Queen Creek Tribune 03/12/2023

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

The Queen Creek Unified School District Governing Board last week voted to raise the fees for its before- and after-school elementary programs by 20% to $100.80 a week.

The fee increases for the morning and afternoon programs, which run Monday-Fri-

day, will affect hundreds of families.

The Discovery Kids program currently has 862 students enrolled across all nine of the district’s elementary schools and district officials noted that the rates have not changed since 2019.

“An increase in fees will support the program in light of increased staffing costs and inflated prices for goods and services,” said district Chief Financial Officer Jessica Johnston.

The rate hike will also help offset the sunsetting of the Child Care Stability Grant, she said.

Johnston recommended the rate hikes after researching child care costs in neighboring school districts, which are fractionally higher than Queen Creek’s new rates.

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

As a young man, Bret Fielding always had visions of becoming a cattle rancher until he realized his dreams were not exactly coming true.

“Our family had a bunch of cows and were grazing them and my friends got tired of me trying to sell a side of beef to them,” said Fielding, peering out from beneath his black cowboy hat at the Queen Creek Draft Horse Classic earlier this month at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre.

Fielding stumbled into the horse business, completely by accident.

With no one in his immediate

family knowing anything about horses, Fielding’s wife and son went online and found a pair of horses to graze the pasture where the cows, now sold off, used to be.

“It was by default,” Fielding said. “And it was my son and my wife who found these Shires on the Internet. We had two shipped out from Michigan and I’ve been hooked since then.”

A Shire is sometimes referred to as a Clydesdale, the muscular horse bred for pulling and made famous in TV commercials as the Budweiser Clydesdales.

Realizing he had something special on his hands, but not knowing

Freeman Yoder, left, and Bret Fielding navigate the Highpoint Clydesdale draft horse team out of the arena at the Queen Creek Draft Horse Classic earlier this month at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre. (Mark Moran/Tribune Staff)

anything about the horses or what to do with them, he looked up the national Shire show and went to watch, hoping to learn about the Clydesdale at the Pomona County, California fair.

“I looked at my wife and said ‘I have no idea what this is, but I want to do it,’ and it’s been a hobby for the family ever since,” he recalled.

Fielding also had no idea that close to a million-dollar investment and a dozen years later, he would be traveling the country at age 51 with 35 Shires, two 53-foot, 18-wheel semi-trucks full of horse tack, multiple horse trailers, stall shavings, grain, and everything else that goes with a high-end horse breed, competing in shows.

Which is why he came to the Queen Creek Draft Horse Classic. In only its second year, the event drew 3,000 spectators, according to Horseshoe Park Equestrian Centre General Manager David Solum.

The teams must adhere to strict

rules while trying to make it look effortless.

“They are looking for the team to work together,” Fielding said of the horses and the wagon driver, known collectively as a hitch. They lose points if the horses break out of a uniform trot or don’t perform their routine close to flawlessly.

“You want to see those strides be simultaneous. As the hitch goes past, you just want to see one horse, even though there is one on the back side,” Fielding said.

Judges watch as they make several laps around the arena in both directions, cut diagonally across it, then come to a stop and perform a series of moves at their command.

The sport is highly subjective in that the hitches are measured by how well a judge thinks the team performs.

Fielding said he is really only competing against himself.

“Our joy is how our horses perform for us,” he said. “I judge the six horses hitched to my wagon. If you go out and they are working and

doing what you trained them to do, it is very enjoyable and rewarding.”

Each Clydesdale has its own individual personality, Fielding said, and some are better at certain things that others, all of which average out to create a solid and even performance during a show.

They all do have one thing in common, though.

“They call a draft horse a gentle giant and they are docile and loving,” Fielding said. “You can walk behind a draft horse and it’s not gonna kick you. A draft horse is very easy going and they just want to please. They become like family.”

Tim Sparrow does not do this as an expensive hobby like Fielding. He is a hired driver for the Young Living Essential Oils draft horse team as part of the company’s marketing and advertising strategy.

But Sparrow shares Fielding’s sentiment about the sport, and has known since an early age that he

Highpoint Clydesdale owner Bret Fielding stands in front of his draft horse carriage at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre.

(Mark MOran/Tribune Staff)

page 6

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Queen Creek Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Queen Creek

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Lawmakers want banned book list

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

State senators gave preliminary approval March 9 to a measure directing the Department of Education to come up with a list of books that are banned in public schools.

And it wouldn’t just include lewd or sexual materials.

SB 1700 would require the agency, which is currently headed by Republican Tom Horne, to also include on that list materials that “promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns.’’

The measure includes similar language on what local school boards and libraries must remove from their own shelves.

“Parents want to make sure that their children who are innocent, who are impressionable, get to have and hold onto that innocence that they have,’’ Sen. Justice Wadsack, R-Tucson, said during a hearing on her measure.

Wadsack’s idea of preserving that innocence has no age limit, at least as far as children in public or charter schools.

“Children should not be thinking of these things when they’re in K through 12,’’ she told colleagues. “There’s plenty of time for this when they get to college and when they’re outside the purview of their parents.’’

Sen. Christine Marsh, R-Phoenix, who is a teacher, said there is content that is “too graphic for the classroom.’’

“But there’s also no room in the classroom or in libraries for banning books simply because it upsets one group of people at the expense of so many others,’’ she said.

Marsh said what is likely to be banned are the books that reflect experiences of those not in the mainstream, including gay children and victims of sexual abuse.

She said it’s important that these books be available not only to ensure these children see themselves in literature but also

that others develop empathy for them.

Of particular concern to some was that language on excising materials about gender fluidity and pronouns.

Erica Keppler, an activist in the LGBTQ community, told lawmakers the language in the bill about “promoting’’ either makes no sense.

“Gender fluidity is a naturally occurring phenomenon that some people experience,’’ she said, no different than being left-handed or having curly hair and something that cannot be “promoted.’’

“It’s ridiculous and demeaning to include ‘gender fluidity’ in the same sentence as ‘pedophilia,’” she said.

Elijah Watson, representing himself, said he feared the parameters for the Department of Education to decide what’s not allowed in schools is so broad that it would lead to banning “To Kill a Mockingbird,’’ “The Great Gatsby,’’ “Of Mice and Men’’ and “The Color Purple.’’

But Lisa Fink of the Protect Arizona Children Coalition said her group is more concerned with books she said have shown up in the libraries of the Kyrene and Deer Valley school districts like “It’s Perfectly Normal.’’

Designed for children age 10 and up, it addresses sexual health and contains sections on puberty, pregnancy and sexual orientation. And there also are full-color pictures of naked people.

Anastasia Tsatsakis, who lost her bid in November to be on the Vail Unified School District Governing Board, complained about “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.’’

That’s about a child from the Spokane Indian Reservation who decides to go to a nearly all-white public high school away from the reservation.

That objection caught the attention of Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson. “I read this book with my grandchildren,’’ she said. “It’s a wonderful book.’’

Tsatsakis said she objected to references to masturbation and rape. She said ex-

cerpts were read during a school board meeting.

“I appreciate that was your choice to read it with them,’’ she told Gonzales. “It should be a parental choice in a personal environment, not in a school district.’’

Chris Kotterman, lobbyist for the Arizona School Boards Association, said existing law already bars public schools from referring students to or using any sexually explicit materials.

That law does have exceptions if they have “serious educational value for minors’’ or possess “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.’’

Even then, however, schools have to get prior written consent from parents for each book or article. And students who don’t get consent have to be provided with an alternative assignment.

Then there’s that issue of having the state Department of Education review and unilaterally decide which books are acceptable and which are not.

“This is an unprecedented state control of curriculum, the likes of which we haven’t seen before in Arizona,’’ Kotterman said.

And then there’s the political side of it.

“Just this past year, the agency was headed by a Democrat,’’ he reminded lawmakers, referring to Kathy Hoffman, who lost her bid for reelection in November to Republican Tom Horne.

“It will undoubtedly change hands again,’’ Kotterman said. “That list will be subject to curation by people who work for that individual.’’

Marsh had her own take on the idea of what would happen once the Department of Education posts a list on its website of what is considered inappropriate.

“That’s what kids are going to read,’’ she said.

Wadsack said her measure is not an attack on the LGBTQ community.

“I have a gay son,’’ she told colleagues. The measure still needs a final roll-call vote before going to the House. 

Town develops a new lure for industrial developers

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

Queen Creek has launched an interactive online tool to market what industrial property is for sale and lease in the town.

The town has various types of commercial real estate available, including utility-served industrial sites ready for development, and this interactive map will allow buyers to get an overview of what is available and where.

Billed as an economic development tool, the interactive map allows developers to look for available land and gives prospective businesses the ability to search for sites that will meet their construction needs and timelines, including a satellite view.

“Queen Creek is strategically located with land available for development,” said town Economic Development Director Doreen Cott.

The platform enables developers to locate and zoom in on plots and also shows the location of utility lines, future road locations, zoning and acreage.

The interactive link takes users to 11 sites, including a recently announced $30-million purchase from Barney Farms that will become the million-square-foot Germann Commerce Center along Germann Road between Signal Butte and Meridian roads. It also shows two tracts of former State Trust Land that Queen Creek annexed for the purposes of commercial development.

A picture of the LG Manufacturing logo is placed prominently in the middle of those two plots as the South Korea-based company has proposed building a battery plant at the location, near the intersection of Ironwood and Pecos roads.

There have been no recent developments in that anticipated deal.

The interactive map also highlights 57 acres at the southeast corner of Crismon and Germann roads known as the Jorde site; San Tan Vista, 47 acres at the corner of Meridian and Pecos roads; an additional 56 acres of Barney Farm land at the corner of Signal Butte and Germann roads; and 240 acres of available land, also at the southeast corner of Crismon and Germann roads known as Vlachos.

Every commercial listing on the satellite-based map includes a fully interactive property brochure link, complete with de-

tails about the land, its development potential and the size and scope of projects that are either under development or proposed to be.

“With a growing community and highly educated workforce, Queen Creek is an excellent place for employers to locate,” Cott said.

“We continue to be a business-friendly community and this map is just one additional tool to assist the development community.”

Queen Creek has been aggressively marketing itself as a place for companies to locate, promoting its rapidly modernizing and growing infrastructure, high level public services.

It’s touting its fire and police depart-

ments, new roads, restaurants, entertainment venues and schools.

Town officials have inasmuch acknowledged becoming a bit of a victim of its own success, though.

The cost of living has grown right along with the population. With a median income now exceeding $100,000 and medi-

an home values above $600,000, people who take the manufacturing jobs being so heavily promoted won’t be able to afford to live here.

Even a two-bedroom apartment is now listed in excess of $2,000 per month.

Town Council has directed staff to study where to recommend building high and medium density residential options to address Queen Creek’s housing shortage, including in the highly coveted and developing Town Center, as well as near State Route 24, where much of the commercial development is planned near the town’s northern edge.

Queen Creek continues to have increased access to SR 24, another selling point for potential businesses, Cott said. SR 24 also gives residents increased access to freeways, and expanding regional connectivity to other area freeways.

At 71,000 people, Queen Creek’s population has more than doubled since 2015 and is expected to continue to increase at a steady pace. It is among the fastest growing municipalities in the state. 

The town has an interactive map and a listing of the commercial properties prospective buyers can see on it. (Town of Queen Creek)

At a few cents over $100 per week, Queen Creek’s rates are about $33 less per month than neighboring districts, according to the school board’s data.

Johnston said the increases are needed “to sustain the program,” noting “the program, the current cost comparison data and recent pay increases for all of our employee groups, which everyone is so grateful for.”

The national, nonprofit Child Care Aware of America last fall found that the cost of child care has risen 220% over the last three decades and that the increase was especially sharp during the pandemic, when many kids had to stay at home because of campus shutdowns.

Among its findings, it said a center-based child care program cost more than annual in-state tuition at a public university in 34 states.

Queen Creek’s Discovery Kids fees vary, depending on how many times a week the student attends, and whether the parent uses the service regularly or on an as-needed basis.

“Consistency” and “predictability” are the budgetary watchwords for parents, though.

DRAFT

from page 3

wanted to drive teams professionally.

“Sparrow, a native of the tiny town of Zearing, Iowa, where the population struggles to reach 600, explained, “Even at a young age … 7 or 8 years old, just learning to drive, I always enjoyed it. I graduated high school and started doing this for a living and haven’t looked back.”

As a paid driver, Sparrow does 15 to 16

The more random and inconsistent a student’s attendance, the higher the cost.

For example, a drop-in fee for a parent who drops child off before school with

shows a year which means a lot of time on the road during show season, between May and September, mostly in the Midwest.

He and the other drivers hope to earn enough points to make it to the national championship event in September.

National championship, or not, for Sparrow, it all comes down to being of “one mind” with the horses.

“When you have six or eight 2,000 pound

no notice costs $14.40, but $10.20 if the parent calls ahead of time and coordinates with the school.

“QCUSD offers a consistent schedule

horses in front of you, you have a lot of power. It’s a rush,” Sparrow said.

The love of the sport must be worth the investment in time and money for hobbyists like Fielding, a roofer by trade, because even at a good show a team can only win between $2,500 and $5,000, which hardly offsets the costs of high-end horses, 18-wheelers, feed, travel, and countless other expenses.

“Roofing pays the bills,” Fielding said.

which offers a savings to our parents should they choose to go this route rather than a daily rate,” school board documents said.

There was no discussion on the rate increase school during the March 7 meeting, and only board member James Knox commented.

“I don’t think anyone on the board likes to raise rates,” Knox said, “but looking at the current state, costs, it’s an unfortunate thing that we need to do.”

All the options include a $65 registration fee, which itself will be 15% higher.

The program employs 14 full time and 35 part time staff.

Queen Creek recently voted to increase teacher pay by 2%, bringing its base teacher salary to $53,000 annually, and raised pay for administrative and support staff to keep the district competitive on teacher salaries and staff pay in other districts. This followed a 5% raise last year.

The district has offered other incentives, as well, making signing bonuses available for bus drivers, for example, and referral fees for people who recommend Queen Creek to a friend or colleague who winds up being hired by the district. 

“The horses use the money.

“But probably my favorite thing about owning the horses is that we have a big, nice show barn that’s got the horses in it,” Fielding said.

“I like to go out at night after I get home from work, after we’ve kind of dealt with homework and all the things with kids and you go out in that barn and spend some time with the horses and that’s what keeps us doing it.” 

QC rep loses bid to break up Maricopa County

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Arizona will continue to have just 15 counties, at least for the time being.

On an 18-12 vote March 7, the state Senate quashed a bid by Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, to split Maricopa County into four parts.

SB 1137 would have carved out Hohokam, Mogollon and O’odham counties, leaving a much smaller Maricopa County of about 1.7 million versus the current 4 million.

The vote is a setback for lawmakers like Hoffman, who contend that Maricopa County, which already makes up 65% of the state’s population, is too large.

But most lawmakers decided that the last thing Arizona needs is three more governments, each with its own set of elected officials and employees.

“I will not vote for something that’s going to increase government fourfold,’’ said Sen. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix.

Kaiser said there are alternatives to more government.

Central to the question is how big is too big for a county government controlled by five supervisors and one each of other elected officials including the sheriff, assessor, treasurer, recorder and clerk of superior court.

“We are larger than 26 states presently,’’ Hoffman told colleagues of Maricopa County.

“We must be able to have counties that accurately reflect the areas that they represent, that can advocate for solutions when it comes to water policy, that are closer and more representative of the people they represent, and can better represent the unique strategic needs, challenges and priorities of their regions,’’ he said.

Kaiser said that breaking up the county into four separate parts isn’t the only way to do that.

One, he said, would be to add to the number of supervisors. By definition, Kaiser said, that would create small dis-

tricts, both geographically and from a population perspective.

And smaller districts, he said, would decrease the number of signatures needed on petitions if residents want to recall a supervisor for not being responsive.

“It doesn’t create any new government,’’ Kaiser said.

The other, he said, would be to have the surrounding counties – Pinal, Pima, Yuma, La Paz, Yavapai and Gila – “eat into Maricopa County to shrink it.’’

Kaiser said both ideas were proposed as amendments to SB 1137 “and both of those ideas were rejected.”

Hoffman, however, remained unconvinced either was a better alternative to a four-way split of Maricopa County.

And he told colleagues that there’s a political reason that existing county officials contend there is no problem even though he said they won’t admit the county is too large for them to effectively do their jobs in many cases.

“When you’ve got a couple of elected officials who are just looking to save

their hide and save their little kingdom, they’ll never say that,’’ he said.

“But when they get put on the spot in a press conference, they say it repeatedly,’’ Hoffman said, though he offered no examples. “They laugh when they’re asked about their ability to contact all the people of Maricopa County in a quick and timely manner.’’

The idea of splitting counties is not new.

Arizona, then a territory, formed its first counties in 1864 with just four: Mohave, Pima, Yavapai and Yuma.

That had increased to 14 when the state was created in 1912, with La Paz becoming No. 15 after it split off from Yuma County in 1983.

There have been multiple efforts to split Maricopa, going back at least three decades, with a big push to create what would have been Red Mountain County out of Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek along with surrounding areas.

None of those, however, have taken hold. 

Gateway Airport becoming bigger economic asset to QC

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

The 1.9-million people who traveled through Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport last year generated a record $1.8-billion in economic activity for the East Valley, according to airport Executive Director Brian O’Neill.

“Most of us on staff at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport don’t think that we work at a regional airport,” O’Neill recently told the Queen Creek Economic Development Commission.

“We think that we work at a 3,000-acre economic development project that just happens to have three, 10,000-foot runways and a thriving regional airport as part of our infrastructure,” he added.

“Most airports our size, with around 2-million passengers, just don’t have the opportunity to play that economic development role.

Gateway is a former Air Force base –which is why it has a large runway configuration the size of Phoenix Sky Harbor.

It is operated by the Williams Gateway Airport Authority and overseen by a six-member board that includes Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley.

“Having the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport so close to the town is definitely a draw, particularly for businesses,” Wheatley told the Tribune.

“Our Economic Development team uses the airport’s close proximity in their communication with potential businesses and employers.”

Queen Creek Economic Development

Director Doreen Cott said the growth occurring from both aeronautical and non-aeronautical companies like Virgin Galactic, SkyBridge Arizona, Gulfstream Aerospace Service Center, and Gateway East is creating high-wage jobs that

Airplane noise from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport doesn’t generate many complaints in the East Valley. (Special to the Tribune)

schools are training grounds in every aspect of aviation field.

“The partnerships in the Gateway area between the nationally-recognized EVIT, ASU Polytechnic, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College as well as the employers located here are a huge value-add for companies and their unique

“This is not something every airport or every region has in their backyard,” she

“In addition to the new companies locating at the airport, the increased passenger service has been great for the town’s tourism efforts and our partner-

While traffic is growing at the airport, it is not likely to challenge Phoenix Sky Harbor and its 47-million yearly passengers for airport seniority any time soon – nor was is designed to, said O’Neill.

The five airlines based at Gateway are seasonal and their non-daily departure schedules do not cater to the business

That is not likely to change, according

“I don’t think you’re ever going to see an American or Southwest,” O’Neill said. “They’ve got huge operations in Sky Harbor and Sky Harbor is 30 miles away.”

Virtually all the people who use Phoenix-Mesa Gateway are leisure travelers, he said.

However, despite the absence of non-daily flights, Cott said the airport remains a strong selling point when

courting businesses considering locating in Queen Creek.

“Potential employers frequently prefer or require proximity to an airport for a variety of reasons, and having PMGA just a couple miles from the Town and its employment sites strengthen Queen Creek’s position in the site selection process,” she said.

“To be within 30 miles of both PMGA and Sky Harbor International Airport assures a company’s aviation needs can be met within just a short drive,” she added.

She added that the jobs associated with the companies at the airport generate as much if not more interest among potential employers.

“They are pleased to learn about development occurring on and around the airport, as well as the potential growth and future plans,” Cott said.

The economic benefits of the airport go beyond the air traffic and the companies considering locating at the airpark, and have a direct impact on the town’s job market, according to Cott.

About 400 Queen Creek residents work at or near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway.

“The number of Queen Creek residents employed near the airport will only grow as the airport continues to develop and attract additional private investment,” Cott said.

Despite increasing air traffic at the airport, noise complaints have remained relatively low.

Chandler recruiting for thriving Online Academy

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

Molly Garrison has been teaching for 26 years, the last three at the Chandler Online Academy.

“It’s a big change going from in-person to teaching kids on screen,” the elementary school teacher said, adding that she never thought she would try to teach online had it not been for the pandemic.

“I didn’t expect to come online and just fall in love with teaching online,” she said. “I never would dream that in a million years. But I feel like online, I am a more effective teacher than I ever was in the building.”

Chandler Online Academy is succeeding where other districts are falling short. Recently, two neighboring school districts announced they were shutting down the elementary portion of their online schools.

“Despite much effort, enrollment at the elementary grades K-6 has steadily declined since HVA’s (Higley Virtual Academy’s) inception,” Higley Superintendent Dr. Dawn Foley wrote to parents. “The lack of enrollment has made this model unsustainable for the district, therefore we have made the very difficult decision to close the elementary sections of the HVA beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.”

They are not alone.

“With much consideration and in consultation with our elementary Global families, it has been decided that GPS Global Academy will no longer include grades K-6 due to extremely low enrollment,” Gilbert Unified said in a statement. “We are working with our families to ensure a smooth transition for any students and families affected by this change.”

Both districts said they will continue to offer an online school for grades 7-12. Chandler Unified is urging Gilbert and Higley parents who are looking for an elementary alternative to check them out.

According to the Arizona Department of Education, Chandler Online Academy had 821 students enrolled in the 2021-2022 school year. Of that number, 374 were in the elementary school

grades of 1-6.

Gilbert Global had 704 students, but only 240 were in grades 1-6. Higley did not fare as well, with only 186 students in its Virtual Academy, only 24 in grades 1-6.

The state has not reported the numbers for this school year.

Garrison described what she likes about teaching online.

“I teach kindergarten and first grade,” she said. “So I only have my little guys on the camera for 20 to 25 minutes at a time before they need to have a break and come back. My teaching is very focused so that I can make sure that I reach my standards and my teaching goals within that short timeframe.

“And what it also has done is allow me to reach every student more effectively because we teach in small groups, rather than a whole group setting.”

She said she also likes the fact that online teaching helps her to get to know a student’s entire family better - not just the parents, but also the siblings.

Andrew Penland is a Chandler Online Academy high school teacher who says he made the switch to the virtual world because of the pandemic, but is happy to stay there.

“This has actually been a rejuvenation for me,” he said. “I’ve been in the classroom for 16 years. I really enjoyed it, I had a great experience. But for me this has brought teaching to a different level. With online schools, that this might sound strange, but you can actually make a deeper connection with students than you do in a traditional classroom.”

He explained:

“When you have 180 students in-person, you might have some shy students, students who really kind of stay away from the teacher and they don’t want to interact that much. With online students that are all there because they have their own story.”

“I get to interact with them and figure out why they’re there and what I can do to help them. I’m able to really get to know these students on a deeper level.”

Both teachers said they plan to keep

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS

NOT WORKING!!

Mesa AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Aspen Medical in Mesa

AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00.

Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until March 31st, 2023 Call (480) 274-3157 to make an appointment

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Bell Bank Park hosting EV circus family’s show

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Tribune Staff Writer

Circus Americana believes that the Big Top is its living room – and each person who steps into its tent becomes a part of its family.

Presented by the Chandler-based Taylor Family, the all-human extravaganza creates the nostalgia of a vintage circus while presenting a contemporary twist. From death-defying acrobatic feats to innovative acts, to comedic flair, Circus Americana invites guests of all ages to encounter an enchanting blend of illusion and spectacle.

Circus Americana has slated for performances every Thursday to Sunday from Thursday, March 16, to Sunday, April 2, at Bell Bank Park in Mesa.

“I think people love having experiences, and we think this is just an absolutely wonderful experience – coming to the circus is an experience,” said the Taylor family patriarch, Martin, who is a fire artist, juggler and stilt walker. “People can come to enjoy the thrill, the excitement, the love, the tenderness of the show itself with their family, and they’ll bring home memories for a lifetime.”

Circus Americana, founded by the Chandler-based Taylor Family looks to recapture the magic and nostalgia of a family circus with three weeks of performances at Bell Bank Park in Mesa. (Special to the Tribune)

Launched as The Taylor Family Circus in the early 2000s, Circus Americana consists

of Martin and his wife, Barbara, and their seven children. The kids range from schoolage to adults and all perform in the show.

The Taylors are joined by over a dozen other individuals who accompany them as performers on stage and manage concessions and merchandise.

Martin said their production is geared toward families, adding that it will appeal to those who like a “fun, loving, wholesome, apple-pie type of show.”

Kicking off with a mesmerizing stage illusion and magic show segment, the numbers range from vampires contorting in impossible positions, to an exciting aerial fire-eating performance.

Elia Taylor, the family’s eldest daughter and a choreographer, acrobat and contortionist, performs a skillful pointe ballet routine on the tightrope. She is one of the few individuals in the world who has mastered this art.

“We also usually have one of my cousins, he is a strongman, one of the most amazing in the world. We’re so honored that

he’ll be doing this show with us,” Elia said. “He does bending metal and is a fabulous whip artist – he puts out candles with a single whip, it is pretty amazing. I hold my breath when he does his act.”

Guests can hop into the circus ring for a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with the strongman, pirates, mermaid, music box dolls and the rest of the cast.

“Circus is such an amazing art form, there’s so many different facets of it. And when you’re given the opportunity to practice circus, you want to be able to do a little bit of everything,” Elia said. “

ONLINE from page 9

teaching online. They also see benefits for students.

“I had a little girl last year who had a death in the family in India, and she was able to go to India and still be at school with me because she was on a screen,” Garrison said.

“That’s another big benefit to our school is that we are so flexible in that all you need to have is your computer and your supplies and you’re good to go.” 

What sets Circus Americana apart from other productions is its intimacy and the opportunity for its performers to connect with audience members.

“When you’re in our circus tent, because every seat is only like 5 to 10 feet away, everyone is so close that you could reach out and touch them, so you can see them,” Elia said.

They love interacting with their audiences and value each individual person.

With the circus’ personable setting, the cast has witnessed little girls in awe at the acrobats and wanting to go up high in the air just like them; little boys thrilled to shake the strongman’s hand and be lifted

AIRPORT from page 8

Queen Creek registered only 17 noise related calls in 2022, third highest, but well below Mesa (63) and Gilbert (51), the top two. Overall, the airport fielded 137 noise complaints from six municipalities.

Last year, Sky Harbor reported over 25,000 noise complaints – most in Tempe and mostly from only a few hundred households.

To keep up with the growing air traffic,

by him; and excited grandmothers who want to go on stage and hang out with the clowns.

“As a performer, you get to see that wonder and enjoyment on every one of those faces,” Elia said. “It’s very rewarding, it’s why we love what we do. It’s pretty beautiful.”

“We believe that as circus performers and as children of God, that we are supposed to take care of people,” Elia said.

“The moment you’re in our circus, you’re family, and we’re here to take care of you because we love you already.”

While they’ve spent more time on the road in recent years, the Taylors love to

O’Neill said Phoenix-Mesa Gateway is in the midst of a five-gate, 30,000-squarefoot terminal.

“We look forward to growing together,” Wheatley said. “As the town grows, we hope more residents and businesses will use the airport and as the airport grows, we hope it helps provide more convenient options and encourages regional development and tourism.

“I truly think one of the best things Queen Creek did was to become part owner in the airport,” she said. 

perform in their home state in Arizona.

“We’re just thrilled to be able to do what we love to do and to share that, and we’re excited that Bell Bank Park is giving us that opportunity,” Martin said.

“It’s an absolutely stunning and beautiful facility, and it’s going to be an absolutely wonderful experience for anybody who comes out – they will enjoy the show and the park.” 

If You Go...

What: Circus Americana

Where: Bell Bank Park, 6321 S. Ellsworth Road, Mesa

When: Various times Thursday through Sunday from March 16 to April 2

Cost: $25 general admission (bleachers), $45 VIP (seats)

Info: circusamericana.com

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@ timeslocalmedia.com

JUST LISTED: 4220 E Winged Foot Place, Chandler

Walk will benefit Chosen Warrior Foundation

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

The Chosen Warrior Cancer Support Foundation is taking its next step in raising money to fight all types of cancer.

The nonprofit is holding a Community Health Walk at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at Schnepf Farms.

The foundation, which just had its official Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting, is led by multiple cancer survivor Michelle Tucker, who said the organization is not just about “one color of ribbon or one cancer.”

“It is truly an honor to be a Chosen Warrior Cancer Support survivor myself,” Tucker said after the ribbon cutting. “Being able to make a huge difference, empower and inspire others in the community here in Queen Creek and around the world and to be the light of hope.”

The foundation aims to make a difference in the lives of those who are facing the often life-altering circumstances that come with cancer.

In its most recent report, the National Institutes of Health says nationwide, breast cancer patients face out-of-pocket costs in excess of $3.1-billion and foundations like Tucker’s try to help offset those staggering expenses.

“I am a breast cancer survivor three times, also thyroid and pancreatic,” said Tucker.

“I decided there are so many different organizations out there for just breast cancer, or just thyroid cancer or just kidney cancer and I wanted to create an organization that’s for all the cancers because I don’t believe there is one out there that can help everybody.”

There is no set distance for the Community Health Walk, but participants are encouraged to walk for at least 30 minutes.

Tucker said the event is inspired by the many health benefits of walking, which reduces anxiety and can help promote healing.

People of all ages, especially those facing stressful, life changing events can benefit from walking and gentle movement, she said.

“Walking by yourself or with friends or family is a great way to practice self-care,” Tucker said. “It is really beneficial and I would like to invite the community to join us for our first walk on March 18.

“Families, friends, and support systems in the community are vitally important to those who are fighting for their lives. Our mission is to lift them up, by sharing expe-

riences, supporting, and inspiring those of all ages facing this battle,” she said.

Tucker has also written a book called “Chosen: What to Expect When You’ve Been Diagnosed with Cancer.”

Tickets are $25 for ages 13 and up. Children 12 and under are free. Parking is free at Schnepf Farms, 24810 S Rittenhouse Road. Participants must enter off Riggs Road. Regsiter: chosenwarior.org 

Michelle Walker, holding the scissors, was treated to an official Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on behalf of her Chosen Warrior Cancer Support Foundation. (Special to the Tribune’

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Dental

Tooth

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QC vet opens Valley’s first pet dental clinic

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

When Dr. Graham Heuchert was a young veterinarian 20 years ago, x-raying a dog’s teeth was not even on the radar. In fact, there was no such thing as routine dental exams for dogs and cats.

“I would say the common mindset at that point was that we only do dentals on pets that have rotten teeth, where you can obviously see teeth falling out,” Heuchert recalled.

That has changed dramatically, and so have veterinary practices that address it.

Heuchert has opened The Pet Dental Clinic as part of Thrive Pet Healthcare on Queen Creek Road, the first clinic of its kind in the Valley devoted to dog and cat teeth.

Now, veterinarians are focused on preventive care as much as fixing problems after, according to Carrie Winckler, clinic manager and licensed veterinary technician for The Pet Dental Clinic.

“The result of that has led to more of our pets needing more than preventative dental care, including oral surgery due to more advanced dental disease,” Winckler said.

Heuchert focuses on preventing problems through good oral hygiene.

“And even if we aren’t seeing problems, realizing that the sooner we start looking we are going to see that there are problems even if it’s not physical on the surface,” Heuchert said.

“Now, we’re doing dental x-rays. Puppies, kittens starting at a year of age. Whereas before, we were waiting until they were 9, ten or older and their teeth are rotten at that point so you just try to catch up and at that point, you have missed the boat,” he added.

The American Pet Products Association reports United States animal lovers spent $124-billion on their animals in 2021, which included routine and specialty vet care.

“I feel pets are more part of the family now than they have been in the past,” Heuchert said. “They are valued mem-

Dr. Graham Heuchert and Aurora Collins tend to Charlie. (Special to the Tribune)

bers. So, people are willing to invest and put money into them for that.”

People willing to make that investment have driven up the cost of specialty vet

care in the United States, too. Veterinary x-rays, for example, can range into the hundreds of dollars.

And pet exams are typically done under

general anesthesia, another high-priced procedure.

But Heuchert said some of those costs can be avoided with preventive care, just like in human medicine.

“The main thing we are dealing with is periodontal disease and dogs and cats need regular cleaning along with dental x-rays, just like people need.”

Obviously, dogs and cats cannot complain of a toothache the way people can. Dogs tend to adapt the way they eat or may stop eating altogether when a tooth is damaged or hurts.

Cats present an even bigger challenge because their instincts lead them to hide pain. Both situations can be dangerous for the animal.

“Pets are programmed to eat for survival and if they are having issues with that, they unfortunately do not stop eating and alert their pet parent, they know they have to eat to live and so they swallow food whole or roll the food around in their mouth until it is softer and they can chew it,” Winckler said.

“Usually, our pet parents are unaware of the infection and periodontal disease in the pets’ mouth because of this survival mode.”

The clinic is also equipped to take on major issues, Heuchert said, including surgeries and complicated extractions.

He said the field of specialty animal medicine will continue to grow as more people understand the need for preventive care, and are willing to pay for it.

“Clients are becoming more educated that their pets need it,” Heuchert said. “I still think is a lot of education that’s needed out there because I still see a lot of pet parents that come in that did not realize this is something they should be starting at a young age.” 

The Pet Dental Clinic 8521 E. Queen Creek Road, Queen Creek, 480-281-0076 thepetdentalclinic.com

Carrie Winckler and veterinarian Graham Heuchert brush Ruby’s teeth during an open house at The Pet Dental Clinic in Queen Creek. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Biden, supporter mock mom who lost 2 sons

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

Your 21st Century American lifestyle may have led you to overlook “oversight.”

Perhaps you vaguely recall its mention during an American Government class sometime in your educational past.

Thankfully, our founders did not overlook it, as they stated clearly in Article I, Section I of our Constitution that “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States.”

Virginia’s George Mason made a compelling case for oversight at the Constitutional Convention, where he stated that federal lawmakers “are not only legislators but they possess inquisitorial powers. They must meet frequently to inspect

the conduct of the public offices.”

Sadly, the conduct of some federal legislators leads casual observers to mistake congressional oversight hearings as a venue for partisan playground palaver.

Still other congressional hearings serve as a cure for insomnia. So deep is the dive into the technocratic that it defies description as either Republican or Democratic.

Dwight Eisenhower decried such stultifying detail as “sophisticated nonsense”; John McCain joked of “MEGO…” the acronym for “My Eyes Glaze Over!”

And yet, there are congressional hearings that compel Americans to sit up and listen.

The last day of February brought a first-rate example of such an inquiry, as Rebecca Kiessling testified before the House Homeland Security Committee.

Though trained as an attorney, she was

testifying as a mother, having lost her two sons to fentanyl in July 2020.

Her emotional testimony served as a powerful indictment of the federal government’s largely ineffective response to the illicit importation of the powerful, poisonous drug.

“If we had Chinese troops lining up along our southern border – with weapons aimed at our people; with weapons of mass destruction aimed at our cities – you damn well know you would do something about it!”

“My children were taken away from me!” Kiessling concluded her statement with an appeal that she must have known would go unheeded: “This should not be politicized! It is not about race; fentanyl doesn’t care about race!”

But in Washington, D.C.—where politics is the principal professionand where the next political race is always the most important—elected officials didn’t hesi-

tate to politicize a tearful mother’s testimony.

The following day, during a “political field trip” to nearby Baltimore for an event commonly known as a “congressional retreat,” our politician-in-chief tried to advance the notion that he was victimized by Rebecca Kiessling’s testimony.

Joe Biden stood before his fellow Democrats, wearing the half-grin of the cognitively challenged that he always displays when he’s about to let us in on a “little secret” which only he understands.

Ol’ Joe mistakenly thought that he could invoke the name of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and use that as a “rhetorical shield” for his own response to the heartfelt testimony of a grieving mother.

“She—she’s very specific recently, say-

HAYWORTH page 18

Women finally get a seat in car safety tests

BY NORMAL FARIS HUBELE Tribune Guest Writer

Abreakthrough in car safety was recently put to the test. A European-sponsored team, led by Swedish investigator Dr. Astrid Linder, announced the creation of a female crash test dummy.

The device is biofidelic, which means it looks, moves and twists in ways that resemble the female body. After more than a half-century of car safety testing, the automotive world finally has a realistic female surrogate to strap into the driver’s seat.

The U.S. government should move quickly to include this new dummy in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). It will be imperative for saving

lives and achieving gender equity in the automotive crash-testing process.

Why women’s auto safety comes second

The NCAP currently uses laboratory crash tests to assign vehicles the standardized 1 to 5 stars in the federal safety rating system with more stars labeling the vehicle as safer than those with less stars. The program aims to encourage car makers to build safer cars and to inform the public about which cars to buy.

Dummies are critical in crash tests because they serve as human stand-ins. If the electronics attached to the dummy signal a severe injury in a crash, such as a neck extension or a chest compression, then the vehicle receives fewer stars.

A major complaint about the NCAP is that the “average” male dummy (5 feet 9

inches tall and 172 pounds) dominates this rating system, according to bipartisan legislation recently filed. It sits in the driver seat in the two most important crashes, the frontal and the side-impact tests. Meanwhile, a smaller dummy intended to represent a petite woman (4 feet 11 inches tall and 110 pounds) sits in the passenger seat.

This petite female surrogate is the driver in only one NCAP crash, the side pole test. However, this is the least important of all the crashes. If this smaller dummy is hurt in the test, it doesn’t count for much in the overall safety rating of cars.

It’s also important to know that this smaller dummy is a scaled-down version of the male dummy. In fact, some critics consider it a better stand-in for a 12-year-old boy than a small woman. It does not have the anatomical differenc-

es found in the new Swedish dummy. New ‘female’ dummy promises safer future

Now that the new female crash dummy has been created, researchers can use the 5 feet 3 inches tall and 137-pound device to study injury patterns sustained by the “average” female and prompt car makers to create even safer vehicles. Right now, a number of factors put women at greater risk in crashes. Being smaller, women need to sit closer to the steering wheel. In addition, they tend to weigh less than men and have different shaped torsos, hips and pelvises. These lead to differences in how women fit vehicle seats and seatbelts.

While women’s heads are nearly as large and heavy as men’s, their necks have less muscle strength and are more

HAYWORTH from page 17

ing that a Mom—a poor mother who lost two kids to fentanyl—that I, that I killed her sons! Well, the interesting thing is— that fentanyl they took—came during the last administration.”

And then, Biden laughed.

Even worse was the social media response of a Biden backer from Portland, Oregon.

Matthew Slavin, Ph.D. must have picked up his advanced degree in cruelty and profanity. You see below what the not-so-good doctor posted to Kiessling LinkedIn.

“You ignorant Trollop. How dare you try to score some cheap points for the traitorously criminal syndicate called the

Republicans by holding up your dead sons in vain. It was Trump’s fentanyl. … You should go shoot your self.”

Don’t expect criticism of either Biden or his profane supporter in Portland from the Washington Press Corps; those “journalists” will keep their powder dry until they can lecture conservatives over some intemperate remark from the Right.

Unfortunately, the oversight function also afforded the Fourth Estate by the first amendment has transmogrified into an oft-deliberate distortion of conservative beliefs.

The “public sins” of the Left are often overlooked by a partisan press…but increasing numbers of Americans are not forgetting—or forgiving them. 

from page 17

susceptible to more whiplash injuries in lower-impact crashes, and higher fatality rates in high-impact crashes like rollovers and t-bones.

Some research shows that young men who fit the profile of the average male test dummy have the fewest injuries in crashes so young male drivers are better protected in a crash than other occupants, women or older men. Such findings support the notion that “you get what you test to.”

Lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups recently recognized the inequality in car testing and design. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act mandated that NHTSA evaluate and

report on using new dummies, including females, elderly, young adults, children and adults with different weights, in their testing for the NCAP star rating system.

What a great way to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. For our country’s leadership to graciously accept this important contribution from our European friends and use the new female dummy to save thousands of lives.

Ahwatukee resident Norma Faris Hubele is professor emerita of Arizona State University and creator of TheAutoProfessor.com, a website that helps families make safer car choices. Her book, Backseat Driver, The Role of Data in Great Car Safety Debates was published in August by Routledge. 

consumer



are responsible for the “facts”

QC baseball using sudden playoff elimination as motivation

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

Queen Creek’s baseball program was riding high last May.

The Bulldogs had just knocked off national power Hamilton in the semifinals and were on their way to the 6A state championship game. Then, they weren’t.

An investigation by the Arizona Interscholastic Association found a discrepancy in pitch counts stemming from Queen Creek’s game against Chaparral. The pitcher in that game wasn’t eligible based on the number of pitches thrown, yet he threw against Hamilton.

Queen Creek was forced to bow out of the tournament. But the turmoil had just begun.

“It was a rollercoaster, for sure,” senior pitcher Danny Smith said. “We played our hardest and everyone knows what we did to them. We played our best baseball.”

Queen Creek watched as Hamilton captured the state title. Three months later in August, the AIA executive board voted to place the Queen Creek program on probation for the pitch count error.

According to the investigation, head coach Mikel Moreno didn’t used an approved tool to count and report pitches. So, along with having a chance at a title stripped from them, the Bulldogs were told they wouldn’t be able to play in the postseason in 2023, either.

That is until Moreno offered himself as a sacrifice to his players. He issued a self-imposed suspension of one year. That meant no contact with players outside of school on the field. No mentoring, nothing. It sent shockwaves through the program and opened the door for David Lopez to step in on an interim basis. It wasn’t what he expected, but it’s a position he reluctantly accepted.

“Difficult would be the correct word in a sense,” Lopez said. “Personally, I came over to just be an assistant and to help him. You can’t replace coach Moreno. You just

Queen Creek High School baseball senior pitcher Danny Smith, senior first baseman Nate Gray, and sophomore shortstop Ryker Wait all were dealt a difficult hand last year when they were forced out of the playoffs due to a pitch count violation. More turmoil ensued in the summer with head coach Mikel Moreno stepping away for the year. But that’s put a chip on their shoulders to return to the postseason and make another run. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

have to be yourself and be the best version of yourself and that’s what I’ve tried to do since I’ve been here.

“It was a tough conversation, but he did what was best for the kids.”

Lopez had led the Chandler High baseball team to the championship last year, falling to rival Hamilton. But with freshman and sophomore sons in the Queen Creek program, he stepped down from his head coaching duties to become an assistant under Moreno.

That, however, was short lived.

He said he was excited for the opportunity to be an assistant coach. But knew when Moreno asked

him to lead the program, he couldn’t say no. Other assistant coaches remained on board as well, which made the transition seamless.

Not only did Queen Creek get its postseason back due to the decision by Moreno to step away, it got yet another high caliber leader in Lopez.

“It’s nice having coach Lopez here because he’s keeping the same intensity,” senior pitcher and first baseman Nate Gray said. “He’s keeping our attitudes up and practices are intense just

like they were. He’s implementing new ideas and new game plans to help us scratch out those couple extra wins this season.”

Gray and Smith are two of just five seniors that are on this year’s Queen Creek baseball roster. They’ve seen themselves become leaders in the clubhouse, using what they learned from last year’s senior class in the process.

While young, Queen Creek has already seen success this season.

The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 46-12 through their first seven games and their only loss came in a 2-1 game against Basha. Lopez said he’s been pleased with where the team is so far this season.

However, both Gray and Smith said they’re far from playing their best brand of baseball. “It’s starting to work out here,” Smith said. “We’re playing good baseball. Not playing our best, but we’re finding ways to win, and I think it’s going to continue the rest of the year.”

Leading the youth movement on the team is shortstop Ryker Waite, who started last year as a freshman and has come into his own as a leader for the younger players on the team.

Like the seniors, he felt blindsided by the AIA’s decision to pull them from the tournament last year. Yet, he isn’t harboring on the emotions he felt almost a year ago. Instead, he’s using it as motivation. Queen Creek proved last year what it was capable of playing at the 6A level. The Bulldogs believe they can get back to the final, but they know it’ll involve seeing teams like Hamilton and other powers — including Liberty, Mountain Ridge and O’Connor — in the process.

But that’s a challenge they look forward to. Some would even go as far to say it’s a challenge they want.

“It would be an awesome experience to meet any one of those teams,” Waite said. “Queen Creek, we’re a different type of team. We do things a little bit different, but we always do it the right way. We can beat any team if we play our best.” 

Former Chandler coach David Lopez left the Wolves to become an assistant at Queen Creek to coach his sons under Mikel Moreno. But when asked to take over on an interim basis, he knew it was the right thing to do for the players in the program. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

Bird supplier for Ostrich Fest has weathered hard times

BY KEN SAIN GetOut Staff

The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival March 16-19 will be the second straight one to feature Black Neck Ostriches.

How they got to Chandler is an interesting story filled with hot air and heartache.

“Old man Chandler (Dr. A.J. Chandler, the founder of the city) has always fascinated me,” said Rooster Cogburn, the man supplying 12 ostriches for this year’s festival.

Dr. Chandler became an ostrich farmer, raising the birds to supply feathers for women’s hats. He was like many Americans throughout history to think they could get rich with ostriches, Cogburn said.

Another one of those Americans is Rooster Cogburn, who now runs an ostrich ranch and petting zoo off oInterstate-10 just north of Tucson.

However, the ostrich business has not been easy for Cogburn.

First, he tried to raise wild ostriches and soon learned that would not work. Then, he purchased some Black Neck Ostriches in South Africa. That breed is ideal for ostrich farming, he said, but that nation has limited who can have them.

Cogburn claims he’s the only rancher in the U.S. with that breed.

He would sell the feathers and skin. A good pair of ostrich-skin boots sells for about $1,200, he said.

Just when his ostrich business was taking off, closing in on a deal to supply hatching eggs to Brazil, disaster struck.

Two hot air balloons crashed on his ranch on Feb. 3, 2002, spooking his birds and triggering a deadly stampede.

“I had 1,600 birds hit the fence at 35 miles an hour,” Cogburn said. “Lost hundreds of birds. The ones that didn’t die were crippled – or skinned up like you can’t believe.”

Cogburn spent years trying to get the balloonists to pay for his losses. He was

unsuccessful.

“I lost confidence in our system,” he said, admitting he was angry and frustrated. “American Way of life and everything. When you talk about somebody who is sad and ruined, that was me.”

A number of people showed up wanting to tell the story, but Cogburn said he was so angry and fed up he chased them all away.

But one young man, a University of Arizona student, kept coming back. Jonathan VanBallenberg made a documentary about the incident titled, “The Ostrich Testimonies” that was released in 2008. It won a number of awards.

Eventually, Cogburn was able to pick up the pieces and rebuild his ranch. He turned it into a tourist attraction for folks driving between Phoenix and Tucson.

“From there we have slowly built this thing up one deal at a time to now we’re recognized as one of the top 10 roadside attractions in America,” Cogburn said.

When it came to supplying ostriches for Chandler, Cogburn said he didn’t have the time. Then someone showed up, trying to lease his ostriches for Chan-

dler. Cogburn said he didn’t know or trust this stranger, so he didn’t want to hand his birds over for them to look after.

He talked directly to the city, telling them to hire a former ranch worker of his that he trusted, and that as long as they paid him, they wouldn’t have to pay him for the use of his ostriches.

His former employee does all the work, including transporting the birds and caring for them. They started this arrangement last year.

This year, Cogburn is planning to make some money off the Ostrich Festival. He said they will be selling ostrich eggs at the Ostrich Festival. The shell is a popular item in their gift store. And, he said, one ostrich egg is equal to about 24 hen eggs.

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce is putting on the 33rd annual Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park.

Unlike last year, when the Chandler Chamber of Commerce scheduled the festival over two weekends as a way of recovering from its cancelation during the pandemic in both 2021 and 2020, the festival will stretch across a four-day weekend.

Promising multiple attractions for families and people of all ages, the festival also is an important economic driver for Chandler. Chamber President/CEO Terri Kimble said.

Kimble said the festival usually draws between 80,000 and 100,000 peop General admission tickets start at $30 for adults, $20 for children, children four and under will be admitted to the festival free of charge. Limited VIP tickets are available starting at $150 and pricing for family packs will be available for purchase at a later date.

Many of the folks who visit the Ostrich Festival come from outside of Chandler.

“This year, we did an inside-the-fence kind of economic impact for the local community,” Kimble said. “And we estimated that the economic impact was about $9.4 million for the local economy, from hotel nights to restaurants to just everything that it takes to put on the festival – which is pretty significant.”

Cogburn said there is hope for a brighter future, and his ostriches just might be the reason why. He said he’s been contacted by a Japanese scientist who believes he can build human health antibodies from ostrich eggs. They’ve done some preliminary studies the results have been fascinating, Cogburn said.

So he’s working on a deal to supply ostrich eggs to the scientist. It’s another potential international deal, so Cogburn would prefer hot air balloons stay far away from his ranch. 

If you go

What: Ostrich Festival

When: times vary, March 16-19

Where: Tumbleweed Park 2250 S McQueen Road, Chandler.

Tickets: General admission tickets start at $30 for adults, $20 for children, children 4 and under are free and rides cost extra. Tickets and other information at ostrichfestival.com.

Info: roostercognurn.com

A dozen Black Necked Ostriches will be the honored guests at the Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival March 16-19. (Special to the Arizonan)

This week we’ll be celebrating Ireland’s patron saint by the wearing of the green, the drinking of the green beer – and in this case, the eating of the green!

I wonder if St. Patrick would love this incredible spinach dip which is, in itself, a celebration of flavors! This recipe, with its ring of bread rolls around the edges and a yummy dip in the middle is made easy by buying frozen dinner rolls rather than making the bread from scratch.

With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Columnist

Your guests will feel lucky with this Irish treat

Once baked, the bread easily pulls part to be dipped and dunked into a delectable blend of spinach, cheeses and spices. No Irish luck needed here. Just a straight -forward recipe that will most certainly get your St. Patty’s Day Irish on.

Ingredients:

• Bread Dough:

• Rhodes Bake N Serve Frozen Dinner Rolls (12 pack)

• For the dip:

• 6 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach

• 1/2 sweet yellow onion, chopped fine

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2-3 tablespoons melted butter

• 4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 brick) softened

• 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

Coat an 8-inch cast-iron or oven safe skillet generously with butter. Find a bowl that is about 5 inches across the top.

Spray the outside with cooking spray and place it, top side down, in the center of the skillet. (You can also make a 5 inch in diameter ring with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray.)

Place frozen dough balls around the edge of the skillet creating a ring of bread rolls.

Brush dough balls with melted butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 20-30 minutes.

Make dip:

In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Sauté onion until golden brown. Add fresh spinach and cook for about 4 minutes or until wilted. Remove spinach to a medium large bowl and let cool, about 15 minutes.

When cooled, add cream cheese, sour cream,

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha or hot sauce

• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus 2 tablespoons

• 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded plus 2 tablespoons

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon pepper

mayonnaise, garlic, hot sauce, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella, salt and pepper.

Mix until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Carefully remove bowl from center of skillet. (Bowl can be removed easier by sliding a knife or thin spatula under the bowl.) Spoon the dip mixture into the space where the bowl was, spooning right up to the edge of the dough.

Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle remainder of parmesan and mozzarella over the top of the spinach mixture and the bread rolls. Return to oven and cook for 10 more minutes or until dip mixture bubbles and rolls are golden brown.

Remove from oven. Serve hot or warm. To serve, pull apart dough pieces and dip or dunk into spinach mixture, or use a spoon mixture over pieces of bread. 