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westvalleyview.com
The Voice of the West Valley for 37 years
March 8, 2023
Community grieves after bicycle crash, GoFundMe set up
Inside This Week
BY JORDAN ROGERS
West Valley View Managing Editor
T
he West Valley cyclist community is grieving in the aftermath of a tragic accident that left two dead and another 11 injured. Just prior to 8 a.m. on Feb. 25, 26-yearold Pedro Quintana-Lujan of Phoenix was traveling southbound in a Ford F-250 on the Cotton Lane Bridge in Goodyear when he crashed into the barrier wall of the bridge and then a group of adult cyclists out on a morning ride
NEWS ............... 8 Crystal Wilson brought to Maricopa County
with Goodyear-based West Valley Cycle’s “B Group.” Two were confirmed to have died in the incident — 61-year-old Karen Malisa and 65-year-old David Kero. Malisa, a resident of Goodyear, died on scene, and Kero, who was visiting from Michigan, died from his injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital. Another 17 cyclists were transported to three different area hospitals with various injuries ranging from minor to life threatening.
Quintana-Lujan remained on scene after the crash and was booked into the Maricopa County Sheriff ’s jail on two counts of manslaughter, three counts of aggravated assault, 18 counts of endangerment, and two counts of causing a serious injury or death by a moving violation. He is held on a $250,000 bond. At a press conference at the Goodyear Police Department on Feb. 27, public information officer Lisa Berry said it is
Victims...continued on page 4
Avondale Mayor Weise delivers State of the City address FEATURES .... 18
BY JOE MCHUGH
Life Time Fitness welcomes pickleball
West Valley View Staff Writer
A
s the sun set on the Avondale Visitor and Conference Center on March 2, Mayor Kenneth Weise and Avondale City Council prepared the annual State of the City address to the citizens of the city. Kicked off with dinner and then awards, the crowd was warmed up for the address, to which the mayor did not disappoint. “2023 looks really good for the city of Avondale,” Weise said. “(Avondale Economic Development Director Ken Chapa) gave me some economic development notes for me to read out to you guys to make sure I got it. … The num-
YOUTH ......... 22 Goodyear student competes in national fencing tournament
OPINION ...............10 BUSINESS.............. 13 SPORTS ..................14 CALENDAR ............16 FEATURES ..............18 OBITUARIES ...........21 YOUTH ..................22 CLASSIFIEDS ..........23 EAST •••
THE NEWSPAPER
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PARK & TOLLESON
Rec center helps teens
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INSIDE
Valley for 36 years
OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE,
GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD
PARK & TOLLESON
JD Hayworth •••
State of Avondale
27
January 12, 2022
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mpliant INSIDE Report says BESD nonco The Voice of the West
westvalleyview.com
Weise...continued on page 3
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The Voice of the West
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THE NEWSPAPER
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Best of the West noms
Election results
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April 27, 2022 PAGE 7
Valley for 37 years
k high school AESD offers fast-trac
program
The Voice of the West
Valley for 37 years
Square, Goodyear unveils Civic
westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
18 August 10, 2022
newly relocated library
their educational programwere BY SUMMER AGUIRRE ming and children that Writer This Week West Valley View Staff for those higher-level School Dis- ready Library was as well as envondale Elementary he new Georgia T. Lord students are coursework, Civic Square auditor get those trict’s middle school unveiled at Goodyear recently released Arizona Buckeye with its richment courses, and city’s vision the continuing to find success credits out of the way on Aug. 1, bringing the general report shows program. already had highthe community to life. fast-track high school program, students start high school Elementary School District peer disto create the heart of and residents costs than Within the fast-track courses in alge- ahead.” City officials, developers er electricity and water are for the opening of compliance put public Participating students participate in high school were in attendance tricts, and its lack of feeder Spanish at the feedat GSQ, a project information at risk. bra, band, chorus and Fria Union High transported to the Goodyear Civic Square since 1984. The monies and sensitive this performance up to four days NEWS ........... 10 er school district, Aguaparticipating that has been in the works facil- high school The first of two reports, efficiency and library was the district’s Goodyear officer receives NEWS .............. 6 rehoming of the community’s School District. The Desert Edge high a week. have NEWS .............. 6 audit focusedinonfour operational areas: adminnot only to better Fetch Foundation gift While the goal is to MCCCD kick-starting ities are Agua Fria and a part of that project, effectiveness School DisEstrella donates $5K to help build a gatherand maintenance, school students Buckeye Elementary workforce development schools. serve residents but to the city. 12 years the middle school credits first of two reports on with state requirements. (Photo istration, plant operations Homeless Youth Connection and its comof general released the The program was implemented receive high and compliance in the morning with The Arizona auditor ing place — the core food service, and transportation, envisioned year, grow each school long school district operations square at GSQ started to on project freshman requirements. a focuses continues their state been ceremony and which and before trict, ago of the Goodyear Civic “This has School District) pliance with certain recfollowed by the ribbon-cutting I think that it might Celebrations for the opening report will be con- courtesy of Buckeye Elementary classes at their said the increased specific findings and year. a yoga class at the park, (City of Goodyear/Submitted) by our community. The second and final Spanish, choir or band a re- response to the kids who are el- Hargrove is a bonus. begun to Goodyear City music, food trucks and cannons. will focus on execuStudents can take math, School District) Dr. Kristi Wilson issued the ommendations, we have already “By bringing all of our confidence be a blessing in disguise,” “It took so long closed with a balloon drop and confetti ducted later this year and corin feeder high school. (Avondale Elementary school, we’re able Square’s facilities, particularly the perintendent said. to Lindsey Perry, “When they participate many of the recommended igible over to the high do guests toured Civic Manager Julie Karins tive administrative spending,benefits package, sponse on Dec. 16, opportunity for hall, upscale to implewe were able to then be7 a.m. with music, five-page de- implement are, and they really learning a now forward and that and look because including We program expectations salary include the library, city maximize here, the this to Celebrations began at to get rective actions. auditor general, superintendent’s Avondale she said. class at the park, which space and 2-acre park for communithat’s truly unique Dr. Betsy Hargrove, ed during the audit. each recommendation menting the remaining recommended achigh school freshmen, they know step in ahead of the curve,” create something I think right partners, the food trucks and a yoga scription as to how due to concerns identifi ceremony office BUSINESS...... 19 them,” said School District superinten- come campus, and agreed with the acted upon. they already know the Elementary and special. It was the time, and I’m just followed by the ribbon-cutting they The district responded tions in the near future.” would be followed and on page 4 16 page 3 Rosario Buendia receives BUSINESS...... at the high school, AESD...continued a closing balloon drop School District has stated each of the 13 Goodyear...continued on dent. right project, at the right what have staff members “Buckeye Elementary performance aureport’s findings and who and topped with 3 Kroc Award genthe Ray West Valley nabs new After the festivities, ensuring that our kids in know the lay of the land, they know ...continued on page the team and everyone about the of was reviewed Buckeye “It BUSINESS...... 19 recommendations given by the auditor and proud and confetti cannons. so received Federico’s, Chipotle that experience this happen.” “As noted in our Marine vet brings TruBlue every opportunity for came together to make dit report,” Wilson wrote. eral would be implemented. CALENDAR ... 24 School District Suto Total House to WV Buckeye Elementary Looking for something YOUTH .......... 28
This Week
This Week
BY LAUREN SERRATO Writer West Valley View Staff
BY LAUREN SERRATO Writer West Valley View Staff
A
FEATURES ..... 20 Avondale filmmaker brings home ‘Lucid’
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OPINION ................. 18 BUSINESS.............. FEATURES ..............20 YOUTH ..................26 OBITUARIES ...........28 CLASSIFIEDS ..........31 EAST
g to Buckeye
Abrazo hospital comin
A
do? Check out the calendar
OPINION ...............14
nu.............. 19 projected to addBUSINESS medical facilities are Valley. include ambulatory SPORTS ..................22 merous jobs in the West the West Valley’s for the campus also VIEW STAFF ............24 “Abrazo has cared for 20 years,” CALENDAR said build a med- services. Health anticipates that its new for nearly ..............26 brazo Health is set to acute care Abrazo FEATURES cer offi care an- health needs ical office building and the south- medical campus will be a health econom- Hans Driessnack, chief executive OBITUARIES ...........29 at a driver of hospital on 27 acres chor for the area and 4 ..................30 YOUTH Verrado Way. campus construction, Abrazo...continued on page ic activity. Medical west corner of I-10 and for the future the development is CLASSIFIEDS ..........33 ng and support services The initial phase of this year. Plans staffi EAST expected to break ground
BY WEST VALLEY
A
news and top The latest breaking West Valley! local stories in the
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T
Banner Health to build
new hospital in Buckeye
Cardinals, State Farm
send
to D.C. SouthTolleson students “Buckeye and the surrounding and we want room. Valley is growing fast, health sive care and an emergency plan ...............10 VIEW STAFF and room for expan- west OPINION our patients The hospital will have they 16 more to make sure constructo where .............. BUSINESS potential build-out of and members have care close anner Health is planning it.” med- sion, with a grows want and need ............22 tion for a new, comprehensiveValley than 300 beds as the community work or live when they CALENDAR Valley, across the ..............24 ical center in the Southwest A health care providerFEATURES requires more services. for building convenient care that “We want to provide Banner Health is recognized of metro Phoenix. OBITUARIES ...........26 has not yet been our patients and their The hospital, which is close to home for on page 3 YOUTH ..................27 open in the fall 2024 Nordlund, chief stratBanner...continued named, is expected to beds and offer im- families,” said Scott for Banner Health. CLASSIFIEDS ..........30 with approximately 120 delivery, inten- egy and growth officer and aging, surgery, labor EAST
BY WEST VALLEY
B
news and top The latest breaking West Valley! local stories in the
.com ew.com
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new Buckeye campus Academy celebrates arts; a new synthetic Sequoia Pathfinder class sizes; performing and lacrosse; a from Sequoia Path-
field for football, soccer Roosevelt Street across colwill enroll stu- turf gym floor; schoolwide an finder Elementary School, With new hardwood developed on through 12th grades. and career readiness at Verra- dents in seventh facility, students lege foundation; a cybersecurity and comequoia Pathfinder Academy celebrat- the opening of this new need to utilize AVID and a new high fabrication elective; do Way and I-10 in Buckeye building and faculty will no longer school Church for class puter curriculum, along with the integraed its new secondary the Summit Community with the school ceremony Aug. 4, though a close partnership with a ribbon-cutting 4 who will soon space, will remain. Campus...continued on page church joined by staff and families will feature smaller The secondary school be using the new facility. at 20570 W. The new building, located
BY SCIANNA GARCIA Writer West Valley View Staff
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Avondale Mayor Kenneth Weise delivers his State of the City address, through which he elaborated on the expansive economic profile the city accomplished last year. (City of Avondale/Submitted)
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