country jam. 

“Blue Monsoon performs the music that everyone will want to dance to,” said the band’s guitarist Jason Curtis.

Celeste also cites a number of female artists as inspirations including Sarah Evans, Deanna Carter, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Stevie Nicks. One of her goals with the band is to highlight more of the female voices that she feels are under-represented in contemporary country music.

The band plays a set of mostly modern country hits though they like to bill themselves as a dynamic high energy band that fuses rock into pop country hits” and like to create new songs out of old favorites, fusing a variety of genres into country tinged hits.  Celeste admits that she is a big fan of the modern, slick sounding production values of new country music, even though she says that band may “not be for purists” and reiterated that most of the band “did not grow up on country.”

The band is thrilled to be making their return to Marana. They played a one of the Town’s Free Music In Marana concerts and the Star Spangled Spectacular and  love taking their music to a new audience.

“We absolutely love seeing the kids and adults interacting and dancing,” said Curtis.

Celeste added that playing in front of an all ages audience is a nice change. She said some bar crowds are great, but others see the band as background music to the evening’s activities. All ages show also bring out younger fans of modern country music who know the words and will often sing along.

“When they sing along with me I can pretend I almost wrote the song,” Celeste explained. “I get a great feeling that the band and the audience are on the same page.”

Blue Monsoon will take the stage at 6:45 and play several sets until the event ends at 9 p.m.

The Marana Cotton Festival is on Saturday, October 21 from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Marana Heritage River Park (12375 North Heritage Park Drive).

School Spotlight: MUSD awarded school safety grant

The Marana News had a nice write-up on the Marana School District receiving a $278,000 safety grant. 

The Marana Unified School District recently received a little more than $278,000 in grant funding from The Arizona Department of Education for the School Safety Program, which provides additional school resource officers and juvenile probation officers to schools in the district. The grant period is from this August to June 2020.

The district received the competitive, three-year grant for the second time, the first time being in the 2014/2015 school year, when $177,000 was awarded to provide SROs for Marana Middle School and Marana High School. The new grant will continue to provide for an SRO at Marana Middle School. In addition, it will also provide for one Pima County JPO at Tortolita Middle School, one Pima County JPO to serve both Quail Run Elementary and Thornydale Elementary and one JPO to serve both Roadrunner Elementary and Picture Rocks Elementary. 

Through continued partnerships with Pima County Sheriff’s and the Marana Police Department, full-time SROs are provided for Mountain View High School, Tortolita Middle School and Marana High School.

“Schools highly appreciate working hand in hand with local law enforcement,” said Tamara Crawley, director of public relations for the district. “It enhances the safety message occurring on campus, and allows students to build relationships with officers.”

To read the rest of the story go to the Marana News website. 

Marana News: Citizens’ Forum to embark on public art program

The Marana News' Danyelle Khmara profiled the Marana Citizen's Forum.

The Marana Citizen’s Forum chose a Public Art Program as its fall project during its first meeting last Thursday, and will develop recommendations for council on implementing a town-wide program.

The forum overwhelming agreed on public art, winning out over three other topics: The Gateway to Marana Main Street, Creating a Healthy Community and Tourism in Marana.

Twice a year, Marana holds citizens’ forums at which interested residents chose one project, from three to four ideas chosen by the Town Council, and come up with concrete steps towards implementation. The forum will present its recommendations to the Town Council on Nov. 21, addressing locations for artwork, criteria to evaluate art proposals and ways to incorporate art in private developments.

For the full story go to see the Marana News's website. 

Ancient holes contain the secret to early civilization in Marana

Tourists study ancient mortar holes used by the Hohokam civilization to grind mesquite beans during 500-1450 A.D.

Intrepid adventurers needn't travel far to take a peek at the remains of an ancient kitchen. They only need to travel a few miles from Interstate 10 as part of a new attraction created by the Town of Marana’s tourism program, Discover Marana, that will be offered by Gray Line Tours Tucson.

Ancient foodways, artisanal flavors, and Sonoran haute cuisine set the stage for the Marana Gastronomy Tour set to debut this fall. Tourists can expect to travel back thousands of years with University of Arizona professor emerita and Arizona State Museum Curator Dr. Suzanne Fish as they explore ancient archaeological sites of the Hohokam civilization, before returning to the present for a modern cuisine tasting infused with with ancient wild foods, ancient domesticated native foods, and post-1687 European foods. BKW Farm, Bean Tree Farm, Catalina Brewing Company, and Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain all take center stage during the epicurean showcase.

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Left to right: Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain; Barrio Bread; Catalina Brewing Company

“Marana is situated on one of three places along the Santa Cruz River watershed that has supported the oldest agriculture systems in North America for more than four thousand years,” said Town of Marana Tourism Manager Laura Cortelyou. The gastronomy tour was designed to explore that rich history in the context of contemporary foods that use ancient flavors. 

Marana’s rich concentration of archaeological sites are relatively undisturbed, and are still yielding surprising discoveries such as the oldest agricultural irrigation canal system in North America found in 2009. Marana plays a significant role in the southern Arizona culinary networks through its own noteworthy restaurants and as a supplier to regional restaurants, farmer’s markets, and dining room tables.

The Marana Gastronomy Tour is the first tour approved by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network member, Tucson City of Gastronomy, the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the U.S. The designation recognizes 13,000 years of habitation, 4,000 years of formal agriculture, the longest agricultural history of any city in North America, and 300 years of orchards and livestock ranching – a history shared by Marana and Tucson. More information can be found at www.townofgastronomy.org/ .

Oh, and those ancient holes that contain a Hohokom secret? Consider them the Sonoran great-grandmother of the portable mortar and pestles (also known as mano y metate). The people of Marana more than one thousand years ago created these smooth bowls in the rock to grind their mesquite beans into fine powder for delicious patties. 

Click here for more information on Marana: Town of Gastronomy and the Marana Gastronomy Tours.

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Left to right: Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain; Catalina Brewing Company

Try to defeat the best at Marana Game Day

This weekend marks the return of the Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament, the largest event of its kind in the area. Bragging rights are at stake to crown the Cornhole Champions of Marana, and arguably the greatest Cornhole teams in Pima County.

The Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament is Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Quarry Pines Golf Course. The cost is just $30 per two-person team, or $40 on the day of. There are prizes for the top-three teams, as well as other side games, food, beverages, and television showing college football.

Better yet, the top team wins $300, with the next two teams winning $200 and $100 respectively.

The sport of Cornhole is one with a glorious, if not properly documented past. Much of the history of the sport is little more than myth. There is not recorded evidence of Big Joe Peckinpah’s perfect game at the 1924 Iowa State Fair and Pig Roast. Video footage of Team USA’s dramatic come-from-behind win at the 1956 World Cup in Rio De Janeiro has been lost and who doesn’t remember the infamous “Wonderful World of Disney Bowl” when the final three throws of the 1978 National Championships were interrupted when ABC switched from coverage to a showing of “Escape From Witch Mountain” on Wonderful World of Disney. No one saw Daniel De La Cruz win the title on the final throw, edging three-time national champion Marcus McGilicutty.

No team has been the subject to more lore, misinformation, and rumor than the Cornelius-Hollister twins. Wilber and Constantine Cornelius-Hollister were once at the top of the Cornhole world, but soon dropped off the map after the infamous collapse at the 1997 Cornhole-A-Palooza and were never heard from again…that is, until now. The Cornelius-Hollister twins have announced they will return to action at Marana Game Day, ending a 20-year exile from the sport that made them almost famous.

Who can forget that fateful day in the spring of 1997? The greatest team in the word appeared to be on their way to their third straight Cornhole-A-Palooza title. They were on one of the greatest rolls in the history of the sport. They were on their way to the grand slam. They had already won Cornhole Mania ’97, Bag Bowl XXVI, and Uncle Jimmy’s BBQ Games and Antique Tractor Show, and just needed to take home another Cornhole-A-Palooza title.

Holding a three-point lead with one throw left, the Cornelius-Hollister twins seemed to win it all when the final throw by Brazilian national champ came up short, earning just a single point. All the Cornelius-Hollister twins needed to do was intentionally miss the board and they would win. An overconfident Wilber Cornelius-Hollister threw his bag straight up in the air and began the celebration. Normally beanbags do not bounce, but on this day his did. The bag landed a good four-feet in front of the board, but bounced straight at the board, knocking the three bags on the board off, and then skidding off to the side. To this day physicists cannot figure out how it happened, but all those in attendance agree that it did. Instead of winning the Grand Slam of Cornhole, the Cornelius-Hollister twins were now the subject of the most heartbreaking loss in sports history.

As rain began falling at the Dubuque, Iowa auxiliary fairgrounds, no trophies were hoisted. No legacies were made. What looked to be a coronation, was instead a funeral. There was no grand slam. There were no legends made.

The last image was of a devastated Wilber Cornelius-Hollister sitting slumped in the muddy parking lot of the fairgrounds. He would give up the sport, and would not be seen again.

His brother Constantine tried to go on with other partners, but a series of injuries and a PED scandal, the use of corn syrup “to be one with the corn”, led to his retirement in 1998. Saddled with Gingivitis of the Small Intestine and a knee murmur, Constantine left the sport, though he did coach Trinidad and Tobago to a third place finish in the Pan-Caribbean Games in 2001.

On the September 15, the Cornelius-Hollister twins made it official, holding a press conference to announce their return. Though no media members attended, they did release a press release announcing that they had “unfinished business” and would return to the sport. Constantine had undergone experimental treatments to cure the intestinal gingivitis and had kicked his corn syrup addiction. Wilbur did not reveal his whereabouts for the past 20 years although said he had to undergo intense psycho-therapy, as well as lose a considerable amount of weight “to get back into throwing shape.”

“We are dedicated to resurrecting our careers and taking the sport of Cornhole to the next level,” they said in their release.

To try to beat the Cornelius-Hollister twins, or to make your own equally inaccurate memories, sign up for Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament. Early registration is still underway.

Editor’s note: There are no Cornelius-Hollister twins, at least none that we know of. Nor, sadly, is there really a Cornhole-A-Palooza, Cornhole Mania, or Bag Bowl that we know of. What is real is that the Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament is a lot of fun, and if you are not registered, you should be.

Editor’s note Pt. 2: As far as we know corn syrup is not a Performance Enhancer for Cornhole or any other sport.

Marana News: MHC Healthcare celebrates 60 years

The Marana News wrote a re-cap from last week's MHC Healthcare Foundation’s 60th anniversary last Friday.

Clint Kuntz told a crowd of hundreds at the MHC Healthcare Foundation’s 60th anniversary last Friday that the organization started from a “little hut.” Now, MHC provides “healthcare with a heart” to about 45,000 patients at 15 sites across Pima County.

With its flagship, the Marana Main Health Center, the organization prides itself on being affordable to everyone and won’t turn anyone away, regardless of ability to pay for care. The gala’s keynote speaker Dr. Zubin Damania, aka ZDoggMD, fit right in.

Damania became an internet sensation after he started posting music videos on YouTube in which he parodied popular songs with his own lyrics. He entered the stage at the Ritz rapping, while one of his videos played on two big screens.

“You don’t usually see that performed in business casual,” he said as the song concluded. 

He also moonlights as a comedian, and his sensitive yet blunt humor around healthcare was not lost on the MHC crowd. He opened by talking about when someone first becomes a doctor.

“We’re idealistic,” he said. “We’re incredibly Disney. We barely curse.” 

Read the rest of the story on the Marana News.

Overnight roadwork on Crackerbarrel Rd extended

As part of the Town of Marana’s Cracker Barrel Roadway Restoration Project, beginning at 10 p.m. on Sunday, October 1 and continuing through 6 a.m. on Monday, October 2, Cracker Barrel Road between Hospitality Road and Arizona Pavilions Drive will be closed to all traffic to allow for upgrades to various water service lines.

During this nighttime work, Hospitality Road and Arizona Pavilions Drive will remain open to motorists. Directional signs and traffic control devices will be set up to guide vehicles along the applicable detour routes.
 

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs. Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested. If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.

Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Santa Cruz River workshops looking for input

A number of Marana residents participated in a recent Santa Cruz River survey conducted by the Sonoran Institute. The survey yielded a number of insightful responses, and they already have big plans to use the information.

They are hosting a trio of workshops in the coming weeks to finish their research and start making recommendations to Pima County Regional Flood Control. As you took the survey, you may have noticed that some of the survey questions were kept at a very high level. Now in our workshops they will explore some of these questions further, exposing more nuance. They are also like your help identifying the preferred balance between opposing management trade-offs and will provide paper maps for your recreational improvements ideas. 

They hope to cover a lot of ground, and anyone can attend, even those who have taken the survey already. Each workshop will focus on a different segment of the river. Click the link for more info and to register: www.sonoraninstitute.org/events/santa-cruz-workshops

Date & Time
River Reach
Workshop Location

October 10, 6pm
Grant – Ina
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells CC

October 12, 6pm
Avra Valley – Trico
Marana Municipal Center, 2nd floor

October18, 6pm
Ina – Avra Valley
Wheeler Abbott Taft Jr Library

More on the workshops:

Your voice is an important part of the Santa Cruz River!

Have you ever thought that your regular route on the Loop trail could use a drinking fountain? Would you rather see new flowing reaches of the river or protect the currently flowing & vegetated areas? Do you feel that erosion needs to be taken more seriously on your local stretch of the Santa Cruz? We want to hear all of your ideas, big and smallThis series of FREE workshops is a venue for sharing your experiences and ideas about the Santa Cruz River. Your input will be used in the upcoming management plan for part of the Santa Cruz River. You will help us ensure that the river remains a vital and thriving resource in our community.

How will I influence the future of the Santa Cruz River?

The Santa Cruz River Improvements Workshop and Survey is an opportunity to share your river management preferences and to share ideas for improvement projects. Your input will be used by Pima County as they develop a management plan for the stretch of river between Grant and Trico Road. This includes the flowing section that begins near Sweetwater Drive.

This management plan guides the future of our river in two ways, and you can influence them both.

The plan will describe goals and outline ways for reaching those goals. You help identify which areas need special attention by telling us what you like about the river and your values.

The Plan will also identify and prioritize river improvements related to flood safety, erosion, and recreation. Projects can include things that enhance your experience on the river, such as additional signage, restrooms, drinking fountains and anything else you come up with. Pima County wants to know your suggestions for improvement projects.

What will these workshops be like?

Come prepared to think in broad and fine scales & to share your experiences! As a workshop attendee, you’ll give your input in three highly interactive ways. First, you’ll watch a short video and tell us what information is new and exciting to you. Second, you’ll identify the preferred solution to realistic management scenarios. Finally, you’ll use maps to record suggestions for improvement projects along the river.

NOTE: There will be three workshops, each one focused on a subset of the management area. You can attend more than one workshop. If you know someone that might like to participate, but can’t attend a workshop please share our online survey.

Tangerine Road Traffic Alert: September 28

On Thursday, September 28, from 6am to 4pm, crews will install traffic signal loops at the intersection of Tangerine Road and Thornydale Road. Residents and the traveling public should expect the following:

• The eastbound left-turn lane from Tangerine Road to northbound Thornydale Road will be closed. Left turns will be permitted, but not from a dedicated left-turn lane.
• All other left-turn movements are permitted 
• Expect delays

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kathy or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Marana News: Marana reappoints town magistrate

This story appears in the September 27 edition of the Marana News.

Marana Town Council unanimously voted to reappoint Magistrate Laine Sklar to  another two-year term on Sept. 19.

At 35 years old, Sklar has already served two years as Marana’s only judge, after nine years as a town prosecutor. She saw the position as a “new intellectual challenge,” she said. As judge, it’s important to her that people leave her courtroom feeling they’ve been treated fairly.

“No matter how a case turns out, if the individual feels that somebody truly listened to their side of the story, they leave with a little bit more satisfaction,” she said.

To read the full story pick up a copy of the Marana News or visit their website. 

Tangerine Road Traffic Alert: Sept. 27

At 10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27 the contractor will begin shifting Thornydale Road traffic to the newly constructed northbound lanes. The contractor will also install temporary pavement markings along Thornydale Road between Tangerine Crossing Drive and approximately 1500-feet south of Tangerine Road.  Residents and the traveling public should expect the following:

• North and southbound Thornydale Road traffic will be shifted to the new northbound travel lanes from Tangerine Road to approximately 1500-feetsouth of the Tangerine Road intersection.
• North and southbound Thornydale Road traffic will be shifted into their new permanent alignment of Thornydale Road from the Tangerine Road intersection north to Tangerine Crossings Drive.
• Motorists should expect delays.
• The speed limit will be reduced to 25 MPH.
• This traffic shift is scheduled to be in place for the next couple months.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kathy or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament returns

Cornhole has been an integral part of several of the Town of Marana’s events, including last year’s Marana Game Day dedicated to it. The Game Day Cornhole Tournament is back on Saturday, October 7 for a second year and should be bigger and better than last year’s.

The tournament is a chance to see how you stack up in the community of cornhole players in this traditional tailgate favorite.

Pride not enough to motivate you? How about some cash prizes? I also wanted to see if we could push the cash prizes? $300 for first, $200 second and $100 third place.

This year the event is moving to the Quarry Pines Golf Course and we are partnering with them to put on the tournament. This partnership means you will be able to purchase beer and food on site during the event. Texas Roadhouse will be providing dinner at 5 PM for all participants.

What’s game day without the games? In addition to cornhole you will be able to keep track of your favorite college football team by watching college football on the televisions at Quarry Pines.

In addition to the tournament, there will be other side games including a long toss competition, best out of 10 contest, and enter our raffle for fabulous prizes and your shot at 1 million dollars. Note: There is a $5 entry fee for all side games and the raffle that is separate from your tournament activity fee.

The Tournament is open to those 18 and the entry fee is $30 per team from now until October 6. Day of registration climbs to $40. Act fast, there are only 50 slots available and they will fill up fast.

• Price:   Activity Fee: $30.00, from Aug 1, 2017 - Oct 6, 2017
• Event Day Registration: $40.00, from Oct 7, 2017 - Oct 10, 2017
• Ages:   18 and up
• Gender:           Coed
• Registration Dates:     Standard registration opens: Aug 1, 2017 8am
• Last day for standard registration: Oct. 7, 2017 9am
• Last day for Internet registration: Oct. 6, 2017 4pm

Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament is back!! Come see how you stack up in the community of cornhole players.

NEW to the event this fall we will be partnering with Quarry Pines to put on the tournament. You will be able to purchase beer and food on site during the event. Texas Roadhouse will be providing dinner at 5 PM for all participants. Be sure to keep track of your favorite college football team by watching college football on the T.V.'s at Quarry Pines.

Side Games: You will want to be sure to bring cash with you. We will have a long toss competition, best out of 10 contest and enter our raffle for fabulous prizes and your shot at 1 million dollars!!

$5 entry fee for all side games and raffle

Marana Police Department hosts National Night Out

The Marana Police Department strives to create positive relationships with local businesses and residents. Their hope is that every interaction with the public is a positive one. National Night Out is an opportunity for the Police Department to work hand in hand with local businesses to provide a fun and informative event for the public, allowing interaction between the public, local businesses, and law enforcement. 

National Night Out with the Marana Police Department will be held in front of the Target located at 3901 W. Ina Road on Friday, October 6th from 6pm to 8pm. The Marana Police Department will be on hand along with community partners Target, Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, Northwest Fire, Marana Animal Services, and the Marana Prevention Alliance.

“This is a great way for the residents of Marana to come out and interact with the Marana Police Department,” said Officer David Danielson of the Marana Police Department’s Community Resource Unit. 

The event will have four law enforcement demonstrations from Marana Police Department K9 Unit, MPD Motors, the Arizona Search and Recovery K9, and the Marana Police Explorers. The Pima County SWAT Unit will be on hand, and there will be a Child ID fingerprinting booth, as well as giveaways by Target, Starbucks, and Chick-Fil-A.

Pump It Up will also be on hand with games and giveaways for the kids as well.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods and communities safer, more caring places to live. The goal is to use National Night Out to enhance the relationship between the Marana Police Department and the Marana residents and business owners to bring back a true sense of community. 

For more information contact Officer David Danielson at 520-382-2051 or ddanielson@MARANAAZ.GOV.

Tangerine Road Traffic Alert: Sept. 26

On Tuesday, September 26, the contractor will complete reconstruction work on Thornydale Road about 1,500 feet south of the Tangerine Road intersection. 

• Traffic along north and southbound Thornydale Road will be shifted to the west and reduced to one travel-lane from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Flaggers will be on site to direct alternate one-way traffic through the work area.
• Motorists will be driving on unpaved surfaces.
• Speed limits are reduced to 25 MPH.
• Motorists should expect delays.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kathy or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Traffic Alert: Upcoming nighttime closures of Cracker Barrel Road

In association with the Town of Marana’s Cracker Barrel Roadway Restoration project, overnight work to upgrade water service lines for various businesses situated along Cracker Barrel Road will result in a series of closures between Cortaro Road and Arizona Pavilions Drive. The road will close each night for three consecutive nights and re-open at approximately 5 a.m. the next morning for daytime use. The closures, for all traffic, will be phased as follows:

•  Tuesday, September 26th, 8 p.m. until Wednesday, September 27th, 5 a.m.
  • Cracker Barrel Road between Cortaro Road and Hospitality Road
•  Wednesday, September 27th, 10 p.m. until Thursday, September 28th, 5 a.m.
  • Cracker Barrel Road between Hospitality Road and Arizona Pavilions Drive
•  Thursday, September 28th, 10 p.m. until Friday, September 29th, 5 a.m.
  •  Cracker Barrel Road between Hospitality Road and Arizona Pavilions Drive

Directional signs and traffic control devices will be set up to guide vehicles along the applicable detour routes.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with all traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs. Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested.

If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.

Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Cotton Festival Blog #4: Mutton Busting and Rodeo

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At the heart of the Cotton Festival is rodeo. From adult demonstrations to young riders and ropers, the best that Marana has to offer will be on display during the Marana Cotton Festival. The University of Arizona Rodeo Club will put on team roping and barrel racing demonstrations during the event.  

Even the youngest and least experienced in rodeo have a chance to participate in several events. For the thrill-seekers there is Mutton Busting, where well-padded children ages 4-6 ride on the back of sheep and try to hold on as long as they can.  With the child on-board, the sheep will race into the arena, creating a bumpy, exhilarating ride.

Children wear helmets with safety cages as well as padded vests, and the sheep are chosen based upon the age and weight of the child to help ensure both are as safe as possible.

The cost of the event is $20 and you must pre-register your rider at https://marcatoapp.com/forms/cottonfestival/muttonbustin/new

The event is fun for both the riders as well as the spectators, and is a highlight of the Cotton Festival. It is a great introduction to the sport of rodeo and a fun way to experience livestock in in a different setting than many children are accustomed.

Not sure if Mutton Busting is right for your child? Then the Boot Scramble is another fun way to participate in the events. The Boot Scramble is a race where children have to find their boot in a big pile, put it on, then race back to the finish line.

There is far more to the Marana Cotton Festival than just rodeo events. There are free carnival rides, music from the Marana Community Choir and Blue Monsoon, food trucks, petting zoos, two beer gardens, and the giant cotton pile which is more fun for the kids than you can imagine. Admission and most of the festivities are free, though there are costs for food and drinks.

Spotlight on Schools: MUSD expands school safety program

The Marana district has expanded our school safety program through a recently awarded Arizona Department of Education School Safety Program grant, which provides for the following:

• Marana Police Department School Resource Officer (SRO) at Marana Middle School, full time.
• A Pima County Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) at Tortolita Middle School, full time.
• A Pima County Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) serving at both Quail Run Elementary/ Thornydale Elementary.
• A Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) serving at both Roadrunner Elementary/Picture Rocks Elementary.
• In addition, through continued partnerships with the Pima County Sheriff’s and Marana Police Department, Mountain View, Tortolita Middle, and Marana High each have a full time SRO.  

The intent of the School Safety Program grant is to place SROs and JPOs on school grounds to contribute to safe school environments that are conducive to teaching and learning. Their presence on campuses further enhance and support the current school safety program as the officer works hand in hand with school administration to enhance a safe learning environment.

SROs/JPOs maintain a visible presence on campus; serve as an available resource to the school community; deter delinquent behaviors; and provide students and staff with Law-Related Education (LRE) instruction and training. The goal of LRE is to prepare students for responsible citizenship by promoting the development of those characteristics that lead to healthy behavior.  

Tangerine Road Traffic Alert: 09/25

Beginning at 5 a.m. on Monday, September 25 through 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, the contractor will complete paving operations in the intersection and adjacent roadways of Tangerine and Thornydale Roads.  The following traffic control will be in place at the Tangerine/Thornydale Road intersection during this work:

• Marana police department will be on site to help direct alternate one-way traffic through the intersection.
• All turn movements will be allowed, however, there will not be any dedicated turn lanes.
• Traffic will be shifted around the work area.
• Traffic control will remain in place 24 hours 
• Motorists should expect delays

f you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kathy or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Marana News: Possible changes to Sun Shuttle could have impacts

Danyelle Khmara of the Marana News wrote a story on the proposed changes to bus routes on Marana. 

Sun Shuttle service is proposing changes to three routes in Marana due to low ridership. The changes won’t leave anyone without access to public transportation, but could make it more costly and time-consuming for the select few who use those routes.

Sun Shuttle rider and Town of Marana employee Kurt Schmidt rides the 413, and said it’s always struggled to be on time because it gets caught up at its southern leg by Regency Plaza. 

Schmidt prefers riding the bus to driving. He said gives him a little down time in his busy day to read. He thinks the proposed changes may have some good outcomes but also some problems, namely making public transportation harder for some low-income residents.

“The Sun Shuttle routes that serve the Town of Marana are pretty important for people who don’t have the ability to get from point A to B without public transportation,” he said.

Read the rest of the stories, including how the routes would be altered and/or eliminated at the Marana News.