PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA — The Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers to help them build 11 miles of trails in preserved, open space areas on the west side of Tucson, bordering Tucson Mountain Park.

The Painted Hills trail system will feature four miles of new trails, and the Enchanted Hills area will offer seven miles of new trails. Both locations border Tucson Mountain Park, and trails are suitable for all ability levels and user groups.

The Pima County trails staff needs volunteers to help with new trail construction and revegetation efforts this spring at both locations. No previous trail work experience required. Dates and times are:

Painted Hills Volunteer Events
Location: Painted Hills Trailhead, 3590 W. Anklam Road.

• Saturday, April 6: 8 a.m. – noon
• Sunday, April 14: 8 a.m. – noon
• Saturday, April 27: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 4: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 11: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.

To register for an event at Painted Hills, please contact Neil Stitzer – Neil.Stitzer@pima.gov or 520.724.5239.

Enchanted Hills Volunteer Events
Location: 36^th Street Trailhead (western end of 36^th Street, west of S. Mission Road)

• Sunday, April 7: 8 a.m. – noon
• Saturday, April 13: 8 a.m. – noon
• Saturday, April 20: 8 a.m. – noon
• Sunday, April 28: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 4: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 11: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.

To register for an event at Enchanted Hills, please do so through Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists.

If you have any questions or would like more information on how you can help with Pima County trail projects, please contact Neil Stitzer – Neil.Stitzer@pima.gov or 520.724.5239

Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation manages 25 trailheads, five trails parks and more than 250,000 acres of conservation lands open to outdoor recreation.

PIMA COUNTY — The rifle and pistol range at Pima County’s Tucson Mountain Park is set to re-open in mid-February, following demolition and reconstruction that was necessary because of extensive storm damage to its shooting ramada in July.

At least half of the ramada roof was ripped off the 50-year-old structure, rendering it beyond repair, said Leonard Ordway, Shooting Sports program manager for Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation.

The contractor completed demolition in November. The reconstruction work includes preserving the structure’s historic stone columns, framing and installing a new roof that will be extended forward to provide additional shade and protection of firearms.

Total cost of the project is about $120,000. The new roof, built to modern engineering and design specs, will be able to withstand the monsoon winds, and will be slightly higher, providing better sound abatement.

“I know folks are anxious to see the range re-opened, but they’re going to be really pleased when they see the finished product,” Ordway said. “This is all about providing a better and safer experience for all our shooters.”

NRPR also operates the Southeast Regional Park Rifle and Pistol Range, the Southeast Regional Park Clay Target Center, the Southeast Regional Park Archery Range, the Tucson Mountain Park Archery Range, and the Virgil Ellis Rifle and Pistol Range in Ajo.

Check the Shooting Sports website for updates on the TMP range closure as well as information and hours for all of the shooting ranges.

PIMA COUNTY – As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, Pma County Elections has 80,000 estimated ballots remaining including early, provisional and conditional ballots that still need to be counted.

Early Ballots: 59,459

Provisional Ballots: 18,164

In recent past elections, between 80% to 90% of provisional ballots have been counted. That trend is expected to continue with this election.

Conditional Ballots: 209

Ballots in need of Duplication: 7,239

These are ballots that require duplication due to a defect on the ballot preventing it from being counted by the tabulating machine (for instance, an early ballot stained with spilled coffee or people writing on their ballot).

Ballot counting will resume Thursday, Nov. 8.