Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPIMA COUNTY AZ (AZFamily) — Federal immigration officials say an El Mirage woman is facing human smuggling charges after being found trying to transport six illegal immigrants near the Arizona-Mexico border According to a tweet by the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson sector agents found the suspect after she reportedly drove her car off the road near Arivaca about 11 miles north of the Mexican border CBP officials were able to locate and arrest everyone involved including the migrants who were from Mexico and Guatemala A loaded handgun was also recovered inside the vehicle See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description 1987 SCTA Speed Trials at El Mirage Dry LakeOriginally published in the November 1987 issue of Hot Rod magazine One of the most unusual means of "motorvation" ever to present itself at the dry lakes was John Bjorkman's 120-inch (4.025 x 4.025), Roots-blown, fuel-burning (70-percent nitro), V-twin-powered motorcycle. Bjorkman's goal is 318 mph. Most of the dirt racers arrive at the lake bed on Saturday, place their cars in line, break out the "barbie" and beer, and then party it up. The other form of fun begins about 8 a.m. the next day … usually on the second Sunday of the month starting with May and ending in November. Individual runs commence around 8 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m., when the course surface turns to junk and the ever-present tailwind (called El Mirage horsepower) brings an end to the time trials. Meanwhile, Mike Cook, at the wheel of the Cook & Leggitt A/Fuel Competition Coupe, rattled the traps with an incredible 252-mph pass. You should have heard that thing making horsepressure at the mile mark. Although the Richard Bros.' AA/Altered Camaro suffered engine "whoa, "making only 109 mph on a 195-mph minimum, wait until they sort it out. Blown Rat motor should turn this doorslammer into a lake star. No, lakes racing isn't what one would call a spectator sport. It's strictly for the hardcore dirtballers. But should a rodder want to explore his roots, they're still out there—making dust some 40 miles east of Palmdale, just north of Old El Mirage Road. Push starts are part and parcel of land speed racing, but one rarely sees a Deuce roadster push-starting a chopped and channeled Deuce five-window. Nonetheless, Carl Fjastad's low-riding coupe ran a stout 180 mph in D/Fuel Coupe class. Waiting in line in the morning light or 'chuting to a stop after a mid-day pass in the heat of the day, the ancient highboy roadster, that most enduring form of traditional hot rodding, still dominates El Mirage's dusty, dirty face. MOTORTREND and HOT ROD's rich magazine history and legacy dating back to 1948 is something highly valued by its longtime readers, and that's why we've invested deeply to make the content available to you in a modern and accessible format. In the interest of transparency, these magazine articles are presented as originally published, without modification, and may contain content that does not reflect the company's contemporary values and standards. © 2025 Hot Rod | MOTOR TREND GROUP, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (VVNG.com) — A traffic accident involving a Tesla Cybertruck on the El Mirage Dry Lake Bed left one person with serious injuries and required an airlift to the hospital on Sunday The incident occurred at approximately 5:19 p.m near Bella Vista Drive and Sheep Creek Road San Bernardino County Fire responded to the scene and requested the assistance of a medical helicopter due to the severity of the injuries A Reach helicopter was dispatched and airlifted one of the three occupants in the vehicle to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for further treatment According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) incident logs Photos taken at the scene showed significant damage to the Tesla Cybertruck including a shattered glass roof and extensive damage to the front windshield and body of the vehicle CHP officials have not yet released additional details about the cause of the crash and the CHP’s Victorville Station is leading the inquiry Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available located in the Mojave Desert of Southern California flat expanse known for its unique geological features and recreational use part of the El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle Area Despite its appeal for recreation and speed enthusiasts the dry lakebed can present significant hazards due to its uneven terrain especially when vehicles are driven at high speeds or in challenging conditions Tesla issued a recall for its Cybertruck model due to a potential safety concern affects a limited number of vehicles produced so far addressing issues with the truck’s seatbelt restraint system According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) certain Cybertruck models may have improperly installed seatbelt anchor bolts which could increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash Tesla has urged affected owners to bring their vehicles to authorized service centers for repairs at no cost 📢 Stay connected with the High Desert’s largest news community 🔗 For more local news, visit VVNG.com we’re dedicated to keeping the Victor Valley informed with essential Our newsroom works tirelessly to bring you the latest stories that matter—news that fosters awareness If you value our reporting and want to see it continue local news accessible to everyone—because an informed community is a stronger community Alexis Hermosillo grew up in El Mirage, Arizona, and watched the city evolve alongside her. A fifth-generation resident, she always had a passion for helping her community and dreamed of one day being part of the city’s growth and development. Today, she’s not just helping nurture El Mirage’s future: She’s leading it as the city’s mayor Hermosillo shared with us what it’s like to lead El Mirage and how her Cronkite experience helps her thrive Note: The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity Question: Serving as mayor of El Mirage seems really busy Hermosillo: It took quite a few years to figure out but balancing such a demanding schedule does require a blend of strategic planning Those strategies and maintaining a clear vision of my goals helps me effectively balance my responsibilities while continuing to grow both personally and as a community leader Q: Your public service uplifts the Hispanic community Why are these populations important to you A: I want to see everyone—little kids to older adults It doesn’t matter what demographic background you come from or what ethnic population you’re a part of Sometimes my focus can be the Hispanic population women or youth because I am very familiar with those sets of groups and I come from a very matriarchal family where the women really moved our family along I was partially raised by my great-grandmother; she was my babysitter growing up so I had a very strong and beautiful role model in her That played a big role in why I love to focus on women and helping women develop both personally and professionally. We have to make sure we’re educating and helping to form young people because they’re eventually going into the real world and making real-life decisions that not only impact themselves Q: What does being recognized as Los D-backs Líderes Under 40 mean to you A: I’m so honored that the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los D-backs chose to recognize me This organization works alongside the D-backs to enhance the relationship between the D-backs and the Hispanic community It’s composed of local Hispanics and minority business professionals so being recognized by this group that enhances relationships and engages in local Hispanic and minority businesses is really an honor. Q: How did your time at Cronkite help you to become the leader and person you are today A: The Cronkite School builds strong performers It definitely prepares you for the real world I love approaching situations with an unbiased lens knowing that there is much more than what meets the eye There are a lot of things I learned at the Cronkite School that I utilize in my role today. Q: What Cronkite class or activity challenged you the most? It has been one of the best experiences that I’ve had and it continues to show up in different ways in my career as an official It was also one of the most challenging experiences but I think you learn the most from the biggest challenges in your life. The law and ethics courses really contributed to my skill set I value understanding the legal frameworks and learning how to come into situations with an open mind Q: What advice would you give to the youth in your community (and their parents) who might not be sure college is right for them A: I’m a big supporter of higher education and while I understand everyone’s path is very different I feel like my higher education experience really contributes to my success To the youth in our community: It’s important to remember there are many paths to success Some things that I hope folks consider are exploring their options and looking into vocational schools apprenticeships and certification programs that provide valuable skills that lead to rewarding careers Make sure that you find something that’s a good fit for you but having a hefty toolbox will only benefit you. For the parents: I would say support and encourage your child’s interests and strengths and reassure them it’s OK to follow a nontraditional route to success. A: I never saw myself becoming a public figure or elected official but my heart has always been set on helping people and helping society I always had ambitions of improving people’s lives and helping people thrive I only saw that through the avenue of volunteerism and/or nonprofit work I have been volunteering my time and I have given over 20 years of volunteer service My parents instilled in me the value of service and helping people and that was shown when we would see our family in Mexico and we would make frequent trips to see relatives We would always bring whatever we could to help family members thrive That grew with me throughout the years. My “why” goes back to just being a good person and making sure other people have more resources and opportunities than they currently have Helping people realize their dreams and create more opportunities for not only themselves but for their families Contact Us Support ASU Company requests permission to add a fifth building to site plan Microsoft is looking to expand its existing data center campus in Phoenix Azbex reports Microsoft has requested a site plan amendment for its collection of data center facilities at 12901 W Olive Avenue in the El Mirage area of the city The amendment covers plans to build a new facility that will total 245,500 sq ft (22,808 sqm) Power will be provided by the existing Arizona Public Service on-site substation Planning staff recommended the amendment for approval 4-0 The project will be presented to the City Council at the upcoming December 3 meeting while PHX-81 and PHX-82 are permitted and under construction PHX-83 will be the fifth building at the site According to Stantec’s submission: “Similar to PHX80 the PHX83 data center building will support the storage and operation of computer servers within five data halls The building will also include an administrative area that will be used by operations The electrical and mechanical equipment surrounding the building will be used to provide space cooling Microsoft operates data centers in El Mirage and Goodyear. Microsoft launched its West US 3 Azure cloud region – based in Phoenix – in June 2021 The first building at the site launched in 2021 The company first acquired 150 acres in the El Mirage area in 2019 and acquired another 280 acres this year The PHX-83 extension is set to be on the original 150 acres; the additional acreage acquired this year is reportedly zoned for a further three buildings It owns more than 450 acres in Goodyear along MC-85 and Lower Buckeye Road where it has two data centers Compass is also developing a campus in El Mirage Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia A woman was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking through open desert in El Mirage on Monday afternoon The collision occurred shortly before 7 p.m in the the desert east of Oasis Road and south of Bella Vista Drive according to California Highway Patrol and San Bernardino County Fire Department logs according to San Bernardino County coroner's records She has been walking east through an open desert area when she was hit by a westbound 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck The truck's speed had not yet been determined the driver of the 2009 Ford F-150 struck the female pedestrian within the open desert causing fatal injuries," the statement said More: San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy killed in crash during pursuit through Victorville can reach the CHP's Victorville Area Office at (760) 241-1186 (This story has been updated with additional information.) AZRE Dermody Properties—a diversified private equity investment management company focused exclusively on the national logistics real estate sector—has leased space at LogistiCenter® at Copperwing to Custom Mechanical Systems a leader in high-efficiency custom cooling systems for data centers Custom Mechanical Systems leased 203,801 square feet of LogistiCenter at Copperwing leaving 78,380 SF remaining for lease in the Class A logistics facility MORE NEWS: Phoenix defies trends to lead U.S. in industrial development Building 5 totals 282,181 SF of state-of-the-art LEED-certified logistics space 359 auto parking spaces and full HVAC throughout the facility Dermody Properties is also installing two oversized grade-level doors to facilitate efficient loading of large HVAC equipment for the operations of Custom Mechanical Systems The building shell was completed in Q3 2024 and tenant improvements are ongoing. “We are pleased that Custom Mechanical Systems has entrusted Dermody Properties with their new facility at LogistiCenter® at Copperwing,” said Patrick Gallagher Southwest Region Partner at Dermody Properties “The project’s Foreign Trade Zone designation and proximity to an abundant labor pool will serve as an advantage to Custom Mechanical Systems’ operations.” LogistiCenter® at Copperwing is one of Arizona’s largest business parks manufacturing and data storage needs of users across a broad spectrum of industries the site offers access to a significant labor force a business-friendly operating climate and proximity to key transportation and electric utility infrastructure “This new facility will allow us to continue to meet the needs of our clients as they build the infrastructure to support the next generation of artificial intelligence and network applications,” said Dan Hyman president and founder of Custom Mechanical Systems “The proximity to a quality workforce and affordable housing is part of what made this property so appealing We are grateful for the hospitality we have received from the City of El Mirage and the State Commerce Authority.” Custom Mechanical Systems is investing over $10 million in the new space installing robotic production lines that will allow for the automation of sheet metal processing and fabrication The company’s expansion to LogistiCenter® at Copperwing is projected to create 100 jobs for the area. “Dermody Properties is proud to contribute to the economic growth of El Mirage by attracting high-quality tenants like Custom Mechanical Systems,” said Elizabeth Kauchak Chief Operating Officer at Dermody Properties “Our efforts in tenant improvement for this facility along with LogistiCenter® at Copperwing’s strategic positioning are a testament to Dermody Properties’ dedication to meeting the needs of our customers in locations where they want to be.” Dan Calihan and Tyler Vowels of CBRE’s Phoenix office represented Dermody Properties in this transaction Custom Mechanical Systems was represented by Cooper Fratt of CBRE. Copyright © 2025 AZ Big Media | All Rights Reserved | Site by Blufish El Mirage leaders are supporting an effort to examine the feasibility and effects of reimposing impact fees on new developments within the city If the council votes in the coming weeks to proceed with the study it could eventually hand a political win to the newest slate of elected officials who promised voters to bring back the fees the city charges developers for the extra infrastructure or services caused by their developments The city eliminated the fees after fiscal year 2012 to attract new businesses and spur economic development. As a result, the city has boasted that El Mirage was “poised for continued commercial growth.” However, with the council's new makeup, officials debated the merits of the fees last week. Municipalities can charge fees to offset the costs associated with providing services to and implementing the infrastructure around new commercial council members directed city staff to return to them by late February or early March with a proposal to hire economic and fiscal consultants from Tischler Bise to lead the study the firm would be tasked with researching the city’s infrastructure and list of recent projects and then recommend a slate of fees the city could collect from developers looking to build in El Mirage Those dollars could support El Mirage’s fire transportation and water resources services It would come at a time when the city has struggled to get resident support to expand its police department and build a new fire station Valley cities: Tempe company Solestial goes prime time in Google Super Bowl LIX TV ad Voters resoundingly rejected a $42 million bond measure and property tax increase in 2023 to fund those projects and two others Residents have accused the city of buying the land to proceed with the fire station project Some council members have denied the claim When Vice Mayor Jacquelyn Parsons and Councilmembers Ryan Eldridge and Scottie Gentry ran for office last year advocating for the impact fees to help fund those infrastructure improvements rather than rely on taxpayer money “My thoughts are we need to get this done ASAP,” Parsons said at the council’s Feb “We’ve wasted how many years with no impact fees According to El Mirage's financial reports the city collected just shy of $5 million in development impact fees accounting for nearly 3% of its overall revenue in those years aren’t as convinced that the fees will be so beneficial She warned that reimposing the fees could deter developers from building in El Mirage She later stressed the need for the study while chastising the freshmen officials for rushing to bring back the fees because that’s what they promised voters “We need to know how this is going to impact us,” Dorcey said Mayor Alexis Hermosillo acknowledged that the $100,000 price tag for the study made her nervous “That's a very big ask that I would personally feel nervous for,” she said “But if there's any way to collect additional information that would help further the conversation and help us better understand what this looks like for our city Shawn Raymundo covers the West Valley cities of Glendale, Peoria and Surprise. Reach him at sraymundo@gannett.com or follow him on X @ShawnzyTsunami (VVNG.com) — A 64-year-old woman from Adelanto was killed after being struck by a vehicle in the desert area of El Mirage according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was found in the open desert east of Oasis Road and south of Bella Vista Road in an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County She was pronounced dead at the scene by San Bernardino County Fire Department personnel when the Barstow Dispatch Center received reports of a vehicle versus pedestrian collision on Oasis Road at Bella Vista Drive along with deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and San Bernardino County Fire personnel According to the CHP’s preliminary investigation a Hispanic male was driving a 2009 Ford F-150 westbound in the desert traveling at an undetermined rate of speed who was walking eastbound in the same area Despite life-saving efforts by emergency personnel the victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene The CHP Victorville Area is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Officer G and further details will be released as they become available Authorities have identified a Los Angeles man who died in an ATV crash at the El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle Area over the weekend died in the four-wheeled motorcycle crash in the area of Bella Vista Drive and Mountain View Road according to California Highway Patrol and San Bernardino County coroner's officials The wreck was believed to have taken place about 11 p.m the following day by a San Bernardino County Search and Rescue team Gonzalez was riding a 2005 Yamaha YFM660 southeast through the dry lakebed at an unknown speed the rider allowed the Yamaha to crash into a raised dirt mound causing the Yamaha to overturn and causing the rider to be partially ejected," CHP officials stated More: Rider killed in ATV crash near Adelanto or anyone with information was asked to contact the CHP's Victorville Office at (760) 241-1186 (VVNG.com) — Three people lost their lives and three others sustained injuries in a traffic collision early Friday morning on the outskirts of Adelanto The accident occurred around 5:38 AM on February 7 The head-on crash involved a red Honda sedan and a dark-gray 2001 Chevy Tahoe carrying five passengers Emergency responders declared the driver and rear passenger of the SUV A Reach medical helicopter was dispatched to airlift one male passenger from the SUV to Antelope Valley Hospital due to life-threatening injuries The remaining two occupants of the SUV were taken to local hospitals via ground ambulances the SUV was traveling westbound and the sedan was going eastbound the sedan crossed into the path of the SUV and the vehicles collided El Mirage Road is closed in both directions between Richardson Avenue and Koala Road for the ongoing investigation The San Bernardino County Coroner has been notified and will respond to the scene Additional information regarding the accident and the identities of those involved will be released as it becomes available 🔗 For more local news, visit VVNG.com. At VVNG, we’re dedicated to keeping the Victor Valley informed with essential, community-driven journalism. Our newsroom works tirelessly to bring you the latest stories that matter—news that fosters awareness, engagement, and connection in the High Desert. If you value our reporting and want to see it continue, consider becoming a monthly supporter. Your contribution helps keep independent, local news accessible to everyone—because an informed community is a stronger community. (VVNG.com) — The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identities of three individuals who lost their lives in a head-on traffic accident that occurred early Friday morning in Adelanto were identified as the driver and passenger in a gray Chevrolet Tahoe has been identified as 20-year-old Jose Silva Deputies responded to reports of a traffic incident on El Mirage Road where it was determined that the Honda Civic was traveling eastbound while the Chevrolet Tahoe was heading westbound Preliminary investigations suggest that the Honda crossed over the center divider Three additional passengers from the Tahoe were transported to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy R. Morales, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.), at Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station 760-552-6800. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com Related Article: Three Killed in Head-on Crash on El Mirage Road in Adelanto By AZFamily Digital News StaffPublished: Dec 2024 at 10:13 PM MSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInEL MIRAGE 60 is partially shut down after a deadly crash Monday night The crash happened on Grand Avenue near West Acoma Avenue Police say details about the crash are limited as they are still investigating Southbound traffic on Grand Avenue has been diverted Drivers are asked to avoid the area while police continue investigating Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description. Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved. (VVNG.com) — The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of a fatal off-road accident as 55-year-old Edgar C within the El Mirage Dry Lake Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Barstow Dispatch Center they received a report of the accident at approximately 9:05 AM on November 2 following a notification from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Gonzalez was riding a black and gray 2005 Yamaha YFM660 OHV in a southeast direction across the dry lake bed at an undetermined speed when the accident happened For reasons that are still under investigation The impact resulted in Gonzalez being partially ejected from the vehicle Emergency responders from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team located Gonzalez at the scene where he was pronounced dead upon their arrival The California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the crash to contact the CHP Victorville Area office at (760) 241-1186 El Mirage’s City Council is getting a shakeup after voters ousted all three incumbents in last month’s elections “Residents were tired of the incumbents and the wasteful spending and they want change in El Mirage,” said Jacquelyn Parsons the top vote-getter in the July 30 council race Ryan Eldridge and Scottie Gentry comprise the “Residents First" group they campaigned to impose term limits on elected officials and to support “equitable development” by bringing back impact fees The three councilmembers-elect won their seats in the citywide election that saw 20% voter participation — one of the lowest turnouts in the Valley was a former El Mirage council member who served from 2010 to 2014 He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2014 and finished last in the latest council race This week, El Mirage’s City Council certified the election results Jones and Shapera leaving office when their terms expire in December they’ll join a small handful of other city leaders in the county whose hopes for reelection were dashed Their combined experience spans nearly five decades as elected officials in El Mirage with Delgado’s years of service accounting for about half of that “You have to expect what comes out of elections and I don’t have a problem with that,” Delgado said this week I have other projects that I want to devote some of my life to.” Jones and Shapera did not return calls for comment Mayor Alexis Hermosillo was not immediately available for a phone call Friday morning El Mirage’s election outcome came after city leaders dedicated funds to add more space to city hall and the adjacent police station That was despite widespread objections from voters They had overwhelmingly rejected a $42 million bond measure and property tax increase last year that would have expedited both projects plus plans to build a new courthouse and fire station The city hoped the measure would have given it the coffers needed to proceed with the projects rather than wait years until it had enough money budgeted When the council approved the fiscal year 2025 budget in May it voted to set aside nearly $62 million toward capital improvement projects over the next five years Nearly $9 million is earmarked for the city hall and police station expansions The next month, city leaders voted to purchase nearly 8 acres of land by their headquarters for $2 million A chorus of residents accused the city of buying the land to proceed with the courthouse and fire station projects Some council members categorically denied the assertion The council’s ongoing support for those capital improvement plans motivated voters to support the Residents First candidates he said is "pushing (the projects) regardless of the voters' concerns and the residents' concerns And most all of the buildings are not needed at all Which is one of the things that we’re going to change and put a stop to." That'll require a four-vote majority of the council "There’s another councilmember on the board that agrees the spending has been out of control that the council has stopped listening to the voters," Eldridge said The three incoming officials will join Councilmember Anita Norton-McDaniel who has staunchly opposed the projects She was the lone dissenting vote against the budget in May and the land purchase in June The city stated that the projects were meant to accommodate a growing staff at both city hall and the police station the aging courthouse is reportedly too small to handle personnel and visitors would help cover the south end of El Mirage by closing gaps in service and meeting the National Fire Protection Association standards of responding to most calls within four minutes Delgado and other city officials advocated for the projects will only get more expensive — regardless of who’s holding office they’re going to be saddled with it down the road,” he said Delgado acknowledged that his loss might have resulted from the controversy over the projects He reiterated his previous point though that the expansion needs aren’t going away that problem never went away with the election,” he said “It’s still there and people are weary with what happened They’re going to keep an eye on this council just like they kept an eye on us.” “The problems that were presented in front of us were real-world problems for El Mirage and the city of El Mirage and its residents and all I wanted to do was help the people out,” he continued Maricopa County shakeup: Leadership change is coming to Arizona's largest county El Mirage’s population was an estimated 36,275 in 2023. That’s a nearly 4% increase since the city opened its 22,000-square-foot facility at El Mirage and Mountain View roads the number of employees working out of El Mirage’s city hall increased from 30 to 40 — a 33% jump The city anticipates that number to grow to 60 by 2043 For fiscal year 2024 — which covered July 1 to June 30 — the city had a $121 million budget the city would have expanded its headquarters by 8,500 square feet for $6 million and the police station by 5,000 square feet for $3 million City hall was constructed to allow for a 10% expansion but the city said it has already reached that When asked whether the city’s growth projections for the building were incorrect the projections were wrong back in those days,” Delgado said in May “We didn’t think it was going to grow this fast This little area is taking off overnight and growing crazy.” He noted that some employees have been working out of converted storage areas because of the growing staff Eldridge balked at the city's estimate that it will hire 20 new employees in as many years we do not need that many staff members," he said Asked whether he and his new colleagues intend to cut staff "We’re looking at ensuring each department has what it needs," he said "If we need to reallocate someone from another department to another He said he also wants to make sure the city can afford what it pays its employees El Mirage is budgeted to employ 227 people this fiscal year amounting to a personnel cost of nearly $30 million Across all departments, the city had 211 full-time employees in fiscal year 2023, according to El Mirage’s latest financial report That was a growth of about seven employees annually since 2017 Much of that growth occurred in the police department One portion of the city's budget that has shrunk over the years is its long-term debt the city chopped its debt from $49 million to $33 million the city would have taken on an additional $75 million in bond debt The property tax increase from the proposed measure would have paid for the incurring debt argued that the city doesn’t need additional debt Residents also didn't want their taxes raised for projects they didn't support She also served as treasurer for the group that opposed the bond measure "There were other amenities that residents want," Gentry said Such things included neighborhood street repairs While El Mirage residents have called for "quality-of-life" amenities they also want the city to be more transparent That includes explaining spending decisions and making government meetings more accessible to a wider audience "(Residents) feel they don’t understand why money is being spent in certain areas because they’re not being educated as to why," Eldridge said of his discussions with voters during the campaign "A lot of residents also talked about making sure we can stream our council meetings planning & zoning meetings because a lot of residents can’t make it to city hall on meetings days," he added "We need to make sure every resident has a chance to be involved." Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, starting at 6 p.m. The city livestreams the meetings' audio through Microsoft Teams, but does not record video. It later posts the audio recordings and meeting transcripts online the incoming council members would rather bring back El Mirage’s impact fees before borrowing more money to fund infrastructure improvements To offset costs associated with providing services to and implementing the infrastructure around new developments, cities can collect one-time fees from a project’s movers El Mirage eliminated its development fees after fiscal year 2012 as part of an effort to attract new businesses and spur economic development. By not collecting fees, the city boasted El Mirage “is poised for continued commercial growth.” have argued in campaign materials that the fee will “support essential infrastructure and services that benefit our entire community." "(Residents) need these new businesses to be paying for the infrastructure It should not solely be the taxpayers' problem," Eldridge said we can allocate those funds to a fire station." the city collects development impact fees to support its fire parks and recreation and water resources services A review of El Mirage's financial reports showed that between fiscal years 2005 and 2012 the Residents First group also advocated for imposing term limits on El Mirage’s elected leaders Parsons noted that some council members have been in office for “too long.” “I believe we need to get fresh people in there to get fresh ideas,” she said I don’t think they should make it a life career.” the city would limit officials to two four-year terms believing that a councilmember can accomplish a lot in eight years Delgado is the longest-tenured council member having spent about 24 years as an official Shapera has been elected to numerous terms Jones was elected to office in 2014 and retired in 2018 He was appointed back to the council in 2022 to fill a vacancy are serving their second consecutive four-year terms Councilmember Norton-McDaniel is finishing up her sixth full year as she was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2017 Of the 135 council and mayoral candidates in the Valley’s local races last month Another two are moving on to runoff races in November’s general election Among the 36 who did win, 15 ran unopposed The average length of service among the entire slate of Valley incumbents last month was eight years Tolleson Councilmember Adolfo Gamez — who won his seat back — has served for 38 years Only Delgado has served for nearly as long We didn’t even have a bond rating and now we’re AA we’ve hired a lot of people who know what they’re doing,” he said ARIZONA NEWS BY BAILEY LEASURE PHOENIX — The city of El Mirage opened a new Public Works facility that will help oversee the city’s water and waste management services, according to a news release last week. celebrated its opening with a dedication ceremony on Wednesday which was attended by Mayor Alexis Hermosillo and other City Council members and staff “Our Public Works team provides essential services to our community that touch our lives each day,” Hermosillo said “It is essential that we modernize our city facilities and infrastructure in a way that increases public access and fosters civic pride in our community I’m proud to say this building does that and more.” The new Public Works facility features a lobby area Public Works provides services that help improve the quality of water facilities and sanitation systems to El Mirage The $2.8 million building was designed by LEA-Architects, L.L.C and was built by Danson Construction L.L.C. as are the employees that operate them,” Deputy City Manager Robert Nilles said “This new facility provides functional workspace for the public works staff and is part of the city’s overall capital improvement plan providing ongoing investment in improved services and safety for our community.” Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here (VVNG.com) — Officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigated a fatal off-road crash near El Mirage Dry Lake Bed on Saturday morning The incident was reported at about 9:00 am near Bella Vista Drive and Mountain View Road a male crashed on a quad and was located during a search and rescue operation they were working The San Bernardino County Coroner was requested to respond to the location The deceased person’s identity will be released pending notification on the next of kin Additional information will be updated as it becomes available The Victorville CHP Station is handling the investigation UPDATE 11/4 — The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as 55-year-old Edgar C AZ — More than 100 gallons of water comes out of a fire hose each minute and firefighters need to train with one of their most effective tools for putting out dangerous fires the El Mirage Fire Department says it didn't feel right to use so much water in the desert for non-emergencies "We tried to be mindful and spray in a park or by some trees and not just waste it in a parking lot," Battalion Chief Joe Fusco said That's where the "D.R.A.F.T.S" trailer comes in The acronym stands for "Direct Recycling Apparatus Firefighter Training & Sustainability." El Mirage firefighters aim at a yellow square inside the trailer to practice spraying with the different hoses The water collects in a tank and goes back through the truck and out the hose again "The truck is essentially acting as a pump but it’s also pushing the water back out," Fusco said Do you have a concern in your community or a news tip Connect with us: share@abc15.com Facebook | Instagram | YouTube which is difficult for departments to afford on their own That’s where the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) stepped in to help "WIFA is essentially a bank," Chelsea McGuire said "We’re a state agency that takes public money and invests in water infrastructure projects.” The El Mirage Fire Department applied for money to buy the D.R.A.F.T.S trailer and was accepted McGuire says the WIFA board felt it was important to fund water projects in public safety as they're not always top of mind for water conservation areas "What we don’t realize is how essential water is to public safety in our lives She says it's a two-for-one investment: saving millions of gallons of water and continuing life-saving training guilt-free “They don’t have to choose between public safety and water conservation They can do both at the same time," McGuire said WIFA invested $200 million into projects like the one in El Mirage all across Arizona McGuire says they expect all of them to be implemented by 2026 potentially saving the state hundreds of millions of gallons of water Report a typo Deputies and police officers helped find a 15-year-old El Mirage boy and reunite him with his family after he ran away from home and headed toward Mexico in his parents' car Tuesday when a man reported his son had run away from home in the 2600 block of Desoto Road according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department "According to the caller, his son left the residence at 4 a.m., in his parent’s vehicle," the sheriff's department said in a written statement "The juvenile sent a text he was going to Mexico and took his passport and money." A deputy assigned to the Victor Valley Sheriff's Station was able to reach the boy by phone and learned he was driving through San Diego "(The deputy) was able to convince the juvenile to pull over and provide an address where he was," the statement said A San Diego Police Department officer went to the location and stayed with the boy until his parents were able to pick him up More: Fontana man arrested with SWAT help in connection with deadly Phelan shooting "We would like to thank the family for calling us quickly so we could locate him before he crossed the Mexico border and thank San Diego Police Department for their immediate response," according to the statement "There are rumors that a missing person must be gone 24 hours before contacting law enforcement The sooner you contact law enforcement; the better chance law enforcement has to locate your loved one." Three people were killed, and three others sustained injuries in a head-on collision on the outskirts of Adelanto early Friday morning the crash occurred at approximately 5:38 a.m The driver of the Honda and two occupants of the Tahoe A Reach medical helicopter transported one male passenger from the SUV to Antelope Valley Hospital due to life-threatening injuries The remaining two occupants of the SUV were taken to local hospitals by ground ambulances Preliminary investigations indicate that the SUV was traveling westbound while the sedan was heading eastbound when El Mirage Road was closed in both directions between Richardson Avenue and Koala Road for several hours as authorities conducted their investigation The San Bernardino County Coroner has been notified and the identities of the victims will be released pending next-of-kin notification If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident—or if you are grieving a tragic loss—know that legal support is within reach. Our injury law firm in Adelanto is committed to helping you pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses Take advantage of a free consultation with our skilled Adelanto car accident lawyers and analyze key factors that could influence your settlement If you’re facing difficulties obtaining crucial information or a police report Backed by a strong track record of success, our attorneys have secured over $750 million in compensation for accident victims Here are the steps you should take if you’ve been involved in an accident These steps will help ensure your well-being and help you receive effective representation from one of the best car accident lawyers if you file a claim I HAD AN ACCIDENT There are plenty of accidents on the roads, but collisions involving vehicles are among the most common. These crashes accounted for 43% of all motor vehicle-related deaths in 2022, according to the National Safety Council The second most common cause of fatalities was crashes involving fixed objects such as rollovers and pedestrian incidents Six people were injured following a five-vehicle crash on the northbound 15 Freeway near Highway 138 in the Cajon Pass A bicyclist sustained serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Sacramento on Saturday evening According to the Sacramento Police Department and another woman and two children sustained injuries following a two-vehicle head-on crash in El Dorado Hills A motorcyclist was killed following a suspected DUI crash in Merced on Saturday afternoon Two young men were killed following a suspected DUI crash in Fresno on Friday night and two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries following a multi-vehicle collision in the Westlake community of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon California’s Powerhouse Accident Lawyers With a consecutively proven track record Disclaimer: Not every one of our firm’s attorneys has received the recognitions stated here Visit the attorneys’ specific profile page under the ‘Our Firm’ tab for specific attorney recognitions (888) 488-1391 Do I Have A Case? 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Hill Ave. #201Pasadena, CA 9110624hr Local Line: (626) 723-3933Available by appointment only This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site Using this site or communicating with the law offices of arash khorsandi through this site does not form an attorney/Client relationship Copyright © 2025 The Law Office of Arash Khorsandi Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Careers WE’VE RECOVERED OVER $750 MILLION FOR OUR CLIENTS AZ — The FBI operation was never about 40-year-old Melonee Duval How can they shoot at somebody 22 times and call that reasonable?” said Melonee’s daughter Melonee’s red pickup truck was riddled with bullets at U.S 60 and Thompson Ranch Road during an FBI task force undercover investigation in El Mirage She didn’t know at the time her mother was an FBI witness helping law enforcement capture a wanted suspect: A man her family said she was in a short-term relationship with “They know what they’ve done wrong,” Adriyanna said Adriyanna is still fighting for accountability She has filed a federal lawsuit against the federal agent and deputy involved in the shooting and their law enforcement agencies most tragic cases I’ve seen in my 48 years practicing law,” said the family’s attorney Burg believes the FBI task force should have called off its operation Melonee was helping the FBI capture Ernesto Izaguirre who was wanted on multiple felony warrants including aggravated assault “She was cooperating and talking to the FBI throughout this entire situation,” Burg said court records detail what her family says went wrong the original plan was for Melonee to drive the wanted suspect to a Walmart and an FBI task force was going to arrest him “We showed up at Walmart and that’s when everything started getting really weird and Ernesto started acting really fidgety,” Adriyanna said Adriyanna got out of her mother’s truck minutes before the shooting officers tried a traffic stop nearby and surrounded Melonee’s truck on all four sides “a boxing in and ramming tactic which is known to be dangerous.” hit the accelerator and pushed the car in front a very tiny distance,” explained Burg “They were excessive about what they’ve done The number of times Melonee was shot at is also mentioned in court records Court documents also allege the FBI task force knew the wanted suspect was going to turn violent and had a prior history of ramming through a roadblock “They knew she had been telling them,” Burg said The text exchange was found on one of the detective’s phones and was between Melonee and the FBI task force in the hours before the shooting Melonee expressed concerns about going forward with the operation ABC15 is committed to finding the answers you need and holding those accountable Submit your news tip to Investigators@abc15.com “…he will take my truck and run if we're in it I can promise that.” “he will take [my] truck this time he told me if we ever got pulled over again.” The lawsuit claims the shooting was both unlawful and unjustified It also says no weapons were ever found in Melonee’s truck “Melonee Duval was never a suspect of any crime yet her driver’s window was riddled with bullets,” the lawsuit says “An innocent person who’s not only a bystander “I have to tell my children that they’ll never have a grandma,” Adriyanna said ABC15 asked the FBI for comment on this case and for more specifics on Melonee’s role in their undercover operation the wanted suspect Ernesto Izaguirre was arrested that night and was released from prison last month the FBI has justified the shooting by saying other officers were in danger But the family’s attorney said there is no evidence that’s the case and said they are prepared to take the case to trial Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInEL MIRAGE AZ (AZFamily) — A man is in the hospital after a shooting in El Mirage on Sunday evening El Mirage Police were called to shots fired in the area of Dysart and Waddell roads Police say a caller reported that someone had been shot Officers arrived at the scene and found a man with serious injuries He was taken to the hospital; his current condition is unknown El Mirage Police detectives are investigating the shooting Anyone with information is asked to call the El Mirage PD Tip Line at 623-500-3277 or the Non-Emergency Line at 623-500-3000 On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at around 7:40 PM, the El Mirage Police Department received several reports of shots fired in the 13600 block of North 129th Drive. One of the callers reported that someone had been shot. Officers arrived at the scene and found a male victim, who was… pic.twitter.com/IMMtrQ6nWf On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at around 7:40 PM, the El Mirage Police Department received several reports of shots fired in the 13600 block of North 129th Drive. One of the callers reported that someone had been shot. Officers arrived at the scene and found a male victim, who was… pic.twitter.com/IMMtrQ6nWf El Mirage voters are deciding who will fill three City Council seats in the July 30 election El Mirage City Council incumbents Roy Delgado Robert Jones and David Shapera are hoping to retain their seats There are four newcomers hoping to replace their incumbent competitors The Arizona Republic asked each candidate about everything from their reason for running to how they plan to address issues facing El Mirage James McPhetres did not respond to The Republic questionnaire Some answers may have been slightly edited to meet agreed-to lengths Arizona election: Read our full election coverage of the El Mirage City Council race Why are you running for El Mirage City Council when I initially won a seat on the El Mirage City Council our wastewater treatment plant could not keep up with the demands of new housing developments coming in so waste was being trucked out to other communities The city often struggled to make payroll and then there were the days that the city could not supply water to the residents I remember someone suggesting we have a bake sale to raise money That is why I am running for El Mirage City Council to keep the city moving forward and to continue improving the quality of life for our residents My first priority is to make sure we continue to meet today's needs and tomorrow's opportunities Ryan Eldridge: My journey into politics is not driven by personal gain but by my genuine desire to serve and give back to the community I call home I am a single father of four with two younger daughters living with me I desire to have a positive impact on the quality of life for our city’s residents My background and leadership skills will help El Mirage’s economic stability into the future while honoring the culture and history of El Mirage I am concerned with the current leadership and their frivolous and unneeded spending It’s time to remind them it’s “We the People” not “We the Council” My first priority will be as a City Council member is to work on repairing the trust between the residents and the representatives that they voted into office and to be the voice the residents need We need to immediately put a stop to the projects that the residents voted no on that current council members are still pushing on the residents of El Mirage Scottie Gentry: I am running for City Council to continue to fight to bring back our city's history and legacy I grew up on the same land as my mother across the street from Bill Gentry Park and focus on quality of life projects for all residents my first priority will be reinstating our impact fees and making sure that the city is fiscally responsible Jacquelyn Parsons: I am running for City Council because I want to give a voice to the El Mirage residents and provide transparency I will work on having the City Council meetings live streamed and recorded so that the residents who are unable to attend are able to view and stay informed Other surrounding cities provide various platforms for their residents to watch David Shapera: I am running for a fifth term as there are some unfinished projects that need to be completed My continued priorities are economic development and keeping taxes reasonable so that the city can provide the services its residents ask for I am promoting more road maintenance by increasing our funding of our in-place line item Robert Jones: I have been a long time resident of our beautiful city I am running for City Council to continue bringing items ahead that our residents have requested to improve our city Our residents have spoken and want more recreation for our families I will continue to work on our city parks and bring residents what they have continued to request more and better additions to our parks and recreation department New state policies will affect city budgets will you support raising taxes to maintain city services or cutting programs Which specific services and/or taxes would you consider first and why Delgado: Our amazing city leaders have anticipated times of revenue shortfalls and have in place a strong fiscal plan to overcome any significant gaps in the budget Taxes from new companies coming to El Mirage like Microsoft Avanti Windows and Doors and Tippman Innovation will certainly help overcome shortages It is extremely important to me that the city continue to provide excellent services for our residents El Mirage stands to lose about $2 million in tax revenue Even with this loss it will not create a deficit El Mirage should learn to live within our means and conduct live budgeting If cuts are to be made we need to look into the wasteful spending on items that do not benefit the residents and those projects that the residents have voted no on I will never cut services from police and fire or any current city services We need to look at expenses that do not benefit the residents of El Mirage We need to reinstate impact fees so that new businesses can pay their fair share of the upcoming city improvements and not place the burden solely on the residents Gentry: This decision would depend on the specific circumstances and input from the community It's important to consider the impact on residents and essential service Parsons: While the state policies can affect the city budget we should manage and plan ahead for the decrease in revenue Therefore we need to look at areas that have wasteful spending and cut wasteful spending Arizona election 2024: Here's everything to know about registering and voting Shapera: The new state policies will be a challenge for most cities Our professional staff will present a balanced budged with my input Expenses increase with inflation and small tax increases are expected by reasonable taxpayers Declaring no tax increases during inflationary times is irresponsible Cutting some items from the budget is expected The current council has been able to lower property taxes for three consecutive years we have maintained a balanced budget for eight years We will continue to have a balanced budget we will find ways to solve the issues without raising taxes or cutting services What is the best thing about El Mirage that you would never change What is the first thing that needs changing and why Delgado: I would never want to change El Mirage's grand heritage We should never forget those who came before us We learn from the past successes and failures and use the knowledge to provide a foundation for a bright future The first thing that needs changing is the need for a second fire station Public Safety Management did two independent analyses of the fire department to evaluate current and future fire service needs The study clearly showed the city should begin planning now for an added fire staffing and ladder company service to serve now and future planned commercial and industrial building growth in the south area This staffing should be linked to a second fire station and should house an engine company and a ladder company This study showed a lack of fire protection at the south end of the city That for me is a huge problem for a large section of our community Some have said that if we need a ladder truck but is it fair to Surprise taxpayers to have to cover our inability to protect our own community Eldridge: I have always loved the small town feeling of El Mirage We have a wonderful mixture of cultures that make El Mirage It’s sad the farmland that also brought me to El Mirage is disappearing acres at a time We need to bring back that feeling of community and engagement We need to bring back the voices of El Mirage residents and have the city work for them again and not believe they know what’s best for the residents We need to look at doing more events within the city and utilize our sports fields for tournaments I like to always say it’s “We the People” not “We the Government” Bill Gentry Park was built in 1961 and has long been revered as the heart of the town even before it evolved into a city; its significance goes beyond adjust being a park Its holds a special place in the hearts of the community members and serves as a symbol of unity and charged experience The first thing that needs to change is streamlining meetings for efficiency purposes and for transparency you can infer that discussions are focused decisions and are made promptly Streamlining meetings can enhance transparency by making it easier for participants and the public to follow the discussions First I would work on rebuilding the trust between the residents and city council Second I would work to bring more family oriented events to the community Shapera: I will never back down in supporting public safety I have promoted many public safety items over the last 16 years I would suggest increasing the replacement of old water and sewer lines It's an ongoing process and we need to be ahead of the curve Jones: The best thing about El Mirage is the residents who live in this wonderful community We have a very diverse culture of people living in our city that come to the need in the event of any emergency One of the problems as in all communities is drugs and the destruction it's doing to the family unit Our police department has created a team called the Neighborhood Enforcement Team We as a council have supported this team to clean up the drugs in our community What is the biggest long-term issue facing El Mirage How would you work to address it over the course of your council term Delgado: The biggest long-term issues facing El Mirage are protecting the southern end of our city with fire protection we have an extremely well-equipped police department we've had a balanced budget for eight years we have lowered taxes the last three years new fire hydrants are being installed to help our firefighting capabilities and we have a good supply of water going into the future Eldridge: We are on course to bankrupt our city We need to be fiscally responsible and live within our means El Mirage is only 9.9 square miles and has 36,000 residents The city needs to be more transparent with the residents planning and zoning meetings and any other meeting held for the city streamed live and uploaded to the city website for residents to view any time they desire We need to ensure all residents have the opportunity to participate in city meetings so they are updated with all the business with the city With technology today there is no reason we should not be providing this to our residents We also need to bring back town hall meetings City representatives need to be available to answer questions for residents and engage in civil dialog Gentry: The need to ensure that incoming industrial growth in the southern portion of the city contributes fairly to the services they will require It's crucial to implement policies that balance the economic benefits of industrial growth with the well-being of our community securing a sustainable future for all residents of El Mirage Parsons: I believe the budget is the biggest issue facing El Mirage I believe there is a lot of wasteful spending I would go through each line item on the budget to identify the wasteful spending Shapera: The largest long-term issue for El Mirage is the replacement of the sewer plant that is ending its life usefulness rather quickly Federal and state guidelines are always changing and newer methods of treating wastewater need to be implemented The replacement of the plant is very expensive and will need to be a bond issue we need it and it will be mandated by other agencies that we replace the decades old treatment plant Jones: The biggest problem facing our city is the lack of retail businesses The lack of retail businesses creates a lack of needed sales tax revenue I believe working on a marketing plan to help businesses start up and maintain a plan thru government SBA would draw business to our city And what lesson do you draw from that person’s experience Delgado: Public figures that I have admired the most are two gentlemen I met when I was first elected to the El Mirage City Council past Mayor and Councilman of Surprise and Adolfo Gamez past mayor and present councilman of Tolleson They gave me valuable and much needed advice and I have always admired their spirit their determination and what they have achieved Eldridge: I have had some many influential people in my life such as my parents I would probably say the one person that had the largest influence would be my grandmother Jean Dowdy many times I was ridiculed due to my hearing loss My grandmother should be granted a sainthood She was a beautiful woman that was the type of Christian I want to be She taught me to rise above the hate and be a fighter that people would be proud of The next group that I fight to be a better person for and have taught me to be a better father are my amazing children Gentry: Ronald Regan because of his ability to connect with the American people This has left a lasting impact on the county He has taught lessons in effective communication and leadership He always looked at both sides of all issues and regardless of the issue he tried his best to do the right thing His influence has me follow him in always looking and understanding that there is always two sides to all issues and to look and see the effects my decision is going to have on my personal decision Do you think Arizona elections are fairly run I think Arizona elections are fairly run and yes I would like to believe the election is run fairly I actually like the early voting system and feel it is worthy of continuation I have yet to see any mischief with the tabulation of ballots Reach the reporter at kweaver@gannett.com Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect number of City Council seats up for election El Mirage voters are deciding who will fill three City Council seats in the July 30 election Residents are voting among three City Council incumbents and four new candidates This comes at a time when El Mirage is facing concerns when it comes to economic development property taxes and transparency with residents Voters are deciding between candidates who advocate for business and industrial growth and those who are concerned with overspending on unnecessary expansions and buildings Four newcomers hoping to replace their incumbent competitors Jones and McPhetres were the only candidates who did not respond to the Arizona Republic's questionnaire Arizona local elections: Read our full coverage of the El Mirage council race Early voting began on July 3. Voters can check on the status of their mailed-in ballot on Maricopa County’s website at https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/voter-dashboard-login Those who choose to vote by mail are advised to mail their ballot by July 23 or drop it off at a ballot drop-off location or voting location by July 30 Who is running for City Council for El Mirage?Each candidate touts their own connections to the city He moved to Northern California and worked in the oil industry for Union Oil and the job eventually brought him to Arizona He first got involved with politics in the late 1970s when he worked with Cesar Chavez on fighting to improve the treatment of farm workers He and his family moved to El Mirage in 1997 and he has sat on the council for 23 years and was mayor for a short time He currently serves as the city's representative for the Community Development Advisory Committee of Maricopa County Human Services Division is a former small business owner who now manages a multi-million dollar security agency with over 200 employees She attended Estrella Mountain Community College in the early 1990s where she studied the administrative justice system Gentry was a member of the city swim team and 4-H club in the early 80s In early 2000 she volunteered with the El Mirage Police Department where she was voted in as secretary for Citizens on Patrol In early 2023 she stood up against the City Council to keep Bill Gentry Park She was the treasurer for El Mirage Citizens Against the Bond 2023 and has worked for Tricare and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has called Arizona home for 61 years and has been a resident of El Mirage since 2002 He has a business background which includes experience in retail management Jones spent years as an elementary school teacher until he retired in 2005 He worked on the task force to add Riverview Elementary School as an El Mirage addition to the Dysart Unified School District He introduced the first coed Cub Scout pack in Arizona while serving as Cub Master He also served as a member of the Dysart Community Center’s board of directors Jones also serves his community by being on the Cactus Park Homeowners Association He was appointed to the El Mirage Planning and Zoning Committee in 2007 and He completed four years on the City Council before retiring as vice mayor has been living in Arizona since 1987 and has been a resident of El Mirage since 2000 He is currently on the Peoria Chamber of Commerce board He owns a small business in Peoria and has been a board member of the Phoenix Asian Lions Club has been a resident of El Mirage for 21 years She has worked in the banking sector for 25 years and was the treasurer on the board of Little League He was a past member of and chairperson of the El Mirage Planning and Zoning Commission He was first elected to serve on City Council in 2008 He has more than 51 years in elected and appointed positions in government He is a retired Connecticut police officer and was a corporate security and safety executive He was a Nevada police officer and a Clark County medical examiner investigator He taught high school in Clark County and also taught at the Dysart Unified School District which he recently retired from All of the candidates expressed their commitment to hearing residents out and making sure they have a voice Some had more specific plans for El Mirage Jones' main priority is to work on the city parks and improve the parks and recreation department He plans on gathering feedback from the community on the park system and seeing what improvement the city budget could allow McPhetres also expressed his support in bringing recreation back into the city by introducing adult and youth leagues Parsons wants to focus on making all City Council meetings livestreamed and recorded so that residents who were not able to attend are still informed Delgado and Shapera want to prioritize economic development in the area to ensure the city can provide services the residents need Each candidate understands how this is an issue not just in their community but all across the world Some candidates gave a detailed approach to the issue Eldridge wants to bring back the El Mirage Cares program which educated residents on mental challenges and homelessness He states the homeless situation is not going to go away the best thing to do is work with the city and state on finding the best resources to address the issue Gentry notes that the city has to be open to helping residents that are in need She recalls when people she knew were turned away from the Community Action Program office due to the city running out of money She states the city then turns around and spends over $207,000 on a walking trail which is money that could have been used to help those in need or is homeless Arizona primary election 2024: Who is running for mayor, city council? What are their thoughts on how funds are being used in El Mirage?All of the candidates believe there needs to be a balanced budget and fiscal responsibility and Parsons stated how the city can’t keep going out and borrowing money and using emergency reserves instead they think impact fees should be reinstated On a livestream they recalled when the past City Council wanted to extend city hall and build another fire department Even though they stated their support of the fire department they agreed with each other that the buildings were not needed and the city needs to be responsible with spending McPhetres also believes the city needs to get back in shape when it comes to spending but supports the idea of building another fire station He states how he does not disagree with the idea of expanding the fire department as long as it’s not done on the backs of taxpayers the impact fees should be put back in place and Shapera are endorsed by Arizona Police Association the El Mirage Police Employees Association Delgado has raised $11,000 in campaign contributions and Parsons are endorsed by the Dysart District Board They participated in a group fundraiser where they raised $2,700 Eldridge has also raised about $1,300 in campaign contributions He is also endorsed by Arizona Representative Beverly Pingerelli host of podcast All American Dream Catcher Parsons has raised $150 in campaign contributions and receives support from Councilmember Anita Norton Gentry has raised $2,400 in campaign contributions McPhetres has not received any endorsements and is self-funded Company plans 108MW campus in Phoenix suburb Compass Datacenters has acquired land in the El Mirage area of Phoenix and plans to develop a new data center campus there BizJournal reports Dermody Properties has sold off another block of its land in El Mirage at the LogistiCenter at Copperwing industrial complex Dermody sold 121 acres on the southwest corner of El Mirage Road and Peoria Ave Previous reports suggest the company is planning a three-building 36MW building would total 208,000 sq ft (19,300 sqm) Proposals were submitted in a site plan review request to the El Mirage Planning and Zoning Commission in February 2024 The company has a 190-acre, 242MW campus in the Goodyear area of the city. The company broke ground there in 2019 Microsoft is also present in El Mirage, Maricopa County. Dermody recently sold another 280 acres in the area to the company The LogistiCenter at Copperwing is a 961-acre industrial park owned by Dermody Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia A house fire before dawn Friday in El Mirage left a woman dead officers were wrapping up an unrelated call when they spotted fire coming from a nearby home near North Dysart and Cactus roads Police said officers forced their way inside but could not enter due to heavy smoke and flames Firefighters later arrived at the house to handle the situation firefighters entered and found an elderly woman who was pronounced dead inside The woman's identity has not yet been released the cause of the fire and the woman's cause of death were still unknown and an investigator from the Bureau of Alcohol and Explosives are conducting a joint investigation AZ — One person is dead after a house fire Friday morning near Dysart and Cactus roads in El Mirage Firefighters say when they arrived the house was fully engulfed in flames Video from the scene showed a large presence of fire crews surrounding a home with extensive damage to the center of the roof What led to the fire has not yet been released but ABC15 crews at the scene confirmed one person was pronounced dead Firearms and Explosives is assisting in investigating the fire The four teenagers are accused of taking part in a fatal robbery on April 29 BY SERENA O'SULLIVAN PHOENIX — Four teenagers from El Mirage were arrested in late June after a two-month homicide investigation The El Mirage Police Department arrested the four suspects last Wednesday They allegedly orchestrated a plan to rob a handgun from a 15-year-old boy on April 29 the 15-year-old victim turned to run and was shot,” the El Mirage Police Department said in a Monday news release Police said the shooter was a 16-year-old boy a 17-year-old and 18-year-old Joey Hernandez-Silvas were also involved in the fatal attempted robbery The shooting took place near Thunderbird and El Mirage roads Officers who responded to a report of shots fired found the victim face down in the front yard of a residence unresponsive and with gunshot wounds to his upper torso He was pronounced dead at a local hospital Police said the four suspects planned to rob a Surprise home prior to the shooting They allegedly wanted to rob a Surprise resident who planned to trade handguns when the resident didn’t show up to the trade who had already traded handguns with the Surprise resident The suspects then lured the victim to the site of the shooting where he was fatally shot while running away Each of the suspects was booked for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery “This is a tragedy that resulted in the loss of a young community member’s life,” El Mirage Police Chief Paul Marzocca said in the news release “The family affected by this willful act of violence is in our thoughts and prayers and will not soon be forgotten.” AZ — Four teenagers were taken into custody in connection to the late April shooting death of a 15-year-old boy On April 29 around 9 p.m., officials were called to the scene near El Mirage and Thunderbird roads where a 15-year-old boy was found outside a residence with multiple gunshot wounds. The 15-year-old was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead An investigation into the incident revealed that 18-year-old Joey Hernandez-Silvas and 16-year-old Joshua Ochoa had allegedly planned to rob another individual in Surprise during a swap of handguns The teenagers reportedly did not locate the individual in Surprise but learned that the handgun intended for a swap had already been traded with the 15-year-old the group of teenagers planned to lure the 15-year-old into a neighborhood near El Mirage and Thunderbird roads to rob him of the handgun the 15-year-old attempted to turn and run and was shot All four were booked on first-degree murder Expands landbank in El Mirage area of city Microsoft has acquired more than 280 acres in the El Mirage area of Phoenix As reported by BizJournal and AZ Central Microsoft paid more than $258 million for the land in El Mirage close to its existing data centers in the area According to Maricopa County property records Microsoft closed on two parcels at Northern Parkway on either side of Dysart Road last month The two sales comprised of $130 million for 143 acres and $128 million for 140 acres Microsoft purchased the additional property in El Mirage to support data center construction that's already underway in the area corporate vice president for Microsoft Datacenters and Americas BJ reports that Dermody recently received city approvals from El Mirage to develop three data center buildings totaling 750,000 sq ft (69,680 sqm) on the same site acquired by Microsoft The company had previously planned to develop two million square feet of warehouse space on the site The company first acquired 150 acres in the area in 2019 The company’s existing site currently includes one completed data center launched in 2021 with a second data center building in the permitting process the El Mirage City Council approved a site plan amendment on the existing site allowing Microsoft to add another 245,000 sq ft (22,760 sqm) The company has multiple landholdings around the Phoenix area. It owns more than 450 acres in Goodyear along MC-85 and Lower Buckeye Road where it has two data centers Microsoft launched its West US 3 Azure cloud region – based in Phoenix – in June 2021 In other news, Microsoft has been granted permission for its Project Ruthenium data center campus in West Des Moines The City Council approved the development agreement at a May 21 meeting Phase one of the new campus will include a 245,000 sq ft building with a total investment of $210 million Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia A Studio City man faces a federal charge for allegedly directing a YouTube video in which a helicopter is seen shooting fireworks at a Lamborghini Huracan at the El Mirage Dry Lakebed He was charged Tuesday in a federal complaint charging one count of causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft The case stems from a YouTube video that was believed to have been filmed at the El Mirage Dry Lakebed in San Bernardino County in June of 2023 In it "...two women in a helicopter – flying near the ground and without filming permits – repeatedly shot fireworks at a Lamborghini sportscar," he said in a written statement "Law enforcement believes that Choi committed the offense sometime in June 2023 that he did not have a permit to film a shoot using fireworks on a helicopter and that he purchased the fireworks in Nevada because they were illegal in California," McEvoy said described by prosecutors as "what appears to be a live-action version of a fictionalized video game scene," identified Choi as its director Additional footage published alongside it showed Choi participating in and directing its creation he could face up to 10 years in federal prison Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol Attorney's Office Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section He was scheduled to make an initial appearance Thursday in federal court in Los Angeles An arraignment hearing was expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks (Nasdaq: MSFT) has acquired a major site in the West Valley to support its data center expansion in metro Phoenix Microsoft paid $258 million in all cash on May 31 for approximately 283 acres in El Mirage along Northern Parkway and Dysart Road Nevada-based Dermody Properties was the seller The company bought the site across two sales: $130 million for 143 acres and $128 million for 140 acres according to Maricopa County records and Tempe-based real estate database Vizzda This will add to 150 acres Microsoft already owns north of the site in El Mirage for its existing data center project at the 1,400-acre LogistiCenter at Copperwing industrial complex that's being developed by Nevada-based Dermody Properties A second facility at the complex is in final permitting stages El Mirage City Council approved a site plan amendment for a third 245,000-square-foot data center building on that site in April Read more of this story from the Business Journal.