Here is a look at Surprise history through the years on this week, compiled from archives of Independent Newsmedia, Newspapers.com and the city of Surprise historical records.
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Subscriber Exclusive
A look back at this week in Surprise history
Posted
By Independent Newsmedia
Here is a look at Surprise history through the years on this week, compiled from archives of Independent Newsmedia, Newspapers.com and the city of Surprise historical records:
1960
A water pump forces residents of Surprise and North El Mirage to lose its water supply for several hours. The Maricopa County Highway Department uses a tanker to transport 3,500 gallons of water from the City of Glendale.
1962
Town Councilman Doyle S. Moore resigns to become the town clerk and magistrate full time. A week later the council sets Mr. Moore’s salary at $225 a month, a raise from the $50 he had been getting.
1967
Maricopa County Attorney Robert K. Corbin asks the Superior Court to remove two members of the Surprise Town Council who were added in June. Mr. Corbin argues the city appointed the men in violation of state law.
1969
The Town Council fires Marshal John Wilder after four years. Mayor George Cumbie also requests the resignations of Town Clerk Louise Haga and building inspector Herman Wheeler, a former town councilman.
1970
The town adopts its fiscal year 1971 budget of $131,984. There is still no tax levy for residents. The biggest part of the new budget is the police department ($36,170). State sales tax returns of $45,000 is the town’s biggest revenue source.
1976
Town Council approves final adoption of fiscal year 1977 budget at $401,299.
1989
Former Town Councilman Jerry Gaines files a recall petition against Councilman Gene Miles, just weeks after former Mayor George Cumbie did the same against the man who replaced him, Roy Villanueva.
1996
A monsoon floods the basement of the US West facility and 76th Avenue and Cactus Road, causing 23,000 phone customers – including most of Surprise – to be without phone service for nearly an entire day.
1997
Surprise annexes 320 acres of land between Waddell, Sarival and Greenway roads.
2006
Former Surprise Communications Director David E. Reuter dies at 59 from health-related issues. He served as a spokesperson for Surprise from 1995 to 2005.
2007
Valley Metro adds Surprise Express Route 572 to Scottsdale Airpark. It runs for three years before it’s eliminated in a cost-cutting move.
2010
Former Surprise Town Manager Nick Bacon dies of cancer at 64. The Army first sergeant served as Surprise’s manager from 1987 until he resigned because of stress in 1990. Under his watch, Surprise annexed about 55 square miles of what is now west Surprise.
