Gilbert Sun News - 8.29.2021 by Times Media Group

Mayor takes more heat

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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Mask rage in GPS even without a mandate BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

asks remain optional at Gilbert Public School campuses for now but that could change as the highly contagious Delta variant runs rampant here and elsewhere in the world. The GPS Governing Board last week discussed face covering and mitigation strategies already in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. No action on masks was to take place yet people packed the board room and six of the nine speakers voiced opposition to

a mandate. “For the past two years the situation has been fluid,” Board President Charles Santa Cruz said after hearing from the public. “And we continue to monitor and adjust as we would in a classroom if we were teaching. “Should things change drastically there may be a need for this board to revisit some things that might be contrary to what has been said or stated or intimated this evening. I don’t know that for sure but it certainly is a possibility given the fact that we have endured this thing for the better part of two years or more.”

According to Dr. Santa Cruz, the board received and read by the dozens 680 emails regarding masks, a majority of them against a mandate. Emails and speeches inundated other school boards in the region that met last week – including some, like GPS that had no mandate. Chandler Unified and Mesa Public were among them. Amber McAffee asked the board to keep masks optional and let parents decide. “The reality is kids don’t need these inter-

see MASKS page 8

Gilbert football boosters keep fingers crossed

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See Page 9

BY DREW SCHOTT GSN Staff Writer

s high school football players in Gilbert and throughout Arizona kick off the 2021 season, they won’t be the only people in stadiums throughout town who will be keeping their fingers crossed for COVID-19 to stay far away. Scores of adults in town will be hoping for the same thing. They’re people like John Seelye, vice president of the Campo Verde High School Coyote Club. In his role as a member of the school’s booster club, Seelye helps keep the games running smoothly – and remind the players that they have off-field support. Seelye and his fellow boosters throughout Gilbert are intimately familiar with their respective football programs’ operations, whether that involves making sure the scoreboard lights are on or

see BOOSTER page 3

John Seelye, the vice president of the Campo Verde High School Coyote Club, said the pandemic was tough on the club. (Courtesy John Seelye)

Mesquite Touchdown Club President Amy Daly, with her son Brayden, who plays for the Wildcats, said she hopes to see the games’ family feel return this season. (Courtesy Amy Daly)

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that there are enough businesses and individuals to provide much-needed financial as well as emotional support. Clubs make sure the field is painted correctly, organize fundraisers to help provide jerseys and equipment and run concession stands. That multifaceted mission isn’t easy in a normal year and last year, it carried the crushing challenge of the pandemic. “It was tough on the club and on the sponsors and the community,” Seelye said. “There was less ability for people to support. “With that said, we did end up with just as much support as we’d ever had. The fundraisers made almost exactly the same amount of money as they had the year previous.” Booster clubs throughout Gilbert and Higley Unified not only contended with limits on attendance – which diminished concession revenue. They struggled with other revenue streams as some sponsoring businesses simply couldn’t afford to maintain their traditional level of support. In a word, said Mesquite High School Touchdown Club President Amy Daly, 2020 was “miserable.” “We had less entrance fees, which is less money coming back to the school,” Daly said. “There was no student section, which is a huge part of high school. We were limited to usually two guests per player for a max capacity of 25 percent. The stands just felt empty. It wasn’t the energy that we’re used to seeing and feeling at Mesquite High.” The uncertainty of the start time of the season made things difficult, as did attempts to garner sponsorship from companies. While Mesquite did gain sponsorship, it was less than in years past. Concession sales were restricted since no open food was allowed and everything

Mesquite fans huddled toward the center of the bleachers during the 4A Championship at Highland High, but crowds were restricted so not as many fans could attend as a game of this caliber might normally attract. (GSN file photo) had to be prepackaged. And with fewer people in the stands, there was less of an opportunity to put spirit gear into the hands of families – a key goal of the club, according to Daly. This season, the Touchdown Club is looking forward to changes. At the moment, there is no limit on concessions. Daly said going back to normal stadium food will provide a large funding boost and local food truck vendors will come to each game. At Campo Verde, the Coyote Club contracts with a private vendor to run the concession stands. The company gives a check to Camp Verde at the end of the year for 60-to-80 percent of the profit, which is then split between other booster clubs and cheerleading groups. “That was absolutely ineffective last year,” Seelye said. “We hardly made any money on that. There’s only a few games where we had enough people.”

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Neither school reaps revenue from entry fees. At Mesquite, the money is routed to the district, which provides sport programs with funds. Meanwhile, Campo Verde’s funds go straight to the athletic department unless there is a playoff game, which enables the money to be sent to the Arizona Interscholastic Association. At the moment, there are no capacity restrictions at Mesquite. Yet Daly said everyone must be cautious and things could change, but she hopes everything can run smoothly to have a great season. The Touchdown Club has plans for a Welcome Back event. Players will be presented with their jerseys, inaugurating a season that everyone hopes will be normal. “One thing that our families really missed last year was that feeling of family and community,” Daly said. “And we’re really hoping we can bring that back this year.”

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

4th ethics complaint filed against Peterson BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

move by Mayor Brigette Peterson that many of her detractors viewed as an attempt to rein in public criticism of her has resulted in a fourth ethics violation complaint. Resident Jim Torgeson is alleging Peterson violated Gilbert’s Ethics Code by attempting to gain control over how long speakers could talk – or even talk – at council meetings. Currently people are allotted three minutes to speak. Peterson denied the allegations. Torgeson has been openly critical of the mayor at recent meetings. “The continued complaints from Jim Torgeson are patently false and only delays the findings from outside counsel on the matter,” she said in a statement. The three other ethics complaints against Peterson were filed in June. Two came from residents at Morrison Ranch and one from a town employee. Outside counsel was hired to handle the investigation to avoid the appearance of bias. The employee also filed a complaint with Human Resources but it was “dismissed because council members are not subject to the HR Department or the Town Personnel Rules,” according to spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison. “However, the HR complaint was sent to outside counsel for review in conjunction with the staff member’s ethics complaint,” Harrison said. So far, the Town has paid $1,722 in legal fees for the investigation, according to billing statements.

by acts of omission, deception and outright lies.” He said Peterson hid the fact that she was the one who pushed for the amendments. The recommended motion was written as coming from Payne but when pressed by Councilman Laurin Hendrix at the meeting, Payne said Peterson asked him to Mayor Brigette Peterson during a Town Council meeting earlier draft the changes. this month came under fire for proposing limits on speakers at “The mayor deceived its meetings. (GSN file photo) the public by not listing herself as a sponsor,” Torgeson wrote. “She even had the Town “The law firm has not completed its investigation into any of the ethics com- Attorney write a memo, so it would applaints,” Harrison said. “The law firm pear as if it was coming from him.” Torgeson also questioned if Peterhas full autonomy to conduct the investigations and does not provide status son was truthful when she said she was updates to the Town. The Town will be looking into the changes because she reonly notified once the investigations are ceived concerns from a council member and multiple residents. complete and the findings are final.” “We have asked her to substantiate Torgeson claimed Peterson violated three sections of the code – Responsibil- that claim and provide the name of the ities of Public Service, Fairness and Re- council member as well as documentation substantiating she did in fact have spect and Loyalty. At the Aug. 3 meeting, Town Attorney multiple citizens contact her about the Chris Payne explained the changes were issue,” he wrote. “The mayor has plenty of personal needed to update and bring into conformotives to try and block public oppomity with current practice. Torgeson in his complaint claimed sition and it seems highly unlikely, not that Peterson failed “to meet reasonable to mention greatly convenient that the standards of integrity and honesty in mayor would just be responding to the several instances by knowingly and will- public concern on this issue.” Payne at the meeting stated there have ingly attempting to mislead the public and her fellow Council members either been no problems or complaints with

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the decades-old ordinance. Documents given to Gilbert Sun News showed the council member in question was Hendrix. In an email exchange with Peterson in May, Hendrix asked if there were any way to limit the scope and demeanor of pubic comments after a former employee at a council meeting made comments that Hendrix felt were degrading and demeaning to staff. “I believe that we have a duty to protect our staff from these sorts of abuse,” he wrote. Peterson responded that it was her understanding that the Council could not limit what people said during public comments. She said the former employee’s comments were an anomaly and that she would prefer “to let the public be heard.” “That’s really what they want and if it makes them feel better, we and staff can take the comments,” Peterson told Hendrix at the time. Nine days after the Aug. 3 meeting, Hendrix sent an email to Peterson reminding her of her inaction in May over his concerns. “It appears that three months later, when derogatory comments from the public were focused on you, as opposed to a town employee, that my concerns became more relevant,” Hendrix said. Torgeson also charged that Peterson violated the Loyalty section of the code by putting her interests above the public’s. He said the proposed changes

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

Teams, tribes lining up sports betting here BY JILL R. DORSON Sports Handle

s companies like Caesars, FanDuel, and Penn National Gaming build out sportsbooks at professional sports venues across the Valley, it’s no secret that sports betting is coming. And when it does, Arizona will be the biggest state in the West to launch live sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amatuer Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018. The Arizona Department of Gaming is targeting the first day of the NFL season, Sept. 9, to launch the first operators. And according to industry sources, many of the biggest, most well-known sports betting operators will be offering odds and taking bets. The Cardinals’ first game is set for Sept. 12 at the Tennessee Titans. The Arizona launch is poised to be the fourth in the U.S. this year – unless either Wyoming or South Dakota, both which are also moving toward offering live sports betting, get there first. In January, operators went live online in both Michigan and Virginia, and two North Carolina tribal casinos began taking bets in March. As legal sports betting has spread from Nevada to more than 30 other U.S. jurisdictions in the last three years, the western states have been a little behind the curve. And where sports betting is available, it’s not widely available. Lawmakers in Washington State legalized sports betting in March 2020 at brick-and-mortar locations only. The state regulator expects the first bets to be taken before the end of 2021. Live wagering west of the Mississippi is up and running in six states. In-person wagering is currently available at a handful of tribal sportsbooks in Oregon and New Mexico as well as at lottery-run kiosks throughout Montana, and in-person at handful of Arkansas venues. Consumers can wager on professional sports online/mobile in Oregon via the state’s lottery platform.

fer sports betting. According to the ADG, 16 tribes applied for licenses, but under the law, there are only 10 available. On the pro sports side, there are seven teams/franchises that clearly fit the bill, but the ADG said it got 10 applications. The agency said it will let those who are approved for licenses know by Aug. 27. At a meeting on Aug. 24, the ADG confirmed that approved daily fantasy operaStretching over 7,400 square feet, including an outdoor terrace, the FanDuel Sportsbook at Footprint Center will be fans’ one-stop-shop to enjoy Suns games and other sporting events around the world while placing wagers on tors can go live as earthe action. The sportsbook will feature five betting windows, and one VIP window, 40 HD televisions, a 35-foot ly at 12:01 a.m. Aug. video wall, an MVP Room and 26 self-service betting kiosks. he FanDuel Sportsbook will be open daily for patrons 28. Those that are licensed must also have to place wagers on a wide variety of events throughout the year. (Courtesy of FanDuel) received approval for internal controls and Statewide mobile wagering is avail- and we look forward to delivering an house rules from the ADG by 4 p.m. Aug. able in Colorado, Iowa, and Nevada, but above-and-beyond sports betting expe27. the Arizona launch represents only the rience with unique mobile and retail acIn addition, approved event wagering third new open, competitive market- tivations throughout the state,” Prevost operators can begin offering consumers place west of the Mississippi since PAP- said. the chance to create and fund accounts SA was overturned. Arizona’s new law allows for a maxbeginning at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 28. Big population excites operators imum 20 “event wagering operator” Approved operators can also begin With a population of just over 7 mil- licenses, divided evenly among tribal marketing to consumers at that time. lion, Arizona will be the biggest west- casinos and professional sports teams/ So far, BetMGM, FanDuel, and Penn ern state to open for sports betting by a franchises. National Gaming, which operates diglongshot. Those with a license will be able to itally as Barstool Sportsbook, say they It doesn’t hurt that the state is home operate at least one retail sportsbook received license approval. and Gila River to a professional sports team from each and up to two digital platforms. There Casinos on the tribal side. of the four major leagues, hosts NASCAR are an additional 10 retail-only licenses FanDuel, which was also approved as events, is a PGA Tour stop and has a pas- available for the state’s horse racetracks a daily fantasy sports operator, is partsionate college football fanbase. and OTBs. nered with the Phoenix Suns. Penn Na“We are very excited about the future Consumers will be able to wager tional Gaming is partnered with Phoenix in Arizona. During the NBA playoffs, the on professional, college, and Olympic Raceway. world learned that the state has one of sports. The new law is broad enough Operators have plans for brick-andthe most passionate fan bases in the that operators may ultimately be able mortar sportsbooks at professional vencountry,” Matt Prevost, chief revenue of- to offer betting on things like the Acadues – and some are also entitled to open ficer at BetMGM said. emy Awards, Heisman Trophy, and other a second location within a set distance of BetMGM has formed a partnership events that are not specifically tied to the stadium. with the Arizona Cardinals and the Gila sports. FanDuel has already released renderRiver Indian Community to offer sports Major operators have partners ings of a modern, state-of-the-art facilibetting at the team’s stadium and Wild While Arizona will ultimately offer ty in the works at the Footprint Center Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva consumers myriad choices in who to bet casinos. with, the design of the law means that see SPORTSBET page 7 “With that comes a lot of expectations some tribal casinos won’t be able to of-

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

SPORTSBET from page 6

while Caesars has plans to begin offering in-person wagering via kiosks at Chase Field as soon as possible. For the most part, operators plan to launch their mobile platforms on Sept. 9 with brick-and-mortar locations to follow. Sports betting companies partnered with tribes have been mostly mum about their license status, and the ADG is not releasing a list of applicants. The ADG said it would alert tribes by Aug. 16 if they made the first cut to be considered for a license. Industry sources say PointsBets’ partner the Yavapi-Apache Nation, which owns and operates the Cliff Castle Casino, made the first cut. It’s not clear how many of the other 15 also made the cut, but a total of nine tribes, including the Gila River Indian Community, have already announced sports betting partners. Arizona is among the first U.S. jurisdictions in which sportsbooks will exist at professional sports venues. Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena became the first pro venue in the country to accept wagers when it began doing so in the summer of 2020. And as of now, only Washington, D.C., Illinois, Maryland, and Arizona allow for sportsbooks in arenas. There are currently two open in Washington, since the BetMGM began accepting bets at Nationals Field earlier this year. Jill R. Dorson is the managing editor at sportshandle.com, a national sports betting website that focuses on sports

ETHICS from page 4

would have given Peterson authority to silence her critics. Peterson has come under fire since June for her perceived favoritism toward a developer who co-chaired her campaign last fall. Residents have called for her to resign. “The timing of this amendment is highly suspect in that it would allow the mayor to stop the public from publicly challenging her,” Torgeson wrote. He also accused Peterson of not treating all citizens fairly.

betting legislation and regulation. Dorson is a longtime newspaper sportswriter who covered everything from high school sports to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, but her specialty now is how sports betting is getting legalized and how it operates in different states across the U.S.

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The proposed changes also would have given the mayor the discretion of not hearing a presentation from an applicant during a public hearing. According to Torgeson, that was not only unfair to the applicants who would not have a chance to argue their cases but for the public to better understand the issues. After Council members voiced reservations with the proposed changes, Peterson tabled the issue for more study.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

GPS ups pay to recruit, keep bus drivers ilbert Public Schools is short 43 bus drivers so the Governing Board has approved a $2- perhour driving incentive to retain and attract more. Last week’s vote, which also included a $1-an-hour incentive for van drivers and bus monitors, will cost the district $490,000 with payroll benefits for the budget year. “It’s not an issue just in Gilbert,” said board member Sheila Rogers Uggetti. “We have to do what we have to do to get kids to school.” Not only is the district short of drivers but it’s seeing a fair amount of absenteeism as well, according to Bonnie Betz, assistant superintendent of Business Services. “We were hoping that by offering additional money for driving that it would incentivize more of our drivers, van drivers and bus monitors to schedule

their appointments when they’re not required to drive on behalf of our students,” Betz said. She said the intent is to offer the bonuses for a year with an assessment of how it’s working after the first semester. She said drivers with commercial driver licenses could each earn as much as $2,000 if they are at work every day that they’re scheduled. “That, of course, translate to our students getting to school and back home on time and regularly without interruption,” Betz said. The hourly pay for a bus driver ranges from $15.78 for part-time to $17.35 for full-time. Van drivers and bus monitors are given a lower bonus in hopes that it will spur them to obtain their CDL, Betz said. These incentives will only be paid for hours driving or supporting students. It will not be paid for sick leave, personal leave, holidays or other duties outside of directly supporting students, according to the district.

Other related positions – such as routers and mechanics – will only receive the bonus for the hours actually driving or directly supporting students. Board member Bill Parker noted, “It’s very difficult to get qualified bus drivers. They have to have a CDL, they have to have an air-brake test, they have to have a school bus test and when you lose one, you have to go through that whole process again. “So, these are very valuable people. Your kids might not remember who their teacher is but they sure know who the bus driver is. We owe these people a lot.” Board member Jill Humpherys said the bus-driver shortage is an issue she’s revisited about four to five times during her nine years on the board. “It has been an issue for a long time,” she said. “And I hope this will help us to solve that problem and get good, qualified people to be willingly to drive for us.” District spokeswoman Dawn Anteste-

nis said it’s common for school districts to be short bus drivers each year. “At Gilbert Public Schools we are addressing the driver shortage by involving all of our transportation team in driving buses at peak times, actively recruiting and implementing incentives to attract and retain drivers, as well as proactively arranging routes to ensure we can be as efficient and effective as possible for our students and families during this time.” She did not address the question if students were arriving to school or home late because of the shortage. The last time the district dealt with the issue was in the 2019 school year, where mechanics helped drive buses due to a shortage of drivers. The district that year also purchased new transportation routing software and increased wages and provided retention bonuses totaling $390,000 in order to attract and retain bus drivers and reduce the high

ventions just by the nature of being a kid,” she said. “We don’t really know the longterm effects of COVID…and we also don’t know the long-term effects of masking. “But we have seen short-term effects… which was suicide, depression, all sorts of mental health issues are just booming in children.” McAffee urged the board to listen to the community. “The people of Gilbert have spoken,” she said. “I would also encourage each of you, if you have not, drive by a school – elementary, junior high, high school. Check out what lunch looks like, walk the halls. No one’s wearing masks. The people have spoken. Masks aren’t the mitigation measure we were told they were especially on children.” She claimed that more children die by drowning and by car accidents than from COVID. “’Seriously people, stop buying masks they are not effective in preventing the

general public from catching coronavirus,’” said Todd Seimer. “This was from the Surgeon General Jerome Adams.” Adams, who served under former President Donald Trump, in February 2020 tweeted out his comment but later reversed his stance on masks. Seimer warned the board that if it mandated masks, the district risked losing students and as a result, funding. The three who spoke in favor of masks included 9-year-old Stella Lawless, who attended Greenfield Elementary. “I don’t feel safe,” said Stella, who wore a mask, “Here’s the reason why. Nobody is wearing masks and I have already been sick twice this year. Remember there are a lot of people suffering from COVID right now. So please make a change so people like me can feel safer.” Kelsey Wharton, mom to a 1-year-old and a first-grader and third-grader at Carol Rae Ranch Elementary, asked the board to do everything in its power to en-

courage face covering on campuses. “This year alone our school already has had nearly as many positive cases of COVID as we did all of last year,” Wharton said. “My family is just finishing quarantine after my third grader was exposed to a classmate who tested positive. “We have been in school 13 days at that point, barely getting into our routine and I am really worried about what the rest of the school year looks like both in terms of my children getting sick and also just the disruption to learning.” Case data last week put the GPS District in the red or “high community transmission,” according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. Superintendent Shane McCord and Jennefer Frost, Health Services director, reviewed the mitigation measures that have been in place and the quarantine protocols. Measures included following a 3-foot social distancing when possible, daily

cleaning and holding events outdoors if possible. Staff also is required to screen themselves daily for symptoms and contacts and social distancing are in effect for classroom and lunchroom seating. Masks, though optional, will be strongly encouraged and bullying of students over the use or non-use of face coverings will be addressed, McCord said, adding that the district also will be encouraging people to get vaccinated. Also, the district will update its COVID dashboard daily Monday through Friday, according to McCord. “As far as mitigation, I think we’re on the right path,” board member Bill Parker said. “The last thing in the world that I want to see is us to have to go back to remote learning. “We need kids in the classroom so the only thing I would ask is that we be flexible and we watch where we’re going and

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

MASKS from page 1

see BUS DRIVERS page 15

see MASKS page 10

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

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Higley discusses mitigation amid criticism BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ostponing or canceling non-essential field trips, reducing spectator attendance at events and returning to remote learning are possible should COVID-19 cases continue to increase at Highly Unified School District. The Governing Board last Wednesday reviewed the additional strategies, a week after opting not to reinstate mandatory masks on campuses. The three people who addressed the board, however, didn’t feel HUSD is doing enough to safeguard the safety of students. “It feels like we can look around as parents and see mitigations happening around us while HUSD has happily returned to 2019,” said Kathleen Richards, mom to two children unable to get the vaccine because they are under 12. “Are we even quarantining close contacts beyond football because it’s impossible for a parent to know without playing

a game of telephone” tag, Richards said. She pointed to Mesa Unified School District, which publicly discloses the number of people quarantined weekly. HUSD’s COVID dashboard only shows positive and resolved cases for each campus. “Something like this would afford families in HUSD the idea that something is actually happening as opposed to what it looks like now,” Richards said. She also asked the board to find a way to hold parents accountable for sending their sick children to school while waiting for the results of a COVID test. “They’re doing this because there are no consequences,” she said. Harrison said she personally knows of several families that have pulled their children out of the district or are looking for a new school because of the lack of mitigation in place. “These are families who put in time for teachers, who volunteer for school (and) donate items and money to help make HUSD a better place,” she said. “These are

the people leaving our district currently, leaving us with parents who come into board meetings screaming about liberties, accusing parents who mask their children of child abuse and generally behaving like kindergarteners throwing a tantrum. “That is who is staying and if we are truly OK with that kind of exodus of kindness and respect, what does that say about our commitment to the mission of HUSD?” Mindy Brocker also laid into the board. “I know that I’m talking into a void,” she said. “Care for our children is displayed by actions and this board does nothing, says nothing in any way that actually indicates to me that you have any intent to protect my children from COVID. “Mask mandates are still the most safe and reliable method to curb transmission in an indoor environment and you all know that whether you want to believe it.” She accused the board of twisting the facts to fit their personal narratives and

said she was assured that the additional mitigations presented at the meeting would be “thoughtful” and put into place to help protect children. “I now know that’s not true,” Brocker said. “The level of mitigations this district is allowing is a sad shadow of what you should be doing. In all they’re actually decreasing and to be honest I’ve never been so stunningly disappointed in a set of adults in my entire life.” She ended by saying she hoped to get the opportunity to hold the board accountable for its inaction. Of the six additional strategies proposed during the school day, three have already been implemented after the first quarter, according to Sherry Richards, executive director of elementary education. Suspending non-essential visits, volunteers and activities involving outside groups, suspending assemblies and large-group gatherings and having elementary students start the day in their

see HIGLEY page 10

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

HIGLEY from page 9

homerooms are in effect, Richards said. The other three mitigation steps include using outdoor learning activities when weather permits, postponing or canceling non-essential travel or field trips and quarantine under the direction of Maricopa County Department of Public Health. For activities outside of the school day, mitigation strategies from last year are in effect such as offering live streaming of events, increasing cleaning of athletic spaces and equipment and having students bring their own water to practice, said David Loutzenheiser; executive di-

rector of Secondary Education. He said unlike last year, the district has not made any changes to limiting spectators at events like sports and concerts. Superintendent Dawn Foley said if the county health department were to require a temporarily halt in in-person learning, the district would assess the current conditions and transition a campus, school group or grade level to remote learning during the quarantine period. Board President Kristina Reese, who failed to garner support at the Aug. 19

meeting to reinstate masks, said there were changes in how the county quarantines. “I just want to kind of give a heads up that we have heard from neighboring districts (without mask mandates) who’ve already been notified that quarantining is changing,” Reese said. “What it looks like is, when quarantine happens, that potentially we will be looking at quarantining more people per case. “It looks like our turn is probably coming and we will hear from them, which will change some of our quarantining. We don’t have the specifics on our dis-

trict yet. But change is probably coming.” Foley said, “We’ve been quarantining in consultation with the health department agent every time just as we are supposed to. “We follow the letter and again as we shared there are a lot of evolving parts and pieces to these that continue to evolve and we are part of all those conversations and discussions and when there are issues or concerns they are being directed to school districts and we are working through that with them and will be responding as we are as we have all along under direction.”

be willing to look at other solutions if we have to and hopefully we won’t.” Board member Jill Humpherys, the only one on the dais wearing a mask, said the use of face coverings should be a state, not a local school board decision. She urged that those who can, to wear a mask to help reduce cases as the hospitals are getting full with people stricken with COVID.

“We need to be careful to slow down the spread to help our health care workers get through this,” she said. “And we can look forward hopefully to a vaccination for our children probably in December or January but we still have several months to get through, especially for those elementary kids. “We have children in our schools that are medically fragile, who have special

needs or who have health conditions. I hope that we would be as thoughtful and kind about helping them get through this as well. I would encourage our community to come together to support our kids and if your child could wear a mask and you could mask to help us get through this, it would be so appreciated.” Board member Sheila Rogers Uggetti, who attended the meeting via phone,

echoed Humpherys’ sentiments and asked McCord what he was seeing with the use of masks when he visited the campuses. McCord said he had no specific number but he could address it anecdotally. “At some schools, I would say on average about 20 percent of the students and staff (are) wearing masks and 80 percent (are) not,” he said.

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Alice Cooper is ready to rock again in region

BY TOM SCANLON GSN Staff Writer

lice Cooper is almost literally “the grandfather of shock rock.” The grandfather part is legit, as he had Desiree, his 1-year-old granddaughter, on his lap during an interview. Now 73, Vincent Furnier started shocking audiences with a mixture of hard rock and wild stage antics (like a mock guillotine) more than a half-century ago. Alice Cooper (now his legal name) rocked out at live shows multiple nights a week since launching the band in Glendale in 1964, pausing only to get sober in the mid-1980s, after soaking himself in alcohol for decades. After his system was shocked by the live-concert lockdown of the pandemic, Alice Cooper is ready to rock out once again. “We’re at the starting gate,” he said last week, from his Phoenix home. “We

Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Alice Cooper will play a free show in Mesa. The 5:30 p.m. show is a grand opening for the Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center at 122 N. Country Club Drive, Allice cooper’s free concert at 5:30 p.m. this Friday is the grand opening where kids for the Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center at 122 N. Country Club have been takDrive, Mesa. (GSN file photo) ing music, art go back on tour Sept. 17, for 25 shows. and dance lessons since the center Then, after Christmas break, we’ll be opened two months ago. The event will feature performances back out for our next run of six-to-seven by the Joeys, Japhar Pullen, Moon Racmonths.” The west side native will sharpen his er with Djimon, Solid Rock Dancers and several teen musicians from the Alice chops at an East Valley show. On Sept. 3, two weeks before playing Cooper Rock Teen Center, in Phoenix. The show also kicks off the annual the 5,000-seat Ovation Hall at Ocean

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Proof is in the Pudding contest. Alice Cooper’s Proof is in the Pudding is a contest, with the winner landing a slot to open for Alice at his annual Christmas Pudding concert/fundraiser Dec. 4 at the Celebrity Theatre Phoenix. Though the competition also paused for the pandemic last year, typically scores of bands and soloists join the competition. After the kickoff at the new Mesa teen center, the competition will continue over the next few months at venues around the Valley, including the Mesa Arts Center. Since the professional musicians he tours with are spread out from Nashville to Switzerland, Cooper will be backed at the Mesa show by some of the more polished musicians from his teen centers. They’ll play hits like “School’s Out” and “I’m 18,” plus some covers of his rock-and-roll friends. “We stay within the Beatles-Stones

see COOPER page 13

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

COOPER from page 12

classic rock stuff,” Cooper said. If he was 18 again, ready to start a band in 2021, what would Alice Cooper do? “Knowing what I know now, I would make the band sit and listen to Beatles songs. And then I would make them listen to the Yardbirds and the Who,” he said without hesitating. “And I would say, ‘OK, now let’s find something in between’...That’s what the Alice Cooper band did. And we threw in some ‘West Side Story,’ a little John Barry James Bond theme. We let a lot of things influence us.” It worked out pretty well. Alice Cooper has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Unlike Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and others from his party crowd, Cooper lived to enjoy his acclaim. Those others called their informal drinking club “The Hollywood Vampires,” a name Cooper uses for an all-star band featuring actor-rocker Johnny Depp and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. Cooper said he was headed down the same path to an early coffin. “I had to quit everything,” he said, reflecting on nearly four decades of sobriety. “Never tried to slow down. If I got into a hospital, I was not going to slow down — I was going to quit. That was 39 years ago. “I was throwing up blood in the morning. A doctor said, ‘I would give you another month before you join your buddies.’” Cooper had been in the audience of enough rock-star funerals — and didn’t

want to headline one. “I came out of the hospital and never had another thought about drinking. Or drugs. God performed a miracle. He said, ‘I’m going to move this out of your life.’” After drying out and getting used to being sober, Cooper started touring again. Where some rockers love to hit the road to get away from their spouses, Alice Cooper takes his wife with him: Sheryl Goddard, a dancer-choreographer, has been part of his act for years. The two have three adult children, daughters Sonora and Calico and son Dashiell, who followed his father’s footsteps as a rocker and fronts the band CO-OP. What advice did Alice Cooper give his son? “I told him, ‘The most important thing I can teach you is have an incredibly good Plan B.’ Not everyon’es going to make it in music,” Cooper reflect. “In fact, very few people make it in music.” Asked what his own backup plan was, back in the Sixties, Cooper laughed. “We had no Plan B!” he shouted. “We quit college and went to LA. We were not going to stop till we made it.”

To register or for more information about Alice Cooper’s Proof is in the Pudding Musical Talent Search, text Proof to 480-351-1765 or visit alicecoopersolidrock.com/ events/. Registration closes Sep. 1.

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Firms can demand vaccinated employees, patrons BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

rivate businesses in Arizona are free to require that their workers be vaccinated against COVID-19 and can make the same demand on customers, Attorney General Mark Brnovich concluded last week. But the attorney general’s 40-page legal opinion said neither of those rights is absolute. In both cases, businesses must provide “reasonable accommodations’’ for those who cannot get vaccinated due to a disability. And they must not discriminate against customers who will not get inoculated due to a sincerely held religious belief. He laid out ways that employers can deal with workers, like staggered schedules, telework assignments and mask requirements. Brnovich, however, had no real answers for how a grocery store, bar,

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restaurant, retail outlet or even movie theater could meet their burden to provide a reasonable accommodation, especially as federal law does not require a company to make changes that would “fundamentally alter’’ their services. Press aide Katie Conner said, “It’s not our job to say exactly how they can do it. It’s our job to interpret the law as it’s currently written, not to come up with a policy for them.’’ Strictly speaking, the formal opinion has no force of law like a court ruling. But it can be cited when there is litigation. While Brnovich is providing broad authority to private employers, he is siding with the state and Gov. Doug Ducey, who contend that a state law that takes effect on Sept. 29 precludes governments from imposing vaccine mandates. The conclusions come amid increased public debate about the rights of those who, for whatever reason, have decided not to get the vaccine.

These range from arguments about personal liberties to questions about the vaccine’s safety given that it has not been given full approval by the federal Food and Drug Administration but instead is being distributed under an “emergency use authorization.’’ The FDA has approved the vaccine. Brnovich suggested that he’s not entirely comfortable with his conclusions. “The attorney general ... believes strongly that government should not mandate that citizens relinquish their bodily liberty and undergo vaccination,’’ he wrote. “The law does not always reflect good public policy,’’ Brnovich said. “And our role with respect to an attorney general opinion is to say what the law is, not what it should be.’’ For employees with medical reasons for not getting vaccinated, he said there are accommodations that can be made like “teleworking, masking, social distancing, enhanced sanitation measures,

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and/or staggered work schedules.’’ He said that is covered under the federal Civil Rights Act, which bar discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. That law, in turn, defines “religion’’ to include all aspects of religious observance and practices as well as beliefs. But there is language that provides an “out’’ for employers who can demonstrate an inability to reasonably accommodate a worker’s religious observance or practice “without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business.’’ And it’s even more complicated than that. The leaders of various religious groups, including the Pope and the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have issued statements saying the inoculations do not run afoul of church doctrine. That even includes the fact that some of the vaccines are the

see VACCINE page 15

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absenteeism. In 2020, it didn’t seem to be as pressing an issue as students went into remote learning for parts of the year due to the pandemic. Over at Higley Unified School District, about a third of the student population size of GPS’s, it’s looking to immediately hire 12 bus drivers, according to spokeswoman Teresa Joseph. “To address this shortage, in the short-term, we are outsourcing a few of our SPED routes and all athletic and field trips that conflict with route times,” Joseph said in an email. “Additionally, we are looking to organize a classified job fair for all frontline-type workers, we are exploring a potential retention stipend as part of ESSER III, (federal pandemic relief funding) and potentially a recruitment stipend for transportation. “In the long-term, we will be re-evaluating our classified hourly schedule to see if we should be increasing our rates across the board.”

VACCINE

from page 14

result of research on fetal tissue. But Brnovich said their opinions are not the test. “The fact that no religious group espouses such beliefs or the fact that the religious group to which the individual professes to belong may not accept such belief will not determine whether the belief is a religious belief of the employee or prospective employee,’’ he said. Instead, it has to be “measured by the employee’s words and conduct at the time the conflict arose between the belief and the employment requirement.’’

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Water tower changes colors in boy’s honor BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE GSN Contributor

t was a bittersweet moment for Allison D’Ambrosia Bones last Wednesday as the Gilbert Water Tower was lit orange for three days. Bones lost her 4-year-old son Travis to the reason behind the color change. At the same time, it also marked another milestone in Bones’ effort to raise awareness of the birth defect that took Travis from her. Travis died from Isolated Congenital Asplenia, a genetic birth defect that leaves a child with a partial spleen, none at all or a non-functioning organ. In Travis’ honor, Bones started T.E.A.M. 4 Travis, the only organization in the world dedicated to raising awareness of ICA. “Travis brought laughter, smiles and fun to every moment,” Bones said. “He collected friends everywhere he went. T.E.A.M. 4 Travis helps me share his light and love of life and does something good to help other kids.” Gov. Doug Ducey declared Aug. 25,

As she waited for the Water Tower to light up, Allison D’Ambrosia Bones last Wednesday held a picture of her late son, Travis. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer) the third anniversary of Travis’ death, T.E.A.M. 4 Travis Asplenia Awareness Day in Arizona. Bones shared her son’s story and her nonprofit’s mission with the Gilbert Town Council and invited them to see the Gilbert Water Tower lit in Travis’ favorite

color from Aug. 25-27. “I hope that people will see the water tower and take a chance to learn more about Asplenia,” Bones said. “I hope that they’ll consider Travis’ story and reach out to us to look for other ways to get involved.”

years,” she said. “It’s a safe space where I can play and create freely. It’s the place that I can say that outside of my family’s influence, shaped me into the person I am today. “From being one of the performers to myself then being one of those adults shaping the performers who came after me, it’s been an honor to be part of EVCT’s impact on our community,” she added. For nearly 25 years, the Mesa-based children’s theater has shepherded nearly 14,000 youth ages 5 to 18 who have donned costumes, assumed roles, walked, danced, sung and spoken their

practiced words on stage. The nonprofit has produced 86 shows and has grown from a single production and workshop in the first year to a full-service theater offering numerous additional programs, classes, camps and performance troupes among them. It’s also known for its playwriting contest, presenting original works for children annually. EVCT was an all-volunteer organization until two years ago, when it hired an office manager and a bookkeeper. Its current annual budget is about $250,000 and its main donors have included The Boeing Co. of Mesa and Arizona Commis-

The spleen is a vital part of the immune defense system. It fights against infections by producing antibodies and filters our blood, removing old red blood cells and bacteria from circulation. Without a functioning spleen, a bacterial infection could kill a child. “Travis was perfectly healthy,” Bones said. “We never had any indication that he was born without a spleen and that the spleen was such a critical part of a young child’s immune system.” In ICA, there are no other developmental abnormalities, which makes detection of the life-threatening condition difficult. In addition, the spleen is not palpable and prenatal screenings for the defect do not exist. For this reason, ICA is severely underdiagnosed and oftentimes not detected until after a child dies. It wasn’t until Travis suddenly passed from sepsis that his autopsy revealed his ICA. “I figured that if I didn’t know, as involved and overprotective as I was, how

see TOWER page 17

EV Children’s Theatre marks 25 years BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

25-year-long love letter to creating, performing, growing and making friends that have become

family. That’s how C. Lynn Johnson describes East Valley Children’s Theatre. The Gilbert woman’s talents run the gamut from theater hair stylist to playwright, all of which have won her awards. As a teen, she starred in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the theater’s first production. “EVCT has been family to me for 25

sion on the Arts. “I just enjoy working with the theater; I enjoy the kids,” said Karen Rolston, the producing artistic director who played a vital role in the theater’s development. Rolston, a teacher from Mesa Public Schools, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Arizona State University, took on the theater in her retirement. Now that the 25th season is about to begin, she plans to retire in earnest. Also departing is Kathie McMahon, who served in many roles within the organization, the last as past president, head of the

see THEATRE page 17

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

THEATRE from page 16

advisory board and marketing director. McMahon, who leads the 25th year anniversary celebration committee, observed, “From performing in a junior high auditorium to becoming a Founding Resident Company of the Mesa Arts Center; from rehearsal in a pre-school building to offering classes, troupes, camps, and performances in a four-suite studio; from an unknown theatre to a highly regarded, award-winning nonprofit organization; it’s been a miraculous 20-plus years.” A professional musician, McMahon composed original music for seven of EVCT’s productions. She received six ariZoni nominations and four garnered awards. Parents enroll children in the theater for many reasons, but interest is perhaps key. Five years ago, Tre Moore of Mesa was enrolled in a musical theater summer camp. That was the beginning of a new passion for the now 17-year-old. “Theatre appeals to me because the possibilities are endless. Nothing is impossible in theatre. With the right amount of imagination, you can go just about anywhere,” said the self-confessed “completely unapologetic Broadway and musical theatre nerd.” Parent volunteer Marco Velasquez Sr. of Gilbert said that he enrolled his son, Marco Velasquez Jr. four years ago because he expressed a sincere interest in it. His daughter followed suit. Now 13, Marco is a seasoned thespian. He began at 9 with a performance with EVCT’s Performance Troupes and moved to stage productions for eight shows and participated in three virtual productions. His 6-year-old sister Victoria, also a participant, performed in a cabaret show

and a production of Tales with Baba Yaga & A Bowl of Soup. Their father says it has been one of the best decisions he’s made for his children and his family. “EVCT provides a place where our children can perform, grow in confidence and respect of theatre and their fellow performers, and experience true joy. It’s just such an incredible experience we’ve been fortunate to have,” he said. “EVCT is so unique in that they’ve created a community and home whereby our children are challenged, can grow in confidence, and can experience such fun and beautiful experiences that we, as a family can also enjoy,” said Velasquez, who considers himself an unofficial ambassador for the organization. The theater has drawn some kids out of their shell. “EVCT has shown me how to show up confidently in a space, be myself, and not worry about looking funny,” Tre said. “I have always been extroverted and outgoing, but EVCT has definitely kept that spark alive. Some non-theatre related skills last much longer than the applause. Tre lists learning the importance of teamwork, time management, adaptability and sociability as part of his theater education. East Valley Children’s Theater was created when there was nothing similar in the area. Its precursor is the Chandler Children’s Theatre, begun by Robert and Patricia Goyer in 1994. They have since both passed. The organization dissolved after a few years, but the community-minded group, which also included Angie Majed, Christi

Moffat, Hazel Morgan and Steve Furedy, decided to build it. In 1997, they reorganized it with a grant from The Boeing Co. “There wasn’t anything like this at that time. Now there are lots of children’s theaters. In the late 1990s and the early 2000s, there wasn’t anything. It was important for them for something to be here,” Rolston recalled. In 2005, shows were moved to the prestigious stage at Mesa Arts Center. Rolston organized a playwriting contest around the same time due to a dearth of plays written for children with a focus on stories and fairy tales. “It has been so successful,” she said. The last competition received about 60 entries from around the world. Johnson is perhaps a poster child of how children’s theater can shape someone’s life. She has written about 10 of the plays that EVCT has performed over the years and has won original script AriZoni’s four times. “One of my favorite parts of writing for children is the out-of-the-box way they interpret my work,” Johnson said. “Kids are so creative and unencumbered by expectations and preconceived notions. They’re spongey-clay, soaking everything up and ready to be molded.” Everybody is equal on stage. “Everybody welcomes them and they can be themselves and not worry about being judged about who they were or where they come from,” Rolston said. “Theater is like that.” Even during the pandemic’s peak, EVCT managed to produce plays virtually, making good use of technology. “In a field where theatres open and

many other parents are out there with children that Asplenia is just waiting to strike?” Bones said. Bones wants to prevent other families from experiencing such a tragedy, so T.E.A.M. 4 Travis focuses on raising awareness, providing information about ICA to medical and patient communities, promoting newborn screenings and supporting medical research to further understand ICA’s cause, diagnosis and

treatment. T.E.A.M. 4 Travis is hosting a golf tournament Oct. 17 at Top Golf in Glendale to celebrate Travis’ life and support their mission to end ICA child mortality. A goal is to raise as much money as possible to fund ICA research. Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit organization serving the rare-disease community, opens an application period at the end of each year for organizations

seeking research grants. If T.E.A.M. 4 Travis is selected and if it can provide at least a $10,000 match, Bones’ nonprofit could further Asplenia research. T.E.A.M. 4 Travis also has a rock project to raise Asplenia awareness all over the world. “What started as a quirky idea has turned into a global movement,” Bones said. In June 2019, Travis’ “Aunt Rena” cre-

TOWER from page 16

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Karen Rolston close all the time, and especially during the last year-and-half when theaters went dark across the world, this feels like an almost miraculous milestone,” Johnson said.

ANNIVERSARY YEAR

East Valley Children’s Theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary season from Sept. 23 to June 26 at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. Sept. 23-Oct. 3: The Clumsy Princess Dec. 2-12: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the musical Feb. 10-20: The Prince and the Pauper, the musical June 16-26: Marion and the Merry Men, A New Legend of Robin Hood. Season tickets cost: $50 per person. Details: 480-756-3828 or evct.org

ated the Orange Rock Project to spread ICA awareness and happiness. Individuals can paint a rock orange and write “#SpreadTravisLove” on top then leave it anywhere in the world. Travis rocks have been found in all 50 states and several foreign countries. “When you see orange, think of a happy little boy who was gone too soon,” Bones said. “Help spread his legacy.” To donate: team4travis.org.

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Private chef’s business is booming BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE GSN Contributor

usiness is booming for Chef William Turner, a private chef whose work is the subject of a documen-

tary. The documentary, “Cooking on Camelback,” is to air on Channel 7 then be available on Amazon. “If you love food and if you love the underdog, then you should be excited,” said Turner of the documentary, which looks at what it takes to be a private chef. Turner started his culinary journey in South Carolina two decades ago, then traveled from coast to coast as an executive chef with extensive experience in casual dining, fine dining and banquets until settling in Gilbert. “I wouldn’t be here without the support that I’ve gotten in the Valley,” he said. “People have opened doors for me… I’ve been welcomed and it’s an honor.” Turner, 42, moved to Arizona in 2017. Without any business contacts in the Valley, he wasn’t sure what was next in store. He decided to start his own private chef business in December 2017, focusing primarily on affluent homes in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. “I got on a borrowed computer, quickly launched my website and Yelp and ordered business cards,” Turner said. “At 8 a.m. the next morning, my phone rang and it was my first client.” At the time, Turner didn’t even own a car, so he had to take Lyft rides to his clients’ homes. “I took a bus down Scottsdale Road, got off at Fashion Square Mall with a pocketful of business cards and started walking around, passing out my business cards,” he recalled. “The first place I went into was Optima and three days later they called me up and hired me.”

- except for Chef Turner! I joke with the girls, you said ‘I do’ just so that I’d cook for you, didn’t you?” Turner chuckled. The chef attributes his popularity with the ladies to his southern charm and hospitality as well as the fact that women plan their bachelorette parties well in advance. They are already trying to book him for 2023. “Whenever I do my job, I do it well,” he said. “I give these girls an experience Chef William Turner has found his services in great demand at private home gatherings, particularly when they won’t forget in a fun, it comes to bachelorette parties. (Courtesy of Chef Turner) safe environment. They know that they’re going to than 1,000 private par- get great food and that whatever needs ties since he launched they have will be taken care of by my his business, which con- team and I.” tinues to grow every In addition to bringing on new chefs week. to help him handle the large volume He has been featured of business, Turner also works with in multiple publications an experienced group of servers, barand appeared over 40 tenders and event coordinators. times on popular TV When he enters homes, he prepares shows between Tucson five-star meals on demand that meet and Phoenix. He also any request or dietary need. His cuisine maintains a strong social is wide-ranging, often entwined with a media presence as well as southern flare. Clients are welcome to a five-star rating across interact and watch Turner cook, or they all platforms. can relax until dinner is served. Turner’s specialty is “Cooking gives you an instant family in-home private events and group of friends,” he said. “It keeps for any occasion or des- me busy and gives me a purpose.” tination, but he is best Turner is the preferred chef for many known for working Scott- politicians, athletes, musicians and Chef William Turner of Gilbert moved to Arizona in 2017 sdale-area bachelorette other celebrities staying in the Valley. and has parlayed his skill in the kitchen into a thriving busi- parties. “You name it and I’ve cooked for them,” ness. (Special to GSN) Women around the he said. “I never know who’s going to world fly to Arizona to contact me. I meet so many people and I specifically hire Turner as their chef for could tell you a story about every single Flash forward almost four years later. Turner recently started doing his private events. one of them.” The rule of the bachelorette party cooking out of a professional kitchen in Chandler and has cooked for more weekend is simple: “No Men Allowed” see CHEF page 19

BUSINESS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

CHEF from page 18

Turner was 14 when he started his career. Inside the hot, bustling kitchen of a local seafood restaurant in South Carolina, he peeled shrimp, cut fish and washed dishes. The cook there notoriously missed work, so after only two weeks into his first job, Turner was pulled from dishes and prep work and promoted to the grill. “I got bit by the bug,” he said. “It happened almost instantly and I don’t think I realized it. I fell in love with cooking.” By 16, he entered the fast food business and within six months was the manager of an eatery where he was given much more responsibility than the average teen and quickly learned tough lessons about the industry. “In hindsight, I had no business running a restaurant,” he laughed. Turner helped open a new McDonalds in his hometown and had to train 80 employees. Amid a high turnover, he worked 24 hours straight. “It was trial by fire,” he said. Turner soon left the fast food industry because it was too controlled and he sought more creative freedom. So, he took on fine dining. “In two weeks, I went from the salad guy to the guy cooking the steaks,” he said. Turner worked in steakhouses for about eight years, then bounced around other corporate restaurants until he was almost 30. Then, he was brought in as sous-chef at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. The executive chef left a few months after Turner started, so he was given the position of executive chef and assistant event coordinator. Simultaneously he was studying business in college, so he took a step down to work at the DeBordieu Club in Georgetown, South Carolina, as sous-chef. After that, Turner left South Carolina and spent years as an executive traveling chef, running restaurants from New Orleans to Wyoming. “All those years were long hours,” he said. “When you’re really good in the kitchen, they ride you like a thoroughbred. It catches up with you, so a lot of chefs burn out… There’s so much pres-

sure and responsibility.” Turner wanted a change of scenery, so when he saw photos of Yellowstone National Park, he immediately googled “cooking chef jobs in Yellowstone” and sent his resume to the first thing that popped up. Turner was hired, took a pay cut and went to Pahaska Tepee Resort in Yellowstone for four months. It was such a wonderful experience he tried to recreate his experience in different places, including Colorado and Montana. He had a stop in New Orleans, where he took a break from the national park circuit and became executive banquet chef at the Chateau Golf & Country Club. “I already had fast food experience, then I went into fine dining, then banquets,” Turner said. “Banquets were the final piece of the puzzle for me.” He often cooked for hundreds of guests at a time, most memorably at the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament. Once he was in Arizona, Turner had no idea what was next in store for him until his family in Tucson talked about Scottsdale. “I heard it was a very spiritual city,” Turner said. “I felt like I needed some healing. I needed to be around people who could elevate me.” He had planned on staying for only a couple of weeks but fell in love with the East Valley. He was exposed to yoga and meditation techniques. “I feel like people like me from the South and small towns set limits for ourselves and what we can achieve,” he said. “I had to rewire that so that I could feel like I could achieve more.” Turner focused on himself and dabbled in catering until launching his private chef business in December 2017. Turner hopes to launch his own charity one day as he is passionate about education and bringing high quality food to people in low-income areas. “My goal is to eventually get to the point where I can give back,” Turner said. “I want to focus on helping other people.” Information: chefwilliamturner.com.

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Football preview: Williams Field hitting ‘reset’ after COVID season BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

This is part two of a two-part series previewing Gilbert high school football teams ahead of the 2021 season.

he 2020 football season, played during the COVID-19 pandemic, was an anomaly for the Williams Field High School program. It was the first time in program history the Blackhawks didn’t make the playoffs. Though, that can be attributed to the eight-team playoff brackets instituted by the AIA because of the pandemic. Normally, 16 teams enter the playoffs. Nonetheless, the Blackhawks, who went 5-3 last season, are biting at the bit to return to postseason play in 2021. Head coach Steve Campbell, who has led the team to two state titles, said that in many ways the 2020 season has allowed him to hit the reset button on the program. “There were a lot of weird things last year,” Campbell said. “You look at the rankings and you see yourself sitting at nine and you think, ‘ok, not too bad.’ But last year we were still out because only eight made it. It was a different vibe. “But it gives us the opportunity to start over in the spring and bring back some traditions we couldn’t do last year. It allowed us to reset.” Williams Field is one of several teams in the East Valley, and specifically in Gilbert, returning key players for the new season. CJ Tiller, who started on varsity last year as a sophomore, returns for his junior year. In just eight games, Tiller threw for 1,428 yards through the air and connected with wideouts nine times for a touchdown. He said last offseason was difficult for him to get a feel for his teammates and build chemistry on the field. Like

The new football season after a difficult 2020 allows head coach Steve Campbell to hit the rest button on his Williams Field football team, which includes reintroducing the culture of the program and its traditions. (Zac BonDurant/GSN Contributor) most schools, Williams Field was limited throughout the spring and summer. All spring meetings took place via zoom and summer workouts were pushed back and delayed at times due to rising cases in the state. But this offseason, with key COVID-19 metrics declining in the spring, Tiller was able to build a better rapport with his teammates. They worked throughout spring on the field and in the Blackhawks’ new state-of-the-art field house that includes an indoor turf area and weight room. Overall, he’s confident Williams Field will return to its winning ways. “I didn’t get the chemistry with my guys last year, which kind of held me back a little bit,” Tiller said. “We were able to go to camp this year and play in 7s which has helped a lot. At Williams Field, we just go out and play football. That’s what we plan to do this year. We all can’t wait.” Tiller’s ability to lead the offense will

come with some relative ease. Especially when considering the talent around him. Williams Field has a three-headed monster at tailback with seniors Kaden Cloud, Aziya Jamison and junior Joshua Dye in the backfield. The trio combined for just over 800 yards on the ground last season with only Cloud playing all eight games. Williams Field also saw contributions from LaSjawn Hunter and Joshua Sovereign out of the backfield, both of which will play a variety of positions in 2021. Hunter and junior Kyler Kasper are the top two returning wideouts from a year ago, with standout Myles Taylor now at South Dakota State. Kasper, a 6-foot-6 junior, has seen his stock rise this offseason with offers from several major Division I college football programs, including Arizona, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA and USC, among others. Kasper expects to take his game to another level alongside Tiller in the new season. Not only have they been able

to work together throughout the entire offseason – on several occasions outside of practice – but they both have a desire to reestablish Williams Field as an East Valley power. Perhaps the only question mark for Williams Field will be along the offensive line, where two of last year’s five starters return. But the coaches and players all have confidence in their big men. They believe they will hold up against their competition. They showed poise in Williams Field’s scrimmage against a talented Chandler defensive front. Now they set their sights on Higley, their biggest rival, on Sept. 3 to open the season. “I feel like last season was alright,” said Kasper, who had 412 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season. “This season, though, it’s going to be different. Me and CJ, we were able to get our chemistry down which will make a huge difference. Everyone talks about our line holding up but we all have confidence in them. We just can’t wait.”

Campo Verde A year removed from competing for its first-ever state title in 2019, Campo Verde found itself on the outside looking in with the AIA’s playoff format for the 2020 season. The Coyotes finished 5-3 overall under new head coach Ryan Freeman but were within two scores of two out of three of its losses. Reilly Garcia returns under center for the Coyotes with an offensive line led by senior standout Hunter Seelye. On defense, the Coyotes’ leading tackler Connor Calloway returns at linebacker. Campo Verde opens the season Sept. 3 against Desert Edge.

Gilbert Head coach Derek Zellner has made it his mission to get the Gilbert program

see

FOOTBALL page 21

SPORTS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

FOOTBALL from page 20

into the playoffs and secure its first postseason win in several years. The Tigers went 3-5 overall last season and have some new faces at key positions, including Ethan Greenburg at quarterback. Gilbert does, however, return playmakers Carter Dickie and Cooper Zellner, who both will make an impact on both sides of the ball.

Higley Higley will have a new starting quarterback for the first time in two years after the departure of Kai Millner to Cal. The Knights went 4-4 last season, missing the playoffs in its first season at the 6A level. One of the biggest questions surrounding this team in 2021 is who will take over under center. Junior Cash Merrell has shared time with freshman Jamar Malone, who is already on the radar of Division I colleges. On defense, the Knights will have a talented secondary led by junior Nijrell Eason. Higley opens the season Sept. 3 against rival Williams Field.

Highland Highland, fresh off a 6A championship loss, is determined to return to the title game and this time take it all

Oregon. Saenz primarily played tight end last year for the Wildcats, but always dreamed of the day he would be able to take over at quarterback. He will have several new faces around him as Marshall commit Andrew Morris – who primarily plays defense – is the only returning wideout for the Wildcats that had considerable stats last season. On defense, Jaedyn Winston will return to the Mesquite secondary to help Morris after recording three interceptions in 2020. Mesquite opens the 2021 season Sept. 3 against Cactus, a rematch of last year’s 4A title game.

Williams Field junior quarterback CJ Tiller said this offseason has been drastically better than the last, as he was able to build chemistry with his teammates for the first time since he joined the varsity roster. (Zac BonDurant/GSN Contributor) if the Hawks don’t find themselves in the Open Division. Gage Dayley returns for his third and final year under center for Highland with several playmakers around him, including Jace Patton and transfers Kaimana Hanohano and Ethan Svoboda. On defense, Highland will be led by 6-foot-7 defensive end Fisher Camac

and star linebacker Carson Allen. Highland hosts Boulder Creek on Sept. 3 to open the season.

protecting that which makes college sports so special for our student-athletes, alumni and fans.” The decision could pave the way for matchups appealing to Pac-12 fans, such as Arizona State-Ohio State or Arizona-Clemson. It also has the potential to give the alliance leverage in determining the structure of a 12-team College Football Playoff format, in how playoff games are divvied up among bowl games like the Fiesta and in television contract negotiations. There is no signed contract or legal document to bind the alliance, as it operates under a gentlemen’s agreement. However, the conferences will join forces on critical issues in college athletics. “It’s about trust,” ACC commissioner

Jim Phillips said. “It’s about, we’ve looked each other in the eye. We’ve made an agreement. We have great confidence and faith.” Among the prevalent issues within collegiate athletics the alliance hopes to address are athlete mental and physical health; strong academic experience and support; diversity; gender equity; future structure of the NCAA; and postseason championships and future formats. In the wake of plans by Texas and Oklahoma to move from the Big 12 to the SEC by 2025, the new alliance between the three Power Five conferences will add much-needed leverage for the 41 institutions involved. “I wouldn’t say this is a reaction to Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC,” said

Mesquite Fresh off two straight 4A championships, Mesquite will look to Gerardo Saenz to take over the offense after Ty Thompson graduated and went off to

Perry It was a tough season for Perry in 2020 after going 0-6 with two missed games due to COVID. Head coach Preston Jones will have to find a new starting quarterback after Dane White graduated. Colter Brown saw some time under center last year but junior Jack Amer and senior Gavin Reetz are both fighting for the spot as well. Perry does return most of its leading tacklers from last season, including Kolton Cunningham and Aiden Herring. The Pumas open the season on Thursday, Sept. 2 against Desert Vista.

New alliance shakes up college football BY CLAIRE CORNELIUS Cronkite News

he ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences announced an official alliance last week – a move that could impact the athletic programs at Arizona State and Arizona as well as the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. “Despite the shifting landscape, there are some critical constants among many college athletics, and specifically among everyone of the 41 institutions in our three conferences,” said new Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff. “These constants include a resolute commitment to our student-athlete, a commitment to both academic and athletic excellence and a commitment to

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. “But I think, to be totally candid, you have to evaluate what’s going on in the landscape of college athletics.” The three conferences’ similar philosophies could also point toward a unified voting block in future NCAA governances. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 is still considering adding new members to its conference and will have a decision by the end of the week. Football teams in the Pac-12 and Big Ten currently play nine conference games each season, but the alliance could reduce that number to eight and add a game against one of the other alliance conferences. However, football scheduling is done years in advance, so change could take time.

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Air Conditioning/Heating

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship New 3-Ton 14 SEER AC Systems Only $4,995 INSTALLED! New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!

Over 1,000 Five-Star Google Reviews ★★★★★

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

480-405-7588

Financing Available

———— Your Comfort is Our Mission! ————

50% OFF

FREE

A/C TUNE-UP INSPECTION

SERVICE CALL NO REPAIR REQUIRED!

($19.95 Value)

Applies to one unit. Cannot be combined with any other discount or coupon.

Concrete & Masonry

Garage/Doors

Glass/Mirror

Block Fence * Gates

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

602-789-6929 Roc #057163

East Valley/ Ahwatukee

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates

Broken Springs Replaced

Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Not a licensed contractor

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

Cannot be combined with any other discount or coupon.

480-818-4772 • www.acrangers.com • ROC # 328460

Appliance Repairs

Appliance Repair Now

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

Drywall

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest! QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL!

We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not

15 Years Experience • Free Estimates

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Handyman Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured Add a Background Color to Your Ad! Classifieds 480-898-6465

480.266.4589 Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical

“No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry josedominguez0224@gmail.com Man!”

Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Quality Work Since 1999 Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

Not a licensed contractor.

Electrical Services

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

Carpet Cleaning

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens

Since 1999 • Panel Changes able, Quality Work Afford ✔ Bathrooms 2010, 2011 1999 SinceBSMALLMAN@Q.COM rk and Repairs Wo y alit Qu e, abl 2012, “No 2013, Job Too Afford And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 • Installation of at Call Bruce 2012, 2013, 2014 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor 1999 Since Ceiling Fans Ahwatukee Resident / References Call Bruce at Affordable, Quality Work Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor • Switches/Outlets Bruce at 602.670.7038 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor • Serving Arizona Since 2005 • • Home Remodel

602.670.7038 602.670.7038

SHARE WITH THE WORLD!

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932

Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details.

small prices BIG

always included ✔ free estimates ✔ furniture moving

class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465

RESULTS

✔ pre-treatment ✔ deodorizer

two rooms

free hall

ﬁve rooms

free hall

couch & loveseat

free chair

callusnow

480.773.4700 MySteamX.com

Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

Fire/Water Damage/Restoration

ACTION CONTRACTING INC. SPECIALIZING IN

WATER - FIRE DAMAGE AND RESTORATION

We get your home or ofﬁce to back pre-loss condition. We also specialize in home remodels and commercial projects. Car-port to Garage conversion, drywall & stucco repairs, painting, electrical, plumbing and tenant Improvements

Fast 24 hour response! ★ WE DO IT ALL! Call Today

480-430-7737 - cell 480-833-7353 - office LIC/BONDED/INSURED ROC#218802 • A+ Rating with the BBB

aaaActionContractingInc.com

S

E NC



2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Call us to place your ad online!

480-898-6465

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window. From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all. Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more. All trades done by hands-on General Contractor. Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable. 40 years' experience. Call Ron Wolfgang Pleas text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

Landscape/ Maintenance Juan Hernandez

TREE

TRIMMING

Home Improvement

Landscape/Maintenance

Kitchen workspace a little dull and dark? Entertainment center needs some accent lighting?

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Specializing in low voltage LED lighting under and above cabinets, furniture, shelves -- anywhere you need additional light or want to feature.

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

Juan Hernandez

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

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

HIRING? People are looking at the Classifieds Every day! Email Your Job Post to: class@times publications.com or Call

480-898-6465

EAST VALLEY ACCENT LIGHTING

We also do landscape lighting to accent your walkways, trees, patio, or pool area, and we do repairs to your existing lighting.

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE TODAY! 480-665-8223 • www.eastvalleyaccentlighting.com

Home Remodeling • BASE BOARDS • DRYWALL • ELECTRICAL • PAINTING • PLUMBING • BATHROOMS • WOOD FLOORING • FRAMING WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • GRANITE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION • CARPET INSTALLATION • LANDSCAPING

No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

Home Improvement

David Hernandez (602) 802 3600

daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Monsoon Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential

• Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Home Improvement

Landscape/Maintenance

General Contracting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured

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

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

CALL US TODAY!

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

Plumbing

480-477-8842

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

480-338-4011

N 5-YEAR WARRA

(602) 502-1655

HYDROJETTING

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49

10% OFF

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

10% OFF

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

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM

All Water Purification Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS

Voted #1

Family Owned & Operated

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

ROC 3297740

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

• Old Paint & Chems.

— Call Jason —

Painting

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

Interior & Exterior Residential/Commercial Free Estimates Drywall Repairs Senior Discounts References Available

480-354-5802

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

PAINTING

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

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Irrigation

Hauling

ALL Pro

T R E E

Painting

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099 LEGAL NOTICES

Deadline for Sunday’s Edition is the Wednesday prior at 5pm. Please call Elaine at 480-898-7926 to inquire or email your notice to: legals@evtrib.com and request a quote.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021

Pool Service / Repair

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

Public Notices

PHILLIPS

ROOFING LLC

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

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

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Roofing

Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

Serving All Types Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service of Roofing: FREE ESTIMATES

Tiles & Shingles sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com Installation Repair Re-Roofing

602-471-2346

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

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

623-873-1626 Free Estimates Monday through Saturday

• • • •

Roofing

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

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

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.GilbertSunNews.com

STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, EAU CLAIRE COUNTY, Publication Summons and Notice (Small Claims) Case No. 21SC1020 Plaintiff: Heightts Finance Corp, 2605 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54914 vs Defendant: Eloy Anthony Diaz and Theresa Marie Diaz 2733 N. Power Rd Ste. 102, Mesa, AZ 85215. Publication Summons and Notice of Filing TO THE PERSON(S) NAMED ABOVE AS DEFENDANT(S): You are being sued by the person(s) named above as Plaintiff(s). A copy of the claim has been sent to you at your address as stated in the caption above. The lawsuit will be heard in the following small claims court: County Courthouse Telephone Number of clerk of court: 715-839-4816 Courtroom/Room Number: Appear Via Zoom Address: 3 l 2-626-6799 Address: Meeting ID 968 7496 2866 Date: 9/21/21 Time: 9:30 am If you do not attend the hearing, the court may enter a judgment against you in favor of the person(s) suing you. A copy of the claim has been sent to you at your address as stated in the caption above. A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate (property) you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property. You may have the option to Answer without appearing in court on the court date by filing a written Answer with the clerk of court before the court date. You must send a copy of your Answer to the Plaintiff(s) named above at their address. You may contact the clerk of court at the telephone number above to determine if there are other methods to answer a Small Claims complaint in that county. Plaintiff/Attorney: Wendy Ganzen Date: 8/25/21 920-733-1264 Published: East Valley Tribune, Aug. 29, 2021 / 40954

SpliSh SplaSh SongS ong

Roofing

Name these songs that have “Rain” in the title.

aOver 30 Years of Experience

BAND OR SINGER

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

SONG TITLE

Eurythmics

____________________________

Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Gene Kelly

____________________________

Prince

____________________________

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING

The Weather Girls

____________________________

The Carpenters

____________________________

Blind Melon

____________________________

Barbra Streisand

____________________________

Adele

____________________________

Neil Sedaka

____________________________

Bob Dylan

____________________________

Guns N’ Roses

____________________________

480-446-7663 FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Answers Top to Bottom: Here Comes the Rain Again; Singin’ in the Rain; Purple Rain; It’s Raining Men; Rainy Days and Mondays; No Rain; Summer Rain; Don’t Rain on My Parade; Set Fire to the Rain; Laughter in the Rain; A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall; November Rain

Valley Wide Service

GILBERT SUN NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2021 Santan Fwy 202 E. Germann Rd.

PRICES VALID THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH THRU SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2021

Dr.

2100 S Gilbert Rd Suite #7 SW Corner of Gilbert & Germann

WORK HARD. SAVE EASY.

LABOR DAY

cu. ft.‡ ‡

SALE

4.5 cu. ft.

SAVE AN ADDITIONAL WITH $ SEARS CARD

UP TO

40% OFF

119

SELECT APPLIANCES1

fingerprint resistant

PLUS

SAVE AN ADDITIONAL WITH $ SEARS CARD

42% OFF

29% OFF 21-cu. ft.‡‡ capacity refrigerator with gallon sized door bins, adjustable shelves and a humidity controlled crisper drawer ITEM#04661215

S. Gilbert Rd.

SHOWROOM

S. Stearman

HOME APPLIANCE

E. Germann Rd.

SAVE $370

879

4.5 cu. ft. capacity washer with Triple Action Impeller, stainless steel wash basket and deep fill option

7.4 cu. ft. capacity electric dryer with aluminized steel drum, sensor dry, sanitize cycle and Wrinkle Guard option

ITEM#02629142

ITEM#02669142

SAVE $900 ON THE PAIR

59999

EACH

REG. 1049.99

2526/WK

LEASE PER WEEK

REG. 1249.99

3853/WK

5.3 cu. ft. capacity electric range wit Power Boil elements, Dual-Element bake & self clean option

LEASE PER WEEK

7 cu. ft. chest freezer with removable wire basket and manual temperature control

cu. ft.

ITEM#04617662

ITEM#02289209/ JB645DKBB Limited to warehouse quantities

SAVE $170

REG. 399.99

22999

42% OFF

self clean

1006/WK

LEASE PER WEEK

62999

2668/WK

LEASE PER WEEK

10% OFF* SELECT APPLIANCES $5991 or more with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit Card**

18 MONTH** FINANCING ON APPLIANCE PURCHASES 999† OR MORE

with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit cards*

FREE ‡ DELIVERY ON APPLIANCES 499 OR MORE $

†

with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit cards**

On all appliances: Colors, connectors, ice maker hook-up and installation extra. (1) Advertised savings range from 5%-40%. Exclusions apply. See The Details section. See store for additional exclusions. Offers good thru 9/11/21. (**) Exclusions apply. See The Details section. See store for additional exclusions. Offers good thru 9/11/21. For Shop Your Way members in participating locations. Local curbside delivery. Ad-ditional fees may apply. See store for details. ◆ Subject to lease approval, total cost to ease for a 5-mo. lease agreement is $60 due at lease signing plus taxes, followed by 19 weekly payments of the per week amount shown by the item. For your options at the end of the 5-mo. agreement, see the “LEASING DETAILS” below. Lease prices shown are valid on the sale prices shown for the duration of this advertisement. **IMPORTANT DEFERRED INTEREST PROMOTIONAL DETAILS (when offered): No interest if paid in full within the promotional period. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. With credit approval, for qualifying purchases made on a Shop Your Way or Sears credit card. Sears Home Improvement AccountSM valid on installed sales only. Offer valid for consumer accounts in good standing and is subject to change without notice. May not be combined with any other promotional offer. Shop Your Way or Sears credit card: As of 1/01/2021, APR for purchases: Variable 7.24% -25.24% or non-variable 5.00% -26.49%. Minimum interest charge: up to $2. See card agreement for details, including the APRs and fees applicable to you. †Purchase requirement less coupons, discounts and reward certificates and does not include tax, installation, shipping or fees, and must be made in a single transaction. ‡ Free delivery on appliances $499 or more available in store only. Exclusions/Limitation apply. See associate for details. For online transactions you must select the 5% off Every Day Savings Option or 12 Month Special Financing offer on the payment page in checkout. The 10% off Promotional Event Savings Option or 18 Month Special Financing offer for Home Appliance is not available online. See store or searshometownstores.com for details. APPLIANCE OFFERS: (1,**,*) Bosch®, Whirlpool®, KitchenAid®, Maytag®, Amana®, LG®, Samsung®, Frigidaire and Electrolux appliances limited to 10% off. Offers exclude Hot Buys, Super Hot Buys, Special Purchases GE®, GE Profile™, GE Café™, clearance, closeouts, Home appliance & Floor Care Accessories, Gift Card and Everyday Great Price items. See store for additional exclusions. Offers good thru 9/11/21. *10% off select home appliance purchases of $599† or more with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit card** OR NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 18 MONTHS** on select home appliance purchases of $999† or more with a qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit card*. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within 18 months. Offer valid thru 9/11/21. OR NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 12 MONTHS** On select sitewide* purchases of $299† or more with a qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit card. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within 12 months. Offer valid thru 1/29/2022. See above for Important Special Financing/Deferred Interest Details. ◆ LEASING DETAILS: This is a lease transaction. The lease has a 5-month minimum term [“Initial Term”]. Must be at least 18 years old and income requirements apply. Qualifying merchandise of at least $199 is required to enter into a lease at Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC. Excludes non-durable goods. No security deposit required. Lease requires consumer to make first payment at lease signing, plus 19 weekly (offered online only) lease payments, 9 biweekly lease payments or 4 monthly lease payments. After fulfilling the Initial Term, you may: (1) continue to lease by making periodic payments in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement; (2) exercise a purchase option per the terms of the lease agreement (not available in NJ, VT, WI, or WV); or (3) return the leased items to WhyNotLeaseIt. For example, leased item(s) with lease amount of $600 with a weekly lease payment schedule (offered online only) would require $60 first lease payment followed by 19 weekly payments of approximately $25.26 plus tax, or a biweekly lease payment schedule would require $60 first lease payment followed by 9 biweekly payments of approximately $53.33 plus tax, or a monthly lease payment schedule would require $120 first lease payment followed by 4 m monthly payments of approximately $105.00 plus tax, with total cost to lease the item(s) for the Initial Term of $540.00 plus tax. TEMPOE, LLC dba WhyNotLeaseIt® is an independent service provider of the LEASE IT program and not an affiliate or licensee of Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC or its affiliates. Sears Home Appliance Showrooms may be independently operated by authorized franchisees of Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, LLC or by authorized dealers of Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC. The SEARS mark is a service mark of Sears Brands, LLC.

Gilbert Sun News - 8.29.2021

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