City of Casa Grande Recreation News

Teen Models Needed

The Casa Grande Teen Center needs female and male Teen Models between the ages of 12 and 18 to Model back to school outfits at the Back to School Fashion Show. The event takes place on Saturday, July 13th at 2 pm at the Teen Center (540 N Camino Mercado, in Palm Center Plaza behind Cracker Barrel). The deadline to reserve your modeling position is Friday, June 21st. To reserve your spot contact 520-421-8677 ext 4560. Spots are limited so call today.

Teen Center Transportation

The Casa Grande Teen Center will be offering transportation to and from the Teen Center through the months of June and July on Monday - Friday beginning on May 28th. The van will depart from the Parks and Recreation office (404 E Florence Blvd) at 2:45 pm and arrive back at the Parks and Recreation office for pick up at 8:15 pm on Monday – Thursday and 9:45 pm on Fridays. The Casa Grande Teen Center has a variety of games and activities for teens to take part in. There is pool, ping pong, air hockey, foosball, video game systems, computer lab, snack bar and much more. To take part in the transportation program, a parent or guardian must fill out the application form and sign up at the Parks and Recreation office. The van is limited to 11 passengers so the first 11 to sign up will be able to attend. The Teen Center is a FREE program and is located at 540 N Camino Mercado (behind Cracker Barrel, next to CAC). For any questions contact the Parks and Recreation office a! t 520-421-8677 ext 4560.

Open Gym Co-Rec Programs at Len Colla Recreation Center

The City of Casa Grande Community Services Department along with the Len Colla Recreation Center is hosting Adult Sports Open Gym Programs. Basketball Open Gym is held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Those ages 18+ can come and enjoy open shooting or self-refereed pick-up games; full or ½ court which will depend on interest; majority rules. Cost is $2.00 per person.

Volleyball Open Gym is being held each Thursday evening from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Ages 18+. Two courts may be set up but will depend on interest. Teams will be based on number of players, players call their own points. Cost is $2.00 per person.

Open Gym programs are being held at the Len Colla Recreation Center (Gymnasium) located at 1105 E. 4th Street. For more information or questions, please call Shayla Gunn at (520) 421-8677, Ext. 4550.

Casa Grande Youth Theater Auditions for Disney’s Aladdin, Jr. June 7

The Casa Grande Youth Theater invites you to join us in Agrabah, the City of Enchantment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! The program is open to those ages 8-18. Registered participants will learn stage presence and movement, voice projection, interpretation of characters along with all other aspects involved in the production of a play.

The program will be held Monday through Thursday from June 7 – July 13 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. This year's production will be Disney’s Aladdin (Jr.) Cost for the program is $35. All participants will be required to participate in a mandatory audition on Friday, June 7 beginning at 6 p.m., as well as a call back audition on Saturday, June 8 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Dorothy Powell Senior Center. All participants must be registered prior to the date of auditions.

Registration is available at the Parks and Recreation Department, and is also available on-line at www.casagrandeaz.gov. For more information, call (520) 421-8760.

Make Your Own Accessories June 11

The City of Casa Grande Parks and Recreation Department is offering Make your own Accessories for youth ages 5-10 years old. In this class children will make a variety of different accessories including your own felt purse, headbands, necklace and more. Class will be held on Tuesday, June 11 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and will be held at the Len Colla Recreation Center, 1105 E. 4th Stree. The class fee is $15.00 and cost includes supplies. Space is limited, so sign up fast!!! Registration will be accepted at the Casa Grande Parks and Recreation Office or on-line at www.casagrandeaz.gov. For more information please call Shayla Gunn at (520) 421-8677, Ext. 4550.

Animal Antics Class June 12

Learn to “talk to the animals” with the City of Casa Grande Animal Control Officers. They will talk to children ages 7-12 about pet care and being a good pet owner. We will have some live animals in the classroom. Cost for the program is $6. Animal Antics will be held on Wednesday, June 12 from 9-11 a.m. at the Parks and Recreation Building.

Hair Accessory Fun June 13

The City of Casa Grande Parks and Recreation Department is offering Hair Accessory Fun! Young ladies ages 10-15 years old can make all of their own fashionable hair accessories. We will use fabric, ribbon, gems and other supplies to create a variety of styles. Cost is $15.00 and includes supplies. Class will be held on Thursday, June 13 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and will be held at Parks & Recreation, 404 E. Florence Blvd. Registration will be accepted on-line at www.casagrandeaz.gov or in person at the Parks and Recreation Office. For more information please call the Casa Grande Parks and Recreation Office at 421-8677.

Design Your Own Silly Switch Plates June 13

The City of Casa Grande Parks and Recreation Department is offering Design your own Silly Switch Plates! Youth ages 5-10 years old will design and decorate a variety of light switch plates using paints, art foam, sequins and more. These will be great to decorate the bedroom with or add color around the house. Class will be held on Thursday, June 13 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Parks & Recreation Department. The class fee is $12.00. Cost includes supplies. Space is limited, so sign up fast! Registration will be accepted in person at the Parks and Recreation Office or on-line at www.casagrandeaz.gov. For more information please call Shayla Gunn at (520) 421-8677, Ext. 4550.

Teen Center June Lock In June 14

On Friday, June 14th the Teen Center will be hosting a Summer Lock in. There will be movies, games, food, etc. all night long. The event begins at 8 pm and runs until 7:00 am the next morning. The event is limited to the first 25 teens that show up. There is a $5 fee at the door. The Teen Center is located at 540 N Camino Mercado (in Palm Center Plaza behind Cracker Barrel, next to CAC). For any questions and to RSVP contact the parks and recreation department at 520-421-8677 ext 4560.

Rottweiler Puppies Dumped in Trash Bin Now Reunited with Mother

FLORENCE – Four one-week old Rottweiler puppies found in a Florence dumpster have been reunited with their mother and will be looking for good homes sometime soon.

The saga of the newborn puppies began on Tuesday morning when a Florence resident filed a report with the Florence Police Department claiming that his adult Rottweiler and her puppies were taken from his backyard.

A neighbor found the puppies later that day when he was dumping a load of garbage and heard them whimpering in a box.  The neighbor contacted the owner and turned the puppies over to him.

The owner brought the dogs to the Pinal County Animal Care and Control Shelter on 11-Mile Corner Road.  He subsequently signed the pups over to Animal Care and Control so they may find a rescue to help care for them.

“We had a real mystery on our hands when this started unfolding,” stated Animal Care and Control Director Kaye Dickson.  “We were wondering who would do something so cruel as to separate the puppies from their mother and throw them in a dumpster on a 100 degree day.  We had a lot of questions and very few answers in the first 24 hours.”

The puppies were found a bit dehydrated, but still alive.  The Bark Side Rescue came forward to care for the pups on Wednesday morning, but the mother was still missing.  Dickson and her staff acquired pictures of the mother Rottweiler from the owner and placed them on Facebook.

The media picked up on the story from the Facebook posting.  Pictures of the puppies and mother were shown on several news sites throughout Phoenix.

“Wednesday afternoon our staff received a call from the Florence Police Department telling us they thought they had found the mother,” Dickson said.  “The Florence Police Department then took the Rottweiler to the shelter where staff positively identified the dog as the mother of the puppies.”

The Rottweiler had shown up on The Windmill’s property on Tuesday afternoon.  The dog was thirsty and hot, but very friendly.  The staff had placed bedding in an office and kept the mother overnight.  The next morning, one staff member of The Windmill noticed a picture of the Rottweiler on a website and called the Florence Police Department.

“We were in a race against clock,” Dickson said.  “If a mother of puppies does not feed within a short amount of time she will stop producing milk.  We were also learning more about the events leading up to the dumping of the puppies and the disappearance of the mother.  The investigation started to develop some leads at this point.  The owner also voluntarily signed over the mother Rottweiler to us as well.  We had a lot of developments in this case in just a 24 hour span.”

The Bark Side Rescue was called back to the shelter to reunite mother and puppies.  Late Wednesday afternoon, the mother and puppies were together once again.

“Our biggest fears were whether or not we could get the mother to produce milk and if she would accept the puppies,” Dickson recalled.  “In both cases everything turned out just fine.  A very good ending to what could have been a heartbreaking story.”

The puppies and their mother are being fostered by the Bark Side Rescue.

According to Director Dickson, the investigation continues with a person of interest being questioned in this case.  Dickson said she hopes to forward the case to the County Attorney’s Office early next week.