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This Week
NEWS .............. 4 First responders ‘gear up’ for COVID-19
NEWS .............. 6 Buckeye councilman resigns to run for mayor
NEWS ............... 8
Competition brewing for Rep. Debbie Lesko OPINION ...............12 BUSINESS.............. 16 FEATURES ..............17 YOUTH ..................21 OBITUARIES ...........23 CLASSIFIEDS ..........24 SOUTH
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April 8, 2020
The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years
Two COVID-19 deaths hit West Valley BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
Just weeks after the first COVID-19 cases were reported here, two West Valley seniors died of the disease. Sundance Adult Village in Buckeye and the Groves in Goodyear, two West Valley senior communities, sent emails to residents about COVID-19 cases. One resident from each community has died. The two West Valley seniors were among the first to die of COVID-19 in Maricopa County. In the last week, the number of deaths from COVID-19 in the country grew from five to 31. Mark King confirmed that his father, the well-known former fertilizer businessman James Thomas King, died March 29 from COVID-19. He was moved from an assisted-living room at the Groves to Abrazo West Campus a week before he died at age 90.
At Sundance Adult Village, community as safe as possian email from the board statble with actions to slow down ed there were multiple cases of the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19, including hospiThat started with closing the talizations and one death. Rec Center and all courts at “I can’t comment,” said Car9 a.m. on March 16 when we oline Clinton, general managreceived notification of two er of Sundance Adult Village, owners with the virus,” said when asked about an email the Sundance email from the email. Events and gatherings were Though Clinton said she canceled for 30 days, accordwas instructed by the board ing to the Sundance email. not to discuss any cases, she The email also said the Sunconfirmed an email was sent dance board attempted “to get James Thomas King of Goodto residents. a list of all of the individuals year died March 29 of COVID-19. A Sundance resident He was 90 and had been in as- that the infected individual had forwarded the March 30 sisted living at the Groves. (Photo recent contact with.” Those courtesy the King family) email—with a subject line who had contact with the indi“SAV Board’s response to coronavi- viduals with positive tests were asked to rus (COVID-19)”—to the West Valley self-quarantine for 14 days, the email said. View. Deaths...continued on page 3 “Your board is working to keep this
Barbers, salons closed; golf courses still open BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
On March 30, Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order for people to “Stay home”— but with many exceptions for people to work at or use “essential services.” Ducey ordered Arizonans, starting March 31 and through April, to “limit their time away from their place of residence.” In a televised town hall April 2, Ducey warned that the number of COVID-19 cases
will increase over the next month. Some say Ducey’s order, which he defended under questioning at the town hall, was too permissive. “Nothing changed from what most people had already been doing,” said Jen Ratliff, of Goodyear. “His order was basically stay home unless you want to go somewhere
Open...continued on page 2
Golf courses at PebbleCreek in Goodyear and Sundance in Buckeye remain open, in keeping with Gov. Doug Ducey’s order. PebbleCreek is open only to members for the time being. (Photo courtesy PebbleCreek)
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