How board helps veterans
Highland High Class of ‘22
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Sunday, May 29, 2022
Town pares Ocotillo Bridge designs to 2 options BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
T
he Town has pared down the aesthetic design for the planned Ocotillo Bridge across Gilbert Regional Park to two from four and is again asking the public for its input. Residents can comment from May 31 to June 14 on the two options – the Palo Verde concept and a new design Desert Falls, which incorporates the best of the elements from three previous renderings – Waterfall, Water and Stone, and Cascade. Some 3,490 people in a survey weighed
in on the original four concepts, which were designed around a desert oasis theme that resulted from public outreach. “I really like the way you took the other three remaining designs and incorporated the best of each into something that we are calling Desert Falls,” Councilman Scott September told the Kimley-Horn consultant at the May 24 study session. “Very creative, I’m impressed. That came out of left field. I didn’t think that was going to be an option. “That was just a great idea. I’m anxious to see what the comments will be on that.” The top two choices among survey takers were Palo Verde with 65.2% of the votes and
Water and Stone, 56.1%, followed by Waterfall, 45.2% and Cascade, 33.5%. The Town wants to build the statement bridge to connect Ocotillo Road between Greenfield to Higley roads. Ocotillo currently is separated by a number of natural barriers, such as the Queen Creek Canal, East Maricopa Floodway and a Roosevelt Water Conservation District canal. The 545-foot-long bridge will have four travel lanes along with bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways. The overall budget
see BRIDGE page 5
EV dad never forgets fallen warrior son Gilbert observes Memorial Day. See Page 4. BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer
R
oy Conrad, father of the late Staff Sgt. Alex Conrad of Chandler, has been busy since his son was killed in combat in Somalia in 2018– either the last or second-last Arizona warrior felled by enemy fire in the last four years. There are a lot of Gold Star Family events and dedications he has attended while he also volunteers with a number of organizations. “I was talking to one of the dads and I said, ‘You know, when does it slow down?’” Roy recalled. “And because his son was killed almost 10 years ago, he says, ‘You know, it slows down when you want it to slow down.
see MEMORIAL page 10
Roy Conrad of Chandler stands in front of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gilbert, which last month was renamed after his son, Staff Sgt. Alex Conrad, who died in combat in Somalia in 2018. Roy memorializes his son in many ways, including with a decal on the rear of his motorcycle. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)