West Valley View - South 09.30.2020

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THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON

The Just Keep Pushing run PAGE

Where kids take a ‘break’

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westvalleyview.com

INSIDE

This Week

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The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years

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September 30, 2020

Cities ready to fly with Luke BY TOM SCANLON

West Valley View Managing Editor

NEWS .............. 4 Widow calls husband’s death ‘murder’

NEWS ............... 6 School funding on ballots being mailed this week

SPORTS ......... 17 It’s kickoff weekend for high school football

OPINION ...............14 BUSINESS.............. 16 SPORTS ..................17 FEATURES ..............18 YOUTH ..................21 OBITUARIES ...........23 CLASSIFIEDS ..........24 SOUTH

Everyone else in the West Valley is taking off. Why not Luke Air Force Base? As Goodyear, Buckeye and Avondale populations climb and Glendale expands via annexation and dramatic commercial projects (Red Bull, White Claw, a planned water park), the historic air base in the bull’s-eye of the West Valley is hardly about to be grounded. Indeed, it’s getting ready to soar like never before. A mission expansion revolving around 144 new fighter jets is set to pump Luke AFB’s population—as well as the surrounding areas of Goodyear, Litchfield Park and Avondale to the south and Glendale and Peoria to the north. Details of the expansion’s impact came out via the Luke AFB Targeted Growth Management Plan from the Maricopa Association of Governments. Luke is gradually ramping up for the F-35A Lightning II jets over the next six years.

More jets like this will be taking off as Luke Air Force Base expands—meaning more jobs and more residents for West Valley cities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Devante Williams)

Just as the roar of the jets is hardly confined to the base, the power of Luke’s economic engine will spill into surrounding cities. Goodyear, Avondale and Litchfield Park,

for three, are ready for lift off. “Litchfield Park is very supportive of Luke Air Force Base and their mission,”

Luke...continued on page 4

Avondale lands $3 million firefighter grant BY TOM SCANLON

West Valley View Managing Editor

Avondale is growing up—literally. While the city can be said to be maturing as its population grows, Avondale also is experiencing vertical growth, with hotels and multilevel, sprawling warehouses and industrial spaces. With potential fires and rescues at big buildings in mind, the Avondale Fire and Medical Department purchased a ladder truck in 2007. And, with the continued

Grant...continued on page 2

A $3 million grant will help Avondale Fire and Medical Department expand and staff a ladder truck, used on commercial fires and rescues such as one involving a trapped motorist during a monsoon flood. (Photo courtesy Avondale Fire and Medical Department)


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