Memorial weekend

The weather will be spectacular in the mountains this weekend -- sunny, highs in the mid-80's and cool nights. There is much to do, as well.

Saturday is clean-up day at HCR. We have a large dumpster available for any "forest waste" that you may want to remove from your lot. The dumpster will be located on the common property near the water treatment plant, and will remain there until next Thursday 5/31. It is very important that ONLY forest waste goes into the dumpster (branches, logs, brush, leaves, pine needles). No construction debris, no lumber, no plastic bags, no garbage. The county is providing this for free, but if we abuse the rules, we will be fined and lose future rights to this service.

Work crews will be doing some painting on HCR properties and the entry gate area. Volunteers are needed. Meet at the front gate at 8am, and bring brushes/rollers if you have them. Work will wrap up by noon, so the crews can get over to Christopher Creek for burgers and brats.

The Creek will have a variety of activities during the weekend to raise more funds for the firebreak project. From noon to 5pm on Saturday there will be burgers and brats at the firehouse. At the same time there will be a silent auction and a baked goods sale (if you can donate baked goods, please try to bring them by 10am). Raffle tickets will also be sold for five items: a rifle, a shotgun, two quilts, and a guitar.

On Sunday from 2pm to 4pm is a concert by the group Mogollon (they are really good -- from Heber/Overgard, but they play all around the southwest). The concert will be on the grounds beside Creekside Restaurant. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids, or $30 for the full family. The raffle winners will be drawn during the concert.

Come on up for a fun weekend!

Update - Promontory Fire

This update is as of Friday morning. Yesterday was a good day, with no erratic winds to disturb the firefighting efforts. The fire has burned 2,700 acres, and has been declared 40% contained. Working the fire are 667 firefighters, 5 helicopters, 17 firetrucks and 4 bulldozers. The fire remains a "ground fire", meaning there is no crowning activity. Lines will continue to be secured today, and more burnout activity is planned. The biggest risk, as always, is with the weather -- T-storms are possible later today, which could create gusting winds. For HCR the highway remains as a significant break between the fire location and our homes. And absent storm-related winds, the direction of the burn is generally away from HCR. Best wishes and thanks to all those involved with fighting the fire.

The fund-raising effort to support the Forest Service plans to construct a firebreak around HCR and the Christopher Creek area is also progressing. Donations from HCR members have now passed $10,000. Thanks to all who have contributed. If you haven't yet contributed, we still need money -- the overall Christoher Creek community target of at least $50,000 (to secure all of the available matching funds) has not yet been met.

Update - Burns lawsuit

The Board, and our attorneys, will participate in a mediation hearing on Monday May 21st regarding the lawsuit against the HOA filed by Jack Burns. The Board met in executive session on Friday May 18th to review the issues in this legal matter. Next week we will update members on progress, if any, that resulted from this hearing.

Fire News

Most of you are probably aware that a wildfire is burning in the area just north of Christopher Creek. The human-caused fire started late last Sunday and has burned over 1,100 acres as of yesterday. At this time (noon on Wednesday, 5/16) I have been informed that the fire is buring only on "the mountain" (rim) and there is no fire actually burning within the local fire district. TV news coverage may emphasize the amount of smoke, etc. but there is certainly no panic at all within the local community. To keep yourself posted, you can consult the Payson Round-Up website and the Tonto NF website -- the links to these are included on the local links section of this website.

This is another reminder of the importance to HCR of fire safety. You have recently received a mailing with details of the pending fire break work -- and our need to raise funds to make it successful. Since the mailing, the response has been great. Funds raised in the Christpher Creek "metro area" are over $35,000, and so far this includes over $8,000 from HCR members. If you have already contributed, thank-you very much. If you have not yet contributed, please consider writing a tax-deductible check ($350 suggested) to "CK Firebelles/Firebreak" and send it to the HCR mailing address at the top of this website.