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  • ⚰️ Arizona Inmate Who Killed Gilbert Police Officer 🌟 Queen Creek's New Entertainment Hub: 🐕 Dog Tails of Inspiration and more...

⚰️ Arizona Inmate Who Killed Gilbert Police Officer 🌟 Queen Creek's New Entertainment Hub: 🐕 Dog Tails of Inspiration and more...

Gilbert Local Pulse | Issue #076

Author

Lloyd Heath
January 31, 2024

In this issue of Gilbert Local Pulse

🌤️ Gilbert, AZ Local Weather

📅 Gilbert, AZ and Surrounding Area Events

⚰️ Arizona Inmate Who Killed Gilbert Police Officer Dies in Prison

🐛 ASU Professor Launches Project to Study Little-Known but Lucrative Trade: Bugs on the Black Market

🚗 Waymo to Begin Testing Self-Driving Cars on Valley Freeways

🛡️ Arizona's New Bill Aims to Protect Special Education Students from Rushed Graduation

🌟 Queen Creek's New Entertainment Hub: Pecan Lake Opens This Week

🏞️ 1st New Arizona State Park Since 2016 Opens Feb. 9 in Camp Verde

🐕 Tails of Inspiration, Life Lessons of a Local Therapy Dog

Upcoming and Ongoing

Arizona inmate who killed Gilbert police officer dies in prison

Christopher Redondo, the man convicted of the 2010 murder of Gilbert Police Lieutenant Eric Shuhandler, has passed away in prison at the age of 49. Redondo was serving a life sentence at the Lewis prison in Buckeye, Arizona. The Arizona Department of Corrections confirmed his death on January 26, but did not disclose the cause. Redondo was found guilty of first-degree murder following a violent traffic stop that led to Lt. Shuhandler's death. He and an accomplice subsequently engaged in a 50-mile police chase along the U.S. 60 before their capture.

ASU professor launches project to study little-known but lucrative trade: Bugs on the black market

Arizona State University's forensic entomologist, Professor Lauren Weidner, has embarked on an intriguing endeavor with her team of six undergraduates. Their project involves meticulously sorting and identifying a diverse array of preserved insects, all of which were intercepted and seized during illegal smuggling attempts into the U.S. These specimens, now housed in Weidner's lab at ASU's West campus, include beetles, mantids, and other insects from fully adjudicated cases. Weidner's project not only aims to study the types and origins of these trafficked insects but also to support legal investigations and raise public awareness about the surprisingly lucrative and widespread black market trade in insects. Additionally, they plan to develop educational materials and museum displays to showcase the beauty and diversity of these creatures, challenging the common perception of insects as merely pests.

Waymo to begin testing self-driving cars on Valley freeways

Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is set to initiate testing of its autonomous vehicles on Phoenix-area freeways. Initially, these tests will involve Waymo's employees in rider-only trips, providing valuable feedback on the system's performance. Over the past year, Waymo gradually increased testing in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco with a safety operator. This expansion to freeway service aims to significantly reduce travel times, like a 50% faster trip from Sky Harbor International Airport to Scottsdale. The service includes curbside airport pickup during late hours, with plans to extend to 24/7 operations. Waymo's extensive experience and rigorous safety protocols back this initiative, as it expands its ride-hailing service, including partnerships like with Uber. Despite covering over 5.3 million miles in Phoenix, the safety record shows a very low rate of injuries per million vehicle miles.

Arizona's New Bill Aims to Protect Special Education Students from Rushed Graduation

In Arizona, the high school graduation process for special education students is raising concerns. Families and advocates point out that schools are rushing students with disabilities to graduate before they are fully prepared. This practice, termed "forced graduation", seems motivated by incentives for schools to graduate these students within four years. A bill, known as the No Surprises Act, is being introduced to address this issue. It aims to ensure parents are not caught off guard by their child’s graduation and advocates for better transition planning for the future of these students. The situation highlights the complexity of balancing educational goals with the unique needs of special education students.

Queen Creek's New Entertainment Hub: Pecan Lake Opens This Week

Queen Creek, Arizona, is welcoming a new family entertainment hub, the Pecan Lake Entertainment Center, which is set to open its doors this Wednesday. The center, co-owned by Tim Campbell and Jason Check, currently features a variety of attractions, including a ropes course, barbecue restaurant, botanical garden, 21-hole putting course, escape rooms, and virtual reality experiences. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday evening, marking the center's near completion at 70%.

Notable future additions to the center include a surf building with a burger joint and an arcade with electric cart racing, known as the pit house. These expansions are part of a more than $30 million project, which gained momentum after the Queen Creek Town Council approved the expansion of the site's uses and a rezoning decision last June.

Located near the Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre, the entertainment center boasts the Valley's largest outdoor ropes course and a unique putting course designed to replicate famous golf holes from across the United States. While offering a challenging experience for skilled golfers, it differentiates itself from traditional mini-golf courses.

The project has garnered mixed reactions from local residents, with some expressing concerns about traffic, noise, and lighting. However, many support the center for fostering community spirit and providing a family-friendly destination.

Safety is a top priority for the owners, especially in light of recent incidents of teen violence in the area. Enhanced security measures, including onsite security and regular patrols by the Queen Creek Police Department, are being implemented to ensure a safe environment.

The center's soft opening on Wednesday will be followed by a grand opening scheduled for the Saturday after the Super Bowl, on February 11. Water attractions and go-karts are expected to be operational by mid-summer and fall, respectively. The owners are also developing various pricing packages to ensure competitiveness and a great experience for visitors.

1st new Arizona state park since 2016 opens Feb. 9 in Camp Verde

Arizona is set to unveil its first new state park in eight years, the Rockin’ River Ranch, located in Camp Verde at the convergence of West Clear Creek and the Verde River. This 209-acre park, previously a guest ranch with horse riding and boarding facilities, is poised to offer a variety of recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy picnic areas, explore six hiking trails suitable for biking and horseback riding, and fish along the Verde River. The park will be open on weekends, with an entrance fee of $7 per vehicle.

Tails of inspiration, life lessons of a local therapy dog

Queen Creek - Evelyn Hermes-DeSantis and her husband, Dan, experienced a life-changing moment 11 years ago when they adopted Scruffy, a dog with a heartwarming story of resilience and compassion. Scruffy's journey began when he was rescued from a dire situation in South Carolina, having been abused and left in a ditch. Despite his tough start, Scruffy's fate took a turn for the better when he was saved from euthanasia and placed in a foster home in Pennsylvania, where Hermes-DeSantis discovered him on Petfinder.

Adopted in November 2012, Scruffy not only became a beloved family member but also a certified service dog and a symbol of hope and healing. He spent years working in hospitals across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, offering comfort to patients and staff alike. His deep, soulful eyes and gentle demeanor formed lasting bonds with everyone he met, making him a cherished therapy dog.

Hermes-DeSantis, inspired by Scruffy's impact, decided to share his stories and the life lessons he imparted in a book titled "Life Lessons By Scruffy: My Life as a Therapy Dog." Published in October 2023, the book, narrated in Scruffy's voice, captures various heartwarming experiences and the wisdom gleaned from them. The book's chapters, framed as conversations between Scruffy and his "mama," reflect on his days and the insights gained.

Tragically, Scruffy passed away in April 2023 due to heart failure. In his memory, and to continue his legacy of helping children, 50% of the book's proceeds are being donated to Phoenix Children’s East Valley campus. This gesture honors Scruffy's love for children, especially evident in his unique ability to sense and alert before a seizure occurred, a rare gift found in only one in 10,000 dogs.

Through his life and now through the pages of Hermes-DeSantis' book, Scruffy's story continues to inspire and teach the valuable lesson that everyone has a special gift, waiting to be discovered and used for good.

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