INSIDE:
C COMMUNITY O M M U N IP.X T Y| AROUND P . 2 4 |AFBP.X U S| OPINION I N E S S P.X| P . 2BUSINESS 8 | O PP.X I N |HEALTH I O N P& . 3WELLNESS 2 | SPO P.X| R TGETOUT S P . 3 P.X 4 | SPORTS C L A S P.X| S I F CLASSIFIED I E D S P . 4P.X 0
www.ahwatukee.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ................................. 3 Club West legal fight finally goes before a judge.
NEWS...................................9 Federal law regulating robocalls missing many.
COMMUNITY............24 100+ Women Who Care aid homeless young people.
Ahwatukee tattoo studio a leader in ink designs.
BUSINESS...................28
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
@AhwatukeeFN |
@AhwatukeeFN
Plenty of cash fuels LD12 primary campaigns BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
A
Primary Election Day showdown next Tuesday will likely settle the race between two Ahwatukee Republicans for the Senate nomination as well as a five-way contest among five Democrats for two House nominations in Legislative District 12.
While most of the attention will be on the high-profile races in the top tiers of the Republican ballot, there’s enough suspense on the LD 12 ballots to hold the interest of both parties. Those results also will point to even more suspense in November, as the latest campaign financial statements indicate that Republicans are pulling out all stops to puncture the allblue delegation representing Ahwatukee and
parts of Chandler, Mesa and Tempe. The most recent filings with the Arizona Secretary of State show unopposed House Republican candidates Terry Roe, a soon-tobe termed out Chandler City Council member and former cop, and Chandler CPA James Chaston raised $199,764 and are going into
see ELECTION page 16
Kyrene’s driver shortage Fleet of foot means longer walks to buses BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
S
cores of parents in Kyrene School District were surprised last week when they were notified their children’s school bus stops have been moved as much as a mile and a half to two miles from their homes. With the first day of the new school year beginning tomorrow, July 28, the district’s announcement last week left some parents worrying about their kids walking that distance in the summer heat, others scrambling to figure out other means of getting their kids to school and still others bemoaning on social media the state of school funding in Arizona. Citing a nationwide shortage of school bus drivers, the district on July 18 told parents the adjusted stops “help ensure on-time bus transportation before and after school.” That means, it said, some elementary students will be hiking a mile and a half to a
stop if they can’t catch a ride while some of their middle-school counterparts will be walking two miles. “These new walk boundaries put Kyrene in line with other East Valley districts, but we want you to know that any decision that impacts students and families is not made lightly,” district email told parents, adding Kyrene “is doing everything in our power to address the challenges of this driver shortage.” Social media exploded with a variety of reactions to the announcement. “Are you kidding!!!,” posted Ahwatukee parent Amber Cicchillo, whose son has Type 1 diabetes. “4 miles a day in 115 heat with type 1 and dragging his little sister(which is what I envision) …that will be fun.” Cicchillo added she was grateful she or her husband Nathan can usually drive their kids, but added “it was so nice when they could take the bus” – a stop around the corner from their home.
see BUSES page 8
Larissa Blanchard, an Ahwatukee native and resident, is currently preparing for her senior track season in a journey that started at St. John Bosco in Ahwatukee, then went to Seton Catholic Prep in Chandler and has ended at Perry High School in Gilbert, where she hopes to help the Pumas repeat as state champions. To read her story, see page 34 (Dave Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)
Milgard® offers beautiful, comfortable, energy efficient vinyl windows and doors for your home Whether you’re building a new home or renovating your existing one, your choices are wide open when it comes to selecting beautifully designed Milgard windows and patio doors. Strong, beautiful, long lasting and durable. Milgard windows and patio doors are designed with stunning architectural style and superior performance. Plus, you’ll feel secure in your investment with an industry leading, Full Lifetime Warranty that includes parts and labor.
4454 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix • 602-508-0800 • liwindow.com Mon-Thurs 8:30-5pm • Fri 8:30-4pm • Sat 9-2pm • ROC#179513
