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April 30, 2020
Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
Peoria COVID-19 cases continue to rise BY TOM SCANLON
Peoria Times Managing Editor
Rep. Debbie Lesko lives in the Peoria part of the 85381 ZIP code, where, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services, on April 28 there were less than 10 COVID-19 positive tests in 85381. When Lesko went to get tested at a drive-thru Banner Health facility, she entered the neighboring 85382 ZIP code— which has 114 positive cases. The 85382 was one of three ZIP codes in the state with more than 100 cases. “I can’t account for it,” Lesko said of the extraordinarily high numbers. Indeed, the 85381 is nearly twice as high as Glendale 85301, the next highest in the West Valley with 66 positive tests.
In the last month, there were “165 COVID-19-related calls” handled by the Peoria Fire-Medical Department, Deputy City Manager Andrew Granger said at the April 21 Peoria City Council meeting. “Twenty-six confirmed positive, 35 confirmed negative and 104 were unconfirmed, which means they either were waiting on a test or weren’t tested,” Granger said. Granger later said a Peoria firefighter tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Granger did not have an update on his condition. Granger said the total COVID-19 calls he referenced were from March 12 to April 20. He said the city of Phoenix dispatchers who take 911 calls ask questions of SEE 85382 PAGE 2
Deputy City Manager Andrew Granger tells Peoria City Council there were 165 COVID-19-related calls handled by the Peoria Fire-Medical Department in six weeks. (Photo courtesy city of Peoria)
Teacher, district face lawsuit
BY TOM SCANLON
Peoria Times Managing Editor
NEWS..............7 Luke flyover to honor essential workers
OPINION.................10 BUSINESS...............11 FEATURES...............12 RELIGION................14 YOUTH....................16 CLASSIFIEDS...........17
Sun Valley Elementary teacher Ricky Ordway faces a lawsuit in addition to 24 criminal charges of sexual abuse and molestation. The Peoria Unified School District is also being sued. (Peoria Times file photo)
A lawsuit alleges Peoria Unified School District allowed one of its teachers to openly practice “sexually predatory behavior and grooming.” A year ago, a Peoria Police detective interviewed a teacher named Ricky Ordway at the PUSD office in Glendale. The detective arrested Ordway and charged him with molesting multiple fifthgrade students at Sun Valley Elementary School, near the Peoria and Glendale border. Ordway, 44, faces two dozen charges of molestation and sex abuse, with most of the
crimes allegedly taking place between Aug. 1, 2018, and May 7, 2019. The criminal trial, originally scheduled for this month, was delayed until June 8. Last month, attorneys representing one of the alleged victims and her family filed a lawsuit against Ordway, PUSD and the city of Peoria. “As for monetary amount, we have not demanded anything as of yet,” said Nasser Abujbarah of Phillips Law Group, an attorney representing the alleged victim. The lawsuit holds the district culpable. “Ordway exhibited sexual predator behavior that was obvious to other employees SEE ORDWAY PAGE 3
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