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OPINION........... 11
Judy Bluhm decides about a Christmas tree
Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix
Anthem Area Edition
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
I-17 closures continue for rock blasting BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF
T
he I-17 will continue to be closed the weeknight overnight hours for controlled rock blasting over the next eight months. The blasting is necessary work as part of the I-17 Improvement Project from Anthem Way to Sunset Point. The full closures will take place two to three times a week Mondays through Thursdays. Generally, blasting will occur between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. However, the window of
time for this work to occur is between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. The start and end times of each closure could vary based on blast-site, weather and traffic conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances. On weeknights when controlled rock blasting is scheduled, crews will begin narrowing I-17 to a single lane in both directions at 7 p.m. and then fully close the highway after 10 p.m. Drivers should expect delays while crews set up traffic control, and use caution around construction personnel and equipment.
Motorists planning to travel on I-17 during the overnight hours should leave early or delay travel to avoid the closures entirely. Motorists who travel between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. should expect to be impacted by the closures on nights when blasting occurs. Safety is the No. 1 priority when conducting controlled rock blasting operations. The roadway cannot be reopened until the operation is completed successfully and all debris is cleared from the roadway.
28.5% above the state’s average salary. Business.org reported the average teacher salary in Arizona for 2020-2021 to be $52,157. There is a continuing debate over teacher compensation and whether state education funds are helping teachers or being diverted to other budgetary priorities. Meanwhile, inadequate salaries for educators are cause for concern for Beth Lewis, director of Save Our Schools Arizona, a nonprofit teacher advocacy organization. She said the biggest fear is the impact it will have on teachers and the education system as a whole. “It is no surprise that we have a massive lack of teachers who are willing to
work for this pay and, under these working conditions, these numbers don’t surprise me whatsoever,” Lewis said. Educators made their dissatisfaction known in 2018 with the RedforEd movement. Educators in Arizona and other states went on strike for anywhere from five to 10 days, fighting for better salaries and fewer budget cuts. Following the walkouts, Gov. Doug Ducey passed the “20x2020” plan — a plan to increase Arizona’s teacher salary by 20% by the year 2020. While Business.org ranked Arizona No. 50 — the worst state in the United
see I-17 page 4
Fight for education funding is an ongoing debate
BUSINESS.......... 17
YC’s Mongolian Grill opens new store in Scottsdale
FEATURES......... 20
Desert Foothills Theater hosts holiday fundraisers
OPINION.................... 11 BUSINESS.................. 17 FEATURES................. 18 CLASSIFIEDS............. 22 Zone I
BY SAMANTHA REA Foothills Focus Staff Writer
Five years ago, Arizona teachers went on strike for eight days with the RedforEd movement to protest ongoing funding cuts and low salaries. In 2022, the strike ended but the fight continues. Arizona’s educators make 5.5% less than the state’s average wage across many occupations, comparing 20202021 average wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to Business. org. While other states such as Pennsylvania, which ranks first, have made little adjustments to their teacher pay in the last 10 years, their educators make up to
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see FUNDING page 4
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