2025 January issue of InMaricopa Magazine

January 2024 issue of InMaricopa Magazine InMaricopa.com InMaricopa is Maricopa's premier local news source InMaricopa is your go-to source for hyper-local news and information about Maricopa, Arizona. Stay informed with the latest community updates, events, and stories that matter to our city. InMaricopa is the only dedicated news outlet focusing exclusively on the city of Maricopa, ensuring residents are always in the know.

www.InMaricopa.com

January 2025

Smells like team spirit It’s a toughie, being fluffy

HISTORY • BUSINESS • COMMUNITY • EDUCATION • HOME • MORE

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Say hello to Cox Fiber in Maricopa Great news! We’re delivering Cox’s GIG-enabled network to your community. Choose the speed you need—and stay connected to what matters most. Learn more at cox.com/internet

STAY COZY THIS SEASON!

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CONTENTS

Maricopa

LEADING OFF Editor’s letter 6 Contributors 6 HISTORY

‘Tapping’ into the past 8 This month in history 8 2024 IN REVIEW Readers’ choice 11 Big business announcements 14

Disturbing and mysterious deaths 16 Top real estate sales of the year 20 Keeping an eye on schools 22 Best of sports 24 GOVERNMENT Permits 26 COMMUNITY Teen suicide up big in city, even by underreported numbers 28 BUSINESS Have your cake and freebies, too 34 How to prep for a painless tax season 36 Briefs 38 Restaurant inspections 40 HEALTH & WELLNESS Tips for clear, healthy toenails 41 How to prep for a painless tax season 42 Sleigh the day in 2025 with these groundbreaking skin treatments 44

EDUCATION Maricopa’s mascots keep their giant, foam heads in the game 46 HOME Don’t let your garden get lost in the frost 50 How to up your credit score for a better mortgage 51 Extreme home sales 52 6 ways to grow your rental portfolio in 2025 53

EVENTS Calendar 54 TRENDING A look at what’s hot on InMaricopa.com 63 PARTING SHOT A bug’s life 64

CORRECTIONS Last month’s story Cover-up at Copper Sky identified David McLeish as a director. He is actually a superintendent. The story also said Andy Juarez contacted McLeish in reference to an InMaricopa F.O.I.A. request. While state law does require this, McLeish was not contacted.

Cheryl & Dave Karsten

ON THE COVER Victor Moreno catches Maricopa High School’s Rammy the Ram and Desert Sunrise High’s Gary the Golden Hawk duking it out at a Copper Sky playground Dec. 9.

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InMaricopa.com | January 2025

FROM THE EDITOR

Calling All Future Kindergarteners! Maricopa Unified School District invites you to join teachers and staff to tour your new school! Learn about our full-day kindergarten program and register for the 2025-2026 school year.

T THE BALL — OR GIANT TACO, IF YOU’RE IN Tucson — has dropped, meaning we have officially navigated one-quarter of this century together (except my two reporters born after 2000, you know who you are!). While the covers of checkout-aisle magazines are predictably promising tips to satiate the latter aphorism in “New year, new me,” I’m thinking about what not to do differently in 2025. them — more than five a day on average, holidays and all the rest. In our annual reader survey, the most common response to “What is InMaricopa doing well?” was our up-to-the-minute coverage of the crashes, crimes and storylines that matter to you. In 2025, our team is committed to delivering the same quality and quantity of news coverage to which our 1.4 million online readers (and, most importantly, the 90,000 people who get this magazine in the mail) have become accustomed. Whether it’s an election or an emergency, we want you to know we’ll be there to report all the details in real time. And when there’s an injustice, a mystery or a scandal, we hope you’ll continue to trust that we won’t stop digging until we find the facts. Curating our 2024 in Review meant mining through a panoply of online and printed news stories — nearly 2,000 of If you enjoy reading 2024 in Review: Readers’ Choice, I invite you to scan the QR code on page 13 and explore dozens more recaps of all of Maricopa’s biggest news events of 2024. It’s a reminder of all we’ve overcome, and all the good we’ve done as a community. New year, same me?

Beyond the Year in Review, this month’s edition features a couple of fantastic long-form stories from our editorial team I think you’ll really enjoy. In his final magazine piece before bidding us adieu for a life of freelance writing in retirement, somewhere sunny south of Tucson, Jeff Chew funnels a half-century of journalism experience

Publisher SCOTT BARTLE

Editorial Director ELIAS WEISS

Advertising Director VINCENT MANFREDI

into his cover story, stepping inside the life of a Maricopa high school mascot. Then, Monica D. Spencer joins forces with junior reporter Kaylin Hansen for a data-driven deep dive into teen suicide, asking real teens and grieving parents tough questions about such tragedies, which happen more in Maricopa than any city or town in Pinal County even by

Advertising TAWNI PROCTOR AMBER ROGALLA

Writers JEFF CHEW KRISTINA DONNAY WENDE GEHRT BRAD RUSSELL GREEN

grossly underreported numbers. I learned a lot in 2024, my first full calendar year here at InMaricopa . I can’t wait to see what I’ll learn in 2025! This year, my goal is to keep bringing you more of the stories you want to read. With that said, I know my piece in the December edition, Maricopa’s secret murder house , was last month’s most popular magazine story — stay tuned for the sequel in next month’s issue, which features exclusive interviews with the people who discovered the body in one of Maricopa’s most mind-boggling unsolved stabbing deaths. I’ll rendezvous with you all then. In the meantime, I’d better get to work — new year, same reliable hometown news source!

JUSTIN GRIFFIN KAYLIN HANSEN DAYV MORGAN

JORDAN RICHARDSON BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. CHRIS J. SCOGGIN MONICA D. SPENCER SHERMAN AND EUPHEMIA WEEKES KYLIE WERNER

Photographers JEFF CHEW

KAYLIN HANSEN VICTOR MORENO BRYAN MORDT

BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. MONICA D. SPENCER

Designer CARL BEZUIDENHOUT

ELIAS WEISS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Elias@inMaricopa.com

MISSION Inform readers/viewers. Enrich advertisers.

BELIEFS We believe in: • An informed citizenry. • Holding ourselves and others accountable. • The success of deserving businesses.

MUSD KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Times vary by location Documents needed for registration: • Parent/Guardian ID • Child’s Birth Certificate • Immunization Records • Proof of Residency (electric bill, water bill, etc.)

CONTRIBUTORS

For more information, contact your school site:

Butterfield Elementary School 43800 W. Honeycutt Rd 520-568-6100 Maricopa Elementary School 18150 N. Alterra Pkwy 520-568-5160 Pima Butte Elementary School 42202 W. Rancho El Dorado Pkwy 520-568-7155 Saddleback Elementary School Maricopa Accelerated Program Available 18600 N. Porter Rd 520-568-6110

Santa Cruz Elementary School 19845 N. Costa Del Sol Blvd 520-568-5170 Santa Rosa Elementary School Spanish Dual Language Immersion Available 21400 N. Santa Rosa Dr 520-568-6150

VALUES

• Integrity • Accountability

• Open, honest, real-time communication • Prosperity for clients, community, company

Volume 20, Issue 1 InMaricopa 44400 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 101 Maricopa, AZ 85138

520-568-0040 Tel News@InMaricopa.com Advertising@InMaricopa.com

BRAD RUSSELL GREEN Dr. Brad leverages his ER knowledge to guide us safely through flu season.

JUSTIN GRIFFIN Longtime InMaricopa contributor Justin takes a look at all our most popular stories from 2024.

WENDE GEHRT Master gardener Wende helps us prepare our plants for a month of frosty nights.

Published advertisements are not an endorsement of products or advertising claims by InMaricopa . No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of InMaricopa . Copyright 2025.

www.MUSD20.org/kindergarten

InMaricopa.com | January 2025

Find out what your home is worth. Every month. FREE.

HISTORY

Instant massaging for the Old West Era

In 1873, a new military telegraph line connected Yuma to Maricopa Wells, Tucson, Phoenix and Prescott. This network, a first iteration of instant messaging, covered vast distances for its time, opening the lines of communication and closing the gap between communities. It not only facilitated coordination between military and law enforcement but also aided the territory’s economy through faster and more efficient communication, according to the Arizona Historical Foundation. Telegraph services remained available for the railroad and local residents through the 1960s. In this (above) 1874 photo of the telegraph office at the Wells, courtesy of the Arizona Historical Society, are (from left): Sgt. Gearhart, telegraph operator; James A. Moore, proprietor of Maricopa Wells; unidentified man behind the telegraph pole; Bill Baxter, line rider; Chas N. Naylor, bookkeeper; and Milton Ward, stage driver. Seated on the ground at left are Santiago’s wife and baby.

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY For these and other historical stories, visit InMaricopa.com.

5 years ago

10 years ago

15 years ago

20 years ago

Maricopa teen Kristopher Guarajado Mickell, 15, was stabbed to death in west Phoenix. Mickell was rushed to the hospital in critical condition where he was later pronounced dead. Phoenix police arrested Manuel Isideo Lopez, 22, on murder charges connected to the stabbing near 43rd Avenue and Indian School Road. In Maricopa County Superior Court in 2021, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a plea bargain.

A passenger died and a driver was injured when a Chevy Venture van plowed through a tree and a fire hydrant before coming to rest in the Rancho Mirage community lake. Passenger Eileen Olive Brown, 46, was pronounced dead several hours after the crash. Her stepmother, Bernadette Rose Lopez, 59, the driver, was treated at Chandler Regional Medical Center’s trauma unit. Bystander Damon Burke, who helped first responders at the scene, estimated Brown had been underwater for at least 10 minutes.

Meritage Homes held a grand opening for the Province community with new home prices landing in the mid-$100,000s. Province was the first gated community in the city and remains the only active adult community in Maricopa.

Maricopa’s parks and rec department announced the creation of the Salsa Festival, which would debut in April at Maricopa High School. In addition to the salsa tasting and competition, live entertainment and other family activities were offered including a special guest appearance by a Food Network superstar. Last year, nearly two decades into the tradition, the city nixed the event permanently.

(480) 251-4231 DayvMorgan@gmail.com MaricopaHomeSmart.com

Dayv Morgan ABR, CDPE, CSSPE OWNER, REALTOR ®

Maricopa’s #1 Realtor Maricopa Resident Since 2006

InMaricopa.com | January 2025

Readers’ Choice BY JUSTIN GRIFFIN AND KYLIE WERNER

1.4 million Unique users who accessed InMaricopa.com

5.7 million Times InMaricopa.com stories were read

1,948 Stories InMaricopa.com published

50 States from which people accessed InMaricopa.com

To kick off our year in review, we took a look at the stories that mattered most to our readers. To curate this list, we looked at the top 10 most read stories of the year.

Maricopa’s Pediatric Dental Specialist

1 CAFFEINE CRASH FEBRUARY

3 DEADLIEST CATCH JUNE

improvements to State Route 347 now deemed “unfeasible,” the board decided it was time to hit pause. The agency’s plan had been heavily reliant on a sales tax approved by voters in 2017, which was ultimately struck down by the Arizona Supreme Court, leaving $90 million in limbo. While no staff were laid off, funding and future projects are now nonexistent, although a half-cent local sales tax is being explored as a new solution. 5 HIGHS AND LOWE’S JANUARY Lowe’s Home Improvement confirmed Maricopa would start seeing more than just the usual desert landscape when Thompson Thrift began construction on a 130,000-square-foot hardware superstore. The Indianapolis developer, which finalized a $9.25 million land purchase last summer through its Phoenix office, is setting up shop at the South Bridge Marketplace. Currently under construction are a 30,000-square-foot garden center, retail and restaurant spaces, catering to Maricopa’s growing demand for goods and services. The developer is no stranger to the area — back in 2019, it completed the Sonoran Creek Marketplace with big-name tenants like Sprouts Farmers Market and Marshalls. Now, it’s bringing more shopping options to a city hungry for retail. Plans for the project include an Aldi supermarket and additional storefronts in phase two, expected this year.

In a shocking twist, Dutch Bros Coffee decided against opening a second location in Maricopa — just after announcing its corporate move from Grants Pass, Ore., to Phoenix. The company had filed paperwork in July 2023 for a new drive-thru at Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Stonegate Road, but after months of silence, it confirmed it would no longer pursue the project, leaving coffee lovers in the area without a favorite caffeine fix. Maricopa’s existing Dutch Bros store opened in 2019. 2 COACH OF THE YEAR JUNE Ryan Portee, a former football coach at Desert Sunrise High School, was arrested after InMaricopa publicized video footage of a disturbing road rage incident in May. Portee, 50, had threatened to kill 21-year-old Jordin Amato at the intersection of Porter and Honeycutt Roads. Portee had a history of traffic violations across multiple states, including DUI, reckless driving and other dangerous offenses. This latest incident led to his termination from both Desert Sunrise and Sequoia Pathway Academy, where he had been a coach and physical education teacher. He faces charges of threatening and intimidating, along with disorderly conduct.

Leanne Lemman, 45, was already in hot water for stealing from her ex-employer when things took a tragic turn. While on the run from the local police in Payson, she ran a red light and killed 69-year-old Mark Alexander, who was riding his bicycle. Though initially released by police, Lemman’s connection to several fraud charges across the state caught up with her. Now arrested on multiple felony counts, she faces up to 93 years in prison — and more charges could be on the way. The Casa Grande Police Department had been tracking Lemman, a one-time Rancho Mirage resident, for months after she is said to have gone on a self-indulgent shopping spree using stolen credit card details from her ex-boss. From Botox to pedicures, Lemman left a trail of financial ruin and legal problems. As creditors and investigators closed in, Lemman’s evasion efforts seemed endless — until her fatal driving incident in Payson. Lemman is accused of a series of fraudulent activities, including theft and forgery, linked to multiple cities in Arizona. After spending weeks evading arrest, she is still being held in the Pinal County jail on a $20,000 bond. 4 VAPID TRANSIT NOVEMBER The Pinal Regional Transportation Authority announced it was suspending operations after nearly a decade of failed efforts. With

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WANT TO REMEMBER MORE FROM 2024? Scan here to read dozens more categories from InMaricopa’s 2024 in Review, like viral videos, dumbest drivers, business openings

Readers’ Choice

10 TRAGEDY ON RIGGS ROAD DECEMBER Rush hour traffic should’ve died down by 7:30 p.m. one Monday when a 4-mile stretch of Riggs Road was closed between Interstate 10 and State Route 347 due to what Gila River Police Department called a “serious collision.” The police told InMaricopa a motorcyclist had died in the crash and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it was 38-year-old Dustin Michael Tappe, a Maricopa Meadows resident, beloved husband and father of seven. His widow, Melody Rose Tappe, had loved Dustin since he was 11 years old. Melody said her soulmate “was the most incredible man and even better father.” In the days and weeks following the fatal crash, she desperately sought answers about what happened to the man she said was an adroit motorcyclist. “He was coming home to me and our babies!” Melody pleaded. “Everything in me says something isn’t right here.”

and closures, and the most hilarious arrests of the year.

6 TEEN SUICIDE SEPTEMBER

MATTRESS & FURNITURE

Zack Born, a 19-year-old who struggled with autism, depression and burn scars from a traumatic fire, died by suicide. Zack donated his organs, including his kidneys, liver and heart valves, to help others. His mother, Patty Born, a psychiatric nurse, was using her grief to raise awareness about depression, bullying and organ donation, urging parents to have difficult conversations with their children. Zack, who had recently obtained his driver’s license, had a history of struggles, including being bullied at work at a local hamburger joint and feeling isolated because of his autism. Patty reflected on her son’s kindness and his battle with chronic depression, urging people to treat others with compassion. She also shared the emotional toll of Zack’s bullying at the fast-food restaurant, where he was reportedly treated harshly by managers, contributing to his mental health decline. Patty’s grief has turned into a call for societal change, focusing on kindness, better treatment of those who are different, and the importance of mental health resources. She hopes her son’s life — and death — can be lessons for others, urging parents to help their children navigate depression and reach out when needed.

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While the road’s economic potential is clear, the real question remains: Will it actually make traffic less of a headache or just add a few more? Regardless, the new road would offer the Gila River Indian Community a chance to cash in on the traffic. 9 MURDER IN THE MEADOWS NOVEMBER Police were dispatched to the 45000 block of Dirk Street just before 7:15 p.m. one Friday night where they found an injured 16-year-old, Esteban Valenzuela, who was transported to a Valley hospital for treatment. Later, Maricopa Police Department confirmed the boy had been shot. Police closed Dancer Lane between Dirk Street and Guilder Avenue so the department’s crime scene unit could take over. At a vigil three days later, Valenzuela’s mother, a single mom of five, called him her protector and a “go-getter” with “a lot of heart.” The following night, two 15-year-olds — a boy and a girl — were arrested during a SWAT raid of a Villages home and a “high-risk” traffic stop at the Sonoran Creek Marketplace in connection with the homicide. In December, a third child — a boy, 16 — was also jailed in the case. At the time of publication, the names and nature of the charges were being withheld by MPD.

miles per hour. The chase ended tragically when Catus failed to navigate a curve, crashing into the intersection and dying from a massive head injury. Dashcam and bodycam footage show the aftermath, with Ewald reporting Catus’ broken neck and faint pulse. While toxicology reports are still pending, records show Catus had a history of DUI charges. The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Vehicular Crimes Unit. 8 THROWN FOR A LOOP NOVEMBER The City of Maricopa unveiled a feasibility study for the first phase of the Green Road loop. The plan is to reduce congestion on State Route 347, which currently handles over 11,000 vehicles a day. The new route would run along the city’s west side, providing an alternative for travelers and opening new opportunities for business and development in the area. This proposed bypass would stretch across the Gila River Indian Community, transforming the landscape with new roads, sidewalks and landscaping. According to the consultants, the project could generate new revenue streams and jobs. At full build-out, the road would feature two lanes in each direction, making the dream of avoiding John Wayne Parkway a reality.

Honorable mention SURREAL ESTATE JUNE

Forget the cookie- cutter homes you’ll find in most subdivisions. Maricopa’s unincorporated areas are home to some seriously

pool (at the time of publication, it was for sale for $800,000). Meanwhile, the Hidden Valley pyramid home, with its stained- glass windows and unique wooden interiors, definitely looks like it was designed for a totally different climate. For those into more offbeat designs, there’s the Dorito- shaped A-frame cabin

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quirky digs that will make you question what “normal” really means. From a beach- inspired hillside retreat to a pyramid- shaped home that looks like it’s straight out of an Egyptian fantasy, these properties break every rule in the book. One standout was a four-bedroom, beachy abode in Thunderbird Farms, complete with ocean-inspired decor and a backyard

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Maricopa police released video footage from a fatal crash that occurred seven months earlier. Demetrius Catus, a 29-year-old motorcyclist, was being chased by Sgt. Michael Ewald when he crashed at the intersection of John Wayne and Alterra Parkways. Catus was reportedly traveling at nearly triple the speed limit, wobbling on his Kawasaki Sport bike before losing control and suffering fatal injuries. The pursuit started after Ewald spotted Catus speeding at 80 miles per hour in a 35 zone. The motorcyclist briefly stopped at Honeycutt Avenue but then sped off, reaching speeds of 100

and a startlingly yellow house that screams “look at me.” Whether it’s

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the funky exterior or the strange history, these homes prove Maricopa isn’t for the faint of heart when it comes to real estate.

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44360 W. Edison Road, Suite 100 Maricopa, AZ

InMaricopa.com | January 2025

January 2025 | InMaricopa.com

An exterior view of construction at the upcoming Duke’s Roadhouse on Maricopa and Edwards Roads on Sept. 26.

New homes starting in the $300’s

BUSINESS

NIRVANA CENTER SEPTEMBER

Announcements ALDI FEBRUARY

Pinal County officials confirmed the Colorado cannabis retailer Nirvana Center plans to open a new dispensary at a Hidden Valley strip mall. Located next to Raceway Bar & Grill, this will be the third pot shop at 49237 W. Papago Road. A rezoning update and a special-use permit are all that stand between Hidden Valley and its weed store comeback. Once operational, the Nirvana Center will offer extended hours and robust security.

Find your community here

German grocer Aldi submitted preliminary plans to build a new store in the Southbridge Shopping Center, marking Maricopa’s fifth supermarket. The discount chain will be located near Lowe’s, currently under construction. Construction and opening dates remain unclear

INDUSTRIAL TRIANGLE JULY

COPIA POWER AUGUST

The City of Maricopa began calling for bids on a 680-acre industrial park with big potential. Several companies are eyeing the land, including Cleveland, Ohio-based Envision Waste Services and an unnamed major plastics renewal company, both proposing massive investments and job creation. The site, equipped with a railroad spur, could house industries like waste processing and waste-to-energy, with salaries ranging from $50,000 to $110,000. City officials are optimistic about the park’s future, projecting up to 37,000 new jobs. A $1 billion smart rail project will follow, bringing even more development. ELEVATE TRAMPOLINE PARK JULY Maricopa Chief Strategy Officer Rick Horst announced Mesa- based Elevate Trampoline Park will open a 25,000-square-foot location at the southwest corner of John Wayne and Alterra Parkways. The park will feature indoor dining, office space and, naturally, lots of trampolines. With a focus on family entertainment, Horst pointed out the city’s growing need for kid-friendly activities was a major factor in bringing this new business to town.

Plans for a major solar farm on nearly 1,100 acres in Hidden Valley were unveiled. The site, near Salt River Project’s Pinal West Substation, is being developed by Phoenix-based Sawtooth Development Co. on behalf of Hidden Valley Ranch Partners. The solar farm would switch the land’s zoning from residential to green energy production and would be managed by Copia Power. Pinal County approved the project and rezoning in the fall. The facility would generate enough clean energy to power 95,000 homes.

BUFFALO WILD WINGS MARCH

INMARICOPA OCTOBER

The popular Atlanta-based sports bar submitted paperwork for a 7,800-square-foot restaurant at Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Stonegate Road, next to The Home Depot. The site will feature other businesses including Circle K and Starbucks. BASKIN-ROBBINS JUNE City officials gave the “31 flavors” ice cream shop a new commercial tenant improvement permit, meaning owners could get started on interior construction at 20350 N. John Wayne Parkway in the Sonoran Creek Marketplace. Phoenix-based commercial real estate developer Viaone said it planned to open the ice cream parlor in the first quarter of 2025. Another Baskin-Robbins, which had opened in 2005 at the Maricopa Fiesta, shuttered in 2013.

InMaricopa celebrated two first- place victories at the Arizona Media Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. Managing Editor Elias Weiss’ investigative series, Scamouflage , exposing stolen valor in Maricopa, claimed top honors for investigative reporting, while Raising Kane , a sharp dive into Sovereign Citizen and Constitutional Sheriff movements, earned best narrative work. Weiss credited the editorial team’s “big-market journalism” approach for their success, while Publisher Scott Bartle praised their dedication to serving Maricopa’s readers. Competing against midmarket giants like The Arizona Mirror and Phoenix Business Journal , InMaricopa continues proving even small towns demand quality investigative journalism.

DUKE’S ROADHOUSE SEPTEMBER

Duke’s Roadhouse revealed fresh plans to the city planning department, signaling progress on its honky-tonk restaurant at Maricopa and Edwards Roads. The updates included a retro neon sign with a sleek arrow mounted on the façade, ditching its original rooftop placement. Demolition began early last year. Plans for a nearby road extension aim to connect Duke’s to the developing Southbridge Marketplace. Meanwhile, the venue sponsored Maricopa’s fall concert series, ensuring country music fills the air before the restaurant serves its first meal.

D.R. Horton is an Equal Housing Opportunity Builder. DRH Properties, Inc., Broker. Home and community information, pricing, plans, elevations, included features, options, terms, availability, amenities, and co-broke, are subject to change and prior sale at any time without notice or obligation. Drawings, pictures, photographs, video, square footages, colors, features, and sizes are for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. Square footage dimensions are approximate and vary by elevation. If Buyer is working with a licensed real estate agent or broker, the agent or broker must accompany and register buyer on first visit to the community. See sales agent for complete details and pricing, including a list of available homes. Prices vary by community. D.R. Horton reserves the right to cancel or change all offers without prior notice. Prices shown are base home prices and do not include closing cost and fees, lot premium, modifications to plans and custom features which may substantially affect final cost of the home. Furnishings and decorative items not included with home purchase. Construction by DRH Phoenix East Construction, Inc., License #ROC 064532-B. Contact us for Maricopa specific homebuyer incentives. 480-780-2171 or phxeastinformation@drhorton.com

InMaricopa.com | January 2025

PUBLIC SAFETY

7-ELEVEN NOVEMBER

ACTION BEHAVIOR CENTERS DECEMBER Action Behavior Centers ABA Therapy for Autism is approved for 41800 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. Permits for the signage were issued in October and were installed in mid-December. It will replace what once was Big 5 Sporting Goods, the city’s only sporting goods store, which closed in November after eight years in business. The center will provide therapy to children from 1½ to 13 years old who are on the autism spectrum. LA MICHOACANA DECEMBER La Michoacana The Ice Cream Spot AZ is remodeling the former K’Bella Salon and Day Spa at 20800 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite 116, at the Maricopa Fiesta. Andre Gutierrez, who owns the Mexican sweets shop, predicted an early 2025 opening. An immigrant from the coastal Mexican state of Michoacán, he opened his first location in 2021 in Casa Grande. Maricopa will be the family busi- ness’s fourth venture. CHILAQUILES MODERN KITCHEN DECEMBER The metro brunch spot confirmed it would open its second location in Maricopa in the first quarter of 2025. The popular Mesa-based Mexican a.m. restaurant is taking over the former sports bar The Roost, which closed last month. The space at 20800 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite 101, in The Shops at Maricopa Fiesta, is expected to be remodeled.

DUI CASE TOOK A WILD TURN JANUARY

Scottsdale’s De Rito Partners proposed Maricopa’s first 7-Eleven on the southwest corner of Honeycutt and White and Parker Roads, with a 4,600-square-foot convenience store and gas pumps. The site would include parking and six fueling islands, catering to local workers and traffic along Honeycutt Road. A second 7-Eleven was proposed earlier near John Wayne Parkway. For now, Maricopa’s nearest 7-Eleven is a 20-mile drive north in Tempe.

Homestead resident Dena Paige Devine, 53, drank several beers, ate a marijuana edible and drove into motorcyclist Jordan Piergrossi in her SUV, killing the 47-year-old father. Public outrage erupted when a Pinal County grand jury dismissed her DUI case — a rare occurrence, according to prosecutors. However, Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer in October revealed plans to bring new charges, including DUI and manslaughter. Meanwhile, defense lawyers argue Piergrossi’s alleged speeding contributed to the crash. With Devine’s THC-positive test and an event data recorder as evidence, prosecutors remain determined to hold her accountable as the case remains ongoing on the anniversary of Piergrossi’s death.

PHX SURF NOVEMBER

PHX Surf is finally paddling toward progress after years of choppy waters. CEO Erin LaGrassa described the project’s transformation from a raucous waterpark to a serene “wellness oasis” featuring a sunglass- shaped surf lagoon, earthy 3D-printed villas and barefoot luxury. Despite delays, developers filed for a permit in September, hinting two months later at an early 2025 groundbreaking at the southwest corner of Loma Road and State Route 238.

Crews pull missing Sandra Karelsen’s blue Hyundai from a lake on the northeast corner of Rummy Road and Pinochle Lane in Province Feb. 21.

LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT NOVEMBER

MISSING WOMAN WAS FOUND IN SUBMERGED CAR FEBRUARY What started as a missing person’s report ended with a chilling discovery. Sandra Karelsen, 67, was found in her blue Hyundai sedan, completely submerged in a lake in Province. Maricopa police located the car after a friend reported her disappearance earlier that day. The Pinal County Medical Examiner confirmed Karelsen’s cause of death as drowning, with no signs of trauma. What led her car to plunge into the lake near Rummy Road and Pinochle Lane remains unknown. The quiet waters now hold more questions than answers.

Lowe’s Home Improvement began work on its 139,000-square- foot store and garden center at the Southbridge Marketplace. Positioned to compete with The Home Depot, which opened nearby in September, Lowe’s entree signals Maricopa’s continued retail boom.

InMaricopa.com | January 2025

DISTURBING CHILD EXPLOITATION CASE ENDED IN SHOCKING SUICIDE MAY

LAST CALL HIT TOO HARD AT NOW-DEFUNCT SPORTS BAR FEBRUARY Shawn Black, 42, met his tragic demise at an unlikely location — his restaurant job. Found unresponsive at The Roost Sports Bar & Café early one morning, the Pinal County Medical Examiner later confirmed he succumbed to acute alcohol intoxication the night before. Black, a staffer at the establishment, was discovered lifeless before 9 a.m. by first responders. This haunting episode left questions hanging like an empty glass on a quiet bar counter as The Roost — which closed for good last month — was completely mum about the suspicious death.

A child pornography investigation took a dark turn when 37-year-old Brian Moehr, arrested for possessing explicit videos of minors, died by suicide four days after bailing out of jail. The case began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2023 linking Moehr to a file uploaded from his Maricopa address. Police uncovered additional explicit material in Moehr’s cloud storage, leading to his arrest at his Desert Passage home. After being booked and released, he was found dead in Maricopa County, having jumped in front of a train.

WHEN SWIMMING ON THE JOB WENT WRONG MARCH

Day labor turned deadly when a landscaper tending a Rancho El Dorado property drowned in the backyard pool. Found unresponsive just after 4:30 p.m., the man was rushed to a nearby hospital but couldn’t be saved. Authorities ruled out foul play but faced delays identifying him, citing complications with his likely non-resident status. At the time of publication, his identity was still a mystery.

Most watched youtube video of 2024 on the InMaricopa channel

convicted felon who was not allowed to possess a gun, told cops in the body camera footage. He claimed people shot at him out of a moving silver pickup truck — a claim that has never been substantiated. Police found bullet holes in neighbor Dante Scudella’s car with a spent bullet in the front seat. Months after the shooting, Scudella told InMaricopa he was “living in fear” and that he “would have been killed” if he had been in the driver’s seat. Despite Harris, a convicted felon and career criminal with more than 70 criminal charges on his record,

admitting to firing off a few rounds, MPD officers did not arrest nor lodge charges against him that night, although they did seize his handgun. But the habitual offender didn’t stay out of trouble for long. In December that year, Harris was jailed on unrelated charges of threatening to murder his stepson. Then, in March 2024, he was nabbed again on charges of beating his wife, attempted auto theft and resisting arrest.

SKYDOVE WITHOUT A PARACHUTE APRIL

APRIL 765,000 VIEWS RUNTIME: 35:08 This viral InMaricopa.com video of body camera footage

A serene morning took a tragic turn when 45-year-old Allen Kay Sackett of Florence lost control of his backpack-style paramotor, crashing near Murphy and La Brea roads in Maricopa. The early-morning crash left authorities baffled, and the cause still remains a mystery. Sackett’s family was notified of the accident, which brought no collateral harm but highlighted the risks of personal flight devices. Officials continue to investigate what led to this ill-fated airborne adventure.

from July 25, 2023, which was released by the authorities nine months later, shows the cops’ confrontation with then-47-year-old Shawan Harris after he disturbed the silence in the streets of Senita with gunfire. “I felt my life was in danger, so I fired back,” Harris, a

BACKYARD MYSTERY WITH A SERRATED TWIST APRIL

It was a grisly discovery in the Maricopa Meadows when a landlord found 24-year-old Makaiel Thomas dead in the back yard, a knife still lodged in his abdomen. His body, already decomposing, showed signs of a single stab wound and 11 partially digested pills in his stomach. With no security footage, no forced entry and a toppled ladder nearby, the circumstances surrounding Thomas’s death remain baffling. Was it suicide, murder or a freak accident? Medical examiners couldn’t say, labeling the case “undetermined.” Meanwhile, police promised a meticulous investigation to unravel the truth, but they have since closed the case, dooming it to remain a mystery forever.

InMaricopa.com | January 2025

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