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The Voice of the West Valley for 34 years
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October 30, 2019
Deal shows Buckeye is booming BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Associate Editor
NEWS ........... 18 LP church celebrates centennial
SPORTS ........ 28 Westview receiver shatters records
9 DAYS ......... 30 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
OPINION .......................23 BUSINESS..................... 26 SPORTS ..........................27 FEATURES .....................32 YOUTH ...........................43 OBITUARIES .................46 CLASSIFIEDS................47 SOUTH
Buckeye, long known as a “corridor,” is quickly becoming a destination. From July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2018, Buckeye’s population grew by 8.5%. That’s not just the fastest-growing city in Maricopa County, nor in Arizona. But, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report in May 2019, Buckeye was the fastest-growing city in the country among municipalities with populations of 50,000 and higher. In 2017, the Census Bureau recorded Buckeye’s population as 74,370 - today, city officials estimate Buckeye’s population is roughly 82,600. Those figures were released several months ago. A big land deal last week is the latest outcome of this accelerated growth. Thursday, a partnership between Carefree Buckeye 196 LLC and Boeing V LLC announced the purchase of 196 acres of commercial land from AZ Buckeye Investors. The price tag: $3.65 million. The land is east of Buckeye Municipal Airport at the Interstate 10 and Highway 85 intersection. “We are excited to be involved in another important piece in the West Valley,” said Scott Phillips, director of acquisitions of Carefree Partners, representing the buying entities. “The teamwork to put this to-
An aerial view of the 196 acres of commercial land Carefree Partners purchased near Interstate 10 and Highway 85 in Buckeye. (Photo courtesy Carefree Partners)
gether with NAI Horizon and the quality information and engagement we received from the city of Buckeye have both been a great part of the process so far.” Phillips said the buyers view this as “a great long-term project.” What exactly will be built?
“I’m not totally sure yet,” Phillips said. “We’re very preliminary in the planning phase. But the confluence in transportation and path of growth it opens up a lot of possibilities.
Land...continued on page 3
Payne wants high-tech for school emergencies BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Associate Editor
Imagine if there was an “active shooter” call at a school, and the 911 dispatcher on the line could, at a flip of a switch, show responding police officers real-time footage from inside classrooms. This technology shows firefighters live video of fires blazing in malls or commercial buildings, prior to arriving on scene. These are the things State Rep. Kevin Payne (R-21) says will be possible if he can push a bill through state legislature.
“It’s my number one priority,” said Payne, an Arizona House of Representatives Public Safety Committee chairman. Payne’s district covers parts of Peoria, Glendale, El Mirage, Youngtown, Surprise and Sun City, which as a chair member, he said he is concerned about state policing. He expressed his concerns about the Buckeye Police Department and the recently fired Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper, who resides in Buckeye. “The Buckeye Police (Department), about a year ago they were caught for mis-
leading numbers,” Payne said, referencing a February investigation indicating Buckeye Police falsified crime statistics. “I don’t know how widespread it is.” He is also disturbed by the Tremaine Jackson case, the former DPS trooper accused of two dozen sexual assault charges and misconduct. “It’s not good. I don’t like it when officers abuse their positions,” Payne said. “I do think there’s a small minority that
Payne...continued on page 4