Gilbert Sun News - 05-03-2020

Virus testing expands a bit

$10M GPS fix for schools

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

NEWS..............................12 West Point to welcome Gilbert teen.

COMMUNITY......... 16 Higley scholars win top honors.

BUSINESS................. 18 Gilbert mortgage firm a Higley lunch “angel.”

COMMUNITY....................................... 16

BUSINESS............................................. 18 PUZZLE.................................................. 19

CLASSIFIED..........................................20

FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Chambers propose 3-phase reopening plan 15.

“If they are using CDC guidelines, I could be comfortable popular breakfast place in with that,” Rivas said. “I would Gilbert is plugging along feel comfortable when there is even though it’s limited to significant scientific data stating carry-outs and deliveries. that the pandemic is on the “We have relied on guests we decline.” call ‘ravers,’ our regular guests Gov. Doug Ducey last week who continue to support us and extended his stay-at-home help the industry stay alive,” order to May 15 with some said Nelson Rivas, a manager modifications, letting retail stores for Snooze an A.M. Eatery in the to sell goods via curbside pick-up Heritage District. and delivery starting tomorrow, “To go” signs may soon give way to signs that say “Come on in” at Gilbert and other restaurants That said, Rivas wouldn’t mind this month. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer) May 4, with customers allowed seeing the state fully reopen for inside starting May 8 with safety recommended the governor implement a protocols in place. business soon.

So does the East Valley Chambers three-phase approach that would begin May see CHAMBER page 8 of Commerce Alliance, which recently 15 and end with all businesses open by June

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

A

Gilbert seniors heading toward online graduation

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

H

igh schools in Gilbert are headed toward staging a virtual graduation for the Class of 2020.

“Graduation is weighing heavy on my mind and on the minds of our 3,100 graduating seniors,” said Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Shane McCord in last Tuesday’s governing board meeting.

District officials are looking at several different virtual graduation options for the six high schools, according to McCord.

“We are currently getting quotes from professional vendors to ensure any virtual gradation ceremony is of the highest quality and adds dignity and respect to a timehonored tradition,” McCord said.

“We want to give our seniors the best

experience possible with adhering to any restrictions that are in place. I know nothing will ever come close to replacing a traditional ceremony but once we have concrete information we will communicate out from the district-level as well as the school-level the plan for moving forward with our version of a graduation ceremony.”

GPS is the latest area district to announce a virtual commencement. Mesa Public Schools also is going that route while Tempe Union is planning a virtual commencement this month and an in-person ceremony of some kind July 18.

McCord added that GPS also was waiting to see whether Gov. Doug Ducey would relax restrictions on public gatherings – though the governor last Thursday said those will remain in effect through May 15.

“This may or may not impact our direction

in regards to the graduation ceremonies,” McCord said.

Higley Unified School District staff already is taping for an anticipated virtual graduation for its two high schools.

“Ideally we would all like to hold a graduation like we have always held them,” said Assistant Superintendent Dawn Foley at the Governing Board meeting last Wednesday. “It’s hard to replicate the experience.”

Foley said a number of teams have been working on options since April 6.

“This has been an all-consuming conversation,” Foley said. “Right now, we are working on the logistics of having the best virtual graduation as we can.”

The district is working on a Plan A that

see GRADUATION page 12

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

NEWS

3

Virus tests expanding, but limits remain GSN NEWS STAFF

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G

ilbert residents may find it a little easier to get a COVID-19 test after the state began a three-Saturday blitz yesterday aimed at collecting samples from at least 60,000 Arizonans so officials can better determine how many people in the state are infected.

But the tests still aren’t available to anyone who wants one.

Gov. Doug Ducey last week announced that the state is working with Banner Health to provide testing in Mesa and Gilbert and at some facilities in Phoenix and West Valley – including the State Fairgrounds.

But like Walgreens, which also began offering COVID-19 tests, Banner Health is prioritizing categories of people eligible for tests and is requiring an initial screening over the phone before it will schedule anyone for a test.

State health officials also are reaching out to other providers to offer tests as well.

Walgreens’ drive-through testing requires a pre-screening at walgreens.com.

Walgreens said its test is free for those who meet the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Banner is charging $75 for testing those without insurance, but said it will not collect fees at sites and will not deny a test to someone who can’t afford it.

“Luckily, we know there is additional capacity at our laboratories across the state to test more Arizonans,” state Health Director Cara Christ said in a blog last week.

“Laboratories like Sonora Quest, Arizona State University and Mayo Clinic have indicated they have the ability to run more tests… However, up until now, the limited supply of personal protective equipment and test collection supplies, such as nasal swabs and viral transport media, has been a significant barrier to increased testing.

“Arizona is not alone; there continues to be a national shortage of those supplies. The good news is that our partners have indicated they are now able to obtain the supplies needed to perform additional testing because the supply chain

Arizona Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ discussed an expansion of COVID-19 tests last week, but they are still not available to anyone who wants one. (Capitol Media Services)

is opening up,” Christ said.

The tests are largely limited “to anyone who thinks they have been exposed to and could be infected with COVID-19,” Christ stressed. “Previously, this order was limited to high-risk individuals and those with specific symptoms.”

The CDC gives top priority for test eligibility to healthcare workers and hospitalized patients with symptoms.

The second level of eligibility includes first responders and people over 65 with symptoms while the third priority level includes “critical infrastructure workers” and others with symptoms as well as first responders with no symptoms.

The last category of eligibility are people with no symptoms – and they likely won’t be able to get a test at this time.

Christ said she told labs statewide “to remove any restrictions on testing if they have adequate testing supplies and PPE” and that the state distributed 15 rapid testing machines throughout Arizona to provide results within 15 minutes.

The COVID-19 tests are different from blood testing for antibodies.

Other facilities are offering those tests, but Christ said, “It is unknown if a positive serologic test for COVID-19 means

that someone is immune to COVID-19 or how long that immunity might last.”

As for COVID-19 tests, Christ said Arizonans who believe they have been exposed can now get tested.

But be prepared to stay home, at least while you’re waiting for the results if not longer. Banner said it takes up to five days to get results.

The new order is a major shift from what had been the state’s policy of reserving tests for those who either had a doctor’s order or had specific symptoms.

But it still doesn’t rise to the level of “anyone who wants a test can get a test.”

There are strings attached for those who are eligible.

First, those seeking tests under her new order will first have to sign a “voluntary isolation agreement’’ to not go anywhere until the results come back.

If the results are negative, no problem.

But if there is a positive result, then it gets more complicated.

A spokeswoman for the health department said that means no travel anywhere until there has been no fever for at least 72 hours without any medicine that re-

see TESTS page 4

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

Some uncertainties surround antibody tests

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

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move by the University of Arizona to test 250,000 Arizonans for COVID-19 antibodies comes as scientists are still debating how much protection against future infection a positive result means – and for how long.

“The first infections came out in December,’’ said Deepta Bhattacharya, an associate professor at the Department of Immunobiology at the school’s college of medicine. “And so, we really don’t have any way to know ahead of time how long immunity’s going to last.’’

Bhattacharya acknowledged a recent study finding that a majority of tests now on the market have accuracy rates that make them effectively useless. But he said that the UA test will be more accurate.

He added that the test is designed to make it “very unlikely’’ to return a false positive and is crafted to err on the side of telling someone who actually may have some antibodies that they do not, in fact, have protection.

Bhattacharya said the whole belief that these provide some level of immunity is based on what he called the “garden-variety coronaviruses’’ which have been around and where there are studies.

In the worst case, he said, “it’s probably not lasting for too much longer than a year,’’ he said. “A year ain’t too bad, though…From an epidemiological standpoint, if that’s what this confers, that’s not terrible.’’

All that presumes, Bhattacharya said, that the antibodies do confer some immunity.

He pointed out that the World Health Organization earlier this month said there was no evidence that antibodies prevent reinfection.

“And then I think they heard from many irritated scientists such as myself saying, ‘What do you mean by no evidence?’ ‘’ Bhattacharya said. He said it might have been more accurate for WHO to say that they “need more evidence.’’

WHO later backed down, Bhattacharya said, modifying their statement to say that most people will generate antibodies when they get infected, and that those antibodies are “expected to generate some degree of protection.’’

“Now that’s vague,’’ he acknowledged.

“But that’s essentially the data on the

ground.’’

A lot of the research, Bhattacharya said, is occurring with scientists extracting the plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 and giving it to people in intensive-care units who are having trouble controlling the virus.

He said the number of such tests are limited, meaning the sample size may not be enough to draw any major conclusions.

“But at least in those small studies it seems like that actually has quite a bit of benefit,’’ Bhattacharya said. He also said there have been some non-human studies in primates like macaques where they’ve infected the animals intentionally and then been unable to reinfect them later.

“What we’re seeing is that people who have antibodies have at least some degree of neutralizing the virus, meaning

duces fever and that other symptoms – such as coughing and shortness of breath – have improved.

Even if the symptoms are gone, the person who got the positive test result still cannot go out until at least seven days have passed since the specimen was collected.

Christ acknowledged the importance of knowing who has the virus and can spread it.

“We know that rapidly identifying cases, case follow up, and contact tracing will help slow the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities,’’ she said. “Success in these areas requires an increase in our testing capacity.’’

More than 67,000 Arizonans have been infected – but less than 1 percent of the total population has been tested. Only Virginia has had a lower testing rate, according to the Pew Foundation.

Sites where testing is being offered

by Banner in the East Valley are at 965 E. Germann Road, Gilbert, and 525 W. Brown Road, Mesa. Walgreens had not listed its Arizona test sites as of Thursday, but additional information will be posted at its website.

“Banner’s drive-thru sites will not accept walk-ins,” the provider advised. “Everyone must be phone screened in advance and scheduled for an appointment.

TESTS from page 3

Several University of Arizona research teams, including one co-led by Michael Johnson, assistant professor of immunobiology, are also investigating novel COVID-19 treatments. (Nicole Swinteck/Department of Immunobiology)

preventing it from getting into cells,’’ he said.

But he stressed, “I would never be comfortable saying, ‘Well, you have an antibody test, go do whatever you want.’’’

But Bhattacharya said some of the accuracy issue comes down to how a test is administered.

“One of them are called these point-ofcare or ‘finger-prick’ antibody test,’’ he said. The advantage of those, he said, is it involves just a small amount of blood and that yes-or-no results can come back within an hour.

“From a logistical standpoint and getting many people tested, there’s a lot of upside to having a test like that,’’ Bhattacharya said. But as the research found, “a majority of them are really quite bad.’’

He said tests run by central labs – like UA’s – are more accurate. But they have their own drawbacks.

“That requires a blood draw,’ Bhattacharya said. “And so, there are some logistical issues with that in testing large numbers of people.’’

“You’re not relying on the human eye,’’ Bhattacharya said. And that, in turn, allows scientists to set “very strict cutoffs’’ for telling people whether they have a positive antibody test.

“What that means, also, is we err on the side of false negatives, meaning someone who may have some low levels of antibodies, our tests might call them negative. And that, he said, comes back to the decision on “the lesser of two evils’’ to not give people that false sense of security.

Those who arrive without an appointment will be asked to leave and call in to complete the phone screening process.”

More information on Banner Health’s testing is at bannerhealth.com/patients/ patient-resources/covid-19/testing.

To be screened for eligibility for a Banner test: 1-844-549-1851.

Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

NEWS

GPS plans $10M in school upgrades, repairs

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

B

athroom renovations, new flooring, painting and other projects totaling about $10 million are planned for Gilbert Public Schools campuses this summer.

The bulk of funding for the projects – 89 percent – will come from a bond that voters approved in 2015, according to district staff.

There’s $9.2 million available for the remainder of the bond’s existing sales proceeds to spend on facility renewal and general school improvements, Bonnie Betz, assistant superintendent of business services, said at last week’s Governing Board meeting.

The board has already approved some of the projects and others will come later for approval.

The biggest expense involves air conditioning, electrical and lighting work at eight campuses – including Ashland

Ranch and Gilbert elementary schools and Highland and Mesquite high schools for a total of $2.3 million.

Operations Director Albert Dutchover explained some projects are proactive in nature, such as repairing the main electrical switch at Augusta Ranch at a cost of $39,250, to avoid a catastrophic failure and a bigger bill.

Betz noted these mechanical projects are at older campuses – all eight locations were built between 1954 and 2002. She added that air conditioning systems generally last 15-20 years.

Another $1 million will be spent on new flooring, which would take place at campuses built before 2000, Betz said.

Burk, Islands, Patterson, Pioneer, Superstition Springs and Val Vista Lakes Elementary schools are scheduled for complete floor replacement and Highland High School will have its auditorium carpet replaced.

Dutchover said the district replaces flooring every 10 to 15 years.

“Lot of these are behind a couple of years,” he told the Board. “Some have exceeded the life expectancy for carpeting.”

He added the flooring is carpet squares, which is more versatile and easier for maintenance.

Fifteen elementary school sites will see projects such as office remodel or expansion, roofing, painting or classroom remodeling take place.

The district plans to spend $1.54 million for parking lot/bus lane improvements at four elementary schools. The two biggest spending are at Ashland Ranch and Val Vista Lakes.

Ashland Ranch is expected to have its parking lot and bus lane improved at a cost of $414,567 and Val Vista Lakes’ parking lot is to be replaced and its bus lane improved for $950,767.

The bus lane improvements are to keep drop-off/pick-up traffic separate from buses for safety, according to Betz.

Another expense involves interior

7

and exterior upgrades to portable buildings at nine campuses for $875,270.

Board member Lori Wood questioned the district spending money on structures that are not permanent. She said she doesn’t doubt the portables needed updating and asked if the district is using space efficiently.

Jason Martin, elementary education executive director, said many of the schools had a higher enrollment 10 years ago but over the years, the schools have added special-education rooms and support services such as instructional coaches who need classroom space.

Also, the district recently added social workers, who need classroom space, Martin said.

“Some portables are in dire need,” he said.

Board member Reed Carr said a majority of students and staff feel they are

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

CHAMBER from page 1

The governor also indicated he may allow dine-in services at restaurants on May 12 – though dining like will be radically different from pre-closure days.

The Alliance – a consortium of area Chambers of Commerce that includes Gilbert and represents 5,000 area businesses – submitted a proposal that follows the Trump Administration’s “Opening up America” plan, using guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We felt it was very important to use the CDC recommendations as the basis for reopening as the governor has been very clear since the beginning that he will be using those metrics to make key decisions impacting the entire state,” said Kathy Tilque, Gilbert Chamber CEO and Alliance legislative chairwoman.

“Businesses are looking for clarity and definitions to help them as they begin planning to reopen.

“The majority of businesses cannot weather this crisis through the end of June, which is why developing a clear, concise, and safe plan now is critical,” Tilque continued. “The sooner we can open businesses, the better it is.”

The Alliance’s reopening dates are based on health metrics and safety concerns. Tilque noted it took just three days for all eight chambers to agree on the plan.

Under Phase 1, half of the state’s workforce would be allowed back to their jobs the first two weeks of May 15.

The Alliance suggested allowing retail stores, personal services like hair and nail salons, gyms and large venues like churches, movie theaters and sporting places to reopen with safety protocols in place – such as social distancing, masks and sanitizing measures.

However, schools, organized youth activities and bars would remain closed.

Phase 2 would kick off June 1, allowing daycare and organized youth activities to reopen with strict distancing and sanitizing protocols. Bars would be allowed to open with diminished standing-room occupancy where applicable and appropriate.

Under the first two phases, employers would encourage telecommuting whenever possible, make special

Gilbert Chamber CEO Kathy Tilque, who chairs the Chamber Alliance legislative committee, discussed a three-phase plan for reopening businesses. (File) Gov. Doug Ducey last Wednesday explained why he is extending his stay-at-home order until May 15.

(Capitol Media Services)

accommodations for workers vulnerable to the coronavirus and impose physical distancing in common areas where employees congregate.

The Alliance suggested Phase 3 to commence on June 15 with unrestricted staffing at worksites, allowing bars to open with increased standing-room occupancy and loosening up some of the restrictions on gyms and large venues.

Under all three phases, visits to seniorliving facilities and hospitals would be prohibited.

The White House’s Phase 1 launch assumes a downward trajectory of both flu-like illnesses and documented COVID-19 cases over 14 days, that hospitals can treat all patients without crisis care and that robust testing is in place for at-risk healthcare workers.

Ducey, who also wants to reopen the state in stages, last Thursday held a 1.5hour telephone conference for businesses to call in with questions.

He acknowledged frustration from the business community and noted he consulted with the CDC and the White House in making his decisions.

Dr. Cara Christ, state Department of Health Services director, said her agency is looking at a lot of different data, including how hospitals are responding,

their capacity and their caseload projection as the state moves away from restrictions.

“The pandemic has dimmed our economy, I realize that,” said Ducey, who likened the pandemic to a natural disaster.

He said Arizona was leading the nation in economic development and growth before nationwide closures and that he is confident the state will be back on track once businesses got the green light to open.

He mentioned he used the “lightest touch” in closing businesses, allowing many considered to be essential to stay open.

Ducey said restaurants were the next to likely open May 12 for sit-down dining.

He said that date is from the restaurant industry after he asked how soon eateries can open when given the go-ahead.

He said he was confident that the next two weeks will produce additional metrics in guiding his decisions and noted that he issued orders preventing evictions of small businesses that have been unable to pay their rent or mortgage.

Hotelier Bill Nassikas said although hotels and other lodgings were and allowed to stay opened, business was not

good.

“Our occupancy is in the single-digit range,” he said. “Typically, it’s in the 80 to 90 percent range.”

He asked when swimming pools, closed on April 4, will be allowed to reopen as the Valley’s temperatures enter triple digits.

Christ explained studies show the coronavirus has been transmitted in pools used by multiple groups and that guidelines are now being developed for their reopening.

Debbie Johnson, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, added that pools arethe No. 1 concern with its members, stressing most resorts will not reopen if they remain closed.

Jeffrey Pruitt, founder and CEO of Tallwave, a business design and innovation company, asked about the potential impact if an anticipated second wave of COVID-19 hits the state in the fall.

Ducey said the state will be better prepared by then, adding, “We can protect people who are most vulnerable and not take the same drastic steps.”

Christ said that while the virus is expected to stay around, more people will have been exposed and hopefully build a “herd immunity.”

And because hospitals have shown the capacity to handle the virus, the state

see CHAMBER page 9

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

CHAMBER from page 8

won’t have to take far-reaching steps, she said.

Meanwhile,. an Alliance survey and comments during the governor’s conversations with business owners indicate that federal help leaves much to be desired.

“The federal government’s programs are much appreciated, but the reality is that if the money received has to be used now while the business is closed, there will be no money to pay employees when their doors open if we wait until after June,” Tilque said.

She added that a recent Alliance survey of 350 businesses applying for aid showed 15 to 32 haven’t even received an acknowledgement of their applications that 56 to 61 percent were rejected, depending on the program.

During other Chamber-sponsored webinars, representatives from the banking industry talked about the financial relief programs and the problems business owners have encountered.

Ashey Mapes of Business

9

Development Finance Corp., explained that the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program bases help on applicants’ credit scores and cash flow, which could explain for some of the rejections.

Businesses applying for the Payroll Protection Loan program are including self-employed independent contractors, who must apply themselves, Mapes said.

Tim Colquhoun, vice president of National Bank of Arizona, said most of the declines are due to incomplete applications and applicants failing to calculate the loan amount they need.

Banks need a complete loan amount to process an application, he added.

Mike Park of Mountain America Credit Union said incomplete documentation or applications will push a business to the bottom of the queue.

Christie Boutain of Meadows Bank also advised businesses to establish a partnership with a financial institution that can help them find options to keep them afloat.

Tilque said she didn’t have any official

number of businesses that have closed permanently.

“But according to our last EVCCA survey, only three businesses indicated they had closed permanently,” Tilque said.

“I believe many are awaiting news about their federal loans in hopes that we will reopen our economy quickly.

It’s like pressing the pause button on your remote: after a certain amount of time, the program will begin again or you get shut down,” she added.

“It is our hope that we can hit that play button as soon as possible to ensure businesses can open quickly and consumers’ confidence translates into customers in stores.”

The Alliance also has asked that the state provide $4 million in grants to Arizona’s Chambers of Commerce, with each receiving $20,000 to $60,000. The chambers, which charge a membership fee, aren’t getting revenue if their members are not making money, the organization said.

And, if the chambers go under, it

would seriously delay the economy’s ability to recover, the Alliance said.

The Gilbert Chamber has a $688,000 budget. Of that, membership dues make up 58 percent and the rest comes from programs, sponsorships and fundraising, according to Tilque.

Additionally, the Alliance wants the state to provide $10 million total in loans for businesses with 20 and fewer employees that did not qualify for federal relief and were impacted by COVID-19.

“Again,” Tilque added added, “these are only recommendations and we anticipate that as they are considered they could possibly be change, but the EVCCA provided a solid roadmap for the governor to consider as he is making these unprecedented decisions to open up our economy.”

The Arizona Small Business Association and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce are conducting classes on applying for federal help.

Businesses can register at caresactaz. com or at caresactaz/espanol.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

Dining out will be very different in Arizona

I

f restaurants reopen later this month, don’t expect the same dining experience you might have had just two months ago.

Look for everyone from the person who seats you to the waiters and even the staff in the kitchen to be wearing masks and gloves.

You probably won’t find ketchup, salt and even sugar packets on the table.

And there’s a decent chance you won’t be handing your credit card to the waiter but instead will be paying your bill right at the table.

But Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant Association, said some of this likely will be only temporary as Arizona adjusts to life in the wake of COVID-19 and customers find a comfort level with going out again.

Chucri and his organization will be

at the center of coming up with at least some guidelines for dining out after Gov. Doug Ducey said he hopes to once again allow restaurants to serve meals on their premises possibly as early as May 12.

All that disappeared in March when the governor concluded that it is impossible to maintain “social distancing’’ and protect public health the way dine-in services normally operate.

Ducey said he wants Chucri’s help in figuring out how to provide safe dining even while there continue to be new infections.

The easy part, Chucri told Capitol Media Services, is in the “back of the house.’’

He said people in the kitchen already are wearing gloves and hair nets; face masks are a small additional step.

But Chucri said that there are things that are going to occur even before they get on the premises.

He said some restaurants will be tak-

ing the temperature of employees when they get to work.

Other options include asking them if they’ve been exposed to anyone who has the virus or whether they have any of the symptoms of COVID-19 – ranging from loss of taste or smell to muscle pain, shaking with chills and shortness of breath.

More visible evidence, he said, will depend on the type of facility.

For example, he said, fast-food and fast-casual establishments, where people place and pay for their orders at the counter, are likely to install plexiglass shields to at least partly separate the customers from the staff. These already are popping up elsewhere, including convenience stores.

Sitting down, however, creates different problems.

Consider booths.

“In a fine-dining restaurant, I think you are spaced apart enough being back

to back,’’ Chucri said.

“If booths are really back-to-back, and I could reach over and touch the personally, then what we would recommend is that you leave that booth vacant.’’

Want to order?

Chucri said that some establishments may go to single-use menus, perhaps printed on both sides.

But he said that some restaurants with extensive listings – he specifically mentioned the Cheesecake Factory – may decide it makes more sense to keep the existing menus and wipe them down between customers.

Even getting to the table will be different.

Chucri figures that restaurants will have to scrap the practices where those waiting are all huddled just inside or outside the door.

While one option is opening up patios,

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BOND from page 7

in exile when they are in the portables.

He added the district’s approach is for the portables to be as cohesive as possible with the main building and provide a comfortable environment.

Board member Jill Humphries noted the administration is looking at a district-wide plan to make sure space is being used appropriately.

Other projects include replacing the hardware on exterior doors and improving fencing at Mesquite High at a cost of $165,812. Dutchover said there is equipment failure with the door hardware, issues with locking the doors.

Canyon Valley School, an alternative program for district students, has a proposed $800,000 project that included renovation and expansion of new classrooms. The board has not approved this project yet.

Betz said the district plans to close the transportation complex on Guadalupe Road in Mesa and bring that operation to the transportation complex on

Gilbert Road.

The vacated complex could then be used for Canyon Valley to expand and enhance its academic opportunities, she said.

“They’ve been lacking science labs for some time,” Betz said of the 17-year-old school.

Betz also said staff plans to recommend to the Board at the end of May that the district sell $40 million of bonds – $8 million from the 2015 bond and $32 million from a bond voters approved in 2019. The size of that bond was $100 million.

She noted a number of school districts in the Valley have already completed their sales, taking advantage of the low-interest rate. A lower interest rate means a lower debt levy, she said.

If the time is not right, the district would delay the sale to late fall or next spring, according to Betz.

“We have things going wrong now and we have to deal with them,” said board member Shirley Uggetti, a re-

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tired educator. She likened the campuses’ upkeep to that of a 30- to 40-yearold house.

“Obviously we recognize from a taxpayer’s perspective that if we didn’t have to issue bonds whatever the interest is on zero debt is still cheaper to the taxpayer,” Carr said, adding: “However, we also recognize that not caring for our buildings in a proper way devalues them and ultimately leads to higher costs. So, I appreciate Mrs. Betz’s comments about making sure that we are balancing these needs with the commitment to the taxpayers to try to keep the tax rate as low as possible.”

He said hopefully the timing holds to take advantage of the low-interest rates as the district pays off bonds that have higher rates on them and replace them with rates that are lower.

“Our hope is to care for the facilities owned by our taxpayers but to do so in the least-expensive manner possible,” Carr said.

11

RESTAURANTS from page 10

Chucri figures technology may solve the problem, with restaurants getting the phone numbers of those hoping to be seated and telling them to wait somewhere else for a text.

Lower tech, he said, is finding out what kind of a car a waiting customer has and sending out someone to tell them the table is ready.

And once you’re inside?

“I think you’re going to see tables empty,’’ he said, with anything customers want being brought on request.

Ketchup for the hamburger? Perhaps a bottle that has been wiped down after the prior customers.

But Chucri said it’s just as likely that the waiter will bring some tiny packets of ketchup or – somewhat more upscale – some in a dish.

Ditto those packets of sweetner: If you want some, you’ll probably have to ask the waiter to bring it.

Chucri also said technology that now

see RESTAURANTS page 14

12

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

Campo Verde senior heading to West Point

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

A

Campo Verde High School senior – through a lot of effort on her part – is seeing her dream since the 6th grade come to fruition.

Audrey Landers was offered an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“It was definitely a shock,” the Gilbert teen said. “I didn’t even cry. It’s been my goal for so long I thought I would have a more intense reaction. It was more of completion and fulfillment and happiness through and through.”

Audrey said her emotions were mixed with that of seeing her school and other campuses in the state shut for the rest of the academic year, depriving seniors of milestones like the prom and a graduation ceremony.

Audrey doesn’t come from a military family, although her grandfather served in the Army. Her interest in the military was born out of her personal desire to serve.

“It’s the one thing I am confident of in my life,” she said.

Audrey also had applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and Texas A&M University.

The process to apply for the military academies was intense, requiring Audrey to reach out to U.S. Sens. Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs for their nominations.

She submitted applications, which included her high school transcript, ACT and or SAT scores, resume of extracurric-

ular activities, three letters of recommendation and an essay of why she wanted to attend a service academy.

McSally and Biggs both asked Audrey in for interviews in November. She went before a panel of people with military backgrounds for both visits, she said.

Audrey received a nomination to the

is underway now. That option includes taping a Color Guard, speeches and having customized slides of the graduating seniors with their future plans and thank-yous presented on some sort of “powerpoint-type situation,” according to Superintendent Mike Thomason.

The links to the ceremonies would be posted on each high school’s website and diplomas and programs would be mailed to seniors, Foley said.

District staff also talked about a Plan B, which involved having the high schools’ 500 seniors show up at Higley Center for the Performing Arts and videotaping each senior separately as they walked across the stage to accept their diploma and then editing the footage.

Thomason said Plan B relied on Ducey loosening the number of people who can

gather in one place and the quality of the taping.

At the meeting, board member Kristina Reese pushed the district to make a hard decision on a graduation plan now so parents have time to plan accordingly instead of waiting to see what Ducey was going to do.

“We can’t say, ‘well, as of today we are going to do this but we expect him to make a change in two weeks so we are going to hold out,’” Reese said.

“I get waiting until today’s announcement to kind of see what the governor’s anticipating over the next 30 days but we can’t wait 30 days and honestly I don’t even think we can wait 14 days,” she said. “At some point we have to make a decision and a final decision based on the information we have today,

this is what we are going to do.”

She asked for the drop-dead date to make the final decision on graduation but Thomason said a decision will occur as soon as the governor makes his announcement.

“If he says that we can have no groups larger than 50, 250, than we have already prepared, we are already virtual for our graduation, we have already started that process. That is the direction we are going,” Thomason said.

Right now, the district was going with Plan A, he said, unless the governor loosened up restrictions and allowed for students to walk across the stage.

He said with restrictions on groupings of 10 or fewer, it was not safe or prudent to bring students in and videotape them.

GRADUATION from page 1

Campo Verde High School senior Audrey Landers is all smiles after her acceptance to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. (Special to GSN)

Naval Academy from McSally and because her interview with Biggs went so well, was also nominated to the Naval Academy. At the interviews, she had to rank her academy preference.

The Air Force Academy sent Audrey a letter of assurance, stating it wanted to accept her but needed to wait for a nomination from a member of Congress. Texas A&M offered her a Navy ROTC ISR full-tuition scholarship.

“My academy preference wavered during the whole process of learning about the Naval Academy and Air Force Academy and I switched the order,” Audrey said. “But I knew in my gut all along it was West Point.”

Getting to this point in her life took work.

Audrey was a corps commander for Air Force Junior ROTC during her junior and senior years, overseeing 70 student cadets, and was co-president for the Key Club, which promotes volunteerism among students.

“As co-president of the largest club on campus, I lead by example and place trust in my members to record hours with integrity and serve from the heart, not from

see WEST POINT page 13

However, after Ducey’s stay-athome order was extended, district spokeswoman Michelle Reese said the administration still had not made a decision on graduation but could by the end of the week, past Gilbert Sun News deadline.

Board President Amy Kaylor asked if it was possible for the district to offer a ceremony later for seniors.

Thomason said there’s been lot of discussion on that issue but the reality is with students going off on missions, the military and out-of-state schools – that was not doable.

He said district funds that were to be spent on the graduation will instead be put aside for a special event for the seniors sometime in the future – possibly a class reunion.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

WEST POINT from page 12

NEWS

13

the requirement,” Audrey said. “By maintaining these values, I hold myself to a higher standard in hopes to leave a legacy of positive leadership, effective service, and a heightened sense of family.”

Audrey also competed on the varsity swim team and was selected to be captain in her senior year.

She’s been nominated for the I Am Sport award for her leadership and service success through swimming and received a Better Business Bureau Ethical Cadet

Scholarship of $2,000, half of which went to Campo Verde’s AFJROTC program.

Last summer, Audrey was one of 100 young women selected from across the country to learn how the federal government works at the 73rd American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation session held in Washington, D.C. She also attended the West Point Summer Leadership Experience and the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar last year.

Audrey will begin her life as a cadet on

June 29 and has mixed emotions about her new journey.

“I’ve definitely grown to love my time at home with my family,” she said. “It’s like two forces coming together, intense fear and intense excitement. I’m at so much peace with my decision but swirling around it is so much excitement and the unknown.”

There is no tuition for the government-funded institution but Audrey is required to put in five years of service after

she graduates in four years.

She will earn a bachelor’s of science degree due to the required course load she’ll be required to take, regardless of the major she ends up choosing.

Audrey said she’s considering a major in international studies.

“Since 6th grade I’ve had the goal of attending West Point,” she said. “That has been my striving goal the whole time. With hard work, things can come true.”

BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

tancing and hygienic guidelines that she had vetted by county and state health officials to protect seniors from coronavirus infection.

Those rules cover everything from making the cards to getting them in the hands of lonely seniors who haven’t been able to receive visitors for close to two months.

Arters said her idea may be taking on some additional urgency with Mothers Day just around the corner and Fathers Day not that far in the future.

But she intends her campaign to last as long as social-distancing regulations do – which could be well into the distant future.

With long experience working with senior care facilities, she got the idea in March when a friend had been locked out of visiting her mother in a care home and began thinking of the impact it had on that mom.

“I just thought about the immense sense of isolation,” she said. “We have to begin recognizing the mental health

impact of these restrictions.”

Moreover, she noted, “Isolation can negatively impact both the physical and mental health of seniors” and has been linked to dementia and cognitive decline as well as a host of other ailments that end up in increased hospitalizations.

Before she even began lining up youngsters to make cards, Arters conferred with Maricopa County and Ari-

zona health officials to develop a protocol for making them and getting them to seniors.

“It took me a while to set this up because I wanted to make sure we followed all the guidelines to keep the seniors safe,” Arters said.

She developed artersgroup.com/ carecardsprogram.php, laying out de-

Operation ‘Isolation Buster’ aimed at lonely seniors

B

ringing a little joy to residents of senior care homes has probably never been more challenging – nor more important – than it has become in the COVID-19 pandemic.

And East Valley publicist and Certified Senior Advisor Linda Arters’ campaign to engage students across the region meets the challenges while bringing some woefully needed smiles – and maybe a few tears of joy – to a high-risk population stuck in those centers with no visitors allowed.

Arters has launched an “Isolation Buster” campaign – calling on students to make “CareCards for Seniors” by hand for delivery to residential facilities for the elderly.

While sending cards to people in elder-care facilities might not be a new idea, Arters’ campaign is unique.

She’s laid out rules for participation that are tempered by strict social-dis-

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RESTAURANTS from page 11

is sparsely used is likely to become more prevalent, like pay-at-the-table terminals that exist at places like Olive Garden.

How long all this will last, he said, depends on the change.

On one hand, Chucri said that even before the pandemic, fast-food restaurants were installing kiosks where customers could order and customize what they want and pay right there without the need to interact with anyone else.

Chucri compares the current situation to what happened after the Sept.

11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which led to clamping down on security and air travel of all sorts. He said that, over time, decisions were made to ease up.

“Do I expect dining rooms to change en masse over the next 24 months or three years? No,’’ Churci said. “Do I expect dining rooms to look differently and act differently for the next six months to possibly a year? Yes.’’

tailed instructions for making the cards.

“It is important that they are made and that they are made safely,” she said.

“Older people like handwritten cards.

They’re not likely to be on Facebook, Instagram or even email. They come from a generation where people wrote letters, not send a text.”

Her website gives detailed instructions on how to make the only cards she will accept for delivery, starting with the admonition that their creators wash their hands for at least 20 seconds before touching a pair of scissors or a pen. They also must be able to fit in a 9”x12” envelope.

While getting the word out to kids,

Arters also used word of mouth to reach care centers.

“I talked to the ones I’ve worked with, but other care homes need to reach out to me and agree to accept the cards,” said Arters. “They have to request this.”

She said the homes that are on her list have agreed to wait a day after they receive them before distributing the cards in order to provide an additional layer of protection.

To launch her campaign, Arters approached people she knew in the Tempe Elementary School District, where a number of teachers embraced the idea and spread the word to their students

online. Soon, some teachers in the Kyrene School District picked up on it “I’ve got a lot of community people involved,” Arters said, adding kids in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and as far away as Flagstaff have joined in.

Some service organizations also are helping out and one, the Kiwanis Club of Tempe-Sunrise, is collecting money for creative materials, 9”x12” mailing envelopes and postage. People who want to donate can go to kiwanistempe-sunrise.com/index.php/carecards or send a check marked “Care Cards” in the memo field to Kiwanis Tempe-Sunrise, 1628 E. Southern ve. #9-120, Tempe, AZ 85282.

Arters also has designated drop-off locations for the cards and for supplies that people may want to donate for kids whose parents can’t afford the materials they can use to make the cards.

Arters said that the cards she has delivered so far have touched some lonely hearts.

And she said that while Mothers Day and Fathers Day helps inspire more kids and even adults into joining the campaign, she doesn’t want the effort to be tied to any holiday.

“This is so important to these seniors,” she said. “I will do it as long as it is necessary.”

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

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Higley students, teachers win various honors HIGLEY HAPPENINGS

BY MICHELLE REESE GSN Guest Writer

T

wo Higley High School students have won the prestigious 2020 National Honor Scholars designation – an honor that fewer than 1 percent of high school seniors achieve.

Lindsey Giles and Taryn Trigler are both enrolled in a number of Advanced Placement classes.

Taryn received a perfect score on the ACT and plans to study biomedical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. She is also a Presidential Scholar semifinalist. Lindsey, who plays volleyball and is a member of Higley’s student council, plans to pursue a career as a physical therapist.

Williams Field Council wins excellence award

Williams Field High School’s Student Council has received a 2020 National Gold Council of Excellence award, which is given to student councils that demonstrate “the highest standards of quality” in operation, projects and activities and that are considered models for similar organizations.

This is Williams Field Student Council’s fourth consecutive year winning the award.

Higley Kids Club aide Parker Hicks honored

Parker Hicks, an activity assistant in the Higley Unified School District, was named the Arizona Community Education Association Program Line Leader of the Year.

Hill, who started with the district in May 2019, works with the before- and after-school Kids Care program at Higley’s Sossaman Early Childhood Development Center.

Lindsey Giles

Taryn Trigler

“Parker Hicks is a dedicated, loyal, hardworking staff,” said Emily Hill, Kids Club program leader. “He goes above and beyond every day, coming up with creative crafts, science experiments, and group games. He is extremely flexible and always ready to change things up if needed.”

Hill nominated Hicks for the award.

“He is a one-of-a-kind staff who always incorporates fun into everything he does.

He loves the kids and takes the time to get to know every one of them. The kids adore him and always look forward to getting to play with him,” Hill said.

Hicks enjoys his job with Higley’s Community Education Department.

“I love working with kids because not only is it fun, but there is something special about making that special connection with a kid, whether it’s one kid or all of your kids,” Hicks said.

His favorite activity, he said, is reading stories to the children, specifically “The Book with No Pictures,” by BJ Novak.

“If you don’t know already, ‘The Book with No Pictures’ is a book that practically has you make a fool out of yourself by shouting nonsense words and phrases and other things among that realm. That book was the tool that I used to break out of my shell at Kids Club and ultimately that book is the reason a lot of my kids opened up to me, as well.”

Hicks said interacting with the students in a number of ways builds engagement,

Shauna Hamman

Parker Hicks

Williams Field senior Megan Bulson earned one of six scholarships offered annually by Arizona Winter Guard for students who stand out artistically and academically. She also volunteers as a color guard coach at Gateway Pointe Elementary. She plans on a nursing career after earning a degree at ASU. (Higley Unified)

which makes his job even better.

“Once you build that relationship with your kids then coming to work and interacting with them becomes all the more engaging and it gets to a point where you don’t really even feel like you’re working anymore.”

Bridges Elementary teacher wins Intel grant

Bridges Elementary fifth-grade teacher Shauna Hamman is one of 44 teachers who will receive a STEAM education grant from Intel this year. The program was set up to celebrate the technology giant’s recipient of 40th anniversary in Arizona.

The company partnered with the Arizona Educational Foundation to support Arizona teachers with 40 grants. More than

400 teachers submitted applications.

Hamman, a 15-year education veteran, plans to use her grant toward a project called, “Sustainable STEAM Challenges.”

She will purchase materials needed for students at Bridges to create model structures, machines and prototypes of inventions the school’s Maker’s Place.

“We will also purchase digital cameras so that they can record their progress as they work through steps of the engineering design process,” she wrote.

“Mrs. Hamman’s dedication to providing authentic, STEAM-related learning opportunities for our students is truly noteworthy. Shauna’s receipt of this award is yet another example of how she continually sets the bar high for catalyzing 21st Century learning in her classroom,” Principal Jeff Beickel said.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

17

© 2020 Area Agency on Aging, Region One 1366 E. Thomas Road, Suite 108, Phoenix, AZ 85014 aaaphx.org | 602-264-4357 HealthAndWellness-OL-FInal.indd 1

4/9/20 2:48 PM

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BUSINESS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

Business GilbertSunNews.com

|

@Gilber tSunNews

/Gilber tSunNews

Gilbert firm picks up a big lunch tab GSN NEWS STAFF

I

t’s been 18 years since Trevor Barrett opened the Gilbert mortgage company that bears his name.

In that time, Barrett Financial Group has grown from a one-man shop to a company with 250 loan officers who have originated $4 billion in loans in serving homeowners in Arizona and seven other states.

Last month, Barrett added “angel” to his resume and those of his loan officers when his company paid off a $50,000 tab the Higley Unified School District faced as a result of unpaid school lunches.

The district maintains an “angel fund” for people who want to donate money to defray the cost of the unpaid lunches and loan officer John Hegglin told his coworkers he had been donating to the fund for delinquent cafeteria accounts for three years, Barrett spokeswoman Alexandra Hill said.

Hegglin then invited other loan offi-

Attending the check presentation by Barrett Financial Group were, from left, Higley Mike Thomason, Amy Kaylor, Trevor Barrett, Josh Goldberg, Stephanie Boughton, Jason Erickson, Amy Valdez and Sterling Barrett. (Pablo Robles/ GSN Staff Photographer)

cers and Barrett to join him and “people loved the idea, so they began to brainstorm ideas on how to make it

happen,” Hill said.

Barrett and some of his employees then met with Higley Superintendent

Dr. Mike Thomason, who “described the invisible poverty that has been taking place in our community,” Hill said.

“Every year the school district racks up thousands of dollars of debt from unpaid cafeteria meals and this year is no different as they are continuing to provide meals to students amidst the COVID chaos,” Hill said.

Another loan officer suggested trading in “Power Points” earned by employees who write loans.

The “Power Points” are awarded by United Wholesale Mortgage to the loan officers when they use its services and are then exchanged for cash bonuses or other prizes.

“Every year, the district racks up thousands of dollars in debt from unpaid meals and this year is no different,” Barrett said. “In response, we have collaborated with UWM to allow us to trade in Partner Points in return

see MORTGAGE page 19

Park University names 2 Gilbert campus execs GSN NEWS STAFF

P

ark University’s Gilbert campus has two new administrators.

The Missouri-headquartered university named Sue Wilcox vice president of the campus and Ben Zibers associate vice president.

Wilcox will direct the Gilbert campus’ strategic growth and operations of the campus, including market development, community relations, enrollment growth, student services, student academic support, student engagement and athletic program development.

She will also work closely on Park’s academic program.

Ben Zibers

Sue Wilcox

For the last eight months, Wilcox was the campus’ senior director of strategic delivery. She joined Park in March 2018 as senior director of project management in the main campus’ IT department.

Zibers is responsible for the student lifecycle, enrollment growth and student life. He also will lead initiatives related to enrollment, student retention and experiences and academic partnerships and delivery.

He joined the Gilbert Campus in September 2019 as senior director for enrollment and student services and prior to that was director of student engagement at the Missouri campus.

BUSINESS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 29, 2020 GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

MORTGAGE from page 18

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42 45 47 48 49

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50 51 52 54

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Sudoku

for a charitable donation on behalf of each of our loan officers. With our donation, the school district can pay off their entire cafeteria fund debt.”

After presenting the check for $50,000 to Thomason on April 24, Higley spokeswoman Michelle Reese said the donation cleared the balances on hundreds of students’ accounts.

And it came at a time when the district has been distributing 3,000 of free breakfast-lunch packs a day to anyone under 18 five days a week since schools were closed March 15.

Reese said district officials were gratified that Barrett employees sacrificed their bonuses “at this unprecedented time in history” and praised the company for its support.

“When students in Higley seek to purchase a cafeteria meal, they are allowed to do so, even when they have a balance,” she said. “The district works with families to try help those in need, directing them to federal free and reduced-lunch meal programs.”

“But unpaid meals can mean unexpected debt for the district and a need to redirect precious dollars to pay off those sums,” she added.

Thomason was grateful to Barrett Financial Group, stating “This donation will take a stress off Higley families, which is much needed any time but especially right now. It will also allow the district to move forward without meal service debt as we start looking at next school year.”

Higley’s free meal distribution durign the closure is not needs-based and families do not have to attend Higley schools to qualify. HUSD also offered to deliver meals to community non-profits to support children 18 and under.

Hill said UWM told Barrett his firm was the first mortgage brokerage to ever do something like this with the Partner Points.

“We love helping those around us and we plan to assist other school districts in our area in the future,” she added.

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 19 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 35 38 40

Ids’ counterparts Get bigger Middle East strip Go up and down Listeners Army unit Carefree Sapporo sash Allow Banned insecticide Carousel Light touch Portion of N.A. Eviscerate Hint Emcee Hasn’t paid yet Michigan, for one Not “fer” Nincompoop Wrigley product Reddish-brown horse Perched -- Angeles

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

PK - 8TH 862 E Elliot Rd Gilbert, AZ 85234

480-325-6100

PUZZLE 14 PUZZLEANSWERS ANSWERS on on page page 16

19

G I L B E R TA R T S A C A D E M Y. C O M

20

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

Obituaries Milton Joseph Hargis III Milton (Milt) Joseph Hargis III passed away on April 27, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born in New Orleans on April 20, 1950. Milt was the first son of Mary and Milton Hargis. His younger brother Craig Hargis was his life long best friend and his biggest fan. Milt was a proud graduate of Florida State University where he was a Theta Chi Alumni.

He had a great love for Florida State and was a lifelong supporter. Milt is survived by his wife Cleda and his 3 daughters Jennifer, Margaret and Gail from his previous marriage to Martha.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his son Joe. He was extremely proud of his daughters and their accomplishments in their lives, jobs, and education. He had 4 grandchildren Connor, Ellie, Jack and Grace who he loved dearly. A celebration of life will be held at a later date when his family is able to gather together.

Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com For assistance with Obituaries, In Memoriam or other Life Events, please call 480-898-6465 or visit obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com.

Southwest Airlines Captain Ness Irvine Van “Ness” Irvine of Scottsdale, AZ was born June 21, 1953 in Massachusetts and died peacefully on Sunday, April 19, 2020 in Surprise, AZ. The older of two sons of USAF Lt. Colonel (Ret) Challen and Lynn Irvine, Ness spent his early childhood living on military bases in Maine and New Mexico. His father’s retirement brought the family to Arizona in 1960. Ness graduated in 1971 from Dysart High School in El Mirage, AZ. He entered the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Arizona State University in 1971 and graduated in 1975 with a degree in Business.

Ness followed in his father’s footsteps entering Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams Air Force Base (AFB), AZ in May of 1976. He earned his USAF wings in May of 1977. His first operational assignment was flying the A-7D at England AFB in Alexandria, LA. He was selected to attend and graduated from the challenging Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (equivalent of the Navy’s Top Gun). After a few years at England AFB, Ness transitioned to the F-4. He was then assigned to Torréjon Air Base in Spain. While there, he converted to the F-16.

In the summer of 1984, Captain Irvine moved to Luke AFB in Glendale, AZ where he served as an Instructor Pilot, Scheduler, and Standardization Evaluation Pilot in the F-16. In 1986 he won the ‘best of the best” award as the top pilot in the initial Long Rifle competition (a nationwide competition of the best fighter pilots in the Air Force).

On March 1, 1987 Major (select) Irvine joined the USAF Reserves at Luke AFB in the 302nd TFS. He accumulated more than 1,000 hours in the F-16 and continued to excel in fighter gunnery and bombing competitions. Lt. Colonel Ness Irvine flew his final F-16 flight on November 17, 1996.

On April 9, 1987 Ness began his career as a Southwest Airlines (SWA) pilot. From the very beginning, Ness so enjoyed flying at SWA that he wanted all his friends to come fly with him. He quickly became the go to person for anyone interested in and wanting to fly for SWA. He helped pilots from every background – military or civilian.

Ness upgraded to Captain on January 16, 1992 and continued his love of helping pilots. He talked to them everywhere to convince good-hearted and quality people that SWA was the best place in the world to work.

Ness helped approximately 2,000 pilots get hired. He was never paid for what he did with respect to hiring.

Ness did it because he loved people and loved Southwest Airlines.

Ness’ passion for helping pilots and crew members did not stop with hiring. In 1995 he was selected to serve on the SWA Hotel Committee, today known as the Crew Accommodations Board (CAB). Ness served in that capacity for 23 years. He worked tirelessly to negotiate the best rates for Southwest Airlines and the best amenities for crew members. He was also chosen to join a select group of employees that met regularly with top management to keep them apprised of operational issues.

Ness was forced to stop flying in 2013 due to medical issues. He continued to serve on the CAB until he officially retired from SWA on June 20, 2018, with a total of 31 years of service and nearly 22,000 hours in the Boeing 737.

Few pilots have had the degree of positive impact that Ness Irvine did in his flying career. He was truly an outstanding fighter pilot. As an airline pilot, his love of his company and his fellow pilots was unmatched.

Ness is survived by his father; two sons, Brian of Tempe and Michael of Goodyear; his brother Miles (Patricia) of Corvallis, Oregon; and one granddaughter, Karli. He was preceded in death by his mother.

Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association in the name of Van Ness Irvine.

Employment Employment General KLA Corporation currently has openings in our Tempe, AZ location for: Systems Design Manager (Job ID# 2613): Coordinate systems design of new product development and enhancement of existing product lines including system design, robotic automation, electrical, mechanical and software integration.

Mail Resume to: One Technology Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035, ATTN: Resumes, mail stop 1216-145, indicating job ID number.

KLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.

Lead AX Developer Responsible for development of the company’s ERP system. REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Must have 5 years experience in the job offered or as Senior Software Engineer/Technical Consultant. Must have 5 years of experience (may be gained concurrently with the above experience) in: (1) customizing Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system; (2) utilizing Dynamics AX 2012 R2, X++, and Microsoft SQL Server. Must be certified in: AX 2009 MorphX Solution Development in Microsoft Dynamics, AX 2009 Development Introduction in Microsoft Dynamics, AX 2009 Enterprise Portal Development, AX 2012 Trade and Logistics, and AX 2012 Development Introduction. Background check and drug screening required. Employer will accept any suitable combination of education, training or experience. Employer: Schuff Steel Company. Job location: Phoenix, AZ. Qualified applicants should email resume to: will.johnson@schuff.com

H E A D STO N E S

Employment General Wanted CAREGIVER Klara's Adult Care Home, LLC 1934 E. Smoke Tree Rd, Gilbert AZ 85296 Caregiver Training Certificate Required High School Graduate Salary: $22,000 per year Contact: Arsenia Fabros 480-332-4504 Fax Resume: 480-539-0642

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Manufactured Homes BRAND NEW NEVER LIVED IN 2 BED / 2 BATH HOMES $58,900 Financing Available Also Available Affordable Homes Between $5K - $15K 55+ Mobile Home Park in Great Chandler Loc. Call Kim 480-233-2035

Employment General

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

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Make your choice Everlasting

Pavement/Geotechnical Engineer (Temple AZ) Req'd to perform pavement design, Asphalt mix design, Pavement preservation (Slurry & Micro surfacing design), Cold in place recycling mix design, Concrete mix design & Superpave Performance Grading (PG) testing. Maint. accreditation based on AASHTO R18 criteria incl AMRL/CCRL reqmnts.

Reqs. to assign lab tests on the samples collected in the field & ensure that suitable standards & procedures are followed in the lab; verifying the boring logs, performing engineering analysis & preparing geotechnical reports in compliance w/the standard & specs. Req'd to analyze, reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, & tests, to plan & design projects, as well as to calculate cost & determine feasibility of project based on analysis of collected data. Respon to perform studies on the field & lab data & to make recommendations to the project manager & compile Pavement/Geotechnical engineering reports to address the specific project design, construction, & quality control reqmnts. Reqs: Mstr's in civil engineering & 15 Grad level credit hrs in Pavement engineering is a must. Mail resumes to HR at Integer Consulting LLC. At 2342 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ, 85282

21

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

Gilbert Sun News

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

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23

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

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24

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 3, 2020

FIND YOUR PURPOSE Private. Christian. Affordable.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND EARLY GRADUATION OPPORTUNITIES

66% of graduates did so in less than four years*

AFFORDABLE TO ATTEND

tuition has remained unchanged for the last 11 years

GRADUATE WITH LESS DEBT GCU students graduate with less debt than the national average†

AVERAGE INCOMING GPA OF 3.55 Fall 2019 incoming students

#19 BEST COLLEGE CAMPUS IN AMERICA IN 2020 Rated by Niche.com

APPLY FOR FREE TODAY! 855-428-7884 | apply.gcu.edu

*2016 and 2017 **Average tuition after scholarships is approximately $8,700. Scholarships may be awarded based on 6th semester transcripts. At the time in which final, official transcripts are received, GCU reserves the right to rescind or modify the scholarship if it is determined that eligibility was not achieved. GCU reserves the right to decline scholarship awards for any reason. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. GCU reserves the right to change scholarship awards at any time without notice. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. Prices based on 2018-19 rate and are subject to change. † GCU students graduate with less debt on average ($18,750 according to College Scorecard) than the average at public and private nonprofit universities ($28,650 according to 2017 data from the Institute for College Access and Success).

For more information about the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission. org/). Pre-licensure nursing students who begin or resume attendance in Fall 2020 and beyond will be ineligible to utilize most GCU institutional aid/scholarships for tuition and fees once accepted into the clinical portion of the program. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/ academic-policies.php. The information printed in this material is accurate as of JANUARY 2020. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX. ©2020 Grand Canyon University 19GTR0965