Tragedy for sheriff / P8
FREE SUBSCRIPTION
FREE | QueenCreekTribune.com
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
Tax defeat leaves fire districts in a bind BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer
S
NEWS ........................ 6 A look back at 2022: political turmoil and great change.
tate firefighter organizations lobbied the Legislature this year to put a question on the Nov. 8 ballot asking voters to approve a 20-year, .1% sales tax that would generate revenue for fire districts across the state.
Outgoing Queen Creek Unified Board President Ken Brague reflects on 13 years’ service.
REAL ESTATE..........................13 COMMUNITY ..........................15 BUSINESS................................17 OPINION.................................... 18 GET OUT.................................... 21 CLASSIFIEDS............................ 23
The Legislature obliged, but in a 52-48% vote – 1,230,042 against to 1,144,495 for – Arizona voters shot down Prop 310, sending fire officials back to the drawing board to address a funding problem they say isn’t going away any time soon. Firefighters also noted that at the same time as Proposition 310 failed, voters ap-
Cowboy Church resonates in QC’s horse culture BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer
NEWS ..................... 12
Sunday, December 25, 2022
T
ypically, the only time you might have to clean up livestock manure at church is if there have been live animals in a manger scene. Not so in Queen Creek. “Cowboy Church is a little different,” said 58-year-old pastor Billy Van Camp. “Wear your hat. Bring your horse, bring your mule, bring your dog, bring your pig, bring
your goat. Wear whatever you want to wear. Just show up. “We’re real Western culture. Real cut to the chase. No B.S. You know what I mean?” said see
proved another legislative initiative that requires ballot questions posing tax increases to pass with at least a 60% approval. Approval of Prop 132 by a 50.7% to 49.3% – 1,210,702 votes in favor and 1,176,327 against – means it will be even harder to get see
FIRE page 4
Pastor Billy Van Camp leads church services once a month in the arena at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre in Queen Creek, where about 500 congregants gather to hear his messages. (Special to the Tribune)
PREACHER page 11
Pastor Billy Van Camp leads church services once a month in the arena at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre in Queen Creek, where about 500 congregants gather to hear his messages. (Special to the Tribune)
Customizable* MEDIA WALLS Delivered in time for the BIG BOWL GAME 爀 渀i 椀t 琀u甀r爀e攀 .⸀ c挀 o 漀洀 S t o匀n琀 漀e 渀C攀r 䌀e爀e攀k攀 F欀 u䘀 甀r n m