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National Day of Prayer 2020

Casa Grande area churches participated in a car

mation were handed out through car windows to

prayer procession circling the city on National Day

ensure social distancing. Prayer prompts to read

of Prayer (NDP), May 7. Seeds of Hope hosts an

aloud as cars passed specific locations and a map of

annual community event on NDP to bring Christians

the route were included. A few groups of teens

together to pray for important areas of influence in-

made signs and stood along the route to encourage

cluding government, education, families, media,

cars as they drove by.

businesses, churches, military, first responders and healthcare workers. This year proved to be challenge due to COVID-19 and the inability to meet in person in large groups.

“Christians were ready to come together in a meaningful way, and this car prayer procession was just the right idea at the right time.” Mark Vanderheyden, Seeds of Hope Executive Director said. “Based

No one knew if the car prayer procession idea

on the feedback we’ve received from the communi-

would work, but more than 100 cars representing at

ty, we see another car prayer procession in the

least 16 churches lined up in the Promenade parking

works for next year.”

Seedsofhopeaz.com

lot to participate on that night. Packets of infor-

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IDORLIVING.C

LATE SUMMER 2020

The ROX Interview:

Fred Shearer Founder, Shearer Enterprises

2020 Best of Pinal County

Special Section:

Congrats Pinal County 2020 Graduates

Education

30 Special Section:

Home & Garden

Economy, Finance & Business

Health, Happiness & Education

Travel, Dining & Entertainment

Your Education and Renewal Never Have to End. . . . . . . . 16

Helping Kids Overcome Trauma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Spain’s Architecture, Culture Second to None . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Renting Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth. . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Back to School: Steps Parents Can Take to Help Children Succeed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Casa Grande Public Library 2020 Summer Reading Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

More Investment to Pinal County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

From COVID to College. . . . . 46

G OLDENCORRIDORLIVING .COM

Letter from the Editor

BUSINESS INDEX Absolute Homes / CG Autoplex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Academy Mortgage - CG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

2020: An Education in Resilience

ell, we’re certainly getting an education in how to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. As Golden Corridor LIVING’s Back to School issue goes to press, Pinal County students and parents know on-campus studies will begin no earlier than Aug. 17 and very little else, with a recent gubernatorial executive order upending what plans schools have been trying to make during this summer’s pandemic-driven unpredictability. Having survived March’s abrupt switch to fully online learning, these families should all be admired for rising to the challenges of last spring and applauded for showing the rest of us how to pivot to a new way of living on a dime, in the name of public health and safety. Teachers, staff and administrators have been doing the same thing all summer, developing on-campus, online and hybrid learning models to give families options as COVID-19 cases soar across the state. Cafeteria workers and other noncertified staff don’t know how many hours they’ll be able to work. Even volunteers like Adriana Favela, a Casa Grande native working through AmeriCorps with Achieve Pinal, have had to change boats in midstream. The 19-year-old had to switch from her one-on-one interactions and group presentations with students explaining how to apply for college financial aid to crafting online videos. The Central Arizona College

student is urging her peers not to give up on goals for the future: “I just feel like everyone’s so scared of what the outcome Bea Lueck is going to be Editor-in-Chief on all of this, but everything’s going to be fine, hopefully,” she said. We have Adriana’s story in this issue, along with more tributes to the resilience of others who are part of our educational system. Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland penned an inspirational commencement speech to grads of all ages whose ceremonies were canceled, altered or rescheduled this year when social distancing requirements made it impossible to carry on what had seemed to be an indestructible tradition. Casa Grande City Councilwoman Donna McBride tells us about an intelligent and talented Vista Grande High School junior, Alexander McQueen, who actually graduated a year early this May with a 4.727 GPA (first in his class) plus a host of dance and theatrical productions and community service hours to his name. His advice to students headed to school this fall, in whatever form it takes: “Be careful, be prepared to do research in things that interest you. Be kind to yourself and others. Trust yourself and act with the belief that all of us contribute to the world.” CAC passed along a heartfelt student tribute to Prof. Omar Villa the winner of its Faculty

LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

Annie-Mac Home Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 B & G Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Capital R Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Casa Grande Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Casa Grande Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 CASA of Pinal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Central Arizona College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Chris Buys AZ Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Coldwell Banker ROX - Property Management . . . . . 79 Coldwell Banker ROX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4, 17, 79

Cypress Point Retirement Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 DM Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Fitzgibbons Law Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Florence Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 59 Grande Innovation Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Michael Cruz for Pinal County Assessor . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Norris RV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Pinal County Economic Development . . . . . . . . . 22, 25 ROX Casa Grande Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 ROX Home Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Seeds of Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Shearer Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 47 Star Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Sun Life Family Health Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 75 Theta Wellness Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Title Security Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Two Brothers Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

of the Year Award, saying the mathematics academic: “Pays attention to detail in his students and the ones who struggle in his math classes. He makes sure that everyone has a chance to pass his math class, regardless if he must tutor on his days off or between classes.”

Villa has the kind of dedication and compassion everyone would like to see in their children’s’ teacher or their own, on any day of any year. Particularly now.

–Bea GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

G OLDENCORRIDORLIVING .COM

VOICES

PUBLISHER Elaine Earle, CPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bea Lueck DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Laurie Fisher ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Jamie Brashier Scott Metteauer COPY EDITOR/WRITER Blake Herzog CREATIVE DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tim Clarke GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Linda Lee Mauri Shannon Price

At Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine, our slogan is “The Voice of the Community,” because we believe that the stories in our local region are best told by the people, companies, nonprofits and governments that comprise our community. Here are the “voices” who helped make this issue possible! Angela Askey Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College Angela is the Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Central Arizona College. Prior to her arrival at CAC, Angela served as the Media Relations Coordinator at Mesa Community College and the Community Relations Coordinator at Idaho State University College of Technology.

CUSTOMER SERVICE/AD TRAFFIC MANAGER Jamie Brashier PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER Julie Turetzky COMMENTS & IDEAS editor@roxco.com CALENDAR INQUIRIES calendar@roxco.com • goldencorridorliving.com/calendar SUBSCRIPTIONS info@roxco.com • goldencorridorliving.com/copies ADVERTISING INQUIRIES info@roxco.com • goldencorridorliving.com/advertise (520) 426-2074 442 W. Kortsen Rd, Ste 101 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Joel Belloc Mayor, City of Eloy Mayor Belloc was elected as mayor of the City of Eloy in November 2014. He has also served as a member of the Eloy City Council from 2002-2012 and as Vice Mayor from 2012-2014. He graduated from Central Arizona College with an AAS degree in drafting/ design, attended Pima College and the University of Arizona, where he enrolled in landscape architecture. He currently manages his family’s farming business Belloc Inc. Mayor Belloc is a longtime resident of Eloy and has been married to his wife Cecilia for over 40 years. Together they have three children, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mila Besich Mayor, Town of Superior Mila Besich, a fourth-generation resident of Superior, was elected as the Town’s Mayor in 2016. She wears many hats in her community and region, serving as Executive Director of the Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition and Advertising Director for Copper Area News Publishers.

Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie Golden Corridor LIVING is published by Raxx Direct Marketing. Editorial content is provided by affiliates of Raxx Direct Marketing, community members and local organizations. © 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, including but not limited to editorial content, illustrations, graphics and photographic images, may be republished, reproduced or reprinted without the prior express written consent of the publisher. The publishers of Golden Corridor LIVING assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. In no event shall the publishers be liable for any consequential damages in excess of the cost of the advertisement. Golden Corridor LIVING shall not be liable for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or damages from the use of information contained herein. Submitted articles do not reflect the opinions of the owners or management of Golden Corridor LIVING Information contained within submitted articles had not been verified for accuracy and readers are responsible for CORRID LI V ING 8 GOLDEN forming their own opinions.OR Real estate information is as of 7-1-20 and is subject to current availability and pricing.

Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT Tiffanie is the owner of WickedFiTT in Casa Grande, AZ. She is a well-known personal trainer, group fitness instructor and allaround fitness junkie. Tiffanie specializes in weight loss, strength and conditioning and general fitness.

THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

of the

Community

Tim Kanavel

Christian Price

Economic Development Program Manager, Pinal County Tim graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in regional development. His career in Arizona has taken him from the former Greater Tucson Economic Council to the Arizona Department of Commerce, to private enterprise at the Tucson Airport, to president/CEO of the Wickenburg Regional Economic Development Partnership, and to his present position as the economic development program manager for Pinal County.

Mayor, City of Maricopa Mayor Price is serving in his third term as Mayor. Mayor Price is an entrepreneur and small-business owner and is a partner of the Sierra West Group, a financial advisory firm. Raised in Tucson and a graduate of Northern Arizona University, he participates in numerous regional and national coalitions including serving as the Treasurer on the Executive Committee of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns.

Renée Louzon-Benn

Bob Shogren

President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Renée became President of the Chamber in May, 2019. She has had 22 years of involvement with the local business community and the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce. Renée and her husband enjoy “living local,” dining at local eateries, walking the downtown area and hiking Casa Grande Mountain.

Director, Casa Grande Alliance Bob is a longtime resident of Pinal County. He has been an educator, school district administrator, community organizer and nonprofit board member. He also served for many years at the state and national level, working with AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs.

Donna McBride

Jon Thompson

Councilwoman, City of Casa Grande Donna is the Program Administrator/Public Information Officer and Supervisor for the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Unit for Pinal County Juvenile Court. She is actively involved as a Board Member for Casa Grande Alliance, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, BlackBox Foundation, Mayor’s Reading Program, Pinal County Town Hall Vice Chair, Parks and Block Watch Captain for the Casa Grande Police Department. She is a current member of the Casa Grande City Council.

Mayor, City of Coolidge Mayor Thompson graduated from NAU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was first elected to the Coolidge City Council in 2002 and served as Vice Mayor from 2006 to 2010. He gave up his council seat to run for Mayor and since being elected has retired as Division Director for the Pinal County Adult Probation Department after 30 years.

Craig McFarland

Tori Ward

Mayor, City of Casa Grande Born and raised in California, Mayor McFarland has lived in Casa Grande since 2005. He is a graduate of California State University, Fresno and retired from Golden Eagle Distributors in January 2015 as VP of Sales after a 10-year run with the company. He has spent 36 years in beverage business-sales management, marketing and operations. McFarland began his first term as Mayor in December 2016.

Cruise and Resort Specialist, ROX Travel Victoria “Tori” is a cruise and resort specialist with a master’s degree in political science. She has completed more than 30 certification courses with the cruise and tour industry including the most advanced certification, Commodore, from Princess Cruise Lines. Tori is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association.

Gigi McWhirter Resident Animal Whisperer Conceived in a plane behind the Airport Tavern, Gigi is living proof that it takes a village to raise a kid properly. She is married to the best man and lives in what she calls the “Best Dog House in Casa Grande” shared with a bunch of dogs, two parakeets and a finch called “Rusty”. Lived in Alaska, drove on the Arctic Ocean, walked on the Great Wall of China and drank Guinness in Ireland. But none of this compares to her profound love of animals and Flying Leap wines! LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

PINAL COUNTY by Blake Herzog

• A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • M A RICOPA • A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOL

ADOT Activates Dust Detection System on Pinal Stretch of Interstate 10

even do some help with the recruiting with some of the companies, because this is an extension of the Science and Tech Park, too, so this is going to be a great opportunity for both sides of the county line.” Kanavel said he expects Maricopa County to eventually join the project, “but they just haven’t decided what they’re going to do yet.” The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a $225,000 intergovernmental agreement with the university June 17 to pay for the study. Kanavel stressed this study will benefit every community in the county, not just those

one-of-a-kind dust detection system is up and running along 10 miles of Interstate 10 in Pinal County to issue warnings and adjust speed limits for drivers caught in one of the sudden, often monsoon-driven desert dust storms that can slash visibility to zero in seconds. The stretch runs between Eloy and Picacho, an area that has seen multiple dust storm-related fatalities over the years. The Arizona Department of Transportation has installed a series of electronic signs every 2 miles between mileposts 209 and 219, which can reduce the speed limit from 75 mph to 35 mph, depending on current and forecast weather conditions. This section will be bookended by conventional road signs warning drivers they are entering a “variable speed limit corridor.” Adjusted speed limits will appear and overhead message boards will issue storm-related warnings to drivers when they’re activated. Less obvious components of this complex system include 13 sensors that use light beams to measure the density of dust in the air. Once the readings reach a certain density, the speed limit and road warning signs will be triggered, adjusting the speed limit to the severity of the storm.

Continued on page 56...

Continued on page 68...

Tech Corridor Study Expected to Shape Pinal County’s Economic Future

n 18-month study being launched by Pinal County and the University of Arizona will plot out the county’s future industrial development by identifying where different types of businesses should go for their benefit as well as the region’s. The study’s aim is to create an Arizona Innovation Technology Corridor that, for now, begins on Interstate 10 at the southern Maricopa County line, includes all of Pinal County’s frontage on Interstates 8 and 10, and continues on I-10 through Tucson before ending at the UA Science and Technology Park. County Economic Development Director Tim Kanavel

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said he will be working with Dr. Greg Watson, an entrepreneur and investor who is a lecturer at the UA’s Maguire Center for Entrepreneurship, to analyze infrastructure and other factors companies look at when considering locating in an area. “Certain companies need to go certain places,” Kanavel said. “Some need water, some don’t hardly need any water. We want to maximize use because we don’t want a company that hardly needs any water in an area that has a lot of water that we might need for something else.” He said Watson will “help us assemble all the parts and pieces, help with the planning,

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LIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • M A RICOPA • A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • M A RICOPA •

350-Acre Sports Complex Proposed for Northern Florence A Mesa-based company unveiled its proposal to build a sports complex with facilities for baseball, softball, football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball and field hockey to the Florence Town Council in June. Grinders Sports Group, Inc. has two properties along Felix Road on the northern and southern borders of the Magma Ranch development, which total 350 acres. Led by CEO Kelly Stinnett, the firm’s plans also include a state-of-the-art esports complex, family entertainment center with a movie theater, a sports medicine and rehabilitation center, charter school and satellite college campuses, player and student housing, hotel and retail space and more, according to a General Plan amendment application submitted to the Town. There was no council vote on the proposal, as the hearing

marked the beginning of a 60-day review period for the general plan amendment before two scheduled hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission in August and September and a potential Town Council vote in October. If approved, the general plan amendment would change the land-use designation on the property. It’s currently just outside Town limits but Grinders is preparing an annexation request. The company envisions the complex as the “Southwest USA’s first sports and esports venue providing a world-class training and academic educational destination for aspiring athletes active in major sports,” according to the project description included in its application. Plans are to bring top coaches and educators to a state-of-theart facility to “provide a catalyst and mind-body inspiration motivating athletes become Olym-

pians and professional athletes,” the narrative also stated, and Grinders projects creating more than 2,000 direct jobs. The current General Plan landuse designation for the Grinders property is a mixture of low- and medium-density residential, commercial and office, which is not compatible with the type of project

the landowner is proposing. According to www.kellystinnettbaseball.com, Stinnett was a Major League Baseball player for 15 years whose nickname was “The Grinder.” His career included a stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He now offers training for youth players at an indoor facility in northeast Mesa.

Nikola Motors Goes Public, Schedules Coolidge Groundbreaking

ikola Corporation began trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange June 4 after completing its $3-billion merger with special acquisition corporation VectoIQ and announced a July 23 groundbreaking date for its planned Coolidge factory shortly afterward. Nikola founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton disclosed the Coolidge groundbreaking plans in a June 19 tweet: “The ceremony will be held here to kick off construction of the plant that will build up to 35,000 zero-emission semitrucks and

create thousands of jobs.” Nikola spokeswoman Nicole Rose said in an email June 29 no further details about the event had been released but will be forthcoming, with COVID-19-related precautions such as a limited audience and distancing between the audience members. Known as Nikola Motors before the merger, the automaker said it expects to begin generating revenue in 2021 with production of the Nikola TRE Class 8 BEV semitruck in Germany for its initial European market. Production of hybrid long-haul

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semis is expected to start at the incoming 1-million-squarefoot factory on the south end of Coolidge in 2022 or 2023. Trading under the NKLA symbol, the onetime startup’s shares started trading at $32.75 June 4, saw highs and lows during the month and were sitting around $65 by the last week of June, according to a chart on the Nikola website. Having grabbed attention from major manufacturers like Anheuser Busch for the potential of its emission-free short- and long-haul trucks, Nikola entered the consumer pickup market June

29 by opening reservations for the Badger, a hybrid electric hydrogen fuel cell truck touted with a range up to 600 miles on one charge. Nikola has said it will be partnering with an established automaker to produce the Badger and is talking to three prospective partners. The vehicle is to be unveiled during this year’s Nikola World event, scheduled Dec. 3-5 in Phoenix. The $1 billion Nikola plant in Coolidge is projected to create as many as 2,000 jobs in Pinal County by 2024.

Read more news on page 56... GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

Fred Shearer with his wife Jess

The ROX Interview

Fred Shearer Founder, Shearer Enterprises

Longtime Local Businessman, Visionary, and Pillar of the Community

Interview by Bea Lueck

few weeks ago, just as the merger between Shearer Enterprises and ROX Home Services was finalized, I had the opportunity to talk at length with Fred Shearer. Fred grew up in Maricopa and along with his wife, Jess, raised their family here in Casa Grande. His business dates back almost 50 years in Casa Grande. He has seen lots of changes, both in the community as well as in the construction business. I so enjoy speaking with the ‘old-timers’ in the community. They have seen so many changes and experienced both good times and not-so-good times. Their wisdom is endless. We can learn a lot from spending time with them and wanted to share the American Dream story with you.

GC LIVING: I’m here with Fred Shearer, patriarch of Shearer Enterprises. Where were you born, Fred? FRED SHEARER: Bald Knob, Arkansas is where I was born. It’s about 60 miles northeast of Little Rock. It’s a farming community on the hills. The first year we came to Arizona, my parents picked cotton and then went back to the farm in Arkansas. GC LIVING: So, you went from Arkansas to Chandler. FRED SHEARER: That was just for the season. Then we came out here the second season and when the season was over my mom said, “We’re not going back to Arkansas.” So, they leased the Arkansas farm to the

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neighbor, and we stayed in Arizona. My dad moved into the construction business as a heavy equipment operator and welder. GC LIVING: About what year was that? FRED SHEARER: We came here in ‘49 the first time and ‘50 in the second time. We lived in Chandler until I went to 7th grade in Maricopa. My dad worked for a company that had a contract with the railroad that goes through Maricopa. He was a heavy equipment operator on the job that went from Picacho to halfway to Gila Bend. I graduated from high school in Maricopa. GC LIVING: How many were in your graduating class?

FRED SHEARER: Nine boys and nine girls, a class of 18. GC LIVING: One of the bigger classes back then. Did you go to college? FRED SHEARER: I went to Phoenix Technical School. I had a brother-in-law at that time who was a crop duster pilot and I used to work flagging and loading airplanes in the summertime when I lived in Maricopa. He talked me into going to school to become an airplane mechanic. I thought it was a good idea because I had a clue what I wanted to do at the time. I was mechanically inclined and had worked with my dad on cars since I was 5 years old. I finished tech school in a year and a half and got a certified aircraft and mechanics license and went to work at Sky Harbor Airport for Desert Aviation. We took old World War II aircraft and converted it into fire bombers for the forest fires. GC LIVING: How long did you do that? FRED SHEARER: That was there about three years. And then with the military situation in Vietnam, my boss told me to go across the airport to the Air National Guard and get signed up. I told him I’ve already been over there, and they weren’t taking anyone. He told me he would talk to the commanding general. They called me and they said, “Of course since you’re an aircraft mechanic. We’ll take you for sure.” GC LIVING: Were you always stateside as a mechanic or were you ever deployed? FRED SHEARER: I was stateside. I had six months of active duty going through basic training and school. After that every summer I had two weeks active duty and one weekend each month. This lasted for six years. My wife and I were married before basic training and then I left for six months.

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The ROX Interview (continued) GC LIVING: Where did you meet Jess, your wife? FRED SHEARER: When I was 21, I had a roommate was one of the young pilots. He was dating one of Jess’s friends. Jess would come along with her at times. I had a girlfriend and she had a boyfriend, so we just became friends and enjoyed each other’s company. Our relationship evolved from there and she turned out to be the best partner I ever had. GC LIVING: And you’re still living in Phoenix and working as an airplane mechanic when you got married? FRED SHEARER: Right. When I came back from the service, Jess had moved down to Casa Grande and was living with my older sister. She was there, and she had a job as a secretary for a loan company in Casa Grande. So, we decided to stay in Casa Grande. I ended up going to work at the same place my dad worked, a ready-mix plant out here at the edge of town, Pinal Sand and Gravel. I worked there a couple of years, and I had an application in for a civil service job at the Air Guard. The planes were flying in supplies into Vietnam and I was one of the fulltime aircraft mechanics. At the time Jess was seven months pregnant with our first child, Tammy. After a little less than two years I figured there was little chance for advancement, the regular pay wasn’t that good, and I was getting bored. About that time, Ben Zink bought Pinal Sand and Gravel. A friend of mine told Ben about me and he called me and asked me if I’d come back to go to work for him. And we decided, yes, we would and so we moved back to Casa Grande. Jess was about seven months pregnant with our second child, Marci, at the time. Ben had expanded the business. We had 24 mixer and dump trucks, a gravel pit, and a plant at ASARCO. I ended up being the general manager at 28. GC LIVING: Was that the ASARCO mine on Cottonwood Lane? Or the one south of town? FRED SHEARER: South of town about 28 miles. I stayed with Ben until 1973. The job was very stressful with lots of hours and was tough on the family. From what I learned from Ben I had the confidence to start my own business. GC LIVING: By now you have a couple of kids.

OR LI GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR LIV VING ING • THE INTERV IE W

THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

FRED SHEARER: Oh, yes. And now she’s pregnant with our third child, Clint. We moved every time she was seven months pregnant. GC LIVING: I bet she just loved you. FRED SHEARER: Oh my God, she did even though it was really tough moving that many times. She worked until we had the kids and then when they went to school. Another brother-in-law and his dad had started a small business called Protective Insulation. I bought the business from them in late 1973. It turned out all right and we’ve been in business since then. GC LIVING: The names changed as it evolved, and the product lines grew with the demand. FRED SHEARER: Yes, but you’re still dealing with the same customers. That was the easy part, changing from the insulation business to the window business. We went through some tough times in the early years, first 10 years. GC LIVING: But you kept the window business? FRED SHEARER: Yes. Right about that same time I met a guy on a job site in Eloy. I was insulating, and he was doing a grid ceiling.

LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

He was located in Phoenix and would come down here to do jobs. We started talking. I told him I liked what he was doing, and he told me how to do the work and how to bid a job. He told me he would come to Casa Grande and hang ceilings for me and that’s how that product line began. I learned the trade so I could do the work and then hired someone with experience. In tougher times, I worked longer and harder hours while looking to see if there was anything I could add to the business. That’s when we added the windows and later fireplaces. The way we got into the window business was Harlyn Griffiths was building an office on Trekell and we got that job plus the contract for the condos on the corner of Trekell and McMurray. We later did houses in Rancho Grande and that worked out well. Clint worked for me when he was young. Later he wanted to go into business with me and suggested we could do garage doors since no one local was doing it. As things got rolling, that worked out pretty well, too.

When we went into the last recession in ‘08, there wasn’t enough work for all those different trades. It was slow enough that you couldn’t make enough money on the fireplaces, so we discontinued that line. The guy who worked for me doing the ceiling installations quit so we discontinued that as well. At that point we were doing windows and garage doors. GC LIVING: It made sense to cut a few product lines that were no longer viable. So now you’re garage doors and openers, windows and doors. When did concrete join the mix? FRED SHEARER: That was just here in the last two years. GC LIVING: How has the industry changed over the years from when you started to now? Obviously, regulation has become considerably tighter. FRED SHEARER: Yes, that is one of the major things. I also think, to a degree, small companies are a thing of the past. You have to have a lot of other things put together to

continued on page 72...

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Economy • Finance • Business

Your Education and Renewal Never Have to End by Renée Louzon-Benn, President, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

very day provides opportunities for us to learn something new. It may be learning a new program at work or from information shared at a meeting or even through a class we are taking. That’s the great thing about knowledge and understanding — they can come from anywhere, as long as we are open and welcome the chance to learn. In our community, we have many excellent sources of education, including Central Arizona College and classes run by the City. As adults, we may think we are done with our education but that’s a conscious decision to stop learning: feeling that we’ve done our time and now must focus on work and home, with little time left over for expanding our knowledge. But learning keeps us young. Have you ever thought, “I really wish I had learned more about Excel or business writing or speaking another language when I was in school. It would really help me now?” Well, what’s stopping you from learning it

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now? Imagine the satisfaction you’d feel if you did that for yourself — just because. You can learn and become proficient in any topic now, and can even get a degree online if you are so inclined. There are also YouTube videos for everything — from cooking and crafting to changing the oil in your car. It really is amazing — practical and fun. It is never too late to “go back to school” in any way that works for you. Challenge yourself to learn one new fact or bit of information a day. Start reading that pile of great books you promised you’d get to “one of these days.” You’re not being graded on it, so just read a page or two,

if that’s the time you have available. Visit websites of places you have always wanted to visit, learn more about them. Learn something new every day and you will feel new, too.

Business Opportunity Community THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

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©2018 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

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ELOY, ARIZONA ELOY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE AIRPORT, STREETSCAPE by Joel Belloc, Mayor, City of Eloy

N My vision is for a vibrant Main Street with visitors patronizing our stores, strolling along the sidewalks and using the new Eloy benches and trash receptacles.

ow that we are solidly in the middle of another Arizona summer, I hope everyone is well and back to enjoying cookouts, sports, camping and whatever you and your family do to beat the heat, while staying safe and keeping healthy. I am pleased to have this opportunity to bring everyone up to date on important projects that will improve our community. For example, not many people know that the Eloy Municipal Airport is home to SkyDiveAZ, known throughout the parachuting world as the best drop zone in the United States. To make the airport even more user-friendly, the City is in the final planning stages of an airport taxiway relocation and drainage improvements project set to begin construction in the fall of this year and be completed by summer 2021. This project is entirely funded by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation and will relocate the current taxiway to comply with FAA requirements, improving safety for takeoffs, landings and taxiing operations. Improvements to the airport’s drainage system, runway lighting and security fencing are also part of this project. Another community enhancement effort is the

City’s code compliance division. This team is working hard in Eloy every day, monitoring the community to keep it safe and clean. Our two staff members are tasked with minimizing the presence of junk and debris on private property, tall weeds, onsite long-term recreational vehicle parking and storage, inoperative vehicles, illegal building additions and graffiti removal. Eloy’s goal is to work collaboratively with our residents and property owners to achieve voluntary compliance. The code compliance team has a challenging job, but through their diligence, Eloy continues to put its best foot forward. Lastly, as part of a substantial monetary commitment by the City Council, all the sidewalk shade canopies on Main Street (from Frontier Street to Sixth Street) are being substantially renovated. In addition, the parapet walls and support columns for these buildings are also being repaired and repainted to create a clean, fresh look. The next step will be to add decorative features to the columns and even murals on certain building end caps. With all of the recent improvements to downtown, including Eloy’s beautiful City Hall and the soon-to-be completed Phase I of the Police Department building (Phase II will be completed in the spring of 2021), we hope to attract many more visitors and retain and expand our business, restaurant and service offerings. My vision is for a vibrant Main Street with visitors patronizing our stores, strolling along the sidewalks and using the new Eloy benches and trash receptacles. We know Eloy residents are proud of our community, and the City Council and staff continue to work diligently to make strategic investments that allow us to put our best foot forward for a vibrant, sustainable community. Here is wishing you and yours a safe and fun summer!

PHOTO BY DAVID FRENCH

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THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

With the potential tax advantages of a mortgage, your cost to own could be less than renting.

Renting Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth by Rudy Benitez, Mortgage Loan Originator, AnnieMac Home Mortgage

enting an apartment or home is a smart short-term choice for many of us. Commitment is low, expenses are predictable, and with less maintenance to worry about, it can be an

easier way to live. However, once you move out, you’re left with nothing, and all of that rent money you spent is gone forever. With that in mind, wouldn’t you prefer to skip the rent payments and put

your money toward a home of your own? Many people avoid home ownership simply because they assume they cannot afford it. Many think you need a large down payment to buy a home and that a mortgage payment is a bigger financial strain than a rent payment. Not true! It may surprise you to learn you may actually be able to purchase a home with little to no money down, and you don’t need “perfect” credit either. With the potential tax advantages of a mortgage, your cost to own could be less than renting. Let’s take a look at some hypothetical numbers. If average rent is $850, you will have paid $30,600 in the next three years. You could potentially purchase a home in the $125,000 range for a similar payment. If you are looking to purchase a home in Arizona, our state offers a variety of programs designed to make the leap to ownership more affordable. For instance, the Arizona Home Plus Program offers between 2% and 5% down payment assistance for primary residences priced at $371,936 or less (as long as you earn less than $105,291 annually and are willing to take a homebuyer education course prior to closing). Plus, if you are a firsttime homebuyer, you may be eligible to receive tax credits that would increase your savings even more. With all these options to consider, owning a home of your own is certainly worth looking into, isn’t it? If you’d like to explore your options, reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help!

Rudy Benitez Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS#: 279376 Phone: 520-836-7776 Cell: 602-481-3967 rbenitez@annie-mac.com www.RudyLoans.com

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THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

Last 12 Months Have Drawn More Investment to Pinal County by Blake Herzog

Lucid’s and Nikola’s huge construction sites have been years in the making, but several more companies have acquired land, started construction on or opened new facilities in the last 12 months.

ur Golden Corridor is turning into an industrial hub as companies large and small discover its strategic location, talented workforce and tremendous year-round weather. A business-friendly- yet-laid-back climate adds to the region’s magnetic draw. Lucid’s and Nikola’s huge construction sites have been years in the making, but several more companies have acquired land, started construction on or opened new facilities in the last 12 months. Here’s a look at the diversity of five of these new or coming employers:

NACERO

NACERO In March 2020, Houston-based Nacero, Inc. announced plans to build a $3 billion factory on the west side of Casa Grande to process natural gas into sulfur-free fuel for vehicles. The 1,000-acre site on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway west of Pi-

nal Avenue will be the initial producer of an innovative fuel that Nacero says will have a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional gasoline, particularly during production. Nacero will use existing pipelines,

S Power and NextEra (stock image, not actual photo of site)

railroads, highways and power lines for production and transport of its product. It will create 80% of its needed water supply from its process and be powered by an onsite solar plant. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 and continue through 2025, creating an estimated 2,000 temporary jobs. Its full buildout is projected to create 265 permanent jobs and generate up to 35,000 barrels of fuel daily.

S POWER AND NEXTERA Two utility-scale solar facilities are under construction in Coolidge, getting ready to generate a total 200 megawatts for SRP — with expansion plans already in the offing. Both won approvals for their projects from the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission in October 2019. NextEra, aka Saint Solar, has a power purchase agreement with SRP and 1,167 acres on the south side of Steele Road east of state Route 87 and is in the construction phase. S Power (aka East Line Solar) is currently grading its 890 acres along Selma Highway east of Eleven Mile Corner Road and installing its

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THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

Severtson Screens Justice League Exhibit

underground electrical line along 11 Mile Corner to tie into the Pinal Central substation. A second phase is planned for a site in the City of Eloy.

ELIM In October 2019 Elim Mining Incorporated, formed by a team of experienced mining executives earlier in the year, announced its intent to purchase the 2,645-acre, long-dormant Sacaton (ASARCO) mine west of Casa Grande, and in May closed on an adjacent parcel, the Parks-Salyer property, where additional copper reserves have been located. Elim representatives said new interest in copper production fueled by the renewable energy industry led to their interest in reopening the open-pit mine off the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, which it has renamed the Cactus Mine. The company will use the project to showcase best practices for reuse and reclamation of the mine, which closed in 1984.

LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

The company’s preliminary economic assessment estimates an eightyear life span for the mine, producing 75,500 tons of copper worth $510 million. The first phase will create at least 41 staff and hourly jobs across the operational life of the mine.

SEVERTSON SCREENS In December 2019, Severtson Screens Inc. announced the relocation of its headquarters from Mesa to 41502 N. Schnepf Road in San Tan Valley to expand its corporate office space as well as its manufacturing and warehousing facilities. Founded in 1986, Arizona-based Severtson Screens is an award-winning global leader in innovative and quality projection screens in the home theater, pro AV, and cinema markets. With its state-of-the-art robotic application system, Severtson produces an unusually wide range of screens for massive movie theaters for such chains as Harkins and AMC, comfortable home theaters, and everything in between.

ELIM

GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI V ING BIZ! • GOLDEN

COOLIDGE, ARIZONA COOLIDGE BUSINESS KEEPS ROARING THROUGH PANDEMIC by Jon Thompson, Mayor, City of Coolidge

I Recent events across the globe have made a significant impact on how people live, work and play. Fortunately for Coolidge, our lives are slowly returning to a sense of normalcy, and projects are moving forward with new construction already in progress.

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want to take time this month to focus on how Coolidge is accelerating its economy despite the challenges of a worldwide pandemic. Recent events across the globe have made a significant impact on how people live, work and play. Fortunately for Coolidge, our lives are slowly returning to a sense of normalcy, and projects are moving forward with new construction already in progress. Our homebuilding sector is roaring back to full speed. Century Complete, formerly Wade Jurney Homes continues to build in various parts of Coolidge. McClellan Meadows subdivision was its first foray into homebuilding here and due to its success, the homebuilder expanded into two new communities, Picacho Crossing and Coolidge Country Village. In addition, Richmond American is currently building in McClellan Meadows with its Seasons models. As anticipated growth emerges from the construction of Nikola Motors’ production facility, Coolidge has been put on a path for accelerated building in the multihome sector. Nikola has recently gone public and has created a huge demand for their semi-trucks and other vehicles due to its zero-emission and alternative energy technology. As this excitement spreads, demand in Coolidge has followed. A 398-unit apartment complex is currently being constructed in the east part of the City. This will be Coolidge’s largest apartment complex and complement a wide assortment of living options available. In addition, smaller duplex homes have been built in the downtown area, enabling a live-and-walk space to shopping and eateries. Additional duplexes are being completed in the west end of the City near the transit terminal, allowing residents ample access to a wider range of travel to nearby shopping and cities across Pinal County. Senior living communities have also been needed in the area as a complement to all the other housing activity. I’m happy that Coolidge Place Senior Living will be a 36-unit complex also located near the Coolidge transit facility. This $3 million project will serve a large need in Coolidge and the surrounding area. It will provide excellent transportation options for food, shopping, eateries, health care and more. Solar continues to be a big draw to the Arizona desert due to the vast land available and ample sunshine. Coolidge is positioned to become one of the largest players in the solar industry, as vacant land is being

transformed into large solar arrays helping to alleviate the huge power demand as Arizona grows. One project of particular size is NextEra’s 100-megawatt facility currently under construction. This large-scale solar farm is being built at Steel Road and Highway 87 in the west area of Coolidge. The project will encompass over 1,000 acres of land and has a construction cost of over $100 million. NextEra anticipates selling the energy to SRP. Local businesses have also made a huge resurgence in the economy. Discovery Car Wash is currently under construction on Arizona Boulevard and will be a welcomed addition to the growing number of businesses that have remodeled or opened in recent months. Some of these include Dairy Queen, Subway, KFC/Taco Bell, King Tires and more. I’m particularly excited to see this activity because small business helps the community and adds options for residents to enjoy. I attribute most of this to a Coolidge Strong attitude and a City Council that really believes in economic development. Keep your eyes out on more upcoming articles as Coolidge continues to transform into a beacon of options for live, work and play!

THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

PINAL COUNTY

AT A G L A N C E Poverty Level Arizona 14% Out of the 3 largest counties in Arizona, Pinal County’s poverty level is at 12.9%. Maricopa County is at 12.3%. Pima County’s poverty level is 16.2%.

Mean Commute Time:

445,125 2010 Census 375,768 INCREASE of over 15% since 2010

Land Area: 5,635 square miles

Median Household Income

(Connecticut is 5,543 square miles)

Three manufacturing companies (Lucid, Nikola and Nacero), totaling $5.3 billion dollars, have been announced in Pinal County in the last 24 months.

•

Pinal County has issued over 2,400 new build housing permits in unincorporated portions of the county from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

•

55,550

•

31 Minutes

Total Workforce:

193,000

Total building permits issued as of May 2020: 5,174

Education

High School Graduate or Higher

85.4%

Based on the new home build housing permits issued by Pinal County from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020, they total $400 million dollars.

Pinal County is experiencing a current growth rate of 3.0%, HIGHEST in the state and one of the highest in the nation. Gaining about 13,500 new residents or more each year.

Housing remodels/residence alterations total over $8 million from July 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

Employment by Sector – April 2020 Total Nonfarm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,725 Total Private. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,700 Goods Producing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,950 • Mining and Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,150 • Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,800 Service-Providing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,775 • Trade, Transportation and Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,575 • Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 • Financial Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,275

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• • • •

Professional and Business Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,525 Education and Health Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,675 Leisure and Hospitality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,150 Other Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100

Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,025 • Federal Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,375 • State and Local Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,650 Sources: Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), US Census, Arizona Regional MLS, laborstats.az.gov, Pinal County Community Building Safety Report May 2020)

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My name is Michael “Mike” Cruz and I am an Arizona native, and proud Conservative Republican. I graduated from Arizona State University with my bachelor’s degree in business and hold an MBA in Human Resources. My entire career has been focused on providing strong leadership and serving people to help achieve a common goal. I have a dynamic professional background that includes seven years of experience as a tax professional and four years as a public school teacher and public information officer. I plan to bring an inclusive leadership style that will capture your voice and help drive our county forward. As a proud resident of Pinal County, I currently reside in Casa Grande, Arizona with my beautiful wife Felicia, and our charming Boxer, Iota. In my free time, I serve as a worship leader for Emanuel Baptist Church in Casa Grande. I am also an active member of the Salvation Army’s advisory board where I provide leadership and guidance to support the values and mission of the Casa Grande Corp. As a firm believer that education changes lives, I am the Secretary for Support Our Students, a nonprofit organization focused on providing students and families financial assistance to help children succeed in and out of the classroom. Outside of volunteering, you will find my wife and I traveling, reading, watching movies, hiking, spending time with our relatives, and target shooting.

GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI LIVVING ING • BIZ!

Candidate Profile Name: Michael “Mike” Cruz Age: 34 Community of residence: Casa Grande, Arizona. How many years in Pinal County: Going on five years. Born and raised in Phoenix. Family: Married to my beautiful wife Felicia of five years and we have one dog. Education: Bachelor of Interdisciplinar y Studies (Business & Education) - Arizona State University Master of Business Administration - Everest University Employment background: I have seven years of tax and accounting experience as a tax adviser with a large national tax firm. In addition, I have four years of experience in technology training & sales. My most recent experience includes four years as a public school teacher and public information officer. Government background: All of my experience has been in the private sector. Working for a public school system in my current capacity has provided me valuable experience in terms of government relations and management.

Q&A: Why are you the best person for the job of county assessor? I am an Arizona native who is committed to this state and this county. Given my background in taxation and public relations, I am the only candidate with this skill set which uniquely qualifies me to lead this office and to represent the true voice of Pinal County. As a public relations professional, I intend to use that experience to reach the people of Pinal County and to provide the best in class service to our taxpayers. How do you describe the job of assessor? The assessor’s job is to locate, classify, and value personal and real property in the county. The assessor follows the laws set forth by the state, and the nature of this office is policy facilitation, not policy creation. This role is one of the most important jobs as it sets the tax base for the county so that the treasurer and county supervisors can create a budget that meets the wants and needs of all citizens in Pinal County.

THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

ELEC

How would you go about making sure assessments are done fairly for the property owner and the government? As your assessor, I would ensure that we follow the laws set forth by the state of Arizona as prescribed. I will lead the office with great integrity and transparency to ensure citizens are informed of their rights and that they have appropriate access to information and services. What part does political party play in the job of assessor (why do you think it is an elected position)? Leadership is driven by our values. Values are shaped by our beliefs. As a Republican, I believe in free markets, limited government, low taxes, and supporting our business community which are essential for this role. This is an elected position in my perspective because each county has its own unique needs, and they deserve to elect a leader that can represent their voice. What are the three biggest issues at stake in the campaign for assessor? Property Owner Voice - This office needs a leader that is willing to work with everyone and be actively engaged in all the communities in this county. A higher level of communication and transparency is needed to ensure taxpayers have access to the information they need and can do business as they want. County Growth - Pinal County is growing at a rapid rate. We need a leader that will work with everyone to ensure all land and property is prepared to meet tomorrow’s demands in a sustainable manner. Land classification - Due to a myriad of issues specific to Pinal County such as limited water supply, and land development, the assessors office is critical to ensure long term prosperity for businesses and property owners in this county which is essential for jobs and the economy. How do you earn the trust of the residents of Pinal County? Earning the trust of Pinal County is the most important focus of mine as a candidate. I earn the trust of residents by listening to the people of this county and building relationships with communities. I have participated in many events to meet voters and engage them at a personal level. In addition, I have always been very accessible by email, social media, online, and via telephone. Overall, I will continue to work hard to be accessible and to build positive relationships with all the residents in our county. PAID FOR BY THE CANDIDATE

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

Vote Cruz on August 4th

"Representing YOUR Voice" My name is Michael "Mike" Cruz and I am a proud Arizona native. I am running for Pinal County Assessor to provide Transparent Leadership and to Represent YOUR Voice! I will work hard with county officials to create sustainable solutions that aim to lower property taxes and promote growth. This election, I am asking for your vote. In return, I promise to passionately listen to all my constituents, share your voice, and lead our county with Arizona values to drive Pinal County forward.

Constitutional Republican Fiscal Conservative Pro-Life Second Amendment Advocate Secure Our Borders Lower Property Taxes

PINAL COUNTY ISSUES WORTH FIGHTING FOR FAIR ASSESSMENTS, LOWER TAXES Property owners deserve a positive customer experience and a leader that will passionately listen. Whether you are a first time home buyer, CEO of a business, or 4th generation farmer, Mike will work hard to deliver fair, right, and just property tax valuations. Mike will listen to the needs and concerns of all property owners. He will use his power to serve the people and drive Pinal County forward.

JOBS & THE ECONOMY Pinal County is open for business! As a former businessman and current educator, Mike knows the positive impact a strong and healthy economy has on a community. He will work with city, county, and state leadership to drive growth, create jobs, and bring new opportunities to our area. As a lifelong resident of Arizona, Mike knows Pinal County industry well. He values what the agriculture, technology and manufacturing community bring to this county.

SENIOR CITIZENS Pinal County Seniors have not received the right treatment and service they deserve. Mike was raised by his grandmother and understands first hand the issues impacting seniors. Mike will fight to provide our seniors the best in class service and access to information. He will work side by side with seniors to help them understand their rights and programs available to them. From "Senior Freeze" to exemptions, Mike will be there.

www.cruzforassessor.com @cruzforassessor

@mikecruzmba

Paid for and authorized by the Committee to Elect Michael "Mike" Cruz for Pinal County Assessor

LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

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If you would like to contribute images of area events, people, pets and scenery, please post on our Facebook page or email to: editor@roxco.com

CHICO ROD

JOSH WUCHTERL

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CHICO ROD THE BEST OF EDITION â&#x20AC;¢ LATE SUMMER 2020

Health • Happiness • Education

JOSH WUCHTERL

KEVIN WEAD

ROBIN STEVENS WHITEHEAD

NICOLE LITTLE LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

AMY GONZALEZ

YVETTE DOLAN

DEANNA XYSTUS GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

e have our Best of Pinal County results for you, a detailed guide to the best providers of goods and services here, selected by our readership. These are the people and businesses who really give the Golden Corridor its shine, making it pop for residents and visitors alike. Our many, many categories are broken down into people, pets, services, lifestyle, shopping and food and drink, covering most all the facets of your life here in this “just right” slice of the desert between Phoenix and Tucson. It’s always a joy for us to recognize and celebrate excellence in our community, and Pinal County teems with it! Our readers turn to the tried and true (Airport Tavern, Cook E Jar) and the new (Taco Giro Mexican Grill) for their favorite meals and fixin’s, and Bay of

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Islands Massage and Spa is their go-to for a relaxing day at the spa. For getting two different kinds of workouts, WickedFitt came out on top as best gym and Maricopa’s Leaf and Feather Farm reached new heights as our best nursery. And don’t forget the people and organizations who give our area its heart and soul, like everybody’s favorite bartender Diann Prechel at everybody’s favorite wine and karaoke destination A Latte Vino, or most esteemed nonprofit CASA of Pinal County and its volunteer court representatives for foster kids. This is just a sneak peak at this year’s award winners, the people and places who’ve helped make our hometown shimmer, no matter what else is going on in the world. Read on to see who they are, and then thank them for all they do!

THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

Be s t of e s c i v r e S Attorney

Day Spa

Auto Dealership Preowned Heritage

Dentist

Morgan “Alex” Alexander, Alexander Law Offices

Motors

Auto Repair

Service King Collision Casa Grande

Bank | Credit Union

Pinal County Federal Credit Union

Barber

Col’ CuTz

Bay of Islands Massage & Spa Agave Dentistry

Insurance

Gephardt Insurance Group

Medical Practice Sircle Pain Clinic

Optometrist | Vision Care Professional Eye Care Associates

Orthodontist

N & B Hand Car Wash

Walton Orthodontics - Dr. Grant Walton

Caterer

Skin Care Salon

Chiropractic Center

Tattoo Studio

Car Wash | Detailing

Helen’s Kitchen and Catering Skin Diva Aesthetics Studio

ChiroHealth

LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

Outlaw Ink

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How Students Can Dodge the ‘Freshman 15’ by Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie, Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT

t’s that time again! I’ve got some back-toschool tips to help you avoid the dreaded Freshman 15. First, a moment of silence for everyone who’s dealt with weight gain after starting college. It’s seriously the worst. It may sound superficial, but it’s one of the biggest fears I hear from my clients about going to college. College can take a big toll on your physical/ mental health, and it’s easy to get out of the routine of eating well and exercising. While gaining a few pounds does not seem like a big deal, it really is when you consider this small weight gain is accompanied by a decrease in muscle mass, increased alcohol consumption and a decrease in the amount of healthy foods consumed. Here are some ideas to stay on track and maybe even take on a healthier lifestyle: It is important to structure your eating habits as much as possible. Even though your college class schedule may not afford you the luxury of a regular routine, it is important to be sure you eat regularly to avoid getting hungry enough to order and eat an entire pizza. I know it’s super tempting, but just because your friends are eating a lot of junk food, doesn’t mean you have to join them. Or, join in and limit your portions, eat more salad

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than pizza and eat the salad first. If you feel true hunger and have the munchies, and it’s one of those times when you just don’t feel like eating some vegetables or a piece of fruit, choose a single-serving packet of trail mix, almonds or other healthy snacks with some crunch. Studies have shown that most people finish whatever portion they take. So a single-serve packet will keep you from eating an entire can of Pringles. Don’t get in a habit of making those socalled “healthy” microwavable dishes in your dorm. Anything that is prepacked and says “healthy” on it, is probably far from it. If you have a minifridge and a microwave there is plenty you can make. Fresh salads, steamed veggies and clean pre-cooked chicken breasts are great, too. And then there are those liquid calories. This is one of the main reasons people gain weight during their freshman year of college, especially when that liquid is alcohol. Not only is alcohol high in calories, it impairs people’s judgment when it comes to making healthy food choices. After all, a big greasy cheeseburger and fries seems so good after a night out of drinking. Add up the calories from just one night out like that. Holy cats! Now for the exercise section of my

soapbox. In high school, so many of us are involved with sports. However, at the college level it can come to a screeching halt. Priorities change as well; many first-year students find new interests and devote more time to other activities and become much more sedentary. There are many ways to stay active and burn more calories throughout the day. It just takes a little creativity. Start with these tips to increase your activity level: • Always take the stairs instead of the elevator. • Take exercise breaks to break up long study sessions. • Do push-ups or crunches while watching TV. And if you can, use your campus exercise facilities. There are probably more there than you think, including rock climbing, yoga, a gym, a pool and more. And a big one is to try and make friends with students who have similar healthy goals. A workout buddy always helps keep you on track. And have fun! College is one of the best experiences of your life, enjoy it. If you remember a balanced life is all you need to be happy and healthy, you’ll be good to go!

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Arizona continues with open arms and doors for everyone in need of wellness. We invite you to stop by, visit and experience our info-wellness tour. Theta Wellness Centers of Arizona is here to support and not take the place of your primary care facility. Always check with your medical provider before beginning a new program. Contact TWCA at 520-214-8430.

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Special Section:

School District’s Reopening Plans Take Shape as Situation Shifts

by Blake Herzog

The district has had a 60-member committee of administrators, parents, teachers and staff hammering out the options for reopening the school.

he coronavirus pandemic has pulled the rug out from everyone in the education community numerous times since it took hold in the U.S. in March, and it continues to happen as the new school year quickly approaches. Still, district and charter school leaders in Pinal County have a pretty good idea what’s going to happen, having sketched out contingency plans and backups for those plans. These generally involve offering students the option of returning to the classroom, continuing with online instruction or possibly some combination of the two, depending on personal preferences and outside circumstances.

IRONWOOD 38

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For example, as of the last day of June Casa Grande Elementary School District Superintendent Dr. JoEtta Gonzales was juggling a just-postponed statewide first day of school, COVID cases steadily spreading across the community and the fear of more spread, and the need to get about 6,660 kids back to school, in one fashion or another. The district has had a 60-member committee of administrators, parents, teachers and staff hammering out the options for reopening the school. “I really feel good about the decision-making that’s going on right now,” Gonzales said. And she’s made another one. “We start on Aug. 17, I’m thinking, no matter what, whether it’s virtually or in person. We can’t see pushing it beyond that date. So we’ll do the conferences and some professional development in the weeks leading up to the 17th, and make sure everybody’s ready to go on the 17th,” she said. The CGESD board had already voted June 23 to push the first day of school back a week from the original Aug. 3 so parent-teacher-student conferences could be held the week before classes start. The plan now is to hold these meetings, which Gonzales considers more critical than ever, the week of Aug. 10. Students “have been out of school for five months, and they may be in a very different place from when they left, academically, socially, emotionally, their family situation,” she said. “If they’ve lost skills in the interim, we would know that and be able to address that.” The Chromebooks (for students in

grades second through eighth) and iPads (kindergarten and first grade) the district has purchased for every student will be distributed during these meetings. The district is planning to hold these face-to-face but is working on a backup plan for virtual meetings and contactless delivery for the technology if community spread of the virus is too high that week. The devices were purchased with $700,000 in federal CARES Act funds and are intended to close any technology gaps, especially for lower-income families. Gonzales said the entire community has been pulling together to make sure all students will have home internet access. “We’re working with the City to make sure every one of our students has access to a router and a modem, and then we’re also working with local technology companies, and a lot of them have offered free internet for a month or two months. We’ve got a lot of other folks who’ll do it for $10 a month,” she said. Local organizations also are providing scholarships and additional Wi-Fi hotspots.

THREE PATHS Instruction will feel different for kids who return to CGESD’s 12 elementary and middle schools, Gonzales said, with homeroom classes, or “cohorts,” physically distanced and kept in their classrooms throughout the day, including meals, except for outdoor breaks. Students are to wear masks while they’re outside. “When they get to school they will go straight to their classrooms and be welcomed by a teacher there. They’d THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

CHOLLA still get playground time, but it’s just one cohort of students at a time, not the entire grade level and not the entire school,” she said. Gonzales, who in June was named the Arizona School Administrators Association’s Distinguished Superintendent for 2020, said the district is learning from its experience with online learning last spring, along with research done by others in the field, to guide the online component. One thing leaders and teachers are striving for is making sure coursework is aligned across every grade so students who end up transitioning between campus and online can pick up where they left off. One thing the online academy won’t be is desk-bound, she said. “Our online model will not be a model where students are sitting behind a computer all day, we don’t believe that’s healthy,” Gonzales said. “So we’ll have a variety of different activities and projects for them to work on and away from the computer.” The “hybrid” model most likely will come into play if community spread is considered high, but not high enough to shut campuses completely. Students will go to campus either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday and learn online the other three days of the week. Wednesday would be reserved for deep cleaning of classrooms. Frequent handwashing, disinfecting and other measures will take place whenever students are on campus. Teachers who don’t want to return to campus and risk being infected with coronavirus will be able to transfer to the online academy for the year. OthLATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION

ers who are willing to go back may not be able to right away if the pandemic crisis doesn’t abate enough by Aug. 17. “And we’re worried about our substitute teachers, too,” she added. “If we go back to campus and one of our teachers gets sick, who wants to come in?” CGESD already has contingencies used during past sub shortages, but one, splitting a teacherless class between two other classes, isn’t going to work under the cohort system. Principals and district office leaders, including Gonzales, have filled in, and campus paraprofessionals are now being asked to consider getting a substitute certificate.

UNKNOWN COSTS Additional CARES Act funding has gone into preparing CGESD campuses for the eventual return of students in the COVID era, in accordance with CDC and state guidelines, purchasing protective equipment, plexiglass shields, signage encouraging social distancing and even new, more expensive air-conditioning filters. The filters are expensive and force the HVAC to work harder, so are adding to the potential added costs to operate school campuses during the pandemic. “If students don’t come back to school physically we’ll still be running air conditioning for staff who come in, but I don’t think it’ll be as much of a cost than if everyone comes back,” she said. Social distancing could really throw a wrench into transportation, she added. “We’ll have some fuel savings if we

MESQUITE don’t pick up students, but if we do this model where everybody’s coming back or even the hybrid model, we can only fit so many students on a bus and keep them safe, and so we’re probably going to be using double or triple the amount of fuel.” The vast majority of parents, students and teachers favor a full-time return to campus, Gonzales said, but it’s unclear how much recent increases in COVID-19 cases might have put a damper on that. That was the result of a survey conducted June 8-29, but Gonzales feared it might already be out of date, given how dramatically reported COVID-19 cases have surged. “Depending on whether they filled out the survey three weeks ago, their feelings might have drastically changed between then and yesterday. We don’t have a really strong feeling for where people stand today. “But we know in the last three weeks, parents and kids, they want to be in school, they really want to be in school. I think they realize what they had — friends and adults who care about them. The learning is secondary, really,” she said, laughing. “It’s all that other stuff that’s so important to the development of a child,” she said.

The vast majority of parents, students and teachers favor a fulltime return to campus, Gonzales said, but it’s unclear how much recent increases in COVID-19 cases might have put a damper on that.

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Special Section: Education

Back to School:

Steps Parents Can Take to Help Children Succeed by Nicole Youcupicio, Prevention Specialist, Casa Grande Alliance

arents yearn for their children to become successful adults and lead happy lives. A huge way parents can help their children thrive as adults is by helping them succeed in school. There are a few specific steps parents can take that have been shown to make a positive impact. Here are tips from our Strong Families Program, an evidence-based curriculum that has been proven to have a positive effect on encouraging school success, reducing youth substance misuse and increasing positive family functioning:1 • Identify a specific time and place for homework. Having a peaceful, distraction-free study area with supplies handy helps children focus on homework. Having a regular study time helps establish a routine. Homework routines help children focus their attention and energy on the task at hand and will eventually lessen or remove the parent’s constant need to remind their child to do their homework. (Consider making the study area a phonefree zone.) • Check their homework and praise their efforts. It’s a good idea to regularly check that homework is completed and that the homework demonstrates an understanding of the lesson. A child who knows they

are being monitored is more likely to exhibit good behavior. Checking homework can help identify any areas in which your child is struggling and needs additional help, and also provides an opportunity to praise your child for his or her efforts. Verbal praise and recognition has been shown to encourage children to keep up the good work. Children thrive when they can make their parents proud! • Let your child be involved in after-school activities. While some parents see extra-curricular activities as a reward for doing well in school, letting your child get involved in a school-based activity they enjoy can have a very positive influence. Many school activities like sports or band require good grades and good behavior for participation. In addition to the time you spend helping your children be successful, their coaches and activity sponsors will be encouraging them and keeping an eye on their progress. Another important way to encourage success is to have regular talks about the dangers of substance misuse and underage drinking. Using substances at a young age interrupts the development of the brain and severely impacts ability to focus and desire to do well in school. Given that the average age of first

substance use in Pinal County is 13, parents can have a tremendous impact on their children by having these talks early and often.2 While it is never too early to start having these conversations, what you say will need to grow and mature right along with your child. • A simple message that substance misuse is bad for you is effective for younger children. • At the age of 9, your child is ready for conversations that include why substance misuse can bring harm to body and brain. • During the pre-teen and teen years, youth are becoming more independent in their thinking and establishing their own identities. While you may think your children do not listen, according to the Arizona Youth Survey, 69.5% of kids in Pinal County did not misuse substances because they thought it was harmful and 70.9% said it was because their parents would be disappointed.2 For more information about helping your children succeed, substance misuse prevention, or our Strong Families Program (a free program for youth ages 10 to 14 and their parents) visit the Casa Grande Alliance website at www.casagrandealliance.com or call 520-836-5022.

1 The Casa Grande Alliance uses Iowa State University’s Strengthening Families 10-14 curriculum. 2 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, 2018 Arizona Youth Survey, Pinal County

CORRID OR LI LIVING V ING • SPECI A L SEC TION GOLDEN CORRIDOR

THE BEST OF EDITION • LATE SUMMER 2020

CITY

SPEAK

CASA GRANDE GRADS CAN START CHANGING THE WORLD TODAY by Craig H. McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande

T Ask yourself: What can I do today to help bring about the change or impact I ultimately want to produce for myself, loved ones and community?

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

o Casa Grande’s classes of 2020, thank you for allowing me to celebrate with you and your family. I am beyond honored and thrilled to deliver this message today. First and foremost, I congratulate each of you for successfully promoting to high school and for graduating from high school. Your magnificent journey has only just begun. I also congratulate your parents, grandparents, foster parents, aunts and uncles for their tremendous efforts, love and support they’ve given you throughout the years to help you get here, to this moment. I thank your coaches, counselors and all the amazing teachers who have instructed and mentored you under such extraordinary circumstances. To you students, I say “bravo” for remaining focused and steadfast on achieving this goal. To all those who have supported you, especially recently, I say, “Bravo and thank you for your ingenuity,” for adapting and creating a way forward for these young, brilliant minds to make it this far. Wherever you are, students, please take this moment to stand and give a huge round of applause to yourselves and to all who’ve helped to make this day possible for you. The pathway now presented will lead you to boundless opportunities as well as consequential decisions that, through your personal vision and self-determination, will render your future outcomes accordingly. Success is now, ever more so, in your hands. It’s in your thoughts, your words and your actions. You hold the key to your future. Like today’s COVID-19 crisis, unexpected situations will occur to challenge you and your ability to listen critically, discern facts, decide what matters most and act smart. Meaningful experiences are derived from challenges, conflicts and forks in the road. Everyone faces some level of hardship at some point in life. The important thing to remember is how you choose to approach and respond to each issue will determine the impact and outcome upon your life and, sometimes, on the lives of others around you. So please, always choose wisely. Ask yourself, can I look past hype to get to the heart of an issue? Can I seek to first understand the how and why before judging others that think differently from

me? Can I resolve to look deeper, listen harder and tap into the heartache of others to learn their story, too? Instead of differences, can I find common ground and shared values to create solutions that can help to improve and sustain life and livelihood more abundantly? If you are able to answer yes to these questions, then you have my utmost gratitude and admiration. For you give us all hope for an even brighter, smarter tomorrow. These are just some of the very important qualities that you, tomorrow’s leaders, must embrace to lead us all into a more equitable and just future. But why wait until tomorrow? Why not choose to start today, right now, by determining how your hopes and dreams for tomorrow might be realized today? Ask yourself: What can I do today to help bring about the change or impact I ultimately want to produce for myself, loved ones and community? What resources do I need? What knowledge do I need to seek? Who do I need to meet or collaborate with? How can I make impact happen sooner rather than later? You are our enduring hopes and dreams, not just for tomorrow but for today. Continue to challenge yourselves. Continue to ask questions. Don’t ever settle for good enough. Commit to asking “What if?” and “Why not?” Never stop growing. Never stop learning. Never turn down the opportunity to create something better. Never stop believing in yourself. Never stop believing you can. Thank you — Congratulations and God Bless!

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MYTH 1: I must pay a 20% down payment.

Not true. The typical down payment today is between 5% and 10%.* Many people have mistaken ideas about down MYTH 2: My down payment has to be all my own money. payments that keep them from becoming homeowners. Not true. Homebuyers have several options for saving for a house, including: g Here are five down payment myths andnonprofit whyagencies they’re false:state down payment assistance prog or public institutions;

MYTH 1: I must pay a 20% down payment.

MYTH 3: Down payment assistance programs are only fo

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employer assistance.assistance programs are available in small an Downand payment and homebuyer MYTH 1: I must pay a 20% down payment.nonprofit agencies or public institutions; state down payment assistance programs;

I must pay a 20%5% down payment. ME to learn more Not true. The typical downMYTH payment1: today is MYTH between and 10%.* assistance programs are only for CONTACT MYTH 5: Down payments are always required. 3: Down payment first-time homebuyers. Not true. Housing The typical down payment today is between 5% and 10%.* Corp NMLS# 3113 | Equal Lender

down payments and VA and USDA Loans have 0% down for eligible homebuyers. Some programs are just for first-timers, but others are not. In addition, the U.S. about Department of Housing and Urbanpayments Development MYTH 2: My down payment has to be all my own money. (HUD) broadly defines a first-time homebuyer as someone who hasn’t owned a home in the past three years; a single parent who how to become a homeowner! Not true. Homebuyers have several2: options for saving for including: gifts from CONTACT ME to learn more about down payments and h only owned a home a former spouse still married; and a few other categories of borrowers. MYTH My down payment hasawith tohouse, be all my ownwhile money. family, such as wedding gifts; grants from nonprofit agencies or public institutions; Not true. Homebuyers have several options for saving for a house, including: giftsstate from family, such as wedding gifts; grants from Dawn Svoboda down payment assistancenonprofit programs; and employer assistance. MYTH 4:state Down payment programs are only available in big cities. agencies or public institutions; down paymentassistance assistance programs; and employer assistance. Branch Manager, Producing | NMLS #177235 Down payment and homebuyer assistance programs are available in small and large communities. (480) 221-9826 - Cell

MYTH 3: Down paymentMYTH assistance programs are only for first-time homebuyers. 3: Down payment assistance programs are only for first-time homebuyers.

(520) 316-1341 - Office dawn.svoboda@academymortgage.com

Some programs are just for first-timers, but others are not. In addition, the Department of academymortgage.com/DawnSvoboda 5:butDown payments areU.S. always required. Some programs are just forMYTH first-timers, others are not. In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) broadly defines a first-time homebuyer asa home someone Casa Grande, VA and USDA Loans have 0% down payments for eligible homebuyers. (HUD) broadly defines a first-time homebuyer as someone who hasn’t owned in the past three years; a single parent who AZ 85122 who hasn’t owned a homeonly in the past three a single parent who a home of borrowers. owned a home with ayears; former spouse while still married; andonly a fewowned other categories to learn more about down payments and how to become a homeowner! with a former spouse while still married; and aCONTACT few otherME categories of borrowers. LO State Lic#: AZ LO-0913936

4: Down payment assistance programs are only available in big cities. Dawn Svoboda MYTH 4: Down paymentMYTH assistance programs are only available in big cities. Down payment and homebuyer assistance programs are available in small and large communities.

Corp State Lic#: AZ: BK-0904081

Branch Manager, Producing | NMLS #177235 Down payment and homebuyer assistance programs are available in small and large communities. (480) 221-9826 - Cell

MYTH 5: Down payments are always required. dawn.svoboda@academymortgage.com MYTH 5: Down payments are always required. (520) 316-1341 - Office

academymortgage.com/DawnSvoboda VA and USDApayments Loans have 0% down payments for eligible homebuyers. VA and USDA Loans have 0% down for eligible homebuyers. 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

*Source: thelendersnetwork.com/average-down-payment-on-a-house/Loan Scenarios: (1) $200,000 purchase price; $190,000 loan amount; 5% down payment; $1,249.19/month (PITI); 30-year fixed 5.250% interest rate; 5.289% APR. (2) $200,000 purchase price; $180,000 loan amount; 10% down payment; $1,251/month 30-year fixed 5.25% interest rate; 5.584% APR. (3) LO(PITI); State Lic#: AZ LO-0913936 $200,000 purchase price; $160,000 loan amount; 20% down payment; $1,084/month (PITI); 30-year fixed 5.25% interest rate; 5.371% APR. MAC1019-1466341

*Source: thelendersnetwork.com/average-down-payment-on-a-house/Loan Scenarios: (1) $200,000 p $1,249.19/month (PITI); 30-year fixed 5.250% interest rate; 5.289% APR. (2) $200,000 purchase price 30-year fixed 5.25% interest rate; 5.584% APR. (3) $200,000 purchase price; $160,000 loan amount; rate; 5.371% APR. MAC1019-1466341 Corp NMLS# 3113 | Equal Housing Lender Corp NMLS# 3113 | Equal Housing Lender

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purchase price; $190,000 loan amount; 5% down payment; Dawn Svoboda e; $180,000 loan amount; 10% down payment; $1,251/month (PITI); Branch Manager, Producing | NMLS #177235 LATE SUMMER 2020 • THE BEST OF EDITION (480) 221-9826 - Cell 20% down payment; $1,084/month (PITI); (520) 30-year 5.25% interest 316-1341 - fixed Office Corp State Lic#: AZ: BK-0904081

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MARICOPA, ARIZONA MARICOPA ATTRACTING NEW INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION by Christian Price, Mayor, City of Maricopa

M Even while we lead the pack in education, we are always striving to improve our educational offerings, to increase capacity for Maricopa students, and to provide the best school system possible.

aricopa is consistently best-in-show, routinely ranked among the safest cities, the most diverse cities, and the fastest-growing cities in Arizona. Maricopa also excels when it comes to education with three A-rated schools, a Central Arizona College campus, and a University of Arizona agricultural center. Maricopa students regularly win statewide competitions, shining as bright as Maricopa itself. A solid educational system is one of the foundational elements of a successful community. Our top-rated schools, which continue to improve, are just one ingredient to the Maricopa recipe that has caused more than 50,000 people to choose Maricopa as their home and rank Maricopa as a top city in which to raise a family. Educational attainment is also positively corelated with earnings, leading to another one of Maricopa’s high marks — one of the richest cities in Arizona. An array of superb educational facilities can lead to large-scale investment in Maricopa. An educated workforce may encourage large industry to locate in or near Maricopa and can further an investor’s goal of quality of life for their workforce. On the flip side of the coin, retailers with target markets of students and families may make much-needed goods and services accessible in Maricopa. Either way you look at it, a strong education system is beneficial for Maricopa’s bottom line. Even while we lead the pack in education, we are always striving to improve our educational offerings, to increase capacity for Maricopa students, and to provide the best school system possible. The City is working with developers to bring new schools and new expansions to Maricopa families with three major projects slated to be completed this summer. A+ Charter School Using project-based learning, A+ Charter School is under construction and enrolling for the 2020–21 school

Sequoia Pathway Academy

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A+ Charter School

year. The City worked closely with the development team to ensure this project could finish construction for the new school year. Boasting more than 25,000 square feet on over 7 acres, the new school will provide a new option for Maricopa’s growing student population.

Heritage Academy Heritage Academy One of Arizona’s oldest charter schools, Heritage Academy is adding a second story to its existing building. Heritage Academy’s addition will offer nearly 30,000 square feet of additional capacity, which means more space for students and more jobs for Maricopa. The expansion is expected to be completed in July. Sequoia Pathway Academy Sequoia Pathway Academy opened in Maricopa in 2009. Now with more than triple the initial student population, the school is replacing its modular classrooms with permanent structures. With nearly 15,000 square feet of classroom planned, the new freestanding building will be a great addition to the Sequoia campus. While Maricopa continues to grow, we plan on encouraging the local educational system to grow alongside of us and know that Maricopa’s brightest moments are on the horizon.

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Special Section: Education

Omar Villa Named CAC Faculty of the Year by Angela Askey, Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College

mar Villa has been named Central Arizona College Faculty of the Year. The Faculty of the Year award recognizes faculty who have made a difference in the lives of students inside and outside the classroom. The selected faculty should be a role model for students who not only demonstrates excellence in instruction, but also leadership and a passion for helping students learn. CAC students were invited to nominate outstanding faculty for this honor. The following statement about Villa was submitted: “It is my great pleasure to nominate Professor Omar Villa for the

2019-2020 CAC Faculty of the Year. Mr. Villa portrays caring and success in his teaching. He is an exemplary professor that helps ease his students in his classes about math. “He makes sure his students learn to do math most easily and effectively. He pays attention to detail in his students and the ones who struggle in his math classes. He makes sure that everyone has a chance to pass his math class, regardless if he must tutor on his days off or between classes.” Villa attended CAC immediately following high school and completed an Associate of Science degree. He transferred to Arizona State University where

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he earned a Bachelor of Science in computational mathematical sciences. He later attended Western Governors University and obtained a Master of Arts in

mathematics education. While attending classes at CAC, Villa became a mathematics tutor, working under Jane Ellen Reid in the Interactive Learning Center. He retained his position as a part-time mathematics tutor while attending ASU. In 2010, Villa returned to CAC as a full-time instructional specialist and in 2018 became a member of the mathematics faculty. “It was a wonderful moment in my family’s life,” he said. Asked what advice he would give his students, Villa said, “Stress is your biggest enemy in learning, and procrastination bring lots of stress. Also, laugh at all my jokes/stories.”

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Special Section: Education

From COVID to College: Words of Wisdom from a High School Graduate by Donna McBride, Council Member, City of Casa Grande Be focused and diligent on yourself, but don’t be so concerned with grades, with vague notions of success, or any such things. Instead, live in accordance to one’s beliefs, be trusting, kind and value one’s own life.

verything changed in March. It swept through our lives like a tornado in the middle of the night without warning. Some recovered. Some didn’t. But one thing for sure — it affected everyone in some way. Everyone. COVID-19 brought the country and our community to its knees. Especially affected were our high school seniors. For nearly 12 years, they pushed themselves and struggled while making memories and the grades. They earned the right to graduate, to walk across the stage. But then COVID took it away. Just like that. Gone. Someone once said, “it’s not how you weather the storm, it’s how you dance in the rain.” For Casa Grande graduate Alexander McQueen, he lifted himself up and danced off the stage into his future without looking back. In fact, this 17-year-old graduated a year early. Officially a member of the Vista Grande High School class of 2021, Alexander finished his coursework in May with a GPA of 4.727, ranking first in his class. You would think he had no time for anything else. Yet this guy danced his way through

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Casa Grande with the Vista Grande Elite Dance company while hitting the stage numerous times to entertain our community with the BlackBox Foundation, the Unmanageable Teen Improv group and Vista Grande’s Thespian group. Former Blackbox Director Stacey Seaman speaks highly of him: “Alexander is one of those kids you teach and never forget. He loved to learn and was a sponge — always soaking up new information. Being involved in improv and theater helped him form his identity and how he relates to the world.” Alexander also spent some time volunteering for the community as part of the Casa Grande Youth Commission. City Councilman and Adviser Matt Herman shared, “Alexander was always positive and ready to take on a challenge. I enjoyed getting to know him and hear his ideas.” Alexander was homeschooled until high school. He felt it gave him more control over his own time and what he chose to study. One of his favorite memories of homeschooling was when his family (parents John and Tiffany with sister Chloe) traveled to Milwaukee and the Field Museum in Chicago. It sparked his interest in archeology and anthropology. I was interested in what Alexander felt was the biggest challenge in making the transition from homeschooling to public school. He was clear: It was the extreme monotony of the day, admitting this has been a challenge all his life. He isn’t a fan of highly structured, repetitive days, saying that waking up at 7 a.m. is not ideal for young minds. That said, he thought perhaps its purpose is to prepare students for the workplace. Perhaps so. Alexander never sought out to

just “make the grade.” If there was a subject that interested him, he often studied it more on his own. So where will you find this bright young man in the fall? His top choices are Columbia, NYU and UCLA. For the time being, however, Alexander is making plans to attend Central Arizona College to hone his musical, theatrical and creative abilities, and leaning toward those areas as a future career path. Alexander offers some solid advice for students starting the school year, whatever that might look like. “Be careful, be prepared to do research in things that interest you. Be kind to yourself and others. Trust yourself and act with the belief that all of us contribute to the world.” Finally, Alexander shared simple goals: “Be focused and diligent on yourself, but don’t be so concerned with grades, with vague notions of success, or any such things. Instead, live in accordance to one’s beliefs, be trusting, kind and value one’s own life.”

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Congratulations Pinal County Graduates You are the class of 2020, and you will always be remembered.

ou earned your milestone and came of age during a year we won’t forget. One of the things we’ll carry with us will be the strength it took you to accept the sudden shutdown of the final three months of your senior year on campus and the pomp and circumstance that were supposed to come with them. The senior trip, club activities, yearbook signing, finals in a room with your friends, prom, commencement itself — all were ripped away from you, and you took it like the grownup you are. Your displacement from the stage you were supposed to cross became a rallying point for us, one loss to the pandemic we could try to repair by plastering your faces everywhere we could, “adopting” you for a night or a month, sending gift packages with your diplomas, holding virtual or drive-in ceremonies, letting you pick a new graduation date and more. It was the least we could do. You gave back with your youthful wide smile and sincere thanks, your love and enthusiasm during the extra time we got to spend with you at home, your continuing to dream and plan for the future when it’s never been harder to do. The world you’re preparing to lead has changed dramatically within months, giving us new challenges and new potential. We’re so proud of you already and can’t wait to see what you’re able to do with it!

*Represents submitted photos of 2020 graduates. We would like to congratulate all graduates of the 2020 class!

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Special Section: Education

ASU Preparatory Academy Laylen Diggs ASU Preparatory Academy

Hailey Fernan ASU Preparatory Academy

Roman Robles ASU Preparatory Academy

Taylor Stephens ASU Preparatory Academy

Damion Allen Casa Grande Union High School

Nicholas Aros Casa Grande Union High School

Nicole Brooks Casa Grande Union High School

Santos Cornejo Casa Grande Union High School

Seth Gabaldon Casa Grande Union High School

Mariposa Gonzales Casa Grande Union High School

Catherine Henson Casa Grande Union High School

Ruben Lopez Casa Grande Union High School

Maria Machelor Casa Grande Union High School

Manuel Medina Casa Grande Union High School

Hannah O’Neil Casa Grande Union High School

Leslie Quinn Casa Grande Union High School

Ivan Rodriguez Casa Grande Union High School

Taitum Ronquillo Casa Grande Union High School

Leah Salcido Casa Grande Union High School

Paizlie Salinas Casa Grande Union High School

Allyssa Sandoval Casa Grande Union High School

Katrina Sopha Casa Grande Union High School

Brady Stephens Casa Grande Union High School

Casa Grande Union High School

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Coolidge High School Dylan Stone Casa Grande Union High School

Kaylie Toro Casa Grande Union High School

Matthew Vargas Casa Grande Union High School

Imagine Prep Coolidge

Florence High School Sielle Neal Florence High School

Autumn Montgomery Imagine Prep Coolidge

Jonathon Martinez Coolidge High School

Seth Quijada Imagine Prep Coolidge

Blanca Osoy Florence High School

Cesar Rivas Imagine Prep Coolidge

Zoe Estrada Imagine Prep Coolidge

Mission Heights Preparatory High School

Kylie Bagnall-Wheeler Mission Heights Preparatory High School

PPEP Tec High School Jacob Ly Mission Heights Preparatory High School

Anahi Martinez Mission Heights Preparatory High School

Riley Douglas PPEP Tec High School Casa Grande

Vista Grande High School Aryanna Begin Vista Grande High School 50

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Sarai Buckner Vista Grande High School

Iyannah Carranza Vista Grande High School

Justice Cunningham Vista Grande High School

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Ayanna Edwards Vista Grande High School

Jasmine Espinoza Vista Grande High School

David George Vista Grande High School

Kenzie Hanneman Vista Grande High School

Maggie McHaney Vista Grande High School

Adamarie Medel Vista Grande High School

Noah Prieto Vista Grande High School

Evelyn Rodriguez Vista Grande High School

Kyle Everett Vista Grande High School

Andrew Friedman Vista Grande High School

Jordan Garcia Vista Grande High School

Kiana Hernandez Vista Grande High School

Devon Johnson Vista Grande High School

Rosalia Love Vista Grande High School

Madison Nielson Vista Grande High School

Camryn Ortega Vista Grande High School

Kennady Patrick Vista Grande High School

Kaylee Ruiz Vista Grande High School

Jacob Schmidt Vista Grande High School

Katrina Rodriguez Vista Grande High School

University of North Carolina at Pembroke Kadie VanZile Vista Grande High School

Celine Villanueva Vista Grande High School

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Dylan Whitmer Vista Grande High School

Bianca Hernandez University of North Carolina at Pembroke OR LI V ING SPECI A L SEC TION • GOLDEN GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR VING

Special Section: Education

How to Help Your Kids Learn in a Changing School Landscape

by Blake Herzog

Many public organizations and school districts have suggestions for how to help your kids; some of them are timeless, while others speak to the current situation.

rizona students and their families are looking at a school year of unknowns, having just endured three months of a giant, unplanned experiment on moving all classes online in response to a virus-driven pandemic that shows no signs of slowing down. Even if their chosen school has settled on a model for reopening for the fall semester, nobody knows when conditions might change again and force more shuffling. And, family employment or financial concerns create the need for even more contingency plans. This makes it more critical than ever to help students of any age focus on their coursework, regardless of the format in which it’s being presented. Many public organizations and school districts have suggestions for how to help your kids; some of them are

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timeless, while others speak to the current situation.

ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE The Arizona Department of Child Safety has a page of back-to-school tips for students at dcs.az.gov/ resource/back-to-school-resourcestips-for-parents, and they stress the importance of staying organized. Students should keep the notebooks and supplies used for each subject together, and set up a schedule for working on assignments, based on how long they’re expected to take and when they’re due. Positive reinforcement like short breaks after completing an assignment encourages their studies and may cut down on procrastination in the long run. If they’re doing work that can’t

be broken down as easily as a short assignment, brief breaks every 30 to 45 minutes can have the same effect. Just make sure those breathers don’t turn into a detour. Also, the agency suggests your kids talk to their teacher, as well as you, when they have any questions or concerns: “Teachers are there to help guide and provide to a student, and a good relationship with a teacher can lead to additional instruction and extra help. Talking with teachers also demonstrates a students’ commitment to their academic performance and their desire to succeed.”

DEDICATED LEARNING SPACE ASU Prep Digital has a short list of tips for parents of high school students taking at least one of its online courses at www.asuprepdigital. org/3-tips-for-helping-your-child-succeed-in-their-online-course, posted two years ago, but it boils down many of the fundamental suggestions found in more extensive COVID blogs. It says the best way to start out with online learning is with a very detailed daily schedule, down to each hour, of what is to be studied and accomplished: “In a traditional school, your time is set by the bell. Helping your child set up a weekly schedule is time-consuming, but after a few weeks of helping, you can then empower them to do it themselves.” A link to a free downloadable scheduling tool is included on the website. Setting up a dedicated learning space for kids also is critical at home or possibly in an unconventional setting such as a parent’s workplace. The post says, “Setting up something

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Special Section: Education

as simple as a card table in the spare bedroom with a notebook, pencils and other needed supplies will suffice. The point is that your child actually ‘goes to school’ in that space, literally!” Since the ASU’s Prep Digital blog’s target audience is parents of high school students, it reminds them to keep communicating with teachers the way they may have been more apt to do when the kids were in elementary school, a good reminder for everyone with a child in grades 9-12.

GET THE HARD STUFF DONE FIRST The University of Arizona published an interview with one of its doctoral students, Rebecca Friesen, who emphasized for first-time homeschooling parents that learning at home with your kids “can be a delightful thing” if you can show them your genuine enjoyment of the process. But parents and students need to establish the schedule early and reinforce it often — and front-load it with the core subjects, especially those your child doesn’t enjoy as much. “Aside from making the task fun, require them to do the hardest work first, and promise to reward them with time doing their favorite activities,” she said. If your kid tries to argue, blaming the state curriculum requirements can help reduce the back-and-

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forth, she added. “It’s harder to argue with someone who isn’t there!” Friesen said. Asking the student what they would like to accomplish at the beginning of the semester can help with setting daily goals to keep students and teachers accountable. Parents working from home at the same time they’re homeschooling can, when possible, shift some of their work hours earlier in the morning or later into the night, or schedule independent school work for the afternoons or when they have to participate in an online business meeting, she also shared. More of Friesen’s suggestions can be found at http://uanews.arizona.edu/ story/uarizona-expert-offers-tips-firsttime-homeschool-teachers.

She also endorses keeping kids connected to friends and teachers via FaceTime and email, and let them find new ones from around the world — especially handy for foreign language students. Maloney also suggests regularly giving students a chance to learn and create based on their own interests. “This is the perfect time for kids to direct their own learning based on their unique interests. Through a Genius Hour model, kids ask a research question based on an interest of theirs, research the topic, create something, and share it with the world,” she said. For more ideas on this, visit www. geniushour.com.

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Gov. Doug Ducey’s website — www.ArizonaTogether.org — offers resources for all Arizonans during the pandemic and includes a link to a page (www.actionforhealthykids.org/ covid-19-resources-physical-activity-nutrition-more) reminding families of the importance of staying physically and mentally fit during trying times, and has links to numerous resources for activities to keep kids moving and jumping as well as healthy diet choices and mindfulness, the final building blocks for a successful school year!

In a blog post at https:// www.expectmorearizona.org/ blog/2020/03/18/quarantine-advicefrom-an-arizona-teacher-of-the-year/, 2014 Arizona Teacher of the Year Beth Maloney shares many of the same tips found from other sources: Read by yourself or together often. Play, to teach skills like empathy, problem-solving and resilience. Listen to family-friendly podcasts, like those suggested by www.commonsensemedia.org.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE DESK

Setting up a dedicated learning space for kids also is critical, at home or possibly in an unconventional setting such as a parent’s workplace.

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SUPERIOR, ARIZONA EDUCATION IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY, ESPECIALLY NOW by Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior

A Like all of us, our young people will look back on this pandemic and realize that these difficult and challenging times will indelibly influence who they will become as adults.

s COVID-19 swept across our nation and the world impacting billions of lives, one thing immediately became apparent: everyone, regardless of where they live or their age or station in life, was going to be challenged to push themselves to learn something new. For many, the stay-at-home orders allowed them to focus on honing their cooking and gardening skills. Everyone had no choice but to learn new technologies, even someone like myself, who wasn’t a fan of FaceTime or Zoom, has learned to get used to this new way of communicating and connecting. For many parents, dining-room tables became classrooms, kitchens became science labs and backyards morphed into playgrounds. Everyone has had to learn new skills and refine habits like time management and self-discipline as our lives changed. Now more than ever before, we need to take time to celebrate and appreciate our education professionals, the administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals and classified staff. Their jobs left the classrooms and went into new territory; they were teaching from their homes students who were sheltered in their own abodes. As always, our children — from kindergarteners to college students — adapted and adjusted, and this agility is the key to their success in learning and in life. The American education system comes with many milestones and life-affirming moments — graduations, assemblies and rites of passages like prom and class trips. In Superior, adults, children and youth alike adapted and adjusted, and we did our best to

honor our community traditions. While graduation was not the same this year, missing hugs and big open-house celebrations, the community gathered for a parade. The private graduation ceremony was memorable and inspiring. Awards, scholarships and laptops were distributed, and residents of Superior decorated their homes to honor our graduates. Like all of us, our young people will look back on this pandemic and realize that these difficult and challenging times will indelibly influence who they will become as adults. This pandemic has forced everyone to consider new skills and challenge ourselves. That is what education is, an opportunity to add to your knowledge and skill base. It is an opportunity to learn and grow that never ends. The way we live our lives will never be the same, and that may not be the worst thing. This is an opportunity to reimagine, reinvent and grow even more. Who knows? The next greatest invention may come out of your own home or family.

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CARES ACT Funding Used to Aid Businesses in Unincorporated Pinal County

inal County has dedicated some of its funding from the federal CARES Act to give cash infusions to small businesses struggling in the economic conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The county’s Business Sustainability Program is giving grants of up to $15,000 each to enterprises located in unincorporated areas of the county negatively affected by the stayhome order Arizona had in place from March 31-May 15. Business owners were given from June 15-July 15 to apply for the aid, county spokesman James Daniels said, and the Board of Supervisors didn’t place a cap on the total amount that could be given out. The one-time reimbursements are not loans to be paid back, and can be used for rent, mortgage and/or utility costs. Daniels said as of July 1, 94 applications had been received, and 28 checks totaling approximately $240,000 sent out. T he super v isors inv ited small-business owners to one of their meetings in May to talk about their financial difficulties during the stay-at-home order, while the county was pressing the state to release CARES Act funding intended to be passed through to its 13 smallest counties. Gov. Doug

Ducey released the funding shortly after Pinal County filed suit. One of them was Gina Sandoval, owner of Patriot Martial Arts Academy at the corner of Ironwood and Ocotillo roads in San Tan Valley for the last six years. She explained the corporation that owned the building she’s located in wasn’t giving her any leeway as the studio fell behind on its rent while it was closed and how alternatives like the Paycheck Protection Program weren’t working for small businesses. By late June, she’d applied to and been approved for participation in the Business Sustainability Program, though she didn’t know how much money she’d be getting. “I’m really grateful that they asked business owners, ‘What do we do, where’s your perspective?’ It at least gave them the opportunity to structure the grant in a way that can really help the true small businesses,” Sandoval said. She said the county grant will help her get caught up on rent, which she truly appreciates, but said it can’t solve all of the conundrums her business faces in a changed world. “We can’t do anything when we’re closed, you feel stuck and hopeless. Being open at least gives you the chance of figur-

ing things out. But there’s still fear in the community” about COVID-19, particularly as reported cases continue to rise. She doesn’t k now i f enrollment will ever return to pre-pandemic levels, putting plans to move to a larger space in the near future on hold and leaving her uncertain about making a long-term commitment to the space she has. “We had a really good sense of

our numbers, and now we don’t have a good sense of our numbers,” she said. In her spare time, Sandoval has been spearheading a local effort which has produced thousands of fabric face masks donated to hospitals. For more information about the Business Sustainability Program visit www.pinalcountyaz.gov/pinal-works/BRC/Pages/BusinessSustainabilityProgram.aspx.

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This study will require feedback from stakeholders throughout the county, and Kanavel and Watson are pulling together numerous committees to focus on the multiple aspects of the county’s growth trajectory. Kanavel said Arizona State University also will conduct a study of the major rail lines running though Pinal County and how they can be integrated into its economic growth.

With Lucid Motors, Nikola Motors, thousands of acres of solar energy panels and other ventures involving renewable energy, many of the pieces already are in place, Kanavel said. He said he expects the corridor to bring “high-tech manufacturing, medical, all sorts of different kinds of projects. Plus we’ve already got companies getting placed,” with one announcement expected soon.

Though the study itself is expected to run just a year and a half, Kanavel said it will require a lot of public input and decades of development for its findings to be fully brought to life. “We have to communicate total transparency because this is a massive, massive multibillion-dollar project. It’ll take 30 years to put into play,” he said.

along the interstates. “Every city in the whole entire county is going to be a part of this,” he said. “Whether we put a company over in Mammoth or not, the workforce and opportunities for auxiliary operations will be there. Not all of them are going to go along the freeway because they don’t need to be on the freeway.”

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