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Construction
11 commercial building permits Oct. 27-Nov. 2 in SE Mesa
Sports
Queen Creek schools’ Eastmark wins state 3A football championship
Things to do
Santa making several visits to Merry Main Street
Business News
Ken Kotchenreuther has created a new product and business called the Bugger Plugger.

Meet Your Business: Kotchenreuther invents device to keep lights bright, clean

Your Name: Ken Kotchenreuther Age: 57 Town/Neighborhood: Sun City and Valleywide Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Personal background highlights: My wife and I relocated to …
KTR will complement Cannon Beach’s line up of attractions and restaurants with its flare for the extreme fun and adventure. Kids can learn how to surf before they try out the actual lagoon. It will also offer its hallmark programming that has facilitated countless birthday parties, group/corporate events, and training, including at the Olympic level.

Cannon Beach in Mesa announces KTR new anchor tenant

Cannon Beach, the 37-acre surf, shop, gym and multiuse development project in Mesa recently announced the addition of a new anchor tenant, KTR. Located at the cross streets of Power and Warner …
Angry Crab Shack, based in Mesa, recently opened its 16th Arizona location in Tempe at 660 W. Warner Road.

Mesa-based Angry Crab Shack surpasses $1M in charitable contributions

Ron Lou founded Angry Crab Shack with a core value of giving back to the community. Nine years and 19 locations later that value remains true as Angry Crab Shack has surpassed $1 million in …
Valene Hatathlie cooking her traditional Navajo Frybread at one of her pop-up events. She is the owner of Val's Frybread which is based in Scottsdale. (Photo courtesy of Valene Hatathlie)

Inflation, supply-chain issues are impacting Valley businesses

As a small business owner, Valene Hatathlie has been through a lot during the past four years. Hatathlie, owner of Val’s Frybread, has faced the pandemic and finding creative business solutions to surviving when her main source of business — public events — were closed. This year, it’s been the cost of her ingredients from flour to oil rising that has posed the biggest hardship.
Oro Brewing Co. was recognized in the coffee beer beer-style category for its Café Oro, a blonde ale infused with cold-press coffee from local roastery Village Coffee Roastery. Oro Brewing Co. is a seven-barrel microbrewery that specializes in small batch craft beers.

Oro Brewing Co. in Mesa wins gold medal at Great American Beer Festival

Oro Brewing Co., a microbrewery at 210 W. Main St. in Mesa, won a gold medal at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival competition. Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the a commercial …
From left are Sharma Glenn, coordinator for A New Leaf; and Alexandria Sturm, business support specialist for Two Men and A Truck Mesa.

Mesa moving company collects food donations for A New Leaf charity

Two Men and A Truck Mesa recently partnered with A New Leaf to collect and deliver food donations for its Movers For Meals campaign. A New Leaf, a local non-profit organization, is dedicated to …

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MESA NEWS & OPINION
Local news
INVESTIGATION

Police identify man shot, killed outside Mesa 7-Eleven

Watts Williams, 25, has been identifed by Mesa police as the man killed this week in an officer-involved shooting at a 7-Eleven. The shooting occurred Nov. 30 outside the store, 815 S.  …
Library

Dobson Ranch Library closing Saturday for 2 weeks for construction

Dobson Ranch Library, 2425 S. Dobson Road in Mesa, will be closed for renovations beginning on Saturday, Dec. 3 and continuing through Saturday, Dec. 17. Regular hours are expected to resume on …
BIPARTISANSHIP

Mesa, Tempe lawmakers press Ducey for school spending decision

PHOENIX - A bipartisan group that includes a Mesa Republican and Tempe Democrat called on Gov. Doug Ducey to live up to his promise to call a special session to address a school spending …
TRANSPORTATION

ADOT limits weekend freeway work to Buckeye, Gold Canyon

No closures are scheduled for improvement projects on Phoenix-area freeways this weekend. The Arizona Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that work will be limited to areas of Buckeye …
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGES

MCSO: Man stabs Mesa Fry’s worker, felt ‘disrespected’

A 37-year-old man is in custody after admitting to stabbing a Fry’s grocery store employee because he felt “disrespected,” authorities said. Maricopa County Sheriff’s …
General Plan Amendment

Apartments planned adjacent to A.T. Still University in Mesa

Changing 10 acres from a medical campus General Plan designation to allow for apartments near A.T. Still University should be approved, the Mesa Planning and Zoning Board decided recently in a split …
Early childhood education

Mesa Community College program earns national accreditation

The associate in applied science in early childhood education program at Mesa Community College has been granted first-time accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young …

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OPINION

The holidays are usually a time for celebration and feelings of joy. The idea of getting together with family, living out traditions, and taking much needed R&R are some of the best parts of the …

I’m Dr. Destin and I love Orthokeratology (Ortho-K). Not only do I have a passion to provide Ortho-K to others, but I have also been blessed to wear these night lenses personally for about 20 …
“Volunteers of America,” our U.S. military and our country’s creation of forced military service with a conscription act during the Civil War and the creation of the draft in 1940 …
Neighbors
The Armer Foundation is hosting its 4th annual holiday toy drive to benefit the Banner Cardon Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Oncology Unit, through Dec. 15.

Armer Foundation hosts toy drive to Benefit Banner Cardon Pediatric ICU

The Armer Foundation, a local nonprofit that helps families with children who have extreme medical needs, is hosting its 4th annual holiday toy drive to benefit the Banner Cardon Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Oncology Unit, through Dec. 15.
A resident of Broadway Mesa Village Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Seniors dress up for Alzheimer’s awareness in ‘Walkerthon’

Residents at Broadway Mesa Village Assisted Living and Memory Care were dressed up with funny signs and costumes Nov. 15 for a “walkerthon” to raise funds for the local Alzheimer’s …
Mesa resident and Arizona State University senior Nathaniel Ross has been awarded the coveted Rhodes Scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.

Mesa resident awarded Rhodes Scholarship, will attend Oxford

Arizona State University senior Nathaniel Ross has been awarded the coveted Rhodes Scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, the American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust …
The Arizona National Guard assisted United Food Bank in a distribution effort at Mesa Convention Center in this file photo.

United Food Bank distributes turkeys, trimmings Monday in Mesa

Up to 1,800 families are expected to visit the Mesa Convention Center Monday, Nov. 21 to pick up all of the items needed to celebrate Thanksgiving. United Food Bank said volunteers have put …
More than 150 members of Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club attended the fundraiser.

Superstition Mountain raises $80K for Sunshine Acres Children’s Home

Members of Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club raised more than $80,000 during its recent Rock-N-Roll for Sunshine Acres event. More than 150 members attended the charity dinner which …
Mesa Education & Business Reporting
Education
Elections

Chad Thompson, Jill Humpherys elected to Gilbert Public Schools board 

Gilbert Public Schools’ governing board will have a new look when two new board members take office alongside one incumbent who won reelection in the November ballot.  Newcomer Chad …
Elections

Incumbent Humpherys, newcomer Thompson have comfortable GPS board leads

Incumbent Jill Humpherys is the early leader to return to a board seat for Gilbert Public Schools.  Humpherys has 32% of the vote. Newcomer Chad Thompson is settled into the second spot at …
6th year

A.T. Still University receives diversity award

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences is a recipient of the 2022 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award by Insight Into Diversity magazine, a diversity-focused …
Clery Act

Pandemic pushes crime down on Mesa Community College campuses, center

There were six crimes reported in 2021 — compared to 16 in 2020 and nine in 2019 — at two Mesa Community College campuses and a downtown center in the Maricopa County Community College …
Clery Act

9 crimes in 2021 reported at 3 Mesa universities, 1 institute

In 2021, there were five crimes at Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, two on non-campus property at Benedictine University-Mesa, one at A.T. Still University and one on public property near …
SCHOOLS

Mesa lawmaker needs support for special session on education funding

Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers of Mesa said he is willing to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol after the Nov. 8 election to address an education funding issue. However, the Republican …
Election 2022

Q&A: Mesa USD Governing Board candidates on increasing enrollment

Seven candidates for two Mesa Public Schools governing board seats have filed signatures to be on the ballot at the Nov. 8 election. According to the Maricopa County school superintendent’s …

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Daily Independent
Entertainment
At left, Paris Carlyon speaks to the judges at the horsemanship portion of the competition for 2019 Lost Dutchman Days queen.

Lost Dutchman Days rodeo royalty pageant in January

Applications are due Jan. 2 to compete in the Lost Dutchman Days rodeo royalty pageant in one of four age areas: Queen (18-26), Sr. Teen Queen (14-17), Jr. Teen Queen (10-13) and new Little Miss …
More than 300 cats from across the U.S. compete in eight judging rings over two days for Best in Show. There will be special activities involving household pets and recognition for the top Household Pet in Show.

29th annual all-breed cat show, adoption event in Mesa Dec. 10-11

The 29th Annual Cat Fanciers Association all-breed cat show, “It’s Feline A Lot Like Christmas,” will be hosted Dec. 10-11 in Mesa by the Phoenix Feline Fanciers, a club of The Cat …
Games are to be played 9 a.m. to early evening Dec. 1-4 at Bell Bank Park – Legacy Sports Park, 1 Legacy Drive in Mesa.

Pickleball Sunmed Mesa open tournament Dec. 1-4

Nearly 400 players have registered to participate in the Association of Pickleball Professionals Sunmed Mesa Open hosted by Sunmed|Your CBD Store. Games are to be played 9 a.m. to early evening …
At the 2021 Power Campus hair show, EVIT recruiter Chastain Duarte poses with a student model.

Cosmetology students showcase their creativity in hair shows

Cosmetology students at the East Valley Institute of Technology will show off their creative skills through elaborate hairstyles, costumes and displays at two hair shows in December. The …
More than 150 films from around the globe will screen over the weekend culminating in an awards brunch on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Mesa International Film Festival kicks off Thursday

This weekend the Mesa International Film Festival returns to downtown Mesa. Activities kick off 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at Benedictine University-Mesa, 225 E. Main St., with speakers Joanne …

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Obituaries

Glenn L. Jensen

We are sad to announce the passing of Glenn L. Jensen of Sun City, Arizona. Glenn was 97 years old when he died on November 18, 2022 from complications of surgery for a broken femur in the …

Robert Michael Tomich

Robert, passed away Monday, November 21, 2022. Born October 7, 1937 as a first generation American to Michael (from Serbia) and Irene  (from Italy) Tomich,  Bob Tomich  lived a Norman …

Freida Painter

Freida Painter danced her way out Friday November 4th 2022 just 23 days short of her 101st B-Day. Freidas’ zest for life was there to the end. She is survived by her Daughter Lisa Painter …

David J. Brott

Mr. David John Brott passed away on October 26, 2022 in Peoria, Arizona of a long-time illness. He was born on November 25, 1949, to Robert and Corinne Brott (Evert) in St. Paul, Minnesota. He …

Thomas Charles Bruner

Thomas, 87, of Peoria, AZ passed away Oct. 24, 2022 in . Private family arrangements have been made. Condolences may be shared at www.menkefuneralhome.com

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