Kick-off river season in style with Salt River Tubing’s annual launch event. This western-themed shindig offers free cowboy boot koozies and bandanas to the first 500 tubers, live music from 98KUPD, line dancing and lots of giveaways, not to mention a leisurely float down the scenic Lower Salt River.

On November 18, 1988, Congress created the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Stretching nearly 40 miles from the Mexican border to St. David, Ariz., this region, controlled by the BLM, covers close to 58,000 acres. Located along north flowing San Pedro River, banks are dominated by massive Fremont cottonwood trees. Human occupation of the area dates to 13,000 years ago.

Jan. 26, 2005 - River Road has as many twists and turns as the winding waterway for which it is named. The road also will have its share of rough water during the next 20 months or so.

The pits of the sand and gravel mines that gape and yawn along the length of the Santa Cruz River in Marana are facing tougher regulation and reviews by the town, and mines in unincorporated areas may soon receive similar scrutiny as Pima County pledges to follow Marana's lead.

Emergency crews were called to a two-vehicle rollover at 7:52 a.m. Thursday. The accident occurred west of the intersection at the westbound entrance to the Children's Adventure Learning Center.

Allstate Insurance Company is proud to announce the opening of a new office in Tucson, which is independently owned and operated by Agent Christopher Benear. The office is located at 1660 E. River Rd. #150 and can be reached by calling 300-9525.

Erin Schmidt, ESchmidt@ExplorerNews.com

Beginning Saturday, Aug. 11, through Monday, Aug. 13, Eagle Rock Excavating will begin a resurfacing project on River Road between Craycroft Road and Calle Rosario as part of the offsite improvement agreement for the new Basis School on River Road. This portion of River Road will receive a slurry seal pavement treatment on the new right-turn lane on eastbound River Road to southbound Calle Rosario. The work and schedule is as follows:

The Tucson Symphony Orchestra concludes its 2009-'10 season with a program of water-themed works, "River's Edge," this Thursday and Friday, May 7 and 8, at the Tucson Music Hall.

Sun City Vistoso residents will host their 16th annual holiday program, "The River Kids Best Holiday Program Ever," at 7 p.m. Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at the Sun City Social Hall, 1495 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd.

Beginning on Thursday night at 7 p.m., July 26, 2012 through Friday morning at 6 a.m., the Pima County Department of Transportation and their contractor, Select Development and Construction Inc, will be installing the new precast box culvert across Orange Grove Road just west of La Cañada Road. Due to the installation of the large drainage structure, it is necessary to close the roadway.

Marana celebrated the opening of the first paved portion of the Santa Cruz River Trail at Sanders Road. The town plans to extend the trail, built on top of the river levee, from Sanders east and south to Continental Ranch. It will eventually connect to Tucson's Santa Cruz River Trail and the trails built along the Cañada del Oro Wash and Rillito River.