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THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ............ 10 State Rep. Sierra in hospital with COVID-19
NEWS ............ 12 Can you have a debate with just one candidate?
BUSINESS ..... 17 A piece of business news that will put you to sleep
OPINION................14 BUSINESS.............. 17 SPORTS...................19 FEATURES...............21 YOUTH...................23 OBITUARIES............25 CLASSIFIEDS...........27 SOUTH
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The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years
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October 7, 2020
Back-to-school time, finally BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
For months, buses at the Agua Fria Union High School District transportation hub have been as motionless as a painting. Soon, as many West Valley classrooms open for the first time in nearly seven months, drivers will rev up the diesel engines and put the buses in gear. The time is fast approaching for teachers and students also to get back in gear, after months of teaching and learning online. School is coming back—though with major changes. Signs at schools will remind students to wear masks and practice social distancing. At Saddle Mountain School District, “Our teachers and staff have been eagerly awaiting the day when they can welcome students back physically into our schools,” said Dr. Paul Tighe, the district superintendent, in a letter to families. “The health metrics for our district have improved over the past two weeks to a point where we can safely resume in-person learning, with extra safety measures in place.” Saddle Mountain reopens its Buckeye and Tonopah classrooms Tuesday, Oct. 13.
When they finally return to classrooms Oct. 12 after seven months of school closures, students at Agua Fria Union High School District will be greeted by signs reminding them of new safety measures. Many other West Valley school districts plan to reopen this month with similar guidelines. (West Valley View photo by Tom Scanlon)
“As mandated by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, face coverings are required for students and staff,” Tighe noted. Agua Fria Union high schools reopen a day before Saddle Mountain. “We are still on schedule to open with
the hybrid (schedule) on Oct. 12 and continue to monitor our planning,” said Dennis Runyan, superintendent of Agua Fria Union.
Lisa Otondo, who lives in Yuma, and challenger Travis Angry, a Goodyear resident, participated. In the Arizona House of Representatives race, incumbents Charlene Fernandez, a Yuma resident, and Geraldine Peten, who lives in Goodyear, and challenger Joel John, a Buckeye resident, answered questions submitted by voters. Otondo, Fernandez and Peten began serving Jan. 9, 2017, and will end their cur-
rent terms Jan. 10, 2021. On Nov. 3, West Valley voters will decide if the three will serve consecutive terms, or if one or more of the challengers will take office. Among the topics debated, Republicans Angry and John and Democrats Fernandez, Otondo and Peten gave perspectives on mail-in voting and Proposition 208, which is on the November ballot.
School...continued on page 2
Five District 4 candidates debate
BY JAKARIA ROSS
West Valley View Contributing Writer
Voters in Buckeye and Goodyear will soon help decide on Arizona Legislative District 4 representatives. The huge district stretches from the West Valley to Yuma and Tucson. District 4 candidates participated in an Oct. 1 online debate, sponsored by Arizona Clean Elections. In the Arizona Senate race, incumbent
Debate...continued on page 4