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Woman with toy gun shot by police before being arrested; Residents pressure city to get sober living under control

Gilbert Local Pulse | Issue #019

Author

Lloyd Heath
November 21, 2023

😈😈😈😈

In this issue of Gilbert Local Pulse

🌤️ Gilbert, AZ Local Weather

 📅 Gilbert, AZ and Surrounding Area Events

👮‍♂️Police: Woman shot by police in Chandler had a toy gun, prior felony arrest

 🫶Arizona proposal would help families of children with disabilities by paying parents to be caregivers

☠️Local Restaurant and Grocery Store Hit With D-Grade Health Inspection

👮‍♂️Gilbert police are looking for a man convicted of sex offenses involving children

🏘️Mesa, Gilbert residents pressure city to get sober living homes under control

 🎒Higley starts bond move

 👩‍💻Girls Get IT event held at Scottsdale Community College

 🚶Canal escapes: Residents can enjoy SRP’s 131 miles of canal paths

 🫶🧸Planet Fitness, Boys and Girls Clubs team up for Valley toy drive

🏊‍♂️Chandler man, Colorado woman are top finishers at 2023 Ironman Arizona race

November 21st

November 22nd

November 23rd

November 24th

Police: Woman shot by police in Chandler had a toy gun, prior felony arrest

Renata Eldred, 50, was involved in a confrontational incident in a parking lot at Ray Road and Priest Drive, where she yelled at a couple and others. When police arrived, she was in her van with what appeared to be a gun on the passenger seat. Despite being instructed by an officer not to touch the weapon, Eldred reached for it, leading the officer to shoot her in the chest. It was later discovered that the gun was a toy. Eldred, who admitted to drinking earlier that day, was charged with aggravated assault of a police officer and disorderly conduct. She was denied bail due to a previous felony charge and was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident.

Arizona proposal would help families of children with disabilities by paying parents to be caregivers

Tyson Coon, aged 9, has severe epilepsy, cerebral palsy, right-sided blindness, and oral dysphagia due to bacterial meningitis at six months old. His mother, Brandi Coon, is his primary caregiver, supported by paid caregiver Ronda Barnes. Brandi, a co-founder of the Raising Voices Coalition, advocates for permanent paid parent caregiver programs. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) proposed extending a program allowing parent caregivers to be paid for up to 40 hours a week, initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tyson has required various specialized care throughout his life. The AHCCCS proposal aims to address the high turnover and demanding requirements in the caregiving workforce, recognizing the gap in care needs and provider availability. The proposal suggests phasing down billable hours for parent caregivers, starting from 80 hours a week in early 2024 to 40 hours by year-end, with flexibility for families unable to find external support beyond 40 hours. Read Full Story

Local Restaurant and Grocery Store Hit With D-Grade Health Inspection

Carniceria El Herradero, a grocery store in Mesa with an attached restaurant, experienced contrasting health inspection results. While the grocery store received an A grade, the in-store restaurant was given a D grade due to six violations, including three major Priority Violations. Violations included improper storage of raw bacon above vegetables and cheese, hot holding equipment not maintaining necessary temperatures for meat and other items, and inadequate cold holding temperatures for salsa in the fridge. Additionally, there were three priority foundation violations related to sink issues and incorrect chlorine levels in sanitizer equipment. The Person In Charge (PIC) took immediate corrective actions during the inspection.

Gilbert police are looking for a man convicted of sex offenses involving children

The Gilbert Police Department is seeking information about the whereabouts of a man convicted for sex offenses involving children, police said.

Paul Nelson was convicted for sex offenses involving children on Nov. 15 stemming from a 2021 Gilbert police investigation. The judge issued a warrant for Nelson’s arrest after he failed to appear for the verdict, police said.

Nelson is believed to be possibly armed and suicidal, according to police. The photo below depicts Nelson both with and without hair, police said he may or may not have hair currently.

Police said Nelson could be traveling in one of two vehicles:

- Gray 2010 Honda Accord with plate BEE9946

- White 2003 Nissan Xterra with plate ATX4498

The plates may have been changed or switched, police said.

If you have any information regarding Nelson’s whereabouts, contact Gilbert Police at 480-503-6500.

Mesa, Gilbert residents pressure city to get sober living homes under control

The Canal on Baseline townhouse complex in Mesa, near Recker and Baseline roads, has become a hotspot for police activity due to issues with unlicensed and underregulated sober living homes. Residents have reported frequent disturbances, people in distress, and violence. Mesa Police respond to the complex every 40 hours on average. The sober living homes have been linked to defrauding Arizona's Medicaid system, with allegations of kidnapping and warehousing individuals seeking treatment. While the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and Arizona Department of Health Services have investigated and identified illegal operations, the issue persists. Neighbors are concerned about the impact on their community, with increased police presence and changes in neighborhood safety. The situation at Canal on Baseline represents a broader issue of medical fraud and the challenges in regulating sober living homes in Arizona.

Higley starts bond move

The Higley Unified School District (HUSD) is forming a 15-member Citizens Advisory Committee to assess the district's needs and consider whether to propose a future bond and budget override election. This move comes after voters rejected HUSD’s bond requests in 2021 and 2022, and with a 15% override set to expire in 2025. Each board member will appoint one person to the committee, while the other 10 members will be chosen through an application process open to parents, business leaders, teachers, and other stakeholders within the district's boundaries. The committee will hold five public meetings and present their recommendations to the board by April 3. This initiative aims to increase community engagement and transparency in addressing critical school funding issues, especially as HUSD faces challenges with aging buildings needing maintenance and repair.

Girls Get IT event held at Scottsdale Community College

The Girls Get IT conference, now in its fifth year, was recently held at Scottsdale Community College. This event aimed to introduce high school girls, including participants from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, to the wide array of career opportunities in information technology (IT). Keynote speaker Dr. Melanie Patton, Associate Chief Medical Officer for HonorHealth, along with over 50 professional women in IT fields such as software engineering and data analysis, provided insights and encouragement. The conference featured interactive workshops on technologies like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and web application design. Over 200 high school students learned practical skills such as using open broadcaster software and differentiating between AI and deep fakes. Organized by the Maricopa IT Institute-East Valley (MITI-EV), a collaborative effort among several community colleges, Girls Get IT is part of an initiative to build a strong talent pipeline for women in IT and offer career readiness in emerging tech areas. The event was supported by sponsors like the Salt River Project and Microchip Technology.

Canal escapes: Residents can enjoy SRP’s 131 miles of canal paths

Salt River Project (SRP) manages 131 miles of canal paths across the Valley, used for recreational activities like biking, jogging, and horseback riding. While SRP is responsible for water delivery along these canals, the creation of recreational amenities along the canal banks is a collaborative effort with local municipalities. Cities such as Glendale, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Mesa work with SRP to design and implement recreational areas, adhering to SRP's guidelines to ensure compatibility with water delivery operations. SRP provides design guidelines to ensure that recreational activities do not interfere with water delivery, and once a project is approved, the cities receive a license to develop the amenities.

SRP and the cities emphasize that motorized vehicles, including e-bikes and e-scooters, are prohibited on the canal paths. Special events require a separate license and coordination with local cities. The right-of-way on these paths generally gives precedence to equestrians, with bicyclists yielding to hikers and horse riders. Trail courtesy and safety are emphasized for all users. Read Full Story

Planet Fitness, Boys and Girls Clubs team up for Valley toy drive

United FP, the largest franchisee of Planet Fitness, in collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, is organizing a Holiday Toy Drive to support local youth in the Valley. Until November 29, residents can donate unwrapped toys at any of the 41 participating Planet Fitness locations. The collected toys will be distributed by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley to nearly 20,000 children aged 5 to 18, ensuring they receive gifts for the holidays. This initiative highlights the community's commitment to bringing joy to local children during the holiday season.

Chandler man, Colorado woman are top finishers at 2023 Ironman Arizona race

The 19th edition of the Paradox Ironman Arizona triathlon in Tempe witnessed over 1,700 athletes from 38 countries and all 50 states. John Dzierzbicki from Chandler, Arizona, and Maggie Walsh from Littleton, Colorado, triumphed as the top male and female finishers, respectively. Participants competed in a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike course, and a 26.2-mile run, showcasing the scenic beauty of the Valley of the Sun. This event was part of the VinFast Ironman North American Series and offered qualifying slots for the 2024 Ironman World Championship in Nice, France, and Kona, Hawaii. The 20th edition of the Ironman Arizona is scheduled for November 17, 2024, in Tempe, with general registration opening on November 27, 2023. For more details on the 2023 Ironman Arizona results, click here.