10% OFF...ner mountain bike ride among the beau-tiful San Tan Mountains. This 5.5-mile ride is open...

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www.santantimes.com www.facebook.com/santantimes Letter To The Editor Encanterra Resident Offers Their Outlook On Annexation Local Encanterra resi- dents voices their con- cerns and frustrations with the current annex- ation process taking place in Encanterra. Annexation and Incorpo- ration is a strong point of frustration with many San Tan Valley residents. Continued on page 6 Weekend Events Things To Do In And Around The East Valley As Fall finally arrives to Arizona more and more events are popping up. Take a look at the twenty events taking place this weekend. Continued on page 12 Pinal County Temporary Open Burning All outside burning (unless exempt) re- quires a permit which includes residential, commercial, agricul- ture, bonfires, training exercise fires, among others. Continued on page 10 Get To KnowYour Candidates: SenateLD8 With the election right around the cor- ner San Tan Times will be highlighting positions that are up for election and the candidates that are facing each other Continued on page 5 Hiking For Kids,BikeRid- ing,Scorpions, Bats & Hal- loween Fun Enjoy the mild Octo- ber temperatures with a bunch a fun outdoor activities at the Re- gional Parks. Continued on page 9 Since 1964 Johnson Ranch 480-677-4000 Johnson Ranch 287 E. Hunt Highway #108 Queen Creek, AZ 85243 Order Online! www.RosatisPizza.com 480-677-4000 Any Order Offer Expires 4/30/18. Carryout or Delivery Only. Please mention coupons when ordering. Not valid with any other offers. ST10 10% OFF Always Free! October 12 | Friday Edition

Transcript of 10% OFF...ner mountain bike ride among the beau-tiful San Tan Mountains. This 5.5-mile ride is open...

Page 1: 10% OFF...ner mountain bike ride among the beau-tiful San Tan Mountains. This 5.5-mile ride is open to all ages and skill levels. Our local experts will be available to help you understand

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Letter To The EditorEncanterra Resident Offers Their Outlook On AnnexationLocal Encanterra resi-dents voices their con-cerns and frustrations with the current annex-

ation process taking place in Encanterra.

Annexation and Incorpo-

ration is a strong point of frustration with many San Tan Valley residents.Continued on page 6

Weekend EventsThings To Do In And Around The East ValleyAs Fall finally arrives to Arizona more and more events are popping up. Take a look at the twenty events taking place this weekend.

Continued on page 12

Pinal County Temporary Open BurningAll outside burning (unless exempt) re-quires a permit which includes residential, commercial, agricul-ture, bonfires, training exercise fires, among others. Continued on page 10

Get To Know Your Candidates: Senate LD8With the election right around the cor-ner San Tan Times will be highlighting positions that are up for election and the candidates that are facing each other

Continued on page 5

Hiking For Kids, Bike Rid-ing, Scorpions, Bats & Hal-loween Fun Enjoy the mild Octo-ber temperatures with a bunch a fun outdoor activities at the Re-gional Parks.

Continued on page 9

Order Online! www.RosatisPizza.com

Johnson Ranch287 E. Hunt Highway #108

Queen Creek, AZ 85243

480-677-4000

Any Order

Offer Expires 4/30/18. Carryout or Delivery Only. Please mention coupons when ordering. Not valid with any other offers.

ST10

10% OFF

Since 1964

Rosatis Johnson Ranch San Tan Ad_4C.indd 1 10/23/17 12:34 PM

Order Online! www.RosatisPizza.com

Johnson Ranch287 E. Hunt Highway #108

Queen Creek, AZ 85243

480-677-4000

Any Order

Offer Expires 4/30/18. Carryout or Delivery Only. Please mention coupons when ordering. Not valid with any other offers.

ST10

10% OFF

Since 1964

Rosatis Johnson Ranch San Tan Ad_4C.indd 1 10/23/17 12:34 PM

Order Online! www.RosatisPizza.com

Johnson Ranch287 E. Hunt Highway #108

Queen Creek, AZ 85243

480-677-4000

Any Order

Offer Expires 4/30/18. Carryout or Delivery Only. Please mention coupons when ordering. Not valid with any other offers.

ST10

10% OFF

Since 1964

Rosatis Johnson Ranch San Tan Ad_4C.indd 1 10/23/17 12:34 PM

Order Online! www.RosatisPizza.com

Johnson Ranch287 E. Hunt Highway #108

Queen Creek, AZ 85243

480-677-4000

Any Order

Offer Expires 4/30/18. Carryout or Delivery Only. Please mention coupons when ordering. Not valid with any other offers.

ST10

10% OFF

Since 1964

Rosatis Johnson Ranch San Tan Ad_4C.indd 1 10/23/17 12:34 PM

Order Online! www.RosatisPizza.com

Johnson Ranch287 E. Hunt Highway #108

Queen Creek, AZ 85243

480-677-4000

Any Order

Offer Expires 4/30/18. Carryout or Delivery Only. Please mention coupons when ordering. Not valid with any other offers.

ST10

10% OFF

Since 1964

Rosatis Johnson Ranch San Tan Ad_4C.indd 1 10/23/17 12:34 PM

Always Free! October 12 | Friday Edition

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Do you have information you would like to share with the community? A complaint, or praise, or concern you that you would like to submit to our editor? Do you have an up-coming event? Send it to us! It is simple and easy to do.

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Friday’s Word Search PuzzleOctober 12, 2018

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San Tan Valley Weekend WeatherOctober 12 - 14 , 2018

Mostly cloudy skies. High 78F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.

Evening Variable clouds with scattered thunder-storms. High 79F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High around 80F. Winds light and variable.

High 79° Low 61°

Sunday

High 80° Low 58°

Saturday

Get To Know Your Candidates: Senate LD8The Ongoing Series Continues By, San Tan Times Staff Continued from page 1

With the election right around the corner San Tan Times will be highlighting posi-tions that are up for election and the candi-dates that are facing each other

Senate LD8Incumbent: Frank Pratt (R)Candidate: Sharon Girard (D)

Frank Pratt Campaign Issues:Creating More Jobs: “I have worked hard to pass legislation that has helped to bring more and better jobs to our area. Since the elections in 2014, thousands of jobs have been added and the unemploy-ment rate has been substantially lowered. There is more that must be done and I am ful-ly committed to continuing my work to bring more and better jobs to our area.”

Quality Education: “During the past two years, I have been a leader in providing additional funding for ed-ucation without raising taxes. I am already developing plans for legislation that will im-prove all aspects of education in our district. Education is one of my highest priorities.”

Neighborhoods Must Be Safe: “Rural Arizona must be a safe place to live, work, and play. Adequate levels of police and fire protection are critical to preventing and re-sponding to tragedies. First responders must have sufficient funding, and I will see that they get it.”

Healthcare Must Be Affordable And Acces-sible: “Access to hospitals and doctors is one of the most important things people look for when deciding where to live. It is critical that we have excellent healthcare available in our ru-ral Arizona communities. It is a tremendous benefit to the people who live here now and will help attract companies who bring jobs to this area. I have been highly recognized for my successful efforts in providing better health-care for rural Arizona.” Continued on page 16

High 78° Low 60°

Friday

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Letter To The EditorEncanterra Resident Offers Their Outlook On AnnexationBy Encanterra Residents Against AnnexationIntroduction by San Tan Times StaffContinued from page 1

Whether you are for annexation or against it, whether you want San Tan Valley to incorporate or you are against it, we encourage residents to take part in the community and be involved in the process. One reader submitted their con-cerns with the annexation process of En-canterra. This is their thoughts in their own words.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We did not ask for nor do we choose to be an-nexed into Queen Creek. We are a large and increasing number of residents living in a development named Encanterra located in unincorporated San Tan Valley close to the southeastern border of Queen Creek. On May 3, 2018, a handful of residents liv-ing in Encanterra took it upon themselves to make a preliminary application with the Town of Queen Creek to annex Encanterra as well as other adjacent farmland, Fry’s Marketplace, and the medical plaza on the Encanterra side of Gantzel Road. Later on June 5, this same group filed a formal application for this purpose. Subsequently, the annexation map was revised two more times, each time eliminating some of the adjacent land until it included only En-canterra.

Also on May 3, Encanterra’s developer Shea Homes announced to Encanterra res-idents that Shea was also in favor of this annexation effort. We do not know what if any financial incentive Shea Homes may

be seeking from Queen Creek. In the case of another development Ironwood Crossing, which was annexed by Queen Creek earli-er this year, that developer Fulton Homes was paid approximately $13 million by the Town of Queen Creek for reimbursement of certain infrastructure development costs relating to Ironwood Crossing.

We are opposed to annexation into Queen Creek at this time for a number of reasons. First, we do not want to have to pay higher taxes. Queen Creek’s own town managers told Encanterra residents that annexation by Queen Creek would result in our taxes increasing on average approximately $900 per year per residence. Many of us feel the estimate is closer to $1,200 per year. Queen Creek’s town management said its revenues from an annexation of Encanterra would increase Queen Creek’s revenues $2.7 mil-lion per year from state and county-shared revenues and sales taxes and public safety property taxes levied on Encanterra resi-dents. Encanterra residents would receive little of value in return as Encanterra’s HOA would continue to be responsible for maintaining Encanterra’s roads which are privately owned by Encanterra. Living in unincorporated San Tan Valley, we pay only state and county sales tax equal to 7.2% on purchased items. In San Tan Val-ley, there is no tax charged on food for home consumption. If annexed by Queen Creek, because of its city sales tax of 2.25% on most items, our sales tax rate for purchases we make in Encanterra, including our on-line purchases, would increase to 9.45%. This tax rate would apply to Encanterra golf and social membership dues, utilities, food and beverages, and any other services purchased in Encanterra. There would also be a 5% franchise tax charged on our cable television and Internet services.Continued on page 10

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Hiking For Kids, Bike Riding, Scorpions, Bats & Halloween FunRegional Park OutdoorActivitiesBy San Tan Times StaffContinued from page 1

With a lot of rain this past week stay alert as heavy rain can alter and damage trails.

For Kids: Hiking 101Friday, October 12, 201808:30 AM - 09:30 AMSan Tan Mountain Regional Park6533 W. Phillips RoadSan Tan Valley, AZ 85242(480) 655-5554

For Homeschoolers and Kids on Fall Break! Friday - Join the Ranger for a family-style one mile hike that will in-troduce kids to hiking. Learn the ba-sics of trail safety, preparation and etiquette. We’ll also talk about the principles of “Leave No Trace” and how that protects the plants, animals and other resources in our mountain parks. Learn how to read a map, how to use a compass, what trail signs mean and more! We’ll even do our part to pick up trash along the way. What to bring: water, closed-toe shoes, hat, sunscreen. Meet at the Main Entrance trailhead map kiosk. 8:30-9:30am.

Beginner Skill Level Mountain Bike RideSaturday, October 13, 201808:00 AM - 10:00 AMSan Tan Mountain Regional Park6533 W. Phillips RoadSan Tan Valley, AZ 85242(480) 655-5554

Saturday – Join us for an exciting begin-ner mountain bike ride among the beau-tiful San Tan Mountains. This 5.5-mile ride is open to all ages and skill levels. Our local experts will be available to help you understand your bike’s features and learn the ins and outs of safe riding. “No Rider Left Behind” is our policy, because we ride together in a group. This is your opportunity to be around others who are passionate about mountain biking as a sport to have fun and get some exercise. Helmets are required. Under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Essentials: water, helmet, extra tube, tools to change a flat tire. Meet at the San Tan Trail sign at the main trailhead. 8-10am.

All About Scorpions and BatsSaturday, October 13, 201807:00 PM - 07:30 PMUsery Mountain Regional Park3939 N. Usery Pass Rd.Mesa, AZ 85207(480) 984-0032

Continued on page 15

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Pinal County Temporary Open BurningPurchase Your Burn PermitsBy Pinal County and San Tan Times Staff All outside burning (unless exempt) re-quires a permit which includes residen-tial, commercial, agriculture, bonfires, training exercise fires, building demoli-tion, dangerous material, or Air Curtain Burning.

When: October 1st through April 30th

To obtain a BURN permit:On-Line Application:

citizenaccess.pinalcountyaz.gov/CitizenAccess/Default.aspx

Or in-person:• Apache Junction Pinal County

Complex 575 N Idaho Rd Suite 800 Monday (8:30-3:30) Thursday (8:30-12:30) Phone: 520-866-6929

• Florence Pinal County Complex - Main Office 31 N Pinal St., Bldg F Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Phone: 520-866-6929

Burn permits are not approved if:• THE date that you wish to start

burning is more than 10 days from the date the application is received.

• APPLICATION received by fax.• PROHIBITED items were request-

ed to be burned.• INFORMATION submitted is

incomplete.Continued on page 13

Letter To The EditorContinued from page 6

Another reason we are opposed to annexation by Queen Creek is our concern about Queen Creek’s current level of funded debt of $230 million and its unfunded pension liability calculated at $41 million, which is signifi-cantly understated due to liberal assumptions used on the rate of return on its securities portfolio earmarked for present and future pension claims. This debt offers no benefit to Encanterra residents. We are concerned that an economic downturn would increase pres-sure on the Town of Queen Creek to raise its property tax and/or sales tax rates to maintain its debt service coverage requirements with its bondholders. Queen Creek sales tax rates are already considerably higher than a number of other east valley cities like Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Scottsdale.

The Encanterra residents’ pro-annexation group has tried to scare Encanterra residents into supporting Queen Creek annexation by claiming it is only a matter of time before there will be another San Tan Valley incorporation effort. This is a scare tactic and bogus argu-ment as it is already known that Shea Homes was opposed to Encanterra being included in an earlier San Tan Valley incorporation effort and would use its power as a HOA declarant to kill any such effort that includes Encanterra as long as Shea continues to be in control of the HOA which is at least another five years until the development is built out. While an incorporation effort excluding En-canterra is quite possible, we would not be op-posed to seeing such an effort succeed as long as the organizers could show a vision with a bright future and reasonable taxes.

Another scare tactic used by the pro-annex-ation group is their claim of the likelihood that Florence or Apache Junction could an-Continued on page 13

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Good Food Recipe: Beet And Citrus SaladRecipes From Local BusinessesBy San Tan Valley Fit Body Boot Camp

Hungry for some citrus-y goodness? Then try this beet and citrus salad!

This recipe is green, yet it’s anything but bland. The flavors of the beets, grape-fruit, and mandarin oranges tango to-gether in perfect symphony. You won’t find this intense a wave of flavors in most other salads!

Add in some olive oil and apple cider vin-egar for an extra kick of acidity, then top it off with pistachios for added texture.

Ready for the ultimate green dish? Here’s how to make it…

Ingredients• 3 red beets • 3 yellow beets• 3 grapefruits• 3 mandarin oranges• 2 tablespoons of olive oil• 1/8 of a teaspoon of liquid stevia• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar• 1 teaspoon of sea salt• 1/4 of a teaspoon of black pepper• 6 cups of baby arugula, fresh• 1/4 of a cup of pistachios, chopped

InstructionsPreheat the oven to 350ºF. Trim the beets, wash, and place them in an 8×8 casserole pan with 1/4 of a cup of water. Cover with aluminum foil and bake until tender (about an hour). Remove from the oven, uncover, and cool completely. Peel the beets and slice them into wedges.

Cut the ends off the grapefruits. Slice off the peel and the white pith. Remove the cut into segments and peel the mem-brane off of each slice. Reserve 1/4 of a cup of grapefruit juice.

Whisk together the olive oil, stevia, vin-egar, sea salt, black pepper, and reserved grapefruit juice. Toss the dressing with the beets and the grapefruit wedges.

Arrange the arugula on a platter. Top it with the beet and grapefruit mixture, and sprinkle over the pistachios. Nutritional FactsServings: 1Calories: 142Fat: 6gCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 4gProtein: 2g.STT

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Weekend EventsThings To Do In And Around The East ValleyBy, San Tan Times StaffContinued from page 1Saturday Night Dirt Track Racing at Arizona SpeedwaySaturday at 7 PM – 10 PMET Motopark Arizona Speedway48700 N Ironwood Dr, San Tan Valley, Arizona 85140---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yoga in the ParkSaturday at 8:30 AM – 9:30 AMDesert Mountain Park22201 S Hawes Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Queen Creek Amateur Radio ClubMonthly BreakfastSaturday at 8 AM – 10 AMIHOP (Queen Creek, AZ)20710 E Victoria Lane, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------YuGiOh(Kid/Teen Friendly Gaming Event)Saturday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PMNew Players - Magic the Gathering: Standard(Kid/Teen Friendly Gaming Event)Saturday, 7:00 PM - 12:00 PMDungeons & Dragons(Kid/Teen Friendly Gaming Event)Sunday, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Baxter’s18510 E San Tan Blvd #111,Queen Creek, Arizona 85142----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AZ CARE Pet Adoption EventSaturday at 12 PM – 4 PMPetSmart (Queen Creek, AZ)21032 S. Ellsworth Loop Rd., Queen Creek, Arizona 85142----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Beach Goat Yoga!Saturday at 5 PM – 7 PMLil Goat Town7377 s. 169th PL, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142

Karaoke Saturday at TC’s Pub & Grub in Queen CreekSaturday at 8:30 PM – 11:59 PMTC’s Pub and Grub7205 S Power Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chandler Vaqueros SaddleClub ShowGoat Tying | Barrels | Poles |2 Barrel Cowhorse | Barrel SidepotRider and horse Costume ContestLearn more: cvsc.netSaturday at 4:40 PMHorseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre20464 E Riggs Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kundalini Yoga and Gong Meditation with Sangeet K KhalsaSunday at 3:45 PM – 5 PMMotto Yoga (NEC Power & Germann Rd.)7529 S Power Rd, Ste 101, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142Continued on page 17

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Pinal County Temporary Open BurningContinued from page 10

• A High Pollution Advisory (Particu-late Matter) has been issued for areas within Area A.

Types of Fires include:Residential, Commercial, Agriculture, Bonfires, Training Exercise, Building Demolition, Dangerous Materials, Air Cur-tain Destructors.

VIOLATIONS:• 1. Failure to comply with burn permit

conditions * Civil penalties up to $10,000.00 per day

• Reckless burning under A.R.S. 13-1706 * Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor or Class 3 felony

Persons affected by a “No Burn” restric-tion are not entitled to a refund or an ex-tension.

Agricultural burn permits can only be ob-tained October - April.

If you do not reside within a fire district/department coverage area, you must call the State Forester each day that you burn @ (800) 309-7081.

Exempted Fires• Recreational fires—are used for re-

ligious, ceremonial, cooking, or warmth. The total fuel area must be 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height. No permit or report is required.

• Public Officer fires—are used by a public officer in the performance of an official duty, and must be reported to the Control Officer. .STT

Letter To The EditorContinued from page 10

-nex Encanterra. That too in our opinion is a bogus argument, as this would require approval by a majority of property owners living in the impacted area. We feel it is un-likely that San Tan Valley residents would be inclined to approve an annexation into either Florence or Apache Junction.

While Queen Creek is a growing attractive and progressive town, for the reasons men-tioned above, annexation by Queen Creek does not represent a good financial decision for Encanterra residents at the present time. In another four or five years, as San Tan Val-ley and Queen Creek continue to be developed, it will be easier for Encanterra residents to as-certain whether annexation by Queen Creek represents a better alternative than remaining part of unincorporated San Tan Valley, or as part of a new city of San Tan Valley, if an incorporation effort was to successfully occur.

We truly like living in unincorporated San Tan Valley. We like the fire and medical ser-vices we receive from Rural Metro and police protection we receive from Pinal County Sher-riff’s Office. We like the positive outlook we have for San Tan Valley under Pinal Coun-ty’s supervision. We feel Encanterra residents already enjoy everything Queen Creek has to offer without us having to pay higher taxes. This annexation effort has created a lot of turmoil in our community pitting resident against resident. Many of us living here re-sent that a small group of residents have been able to create so much dissention in what oth-erwise we have found to be an enjoyable com-munity to live in. We are hopeful Queen Creek town managers will turn down the application for annexation so we can all see this matter go away and we can go back to enjoying our community..STT

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Hiking For Kids, Bike Riding, Scorpions, Bats & Halloween FunContinued from page 9Saturday – Come learn about our two of our park’s coolest animal residents that just might send a creepy shiver down your spine. Where do these critters live? What do they eat? Should humans be afraid of them? Learn the answers to these ques-tions and more as we discuss facts and pop-ular myths surrounding both our desert’s infamous scorpions and elusive bats. After our chat you’ll be ready for our Halloween Scorpion Search Trail Walk starting at 8p.m. Maximum 50 participants for this indoor program. Meet inside the Visitor Center. 7-7:30pm.

Halloween Scorpion Search Trail WalkSaturday, October 13, 201808:00 PM - 09:00 PMUsery Mountain Regional Park3939 N. Usery Pass Rd.Mesa, AZ 85207(480) 984-0032

Last Scorpion Walk of the Season!Saturday – Dress up in your Halloween costume** and join us as we set out on a night exploration to search for these su-per-cool fluorescent creatures. We will use an easy-moderate trail that is suitable for families and travel just over a mile. This is our last Scorpion Search of the season before cooler evening weather sets in so be sure to join us! Please wear closed-toe shoes, bring plenty of water and a black light. Black lights are also available for purchase inside the Visitor Center. **Please make sure your costume includes trail-appropri-ate footwear and allows for free range of motion! Meet at the flag pole. 8-9pm.

October 1 to November 10Buy One Get OneMaricopa County’s Parks and Recreation

Department is offering Buy One, Get One (BOGO) camping promotion! The pro-motion allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free during that same stay. Promotion is for stays booked at designated campsites be-tween October 1 and November 10, 2018.Limit of one free night per family, house-hold and/or group in a seven day period (Monday through Sunday).

Visitors interested in taking advantage of this offer must contact the park directly either by phone, or in person. Any and all online reservations are NOT eligible for the Buy One, Get One offer.

This promotion is available only at the fol-lowing Parks: • Cave Creek Regional Park

(623-465-0431)• McDowell Mountain Regional Park

(480-471-0173)• Usery Mountain Regional Park

(480-984-0032)• White Tank Mountain Regional Park

(623-935-2505)Learn more:maricopacountyparks.net/county-parks-bring-back-free-camping-promotion.STT

EventsAtCAC.com

FALL FESTIVALThe 2nd Annual

Friday, Oct 26th 6 pm to 9 pm

Enjoy this FREE event featuringHay Rides Pumpkin Painting Vendors Food Trucks Games Escape Room Music and More!

Get to know your local community college!

3736 East Bella Vista RoadSan Tan Valley, AZ 85143

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Get To Know Your Candidates: Continued from page 5

You can read more about Pratt’s issues, campaign, and history:• realleadershipaz.com • facebook.com/frank.pratt.7 • ballotpedia.org/Frank_Pratt • azleg.gov/senate-member/?legilature=

53&legislator=1781

Sharon Girard Campaign Issues:HealthcareArizona currently covers approximately 27,000 children under this supplemental pro-gram. We must work to keep this program intact, funded and expand it’s services to all children in need. NO child should ever be without healthcare.

The doctor shortage in our rural areas is a for-gotten issue. No one talks about and few are addressing it. My focus is AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE healthcare. You cannot ac-cess care if you have a lack of providers in your area. Rural areas will have a shortage of 45,000 providers nationwide by 2020. By 2030 we will need almost 2,000 more provid-ers than what we already have in Arizona. Lack of providers increases use of emergency rooms which increases the cost of medicine and hurts the taxpayer. It may also cause hos-pitals to close because of loss of revenue from low or non paying customers. We have a crisis in Arizona that will only get worse.

EducationThe Arizona constitution states that “ The legislature shall enact such laws as shall pro-vide for the establishment and maintenance of a general and uniform public school system, which system shall include: 1. Kindergarten schools 2. Common schools 3. high schools 4. normal schools 5. Industrial schools 6. Uni-versities , which shall include an agricultur-al college, a school of mines and such other technical schools as may be essential…. The legislature shall also enact such laws as shall provide for the education and care of pupils

who are hearing and visually impaired.

Arizona is failing our students. We have fallen to the bottom of the pack and are now ranked the lowest in the country in teacher pay. Even with the slight increase in funding at the end of the 2018 legislative session, we are still failing. School systems are not pass-ing on the revenue to teachers, support and ancillary staff received no increase and we failed to fund capital improvements which are so sorely needed.

Gun Violence:I propose that in Arizona we should:• Ban Assault weapons. These are not

needed for hunting. As a surgical PA I have seen the damage gun shot wounds do to patients. The damage done to a per-son from an assault weapon shreds the internal organs and damages the body, many times beyond repair. With other gunshot injuries there is a chance to save the person or body part. With assault weapons, those chances are gone as the bullets tears apart the body and makes it almost impossible for a surgeon to fix. Why would anyone want to inflict that sort of pain on another unless it was for malicious intent?. Therefore, only crim-inals would want assault weapons, so they have no place in a civilized society.

• Universal background checks. Criminals will always be able to get guns but why not make it as hard as possible. That way, the only person with a legal gun, is a good guy with a clean back-ground check.

You can read more about Sharon Girard’s issues, campaign, and history:• facebook.com/girard4azsenate• girard4azsenate.com• twitter.com/Girard4AZ

Next issue San Tan Times will continue to put the candidates head to head in their own words to allow readers to bet-ter understand the difference between the candidates..STT

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Weekend EventsContinued from page 12

Relay for Lifeof Queen Creek & San Tan ValleySaturday at 4 PM – 10 PMCanyon State Academy20061 E Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Better Together Corn MazeSaturday at 10 AM – 7 PMSchnepf Farms24610 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We Care - Food DriveSunday at 8 AM – 1 PMSun Valley Community Church -Queen Creek20271 E Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Spooktacular Mini Camp Saturday at 10 AM – 1 PMPaint & Sip | This is HalloweenSaturday at 7 PM – 9 PMWine & Design (Queen Creek, AZ)21148 East Rittenhouse Rd. STE 102, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Johnson Ranch Community Yard SaleSaturday at 7 AM – 12 PMJohnson Ranch Community Association1475 E. Bella Vista, San Tan Valley, Arizona 85143---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Goodwill Donation DriveSaturday at 1 PM – 3 PMFUSD Community Education28985 Desert Willow Blvd, San Tan Valley, Arizona 85143---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dancing For BirthSunday at 4 PM – 5 PMThe Birth Haven Birth Center

3303 S Lindsay Rd, Ste 125, Gilbert, Arizona 85297---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BARKtoberfest!Saturday at 8:30 AM – 1:30 PMGilbert Town Hall50 E Civic Center Dr, Gilbert, Arizona 85296 .STT

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Saturday 29 Oct 12, 2018

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Wildlife Of San Tan ValleyRod Small’s Visual JourneyBy, Rod SmallCommentary by, San Tan Times Staff

Just some splashin’ about in the river. Horsin’ around is serious business!

See more from Rod Small at:facebook.com/wildhorsephotographer

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