November 15 – December 5, 2014 www.SanTanSun.com
Community rallies behind fallen officers’ families BY CURT BLAKENEY
As is often the case when tragedy strikes, the community bands together to grieve and support those left behind. Two weeks ago, the tight-knit community of Chandler was shaken to the core after two police officers were killed in separate incidents only days apart. The community, supported by the Chandler Police Department, organized vigils and fundraisers in the aftermath, to help the city heal and make sense of two senseless tragedies. “The men and women of the Chandler Police Department are grieving as a family does,” says Chandler Chief of Police Sean Duggan, who was sworn into office last December. “We lost two exceptionally talented and dedicated officers within a matter of days. At the same time, we have a job to do and our department continues to perform our work at the highest level.” Officer David Payne, 37, was killed when his motorcycle was rear-ended by an impaired driver at Chandler Boulevard and Pennington Drive on Oct. 31. Officer Bryant Holmes, 34, died after he was clipped by a red-light runner in Gilbert while riding his motorcycle to work on Oct. 28. Services for Holmes were held on Nov. 3 at the Church of Jesus Christ of
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN OFFICERS: Scottsdale Police Officers Wayne Crenshaw and Tom Kenia relax after a barbecue lunch honoring two Chandler police officers who were recently killed in motorcycle crashes. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
Latter-day Saints Stake Center in Mesa, while Payne received a full military funeral at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Nov. 8. Both were laid to rest at the Valley of the Sun Mortuary &
McCain visits Intel plant to honor veterans
SEE CHANDLER
OFFICERS PAGE 4
San Marcos Golf Course back in the swing after $3.9M renovation
BY CURT BLAKENEY
U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona took a break from his busy schedule in Washington, D.C., to visit Intel’s Chandler campus on Nov. 7, and honor the service and sacrifices of that company’s military employees and their families at a Veterans Day celebration. McCain, a former navy serviceman, tweeted “Great to help honor #Arizona veterans @Intel today in #Chandler!” before addressing a packed conference room filled with employees, veterans and Intel executives. “Intel has been a leader in Arizona for years with its vigorous programs for veterans,” McCain says. “Intel is a great corporate citizen. In Arizona, we are grateful for what Intel has done for veterans, who don’t want a hand out...they want a hand up. I thank Intel for the tremendous opportunities
Cemetery in Chandler. “I am most proud of how our employees, both sworn and civilian, have pulled together in support for one another,” Duggan says. “The outpouring
of support from our public safety partners and the Chandler community has been overwhelming and especially heartwarming.” FBI statistics show traffic-related deaths of police officers have been rising in recent years, even while overall law enforcement fatalities have been declining. Because both officers were killed on motorcycles, Duggan addressed questions about their safety. “The circumstances surrounding both incidents are quite different,” Duggan explains. “We realize police work by its very nature is a dangerous profession, regardless of the position an officer holds in a department. The motor officers in our department’s traffic unit are highly skilled in the operation of their motorcycles. They are required to re-certify twice a year and log well over 2,000 hours a year on their motorcycle. “Police motorcycles are an effective and necessary tool for not only traffic enforcement, but are useful in the general deterrence of crime. With that being said, our department will continue to seek and employ best practices in all realms of policing in order to mitigate the inherent dangers of our profession.” The Chandler Police Department
BY TIM J. RANDALL
VISITING: A veteran himself, Sen. John McCain honored those who have served the country during a speech at Intel. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
that they provide to veterans, and for the many contributions they make to SEE MCCAIN PAGE 5
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After a five-month, $3.9 million renovation, the San Marcos Golf Course has been restored to its original beauty. In the week leading up to its Nov. 1 unveiling, San Marcos PGA professional Ben Martyn proudly showed off the stunning Harry Collis-designed venue to San Marcos members, industry, media and City leaders. Over three days, invited guests were treated to 18 holes of golf to experience the classic shot-making quality and original feel of the Chandler treasure. “The crew worked right through the summer and the results are better than we could have imagined,” Martyn says. The golf course, the oldest in the state with grass greens, is located at 100
N. Dakota St., adjacent to the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort. The historic gem’s renovation, overseen by managing group Touchstone Golf, was funded by Interwest Capital Corp., which purchased the resort in January 2013. It spent more than $12 million restoring the hotel; $3.9 million went toward the golf course and clubhouse at the 100-year-old property. Martyn explains that there were considerable changes made to the course, including a complete replacement of the original galvanized irrigation system with modern piping. He says this was challenging. “Because on many parts of the course there was no real knowledge of where
F E AT U R E STO R I E S City of Chandler Insider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 John Allen’s Personal Training: Train smarter, not harder . . . .BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Father-son company shows Arizona pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 25 Rock Lobster rocks Chandler’s culinary scene. . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . . Page 41 Jessica Lang Dance comes to MAC stage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 53
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