Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 134

CELEBRITY SEGHT2NGS Twins identical, except for knee braces Page S7 Toby Keith stops in at Handlebar J's Page S5 few- CAREFREE CAVE CREEK FOUNTAIN HILLS PARADISE VALLEY ARCADIA SALT RIVER COMMUNITY REPUB 89 THURSDAY JANUARY 16, 2003 scottsdale.azkerrtral com SECTION SPORTS SCOTTSDALE ff fees Residents sue over go Golf club woes Some members of Desert Mountain Golf Club, a private facility, are unhappy with how Desert Mountain Properties has handled membership. INSIDE TODAY LAURIE ROBERTS Alarms should have rung over teacher There are questions about the way Cherokee Elemen TONTO 3 suits attack exclusive Desert Mountain club NATIONAU FOREST Mils SCOTTSDALE Desert. Mountain to Gof Course tary School's principal handled a previous incident involving accused come part owners in 2010. Underwood maintains that membership dues are on par with other clubs, and that Desert Mountain Properties continues to subsidize fees. Despite some members' complaints that reservations must be made a week in advance for a good tee time, Underwood said the courses are not overly busy, even during peak months.

"It's hard to find anything in their claim that has any factual basis," Underwood said. See GOLF Page 2 one of the most admired clubs in the Southwest, and two of its courses are listed among the nation's top 100, according to Golf Digest. Complaints about the golf club revolve around development and membership, monthly dues of more than $600, and access to good tee times. In two similar lawsuits, club members who bought properties before July 1, 1994, allege that the developer is trying to get them to fork over an additional $225,000 for something they believe should already be theirs: ownership of the club. They contend that Desert Mountain Properties should be required to transfer ownership to members in 2010.

But Jon Underwood, president of Desert Mountain Properties, said that only those property owners who have paid the $225,000 special fee will be By Kristen Go Scottsdale Republic NORTHEAST VALLEY Golfers describe the sport as Zen-like. But at one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the Northeast Valley, three lawsuits against Desert Mountain Properties have led to a more volatile atmosphere. The development, which began in 1986 and boasts five Jack Nicklaus-designed courses, is Hit tJ f- A A I CAVE rmmn i razctt wnf i xi-A child mo s6 X1 area La- PHOENl 8 Stagecoach Pass Jeanne HernindezScottsdale Republic lester David Renaud. Chief among them is, what was he thinking? Page S2. PEOPLE Barrett-Jackson auction revs up with variety Council to mull condemning Los Arcos site 'A v.

it ill 1. I I rr By Isley Wright Scottsdale Republic SCOTTSDALE City officials may take the first step toward condemning the former Los Arcos Mall site and wresting control next month from owner-developer Steve Ellman. City Councilwoman Cynthia Lukas called for the council to discuss asking other develop: ers for proposals for the 42-acre lot, which has sat empty at the busy intersection of Scottsdale and McDowell roads since the last remnants of the mall fell in 2001. Revitalizing south Scottsdale is a priority for 2003, Lukas said, and the blighted Los Arcos site must be the cornerstone of any plan. Ellman, who now is building his Phoenix Coyotes arena in Glendale instead of at Los Arcos, will be asked to submit a proposal.

Ellman said he will "absolutely not" cooperate with the city's proposal. "I wish them luck." The council will vote Feb. 18 on whether to seek proposals and provide general guidance about what the city wants to see built. "It's a very serious step, but a very good step to get us moving," Lukas said. Ellman's past plans have called for large financial subsidies from Scottsdale.

The developer has been trying to recover investments he made on the land. Ellman estimates his investment at more than $45 million, but appraisers hired by the city said the land is worth about $22 million. In a condemnation proceeding, the final value would be determined by a court. Not everyone is behind Lukas's move. Councilman Wayne Ecton said he does not believe in condemning one private property owner to benefit another private party.

Mayor Mary Manross said the city has tried talking with Ellman and gotten nowhere. "I believe we have explored every avenue to no avail, and it's time to go in a new direction, to put it bluntly," she said, adding that a talk with the Ellman Cos. last week showed that the developer has "no new visions." Carlos ChavezScottsdale Republic Steve Erickson, 33, of Minnetonka, shows his 1933 Ford Roadster to Gene Sorbo on Wednesday during the Barrett-Jackson auction at WestWorld in Scottsdale. Erickson is selling the car, named Jazz, on Saturday. Hot rods add pizazz 2nd time around is so much grander When Dorothy Ketch-um Roberts rode in the first Sunshine Festival parade in November 1951, there were maybe 10 riders and the whole thing lasted about 20 minutes.

It has since become the Parada Del Sol, and Roberts will ride again, this time as Grand Marshal. Page S3. EDUCATION New members take seats on CC board New members of the Cave Creek Unified School District School Board are sworn in at the first meeting of the new year. Page S4. OPINIONS District refinancing is a smart move The recent move by the Scottsdale Unified School District to refinance its debt to take advantage of lower interest rates appears to have been a fiscally sound business move and something that others should emulate.

Page S6. TODAY INSIDE THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Pop artist Peter Max comes to Scottsdale to donate a piece of his artwork to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, to sign his book and to host a reception of his show. For details, see the Scottsdale page in the Local section of The Arizona Republic. scottsdale. azjceirtralcom Looking for a place to go hiking in the Valley? Check our our searchable database at scottsdale.azcentral.com.

Find it at one of the featured custom jobs at this year's Barrett-Jackson. It's among a wide variety of hot rods and customized cars being auctioned starting today alongside the rare classics and collector's items, something that would have been unheard of a decade ago. In recent years, hot rods or street rods, as they are often called, have roared into the consciousness of See CARS Page 2 poised and angular as it sat under a tent at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction at WestWorld. Erickson, a 33-year-old Minneso-tan, tries his best to answer questions about the well-known car, but he's somewhat at a loss. "I've had it a year and I've put about four miles on it," he said.

"It scared the hell put of me, which is why I'm selling it." Erickson's roadster, a cover car for numerous hot rod magazines, is By Bob Golfen Scottsdale Republic SCOTTSDALE Steve Erick-son's magenta hot rod is a beautiful piece of work, a kinetic sculpture that attracts numerous admiring glances and heated inquiries. The customized 1933 Ford Roadster, built by the famous Sam Foose of California and powered by a high-performance Ford V-8, looked Arcadia citrus harvest battles roof rats By Diana Balas Scottsdale Republic ARCADIA Scottsdale and Phoenix are joining forces to collect fruit, lots of fruit, to combat roof rats in the Arcadia area. Beginning Saturday and continuing every Saturday through April 5, good-quality citrus can be donated at the Elks BPOE Scottsdale Lodge No. 2148 parking lot, 6398 E. Oak St.

The collaborative effort is little bit we can really keep it in check," she said. Residents can drop off their fruit from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday, while commercial pickers and yard maintenance companies can do the same from 8 to 10 a.m. Scottsdale will provide the trash bins and drinking water. Paceley's construction company will provide trailers and equipment to process the fruit, while volunteers and Maricopa See RATS l'age 2 being coordinated by the Arcadia NEIGHBORtoNEIGHBOR campaign, directed by residents Barry and Joan Paceley.

Organizers hope the harvest will keep Rattus rattus from multiplying. The citrus-loving rodents were first discovered living in and around Arcadia in December 2001. They have been found in Scottsdale and Phoenix neighborhoods. If residents don't do anything, the situation will get out of hand, Joan Paceley said. "If everybody would do just a Deirdre HamillScottsdale Republic Citrus-loving roof rats were first discovered living in and around Arcadia in December 2001.

Tournament trivia Building knowledge Guns and butter Most readers of the Scottsdale Republic online say a war with Iraq would harm Scottsdale's economy. In a poll this week, 27 percent said a war with Iraq would produce "major harm" to the economy, while 30 percent said it would produce "slight harm." Thirty-six percent said it would have no impact, while 4 percent said a war would produce a "slight help," and 3 percent said it would be a "major help." The next time you are at Scottsdale City Court, 3700 N. 75th check out the columns at the front entrance. They are a fine example of public art in Scottsdale. The columns are in the shape of gavels.

To the best of our knowledge, there are no plans to retrofit the police stations with columns that look like billy clubs. Last year, Mark Calcavecchia was inducted into the Phoenix Open Hall of Fame. Two years ago, he set or tied several Phoenix Open and PGA Tour records while running away with the victory. His 72-hole score of 256, 28-under par, was a tour record, and the 60 he shot in the second round also tied the course record at the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale. He is the only player to win the Open three times 1989, 1992 and 2001 since the event moved to the TPC in 1986.

This year's Open starts Monday. filial- latis it I II mpuw KWQOHD. Jl-juqE T1 t.V't.