Gilbert Sun News - 02.07.2021 by Times Media Group

Mammoth EV complex planned

Cactus League curbing fans

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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This Week

FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com

Planners like go-kart, mini-golf project here

Sunday, February 7, 2021

On target

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

NEWS. .............................. 4 Gilbert’s only marijuana store is thriving.

COMMUNITY........20 She fullfills her mom’s dying wish.

n outdoor family entertainment center with miniature golf and go-kart racing is finally coming to 4.5 acres at the southwest corner of Knox and Greenfield roads. While the Planning Commission in a study session last Wednesday gave input on San Tan Adventure Park at the 92acre Crossroads Park, members generally were fans of the project. “I’m pretty excited about this project when I heard about it three years ago,” Chairman Carl Bloomfield said. “So, I’ve been waiting for it to come around.” Senior Planner Stephanie Bubenheim said SAP Holdings plans to build the park in two phases. The first phase will include an 18-hole miniature golf

see GO-KART page 6

GPS’ Global Academy thriving, may add features BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

SPORTS...................... 28 Teammates comfort mourning local athetes.

COMMUNITY.......................................20 BUSINESS.............................................24

SPORTS.......................................28 GETOUT................................................ 30 PUZZLE....................................... 32 CLASSIFIED.......................................... 35

Bradley Fulghum practices on the shooting range at Gun Club 82 in Gilbert, a unique venue that is coping with the national shortage in ammo and firearms. See the story on page 24. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer

ilbert Public School’s Global Academy thrived during the pandemic to where administrators are looking to improve the online program with full-time teachers, in-person open labs and face-to-face tutoring. For the past four years, the online school was a small operation with 125 full-time students at any one time. But with COVID-19, enrollment grew and peaked in August with 9,193 full-time and part-time students. “As a long-time school administrator and somebody who has taught in Gilbert schools and has been a principal at multiple schools in Gilbert schools, brick-and-mortar cam-

puses, I fought the fight of brick and mortar,” said Jared Ryan, Global Academy interim principal at last week’s Governing Board work study session. “I fought the fight of, ‘you need to be on campus to receive a great education.’ And fundamentally, …four months ago, five months ago, I would have told you the exact same thing. What I’ve learned in my time at Global Academy and working with its leaders is that there are students in our community, teachers in our community and leaders in our community that excel in this environment. “This is something that is a unique opportunity to provide to our entire community and with excellence in mind.” Global Director Peter Bartanen said that

as of Feb. 1, the K-12 online school had an enrollment of 4,300 full-time and about 2,000 part-time students. “Global has brought in some out-of-district students as well,” Bartanen said. “I ran a report his morning and found right now we have about 156 students who chose Global as their first GPS school.” He added that quite a few of the students over the summer came from Queen Creek and a few from the Legacy Traditional schools. Global has been using an accredited online curriculum from Florida Virtual School since 2016 and staff has spent countless

see GPS page 8

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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NEWS

Campo Verde mourning student killed in mishap BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

he Campo Verde High School community is mourning the loss of 16-year-old junior Jayson Murset, who died in a car accident on his way to a ski outing with his family on Jan. 30. School officials and Jayson’s older brother, Bryson, said the collision occurred as the victim was heading to Show Low with his father and sister Savana. Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said the two-vehicle collision occurred on eastbound US-60 at milepost 334 just outside of Show Low when Jayson’s father lost control of his pickup truck after hitting an icy patch and crossed into westbound lanes, where it was T-boned by an F-350 truck. “Heaven gained a hero today,” Bryson wrote on his Instagram page. “Words can’t express the pain. He was a better man than I’ll ever dream to be or am ever capable of becoming. 16 is too young. Jayson, I love you so much and you’ll always be my brother and best friend. Can’t wait to ride dirt bikes, go shooting, lift, and snowboard together again someday.” Bryson said his father remained in Show Low, where he is currently being treated for a severe concussion. Jayson and Savana were airlifted to a Valley hospital for treatment. According to Bryson, Savana suffered a compound fracture of her femur, a broken hip and collapsed lung. Jayson was placed on life support after suffering severe head trauma.

Jayson Murset “For those that know Jay, he’s an incredible man and the world needs him,” Bryson wrote. Jayson played basketball his freshman and sophomore seasons at Campo Verde, then took this season off for personal reasons. Mark Martinez, the head boys basketball coach at Campo Verde, said he was devastated to hear the news. He, too, took to social media when Jayson passed away the day after the accident. There was an immediate outpouring of support from other basketball programs across the state. More than 1,000 expressions of condolence were posted on the Go Gilbert

Facebook page mourning Jayson’s death. “There’s just been an outpouring of support not only from our CV family but the community,” Martinez said. “He had touched the lives of so many people in such a small amount of time. He was only 16 years old and he had the ability to leave a lasting legacy. “He was mature beyond his years. It was something I noticed right away when I took over the program. He was very driven and as much of a competitor as he was on the court, he was just an overall nice kid.” Martinez said Jayson had a unique ability to impact the lives of everyone he came into contact with. Even while not playing this season, he was just as much a part of the Campo Verde basketball family as anybody else. He still lifted weights with the team and supported his friends and teammates. The team spent much of Monday’s practice grieving and supporting one another. Martinez said more than anything, he wanted to be there for his players during a difficult time. On Friday, Campo Verde’s first home game since the accident, the team honored Jayson by wearing custom warmup shirts, holding a moment of silence and presenting his family with a banner signed by the team. To Martinez, it’s a way for the team to honor their teammate and friend, while also saying a heartfelt goodbye. “It’s devastating to all of us,” Martinez said. “We are all still trying to wrap our minds around it. To lose his life at such a young age, it’s been a struggle. The impact he made on all of us is far beyond what he did on the court.”

AIA relaxes rules on parents at school games BY JACOB RUDNER Cronkite News

pprehensive Arizona parents of high school athletes can rest easier now. Citing improving COVID-19 metrics, the Arizona Interscholastic Association executive board has amended its current attendance policy so that up to two par-

ents or legal guardians of student-athletes can attend away games, the governing body announced last Thursday. Prior to Thursday’s announcement, parents and guardians could only attend home games of their children. The new rules will be in effect starting tomorrow, Feb. 8. “It is at the discretion of the home school whether or not parent/legal

guardian spectators are permitted,” the release said. “Masks must be worn and social distancing requirements maintained.” The news of the AIA’s decision comes after nearly a week of petitioning from local parents who believed their inability to attend games posed a safety hazard

see AIA page 17

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Gilbert’s only marijuana store thriving BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert made known its distaste for the voter-approved medical marijuana initiative in 2010 by relegating dispensaries off the beaten path and into industrial areas. Despite this, Curaleaf, located near the southwest corner of Elliott and McQueen roads, is actually doing quite well as the only state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary in town. “They zoned it to be in a very difficult area, made it challenging,” said Steve Cottrell, president at Curaleaf Arizona. But, “it is the most popular store in Curaleaf. It has two times the business of every one of our stores. There’s a lot of closeted smokers, medicators in Gilbert.” The Massachusetts-based company, which grows, processes and sells cannabis, operates eight dispensaries in the Valley and is building a ninth location in Phoenix. Altogether, the company operates 97 retail locations, 24 cultivation sites and over 30 processing facilities in 23 states. The cultivation site for the Gilbert store is in Camp Verde. Now with the greenlight from the Arizona Department of Health Services to sell recreational marijuana to those 21 and older, sales at the Gilbert location have doubled to about 500 customers a day on average, Cottrell said. Arizona voters in November legalized adult-use cannabis with the passage of Proposition 207. On the first day of recreational pot sales on Jan. 28, the Gilbert store saw 90 people lined up to buy products that included edibles like chocolate-covered blueberries and chocolate-covered espresso beans, vape cartridges and topicals. Cottrell didn’t know if most of the customers are from Gilbert but judging from the Yelp reviewers, they also come from Mesa, Chandler, Tempe and even out of state. “The customers are everybody,” Cottrell said. “It’s your top executives in companies, it’s grandma, it’s grandpa.

Tyler Neier, manager of Curaleaf, Gilbert’s only marijuana dispensary arranges some of the store’s products. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

Curaleaf Arizona President Steve Cottrell said the Gilbert store generates the most revenue among the company’s eight stores in the state. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer) It’s people with serious conditions and people who like to enjoy cannabis for recreational use.” Cottrell noted Curaleaf is able to stay ahead of the competition because it has the buying power due to its size. The company has been expanding by buying up other operators, becoming the world’s largest cannabis company by revenue. According to CNN last year, the company anticipated an annual revenue

of about $1 billion. Under the initiative, marijuana edibles are limited to a maximum of 10mg of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC per edible and a maximum of 100mg of THC per package of edibles. THC is what gives the user the feeling of being high. Medical-grade products can contain up to 1,000 mg of THC, such as a chocolate bar that sells for $72 at Curaleaf. Recreational users are prohibited

from buying medical-potency products reserved for patients who suffer from conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma and cancer. The store underwent a renovation in anticipation of more customers by upping the number of sales stations to 18 from nine and updating the interior with a modern look. All transactions are with cash or via ATM machines. The store employs 25 employees – called “budtenders.” Curaleaf Holdings in May 2019 purchased the Gilbert location, which once housed an Emerald Dispensary. The Gilbert pot shop’s neighbors in Elliot Commerce Park include a car-repair shop and a restaurant-supply store. “This location being so far back in an industrial park has helped with the popularity,” said Cottrell, who added there was still a stigma in Gilbert associated with the use of cannabis. “It’s very discreet. It’s been a driver to our population.” The stigma is understandable given The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came out strongly against Proposition 207 during the election and Gilbert’s roots is largely that of a Mormon farming community. The town also is one of three spots in the Valley that is host to a temple. Secrecy apparently was key with a number of recreational-use customers: most declined to speak with Gilbert Sun News about their purchases one day last week. Customer Mike Bernards, who is from Oregon, where there’s a pot store “every three blocks” and recreational marijuana use has been legal since 2014, said he happened to stumble on the Gilbert shop. “We were looking up who had gummies and we happened to be in the area,” said Bernards, who was visiting a friend in Queen Creek. He showed off his purchases, which included a bag of gummies and some THC and CBD cream for pain relief. His total bill was $195, of which $24.94 was

see WEED page 6

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

GO-KART from page 1

course, a 22-kart go-kart racing tack, a splash pad and a concession stand on 2.4 acres in the southern portion of the site, which will be surrounded by an aluminum-pole view fence. The golf course would have a series of waterfalls and ponds and a few structures such as a covered bridge, a mine and a large sculptured head called Mystic Mountain that will emit fire. What will be built in the second phase is currently unknown as the company did not share that with the town, Bubenheim said. “I think this is actually a thoughtful use of this piece and fits in the San Tan area,” said Commissioner Tyler Jones, who expressed concern over whether there would be ample parking because the entertainment center will share a lot with the adjacent AZ Ice Gilbert, an indoor skating center. Bubenheim said there are additional spots at the baseball field to the west and Parks and Recreation staff felt the parking needs are being met – and if not, can be addressed in Phase 2 by adding more parking. She also responded to Jones’ questions about the possible impact of Mystic Mountain on nearby homes. She said she will reach out to the applicant to find out how often and how high the flames will shoot up from the12-foot high structure. Commissioners William Fay and Jan Simon questioned the noise impact from the go-karts on the dog park. “The go kart track is abutted right up against the dog park,” Fay said, “I don’t know if its going to be a big noise but I know what my dogs will act like if gokarts were driving around. One would hide and the other two would be going ballistic.” Bubenheim said the project was still under review and staff has not taken a look at the possible impact to the dog park yet

WEED from page 4

for the excise tax. Although the town has capped the size of the store at 3,000 square feet, Cottrell said future plans are to seek an expansion into the adjoining building to accommodate the customers.

The 4.5-acre attraction will be located on the southwest corner of Knox and Greenfield roads. (Special to GSN) Simon suggested a solid wall between the entertain center and the dog park. He also suggested that the developer continue the “old west prospector mining” theme beyond the golf

The 18-hole miniature golf course is part of the park’s first phase. (Special to GSN)

He noted the company has a good working relationship with the town. That may be so, but Gilbert has taken opportunities to rein in the weed’s use. Besides the zoning, Council preempted the passage of Proposition 207 by ban-

course and splash pad to the entire project instead. He said the project was small enough to have one consistent theme throughout. Staff indicated a public hearing for the project has not yet been set. The entertainment project has been in the works since 2017, when Town Council approved a lease agreement with SAP Holdings. Under the 30-year lease, Mesa-based SAP Holdings will pay Gilbert fair-market value rent for the land and a percentage of gross sales revenue, which will average approximately $92,000 a year, according to the 2017 agreement. The lease has two separate additional 10-year terms. No town funds are to be used in the development of San Tan Adventure Park with the exception of about $750 a year to maintain the existing asphalt parking of 627-shared spaces. Upon termination or expiration of the lease, all improvements on the townowned property will belong to Gilbert. Gilbert has entered into a number of private-public partnerships, including with Bunker Family Funerals for Gilbert Memorial Park and with Strand Resorts for a planned 25-acre sports water project adjacent to the regional park.

A splash pad will provide some cool times at San Tan Adventure Park. (Special to GSN)

ning recreational facilities from coming into town and most recently, it imposed regulations on residents who may want to build an outdoor structure to cultivate marijuana plants. But the wave of recreational users in

Arizona will be unabated, according to Cottrell, who added, “the masses have spoken.” Nearly 2 million voters or 60 percent of the Arizona electorate approved Proposition 207.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

NEWS

Chandler picking interim superintendent in March GSN NEWS STAFF

he Chandler Unified Governing Board plans to hire a temporary replacement for outgoing Superintendent Camille Casteel next month and start looking in the fall for a permanent successor. Rather than rush a superintendent search before Casteel retires at the end of June, the board has decided to appoint an interim superintendent for at least a year. Board member Lara Bruner said appointing an interim superintendent is the best solution for CUSD because she and her colleagues won’t have enough time to do a thorough search before the current school year ends. “We’re kind of in a crunch and we wouldn’t be able to do the service that it deserves,” Bruner said, “so the board had looked at the option of an interim for one year to get us over the hump.” Prospective candidates have until Feb. 19 to submit applications for the interim position and the school board in a state-

ment said it hoped to make a decision March 24. The interim superintendent would assume the position July 1 but would have a chance to transition into the job during Casteel’s final months with the district, the board said. Applicants must have a master’s degree in education, three years’ teaching experience in a public school and at least seven years of leadership experience as a school principal or administrator. The interim leader’s salary will be set during contract negotiations with the school board. A number of administrators currently working in Casteel’s cabinet could potentially apply for the job since many of them have earned advanced degrees and have previously worked as educators in the district’s schools. The interim will notably take over the district at a time when it is opening its new high school near Gilbert and Ocotillo roads n Gilbert and relocating Arizona College Prep-Erie’s 800 students to the

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new campus. In a letter to the district’s 44,000 students, the board promised to coordinate a “smooth transition” between Casteel and the interim superintendent while still planning for a more rigorous search in the months ahead. The school board intends to initiate a robust search for a permanent superintendent by the fall of 2021 -- a time when CUSD hopes it won’t still be plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic. The next superintendent will be tasked with steering the district through its recovery from a health crisis that has adversely impacted enrollment, disrupted its budget and divided the local community over the issue of open classrooms for five-day-a-week learning. As superintendent during one of the district’s most perilous eras, Casteel often found herself on the receiving end of several angry emails and phone calls from parents upset over how CUSD was handling the pandemic. The 2020-21 school year was the first

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during Casteel’s tenure where CUSD experienced enrollment declines rather than growth. By the end of its last semester, CUSD had lost more than 2,300 students. District officials have previously said they are attempting to recoup some of its lost students through new marketing efforts. CUSD has not had to hire a new superintendent since 1996, the year Casteel was appointed to the district’s top job after decades in the district working as a teacher and administrator. Although the board has not spelled out precisely how the search for a permanent placement will be conducted, boards typically hire a search firm to sort through and initially vet candidates before submitting a first cut of candidates. Once a list of finalists is determined, boards typically have the candidates meet with stakeholders, including students, teachers, administrators, parents and even community members with no children in the district.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

State official decries online learning underfunding BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

rizona’s top education official told lawmakers last week they need to ensure that schools get as much money for online courses as the law now provides them for kids in seats. Kathy Hoffman said public schools are expected to lose up to $500 million in aid because the state law funds distance learning at 5 percent less than in-person instruction. Gov. Doug Ducey did come up with $370 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. But Hoffman told members of the Senate Education Committee, said that still shorted schools statewide by $247 million. And aides to the governor said he has no interest in coming up with the difference. At the same time, however, Ducey is pushing ahead with a plan to permanent-

GPS from page 1

hours aligning it to Arizona academic standards, Bartanen said. “We’ve realized as we started the year that our kids, especially who are full time and especially our elementary kids just can’t be online at the computer for all day long,” he said. “So, we’re making it a priority next year to provide some to-go boxes, including printables, art boxes and basic science materials,” he continued. “We want students to have some hands-on experience in addition to what they are doing online.” Staff then proceeded to give an overview of Global and what it will look like in the future, based on its two learning modes: synchronous, where teachers lead and students move together; and asynchronous, where students lead their own learning and move at their own pace. Amber Bickes, dean of students, gave an overview of what’s offered in the elementary-learning model, which includes live lessons as well as daily, small-group interaction, one-on-one support, weekly asynchronous art and synchronous PE

ly cut taxes by $200 million this coming budget year, a plan that calls for that rising to $400 million in cuts the following year and $600 million the year after that. “When the state sits on a billion-dollar rainy day fund and projects a $2 billion surplus, there is no excuse to not fully fund every school,’’ Hoffman said. “There has never been a more urgent time to tap into our safety net and provide for Arizonans,’’ she continued. “Anyone who thinks it’s not raining in Arizona right now needs to check their privilege.’’ What ultimately is needed, she said, is “predictable, sustainable funding’’ that would allow schools to plan their budgets and lure and fairly compensate education professionals. She said voters share that belief, citing the approval in November of Proposition 208. That measure enacted a 3.5 percent tax surcharge on any income above $250,000 a year for individuals and $500,000 for married couples filing

Global Academy Director Peter Bartanen said enrollment was at 4,300 full-time and about 2,000 part-time students as of Feb. 1. (YouTube) and music. The 7-12 model has 207 asynchronous classes, including honors and AP, and offers a synchronous format for all core classes. Teachers give live lessons that are re-

jointly, a measure proponents say could raise $940 million a year -- but not until the 2022-23 school year. The initiative’s legality is being challenged in court by business interests and some GOP legislators. Hoffman did give a tip of the hat to Ducey’s plan to use some cash to boost literacy at early grades. But she said that’s not a permanent solution. “One-time grant funding simply doesn’t cut it for staffing our schools,’’ Hoffman said. “When we use a patchwork approach to funding our schools, our students lose out.’’ She also had kind words for Ducey’s plan to expand broadband access “as it will be critical to bridging the opportunity gap for students and families.’’ But here, too, Hoffman said more is needed. “Even for our schools where internet is reliable, the cost of virtual learning is staggering,’’ she said. “From ordering expensive devices to hiring additional IT

staff to manage the issues that rise on digitial platforms, to training educators on new digital tools, I cannot overstate the implact distance learning has had on schools’ budgets.’’ “For too long, Arizona has been in a crisis with a shortage of educators, not because we lack the talent, but because too many exception teachers have burned out from overcrowded classrooms, non-competitive pay, and a lack of essential resources for students,’’ she said. “We could not afford to lose a single educator at the state of 2020,’’ Hoffman said. “We already know of teachers who have either bought themselves out of their contracts or are planning to not renew their contracts for the next school year.’’ She said students, just like adults, have been struggling with mental health issues during the pandemic and the school closures.

corded for students who miss a class and there are one-to-one office hours, according to Assistant Principal Michelle Nakamura. Moving into the next academic year, Bartanen hoped to have full-time teachers for the asynchronous classes. Although the part-time teachers have done a good job, they can’t be expected to have the strong relationships with kids, to be in touch with them regularly and hold students accountable, he said. “While we may still use some of them, we would really like to have the asynchronous classes be taught by a core of full-time teachers,” Bartanen added. He said he also wanted to take advantage of the campus and have in-person open labs, tutoring and field trips. Global is housed at the Gilbert Classical Academy campus. “I don’t believe online should be purely online,” he said. “I think we should take advantage of in-person opportunities for those who can make it and when we can.” The asynchronous classes will still keep its mission of allowing students

to move at their own pace with teacher support and controlled class sizes to ensure than teachers are engaged with students. Bickes said the 2021 vision for the elementary model included expanding the use of district-adopted curriculum in live instruction, building more flexibility in the class schedules and having a library of recorded lessons students can choose from. She said they are looking at expanding K-6 extracurricular activities to include clubs, student council, coding and an E-Sports team – whatever students show an interest in. Nakamura said for the secondary synchronous class model next year, under consideration is allowing grades 7-12 students to enroll at their home campuses. By doing this, they will be able connect with their school’s counselors, support staff and teachers they are familiar with and participate in on-campus activities and sports, she said,

see GPS page 9

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

NEWS

GPS from page 8

The classes will be embedded within school master schedules and students may sign up for all online classes or a combination of online and in-person classes. “Moving forward we know many of our families will choose to go back to their brick-and-mortar school when this pandemic thankfully moves on,” Bartanen said. “But we also know and have heard from families and teachers that Global is a good fit for them. So, we’re building our school with that expectation that we still need to deliver excellence for them. They come to us with needs and they come to us for a reason.” Bartanen said the goal is to continue to attract district students who are seeking an online experience and they are “hearing interest from home-school students who may be want to come to Global for a full or even a partial experience.” “We believe we can attract students from around the Valley and the state who are looking for a high-quality per-

This chart was prepared by GPS administrators to show the differences between synchronous and asynchronous learning. (Gilbert Public Schools)

sonalized education,” he said. Board President Dr. Charles Santa Cruz asked Bartanen to speak on the public criticism of virtual learning, in particular the use of the BUZZ platform. Bartanen said they have found that once teachers and students learn how to navigate the top-tier, they find a use for it. Nakamura added that Global teachers are trained on the platform and are comfortable using it.

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But during remote learning, the teachers in the brick-and-mortar classrooms were not as well-versed or were using different platforms, she added, stressing that Global’s program and the virtual learning the district offered during the pandemic are not the same. Bartanen also was asked what he anticipated for the enrollment next school year. He said he will have a better idea after sending out a survey in the spring to

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get a sense of that before decisions are made on staffing. Board member Lori Wood asked if the school was breaking even. No cost figures were given by staff. Bartanen said attendance has been a “big deal for us” and funding is based on the number of minutes students spend working on their online courses. Every minute is captured automatically for a student working on BUZZ but the challenge comes when students are working off-line or not on their computer. Then, they have to rely on families to give them that information, he said. It’s a challenge but they’ve developed procedures where they are reaching out regularly to families that are not meeting the minutes requirement and are starting to hold kids accountable for that, he said. He noted improvements have been made in attendance. Secondary attendance is at 70 percent and elementary around 80 percent-plus for the past month or so, he said.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Gila River Community plans mammoth playground BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

This aerial view shows the area where the Gila River Indian Community plans a mega sports-entertainment complex. In the center of this photo is the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. (GSN)

he Gila River Indian Community and a Scottsdale development company are poised to begin work on a 3,300-acre sports and entertainment complex at Wild Horse Pass. Sunbelt Holdings President John Graham said the development, located just south of the Loop 202-I-10 intersection, will fill a “missing corner” of the East Valley with additional hotels, a wellness center, an event center, an outdoor amphitheater music entertainment venue, sports facilities, outdoor recreation and parks, restaurants, retail and an office park. Sunbelt has partnered with the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, the tribe’s economic development arm. The project team also includes the planning-design firms of CallisonRTKL and Kimley Horn as well as real estate consultant Elliott D. Pollack & Company. “This expansion furthers our vision to provide additional economic development opportunities for Wild Horse Pass, GRIC, and the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix area,” said Donald Antone, the Wild Horse Authority board chairman. Even before the overall project was unveiled, the site was announced as the home for a new stadium being built by Phoenix Rising, the state’s largest professional soccer team. The stadium, which is expected to open for the May start of the 2021 season, will have a 35 percent greater capacity than the team’s previous 6,200-seat venue at its previous home at McClintock Drive and Loop 202. It will offer permanent bathrooms, paved parking with multiple entrances and exits, a double-sided video screen, more practice fields and “improved family and VIP experiences,” according to the team. Mark Gardo, a spokesman for the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, said the stadium will cost “in excess of at least several million dollars,” and that funding will come from Wild Horse Pass and the club. The Wild Horse Pass Authority is al-

This is a rendering of the Phoenix Rising soccer stadium the team hopes to have up and running in May on the Gila River Indian Community. (Credit)

ready home to Gila River Hotels & Casinos - Wild Horse Pass, the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, Whirlwind Golf Club, Aji Spa, Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, Phoenix Premium Outlets, KOLI Equestrian Center, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and the Bondurant High Performance Driving School. Graham said he envisions a lengthy buildout for the project, though some new tenants are expected to be announced within the near future. “The stuff we do is long term in nature,” he said. “Our first plan is kind of a 10-year

plan but I would believe between this land and other land tribal land around it that it’s a 30-year build-out.” A 40-yearold developer of master-planned residential and commercial properties in Arizona, Sunbelt Holdings will lead the project and provide asset and construction management as well as marketing services. “We can’t sell the land; It’s all got to be ground leased, but that’s something that we’re very attuned to,” Graham said. “On behalf of ASU, we’ve managed and marketed their research park in Tempe since

1992 and that’s all ground-leased – we can’t sell it. So we certainly know how to do it.” The Gila Development Authority White concurs. General Manager David White said, “Sunbelt Holdings’ proven expertise and reputation in master plan development, their blue-ribbon portfolio and deeply-rooted community connections made them the ideal partner for this expansion project.” White also said the project will create new jobs for tribal members “and will evolve our culture and legacy.” Graham said he also is excited about working with the tribe. “I think that’s one of the things that excites me about the opportunity the most – is to work with them to celebrate their culture and heritage and at the same time to create economic development opportunities to benefit the tribal members,” Graham said, adding that it also will have ripple effects on that portion of the East Valley as well as Ahwatukee. “I view it as an additional piece of economic development potential for the whole area,” he added. Graham said the project also is benefitting not only from the completion of the South Mountain Freeway – which opened opportunities farther west on the GRIC’s sprawling 372,000 community – but also from the planned widening of I-10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande, “We’ll have multiple interchanges on it,” he said. “We’ll have direct access into Ahwatukee on 40th Street and 48th Street” as well as Chandler…It’s a phenomenal piece of property.” Sunbelt Holdings has developed more than 50,000 acres of land, including residential communities like the 3,800-home McDowell Mountain Ranch in Scottsdale, the 9,800-household Power Ranch in Gilbert and the 5,600-home Vistancia. Its commercial developments include the Marina Heights and Hayden Ferry Lakeside projects in Tempe and the PV303 industrial project in Goodyear that will include more than 20 million square feet of industrial, office and retail space on a 1,600-acre site near the Loop 303 and I-10.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Bill pushes huge voucher program expansion BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

our years after voters rejected expanding a voucher program, Republican state lawmakers are trying again in a big way. SB 1452 would allow any student who meets certain standards to get more than $4,300 a year of tax dollars to attend a private or parochial school. It also would permit parents to use those dollars for home schooling or “pods’’ with neighbors to teach their children. The measure, approved by the Senate Education Committee, would enable a massive expansion of a program that started in 2011 as a small alternative for students with special physical or emotional needs that their parents said could not be met at home. Since then, however, there has been a near-constant expansion of eligibility, to the point where it now includes foster children, children living on reservations,

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children of active military, and those attending public schools rated D or F. Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, did not provide any estimates of what his legislation would mean in terms of students. But Aaron Wonders, lobbyist for the state Department of Education, estimated that about 250,000 students in Arizona are currently eligible for a voucher and that SB 1452 could balloon that up to 700,000 of the state’s 1.1 million students in public schools. Boyer said his legislation is targeted at students from low-income families. But the wording appears to have a loophole that would open the door to students from well-to-do families simply because their children were attending a school where there were enough poor students to classify it as eligible for Title I services for the needy. Arizona does not require students to attend traditional public schools in their neighborhoods. They are free to enroll at other school districts and can attend any

charter school, which are public schools under Arizona law, without cost. “But it’s only a choice if it’s funded,’’ Boyer said. “It’s only a choice if a student has access to the school,’’ he continued. “It’s only a choice if they’re not stuck on a wait list for years and years and told year after year after year, ‘Just wait until we’re fully funded, then it will get better.’ ‘’ Boyer, a charter school teacher, said the issue is providing what a family thinks is best rather than essentially telling children that their only choice is the neighborhood school that may or may not be meeting their needs. But Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, said that misses a key point. “The irony is if we were funding our schools appropriately, we wouldn’t have kids who felt or families who felt the need to leave, or certainly not as many,’’ she said. Leaving the public school system, she said, reduces a district’s per-student fund-

ing, leaving the schools even worse off. While the committee was divided along party lines, there are elements of the business community that find Boyer’s idea unacceptable. That includes Jim Swanson, CEO of Kitchell Corp., a major Arizona construction firm. “Don’t get me wrong,’’ he said. “I support school choice through quality charters and open enrollment in our school districts. But this, Swanson said, is not the answer, ssaying voucher expansion “takes money out of an already underfunded, overburdened system, a system that is barely coping with teachers leaving and retiring, a shortage of counselors, and an over-reliance on bonds and overrides to fund school operations at the district level.” Boyer’s legislation also says that high schoolers can get a separate scholarship financed by donations to school tuition

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organizations to help pay those private and parochial school expenses. That’s crucial as donors get donors a dollar-for-dollar credit against income tax owed to the state, reducing overall state revenues for education and other priorities. Ron Johnson, who lobbies for the state’s Catholic bishops and the schools they run, said the move is necessary to keep kids in Catholic schools past the eighth grade because high school tuition is high. Even if Boyer gets his measure through the legislature and signed by the governor, that is unlikely to be the last word. Beth Lewis, co-founder of Save Our Schools Arizona said her organization will take “any action to right this wrong.’’

One of those options would be to ask voters to void the law. Lewis’ group gathered enough signatures in 2017, the last time lawmakers tried a major expansion, to put the issue on the ballot. Voters overrode the measure by a 2-1 margin. The other option, she said, is legal, saying there are questions about a provision in Boyer’s legislation that would take money from a voter-approved School Site Fund, financed by a 0.6-cent sales tax, to help finance the vouchers. Boyer’s legislation for the first time also allow parents to use their vouchers to pay for public or commercial transportation between home and school.

$900K for dude ranches gets preliminary OK BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

tate lawmakers voted Monday to spend $900,000 in tax dollars in a bid to convince Arizonans and others across the country to visit one of the state’s remaining “dude ranches.’’ “At one point in the 40s ... we had as many as 80 of them,’’ Kevin DeMenna, lobbyist for the Arizona Dude Ranch Association told members of the House Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs. “They were a national draw.’’ Now, he put the number at closer to 14. DeMenna said the ranches, like other forms of tourism, were hit hard by the pandemic. “You can’t furlough the animals,’’ he said. “They’ve got to be fed.’’ Complicating matters, he said, is the dude ranches were a particular draw for international visitors. With that market pretty much dried up, DeMenna said a promotional campaign could help spur a domestic market. DeMenna originally got Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, to sponsor HB 2169 asking for $3 million. But that got pared to $900,000. “We think that will manage to launch what we hope will be a coast-to-coast outreach to help to fill these ranches which,

in turn, supports these local economies,’’ he told lawmakers. DeMenna said there is precedent. For example, state lawmakers voted in 2018 to give $1.5 million a year in sales tax revenues for 30 years to the Arizona Office of Tourism to promote events at Phoenix International Raceway and money into promoting NASCAR at Phoenix International Raceway. “We’d like to see a microcosm of that extended in this case to the guest ranch community,’’ DeMenna said. But Rep. Lorenzo Sierra, D-Cashion, whose district includes that raceway, said this isn’t exactly the same thing. He said the raceway owners first had to put up $100 million of their own money on improvements as a condition to get the cash. Rep. Diego Rodriguez, D-Laveen, said there’s a “deep well of documentation’’ showing the economic impact on Arizona of a NASCAR race. And he asked DeMenna if he could prove the same thing about dude ranches. The lobbyist conceded he does not now have such figures. Rep. Andrea Dalessandro, D-Green Valley, said she has several of these in her district but cannot vote for a specific carve-out of state dollars. The 7-4 vote sends the measure to the House.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Cactus League starting on time – with far fewer fans BY JIM WALSH GSN Contributor

he Cactus League will come back to Mesa and the rest of Arizona within weeks – but fans will find it hardly recognizable. Don’t expect the usual capacity crowd of more than 15,000 loyal Chicago Cubs fans at Mesa’s Sloan Park or kids clamoring for autographs as players take a leisurely stroll across the parking lot between the practice fields and Tempe Diablo Stadium. These, and many other familiar scenes from Cactus League seasons past, will not be possible this year as officials try to strike a delicate balance between the return of spring training and preventing another disastrous spike in COVID-19. With safety paramount on everyone’s minds, fans can expect to see seating limited at Cactus League Stadiums to about 25 percent of capacity, “pods’ of small groups of people sitting at least six feet apart from each other, a mask require-

ment throughout the league and a prohibition against collecting autographs or watching routine workouts. “I think the public and everyone needs to needs to understand that public safety will not be compromised in the name of baseball,’’ Mesa Mayor John Giles said. “There will be baseball, but there will be strict protection.’’ He said this year, the Cactus League will join a long list of disappointments caused by COVID but that everyone will do their best to enjoy the season without endangering the public’s health. “We built stadiums and relationships with the teams because we are in it for the long game,’’ Giles said. “We will look forward to wall-to-wall people next year.’’ The Cactus League, which supported Major League Baseball by requesting a delay in the season because of COVID-19, is now revving up for Opening Day Feb. 26 after the Major League Baseball Players Association rejected the proposal. Justin Piper, general manager of Sloan

Park, said the Cactus League parks will rely on MLB’s safety protocols that focus on masks and social distancing. He also said there will be small variations from park to park based upon their layouts. “We feel pretty confident in our plan and have received city and state approval,’’ Piper said. “It’s going to be a different experience than what people saw in the past. We want to make sure we provide a fun, exciting day in a safe way.’’ Pods at Sloan Park will be limited to a maximum six people sitting together and each pod will be at least six feet apart, making it easier for ushers to enforce social distancing, he said. Every effort will be made to avoid bottlenecks and lines, with only mobile tickets sold so that fans can download them to their cell phones, phasing out the ticket booths at least for this season. Concessions will be spread out, using Sloan’s wide concourse and plaza areas, he said. “We are coming up with a full plan of

social distancing,’’ he said. “We will be following CDC recommended social distancing in all areas of the ballpark.’’ While there will be no season tickets this year, season ticket holders will get the first priority to buy single game tickets on cubs.com or sloanpark.com. Because the Cubs and other teams are limiting attendance to 25 percent of capacity to help achieve social distancing, Sloan’s maximum crowd is expected to drop from more than 15,000 to an estimated 3,500, Piper said. Although the protocols represent a marked departure from the usual relaxed, intimate atmosphere at Cactus League games, at least fans who are willing to cooperate have an opportunity to watch live games in person for the first time since the 2020 Cactus League season was suddenly canceled about midway in March. Pitchers and catchers are expected to arrive on Feb. 17. The 2021 season un-

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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Chandler woman leads redistricting panel BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer

Chandler woman has been selected to lead the commission that is redrawing Arizona’s congressional and legislative districts. Erika Schupak Neuberg, a licensed psychologist-turned-life coach with a practice on Dobson Road, will spearhead one of the state’s most powerful citizen-led commissions that will make decisions that could significantly impact the composition of Arizona’s congressional delegation and the Legislature for the next decade. The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission convenes with a new set of members once every decade to adjust the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts to account for population shifts. Two Democrats and two Republicans are picked by the Legislature to sit on the commissionl they in turn interview and

select an independent voter to preside over the five-member panel. Commissioners cannot be anyone who has been elected to public office within the last three years nor has served as an officer of a political party. Neuberg was picked earlier this month from a list of five candidates. She said her first priority will be to create a “fair” district map that will be able to withstand any litigious challenges. The commission is obligated to draw districts that are roughly equal in population, appear compact, attempt to adhere to city and county boundaries and are electorally competitive. The new commissioners may be faced with having to make some dramatic revisions in the coming months. Arizona has gained about a million new residents since 2010 and is projected to add a 10th congressional seat to its delegation. Neuberg, who has lived in Arizona for the last 40 years, said she hopes the commission’s members can establish “mutual

Chandler life coach and psychologist Erika Schupak Neuberg will lead the fivemember Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. (Special to GSN)

trust” for one another and be able to make unanimous, nonpartisan decisions. “I believe I have the unique skill set, as well as the integrity and character, to successfully chair this process,” Neuberg

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cially considering the hostility that previous chairs have encountered. Colleen Mathis, the last person to hold the job, was forced off the commission in 2011 by then-Gov. Jan Brewer amid accusations of drafting unfavorable maps and holding secret meetings. The Arizona Supreme Court later determined Brewer had overstepped her powers and overruled her actions by reinstating Mathis to the commission. Though Neuberg has been politically engaged for most of her life, she described herself as being “fiercely independent” and “agnostic” to party politics. The commission needs a chairperson who can “resist external pressures and criticisms,” she said, and continue an unbiased dedication to the commission’s constitutional duties. Neuberg earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Colorado College in 1986 before receiving a doctoral degree in psychology from Arizona State University. She said her educational background

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has instilled in her a lifelong respect for civics, history and community activism. “As a student of political science, I developed a deep appreciation for our Constitution and the freedoms it affords us,” Neuberg said. Between 2010 and 2013, Neuberg was president of a bipartisan committee that aimed to strengthen America’s relations with Israel and made several trips to Washington D.C. to lobby lawmakers. “I have seen first-hand when citizen advocacy works and when it does not, and when government is effective and when it is not,” she said. During her interview with other commission members, Neuberg was asked about her many financial contributions to politicians – both Republican and Democratic – and whether that might compromise her ability to remain neutral. Neuberg said her campaign donations were solely made to get the attention of elected officials and inform them of international matters involving Israel. “Every single check I wrote was for the

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intention of having educational opportunities and to create the type of relationship such that we can have time to teach about foreign policy,” Neuberg said. Arizona’s legislative and congressional districts had been drawn by state lawmakers until voters passed a proposition in 2000 to establish an independent commission. The state filed a lawsuit in 2012 challenging the commission’s constitutional authority and attempted to shift district-drawing powers back to the Legislature. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the state’s arguments and upheld the commission’s validity. Neuberg said she understands the magnitude of her new position and all the ethical responsibilities she’ll be expected to maintain over the next several months. But the rewards of participating in the commission’s meaningful process are deep, she said, and worth the personal sacrifice.

“My years of political advocacy have taught me how to bring people from different backgrounds and perspectives together to find consensus for the common good,” Neuberg added. Her professional background also might come in handy, given the challenge ahead of her A licensed psychologist for over 20 years, Neuberg in her professional life treated issues ranging “from severe pathology to everyday life stress,” according to her website. “Regardless of the presenting problem, I consistently discovered that my clients achieved the best results when I employed forward-thinking and positive techniques that sparked excitement for change,” she says on her website. She says she “made a slight career adjustment and now practices exclusively as a life coach.” “When you combine the science of psychology with the power of partnership and motivation, you get success,” she explains.

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modified as needed based on the health situation in Arizona. “We were originally told not to play at all,” Hines said. “The board, by a 5-4 re-vote, determined that we would go at the discretion of each school, and if they wanted to continue to play. We are very fortunate to be playing right now.” Jason Stella believes the rule changes were largely spurred by local COVID-19 metrics. However, the father of an injured student-athlete said that his son’s injuries and the petitioning of fellow parents made a difference. “I really believe it’s the right thing to do and I think it’s going to help make people feel a lot more comfortable,” Jason Stella said.

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for their children. East Valley mother, Tiffany Hunt, organized this petition, which garnered nearly 4,000 signatures in a week. Hunt’s appeal was posted after Basha High School sophomore varsity goalkeeper Gavin Stella was severely injured during a match at Casteel High School on Jan. 22 while his parents watched the accident unfold on an iPad from a park nearly 25 minutes away. Stella took the full force of a teammate’s knee in his face as he dove to make a save and suffered several fractures to the orbital bones in his left eye and a badly broken nose. For roughly a minute, the sophomore was unconscious on the field and later underwent surgery for his injuries, an experience his family could only describe as traumatic. Gavin Stella’s father, Jason Stella, said the new AIA rules can help save families from future anguish. “I’m just really grateful that they’ve listened,” Jason Stella told Cronkite News. “I’m happy that we’re able to be there in case things like this ever happen in the future.” AIA executive director David Hines said rule changes are entirely dependent on the local health circumstances, which he described as constantly discussed by the AIA’s sports medicine advisory committee. Hines said that AIA protocols will be

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CACTUS

from page 14

veils on Feb. 27, when the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers will play the Cubs in the first game at Sloan Park on Feb. 27. The Los Angeles Angels will matchup that same afternoon against the San Francisco Giants in Scottdale. Other early East Valley games include the Chicago White Sox vs. the Angels on Feb. 28 at Diablo’s home opener and the Seattle Mariners vs. the Oakland Athletics at Mesa’s Hohokam Stadium. Bridget Binsbacher, the Cactus League’s executive director and a Peoria City Council member, said the league would have preferred to see the season’s debut delayed to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19, providing time for more fans to get vaccinated. Although the league never demanded a certain length of delay, East Valley officials and numerous media reports said the ideal scenario would have been about a month. MLB eventually offered to pay players in for a 154-game regular season schedule, instead of the usual 162-game season, and using the designated hitter in both

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leagues, as was the case in last year’s abbreviated 60-game season. But the powerful Major League Baseball Players Association quickly crushed that proposal out of the park like a typical batting practice fastball grooved straight down the middle. Players worried that more double-headers during the shortened season would result in more injuries and also said the offer came too late, after they had rented homes in Arizona and Florida for spring training, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. Tension between the owners and players has been high, with the collective bargaining agreement scheduled to expire at the end of this year’s World Series. “We will be ready for any opportunity that presents itself,’’ Binsbacher said. “We’re concerned about health. It’s at the forefront of everything.’’ She said the league would work cooperatively with MLB on using the best safety protocols possible whenever the season begins. “We are confident we can do it on the

ANSWERS TO PUZZLE AND SUDOKU on Page 32

27th or a month from the 27th,’’ Binsbacher said, before the players association rejected the delay. In a prepared statement late this week, Binsbacher said, “The Cactus League is prepared to open spring training camps as scheduled. Each of the Cactus League’s eight host municipalities and the tribal community participated in a task force to ensure that our 10 spring training facilities will provide a safe environment for all involved. Operating procedures are forthcoming and will depend entirely on health guidelines. Fans are advised to go to the Cactus League website at cactusleague. com/#navigation-locations for ticket details and protocols for attendees at individual ballparks.” Teams appeared headed toward putting single-game tickets on sale soon, with the Arizona Diamondbacks offering subscribers Spring baseball fans won’t be seeing crowds like to their newsletter a “pre-sale’’ this, with the Cactus League cutting attendance by opportunity last week. 75 percent. (GSN file photo) “All of us are studying what everyone has done to have fans and how it works,’’ said Jerry Hall, manager of who work the games. During good years, such as 2019 beDiablo Stadium. “That might be a bonus, if we have fans. I think if people come to the fore COVID-19, a long schedule capped by a rare Cactus League appearance by games, they will follow the rules.’’ He said the Cactus League needs a uni- the then World Champion Boston Red form policy, so that the same rules are Sox allowed the HoHoKams to exceed a used in all stadiums and fans don’t insist $500,000 goal for funds contributed to they were allowed to not wear masks in youth sports. But when last season was abruptly cut another ballpark. “All of us will have the same protocols. short, the HoHoKams raised less than half We will all be on the same page,’’ Hall said. of that, $225,000, for youth sports, Adams Diablo, the oldest and smallest of Cac- said. “I think it will be something similar to tus League stadiums, always has touted what we did in 2020,’’ he said. “We’re defiits intimate fan experience. In Diablo’s case, that would mean ca- nitely not going to have the jackpots we pacity would shrink from 9,600 to about had in the past.’’ Adams said the HoHoKams are looking 2,000 or so. Despite the limitations, “the fan ex- at the possibility of expanding the raffle perience will actually be quite nice. You online, but lack the television broadcasts can still sit with your family. You can still that drive such sales for the Diamondbacks and the Arizona Coyotes hockey watch Major League Baseball,’’ Hall said. But Steve Adams, president of the Ho- team. “There is a love for spring training and HoKams, said smaller crowds are bound to curtail his organization’s fundraising baseball, but the goal is to support the efforts for local charities, which include a community,’’ he said. “If our year is way lucrative 50-50 raffle, along with fees paid down, we’ll probably do a direct mail by the teams for the services of volunteers drive.’’

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Arizona deaths soared last year over 2019 BY MOLLY HUDSON Cronkite News

otal deaths in Arizona rose 25 percent in 2020 over the previous year, with some counties seeing increases approaching 50 percent for the year in which COVID-19 became the leading killer in the state. While data on the causes of death is not expected until later this year, experts attribute the â&#x20AC;&#x153;exceptional increaseâ&#x20AC;? in deaths to the COVID-19 as well as to fatalities that may be indirectly caused by the pandemic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;COVID appears to be the reason,â&#x20AC;? said David Sklar, a professor at Arizona State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College of Health Solutions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Other problems have also increased, such as opioid-related deaths, and some have decreased, such as pedestrian-related deaths because people were driving less and were out less. But COVID has been a large contributor to our increase.â&#x20AC;? The Arizona Department of Health Services reported this month that there were 75,133 deaths in the state in 2020, an increase of 24.9 percent from the 60,161 deaths reported in 2019. Holly Poynter, a spokesperson for the state health department, said while itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s likely â&#x20AC;&#x153;COVID-19 deaths are a factorâ&#x20AC;? in the increase in deaths, state officials will not be able to say for sure until complete data on cause of death is available later this year. The increased death toll was not spread evenly across the state, with Apache and Yuma counties reporting increases of 48.9 percent and 48.8 percent, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, deaths increased by 14.29 percent in Greenlee County and 16.2 percent in Cochise County. In Apache County, where the total number of deaths rose from 734 in 2019 to 1,093 in 2020, county Health Director Preston Raban said COVID-19 was a driving force, but not the only factor in the increased deaths. The report on the increase in deaths comes as COVID-19 surpassed cancer

and heart disease to become the leading cause of death in Arizona last year. Arizona is not the only state seeing such surges, said Justin Lessler, an associate professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bloomberg School of Public Health. Lessler said 25 percent is â&#x20AC;&#x153;really an exceptional increaseâ&#x20AC;? that comes â&#x20AC;&#x153;because we have this new cause of death that â&#x20AC;Ś killed in the last year as many people as all but two other causes of death,â&#x20AC;? Lessler said, adding: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only heart disease and cancer killed more people than COVID last year and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost up to the level that heart disease would kill in a normal year.â&#x20AC;? Lessler echoed others who said COVID-19 was not just a killer itself but may have contributed to other deaths in 2020. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could have heart disease and maybe I would have some chance of dying in the next few years,â&#x20AC;? Lessler said as one example. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was greater than the people around me, but because I got COVID, and had that heart disease made it more severe.â&#x20AC;? Lessler pointed to the possibility of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;more ancillary effectâ&#x20AC;? from the pandemic, such as the social pressure of lockdowns leading to increases in overdose or suicide deaths, or overburdened hospitals being unable to deliver needed, and possibly life-saving, care to patients. Raban added that â&#x20AC;&#x153;in some instances, those who had the COVID virus died with COVID on board, but it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily the COVID virus that killed them.â&#x20AC;? Jeffrey Engel, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; senior adviser for the COVID-19 response, said what Arizona saw last year â&#x20AC;&#x153;may be typical,â&#x20AC;? but that it could have been felt more acutely in the state because of its relatively large number of seniors. People 65 and older accounted for 9,573 of the 12,819 COVID-19 deaths in Arizona, or 75 percent of the total, according to the latest data from the state health department.

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Becoming a nurse fulfills her mom’s dying wish BY MONIQUE SELEEN GSN Contributor

t 22, Leigha Wolf will begin her career as a registered nurse in the oncology unit at Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, fulfilling a wish that her mother had before she died of cancer nearly five years ago. When Wolf was just 16, her mother, who worked as a respiratory therapist at Banner Gateway, was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer. “I spent pretty much every day after school with her during her treatments, bringing my anatomy book with me,” said Wolf. With many complications and side effects from the chemotherapy, Wolf’s mother was admitted to Banner Gateway on several occasions and treated in its oncology unit. “I was always blown away at how kind the nurses were to my mom,” said Wolf. “They made such an impact on me while watching them care for her.” It was during that time that Wolf said her mother began encouraging her to pursue a career in healthcare one day. “She would talk to me about becoming a speech therapist or a nurse, something in the medical field,” said Wolf. Before passing away in April 2016, she gifted Wolf with a book of 50 wishes – her hopes and dreams for her only daughter throughout her life. Wish number 16 stated that she hoped her daughter would become a nurse. After losing her mom days before her 18th birthday, Wolf managed to finish her senior year of high school and began looking forward to attending Arizona State University. “I had plans to go to ASU, join a sorority, and start working toward my nursing degree,” said Wolf. “But I noticed my dad was struggling. He was having a hard

Leigha Wolf, who begins her nursing career at Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert this month, holds a photo of her late parents. (Special to GSN) time managing everything after losing my mom.” She opted to attend Mesa Community College instead and live at home, intending to be support for her dad and two brothers. Shortly after starting college, Wolf began working as a certified nursing assistant at Banner Gateway Medical Center. “The only opening they had for a CNA was up on the fifth floor in the oncology unit,” said Wolf. “I was hesitant at first because I had too many memories of being there with my mom during her treat-

ment and didn’t think I could work there.” Reluctantly, Wolf accepted the position but said it ended up being for the best. “It was actually really therapeutic for me,” she said. “A lot of the people I worked with knew my mom and it was nice to have that built-in support system.” While finishing up her last semester of prerequisite courses before applying to the Maricopa Community College Nursing Program, Wolf’s life took another unexpected tragic turn. “I remember I told my dad goodnight and that I loved him and went to bed,” Wolf recalled. “The next morning, I woke up hearing his alarm clock going off repeatedly. I went to check on him and he was un-

responsive.” Wolf said she ran to find her younger brother, the only other person in the house with her at the time as their older brother had just moved out two days prior. “We called 9-1-1 and I started doing CPR,” said Wolf. Later that day, her father was pronounced dead at the hospital due to a suspected heart attack. Less than two years after her mother’s passing, at just shy of 20 years old, Wolf was parentless. “I felt very alone and overwhelmed,”

she said. “My brothers and I had to figure out where to live, how to pay the bills, how we were going to eat. I was trying to be my own parent and be the parent for my younger brother.” Wolf said she and her brothers ended up splitting in different directions. Her younger brother, who was only 17 at the time and in need of a legal guardian, went into the state custody system to live in a group home. She and her older brother lived with friends for the time being while they figured things out. “I went and stayed with one of my childhood best friends for a while,” said Wolf. “I slept on an air mattress in her room because I didn’t want to be alone.” A few months later, Michelle Fries, a coworker who Wolf said was practically a stranger at the time, reached out to her about a possible living situation. “Michelle was looking for somewhere to live after her divorce and she knew about my situation and just messaged me on Facebook one day asking if I’d like to move in an apartment with her.” Wolf said Fries was a godsend to her. “She took on a motherly role. She was my shoulder to cry on, helped me financially, gave me a safe place to live, and helped me get things organized,” said Wolf. “We really created a bond. She is like a mom, sister, and friend to me.” In the midst of all the changes and adjustments, Wolf still had school. Despite everything that had happened, she continued on with her classes, applied to the nursing program and was accepted. “My friends really pushed me to get through it,” she said, adding; “I wanted to prove myself and make my parents proud.” As a tribute to her parents and a reminder of her strength to get through the tough times, Wolf got a tattoo on her

see NURSE page 23

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Dying man hopes someone interested in his artwork BY LIN SUE COONEY GSN Guest Writer

s a child, Paul Corbani spent hours in his room constructing intricate shoebox-size models of fabulous backdrops he conjured up in his head. He spent many more hours daydreaming about actually stepping inside those miniature scenes. “I could imagine myself there and it was a great adventure, but then I realized that I could make them lifesize so I could actually go in them. I wouldn’t have to imagine anymore.” He sat in front of me on a sunny morning with a wistful expression, recalling days when he was younger, stronger – and cancer-free. At 75, this spirited Hospice of the Valley patient is frail but stylish, wearing a brightly striped scarf around his neck-- white curls flowing. A smile plays at the corners of his mouth as he takes me

back in time. As a teenager in Santa Barbara, Paul discovered theater, which led to a job at an LA prop shop after high school, constructing stage scenery for television and Las Vegas shows. When he moved to San Francisco in 1975, a friend asked him to paint backdrops for an all-girl punk rock band. “The first one was a jungle,” he laughs. Paul loved creating backdrops. It was like making his miniature scenes again — only scaled for real people to enjoy. All of them are 9 feet high and 12 feet wide because that was the height and width of his studio apartment. He bought cheap muslin, stitched it together and stretched the canvas to cover the entire wall. Then he spent years painting whatever drew his soul — a blue forest, an opera box scene, the Golden Gate

Bridge. Before he realized it, he had created something amazing — and he named it The Portable Illusion Kit. With parts from the local hardware store, he constructed a giant scaffolding to hold his canvases in layers that could be unrolled to reveal the next scape. Though it looks complicated, Paul claims it’s a simple one-man assembly that “any ninth-grader who ever took a course in theater would know how to put up.” Except for one showing held in a warehouse in downtown San Francisco in 1991, his elaborate scenes have never been displayed — a heartbreak Paul’s Hospice of the Valley care team hopes will be remedied soon. His doctors have been honest with him-

see ARTWORK page 23

Paul strikes a pose in front of his Golden Gate Bridge painting. (Courtesy of Hospice of

the Valley)

These are difﬁcult times for everyone.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

NURSE from page 20

arm: a bouquet of flowers – the same one printed on the front of both her parents’ funeral programs – and the word “resilient” running through the middle of the bouquet. “I wanted something to remind me that I can get through anything,” she said. Looking back, Wolf said navigating nursing school, clinical rotations and working full-time all without her parents there for support was not easy. She attributes her success to her positive attitude and determination. “Because of my experiences, I got to see how I could grow as a person,” she said. “Had these things not happened, I wouldn’t have the knowledge and strength to get through hard times.” Wolf will begin her first shift as an Oncology Nurse on Feb. 22 and said she is looking forward to connecting with her patients on a personal level. “Having been on both sides of it, I have a profound sense of empathy. A cancer diagnosis is scary, and I can put myself in the position of the patients and the family members,” she said, adding: “I hope I can

ARTWORK from page 22

- and he knows he doesn’t have much time left. “He spent many years creating these beautiful detailed drawings,” said nurse Pamela Ryan. “He desperately wants them to live on in some way.” “It would be wonderful if it can find a permanent home-- and very soon… so I can rest easy. It’s been sitting in my apartment for 30 years all rolled up waiting. Waiting for someone to use it,” he says softly. Paul assured me that his Portable Illusion Kit is still in excellent shape and can continue to evolve. “An artist could take an air brush and tint my fluffy clouds pink or blue and it’d be beautiful!” At age 16, Leigha Wolf endured the loss of her mother to cancer and then lost her father two years later to a heart attack. (Special to GSN)

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have a positive impact where people can remember the way I made them feel.”

A legacy of caring

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It pleases him to imagine his life’s work taking center stage again — and he hopes someone out there will be moved to not only care for it, but share it. “It could fill a ballroom and it’s very colorful. I would like to personally leave it with someone who would be so inspired, they’d want to dance in front of it or tell a story in front of it. I just want it to be used.” Interested in acquiring the Portable Illusion Kit or learning more? Email Paul at bcorbani@cox.net. Lin Sue Cooney is director of community engagement at Hospice of the Valley.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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Unique Gilbert gun club coping with shortages BY CASEY FLANAGAN GSN Staff Writer

un Club 82 in Gilbert has proven it can safely host a shooting range and bar-restaurant – and overcome the unexpected challenges of a pandemic to boot. As it nears its first anniversary next month, the club has had to weather a weapon and ammunition shortage generated by fears stoked by the pandemic and political unrest. Initially, those fears helped business at Gun Club 82, said Assistant General Manager Sam Mastin. But lately, he said, “it’s been a little bit of a downfall because inventory has been really shy lately. With the demand in the market right now, it’s hard for us to actually keep inventory in stock or even get it in.” According to American Rifleman, published by the National Rifle Association, extreme increases demand in the past

Gun Club 82 Assistant General Manager Sam Mastin, left, Stefan Kovacs stand in front of their Gilbert business. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer) year have led to widespread ammunition shortages. Top manufacturers have produced “record amounts of ammunition this year,” but the bullets are flying off the shelves just as fast, it reported.

Nevertheless, Gun Club 82 has pioneered in Gilbert an unusual combination for gun aficionados. Patrons can practice their aim in a 24-lane shooting range, grab food and drinks at Ti Ammo restaurant and bar,

buy weapons and ammunition from its retail section and learn how to use them with training courses – all under the same roof. “We’re one of the only ones in Arizona that has an attached restaurant that you can go to directly from the retail side,” Mastin boasted. The club maintains strict rules that forbid patrons from entering the shooting range after purchasing alcohol at Ti Ammo. “It’s a zero-tolerance policy,” said Mastin, stressing that if one person in a group orders a drink, the whole party is barred from shooting for 24 hours “just to make sure that there’s no slip-ups or anything like that, just to be 100 percent safe on the range.” Mastin said the rule is enforced through customers’ IDs: Restaurant employees scan IDs customers who buy a drink and gun range employees do the same to

see

GUNS page 26

Local Pop Co. brings dessert to the desert

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GSN Staff Writer

lake Bigelow was visiting family in Texas, where a local popsicle company was based. It delivered pops and sold them at farmers markets. He did something simple. He brought dessert to the desert. “They’re super delicious popsicles,” said Heather Lackey, who works for the Gilbert-based business. “They’re not frozen, sugary ice popsicles that you can buy at the store. They’re cream based. They’re really gourmet. People call them boujee popsicles.” Local Pop Co. began selling its frozen

Heather Lackey, Blake Bigelow and Rick Solares are three of the 10 employees at Gilbert-based Local Pop Co., which sells and delivers cream-based popsicles. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

treats in 2017 at the Gilbert Farmers Market on Saturdays and, as Lackey said, it “spiraled from there.” “His mission is a pop for everyone,” she said. “He wants to cater to adults, the inner child, families and kids. He started adding vegan, gluten free and dairy free, so we can truly have a pop for everyone.” The 10-employee, delivery-only company has four core flavors that it offers all year — strawberries and cream, Oreos and cream, chocolate fudge and birthday cake. It has also sold a double-stuff fudge with Oreos and a root beer float.

see

POPS page 25

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

POPS from page 24

“Every couple of months we roll our seasonal ones,” she said. “We had Christmas ones just for December.” The popsicles are $3.99 a piece with an eight-pop minimum. A four-piece family pack is in the works. Local Pop Co. delivers to ZIP codes in Ahwatukee, Apache Junction, Avondale, Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Gold Canyon, Laveen, Mesa, Paradise Strawberries and cream and Oreos and cream are two Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen standard popsicles Gilbert-based Local Pop Co. sells. Creek, Rio Verde, Scottsdale (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer) and Tempe. Delivery is free; same-day delivery if they’re stick. They’re creamy, dense and rich. ordered before 5 p.m. On Feb. 1, Local Pop Co. started a They’re getting their value.” Local Pop Co. offers sticks with special six-month campaign to honor first responders with discounts. Teachers messages—You’re Cute, Be Mine, Happy Birthday, Congratulations, I Love U, We will follow later this year. “They’re quite large popsicles,” Miss U and Great Job. “We had girls order them for a bacheshe said. “They don’t become freezer burned. It tastes like ice cream on a lorette party,” she added.

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GUNS from page 24

make sure a patron hasn’t dropped by the bar on the way in. In case the technology fails, bartenders mark customers’ hands so “we still have that backup to be able to check and see if people have been over there drinking or not,” Mastin said. To cope with the ammunition shortage, the club is limiting the number of rounds customers can buy at one time. It also reserves ammo for use in the range, so members and gun renters “can actually enjoy it instead of having to use up a bunch of their own ammo.” Meanwhile, the increased interest in firearms has spurred an interest in how to use them. “A lot of the new buyers that are coming in shooting, the first thing they want to know is how to use it,” Mastin explained. Gun Club 82 offers private lessons, beginner and advanced courses for pistols and rifles, low-light courses where flashlights are attached to weapons, home defense courses and women’s intro courses taught by female instructors. Randy Reese of Arizona Firearms Gil-

Gun Club 82 has a firearms retail area where patrons can peruse a variety of weapons. (Pablo

Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

bert works with Gun Club 82 to promote firearms safety through their own intro and concealed-carry classes. He praised the club’s staff, noting, “By the way they conduct themselves and the way they handle everything, it seems like

they’ve been around firearms and range settings before.” Reese said safety lessons are important because “guns can be dangerous without proper instruction on safe handling. “There’s a lot of people entering the

shooting world,” he said. “We enjoy our shooting sports, and we want to make sure everybody entering this world is doing it safely.” Mastin said Gilbert residents are refreshing to work with because “everyone has that willingness to learn.” Beginner courses for pistols and rifles, as well as the women’s intro course, are $60 while advanced courses cost $100, low-light courses $150 and home defense is $225. Low-light courses require that customers have completed the advanced course with the weapon they choose to bring. The home defense course requires that customers complete both the advanced and low-light courses with the weapons they plan to use. Customers can become members for $89.95 up front and $29.95 each month, according to the club’s website said. Members’ benefits include no range fees and discounts on lessons. Family, VIP and corporate memberships are also available. Information: gunclub82gilbert.com.

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Yearning for the energy that only a crowd can provide BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ GSN Columnist

t was Tuesday afternoon and work got too heavy. A break was called for, mindless diversion. My thoughts turned to an old favorite: A matinee movie. Ninety minutes of popcorn, soda and cinema. This sounded like exactly the ticket. I could not have been more wrong. It was not the film that failed – it was obvious going in that this action flick would earn no Oscars. It was the experience: A solitary man armed with a mask, hand sanitizer and enough Clorox wipes to disinfect Congress, seated alone in an auditorium built for 300 humans. I dozed off through gunfire and explosions. I lost what plot there was. My mind pinballed before hitting on a realization. Some events, to feel right, require a crowd.

Chalk up another act of destruction committed by this damned pandemic. Eventually I gave up on the movie and compiled a mental list of great crowds I have been in – moments where the assembled humanity begins to crackle with shared energy, a sense of mutual joy, excitement, thrill, love. If that sounds hokey, I can only say that it was not at all strange in the moment. Like, say, the night of Nov. 4, 2001, when I was high in the rightfield stands on the night the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees 3-2 to win the World Series. The last 10 months have featured less human contact than that single evening full of high fives, fist bumps, screams, prayers and – when at last Jay Bell danced across home plate with the winning run – hugs with complete strangers. Crowds will do that to us. You surely have your own stories, tales that run parallel to my parents taking my brother and I to see

“Rocky” at Christmas in 1976. I was 11, but I can still hear the crowd cheering the screen, the nervous chatter during Rocky’s battle with Apollo Creed, and I can still reimagine every boy who had been in the packed house boxing his way through the lobby afterward. Or a great concert. Not even 18 months ago, I spent a weekend in Texas for Austin City Limits – a bucket-list event. In dusty Zilker Park, tens of thousands of us gathered in a claustrophobic swarm to see a reunited Guns N’ Roses run through 20 hits, from “It’s So Easy” to “Welcome to the Jungle” to “November Rain.” That was Friday – old rockers, warm beer and the thick smell of weed. The next afternoon, when Billie Eilish sang “Bad Guy,” there was a solid mass of teenage girl dress-alikes who accompanied her with every word. They pogo’d when Billie did, crouched, twirled, prowled their little slivers of space.

Who knew at the time that would be the last crowd I’d be in for months on end? Now watching events on television – old footage of Tiger Woods winning the Masters – I marvel at the way we once crowded together shoulder to shoulder. Most years, I wander out to watch the Waste Management Phoenix Open with 200,000 of my closest personal friends – sorority sisters in platform heels and microskirts, beery frat bros who heckle golfers at the 16th hole, and the hordes in Nike gear and Titleist hats. This year, attendance will be held to 5,000 fans a day. Question: Will a Phoenix Open with 97.5 percent less crowd be 97.5 percent less electric? Turns out, I love the power of crowds. It’s a small loss among everything inflicted by COVID-19, but let’s hope someday soon we can assemble again unaccompanied by anxiety, six feet of social distance and the nauseating scent of sanitizer and Clorox.

lished an article, Covid-19 Is Deadlier for People With Autism, Down Syndrome. Now Families Are Pushing Hard for Vaccines, discussing studies that show, “People with such disorders, who account for one in 50 Americans, are on average more than 2½ times as likely to die from COVID-19 as the wider U.S. population.” The question of ”why” is not definitive. Could it be attributed to the fact that people who have disabilities are more likely to also have multiple diagnoses that include highrisk COVID-19 disorders like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes? Is this due to inadequate access to quality care because most adults who have disability rely on public health care for their medical insurance? Or is it because many of these individuals have difficulty expressing and communicating their symptoms of illness that makes it doubly hard for medical professionals to diagnose and treat them for COVID. I would argue that all of these are true.

While local and state advocacy has been able to secure our direct care workers and family members of people with disability high priority in the line to get this much anticipated vaccine; surprisingly enough, the people who have disability with whom we work and support have not. In most instances, this vulnerable population has been grouped with the general population in the lower tiers of prioritization. However, there are some exceptions. In Tennessee, public health administrators are “specifically making its entire intellectual development disorder population a priority, citing its own studies that the death rate for this group is 3½ times higher” than in the general population. Regardless of the reason why people with disabilities have been consistently ignored and overlooked throughout this pandemic, it is something we have all too often seen firsthand in Maricopa County. Whether intentional or not; we have had to continue to advocate for our community

members with disability and remind our local officials, representatives, and legislators that this population we are proud to serve are citizens and their constituents. They are struggling, and they need our support and consideration. I urge our officials to look at the numbers here in Arizona and follow suit with other states, such as Tennessee, to establish that vaccine allocation must be based equitably to include vulnerable populations. They deserve equal access to vital medical care to combat the statistic and increase their ability for survival after potential contraction of this virus. Citizens who have intellectual developmental disability must be moved forward in line to receive this vaccination.

Developmental disabilities rate vaccine priority BY MADISON BLANTON GSN Guest Writer

very week, the United States meets another COVID milestone, for example registering more COVID-19 cases in a single day than ever before in the early parts of January. With the hope of a new start at a new year, it seems clear that the coronavirus has also made a new year’s resolution to persevere with a vengeance and stick around and mutate. Many of us hold a sense of optimism around a miracle vaccine that could provide some gleaming hope for our communities. Yet, the actual implementation of vaccinations seems not only to be slow moving, but also to be overlooking populations in our society who should – but are not – recognized as a priority. One of these groups are people who have intellectual and developmental disability. The Wall Street Journal recently pub-

-Madison Blanton is CEO of One Step Beyond, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive programs that empower adults who have intellectual disabilities. Information: osbi.org.

Sports & Recreation 28

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Desert Ridge player honored after mom’s death BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

esert Ridge senior Joe Kisting stood across the wrestling mat from the Mesa High School wrestling program, not aware of what would happen after the meeting between captains for the dual match between both schools. He turned to walk toward his seat along the socially distanced bench area for the Jaguars before he was called back to the center of the mat by Mesa coach David DiDomenico. It was there Kisting was met by his aunt, Becky Senske, who is his late mother’s twin sister. DiDomenico presented a plush toy in a gift bag and hand-drawn poster of the two schools’ mascots fist-bumping. She and the rest of the Jackrabbit program signed the poster – drawn by wrestler Amaiya Brown – for Kisting. “I think I told him how much I respected him and how strong he is for what he’s going through,” DiDomenico said. “I was, in a way, humbled by his acceptance. I just can’t imagine how he felt and for him to let me be a small part of the healing process, it was humbling.” Kisting’s mother, Bethany, battled COVID-19 that turned into pneumonia in both of her lungs. She spent nearly five weeks in the hospital on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma. Bethany died on Jan. 11, the day after she turned 54 years old. She had no preexisting conditions. “She was my everything,” Kisting said. “She was my definition of kindness. There was nobody who treated me better than her. It taught me not to take time for granted. I just think about my younger siblings and how they had less time with her than I did.” The match against Mesa was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Jan. 27, the same day as Kisting’s 18th birthday

Desert Ridge senior wrestler Joe Kisting was joined by his aunt, Becky Senske, while he was presented with a gift and hand-drawn poster from Mesa coach David DiDomenico and his team before the match between the two schools to honor Joe’s mother, Bethany, who died of COVID-19 and pneumonia on Jan. 11. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff) Bethany Kisting had no preexisting health conditions when she became ill with COVID-19, which ultimately forced her to be put on a ventilator and medically induced coma. She died the day after her 54th birthday. (Courtesy Kisting Family) and his mother’s funeral. But Desert Ridge coach Travis Jackson asked DiDomenico to push it back to Thursday. He obliged without hesitation. “I just think coach DiDomenico is a class act, all of Mesa is,” Jackson said. “We’ve had three deaths within our wrestling family since November. It’s been a rollercoaster

of emotions.” A small funeral was held due to COVID-19 restrictions, which only allowed a few of Kisting’s teammates to attend the service. Still, he said having them there as well as others who couldn’t attend supporting him is what has made his time with the program special. “Each and every one of them knew my mom, she was special to them, too,” Kisting said. “It meant a lot for them to be there for me.” Bethany started to feel sick in December when Kisting and his older brother flew back from Arkansas, where they went duck hunting with their father while he was on a business trip. When she picked them up from the airport, she was already coughing and feared she may have COVID-19. In the days leading up to Bethany’s illness, Kisting said a few of his siblings had become ill. However, they tested negative

for the virus. Even after his mother tested positive, the entire family, all seven others, continued to test negative. Kisting said nobody else showed symptoms. His mother’s cough progressed to the point where he convinced her to go to the hospital out of precaution. She finally agreed. Kisting dropped off his mother at a hospital in Gilbert for treatment. That ended up being the last time he was able to physically see her. “I thought I would be able to pick her up later that night,” Kisting said. “I kept telling her it would be all right, but she had to be put on a ventilator to force oxygen into her. I was only able to FaceTime and talk to her on the phone.” Kisting began wrestling before he enrolled at Desert Ridge his freshman year. As a junior, he started to fall out of love with the sport and was on the brink of quitting altogether. Jackson encouraged him to stay with the program. But near the midway point of the season, Jackson said Kisting’s motivation suddenly reappeared. He became aware of the opportunities wrestling presented. Despite missing some matches, Kisting qualified for the state tournament. With a renewed sense of urgency, he placed fourth overall in the 145-pound weight class. Now a senior, he remains motivated to succeed on the mat. While he is still nursing the knee injury, he is eager to compete again in honor of his mother. “I know she’s always going to be there with me,” Kisting said. “I told my mom I wanted to be a state champion in my weight class and she really believed I could do it. One thing she said before we couldn’t talk to her anymore was, ‘no matter what happens to me, I want you guys to continue with your life and to keep pursuing your goals and dreams.’ “Remembering her words and her advice, that is what she wants from me.”

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Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day on the menu GETOUT STAFF

hether you are celebrating Galentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day next weekend, three Gilbert restaurants have you covered. Galentine’s Day was popularized by the TV sitcom “Parks and Recreation” in 2010 as a day for female friendship. At Peacock Wine Bar, 1525 N. Gilbert Road, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, guests can get two glasses of bubbly or mimosas with a special Galentine’s charcuterie board for $25. The Galentine’s Board will be a personal size board with a special surprise. Meanwhile, the recently opened B Gastrobar and the related Copper & Logs have special menus and hours for Valentine’s Day Those two Gilbert restaurants, along with Cuisine & Wine Bistro in Chandler, all plan fixed-price per person or couple dinners and required reservations are available from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at all three. Mairead Buschtetz oversees

operations at the three restaurants that she coowns with her husband, Fabrice, executive chef for the three establishments. Chef Steven Buschtetz, who runs the kitchen at B Gastrobar, created an eclectic selection of favorites with the diner’s choice of a bottle of prosecco, chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon. For $75, a couple will start the evening with smoked salmon tartare, then continue the celebration with Chef Steven’s mixed board and an assortment of desserts. At Copper & Logs in Gilbert, Chef Mike Maitrel-Burgard crafted a menu featuring choices of three starters, three The Peacock Wine Bar in Gilbert has a Galentine’s Day entrees and two desserts board. (Courtesy of Peacock Wine Bar) at $70 per person for the

meal. The Peacock Wine Bar also plans Valentine’s cookie decorating, Valentine’s Day wine glass painting and wine tastings. Happy hour is now offered daily until 7 p.m. with specials on wines by the glass and bottle along with food specials. In addition, the local wine bar now offers the following daily specials: Mondays, 20 percent off for educators with valid ID; Tuesdays,- $10 off all bottles of wine; Wednesdays, fondue and a bottle for $50; Thursdays, happy hour all night long and $15 Peacock Boards; Fridays, live music starting at 6 p.m.; and Saturdays, $15 bottomless mimosas The Wine & Lover’s Pairing makes for a pre- or post-dinner activity. For $35, patrons get four 3-ounce pours of wine paired with four artisanal chocolates that are locally made. A special Valentine’s Day package for celebrating at home also is available. Details: peacockwinebar.com, bgastrobar.com, copperandlogs.com.

to the public due to the pandemic and instead will be available for viewing via livestream. “[Live-streaming] is a great option for the hundreds of thousands of people that will not be able to come and watch in person this year,” O’Shea said. Held at WestWorld, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show features more than 2,000 horses from across North America, more than $3 million in prize money, and the best-of-the-best riders vying for the coveted title of “Scottsdale Champion.” “This competition is vital to the Arabian horse community and we are

Animal Rescue and Refuge, Horses Help TRC, Scottsdale Community College and Youth for Troops. “We partner with our charities, so they are involved with the show. They volunteer, have booths and help promote the show. These charities have been with us for many years, and they are a part of the Arabian Horse community. We choose these ones because they make a difference in the community,” O’Shea said. While AHAA has live-streamed the horse show for over 10 years, this year

Arabian Horse Show available only online BY KRISTINE CANNON GetOut Staff Writer

or 65 years, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has attracted attendees and competitors from around the world, including the United Kingdom and Italy to Australia and the Middle East. “It truly is an international event,” said Taryl O’Shea, executive director of the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona. But this year, for AHAA’s 66th annual show – starting Thursday, Feb. 11, and running through Feb. 21 – will be closed

pleased to be able to host it again this year,” O’Shea said. “While the event may be quieter this year, we know the competition will still be intense.” Day passes are available for $9.99 or fans can access the full event for $49.99. A schedule of each day’s events is posted to the website, outlining what class is competing and when. Fans, families and enthusiasts can watch live, real-time video of the competition or tune into recorded videos later. This year, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show will benefit several local charities, including Healing Hearts

see

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marks the first time the Scottsdale Signature Stallion auction will be online. Through 9 p.m. Feb. 20, the auction includes 150 horses and raises money to fund the largest prize money program for young Arabian horses in the industry. “We are lucky to have an event in a climate where many events have been canceled,” O’Shea said. “We have done what it takes to keep people safe and host a great competition. The Arabian Horse community is thankful for that.” Historically, the horse show has attracted more than 300,000 attendees over its 11 days. They also typically sell out of seats on their main championship night. But this year will look different as only participants and essential personnel will be permitted on the grounds. “Closing to the public has been a challenge as it had a domino effect on our shopping expo,” O’Shea said. “Sponsors and people who have been coming for years are simply disappointed.”

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

To keep participants and essential personnel safe, AHAA put together a “six-point safety plan” to guard against COVID-19.” “I think our future is going to consist of a new focus on public health and safety – many of the cleaning, signage, communication incident response protocols will live with us forever,” O’Shea said. “We have implemented many electronic options to streamline options for competitors, [and] I know we will continue to build on that into the future.” Although AHAA lost almost all of their international competitors due to travel restrictions, O’Shea hopes they’ll still tune in this year. “Obviously, we want as many people as possible to watch the horse show

that they stay engaged with our show,” O’Shea said. “There is a large number every year of overseas viewers, [so] I am sure it will be even larger this year as most are not traveling to the show this year.” “The Scottsdale Arabian Horse show is the largest most prestigious show in the world, so we have many international Arabian horse enthusiasts that tune in,” O’Shea added. To access the livestream or videos, visit scottsdaleshow.com.

The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, the world’s largest horse show, returns for its 66th year. Held at WestWorld of Scottsdale, the event runs from Feb. 11 through Feb. 21, but it will be closed to the public. Instead, fans, families and enthusiasts can watch live, real-time video of the competition or tune into recorded videos later. (AHAA)

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Central Kitchen in Chandler offers tasty variety

Obituaries Robert Graziano

GSN NEWS STAFF

hirsty Lion Gastropub, a division of Concept Entertainment Group, has picked its Chandler location to launch Central Kitchen – an online food hall. Four new restaurant concepts were developed for Central Kitchen, each featuring unique culinary directions and scratch-made food available for takeout and delivery from the one central website. “The online food hall launched in Oregon last fall with great success,” said the company, and Arizona is now the fourth state where it has launched. “We’ve been fostering the idea of a kitchen focused on takeout and delivery for the last year,” said John Plew, president and CEO of Thirsty Lion Gastropub. “The pandemic put the process into hyper speed, and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to pivot with the climate and launch an idea that aligns with current consumer demands. “Central Kitchen fills a need in the restaurant space by providing multiple culinary offerings from one hub. Guests can order the food that everyone in their home is craving under one ticket.” The Central Kitchen website has a food hall appearance with five differently branded restaurants, including Thirsty Lion. An advanced point of sale system communicates orders to the kitchen based on predetermined measurements of cook time for each dish. “This results in precise preparation time, no matter which restaurant is included in an order,” a spokesperson said. The Chandler Thirsty Lion kitchen will offer takeout and delivery from five total concepts, which include Soy Joy, Southern Jewel, Killer Wings, and Pizza and Spice. All menus have been designed under the direction of Keith Castro, CEG’s vice president of food and beverage and executive chef. Soy Joy Kitchen specializes in rice bowls, sushi, ramen and other Asian

In Memoriam 2 Year Celebration of Life Joe S Quintana 10/3/1942 - 01/29/2019

Five different restaurants, each with an array of menu items, are part of Central Kitchen at Thirsty Lion Gastropub’s Chandler location at 3077 W. Frye Road. (Special to GSN) favorites. Southern Jewel offers Southern fried chicken, Nashville hot chicken, sliders and Southern specialties. Killer Wings serves boneless and traditional wings with a variety of house made sauces. Pizza and Spice has a large selection of gourmet specialty pizzas and salads. “These four restaurants will be anchored by Thirsty Lion Gastropub, which features starters, burgers, sandwiches, salads and specialty entrees, the company said. Central Kitchen is offering a Takeout Tuesday deal for 25 percent off each to-go order placed through the hub website. Information: CentralKitchenFoodOnline.com. Thirsty Lion’s mission is “to revolutionize the gastropub business by combining the traditional values of European and American pubs and creating a gathering place where friends and family can come together to celebrate life, enjoy great food, craft beers, signature cocktails, wines, music and sports. Information: thirstyliongastropub.com. Concept Entertainment is a hospitality management company based in Scottsdale.

Dad & Tata

Your life was a blessing. Your Memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. Love you Hun,

Happy 60th anniversary Hun 2/11/1961, Your Loving Wife Irene

Need help writing an obituary? We have articles that will help guide you through the process. Deadline for obituaries is Wednesday at 5pm for Sunday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays.

Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions. Visit: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

November 14, 1946 - January 9, 2021 PAYSON—Bob Graziano of Mesa and Payson lost his short fight with the devil covid on Saturday, January 9, 2021. Bob was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved out to Arizona with his wife, Marie, and daughter, Dina in 1972. Their son, William, was born inArizona in 1973. Bob owned and was president of R&M Security Systems, Inc. in Mesa from 1975 to 2005 when he sold the company. Bob was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 758 for many years and enjoyed helping several of the boys attain the rank of Eagle. In 2011, Bob said they had "paid their summer dues" and bought a home in Payson. He quickly became involved in volunteering in the community. Bob loved meeting people and being able to help them. He did everything cheerfully and always with a smile. He was a gun enthusiast and could answer anybody's questions on gun care and usage. He loved reading about the history of guns and imparting his knowledge to others. He worked tirelessly to get his Veteran designation and was so proud when he got it on his license. He was a true patriot and loved the U.S. and our flag. He is survived by his wife, Marie; daughter, Dina Barnes (Tom); son, William (Nicole); grandchildren, Kendal and Jackson Barnes and Joy and Anthony Graziano. There will be a Celebration of Life for Bob in Payson on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the Church of the Holy Nativity. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

HEADSTONES Make your choice Everlasting

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

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75 W. Baseline Rd. Ste. A-8, Gilbert, AZ 85233

www.everlastingmonumentco.com info@everlastingmonument.phxcoxmail.com

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Gilbert Sun News

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 • Tempe, AZ 85282 480.898.6465 class@timespublications.com

Deadlines

Classifieds: Thursday 11am for Sunday Life Events: Thursday 10am for Sunday

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | GilbertSunNews.com

Employ ment Employment General eFulgent has openings for Software Engineers in Glendale, AZ and/or client sites in the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. Reqs US Masters/foreign equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to analyze/design/dev/test systems/apps using JavaScript/HTML/ JQuery/CSS. Send resume to hr1@efulgent.net with ref # 2021-19 & ref EVT ad

Employment General Hiring Auto Technician / Auto Mechanic Both Experienced and Entry-Level Huffs Automotive Chandler AZ . HuffsAutomotive.com Submit Resume for Consideration

huffsautomotive @yahoo.com 480-726-8900

Employment General Engineering Manager, Automation Platform s o u g h t b y Car v an a , LLC in Tempe, AZ. Work closely with multiple track owners to define the vision, direction, and objectives for all projects in Telemetry Monitoring & Automation Platform. Apply @ www. jobpostingtoday.com Ref #76409.

Announce

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Employment General Economics/Mathematics Teacher (Surprise, AZ) Prepare teaching plans & instructional materials. Design learning activities. Develop instructional routines for classroom mgmt.. Assign & grade classwork, homework, tests. Participate in collaborative professional learning community to contribute to schools continuous improvement process. Education level being taught: Secondary/High school. Will teach Geometry, Algebra and/or Economics. Master’s degree in Maths, Economics, Finance or related field. Must have completed at least 24 credit hours of subject coursework in Economics or Mathematics. Must possess Level One Fingerprint Clearance and Certificate as an Education from Arizona DOE. Please send resume to Highland Prep at 15600 W. Hearn Drive, Surprise, AZ 85379

If Stability is what you are looking for, then MAAX Spas, one of the Best Places to Work in the Chandler area has immediate openings for 1st and 2nd shift production. Many associates have been with us for 10 to 35 years and we are looking to add more to the family. Generous pay with full health insurance, paid vacation and sick time, combined with matched 401K program are the just the start. Call today to learn more about the opportunities and join the MAAX Spas family, 480-8954575. OR Apply online at maaxspas.com.

ments Religion Healing Ministry Sufi Tradition If interested send letter of inquiry care of Master Warren Muen 4340 E. Indian School Rd, Ste 21-126, Phoenix, AZ 85018.

Merch andise Cemetery Lots FOR SALE 2 CEMETERY PLOTS Mountainview Cemetery Mesa $2,400 or best offer Contact Lisa at (612) 400-5937 goodlisa691 @gmail.com

Wanted to Buy WANTED BY COLLECTOR OLDER MODEL 22 CALIBER RIFLES AND HANDGUNS IN NICE CONDITION CONSIDER OTHERS I DO NOT SELL GUNS. CALL WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. LEE 602-448-6487

Wanted to Buy

Manufactured Homes

Cash 4 Diabetic Strips! Best Prices in Town. Sealed and Unexpired. 480-652-1317

BRAND NEW NEVER LIVED IN 2 BED / 2 BATH HOMES $58,900 Financing Available

Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand. Will pay top dollar. Call Pat 480-323-8846

55+ Mobile Home Park in Great Chandler Loc. Call Kim 480-233-2035

Real Estate

For Rent APACHE TRAIL & IRONWOOD Secluded Cute Studio, A/C $650/Month Bad Credit ok No Deposit. Water/Trash Inc. (602) 339-1555 ALMA SCH & MAIN 1b 1 bath duplex Income verified UTILITIES INCLUDED Bad Credit OK. No Deposit Close to Lightrail $700 (602) 339-1555 WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO SERVE YOUR CLASSIFIED NEEDS

480.898.6465 CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Manufactured Homes

TSYS Acquiring Solutions LLC seeks Software Engineer Lead (REQ # R111111) for its Tempe, AZ office to develop moderately complex code using both front and/or back end programming languages within multiple platforms. EOE/Minorities/ F e m a l e s / V et/D is ab ility . Email r es u mes to resumes@tsys.com. Please reference REQ# in subject line.

THE LINKS ESTATES

Arevon Energy seeks a Sr. Strategic Sourcing Engineer for position in Scottsdale to lead solar PV + battery storage due diligence and execution for CEI projects. Requires BS in Mechanical Engineering, 18 months exp as procurement engineer, with ability to travel domestically 2-3 days per month to client sites. Apply to yhernandez@arevonenergy.com

Air Conditioning/Heating

Apartments

Employment General

Estimator II at Sundt Construction, Inc. (Tempe, Arizona): Prep cost est for prod mfg, con proj, or svcs to aid mgmt. in bid on or dtrm. price of prod or svcs Req. BS or Fgn Eqv in Civ Eng, or cls. rel. & 3 yrs exp. Add’l duties, reqmts, travel req avail upon req. Send resume to recruiting@sundt.com, ref Job#SS01.

Service Directory

Why Rent The Lot When

YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

Family Owned & Operated

Three Phase Mechanical

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021 Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Painting • Flooring • Electrical Handyman Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

Garage/Doors

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! GARAGE DOOR SERVICE SPARKLE & SHINE Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical CLEANING East Valley/ “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry SERVICE Man!” Ahwatukee Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Immaculate, DependDecks • Tile • More! Broken Springs Decks •Affo Quality Work Since 1999 Tile • More! able Service. Affordrdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, Replaced able Rates. 2014 ✔ Drywall Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Nights/Weekends Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job Commercial & Resid✔ Carpentry Bonded/Insured Too Small Marks the Spot for“No ential services Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks 480-251-8610 Painting • Flooring • Electrical All supplies included. Small Man!” Not a licensed contractor “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Sanitized & masks Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens worn 9 199 ce Sin rk Wo y alit Qu e, abl ord Aff ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 You've tried the rest, rk Since 1999 2012, “No 2013, Job Too Affordable, Quality Wo And More! 2010, 2011 now try the BEST!" Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Call Bruce at 2012, 2013, Ask for Martha 2014 NotResident a Licensed Contractor Since 1999 Ahwatukee / References Call Ahwatukee BruceResident/ at References/ Insured/ Work ty Quali , dable Affor or Annie Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor 480-495-5516 or 480-797-6023

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LLC

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GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

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Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949

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Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups! Not a licensed contractor

25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840

NTY

TREE

480.654.5600

TRIMMING

azirrigation.com

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Car for Sale?

Advertise It Here!

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CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

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No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!

David Hernandez (602) 802 3600

daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists

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480-833-7353 - Office 480-430-7737 - Cell A+

LIC/BONDED/INSURED Res/Comm’l ROC#218802

aaaActionContractingInc.com

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Repairs • Modifications • Installs

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Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

WE DO IT ALL!

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Home Improvement

General Contacting, Inc.

ACTION CONTRACTING INC.

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• Old Tires

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GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Irrigation

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• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

Landscape/ Maintenance

• Remodeling Debris

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

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Glass/Mirror

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

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See MORE Ads Online!

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

Landscape/Maintenance

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

Call Lance White

480.721.4146

www.GilbertSunNews.com

www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Landscape/Maintenance

Roofing

Painting

Public Notices

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Spring Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

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480-338-4011

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! 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

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Bonded & Insured

Soldiers

tfor

Juan Hernandez

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PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

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Call us to place your ad online!

480-898-6465

Unscramble the letters to find “F” places where you find the following:

fram

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

MISSED THE DEADLINE?

SCRAMBLER: “F” marks the spot Cows

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

Window Cleaning

Pool Service / Repair

Voted #1

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Plumbing

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

ROC 296559 • Licensed, Bonded & insured

Over 30 yrs. Experience

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

LLC

SPECIALIZING IN: Wood & Stucco Repairs • Deck Restoration Roofing, Shingles & Metal • Exterior/Interior Painting Elastometric & Clear Coats • Power Washing Leaf Guards (20yr No Clog) New 6" Seamless Gutters (Gutter Art Available)

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

COUNTS

PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SUMMONS CASE NUMBER: 2020-CP-23- 05688 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GREENVILLE NINA BETH ALLEN, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Billy James Mood, Plaintiff, vs. SHAWN MICHELLE DILSAVER MOODY a/k/a SHAWN MICHELLE DILSAVER, Defendant. TO THE DEFENDANT ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, or otherwise appear and defend, and to serve a copy of your answer to said Complaint upon the subscriber at his office, 32 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 315, Williamston, South Carolina, 29697, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, or otherwise appear and defend, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. s/ G. Lee Cole, Jr.____________ G. Lee Cole, Jr. SC Bar Number 100352 COX & COLE, ATTORNEYS AT LAW P.O. Box 315 Williamston, SC 29697 Tel. (864) Fax (864) 847-7895 847-9289 LeeCole@CoxandCole.com ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF Williamston, South Carolina Dated: 12/10/2020_________ Published: East Valley Tribune, Gilbert Sun News Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7, 2021 / 35776

480-688-4770

Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Now Accepting all major credit cards

1. farm, 2. fort, 3. fairground, 4. flowerbed, 5. fairway, 6. flyway, 7. freeway, 8. freighter

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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Big Gam Order to-go our r $50 rders of Fries fo - 50 Wings & 5 O r $90 Orders of Fries fo 10 & gs in W 0 - 10

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ALL DAY SPECIALS

MONDAY $10 Burgers WEDNESDAY $10 Wraps

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REGULAR HOURS : DAILY 11AM - 12AM

The Glendale

GILBERT SUN NEWS | FEBRUARY 7, 2021

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