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Sgt. Robert Carpenter

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Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Hoisting old glory: Thirty-five Members of the Flowing Wells High School Junior ROTC last Tuesday, Veteran's Day, changed the flag at the Fountains at La Cholla, a senior living community. The event marked the second time the Flowing Wells students had come…

Rebecca Marie Gomez

3-minute interview: Sharla Darby

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Sharla Darby

Study: Less of town in floodplain than FEMA predicted

courtesy of Town of Marana, This map shows where the floodplain from Marana's recent study overlaps with FEMA's floodplain. The area in green represents the 19 square-miles previously in the flood zone, while the purple areas show the 3 square miles still in danger of flooding.

SADDLEBROOKE: Lightning caused a June house fire

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, This house in SaddleBrooke was badly damaged by fire last month. Golder Ranch Fire officials said lightning likely caused the blaze. The residents were not home at the time, and no one was hurt.

Melissa Ann Dalton

Melissa Ann Dalton, an art teacher with Ironwood Ridge High School, was indicted for having sex with students on Tuesday.

Few surprises for NW 6

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Ironwood Ridge senior running back Jeff Mitchell runs through a Willow Canyon defender during a Nighthawk second-half drive last Friday night.

Austin Thacker

Courtesy photo

Austin Thacker, local eighth grader struggling with cancer, remains in high spirits.

Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks Wrestling Team

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks won a third consecutive state championship in D-2 wrestling over the weekend.

Marana coach Andy Litten

J.D. Fitzgerald/The Explorer

Head Coach Andy Litten gives direction to the Marana Tigers with Jake Bewley standing by.

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The Explorer's own Suzi Nomiyama-Hoffman, of Oro Valley, snapped this picture of a king snake busily devouring a quail egg. The Explorer welcomes reader-submitted photos, which will run in this space every week. E-mail your photo, along with a description and your contact information to edit…

Justin Michael Kitts

Justin Michael Kitts, 32, was booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center on a charge of Second Degree Murder.

Academy graduates

J.D. Fitzgerald/Special to the Explorer, Town of Sahuarita Police Officer Hector Iglecias inspects Sahuarita Explorer Teddy Teso before the graduation ceremony Saturday morning. The Academy was a two-week course that four agencies participated in, teaching young people about law enforcement.

Let 'er buck

Don Boorse/Special to The Explorer, Victor Estrada competes in the bull-riding event, held each Friday night at the Marana Heritage Rodeo Grounds.

Pamela Beine

Courtesy Photo

Pamela Beine is the newly appointed assistant superintendent for the Marana Unified School District.

In Northwest's new emergency, it's more private, friendlier for patients

Al Petrillo/Special to The Explorer, The Fast Track Unit accommodates low to high acuity patients. From left, ED staff members Money Welton and John Thurman review intake data, while Kaylani Jackson, RN, assistant manager of the ED, checks a chart.

Volleyball IR vs. CDO

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Canyon Del Oro’s Nicole Cochrane attempts to spike the ball past Ironwood Ridge’s Chloe Heinenmann during last week’s inner district volleyball showdown between the two schools. Ironwood Ridge won the match 3-1, with Heinenmann making 29 assists and four blocks. For complete game details,…

Sweet corn and green chile custard

Lori Mervin/The Explorer

The sweet corn and green chile custard entrée proves to be both a tasty and elegant vegetarian dish.

Irving Olson

Photo courtesy of Irving Olson

Irving Olson’s photo “Goblet” was created with two drops of water.

Oro Valley Aquatic Center

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Oro Valley Town Council members ceremoniously jump into the new Aquatic Center last week.

Dr. Zelema Harris

courtesy of Pima Community College

Dr. Zelema Harris, Interim Chancellor of Pima Community College.

Wilson K-8 Color Guard

Wendy Miller/The Explorer

Leading the color guard were children from Brownie Troops No. 1383, 2088 and 2228, Boy Scout Troops No. 250 and 270, and Cub Scouts Pack No. 303.

Back to school 6

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Harelson Elementary School special education teacher and principal assistant Shauna Thomas talks with Ellen Schladweiler as Camryn Macneil, right, and Carson Carrillo eat their lunch.

Kyra Sabin, PMA Gold CPT

Recognized as a Master Pilates Teacher and Fletcher Pilates® Disseminator, Kyria Sabin founded Body Works Pilates in Tucson, Arizona in 1993.  She is also founder and Director of Fletcher Pilates®, International.  A graduate of Duke University, a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher and a Licens…

Marana 4th of July

Don Boorse/Special to The Explorer, Kids take to a jumping castle prior to Marana's Fourth of July fireworks celebration Saturday evening. For more pictures, see page 4 of today's edition.

'Opera 101' takes new stage

Contributed photo, Barbara Pritchard, a spinto soprano, will perform in "Passions of Puccini" on Sunday, Feb. 1.

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Two teens arrested in Thursday apartment fire

Bryce Hobbs

CDO-PRCA soccer 6

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Lions’ Conner Vick and Dorados’ Sibu Kunnie vie for the ball during the first half of last weeks game.

Horse Rescue

Mary Jo LaBeff/Special to The Explorer

Deanna Boudrieau, at left, Megan Beasley and James Boudrieau continue to nurse ailing horses back to health.

Car Care Clinic

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Beverly Hall and Rick Furrier formed a womenÕs car care clinic.

Elks Lodge Winners

Courtesy Photo

Elks Scholarship Chairman Roger Mastro, left, Emma Bose, Sarah Hefferan, Alex Kate Halvey, Braden, Whitaker, Grayson Barghols, Joel Johnson and Exalted Ruler Robin Danielson

IRHS wrestling

courtesy of Ironwood Ridge High School

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks wrestling team won its second consecutive state title after besting a field of 47 teams. The Nighthawks posted three individual titles to include Trevor Willson at 126 pounds, Troy Taylor at 145 pounds, and Matt Filbert at 152 pounds.

SAACA Splash!

Chris Flora/The Explorer

Duffy Wagman, from Vero Amore restaurant, serves authentic meatballs during the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance Splash! event held on June 2 at the La Encantada Mall.

Estella Lovemore

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Football

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy football players Joey Lowery, left, Grayson Barghols, middle, and Jared Hout, right.

Paul Greener

Paul Greener,

Jennas Pilates

J.D. Fitzgerald/The Explorer

Jenna Morris of Jenna’s Pilates studio offers one-on-one Pilates classes.

Beneficial beer brewing

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Northwest Fire District firefighter Mike Rollman pours a sample of the pale ale titled "Whiskey Tango," with orange-infused bourbon used in the brewing process.

Car Care Clinic

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Beverly Hall, whose husband died in 2010, started a car care clinic for women because she didnÕt want others to feel as vulnerable as she did.

Partying with animals

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Education coordinator Jed Dobbs (center) gives a behind-the-scenes tour of the tiger's back room to a group of visitors earlier this year at Reid Park Zoo. The Oct. 11 auction at Zoocson will include experiences like this.

Xtreme Fun Spot at Sports Park

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

Professional BMX rider Corben Sharrah takes a spin on the new BMX course at Sports Park’s Xtreme Fun Spot. The park is expected to be open to public within the next month.

Painted Sky Elementary School's Miler's Club

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer

More than a hundred students, teachers and parents walk and run during the Miler’s Club at Painted Sky Elementary School.

Ironwood Ridge girls’ tennis team

courtesy of Ironwood Ridge High School

The Ironwood Ridge girls’ tennis team won the Division II State Championships on May 5.

Justin McCarthy-Contreras

photo courtesy of McCarthy-Contrers family

Justin McCarthy-Contreras, a 2010 Ironwood Ridge High School graduate, is coming back from a severe head injury at University Medical Center.

El Tour de Tucson map

Snake vs Shark

Mid-last month Chuck and Tracey Martin saw this and Tracy took this picture of a rattlesnake using their shark-shaped chlorine dispenser in their spa as a life preserver.

Athlete of the Week: Daniel Vavrusa

Daniel Vavrusa

'A Southwest Nutcracker'

courtesy photo, Rachel Engman portrays “Chili Pepper” (Spanish) in Tucson Regional Ballet’s production of “A Southwest Nutcracker.”