Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler and our neighboring communities
MAR 17 – APR 6, 2018 | www.SanTanSun.com
Armed-teachers plan opposed in Chandler, other area districts BY JIM WALSH AND PAUL MARYNIAK Staff
President Donald Trump’s proposal that a select number of trained teachers be armed with concealed guns is drawing largely negative reaction from Chandler Unified’s and other East Valley school superintendents as well as from a police chief who fears it would create more problems than it would solve. The SanTan Sun News polled superintendents and police chiefs on whether they favored arming teachers in light of the Feb. 14 massacre at the South Florida high school that claimed the lives of 14 students and three staffers and wounded 12 others. Trump proposed that arming a few highly trained teachers could reduce or even eliminate such carnage. Superintendents in Chandler, Tempe Union and Gilbert flatly oppose the idea, while others had district spokespeople issue a statement. Others gave more nuanced responses. Higley School District spokeswoman Michelle Reese only would say Superintendent Mike Thomason was out of town. See
GUNS on page 6
Stare down
Celisse Jones/Staff intern
Kevin Bauerle and one of the feathered features at last weekend’s Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival eye each other. The 30th annual three-day fest brought out a record attendance. For more photos, see pages 16-17.
Local venues offering a bit of Irish for all Classroom BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff
Chandler bars and other venues are rolling out the green carpet for a wee bit of Irish fun for families, singles and anyone else who wants to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Expect to see big crowds packing festivals and restaurants to see bands doing their best to belt out tunes like Bono from U2 or other artists from the Emerald Isle and dancers kicking up their feet in jigs, as well as waiters serving corned beef and other Irish food. Fibber Magees at 1989 W. Elliot Road will start the festivities early, opening at 8 a.m. Tents will be set up outside for people to eat, drink and listen to the four bands that will be performing there. “It takes up the whole parking lot,” general manager Jake Guzman said. “It’s 15 years in its running. It’s also known as the East Valley’s biggest Irish party. It’s basically our Super Bowl.” Customers can eat an authentic Irish breakfast for $14.49 from 8-10 a.m. The meal has scrambled eggs, Irish rashers, bangers, puddings, beans, a grilled tomato and brown bread. Another Irish breakfast has corned beef, hash, scrambled eggs and toast for $12.49. Those who prefer to stick to an American breakfast can try the weekend breakfast special of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes and toast for $10.99. Irish food will be offered throughout
the day at Fibber Magees with real lamb shepherd’s pie, Harp beer-battered fish and chips and corned beef and cabbage on the menu for lunch and dinner. To wash down the Irish food, customers can enjoy lots of drink specials, including $9 Irish Car Bombs, $8 Crown Royal Irish apples and well drinks for $7. Guinness stout, Guinness Blonde American lager, Harp Lager, Smithwick’s Irish Ale and other featured drinks will also be $7. Open Beta will take the stage outdoors from 11 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m., performing traditional Irish music. Wide Awake, a U2 cover band, will play from 2 to about 4:30 p.m. The Spirited Lads will perform Irish pub ballads and folk songs from 5 to about 7:30 p.m. To wrap up the party, The Whisky Rats will play traditional Irish and Celtic rock mixed with original rock covers 8-11 p.m. “It’s a traditional Irish holiday and it always spreads good cheer and it’s just a fun day to get out and about,” Guzman said. “Fortunately it’s on a Saturday. It’s an all-day event, fun for all ages.” Fibber Magees will be open until 2 a.m. Customers must pay a $10 cover charge if they come after 11 a.m. Crowds are also expected to rock Chandler at Murphy’s Law Irish Pub’s second annual ShamRockFest See
ST. PATRICK’S on page 4
spending up in Chandler
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services AND PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor
Classroom spending per pupil in all school districts serving Chandler exceeded both the averages for districts their size and only one failed to surpass the statewide average, the Arizona Auditor General reported. The AG’s latest annual report also shows that most East Valley districts’ per-pupil spending in administration costs last year was well below the same averages. But there were exceptions in the region, according to the AG’s report: Per-pupil administrative costs in See
SPENDING on page 14
F E AT U R E STO R I E S
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Chandler store offers unusual bling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . Page 28 Local psychic hunts the haunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . Page 45 Downtown Chandler getting jazzed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 54 Remembering Vietnam War dead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FAITH . . . . . . . . . . .Page 60 Burger joint overcomes challenging mishap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 67
Community . . . . .01-27 Business . . . . . . . 28-34 Sports . . . . . . . . . .39-41 Opinion. . . . . . . . 42-44 Neighbors. . . . . . .45-53 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 54-59 Faith. . . . . . . . . . . 60-62 Classifieds. . . . . . 63-66 Where to Eat . . . 67-70
CLIP-IT ............................................................... Center Section