THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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westvalleyview.com
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This Week
NEWS .............. 4 Tolleson soldier killed in vehicle incident
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LETTERS ........................12 BUSINESS..................... 14 SPORTS ..........................18 FEATURES .....................21 NEIGHBORHOOD......24 YOUTH ...........................26 OBITUARIES .................28 CLASSIFIEDS................31 WEST
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The Voice of the West Valley for 33 years
16
April 18, 2018
Meck addresses Buckeye’s progress at State of the City
West Valley schools go ‘red’ in support of pay raises
By Connor Dziawura
By Eric Newman
Developments from Nikola Motor Company, Aldi and Hilton Home2 Suites were just some of the highlights touted by Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck at the city’s 2018 State of the City address. The talk at the Palo Verde Energy Education Center on Wednesday, April 11, came just weeks after Meck underwent an emergency procedure to clear a blocked artery. Meck addressed the scare, confirming it as a heart attack. “I told the cardiologist and my rehab people, I don’t care what has to be done between March 18 and now, but I want to stand and do this for Buckeye,” Meck told guests. Meck praised the West Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck discussed the past, present and future Valley city’s small-town of the city at the 2018 State of the City address. (Photo courtesy city roots, and its growth of Buckeye) from a 1,200-person farm addressed by Meck was that of Nikola town to a 70,000-resident city in 2018. Within the next 50 to 100 Motor Company, which Gov. Doug years, Buckeye is projected to expand to Ducey announced in January. The Utah-based hydrogen-electric semi1.8 million people. truck manufacturer will relocate its “What we do today is going to affect headquarters, research and development tomorrow, next year, 50 years, 100 years and manufacturing capabilities to the city. down the road,” Meck said. The continued growth falls in line with Meck said construction will begin on the Buckeye’s Census ranking as the seventh- 500-acre, 1-million-square-foot, zerofastest growing city in the country. It is emissions facility early next year. The move will bring more than $1 billion also the fastest-growing city in Arizona. in capital to the region, creating over 2,000 According to Meck, nearly 2,200 singlewell-paying jobs, as well as over 4,000 family residential home permits were issued in 2017. One of the first major developments Buckeye...continued on page 2
Verrado Heritage Elementary School staff and students, as well as parents and supporters, gathered outside the Buckeye school April 11 as part of the #RedForEd Walk-Ins, one of many held throughout the state. The Litchfield Elementary School District school took part in the event to bring awareness of the lack of educational resources the state government provides. Clad in red shirts, and sporting signs with statements like, “You can’t put your students first if you put your students last,” or “Children are our future,” the protestors walked into the school unified, to try to make the state listen to their concerns. “We’re fighting for our students and fighting for our community. We believe they all deserve the best resources,” Verrado Heritage teacher Hannah Coleman said. Apparently, the walk-ins worked. On April 12, Gov. Doug Ducey announced he will increase teacher salaries 20 percent by the beginning of the 2020 school year. This initiative is in addition to his plan to fully restore recession-era cuts over the next five years. (See related story on page 8). Prior to the short march, Coleman spoke to the crowd and said many teachers are forced to purchase classroom supplies from their own salaries, which isn’t enough to live on. She added conditions need to improve. If not, it will be detrimental to children and the state. “Our students are our future – our future workforce, future leaders, future mentors and future heroes. They’re going to be taking care of us, eventually. I’m so proud to have a job that helps shape children for their futures, but we need the resources to do it.” Physical education teacher and athletic director Alberto Flores said when the
Red...continued on page 9