MARANANEWS The Voice of Marana since 2007
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Summer Survival 2021
It’s time to get out and safely have fun this summer | Special Section
Local lawmaker threatens to sue recall proponents
INSIDE
Town Talk
Summer opportunities in Marana | Page 8
Your Turn
Letters to the Editor | Page 9
C D Tucson Local Media
S Marana’s Class of 2021 took on big challenges C D Tucson Local Media
Sports & Rec Northwest Roundup | Page 11
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arana High School Salutatorian Diya Patel didn’t sugarcoat the challenges of the last year in her graduation speech last week. “I think most people would agree with me when I say that this has been a dreadful year,”
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Patel said. “Graduation speeches in the past have included stories of proms, formals and football games. However, this year we had to adjust to a brand new way of life full of Zoom calls, masks and COVID tests, which consisted of massive Q-tips being shoved up our noses. Instead of reminiscing on a joyful high school experience, we are all sitting here today, collectively taking a deep breath
and just being grateful that we’re finally here.” Patel, like so many other students, longed for a year of normalcy, but instead lived through a pandemic. Patel and fellow Marana Unified School District graduates expressed the woes of trying to graduate while juggling a series of changes beyond their See MARANA, P4
tate Rep. Mark Finchem sent a “cease and desist” order to the group petitioning for his recall, threatening to sue the group for defamation. The Oro Valley Republican, who represents Oro Valley and Marana along with other parts of Legislative District 11, faces a recall by Rural Arizonans for Accountability, a group of his district’s constituents, for spreading voter fraud conspiracy theories and his ties to the “Stop the Steal” rioters at the Jan. 6 Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Natali Fierros, co-executive Director of Rural Arizona Action, said they were approached by Finchem’s constituents to help organize the recall. See FINCHEM, P6
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