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Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
Students killed within a mile BY TOM SCANLON
Peoria Times Managing Editor
NEWS..............4 PUSD forms task force on COVID-19
Isaiah McGinnis, a seventh-grade honor roll student, was walking home from Santa Fe Elementary School at 3:20 p.m. Oct. 10, 2018. He was crossing West Peoria Avenue at North 77th Avenue, less than a half-mile from school, when a 2006 Ford pickup truck hit him. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene but found Isaiah unconscious and without a pulse. Shortly after, the 12-year-old was pronounced dead. Thirteen months later, Steven Gessner, 14, was crossing 83rd Avenue, on his way to class at Peoria High School less than a
mile from where Isaiah died. Raeed Antoine Sabri of Peoria was driving a 2003 Chrysler minivan north on 83rd Avenue. According to a police report, Steven pushed a button to activate flashing lights, then began crossing 83rd in a lighted crosswalk. Sabri’s vehicle struck him. Police responded to the scene within 3 minutes. Steven was transported to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Peoria Police have not charged Sabri, 33. “The investigation is ongoing,” said SEE CROSSWALK PAGE 2
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March 12, 2020
Friends made a memorial for Steven Gessner, killed in a crosswalk in front of Peoria High School Nov. 15. (Peoria Times photo by Tom Scanlon)
COVID-19: MLB cautions players about autographs BY TOM SCANLON
Peoria Times Managing Editor
SPORTS......... 16 Mustangs fall in girls basketball title game
OPINION.................10 BUSINESS...............12 SPORTS...................15 CALENDAR.............18 FEATURES...............20 RELIGION................26 YOUTH....................28 CLASSIFIEDS...........32
Yusei Kikuchi, a second-year pitcher with the Seattle Mariners, was one player signing autographs Friday in Peoria. Last week, Major League Baseball sent a caution to players about signing autographs. (Peoria Times photo by Tom Scanlon)
Last week, officials made several discomforting announcements regarding COVID-19. According to the Center for Disease Control, “Older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease seem to be at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness.” As such, the CDC Friday advised older adults to “stay at home as much as possible” and “avoid crowds.” A few days before, ESPN broke a story about baseball autographs, stating Major League Baseball sent a memo advising “Players (should) avoid taking balls and
pens directly from fans to sign autographs and opt against handshakes.” This hit home at places like Camelback Ranch-Glendale, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, and the Peoria Sports Complex, where the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres play. At these ballparks and practice fields, fans enjoy up-close encounters with players during Spring Training. For many it includes having players sign baseball cards, hats, T-shirts, notebooks and other items. Philip Scott said he heard one player gruffly reject an autograph request, saying, “I ain’t getting the virus.” Scott was at the Peoria Sports Complex SEE AUTOGRAPHS PAGE 3
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