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The Voice of the West Valley for 33 years
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September 12, 2018
Filling the hunger gap Missing teen found near is a group effort Buckeye By Carrie Snider
NEWS .............. 4 Kauppi named Buckeye’s first chief financial officer
SPORTS ........ 17 Millennium football happy with its ‘Early’ start
9 DAYS ......... 18 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
LETTERS ..........................9 BUSINESS..................... 12 SPORTS ..........................16 FEATURES .....................19 YOUTH ...........................23 OBITUARIES .................26 CLASSIFIEDS................27 NORTH
West siders may not realize just how many of their neighbors are going hungry. And while local food banks do a lot to fill the need, they are asking residents to get involved to help those in the community. In the United States, around 40 million people struggle with hunger, including more than 12 million children, according to nonprofit hunger relief organization Feeding America. In Arizona, the problem of “food insecurity,” or lack of consistent access to adequate food, affects 2 million people. That’s according to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, a group that serves two-thirds of the state. A staggering 30 percent of Arizonians are considered working poor with little money to spare for food, especially balanced and nutritious meals that include things like fresh Maria Chavez working at the All Faith Community food bank (West fruits and vegetables. It’s Valley View photo by Pablo Robles) a number that keeps many in the Valley working to fill in those gaps. food to those who need it most. Cassie Wilkins is the executive director One way it reaches the hungry is through of All Faith Community Services: Buck- the school system. According to All Faith, eye, a group contracted with St. Mary’s in some Buckeye elementary schools as to provide services to the city and its sur- much as 98 percent of students are eligible rounding communities. for free and reduced meal programs. Sev“It is the most expansive social services eral years ago, one Buckeye principal did area in Maricopa,” she explained, adding a survey and found that while the students that All Faith services 2,300 homes scat- were being fed at school, some were not tered around the far West Valley. With that comes many challenges, including getting Hunger...continued on page 2
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The Phoenix Police Department is continuing to investigate the death of 19-yearold Kiera Lanae Bergman, whose body was found September 3 at State Route 85 and Hazen Road near Buckeye. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office found Bergman, but the Phoenix Police Department is leading the assumed homicide investigation, said Phoenix Sgt. Vincent Lewis. Bergman was last seen August 4 at her home Kiera Lanae Bergman rerelocated from Calinear 51st Ave- cently fornia. (Photo courtesy Phoenue and Thun- nix Police Department) derbird Road in Phoenix. She recently moved from California to Arizona. Police believe her ex-boyfriend, Jon-Christopher Clark, was the last person to see Bergman alive. Clark is in jail, charged with 22 counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of forgery. Lewis would only confirm that no one has been charged with her murder as of September 6. Anyone with information is asked to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Callers may remain anonymous and could earn a reward of up to $1,000. Bergman’s body was found 4 miles south of where 10-year-old Jesse Wilson’s body was found in March. A Buckeye city worker located the boy’s body on State Route 85 and Broadway Road.