THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
Best of the West awards return PAGE
Locals participate in Fashion Week 4 Kids
14
PAGE
westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS .............. 6 Rep. Lesko tours Desert Edge High School
SPORTS ........ 16 DEHS alumnus playing golf in Arkansas
9 DAYS ......... 18 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
LETTERS ..........................9 BUSINESS..................... 13 SPORTS ..........................16 FEATURES .....................19 YOUTH ...........................24 OBITUARIES .................28 CLASSIFIEDS................29 SOUTH
The Voice of the West Valley for 33 years
24
October 24, 2018
WV residents suing Katie Hobbs for libel By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Four West Valley residents are suing secretary of state candidate Katie Hobbs for libel after she claimed one of the plaintiffs was flashing a white supremacist sign in a photograph with Doug Ducey. The group is seeking $20,000 in compensatory damages. Taken at the Mohave County Republican Committee’s Patriot Dinner in Kingman, the photo shows Lesa Antone of Litchfield Park flashing an “OK” sign with Jennifer Harrison of Peoria, Antone’s husband Russell Jaffe, Jeremy Bronaugh of Goodyear and Ducey around her. On April 29, the then-senate minority leader tweeted the photo with the caption, “Gov. Ducey, I hope you realize this woman is flashing a white supremacist sign. These are part of the group that shows up at the Lesa Antone of Litchfield Park is shown here flashing an “OK” sign during the Mohave County Republican ComPatriot Dinner in Kingman. Also in the photo are Jennifer Harrison of Peoria, Antone’s husband Russell Capitol with AR-15s and harass mittee’s Jaffe, Jeremy Bronaugh of Goodyear, and Gov. Doug Ducey. (Photo courtesy Twitter) elementary school children and Democratic staff, calling them Ducey can meet with the very people who senate minority leader, Hobbs has an imillegals. You must denounce.” screamed and harassed children for eight plied perceived credibility in the commuAs of October 19, the post remained on hours – making us fear our lives, but not nity and this comes with the responsibility her Twitter feed. Hobbs also retweeted us? Shame on you governor.” Hobbs...continued on page 3 March for Our Lives AZ’s tweet: “Doug According to the complaint, “as the state
Litchfield Park city manager is up for any challenge By Alexis Alabado
Bill Stephens does not get flustered working as Litchfield Park’s city manager. He does not get overwhelmed. Instead, he takes a step back, rubs his clean-shaven chin, scratches his white hair, and addresses the problem with careful consideration. Stephens, 63, said he has age and experience to thank for never losing his cool. His resume is impressive: an experienced city manager of four years elsewhere, retired
U.S. Air Force colonel and senior federal civil servant. When it comes to city management, there’s almost nothing he can’t do. “Every day I get out of bed, and I think, ‘What’s today hold? What’s the next challenge, the next opportunity to help make someone’s life good?’” Stephens said. Stephens is halfway done with his first year as Litchfield Park’s city manager. Appointed by the mayor and city council in March, Stephens said it’s a challenge to keep a community going, but these positive
challenges are what takes care of people. “I look at what I do as an opportunity to improve upon something that currently exists, or create something to improve the quality of life for other people,” Stephens said. He comes from a long line of serving others. His ancestors worked alongside George Washington before the name became etched into American history, and a city in Virginia was named after the
Manager...continued on page 2