3 Gilbert teams chase the gold PAGE 26
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS.....................................
Highland Jr. High 7th grader on state panel.
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Gilbert woman on network TV show.
Sunday, DECEMBER 1, 2019
Questions surround veterans park demise BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
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Gilbert thespians light up the stage PAGE 30
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hree years ago, with much fanfare and a ground blessing, dignitaries ceremonially shoveled dirt on a site in Gilbert that was to give rise to a veterans commemorative park. Anchored by a scaled-down version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., it promised to be a place for veterans to heal and to find help and for school children to learn about military history and patriotism. Today, seven acres on the southeast corner of Gilbert Road and Civic Center Drive remain a dirt lot and the nonprofit who initially took in over $1 million in public dollars and in-kind donations, for its $3
million project - folded, leaving it unclear where and how the money was spent. Town Council, which authorized over $1.6 million in taxpayer money to do offsite improvements for the project, voted in October to terminate the lease agreement with Operation Welcome Home, after it was notified by the group, the organization was dissolving. The nonprofit was to pay $1 a year for use of the town-owned land east of the Gilbert Public Safety Complex. “I wished the town had been able to vet that more thoroughly,” Vice Mayor Eddie Cook said. “Because I think we would have probably not have moved forward with anything.” Cook said plans are for the town to convert the site back to its original des-
ert landscaping at an estimated cost of $100,000.
Origins in a celebration
Operation Welcome Home was cofounded by then-Council members Jenn Daniels and Les Presmyk almost a decade ago as a town program to honor service members returning home to Gilbert from active duty. The program was modeled after one adopted in Daniels’ hometown of Danville, California. Daniels, who served on the nonprofit’s board until 2016, did not return a call for comment. Lisa Rigler, who was president of the Gilbert Small Business Alliance she founded,
see VETERANS page 8
Oversight of 6K school Parading in style workers sought
BY JIM WALSH GSN Staff Writer
BUSINESS.....................
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Seville Golf Club expands its fun quotient.
COMMUNITY...................... 15 BUSINESS.............................22 OPINION...............................24 SPORTS................................ 26 GETOUT............................... 30 CLASSIFIED........................ 36
A
rizona education officials are sponsoring a bill to improve oversight of “non-certified educators,’’ plugging loopholes some accused sex offenders and others with questionable backgrounds have slipped through in the past. “Uncertified educators’’ represent a broad category of school professionals, which includes about 6,000 people working in both school districts and charter schools. They would include coaches, student teachers and some administrators who have regular or occasional interaction with students. “There are gaps where fingerprint identification cards aren’t necessary for people working with kids,’’ said Alicia
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Even the Grinch had a good time last weekend as nearly 4,400 people in 107 units walked down Gilbert Road for the annual Gilbert Days Parade. For a look at the festivities, see our special photo package on pages 10-11. [Chris Mortenson./GSN Staff Photographer]
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