THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS .............. 6 Michelle Harris campaigning for LD13
SPORTS ........ 17 PebbleCreek golf club to undergo expansion
9 DAYS ......... 20 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
LETTERS ........................11 BUSINESS..................... 14 SPORTS ..........................17 FEATURES .....................22 NEIGHBORHOOD......30 YOUTH ...........................31 OBITUARIES .................34 CLASSIFIEDS................35 NORTH
Chamber gala returning The Voice of the West Valley for 33 years
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June 6, 2018
Buckeye sees significant population growth in 2017 By Eric Newman
Buckeye was named the United States’ fifth fastest-growing city in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s report about cities with populations of more than 50,000. While the city of Phoenix saw an increase of around 24,000 people, Buckeye was the only city in Arizona to make the list, based purely on percentage of growth, moving up from the seventh spot last year. Showing a 5.9 percent increase in population from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, the number of Buckeye residents reached 68,453. City officials estimate the current population at 74,000. Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck is not surprised. “Buckeye provides an excellent quality of life for our residents,” Meck said. “We offer the greatest value in housing, along with a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, which creates the perfect environment to continue attracting new retail development and large employers to our great city.” Buckeye Economic Development Director David Roderique said those who can commute to Phoenix can afford the lowcost land and bigger houses in Buckeye. “There is a greater value for land and houses out here, and so a lot of people are willing to drive a little bit farther to the city to get more for their money,” he said. That commute could be cut significantly for many Buckeye residents, too, as several local and high-level companies have taken notice of the city’s growth. Buckeye has attracted a Home2 Suites by Hilton
Construction signs line houses against agricultural fields in Buckeye. (West Valley View photo by Jordan Christopher)
extended stay hotel, an Aldi grocery store, a new fitness center and the Nikola Motor Company headquarters. Nikola, an electric truck company, promises to bring numerous high-paying jobs and invest nearly $1 billion into the city. “There’s just a lot happening with new businesses because they see the people coming and want to get in on it. It’s really promising,” Buckeye spokeswoman Annie DeChance said.
Buckeye’s existing businesses should see a boost as well, according to Tedy Burton of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce. Residents should expect several staples to expand their brands. “The growth means that more residents are coming, which is just an overall good thing for business,” Burton said. “A lot of our members, especially those
Growth...continued on page 3
Clean Energy ballot initiative could take Palo Verde off the grid By Faith Miller
The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station is the nation’s largest power producer, serving 4 million people across the Southwest and providing about 35 percent of Arizona’s electric power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. If the Clean Energy for a Healthy
Arizona initiative appears on the ballot in November, voters will decide the plant’s future. The initiative calls for 50 percent of Arizona’s electrical energy to come from renewable sources, mostly solar and wind, by 2030. Nuclear power would be hit hardest among sources of power in Arizona, because Palo Verde – the nation’s
largest power producer – could not operate at levels low enough to satisfy the initiative’s requirements. Supporters have less than two months to gather enough signatures to qualify. At a recent news media tour of the plant,
Energy...continued on page 2