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  • 🚔 Gilbert Dec 27 Weekly Crime Report: 170 Incidents 🚔 7 people charged for Preston Lord's death

🚔 Gilbert Dec 27 Weekly Crime Report: 170 Incidents 🚔 7 people charged for Preston Lord's death

Gilbert Local Pulse | Issue #051

Author

Lloyd Heath
December 29, 2023

In this issue of Gilbert Local Pulse

🌤️ Gilbert, AZ Local Weather

 📅 Gilbert, AZ and Surrounding Area Events

🚔 Gilbert Dec 27 Weekly Crime Report: 170 Incidents and Crime Stories

🚔 7 people charged for Preston Lord's death

 💉 Valley Hospitals Battle Triple Threat: Spike in COVID, Flu, and RSV Cases

🏗 Gilbert considers long list of potential parks projects

 🎉' Noon Year's Eve' event coming to Freestone Recreation Center

December Ongoing

December Upcoming Events

Gilbert Dec 27 Weekly Crime Report: 170 Incidents and Crime Stories

Last week, Gilbert experienced a significant number of criminal incidents, totaling 170. The city saw 'Suspicious Situation' as the predominant crime, occurring 37 times, closely followed by 'Assault' with 31 incidents. Other miscellaneous crimes accounted for 30 cases, while 'Theft' was reported on 29 occasions. Less frequent but still concerning were instances of 'Trespass', 'Arrest', 'Shooting', and 'Vandalism', with reports ranging from 6 to 10 cases each. On the lower end, 'Robbery', 'Violation', and 'Burglary' each occurred 3 times. Notably, while the overall crime rate was high, more severe crimes such as 'Shooting' and 'Robbery' were less common. This pattern suggests an urgent need for strategies specifically targeting 'Suspicious Situations' and 'Assaults' to make a substantial impact on reducing Gilbert's crime rates.

7 people charged for Preston Lord's death

In a shocking development, seven people, including teenagers and adults, have been implicated in the heinous murder of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek. As the local community calls for justice, residents have come together for a solidarity walk in Gilbert, demonstrating their support and mourning. The Maricopa County Attorney's office is currently examining the charges laid against the individuals involved. More details will be provided as this unfolding story continues to develop.

Valley Hospitals Battle Triple Threat: Spike in COVID, Flu, and RSV Cases

Valley hospitals are currently facing a surge in respiratory illnesses, treating an increasing number of patients for COVID-19, the flu, and RSV. The CDC has noted a nearly 200% rise in hospitalizations for these diseases across all age groups over the past four weeks. Pediatric infectious disease specialist Wassim Ballan, based in Phoenix, acknowledges the winter season's typical surge in respiratory viruses, confirming the current spike in hospitalizations.

Parents are feeling the impact of this rise, with individuals like Caitlyn Murphy experiencing the severity of these illnesses firsthand. Her 7-month-old daughter was recently admitted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital with a serious case of RSV, requiring nearly a week of intensive care on high-flow oxygen. Despite her daughter's recovery, Murphy stresses the dangers these sicknesses pose, especially to young children, noting this was the most severe illness her child has faced.

The situation is exacerbated by increased exposure during holiday gatherings and a notable decrease in vaccinations. The CDC reports 7.4 million fewer flu vaccinations this season compared to the last. Dr. Ballan is advocating for preventative measures, emphasizing handwashing, staying home when sick, and getting vaccinated to avoid severe infections and hospitalizations.

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Gilbert considers long list of potential parks projects

Gilbert often celebrates its national accolades for quality of life, boasting titles like the second safest large city in America and the top place to live in Arizona. However, it faces significant challenges in its parks and recreation services, ranking last in park systems among the most populous U.S. cities and holding the lowest score for amenities, according to the Trust for Public Land’s 2023 ParkScore. Similarly, WalletHub's analysis places Gilbert at the bottom for recreation in Arizona.

Despite these shortcomings, Gilbert's Parks and Recreation Director, Robert Carmona, emphasizes the town's efforts to expand services, albeit constrained by current capacities. With only 3% of the town's land dedicated to parks and recreation—far below the national average of 15%—and limited amenities, the town recognizes the need for improvement.

In response, Gilbert has launched an ambitious parks and recreation master plan, driven by extensive community input. Over 60,000 engagements, a record for municipal master plans, reveal a community eager for enhanced park services. The majority of residents express strong support for developing and improving parks, facilities, and paths, highlighting a desire for more inclusive and accessible recreational spaces.

Gilbert's parks and recreation facilities are already a popular destination, with over 5 million visits in 2022, rivaling attendance at major sports venues and national parks. Despite this popularity, a significant portion of residents find the programs and parks too crowded, indicating a demand that far exceeds the current supply.

The town has identified ten priorities for development, including new parks, aquatic facilities, multiuse paths, and community spaces. To address these needs, 19 potential capital improvement projects have been proposed, with Gilbert Regional Park's further development topping the list. However, the ambitious plans come with a hefty price tag of over $723 million, prompting discussions about funding through tax increases and bonds.

As Gilbert weighs the benefits of these investments, including enhanced property values, business attraction, tourism, and public health, the community and council members explore funding strategies, ensuring that the projects benefit residents throughout the town.

Noon Year's Eve' event coming to Freestone Recreation Center

The town of Gilbert is gearing up for a vibrant "Noon Year's Eve" celebration at the Freestone Recreation Center, located at 1141 E. Guadalupe Road. This festive event promises a fun-filled morning packed with various activities for the town's children. The lineup includes an array of games, creative crafts sessions, a competitive rock-climbing contest, and entertaining rounds of BINGO. The highlight of the celebration will be the Ball-oon Drop at precisely noon, which will be followed by a communal cheers toast with ice-cold apple cider, adding a fizzy end to the morning festivities.

Moreover, this event is completely free to attend. Attendees who check in between 10 a.m. to noon will enjoy an added perk of complimentary access to the facility for the entire day. In addition, residents looking to extend their recreation time beyond this event can take advantage of a special membership offer. From December 29-31, the recreation center is offering a 20% discount on all six-month or annual memberships, providing a perfect opportunity for families to commit to a year of fun and fitness.

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