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  • 🚨 Gilbert Police Make Three More Arrests 🎤 Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson Headline One Ostrich Festival 💖 Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Queen Creek’s Love Bug Dance and more...

🚨 Gilbert Police Make Three More Arrests 🎤 Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson Headline One Ostrich Festival 💖 Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Queen Creek’s Love Bug Dance and more...

Gilbert Local Pulse | Issue #061

Author

Lloyd Heath
January 13, 2024

In this issue of Gilbert Local Pulse

🌤️ Gilbert, AZ Local Weather

📅 Gilbert, AZ and Surrounding Area Events

🚨 Gilbert Police Make Three More Arrests in Alleged Assault

🤝 Gilbert Officials Discuss Issues with 2 Legislators

💰 Hobbs Proposes $16.2B Spending Plan with Cuts to School Vouchers in Budget

🎤 Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson Headline One Ostrich Festival Show in Chandler

💖 Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Queen Creek’s Love Bug Dance

🏈 'This is Home': Former Hamilton QB Travis Dixon Hired as Huskies' New Football Coach

Upcoming

Gilbert police make three more arrests in alleged assault

In a recent development, the Gilbert Police Department has made three additional arrests related to an alleged robbery and assault incident that took place in August at the intersection of Williams Field Road and Market Street. On January 10, police apprehended 18-year-old Aris Arredondo along with two juveniles, aged 16. All three suspects are facing charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.

These arrests follow the earlier apprehension of 18-year-old Christopher Fantastic, who was taken into custody on the evening of January 9. The two juveniles involved in the case have been referred to the Maricopa County Juvenile Court.

While the investigation continues, Gilbert Police are actively seeking to identify more individuals linked to the case. It's important to note that this investigation is distinct and separate from the ongoing inquiry into the death of Preston Lord in Queen Creek.

This string of arrests occurs against the backdrop of the Gilbert Town Council's recent initiative to address teen violence. On January 9, the council formed a subcommittee dedicated to examining this issue, particularly in the wake of Lord's death and other reported teen-involved assaults in the area.

The Gilbert Police Department has expressed gratitude to the community for their assistance in identifying the suspects and committed to providing updates as the investigation progresses.

Gilbert officials discuss issues with 2 legislators

Arizona lawmakers from Gilbert are preparing to address a potential $400 million budget shortfall as the new state legislative session commences. At Gilbert's annual legislative meeting, State Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) and State Rep. Jennifer Pawlik (D-Chandler) outlined their priorities, reflecting their concerns and objectives for the upcoming session.

Pawlik, representing Legislative District 13 (LD13), emphasized the importance of maintaining education funding despite the budget challenges. She also highlighted her focus on water issues and affordable housing, indicating that relevant bills are in the works.

Petersen, representing LD 14, shared his priorities, including addressing inflation, public safety, water, and the budget gap. He mentioned a proposed bill to reduce gasoline prices in Maricopa County by allowing the sale of more gasoline blends, and a plan to increase teacher pay using proceeds from the State Land Trust. Additionally, he noted that Sen. Sine Kerr would be introducing water-related bills.

The new flat income tax, slower sales tax collection, and the expanding school voucher program are factors contributing to the budget shortfall. Petersen views the shortfall as an opportunity for prioritization rather than a significant problem, suggesting a zero-based budget approach.

Other Gilbert legislative members, including Reps. Laurin Hendrix and Travis Grantham (R-Gilbert, LD 14) and Sen. J.D. Mesnard and Rep. Julie Willoughby (R-Chandler, LD13), were invited but did not attend the meeting.

The meeting also featured Gilbert officials, including the public works director, police chief, fire chief, development services director, and budget director, discussing local issues like water conservation, ongoing projects, and the impact of inflation and supply chain issues on their departments.

However, public attendance was minimal as the meeting was not well-publicized on the town's website, being listed only under Courtesy Notices and Notices of Possible Quorums on the Town Clerk's website.

Hobbs proposes $16.2B spending plan with cuts to school vouchers in budget

Governor Katie Hobbs has proposed a $16.2 billion spending plan for Arizona that challenges existing fiscal frameworks and looks to redirect state funds towards new priorities. This budget exceeds anticipated state revenue and aims to bridge the gap through a combination of cuts, fund reallocations, and clawbacks from current and future budgets allocated for various projects.

A significant point of contention in her plan is the proposed cuts to the state's new universal school vouchers program, a move unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Legislature. Hobbs' plan would limit vouchers to students who have attended public school for at least 100 days, aiming to save approximately $244 million. This proposal is part of Hobbs' strategy to fund her priorities, including increased spending on K-12 schools, the state Medicaid program, and prison healthcare.

However, the budget faces challenges, particularly with a flat-rate income tax implemented in 2021 that reduces state revenues. Additionally, Hobbs' staff and legislative budget analysts disagree on the projected state deficit, with analysts suggesting it could be almost twice as large as the governor's team anticipates.

Hobbs' budget focuses on various critical areas, including an additional $213 million for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System due to increased enrollment and costs, and $284 million for the Department of Correction to address federal judge-ordered improvements in prison healthcare.

Other notable proposals include $13 million for housing assistance, $100 million for child care to replace expiring federal funds, and over half a million dollars to establish a state office for drug price regulation.

To balance the budget, Hobbs plans to cancel over $120 million in projects favored by Republican lawmakers, redirecting some of these funds to education and housing.

The governor's budget reflects her administration's priorities and vision for the state but faces significant legislative hurdles due to political differences and fiscal constraints.

Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson headline one Ostrich Festival show in Chandler

The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival, now in its 34th year, is set to feature an impressive lineup of country music stars on its main stage on Saturday, March 9. The renowned country music duo, Big Kenny and John Rich, known collectively as Big & Rich, will headline the event. They are celebrated for their numerous achievements in the country music scene, including multiple CMA and Academy of Country Music Awards and over 11 million album sales.

Joining them will be Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Gretchen Wilson, whose debut single "Redneck Woman" topped the US Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks charts. Her follow-up album, “All Jacked Up,” also achieved significant success, reaching the top spot on the Billboard 200.

Also set to perform is singer/rapper Cowboy Troy, known for his unique blend of country and rap. He rose to fame with his 2005 album “Loco Motive,” which climbed to the second position on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. His lead single from the album, “Play Chicken with the Train,” also enjoyed considerable popularity.

Tickets for this star-studded event are currently available for purchase at OstrichFestival.com. The festival promises to be a highlight for country music fans, with more headlining acts expected to be announced in mid-January.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Queen Creek’s Love Bug Dance

Queen Creek is inviting families to join in the Valentine's Day festivities with its annual “Love Bug” dance. The event is scheduled for Friday, February 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Recreation Annex, located at 21802 S. Ellsworth Road. This family-friendly dance is an excellent opportunity for parents to celebrate with their young ones, offering a range of activities including music, crafts, games, refreshments, and of course, plenty of dancing.

Pre-registration is required for those planning to attend, and this can be done either online or in person at the Recreation Annex. The cost for the event is $15 per adult and $10 per child, with an additional $10 non-resident fee for the first adult if applicable. It's important to note that the event is specifically designed for children aged three to 12 years old and is not a drop-off event, meaning parents or guardians must accompany their children throughout the duration of the dance.

For those interested in contributing to the community, volunteer opportunities for the dance are still available. More information about the event and volunteering can be found at QueenCreekAZ.gov/Volunteer. This event promises a delightful and engaging Valentine's Day celebration for families in Queen Creek.

'This is home': Former Hamilton QB Travis Dixon hired as Huskies' new football coach

Travis Dixon, a celebrated former quarterback of the Chandler Hamilton football teams, is making a triumphant return to his alma mater as the new head coach. Dixon, 37, led the team to its first two state championships in 2003 and 2004 and now steps into a role that holds significant personal importance to him. After a successful playing career at UNLV, Dixon brings a sense of homecoming to his new position.

Dixon becomes only the fourth permanent head coach in the history of the Hamilton football program, a role that has garnered national attention as one of the most coveted high school coaching jobs. Despite having only a single year of head coaching experience at Mesa Eastmark, where he led the team to a commendable 9-3 record and a 4A quarterfinal appearance, Dixon's appointment has been met with optimism.

Athletic Director Brett Palmer emphasized that the decision to hire Dixon wasn't about making a "splash hire" but rather about finding the right fit for the team. Dixon's connection to Hamilton and his proven passion for the game were significant factors in his selection.

Dixon's appointment has been met with enthusiasm, both from him and the team. His energetic introduction to the Hamilton players highlighted his passion and readiness for this new challenge. He steps into a program with a rich history, including seven state championships and 13 state finals appearances, the last championship win being in 2012.

Before taking the helm at Eastmark, Dixon also served as an assistant coach at Gilbert Higley. He inherits the legacy of John Wrenn, who started the Hamilton program in the late 1990s, and follows in the footsteps of previous coaches including Steve Belles and Mike Zdebski, both of whom have left significant marks on the program.

Dixon's task is to revitalize a team that has faced challenges in recent years, including recovering from a hazing scandal and building upon the groundwork laid by Zdebski, who brought the team back to competitive status after a difficult period.

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