Queen Creek Tribune 061922

Near-drowning horrors / P. 16

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

Queen Creek Costco getting new neighbors

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

NEWS .................... 6 Queen Creek Legion post hopes to expand

BUSINESS ........... 20 QC Realtor starts new business referral network.

A

new retail center that apparently will include a furniture store and a Hobby Lobby will be going up on a site next to the incoming Costco at Ellsworth and Queen Creek roads.

The town Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month approved

QC parks committee progresses on new projects

the site plan and preliminary plat for Vestar’s Queen Creek Crossing Retail Center, which will provide 546 parking spaces instead of the normally required 668 spaces.

“It’s really designed to function as one site with customers intermingling between the two,” Senior Planner Evan Balmer said.

The 138,782-square-foot of retail

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

SPORTS............... 23 Casteel High football’s secret weapon.

COMMUNITY........................19 BUSINESS ..............................20 OPINION.................................22 SPORTS ...................................23 GET OUT .................................24 CLASSIFIEDS........................27

Sunday, June 19, 2022

I

t’s almost time to play ball in Queen Creek’s newest parks.

The town Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee approved a new work program for the coming fiscal year and gave updates on the newest park projects at its June 14 meeting.

The committee said as the town continues to grow, so too must the recreation facilities for residents. The work program lays out six

ee

PARKS page

Cancer warrior’s legacy

ee NEIGHBORS page

Robyn Zepeda, foreground, of Queen Creek passed away from breast cancer last month. She had been secretary-treasurer for the My Hope Bag nonprofit that fellow Queen Creek resident Sarah Ellery (background) founded after her own battle with the disease. But Ellery has a plan to keep Robyn’s legacy of concern for breast cancer victims alive. Read about it on page 19. (Special to the Tribune)

Central Arizona College www.centralaz.edu

space will sit on 2.8-acres north of the Costco, which is currently under construction.

While town documents show both the Costco site and Queen Creek Crossing as separate areas, the sites are connected and “will operate as one project.”

“Vestar and Costco specifically nego-

Paths to Great Careers

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First annual Queen Creek Juneteenth celebration today

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

I

t’s often known as Freedom Day. The first annual Queen Creek Juneteenth will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, June 19, at Desert Mountain Park located, 22201 Hawes Road.

Event organizer Laura Craft-Eummer said the celebration is free and open to the public because to represents the end of “the most horrid” historical chapter in U.S. history.

“For me, it’s an important recognition that slavery did occur in the United States,” Craft-Eummer said.

Craft -Eummer has lived in Queen Creek for six years and to her knowledge, this is the first celebration of its kind in the town.

The Town of Queen Creek has not recognized the holiday nor sponsored this event in an official capacity but Police Chief Randy Brice will

speak.

“We are excited to participate in the event and have an opportunity to connect with our community,” Brice said in an email.

The recognition of Juneteenth began because after the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Regardless, two-and-a-half years later Union soldiers marched into Galveston, Texas, and informed African-American slaves they had gained their freedom on June 19, 1865.

In recent years, calls to make the day a national grew louder until on June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. This legislation established Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19, as a legal public holiday.

Arizona Congressmen Andy Biggs

and Paul Gosar were two of the 14 members of the House of Representative who voted against the 2021 federal Juneteenth legislation.

Regardless, she said this issue should unite us around the idea the United State made an injustice right.

“It should be acknowledged as a date that the United States corrected a wrong and ended slavery officially in every corner,” she said.

Currently, the State of Arizona doesn’t recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday but local governments across the state have – including Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe and Chandler.

Craft -Eummer said she would love for the Town of Queen Creek to recognize the day and highlight such an important part of American history.

“We all benefited from slavery as far as the United States and the growth of how slavery helped this

country build,” she said.

According to the Census Bureau, only 3.4% of the town’s population is Black or African-American.

Craft-Eummer said she recognizes the sparsity of Blacks especially in this part of the Valley and would like to change that by bringing all members of the community together.

“We’d like to get the community together and have us know each other, work with each other, support each other, guide each other,” she said.

The event will open with a prayer, followed by singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing. The day’s festivities will include a DJ, food trucks, vendors, instructor-led painting and the Red Cross.

She said the Red Cross will be on site taking blood donations and testing for sickle cell trait – a gene trait 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies is born with in the U.S.

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 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@TimesLocalMedia.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@TimesLocalMedia.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 sinsalaco@TimesLocalMedia.com Advertising Sales Executive: Jane Meyer | 480-898-5633 | jane@TimesLocalMedia.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 pmaryniak@TimesLocalMedia.com Managing Editor: Cecilia Chan | 480-898-5613 |cchan@TimesLocalMedia.com Reporters: Josh Ortega | 480-898-5610 | jortega@TimesLocalMedia.com Ken Sain | 928-420-5341 | ksain@TimesLocalMedia.com Photographer: Dave Minton | dminton@TimesLocalMedia.com Design: Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@TimesLocalMedia.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@TimesLocalMedia.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 customercare@TimesLocalMedia.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 | zalvira@TimesLocalMedia.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

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This map shows the new shopping center’s location next to the incoming Costco. (Town of Queen Creek)

NEIGHBORS from page

tiated parking requirements for the Vestar parcel separate from city required code,” a staff report states.

The site contains room and pads for seven different businesses.

A town staff report said two anchor tenants, one occupying 55,000 square feet and the other 45,000 square feet, will be submitting separate site plan applications once they are identified. In addition, the site includes three drive-thru restaurants as well as two additional shops.

“No specific users have been identified at this time,” the staff report said, adding that drive-thru restaurants will have to submit their own site plans for a traffic impact analysis.

Other town documents stated the shopping center will have a furniture retailer, a hobby supplies store “that is closed on Sunday,” and several restaurants and shops. Hobby Lobby boasts of its tradition to remain closed on Sundays.

Visitors to the shopping center will have access from all four streets surrounding the shopping center, according to a letter submitted to Town Council by Upward Architects.

The new Queen Creek Crossing will include two large tenants and five smaller ones, including as many as three drive-thru restaurants. (Town of Queen Creek)

One drive-thru eatery pad would have 2,900 square feet and be located near Fulton Parkway while two others, one 3,500 square feet and the other 2,600 square feet, would sit on the east side of the property along Ellsworth Road.

Planning Commission members had concerns about the drive-thru impact on traffic, but Balmer said the developer will revisit the site plan when tenants are secured.

He also said the reduction in parking sites overall had staff support, explaining, “between the two sites the way that they’re laid out, they’ve accommodated any potential users.”

The town staff report states, “The applicant has provided justification for this request based on site conditions, potential tenants and their experience in developing similar projects both locally and nationally.

Vestar has developed other sites in the Valley including the Queen Creek Marketplace.

“As previously mentioned, the subject site is adjacent to, and shares a parking field with, the recently approved Costco that is currently under construction,” the staff report

continues, adding: “The approved site plan for Costco shows a total of 801 parking stalls.

Based on the size of the Costco, 465 stalls would be required, which results in an excess of 336 parking stalls. While the Costco site is being developed separately from the subject property, there will be cross-access agreements in place between the two developments and they will essentially function as one site.”

It also notes that developer Vestar “has extensive experience in developing similar projects both in Queen Creek as well as nationally and have found that 4 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet provides sufficient parking for developments of this size.”

The Ellsworth Road side of the site will have a 6’-wide side walk and 4’wide multi-use path while 6’-wide sidewalks will be placed along the center’s Fulton parkway and 206th Place sides, according to the staff report.

The Costco site was approved in 2021 and this new site must still go to Town Council for final approval, but it brings the total area of the shopping center to 1.4 million square feet.

Know anything interesting going on in Queen Creek?

Send your news to pmaryniak@TimesLocalMedia.com

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

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NEWS

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

Queen Creek American Legion Post needs you

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

I

t’s all hands on deck for American Legion Duane Ellsworth Post 129.

As Queen Creek’s population continues to grow, its veteran population has grown along with it.

Post Commander Steven Cain said their membership has outgrown the small office they hold do n inside the ueen Creek Chamber of Commerce building located at 22246 South Ellsworth Road.

Now, the organization needs volunteers to help plan for a ne facility that could serve the entire community.

“We’ve never had a permanent post home he said. e’ve al ays een loo ing for one that just never, ever came together.” ain served in the avy from to as a police officer in uantanamo ay u a and aeta Italy ut he’s lived in Queen Creek since 2009.

He joined the American Legion in 2011 but didn’t start serving with the post until 2014.

In 2018, when the commander at the time resigned, Cain said he was the standing senior officer and too over ith appro imately mem ers in the organization. oday he said the organization has more than 200.

He said the meetings have outgrown the conference they use in the ham er of Commerce building that saw a maximum crowd of 30 people cram into the room.

In my opinion the outheast alley is very underserved hen it comes to veter-

Commander Steven Cain said he’d like to model a new post after the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc. building in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Special to the Tribune) an service organizations,” he said. e said many of the elderly mem ers tell him it’s too far of a trek to visit other veterans organizations such as the eterans of Foreign Wars in Chandler and the isa led merican eterans oth located minutes a ay.

“If we can help provide that, that would e even more of a enefit to our community he said. his ne facility remains an idea for now and Cain has asked for volunteers to help with planning and support of this mission.

According to a press release, some elements volunteers could help out with include a creation of a nonprofit foundation for the project; planning, design, and assist with grants and funding; land/ property uilding asset ac uisition and corporate donation and large funding acuisition.

The American Legion is a 100% volunteer organization and members are not paid for the services and programs they provide to veterans or the community.

Duane Ellsworth Post 129 Commander Steven Cain gave the keynote speech on Memorial Day 2022 at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms. (Courtesy of American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 129, member Dana Trumbull)

Cain said their research has landed on the possi ility to model their facility after the outh a ota ilitary eritage lliance, Inc. building in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

According to their website, Alliance vent enter has a capacity of up to people inside and 300 parking spaces outside.

The event center auditorium has full light and sound capa ility as ell as a full kitchen and bar.

Also like “The Alliance,” Cain said the facilities would be made available for use y the civilian community as ell and the possible amenities inside could become hatever the community ants to have such as an arcade or li rary. ut for this facility to come to fruition it’ll take some outreach to the community to get the ord out and that’s ecome Cain’s mission since he took over in 2018.

Cain said the biggest hurdle in recent years has een undoing the negative reputation that veterans organizations have had. hey ant the camaraderie he said. ut the ar environment the smo y atmosphere they don’t really care for that.” e said many younger veterans have turned a ay from that type of environment because it doesn’t interest them, along with the lack of outreach.

“It’s gotten a bad rap in several decades, ecause they haven’t done their outreach he said. he community doesn’t really no hat they’re there for.

Although Post 129 has existed in town since 2005, Cain said he wanted to make increased outreach a top priority. ain said he’s ensured they al ays have a booth setup at local events, promoting on social media.

He added the post plans to restart the family programs such as the u iliary Sons of American Legion, and American Legion Riders. he u iliary provides an opportunity for female family mem ers such as grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives and daughters to support the post.

Sons of American Legion is open to male descendants including sons, stepsons, and adopted sons while Riders of American Legion accepts all American egion groups that ride a motorcycle Cain said.

“We are excited for this new direction and the possi ilities this ne facility ill ring to the community to n and veterans,” he said.

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

uth mental health c mplicated ’

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

T

he woman leading the effort to address mental health concerns at Chandler Unified Schools says there are many factors impacting youth today.

“It’s a very complicated issue; there’s not just one problem,” said Brenda Vargas, CUSD’s director of counseling and social services.

She’s currently putting together a plan to help improve the mental health of the District’s students.

“We have a lot of money, a lot of resources,” Vargas said. “We’ve had conversations all spring, before the loss of the three students.”

The sudden deaths by suicide of three students, and possibly a fourth who died from a drug overdose, prompted a number of students and parents to speak out at the June 8 meeting of the Governing Board, call-

ing for more action to address mental health issues.

Vargas said the pandemic definitely had an impact on children and teens.

However, the current teen suicide epidemic has been underway since 2017, long before the pandemic began. So it is not the only factor, Vargas said.

She says mobile devices are another problem.

“In my experience, from what we’re seeing and hearing, it can be addictive,” Vargas said. “They get stuck, that’s a great way to put it. “Adults can too, but they have the maturity to know it’s time to sleep and they can put the device down. Students don’t always do that. “It reduces their ability to rest, and they get a lack of sleep.

With sleep deprivation, there is an increase in anxiety and stress.”

Vargas said CUSD will use evidence-based training to make both teachers and students better aware of the signs that someone might be

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struggling. She said all schools in the district have at least one counselor, and that every CUSD school has both a counselor and a social worker.

“We want there to be a caring, consistent adult that is both available and qualified to help at every school,” Vargas said.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for American teens. About 20% have admitted to having serious thoughts of killing themselves and 9% have tried to do it. Unintentional injuries, usually due to car crashes, is the leading cause.

More than 20 American teens kill themselves every day.

Vargas said they are looking at all options for addressing this issue. The District has earmarked $5.5 million to address the problem.

“We’re looking at a model that will hopefully address the full gamut,” she said. “We’re considering third parties to hiring additional staff.”

Vargas said the district has partnered with Southwest Behavioral Health since 2008. She said they are considering expanding that to wider options. There is one message that they want every student to hear.

“Help is available,” she said.

One way of doing that is an app that students can download. The district promotes “A Friend Asks” app that was developed by the Jason Foundation. It provides information and resources to anyone who is either considering suicide or knows someone who may be thinking about it.

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

CUSD ranks its performance with an A

BY KEN SAIN ri une taff riter

C

handler nified chool istrict students are not the only ones ho get a report card at the end of the school year. he district grades itself in some ey metrics as a ay to gauge its progress in improving the overall e perience for oth students and staff. nd it’s giving itself an y scoring . of a ma imum points in the categories it measures. e ran o. in math nglish and science and o. in reading said r. ennifer letcher district e ecutive director of accounta ility assessment and research. uses data to determine ran s. o in math a top ran ing means or higher of students are meeting career and college readiness scores. he district decided not to count si of its

categories ecause of the pandemic. or e ample they did not loo at chronic a sences this year. ere are some of the highlights from the final assessment: Graduation rate: he goal is for to e at least higher than the state four-year rate for it to get a top ran ing. letcher said the state rate as of high school seniors and graduated . fell short of its goal of having ninth-grade students ho earned at least . credits in their first year of high school. he goal for a top grade is or more of students to reach that enchmar . he district finished et een and . to finish ith a three grade.

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It also got top mar s ecause at least of students ta ing dvance lacement tests passed and ecause it had or more students ualify for ational erit semifinalist or linn cholarships. he district had such students.

Dropout rate: he district ran ed second in its goal of limiting the numer of dropouts to This chart illustrates how Chandler Unified School District scored in at least . of the terms of achieving its goals. (CUSD) state’s mar . It ust missed that mar at . putting it tinue to choose to send their children in the third ru ric. to schools. It got a top mar for Market share: ost parents con- limiting the student charter school mo ility rate to under . .

Employee satisfaction: he district dis ualified t o of the three categories it uses to measure if its employees are satisfied ith their o . It got top mar s in the one they ept ith at least retention rate.

Parent satisfaction: It also got top scores y parents of students ith more than of them giving their schools of their youngest child a letter grade of either or .

Living life to the fullest is easier gave itself the lo est grade knowing your loved ones don’t in only t o categories. ne as in the have to worry about your burial, e uity in student perception achievecremation, or funeral. Our inflationment and access category. Its ru ric proof preplan arrangements ensure score in graduation rates y category your wishes are respected. fell et een and . . It needed a score of . to get the top mar .

Call or visit us online today. he other lo est grade came in the indicators for career and college readiness category. In the num er of dvance lacement tests ta en it had et een and . It needed or more to get the top grade.

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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

11

Legislature eyes massive voucher expansion

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

F

our years after voters rejected a similar plan, Republican lawmakers are pushing ahead with a plan to let any of the 1.1 million students in public schools get vouchers to attend private and parochial schools.

HB 2853, approved last week by the House Ways and Means Committee on a 6-4 party-line vote, would remove all restrictions on who can get what are called Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Backers say this ensures that parents get to decide what is the best option for their youngsters.

That assertion was disputed by Beth Lewis, executive director of Save Our Schools.

She said that unlike public schools, private schools can pick and choose

who they want to accept. And Lewis said those schools, many of which are for-profit corporations, accept those who will cost them the least, meaning the highest achievers and students who do not have special needs.

Republicans said they are not ignoring the needs of public schools, voting to increase state aid to schools by $400 million, above another $250 million additional already planned.

But there’s less there than meets the eye.

First, only half of that additional cash is permanent. And it is weighted so the districts with more students in financial need would get more.

Beyond that, schools would have to wait until the 2023-2024 school year for the one-time $200 million infusion.

And House Majority Leader Ben Toma, R-Peoria, who crafted both measures, included a “poison pill’’ of

sorts: It says that if the vouchers do not become law, the public schools don’t get any of that $400 million.

That is designed to deter the education community from doing to HB 2853 what they did to a similar voucher expansion measure approved by GOP lawmakers in 2017: They collected sufficient signatures to put the expansion on the 2018 ballot. And voters overruled the legislation by a margin of close to 2 to 1.

Toma made no secret of his desire to use the additional funds for K-12 education as leverage for vouchers.

“There should be incentive for everyone to be supportive of school choice,’’ he said “It feels like we’re being held hostage to the voucher expansion,’’ responded Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Paradise Valley.

And Lewis told Capitol Media Services that supporters of public edu-

cation won’t be deterred, vowing to go to the ballot once again if the Republican-controlled Legislature approves universal vouchers She pointed out that voters in 2020 approved Proposition 208 to infuse another nearly $1 billion into public education. That was sidelined after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled the tax could not be levied because it bumped up against a constitutional limit on education spending.

Lewis, the education community and their Democratic allies are not alone in saying schools need more than HB 2854 is offering.

Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale, said he is holding out for an amount close to that $1 billion figure. And with only 16 Republicans in the 30-member Senate, the plan cannot get final approval without his vote.

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VOUCHER from page

The voucher legislation is the culmination of what started out as a small program in 2011 to help parents of children with disabilities.

Arizona courts upheld the legality of the program, saying the fact that the parents decided where to spend the dollars means it does not violate constitutional provisions against state aid to private or parochial schools.

It provides the equivalent of 90% of what the state would pay to send the same child to a public school, though HB 2853 contains provisions that actually would boost that beyond public school aid.

Since that time, it has been expanded so it now covers foster children, reservation residents and students attending schools rated D or F. All those conditions would disappear under HB 2853.

GOT NEWS?

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

How many would move from public schools is unclear.

The latest figures show 11,775 students getting these vouchers, with an average award of $15,225. That figure, however, includes students with special needs who get more money, with the bulk of the vouchers between $6,000 and $7,000 a year.

Proponents say legislative budget staffers estimate that only between 25,000 and 30,000 more students will move to private or parochial schools. Foes say some of them charge far more in tuition than the size of the voucher, meaning only parents who can afford the difference can take advantage of the state funds.

Jill Humphreys who serves on the board of the Gilbert Unified School District, said one problem with vouchers is lack of accountability.

Toma did agree to put provisions in the bill to require students in private or parochial schools with more than

50 students to take some sort of standardized test to measure academic progress.

But unlike tests administered to students in public schools, those results will be made available only to each child’s parent. Rep. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, said there needs to be more transparency to determine if the public funds are being properly spent.

Rep. Shawnna Bolick, R-Phoenix, said public knowledge of how voucher-funded students are performing is irrelevant.

“You mention accountability,’’ she said. “But parents are, at the end of the day, they’re holding schools accountable by either keeping their kids somewhere or removing them.’’

The voucher expansion plan drew support from Jeff Blake, superintendent of Phoenix Christian Preparatory School. He said vouchers are not simply being used by the rich,

telling lawmakers that about 55% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches under federal programs.

Epstein, however, said that still leaves the question of why state taxpayers should finance the religious education that is part of the curriculum there and at other parochial schools. Blake said he sees no problem with that.

Drew Anderson, senior pastor of Legacy Christian Center, a supporter of vouchers, said it doesn’t really matter what voters said in 2018.

“That was eons ago,’’ he said, saying a lot can change in four years.

The measure now goes to the full House where there may need to be further changes to pick up the support of all 31 Republicans. And if it gets approved there, it faces an uncertain future in the Senate, especially with the concerns expressed by Boyer.

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

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NEWS

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

Ex-Higley teacher arrested on numerous counts

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ilbert Police last week arrested a former Higley High School social studies teacher accused of inappropriate relationships with two underage students.

Aaron Dunton, 35, was taken into custody 10 a.m. June 16 following a two-month investigation, police said. He faces four counts of aggravated assault, one count of tampering with a witness, and two counts of contributing to delinquency and dependency.

“Dunton, was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student,” police said.

“This investigation led to the discovery of another victim, who made allegations against Dunton for incidents that occurred in 2019 at Power Ranch Elementary when the victim was 11 years old.

“Dunton was the victim’s teacher at the time of these allegations.” igley nified chool istrict notified police of the allegation with the 14-yearold girl on April 13. The district Governing Board formally accepted Dunton’s April 14 request to be released early from his contract on April 20. he district first hired unton in where he taught 6th grade science at Power Ranch. He had come to the district with glowing reviews from former employers.

Before his employment with HUSD, he worked six years for the University of Phoenix as an enrollment advisor and as a parttime coach at Kyrene School District from February 2011-May 2015, according to his personnel file.

Five days after the board released Dunton from his contract, the district emailed a notice on April 25 to parents at Higley High informing them about the situation.

Although Dunton’s name was not released at the time because he was not charged, parents on social media already knew who it was.

“I’m pretty sure the teaching license will e revo ed one oman said. efinitely a case where I knew my intuition was correct about someone.”

13

Mesa, AZ — The most common method your doctor will recommend to treat your chronic pain and/or neuropathy is with prescription drugs that may temporarily reduce your symptoms. These drugs have names such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin, and are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects.

Aaron Dunton Dutton is married and has a young daughter.

A few people criticized HUSD for just alerting Higley High School parents about him.

“I feel it should have been sent to all of Higley School District as the person being investigated also taught at Power Ranch Elementary,” a man said. “Why not make sure there isn’t more to know and offer counseling to anyone affected?

“The way the letter reads they make it sound like the teacher was a former teacher having a relationship with a student when the fact is he was teaching and coaching up until last week. This is important information for the community to know.

A woman agreed, saying “if he had ONLY taught/coached at the one school then I can see only communicating with that one school. This is potentially a bigger issue.”

When asked at the time why the district didn’t notify parents at Power Ranch also, the district spokeswoman said, “I cannot answer this question as the district has not released any community information with Aaron Dunton’s name.”

Apparently Dunton’s behavior was known among students at Higley High.

“I had him last year as a teacher and he was really weird,” said a 16-year-old student, who did not want her name publicized. “Everyone said he stared at girls.

“There has been so many girls reporting

ee TEACHER page

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This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet which causes the nerves to begin to degenerate due to lack of nutrient flow.

determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 95% nerve damage there is hope!

Fig. 2

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The treatment that is provided at Aspen Medical has three main goals.

1) Increase blood flow 2) Stimulate and increase small fiber nerves 3) Decrease brain-based pain The treatment to increase blood flow, stimulate small nerve fibers and get you back to health is our new $50,000.00 SANEXAS UNIT!

As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms.

The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects.

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1) What is the underlying cause?

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14

NEWS

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

Healthcare workers reaching burnout faster

BY ALEXANDRA CONFORTI Cronkite News

D

octors, nurses and other health care workers across the country have reached crisis levels of burnout, prompting the U.S. Surgeon General to urge employers to review workloads and take further steps to address well-being.

Health care burnout isn’t a new phenomenon, but it is escalating. The National Academy of Medicine found that even before the pandemic, burnout affected 35% to 54% of nurses and physicians, while 45% to 60% of medical students reported symptoms.

COVID-19 made a bad situation worse, as health workers faced long hours, a crush of critically ill patients and added risks to their own health and that of their families. A Mental Health America survey conducted early in the pandemic from June through September 2020, found that 93% of health workers experienced stress, 86% reported anxiety, 76% reported exhaustion and burnout, and 41% reported loneliness.

Experiences of burnout differ from person to person but generally consist of work-related stress, emotional and physical exhaustion, and dissociation from patients or loved ones. Anxiety, depression or substance abuse can follow, bringing risks to patient care or missed work.

Experts worry that the health workforce, under increasing demands with fewer resources, will continue to diminish faster than it can recover.

“Health worker burnout is a health crisis for all of America, and that is why we need to treat it like a national priority,” said Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who last month issued a national advisory bringing attention to the problem.

Murthy recalled meeting with a Florida nurse who said the pandemic had left him “helpless but not hopeless.”

In May, Murthy and Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, held a roundtable discussion at the

Phoenix Indian Medical Center to hear experiences from local health workers and members of the Indian Health Service.

“These heroes deserve more than our gratitude; they deserve our help,” Levine said. “We’re here to tell health care workers: We hear you, we see you, and we’re here to help you.”

Dr. Claire Nechiporenko, a pediatrician at the medical center who previously worked on the Navajo Nation, said addressing burnout is vital to prevent further workforce reductions, especially in underserved communities.

Research shows that more doctors and nurses are either limiting work hours or intend to leave their practices, and the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates a shortage of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034.

During the pandemic, health workers in rural communities have been subjected to irregular and long hours, more isolation, an expectation to always be on call, and lower pay, studies show.

Beyond differences among urban and rural health workers, gender may also play a role in burnout. The National Academy of Medicine reports that burnout may be 20% to 60% more likely in female doctors than male doctors.

Vivek said it’s not solely the role of the health care industry to fi the pro lem. overnment officials community advocates, academic institutions and leaders in technology must come together to help the profession thrive once again.

In January, the Department of Health and Human Services announced $103 million would go toward evidence-back training programs and practices to improve mental health among health workers and help build resiliency.

The Surgeon General’s national advisory also calls on employers to enact paid leave, rest policies, and strengthen existing policies that protect health workers from community and workplace violence.

Additionally, it calls on medical schools to intervene to prevent stress among students, introduce inclusive and communal wellness programs, and establish

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued a national advisory aimed at bringing attention to the rising problem of burnout among health care workers. Murthy, center, joined Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine, left, and Phoenix pediatrician Claire Nechiporenko, at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center last month to highlight the issue and its ramifications.

(Alexandra Conforti/Cronkite News)

schedules that reduce sleep deprivation.

In Arizona, health care systems and hospitals have supported workers amid the pandemic with check-in calls and more days off. Banner Health created “respite rooms” to allow workers to remove protective equipment and take time to rest and recharge in rooms filled with snacks, games, music and special lighting.

In 2020, Gov. Doug Ducey announced the state would spend $25 million to reinforce hospital staffing and allo facilities to reward frontline workers with bonuses for their efforts.

However, in December 2021, over 1,000 health care professionals in the state sent a letter to Ducey and other state officials arguing the system as still in crisis and petitioning for assistance in slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Nechiporenko, who works with several hospitals in Phoenix, said it’s important for managers to give workers the breaks they deserve to address ongoing issues with burnout.

“I really try to give everybody the time off that they request, because that’s their time and they earned it and they deserve it,” she said. “If you can be a leader … where you can give your employees … that time to be away from work and kind of get recharged to come back, I think that’s huge.”

Sticking to a solid routine and engaging in outside activities can also help

health workers maintain a work-life balance and gain relief from burnout, Nechiporenko said.

“The burnout’s the same anywhere and everywhere,” she said. “It’s going to start ith first ta ing care of yourself efore you can take care of others.”

TEACHER from page

him to administration … they didn’t have proof, just hearsay.”

The 10th-grader said the victim was a freshman and claimed that the relationship was “sexual.”

She said her friend, who is a friend of the victim, saw the text messages, did screen grabs of them and reported it to administration.

She said the victim left before school ended because she is sure is was due to “all the harassment from people, ‘oh, did you have sex with Mr. Dunton?’ sort of things.”

“People have been talking about it since the teacher resigned,” she said at the time, adding she decided to talk because “if there are any other victims, this can help them speak up knowing they are not alone.”

Police seek help

Gilbert Police Department is seeking to identify additional potential victims or witnesses and is asking anybody with pertinent information to call 480-503-6500.

15

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NEWS

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

A heartfelt pool warning as summer begins

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AND CECILIA CHAN Tribune News Staff

A

nyone who shrugs off news about a non-fatal child drowning as a momentary scare might want to talk to Brandi Stoll.

As the Phoenix woman has often explained on social media, near-drownings can shake the parents to the core, often with longterm consequences for a child and their family.

In some ways, Stoll was luckier than some parents of young near-drowning victims when her then-year-old daughter Alizah Rose slid unnoticed beneath the surface of her family’s pool last July 31.

In a worst-case scenario, non-fatal drowning victims can be left a spastic quadriplegic in need of care around the clock, their brain damaged from being cut off from oxygen for too long.

Fortunately, that didn’t happen to Alizah.

Still, a nightmare engulfed Alizah’s parents on what started to be a routine Saturday afternoon during a small gathering.

Moments after realizing she and other adults couldn’t find Alizah, Stoll recalled, “I instantly saw my lifeless little baby floating by the pool stairs.

“I rushed over and pulled her out by her tiny little swim diaper and instantly started to give her CPR. I don’t even know what happened in between that time other than screaming to call 911 and continuing chest compressions…. As I looked at my baby’s blue face and not breathing I was able to remain calm and continue to call out commands.”

She said police and firefighters swarmed to the scene with more than a dozen patrol cars alone flooding her street.

“They immediately make you feel you are the absolute worse at your

Brandi Stoll posted this photo of her then-year-old daughter Alizah Rose after she was hospitalized following a near-drowning in her family’s pool last July 31. (Brandi Stoll) absolute worse,” Stoll said, recalling how she sat in the back of a police car asking her what happened and all she wanted to do “was be with my baby.”

Once they were all at the hospital, “I heard my baby crying (behind) the closed curtains and the hospital social worker sat me down and just stayed there and rubbed my back.”

Stoll switched to a narrative in real time to recall what happened next: “The doctors and nurses are calling out numbers and stats and x-ray.

I’m really trying to hear everything.

I see these two doctors rush around the corner and go in my baby’s room.

Minutes later they come out and ask if the can intubate her because she was 50/50.

“As a mother what am I supposed to do? I told them do whatever it takes to save her. They are able to stabilize her but she was still in extremely critical condition.

They moved us up to ICU where the nurses immediately start mon-

Brandi Stoll holds her daughter Alizah earlier this year. (Brandi Stoll)

itoring her. At this point her lungs and heart sounded really good. So many beeps, tubes, lights, a lot going on.

“Her stats started to drop because the tube was not far enough down so they had to start bagging her and fix it. Poor baby started to have ‘seizures”’so they pumped more meds to prevent them. Move forward about 30 minutes she spiked a fever of 103.7 and kept having ‘seizures.’ They put a cooling pad under her, pumped her with more meds and just kept watching her. As I am watching my baby get worked on the investigators had to do their job and ask me questions and take pictures but the nurse never left her side or mine.”

“I did not sleep that whole night as I kept praying and hoping my baby would be okay,” Stoll continued, recalling how she berated herself and worrying Alizah would not even see her 2nd birthday.

Two days later, doctors wanted to

start weaning Alizah off her breathing tube as she slowly showed improvement.

And on Aug. 3, Stoll posted news of a miracle: “Today, in her MRI there was absolutely no damage, lungs have been clear, heart is strong, meds are wearing off and she is gaining her strength. I am forever in debt to everyone and grateful for those who don’t even know us shared our baby girl to be in their prayers. We love all of you and our baby is ALIVE and thriving.”

Recently, she posted, “My baby should not have survived and if she did it was expected she would have neurological issues. She is ALIVE AND HAS NO MAJOR ISSUES!!!! She is an absolute miracle. We will continue with therapies and a few medications but only temporarily.”

And on Aug. 15, Alizah Rose Stoll celebrated her 2nd birthday.

ee DROWNING page

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

DROWNING from page

Some parents this year have not been so lucky.

Last week, a 2-year-old girl drowned in a pool at her Chandler home and on May 21, another 2-year-old girl’s lifeless body was pulled from a Gilbert pool.

Five other Valley children in Maricopa County have drown between Jan. 1 and May 23, according to the latest data reported by Valley fire departments on the Children’s Safety Zone website.

All the children were under the age of 5.

Overall, there have been 28 reported water incidents involving those who were 17 and younger so far this year.

Children’s Safety Zone first began publicizing the statistics in 2005, which also was the year with the highest number – 22– of child drownings in the county. The lowest number of fatalities was in 2019 with six and 2021 ended with 20 drownings involving victims 17 and younger.

Arizona Department of Health Services reported that from 2016-20, there were 1,386 hospital admissions in Maricopa County for water-related incidents among people of all ages but children 4 and younger comprised 842 of these admissions.

But often the nonfatal cases lead to years, if not a lifetime, of pain and suffering for the child and their families as a result of brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation.

The annual report, which looked at fatal and non-fatal drownings, found that among incidents involving young children, swimming pools and bathtubs were the water types most commonly identified as culprits.

According to the report, in the mid-1980’s the drowning death rate of preschoolers in the state ranked first in the nation. And though Arizona has improved upon that over the past several years, drowning is still the leading cause of death among children 1-4 years of age, the report added.

While friends started fund drives

to help the Stolls pay off the equivalent of two years of medical bills as the result of Alizah’s near-drowning, Brandi turned her attention to helping others with the help of Ahwatukee-based Armer Foundation for Kids, whose board she has since joined.

She helped organize with Armer Foundation a toy drive before Christmas that garnered 10,000 toys for kids in Banner Health’s oncology and pediatric intensive care hospital units.

Stoll and Armer Foundation have an ongoing project called The Alizah Project and are collecting continuously toys for such children as well as items for a parents’ “go bag” – a small bag with necessities like soap, toothpaste and other hygiene items they can simply grab if their child suddenly must be rush to the hospital. The project also collects snacks, comfort items like blankets and slippers and gift cards.

Details are at armerfoundation. org/thealizahproject. Items can be shipped to or dropped off at the foundation, STE 128, 9830 S. 51st St., Ahwatukee.

And Stoll tirelessly posts the story of Alizah’s brush with death, hoping “it could potentially save a life.”

“My daughter was a non fatal drowning in Ahwatukee in July last year,” she writes. “We were right there with her, but she got out of our sight. I know I am opening up to ridicule and judgment and I am okay with that. It was an accident and could have been prevented 100%.

Drownings are SILENT!” “You hear it all the time:- watch your kids around water. It’s true. It takes a moment to happen. We have a fence, we have life jackets, we were right there – four adults and it happened. Drowning does not discriminate! I was told multiple times in the hospital this outcome NEVER happens.

“My Alizah Rose Aguilar is an absolute miracle and she will know how many people who came forward to help and those who continue to help.”

NEWS Here is a comprehensive list measures to prevent child drownings and near-drownings from a variety of agencies.

• Post emergency instructions, including 9-1-1 and CPR in the pool area.

• Have a phone available in the pool area to be used for emergencies.

• Have life safety equipment ready to use in case of an emergency. For example, a life ring with rope and a hook.

• Remove all toys from the pool area or any item a child would be interested in obtaining.

• Never allow children to play in the pool area.

• Regularly maintain your latches and springs, greasing them often.

• Keep chairs, tables and other furniture away from pool fences. Kids can use them to climb and gain access to the pool area.

• If possible, place pool furniture inside pool fence.

• Even empty buckets and play pools are dangerous: small children can drown in 2 inches of water.

• Lock all exterior windows and doors.

• Keep keys out of reach of children.

• Install second lock, out of reach of children. A 3 or 4- four-old can easily reach a normal height lock.

• Lock pet doors.

• Ensure doors are self-closing and self-latching.

• Lock all accessible entries to yard including gates.

• Walls & fences should not be less than 5 feet or more than 6 feet.

• Installed fencing should be a minimum of 20 inches from waters edge.

• All openings to pool area require self-closing and self-latching gates.

• Latching gates should be at least 54 inches above grade.

• Private doors with access to pool area require self-latching and self-closing doors with locking gates 54 inches above grade.

• All windows within 5 feet of waters edge must be safety glass.

• All gaps in fencing should not be more than 4 inches. In chain link fencing gaps should not be more the 1.75 inches.

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18

NEWS

PARKS from page

priorities for the committee and was the only action the committee voted on. he first t o priorities include to assist Town staff with review, feedback and input of design concepts rontier amily ar ecreation uatic enter and ansel arter asis ar . he iggest discussion too place over the sports partnerships and field allocations ith the residents ta ing priority as primary users. he opening of rontier amily ar ill increase the o n’s sport field inventory y nearly dou le according to to n documents.

This creates the potential for new partnerships ut mem ers of the committee wanted strike a balance between reserving space for oth competitive and recreational sports. his ould ensure that residents can still have access to parks facilities ithout losing possi le revenue from competitive youth programs such ittle eague. urrently rontier amily ar at the south est corner of yan and ignal utte oad is set for completion in late and ill offer si full-size ase all soft all fields ith -foot distance to outfield fences.

It also ill have three multi-purpose fields for soccer and or foot all and pic le all courts according to the town’s website. o n plans also lay out the potential for as et all courts volley all courts fishing la e al ing trac around the entire par and a large playground similar to the one in ansel ar .

The committee heard a presentation on possi le design elements for the recreation center and a uatic center.

The presentations from the architect said the design aspect puts them on a fairly e pedited timeframe to get the pro ect uilt and open and that egins ith getting it approved y o n ouncil. he recreation center could potentially have as et all volley all pic le all multi-use indoor courts fitness floor ith general fitness e uipment group fitness rooms large conference event room multi-use classrooms teen

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | JUNE 19, 2022

room, and child care room.

It ill share the customer service desk, locker room and restrooms with the a uatics center hich could have a competition lap pool zero depth entry play pool for little children a lazy river, slides and space for birthday parties.

Both facilities have a completion date of summer according to the to n. ll the design elements in the presentation ere simply suggestions that have not finalized and details on the to n e site could change. ther priorities in the or program included a concession stand and food vendor use policy.

It stated that the committee is to provide guidance in the development and finalization of policies for the use of concession stands.

It also stated the possibility of food vendors and outside concession used for partnership fundraising efforts and general scheduling to provide an added

“The opening of Frontier Family Park will increase the Town’s sport field inventory by nearly double,” according to town documents. (Town of Queen Creek) convenience for town park attendees, according to to n documents. verall the priorities of the or program still must go to o n ouncil for final approval ut it outlines the need for

the ar s and ecreation dvisory ommittee to ma e necessary changes to accommodate the potential increase in par usage.

and multiple legislative sessions the legislature can al ays pass some ne la that ni les around the edges of the system and claim that the case is moot and unripe ’’ he said. ot surprisingly rizona la does not support such a contention.’’ he la suit filed in y a coalition of pu lic schools and education organizations contends la ma ers have een shorting schools each year for the capital funds to hich state la says they are entitled. anny delman of the enter for a in the u lic Interest one of the attorneys in the case, said Wednesday the cumulative loss to schools from the failure of legislators to o ey the funding formula is close to illion.

Its roots date ac to . rior to then construction of ne schools and needed repairs were presumed to e solely the responsiility of local districts. ut in a historic ruling that year the rizona upreme ourt said that created gross ine uities and left some schools ithout ade uate facilities.

ome districts have schoolhouses that are unsafe unhealthy and in violation of uilding fire and safety codes ’’ the ustices said noting there are schools ithout li raries la oratories or gymnasiums. ut in other districts, there are schools with indoor s imming pools a domed stadium science la oratories television studios ell-stoc ed li raries satellite dishes and e tensive computer systems.’’ nd that they said runs afoul of that constitutional o ligation for a general and uniform school system.

They said some districts have more property wealth than others. That means adding to the local property tax in a rich district raises far more than the same levy in a property-poor district. ut another ay an attorney for the schools said people in poor districts have to raise their tax rates by three or four times as much as those in rich districts to raise the same amount of money. o date has een set for a trial.

Trial likely on $6B in lost Arizona school aid

BY HOWARD FISCHER apitol edia ervices

rizona schools are entitled to get their day in court to prove the state has shorted them by billions of dollars. aricopa ounty uperior ourt udge aniel artin last ee reected arguments y attorneys for the state and epu lican legislative leaders that he has no right to rule on the legality of the formula they use to finance the funding of ne schools and repairs for e isting ones.

Martin said it clearly is within the purvie of the courts to determine if the state is complying ith the constitutional re uirements to maintain a general and uniform’’ school system. he udge also sniffed at arguments that he cannot review the claims that ere first filed five years ago ecause the state has made ad ustments to its capital funding system. ecause a case of this comple ity al ays ill span multiple years

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n npr fit deli ers h pe t cancer patients

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

M

y Hope Bag means exactly that to the more than 2,000 cancer patients that the Queen Creek nonprofit has served. ounder arah llery has navigated the ourney from diagnosis through remission. ince her nonprofit has delivered a undle of resources to cancer arriors including the most important one of them all. ne of the iggest things is having a friend and not facing it alone llery said. llery as diagnosed ith reast cancer in ecem er ut has remained in remission for the past years. hile her hus and and three children stood y her side through the ordeal she said they couldn’t fathom hat she as dealing ith. his firsthand e perience helps her ring a sense of understanding to other cancer patients in the hopes that she can answer as many of their questions as possi le. he organization has remained small and maintains that sense of community that’s helped eep their gifts simple yet helpful. e’re not that ig ut e’re a le to give them enough that they no that e care llery said. nd e ust try to help them through their ourney.

In the group gre large enough to start the ope ister program that has volunteers contact a re uester and rings them the ag and support during their fight ith cancer. atients can find up to a dozen comforting items in the ags including a pin lan et heart pillo gift cards and

GOT NEWS?

Queen Creek resident Sarah Ellery funded My Hope Bag in 2011 after her own ordeal with breast cancer. (YouTube) handmade cards and racelets. llery said she finds the handmade pin eaded racelets e tra special ecause she’s reminded of her o n ourney and ho it motivated her to continue the attle. ust having that ling ept reminding me that I as going to fight through this she said. he constant donations they receive means the group doesn’t have to uy much ut they value each ag at or to ship it . his ma es it easier to accept donations so that e can ma e sure that e get this to another cancer warrior,” she said.

In the program ingo for ooies started and three years later raised enough funds to start providing free

mammograms for women with little to no insurance. he said over the years recipients have shown great appreciation for the bags and have helped patients get through a very difficult time in their life.

I have a dra er full of than you cards from omen ho have received ags she said. he care doesn’t end ith the delivery of the ag as volunteers ill follo -up regularly at three- si - and -month mar from their first visit. espite all the good y ope ag rings the reality of cancer remains and she said people she’s gro n close some have earned their ings. f the thousands they’ve helped over the last years llery said appro imately five people they help die each

year due to the illness.

It hit close to home several ee s ago hen the organization’s secretary and treasurer o yn epeda lost her attle ith reast cancer on ay . he as and left ehind a hus and and three sons. he as originally diagnosed in and as sta le for three years ut in une that cancer had returned. he as very involved ith y ope ag and e had plans up through the end of the year llery said. ut hen it’s ready to ta e over it ta es over. o llery said she ants to fulfill her idea that o yn uic ly gravitated toard: a respite house. he said she dreams of a uaint house as a sanctuary for cancer patients to get a ay and rela from the stress of appointments and chemotherapy. he said she ants to offer a place where people can sit, put their feet up, have some tea and as in each other’s company.

Some of the other amenities she wants to ring to the house include a garden and a seclusion room. his is one thing that o in really anted to e a part of she said. llery said she already has a name pic ed out for the sanctuary: o yn’s est. ith little funding she runs the nonprofit from her home and the respite house remains an idea. he said she ants to continue providing hat she can to those raving the fight against reast cancer men and omen ali e. hat’s one of the things that e are trying to get out is to let people know that e’re availa le for oth she said.

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

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Business referral company opens in Queen Creek

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

L

eTip International Inc. has come to Queen Creek.

The privately-owned business networking organization was founded in 1978 and now has more than 250 chapters across the country, including Queen Creek.

Queen Creek Realtor Jordan Lopes, the Queen Creek LeTip chapter founder and president, said small businesses are “the backbone of a community” and LeTip will help support them.

“We’re here to kind of make those small businesses thrive and get to a point where they are successful,” he said.

LeTip has become known in the business-to-business referral industry for providing dedication to helping local businesses grow.

The organization said its open to people working in virtually every industry including real estate finance health insurance travel fitness legal

Queen Creek Realtor Jordan Lopes heads the local chapter of LeTip International. (Special to

the Tribune)

public relations, event planning, and technology.

But the organization said only one representative of any given profession is accepted into each chapter.

From there, referrals and tips for any service or products get funneled to that member representing that industry.

All members of LeTip chapters are responsible for regularly exchanging business tips among other members.

Mary Ann Meier, the member recruiter for LeTip International, Inc. headquarters in Mesa, said the Queen Creek chapter has already hit the ground running.

“We are excited about our newest chapter,” she said. “In the short time LeTip of Queen Creek has been operational, they’ve already referred a great deal of business between members.”

She said this newest chapter in the LeTip organization will continue to foster the growth the town has experienced recently.

“As Queen Creek continues to grow,

this new chapter and these business professionals are looking forward to helping local small businesses thrive.”

Lopes said anyone interested can stop by Serranos’s Mexican Food Restaurant every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. to see what a membership in the organization includes.

The organization has a $440 annual membership fee if you’re interested in joining.

Currently, the group has four members – from the real estate, property restoration, insurance and mortgage lending industries – but looks to expand to more than 25.

Typically, meetings occur once a week at the same time and location and each meeting follows the same agenda.

This repetition and consistency are meant to uild confidence and gro professional skills sets.

Each meeting, every member will pitch a 30-second ad for their business

for the town from construction sales tax and other fees, according to town documents.

Ongoing revenue is estimated at approximately $333,000 annually from property, sales and transient lodging taxes, according to town documents.

HD-Hospitality, LLC is a Scottsdale- ased full-service hospitality firm that specializes in the management, development, design, procurement and consulting in the hospitality industry, according to their website.

According to their website, the company currently has five pro ects across

Scottsdale, Gilbert and Queen Creek including the 107-room Hampton Inn located at 20768 East Maya Road.

This newest hotel would become the largest of the company’s properties in Queen Creek but not the largest in their portfolio, according to the company’s website.

That honor belongs to the 164-room Aiden by Best Western in Scottsdale.

Construction on this current project is slated to begin no later than March 31, 2023, according to the developer agreement.

HD-Hospitality, LLC didn’t return the Tribune’s calls for comment.

ee REFERRAL page

Town approves land sale for future hotel

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

A

new hotel in the heart of Queen Creek.

Queen Creek Town Council has approved development and purchase agreements with HD Management for the sale of 2.43 acres for $1.9 million near the southwest corner of Ellsworth and Rittenhouse roads to develop a 125room Homewood Suites By Hilton with completion no later than June 30, 2024.

“We take pride in selecting a limited number of projects and clients who ap-

preciate honesty and know that our full efforts will be put forth to make their project a success, just as we would our own.” President/CEO Nirav Patel said on the company’s website.

HD Management was one of four companies to bid for the contract, according to town documents.

On Jan. 19, the Town entered exclusive negotiations with HD Management and will only incur a cost of $208,000 for real estate closing costs and partial cost of underground drainage.

The project is estimated to generate $1.2 million in one-time revenue costs

BUSINESS

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21

Research firm in EV seeks Alzheimer’s study participants

BY SAMANTHA MORRIS Tribune Staff Writer

O

lder black Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than whites. And Latinos are one and a half times more likely.

This inequity has brought medical research group Care Access out to Mesa for a five-year study testing the investigational drug, Donanemab.

The study, conducted in cooperation. with Eli Lilly & Company, aims to see if Alzheimer’s can be prevented in those aged 55-80 while taking the medication.

These participants must also have normal cognitive function and be in good health.

Sinikka Green, the medical coordinator at Care Access explained that Mesa is an ideal location due to its age and demographic makeup.

“Mesa has a 55 plus population, which is of course what we are looking for,” explained Green.

Additionally, Mesa has a strong Latino population, which is important due to the impact of Alzheimer’s on that community.

Historically, access to medical studies have been skewed towards white participants. Combating unequal access is part of Care Access’s mission to meet people where they are.

“Part of our mission is to be where diseases are endemic, where people are more genetically predisposed, and where there’s a higher need,” said Green.

The medication developed by Eli Lilly and Co. is given to patients every four months via an IV infusion. It’s designed

to break down amyloid proteins that accumulate in the brain and disrupt cell function, an early sign of Alzheimer’s.

Tackling these changes in the brain early on could become a game changer if people can take a preventative medication that halts the progression of the disease. The average age of onset Alzheimer’s is mid 60’s, and this trial is trying to combat it 10-20 years before one develops symptoms.

While Mesa is the targeted population, anyone outside of Mesa can enroll.

Participants are required to enroll with a partner that can observe any memory changes throughout the trial.

The partner can be remote, and does not need to attend all study visits.

Care Access also gives participants a debit card that compensates them for gas or any uber/lyft rides they may need for their appointments. They are looking for 3,300 people for the whole trial.

The nature of the screening process informs participants if they have an accumulation of proteins that can become toxic in the brain. Green has encountered hesitancy among people who would rather not know what may lie ahead in their future. According to Green, a history of Alzheimer’s in your family shouldn’t deter you from enrolling.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people have a family history, because it’s such a prevalent disease. While family history can be one of the risk factors, there’s a lot of others and a lot is really unknown,” said Green.

Green said that for many patients a family history becomes their motivation, since they’ve seen the devastation firsthand and want to be a part of a solution.

“These are amazing humans who are donating their time, their blood, or whatever it may be to help us advance science and move it forward. They are going to make a big difference,” said Green.

Information: fightalz.careaccess.com.

or other businesses if needed.

This helps boost a member’s public speaking skill and helps them retain information about businesses in their chapter so they can refer them confidently and accurately.

Once a week, one member will give an in-depth presentation about their business and services offered.

Lopes said members walk away with better public speaking skills, become part of a “family” of business professionals ready to refer them to the community.

He said they can also expect access to huge amounts of training and best practices in business, sales, marketing and personal development.

This translates into members gaining two types of income: monetary and

psychic.

Psychic income is the nonmaterial or nonmonetary satisfaction that comes with doing their job or some sort of economic activity, the organization said in an email.

Or as Lopes said, it’s “that weird feeling you get when you help others.”

Lopes said he was skeptical of what a membership could do for him and his business but it’s helped him im-

mensely.

“I was skeptic a little bit at the very beginning,” he said.

But the relationships he builds within the group help him become the dependable industry professional for the community.

“It’s building that relationship with others where they know that I can be the trusted realtor they can refer their friends and family to,” he said.

REFERRAL from page 20

Care Access, the world’s leader in decentralized clinical trials, and Eli Lilly & Company are bringing research to Mesa and held a ribbon cutting at its new Mesa offices. (Special to the Tribune).

22

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Bumper stickers say too much about drivers

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

A

fter a few thousand miles this year spent driving Arizona’s interstates, I’ve come to a conclusion: There’s two kinds of people left in this fine nation of ours. eople ho slap umper stic ers on their car. And normal people.

As someone who belongs to the latter group, I’ve spent many a mile wondering (a) why anyone feels compelled to tell the driving public how strongly they feel about this or that politician religious figure or college sports team, and (b) why it seems that certain vehicles inevitably sport certain opinions?

I mean, does Subaru apply the “Coexist” bumper sticker standard at the factory, or is it an after-market option? Then there’s Leio itz’s irst a of ehicular ynamics:

The higher the lifted pickup truck, the greater the likelihood of you coming eye level with an anti-Biden sticker or that old standy on’t lame e. I oted or rump.

In 2017, a seller of cheap auto insurance commissioned a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. drivers and arrived at a total I don’t believe in the slightest: That 50 percent of men have bumper stickers on their vehicles versus 63 percent of women. The same survey put Arizona toward the lower end of likelihood to sport a bumper sticker by state, i.e, somewhere between 55 percent and 60 percent of drivers. ersonally my gut says the umper stic er brigade is less than 20 percent of the population, with maybe half of those making some overt political statement. Of course, the survey above was completed in 2017.

Ever since, America has been hurtling at an exponential clip toward blatant insanity.

In my house, my parents raised us with a simple mantra I’ve mentioned before: “It’s

one thing to be an idiot, but it’s another to open your mouth and prove it to everyone.” umper stic ers fly in the face of that edict which is surely the point.

Once upon a time, we kept potentially controversial opinions to ourselves, because we didn’t know whom we might offend.

Now? We adorn our bumpers precisely in the hopes of “owning the libs” or sparking a case of adness. he nastier the saying, the prouder the driver. I’ve started keeping a list: I upport lo al arming ith an arrow directed toward the exhaust pipe of a massive Silverado.

“My Other Ride Is Your Mom.” “I’m Anti-Trump Because I’m Anti-Stupid.”

Then not even a half hour later on a Range Rover speeding up the 17: “Does The Ass Make My SUV Look Big,” with a goofy mugshot of old Joe Biden.

I’ve tried to imagine which cause circa 2022 would so motivate me that I’d feel compelled

to advertise it to the world at 75 miles per hour. It wouldn’t be political; there’s not a politician or political party in existence for which I’d risk my Kelley Blue Book resale value.

The same goes for allegiance to sports franchises and dog breeds, and my stances on social issues like guns, abortion, gay rights and tolerance. It’s not that I don’t feel strongly about such things, because I do. But I feel with equal passion that I don’t want to e defined y five or si ords on the ac of my car, a pithy blasphemy that virtually every other occupant of the freeway will either hate or ignore completely.

Bumper stickers today advertise our belonging to certain clubs, and I’ve never been much of a joiner. Though there is one bumper sticker I saw and thought about buying, because I agree with it wholeheartedly.

“I Was Convinced By A Bumper Sticker,” goes the saying, “Said No One Ever.” ro a ly ritten y some driver’s really smart honor student.

the November general election. One of his “references” is proving problematic. oe iden fle over rizona in ir orce ne recently, en route to California and a sit-down interview with ex-ASU student-and-current-Democrat-activist-also-known-as-a -talk-show-host: Jimmy Kimmel.

Imagine Mark Kelly’s reaction when he heard Ol’ Joe say “48 out of 50 senators vote with me 95 percent of the time!”

The astronaut-turned-senator must have recalled his space shuttle simulators warning of imminent disaster—alarms sounding, malfunction lights flashing and a rightly lit big red button: ABORT. or elly the leader of his party as simply confirming hat the ational epu lican Senatorial Committee has been pointing out in TV ads. As you might expect, the NRSC is

focusing exclusively on Kelly’s votes, discovering that Mark clings to Joe as closely as a shadow, supporting the Biden agenda fully 97 percent of the time. orgive the energetic contingent of candidates seeking to replace Mark Kelly if they all paraphrase a notable quote from NASA History: “Arizona, we have a problem!”

And to Kelly, who is burning through a considerable chunk of campaign cash with ads of his own, claiming that he’s a “practical problem solver,” the basic challenge is clear.

He is seeking a solution for his own survivability…politically speaking.

Just as earthbound explorers look to the North Star for navigational assistance, one of Kelly’s colleagues from the Northeast provides an instructive, yet cautionary example.

When Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) formal-

ly filed for re-election she employed an imaginary tool a rhetorical file trying to metaphorically weaken the bars of the “Joe Biden Holding Cell” from which she, Mark Kelly, and other embattled Democrats must escape.

New Hampshire’s junior senator didn’t mention Biden by name, but she made clear what she thinks will separate her from the Biden Bunch. “What I’ve been pushing for is, among other things, suspending the gas tax. ...They haven’t yet and that’s frustrating,” Hassan said.

There’s no doubting the fact that Mark Kelly sincerely wants to remain in the Senate, but unless he can convince Arizona voters of his independence from Joe Biden, he will face the unpleasantness of another four-letter word on Nov. 9. etting - - - .

Mark Kelly risks losing his job in November

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

T

riple digit temperatures reinforce the reality of a four-letter word widely employed in Arizona at this time of year.

H-E-A-T. That warm feeling outside doesn’t necessarily prompt a good feeling inside, as both desert dwellers and politicians can attest. In fact candidates for pu lic office admit privately that it always seems hotter in even-numbered years.

And no candidate feels the heat more than Arizona’s junior senator.

No, Mark Kelly isn’t in danger of losing the Democrat nomination to keep his job, but he is in danger of losing that job altogether in

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Newcombe blazing own path for Casteel football

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

J

eremiah “JJ” Newcombe’s rise to becoming a playmaker for the Casteel High School football team doesn’t come as much of surprise to anyone, including himself.

He grew up learning what it took to be successful on the foot all field. is father and head coach of Casteel, Bobby Newcombe, played collegiately at Nebraska before he was drafted in 2001. Isaiah, JJ’s older brother, went through the Casteel program first and is no a defensive ac at .

JJ embraces the challenge that comes ith see ing a ivision I scholarship. aving the drive and passion to succeed is in his lood. nd he is ell on his ay to casting his own shadow separate from that of his father and older brother by always staying prepared for hatever comes his ay.

“My dad always told me, ‘There’s no such thing as pressure, only preparation,’” JJ said.

If you prepare enough efore the difficult times efore the difficult games you on’t e nervous hen it comes. ou’ll e prepared for it.”

From the moment he stepped foot on Casteel’s campus, JJ was destined to be the future of the Colts’ secondary. He started and played in eight games during the COVID-shortened season. He had 56 total tackles that year, the fourth-most on the team. He also had four interceptions.

Casteel went 5-4 during that year, which as met head on ith virus issues that forced game cancellations and reschedules. ut it did give the opportunity to play ith Isaiah for one season at the varsity level.

He learned how to be a leader from his older brother. From his dad, he learned similar ualities. uarter ac in college and the o y as the go-to for e ras a foot all hen he as in incoln. e had to lead by example, and many of those qualities he had he passed down to Isaiah and JJ.

YOUTH

Casteel junior Jeremiah “JJ” Newcombe burst onto the scene last season as a sophomore when he helped the Colts advance to the quarterfinals in the 6A playoffs. Now a junior, he aims to become a leader much like his brother, Isaiah, was for the program and like his father, Bobby, is doing now as the head coach.

(Jack Beasley/Tribune Contributor)

Now heading into his junior season, JJ recognizes more than ever ho important his leadership qualities are. Bobby has already seen improvement oth in his leadership and overall game. e loves to compete o y said. e has his plan his vision for hat he needs to do. I don’t really coach him a lot because he has his own coaches on that side of the ball. But it’s just fun to spend time with him when we can. He’s a great kid and I’m just blessed to be a part of this experience with him.”

JJ burst onto the scene at full strength as a sophomore. He became a Swiss army knife for the Colts, playing both sides of the ball at defensive ac running ac ide receiver and at times, quarterback. asteel struggled to find a consistent rhythm throughout the season, winning a game then dropping one or two in a row in the weeks after. The Colts lost three straight games to close out the regular season 4-6 overall ut their strength of schedule helped ump them into the onference playoffs as the No. 9 seed. hat’s hen they too advantage of the

Casteel coach Bobby Newcombe has seen improvement in JJ’s game not only on the field but off of it as a leader. He said he doesn’t have to do much to fuel his son’s competitive spirit, as that comes to him naturally. (Jack Beasley/Tribune Contributor)

opportunity. hey traveled to h atu ee to face esert Vista, a resurging program that went winless a year prior. The Colts jumped out to a -point lead in the first t o uarters before Desert Vista made a comeback in the third.

The two teams traded blows in the fourth, ut asteel eventually came a ay ith the first-round in than s to -fourth quarter points. JJ was responsible for two of Casteel’s touchdowns – a 5-yard rush and 17-yard reception from quarterback andon ury. e found the end zone three total times on the night and had an interception in the fourth quarter that stopped Desert Vista’s momentum.

In a way, it was JJ’s breakout game after a successful season that sa him snag seven interceptions and score seven touchdo ns on offense.

I couldn’t have done it ithout my teammates,” JJ said. “We all came together and got the job done. We knew it was what we had to do. I’ll do anything to help the team out.” ’s e plosiveness and gritty play style on

defense has opened the eyes of many ivision I programs across the country. e received his first ivision I offer from evada in anuary after his sophomore season. orthern rizona and an iego tate uic ly follo ed. ince then he’s received more scholarship offers. mong his suitors are rizona rizona tate tah and his father’s alma mater, Nebraska. he offers have motivated to continue to improve on and off the field. hey have also helped increase his intensity while in the secondary, something the rest of the Casteel defense has fed off of this off-season.

The Colts recently competed in and won the second session of rizona tate’s passing league. They went undefeated and defeated Mountain Pointe by a point to win the title. long ith ury’s accurate passes the defense proved it could e a force in the fall season.

JJ is going to do what it takes to make that happen.

“Defense wins championships,” JJ said. “If defense can do their job, the offense can do their job, too. If defense locks up and offense does their thing, we can be unstoppable.”

24

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OdySea Aquarium kicks off Summer of Sharks

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Tribune Staff Writer

A

fter traditionally devoting July to its sharks to coincide with Discovery Channels Shark Week, OdySea Aquarium has decided to give guests a deep dive into informative and shark-related activities all summer long.

The activities range from attending live Q&A sessions with an animal care expert to swimming with the sharptoothed s imming specimens that fill OdySea’s aquariums. Also included are hands-on activities like touching sharks, creating shark-related crafts and a shark scavenger hunt where guests aim to locate each of the 14 species of sharks that swim about OdySea Aquarium’s tanks The Summer of Sharks has a dual goal of informing audiences about the sea-dwelling predators and educating guests about the man-made dangers that plague these creatures.

“We have one of the most diverse collections around and just the fact that more and more shark species are becoming endangered and threatened reminds us we need to revere them, not fear them,” said Director of Animal Care and Conservation Dave Peranteau.

“That’s what we try and communicate to our guests and show them why (sharks) are necessary for our environment and why they’re also necessary to conserve for years to come.”

Some of the biggest issues plaguing shar s in the ild are the overfishing of their prey as ell as the hunt shar fins.

If e overfish the animals that they eat, then they won’t have anything to eat and that can do several things including drawing them closer to the shore, where you have more interactions with humans and it only takes a couple of poor interactions with humans to cause everybody to get scared of sharks again,” Peranteau said.

Dave Peranteau, director of animal care and conservation, is ready for Summer of Sharks at OdySea Aquarium. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Besides sharks, OdySea offers a chance for people to get up close and personal with other creatures without getting wet. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer) Because of this, Peranteau hopes that OdySea Aquarium can help guests not only conquer their fear of sharks but also understand the misconceptions that have plagued sharks for decades.

“For years people thought sharks were a nuisance and that’s why their numbers dwindled,” he said. “They’re essential in our ecosystem to maintain balance. The biggest drive home message is that if we can preserve their environment, we can safely be swimming in the oceans and doing what we want and we can all benefit from that.

Peranteau recognizes that the best way for guests to create a connection with these animals is to be able to touch them and even swim in the same waters as them.

“Instead of just looking through acrylic and seeing beautiful animals, we have multiple things we’re doing throughout the Summer Of Sharks that are interactive,” he said. “Everybody loves to touch so anytime we can get our guests up close and personal with them they cre-

ate that personal connection.”

Once that connection is established, Peranteau hopes that guests will feel inspired to make changes to their lives to prevent further endangerment of sharks and other animals that call the ocean home.

“We see young conservationists come in here every day and it’s amazing. Some of our most educated and driven people are children and you want them to be able to foster that passion and give them avenues to learn more and to get involved,” Peranteau said.

He also hopes it will spur people to do more outside of their homes.

“We need more people to be empowered to save the species and to change how we go through our day-to-day lives.

It’s the littlest things like getting out and being part of a local community cleanup, recycling and picking up after each other.”

Info: Summer of Sharks will run through July 31. For more information, visit: odyseaaquarium.com

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Marketing Yourself

IDENTIFY YOUR USP Everyone has a unique selling point, or USP. It’s a niche factor that makes job candidates (and the products and brands they make) desirable to customers, while also differentiating it all from their competitors. Perhaps you have some specialized training, or a combination of experience and personal interests that stand out in a pile of prospective résumés. Once you’ve

figured out your you’re ready for the next steps in marketing yourself.

SHARPEN YOUR PROFILE he first impression most people get of any prospective candidate can be found on your résumé and professional social media presence. It’s important to keep your résumé up to date, of course, but also to freshen the overall look. Everything should be written in a clear, concise way, preferably with two or fewer pages. When it comes to busy job interviewers, less is definitely more. imilarly update the details on your professional social media page, which often serves as a recruiter’s first landing spot.

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ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE If you remain tentative about taking these steps, try adopting a new perspective on marketing yourself: Sharing expertise with others in your field can e loo ed at as a helpful action aimed at uplifting others who need career guidance, rather than simply a networking opportunity. Think of yourself as a mentor to others. It might alleviate some of the awkwardness you’re feeling, while also improving your chances of getting hired: Job recruiters are looking for that kind of leadership, too.

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BE ORIGINAL Remember that an active presence on professional social media sites says a lot about your career engagement.

Find ways to connect with others on relevant topics, either by sharing links or joining industry discussion groups. Everything you learn there, along with related publications and websites, will help down the road at the interview stage, too. As your confidence uilds try sharing your o n personal takes through short original posts. You’ll be establishing credibility with industry peers, while nurturing connections for future career growth.

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