THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
Vets parade in Buckeye
Jail officer killed PAGE
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westvalleyview.com
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This Week
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November 6, 2019
The Voice of the West Valley for 34 years
‘Best of the West’ honored BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Associate Editor
NEWS .............. 4 Teens shot at Halloween party near Tolleson
SPORTS ........ 16 High school senior races at hometown track
9 DAYS ......... 19 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
OPINION .......................11 BUSINESS..................... 14 SPORTS ..........................16 VETERANS DAY ..........20 FEATURES .....................22 YOUTH ...........................30 OBITUARIES .................34 CLASSIFIEDS................35 SOUTH
For years considered a tag-along to the Phoenix area business scene, the West Valley is emerging as a leader. Huge projects and high-profile companies underscore rapid growth from Goodyear, Avondale and Buckeye to Glendale and even Peoria. In its 27 years, WESTMARC—the Western Maricopa Coalition—helped promote this growth. “The West Valley is coming into its own,” said Sintra Hoffman, president and CEO of WESTMARC. “Over the past two decades, this region has grown to 1.6 million educated, skilled and connected residents. Over the next 25 years, 49.5% of the growth in Maricopa County will occur in the West Valley. “While many previously felt the West Valley was not the ‘favored child in the family,’ today residents, stakeholders and leaders understand we are the emerging community and have the advantage of learning lessons from other regions in the state.” WESTMARC is a public-private partnership of the 15 residential and business communities, as well as the educational
Avondale’s Coldwater Depot Logistics Center is a finalist in the WESTMARC “Best of the West” awards. (Photo courtesy city of Avondale)
sector in the West Valley. The organization, according to its mission statement, “is committed to our members’ success and to our mission of enhancing economic development and promoting quality of life in the West Valley,” Hoffman added. Additionally Hoffman mentioned, “We are working with developers, investors and communities to highlight our professional workforce and encourage investment in Class A office space.” This time of year, WESTMARC celebrates top West Valley achievements with a dinner and awards show.
WESTMARC is hosting the 27th-annual Best of the West Awards dinner from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at State Farm Stadium. “The Best of the West Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the image, lifestyle and economy in the West Valley,” Hoffman explained. “WESTMARC is proud to honor these outstanding individuals and organizations making a great impact in the West Valley.” Adding: “For the last four years, the Arizona Car-
Best...continued on page 2
Veterans ride to help veterans BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Associate Editor
To them, a civilian is — if not quite the enemy — often an anomaly. They can interpret innocent looks as judging glares, simple requests as hassles. “I get along with other veterans better than citizens,” said Robert “Tiny” Hogan, a hulking Goodyear resident with an ironic nickname. “You can relate to them better.” Hogan is a Desert Storm combat veteran. After his discharge from the Army with a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, the PTSD symp-
toms hit him so fiercely there were days he wouldn’t leave his house. Then he realized other veterans were far worse off and helping them would also help him. Four years ago, Hogan, 52, co-founded Veterans IV Veterans, a motorcycle “association” with two dozen members. They come from around the West Valley - Bernie “Slingshot” Kendall lives in Peoria, Dustin “Singleshot” Abbas in Phoenix just outside Glendale.
Veterans. ..continued on page 3
Bernie “Slingshot” Kendall and Dustin “Singleshot” Abbas are members of Veterans IV Veterans, a West Valley motorcycle association that aids veterans in need and takes part in veterans events like the Buckeye Veterans Day Parade. (West Valley View photo by Tom Scanlon)