The Chandler Arizonan - 05.02.2021 by Times Media Group

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From Uptown to Downtown, covering Chandler like the sun.

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Arizona mourns slain Chandler officer BY CECILIA CHAN AND KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writers

Chandler senior lands a prestigious scholarship.

BUSINESS ................... 22 Curtains for downtown Chandler landmark.

May 2, 2021

rizona this weekend is mourning the loss of a veteran Chandler police officer who was killed in the line of duty during the deadly climax of a chase that began in Eloy and ended at a Gilbert auto multiplex. Officer Christopher Farrar, an 18-year veteran Chandler policeman who had been assigned to the K9 division, was struck and killed by an unidentified man who had stolen a pickup truck in Pinal County the eve-

Christopher Farrar

ning of April 29. Officer Farrar is the first East Valley officer killed in action this year and apparently the first police officer in Arizona this year to die in the line of duty. An unidentified Gilbert police officer was

in critical condition at the time of the Arizonan’s deadline. He too was struck by the suspect, who is in custody. “Every day he came to work, he made a difference,” an emotional Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan said of Officer Farrar at a pre-dawn press conference Friday. “In the course of 18 years, he touched many lives. “So I just ask that you keep Chris’ family in your prayers and just take a moment and remember and be mindful of the brave men and women who are out there daily helping

see OFFICER page 3

Council split on Chandler Safety warnings non-discrimination policy BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

BUSINESS ................... 23

Famed furniture store marks milestone. NEWS ....................................... 2

COMMUNITY ...................... 20 BUSINESS ..............................22

SPORTS .................................25 CLASSIFIEDS .........................28

handler City Council is split over whether to adopt a resolution or ordinance to protect certain populations from unlawful discrimination. After several cities across the Valley passed ordinances prohibiting discrimination in public places, Chandler is thinking of following suit by introducing similar legislation that could apply to local residents and businesses. Chandler City Councilman OD Harris has been recently spearheading the initiative and has already begun drafting some language he’d like to see included in a non-discrimination policy. “Chandler celebrates and welcomes all people of race, ethnicity,

see COUNCIL page 6

Chandler resident Marvin Wessels has some major concerns about Chandler Airport's safety. He's a pilot and discusses those concerns on page 10. (Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

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CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Chandler firefighter arrested in Gilbert home arson case BY CECILIA CHAN Staff Writer

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veteran Chandler Fire Department firefighter faces arson and other charges in connection with his arrest last week for the apparent firebombing of an occupied Gilbert home. Eric Donald Jones, 41, of Chandler, was released with electronic monitoring from the County Jail on May 21 after posting a $50,000 bond two days after his arrest in connection with the April 18 incident. Jones faces three counts – arson of an occupied structure, a Class 2 felony; misconduct involving weapons, a Class 2 felony; and criminal damage, a Class 4 felony – according to Gilbert Police spokeswoman Brenda Carrasco. Neighbors in The Islands community in Gilbert said they were roused from their sleep at 1 a.m. April 18 by the blaring sirens of first-responders. A house on Dolphin Drive was on fire and residents took to social media the following day asking what had happened. “Apparently someone threw a bomb at a house,” wrote a woman, who said she found out from her brother-in-law who was wakened by police. “Apparently exboyfriend was upset with breakup and threw at ex gf house…unbelievable.” She posted a picture of the house, where it seemed the fire damage was limited to the garages. Gilbert Police remained tight-lipped last week if a bomb was used or what the motive was behind the fire. Jones has been a firefighter with Chandler since February 2007, according to

Eric Donald Jones city spokesman Matt Burdick. Burdick said Jones is on leave. Carrasco said Gilbert Fire and Rescue and the Gilbert Police Department responded to the house fire in The Islands neighborhood located just west of Warner and Cooper roads. Gilbert Police and Fire departments released few details of the incident. Fire Deputy Chief Mark Justus said both departments were conducting their own investigations into the fire “believed to be arson-related.” “This is all of the information we have available at this time,” Justus said in an email. Gilbert Police’s probable cause statement for the arrest was sealed, according to a Superior Court spokesman, who directed further questions to the County Attorney’s Office. The spokeswoman there ignored multiple requests for information. Jones had a scheduled court date on April 26.

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Chandler joins pedestrian safety campaign BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

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he Chandler Police Department is participating in a countywide enforcement campaign intended to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities across the Valley. The Maricopa Association of Government’s “See Me AZ” education campaign aims to make Chandler’s roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The number of pedestrians killed in Arizona has been steadily rising from 163 in 2015 to 220 in 2019, according to the state’s most recently available data. Maricopa County saw 134 pedestrians killed in 2019, accounting for nearly half of the state’s fatal accidents. The large majority of fatalities occur in clear daylight. The Association’s “See Me AZ” campaign is intended to make motorists and pedestrians more aware of each other and less distracted by their phones.

OFFICER from page 1

to keep our community safe.” Tributes and expressions of sympathy for Officer Farrar flooded social media. “It’s just tragic,” said Chandler Councilman Matt Orlando. “These guys and gals put their life on the line every day and we just got to keep supporting them and making a better police force.” Chandler Vice Mayor Mark Stewart offered his sympathies to the officer’s family and said “Christopher served our great city with honor and pride for 18 years and he will be missed tremendously.” Police departments across Arizona lowered their flags half mast and paid tribute to him, as did Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Jack Sellers, Chandler Chamber President Terri Kimble and numerous other officials. Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson issued a statement saying, “We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Chandler Police Officer Christopher Farrar who tragically lost his life in the line of duty.” Gilbert Police did not release the name of its injured officer, who suffered a se-

Chandler Detective Zachary Waters said pedestrian safety has been a top priority in the city for several years and the “See Me AZ” campaign will augment the city’s efforts to make drivers more conscious of their surroundings. “We continue to make a collective effort by educating citizens on appropriate safety measures while they are traversing the roadways on foot or bicycle,” Waters said. “Enhanced educational efforts will continue to be made to induce changes in driving behavior to encourage drivers to notice and respect the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists.” Chandler is joining Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale as the first group of municipalities that will be spreading the campaign’s messaging this month. “As one of the pilot cities, we believe this campaign is another opportunity in fulfilling our mission statement of providing a safe place for people to live, work, and thrive,” Waters added.

vere head injury. The pursuit occurred around 10:11 p.m. Thursday when a Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted a traffic stop on State Route 87 north of Eloy, according to a Gilbert police news release. “The suspect vehicle fled from the deputy and fired gun shots at the deputy as he was in pursuit,” the release stated. “The pursuit continued into Chandler where the suspect drove into the Chandler Airport runway by breaking through the city’s security gates. The suspect then fled onto the 202 San Tan Freeway driving the wrong way.” Police said the suspect then exited the freeway where he eventually crashed near the Val Vista Drive eastbound onramp and fled on foot into the San Tan Ford dealership lot. Pinal County deputies, Department of Public Safety troopers and Chandler and Gilbert Police surrounded the building. The suspect then stole a vehicle from the dealership and attempted to flee the lot. In doing so, the suspect hit Officer Farrar, the Gilbert officer and a car dealership janitorial employee, who walked away with minor injuries. Two DPS troopers also were injured, according to

Chandler’s traffic unit will be coordinating education and enforcement efforts throughout the month on roadways and near school zones to remind local drivers to always be cognizant of pedestrians and cyclists. Officers will be dispersing simple safety tips that include keeping a 3-foot distance between cars and cyclists, not parking near crosswalks, obeying speed limits, and not passing other vehicles that have stopped for a moving pedestrian. Pedestrians can better protect themselves by wearing visible clothing at night, utilizing pedestrian buttons at traffic signals, and looking out for cars turning right on a red light. Cyclists are reminded to always yield to pedestrians, be cautious while passing driveways, use bike lanes when available, and to follow traffic laws the same as if driving a car.

see TRAFFIC page 18

the Arizona Troopers Association. “The troopers have non-life-threatening injuries,” DPS spokesman Bart Graves said. “I cannot go into any other detail.” Three Pinal County Sheriff’s deputies and four DPS troopers shot at the suspect, injuring him. The suspect was taken into custody where he was transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the release. The suspect’s name was not released Friday morning by deadline. Officer Farrar was described as a dedicated public servant and his work was acknowledged in 2010 after his agency honored him with its “Community Service Award.” In 2006, he was presented with a medal after he and another officer rescued a woman who was contemplating suicide. “Officer Farrar served the Chandler community for nearly two decades and was taken far too soon,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, whose district includes parts of Chandler. The public also shared their grief over

see OFFICER page 18

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Forces beyond Kyrene’s control drive enrollment decline BY PAUL MARYNIAK Arizonan Executive Editor

orget the pandemic: Kyrene School District’s decline in student population has been a decades-long trend that predates any parental reaction to COVID-19 and is the product of forces pretty much beyond the district’s control. Those forces and resulting enrollment trends were laid out last month for the Kyrene Governing Board by demographer Rick Brammer of Applied Economics LLC. A similar presentation had been scheduled for last week’s Tempe Union Governing Board meeting but was called off for unspecified technical reasons. One of the more stunning findings from Brammer’s presentation was this: “Since the year 2000, there’s been about 8,500, 8,400 housing units built in the district and the population has gone up by a grand total of 1,200 people. And that’s because the population per household has been declining so rapidly and especially in the period from 2000 to 2010.” As a result, he said, the total number of students has declined from a turn-ofthe-century total of just under 19,500 to 15,488 in the 2019-20 school year.

This chart shows the shifts that have occurred in Kyrene's student enrollment since the beginning of this century through last school year. The green portion represents out-ofdistrict students who attend Kyrene schools. (Applied Economics LLC) dents from outside the district.” Last year, it slipped below 15,500 and this year the district has lost another 800 students believed to be related to parental choices made in the face of the pandemic. Kyrene’s out-of-district student population also is leveling off, though it still comprises about a fifth of Kyrene’s total enrollment.

What’s happened since 2000 is in-district “ enrollment has fallen by about 7,000 students, most

of that, though …has been offset, almost lockstep for years, by the influx of students from outside the district.

”

While the number of students who live in the district steadily declined over that time from 19,055 to 12,075, Brammer said Kyrene’s reputation for the quality of its education attracted more outof-district students so that up through 2018-19, the district’s total enrollment was above 16,000. “What’s happened since 2000 is indistrict enrollment has fallen by about 7,000 students,” Brammer said. “Most of that, though …has been offset, almost lockstep for years, by the influx of stu-

– Rick Brammer

“District declines are linked to expanding education alternatives, low recession era birth rates, rising housing prices and limited housing choices,” Brammer’s slide show presentation stated. “Outside enrollment rose over time due to the success and reputation of the district,” it continued. “Recent out-ofdistrict enrollment declines are driven by reductions in the school age population in surrounding areas and improvements and greater acceptance of schools in some of the major source districts.”

Brammer said there’s reason to be optimistic despite the enrollment declines, suggesting “Kyrene has finally hit bottom” and then a few minutes later adding, “I’m not sure Kyrene is at the bottom but it’s getting very, very close to that.” Declining birth rates across Arizona has impacted Kyrene’s enrollment picture, Brammer said. He said normally after a recession, there’s a “birth bump.” But that bump didn’t happen after the Great Recession of 2008-2011, he said. “The opposite has happened,” he said, saying the age when people first become parents “has been just pushed out, pushed out, pushed out. “There are fewer kids in the pipeline and people are waiting longer,” he continued. “If you have put off the age of first birth from 22 years to 32 years, over that period of time you effectively lost about a third of a generation with kids.” And even once people start having children, he said, “by the time they get to kindergarten in 2025, 2026, it’s going to be 6 to 8 percent lower than the pool you have now.” “In terms of could there be growth in this district in that age group?” he asked rhetorically. “Very, very unlikely,” he continued. “We’re just still looking for a stabilization.” Brammer noted that charter school population within the district also is de-

clining, eliminating that as a factor impacting Kyrene’s enrollment. Housing also is impacting the district’s population, he said. Noting that in the last 10 years of enrollment decline, there have been just under 4,000 new living units added to the district, three-quarters of those units are multifamily. “The type of multifamily and these urban lifestyle, high-amenity, $2,500-a-monthtype units just generally don’t attract kids,” Brammer said, noting there has been “very little single-family construction.” One of the former drivers of out-ofdistrict student counts has been Maricopa, but Brammer said, ”We’re actually seeing fewer kids out of the South Mountain area and definitely fewer kids out of Maricopa. People are established in Maricopa; that’s probably going to continue.” In analyzing the population of each of Kyrene’s 25 schools, Brammer’s chart showed that Estrella and Manitas had student counts below 400, prompting him to remark, “Typically when you start seeing schools with less than 400, then you really start thinking about the efficiency and whether you can offer a full program.” Admitting that the pandemic “makes my crystal ball very, very blurry,” Brammer told the board that while he expects some modest housing and subsequent population growth in the western reaches of the district, he anticipates the district will lose about 1,200 more students over the next five years. He applauded Kyrene’s educational program, noting that while student population has declined, “there really isn’t any slippage in perception” of its quality. “It’s really the school age population that’s driving the enrollment decline,” he said. “All around you it’s getting smaller.” And he held out no hope that skyrocketing home prices were “just a blip” and that more affordable housing would magically reappear and attract more young families to the district. “Phoenix has for so long been the least expensive major market that we have been insulated from these kinds of housing prices and dollars per square foot – that $300, $350, $400-a-square-foot that I used to associate with San Diego County,” he said. “But the fact of the matter is, I don’t think we’re going back.”

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

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CITY NEWS

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COUNCIL from page 1

discrimination in Chandler, he said, an ordinance with a set of penalties and fees almost seems unnecessary. “That’s why putting something in with a criminal aspect to it, is a bridge too far,” Lopez said. Councilman Terry Roe has a similar opinion, believing talks about an ordinance are a “distraction” and irrelevant to the actual community. “Chandler is diverse and inclusive,” Roe said. “Most people who live in this community feel that very way.” The Mesa City Council passed an ordinance last month that prohibits discrimination in employment and housing on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, age, or religion. Violators of the law could be charged with civil fees that range between $300 and $2,500. Scottsdale City Council last week passed a similar ordinance after years of effort. Mesa’s ordinance has come under attack by some residents who feel its language is too vague and opponents are forcing it to a referendum, delaying the

national origin, religion, social-economic status, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, immigrant status, veteran status, disability,” a draft of Harris’ policy states. Harris publicly mentioned his desire to pass an ordinance last month after hundreds of Asian-American residents assembled outside City Hall to protest discriminatory behavior observed nationally against Asians throughout the pandemic. During a council meeting on April 21, Harris said passing a non-discrimination ordinance could send a “strong message” to the community that Chandler is committed to protecting vulnerable groups and treating all its residents fairly. But other Chandler leaders feel an ordinance is a bit overzealous and could result in criminalizing behavior the city should not be in a position to regulate. Councilman Rene Lopez prefers establishing a resolution that could include many of the same elements as an ordinance, but without any enforcement aspect to it.

Chandler Councilman OD Harris is pushing for a nondiscrimination ordinance but some of his colleagues prefer a resolution, which would have no enforcement behind it. (YouTube)

Resolutions, considered a notch below an ordinance, are a formal expression of opinion or position that represents the will of a municipal body. Chandler typically passes resolutions to handle administrative matters involving grants

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and intergovernmental agreements. Lopez believes it may be best to pass a resolution that embodies the city’s stance on discrimination without including a regulatory feature to it. Unless there’s a systemic problem of

see COUNCIL page 16

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CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Kyrene, TU see developments on student mental health front ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

ajor developments occurred last week in efforts to adequately address the mental and emotional well-being of students in Kyrene and Tempe Union school districts. Kyrene learned it was getting funding for social workers at Esperanza and Las Brisas elementary schools while the Tempe Union school board approved the creation of an ad hoc advisory committee “for the purpose of discussing and recommending policies to the Governing Board to address the social emotional wellness of all students.” The committee will be chaired by new board member Armando Montero of Ahwatukee, who before he graduated from Desert Vista High School in 2019 was a vocal proponent of more attention being paid to students’ mental health. The committee will include various administrators and teachers as well as students and is to give the school board recommendations by May 21. Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes appeared last week at a press conference called by state schools chief Kathy Hoffman to announce the transfer of $21.3

Board member Armando Montero of Ahwatukee is heading the committee. (Special to the Arizonan)

gram funds - leaving many schools on the waitlist.” The additional money will enable districts that have been waiting for nearly two years to hire 71 counselors and 69 social workers across the state. Toenjes said, “Kyrene is thrilled to be a recipient of the School Safety Grant, which will provide funding for positions that play a critical role in the mental

commitment two years ago to staff all its schools with counselors and “that commitment is more important now than ever before, as students are emerging from the lifechanging impacts of COVID-19 and entering a period of social-emotional recovery.” “The challenges presented by the global pandemic threaten our ability to continue funding counselor positions at the very moment when they are needed most,” she said. Experts nationally are still assessing the pandemic’s impact on students of all ages. Although initial national data show suicides among people under age 21 actually declined last year, experts say it is inevitable that the isolation and stress created by campus closures, online learning and other fallout of the pandemic will take an inevitable toll on young people. Moreover, even before the pandemic, rising teen suicide rates had become a concern across the country. In Arizona, suicide was identified by state health officials as the leading cause of death for Arizonans ages 10-14. Last September, state health director Dr. Cara Christ said nearly 41 percent of Arizona high school students who participated in the state’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior

Social-emotional learning is about equipping students with the knowledge, “ attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, to maintain

positive relationships and make responsible decisions. These skills create a foundation for high academic achievement, reduce harmful behaviors like drug use and bullying, and help children to be well-rounded students and good citizens.

”

– Laura Toenjes

million in federal pandemic relief funds to the Education Department’s School Safety Grant Program to cover requests for social workers and counselors that originally could not be funded because funds had been exhausted. “The School Safety Grant program has brought more than 260 social and emotional support professionals to our schools – seeking to reduce our state’s student-to-school-counselor ratio, one of the highest in the nation,” the Education Department said in a release. “Despite these gains, demand outstripped pro-

health and emotional well-being of our children.” “Social-emotional learning is about equipping students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, to maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions,” Toenjes said. “These skills create a foundation for high academic achievement, reduce harmful behaviors like drug use and bullying, and help children to be well-rounded students and good citizens.” She noted that Kyrene had made a

Survey reported feeling “sad or hopeless” for two or more weeks in a row during the 12 months before the survey. That result was higher than the national average of 36 percent, Christ said. The survey also showed 16 percent of high school participants had made a suicide plan. The resolution the Tempe Union board approved set out the issue that the new committee would be addressing. “A U.S. Surgeon General report indicates that one in five children and adolescents will face a significant mental health condition during their school years,” it said,

noting this covers a wide range of disorders. One of the obstacles to getting treatment is the stigma surrounding mental health issues, the resolution notes. “For unfortunate historical and cultural reasons, mental health has persistently been stigmatized in our society,” it states. “This stigma is manifested by bias, distrust, stereotyping, fear, embarrassment, anger, and/or avoidance. Addressing psychosocial and mental health concerns in schools is typically not assigned a high priority, except when a high-visibility event occurs, such as a shooting on campus, a student suicide, or an increase in bullying. Additionally, efforts to address school-based services for mental health continue to be developed in an ad hoc, piecemeal and highly marginalized way.” The resolution also states that the district “believes that for schools to promote a safe learning environment for all students, including those students who may be suffering from some form of mental illness, policymakers must provide adequate levels of access to mental health and counseling services for all students who attend our public schools, in order to foster success in school and to address the mental health needs of students suffering from some form of diagnosable mental illness.” The resolution sets out a number of goals for training teachers and other school personnel. Those goals include “techniques to identify students early on with, or at risk of, mental illness;” “the use of trauma-informed practices aimed at helping our students feel safe, connected, and equipped to learn;” “referral mechanisms that effectively link students to treatment and intervention services in the school and in the community;” and “strategies that promote a positive school environment.” There are numerous other goals listed in the resolution, including “modeling and promoting positive interpersonal and professional relationships;” “partnering with students’ families in fostering the social, academic, and intellectual success of each student;” and “matching students with an adult advocate who has similar lived experiences, to advise and individualize the educational and school experience for each student.” 

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Tempe Union gets good news on budget front ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

empe Union High School District has dodged a couple budget bullets and appears on course to end the current school year with a surplus. The good news came last month during the Governing Board’s budget briefing by Diane Muelemans, assistant superintendent for business services, who attributed the break to several factors – particularly the closing of Compadre High School and the fortuitous retirement and/or voluntary departure of employees representing 28.6 full-time equivalent positions. Those departures equaled just over $3.9 million in savings and were enough to turn the district’s fortunes dramatically around for the coming school year. District spokeswoman Megan Sterling noted the reduction in force among the district’s personnel ranks, mostly teachers, “was achieved through a combination of retirements, transfers, and natural attrition. We have not had to RIF.” RIF is a common acronym for reduc-

tions in force achieved by layoffs and furloughs. Tempe Union Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil also took a moment during the board meeting to sound a celebratory note on that news, noting that much of the early forecasted budget impact “was handled and adjusted through attrition. I think that alone is a success story.” “I do want to say, though, that this is a really, really solid good report considering what other districts are facing in terms of budget reductions,” Mendivil said, noting Gilbert Public Schools’ recent decision to not renew the contracts of 154 teachers for the coming school year to cover state reimbursement losses stemming from an enrollment loss of about 1,600 students this school year. “We are in a very fortunate situation financially in spite of a pandemic and the gradual decline of our enrollment where we have two funding areas where we have surplus.” That was accomplished, he added, partly by “right sizing” teaching staff for the

first time in four years to account for that enrollment loss. The closing of Compadre High, which has seen a steady and significant enrollment decline over recent years, affected 25.5 teaching positions. But retirements and other voluntary departures made that a wash, since the Compadre teachers are being shifted to the vacancies those departures leave behind. Four positions in the district’s central office also were eliminated for a savings of $191,000. Compadre’s programs are being shifted to Marcos de Niza High School. What will happen to the Compadre school building, located next to Tempe Union’s district headquarters, has not yet been decided. It was only a few months ago that Tempe Union was looking at a deficit of between $2 million and $3 million created by several factors, including enrollment decline and the lower reimbursement rate paid for students in online learning. District data shows that by the time the current school year ends, in-class learning will have accounted for only 52

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days – 28.9 percent of the mandatory 180 days of instruction. There was no in-class learning option for five months of the district’s 10-month school year. But it was the change in personnel counts that gave the district a surplus projected at just under $1.65 million. “This money can be spent on everything but because we do have other funds that are available for our teachers and support staff, this is a projected amount that’s available for classified and administration, Muelemans said. Development of the 2020-21 budget is far from over, she noted, largely because the Legislature has not yet formally begun work on the state’s budget. “Right now, the Legislature hasn’t told us what they’re doing with their budget and therefore how it will impact our budget,” Muelemans told the board. “We believe at this point that we have included what’s going to end up coming to us, but it’s sometimes hard to predict what they

see BUDGET page 16

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CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Chandler pilot on mission to make airport safer BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

arvin Wessel keeps a detached airplane tail sitting on the asphalt outside his hangar in the Chandler Municipal Airport. It’s the only piece of wreckage he was able to salvage from a fire that destroyed Wessel’s plane last May on the airport’s runway. While Wessel was testing his plane, a brake fire broke out and the pilot quickly radioed for help. Firefighters were dispatched to the airport and struggled to swiftly gain entry to the flaming aircraft. Wessel watched as firetrucks stood outside the airport’s gates, waiting for one of them to open. Sixteen minutes would pass before firefighters could start dousing water on his burning plane. “It was very, very, frustrating to say the least,” Wessel recalled. The incident almost didn’t come as a surprise: Wessel said he has been trying to raise the alarm about fire safety at the airport for years. Wessel witnessed a fire at a hangar in 2017 and observed how firefighters seemed to not know how to navigate the airport’s layout. According to data Wessel has collected, Chandler is one of the few top general aviation airports in the country that has no fire station located in less than one mile of its perimeter. In early 2019, Wessel said he brought up his concern before the Chandler Airport Commission and was invited to meet with city officials over his worries. They assured him fire safety was under control at the airport. One year later, Wessel’s plane was demolished in a fire. Now, he is on a mission to get the city to respond to his concerns. “These guys better wake up and smell the coffee,” Wessel said. “If people die because they can’t respond, no money can do anything to replace that.” Wessel filed a lawsuit against the city in January for the damage done last year to his plane. The litigation isn’t so much about recouping damages, he said, as it is about sending a loud message to the city. “I don’t care if I get a penny out of that,”

A fire in 2017 damaged two hangars and two planes at the Chandler Municipal Airport. (Special to the Arizonan)

Wessel remarked. “But they’re going to fix the safety issues they’ve got at that airport.” Because the civil case is ongoing, representatives from the city declined to comment on Wessel’s allegations. But the city has countersued Wessel for damage that was allegedly sustained during the 2020 fire. The two parties currently appear to be in a standoff and Wessel has already begun seeking outside help by filing complaints with federal authorities against the city. As a pilot who has housed planes at the Chandler airport for more than a decade, Wessel’s had several opportunities to observe and document how the city treats the many tenants who occupy the airport’s hangars. In a letter written last year to various members of Congress, Wessel accused city employees of seizing and disabling airplanes housed at the airport by attaching a locking device to them. An action like that could be considered a federal offense, Wessel noted, and should not be done without the proper authorization. The city claims a rogue employee had been disabling aircraft owned by hangar tenants who were allegedly behind on their rent. The prop-locking reportedly stopped after the city was advised by law enforcement to discontinue the practice. “Airport employees have not proplocked or otherwise disabled any private aircraft since at least February 2019,” city officials wrote in response to Wes-

sel’s complaint, “and the sole employee responsible for that practice is no longer employed by the city.” In its response, the city further rejected Wessel’s notion that the airport’s security gates were nonfunctional and barred firefighters from reaching his burning aircraft during last year’s fire. “The Chandler Municipal Airport is well maintained and fully covered by a highly-rated emergency response and public safety system,” city officials wrote. But Wessel does not appear to be the only person with concerns about safety issues at the airport. During a public meeting last year with airport officials, one of the property’s other users expressed fears over a lack of fire coverage despite there being several fire stations located within a couple miles of the airport. “These (fire stations) are not dedicated to the airport,” the attendee told officials during the meeting. “However, the airport is one of the biggest fire hazards in the city of Chandler and it’s not covered.” A representative of the city was quick to dispute the attendee’s assessment. “I think our Fire Department would disagree with that statement,” Chris Andres, an airport administrator, said during the meeting. For the last year, the city has been updating its airport masterplan and compiling a list of expensive capital improvements it hopes to implement in the near future. The most recent draft of the masterplan

recommends 53 projects valued at about $100 million –40 percent of which would be eligible for federal or state grants. If the city chooses to ultimately approve the new masterplan, Wessel warned he intends to try to get the Federal Aviation Administration to negate it. But it’s unclear how much grant funding will be available in the near future or what type of economic climate the aviation industry will be in due to the cataclysmic disruptions that have been caused by the pandemic. “While general aviation and business aviation operations have been returning to pre‐COVID levels,” the city’s masterplan states, “there is still much uncertainty as to how this health crisis will affect airports in the coming months or the lasting impacts it may have on the industry as a whole.” Some of the plan’s recommendations include rehabilitating runways, relocating the airport fuel tank, taxiway extensions and reconstructing the heliport area. Wessel thinks the masterplan updates are “ridiculous” and could mostly end up being a waste of money. He specifically objects to one of the plan’s most expensive projects: an $8-million reconstruction of the airport terminal building. That amount of money could be better spent on making the airport safer, Wessel noted, and preventing another fire incident. “It’s just your typical bureaucracy at work,” he said, “screwing things up as much as possible.” If the city chooses to ultimately approve the new masterplan, Wessel warned he intends to try to get the Federal Aviation Administration to negate it. Perhaps the biggest grievance Wessel has with the city is an overall lack of communication. He feels the airport’s users are not properly consulted on important matters involving the airport and their advice is often ignored. “I’m at my wits end with this stuff,” he said, “I can’t get anywhere with these guys.” It’s important the airport remain a viable enterprise for the years to come, Wessel said, because the pilots have invested a lot of their time and money into that property and they don’t want to see it be wasted.

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Masks stay put in 3 local school districts ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

ov. Doug Ducey’s decision to pull his statewide mask mandate for schools won’t make any difference for staff, students and visitors at Chandler Unified, Kyrene and Tempe Union campuses. Soon after Ducey on April 19 rolled back the mandate – and gave individual school districts the power to decide whether to require masks – all three districts said they would keep current mask mandates in place. The CUSD Governing Board met on April 21 and voted to partially continue the district’s mask requirement until at least May 31. In a 3-2 vote, the board decided to maintain mask mandates for indoor activities and give students the option to not wear masks outside during recess or physical education classes. Board member Jason Olive came up with the plan as a compromise to appease the parents who wanted to con-

tinue the mask requirement and those who wished to end it. There are only a few weeks left in the current semester, he noted, and it doesn’t seem advisable to completely disrupt a routine that has been in place for a whole year. “If everybody can have a little bit more patience,” Olive said, “I think we’re going to be good after the summer.” Some parents in the community have been lobbying for CUSD to lift its mask requirements altogether and a group of them staged a small protest outside the district’s offices earlier this month, demanding masks be made optional at all times. It’s unclear when Kyrene and Tempe Union might consider any change in their mask mandates. “There is no immediate impact to Kyrene’s existing guidelines,” Kyrene announced the day of Ducey’s announcement. “At this time, face coverings are still required in all Kyrene schools and facilities. Further information will be

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available in the coming days about what impact, if any, the order will have on Kyrene’s current safety strategies.” Acknowledging that “the question of face coverings has been fraught with debate,” Tempe Union on April 23 said the mask mandate would remain in effect for the rest of the school year. It said COVID-19 “remains in a level of community spread that is categorized as ‘substantial’ by both Maricopa County and the State of Arizona and that that means cloth face coverings must be worn at all times while on any District property, in any District facility, at any District event, whether indoors or outdoors, and in any District vehicle.” Some of the two districts’ neighbors took different approaches in light of Ducey’s ruling even though they all agree that the Centers for Disease Control has recommended masks be used on campuses. Both Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest district with 50,000 students and over 9,000 employees, and Higley

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Unified made masks voluntary. During the Tempe Union Governing Board meeting April 21, some parents emailed the board imploring the district to remove the mandate while others praised officials for “following the science.” But some parents criticized the district’s continuation of all-virtual learning on Wednesdays for “deep cleaning” in buildings, questioning what science the district is following with that policy. While invoking the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation that masks continue to be worn on school campuses, Tempe Union has had no reaction to the agency’s recent announcements that “it is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), but the risk is generally considered to be low.” One parent wrote, “There is zero justification for continuing to be closed on Wednesdays. No district that is in per-

see MASKS page 12

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

MASKS from page 11

son five days is spiking with cases. It is absurd that you are counting that as an education day to slither through the days requirement to get funding. We want funding also, but we want the education that goes with it.” Before the Chandler Unified Governing Board meeting April 21, the board received an extensive amount of feedback people for and against continuing Chandler’s mask policy. Some felt ending the mandate now was premature and felt the timing for making a sudden change in protocol was not appropriate, considering that students are about to take their final exams. Other parents thought kids couldn’t afford to keep wearing masks any longer, for the sake of protecting their mental health. The May 31 deadline leaves open the possibility that summer school students will not have to wear masks at all – a possibility that drew no votes from board members Lindsay Love and Lara Bruner. The board has given Superintendent Camille Casteel the discretion to make adjustments to its mask protocol in the

coming weeks, if the community experiences a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases. Bruner noted that the future trend of the virus still feels so unpredictable. “I really don’t feel comfortable projecting out,” Bruner said. “Just to set a deadline for things when we don’t know what’s going to happen with numbers or recommendations, I don’t feel comfortable with that.” Love said it is important to maintain mitigation strategies because many parents sent their kids back to school with the expectation that everyone would be required to wear a mask. “We did make a promise to parents,” Love added. “It doesn’t seem fair to change course.” Board President Barbara Mozdzen said she has seen COVID-19 case numbers slowly start to increase in the district’s zip codes, suggesting to her that CUSD students are still at risk of contracting the virus out in the community. “I have trouble saying the data justifies us being able to remove masks and say people shouldn’t be utilizing masks in school,” she said. Ducey in a prepared statement April 19 said he was rescinding his executive

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order mandating masks in schools because of the number of people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Chris Kotterman, lobbyist for the Arizona School Boards Association, said the governor’s decision, coming just five weeks from the end of the school year, was both unnecessary and creates “mask mandate chaos.’’ “Now the pressure will be on various boards,’’ Kotterman said. “It’s likely you’ll have students showing up saying they don’t have to wear masks anymore,’’ Kotterman said. “Five

weeks isn’t that long.” State schools chief Kathy Hoffman was even more critical. “Today’s abrupt removal of the mask mandate in schools is just one example in a long line of decisions that have resulted in Arizona’s embarrassing response to a virus that has claimed over 17,000 lives and impacted thousands more,’’ she said. She also said Ducey’s move “destabilizes school communities as they end what has arguably been the most challenging year for education.’’

Chandler ‘Brunch Crawl’ on downtown’s menu in May ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

rab your best friends or mate and get ready for the You’re Bacon Me Crazy Brunch Crawl in Downtown Chandler 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 15. The self-guided crawl features 14 of the downtown’s mouthwatering brunch spots, where patrons can get a $7 food-and-drink special at each location with the purchase of a $20 ticket. Registration will be staggered with 10 a.m. and noon time slots. Masks are required and registration will be outside at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort with social distancing set in place. Temperatures also will be taken at registration, where patrons will get a wristband and branded brunch crawl masks. As part of social distancing efforts, participants may utilize the city’s Dine in the Park program in Dr. A.J. Chandler Park and the Courtyard. Patrons can have beer or wine in sealed to-go containers in the park during posted hours. “This is a fun opportunity for people to get a taste for all that Downtown Chandler has to offer – delicious brunch spots, expertly crafted drinks and live entertainment all weekend long,” said Mary Murphy-Bessler, executive director of the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership. DCCP created the brunch crawl in 2019 to support the locally owned businesses downtown. Participating restaurants and their

brunch crawl offerings include: Over Easy, mini mimosa or non-alcoholic juice and a solo waffle dog; Downtown Chandler Cafe & Bakery, biscuit and gravy with home fries, bacon and house coffee or fountain drink; Murphy’s Law Irish Pub, Hungover Fries and a frosted shot; SanTan Brewing Co, mini chicken on a biscuit, Sacred Stave whiskey glaze, chipotle bacon, egg pepper jack cheese and bourbon berry lemonade. Also, The Perch Pub & Brewery, salmon bruschetta and a Perch Platinum Coffee Blonde; Bourbon Jacks American Tavern, Loaded breakfast tots and a frosted float; The Local Chandler, candied bacon maple doughnut and a mimosa; Crust, half a breakfast sandwich and a mimosa, Bloody Mary, sangria or a beer; The Stillery, half-order of beignets and a mimosa; Ghett ‘Yo Taco, burrito and a Michelada; Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort, stuffed French toast and mimosa or breakfast slider (two burger patties with house dressing topped with a quail egg) and mimosa. Also, Hilton Garden Inn, smoked pulled pork soft tacos with a bacon twist and signature brunch margarita; La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen, chilaquiles and a mimosa; and Pedal Haus Brewery, maple bacon Dutch doughnut with 5oz beer pour. Tickets must be purchased in advance at downtownchandler.org/ brunchcrawl or contact Natasha@ downtownchandler.org for more information.

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

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CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Chandler tutor indicted for hiding seamy past ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Chandler man, who has been arrested up to 10 times in other states for inappropriately touching children, has been indicted by a state grand jury for trying to fraudulently conceal his history of transgressions. Brett James Smith, 38, became the subject of an investigation last year after he attempted to legally change his name in Maricopa County Superior Court and find work as a tutor around the East Valley. Smith, who has used several aliases, advertised his services online and quickly found some clients in the Chandler area. But his past soon came back to haunt him once parents started digging into Smith’s criminal history and sounding the alarm to local authorities. Nine months after a group of parents in Chandler discovered Smith’s sketchy past, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has obtained an indictment that charges Smith with 15 counts of fraud and forgery. Smith is accused of purposefully omitting or falsifying several facts about his past when he attempted to change his name.

Brett James Smith Public records show Smith has been arrested at least 10 times in Indiana between 2002 and 2015 for various crimes involving children. He has been convicted at least three times for misdemeanor offenses and spent some time in jail. The offenses typically involved Smith sliding his hand under a child’s shirt and rubbing their back. Smith was additionally accused of creating fake identity badges and teaching certificates.

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Smith eventually relocated to Arizona and attempted to restart his teaching career by obtaining a fingerprint clearance card, which would have allowed him to work in the state’s public schools. As Smith was awaiting a decision from the Arizona Fingerprinting Board, the state’s law enforcement agencies intervened by filing a lengthy complaint detailing Smith’s prior arrests in Indiana. Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Heston Silbert told the board it would have been a mistake to clear Smith for teaching in the state’s schools due to the applicant’s pattern of troubling behavior. “Smith has engaged in a prolonged series of inappropriate acts against children — even twice violating his probation conditions,” Silbert wrote in his complaint. According to Silbert’s complaint, local authorities were first tipped off about Smith in 2018 after some Chandler residents reported his suspicious behavior. One mother told Chandler Police she discovered Smith’s tutoring ads appeared to publicize false information about his work history. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce

informed local police something seemed “not right” about Smith when he interacted with the Chamber’s staff. He allegedly seemed “pushy” about having the Chamber introduce Smith to local businesses and school administrators. Chandler Unified School District officials additionally told authorities Smith had asked for permission to place flyers advertising his tutoring service in the backpacks of the district’s students. “The school district reported that Smith was persistent about being allowed to put flyers in the backpacks and became upset that he was unable to do so,” Silbert’s complaint states. Once Silbert’s complaint went public last summer, parents around Chandler immediately discontinued Smith’s tutoring services and the defendant’s online advertisements were hastily removed. Although some local parents claim there may have been some inappropriate behavior between Smith and their children, none of the charges contained in the defendant’s indictment accuse him of abusing juveniles in Arizona. Smith was taken into custody on April 13.

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15 CITY NEWS

Chandler real estate team helping one of its own ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Chandler Realtor and his team are pitching in to help a colleague who started the year in one of the worst ways imaginable – a diagnosis of colon cancer. Realtor Tiffany LeDoux, a 47-year-old Chandler mother of two teenagers, only went to the doctor for a checkup after two healthy friends told her they had been diagnosed with the potentially lethal disease. Now, the Darwin Wall Real Estate Team has gone to bat for her by scheduling a Teeing Off For Tiffany golf tournament next Saturday at Springfield Golf Resort in Chandler to help raise money for her medical expenses. While the golf tournament is sold out, the Darwin Wall Team is still looking for auction items and also making it possible to donate directly to her fund through its website, darwinwallteam. com/tiffany. Darwin Wall has a history of helping women facing cancer. Last October he and his team held its seventh annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pub Crawl and raised $15,000 to

Realtor Tiffany LeDoux has been fighting colon cancer and her coworkers at the Darwin Wall Real Estate Team are helping her. (Special to the Arizonan) defray a breast cancer victim’s medical bills. The amount was twice what the

2019 event raised. LeDoux has been blogging about her

never been prescribed by them. She used the credentials of one doctor to file numerous claims valued at more than $2.5 million and later collected $570,000 in reimbursements from those claims. Jones used the identity of another doctor in California to file 249 claims on behalf of a Medicare beneficiary who lived in Washington State. Even after the patient had died in 2017, Jones continued filing several claims for medical equipment. The defendant would file claims for doctors who had stopped practicing medicine in Arizona or discontinued writing prescriptions for equipment. One doctor, who had stopped writing prescriptions in 2012, had $680,000 worth of Medicare claims filed under his name by Jones between 2013-18. Jones was allegedly paid about $117,000 off of

those fake claims. Patients and government auditors eventually noticed discrepancies in billing statements and began to suspect that Jones was overbilling for unnecessary services. Jones spent years trying to cover her tracks by coming up with various excuses for why her accounting didn’t add up, delaying her case for more than three years in court. “Defendant perpetuated her fraud scheme by boldly lying to beneficiaries who complained and to law enforcement when they inquired,” prosecutors wrote. She initially claimed Oxicheck Northwest had made some billing mistakes and promised to correct the errors. After the Arizona Attorney General’s

experience, hoping that people will become more conscious of the need for regular colon cancer checkups. “I have a family history and should have gone to get checked years ago, but I didn’t,” she wrote in one of her early posts. “My doctor told me had I waited, even just one more year, it could have been disastrous. “So, if my story prompts a friend to go check out something that’s been nagging them or that just seems a bit off, then I consider sharing my story a success,” she continued. “In this short time, I’ve already had three friends make their own appointments to get different things checked out – already a success in my book.” LeDoux has spent months in treatment, first with surgery and now chemo. She said she is surrounded by supportive family and friends and also has a message for everyone: “You truly don’t know when your life is going to change, so go give your loved ones a big squeeze and tell them you love them.”

Chandler Medicare thief gets 3 years in jail

ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Chandler woman has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to filing thousands of fraudulent claims for Medicare benefits totaling more than $4 million. Frances Jones, 52, was ordered to spend three years behind bars for a scam she ran between 2011-18. Jones had been the owner of Oxicheck Northwest, a provider for durable medical equipment and used her business to bill Medicare for false prescriptions for her devices. Jones spent the profits she netted from the scheme on vacations, plastic surgery, spa treatments, and casino gambling. According to federal prosecutors, Jones misused the identification numbers of various doctors to get Medicare to pay for medical equipment that had

see MEDICARE page 16

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BUDGET from page 9

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do down there at the Capitol.” Muelemans also tamped down any hope for an enrollment increase that would yield a greater reimbursement by the state. She said what “was predicted and projected is that we will be declining again next

year and for several years moving forward. “The decline is not as great as this year has been but it really depends on who actually comes and attends our schools and it’s really kind of hard to predict,” Muelemans said. “I’m thinking that even if our enrollment is down, if we get the online students to come back to brick and mortar, I think that will help us.”

MEDICARE from page 15

used to help patients. In 2020, the Government Accountability Office estimated that about $43 billion in improper payments were processed by the Medicare program. “Defendant committed flagrant fraud against a system built on trust and designed to provide health care to our vulnerable populations,” prosecutors stated. U.S. District Court Judge John Hinderaker ordered Jones to pay $862,000 in restitution.

COUNCIL from page 6

Chandler City Attorney Kelly Schwab said the city could fill in any gaps that aren’t currently covered by federal laws and has the discretion to define the policy’s language however Chandler sees fit. “It can be as broad as you want it or as narrow as you want it,” Schwab explained. Council has recently directed staff to draft some language for a potential resolution that can be reviewed and possibly approved at a later date. Even if Council ultimately decides to pass a resolution, Harris said he hopes Chandler will still consider introducing an ordinance at some point in the future. The issue appears to be an important one for the new councilman, who has often spoke out on matters involving racial injustice and discrimination. Not long after the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial was announced in Minneapolis last week, Harris made a statement solidifying his commitment to forming a more perfect union in Chandler. “As an Army veteran, I swore an oath to defend our constitution and our way of life,” Harris stated. “However, as a Black man in America, at times, that constitution and way of life have not been favorable towards me or my community.” Harris added that he was “committed to making sure policing policies are fair, transparent, and just for all community members.”

Office opened an investigation in 2015, Jones told investigators her billing irregularities were caused by a computer glitch. She further blamed Medicare patients for having a “vendetta against her” and accused them of sabotaging her business, court documents show. Federal prosecutors faulted Jones for cheating a system that’s difficult to police and taking away taxpayer-funded resources that could have been better law from taking effect, Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, and Flagstaff have all passed non-discrimination ordinances. Chandler’s leaders all seem to support introducing some kind of legislation that condemns discrimination, but most are reluctant to commit to an ordinance that would open the door for punishing those who violate it. The practicalities over who would investigate complaints of discrimination and who decides whether someone is guilty are issues that some raised about an ordinance. Councilman Matt Orlando is one of the few council members who thinks Chandler should consider drafting an ordinance rather than a resolution or proclamation. If so many other municipalities in Arizona are passing ordinances, he said, then Chandler would stand out as the city afraid to commit to prohibiting discrimination. “For us to say we’re not going to put in an ordinance, to me puts us at a competitive disadvantage,” Orlando said. State and federal laws already protect certain populations from unwanted discrimination or harassment, but these laws are not always applicable to some members of the LGBTQ community and other groups.

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

17 CITY NEWS

Chandler aims to improve police staffing levels BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

handler officials are considering spending a significant amount of its $36-million in new federal pandemic relief on improving police staffing levels. According to a preliminary spending plan recently proposed by city officials, Chandler would divvy up the money into five spending categories: economic vitality, innovative technology, mobility, quality of life and neighborhoods. Under quality of life, $6 million would be spent on hiring new police officers – an expenditure that local leaders say is greatly needed and long overdue. Police Chief Sean Duggan said his department is continuously in the process of hiring new officers, but retirements and sick-leaves have made it difficult to ensure the city is completely covered at all times. “There are times where a patrol team that’s scheduled to work may be shortstaffed,” the chief said. Last month, Duggan and representatives of Chandler’s police unions asked Council for additional support to ease some of the burden. The pandemic, civil protests and an uptick in violent shootings have put a greater strain on the department over the last year and Duggan is hoping additional officers will prevent others from feeling burned out or overworked. “The concern we have right now is that we are having a great deal of difficulty convincing people to come and work,” Duggan said. The chief noted Chandler currently has the same number of sworn officers it had back in 2008 even though the city’s population has grown considerably over the last decade. The city’s pandemic relief money could potentially be enough to create 10 new policing positions as well as provide permanent funding for 15 positions that had been provided through temporary funding in the city’s budget. More officers would allow the agency to assemble a new unit Duggan wants to create for responding to crime trends in specific regions of the city. This “neighborhood response team”

Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan has been beating the drums about staffing levels in his department and it looks like city officials are listening. (Arizonan file photo)

would be trained to be versatile in reacting to a wide range of law enforcement needs, the chief said. Duggan has recently released a hiring plan that aims to generate more than 60 new positions over the next five years. With the federal funds, the chief hopes to bring on 27 new jobs in the next fiscal year. One of them would be an additional school resource officer that the Chandler Unified School District would partially pay for. The department is also hoping the city will consider in adding 10 new positions each year between 2022 and 2026. These new hires would work in a variety of jobs including traffic cops, detectives, detention officers, evidence technicians and records clerks. As of this month, the city is planning to create at least nine new positions across its various departments for the 20212022 fiscal year by utilizing money out of Chandler’s general fund. Dawn Lang, the city’s management services director, said it has been several years since Chandler has used its general fund to add this many new positions

in a single budget cycle. These nine new positions – which include jobs in the Fire Department and City Court – don’t include any new positions created with the pandemic relief funds. Last summer, the city received $30 million through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and spent the funds on assisting local businesses and improving the city’s technology. A breakdown of the city’s spending of its new federal funds has Chandler dedicating about $4 million for new officer positions, $1.2 million for replacing outdated policing equipment and $750,000 on financial incentives to new police hires. The city would additionally like to spend $500,000 of its federal aid on a national recruitment campaign to fill vacant positions in various departments. Chandler now has about 120 vacancies it’s quickly trying to fill. Before coming up with its spending plan, city administration consulted with council members to find out how they thought the $36-million allotment should be spent once it was handed out by the federal government.

The city tried to focus on projects that would only be a one-time expense, meaning it wouldn’t result in producing ongoing costs that would have to be annually factored into the city’s budget. Acting City Manager Joshua Wright said Council expressed interest in directing the federal funds toward reducing homelessness, diversity initiatives, transportation and assisting local nonprofits. To accommodate these interests, the city has proposed spending $787,000 on helping residents avoid homelessness and another $900,000 on transitional housing. The city has set aside $200,000 of the federal dollars for assisting residents in finding affordable housing and $250,000 for starting a pilot program that could address Chandler’s impoverished neighborhoods. Wright said money spent on these social services would likely benefit the Police Department since it might cut down on the agency’s call volume. “I think that will have a direct impact as well on our public safety system here in

see POLICE page 18

CITY NEWS

POLICE from page 17

Chandler,” he said, “reducing some of the burden placed on our front-line officers.” The most expensive items listed in the city’s spending plan is an $11-million upgrade to Chandler’s street lights and $5 million for improving sports fields at Snedigar Recreation Center. Other proposed projects include spending $500,000 to upgrade the city’s traffic camera system, $2.6 million for installing more bicycle-detection cameras at various intersections and $150,000 for ex-

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

panding the city’s partnership with Lyft. Last year, Chandler launched a pilot program with the ride-sharing company to provide discounted lifts to residents living in south Chandler. The federal money could possibly allow for Lyft’s service area to expand into other parts of the city. Another $250,000 of the federal aid could be spent on installing protective railings along the city’s bike lanes a service that residents have been asking for in transportation surveys administered by the city. “People want a little bit more safety

around the bicycle lanes on our major thoroughfares in Chandler,” Wright noted. Intel’s recent announcement of its forthcoming expansion has motivated the city to reserve some federal funding money for the infrastructure needs that come with economic development. The city has set aside $4.1 million for building out the roads, sidewalks, or sewer lines that might be needed to accommodate future developments. The city’s plan further attempts to reverse some of the damage that’s been done to local businesses throughout the pandemic.

According to public records, tax revenue collected from Chandler’s hotel industry shrunk by 36 percent in November 2020 compared to the previous November. Revenue generated by entertainment venues dropped 42 percent in that time frame. Officials are considering spending $200,000 of the new federal money to market and promote Chandler’s tourism industry and $1.5 million to assist local nonprofits. Another $300,000 has been earmarked for an “angel fund” that encourages investors to support Chandler’s startups.

TRAFFIC from page 3

multiple children and young parents. The killing of 31-year-old Pamela Hesselbacher near Ponderosa and Ray roads in 2016 by an unlicensed driver has had a lasting impact on the community and the state’s driving laws. The mother and her two small children were walking home from a nearby park when a motorist ran a red light and struck the Hesselbacher family. The driver, William Epperlein, claims he simply wasn’t paying attention as he was passing through an intersection. The Hesselbacher children survived the accident, but Pamela succumbed to her injuries. The mother’s death sparked

statewide outrage once it was revealed the driver was not legally licensed to be operating a vehicle. Epperlein was given the maximum sentence at the time – 30 days in jail – which later motivated the state’s lawmakers to pass legislation that heightened the penalties for unlicensed drivers who injure or kill pedestrians. Chandler has attempted to make its roads safer over the years by introducing new infrastructure throughout the city. In 2014, a special walking bridge was constructed across the Loop 101 freeway, allowing a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists to pass over the busy roadway.

The city has additionally spent this last year creating more bike lanes in the West Chandler region along Kyrene and McClintock roads. Cities participating in the “See Me AZ” campaign will be collecting surveys before and after the event in order to see what type of impact the education efforts have had on local drivers. “We know that traffic crashes involving pedestrian deaths are a growing public health concern and that we need to quickly figure out the root causes, as we all share the responsibility when it comes to road safety,” said MAG Council Chair Jerry Weiers.

OFFICER from page 3

killed on the job, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a nonprofit organization. With his death, Chandler Police now have lost five officers who died while performing their job. In 2016, Officer David Smith Payne was killed after a drunken driver rear-ended his police motorcycle, which was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Pennington Drive.

And, Officer Carlos Luciano Ledesma was killed in 2010 while conducting an undercover narcotics operation at a home in Phoenix, according to the officer memorial site. Before him, there was Officer Robert Nielsen, who was killed in an automobile accident while responding to another accident call in 2002. His death was one of more than a hundred officers’ deaths that occurred because of design defaults

in Ford Crown Victorias, a then-popular patrol car. Chandler Officer James Snedigar was fatally shot in 1999 while performing a SWAT raid on armed robbery suspects near Priest Drive and Ray Road. Chandler Police also recorded a death of one of their own in January not directly linked to his line of work. Officer Tyler Britt, a 19-year member of the force, died from complications of COVID-19.

Sobriety will be another piece of the campaign’s messaging, since impairment has become one of the most prevalent factors in pedestrian crashes that end in a fatality. Out of the 220 pedestrians killed in Arizona in 2019, at least 95 were reportedly under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. Arizona and the Phoenix metro area have often been ranked as some of the worst places for pedestrians as the number of accidents continues to rise year after year. Chandler has had its fair share of tragic accidents reported in recent years, culminating in the untimely deaths of

the loss. “My heart aches for the family of this officer,” wrote a man on a Gilbert community Facebook page. “These men and woman are true heroes. They wake up every day and out their life on the line to protect and serve. May he RIP.” It has been seven years since a member of the Chandler Police force was

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COMMUNITY

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Chandler chef basks in national magazine spotlight BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

on Royer has had a turbulent year. The restaurant he was working at in Paradise Valley closed suddenly due to a downturn in business caused by the pandemic. It was a disappointing blow to Royer, who had been preparing to buy the business before it shuttered. The professional chef managed to eventually find a new job last October at Chandler’s Ginger Monkey Gastropub. But a couple months into his new gig, Royer’s health was abruptly compromised after he contracted COVID-19. He spent several weeks in the hospital, believing the virus might bring him to the brink of death. “It crushed me,” he recalled. As Royer was recuperating, the Gulf War veteran was contacted by a national magazine that was interested in profiling his journey from the military into the

Don Royer, an Air Force veteran who fought in the Gulf War, is the chef at Chandler’s Ginger Monkey restaurant. (Pablo Robles/Staff)

culinary world. A couple of months later, Royer found himself on the cover of Veterans of Foreign Wars Magazine, a publication with a circulation of more than a million readers. The publicity has been overwhelmingly flattering and Royer said he’s appreciative of the many pieces of fan mail he’s already gotten from other veterans who were moved by his life story. “It’s been really overwhelming getting a lot of messages,” Royer said, “I’ve been getting a lot of love from veterans.” Royer grew up in Iowa in an ItalianGerman family that fostered his interest in cooking at a young age. His grandparents taught the young Royer how to garden, fish, and hunt – skills that all became useful later in his professional career. In 1989, the then-teenager enlisted in the Air Force and began taking culinary

see ROYER page 21

Chandler teen earns prestigious Flinn Scholarship BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

nanya Lakhotia is ready to start her next chapter at Arizona State University, where she plans to major in biochemistry and justice studies beginning in fall. That may seem an unusual combination but for the Arizona College PrepErie senior, the two disciplines perfectly blend together for her biggest passions: science and advocacy. “I was always really big into activism and I wanted to be able to help the community around me,” Ananya said. And she’s getting a big helping hand for her mission to make society equitable for vulnerable populations.

Ananya Lakhotia

Ananya is one of 20 Arizona high school seniors to win a prestigious Flinn Scholarship this year. Two school districts – Tempe Union and Gilbert Public Schools – had two earners as did two individual schools – BASIS Ahwatukee and Gilbert Classical Academy. The award covers all tuition, board and other expenses for four years at one of Arizona’s three state universities, provides for two tours for study abroad and a chance to meet some of the top leaders in virtually every segment of society, from business to academic to cultural. Applicants are subjected to a rigorous vetting process that involves writing several essays and undergoing interviews. Only the students who have demonstrated the right amount of aca-

demic prowess and leadership skills are picked. Ananya said she’s thrilled to receive the honor and looks forward to meeting new and former Flinn scholars in the near future. “I would love to be part of a community where I could learn from them and talk to them,” the 17-year-old said. Ananya said the Flinn scholarship has been on her radar for the last few years. As a freshman, she recalled seeing some older ACP-Erie students win the award and wondered if someday she could join that exclusive club. Ananya has described her academic career as one filled with ambition and

see FLINN page 21

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

21 COMMUNITY

ROYER from page 20

classes at Denver’s Lowry Air Force Base. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Johnson & Wales University in North Carolina. Most civilians probably don’t know that the military has a robust culinary program, Royer said, that allows servicemen the opportunity to learn how to cook a wide variety of cuisines from all over the world. During his 11-year career in the military, Royer was deployed to Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, the international conflict that claimed the lives of 148 American soldiers in battle. Royer said his return home from the war was a lonely experience that left him feeling like no one in America seemed to care about his service. “When I came back from Desert Storm, there was no one there to greet me,” Royer recalled. After his retirement from the Air Force, Royer spent the following years working at assisted-living facilities, hotels and restaurants. Royer later found a community in the VFW, which offered an outlet where Royer could connect with veterans who understood his experiences. “You can go into those private organizations and you’re not judged if you’re having a bad day,” he said. “Every one of those guys have been in some war.” VFW was founded in 1899 by veterans of the Spanish-American War who banded together to lobby for better benefits from the government. VFW has since

FLINN from page 20

striving for perfection. From a young age, she focused intently on achieving each task that was put in front of her and always had her eyes set on the next accomplishment. But she got to the point where she felt she was putting too much pressure on herself and that it was impacting her mental health. She turned that around after realizing she was caught in a vicious cycle and needed to be more cognizant of how she was presenting herself to others. Young people can become obsessed with pretending to be something they are not, Ananya said, and putting on a

grown to include more than 6,000 posts throughout the country and a membership consisting of over a million veterans. VFW started publishing magazines in the 1910s and its monthly magazine is currently ranked as one of the top 60 publications in the country. Royer said he is honored to be profiled in the April edition, especially considering who else has appeared on the cover in recent months. February’s issue profiled professional basketball player David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs and champion wrestler Sally Roberts was featured in March. It’s good company to be in, Royer noted, since he sees himself as a humble

chef from Arizona. Royer said he hopes the magazine’s readers will find some inspiration from reading about his journey from Iowa to Iraq and his penchant for entrepreneurship. It’s been cathartic sharing his experiences publicly, he added, and has helped Royer come to terms with some of the darker memories from his past. “It’s a healing process still, but I just got to keep moving every day,” Royer said. Royer is now spending his days bouncing between two restaurants in Chandler and helping other chefs break into the culinary industry. Last year, Royer started a website called “Chef Life,” which spotlights up-

and-coming chefs and advertises their resumes to local restaurants. Royer said he loves finding opportunities to coach and mentor aspiring chefs who need some guidance honing their skills. He also is helping a friend develop a television series about professional ice sculpting. They recently shot a pilot in Los Angeles, where Royer carved a block of ice into a giant military tank. Despite his recent successes, Royer is still recovering from the scars he has sustained this past year. The coronavirus has significantly diminished Royer’s breathing capacity, prompting him to continuously have an oxygen tank on standby in case he starts to feel winded. “My lungs are not 100 percent,” he said. “I have these long days and I get home and I need air.” But brighter days appear to be ahead in Royer’s future and he’s planning to carve out paths of opportunity for other culinary professionals. The goal has always been to develop a restaurant group that allows its employees to buy into the business and build a future for themselves, Royer said.

mask of perfection. “We need to pay more attention to our mental health and our needs,” she said, “because if you put that mask on for long enough, you don’t really know who you are anymore.” Mental health is now a topic that has become one of Ananya’s passions and she wrote about it in one of her essays for the Flinn scholarship. She thinks her willingness to share personal experiences related to modern problems may have made her application stand out from so many others. “I think Flinn really looked for that genuineness,” Ananya noted. A highlight of Ananya’s academic ca-

reer has been her involvement in her school’s speech and debate team. Over the last couple of years, she and her teammates have regularly won awards for their ability to argue clearly and persuasively about current events and issues. Ananya said the debate team helped boost her confidence and sharpened her public speaking ability. The extracurricular activity has additionally forced Ananya to stay updated on timely topics in the news and has expanded her understanding of socioeconomic issues. Ananya is now committed to using her knowledge to help others by advocating for better access to affordable health-

care and quality education. There are still many inequities in the world that impact certain populations, she noted, and it’s up to the younger generations to try and make a difference. Her ultimate goal is to get accepted into medical school and become an OB-GYN doctor, a role that would allow her to specialize in helping underserved women. Ananya credits her parents with teaching her the value of a good education -an intangible gift that can’t be suddenly taken away once it is earned. “You can lose your home, you can lose your job, you can lose your stability,” Ananya said. “But nobody can ever take away your education.”

It’s been a turbulent year for Don Royer, but he feels he’s found a home at Ginger Monkey. (Pablo Robles/Staff)

BUSINESS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Sibley’s West owners closing iconic store, moving on ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

he owners of a downtown Chandler landmark shop are calling it quits. John and Michelle Wolfe are closing Sibley’s West The Chandler and Arizona Gift Shop, which they opened in 2010. “Michelle and I have a lot of travel planned for this summer and, fingers crossed, an international trip in 2022,” John told the SanTan Sun News. Longtime residents, the Wolfes thought downtown Chandler needed some additional retail outlets to complement its selection of restaurants and vibrant nightlife. They had just obtained masters degrees at Arizona State University and, according to Michelle, wanted something that sold local goods to support local business. “The idea of a gift shop had some potential,” they explain on their website.

John and Michelle Wolfe are closing Sibley’s West in downtown Chandler after 11 years. (Courtesy of John Wolfe)

“Having visited many shops in Phoenix, including ones in the airport, the Wolfes were disappointed to find so many items and souvenirs made overseas.” But at some shops and local festivals, they found attractive gifts produced by Arizona craftsmen and artists and so they began identifying small and large manufacturers that call Arizona home, coming across firms like Original Dirt Shirts, Armadilla Wax Works and Cheri’s Desert Harvest. “Embracing a mantra of ‘From Arizona,’” the Wolfes explained, they found a spot in downtown Chandler and opened their shop in December 2010. The store is named after a Rochester, New York, department store that John’s great-grandfather, Rufus Sibley, started in 1868. His son, John, took over following Rufus’ death in 1928 and ran the

see SIBLEY’S page 23

Chandler yoga clinic sees exponential client growth BY KEVIN PIREHPOUR Arizonan Staff Writer

hen the pandemic upended in-person elementary schools, Jessica Kalicki began searching for naturopathic methods to help her family cope with the stress. That’s when she found the Nicole Anne Yoga and Holistic Wellness clinic based in Chandler. “I think I was looking for meditation, something along those lines, trying to calm it down,” said Kalicki, 38, a former high school teacher and a client of the Nicole Anne Yoga and Wellness clinic. “Because my husband’s working full time in the house, I’m the only one taking care of the kids.” The clinic offers a range of alternative therapy options housed in various venues and online such as aquatic exer-

Nicole Anne Fonovich of Chandler practices sound healing on Joan Grube. (Kevin Pirehour/Arizonan Staff)

cises, spiritual coaching, yoga and neuro emotional technical, or NET, therapy – a popular form of therapy that aims to heal deep-rooted emotional triggers in clients. Kalicki found the therapies useful as she and her children adjusted to remote learning. “It started changing my kids and I felt better because they were no longer so sad and depressed and like hating life,” Kalicki said “It’s really difficult when you see your seven-year-old talk about how much he hates life and my five-year-old is throwing things across the room at people because he doesn’t know how to handle what’s going on.” Nicole Anne Fonovich, a holistic health practitioner and the owner of Nicole Anne Yoga and Wellness, said many of

see YOGA page 24

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

SIBLEY’S from page 22

company for 30 years. “Sibley’s was an institution in the community, combining fine service with fair pricing,” the Wolfes noted. It was purchased by Associated Dry Goods and later became part of the May Co. Its name was changed in 1990 to Kaufmann’s, the name of a Pennsylvania family that also ran several department stores in the Pittsburgh area. The Wolfes decided to resurrect the name on a smaller scale to celebrate John’s heritage.

The couple admit on their blog that they have had “a ton of successes and a few challenges” over the years. One of the most notable challenges, obviously, occurred about this time last year when the governor ordered all nonessential businesses closed for a month to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Wolfes cautiously reopened when the governor loosened restrictions, limiting the number of customers who could browse amid a bounty of unique artwork, gift items and local foods. “Although we anticipated retiring in the fall of 2021 at the end of our lease,

23 BUSINESS

we are making an early exit so the incoming business has the summer to build out the space for a fall opening,” the Wolfes said. The new tenant is no stranger to Chandler. It will be Ocotillo-based d’Vine Gourmet, which was started by Denise McCreery in Tucson in 2003 and is dedicated to “a love of food and wine and a desire to share our culinary creations with others.” The store prides itself on showcasing “the unique flavors of our great state in a refined, ‘foodie’ friendly way.” And carries a varied and award-winning line of jams,

mustards, candies, snacks and spices. “We are self-proclaimed localvores and procure our raw materials and supplies locally as often as possible,” it says on its website, noting it also sells fresh gourmet gifts and gift baskets. The Wolfes say they are “grateful to have met so many great people at Sibley’s West – our talented team members, hundreds of Arizona artists and business people, and, of course, our loyal guests, who made the store successful.” They anticipate a “retirement sale” and suggest bargain hunters keep checking sibleyswest.com for details.

Stone Creek celebrates 30 years as a leader

BY KRISTINE CANNON Staff Writer

his year marks a milestone for Stone Creek Furniture: their 30th anniversary. And to celebrate, Stone Creek Furniture is skipping the big bash and instead will maintain that day-to-day grind they’ve mastered over the past three decades – the same grind that helped them not only to survive the pandemic but thrive during it. The pandemic spurred sales for two products: entertainment centers and home offices. “When people were coming to realize that this work-from-home was not a temporary situation, the need to invest in a nicer work environment in the home – and also ways to entertain the family at home – came forefront. Like, how do we make the best of this?” said Stone Creek Furniture President and Founder Ron Jones. Stone Creek Furniture has become a leader in the home furnishings industry with the quality of everything from furniture to kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. Its first order was for 80 chairs, and since then, Stone Creek has been committed to “time-honored craftsmanship.” What also sets Stone Creek apart is they manufacture locally, at their 44,000-square-foot factory in Chandler. Their other showroom is located in northern Scottsdale, just north of Scottsdale Quarter.

Ron Jones is the president and founder of Stone Creek Furniture, which has a showroom in the Airpark. (Stone Creek Furniture). “We’re not like other furniture stores,” Jones said. “They’re not manufacturing; they’re buying from many factories around the world to provide the commodities that are in demand.” This allows them to provide beautifully crafted furniture directly to the public at a wholesale price. “We sell factory direct. So, that nomiddleman concept is still alive and well here at Stone Creek,” Jones said.

In fact, Stone Creek Furniture is the largest furniture manufacturer in the state. The company produces furniture and cabinetry using only the best selection of quality hardwoods and offers an extensive of selection of 35 fine finish colors among other features. But Stone Creek’s niche, Jones said, is in customizing cabinetry. In the midst of the pandemic, it saw

strong sales during Q2 and Q3 of last year for media walls and entertainment centers, and home offices. “Scottsdale always been a vibrant customer base for us,” Jones said, adding that the Chandler factory “was wellequipped to handle more volume than we had been doing.” Stone Creek did, however, face their fair share of challenges keeping up with demand. One being interruptions in supply. “Some of the supplies that we would have in hardware are made in China. So, there were some interruptions in supply in that. We had to pay more, but we could still manage to get it. The raw materials have been going up in price, too,” Jones explained. Jones added that countertops also increased in price. “There was also an exodus of the countertops that were being made in China,” he said. “That became a little bit of a problem as those manufacturers tried to move their sourcing to other countries, and they got that done pretty rapidly, but there was quite a bit of price increase in the countertops.” Despite the minor setbacks, Stone Creek Furniture managed to not only keep up with demand but also retain their staff amid the pandemic. “We never laid off any employees,” Jones said proudly, adding that many of their employees have been with Stone

see FURNITURE page 24

BUSINESS

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Jones’ goal this year is to become the largest selection and largest manufacturer of home office and media walls in Arizona. “We’re putting a lot of focus again on those two commodities,” he said. “We’re extremely proud of the work we do here at Stone Creek,” Jones added. “We are not just selling cookie cutter furniture made in China; we are collaborating with each customer and design that one-of-a-kind piece of furniture or cabinetry for their home.” Information: stonecreekfurniture.com.

YOGA from page 22

only thing we adapted was adding on about 12 additional independent contractors because of all the work that was coming in.” Fonovich, who has a master’s in education and a certification as a holistic health practitioner from the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, had been working with an osteopathic medical university when her father was diagnosed with leukemia. She left her position to return home to help care for him for the last nine months of his life. “At that point, we were trying to find anything we could to extend the amount of time he had,” Fonovich said. “So, nutrition, vitamins, meditation and all the things that he possibly could do. Not that he was doing all of them, but it at least opened my eyes to the possibilities of Eastern medicine.” Her interest in Eastern medicine and holistic health practices led to a pilgrimage to India with her meditation guru, who she met through his daughter while attending the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe. Her life experiences, education and the connections built with Airbnb management groups, hotels, schools, funeral homes, senior community centers, restaurants, and the city of Mesa for outdoor sessions has contributed to the overall success of the clinic, she said. Fonovich said she is looking forward to the future and the opportunity to be there for anyone interested in holistic health methods. “We’re here to help heal and provide additional tools, holistic tools, to help (you) through that process through (your) journey,” she said. Information: nicoleanneyoga.com.

Creek for more than seven years. Jones expects work-from-home will “become very permanent” and that the home office market will “stay strong.” “And I think the media wall entertainment center for the home is also going to stay strong,” he added. According to a December 2020 report by Research and Markets, the global home office furniture market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 7.5 percent through 2026.

the clients she meets describe symptoms associated with depression, anxiety and social stress likely because of isolation or fear of being in public during the pandemic. “I think that’s one of the largest factors people are facing right now,” Fonovich said. “For most people, their world has changed as a result of this pandemic.” In 2020, the percentage of Americans reporting symptoms of depression more than tripled during the pandemic likely due to stay-at-home measures, economic uncertainty and increased levels of stress, according to a study published on JAMA Network Open. In April 2020, the clinic saw a boom in cliental after closing during in March. Today, its client base has grown more than 700 percent compared to the nonpandemic year of 2019, Fonovich said. “We’ve tripled in size from last year,” Anne said. “And this year, so far by the numbers, were set to double or triple again, I’m hoping triple.” More than three-quarters of therapists have switched from in-person to remote therapy during the pandemic, according to a survey from the American Psychological Association. Fonovich’s clinic was ahead of the teletherapy curve. In 2017, the wellness center started offering remote options to clients across the nation, an advantage over local yoga venues and therapy offices that only offered in-person options. “Brick and mortars were closing, we had already been synced via telehealth throughout 2017, we were already set up and didn’t have to adapt to what was happening in the world,” Anne said. “The

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Sports

SPORTS 25

Martin siblings thriving for Hamilton football, track BY ZACH ALVIRA Arizonan Sports Editor

ole and Kori Martin can’t help but smile and break out into laughter when asked who the better athlete is between the two. It’s a question that has been asked all throughout their childhood and perhaps even more so now that the two are at the same high school. “Come on now, it’s me,” said Cole, a sophomore at Hamilton High School. Kori, a freshman, added her rebuttal. “I’m going to say it’s me,” Kori said. “I feel like I’m just really well-rounded in my sport. I can do it all.” The sibling duo has created what will likely become a pipeline of incredible athletic ability for the Martin family at Hamilton High School. One younger sibling, Quincee, is just a few years away from becoming a Husky.

Cole and Kori Martin have established themselves as two of Hamilton’s best athletes in short order both on the football field and track. (Pablo Robles/Staff) But for now, all attention has fallen on Cole and Kori. Head Hamilton football

and boys’ track coach Mike Zdebski said it’s for a good reason. “Cole brings leadership, work ethic and dependability. You can trust him,” Zdebski said. “Kori is a phenomenal athlete. When you look at her, she does not look like a freshman. If she wanted to play football, I would take her out there right now.” The question of which one may be the better athlete may very well become nullified by the time the two youngest Martin siblings reach the high school level. E.J. Martin, the Hamilton girls track and field coach who also coached Cole, Kori and now their siblings in club track growing up, said they may take over the family as the best athletes. But until that time comes, both Cole and Kori continue to embrace the rivalry amongst one another that stemmed from their childhood in a family built around competition.

“Our dad did a really good job raising us to become athletes,” Cole said. “As soon as we were out of the womb I was training in football and she was out running. It was just how we were raised. Yeah, it comes from our genes but most of it is our upbringing.” The siblings spent most of their childhood moving from California to Washington then back to California before ending up in Arizona before Cole entered his freshman year at Hamilton. Their father, Demetrice Martin, coached defensive backs at USC, Washington and UCLA before he was hired on the University of Arizona coaching staff under former coach Kevin Sumlin. A standout defensive back for Michigan State, Demetrice played professionally in Europe and in arena football before becoming a coach. He is currently

son, is going to have that type of tragedy in their life. He was just a kid looking to enjoy his senior year. “It’s just a shock. Any time you lose a young person let alone someone you know, it’s shocking and its tragic.” Taylor starred for Capital on the basketball court and at wide receiver and return specialist on the football team his first three years of high school, as he helped lead the Cougars to the playoffs every season. He was due for another breakout senior season on the field before fall sports were canceled in West Virginia as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeking an opportunity, Taylor transferred to Chandler where he immediately became one of the Wolves’ return specialists on punts and kickoffs. He helped contribute to Chandler’s Open

Division championship run, the second in as many years and fifth straight state title overall. Taylor’s accolades on the field helped him earn a scholarship offer to Concord University in his home state and a preferred walk-on offer to the West Virginia University. Chandler assistant head coach Eric Richardson and assistant coach Scott Russell broke the news of Taylor’s passing to players. An outpour of support for the Chandler football program and for Taylor’s family extended from Arizona to West Virginia, where members of his hometown gathered to remember him. Teachers at both Chandler and Capital high schools shared pictures of themselves wearing blue in honor of Taylor after his death.

see MARTIN page 26

Chandler football mourns loss of former player K.J. Taylor BY ZACH ALVIRA Arizonan Sports Editor

he Chandler High School football team is mourning the loss of Kelvin “K.J.” Taylor, who spent the 2020 season with the Wolves after transferring from West Virginia. According to the Charleston GazetteMail, Taylor was shot and killed Wednesday, April 7 in Charleston, West Virginia, where he returned after the Arizona football season to finish his senior year at Capital High School. Officials said he was transported to a local hospital shortly after the shooting but succumbed to his injuries. An investigation is underway. Taylor was 18 years old. “I thought, ‘how is that possible?’” said Chandler head coach Rick Garretson. “You never think anybody, a young per-

Former Chandler wide receiver Kelvin “K.J.” Taylor, who spent the 2020 season with the Wolves after transferring from West Virginia, was shot and killed in Charleston, West Virginia on Wednesday, April 7. He was 18 years old. (Courtesy Andy Silvas)

see TAYLOR page 26

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

MARTIN �� page 25

the defensive backs coach at the University of Colorado. Cole and Kori grew up on sidelines with their father and were introduced to a competitive atmosphere early on. They’ve both dreamt of being able to compete in their respective sports in at a high level since a young age. It didn’t take long for those opportunities to come for Cole on the football field. And it won’t be long for the same type of opportunities to present themselves for Kori on the track. “Every school in the nation is going to give my sister an offer,” Cole said. “She is already hitting milestones some juniors and seniors don’t get to in their entire careers. By her junior and senior years, her future is going to be so bright.” Cole was named a starter on the Huskies’ defense as a freshman that proved to be one of the top units in the state in 2019. Offers poured in as Cole grew as

TAYLOR �� page 25

While only with the program for a short

a player and overall leader on the field. He continued to improve throughout his sophomore season and helped lead Hamilton to the Open Division championship. Cole finished with 39 total tackles in the shortened 10-game season along with two interceptions. He also had 541 total yards as one of the best return specialists in the state. His accolades also helped earn more scholarship offers from major college programs, including the likes of LSU, USC, Texas, Notre Dame and Oregon, among others. He currently has 26 total offers with two more high school seasons left to be played. Cole has also set two personal records this season on the track in the 100 and 200-meter and was part of the 4x100-meter relay team that placed first overall at the Nike Chandler Rotary, one of the state’s top regularseason events. “I came into the season wanting to go to state in the 100,” Cole said. “I’ve really tried to improve and get to where I want

to be this season. Now, I feel like I’m just waiting to shine.” Cole’s freshman campaign on the track was cut short due to the pandemic last spring. But this year has presented him with the unique opportunity to run alongside Kori like they used to in club. Like her older brother, Kori has quickly started to turn heads with her athletic ability. She has competed with juniors and seniors in all of her events this season, placing consistently in the top four. She placed first overall in the 300-meter hurdles at the Red Mountain Rampage event on April 2. She also placed second third in the 100-meter hurdles and fourth in the 100-meter sprint at the same event. At the Chandler Rotary she placed second in the 100-meter hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles. She’s also been part of Hamilton’s 4x400-meter relay team and long jump. “I love getting better every day and seeing results,” Kori said of track. “Just to be able to do this with my brother,

he’s like my best friend. I love competing against him and with him.” Both Cole and Kori aim to take their talents to the state meet at the end of the season. It’s there they hope to medal in their respective events and stand on the podium together. It’s a dream that isn’t too far-fetched, especially given their standout performances so far this season. E.J. Martin, who ran track at Michigan State University before starting the Quicksilver Track Club and coaching at Hamilton, believes the two have what it takes to become elite athletes and leaders for Hamilton, a trait he believes will help continue to grow the program in the near future. “They’ve won together on the club scene and now them having the chance to do it for Hamilton, it’s something I look forward to,” Martin said. “(Zdebski) has the football program heading in the right direction and now we want to do that with the track program. We want it to be on the national map.”

period of time, Taylor was immediately welcomed and loved by everyone involved. “He was really well-embraced by his

fellow teammates coming from another state, one that is really far away,” Garretson said. “Any time something like this

happens with young people, you just wonder how this could happen. It’s like it’s kind of not real.”

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Obituaries Lloyd Kent Pearce Lloyd Kent Pearce 81, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021. He was born in Taylor, Arizona to the late Hal and Norma Crandell Pearce. Lloyd is survived by his wife Beth H. Pearce also 6 daughters, Vicki Evens, Kimberley Sorenson, Cheri Amador, Deena Hudson, Melissa Vincent, Shawna Hudson, sisters; Kathy Pearce, Evelyn Brinkerhoff, Jennifer Baum, Myrna Woffinden, brothers; Tim Jones, Randy Jones, Richard Pearce, Lester Pearce and Russell Pearce he is also survived by 19 Grandchildren, 23 Great Grandchildren, and 4 Great-Great Grandchildren. Lloyd is preceded in death by his parents, son; Gaylan Kent Pearce, sisters; Donna Koozer and Carmon Scott, brother; James Jones. There will be a Memorial Service at a later date in Pinedale Arizona. Under the direction of Heaven's Gate Funeral Home 361-573-2777. Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

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Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Ask me about FREE Needs! water testing! Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical ACTION “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” CONTRACTING INC. Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! 1999 e Sinc SPECIALIZING IN k Wor lity Qua Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, WATER - FIRE DAMAGE AND RESTORATION 2014 ✔ Drywall Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 We get your home or ofﬁce to back pre-loss condition. Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry We also specialize in home remodels and commercial projects. Car-port to Garage conversion, drywall & stucco repairs, painting, electrical, plumbing and tenant Improvements Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Fast 24 hour response! ★ WE DO IT ALL! Small Man!” Man!” “No Job Too ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Call Today

Juan Hernandez

SPRINKLER

Marks Spot• for ALL Your Handyman Needs! All Estimates arethe Free Call:

Fire/Water Damage/Restoration

Landscape/Maintenance

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More!

✔ Kitchens 97 Since 1999 480-430-7737 - cell E1 e, Quality Work ✔ Bathrooms NC Affordabl BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 I 199 Since 2012, 2013, 480-833-7353 - office Aff S ordable, Quality WorkCall And More! 2010, 2011 2014 Bruce at 602.670.7038 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 LIC/BONDED/INSURED 2012, 2013, 2014 References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor ROC#218802 • A+ Rating with theCall BBB Ahwatukee Ahwatukee / References BruceResident/ at 602.670.7038 “No Job Too Small Man!”

Since 1999 Affordable, Quality Work

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor aaaActionContractingInc.com Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Monsoon Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

480-354-5802

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

Painting

Plumbing

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!! ‘A’ RATED PLUMBING REPAIR Free Estimates • Same Day Service

Keith Schram

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

keith@windowsrc.biz

Professional Window Cleaner

Hot water pressure washing, 3000 PSI

480-306-8543

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com

azvalleywindowcleaning.com

Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

IT’S SALE SEASON!

480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

Voted #1 Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

10% OFF

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Window Cleaning

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

Pool Service/Repair

Family Owned & Operated

Rooﬁng

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

31 CLASSIFIEDS

Plumbing

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising” - Mark Twain

HYDROJETTING

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience

You will find Garage Sales easy with their yellow background.

Only $27.50 includes up to 1 week online

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.ChandlerNews.com

480-898-6465 class@timespublications.com

Rooﬁng

aOver 30 Years of Experience

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING 480-446-7663

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ROC 3297740

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com

Garage Sale Fri & Sat 7a-11am Household, clothes, kitchen items, furniture, electronics, mason jars, kid items, DVDs, MORE 555 W. Lane Dr Mesa

To place an ad please call:

Valley Wide Service

480-477-8842

Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!! Classifieds 480-898-6465

Watch for Garage Sales & Holiday Bazaars in Classifieds!

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | MAY 2, 2021

palmabrisa.com

NOW SELLING

A new gated resort community is now selling in the Ahwatukee Foothills with a dramatically different style. It feels exclusive, but also lively and exciting — and it's called Palma Brisa. • Modern resort-style gated community with stately palms

• Diverse architecture: Modern Bungalow, Urban Farmhouse, Italian Cottage, Andalusian, Modern Craftsman, French Country, and Spanish Mission • Four amenity areas connected by expansive lawns

• Homes from 1,700 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft. from the $500’s

ERIC WILLIAMS

480-641-1800

TERRY LENTS

© Copyright 2021 Blandford Homes, LLC. No offer to sell or lease may be made prior to issuance of Final Arizona Subdivision Public Report. Offer, terms, and availability subject to change without prior notice. Renderings are artist’s conceptions and remain subject to modification without notice.