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THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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July 1, 2020
The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years
1,000-acre fire forces evacuations
BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
NEWS ........... 10 Investigations continue in Goodyear Police Dept.
NEWS ........... 14 Tolleson passes budget, mask proclamation
YOUTH ......... 24 Agua Fria high schools may start fall online
OPINION ...............16 BUSINESS.............. 18 FEATURES ..............19 YOUTH ..................23 OBITUARIES ...........25 CLASSIFIEDS ..........26 SOUTH
The area near Phoenix International Raceway was hot last weekend, for all the wrong reasons. Instead of burning rubber from race cars, smoke poured over the West Valley from a wild fire ignited in a riverbed before sundown Friday, June 26. The fire raged Friday night and Saturday, growing to nearly 1,000 acres. An evacuation was ordered at 10 p.m. June 26 for some residents of south Avondale. It was lifted the next day. Crews from Goodyear, Avondale and fire departments around the West Valley worked intensely to protect homes, and the evacuation order was lifted Saturday night. Late Sunday, the fire was 80% contained, according to Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management spokeswoman Tiffany Davila. “The cause of the fire is under investigation,” Davila said.
A weekend wildfire near Phoenix International Raceway charred 1,000 acres, burning trees and bushes. Goodyear, Avondale and other fire crews worked hard to protect homes. (Photo courtesy Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management)
According to a Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman, “Arizona submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Avondale Fire. At
the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 150 homes in and around
Fire...continued on page 3
Bars and gyms closed, school delayed BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
Though a big show is tentatively on in Goodyear, other traditional West Valley celebrations were canceled after alarming increases of COVID-19. At a Monday, June 29, press conference, Gov. Doug Ducey ordered more changes,
FORD P ROM IS E
closing bars, gyms, movie theaters and water parks “effective 8 p.m today with a targeted reopening date in 30 days. “We are going to delay the first day of school until Aug. 17,” Ducey said. He again pleaded with people to “stay home if you can.” Last week, the Agua Fria Unified School
District canceled graduation plans. Agua Fria, Canyon View, Desert Edge, Millennium and Verrado high school graduations scheduled July 1 at State Farm Stadium will not take place. “We waited as long as possible before
Celebration...continued on page 2
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