Gilbert teen mourned
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
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This Week
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COMMUNITY......... 18 Major new photo exhibit at Art Intersection.
BUSINESS................20 Local business attacks ‘coronasomnia’
COMMUNITY....................................... 18
BUSINESS.............................................20 SPORTS.......................................24 PUZZLE....................................... 27
CLASSIFIED..........................................28
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Sunday, February 28, 2021
Highland High students plead for mask enforcement Higley Unified officials plan for inperson graduations, proms. P. 10 BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
N
icole Gutierrez said she was exposed to COVID-19 while in math class last month and unknowingly brought the deadly virus home – putting her father in the hospital. The Highland High School senior is vigi-
lant about wearing a mask because her dad has Type 2 diabetes, her mom is a severe asthmatic and her grandmother, who lives with them, has hypertension, Type 1 diabetes and heart issues. “I gave it to my father first,” Nicole said. “He thought he had a normal cold and it got so bad until he couldn’t breathe and was terrified and had to go to the hospital. He ended up on a heavy breathing tube pushing 90 percent of the oxygen into his lungs. That didn’t work. He had to go onto a ventilator, which he was there for around 15
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days. “He was scared for his life, that he would never be able to see us again.” Nicole was one of four Highland students who told the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board how faculty at the school have not enforced the district’s mandatory mask policy, allowing untold numbers of students to walk around without a face covering. Although Nicole’s dad told her not to blame herself for what had happened, the
see MASKS page 6
Houston concerns
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
G
ilbert firefighters used to practice in an empty parking lot or at a park, pulling out the truck hoses and pretending to combat a house fire. Town police officers often had to travel down to Central Arizona College’s track in Coolidge to hone their tactical driving skills. Those days are now gone, thanks to a 50-acre Public Safety Training Facility that has officially opened near Powe and Pecos roads. No public tours are allowed for now due to COVID-19. “Well, if I had to brag, it’s the best,” said Fire & Rescue Chief Jim Jobusch. “I have to give a big hand to the team who worked on the design of the facility. They went throughout the region
see SAFETY page 12
Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Shane McCord met last week with parents at Houston Elementary, which the district wants to close by putting Neely Traditional Academy students there. For the story, see page 4. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)
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