BUCKEYE MAN FACES MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE, PAGE 3
westvalleyview.com — the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, July 27, 2016 (623) 535-8439
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OLYMPIC BOUND Litchfield Park man headed to Rio to represent U.S. in summer games — Page 16.
MEET THE CANDIDATES Tolleson City Council hopefuls respond to View questionnaire — Page 12.
REDUCING READMISSIONS Pilot program designed to keep discharged patients from returning to hospital — Page 4.
DAILY UPDATES! News Updates and fresh Classified ads posted Monday - Friday at 4:30 p.m. online at www.westvalleyview.com Volume 31, No. 16 28 Pages 1 Section Circulation: 73,775 INDEX Classifieds .................... 23 Editorials & Letters .......... 6 Obituaries ...................... 21 Sports ........................... 15 Briefcase ....................... 10 9 Days a Week............... 20 Recycle this paper
View photo by Jordan Christopher
BUCKEYE POLICE CHIEF LARRY HALL speaks to community members as they prepare to begin a new search grid section July 20 in Buckeye. Residents joined forces with first responders to search for 10-year-old Jesse Wilson of Buckeye, who has been missing since the evening of July 17.
Search continues for missing boy
Buckeye 10-year-old last seen July 17 near Watson, Yuma roads by Emily Toepfer assistant editor
It’s been more than a week since Jesse Wilson went missing from his house in Buckeye. The 10-year-old boy was last seen sleeping in his bed at 9:30 p.m. July 17 near Watson and Yuma roads. When his mother went to check on him four hours later, Jesse was gone. Crystal Wilson immediately called the Buckeye Police Department’s non-emergency line to report her son missing, telling the dispatcher that he’s run away before. But Jesse has never been gone so long, said Sgt. Jason Weeks, a spokesman with the Buckeye Police Department. Hundreds of volunteers scoured the Buckeye area last week, looking for clues to help find the boy.
Residents, Buckeye council members, city staff, law enforcement agencies from across the Valley, members of the FBI and bloodhounds searched the fields by Jesse’s house and also at nearby Skyline Regional Park. The efforts were suspended after only a few hours each day because of the heat and humidity, but police continued to search in rougher terrain with aircraft. On Sunday night, Bradley Creemos Academy in Goodyear held a gathering to thank volunteers and re-energize the search effort. Jesse would be starting fourth grade at the school Aug. 8. “Let tonight be a reminder that every day we have to strive and stay focused on bringing him home,” Bradley Academy President Daniel Hughes said.
While holding the family dog, Crystal spoke briefly to thank those who have taken part in the search for her son. “I just want to thank everybody for coming out and supporting Jesse,” she said. “I just want to let everybody know I appreciate every bit from the Jesse Wilson youngest child to the oldest adult.” Crystal also made a public plea last week (See Search on Page 5)
View hosting blood drive Aug. 3 Donations needed to combat nationwide shortage by Shane McOwen sports writer
Blood. Everyone has it. But it’s still hard to come by, especially during the summer months. To help combat the seasonal shortage, the West
Valley View is hosting a United Blood Services blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3 at 1050 E. Riley Drive in Avondale. Between part-time residents and people getting out of town to cooler weather, United Blood Services has a tough time keeping its reserves up, said Sue Thew, a spokeswoman with the nonprofit.
United Blood Services supplies 100 percent of the blood for 64 hospitals in 11 Arizona counties, and this summer just may be the toughest one yet, Thew said. “National experts are saying we’re in the midst of the worst summer blood shortage our nation has ever seen,” she said. Blood banks are in constant need of donations (See Blood drive on Page 5)