Looking back at the most popular stories among readers in 2023, one thing is clear: crime was top of mind this year.
Analytics from Jan. 1, 2023 through mid-November for Mesa stories at YourValley.net illustrate what was of most interest to Mesa Independent readers this year.
Of the thousands of stories posted throughout the year, half of the most popular Top 10 stories were related to deaths or suspected murders.
Before a new calendar year begins, take a look at the most popular stories for 2023.
Buckhorn Baths Motel, on the corner of Main Street and Recker Road in Mesa, played a role in bringing spring training to Arizona. (Photo courtesy of Charlie Vascellaro)
Jeffrey Hinkle of Cronkite News wrote a story about a tiny roadside building at Main Street and Recker Road in Mesa, known as the Buckhorn Baths Motel. It was posted to the website April 23.
Ted and Alice Sliger bought a plot of land in 1936 on what today is East Main Street in Mesa. They found water — but it was about 120 degrees and full of minerals. The water wasn’t drinkable but had lots of healing benefits. Not long after the water was found, the motel was built and a spa along with it.
Word got around to New York Giants owner Horace Stoneham. After he made his way out to the Buckhorn for a stay he decided to move his team to Mesa for spring training to play Cleveland.
A permit was approved to allow permanent outdoor display areas at a planned Ace Hardware in the Cadence subdivision in Mesa.
The Mesa Board of Adjustment voted unanimously in a consent agenda with other items to approve the special use permit within the 9200 to 9400 blocks of East Cadence Parkway in a planned community district.
The race presented by Mountain Vista Medical Center had a new finish line ending at Riverview Park, bringing some additional changes for the last mile of the course.
Mesa police were investigating the deaths of two teenage girls whose bodies were found in a water retention basin.
The bodies of Sitlalli Avelar, 17, and Kamryn Meyers, 15, were found about 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in the basin at 5834 E. Southern Ave., police said.
Both girls had been reported as missing/runaways on Jan. 7 from a nearby group home where they stayed in Mesa.
A 31-year-old man was arrested after Mesa police say he shot and killed a woman at a party.
Police responded just after midnight June 11 to the 5600 block of East Flossmoor for reports of a shooting.
Witnesses told officers that Charles Norice was in a fight with another man at the party. Both men went outside, and Norice pulled a gun from his vehicle, firing it into the air, police said in a release.
He then fired at the man, striking 31-year-old Stephanie White who was standing behind him, police said.
An arrest was made in the shooting death of a Mesa teenager, police said.
Peter Clabron III, 18, was arrested in connection to the shooting death of 18-year-old Jeremiah Aviles, both of whom attend Red Mountain High School.
Clabron III was booked into jail on charges of manslaughter and unlawful discharge of a firearm for his role in a May 7 shooting that occurred in a house on the 2300 block of East Camino Street, police said.
An 18-year-old was arrested as the suspect in the shooting death of a motorcyclist in Mesa.
Anton Sereghy was charged with second-degree murder following the death of Arron Hendricks, 42, who was shot about 5:15 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Sossaman and Main Street in Mesa.
Police said witnesses told them Hendricks was riding east on Main Street with a group of motorcyclists when they became involved in a “road rage” incident with those inside a red Nissan.
A 50-foot-tall and 200-foot-long net fence is to be installed north of East Guadalupe Road and east of South Sossaman Road in Mesa to stop softballs from being hit into the street from a field at Sunland Village East. (City of Mesa)
A 50-foot-tall and 200-foot-long net fence is to be installed north of East Guadalupe Road and east of South Sossaman Road in Mesa to stop softballs from being hit into the street from a field at Sunland Village East.
The Mesa Board of Adjustment on Jan. 4 voted unanimously in a consent agenda with other items to approve a minor modification of the approved Sunland Village East planned area development to increase the maximum allowed fence height.
Mesa Unified School District No. 4 had two measures — the sale of $500 million in bonds and a 15% override continuation — for voters to consider at the ballot-by-mail Nov. 7 election. (Independent Newsmedia)
Mesa Unified School District No. 4 had two measures — the sale of $500 million in bonds and a 15% override continuation — for voters to consider at the ballot-by-mail Nov. 7 election.
In unofficial initial returns, the bond question was losing 29,525-28,468; and the override continuation was passing 28,614-28,451.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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