Coalition For Sonoran Desert Protection Asks Us To Help Protect Wildlife Corridor

Sean Sullivan, Associate Director of The Coalition for Sororan Desert Protection is asking us to attend an ADOT meeting and/or send a note to ADOT asking that they consider the wildlife in the Oracle road widening project from Tangerine road to the Pinal County line.

Following is Sean's message.
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Next Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is holding
an open house to solicit public comment on the Oracle Road widening
project. This is a crucial opportunity to demonstrate widespread
community support for a series of wildlife crossing structures, both
over and under Oracle Road, to connect the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
5:30 – 7:30 PM (presentation at 6:00 PM)
Coronado K-8 School – Multi-purpose room
3401 E. Wilds Road, Tucson, AZ 85719

Construction on Oracle Road, from Tangerine Road to the Pinal County
line, is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2011. One travel lane in each
direction will be added, widening the road to six lanes. The Coalition
is working with Sky Island Alliance, AZ Game and Fish Department, ADOT,
Pima County, and the Town of Oro Valley on a proposal to utilize a
portion of the $45 million RTA funds allocated to wildlife linkages in
this area. ADOT is receptive to the idea, but still needs to know there
is community support for the safe passage of wildlife over and under
Oracle Road.

*Tell ADOT that you support wildlife crossing structures connecting the
Catalina State Park area to the Arroyo Grande area and to include
crossing structure in the design plans!*

* · The area has been identified in the Sonoran Desert Conservation
Plan as one of six Critical Landscape Connections.

* · The area has been identified in a study conducted by Dr. Paul
Beier of NAU, /Arizona Missing Linkages – Tucson-Tortolita-Santa
Catalina Mountain Linkages, /as critically important to maintain
landscape connectivity.

* · The Town of Oro Valley is incorporating scientific data and
wildlife linkage design in the Arroyo Grande planning process and
set aside thousands of acres for a wildlife linkage.

* · In order for wildlife to effectively utilize the landscape,
there is a need for _multiple structures_ within the project area.

Please attend the meeting or send your comments to Linda Ritter at
lritter@azdot.gov <mailto:lritter@azdot.gov>. For more information go to
http://oracleroad.info

--
Sean Sullivan
Associate Director
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
300 E. University Blvd., Suite 120
Tucson, AZ 85705
Ph: 520-388-9925
Fx: 520-791-7709
www.sonorandesert.org

Conley Wolfswinkel Being Investigated For Another Questionable Land Deal

Conley Wolfswinkel, the convicted felon who is well known in Oro Valley for his shady deals in the Rancho Vistoso community, is once again under investigation.

This time it's a deal involving his old friend, Maricpa County Supervisor, Don Stapley.

As reported in The East Valley Tribune, a search warrant was issued allowing deputies the power to examine all business records, computers and electronic data of the Wolfswinkel-related companies. It allows the investigators to attempt to restore data that might have been deleted from company computers to uncover evidence "which tends to establish that the crime of bribery and/or fraudulent schemes, has been committed."

Named in the warrant are Conley Wolfswinkel, his sons Ashton and Brandon, and business associate Kevin Petersen.

Read the Az Republic & East Valley Tribune articles here.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/22/20090122stapleywarrant0122-ON.html

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/134417