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The Voice of the West Valley for 37 years
March 1, 2023
Goodyear implements 2 new directors BY JOE MCHUGH
West Valley View Staff Writer
W
ith the city of Goodyear rapidly expanding, the need for more city leadership is growing with it. To remedy this, the city recently appointed two new directors that will help the city maintain its steady growth. Wendy Bridges and Barbara Chappell have been named the economic development director and water services director, respectively, and both will play a vital role in the success and continued “golden age” of Goodyear. Bridges has been serving local government for the better part of three decades. Recently serving the city of Avondale as its business development manager and the economic development coordinator prior to that, her experience will be an asset to Goodyear. “I am really excited,” she said. “Working for the city of Goodyear is kind of amazing. It’s like all the right things come together at the right time. We have a fantastic city council, we have a fantastic leadership team and the staff that I work with here is
Barbara Chappell and Wendy Bridges look to leverage their nearly 50 combined years of government experience to keep propelling Goodyear upward. (City of Goodyear/Submitted)
incredibly talented.” Just prior to being named the full-time economic development director, she served as the interim of the position in what was “the longest job interview” of her life. But
Bridges aced the interview and was named to the position on Feb. 6. “One of the things that (City Manager
Directors...continued on page 3
2 bicyclists dead after being hit on MC-85 BY JORDAN ROGERS
West Valley View Managing Editor
J
ust prior to 8 a.m. on Feb. 25, officers with the Goodyear Police Department responded to calls of a very serious crash involving a large group of adult bicyclists who were hit by a pickup truck on the Cotton Lane Bridge in Goodyear. Two bicyclists were confirmed to have died in the incident — a man who died on scene and another who died after being transported to a nearby hospital. One of the deceased is a local resident of
Goodyear, and one was visiting from out of state. Another 11 bicyclists were transported to three different area hospitals with various injuries, some serious. One of the 11, as of print time, was in life-threatening condition. The driver of the pick-up truck, 26-year-old Pedro Quintana-Lujan of Phoenix, remained on scene and was booked on two counts of manslaughter, three counts of aggravated assault, 18 counts of endangerment, and two counts of causing serious injury or death by a
moving violation. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Goodyear Fire Department, Avondale Fire and Medical, Buckeye Fire Department, Glendale Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and Arizona Fire and Medical assisted Goodyear police with this incident. “The Goodyear Police Department is deeply saddened by this tragedy and extends condolences to the loved ones of the victims as well as to the cycling community and the community as a whole,” Goodyear police said in a statement.