FREE SUBSCRIPTION
EV wrestlers shine in finals PAGE 29
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Inside This Week
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
Town shatters homeowners’ Ocotillo Road relief hopes BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
NEWS ............................3 Gilbert High freshman speaks against firearms training in schools.
COMMUNITY........... 24 Gilbert teen advances in national Shakespeare competition..
S
ome homeowners came to last week’s Gilbert Town Council meeting with hopes of saving their land from eminent domain – and instead got a gut punch. Newly elected Council members Jim Torgeson, Chuck Bongiovanni and Bobbi Buchli requested that the Ocotillo Road widening project be placed on the Feb. 21
Gilbert churro shop shows how the dessert should be done. COMMUNITY.............................24 BUSINESS .................................. 27 SPORTS ......................................29 GETOUT ..................................... 32 CLASSIFIEDS ............................36
No mean feat
agenda for discussion. The trio wanted to look for a less intrusive option for the project that currently affects 46 properties in southeast Gilbert but was told at the last moment that their hands were tied. “I’m normally a happy guy,” Bongiovanni said. “I’m not happy tonight. “What I’m not happy is that this project was voted on in January of 2022 and I
see ROAD page 4
Council defeats rail ban measure as fight goes on BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
BUSINESS..................27
Sunday, February 26, 2023
A
n ordinance that would have prohibited Gilbert from participating and spending any resources for passenger rail was derailed last week. Council newcomers Jim Torgeson, Bobbi Buchli and Chuck Bongiovanni wanted to resurrect the ordinance opposing light rail and commuter rail for the Feb. 21 meeting after it was tabled
last fall. However, they failed to muster the necessary votes to pass the measure, which failed 4-3 with their colleagues saying it tied the town’s hands for future economic opportunities. “We must vote ‘yes,’” Torgeson said. “I think that in order to send the proper message to this town, to the people who count on their safety, that counts on the character of this town that we need to give them this assurance and if we don’t, I think we are disingenuous
see COUNCIL page 14
You don’t have to be Scottish to appreciate what Craig Carle and others did last year at Gilbert Regional Park during the Phoenix Scottish Games during the Caber Toss, one of many sporting events during a three-day festival that drew thousands of people. And if you missed this joyous conglomeration of athleticism, stirring music and pageantry, don’t fret: You have your chance to see it all this coming weekend at the same place. For details, see page 32. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)
The latest breaking news and top local stories in Gilbert!
www.GilbertSunNews.com .com
JUST A CLICK AWAY