This Week
EV leaves ‘boomburb’ tag behind, but growth slowing
BY GARY NELSON Tribune Contributor
Back in 2001, life was discovered in Arizona outside the city limits of Phoenix.
Fannie Mae, a federally backed mortgage corporation, made headlines that year when it coined the term “boomburb” to describe large and growing communities where much of this life existed.
“Incredibly,” one report said at the time, “some of the boomburbs described by Fannie Mae are so large they exceed the population of actual cities.”
Mesa was listed as the prime example, already boasting a population larger than that of Minneapolis, Miami, St. Louis, Pittsburgh or Cincinnati.
Even then, one suspects, Mesa would have chafed at being described as something other than a real city. Likewise Tempe, Gilbert and Chandler, which also made the “boomburb” list.
But if the semi-derogatory term was at all true as the century dawned, the East Valley’s four major municipalities have been working overtime to make sure it no longer applies.
Part of that – the part about no longer being known simply for breakneck population
growth – is taking care of itself naturally as cities use up their available land and approach buildout.
The other part – the part about becoming a self-sustaining community with an identity
and a sense of place – results from a willingness to stick with long-term visions and plans. That is not to say growth is over. It isn’t, not by a long shot.
Hamilton High students have mixed reactions to sex-assault scandal
BY JESSICA SURIANO Tribune Staff Writer
Hamilton High School students have mixed reactions to the current police investigation into a sex-assault case involving their school and how the scandal will affect its sports program and campus climate long-term.
Some believe the ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct involving the football team will not change the culture of student-to-student interaction or the atmosphere of the sports programs –including football – while others reported sensing changes already.
“Things are taken more seriously after what
happened last year, but I haven’t seen that many changes,” sophomore Mariana Flores said.
While Flores said she hasn’t seen drastic changes in the hallways, she said she does think the sports programs will be affected much more.
“I wouldn’t say that there was a big change, but certain teachers have been acting a little strange, personally the coaches,” senior Chris Lee said. “If you have a coach as a teacher, you can kind of tell that they’re under the weather when it comes to the lawsuit itself.”
Other than small differences in some classrooms, Lee said there is no “defined change” visible in the campus climate. He added, though, Hamilton might have to
adapt to new public perceptions of its sports program.
Other students also have noticed a change in how Hamilton is perceived by other schools. Seniors Kaitlyn Moran and Ariel Kuo said when they meet other people who learn they attend Hamilton, it is usually met with a skeptical reaction because the investigation is immediately associated with the school’s name now.
Moran said students talked about the allegations in the hallways and at lunch much more when they first surfaced earlier this year, but now the talk has died down. That comes at a time when the investigation
(Gary Nelson/Tribune Contributor)
large residential complex at University Drive and Myrtle typifies construction now under way in much of
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Kyrene grapples with the high cost of keeping students, luring new ones
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
Kyrene school officials are wrestling with a multimillion-dollar problem in their effort to improve the district’s attractiveness to parents amid the increasing competition for more students.
The governing board’s focus is Kyrene Traditional Academy–Sureno Campus in Chandler, which Superintendent Jan Vesely wants to convert from a kindergarten-fifth grade school to one with classes for prekindergarten through eighth grade.
The move is envisioned as the first conversion of at least some Kyrene campuses to a PreK-8 model because parents generally prefer their kids to attend only one school until they are ready for high school.
But the board also is grappling with the fact that it has nowhere near the money it needs, and draft minutes of a July 19 retreat suggest relations among board members have been strained by the debate over what to do with Kyrene Traditional Academy.
The minutes indicate the discussion may have become so testy that one board member suggested the next retreat focus on “communications” while a colleague suggested it be led by the Arizona School Boards Association.
In an unconventional move, the district did not post a video of the July 19 retreat. Asked why not, spokeswoman Nancy Dudenhoefer replied, “The school board isn’t required to record all meetings.”
At the July 11 meeting, which is online, administrators gave the board two options for Sureno: remodeling the campus or demolishing it and building a new one.
The cost estimates ranged from $9.1 million to $19 million – almost all the bond money the district has left.
But several board members balked at the expense of a new state-of-the-art campus, prompting administrators and the district’s architect, Orcutt|Winslow, to return July 19 with three remodeling plans ranging in cost between $7 million and $15 million.
The board’s July 11 discussion illustrated some of the major issues facing officials as they seek a more effective edge over neighboring districts and charters in the competition for more students and their effort to retain the ones they already have.
The district faces projected enrollment declines – and subsequent reductions in state subsidies – because fewer younger families with children are finding homes in Kyrene’s boundaries, which encompass Ahwatukee and parts of Chandler and Tempe.
“I’m not sure this is the right site for this,” Myrick said. “I think we’d like to reach out to the neighbors and do a lot more due diligence on the front end.” Fahy added, “I drove through Sureno. It’s a lovely little neighborhood. Is it a place where we want to back up a school
“ We have a budget situation that for the next five years is pretty dire and I am concerned about that. ”
– Michelle Fahy, board member
In addition, more parents are looking for K-8 schools and/or schools that offer a traditional education curriculum.
“We are losing families and that’s the truth,” said Marianne Lescher, Kyrene Traditional Academy principal.
To make matters more complicated for Kyrene officials, many schools in the cash-strapped district are over 30 years old and need expensive repairs or updates.
Along with all these issues, board members Michael Myrick and Michelle Fahy also expressed concern about how a new two-story building would affect Chandler homeowners near Sureno and whether that neighborhood was the right one for Kyrene’s first PreK-8 campus.
right up to the back of these homes and drag a bunch of traffic through there trying to grow that program or is there some better location?”
Those concerns drew a rebuke later that evening from former board member Michelle Hirsch, who lives near Sureno. She said many parents have sent their children there because of the PreK8 plan.
Hirsch also said that the board had studied Sureno for several years already and that the time had come to begin its conversion.
Both Myrick and Fahy also questioned the cost of a new campus against Sureno’s current enrollment projections.
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Photographer) Kyrene Traditional Academy-Sureno Campus in Chandler has been eyed for a conversion to a Prekindergarten-through-eighth-grade campus, but the cost of retrofitting it totals millions of dollars.
GROWTH
But it will be slower than in the past, and some recent population projections have been toned down in the wake of the Great Recession.
The Maricopa Association of Governments, which oversees planning for the metro area, said in its latest projections that the recession put a 10-year dent in the Valley’s expected growth. Previously, MAG expected the Valley’s population to hit 6.1 million by 2030; that number now is not expected until 2040.
For the East Valley specifically, MAG sees a little less clout in the future. In 2015, the area held 34 percent of the region’s population. As growth accelerates elsewhere and slows on the east side, that share is expected to slip to less than 27 percent by 2050.
The East Valley’s share of metro-area jobs also is expected to slip, from 41 percent in 2015 to 35.5 percent in 2050.
MAG projections do show every East Valley city steadily gaining population over the next three decades. But gone are the days when a city could double or even triple its population in the span of a decade.
Surprisingly, the East Valley’s two oldest cities – Tempe and Mesa – are expected to show the biggest growth in terms of both raw numbers and percentages.
Tempe, which is landlocked and already the Valley’s most urbanized city, may add another 89,500 people by 2050, a 52 percent jump over its 2015 population. How? By growing up, not out.
Mayor Mark Mitchell said it’s no accident that the gleaming waterfront skyline along Tempe Town Lake symbolizes his city’s maturation.
The idea for Tempe Town Lake was born 40 years ago in an Arizona State University architectural classroom, Mitchell said. It matured to the point that a greenbelt along the entire Salt River bed from Mesa into Phoenix was proposed to Maricopa County voters in 1987.
Countywide, the proposal lost. But Tempe voters backed it, which encouraged city leaders to pursue a more local project. Town Lake opened in 1999.
Since then, its once-barren banks have spawned a dazzling array of midrise office and mixed-use complexes.
“As a kid, when I went down there, it was a dumping ground, a landfill,” Mitchell said. “To see it turn around – there’s over 40,000 residents that work in and around the lake. There’s over $1.4 billion in investment in and around the lake.”
Tempe’s vertical transformation extends south from the waterfront to the light-rail
line, with construction cranes sprouting like weeds after a spring rain.
Mitchell said Tempe’s urbanization is no accident.
“Because we are landlocked, as we grow, our city is becoming more and more densely populated,” he said. That is happening even in more suburban parts of town, one example being an apartment complex now rising on the site of a former shopping center on the north side of Baseline Road between McClintock and Rural roads.
Mesa’s planning director, John Wesley, agrees with MAG’s prediction that Mesa’s 2050 population will be about 613,000 –a 33 percent jump from 2015.
That growth could take several forms, Wesley said. One is vertical, especially along transit corridors. Another will be infill, as developers use up the city’s vacant land.
And another, he said, could be annexation, possibly into Pinal County.
Mesa is not actively looking at such annexation, Wesley said. But it’s possible that future developers of the Superstition Vistas state trust land could request annexation to facilitate building infrastructure.
Mesa’s buildout population could go up, Wesley said, if resources permit.
“I guess with enough money and assuming there is enough water, there really isn’t an upper limit,” he said, indicating that one possible limit to vertical growth is Mesa’s water system, designed with pressures to serve horizontal development rather than towering skyscrapers.
Wesley’s current focus is reflected in the latest iteration of Mesa’s general plan, approved by voters in 2014. As he and his staff worked on the plan, Wesley told the City Council a major aim would be “sprawl repair,” mitigating the worst effects
of past decades’ pell-mell, automobilecentric development patterns.
That does not mean every part of town will look the same, nor will redevelopment sweep away all of the city’s suburban neighborhoods and mobile-home parks.
“I would hope that we can continue to find things that tie us together as a community and give some overall identity and sense of place,” Wesley said. “But we will also have our unique areas that we want to be maintained.”
Chandler and Gilbert both expect buildout populations of about 300,000, but Chandler should get there a lot quicker.
David de la Torre, Chandler’s principal planner, said the city could reach buildout as soon as 2030. Beyond that, MAG expects slow growth to a 2050 population of about 320,000.
Urbanization also is in Chandler’s future, de la Torre said – especially along transit corridors such as Arizona Avenue.
“Overall,” he said, “the city envisions itself becoming a major urban center within the next few decades.”
But again, that does not mean homogeneity.
Southeast Chandler will likely retain its semi-rural character. West Chandler will develop as an employment corridor. North Chandler will become more dense.
And, de la Torre said, future redevelopment must remain compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
“We don’t expect redevelopment to occur everywhere in the city,” he said, “but certainly in certain areas like downtown and along high-capacity (transit) corridors.”
Planners in Chandler and Gilbert said those cities have no prospects for annexation other than the numerous county islands within their existing
planning areas.
Of all the East Valley cities, Gilbert in 2001 may best have fit Fannie Mae’s “boomburb” label – a town of 110,000 people with not a single hospital or hotel.
The ensuing years have rendered that description obsolete, and modern midrise office buildings along Loop 202 speak to Gilbert’s burgeoning employment opportunities.
Still, most of the town’s 70-plus square miles retain an overwhelmingly, and likely permanent, suburban feel.
Kyle Mieras, Gilbert’s development services director, said construction there is now comparable to pre-recession levels.
MAG expects Gilbert to add 52,500 people to its estimated 2015 population, reaching about 295,000 by 2050.
Mieras said future changes in density and development patterns could push that number upward. But growth will slow, he said, as big parcels fill in and developers are left with more challenging, smaller tracts.
Infill already is occurring, he said, with most of that occurring in the older northwestern part of town.
In the end, what matters to planners in the East Valley is not the labels chosen by Fannie Mae and other outsiders. Nor is it, primarily, a numbers game for their maturing communities.
The overarching goal, said Chandler planner de la Torre, is to “provide a high quality of life.”
Build that, the planners believe, and they will come – just as they have for decades past, for decades into the future.
EV growth by the numbers
A snapshot of projected growth populations in the East Valley:
Chandler
Estimated 2015 population: 255,100
Projected for 2050: 320,700
Growth percentage: 25.7
Gilbert
Estimated 2015 population: 242,900
Projected for 2050: 295,400
Growth percentage: 21.6
Mesa
Estimated 2015 population: 461,000
Projected for 2050: 613,400
Growth percentage: 33
Tempe
Estimated 2015 population: 172,000
Projected for 2050: 261,500
Growth percentage: 52
Source: Maricopa Association of Governments
(Gary Nelson/Tribune Contributor)
The opening of Tempe Town Lake in 1999 spurred shoreside commercial and residential development that greatly accelerated urbanization of the old college town.
BY GARY NELSON Tribune Contributor
Future growth won’t come easy Tempe Union to look within ranks for new superintendent
East Valley cities face several challenges as they prepare for continued growth in coming decades.
Water
Planners in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert all say they have developed robust and diverse water portfolios.
Eric Braun, Gilbert’s water resources manager, said Gilbert has complied with state law proving the town can meet estimated demand for the next 100 years. But he said, “As Gilbert continues to grow, water supply will always be a consideration for balancing growth and cost of service.”
He said Gilbert is promoting conservation as an alternative to developing additional sources, which are becoming more expensive.
Redevelopment
New uses may be proposed for older parts of the cities, creating conflict with existing neighbors.
David de la Torre, chief planner for Chandler, said “there are existing lowdensity neighborhoods surrounding those (redevelopment) areas, and we just want to be sure that those are protecting the property values and are compatible with those areas.”
Many likely redevelopment sites in Mesa, Tempe and Gilbert also abut established residential areas.
Affordable Housing
Not everyone can afford the highend apartments and condos that are multiplying in such areas as downtown Tempe.
Melanie Dykstra, community resources program supervisor for Gilbert, said federal programs help.
And, she said, “Gilbert partners with a nonprofit organization to purchase, rehabilitate and rent affordable housing units to incomeeligible residents.” In addition, another nonprofit refurbishes homes for low-income residents.
Mesa and Tempe have seen the development of several low-income housing projects along the light rail line, and Chandler planner de la Torre said Chandler will work to retain the more affordable housing that already exists in some older neighborhoods.
Climate Change
A study published this summer in the journal Science said counties in Arizona could lose 10 to 20 percent of their economic activity by the 2080s if present climate trends continue. Those losses could occur in the form of heat-related deaths, vastly higher energy costs and diminished productivity of outdoor workers, the study said.
On the other hand, some analysts said the study can’t account for possible future changes in technology and society that could mitigate or reverse rising temperatures.
BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor
The Tempe Union High School Governing Board is opting to pick its next superintendent from within the district’s ranks.
The board last week voted not to hire an executive search firm – an indication it may already have a replacement in mind for Superintendent Kenneth Baca.
Baca last month said the current school year will be his last and that he was leaving Tempe Union next June after six years at the district’s helm. He gave no reason for his resignation and did not indicate his future plans.
He also said he was notifying the board now so that it would have enough time to find a replacement.
“The board has decided that it will select a new superintendent from within TUHSD pending some discussions and additional vetting,” school board member Brandon Schmoll said.
“Many of the board members felt it was best not to waste other candidates’ time applying and interviewing when they already had a specific candidate in mind,” he added, saying the alternative would have been to spend $50,000 on a nationwide search.
“While I always like saving money, I thought it was more advantageous to recruit from within because we have an excellent team and get someone who
is already familiar with the success and challenges of our district,” Schmoll added. Meanwhile, the board also made some money for the district by approving the sale of a tract of land it owns in Ahwatukee for $23 million.
The tract is one of two that the district owns, with the other one in Chandler.
The money cannot be used for operating expenses, including salaries, under state law. But it can be used for capital expenditures, including building repairs and some equipment and supply costs.
“I’m having a really hard time justifying the dollar numbers that we’re talking about for these kinds of numbers,” Myrick said.
Projected enrollment for the new school year at Sureno is 568 students for 2017-18 and 867 if seventh and eighth grades were available in 2019-20. Fahy also questioned spending so much money on one campus when many district buildings are over 30 years old and need repairs.
“Is this the place for us to put our money? I don’t know,” Fahy said, adding:
“I am tremendously concerned about whether we are putting the cart before
the horse. We have a budget situation that for the next five years is pretty dire and I am concerned about that.”
Myrick echoed those concerns, stating “Some other places need the dollars too.”
Kyrene Traditional Academy has garnered considerable praise from state and national educators for its program, and even Fahy and Myrick praised its student success.
Board President John King noted that if the district followed the premise that some Kyrene administrators used to justify a new state-of-the-art school, “we could spend half a billion dollars to replace all the schools.”
“How in the world are we going to do that? That’s not possible,” King said. “We just can’t consider this micro situa-
tion; we have to consider the macro situation.”
He also noted, “Most of the school buildings are in the same situation that this school is in.”
“I am not against expanding to K-8,” King added. “We’ve got to do this.”
Draft minutes for the July 19 retreat show the board zeroing in on the least expensive option – a $7.1 million plan that will be further discussed and refined Tuesday, Aug. 8. Minutes indicate that spending for the plan is likely to be reduced.
Myrick cast the sole vote against moving forward.
Even after the vote, the minutes indicate, a debate ensued over “the merits of moving forward with KTA.”
“Mr. Myrick expressed frustration that
the retreat was the first opportunity that the current board was able to engage in a discussion of expansion of KTA,” the minutes state.
Board member Bernadette Coggins is quoted as noting the previous board had discussed the K-8 conversion in the presence of board members who took office this year.
She also stressed “the importance of honoring the commitment to the KTA families to deliver PreK-8 instruction.” Later, without any explanation in the minutes, Coggins also suggested that the board have another retreat in the future with a “focus on communications.”
Board Vice President Kristin Middleton suggested that discussion be “facilitated” by the Arizona School Boards Association.
( Tribune file photo)
Tempe Union Superintndent Kenneth Baca is leaving the district at the ned of next June.
has intensified and engulfed three top staffers. Police have asked the county attorney to file charges against Hamilton Principal Ken James, school athletic director Shawn Rustad and former head football coach Steve Belles.
The county attorney has made no decision on the request, in which police say all three men failed to report allegations of sexual assault as required by law.
Meanwhile, three victims of alleged sexual assault by one former team member, 17-year-old Nathaniel William Thomas, and two unnamed juveniles have filed a notice of claim for $20 million against Chandler Unified School District and various officials.
The alleged victims’ families claim the locker-room assaults, part of a pattern of older players hazing younger ones, could have been prevented had the students’
initial complaints been forwarded to police.
Both Moran and Kuo believe the case will probably change the football season and program.
“Hamilton used to be such a big football school, so now the rep is lowered,” Ariel said.
Seniors Amber Ancheta and Kaylee Davis agreed that the football program doesn’t seem like the school’s advertised point of pride anymore, as it is not talked about much on campus anymore.
“I think it’s definitely going to change the protocols and how they run,” junior Tyler Hickerson said.
However, other students believe the football season will not be drastically affected by the legal storm surrounding it.
“It’s just another season for us and we’re going to do our best,” senior wrestler Evan Orlando said.
Junior Macy Simmons, a softball player,
said she doesn’t think the sports programs will change much either.
Thomas has been charged as an adult with sexual assault and child molestation. His attorney, Ken Countryman, denies the charges. The two 16-year-old suspects arrested as accomplices were referred to
juvenile court.
District spokesman Terry Locke said the school has already put in place new measures to prevent hazing, such as increased supervision of locker rooms. It also has been showing players and coaches an anti-hazing video.
Mesa company joins fight against wrong-way drivers
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
A Mesa-based company will play a vital role in a pilot program that promises to act as an early warning system to prevent fatalities and serious collisions caused by wrong-way drivers on Arizona freeways.
Contractors West of Mesa was awarded a $1.9 million contract to install a system of 130 thermal cameras on a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 17 through Phoenix known for a high incidence of wrong-way fatalities, including a collision earlier this year that claimed three lives.
The wrong-way driver and one of the two sisters who were killed in the April 14 collision were students at Grand Canyon University.
Keaton Allison, the wrong-way driver, had a blood alcohol content of 0.25 percent, more than three times the level at which drivers are presumed under the influence in Arizona.
The victims in the other car – Karli Richardson, 20, and her sister, Kelsey, 18, who was visiting from North Carolina – were sober.
If the new thermal camera system proves successful, as ADOT expects after a series of tests, it would likely be used in the East Valley and throughout the state.
“We want to play a positive role in this. We are energized and excited,” said
Bruce Farmer, vice president of Contractors West. “It seems like we can’t go a week without hearing something about a wrong-way driver. It’s a very special project.”
It’s a daunting project for Farmer and his crews, installing the cameras that can track the motion of wrong-way drivers.
Farmer’s company specializes in highway electrical projects, such as installing
the LED signs along freeways that warn drivers about a crash ahead or urge them to not drink and drive.
“The project is not a complicated project, as far as the technology goes,” Farmer said. “It’s really the time frame they want it done.”
The Arizona Department of Transportation wants construction on the project completed by the end of November, so
the new system can be tested for 45 days and put into daily use by early 2018, said Steve Elliott, an ADOT spokesman.
“We are confident with the thermal cameras and the overall system design. Now, we have to try it,” Elliott said. “I think everyone here is eager to get this into the field.”
The system was tested when I-17 was closed for maintenance. The cameras at that time successfully tracked the motion of ADOT vehicles that were intentionally driven in the wrong direction, Elliott said.
“It’s proven reliable when we have done extensive testing. We are confident this system will provide a faster response to one-way driver,” he said.
But there is nothing about the system that would prevent a driver from heading the wrong way down a ramp, and there may be further measures used in the future, as they become available, to deter such dangerous behavior.
“There is no commercially available spike system that would work at highway speeds,” Elliott said, citing one potential example. “This isn’t the end of what we are doing on wrong-way driving.”
The new system will have a flashing light that immediately notifies a driver that he or she is headed in the wrong direction. It also will work in sync with the
(Tribune file photo)
Steve Belles was reassigned months ago and no longer serves as football coach at Hamilton High.
(Special to the Tribune)
Ken James will remain as principal of Hamilton High for the time being, according to the Chandler district.
(Facebook)
Chandler police have recommended that charges be brought against Hamilton athletic director Shawn Rustad.
(Special to the Tribune)
A wrong-way crash killed two people on Higley Road in Chandler in 2014.
Lawyer says federal agents threatened Sherry Pierce in bribery case
Federal agents threatened to indict the wife of Gary Pierce if the former utility regulator did not plead guilty to bribery charges, Sherry Pierce’s attorney have charged.
Ashley Adams said FBI agents showed up at the door of the couple on May 16, just days before a federal grand jury indicted both of them.
“My client was in her robe,’’ she told U.S. District Court Judge James Tuchi. Adams said the agents, with a draft of the proposed indictment in their hands, told Gary that if he did not plead guilty “we’re going to indict the mother of your children and the grandmother of your grandchildren.’’
The allegations came as Adams and the attorneys for the other defendants went to court to get access to various FBI interviews, case agent notes and other documents.
According to an indictment, George H. Johnson, owner of Johnson Utilities, funneled $31,500 to Sherry Pierce for what prosecutors contend was minimal work. The contention is that the funds really were a bribe for Gary Pierce to vote on two issues for Johnson’s benefit.
All have pleaded innocent.
– HOWARD FISCHER, CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
MCC football coach dies after bar fight
Mesa Community College football coach Ben McIvor died July 29 after a fight outside a bar, police say.
The brief fight took place outside Padre Murphy’s, a Glendale sports bar near 44th Avenue and Bell Road, at about 10 p.m. Police said McIver fell and hit his head during the altercation. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The other man has cooperated with police after leaving the scene. Police have not said whether he will face charges.
McIvor was the defensive line and special teams coordinator at MCC in his 20th season of coaching football. He was also the head track coach at Glendale High School.
McIvor was the head football coach at Glendale High School for six years before working at MCC. – TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
2 Chandler Schools employees killed in crash
Shirley Denning and Alexander Iafrate, both of Chandler, were killed July 28 in a car crash on U.S. 93 between Phoenix and Las Vegas.
According to Terry Locke, public information officer for Chandler Unified School District, Iafrate, 23, was a custodian at Chandler High School, and Denning, 36, was a special-needs educator at Hamilton High School.
According to the DPS, Iafrate was driving north on U.S. 93 near Wickenburg around 4:38 a.m. when the vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound semi-truck.
The driver of the truck had minor injuries. The DPS did not know what caused the car to veer into the opposing lanes.
(YouCaring.com)
The two, who were dating, were on their way to Las Vegas to watch Denning’s son and daughter play in basketball tournaments. – TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
WRONG WAY
from page 6
LED boards to alert other drivers that a wrong-way driver is on the loose.
In addition, the thermal cameras will be installed at one-mile intervals, giving police more precise tracking of where the wrong-way driver is located so that the threat to other motorists can be eliminated sooner. ADOT already is using the terminal cameras for other purposes, such as monitoring traffic.
ADOT is fast-tracking the project, with preliminary work expected to start this week and highway restrictions likely a couple of weeks later.
Police and state transportation officials have been under growing pressure for years to do something to curb the problem, beyond highway markings and large wrong-way signs installed at freeway exit ramps.
way driver killed Mesa Police Sgt. Brandon Mendoza on his way home from work near the transition of U.S. 60 and Interstate 10.
That same month, Michael Ruquet, 25, and Ashley Adea, 20, of Mesa, were killed in a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver on the San Tan Freeway in Gilbert. The couple was planning to get married and Ruquet was a U.S. Marine veteran of Afghanistan. The wrong-way driver, Patricia Neal Murphy, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
More recently, Rulon Beazer, 29, a wrong-way driver from Tempe, was killed on July 21 in a head-on collision on Loop 101 in Scottsdale near Shea Boulevard.
“ It seems like we can’t go a week without hearing something about a wrong-way driver. It’s a very special project. ”
– Bruce Farmer, Contractors West
An ADOT study found that 91 people in Arizona were killed in 245 wrong-way crashes between 2004 and 2014 and that 25 percent of such crashes are fatal, compared to 1 percent of all crashes on divided highways. It found that impaired drivers were responsible for 65 percent of one-way crashes and that most occurred between midnight and 2 a.m.
The two worst roads for wrong-way crashes were I-17 and State Route 89A between Cottonwood and Sedona, according to the study.
Nine victims have been killed in wrong-way crashes throughout the state this year, with 50 wrong-way drivers arrested on suspicion of impaired driving, DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.
The East Valley is far from immune from the problem, which seemed to take on greater urgency after a May 2014 collision with an impaired wrong-
In February, a one-way driver managed to drive 18 miles early in the morning from Central Phoenix on three freeways – State Route 51, I-10 and U.S. 60 – before being stopped by state troopers in Mesa.
In the past, DPS officers have primarily relied on 911 callers to report wrongway drivers, with DPS logging 1,008 calls reporting wrong-way drivers so far this year. Graves said many of these are several callers reporting the same incident.
He said the wrong-way drivers generally fall into two categories: impaired drivers who sometimes cause fatalities and confused drivers who are elderly or from out of state. Confused drivers often will notice their mistake and pull off to the side of the road to call for help, or figure out a way to correct their error, Graves said.
“Speed is the essence” of the new early warning system, Elliott said. “It’s a faster response.”
– Reach Jim Walsh at 480-898-5639 or at jwalsh@timespublications.com.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Future of Mesa bicyclepedestrian pathway discussed
A public meeting about the Southeast Mesa Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway will take place 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at Mesa Fire Station No. 217, 10434 E. Baseline Road.
J. Banicki Construction has been awarded the contract for the pathway along Santan Freeway between Baseline Road and Elliot Road. This project will provide a two-mile route in neighborhoods near the pathway to connect with other residential areas and businesses, and provide recreational and exercise activities.
Construction will last about eight months.
Same day/next day appointments.
City staff and J. Banicki Construction will be available to answer questions.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Solar eclipse safety program presented at Red Mountain Library
“Dr. Sky” will present a free safety program about the upcoming total solar eclipse at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road.
The Aug. 21 total solar eclipse can be dangerous if viewed improperly. Steve Kates, better known as Dr. Sky from his radio show, will present a 90-minute safety program open to adults and children. It will cover the safe ways to observe and enjoy this amazing sight in nature. Registration is not required.
The eclipse that will be seen over North America on Aug. 21 will be the first in the United States since 1979. Most of the continent will see a partial eclipse, with Arizona seeing 70 percent of it.
Information: Kevin Christopher, 480-644-4699, kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Falcon Field, Civil Air Patrol host blood drive
In response to an emergency blood shortfall across the United States, the Civil Air Patrol is hosting Operation Pulse Lift Blood Donation from 1-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Falcon Field’s Civil Air Patrol building, 4731 E. Falcon Drive in Mesa.
Walk-ins will be accepted, but reservations are requested for planning purposes.
To schedule a donation appointment, email Dr. Bob Ditch, Commander/CAP Squadron 305, robert.ditch@azwg.org. – TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Trivia Nights returning to Chandler restaurant
The Chandler Museum and The Ostrich Bar once again are hosting Trivia Night with Arizona “Hipstorian” Marshall Shore from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15.
Small teams of trivia fans will test their knowledge of newspaper headlines from Chandler’s past inside The Ostrich, in the basement of Crust restaurant, 10 N. San Marcos Place.
Trivia Night reservations are required for teams of four to six. For more information or to make a reservation, go to chandleraz.gov/museum or call 480-917-4903.
The Area Agency on Aging has partnered with the National Council on Aging to offer the Aging Mastery Program®, a 10-week course for those 50 and older. The series of classes will focus on how to stay healthy and vibrant, explore what’s new in nutrition and exercise, staying financially fit, and much more. – Cost of the series is $75 –
North Valley – Franciscan Renewal Center 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale Classes start Wed., Sept. 13th, 1:30-3:00pm
Central Valley – Area Agency on Aging 1366 E. Thomas Road, Ste. 108, Phoenix Classes start Thur., Sept. 14th, 4:30-6:00pm
Chandler Regional Medical Center adds four-legged security guards
BY ERICA APODACA Tribune Staff Writer
Apair of four-legged guards has joined the security force at Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center.
Chico, 2, and Scout, 1, are Czech shepherds who have teamed up with Mike Watkins and Robert Andazola in patrolling the hospital.
“We were looking at things to add security to make it a little safer. It’s already a safe place, but utilizing the K-9s is something we thought would enhance that safety,” said Christopher Bellino, director of security.
The dogs will be responsible for patrolling the area and de-escalating situations involving emotionally distressed people.
“One thing that they do is that they help relieve tension, for patients or family members who are distressed. We found that by utilizing the dogs at St. Joe’s, patients and family do relieve some of that tension when the dog shows up,” Bellino said.
Dignity Health has used dogs as part of the security at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Pheonix.
Both Chico and Scout have made their appearances at the hospital as they learn its layout and get accustomed to the surroundings and their handlers.
“(The security team) is right now in the process of acclimating the dogs and the
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
MESA
3 Mesa murder suspects are arrested in El Paso
Three people wanted in connection with a murder in Mesa were arrested in El Paso on July 26.
El Paso authorities arrested Clark Lee Wylie, 22; Jesus Alonso Gomez, 24; and Tiffany Van Nest, 17. They were due to be extradited to Arizona.
All three are being held at the El Paso County Detention Facility on the charge of Fugitive from Justice with no bond issued.
On May 19, officers responded to an as-
handlers to the hospital,” Bellino said. “But they are on campus now getting acclimated to the hospital, the flooring, the elevators, stairwells. That’s the part that the handlers and the dogs need to get acclimated to before we actually put them into the schedule.”
Rudy Apodaca, Chandler Regional security vice president, explained, “The goal is safety. First and foremost, we are an organization that is focused on safety. So, it’s patient safety, employee safety,
sault call near Stapley Drive just north of the Superstition Freeway and found the body of 19-year-old Cristian Camarena. He was pronounced dead on scene.
Registration
for fall programs, including sports, opens in Mesa
Registration is open for youth and adult programs, including adult sports, youth sports, adaptive sports, golf and tennis lessons, aquatics, flag football, Red Mountain Center enrichment classes and school break camps.
Residents can register one of three ways: online at apm.activecommunities.com/mesaaz/Home; in person at the Mesa Parks
public safety. So, any resources we can employ to create a safer environment is how we discern and make those kinds of decisions.”
The dogs and handlers will walk around throughout the hospital but are trained to be aware of patient and staff needs.
“We have staff that have said they are allergic to dogs, so then the dogs will actually stay away from the area. If it’s a patient, then we won’t utilize the K-9s in that area,” Bellino said.
and Recreation Office at 200 S. Center St., Building No. 1; or by mail to Mesa Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 1466, Mail Stop 7010, Mesa, AZ 85211.
A guide to Mesa’s fall program offerings at https://issuu.com/cityofmesa/docs/prcf_ fall_2017/6.
CHANDLER
Realtor.com ranks Chandler high for affordability, schools
Chandler placed in the top 10 for affordability combined with schools in three different lists at Realtor.com.
The lists were created by an analysis of ZIP codes within the largest metropolitan areas in
The hospital has no immediate plan to put more dogs on the security team, though Dignity Health officials say they might eventually add more in the future.
“Right now, it’s just going to be the two,” Bellino said. “But as small places grow, the demands and requirements change. We’ll look at security and it has the potential to grow. But right now, the two are set in Chandler.”
The dogs have gone through an intensive training and will slowly be incorporated into the security team.
“Once you have a dog that has the right genetics and the right temperament for the job, it’s usually a 320-hour academy to get the dog up to standard. So, 40 hours a week for eight weeks,” George Daniolos, owner of Canine Defense, said, adding:
“Once you’re up to national police dog standards, then you are required to do a weekly maintenance training.”
Weekly training can consist of 15-20 hours, depending on the requirements of the business.
“The team looked at: Does the K-9 have the personality? Is he not overly aggressive but can still do their job? But then the officers look at are they able to bond with the dogs and then how can they be a good handler with that K-9 in a public setting and still do their function,” Apodaca said.
“These dogs were very much hand selected,” he said. “You don’t want a dog See K-9 on page 11
the country that contain at least one public or public charter school ranked eight out of 10 or higher by GreatSchools.
For elementary schools, Chandler placed 10th on the strength of the Kyrene Elementary District and Paragon Education Corporation. Chandler was called 30 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 20 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall.
Among middle schools, Chandler was ninth, again due to Kyrene and Paragon Among high schools, Chandler was eighth, based on Paragon Education Corporation and Paragon Science Academy K-12.
(Special to the Tribune)
Chandler Regional Medical Center guards Mike Watkins, left, and Robert Andazola are breaking in their new “partners,” Czech shepherds Chico and Scout.
that is too docile and you don’t want a dog that is too aggressive in an environment that is meant for healing.”
K-9s must have a solid nerve, cannot be startled easily and must display four main drives – prey, hunt, defense and combat, according to Daniolos.
“They are in the process of getting additional obedience training. They are trained with the handler and the trainer twice a week. So, again it is just repetitive training in obedience and protection,” Bellino said, “They are in the process of EOD training, which is being able to detect certain chemicals and explosives potentially. But their main focus is protection and obedience.”
There are two sides to training a K-9 –apprehension and patrol and detection. Apprehension and patrol consists of searching the premises and learning how to bite and hold.
“Dogs will learn to bite and hold. It is very important that the dog will bite in one spot and stay there no matter what happens. That’s on the patrol-andapprehension side,” Daniolos said.
On the detection side, a dog learns to sniff out different items, depending
BRIEFS
For more information, go to research.realtor.com/top-10-affordable-towns-best-elementary-schools.
Residents drop off 79 tons of household hazardous waste
Last fiscal year, Chandler residents disposed of 79 tons of household hazardous waste at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. This was a 5 percent increase from the prior year and included latex paint, oil, antifreeze and batteries.
The service is provided free for Chandler residents who pay for city-provided solid waste services. Once residents arrive at the facility, 955 E. Queen Creek Road, trained staff remove the items from the vehicle. Appointments for HHW drop-off must be scheduled in advanced by calling 480-782-3510.
For more information about Chandler’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program, visit chandleraz.gov/recycle.
Trashion Fashion Show in Chandler looking for designers to enter Chandler is seeking fashion designers to en-
on the needs of the operation. The dogs can learn how to detect drugs, narcotics, phones, bombs and/or currency.
“With patrol for a hospital, the dog should be very stable because it is going to be working in crowds of people and needs to be very strong in temperament and nerve because we don’t want accidents happening,” Daniolos said.
“You’ll have people running into the emergency room, there could be screaming and chaos and the dog needs to be very sensible and tolerate quite a bit and not pay much attention to it.”
“The dog is one of the most intimidating uses of force without actually having to use any force,” Daniolos continued.
“It’s a great deterrent. What you’ll find in hospitals are quite a bit of incidents with high-stress encounters. The dog deescalates, you can have 10 security guards that no one cares about. But as soon as the dog comes into the picture, it’s a great way to de-escalate a situation.”
Apodaca added: “It is an enhancement for us, we have always had that human aspect of safety. Nothing can substitute for the human discernment and visual aspect of keeping people safe in our environment, but this is a truly wonderful enhancement as a deterrent for anyone with malicious intent.”
ter its Third Annual Trashion Fashion Show.
The runway show at Chandler Fashion Center on Oct. 14 will feature wearable fashion created from materials that might otherwise end up in the trash. Chandler residents or students that attend a Chandler school have until Sept. 15 to register.
At least 75 percent of a garment must be made from recyclable or reused materials that would otherwise be thrown away or recycled.
Entries will be accepted in three age categories; ages 10-13, 14-17 and 18-plus.
Registration forms and more information are available at chandleraz.gov/recycle.
GILBERT
Free parenting workshops offered free at library
Arizona’s Children Association is offering free parenting workshops on Tuesdays, Aug. 15-Sept. 19 at the Southeast Regional Library, 775 N. Greenfield Road
The six-session series, called Common Sense Parenting, teaches parents practical and effective ways to increase their children’s positive behaviors. This program is.
Space is limited so parents are encouraged to sign up. To register visit https://apm.activecommunities.com/gilbertaz/Activity_Search/ common-sense-parenting/4138.
Thirty minutes of your time today will give them the peace they will need one day! Give yourself and your family the peace of mind they deserve. Let your wishes be known because guessing is never fun!
Leave your checkbook at HOME!
Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery invites you to come and document your wishes. You will receive a free planning guide and a copy of your wishes!
Please call Hilary at (480) 832-2850 to set a time to document your wishes.
Gilbert teen competes for world championship in combat sport
BY LEAH GILCHRIST Tribune Staff Writer
Most parents wouldn’t want to watch their child in a fight, but for Tierra Brandt, it runs in the family.
Tierra, a 15-year-old from Gilbert, is competing in the 2017 International Federation of Muaythai Amateurs Youth World Championship in Thailand, which wraps up Aug. 11. The tournament is the most prestigious youth muay thai event in the world, and Tierra has been invited with the U.S. team for the second year in a row. Tierra participated in the 2016 IFMA Youth World Championship and took home the bronze medal.
“For this tournament, I want to come back with a gold medal, that’s the main goal,” Tierra said.
Tierra started fighting when she was 9 years old, following in both her parents’ footsteps as a muay thai fighter. Her parents both grew up in the sport, and met each other at a gym. They’ve now been in it for 25 years.
Muay thai is a combat sport originating from Thailand. It combines the use of fists, knees, elbows and shins in a standup combat style. There are pro fighting leagues, as well as amateur fighting leagues for fighters under 18.
“Before it’s a little nerve wrecking, but
once you’re in there all the nerves go away and you push all the way through until you get the win.” Tierra said.
As an amateur female fighter in the U.S., it can be difficult to find opponents for Tierra. She’s staying in the amateur league as long as possible, because it’s an even greater challenge to find female pro fighters in Tierra’s weight class.
“Some of these girls she fights overseas have 60, 70, or 100 fights, and she’s only had 20. We’re already at a disadvantage level just being in the states,” said Desiree Brandt, Tierra’s mother.
After having been a three-time U.S. Muay Thai Open National Champion, a Thai Boxing Association National Champion and taking home the bronze medal from the IFMA Youth World Championship last year, Tierra was hand selected to participate on the U.S. youth team this year. She and her father, Danny Brandt, left in early July to acclimate to the environment she will be competing in.
“It’s awesome, this will be my second year in a row.” Tierra said, “I was on the team last year, so I competed last year. I know what to expect this year.”
Danny and Desiree both have coached Tierra from when she first started as a muay thai fighter.
“It’s tough sometimes coaching girls.”
Danny said, “For my daughters and my wife, it can be a little difficult at times,
but in the long run it’s worth it.”
Desiree says as a mother, it was difficult for to see Tierra fighting at first, even though she was wearing all the required padding.
“Any time you have to watch your child get punched around, there’s nerves.”
Desiree said, “It’s a little less for me because I’m her coach and I know what she’s capable of, and just because we’ve been in it so long it’s not as scary for me.”
Danny was selected as a coach for the U.S. team, and worked with Tierra and other amateur fighters at a training camp prior to the competition. It is the fourth time he’s coached the U.S. team, after having worked with both youth and adults at the international level.
Last year, the competition saw 1,000 competitors from over 80 countries. Of the competitors, there were only 13 were from the U.S. team and three were from Arizona.
Though muay thai is a combat sport, it is built on a foundation of mutual respect between the fighters.
“It’s a very respectable sport, in Thailand it’s the sport of their country and it’s based on respect.” Desiree said, “There’s a lot of sportsmanship.”
Tierra says having the discipline of training and fighting muay thai has helped her keep her focus in school, and has helped her entire mindset as she’s grown up. She sees herself continuing to pursue muay thai fighting following high school.
In order to train for this competition, Tierra has been practicing about three times a day with cardio, ab routines,
strength and conditioning, and team practice.
Though the sport is not as popular in the U.S. as it is internationally, Desiree and Danny are hopeful it will gain popularity after having been named a provisional sport for the Olympics in 2024. Currently, all the funding the U.S. team receives is from funds they fundraise themselves in comparison to many international countries who receive government support for the sport. The U.S. team is fortunate to have the United States Muaythai Foundation, a non-profit that helps fund the needs of fighters, to support them where they can.
“We’re hoping by 2024 we will be able to compete in the Olympic games.” Desiree said, “So if she keeps competing in these tournaments, that’s going to be in her prime. I think at the end of the day to be on the Olympic team, that’s the long-term goal.”
(Brandt family/Special to the Tribune)
Tierra Brandt (in blue) competes in a muay thai event. The sport combines the use of fists, knees, elbows and shins in a stand-up combat style.
(Brandt family/Special to the Tribune)
Tierra Brandt has been involved in muay thai since she was 9 years old. She took a bronze medal in last year’s Muaythai Amateurs Youth World Championship tournament.
Banner Health moving quick clinics into Safeway stores
BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Tribune Staff Writer
Banner Health is continuing its expansion into the convenient care market in Arizona through a partnership with Safeway that will put clinics at select grocery stores throughout the state.
Banner unveiled the first two locations on Aug. 1 in Safeways at 926 E. Broadway Road in Tempe and 4970 E. Alma School Road in Chandler. A third location will open in Tucson on Aug. 9.
The new clinics are part of a larger push by Banner to meet patients where they live. The health-care network previously acquired 32 Urgent Care Extra facilities in Arizona in late 2016 as a part of this strategy.
“Patients want us to be closer to them, more convenient for them, relatively inexpensive and still provide quality care,” said Dr. Rob Rohatsch, Banner Urgent Care CEO.
Banner chose Safeway as a partner after market research highlighted grocery stores as prime locations for retail-based health care and because of the brand’s reputation nationwide.
“Safeway has an outstanding reputation nationally as high-quality chain of grocery stores,” Rohatsch said.
The combination of convenience and cost concerns are driving the push into retail as these locations will allow consumers to pay less than they would at a
BUSINESS BRIEFS
2 contractors arrested, accused of unfinished work
Two men on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors most wanted list have been arrested.
On July 27, Robert Green, 37, was arrested in Florida. He had allegedly collected more than $72,000 for bathroom remodeling he didn’t complete.
U.S. Marshals Service officials say Green, of Gilbert, was taken into custody outside a restaurant and bar in Orlando. He is accused of contracting without a license but telling
primary care provider without making an appointment.
“(The question is) how do you get the right person with an illness or injury in the right center with the right care for the right price,” Rohatsch said.
Banner’s retail clinics offer an array of services for consumers experiencing minor injuries or illnesses, including allergic reactions, common colds, cough, earaches, pinkeye, stomachaches, strep throat and urinary tract infections.
Nurse practitioners with direct doctor oversight provide care at the clinics. That means the nurse practitioners will be able to communicate with a doctor at any time to receive recommendations and
homeowners he was licensed.
On July 30, James Servellon, 48, formerly of Mesa, was arrested in Lancaster, California, at a family member’s wedding reception.
Servellon allegedly was paid $23,810 for bathroom and kitchen countertop remodeling projects and then performed little to no work.
PayPal laying off workers at Chandler facility
PayPal, which processes digital payments, is laying off an unspecified number of employees at its Chandler facility.
The 188,000-square-foot Chandler center, at 3000 One Payment Way, near the junction of Loops 101 and 202, opened in 2011.
advice, Rohatsch said.
The clinics will also offer physical exams and vaccinations. For more complex issues, patients will be referred to a Banner Urgent Care facility. Notably, referred patients will have fees waived at the urgent care so they are not charged twice, Rohatsch said.
Banner uses an integrated medical records system, so urgent care facilities, hospitals, retail clinics, primary care providers and others operating within the network will know patient care history, including prescribed medications.
That integration is a key component of Banner’s strategy, as the clinics are less about replacing traditional care, like primary care providers, and more about giving patients additional health and wellness options.
“We are filling in gaps around the consumer experience,” Rohatsch said.
The prevalence of retail-based medicine is a trend that is growing nationwide.
The first retail health-care facility in
PayPal, based in San Jose, California, had previously said it was restructuring. It has more than 200 million active customers.
Family Dollar Stores opens new location in Mesa
Family Dollar Stores opened a new store in Mesa at 112 E. McKellips Drive on Thursday. A grand opening celebration took place Saturday.
The event was scheduled to include giveaways and prizes, including a Coby Bluetooth speaker and a drone. In addition, the first 50 customers on Saturday were to receive a Family Dollar gift card.
the country opened in 2001. By 2014, roughly 1,900 retail-based clinics existed across the country, and that number is expected to reach 2,800 by the end of 2017, according to a report from Accenture, a management consulting company.
This is largely a consumer-driven trend, he added.
Consumers are attracted by the convenience, as one-third of Americans live within a 10-minute drive of a retail clinic and most visits take place when their doctor’s office is closed, according to an article in the American Journal of Medicine.
The article also cites price as a contributing factor, as charges at these locations are easy to understand and cheaper than other providers.
Whether or not these clinics save consumers money in the long run is still up in the air, though.
A report from the RAND Corporation found that 40 percent of visits to retail clinics for minor issues took place instead of going to the doctor’s office and resulted in lower costs for consumers and health plans.
However, roughly 60 percent of visits were for routine care that the patients would not have sought if not for the presence of the clinic. The added cost of those visits outweighed cost savings, according to the report.
– Reach Wayne Schutsky at 480-898-6533 or wschutsky@timespublications.com.
Starbucks to close Teavana tea stores in EV, nationwide
Starbucks has announced that all 379 Teavana stores, including stores in Chandler and Gilbert, are underperforming and will be closed. The move will impact 3,300 workers.
Most locations will shut down by spring 2018, Starbucks said, and people employed at Teavana locations will be invited to apply for jobs at Starbucks locations.
In the East Valley, Teavana stores are in the Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 2402, and in SanTan Village, 2200 E. Williams Field Road, Suite 640.
(Special to the Tribune)
Banner Health is installing convenient-care clinics in Safeway supermarkets beginning the program at stores in Tempe, Chandler and Tucson.
Playing games won’t remove the stench from Hamilton football
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist
On the Hamilton football team’s official website, the countdown clock ticks –literally – toward this disgraced squad’s season opener. Circle the date on your calendar, keep a watchful eye: Aug. 18 at 7 p.m., Hamilton, seven times a state football champion, versus the Boulder Creek Jaguars.
This is a football game, like the other nine contests on the Huskies’ 2017 schedule, that never should be played. This is a football team that should not be allowed to take the field of play again until we have had a thorough legal vetting of its adult leadership, its “Lord of the Flies” locker room culture and of who did what and who knew what when it comes to the violent, perverse state of affairs that appears to have been Hamilton football for 17 months between fall
2015 and January 2017.
You say forfeiting 10 football games is an overreaction? I say it’s about time. Adults have been underreacting in this sickening tale at every step of the way.
Let’s start with now-on-leave head football coach Steve Belles, who Chandler Police have recommended face prosecution on child abuse charges and for failure to obey the mandatory reporting laws that kick in when adults in charge learn of criminal allegations like, say, rape and kidnapping. In late May, Belles spent 15 minutes sitting for a chat with local sports host Brad Cesmat. To say Belles doesn’t get it is another understatement in a story chock-full of them.
“Hopefully it’s a rallying cry for them this year,” said Belles of the Huskies football team, “and unfortunate for the kids that did this (and) to the victims it happened to, too. It definitely was something hard to go through, like I said, not just for me but for the program. I think it’s just moving forward now.”
According to the legal documents that detail this case, the “it” Belles tells us requires “moving forward” is the alleged assault of at least four teens under the age of 15. The attacks, police wrote, “occurred at varying levels of criminal offense to include penetration of the anus by fingers and/or objects. Some assaults were captured on recording and posted to social media.”
Belles’ immortal words of wisdom to his team, according to detectives? Hamilton players should stop “committing gay acts,” “sticking fingers in butt holes” and “stop raping each other.”
Belles was not alone in his failure here.
Police also have recommended criminal charges against Hamilton Principal Ken James and the school’s athletic director, Shawn Rustad. Both men stand accused of ignoring the mandatory reporting laws, instead deciding to conduct their own in-house investigation of what some onlookers continue to characterize as hazing.
Here’s a thought. I got hazed once, when I was a teenager working as a grocery store bag boy. The boss told me to go fetch the “shelf stretcher” in the warehouse. It took me an hour searching before I realized the “shelf stretcher” didn’t exist. The whole crew had a good laugh at my expense.
Here’s what didn’t happen next: They didn’t hold me down, tear off my clothes and sexually assault me.
Making new teammates carry a football for days on end? Using ankle tape to lash a freshman to the goalposts? Hazing like that is ritual fun and games. What happened at Hamilton High School in the football locker room is not fun, nor is it hazing. And no games should be played, no Friday night lights should shine, until there has been justice meted out to the offenders and the whole place has been investigated, decontaminated and fumigated to remove the stench.
– David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com.
Asset forfeiture laws insult liberty, hurt innocent citizens
BY THOMAS PATTERSON Tribune Guest Writer
Civil asset forfeiture is one of those insults to liberty that never seems to go away. Under asset forfeiture laws, police are able to confiscate cash, cars and other assets from citizens simply on the basis of suspicion that they are involved in illegal activity.
It’s almost unbelievable. Legal protections for criminal charges are set aside. Often, no charges are ever filed to justify the government seizing private property. Even worse, police departments seizing the assets are allowed to keep them for their own use, creating an obviously perverse incentive. In 2014, the federal government seized $4.5 billion from people who had committed no crime.
Private sector burglars that year pinched an estimated $3.9 billion from their victims, demonstrating at least one activity in which government outperformed the private sector.
Asset forfeiture laws were created with the intention of giving law enforcement the tools to combat powerful drug lords and terrorists, but the actual victims are more commonly people who operate in the cash-only economy.
Under the Orwellian-named Equitable Sharing Program, 61,998 seizures have been made since 2001. Local law enforcement units seize assets based on the suspicion of federal law violation, then turn the loot over to the feds, who rebate most of it back as a “finder’s fee.” The average seizure was $8,800, not exactly what drug kingpins carry around.
Matt Lee, a Michigan 31-year-old who was moving back to his family in California and to try for a job, is a typical case. He was pulled over by a state trooper in Nevada with $2,400 cash in his pocket, a loan from his father to help him get back on his feet.
He was ordered out of his car and searched for drugs. When the search revealed the $2,400 instead, the arresting officers exchange high-fives and told him they were keeping it because they suspect-
ed him of drug running.
He had little luggage and was wearing aviator sunglasses. He eventually went to court and, after legal fees, got about half his money back, but lost the opportunity for a job.
Vincent Costello, a home-improvement contractor was traveling from New York to Florida to do some repairs on a house he had bought in foreclosure.
He was stopped for a cracked windshield in his work van and then search for drugs by police claiming they smelled marijuana. No drugs were found but police discovered the $32,000 he was carrying to buy supplies for the house.
Because he “acted nervous” and was on a known corridor for drug traffickers, the South Carolina sheriff’s deputy took the money based on his own “training and experience.”
Costello hired an attorney to get his money back but was forced into a settlement for half, which left him with $7,000 after his legal fees.
Polls show that most Americans disapprove of this practice once they are aware
of it. Among its strong supporters are Kamala Harris, the former California Attorney General and now superstar freshman senator and U.S. Attorney General (as of this writing) Jeff Sessions.
Advocates in the law enforcement community defend the practice not only as a crime-fighting tool but as a way to provide funding for financially strapped police departments.
It’s true that many law enforcement agencies are underfunded. When you think about it, virtually all taxpayer supported activities are perceived to need more money. Moreover, lavish spending on pensions doesn’t help the policemen’s cause.
But public safety, a core function of government, should be prioritized over transfer payments and the middle-class welfare programs now proliferating.
Civil asset forfeiture needs to be abolished. It has no place in a culture that values basic rights to property and due process for all citizens.
– Thomas Patterson is a
Chandler linebacker Flynn commits to play, serve at Navy
BY RYAN CLARKE Tribune Contributor
Deciding where to play college football is a challenging, exciting time, but there’s almost always indecision throughout the process.
After touring the U.S. Naval Academy, Chandler linebacker Brayden Flynn didn’t waffle, waver or have second thoughts. He committed on the spot to the school he knew fit best.
“It was a huge honor for me to be offered by Navy,” Flynn said. “What they had to offer was impossible to turn down.”
The values instilled in Flynn from a young age influenced this decision. He said his father, Galen, a veteran of the Marine Corps, was one of his biggest mentors.
“Anytime I need advice, my dad is always there for me,” Flynn said. “He’s always taught me to do the right thing, even when nobody was looking.”
Military service is a family affair for the Flynns. Brayden’s two uncles served in the Navy and Air Force, respectively.
But it was his grandfather, who recently passed away, that left the greatest impact on his attitude and outlook on life.
“I’ve never had a bond like that with someone in my life,” Flynn said. “He
raised me to be like my dad, and it’s hard to describe just how much he meant to me.”
Flynn, who led 6A in sacks last season at Hamilton, will finish his high school career at Chandler before making his way to Annapolis. Family played a big role in his decision, but the fit goes beyond the Flynn family’s military ties.
Navy runs a 3-4 defensive scheme and
frequently blitzes the outside linebacker. Aggressive players like Flynn can thrive in that kind of system. His ability to rush the passer and cause havoc in opposing backfields will prove useful at the next level.
When his football career is over, Flynn hopes another set of skills come in handy when he serves his country. A self-proclaimed nerd with a passion for
computers and video games, Flynn wants to become a cyber officer.
“Basically, you learn about hacking, tracing and other operations,” Flynn said. “That’s something I’d be really interested in doing.”
Flynn will train for this position during his four years at the academy.
For now, though, he’ll settle for playing the video game NBA 2K with his friends. He’s even had a chance to play with some of his future teammates online – an early start on the competitive relationships he’ll build with them in college.
“Most of my summer break consists of working out and playing video games,” Flynn said with a laugh. “It’s been that way for a while.”
The transition to Navy should be smooth for Flynn. His family prepared him to serve and his coaches and trainers prepared him to play college football. His high school experience prepared him for a bitter rivalry game, too.
The Chandler-Hamilton rivalry is fierce, but it pales in comparison to the annual Army-Navy game. Flynn can’t wait for it.
“There’s so much hype surrounding that game – it’s awesome,” he said. “Navy wins most of the games, so we plan on keeping that going.”
Chandler National continues Little League series quest
BY GREG MACAFEE Tribune Sports Editor
In 2007, a Chandler Little League team, led by current Los Angeles Dodger first baseman Cody Bellinger, slugged its way to a Little League World Series appearance in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
After defeating the Prescott Little League all-stars 9-0 on July 27, Chandler will take another team to the Western Regional Little League Tournament in San Bernardino, California, to compete for a chance to repeat that team’s success. Roch Cholowsky hit two home
runs and pitcher Josh Tiedemann came within one out of a shutout to capture the 12-year-old all-stars a state championship two weeks ago.
“The players are very excited to represent the state of Arizona with the opportunity to play in the Little League World Series,” head coach Perry Galovich said.
Chandler advanced to the Western Regionals with strong performances at the plate, outscoring opponents 5611 in the state tournament, including defeating Prescott twice in the state tournament by a combined score of 19-6.
Galovich attributed the team’s success
throughout the district tournament and state tournament to the team’s work ethic.
“I think the fact that the boys work hard in practice, and as a result it has carried over into the games and we have had success,” Galovich said.
The Chandler Little League All-Stars will head to San Bernardino to kick off their run to the Little League World Series today, Aug. 6, as they take on the team from Hawaii.
“I expect our team to step it up to another level,” Galovich said. “The competition will be stronger and we have to continue to focus mentally on our everyday routine and work hard
to minimize mistakes. We are looking forward to the experience and hope to be playing in the championship game the following Saturday.”
– Contact Sports Editor Greg Macafee at gmacafee@timespublications.com or by phone at 480-898-5630. Follow Greg on Twitter @greg_macafee
(Special to the Tribune)
Galen Flynn, left, is one of son Brayden’s biggest mentors. The two toured the U.S. Naval Academy prior to the Chandler linebacker’s decision to commit to the school.
Former Williams Field kicker wows ASU football coach
BY GREG MACAFEE Tribune Sports Editor
When Arizona State University head football coach Todd Graham was asked about freshman kicker Brandon Ruiz at Pac-12 Media Day last week, an expression came across his face, then Graham summarized that look in one word.
“Wow.”
With field goals reaching up to 60plus yards in practice, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound kicker from Williams Field High School in Higley has impressed the sixth-year head coach of the Sun Devils through the first two weeks of preseason practice.
“Leg-talent wise, I’ve never coached anyone that has more leg talent than he does,” Graham said after Wednesday’s practice at Camp Tontozona in Payson. “He’s a great kid and I think he is going to score me a lot of points.”
The former Williams Field Blackhawk started kicking his freshman year of high school after playing soccer his entire life. He quickly rose in Chris Sailer’s kicker rankings, which rates the top kickers from all over the nation.
Soon enough, Ruiz sat atop that list and started fielding scholarship offers from schools like Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee, Oregon State and Arizona State.
At first, Ruiz had committed to play for legendary coach Nick Saban at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. But, he reconsidered and ultimately decided to become a Sun Devil.
“I knew college was going to be hard, and it kind of is already,” Ruiz said. “I just wanted a place where I knew I would be comfortable in and, if anything ever happened, I could just take a day off and go home and relax. I’m starting to become an adult now so I wanted at least some help in doing that.”
In four years at Williams Field, Ruiz scored 205 total points for the Blackhawks and drilled 31 field goals, according to maxpreps.com. To finish off his high school football career, Ruiz and Williams Field captured the AIA Class 5A State Championship at the University of Phoenix stadium.
“I’m hoping to carry on that winning tradition,” Ruiz said. “It’s been a while since I’ve lost an actual game.” His last loss came in 2015 when
Williams Field fell to Westview in the Division II AIA state playoffs.
Since joining the Sun Devils, Ruiz said there was somewhat of a shock with the difference of age and level of experience throughout the team. But, after a few short weeks, Ruiz believes he is starting to fit right in.
“Once we got out there and I started showing what I could do, I think they started to accept me and believe in me,” Ruiz said. “Which I think is something you don’t really see anymore.”
Since 2013, Graham has had the luxury of having one of the best kickers in the history of the Football Bowl Subdivision, Zane Gonzalez.
Last season, Gonzalez became the FBS career record holder for most field goals, with 98, and finished his career with 494 points, which surpassed the record for points by a kicker. Gonzalez was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft, but Ruiz isn’t worried about living up to any expectations.
“I know I need to do my thing,” Ruiz said. “I know (Zane’s) the best kicker. I think his freshman year he went 23 of 25 or something like that. But that’s what you’re expected to do in college. You’re not expected to miss, so I just need to do my thing and don’t even worry about that and it will happen.”
His current head coach said, “If I didn’t think that I wouldn’t have signed him.”
(Greg Macafee/Tribune Staff) Brandon Ruiz had committed to play for legendary coach Nick Saban at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, but then reconsidered.
Life is good in the Valley, even in the middle of summer
BY RABBI SUSAN SCHANERMAN Tribune Guest Writer
Our seasonal temperatures channel my thoughts to Torah
(Bible) passages in which Israelites wander through the desert for 40 years.
No air conditioning, no electric fans, no popsicles in the freezer to counter the sun’s beating rays. Tents and close quarters, primitive sanitation, uncertainty about where they’re headed, doubt in a God who has promised liberation but so far has provided merely sustenance in an untenable land.
A leader named Moses who tends to disappear on mountaintops, tribesmen who challenge authority at every turn and scouts who insist that the future is bleak and foreboding.
Hmmm. Maybe summer in Phoenix isn’t so bad after all.
Maybe we have much to be grateful for, even as we yearn for cool breezes and gentle temperatures.
Maybe there are lessons to be learned from the persistence of an ancient people who survived for an entire generation in physical distress but still managed to celebrate faith in a higher being, joy in the notion of freedom and comfort in the strength of community.
Maybe we, today, take such things for
granted when we could be more mindful of what we do possess in our comfortdriven lives.
The stories of our many religious traditions remind us – through folklore, mythology and tales of our ancestors –that life is often about struggle but faith reassures us that within that struggle rests much joy and delight in the mere fact of being alive.
Whether we choose to live in joy or live in struggle is largely up to each of us. All religions teach this. And so, each morning we awake to a new opportunity to view the world through the prisms of light and love or fear and despair.
National and world news can be troubling and discouraging, but our local newspaper is filled with stories of highachieving students, selfless community leaders, concerned citizens fighting for what they value in their communities, business owners stepping up to help less fortunate, neighbors reaching out to those down the street, even pets finding loving homes in our neighborhoods.
Let us not dismiss these stories, but let us rejoice in them and let them blow as a cooling breeze through our souls. Life is good, even in the middle of a heat wave.
– Rabbi Susan Schanerman leads Congregation NefeshSoul in Ahwatukee. Information: nefeshsoul.org or rabbi@nefeshsoul.org
FAITH CALENDAR
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
NEW SUNDAY SERVICE
Sun Valley Community Church, an evangelical and non-denominational worship center, is adding Saturday services at their East Mesa campus, 3065 S. Ellsworth Road. As part of the kickoff weekend, the campus will be hosting food trucks, bounce houses and more family-friendly fun.
DETAILS>> New services, 4 and 5:30 p.m. Event, 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, Aug. 13
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
TEA FOR ‘WOMEN IN WHITE’
The Lawrence Memorial A.M.E.Z. Church is inviting ‘Women in White’ to bring their favorite tea cup or tea pot and enjoy games, poem reading and refreshment.
DETAILS>>1-3 p.m., Pearl’s Banquet Hall, 1455 S. Stapley Road, Suite 12, Mesa. Cost: $20, $10 girls 5-12. Information: 602-817-8675 or 602-689-0457.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
TEEN GRAFFITI EVENT
Teens are encouraged to come together to paint a large board with inspiring messages. A professional graffiti artist then will bring it all together with a message on top. The finished work will grace a lounge for CTeen, a Jewish teen club.
DETAILS>> 6-7:30 p.m., Chabad of the East Valley, 875 N. McClintock Drive, Chandler. Free. RSVP to rabbi.t@chabadcenter.com or text 347-241-7089. Information: 480-855-4333 or chabadcenter.com.
COMMUNITY BBQ
Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life and the Chandler Jewish Preschool are holding their Fourth Anniversary Community BBQ. The event will provide a forum for parents to ask questions about the various programs, to meet teachers and experience our unique educational environment.
DETAILS>> 5- 6:30 p.m., 875 N. McClintock Drive, Chandler. Information and RSVP: 480-855-4333 or Chabadcenter.com.
SUNDAYS
NEW CHURCH IN
MESA
The Rev. Albert Bolden leads the Lawrence Memorial A.M.E.Z. Church in Mesa.
DETAILS>> Sunday school at 9 a.m., worship at 10 a.m., 931 E. Southern Ave., Suite 108. Information: 480393-3001, tlmchurch.info@gmail.com.
HORIZON SEEKS YOUNG PEOPLE
High school and middle school students meet to worship and do life together.
DETAILS>> 4 p.m. at Horizon Presbyterian Church, 1401 E. Liberty Lane. 480-460-1480 or joel@horizonchurch.com.
UNITY OFFERS A PATH
Unity of Mesa says its Sunday service offers “a positive path for spiritual living” through “transformational lessons, empowering music and various spiritual practices with an open-minded and welcoming community.”
DETAILS>> 9 a.m. Spiritual Discussion Group and Meditation Practices Group. 10:15 a.m. Celebration Service. 2700 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. Nursery available for infants through kindergarten at service times. Youth ministry classes are open in the Education Annex at 10:15 a.m. Information: 480-8922700, unityofmesa.org, lori@unityofmesa.org.
VALOR CHRISTIAN OUTLINES MISSION
Valor Christian Center in Gilbert offers “great praise and worship and great messages for today’s living,” according to Associate Pastor Thor Strandholt. “Our mission is to evangelize, heal and disciple through the word of God.”
DETAILS>> 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Thursdays. 3015 E. Warner Road. Information: valorcc.com.
SUNDAY CELEBRATION SERVICE
Inspirational messages and music to lift your spirit. A welcoming community committed to living from the heart. Many classes and events offered. We welcome you!
DETAILS>> 10 a.m. Sundays at Unity of Tempe, 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe. Information: 480792-1800, unityoftempe.com.
KIDS CAN LEARN JEWISH LIFE
Children can learn and experience Jewish life. Chabad Hebrew School focuses on Jewish heritage, culture and holidays.
DETAILS>> 9:30 a.m. to noon, for children ages 5-13 at Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 875 N. McClintock Drive, Chandler. 480-855-4333, info@ chabadcenter.com, or chabadcenter.com.
Lowrider car show drives into WestWorld
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Contributor
Brandon and Marina Gonzalez have cars in their blood.
Marina grew up cruising with her father in South Phoenix in his 1974 Chevy Monte Carlo and, now, Brandon owns the car, which he will show at the Showcase Supershow Custom and Classic Car Show from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at WestWorld in Scottsdale.
“The car was in the family,” Brandon said. “It belonged to my father-in-law before he passed away. It’s the car my wife cruised in with her dad. He was a cruiser back in the day. My wife continues to cruise with me.”
The show will include local artists illustrating their talents, pinstriping, custom lettering and graphic design. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to scholarship funds.
A lowrider for 25 years, Brandon dubbed the car Spirit Runner and he’ll show off the full undercarriage engine, the trunk and interior during the show. Krazy Kutting, a metal engraving company for cars, will have a booth set up as well, thanks to Brandon.
The Showcase Supershow Custom and Classic Car Show will feature hundreds of cars, according to James Rivas, a Mesa resident with the organizer, Motor Sports Showcase. The vehicles will range from Chevys from the late 1950s through the 1960s, to newer cars like Camaros.
This is the first time the company is stag-
ing a show in the summer, and it’s a first for WestWorld.
“Normally, we do it earlier in the year,” said Rivas, also known as Mega 104.3’s “Manic Hispanic.” “We try to stay away from the heat. It’s usually outdoors and a family outing, sort of picnic-type thing. Since we decided to do it in the summer, we were a little nervous. But I think we’re going to have more than 400 cars, bikes and trucks.”
It will have music, thanks to Rivas, who serves as entertainment director, too.
Among the performers are Kid Frost, who is dubbed a “OG lowrider legend,” DJ Kane of the Kumbia Kings, comedian Joey Medina and the Gap Band Experience.
“The Gap Band Experience is an oldschool band who used to be called the Gap Band,” Rivas said. “They just don’t have (singer) Charlie Wilson. We wanted to give a little Latin flavor, too, with DJ Kane. We’re bringing a couple of artists we pay a lot on the Cruisin’ with the Manic Hispanic show.”
While the music is great, Brandon Gonzalez is looking forward to seeing the faces of visitors to WestWorld.
“To me, seeing the faces of the people and then talking about the car is the best part,” said Gonzalez, who works as a truck driver. “I get more enjoyment out of that versus any trophy I can get. A trophy feels good at the end. For me, the bigger win-
win is the people who want to know about the car and appreciate it as much as I do.”
IF YOU GO
What: Showcase Supershow Custom and Classic Car Show
Where: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road
When: 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12
Cost: $5 parking; admission is $20 to $25; a family four-pack is $75 and includes four general admission passes and concession discount. Kids 10 and younger are free.
Info: motorsportshowcase.com
Smoothie Run’s new Gilbert location offers more than smoothies
BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Staff Writer
Afew months after opening, Smoothie Run’s signature products are proving to be a hit with its customers in Gilbert.
Laveen-based Marcus Moody opened the second outlet of his concept on the southeast corner of Higley and Ray roads, a stone’s throw from the Agritopia housing complex. His first Smoothie Run is in Laveen.
“People want healthful options,” Moody
said. “That’s how all this came about.”
The suite housing his Gilbert location used to contain a pizzeria, Moody said.
“Prior to coming here, I asked community what would you like here, and the top three things were smoothies, pizza and sandwiches,” he said. “This is exactly what we did. We made it happen.”
Smoothie Run offers 20 fruit and vegetable smoothies in various combinations, including cucumber, carrot and grape and celery, orange and lemon (all smoothies are priced $5.50 regular and $6.50 large). Besides the refreshing
beverages, it also has pizza, salads and a selection of cold and hot sandwiches including the popular spicy jerk chicken ($7.95 for 6 inches and $9.95 for 12 inches).
The latest addition to
See SMOOTHIES on page 19
(Brandon Gonzalez/Special to the Tribune) Brandon Gonzalez will show off Spirit Runner, his 1974 Chevy Monte Carlo at the Showcase Supershow Custom and Classic Car Show from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at WestWorld in Scottsdale.
(Richard Ochoa/Special to the Tribune) Motor Sports Showcase previously held events in Mesa, but this month, it is hosting a show at WestWorld of Scottsdale.
(Srianthi Perera/Tribune Staff) With Smoothie Run, Marcus Moody is happy to introduce his healthful food option to Gilbert.
SMOOTHIES
from page 18
the menu is boba tea. Also called pearl or bubble tea, the drink became popular in Asian countries after it was created in the 1980s in Taiwan. Ingredients in the traditional drink are tea, milk and tapioca balls, or pearls, that float in the bottom of the drink and then are chewed when slurped up through a straw.
“We have had several customers asking about boba tea, and we want to give our customers what they want,” Moody said. Smoothie Run also is adding several other drinks to its summer menu, including fruitbased iced teas such as raspberry, mango and peach, sweetened and unsweetened iced tea, as well as blended and frozen, iced coffee drinks.
While he hasn’t done much marketing of his restaurant so far, he has a plan in place.
“I felt that people really needed to come in and see who we are and buy into our system,” he said. “I wanted to organically see what people wanted and let them do the marketing for us for the first six months.”
MARK YOUR Calendar
World Hip Hop Dance Championship
Watch the best hip-hop crews from around the globe – including megacrews of up to 40 dancers – compete to be the best in the world.
DETAILS>> Times vary, Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 8-10. The Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix. Tickets: $25-$150. hiphopinternational.com.
‘The Little Mermaid’
Head under the sea for the musical version of Disney’s timeless classic “The Little Mermaid.” It features your favorite characters, including Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder, and hits songs like “Part of Your World” and “Kiss the Girl.”
About 40 percent of the restaurant’s customers order through Uber Eats, which is proving to be a good stream of revenue for him.
Moody, who has operated restaurants for 20 years, is also a marketing manager for Dunkin Donuts in the Western region. Previously, he held a similar role for Subway and at another sandwich place in Nebraska.
Moody and his wife, who works in behavioral health, moved to Laveen from Nebraska because of its farmland.
“Now it’s grown; it’s not rural anymore,” he said.
While he discounts moving to Gilbert anytime soon, Moody is taken up by the town’s character and economic development.
“This is an up-and-coming area,” he said. “I’ve always loved Gilbert. I go downtown all the time.
“It’s a great community. We knew it was up and coming. We wanted to be there because we’re up and coming as well. It just all fit very well.”
Smoothie Run is at 1633 S. Higley Road, Gilbert. Details: 480-279-1011 or smoothierun.com
DETAILS>> Wednesdays-Saturdays, Aug. 9-19. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. Tickets: $22-$32. 480-497-1181. haletheatrearizona.com.
Highland Yard Vintage Market
Browse creations from local designers and artisans at this indoor, air-conditioned market. This month’s theme will be “Home Sweet Home,” so expect plenty of amazing home decorations.
DETAILS>> Times vary, Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 10-13. Behind Merchant Square, 1509 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Cost: Free. facebook. com/Highlandyardvintage.
Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx
DeYoung, a founding member of classic rock group Styx, and his new band recreate the group’s classic hits, including “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto” and plenty more.
DETAILS>> 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. Mesa Arts
Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. Cost: $35-$55. 480-644-6500. mesaartscenter.com.
2nd Friday Night Out: Hotter Than Hades
For this month’s Hotter Than Hades theme, dress up in your best toga and test your brain in Greek and Roman mythology trivia. There will also be live music, arts booths and more family-friendly – and dog-friendly – fun.
DETAILS>> 6-10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. Downtown Mesa between Center and Robson. Cost: Free. 2ndfridaynightout.com.
Queen Creek Feastival
Craving gourmet street food from a food truck? Every Friday night, 15 to 25 food trucks show up along with live entertainment and a boutique market for an evening of fun. Feel free to bring chairs, tables and leashed pets.
ASU Prep Compadre High School
DETAILS>> 5:30-9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. Queen Creek Library, Ellsworth Loop and Ocotillo, Queen Creek. Cost: Free entry. azfeastivals.com/qcfeastival.
Sky Watch and Star Party
Join the East Valley Astronomy Club for a lecture at the Southeast Regional Library followed by a Star Party at the Observatory. Telescopes provided, or bring your own. DETAILS>> 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. Gilbert Riparian Preserve, 2757 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert. Cost: Free. evaconline.org.
Clydesdale Bath Day
Get up close with giant horses as you help give them a bath and learn how to care for them. Anyone over 6 years old can participate. RSVP to 602-803-4051.
See CALENDAR on page 20
(Srianthi Perera/Tribune Staff)
Smoothie Run is located on the southeast corner of Higley and Ray roads, near Agritopia.
Alice Cooper brings ‘Paranormal’ to life at Ak-Chin Pavilion
BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO GetOut Contributor
Alice Cooper’s major heyday may have been back in the 1970s, when tours behind albums like “Billion Dollar Babies” were breaking the Rolling Stones’ concert attendance records.
But the man born Vincent Damon Furnier is still creatively vibrant nearly four decades later.
July saw the release of the Bob Ezrinproduced “Paranormal,” the duo’s first collaboration since 2011’s “Welcome 2 My Nightmare.”
Like its predecessor, the new project is a star-studded affair that features cameos from the likes of U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr., ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons and Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover.
For the Valley resident, the odd array of unlikely guests played into the notion he and Ezrin had about not wanting these songs to be united by a singular concept.
“Bob and I decided we were going to make an album that didn’t necessarily have a story line this time, but an album that got us off,” Cooper explained.
“Every song is a song that we would go, ‘Yes, that’s a great song.’ And they don’t necessarily conform to any style. Alice Cooper is always going to do guitar rock. That’s always what I do. But the styles kind of go all over the place, which is great.
“Using Larry Mullen Jr. from U2 on drums was a great idea. When we got to the studio, he asked to see the lyrics. I’ve never ever had a drummer ask me about the lyrics. He said he plays to the lyrics and I said that I loved that. It turned it into something totally different and totally not what I was expecting, yet it works all the way. You hear the whole album and it gives it a different punch to it.”
Most interesting was a reunion of the surviving members of the original Alice Cooper lineup of bassist Dennis Dunaway, drummer Neal Smith and guitarist Michael Bruce (guitarist Glen Buxton died in 1997).
CALENDAR
from page 19
DETAILS>> 8:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 12. USA Clydesdale Preservation Foundation, 17208 E. Saragosa St., Gilbert. Cost: $25 donation per family requested. 602-803-4051. usacpf.org.
A New World: Intimate Music from Final Fantasy
The Final Fantasy series of video games is
Those four musicians played on the albums that made Cooper one of the biggest stars of the 1970s and are widely considered artistic high points of his career – “Killer,” released in 1971, followed by 1972’s “School’s Out” and 1973’s “Billion Dollar Babies.”
By the time Cooper decided he wanted to make what became 1975’s “Welcome to My Nightmare,” bandmates Buxton, Dunaway, Smith and Bruce had decided the wear and tear from multiple platinum albums, relentless touring and being together nonstop all through high school and college added up to massive burnout.
But while the breakup was mutually agreed upon, Cooper pointed out the friendship the former bandmates maintained over the years helped facilitate this mini-reunion. The result was three of 20 songs the reunited bandmates worked on making the cut, about which Cooper was elated.
“We never broke up with any bad blood,” Cooper said.
“Dennis, Neal, Mike, Glen and I were all best of friends. There were no lawsuits. Nobody ever threatened anybody. I stayed in touch with everybody. That band never
known for its excellent music. Experience classic tracks from 30 years of games live with the New World Players chamber ensemble and piano soloist Benyamin Nuss.
DETAILS>> 8-10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 12. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. Tickets: $42-$65. 480-644-6500. mesaartscenter. com.
Robby Roberson Band
Singer, songwriter and storyteller Robby Roberson presents an eclectic range of music as he plays guitar, dobro, mandolin,
Crüe and when we did that with them, it was really successful. We sold out every venue.”
Once his own touring commitments are fulfilled, there’s also a chance Cooper may pop up as part of his celebrated side band, the Hollywood Vampires, a group that also features Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and actor/guitarist/recording artist Johnny Depp.
The group released its first album in 2015. Along with a pair of originals, it includes cover versions of songs by musicians who have passed away.
got back together. Glen passed away. He was our Keith Richards. That was a huge part of the personality of that band. When that happened, that weakened the base even further. But we always stayed together.
“We worked together (on the new material) and there was never one minute where I asked who was going to play on it. We had Neal, Mike and Dennis to play on these songs and Bob absolutely agreed. They came in and nailed it. We’re very objective about it and these three songs were the ones that were good enough to make this album. I was really happy about it.”
With all this under his belt, the 69-year-old rocker continues to enjoy playing live. Even more so, he’s hooked up with fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act Deep Purple for a tour that hits Ak-Chin Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 15. It’s a bill he’s convinced won’t leave attendees unsatisfied.
“I kind of like the idea of two classic rock bands playing together. I think it’s really cool for the fans,” he said. “Every single song that you hear on that stage is something that you heard on the radio. And that’s really a plus for the audience. We did that with Mötley
banjo, harmonicas and other instruments. His talented band joins him as well.
DETAILS>> 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 13. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Cost: Free. 480-782-2680. chandlercenter.org.
Steve Martin and Martin Short
Two of the Three Amigos present a night of comedy, film clips, stories and conversation titled “An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life.” Grammy-winning bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers will
Covers on the guest-filled Hollywood Vampires album included “My Generation” (by the Who), “Jump Into The Fire” (by Nilsson), as well as tunes by Jimi Hendrix (“Manic Depression”), Spirit (“I Got A Line On You”) and the Doors (“Five To One/Break On Through”). Several guest musicians pop up as well, most notably Paul McCartney, who is featured on a version of “Come and Get It” (a song he wrote for Badfinger).
Cooper said despite having a name like Hollywood Vampires, the group’s shows will be nothing like his own highly theatrical, horror-themed concerts.
“The cool thing about the Vampires is, it’s a totally opposite thing than my show, than the Alice Cooper show,” he said. “I don’t think about theatrics when I think about the Vampires. It’s basically, when we put it together, all of us started out as bar bands. We all started out learning the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, the Who and Chuck Berry and Paul Butterfield, all the stuff we learned from, the Beatles. We said that’s basically what we are.”
IF YOU GO
What: Deep Purple and Alice Cooper w/ Edgar Winter
Where: Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix
When: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15 Cost: $15 and up Info: akchinpav.com
join them. DETAILS>> 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 13. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. Tickets: $55-$125. 602-379-2800. comericatheatre.com.
– Justin Ferris, Phoenix.org. Get more ideas for fun things to do in the East Valley –and beyond – at Phoenix.org.
(Special to the Tribune)
Valley rock legend Alice Cooper is excited about his new album and tour.
One-Skillet Chicken is full of flavor
Nutella mousse Klondike cake is easy, scrumptious summertime dessert
BY JAN D’ATRI Tribune Contributor
Yeah, those too! This is about as easy to put together as it gets and the only real challenge is waiting for it to freeze. But so worth the wait. Watch my how-to video: jandatri.com/recipes/ one-minute-kitchen.
MIngredients:
ay I suggest a pan of perfection for Sunday Supper?
1 pint heavy cream/whipping cream or 8 oz. container Cool Whip
This One-Skillet Chicken is over the moon with flavor, a dish you can make in no time and if you make a little extra, it freezes beautifully. We all love one-pot wonders, and this one will not disappoint. By the way, if you think chicken breast is boring –proceed to the kitchen!
Check out my how-to video: jandatri.com/recipes/ one-minute-kitchen.
Ingredients:
1 (8 oz.) package of sliced fresh mushrooms
6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, divided
4 skinned and boned chicken breasts
1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup of chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
2 chopped green onions, sliced thin
Directions:
filling in all spaces with sliced bars. Spoon softened vanilla ice cream over top of bars. Add second layer of chocolate wafer cookies. Slather second layer of mousse over top.
Slice the four chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Cover with plastic wrap or place in plastic zippered bag. Pound each slice to about 1/8-inch thick to tenderize.
Add last layer of softened ice cream. Curl or shave chocolate bar with knife or potato peeler. (Chocolate curls better if slightly warm). Spread over the top. Freeze cake for several hours or best if frozen overnight. Slice or spoon onto serving dishes.
In a large oven safe or cast-iron skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium high heat. Sauté the mushrooms until golden brown,
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Obituaries
THOMAS,SamuelWayne
SamuelWayneThomaspeacefullypassedonWednesday,July26,2017.Hewassurroundedandsupportedbyfamilyandfriends.
Samenlistedinthearmedforcesandservedproudly, SamretiredfromAT&TandgraduatedwithBachelorsinbusinessmanagementfromtheUniversityof Phoenix.Samwasanavidhunterandarcher.He participatedinmany3Darcherycompetitionsaswellasastanding weeklyshoot.Heenjoyedaveryactiveretirement.
Hiswife,LynneEllenThomas,preced edSamuelindeath.His3daughters,RonnaThomas,TamaraKroegerandKindraMcManus,survive Samuel.Hehas5grandchildrenBreana,Noah,Connor,Jamesonand Cruz.Hehasonegreatgranddaughter,Aspyn.
InmemoryofSamuelpleasedonatetoSageHospice,5111N.ScottsdaleRd.Ste204.Phone(480)777-5117.
ROHN, MaryLouise
MaryLouiseRohnwentinpeacetobewithGodonJuly22,2017.She w as91yearsofageandwassurroundedbyherlovingfamilyather daughter’shomeinChandler,AZ.Awonderfulserviceofremembranc e willbeheldprivatelywithherimmediatefamilyonAugust26thando n September8that1:00pmaservicewillbeheldattheNationalMemorial Cemeterywhereshewillbeplacedwithherlovinghusbandof69years, RobertJ.Rohn,whoproceededher.
MaryandRobertlivedandraisedtheirfamilyinCheyenne,WYandwith earlyretirementandaloveforsunshineandgolfmovedtoAZ.Maryand Robertaresurvivedbytheirchildren,NancyRohn,RobertJ.RohnJr.and C onstanceSmith(Marc)andgrandchildren,RobRohn(Erin),Jacki e Kethan(Dennis),BartleyGrosserichter(Helge),RobertSoik(Tee),Sean Smithand8greatgrandchildren.DonationsmaybemadetoHospiceof theValleyfortheirwonderfulcareandcompassion.
Pleasesigntheguestbookat eastvalleytribune.com
Thursday, August 10th | 10:00am–2:00pm Where: Red Rock Correctional Center 1750 East Arica Road Eloy, AZ 85131
Open Positions: • Correctional Officer • Licensed Practical Nurse
Employment General
contact us at 480-279-1016 or email your resume to Rod@programauto.com
Great Caregiver Candidates:
* High level of Professionalism
* Are Caring & Compassionate
* Looking for Rewarding Work
* Have LIFE Experience Caring for a Loved-One and/or Currently a PROFESSIONAL Caregiver
* Would like to Give Back to the Community While Earning Income
* Seeking Flexible Hours
Direct Care Workers Curriculum Paid Training and Employee Discount Program offered!
Open Caregiver Positions:
* Companions * Personal Care Attendants
* Certified Nursing Assistants
* Home Health Aides * Certified Caregivers For more details please call: Carol at 480-491-1140
guidelines. Qualified candidate is an energetic
of customer service experience, preferably
At Western, “what” you know is important, but not as important as how you relate to teammates and customers We differentiate ourselves through our w
ment, and the ability to listen effectively and comm u n i c a t
ments, and doing our absolute best every day We believe that our ability to deliver o n our promise of being Your Hometown Bank is a result of these high standards This is a full-time position with be-
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If you are looking to contribute your energy and skills to a dynamic, collaborative, forward-thinking environment, and possess the experience described above, apply online at www westernbanks com/careers
Western State Bank is an EEOE and Affirmative Action
Pre-Bake Oven, Pick and
Public Notices
CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Southeast Mesa Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway Santan Freeway (202), Baseline Road to Elliot Road Project No CP0198
J Banicki Construction has been awarded the contract to construct the Southeast Mesa Bic
Santan Freeway (202) between Baseline Road and Elliot Road This project will provide a 2-
and provide recreational and exercise activit-
C
week of July 24, 2017, and will last for approximately eight months Your contact for J Banicki is Tony Stanley at (602) 399-0119
where City staff and both contractors will be available to answer your questions No formal presentation will be given.
Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Time: 6:00 p m to 7:0 0 p m
Location: City of Mesa Fire Station 217 - Community Room 10434 E Baseline Road Mesa, AZ 85212
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Rene Powell or Michele Arrollado with the City of Mesa Engineering Public Relations at (480) 644-3800 Si usted tiene preguntas de ste Proyecto, favor de llamar a Maggie Martinez, con la Ciudad de Mesa al (480) 644-5672
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OPTIMIST CLUB
Would you like to belong to an organization dedicated to improving children's lives in a variety of ways? Do you have a desire to give back to the community?
If so, we are looking for new members & new ideas for fundraising! We have supported Sunshine Acres Children's Home for 60 yrs, we provide scholarships to students from local schools & we support the Children s Cancer Fund If interested, contact Ann Crawford 480-234-1549 craftyanni@aol com OR phxphntm@cox net
and "friendship" to women of all ages You can never underestimate the importance of other women in your life. Contact: Gail Sacco at gailsacco@q com
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