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PHOENIX – Residents of San Tan Valley, a northern Pinal County community with a population of about 100,000, are making another push for incorporation.

Tyler Hudgins, chairman of STV Inc., the group behind the campaign to incorporate San Tan Valley, said Thursday he’s optimistic about the latest attempt to turn the unincorporated area into a town.

“There’s been some incorporation attempts in the past, but San Tan Valley residents have never been given the choice to be able to decide their future. And, so, that’s really the heart of what we’re trying to do,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show.

STV Inc.’s mission, per its website, is to “empower residents through self-governance, improve local services and enhance the quality of life in our community.”

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Hudgins said creating a local governing authority would give the community more control over tax dollars and development plans. The aim is to create a municipality where residents can work and play without relying on surrounding cities.

“We want to build a community, not just houses,” he said. “People are tired of having 20 car washes on every corner. People are tired of having to go to restaurants outside the community with their families. People are tired of having to commute outside of San Tan Valley for work.”

Why San Tan Valley has ‘viable opportunity’ to incorporate

Hudgins said “outside interests” have derailed previous incorporation efforts, but things are different this time.

“A lot of the laws have been changed and updated to allow us to be able to move forward. And, so, for the first time, we really think we have a very viable opportunity to do this,” he said.

A big hurdle was recently cleared when the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted to let STV Inc. start a petition campaign to get the incorporation issue on the ballot.

“We got approved two weeks ago. We have almost 1,600 signatures. We have six months to be able to get 6,000. And, so, we feel like the community is just excited to see this happen,” Hudgins said.

If all goes as planned, the public vote will be held in August 2025.

Surrounding cities wooed to back incorporation effort

As part of the push to incorporate San Tan Valley, Hudgins said his group has been communicating with leaders in surrounding cities and towns in Pinal and Maricopa counties.

“I’m proud that our City Council supports the incorporation efforts of San Tan Valley, as they work toward greater self-governance and local representation,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles.

“Incorporation is a smart move that will enhance regional collaboration, empowering… pic.twitter.com/aOBACeweBU

— Tyler Hudgins (@tahudgins) August 20, 2024

Officials in Queen Creek, Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler have already committed to supporting the effort, he said. STV Inc. also met with the mayors and city managers from Florence, Coolidge and Apache Junction. Florence was a notable opponent in the past.

Mesa and Gilbert are the only cities that have veto power because they are the only municipalities within 6 miles of San Tan Valley with larger populations, according to STV Inc.

“We’re just excited, and we think the momentum is in our favor,” Hudgins said.

Where is San Tan Valley?

San Tan Valley, which gets its name from the nearby San Tan Mountains, is around 47 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, beyond the southeast Valley suburb of Queen Creek.

Updated map pic.twitter.com/YC3Lpr2Eve

— Tyler Hudgins (@tahudgins) April 8, 2024

The public was provided with opportunities to provide input about where the proposed town’s boundaries should be drawn.

“Our heart is not to force people into something that they don’t want to do, and so we decided to go with the map that we have based on feedback with the community, based on what we understand to be San Tan Valley proper,” Hudgins said.

In addition to the area’s cultural history, planners took economic factors into account.

“The land that we’ve included in the map has provided opportunities for us to develop good commercial, develop industrial, so that we can have our residents stay in our community and make this a community,” Hudgins said.

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As temperatures drop, Arizona bark scorpions are on the move, seeking warmth and shelter inside homes across San Tan Valley. Recognized as the most venomous scorpion in North America, these scorpions are known for their potent sting, which can cause severe pain, numbness, tingling, and even vomiting in adult humans. While a sting is rarely fatal, it can pose significant risks, particularly to young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Encounters with these scorpions are common in Arizona, making them a familiar—yet unwelcome—sight for many local residents.

Reports from residents show how these resilient creatures are finding their way into unexpected places in homes across the area. Genevieve Pioth shared, "I poured a glass of wine the other day and noticed something in my glass. Initially, I thought it was a piece of cork, and then I realized it was a scorpion!" Dawn Beard echoed the common pain of a sting, noting that although it wasn't crippling, "the first sting was multiple back-to-back and REALLY hurt."

Bark scorpions are particularly stealthy, often hiding in shoes, clothing, blankets, or dark corners. Resident Ellen Whitworth recounted finding one just in time on Halloween: "I found my first one (at this house) on Halloween! It was in a bowl I was about to fill with Halloween candy."

Others, like Jamey Holmes, noted that encounters are frequent in San Tan Valley: "We live in San Tan Valley and have seen a few since building out here." And for those who have been stung, like Sabrina Soto, the experience can be uncomfortable for days afterward. "For a week after [being stung], I deep cleaned and moved everything in my house, one room at a time with a numb foot!" she shared with a sense of humor about the painful encounter.

Identifying and Handling Bark Scorpions

Arizona bark scorpions are relatively easy to identify by their long, thin pinchers and thin tails. While they are typically around 2 to 3 inches in length, their color can help them blend into many surfaces, making them hard to spot. Their stings can result in symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and in some cases, temporary immobility around the sting site.

With so many residents reporting encounters, it's helpful to keep a few preventive tips in mind:

When it comes to keeping your home scorpion-free, local pest control experts like Porter Pest Management have been a trusted resource in San Tan Valley. "Scorpions are a common concern in this area, especially as they seek warmth indoors during cooler months," said Dewayne Castillo, founder of San Tan Leads. "For long-lasting protection, we recommend a reliable service like Porter Pest Management, which has helped many local families keep their homes safe."

For more information on Arizona bark scorpions, their behavior, and ways to keep your family safe, you can visit this helpful fact sheet from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Stay vigilant, San Tan Valley—check those shoes, shake out blankets, and keep your loved ones safe from these tiny but tenacious intruders!

Early voting for the November general election has begun in Pinal County and in other parts of Arizona, and from now until the polls close on Election Day, voters can cast their ballots early, either by returning their mail-in ballots or going to a physical location to vote early.

Here are the details.

Is it too late for me to register to vote?

The deadline to register to vote for the November election was October 7, according to the Secretary of State's website. If you have yet to register, it is now too late to do so, and you will not be able to cast a ballot in Arizona.

When is the last day to request an early ballot?

Per the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, the deadline for accepting requests for a ballot-by-mail for the November general election was Oct. 25. It is now too late to request an early ballot.

When is the deadline to mail back my ballot?

State elections officials say ballot-by-mail must be received by county elections officials by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

"We highly recommend that you mail your ballot back at least 7 to 10 days before the election," officials wrote.

Besides mailing back the ballot, officials with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office say people can return their ballot at "any ballot drop-box, drop-off location, early voting location, or Election Day voting location in your county on or before Election Day."

Where are the voting locations in Pinal County?

Per the Pinal County website, early voting sites are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The interior ballot drop box in Florence also has the same hours for access.

Where can I find early voting information for the county I live in?

If you live in Maricopa County, we have . We also have a list of early voting locations for .

If you live in other Arizona counties, here is a link to each county's list of early voting locations, based on information we can find on county websites:

Operating hours of these early voting locations differ between counties, and some locations close before Election Day. Please carefully check the opening hours for the early voting location that you want to visit.

Gilbert San Tan Charter played inspired defense against Santa Cruz Valley in Friday’s high school football showdown of the top 2 teams in the AIA's 2A Conference.

Santa Cruz valley (7-1) entered the game No. 1 in The Arizona Republic's 2A Conference rankings, and San Tan Charter (7-0) No. 2. Those positions were reversed in the AIA's initial 2A rankings released earlier in the week.

The Roadrunners' forced three turnovers on downs, two fumbles and two interceptions. Another stellar outing from versatile two-way player Uriah Neloms led the Roadrunners to a win, 24-15.

Key Plays

Santa Cruz’s O’Ryan Williams got things going for the Dust Devils with a fumble recovery returned all the way to San Tan Charter's 8-yard line. A couple penalties and Roadrunner stops later, Santa Cruz went for it on 4th-and-25, but couldn’t convert.

With 2:30 left in the first, Neloms showed off his legs and took it up the middle for a 55-yard touchdown. The Roadrunners held a 6-0 lead after a missed 2-point conversion.

San Tan's Timi Akinyoyenu had things rolling on both sides of the field. He picked up a loose ball after a completed pass was knocked loose by Christian Munoz. Then, with a little over two minutes to play in the half, he caught a 47-yard strike from Neloms for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was good this time and San Tan was up 14-0 at the break.

Santa Cruz came out in the second half swinging, putting together an efficient drive that concluded with Juan Juarez reaching into the end zone after quarterback Nathan Harris delivered a dart.

But the Roadrunners were resilient. On fourth down, they faked the punt to get the first down, and the next play, Dwayne Jones caught a short pass and ran it 45 yards for a touchdown. Roadrunners up 14.

San Tan’s defense continued to show out. They forced another fumble, which was recovered by the Dust Devils only for Brody Prassas to intercept a pass from Nathan Harris on the next play. The Roadrunners would force another turnover on downs when Santa Cruz went for it on 4th-and-goal.

Then it was the defense, again, that closed it out. With two minutes to play, Jayden Williams tipped a pass attempt into the air, and it was none other than Neloms who came up with the interception. Then it was victory formation for the Roadrunners.

Key Players

Neloms started the Roadrunners’ scoring with a 55-yard rush and contributed two touchdowns through the air. He even added an interception to the stat sheet to close out the game. Timi Akinyoyenu got it done on both sides. He recovered a fumble for San Tan, then caught a 47-yard touchdown.

Quotes

“It sucks,” said San Tan head coach Chase Cartwright on what it’s like to play against Santa Cruz. “They’re big, they’re physical, they’re well-coached, they’re disciplined … Hopefully we’ll see them down the road again.”

“Todd Peat being our defensive coordinator, a former high school teammate of mine, he’s come in and done just an incredible job leading that entire group of defense,'' Cartwright added.

“Trust in the game plan. Coach Chase had us in a position to win. We just executed our game plan.” – San Tan’s Uriah Neloms

Next Up

Santa Cruz (7-1) will play in a home game against Sequoia Pathway (1-6) next Friday, while San Tan Charter (7-0) heads out on the road against Heritage Academy (5-2).