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Ducey defends executions / P. 14

Postal drive against hunger / P. 18

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

Growth drives big budget increase for QC BY KATHLEEN STINSON Tribune Staff Writer

COMMUNITY ..... 17 Pan de Vida founder still driving force at 78.

BUSINESS ........... 20 QC home prices rose 60% in two years.

ueen Creek Town Council on May 4 approved a tentative $730.3 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that the administration called necessary to meet the town’s soaring population’s needs. The 4-2 vote came with council members Emilena Turley and Leah Martineau voting against the spending plan and Mayor Gail Barney absent.

Town renews bid to develop downtown

The proposed spending plan – slated for a final council vote May 18 – is significantly higher than the town’s current $487 budget as town administration proposed major investments in infrastructure and expanded services. However, there is no tax increase. Town administration had signaled the need for those expenses at an April 13 budget committee meeting, when Finance Director Scott McCarty said, “The story of the budget like everything else in Queen Creek is a story about growth.”

BY KATHLEEN STINSON Tribune Staff Writer

SPORTS ............... 23 D’Backs pitcher is a homegrown EV athlete.

COMMUNITY ........................17 BUSINESS ..............................20 OPINION .................................22 SPORTS ...................................23 CLASSIFIEDS ........................24

Sunday, May 8, 2022

he Town of Queen Creek has taken a big step toward developing a huge part of its downtown core by inviting developers to purchase a 6.8-acre parcel of land it owns located along Ellsworth Loop Road between Ocotillo and Victoria, adjacent to the library and Communiversity. The town is asking potential developers that their bids include conceptual designs

see DOWNTOWN page 6

see BUDGET page 4

A mother’s pain Mother’s Day is bittersweet for Queen Creek mom Julie Mikesell, whose 8-yearold son Ethan is battling leukemia. But Ethan is a fighter and his mom, dad and siblings have his back. See the story on page. 8. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Central Arizona College www.centralaz.edu

Queen Creek’s population grew by 125.8% over the past decade, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments. “We don’t foresee the growth slowing down,” McCarty said. Arizona is forecast to grow faster than the U.S. average for the next fiscal year, Town Manager John Kross said at that meeting. “The rate of growth in both residential and non-residential investment is directly

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QC mother’s anguish: son, 9, �ighting cancer BY CECILIA CHAN Tribune Staff Writer

ulie Mikesell recalled her son Ethan complaining about his leg hurting and he was running a fever as well. “We thought, ‘Oh, it’s growing pains,’” said Mikesell, who nonetheless took him to a doctor. On Sept. 21, the family’s life was changed forever. And now, the Gilbert community where they live is rallying to their aid. “I got the worst phone call,” said Mikesell, who lived in Gilbert for 15 years before moving to Queen Creek. “He was extremely anemic and we needed to get to the hospital right away. It looked like he had cancer.” Mikesell and her husband, Darin, rushed Ethan over to Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa. “He couldn’t walk, my husband carried him into the emergency room,” Mikesell

Ethan Mikesell, ﬂanked by mom Julie and dad Darin Mikesell, is fighting leukemia but has found a lot of support from his parents, siblings and the community. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

said. “The emergency room doctor gave him morphine for the pain.” Ethan’s white blood cell count was off the charts and he was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for a platelet transfusion to treat the anemia. More blood work was done and X-rays of the 8-year-old’s pelvic and femur were done, confirming three days later that Ethan had B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or ALL. It is the most common type of cancer in children, involving blood and bone marrow, representing about 25% of cancer cases in U.S. children younger than 15, according to the National Institute of Health. Approximately 3,100 children and adolescents younger than 20 years are diagnosed with ALL each year in the country and since 1975, there has been a gradual increase in the incidence of ALL, the NIH

see CANCER page 8

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

An edition of the East Valley Tribune Queen Creek Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Queen Creek CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 480-898-6500 | Fax: 480-898-562 Circulation: 480-898-5641 Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising: 480-898-6309 Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@timespublications.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@timespublications.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 | sinsalaco@timespublications.com Advertising Sales Executive: Jane Meyer | 480-898-5633 | jane@timespublications.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 pmaryniak@timespublications.com Managing Editor: Cecilia Chan | 480-898-5613 |cchan@timespublications.com Reporters: Kathleen Stinson | 480-898-5639 | kstinson@ timespublications.com Ken Sain | 928-420-5341 | ksain@timespublications.com Photographer: Dave Minton | dminton@timespublications.com Design: Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 | zalvira@timespublications.com

Queen Creek Tribune is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com

Queen Creek’s extraordinary growth is driving a significant increase in spending for the fiscal year beginning July 1 with three-quarters of it going to infrastructure. (Tom Sanfilippo/Inside Out Aerial)

BUDGET from FRONT

related to the infrastructure needs to service this growth and position the town competitively,” Kross wrote in his presentation of the budget. “Roads are priority No. 1,” he said. As the town has grown, its revenues have become “less reliant on single-family home permitting (fees)” than in the past, he said. The town now has a “more diverse tax base.” The proposed budget calls for a 23% increase in projected revenues and 50% increase in expenses. “Savings from prior years is making up the difference (between the revenues and expenses),” said Constance Halonen-Wilson, town public information officer. Besides infrastructure, another big expense item in the upcoming budget is the proposed hiring of 64 new positions – including 43 for public safety. The budget includes 15 new positions in the police department, another 26 new positions to begin an ambulance service in the Fire and Medical

Department and two new staff positions to assist with that department’s administration. “Increased revenues for the FY 20222023 are expected as a result of population growth, the overall economy and new businesses,” Halonen-Wilson said. “With the increased revenues, the town is able to evaluate the additional staffing needs.” The additional number of staff in the Fire and Medical Department means its cost of salaries and fringes to $15.5 million for the coming fiscal year, compared to $11.2 million currently for a total increase of $4.33 million – an increase of 39%. The new emergency transport service is budgeted at just over $3 million. Police services salaries and fringes costs will increase from $9.8 million to $13.1 million for a total increase of $3.3 million, or 34%. The proposed budget also recommends $500,000 for a new public safety police facility. Halonen-Wilson said this expenditure is “a placeholder related to an evidence storage facility

for the police department. We currently contract with Gilbert for evidence storage.” The town also has a five-year plan for its road construction. The transportation infrastructure improvement fund includes a $3.4 million expenditure in the FY 2022-2023 budget. The town budgeted $3,081,300 in its FY21/22 budget. The Parks and Recreation budget includes $136 million for completion of Mansel Carter Oasis Park, construction of a new 85-acre park in the northeast section of the town, and the design and construction of a Recreation Center and Aquatic Center. The park expansion will be paid for by a $138 million bond sale, which will not increase resident’s taxes, McCarty said. The committee approved the budget to recommend to the council for action, with an amendment presented in committee of $23 million for a potential acquisition of park land.

see BUDGET page 12

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

NEWS

DOWNTOWN from page 1

because Town Council wants their expertise to provide some ideas. The bids are due by June 21. In 2019, the town sent out a request for proposals for the same parcel, said town spokeswoman Constance Halonen-Wilson. “Negotiations with a developer continued in 2020, but the RFP was withdrawn due to the uncertainty of the pandemic.” “The site was purchased by the Town as part of a larger property in 2005,” she added. “Nearly 16.7 acres were purchased for just over $4,460,500.” Town Development Manager Jennifer Lindley said Queen Creek in the past “has strategically acquired property so it can ‘seed’ the type of development it wants to see in the area,” One example is the Hampton Inn, she noted, explaining, “The town saw a need for a hotel when it wrote the RFP for the land and asked specifically for a hotel user.” In the downtown core RFP, “the development should include mixed-uses that are geared towards pedestrian-oriented development that further the vision for the Downtown Core,” Lindley said. “The Town would like to see unique and specialty restaurants and/or retail, office, and other uses that focus on walkability, connectivity, and engagement of social and civic life.” Such specialty uses refer to a “brand, product, restaurant or business” that essentially is in a “restricted geographical area” and considered a local brand, according to the town. It could include mid to upscale restaurants, bakeries, markets of various kinds and wines or similar businesses that “celebrate all that is unique and special in Queen Creek,” the RFP noted. “Overall,” Lindley said, “uses focus on walkability, connectivity, and engagement of social and civic life.”

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

A town release said officials want “to further develop a vibrant and active district that complements the culture and heritage of the community and provides a range of venues that celebrate all that is unique and special in Queen Creek.” Zoning for this mixed-use development is Downtown Core (DC) and the maximum building height is 55 feet, according to the town. “Shops and stores are encouraged to be front facing on or near the sidewalks with parking conveniently located onstreet and behind building masses,” the RFP also states. The Town also hopes for an artsy touch “that infuses whimsical features throughout the area,” although it stressed, “This effort should be done with very careful constraint so that it doesn’t overwhelm the area, but adds a certain flair. “Cultural initiatives will be attractive to residents and visitors,” the town said. “The best places to visit are the ones that already work well for the people who call it home.” This may be an optimum time for Queen Creek to seek proposals to develop its Downtown Core area. Commercial real estate development is booming in the Phoenix area, said Austin Gottsacker, director of acquisitions and leasing at SIMONCRE, a Scottsdale-based commercial real estate company. Adrienne Bryant, owner of Bryant Commercial Real Estate in Phoenix, said the Southeast Valley commercial real estate market is “tight” with the demand for commercial space outpacing the supply. Moreover, the growth in the residential population is fueling the need for commercial services in the area, Gottsacker said. The residential growth in the Southeast Valley has been “remarkable,” he said. “A lot of this is driven by the tenant.” Gottsacker said that developers have to keep in touch with what develop-

This map shows the portion of downtown that the Town hopes to sell to a developer. (Town of Queen Creek)

ment is going on and coming up down the line to ensure the market is in “equilibrium.” “(You) have to assess what’s there and what’s lacking and be in tune with what’s already there,” he said. “With that much growth, (you) have to make sure everything is in equilibrium and you don’t overbuild commercial.” He said the company has a few projects “in the works” in Queen Creek, but is not prepared to release the details at this time. In Gilbert, Bryant said 90-100 percent of the land is preleased before even breaking ground. “It is a very competitive market.” She said COVID put a lot of the development on hold because of the uncertainties for a while. “Now we’re playing catch-up,” Bryant said. Moreover, a number of the projects planned won’t be out of the ground until 2023-2024, she said, which affects the

Know anything interesting going on in Queen Creek? Send your news to pmaryniak@timespublications.com

lack in inventory of commercial space. “There’s an influx of people” moving to Arizona and companies are coming as well, she said. With that, commercial services and retailers are eager to tap into that growth because people want to live less than five miles from businesses like supermarkets. The mixed-use component of Queen Creek’s downtown core land going out to bid should be attractive to developers because they can diversify their plan, Bryant said. At the Queen Creek pre-proposal meeting on April 28, one attendee asked if housing would be allowed in the DC. Lindley said the town is looking for both commercial and housing as part of the proposed designs. “We are interested in all proposals.” She noted that the town hosts a food truck festival every Friday and hopes the developers will include this popular event in their plans.

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

CANCER from page 3

said. Ethan stayed 10 days in the hospital, where doctors put a port in his chest for medication and treatment. They performed a bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture, where a dose of chemo was administered, Mikesell said. “During the hospital he was kind of scared,” she said. “The worst night was after his surgery and the port was in. He was in so much pain. I held him so tight, he was hurting and crying. I was like, ‘it’s going to be OK.’ “That was the hardest night. Since then he has been such a trooper so strong with everything he has to go through.” Ethan has been undergoing weekly chemo treatments, including a lumbar puncture every four weeks and blood transfusions. “He lost his hair completely now,” Mikesell said. “The different chemos he is on, he has mouth sores.” Because of his weakened immune system, Ethan could not return to Cambridge Academy Charter in Queen Creek for the rest of the school year until he is stabilized. He’s doing his coursework over Zoom with his teachers. Although the pandemic was horrible, Mikesell said she sees a blessing in that schools put virtual learning in place. Provided there are no major road bumps for Ethan, ALL has one of the highest cure rates of all childhood cancers. And, the family is doing what it can to keep him healthy in the meantime – ordering groceries online, allowing no visitors and rarely leaving home. “We’re pretty much staying home unless we’ve got to go to the hospital,” Mikesell said. “I wash his fruit and vegetables really good. He has no immune system to fight anything. Our whole life has changed.” Sons Austin, 12, Cody, 16, still attend school and the oldest Bryce, 19, goes to work but they keep their distance so “not to contaminate Ethan.” Ethan’s 9th birthday in January was celebrated just with family. “He’s tired and in constant pain – his legs hurt all the time and his ankles because of chemo,” Mikesell said. “And whenever he has a lumbar puncture, he’s

Ethan Mikesell, 9, of Queen Creek has been in and out of the hospital since September during his ongoing battle with leukemia. (Tribune to GSN) a 9-year-old walking like an old man because he is just hurting.” Although Ethan was prescribed oxycodone for his pain, he avoids taking it because the pain medication makes him feel “funny,” Mikesell said. And, there are days that Ethan, even with the help of an appetite pill, won’t eat, and Mikesell has to come up with something that would work. But overall, Ethan is a strong kid, she said. “He is like the bravest little kid, she said. He makes comments like, ‘it sucks we can’t go on vacations, go to school or see friends.’ Couple of times he gets moody and breaks down but it’s amazing he is a strong, strong kid.” For the family, it’s like they never left the COVID restrictions behind. “It was a shock at first,” Mikesell said. “The hardest thing was the middle child wanting to have friends spend the night and going to birthday parties, not allowing Austin out to his friends’ houses. It just depends on Ethan’s immune system, if there is none we keep it locked down and safe.” Caring for four boys, the house and seeing to Ethan’s health is a careful balancing act, Mikesell said. “I definitely have my emotional days,” she said. “I’m definitely a people’s person

so it’s been very hard not to be able to hang out with friends and do what I use to do.” She said she sometimes feels sad and left out and wonders if her friends are moving on with their lives without her. “I have to say it has its ups and downs, missing people, the simple things like going to lunch, having people come over for lunch, go on vacations that were taken for granted,” she said. “But they still will be here when this is over. I have good friends who support us and will be there for us. It’s a blessing my husband still is working from home, if not it would be worst isolating.” One of Mikesell’s good friends has organized a fundraising event to help the family with medical bills and hopefully raise public awareness about ALL. Janine Igliane has known Mikesell and her family for about 15 years when they all lived at the Power Ranch community in Gilbert. They’ve been in the hospital room through most of each other’s children’s births and her son Chase, 9, is buddies with Ethan, Igliane said. “We have little kids together and went to church together,” said Igliane, who still lives in Power Ranch. “I feel like we did life together. It’s very special.” Igliane said that Tuesday when Mikesell got the call that Ethan might have

cancer, “she reached out to me to pray for him.” “It felt like it’s happening to someone in my family,” Igliane said. “Ethan is very special to our family because he and my son are such close friends and I have a special connection to Ethan. I adore him and my son adores him.” Igliane said it’s been tough to watch the family deal with Ethan’s cancer. She said Ethan was a fun-loving boy who was “always happy and laughing.” “That is hard to watch it happen,” she said; “to see a little bit of his spirit broken.” Despite the ordeal, the family is doing relatively well, said Igliane, who has nothing but praise for Mikesell as “one of the best moms,” who would do anything for her children. “She’s also a fun mom,” she said. “She loves to hang out and have fun and is very involved in her kids’ lives. “Julie very much puts on a strong face for everybody but deep inside I know it’s so hard for her,” she said. “At times she and I would talk and she would break down crying, almost like she’s holding everything in and getting it off.” Igliane, a local Realtor and her company are donating the food for the Cornhole for a Cause fundraiser and the Power Ranch HOA is providing the venue free of charge. Others have stepped up to provide the raffle prizes and silent auction items. As planned, Ethan is scheduled to finish his treatment program by December 2023. “As long as there are no relapses, he’ll be tested for the rest of his life,” Mikesell said. “And, hopefully he does not have a relapse. As a mother you are always scared, it’s always in the back of your mind.” WHAT: Cornhole for a Cause tournament to raise funds for the Mikesell family to help cover medical expense WHEN: 4-7 p.m., Saturday, May 14 WHERE: The Barn at Power Ranch, 3685 S. Autumn Drive, Gilbert INFORMATION: Event includes dinner, live ban, raffles and silent auction. Tickets are available for $20-$100 and sponsorships are priced at $750-$1,000. To register or make a donation to the Mikesell family, visit linktr. ee/thehomesellingteamaz. All proceeds will directly benefit Ethan and his family.

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Governor OKs $400M for I-10 widening BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

elief may finally be on the way for Chandler motorists who get snarled in traffic in the corridor between the state’s two largest cities. The state House on May 2 gave final approval to spending $400 million to widen an approximately 25 mile stretch of Interstate 10 between Queen Creek Road on the edge of Chandler to State Route 287 outside of Casa Grande to three lanes in each direction. That matches what already exists on either side of the segment. The Senate already gave its blessing and Gov. Doug Ducey, who asked for the funding in his State of the State speech, sign it on May 4. Doug Nick, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said that $400 million won’t complete the job. But he said that commitment will qualify Arizona to apply for a share of the $5 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that is set aside for highway improvement projects. That could add another $300 million. And Nick said the agency already has $260 million set aside to get the work started, bringing the entire project cost to about $1 billion. That start, which could begin as early as 2023, will be on the pair of quarter-mile two-lane bridges over the Gila River. From there, he said, construction will start in 2024 to the north and south until the entire stretch is upgraded to three lanes. Anticipated completion is set for 2026. Nick said that $1 billion figure was crafted to account for inflation. He acknowledged, though, that the current unusually high increase in year-to-year costs for everything could complicate matters if it does not abate. The state has been widening sections of the interstate, which stretches from Santa Monica, California, to Jacksonville, Florida, for years. But the last section has been an issue. Rep. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, who

Widening the stretch of I-10 between Casa Grande and Ahwatukee has been delayed by a rift between the Gila River Indian Community and state government that only recently has been bridged as a result of GRIC Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis. (ADOT) sponsored the $400 million appropriation, said some of that had to do with the fact that the stretch runs through the Gila River Indian Community. “Their opposition mainly stemmed from they felt like they didn’t have a seat at the table originally when (the highway) was placed through the reservation,’’ he said. “And they hadn’t felt like an equal partner throughout that process.’’ Shope said that has changed with the participation of GRIC Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis. On its website, ADOT says is working with the Gila River Indian Community to define the recommended bridge layout and estimated costs to replace the I-10 bridges over the Gila River. ADOT states it has allocated $83 million for the bridge replacement project in Fiscal Year 2023, adding, “The funding amount is contingent on market conditions and final design.” “Once an agreement with the Gila River Indian Community is finalized, ADOT is committed to identifying and

ADOT says, “The Gila River is eroding material away from the shallow bridge foundations” beneath a critical stretch of I-10. “While this is not an immediate concern, this could become a serious problem if we do nothing,” the agency says on its website. (ADOT)

pursuing all possible funding options, including federal funding options, for improving the I-10 bridges over the Gila River,” the agency website states, adding that it must complete engineering and environmental-impact studies before it can be eligible for federal aid. The I-10 bridges over the Gila River were constructed in 1964 with a functional lifespan of 50 to 75 years, ADOT states. “Since being constructed, they have been impacted twice by major flood events in the Gila River,” the agency states. “In 1983, flood waters washed over I-10, resulting in the closure of I-10 for several weeks for roadway and bridge repairs. It is estimated that the 1983 event’s river flow was three times greater than the flow for which the bridges were designed,” it explains. “Ten years later, another flood event resulted in flood waters rising within inches of the bridge girders, causing concern that floating debris could damage the bridge structures and force another closure of I-10. In 1994, ADOT

made modifications along and within the river near the bridges to help protect them from future flooding events.” ADOT says that though it “has continuously repaired, reinforced and maintained the bridge structures since they were built, “as a bridge ages, the routine maintenance becomes progressively more expensive. Recent inspections indicate that expensive deck and foundation repairs are necessary in the near future if the existing bridges are to remain in place.” It also said the two recent flooding events, one for which covered the highway, indicate that “the more cost-effective, long-term solution may be to design and construct new bridges utilizing current design standards and methods, enabling the bridges to withstand larger flood events. “This is especially critical, as another major flood event along the Gila River forcing an I-10 closure would significantly impact the region’s mobility and emergency response times, and would have a noticeable, negative impact on

see WIDENING page 12

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

Padilla leads money race in QC council campaign BY KATHLEEN STINSON Tribune Staff Writer

ueen Creek Town Council candidate Travis Padilla is winning the money race in the early stages of the campaign. Campaigning financial statements filed last month for the first quarter of 2022 show Padilla has raised $33,949 in three months. Padilla is one of five candidates seeking two seats on the council. Councilwoman Julia Wheatley is running unopposed to fill the third seat as mayor.

Here’s a look at all the candidates’ reports.

Travis Padilla Total raised: $33,949 Spent: $2,150 Padilla received contributions from developers, according to the report. Queen Creek “land developer/homemaker” Tim and Audra Campbell donated $5,000 and Lonnie and Debbie McCleve donated $10,000. Another $15,000 was a personal loan Padilla made to his campaign while the remainder comprised small contributions except for $500 from the

Chandler Fire learns much from lithium battery �ire BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

xperience, they say, is the best teacher. But what happens when you don’t have a lot of experience? “We learned a lot,” said Chandler Battalion Chief Keith Welch after dealing with the city’s first major lithium-ion battery fire. Welch said the one thing they knew about lithium battery fires before this one: handle with care. That’s because of a 2019 incident in Surprise that sent eight Peoria firefighters to the hospital. So, Chandler Fire was slow and deliberate in dealing with a lithium battle fire at a Salt River Project battery storage facility owned by AES Corporation south of the Loop 202 on 54th Street. “Our strategy on [April 29] to shut off the sprinklers and further ventilate the building paid off,” Welch said. It took a lot of time and patience to get to that point. The fire was first noticed at around 11 a.m., April 18, when the building’s sprinkler system went off. Chandler Fire responded, but did not see any flames or immediate danger of it spreading. Welch said one of the lessons learned from that Surprise blaze was not to rush in. A sudden change of air entering the build-

ing could lead to toxic gas, overwhelming firefighters. So, they let the fire burn while the sprinklers constantly poured water on it, keeping it from spreading. Four days later they staged a voluntary evacuation of the area. The worry was not flames but fumes. They sent in a robot to open a door to the building to help start ventilating it. They continued to monitor the building to make sure the fire was not growing. Again, they were patient. They waited more than a week before staging another voluntary evacuation of the area. They ran some ducts to the building to ventilate it further, then after everyone was a safe distance away, they shut off the sprinklers. The best-case scenario of no growing fire happened. After 48 hours of monitoring, Welch said they were able to turn it back over to the owner so they could start dealing with the aftermath. The ventilation was key because lithium batteries can build up dangerous gases. “What we’re looking at airing out is going to be some gases that build up in there, like some hydrogen gases, hydrogen sulfides, CO [carbon monoxide], different things of that nature that are very flammable and dangerous to us,” Welch said. He said they were lucky because the fire suppression system did its job..

Citizens for Queen Creek political action committee. Julia Wheatley Total raised: $324 Wheatley has no total receipts or disbursements.

Lamar Keener Total raised: $5,220 Total spent: $855 Keener carried over $4,886 from the fourth quarter of 2021 and received $220. His campaign disbursements were spent on sample signs, printing and web development. Dawn Oliphant Total raised: $2,300 Spent: 0 Incumbent Councilwoman Oliphant, who is running for re-election, reported receiving $1,000 from the Queen Creek Firefighters PAC, $100 from her own personal money, $200 from Scottsdale attorney Lindsay Schube and $250 each from four other law-

yers: Ralph Pew, Sean Lake and Reese Anderson, all of Mesa, and Carolyn Oberholtzer of Scottsdale. Bryan McClure Total raised: $1,000 Spent: 0 McClure reported a sole donation of $1,000 donated from the Queen Creek Firefighters PAC.

Matt McWilliams Total raised: 0 McWilliams reported no contributions or spending. Of the Queen Creek political action committees that filed quarterly reports last month, the Firefighters PAC started the year with $21,896 and raised another $2,004. Of that it made only the contributions to McClure and Oliphant. Citizens for Queen Creek did not file a quarterly report, but it’s last report for 2021 showed a balance of $2,671 with no disbursements or contributions.

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BUDGET from page 4

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

At the council meeting last week, Kross said the fact that 73% of the budget would be spent on infrastructure “speaks to how much is left to be built in Queen Creek. We’re only about halfway there. Still a lot more to do.” “Growth projections are absolutely critical for Queen Creek,” he said. “It identifies the location of new infrastructure.” McCarty said the “operating budget pays for all government services. The revenue drivers are population growth in Queen Creek, and what is going on in the area, the economy and business.” All the council members shared their opinions of the spending proposal. “I don’t enjoy voting ‘no’ on some things or even the budget because really I agree I support most of it,” Martineau said. “So that’s where it gets tricky. But there’s just a few things, a few areas I just can’t get behind.” He said those included the new aquatic center, expanding ambulance services and “subsidizing” Horseshoe

Park. “We’re at the local level,” Martineau said. “But we can also look at the federal level. We know they’re out of control and undisciplined.” She said people are feeling the “effects of what’s happening,” such as rising costs for gas, food and housing. “We are all feeling that, living that. I do believe that’s kind of the beginning of things.” Martineau said. “I do believe it’s going to get a little bit worse before it gets better.” Last year the town’s budget was $487 million and “now we’re looking at passing a budget at a 50 percent increase, yet growth is 10 percent,” she added. “That’s a little bit concerning for me.” Turley said the town “has so much to be proud of ” such as the launching of the new police department and parks but wanted to speak to the “elephant in the room.” She said she is concerned about the spending on the parks “in a time of economic unrest.” “The price tags for the multi-gen cen-

ter and aquatics center of $40 million and 25 million plus the maintenance concerns her. This budget proposes spending $157 million on parks –it’s a bit much for me.” She spoke of the recent tax levy, which she would like to see lowered. With a surplus in the budget of $22.8 million and yet the tax levy takes $12.5 million from property owners. “Is it time to lower that tax for the residents? I won’t support this budget.” But Councilman Robin Benning said, “The budget seems so big because we’re spending money on building roads,” on water infrastructure and the “residents have been clamoring for parks and we’ve been under-parked.” Councilwoman Dawn Oliphant said she is “very happy parks are finally a priority, because in past years the town has had to spend so much on building roads.” “This is a healthy budget,” she added, that includes a “great savings account.” Noting property taxes only cover 24 percent of the cost of providing for public safety, she said it is not just the

residents who pay the sales taxes but also shoppers who visit Queen Creek. Councilwoman Julia Wheatley said she would “challenge” her colleagues who voted against the budget “to find a baseline we agree on.” She said she “would love to get to that point” where the town could lower the tax rate but budget documents show that 73 percent of spending has to pay for infrastructure. Vice Mayor Jeff Brown said he supports the tentative budget that sets a ceiling on spending. He thinks the town will be able to lower the property tax again in the future as large employers, like lithium battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution are in operation and are paying a living wage. That will put “another leg under our stool,” Brown said. “With a diversified revenue stream, we can provide the services and amenities the residents are asking for all the time without relying on property taxes.”

the local and state economy,” it says. “Newly designed bridges could also include wider shoulders, which would improve safety for everyone who travels over them. “As the region continues to grow, the reliability, safety and structural integrity of the bridges over the Gila River are increasingly critical to travelers.” Despite the lopsided votes – 27-1 in the Senate and 55-1 in the House–- not everyone is convinced it’s a good idea to take money from the same pot that is used to fund the rest of state government. The generally established practice involves ADOT borrowing money for projects, pledging future gasoline tax revenues and vehicle registration fees and leaving the dollars collected from state income, sales and other taxes untouched. Tapping the general fund for $400 million jump starts this specific project without affecting other road construction and repair priorities.

Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, cast the lone dissenting vote in the Senate. It starts, she said, with the process. She said that if the state has a fixed amount of money to spend in the general fund, then all priorities should be considered and compete for those funds at the same time. Ugenti-Rita said there should not be special carve outs. Beyond that, she said there may be better ways of spending that much money. “I want $400 million in tax cuts,’’ Ugenti-Rita said. Shope acknowledged that this plan to use general fund tax collection dollars to put in a third lane in each direction is a departure from the normal process of borrowing money for new construction. But he said this isn’t just any old road project. “The Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce survey did a survey of residents,” Shope said. “And, of those who were gainfully employed, around 60% of

them traveled to Phoenix for work.” That, he, said, is far different than a project like widening I-17 north of Anthem. “That’s a lot of recreational traffic,” Shope said. “This is a lot of commerce traffic just trying to do their daily jobs.’’ And he said that I-10 becomes the only east-west highway that is pretty much guaranteed to be open and snowfree all winter, though Shope acknowledged there are stretches in Cochise County that do sometimes get snow. Support was bipartisan. “The I-10 is a vital artery that supports our entire state economy,” said House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen. “All kinds of commerce, agriculture, manufacturing, dry goods, even state legislators from Tucson all rely on the I-10 to connect our state’s two largest metropolitan areas,” Bolding continued. “But one part of this artery there is a choke point that impacts safety and needs our investment and out attention.”’

He acknowledged there are a lot of priorities and demands for state funds, particular for education. “But we also know infrastructure is where our attention is needed.” Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin said the presence of I-10 and one where traffic flows easily is critical to the state’s economy. “We have businesses, large companies, manufacturing companies that are choosing Arizona because of our proximity to interstate highways,’’ he said. For example, he said Nikola Motor Co. which rolled its first big rig trucks off the line last month, chose Coolidge because of freeway access. Rep. Richard Andrade, D-Glendale, also voted for the plan. But he told colleagues they should keep in mind there are other priorities. “We also have many Arizona roads and highways that need to be improved,” he said. And Andrade said he is counting on lawmakers making further investments as the full budget is negotiated.

WIDENING from page 10

NEWS

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

CUSD board member calls $500K for marketing too low BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

erry Locke, the Chandler Unified School District’s director of community relations, had just concluded his presentation to the Governing Board on marketing efforts at its April 27 meeting. The board’s response was not what most people hear after a presentation before the body that controls the finances. “My question to you is, if you had more money, what would you do with it?” board member Joel Wirth asked. “$500,000 seems incredibly, ridiculously low.” The stakes are high for the school district. The state bases its funding to districts on enrollment and CUSD is entering a period where officials expect overall enrollment to plateau and then fall. There are fewer younger families that can afford to live in and near the district. The birth rate is declining and soaring home prices make it unlikely that young families just starting out in life will be able to move into Chandler Unified. The exact same trend has already hit nearby Tempe Union and Kyrene school districts, where demographers say a 10year decline in births, coupled with a reluctance by older homeowners to give up their houses, has caused a major enrollment decline. And the competition from charter and private schools is increasing. Queen Creek Unified School District doesn’t face an enrollment slide and, in fact, projects just the opposite, And though it has budgeted about $95,000 for

CUSD Community Relations Director Terry Locke and Locke and Digital Marketing Coordinator Sam Incorvaia briefed the Governing Board last month on what’s being done to market the school district to families. (CUSD) its marketing efforts, it’s a pittance in the district’s annual budget of more than $85 million. Wirth said he checked with his wife, who worked in marketing. She told him that generally, the district should be spending about 2% of its budget on marketing. That would be about $6 million, Wirth said. So he was disappointed the board has only approved $500,000 at this point. Locke and Digital Marketing Coordinator Sam Incorvaia briefed the Governing Board on past efforts and the plan going forward. It relies heavily on digital ads, mostly on Facebook and Instagram.

They prefer that medium because it gives them the ability to target their audience, families with young children who live close to the district. To date, they’ve been using the phrase, “Your premier district of choice,” as their advertising slogan. Board member Lindsay Love asked if that was wise, pointing out “choice” is a political buzzword that might upset some people. Republicans have used “choice” in their efforts to promote charter and private schools – which Democrats say siphons money form public education. “We have some people who get really excited about school choice, but then we

have people who get turned off by it because it kind of signals privatization language,” Love said Jason Olive said the district needs to do a better job differentiating itself from its competition, saying he had one friend who didn’t know his kids were attending a charter school. Board President Barb Mozdzen echoed Olive’s concerns, saying she has met quite a few people who think Arizona College Prep is a charter school. It is a district school. Locke said that other districts are spending more than CUSD, but that they are hiring contractors to do all the work. He said CUSD is saving money by having staff do a lot of the work, leaving them to do more marketing for the money. Wirth asked Locke to think about it and then tell him what he would do with another $500,000 and then get back to him. Wirth said he ran for his seat with marketing being his top issue. He said the CUSD was doing no marketing when he started and that he still believes while he was impressed with the presentation, he said the marketing effort is woefully inadequate. “All school districts are so far behind in telling our story,” Wirth said. “For me, now is not the time to cheat, we need to throw some money at this, because students we bring in are incredibly important to paying teachers, equity program, you name it. “We start declining, with the exception of teachers, everything else is going to get slashed and burned and cut.”

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Ducey says pro-life doesn’t cover state executions BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey said Wednesday his self-proclaimed “pro-life’’ position covers only abortions and not executions carried out in the name of the state. And he said he believes in the death penalty in “certain rare situations.’’ The statements came as Arizona is set to conduct its first execution this week since 2014. That was before Ducey was elected. That, however, is contingent on whether the Arizona Supreme Court concludes Clarence Dixon is mentally fit to be executed. And a death warrant has been issued for a second man, Frank Atwood, to be put to death on June 8. “When I talk about pro-life, I talk about the innocence of life at birth,’’ the governor told Capitol Media Services. “What you are talking about is justice that is coming 40 years delayed to families that suffered enormous grief at the hands of murderers,’’ he said. “And the state is going to see that justice is done.’’ The governor’s comments on the scope of his pro-life beliefs come on the heels of a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court indicating that a majority of the justices are willing to overturn Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 ruling which concluded women have a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. That would return the decisions to each

state. And Arizona still has its pre-Roe law on the books that outlaw all abortions except to save the life of the mother. Ducey has suggested he believes a ban at 15 weeks he signed earlier this year would take precedence, a view that is contradicted by the plain language of that bill. When pushed for whether he wants an outright ban or the 15-week law to take effect, the governor said the courts will decide. More immediately are the questions of the executions of Dixon and Atwood. Strictly speaking, Ducey can’t do anything on his own to halt either. That is because the Legislature decades ago removed the unilateral power of governors to issues pardons or commute death sentence to life in prison. That can occur only on the recommendation of the Board of Executive Clemency, something that has not happened in either case. Ducey said he is just doing his job. “I took an oath to uphold the constitution and enforce the laws,” he said. But what does Ducey, who was raised Catholic, believe in his heart? “I believe in certain situations, the death penalty is justice,” he said. And the governor said he has been briefed on both cases by Anni Foster, his legal counsel. “Each of these crimes is egregious beyond the pale,’’ Ducey continued. “This is the law and it will be completed.’’ There is, however, a possible last reprieve for Dixon. His attorneys are arguing that he cannot

Tribune)

Frank Atwood is scheduled to be executed next month for the 1984 killing of an 8-yearold Tucson girl. (Special to the Tribune)

understand why he is being executed because he is mentally incompetent. That was rejected by Pinal County Superior Court Judge Robert Olson. In a ruling released May 4, he said that Dixon is rational, a decision likely to be appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court. Dixon was convicted of the 1978 killing of Deana Bowdin, a student at Arizona State University. She was found murdered in her bed with a macramé belt around her neck and blood on her chest. While police found DNA they were unable to match it to anyone. The break came in 2001 when Tempe police matched it to Dixon who by that time was serving a life sentence in prison for a 1986 rape. Dixon had lived across the street from Bowdin at the

time of the murder. Atwood was convicted of the 1984 slaying of 8-year-old Vicki Lynne Hoskinson in Tucson. She disappeared while riding her pink bicycle on her way to mail a letter for her mother. Authorities eventually tracked Atwood to Texas where he was arrested on charges of kidnapping. Murder charges were added after Vicki’s skull and some bone were found in the desert northwest of Tucson the following year. Courts have so far rejected claims by defense attorneys that the state has not proven it has the lethal drugs necessary to conduct both executions in a safe fashion. The last execution was in 2014 when it took 15 doses of a two-drug combination over nearly two hours to kill Joseph R. Wood.

proved spending about $82,000 to purchase new industrial meat slicer and a unifiller – a device that allows them to package large quantities of product (dressing, salsa, etc.) in whatever containers they need. Bracamonte said they will begin removing the older equipment and taking out the flooring in June. She said the plan is for upgrades to the building and the new equipment to be installed by December. She expects the total cost to replace the kitchen equipment to come to $1.7 million. “We are updating this facility to where the

district is now,” Bracamonte said. “When this facility was built, we had like 12 schools. And now we have 47. Our meals per day, I can’t give you accurate figures from back then, but I would say probably between 7,000-to10,000 meals a day, and now we do 40,000 meals a day.” They started baking early for the next school year, beginning mainly with muffins in March. “We want to continue to deliver to our kids the experience that they’re used to,” Bracamonte said. “A part of that is scratch-baking,

and homemade sauces, so we’re trying to get ahead of that production a little bit.” She said they are making 15,000 muffins a day, hoping to build a surplus of at least 200,000. But it’s not just muffins that they are making now for next fall. Bracamonte said they’re also making smoothie mix, marinara sauce, and taco meat. “Things that we normally make in our kettle or bakery will totally be fine if they’re frozen for six months,” she said.

Clarence Dixon could be executed this week for killing an ASU student in 1978. (Special to the

CUSD to temporarily close central district kitchen

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

he Chandler Unified School District is doing a lot of extra baking this spring as it prepares for a seven-month closing of its central kitchen starting in June. “This facility was built in 1992 and it really hasn’t been updated since then in any shape or form,” said Jenny Bracamonte, the school district’s director of food and nutrition. “Much of our equipment is at end of life.” The CUSD Governing Board recently ap-

see CUSD page 15

NEWS

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

Ballot could offer 3 future voting approaches BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

rizonans going to the polls this year could be faced with three vastly different and often-conflicting approaches for the conduct of future elections. An initiative campaign to broaden access to the ballot reported it now is in line to have more than $1 million to gather the 237,645 signatures needed to put the question to voters. That includes $500,000 already donated by Living United for Change in Arizona, the group that convinced voters, twice,

to hike the state’s minimum wage. Laura Dent, spokeswoman for the coalition of groups coming up with the cash, known as Activate 48, says the campaign already has more than 60,000 signatures collected since launching in early February. Arizonans for Free and Fair Elections has until July 7 to gather the rest on its proposal to do everything from automatic voter registration when people get a driver’s license to overturning some of the restrictions on early voting previously approved by the Republican-controlled measure. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers

Students at Casteel High may not notice the difference, but their baked goods and some condiments won’t be the same while Chandler Unified closes its central kitchen for seven months, starting in June. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

CUSD from page 14

She said staff and students will have to adjust because of the central kitchen closure. For example, now Bracamonte’s department make their own ranch dressing. Next fall they will likely use ranch dressing purchased from a vendor. Bracamonte said none of the current central kitchen employees will lose time at work because of the improvements. Instead of coming to the central kitchen, most will work out of the kitchens at individual schools. That’s where a lot of the work preparing food for school children will shift while the new equipment is installed. The central kitchen facility will still be

available because the large freezer is located there. That’s where most of the muffins they’re making now will be stored. “Chandler is blessed to have this facility, because many districts don’t have the storage that we do,” Bracamonte said. Some of the new equipment should improve efficiency. Instead of a worker filling in cupcake batter one at a time, a machine will do multiple muffins at the same time. Instead of a worker spreading sauce on the 1,500 pizzas they make every week, they’ll have a machine that does that. Bracamonte said the automation won’t lead to any job loss, it will just allow them to repurpose employees to other roles. “It’s a whole new day in food service,” Bracamonte said.

already have placed another vastly different one there which actually would impose new voter ID requirements. That measure began as an initiative by the business-oriented Free Enterprise Club. But the action by the Republican-controlled legislature saves it the effort and the cost of getting signatures by agreeing themselves to put it on the ballot. And a third group that wants to curb early voting is hoping for the same favorable treatment of being able to bypass the signature requirements for an initiative. Lee Miller, one of the Republican organizers of what is dubbed Easier to Vote, Harder to Cheat, said he has been unable to hire the necessary paid circulators to get people to sign petitions to qualify the measure for the 2022 ballot. So now Miller is hoping that GOP lawmakers do for him and his allies

what they did for the Free Enterprise Club: put the issue on the November ballot without the need to gather signatures showing public support. Theoretically speaking, all three could be approved in November. And if there are conflicting provisions, the measure that gets more votes would become law. But what ultimately will be at play is whether Arizonans believe that the existing voting laws – including new restrictions that Republicans are enacting this year – are too lax or too restrictive. The most comprehensive of these proposals is the initiative being pushed by Arizonans for Free and Fair Elections. It would restore the “permanent early voting list’’ that lawmakers eliminated in 2021, ensuring that people

see VOTING page 16

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VOTING from page 15

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

who want can continue to get early ballots even if they do not use them for several years. It also would require counting early ballots that are postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day – existing law says they have to be received by that deadline – and add to the kinds of documents that those going to the polls could present to show their identification. Then there’s the provision that says people are signed up to vote when they get a driver’s license unless they specifically opt out. It would repeal the 2016 law that makes it a crime for individuals to take someone else’s early ballots to a polling place. And it would spell out that a signature on an early ballot envelope is sufficient to have the votes inside of it counted. That directly conflicts with what’s been dubbed the Arizona for Voter ID Act, the one that GOP lawmakers agreed to put on the ballot for the Free Enterprise Club.

It seeks to spell out that those who use early ballots provide information beyond their signature on the early ballot envelopes. That includes an affidavit with the voter’s date of birth and the number from one of several acceptable forms of identification. These include a driver’s license, a state-issued non-operating license, the last four digits of the person’s Social Security number, or a unique number issued by the secretary of state to those who lack the other types of ID. But it would leave it up to counties to decide whether that information would have to be provided on a separate document that voters would need to remember to put into the envelope. A similar requirement enacted in Texas reportedly resulted in thousands of votes not being counted. The Arizona for Voter ID Act also would affect those who go to the polls on election day. It would bar anyone from voting who does not provide an acceptable photo ID. Gone would be an alternate option

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of bringing in two different documents without a photo that contain the person’s name and address, like a utility bill, vehicle registration certificate or property tax statement. The Easier to Vote, Harder to Cheat proposal that lobbyist Lee Miller and other Republicans hope to get lawmakers to put on the ballot takes a somewhat different approach to early ballots. It would continue to permit voters to provide only their signature on the envelopes. But it would prohibit people from dropping off such an early ballot at a voting center after 7 p.m. on the Friday before election day. There still would be an option for those who want to bring their early ballots to a polling place on Election Day. But they could not simply drop it off, as is the case now, but instead would be required to stand in line and provide the same kind of voter ID as those who were standing in line to vote that day. It also seeks to require that ballots be scanned and the images placed on-

line for public viewing as well as mandates county officials to set up a system so those who cast early ballots can be sure their votes were counted. And it says anyone who needs to “cure” a ballot where election officials question whether the signature matches would have only through 7 p.m. on Election Day. Current law gives them up to five day to resolve the issue, which sometimes can be done through a phone call, and ensure their vote is counted. The initiative proposal by Arizonans for Free and Fair Elections actually deals with more than the voting process. If approved, it would provide more cash for candidates who choose to run with public funds. Conversely, it would scale back the limits on donations by private individuals and political action committees who now can give up to $6,250 to candidates every election cycle to no more than $2,500 to those running for statewide office and $1,000 for legislative, city, town or county offices.

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Mother on mission for a better community BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

charity that started in Mary Gloria’s Queen Creek house now operates from two shipping containers in a dirt lot in San Tan Valley. Gloria started Pan de Vida Foundation because it’s part of her charitable upbringing. The 78-year-old Mexican American was born in Tempe with nine siblings, got married at age 15 and raised her 17 children. She has spent her whole life serving others. “I didn’t work very much,” she said. “I was too busy taking care of my family.” She started the nonprofit in 2003 and earned its 501(c)3 status in December 2004. It hasn’t been an easy journey to fix a 500-household community within the 1-square-mile around her current neighborhood, once known as “Little Mexico.”

“There were at least five or six drug houses,” she said. “There was a lot of drugs going in and around it.” In 2009, she began trying to revitalize the community and clean up graffiti-covered buildings. Gloria has helped the people in the community that now includes the Valley of the Sun Estates, got food and other necessities and created health fairs and clinics that serve over 150 families with the volunteer support of five physicians. She’s also helped get football jerseys and equipment for the student athletes of Queen Creek. Now she lives with her daughter and travels 15 minutes down the road once a week to sort through the donations to see what she can give to the community. “That was the example our parents gave us that you always help people no matter what,” she said. She said her kids tell her they’re worried about her health but she believes health problems happen regardless of your activity level.

“Well, if I sit down and watch TV, I’m going to be bored,” she said. “I’m still going to get sick just sitting there.” The pandemic slowed her down a bit but it also slowed down as charitable giving declined. As it picks up again, so too does the activity by Gloria and the foun- Mothers Day has a special meaning for Mary Gloria, right, who raised 17 children while she lived in Queen Creek dation volunteers. before moving to San Tan Valley to live with her daughter, Maria Alvidrez, the vice Corrina Dawson. While she lived in the town, Gloria also president of Pan de Vida started the nonprofit Pan de Vida Foundation, which she who has volunteered for ap- still runs at age 78. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer) proximately 14 years, still is awed by watching how Gloria puts so munity center on the one-acre lot in much energy into her work. San Tan Valley, but with only $100,000 “I get surprised every single time I raised from events such as rummage come in to help Mary,” she said. “She has sales, it’s a long shot of a dream. been so strong.” On top of spearheading the fundraisWith temperatures reaching 117 de- ing for the nonprofit, Gloria spends grees, Alvidrez said she’s watched Glo- most of her days applying for grants to ria nearly pass out while handing out help finish the community center. food to families in need. Now, she wants to open a new comsee MISSION page 19

levels of student achievement and teacher retention,” Queen Creek Unified said in a release. Award recipients undergo a rigorous evaluation that involves the district superintendent’s nomination, application, teacher survey, video interview, site visit and extensive data review. The awards are based on a principal’s engagement with staff, parents and community members in developing an effective school culture, an ability to utilize data to guide instruction and decisions regarding staff development, high teacher retention rate and a track record in de-

veloping and inspiring coworkers. Watson said Towns “has collaboratively developed a vision for student success and has created a culture inclusive of both high expectations and abundant support. She believes in the gifts and talents of her students and staff and encourages and empowers them to be the best they can be.” Pickett Elementary earlier this year received an A+ School of Excellence designation and earlier this year – an achievement Watson partly attributed to Butson’s leadership. “He has created a positive and trusting

2 QC principals get ‘exemplary’ award from county TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

he Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools has given Exemplary Principal awards to two Queen Creek elementary school leaders. Brian Butson, principal of Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary, and Sherry Towns, principal of Faith Mather Sosamman, were given the awards during a surprise visit by county schools chief Steve Watson. “Only a handful of principals earn this award out of more than 1200 in the county, for understanding the connection between a thriving school culture and high

school culture where students and teachers feel personally valued and supported,” said Watson. “He is a strong instructional leader who has established a collaborative work environment where teacher autonomy is valued and risk-taking is highly encouraged and celebrated.” QCUSD Superintendent Dr. Perry Berry said he is honored to have such dedicated leaders in his schools. “Students in our district thrive because of the hard work of exceptional personnel like Brian and Sherry, who prioritize what’s best for students in everything they do,” he said.

COMMUNITY

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Please do your part to ‘stamp out hunger’ BY JERRY BROWN Tribune Guest Writer

or the past 30 years across America – and nearly a half century in Arizona – Unites States Postal Service letter carriers have used the second Saturday in May to give back to their communities: Using their mail trucks to conduct the largest single-day food drive in the world. But for the past two years, as with so many things in our day-to-day lives, Stamp Out Hunger was put on hold due to the COVID pandemic. More than 140 million pounds of food annually gave food banks around the United States a head start into the summer months, disappeared. The impact was felt everywhere. The good news? Stamp Out Hunger

GOT NEWS?

is back for 2022. And here’s where you come in. To participate, please leave a bag of nonperishable food at your mailbox on Saturday May 14 before your mail normally arrives. Your letter carrier will do the rest, taking the food back to the post office where food bank trucks will be waiting for your donation. They will put a thank you card into the mailbox to let you know your food is on the way to a family in need. With inflation sending food, gas and rent prices soaring and families teetering on the brink of disaster over the edge, St. Mary’s and food banks around the state of Arizona are asking you to help make a difference. United Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, Desert Mission Food Bank and a host of

smaller food banks and pantries will also benefit from your generosity. Without Stamp Out Hunger drives in 2020 and 2021, St. Mary’s lost nearly one million pounds of food at a critical time of the year. Kids who receive breakfast and lunch in school are now home for the summer, adding to costs for families at a time when food prices have skyrocketed. This drive has a special place in the heart of St. Mary’s and letter carriers in Arizona. In the early 70s, a group of letter carriers in West Phoenix and Glendale decided to give up their Sunday and asked people to leave food on their doorsteps on Mother’s Day. They used their own vehicles and family members to collect the donations for St. Mary’s, a tradition that continued until the USPS took Stamp Out Hunger national in 1990.

Your role is so simple, yet so important. You may see a reminder card and a plastic bag in your mailbox this week. You can use that bag for your donation if you wish but any bag of any size will do. This is a great time to clean out your pantry for the spring or the garage if you stocked up on canned food during COVID. This is a simple way to help people in need without leaving your driveway! We have all been through so much in the past two years. But what has stayed strong is the compassion we have for our fellow man and the desire to give back to those who need a helping hand. Please remember Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday May 14 and thank your letter carrier for all their hard work that day. Jerry Brown is a spokesman for St. Mary’s Food Bank.

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

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Victim writes toddlers book on avoiding sex abuse BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

s a registered nurse whose family roots also extend into education, Katie Hastings has been particularly passionate about preventing child abuse. She also is a victim of child sex abuse. She has founded a company devoted to sparing other children of that horror and now, the mother of four boys has written a children’s book to help them. Hastings recently published “Your Safe Body,” which she wrote and illustrated specifically for toddlers and elementary-age children about how to avoid becoming victims of sex abuse. She has had ample experience – both as a survivor of child sex abuse and a pediatric nurse – and drew her inspiration from what she saw as “a major gap in body safety education.” “I saw a need for children to have a sequential, easy-to-memorize body safety tool to help them know what to do if they ever find themselves in an unsafe situation, and to know and recognize unsafe situations,” the Gilbert native explained. She wrote her book around the name of the company she founded called SHOUT LLC, which educates parents on how to teach their children the prevention and awareness techniques based on the acronym for “Stop, Help, Out, Unsafe, and Tell.”

“I created SHOUT to help parents educate their children on body safety, and prevent sexual abuse in children,” Hastings explained. “Studies show before the age of 18, one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused. That statistic is alarmingly high. Studies also show 93% of child sex abusers are someone the child knows. Providing parents with an easy to read, colorful, interactive book, and body safety tool will help start discussions about abuse, and prevent abuse in children.” With experience working at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Los Ninos Hospital, Hospice of the Valley, and MGA Healthcare, Hastings through her company now serves as a community and public health nurse who educates parents, teachers, and health care providers about child sex abuse. Children were the inspiration for Hastings’ career choice, which includes a Phoenix College bilingual nursing program for Spanish patients and a BSN she earned at University of Phoenix in 2011. “I got into nursing after caring for a friend’s child with cerebral palsy,” she explained. “I enjoyed helping her and was drawn to special needs, pediatric nursing, which was the field I began working in as a new grad nurse.” Over time she also has worked as an RSV nurse and in fields of medical surgery, pulmonary, telemetry, hospice and long-term acute care. As if that and her campaign against child sex abuse wasn’t enough work,

Driving for veterans

Hastings also owns Woventable, LLC, where she does interior design work and DIY projects she shares on Instagram. She has been married for 15 years to Scott Hastings, whose family owned one of the largest honey bee businesses in Arizona in the 1940s through the 60s. He owned and operated Arizona Superior Cleaning, which ranked as the top commercial cleaning Katie and Scott Hastings have four sons: Dalton, 12, twin 10-yearcompany in the state in 2018 and olds Dax and Dawson and, Dutch, 7. (Courtesy of Katie Hastings) is now owned and operated by his brothers. major book stores as well as an e-book on Her family has roots in public education. Kindle and Apple Books – Hastings said she Her late grandfather was the superintendent has been “humbled” by the reaction. of Apache Junction Schools and her father, “Many People posted about ‘Your Safe Mathew Wright, is an attorney for the Arizo- Body’ in honor of National Child Abuse Prena School Risk Retention Trust. vention Month. I am overjoyed at parents Given her jobs and four pre-teen sons, writ- and people everywhere using their voice to ing and illustrating the book required “bal- support this book.” ancing home, work life and writing,” she said. She also said she can be found on Ins“Lots of times – especially when writing tagram and Facebook as @katiethemomduring the pandemic – I had to set my work thenurse “where I share child abuse prevenaside to help take over temporary role as tion and other useful information.” teacher for my four elementary aged chilRight now, Hastings also is working on dren in remote-based learning, like so many a new book “that highlights part of my parents did. I juggled finding time to write, abuse experience and healing, to help balance family, and work life and illustrate. victims of abuse on their recovery to heal “But I found a good balance and would set from trauma. my work aside for a time when necessary to “I have decided to make this a contribumeet the needs a challenging pandemic pro- tion book, with other victims sharing their vided in family life, especially when it came story. It will be written in a positive light, a to my children’s educational needs. As a self-help book, that will bring awareness, new illustrator, getting the formatting right hope, and will aid others in trauma recovery for good DPG images when published was a and healing-to know they are not alone. I am hurdle I had to learn as well, but now know still looking for contributors to share; many for the future.” of which are choosing to remain anonymous. Since her book was published earlier this Anyone interested in contributing to this year – it’s available through Amazon and all book is free to reach out to me.”

MISSION from page 17

The Veterans Club at Encanterra raised nearly $90,000 with a charity golf tournament April 30 that Edward Jones sponsored. The “driving for Veterans” fundraiser will support veterans’ assimilation into civilian life, women’s outreach and a scholarship program. Among the participants were, from left, Edward Jones advisors Lyle Zaichkin, Seth Winkle, James Weinmann, Sue Schwab, Jim Schwab and advisor Brent Hoskinson. (Special to the Tribune)

Alvidrez said Gloria’s dedication to the community to bring their basic needs for a food bank, day care, and health classes to teach about diabetes and heart disease remains at the forefront of her mind. “She’s been here so many years and she’s still here because she wants to get this community better.”

The foundation currently operates out of two shipping containers in San Tan Valley.

(Josh Ortega/Tribune Staff)

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QC home prices rose 60% in two years, data show BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

he average sale price of a single-family house in Queen Creek has increased 60% in two years and while home prices likely will continue to rise, mortgage rates and an apparent cooling in demand may spell trouble

ahead for sellers, a leading Valley housing analyst said last week. Queen Creek was not alone in seeing such a staggering increase in average sale prices among 17 Valley cities that the Cromford Report routinely monitors: 12 of the 17 cities saw the average sale price jump by at least 60% between the 17th week of 2020 and the 17th week of 2022.

The average sale price of a Queen Creek home rose from $358,118 to $573,380, according to the report. Valley-wide, the Cromford Report reported that over the past six weeks, “active listing counts are rising very strongly” – up more than 32% in a month – and called it “one of the most dramatic shifts in direction we have ever seen.”

people. “Women and children are a very near and dear thing to me being a woman business owner who has two kiddos,” she said. Wilson began searching for charitable organizations to work with after she noticed just how many useful items were ending up in landfills. “There was so much stuff that we were like ‘this could have new life somewhere,’” she said. Wilson met House of Refuge Chief Development Officer Annette Sellers at a business mixer. The two began chatting and fostered a collaboration between Junk-Rite and House of Refuge to provide household items to women and children who need to furnish their homes after leaving abusive or unsafe conditions. House of Refuge, which offers transitional housing and supportive services for families

experiencing homelessness, has 88 housing units located at the former Williams Air Force Base in southeast Mesa, according to its website. The homes provide safe, stable transitional housing for families facing homelessness. Sellers sends Wilson a list of things that are needed in these housing units, such as small furniture items, home decor, children’s toys, books, and organizational bins, which Junk-Rite team members scavenge for to donate. “It helps make these houses into homes for these families,” Wilson said. If House of Refuge cannot use the items that Junk-Rite collected then these items, which are typically clothing or other soft goods, are delivered to House of Refuge’s community partner, Sunshine Acres. Sunshine Acres is a children’s home with the mission “to provide a loving, wholesome, Christian home for children who are separated from their parents and help them establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures, preparing them for success in adult life,” according to its website. “If they can use it, fantastic,” Wilson said. “If not, then they can actually sell those soft goods and be able to raise money to keep their orphanage open.” Wilson aims to help more nonprofits soon. “Our biggest goal this year was to slash our disposal dumping times and fees in half,

EV junk removal firm helps needy families BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Tribune Contributor

unk-Rite, a Gilbert junk-removal and hauling service, is taking the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” to the next level. Since 2017, the company has gone above and beyond to help East Valley residents: Owner Tanya Wilson and her four-person team sort their hauls for items that can be donated to Mesa nonprofits. “It’s a really cool thing to be able to help the women and children in our community with literally what people thought was junk,” Wilson, 40, said. Wilson didn’t know much about the junk removal industry when she first started out, as her other business is Priority Pumping, a septic and grease trap pumping service. But Wilson has always wanted to help

The Junk-Rite team includes, from left, Heidi Hooker, Scott Hooker, Vinny Palka, Jake Wilson and owner Tanya Wilson. (Courtesy of Tanya Wilson)

“If this trend continues for several months the market dynamics will change significantly,” it said. Cromford Report also called out media reports of a continuing surge in rent, saying the most recent data from the Phoenix metro housing market shows rents

see HOUSING page 21

Tanya Wilson’s local Junk-Rite company goes the extra mile by sorting out discards for items that needy families can use. (Courtesy of Tanya Wilson) which means you’re taking half the stuff there, and we’ve been very successful in being able to do that,” Wilson said. “In the six months left of our year, I’d love to be able to cut that again.” Wilson said that Junk-Rite often collects more junk than people can take, so she believes that donating to more charities would not only help families in the community but also cut dumping times. Local nonprofits interested in receiving donations should contact Junk-Rite at 480228-3368. To receive Junk-Rite services, take photos of your junk, text the photos to 480-2283368 for a quote, then schedule your pickup. Junk-Rite is available seven days a week and will show up at your convenience. Though the company is based out of Gilbert, Junk-Rite travels to junk jobs throughout the Phoenix metro area, focusing mainly on everything East Valley. For a complete list of services, visit junkrite.com. “It’s a beautiful thing to be able to help people,” Wilson said.

BUSINESS

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HOUSING �� page 20

are starting to fall slightly, available rental units are increasing and nervous landlords are starting to offer deals to attract tenants. Over the last few weeks, the Cromford Report has been identifying data that prompted it to state on April 22: “Almost everybody is saying rents are going up. Not in Phoenix, they’re not. With rents going down and mortgage rates and home purchase prices going up, the argument for buying over renting is starting to look significantly weaker.” In the housing market, Cromford Report said rising mortgage interest rates and rising prices are discouraging potential new buyers from entering the market, citing a 6% decline in listings under contract in Spring. “Closed sales are also down more than 9% from April 2021,” it said. “Demand is weak and getting weaker. “The overall effect is a major cooling event, turning a hot housing market into one that still favors sellers (for now) but is looking increasingly dangerous with each passing day. It only

This 4,355-square-foot house on East Via de Arboles in Queen Creek recently sold for $1.65 million. The ﬁve-bedroom, 4 ½-bath house, built in 2014, includes a four-car garage and heated diving pool. (Special to the Tribune)

favors sellers because the supply is still very low compared with a normal market. But if supply continues to increase, as looks very likely at this point, we could quickly find ourselves with as many sellers as buyers. “The market does not turn on a dime, but it can certainly change dramatically over a handful of months, as it did between August and November 2005,” it added, suggesting “we are now entering a very different phase of the market cycle.” But discourage buyers won’t see prices falling any time soon, it added, noting that the per-square-foot price average jumped 4.1% in April. “But this reflects the huge imbalance between supply and demand that existed two months ago,” it said. “That imbalance is much smaller today and is shrinking noticeably with every passing day. We are entering a much more uncertain period and great caution is advisable. “The mid-range market between April 2021 and April 2022 has been largely driven by enthusiastic investors. If their enthusiasm dissipates and turns to fear we could see far more rapThis chart by the Cromford Report compares home sale price id change than we have become used to.” averages in 17 Valley municipalities between week 17 of 2020 and that of 2022. (Cromford Report) Cromford Report noted

late last month that inventory of for-sale homes is rising while the number of closings is trending downward. “April is supposed to be one of the best months for the market, but new contract signings are significantly lower than last year. This means active listings are staying active longer and inventory is starting to build in most (but not all) segments,” it stated. “At the moment the number of homes for sale remains very far below normal, but we have seen before how it can increase sharply if more sellers emerge just as demand is declining.” Stating that the sellers market is slowly deteriorating in 17 major Valley municipalities, the Cromford Report said that between mid-March and mid-April, Cromford Report noted, “We have seen a 34% increase in the number of new rental listings added to ARMLS (Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service) compared with the same four weeks in 2021. It added there has also been a 20% increase in the number of rental homes available in the Valley over the past four weeks. Cromford Report is not saying rents are heading back to pre-pandemic levels – a scenario no housing expert anywhere is saying is on the horizon. But what it means, it said, is “renters of single-family detached homes are seeing far more choice than they did last year and we are starting to see homes advertised with ‘the first month’s rent is free.’ Rental supply is particularly strong in Gilbert.

“This appears to be a significant turnaround in the rental market and it does not seem to have been recognized by the media outlets, who are mostly still referring to rising rents. That is so 2021.” Meanwhile, for those trying to buy or sell a house, the data is mixed but leaving no one much to necessarily cheer about, according to the data supplied by the Cromford Report and other sources. The Cromford Report has developed an index for 17 Valley cities that measures how far each is tilted toward either sellers or buyers, with 100 indicating a balanced market. While indices in all 17 submarkets were pointed downward last week, the lowest threshold was 210 in Buckeye whole the highest was 537 in Avondale. Queen Creek was at 315. That means all the markets are still weighted heavily toward sellers. In a report April 30, it looks at monthly average sale prices in the 17 Valley submarkets it monitors for the 17th week of 2020 and compared it to that of this year. The average percentage different between the old average price and the current one was at least 50% in all but three of the 17 communities: Tempe, 48%; Sun City, 46% and Fountain Hills, 34%. But don’t feel sorry for Fountain Hills: it posted the fourth highest average sales price in the Valley with $922,843 – behind only the three communities with seven-figure average home sale prices: Paradise Valley, $4.35 million; Scottsdale, $1.46 million; and Cave Creek, $1.15 million.

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Senate Republicans betray values for cheap labor BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

.S. Eliot made the celebrated observation that “April is the cruelest month” in his critically acclaimed poem, “The Wasteland,” published in 1922. A century later, a small group of U.S. Senators gathered late in that cruel month to formulate a cruel fate for our nation. Under the banner of “bipartisanship,” these senators have proclaimed that they are “practical problem solvers.” In reality, they will create an even larger problem: delivering amnesty to the millions of illegal aliens who have flooded into our country…and who continue to cross our porous southern border with the complete cooperation of the Biden Administration. You might think “bipartisan” means Republicans and Democrats working across party lines to achieve common-sense public policy. If only. In Washington, the truly accurate definition of “bipartisan” is quite different. The “Dissembling Dictionary of ‘Swampspeak’” defines it as “Republicans caving into Demo-

crats and their media cheerleaders to enact policies at odds with GOP promises.” And that was the purpose of the late April meeting among a quartet belonging to the “World’s Most Exclusive Club.” For the Democrats, it involved Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Alex Padilla of California, who chairs the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. For the Republicans, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas was joined by Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Because three of the four will not face voters again until 2026, they are essentially immune from current political pressure. Padilla will try to win a full six-year term this fall. Given California’s transformation from “Golden State” into “Third World wannabe,” the freshman Senator probably considers his role in formalizing this “final amnesty” will not only guarantee his place in history, but keep him in the Senate for as long as he wishes to remain. “Final amnesty” is exactly the goal here, but the two Republicans who are part of this group are rationalizing that their involve-

ment will somehow bring “improvements” to any final legislative product. Instead, they’ll end up with a couple of crumbs. And the United States will end up as a nation profoundly changed. While it’s true that the Senate declined to take up an earlier House passed-bill, that stalled legislation provides clues about what a final product may include: “temporary” legal status for some illegal border crossers and measures to “streamline” legal immigrant processing. Tillis doggedly clings to the Chamber of Commerce vision of an unfettered flow of foreign workers, depressing wages for Americans and shifting healthcare costs for those new workers onto taxpayers, and claims with a straight face that his “bipartisan efforts” will actually help the country. “This is the time to maybe set politics aside a little bit and get good policy in place so we can do our part to lessen the burden that people are feeling here in the country,” Tillis said. North Carolina’s junior senator is mistaken to believe that his newfound allies across the aisle will ever “set politics aside.”

Democrats want cheap votes; Republicans like Tillis want cheap labor. But with 60 votes needed to pass such a bill, who are the 10 Republicans we can expect to see vote “aye?” Let’s begin with the three most likely to abandon their party: Romney of Utah, Murkowski of Alaska, and Collins of Maine. Then come the Republican retirees looking to line up lobbying work as “former senators”: Shelby of Alabama, Blunt of Missouri, Burr of North Carolina, Portman of Ohio, and Toomey of Pennsylvania. Look for the GOP Leadership to provide a couple of votes – Whip John Thune (R-SD) and Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) – and Voila! Ten Republican votes for amnesty, with Thom Tillis to spare! Expect John Cornyn to abandon the bill at some point; his Texas constituents will set him straight…but conceivably five more GOP’ers could vote yes. In that fashion, Republicans will again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Senate, and richly deserve the dubious distinction of “The Stupid Party.” Sorry if that sounds cruel.

piñata. The way politics is practiced today, it is never enough simply to disagree with those we oppose. Instead, we must smash them to bits. Nowadays, to talk politics is mostly to spew hate. Even if it means attacking a person at their most vulnerable points and grinding them to dust. With Adel, who I counted as a friend, it is no secret that she struggled with alcohol. I am not here to suggest that the media, which covered her foibles in office with urgency, was wrong to do so. To hold public office is to be in the spotlight, and rightly so. Adel was accused of too many absences, of failing to maintain her sobriety, of not being the top prosecutor our county needs. She denied the charges, but still they kept coming. Until on March 21, she stepped down.

Five weeks later she was dead, having suffered what her family called “health complications.” Across the cesspool that is social media wafted a sense of glee from noxious bastards and bots. From Twitter moron @Peterson_JFrank: “I believe in karma big time… This bitch got what she deserved… I will piss on her grave if I ever have the chance….”From @Shannonagain2: “AA had no problem *legally* destroying lives. no guilt, here.” As she struggled publicly through rehab and with the responsibilities of her position, her every move drew not just stories, but hot takes, name calling and a sense of joy that peaked with each sign of struggle. This is our mentality now: It isn’t enough to campaign for those we support; we must loathe the opponent, demonize them, root for a failure

of their policies and – even better – their heart. I first met Adel a decade ago, when we both spent time helping Mesa business Wil Cardon run for the U.S. Senate against Jeff Flake. Wil, a sensitive soul, spent millions of his own wealth on that campaign, only to get trounced when outside interests spent many more millions on attack ads. Ridiculed for losing, Wil wandered through a campaign for Secretary of State two years later. Three years later, his depression finally got to him. Wil died by suicide at age 45. As politics has turned to bloodsport, we seem to have forgotten that the names of the ballot are actual human beings. I will miss Allister as I have missed Wil. I will feel forevermore like the price they paid to serve us was extracted from them in the days they never got to live.

Lost in Adel’s death is a recognition of her humanity BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

he served as Maricopa County Attorney for 900 days, the first woman to hold the office. But Allister Adel was more than that. Dead too soon at age 45, Adel was many things that rarely mattered during her time in the public eye. She was a daughter, a wife and a mother of two grade-school boys. She loved her dogs, and the Rotary Club. She was a loyal friend to those who knew her. Adel also dwelled in the world of politics, though. For many people, especially those who opposed her brand of conservative Republican politics, that meant she was worse than human detritus. Adel was a villain, a punching bag, a

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D’Backs pitcher an EV-grown player BY JORDAN ROGERS Tribune Staff Writer

tarting pitcher Zach Davies is entering his eighth season in Major League Baseball. Throughout his career, he has always played with National League clubs, so he regularly got the opportunity to return to the Valley. But this season, Davies plays for the team he learned to support while growing up in Gilbert. On March 24, the Diamondbacks and Davies agreed on a one-year, $1.75 million deal. “I’ve been in the National League for my entire Major League career, so I’ve gotten to play against the Diamondbacks every year,” Davies said. “I’ve gotten to come home pretty much every year, but extended time and playing with ‘Diamondbacks’ on my chest is special to me. I grew up here so I’m happy to be home and get at least one year here.” He was born in Puyallup, Washington, but moved to Gilbert in elementary school. Davies attended Mesquite High School where he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 26th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Because he was born in the Seattle area, he grew up a Seattle Mariners fan, but found himself rooting for the Snakes as he grew up. “As time went on and I got to watch Diamondbacks games and go to games here in Phoenix, I started to like the team and watch them consistently,” Davies said. The contract he signed in the offseason is laden with incentives, meaning he can earn more money depending upon

YOUTH

The Diamondbacks’ new pitcher grew up in Gilbert. (Courtesy Arizona Diamondbacks) his play this season. If all goes well, he could earn up to $4.5 million. Coming off a down year in 2021 with the Chicago Cubs, Davies is more concerned with returning to form than he is earning the extra money. “Just coming off of a down year last year, that’s more of what I go out with is something to prove and get back to the old me and just be consistent and start games and give the team a chance to win,” he said. During the winter, Davies stayed ready to play during the offseason lockout. After taking his normal offseason break, he worked hard to get back into baseball shape and show that he would be ready

to go the second a club came calling. When the D-backs called, he only had time to make two starts during Spring Training. He didn’t skip a beat because he stayed in shape during the offseason. “Everybody was on short time this spring,” Davies said. “I got a couple of games in and was on the mound prior to (Spring Training). I felt that I was ready to start the season; I was ready to play. Everybody had a short spring so there are no excuses for me. “I was working out and doing my thing until I signed. I prepared myself so when I got into camp, I was ready to throw to hitters and start my progression.” Though baseball is focusing on high spin rate and guys throwing in the upper

90s, Davies is a pitcher who focuses on movement and command. He uses his baseball IQ on the mound to gain an advantage over hitters. He reads hitters’ swings and their approach to figure out how to pitch to them. “I’m more of a command and change of speeds guy,” Davies said. “I’m not a big stuff guy; never have been. I think what has helped me stay in this game for as long as I have is just the command and the baseball smarts of trying to think as the hitter and know what their approach is. I try to add stuff to the repertoire, but I know what got me here. I know what I’m successful at and those are my adjustments.” Davies plans to visit Mesquite High School every offseason to visit his former coaches who are still there. He throws on the field and works out where it all started. “It’s cool to go back there and workout with my old coaches that are still there,” he said. Entering the 2022 season for the Diamondbacks, Davies knew his role. “I’m here to be consistent and in the rotation every five days and compete to give the team a chance to win,” he said. “Just to bridge that gap between starting the game and closing the game with this bullpen.” For Davies, the walk-off home run on opening day was fun. He said he believes this team is going to be competitive this season and he is looking forward to helping the team win games. “This team is young, but there’s a lot of talent on it,” Davies said. “There are a lot of competitive guys here and it just feels like everyone is trying to change the culture here and try and compete for a long time. There’s definitely a drive there and that is what starts winning baseball.

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GOING YOUR OWN WAY Contract work, one-off commissions and project work will also continue to rise in 2022, as workers find that self-employment in the so-called “gig economy” is preferable to conventional jobs. These jobs provide flexibility to those who can’t — or don’t want to — work eight consecutive hours, or five consecutive days. Traditional hourly or salaried positions are simply too constricting for this band of potential hires. KNOWING YOUR WORTH In a job-seeker’s market like 2021, applicants held leverage over prospective employers. This year will be no different, as companies desperate to fill positions will find themselves negotiating more than ever. The Great Resignation made clear that people are more willing than ever to leave

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | MAY 8, 2022

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