Tempe Beat

Emergency work on Rio Salado Parkway is forcing the street’s closure between Rural Road and McClintock Drive tonight.
The closure begins at 7 p.m., and is expected to last until 6 a.m. Friday.
For more information, call (480) 350-2775.

Some Tempe residents soon will be asked about their feelings on everything from parks and streets to police and fire service.
Starting next week, a three-page, confidential survey will be mailed to 2,400 randomly selected citizens. The questionnaire takes an estimated 10 minutes to complete, and included is a self-addressed, stamped envelope to mail back responses to the company administering the survey: ETC Institute, of Olathe, Kan.
The survey’s questions deal with the level of satisfaction residents have with police, fire, parks, public works, communication and more. ETC Institute will compile and present the results to the City Council later this year.
“We hope that Tempe residents will take a few moments to tell us how we’re doing to provide services and improve quality of life,” said Mayor Hugh Hallman. “Residents’ feedback gives our City Council important information to consider when making decisions for the betterment of the community.”
Some residents may receive a telephone call reminding them to complete the survey. Results remain completely confidential and the city will not be informed which residents received or completed surveys.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman’s teenage niece, missing since last weekend, was found in good condition and reunited with her family Friday morning.
Police said they are investigating the disappearance of Paige Hallman, 16, as a possible runaway incident. She has a history of running away from home, according to authorities
Hallman had gone missing last Sunday night.

The Tempe Police Department will honor the Mexican Police Force and US Marshals in a Thursday night ceremony for the capture of a suspected Tempe criminal in Mexico.

Graham Gravely, a man suspected of the robbery and sexual assault of an elderly woman in her Tempe home in July, was captured in Mexico by the Sonora State Investigative Police (PEI), according to Tempe police spokesman Sgt. Steve Carbajal.

Gravely was captured on Aug 2 where he was later transferred into the custody of US authorities. He was formally charged on Aug 14 on nine counts ranging from sexual assault to kidnapping. In statements made to police, Gravely also said he may have been involved in an unrelated 1998 homicide case in Yuma, Carbajal said.

The ceremony to honor the officers will be held at 7:30 p.m. during the Tempe City Council meeting Thursday evening at 31 E. Fifth Street, Carbajal said.

If Mayor Hugh Hallman is seeking the national spotlight, perhaps he should leave Tempe more often.

While at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. last week, Hallman was the subject of a feature on Minnesota Public Radio. The reporter, Jim Gates, is an old high school friend, and so tagged along with Hallman as he executed his duties as a GOP delegate.

That interview comes on the heels of Hallman’s appearance in a national blog. But the mayor wants to make something clear: He was not an attendee at the Utne Reader party. Apparently, after that alternative magazine’s soirée ended, some revelers went to the St. Paul Hotel to continue to merry-making - and that’s where the cameras caught Hallman.

In the last few weeks, the Tempe Beat-nik has been hearing rumors growing louder a supermarket may be coming to the downtown area. Close to downtown, anyway.

Here’s the skinny:  Visit the intersection of Mill Avenue and Broadway Road, and look to the southwest corner. There’s a Walgreens under construction, and after the holidays it will replace the existing Walgreens on the southeast corner.

And moving into the now-vacant property will be Fresh & Easy, the British grocer that is aggressively expanding throughout Arizona.

Fresh & Easy opened three new stores (Tempe, Mesa and Queen Creek) Wednesday, bringing the Valley’s total to 24.

At the grand opening ceremonies of the store at Baseline Road and Kyrene Road, the Beat-nik took the opportunity to ask F&E officials about the rumor. For a non-denial denial, try this on: “If we’re not looking at it, we should be.”

Stay tuned.

Chris Wilson has resigned as the Downtown Tempe Community’s vice president of operations.
In his resignation letter, Wilson gave no reason for his exit. His last day is Friday.
Wilson has led the DTC’s operations for 12 years. The organization manages Mill Avenue improvements, activities and marketing, which are funded through city taxes raised within an enhanced multiple services district.
Wilson’s decision, made public Monday, is the second recent high-profile departure at DTC; president and executive director Pam Goronkin announced in July she was stepping down.
Next Monday, Nancy Hormann takes over as the DTC’s top executive.

TruWest Credit Union is taking up a collection to help the city of Tempe pay for replanting the scores of trees that fell during the recent fierce storms.

To contribute to the Tempe Tree Fund, visit a TruWest branch or mail a check to to 1667 N Priest Dr. Tempe 85281.

Donations will be collected through the end of the month.