COMMUNITY

GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 26, 2021

State will help parents’ challenges to quarantines

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

If your child is sent home to quarantine when school resumes because of possible exposure to COVID, you have the right to challenge that in court.

And the state even will pay for your lawyer.

That bit of information comes because state Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, decided to ask Attorney General Mark Brnovich about a section of the state Health Code that gives state and county health officials various powers during a state of emergency. And one of them specifically allows those agencies to “require isolation or quarantine of any person.’’

Townsend has never been a fan of those powers.

What got Townsend’s attention is that county health departments were delegating the power to quarantine to individual school districts. And she said that has been happening with schools sending children home to quarantine if they believe the youngsters had been exposed to the COVID virus.

Most East Valley school districts, including Kyrene and Tempe Union, have had those same quarantine rules since students returned for in-person learning.

“There’s a lot of angry parents out there,’’ Townsend told Capitol Media Services.

She said a kid would go home for 10 days as ordered.

“And they’d immediately get turned around and go home again for another 10 days because a different kid was in the classroom,’’ Townsend continued. “And they wouldn’t tell them which child they had been exposed to, just ‘Your child’s been exposed.’ ‘’

In some cases, she said, schools would allow for online learning. But not always. “They had kids missing large swaths of school from an arbitrary, random, unknown exposure that they didn’t establish,’’ Townsend said. “And now the child is missing a large amount of education.’’ Hence, her request to Brnovich to find out what parents can do about it.

As it turns out, they can fight it, with the state picking up the legal tab. Brnovich, in a new formal legal opinion, said there is a provision in the law that does allow for immediate quarantine or isolation without a court order when “any delay... would pose an immediate and serious threat to the public health.’’ What is at issue is that local health departments are authorizing schools to issue isolation orders. In Maricopa County, for example, Brnovich said the health officials told schools that students who come into “close contact’’ with an individual who tests positive for the virus are required to quarantine at home for 10 days. That phrase is defined as being within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes over a 24hour period.

There are exceptions if both students were using fitted masks or if the exposed student is vaccinated or has previously tested positive within the prior 90 days.

Brnovich said Arizona law requires health officials to seek a court order within 10 days after imposing the quarantine, with the agency required to prove that the isolation or quarantine is “reasonably necessary to protect the public health.’’

But the attorney general’s opinion said those affected don’t have to wait that long.

He pointed out that anyone who is ordered isolated or quarantined can go to court to demand to be released from the restrictions. And Brnovich said the court must hold a hearing within 24 hours and issue a decision within 48 hours.

There also are provisions in law for those ordered quarantined to seek a court order protesting the conditions imposed.

Brnovich said anyone who seeks judicial relief is entitled to have a lawyer appointed, with the state picking up the tab. And that legal representation “continues throughout the duration of the isolation or quarantine of the person.’’

Townsend said she believes Ducey overreacted with the restrictions he put in place due to the pandemic, like closing down all bars and restaurants simply because some establishment had acted recklessly and allowed unmasked customers to pack the facilities.

State Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, is urging parents whose students are quarantined to take advantage of free legal help from the state to challenge such actions by school districts. (Capitol Media Services)

TAX from page 9

the state as required or that they collected signatures before registering. These also are claims that some of the registration forms are missing required information like providing a full address.

Any of those would disqualify all the signatures those circulators collected, possibly leaving the petition drive short of the 118,823 valid signatures necessary to force a public vote.

Other claims include issues of handwriting irregularities and missing dates or addresses of those who have signed the petitions. this month from arguing a case against the regents and Arizona State University based on the complaint.

Penley’s complaint said, “Over the past two years, Brnovich has mounted a litigation and media campaign against the board and Arizona’s public universities,’’ Penley wrote.

“He has done so despite representing the Board of Regents and the universities in numerous pending lawsuits,’’ the complaint states. “And he has done so without seeking ABOR’s consent to the conflict and in fact over our repeated objections to his breach of his fundamental duty of loyalty.’’

There also were what Penley called “mocking comments’’ in emails sent to ASU President Michael Crow and insults like calling board members “gimmicky yobs’’ and “ivory tower cake eaters.’’

“Most recently, Mr. Brnovich has taken to radio and social media to demand, with no factual basis, that his own clients, ABOR and ASU, be held ‘accountable’ for their ‘reckless’ and ‘irresponsible’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic,’’ Penley told the State Bar.

“He has falsely claimed that he talked to ABOR before making these accusations,’’ Penley continued. “And he insists that ABOR is not his client with respect to COVID-19 matters, even though his office is charged by statute with representing ABOR in any pandemic-related tort, employment or other covered risk management claims.’’

A spokesman for Brnovich, who is running to be the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022, said he is precluded from responding publicly to the State Bar complaint.

ETHICS from page 8

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Gilbert man brings entrepreneurial technology to Ethiopia

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE

GSN Contributor

ENTRE Institute, an online school for aspiring entrepreneurs, brought new technology to Ethiopia to create more opportunities and develop a thriving economy where there currently isn’t one. “Entrepreneurship isn’t just a firstworld thing,” said Joe Shurtz, chief experience officer of ENTRE Institute. “In fact, it’s even more important for those who really need it. Here, it can be the difference between a quality of life. There, it literally is the difference between life and death.”

Shurtz, of Gilbert, traveled to Ethiopia to deliver 10 “Rachel Servers” that allow residents to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Joining him were Hope Arising Chairwoman Chantal Carr, also of Gilbert, and Dr. Lynn Curtis, who worked with residents on literacy and language skills.

A Rachel Server – which is essentially a server and computer built into one A group of Ethiopian students helped develop their leadership and other skills through the efforts of Gilbert resident Joe Shurtz and his team from the Entre Institute team. (Special to GSN)

machine – allows the internet access and includes a variety of educational resources translated in their local language.

Shurtz said the devices enable users to learn leadership skills, get counseling, build a business and find other ways to develop.

“We can give it to someone, they have to be trained and accountable for it, but basically we fill it up with information and they can take it to their local village and it allows anyone to connect to the Rachel and download anything they want off of there,” Shurtz said.

Learning marketable skills through Rachel Servers is an effective way to get entrepreneurial education to Ethiopians and can allow them to become a part of the global economy, Shurtz said.

Even if they only use other knowledge available on a Rachel Server, such as how to improve farming and treat medical wounds, it could save lives, he added.

“Our goal is not just to help the college educated kids who are looking for programming jobs and development stuff, it’s also to help all the other people in the informal economy,” Shurtz said.

Originally, Shurtz and his team planned to scout a location for a business community center and teach residents in the third world country how to set up and run a business of their own.

While the training and deliverance of Rachel Servers was successful, Shurtz’s trip was cut short because of a civil war outbreak.

Although they were unable to open a business center as Shurtz and his team were forced to leave the country, they won’t stop trying to create opportunities and connect Ethiopians to companies from all over the world that need their talent.

“We still haven’t given up,” he said. “We were going to open up a physical business

see ETHIOPIA page 14

HD SOUTH to host a variety of programs

GSN NEWS STAFF

HD SOUTH, home of the Gilbert Historical Museum and an arts, culture and history center, has a full lineup of programs next month. Originally opened as Gilbert Elementary School in 1913, HD SOUTH is the oldest building still standing in Gilbert and is the only one on the National Register of Historic Places.

The programs and events at HD SOUTH focus on six community pillars – history, health and wellness, science, literature, art and music.

To register, visit hdsouth.org/calendar. Unless noted otherwise, programs are free for members and $5 for non-members and registration is required. Masks are required. HD SOUTH is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

EXHIBITS “Arizona Odyssey: 40 Years Roaming for Beauty, Through March 5

Kerrick James began photographing Arizona in 1977, at first only the wild places of exotic beauty, then over time the people and cultures of the Southwest. His images are drawn from a thousand explorations across Arizona. Some are of places now lost to flood or time. They depict iconic landscapes, ephemeral weather, and celestial phenomena. Included are billion-year-old rocks, medusa-like saguaros, images of cowboys and horses, Hopi and Navajo dancers, adventurers, and musicians alike, and Route 66.

Programs Monday Yoga With Ginger, 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Monday

Ginger Smith guides the class on relaxation techniques and muscle conditioning. She is a certified yoga and group fitness instructor and her training includes restorative & yin flow, yoga & weights and chair yoga, incorporating movement, breathing and emotional balance. All levels, bring your mat. Ages 16 & up. Non-members: $5.

Federalist Papers, 10:30 a.m.-noon Jan. 8.

The Federalist Papers is a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison and were written to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. This informative and interactive workshop is facilitated by historian and Gilbert resident Barry Jackson. Free.

Thursday Yoga, 7-8 p.m. Jan. 13, Jan. 27

Join Marilynn Igleski, certified yoga instructor, for an hour of yoga that

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PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN WARNING!

Our clinic is taking every precaution and we follow strict CDC guidelines to ensure that our patients, clinic and staff are SAFE!

Mesa, AZ — The most common method your doctor will recommend to treat your chronic pain and/or neuropathy is with prescription drugs that may temporarily reduce your symptoms. These drugs have names such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin, and are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects. Chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and the most debilitating balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet which causes the nerves to begin to degenerate due to lack of nutrient flow.

As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms. The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects. (See the special neuropathy severity examination at the end of this article) In order to effectively treat your neuropathy three factors must be determined. 1) What is the underlying cause? 2) How much nerve damage has been sustained. NOTE: Once you have sustained 95% nerve loss, there is likely nothing that we can do for you. 3) How much treatment will your condition require? The treatment that is provided at Aspen Medical has three main goals. 1) Increase blood flow 2) Stimulate and increase small fiber nerves 3) Decrease brain-based pain The treatment to increase blood flow, stimulate small nerve fibers and get you back to health is our new $50,000.00 SANEXAS UNIT! In addition, we use a state-of-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers! The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middle-frequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling. During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SANEXAS IS COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCE! Depending on your coverage, your treatment could be little to no cost to you! The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 95% nerve damage there is hope! Aspen Medical will do a chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage as a public service to you and/or your family and friends. This neuropathy/ pain severity examination will consist of a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and a detailed analysis of the findings of your neuropathy.

Fig. 2

Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until December 31, 2021. Call 480-

274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated. Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this FREE consultation offer to the first 15 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL Call 480-274-3157 … NOW!

We are extremely busy and if your call goes to our voicemail, please leave a message and we will get back to you asap.

480-274-3157

4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa Az 85206