West Valley View - March 29, 2017 by Times Media Group

OVER THE RAINBOW

Millennium students performing The Wizard of Oz — Page 9.

DRAMA QUEENS

Buckeye Melodrama celebrating 50 years — Page 9.

DAILY UPDATES!

Avondale will remain competitive, mayor says

Kenneth Weise touts development during State of the City address

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Avondale needs to remain competitive with neighboring cities for a future that is “bright and promising,” according to Mayor Kenneth Weise.

Weise made the comment at the annual State of the City address, during which he said Avondale’s future includes the city’s first “Class A” office building and additional parks.

“The city needs to stay ahead of not only our neighbors, but other industries,” Weise said during the speech titled “A Vision Takes Shape” delivered March 22 at the Performing Arts Center at Estrella Mountain Community College.

“I want to find a niche for our brand, for our town,” Weise said, noting that Avondale’s location along Interstate 10 and Loop 101 gives it unique opportunities.

Weise said he wants Avondale to excel in economic development, job creation and quality of life.

“The vision is taking shape with each new groundbreaking and grand opening,” he said.

In 2016, the city issued 1,600 permits for

(See Competitive on Page 3)

Buckeye mayor pledges to improve water billing

Jackie Meck delivers State of the City address

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

The mayor of Buckeye is acknowledging there is still work to do to improve the city’s water billing system after several months when disputed water bills created a controversy in the city.

Mayor Jackie Meck made the comment Tuesday at the beginning of his annual State of the City address.

“We know we need to improve. We take this very seriously,” Meck said during the speech at Palo Verde Education Center. “We know there is more work to do in this area.”

The mayor, who was elected to a third consecutive term last year, thanked residents for their patience over water billing issues, but did not directly address a failed effort by a group that wanted to recall the mayor.

Meck promised that before the end of the year, water department improvements will include state-of-the-art technology that would give users access to the billing system to check daily water usage and monitor spikes.

“Our customer service is paramount,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring your concerns are resolved.”

Other cities are dealing with similar problems with water billing, he said.

Meck dealt with the water issue before talking about several issues that he said were city successes.

• For the first time in more than 20 years, progress is being made to eradicate salt cedars, an invasive species of trees growing along 18 miles of river bottom land, Meck said. With grant funds, the city rented an incinerator to burn trees that had been removed. The river bottom contains hundreds of thousands of salt cedars, which pose fire and flood danger.

• The city’s financial stability is reflected in its AA bond rating, which was achieved late last year and represents an improvement of four rating levels in five years, Meck said. He noted that the city’s BBB+ rating in 2001 discouraged people from doing business or living in the city.

• Economic development includes Cardinal Industrial Glass a 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, which will have 100 employees when it opens next month. Under construction or planned are a Fry’s Marketplace in Verrado, a regional center for Arizona Public Service Co.; and Vantage West Business Park, a 2.6 million-square-foot distribution center. Meck said the West-MEC vocational center,

View photo by Ray Thomas

AVONDALE MAYOR Kenneth Weise highlights the city’s state March 22 during the annual State of the City Address at Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale. The location was chosen to help commemorate the college’s 25th anniversary.

View photo by Jordan Christopher

BUCKEYE MAYOR Jackie Meck speaks Tuesday morning during the 2017 State of the City event at the Palo Verde Energy Education Center in Buckeye.

(See Pledges on Page 3)

Pledges

(From Page 1)

which opened last year, is starting construction on four additional buildings.

• The city is streamlining processes for reviewing engineering plans and approving building permits as quickly as possible, Meck said. The city reported an increase in single-family residential permits of 37 percent in 2016 compared to the year before.

• Public safety improvements include new police substations in Sundance Crossing and Festival Ranch and a fire station at Festival Ranch. Meck said crime in Buckeye is down 29 percent in the last four years, a period of time when the city experienced 20 percent population growth. Meck said the city has the lowest violent crime rate in the Valley of cities of more than 50,000 people.

Glenn Gullickson can be reached at ggullickson@westvalleyview.com.

residential, commercial and industrial construction projects, he said.

Openings last year included the behavioral health facility Copper Springs Hospital, Sportsman’s Warehouse and new restaurants along McDowell Road and in Historic Avondale.

But Weise noted that the question should be “What’s next?”

He said a 100,000-square-foot medical office building that is in the permitting stages will be the first in the city to be designated as “Class A” or the highest quality building in the market.

He predicted it will set the stage for similar buildings.

Meanwhile, an addition being constructed to the SanMar building in Coldwater Depot means the distribution center for the online apparel company will operate out of Avondale’s first 1-million-square-foot building, Weise said.

Openings in the near future will include Copper State Rubber, which manufactures industrial hoses, and two health care-related facilities — Welbrook Transitional

Care, which will provide physical therapy and postsurgical care, and Legacy Assisted Living, a $17 million facility with 162 private rooms, he said.

Weise said last year’s investment in improvements at Friendship Park will be followed by upgrades at Festival Fields.

“Parks are what really makes a community a community,” he said.

Weise said the city is “short by a lot of acres” of parkland.

“Where do kids go and just play?” he said. “We need to find a way to fund and finance additional parks.”

Other infrastructure projects include street repairs and a $50 million expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

While Avondale is competitive with its neighbors, Weise said West Valley cities also work together on regional projects, such as State Route 30, which is to be built several miles south of Interstate 10 as a reliever for the major highway through the West Valley.

He said a recent decision to move up the highway’s construction schedule by three years to 2022 is a “win for West Valley cities” and will present Avondale with opportunities to develop the southern portion of the city.

Before his speech, Weise recognized Estrella Mountain Community College’s 25th anniversary with a proclamation presented to EMCC President Ernest Lara.

Ex-high school bookstore manager gets 18 months for stealing $120,000

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A former Tolleson Union High School bookstore manager was sentenced March 23 to 18 months in prison and four years of supervised probation for embezzling

$120,000, officials said.

Brenda Busse, 58, pleaded guilty last month in Maricopa County Superior Court to fraudulent schemes and theft.

Busse was arrested in December 2015 for stealing cash payments made to the bookstore by parents and students from July 2007 to June 2011 for various fees and extracurricular activities, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

The investigation started in July 2010 when the district noticed irregularities in the bookstore’s revenue records, and notified the Attorney General’s Office in August 2011.

An audit revealed Busse manipulated computer dates 374 times to conceal her actions, according to a report by the Auditor General.

Nearly $18,000 in cash was deposited into Busse’s bank account from August 2009 through her last day of

employment, July 13, 2011, the report stated.

The cash was commingled with other personal money and then used mostly for cash withdrawals, including at casinos, for retail, living and personal expenses, the report stated.

In addition, Busse gambled $73,474 in cash at a local casino during the same period, the report stated.

According to the report, school and district administrators “failed to exercise an appropriate level of oversight of Ms. Busse’s activities.”

The superintendent at the time, Kino Flores, retired in April 2009, a year after the Office of the Auditor General found he had made inappropriate credit card purchases for personal car maintenance, gifts and flowers, meals, medical costs and excessive travel expenses.

Flores, who was appointed to the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board in January after running uncontested, reimbursed the district almost $26,000 shortly after the audit’s findings were released.

Busse began her employment at the school in 1991 as a paid sponsor for the cheerleading team and continued in the position intermittently until hired as the bookstore manager in July 2002, the report states.

The judge also ordered her to pay $120,707 in restitution.

According to district officials, internal controls have since been strengthened at all the schools, and bookstore manager responsibilities were reorganized to ensure multiple oversight of student funds.

Man in custody after Buckeye home invasion, stolen vehicle pursuit

by Emily Toepfer

assistant editor

A man was arrested Monday after allegedly invading a home in Buckeye and then leading deputies on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle, officials said.

At about 7 a.m., the man entered a house in an unknown area of Buckeye and demanded the homeowners give him the keys to their vehicle, said Sgt. Calbert Gillett, a spokesman with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

They gave him the keys and he left without incident, heading north on U.S. Highway 60 toward Wickenburg, Gillett said.

The occupants of the home called 911, and weren’t harmed, he said.

OnStar was engaged and worked with law enforcement officials to track the vehicle, Gillett said.

South of Wickenburg, the man was engaged by Wickenburg police officers, troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and MCSO deputies, he said.

Shots were exchanged and the vehicle was disabled by OnStar, coming to a stop in an open field, he said.

Deputies wounded the man, who was transported to Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear with non-lifethreatening injuries, Gillett said.

No deputies were injured, he said.

MCSO is not releasing the name of the man or location of the house in Buckeye where the vehicle was stolen, Gillett said.

W. Phoenix woman accused of robbing bank in Goodyear

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A west Phoenix woman was arrested March 20 after allegedly robbing a bank in a Safeway near Litchfield and Indian School roads in Goodyear, officials said. Flor Luna, 29, was booked into Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail and faces charges of robbery and driving with a suspended license, court records state.

At about noon March 20, Goodyear police responded to the Wells Fargo Bank inside Safeway at 14175 W. Indian School Road in response to two silent hold-up alarms activated at teller stations, records state.

According to bank employees, Luna handed the teller a note written in pink stating that someone had a gun pointed at the teller and would use it if she didn’t comply, records state.

After retrieving $244 in cash from the drawer, Luna allegedly left the store and got into the driver’s seat of a gold Nissan Pathfinder, then drove south on Litchfield Road, records state.

Five minutes later, police located and stopped the vehicle near Litchfield and McDowell roads, records state.

According to police, two bank employees identified Luna as the woman who robbed the bank, records state.

Luna told police she left three of her children with her boyfriend and one child with her mother and was going to a doctor’s appointment, records state.

A search warrant was issued for the vehicle, and police allegedly found a brown wig, black Saints baseball hat, cloth purse and sunglasses, records state.

The FBI Robbery Task Force is also investigating another robbery that was allegedly linked to Luna, records state.

Emily Toepfer can be reached at etoepfer@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @EmilyToepfer.

Brenda Busse

Avondale Kohl’s evacuated after alleged shoplifter found with suspicious device

Tyler Soyka

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A Kohl’s store in Avondale was evacuated March 22 after an alleged shoplifter was found with a “suspicious device,” officials said.

Police responded at about 2 p.m. to the store near Dysart and McDowell roads for a reported shoplifting, said Sgt. Thomas Alt, a spokesman with the Avondale Police Department.

During the investigation, officers located a suspicious device along with the alleged

shoplifter, identified as Tyler Soyka, 19, of Goodyear, Alt said.

The store was evacuated and an explosive ordnance disposal team from the Glendale Police Department arrived to investigate, he said.

The device was determined to possibly be a type of firework, Alt said.

Soyka was arrested and faces charges for shoplifting and drugs, he said.

Emily Toepfer can be reached at etoepfer@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @EmilyToepfer.

Police receive reports of illegal shooting near Verrado golf course in Buckeye

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A group of golfers in Buckeye recently had to take cover — not from flying golf balls, but stray bullets — and police said it’s becoming a common problem.

The Buckeye Police Department has received several calls regarding shooting toward the new Victory at Verrado Golf Course, north of Indian School Road between Verrado Way and Tuthill Road, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.

During a recent incident, several golfers had to take shelter behind a bathroom to avoid being shot.

Van

Four people found shooting toward the golf course face endangerment and weapon-related charges, and their guns were seized.

Police have received several reports of people shooting in the desert area along Tuthill between Missouri and Maryland avenues into a 20-foot berm facing the golf course, the post states.

Tuthill Road and the fifth hole at the golf course are less than 400 feet apart, and signs are posted in the area stating no trespassing, no shooting and no hunting is allowed. For information, contact the Buckeye Police Department at 623-349-6400.

transporting pupils from West Valley charter school rolls in Goodyear

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A van transporting children from Bradley Creemos Academy in Goodyear rolled over at about 9 a.m. March 24 near 159th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Parkway, about a block from the charter school campus, officials said.

Eleven patients were treated in the single-vehicle accident, said Deputy Chief Tom Cole with the Goodyear Fire Department.

The driver was transported to a trauma center with nonlife-threatening injuries, and four children were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries, Cole said.

Five other children were evaluated at the scene and did not require further medical treatment, he said.

The collision is under investigation, said Sgt. Alison Braughton, a spokeswoman with the Goodyear Police Department.

Man wanted in alleged contractor schemes in Goodyear

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A Phoenix man was added to the most wanted list for unlicensed contractors after allegedly scamming homeowners out of more than $87,000, including some in Goodyear, officials said.

Robert Green, 36, is wanted for alleged fraudulent schemes in Goodyear, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe, according to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

From 2014 to 2016, the agency received and investigated six complaints against Green, who uses the business name Desertscape Designs LLC.

According to complaints, homeowners assumed Green was licensed based on his professional-looking website and gave him a combined $87,230. In each case, he allegedly collected the money and performed little to no work before disappearing.

Anyone with information regarding Green is asked to contact local law enforcement.

Emily Toepfer can be reached at etoepfer@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @EmilyToepfer.

Avondale Police Dept. awarded $50,000 grant

View report

The Avondale Police Department was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The funding will go to support personnel services (overtime) and employee-related expenses to enhance DUI enforcement throughout Avondale and the West Valley.

Robert Green

Fed alarmists

ﬁnd no foreign extremists

When the president ordered a travel ban from certain Muslim countries on Jan. 27, he assured the country that it was imperative the ban went into effect immediately since so many potential terrorists were coming into the country each day. And it was especially critical to keep out those terrorists by giving them no warning such a ban was coming because the terrorists would speed up their plans to get in ahead of the ban.

So what happened? The U.S. turned back people who were already on their way to this country. Among those turned back were people with green cards, refugees and other people seeking asylum, and former foreign employees of the U.S. government who provided critical translation and other services to the U.S. in their home countries. They were people whose commitment to the U.S. created additional danger to themselves and their families.

So what hasn’t happened in the two months since the original ban was overturned by a judge? Reports of terrorists entering the country, that’s what hasn’t happened. And boy if there had been, one could be sure this administration would have made multiple announcements on multiple platforms proclaiming how the judge’s ruling had caused Americans death or at least threats to their safety.

But there wasn’t even one report the administration could point to that said Islamic extremists had entered the country.

The New York Times reported Islamic extremists have accounted for 16 out of 240,000 murders in the United States since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Maybe the administration should focus on the causes of a higher percentage of those murders.

No need to build 2nd hockey arena

The Arizona Coyotes are nearly always at the bottom of the NHL standings. They have trouble winning games, making the playoffs, ﬁlling their arena, honoring their commitments and ﬁnding a permanent home.

The Coyotes used business practices that their host city and landlord, the city of Glendale, thought were inappropriate at best and illegal at worst. That caused the city to refuse to honor agreements reached after the Coyotes hired away two former city employees who had been privy to the city’s side of negotiations. That resulted in the Coyotes losing their overpriced arena management agreement and long-term lease. The arena was speciﬁcally built just for them. Since losing the sweetheart deal, the Coyotes have attempted to ﬁnd a new way to get someone else to build them an arena. Arizona State University pondered and then rejected it. The state Senate pondered a bill to allow them to use the taxes collected from the arena property to pay for the construction but that bill appears dead.

Now the NHL has come to its team’s defense saying it wants a team in Arizona but not in Glendale. The NHL agrees with the team that it cannot survive in Glendale. It is too far away from its fan base. Maybe the reason it is too far from its fan base is that the team continues to try to market without spending money in the West Valley. Or that the product isn’t that good, or that most of the players and management don’t live in the West Valley. Maybe hockey doesn’t belong in Arizona.

But in 1967, the minor league Phoenix Roadrunners were popular in a much smaller metro area than the one the Coyotes can’t survive in today. Yes, it was much different in that salaries and ticket prices were much lower, but the Coyotes aren’t breaking the bank to put the best product possible on the ice and haven’t been throughout their recent history including the time the club was run by the league itself after ﬁling bankruptcy.

It is interesting that the team can’t survive in the West Valley when the most popular professional sports team in the state, the Arizona Cardinals, plays a stone’s throw away in a stadium that seats about three times as many fans and has sold out nearly every game since it moved to Glendale. That team and its fans didn’t want to move to the West Valley either, complaining it was too far for fans to travel to watch pro football. But so far, it hasn’t hurt attendance. Having made multiple playoff runs and even an appearance in the Super Bowl hasn’t hurt attendance, either. It should be noted, however, that pro football has substantially fewer games than pro hockey.

What is to become of the arena in Glendale that residents will continue paying for long after the Coyotes have left? Doesn’t the NHL or the Coyotes have any sense of obligation to the city? After seeing how the Coyotes bailed on Glendale, what would make another public entity think it would be safe signing a contract with the team to build a new arena?

That the Coyotes don’t have a successful business plan is not the fault of Glendale or ASU or the state. And it is not up to other entities to solve the Coyote’s problems. And it is deﬁnitely not the public’s job to support and build an arena for the team, especially when such a large majority not only won’t ever attend a hockey game where ever it is played but don’t even care if the sport is played in the state. There are far too many other needs for limited public funds than to fund another arena for a pro team when public funds were already used to fund a perfectly good arena in Glendale.

L

Not a PC snowﬂake

Editor:

That old serpent Satan has raised his ugly head again. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult the devil. I meant to say that old serpent “ political correctness ” has raised its ugly head again ! Valley high school of Des Moines was playing Des Moines North. As was their custom, Valley wore patriotic red white and blue attire as a show of support for their teams during big games.

Now get this. Because the students and families of Des Moines North were made up of a lot of immigrants and refugees, Des Moines North protested because being a diverse school, their students felt intimidated in that Valley was wearing patriotic red, white and blue . According to the politically correct behavior police, being patriotic may hurt someone’s feelings ?

Sadly, the wimps at Valley apologized for being patriotic !

All Americans should be outraged . If the immigrants and refugees at Des Moines North do not want to assimilate and become Americans, but would

rather cling to their old world culture, as far as I am concerned, those immigrants and refugees can go back to where ever the hell it is they came from and rot, living under some oppressive third world dictator .Instead of embracing the opportunities America affords them, they protest our love of country. As I have said so many times before, political correctness be DAMNED ! Political correctness and those who support it are being subversive, and they are too stupid to know it . I am a proud American, not a P C snowﬂake . Certainly I am not afraid to take a righteous stand against evil, when I know it to be evil, and hurting our nation.

Roy Azzarello Goodyear

Presidents of our great nation

Editor:

I was born in 1935, since that time to the present we the people elected 13 presidents. Some I never agree with their policies or voted for them. But they were always my president for they were elected by the majority of the people, and they are the ones that rule.

Now days we hear ignorant individuals saying that president Trump is not their president, as it was with President Bush and other republican presidents. It seems that the individuals whom use such ﬂake comments. Are of

the Democratic Party. It seems that they forgot all the damage that President Obama did during the 8 years of his administration. He weakens our military to the point that we can’t ﬁght our way out of a paper bag. Further, Mrs. Obama almost divorces him because he wasn’t doing to her what he was doing to the country.

Now we ﬁnally have a President who is trying to ﬁx all the ills of our nation and the Democrats won’t even allow him to get his cabinet together. How can you rule when the sour losers impede you from doing so?

Perhaps those individuals whom keep saying that Mr. Trump is not their president, should pack their bags and go where ever the hell their President is. There’s always been a great president from either party. But, good or bad they were always our presidents.

Jaime Ruiz-Sandoval Litchﬁeld Park

Progressive values explained

Editor:

In his 3/15 letter, Roy Azzarello again claims mainstream American values are in line with trump, not progressives. Roy you really don’t get it. American values are progressive values. Our military is already bigger

(See Letters on Page 7)

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Letters

(From Page 6)

than the next 7 countries combined. Spending in the Middle East has surpassed 5 trillion dollars. Not to mention the heavy burdens on troops, over 1 million dead civilians, & over 15 years of chaos. Most people don’t want more war. They want that money spent at home.

On Israel, the White House has never stopped being a friend. Obama just gave them 38 billion. If you are referring to speaking out against stealing Palestinian land, the whole UN and most Jewish Americans are also opposed.

On guns, most Americans want better background checks while Republicans repeal restrictions on mentally ill people purchasing guns. These actions will kill far more Americans than any refugee.

On healthcare, trump wants to trade Americans’ health for more tax cuts for the rich.

On the Supreme Court, trump will appoint justices that will uphold the disastrous Citizens United decision that allowed unlimited bribery in politics.

A $15 minimum wage is widely supported because the average American earns less than they did 40 years ago while 50% of new income goes to the top 1%.

On global warming, the science is very settled, carbon levels are higher than they have been in 650,000 years, and we are nearing a point of no return. Fossil fuels are dying and if we don’t lead on renewables, China will. Propping up oil will make Exxon richer but it won’t make America great.

Again Schumer, Pelosi, Obama, and the Clintons aren’t progressives. They’re corporatists. If you’re looking for progressives, take a look at Paul Wellstone, Nina Turner and the most popular American politician, Bernie Sanders.

Trevor Keeley Goodyear

All disabilities aren’t obvious

Editor: Frauds?

Concerning the letter to the editor asking ‘Do you ever get irritated seeing…..vehicles parked in “handicapped” parking spots with no obvious disability.’

The answer is NO I don’t. As the spouse of one of those individuals who parks in handicapped spots even though there is no obvious disability, may I say,

not all disabilities are obvious. It is very possible those parking are in pain with every step they take to the entrance. Maybe the pain is from walking, maybe it is deep arthritis in the hands or shoulders. Maybe today they feel blessed they don’t have the pain and they got out after being in the house for 3 days in pain. They are hoping for the pain to not return and are parking there in case it does.

So know that not everyone that is handicapped has an obvious disability.

Might I suggest compassion.

Glenn Henson Avondale

All disabilities aren’t visible

Editor:

The writer must be medically trained or have x-ray vision to judge who does and does not have a disabling condition.

She cannot see someones lungs, heart, or any arthritic condition. Not everyone needs a visible source of assistance, maybe they just cannot walk any distance because of health issues.

I use a walker and do need the spaces, I am very angry with people who do not have plates or placards for the handicap spaces at all.

Don’t be so judgemental!

Charlotte Foster Goodyear

Ballpark is an asset

Editor:

I am responding to Mr. Brodbeck about “Ballpark was a mistake”. Mr. Brodbeck was referring to the Goodyear Ball Park. I disagree with Mr. Brodbeck. I have been to GY park about 10 times at the time of this writing and about 15 times last year. I went back in the books and found out that the lowest attendance at a game was 4,000 this year. The average ticket price is about $20.00, That is $80,000.00 per game. Plus parking, program and concession. Now this is one game at the lowest attendance. There is a game there just about every day from late Feb. to the end March. Plus the Indians and Reds have several hundred personnel that come in late Jan. and stay into April with some staying year round. Now the only local team in town is the Diamond Backs and they play in Scottsdale. So just about all the people that go to the games at GY are people from outside of the area. They will need to eat,drink, get gas,

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Editor:

What is your preferred social media platform?

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Snapchat

LAST WEEK’S

RESULTS

Do you think over votes and under votes should be added into the total vote count in a city council election? 11 total Votes

• Yes — 36% • No — 64%

Take the View’s online poll at the home page of our Website, www.WestValleyView.com

have entertainment and lodging. I also was told that the park is used for different events through the year. I enjoy going to Goodyear Park. Compared to the other parks it is a fan friendly park and well maintained. Goodyear Park is a big asset for the area.

Butch Klug Buckeye

Thank you, Goodyear voters

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the voters for re-electing me to my third term as your councilmember. Believe me, I have taken your concerns to heart, I take your trust very seriously and vow to work tirelessly on your behalf. While we face many challenges in the near future for growing our city in the way of amenities and job opportunities, I will be your champion to propel our jewel of a city into secure and lasting amenities that meet the needs of our growing and vibrant community. My goal is to continue to make Goodyear a great City to work, play and raise our families. Again, I thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Joe Pizzillo Goodyear

All disabilities aren’t external

Editor:

Irritated by frauds: Susan Hewit I’ve often wondered (as I’m exiting my vehicle) what people are thinking as they watch me walk into public places. You

see Susan, I don’t walk with a limp, I don’t use a cane. My handicap is internal. Something you can’t see. IGNORANCE is ANNOYING.

Patricia Ann Martin Buckeye

Reader has no right to question

Editor:

I am responding to an opinion written by Susan Hewit, where she expressed her irritation with handicap placard or plate users who do not appear handicapped and are fraudulently using these to park in handicap only parking places.

30 years ago, my mother was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer at the age of 47. Her oncologist approved her application for a handicap placard as she could not walk more than 100 feet before being unable to breathe. By looking at her, she appeared healthy, although it was obvious she was wearing a wig to cover her bald head. One day a woman approached her and reprimanded her for “faking an illness” to park in the handicap space she had chosen. My mother stood proudly and told this ignorant woman that “I have lung cancer

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and I can’t walk far”. The woman just scoffed and walked on. Just because someone has a handicap that is not visible does not give one the right to question their dependence on handicap accessible parking.

Carrie Pace Goodyear

Are you praying?

Editor:

We have troops ﬁghting and are being wounded and killed.

North Korea is causing trouble, China is ﬂexing its muscle. Russia is not our friend. Iran will soon be nuclear, Iraq, is a disaster, Syria is a disaster, Turkey is no longer our friend. Afghanistan is hardly a good friend. Our debt is out of control, Washington is disappointing ( they can not work together for we the people.). I could go on but I’m sure you know the problems as well as I do. These problems are in the hands of our President. If he fails in only one, we lose. We have got to get over petty problems. If you have children,or grand children you need to be on your knees for our government. Let us come together for the sake of our children.

Jean Levandowski Litchﬁeld Park

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Business Briefcase!

This week’s episode is a little odd, as your Briefcase host is not used to writing them so close together. But alas, here we are.

It certainly has nothing to do with a trip almost across the entire pond to a nation rich in Viking history. I realize Iceland was famously misnamed to detract visitors back in the day, but it’s still pretty far north in the hemisphere, and should be cold.

I guess that’s why the deal was just too good to pass up! I’ll dress warm to make sure I won’t lose my fingers to the cold. I’ll need them for future business updates.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Avondale will be the newest home of Planet Smoothie, a real fruit smoothie shop with multiple locations across the United States.

Planet Smoothie will be at 1573 N. Dysart Road, Suite B-2, in the shopping center complex anchored by Fry’s Food and Drug at the southeast corner of McDowell and Dysart roads. It will be in the location of the old soccer apparel shop that closed up a short time ago, and direct neighbors with Great Clips.

The menu is full of different flavored smoothies that run from original to low calorie to meal replacement. The menu also has a substantial list of nutrition supplement add-on options.

Planet Smoothie first opened in 1995 in Atlanta and has expanded to 124 stores across 22 states, including three

in the Phoenix metro area. Fun fact: 71 of those stores are situated in Florida and Georgia.

Keep your eyes on the Briefcase for an opening date once it gets nearer.

For information, visit planetsmoothie.com.

It’s been a while since earth first began to move behind the QuikTrip on the southeast corner of Dysart and Thomas roads, so it looks like a good time for a revisit on a project that’s going up pretty fast.

The buildings in question will be Legacy House Avondale, an assisted living center. Once open, it will feature 170 units total.

One last item to note, the McDonald’s at the southeast corner of Indian School Road and 107th Avenue in Avondale is set to get a facelift. The fast-food chain’s upgrades will include adding an additional drive-thru lane and rearranging parking spaces.

The process is currently in the early review process, and Avondale is awaiting a second submission of the plans.

That’s all for this week, everyone. Thanks for reading!

As always, send questions, tips, comments or appropriate musings by email to smcowen@ westvalleyview.com. If Twitter is your cup of tea, the Briefcase can be reached there @ShaneMcOwen.

All right, folks, I’m off! Totally coming back with a horned Viking helmet, even though I know it’s not historically accurate. Still looks cool, I don’t even care. Have a great week everybody. See you soon!

Goodyear councilwomen appointed to national committee

Goodyear Vice Mayor Sheri Lauritano and Councilwoman Joanne Osborne were appointed to the National League of Cities.

Lauritano was appointed to serve in public safety and crime prevention.

Osborne was re-elected to serve in finance, administration and intergovernmental relations. For information, contact the Goodyear City Council Office at 623-882-7776.

Avondale wins budget award

The city of Avondale was presented with the Distinguished Budget Presentations Award by the Government of Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its 2016-17 fiscal year budget.

Avondale’s budget was awarded for its proficiency as a financial plan, serving as a policy document, operations guide and a communications device. The budget documents had to be successful in all four categories, along with 14 mandatory criteria within the categories.

Goodyear mayor named to League of Cities, Towns

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord was recently appointed to the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Executive Committee. The committee comprises 25 mayors and council members from across Arizona responsible for directing activities of the organization.

Executive Committee members are elected by the entire membership at the annual conference.

Shane McOwen

Buckeye Melodrama marks 50 years

1st-time playwrights create original script for event’s anniversary

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

After acting together in the Buckeye Melodrama for years, Caleb Elms and Debbie Hardesty decided it was time to write an original script for the production that’s marking its 50th year as a tradition in the West Valley city.

Their show, Mr. E at the San Linda, will be presented Friday and Saturday at Youngker High School in Buckeye.

“We ended up being a really good team,” Elms said of his collaboration with Hardesty. “We had a blast writing it.”

It helped that first-time playwrights Elms, 33, and Hardesty, 58, are lifelong Buckeye residents.

For a cast of 22, they created a script full of Buckeye references, including the setting, the San Linda, a hotel that’s still standing but no longer operating in the city.

Elms plays the villain — a role he said he’s had in the melodrama since 2005 — who’s come to town with his sidekick sister with a scheme to steal the fortune of the widow who owns the hotel by winning the love of her eldest daughter.

Complications ensue, including interference by the

sheriff, who’s also sweet on the daughter, and a mystery man, a character created for a surprise actor described as a “melodrama celebrity” as a tribute to the show’s 50th anniversary.

In the past, the scripts for the shows that are known for promoting audience participation were often purchased by the Buckeye Community Services Department, which produces the show, but Elms said he and Hardesty started work on their script a year ago.

“I like to write jokes and she’s smart,” Elms said.

“She wrote the story line.”

Lawson, who is Buckeye’s Library and Museum superintendent, said the melodrama tradition was started by the Woman’s Club in 1967 as part of Pioneer Days to raise money for the library.

This year, part of the funds will go to scholarships, she said.

WHAT: Buckeye’s 50th annual Melodrama: Mr. E at the San Linda WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday WHERE: Youngker High School Performing Arts Center, 3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye COST: $6 for adults and $4 for children INFO: 623-349-6350 or buckeyeaz.gov/events

To come up with the story, Hardesty said she remembered previous productions of melodramas that she’s attended since she was a child when her father was involved with the show.

“There’s always a hero and a bad guy,” she said. “The villain is always trying to steal the fortune.”

For the anniversary year, Elms said it was important to include a lot of local material, including a Hobo Joe character, a reference to the statue that stood in the city for years.

Also for the anniversary, first-time director Christine Lawson said a new set was built.

“It’s pretty amazing that the tradition has been going on for so many years and it’s something that’s still loved in our community,” she said. “All the money goes to great causes in the city.”

The cast, ranging in age from 20 into the 50s, mixes melodrama veterans, including some city employees, with new actors, said Lawson, who also has a small role in the show.

Actors provide their own costumes, including a tuxedo for Elms, who said the formal wear helps him portray a “sophisticated villain.”

“We have been practicing since January, and I still sit and laugh,” Lawson said. “I have to say, it’s fantastic.”

But it’s an element that can’t be rehearsed — the reaction of the audience — that drives the show, Lawson said.

While a “sign girl” will cross the stage with instructions to boo or cheer, Lawson said those attending usually know when and how to react.

The results make the show different each night it’s performed, as the actors occasionally deliver improvised responses to the audience.

“It’s the same script, the same people, but it will not be the same show both nights,” Lawson said.

Millennium students go over the rainbow

The Wizard of Oz production includes 3rd-graders as munchkins

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Third-graders will join high school students when the cast of a stage version of an iconic movie goes over the rainbow at a West Valley high school.

The Wizard of Oz will be presented today through Saturday at Millennium High School in Goodyear.

Director Kim Laguardia said she recruited about 30 third-grade pupils to join the cast as munchkins, who greet Dorothy after she makes a crash landing in Oz.

The cast also includes four Millennium teachers. Children of faculty members will supplement the munchkin troupe.

For the spring production, Laguardia said she wanted to do a show “that’s fun and family friendly.”

But with good and bad witches, flying monkeys and even a dog in the show, it’s a big undertaking to meet the expectations for a much-loved story.

The task required what Laguardia called “some creative twists,” including the use of puppetry.

WHAT: The Wizard of Oz WHEN: 6:30 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Millennium High School, 14802 W. Wigwam Blvd., Goodyear COST: $10 general admission and $7 with a student ID

To prepare for the show, the youngsters took part in weekly two-hour rehearsals for seven weeks, Laguardia said. They will be part of a cast of about 75, including members of the high school drama club, who will perform the well-known tale about a girl from Kansas who learns there’s no place like home.

“It’s the traditional story, just like the movie,” Laguardia said. “It’s all of the lines from the movie people are familiar with.”

“I think people will be pleasantly surprised,” she said.

Even before auditions were conducted, the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland was screened for potential actors.

“I adore that movie,” Laguardia said, but she was surprised to learn that many of her students hadn’t seen the film.

Wearing the ruby red slippers will be Bethany Novotny, a freshman who Laguardia said is up to the challenge of the singing and dancing Dorothy is required to do.

She will be traveling the yellow brick road with Nathan Dahlstrom, a senior, as the Tin Man; Jordan Dobson, a senior, as the Cowardly Lion; and Domenick Tedesco, a sophomore, as the Scarecrow.

Since the roles are big shoes to fill, Laguardia said cast members needed to work on characterizations and creating voices when work on the show started in January.

Costumes were another challenge, with some purchased or rented and others made, including garments created for the munchkins by the youngsters’ parents, she said.

As the show’s musical director, Millennium sophomore Mia Johnson taught the cast the classic songs they will sing to recorded music.

Other students helped with choreography.

“We made this a really student-focused show,” Laguardia said.

A 23-member theater tech class took on the job of building and painting the sets.

Buckeye softball team’s bats come to life; Agua Fria softball eyes trip to state; USA wins World Baseball Classic

Tolleson baseball ends tournament on high note

Wolverines open region play this week with Westview

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

Tolleson baseball ran into a tough stretch of games after starting the season 8-0, but the Wolverines bounced back nicely by winning their final two games of the Pride Classic tournament.

“It was a good week,” Tolleson coach Scott Richardson said. “Starting off our first game back from spring break, we were super sluggish, non competitive, trying to get our legs underneath us. We had just come off a span of giving them four days off, and you could tell there was a lot of rust on there, but we got better as the week went on.”

Tolleson dropped two of three power-points games March 10-15, then lost the first three games of the Pride Classic. The Wolverines dropped a 6-4 game to Highland High School out of Palmdale, Calif., a 9-4 game to St. Laurence High School from Burbank, Ill., and a 9-7 game to Douglas County High School from Castle Rock, Colo. The three games were March 20-22.

“We battled, were super competitive, and playing those teams are definitely going to help us down the road,” Richardson said.

Tolleson had to play Palmdale again March 23, and the outcome was much different. The Wolverines won 10-1

and got a superb pitching performance from Luis Tajia.

“We were a totally different team,” Richardson said. “We really played well.”

The final game of the tournament was March 24 against Castle View High School, also from Castle Rock, Colo. The Wolverines won on a walk-off double by Joseph Chavira in the bottom of the seventh.

“It was an exciting way to end the tournament and a great springboard for us to get back into power-point games this week,” Richardson said.

The Wolverines have 11 power-points games remaining, but are done with tournaments. Tolleson went 5-0 in the Wayne Des Combes Westside Invitational in February, and was 2-3 in the Pride Classic.

Richardson likes playing tournament games for various reasons, he said.

“It gives us a chance to see a couple kids at different positions, it forces us to use every single pitcher,” he said.

It also gave Tolleson a chance to face really good pitching, which is something that can help prepare the Wolverines for the playoffs.

“For us to play in May, we need to face good guys,” Richardson said. “That’s the only way you’re going to get better is by facing good arms. I love the tournaments.”

The tournament was also a chance for the Wolverines to perfect their craft on the diamond. Tolleson likes to play small ball, but any coach who knows Richardson

Only one way to go D-backs have chance to make statement in 2017

by Shane McOwen sports writer

The Arizona Diamondbacks will begin the 2017 Major League Baseball season with a rare gift: low expectations By the time the first pitch is thrown April 2 against the San Francisco Giants, the Diamondbacks will have used much of their patience and excitement reserves among the fans. Not because they’re expected to win, but because they’ve finally taken a step toward the light at the end of the tunnel.

This particular circumstance was born out of an unmitigated disaster of a 2016 season and a seemingly incompetent front office that dates back even further. The Diamondbacks underperformed on the field, in the trade market and in the public relations department.

The myriad of moves designed to propel the team to the next level completely backfired. Zack Grienke, the most expensive free-agent signing in franchise history, was little more than ho-hum in his first year, and missed portions of the season because of injury. Shelby Miller, acquired from the Braves for everyday player Ender Inciarte and No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson, was one of the worst trades in the modern era. Swanson, drafted in 2015, made his MLB debut in August, a month after Miller was demoted to the minor leagues after posting a plus-7.00 ERA in the bigs.

When the dust settled, the D-backs finished 69-93, well under the Vegas line projected total of 82.5 wins.

This offseason, ownership did something about it.

They rid themselves of the maligned general management team of Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa (who’s with the organization in a different capacity), and manager Chip Hale, all champions of the eyeball test and “grit.”

Former Red Sox assistant GM Mike Hazen was hired to implement a more analytics-based system to go along with its network of scouts. In other words, the D-backs are finally joining the 21st Century.

The front office has already begun to tinker with the roster, selling high on players such as Jean Segura and Wellington Castillo and taking fliers on talented youngsters who won’t break the bank, such as Taijuan Walker.

The Diamondbacks will also get a boost from all-star A.J. Pollock returning from a gruesome elbow injury that kept him out for most of last year. That move will solidify the defense, moving players back to their natural positions after last year’s mess where the team finished with the second-worst defensive efficiency in all of baseball.

With a good on-field performance, the Diamondbacks have an opportunity to capture the Phoenix sports market’s attention. The Suns and Coyotes are currently struggling with early stages of rebuilds. The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing season and hoping to keep their Super Bowl window cracked open after losing key contributors to free agency. With a good run to start the year, the Diamondbacks can catapult themselves to Phoenix’s top billing.

They might just need to do so. The team is also in a public spat with Maricopa County over maintenance issues with Chase Field, and has talked about exploring other options for a home stadium. The trend is heading away from public funds as a way to finance new stadium projects. If the Diamondbacks continue to produce results that draw apathy, they can kiss a stadium deal goodbye, especially with the Suns and Coyotes positioning themselves in the same building conversations.

It’s not a popular adage for a sports team to hear, but it applied to the Diamondbacks: it almost certainly can’t get worse than last season. The Diamondbacks will be banking on that, and more, this go round.

Shane McOwen can be reached at smcowen@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @ShaneMcOwen.

Shane McOwen

View photo by Mike Rincon

RAMON RAMIREZ, left, of Tolleson underhands the ball to Omar Baldenegro for a force out at second base March 9 at Tolleson. The Wolverines dropped their first three games of the Pride Classic tournament, but came back to win the last two.

Buckeye bats heat up as region begins

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

Buckeye softball coach Pete Alva was waiting for the Lady Hawks’ bats to heat up, and they did in a big way March 21 and 23 against Yuma.

The Lady Hawks scored 36 runs in the two games, winning 19-0 and 17-2.

“Our bats finally came alive, everybody was hitting,” Alva said. “It had been up and down for us before that Yuma game. The two tournaments we played in, we were playing good defense and our pitching was decent, we just couldn’t hit the ball. We didn’t get the big hits to score runs. We didn’t have a lot of strikeouts, we just couldn’t find the hole.”

JV team and girls pushing each other. It makes them better in practice, also, if they’re getting pushed.”

Alva has experimented with a couple different lineups, but the biggest move he made was pushing his leadoff hitter, Sierra Mendoza, down in the order.

SOFTBALL

“She’s been the leadoff the last couple years, and we moved her down in the lineup and she’s really come along,” Alva said. “I think it’s taken a bit of pressure off her and she’s doing good. We move [the lineup] around a little bit, but we try not to move it around too much so they can stay consistent in the spots we have them hitting.”

Two freshman are in the starting lineup, including Hailey Gibason, who has taken over the role as leadoff hitter.

That changed dramatically in the opening game against Yuma last week. The Lady Hawks scored multiple runs in each of the first five innings, and the game was halted after the fifth because of the 10-run mercy rule. Buckeye had 19 hits, including four from sophomore Oriah Blake. One was a home run.

“Hitting is contagious, and we were waiting for somebody to start the rally, then we would hit – but now, I think all the girls are taking initiative and wanting to get it going,” Alva said. “I think it was confidence, or a mind issue, but I think we’re back on track starting with region play. I think we’re pretty much where we want to be at right now.”

The two wins put Buckeye at 2-0 in Southwest Region play. The Lady Hawks will play eight total games in the region.

Alva said he thinks playing in two early season tournaments has helped with the development of the team, especially going into region games.

“We have a lot more talent than we did in the past, so we have girls that are fighting for positions every practice,” Alva said. “I think preseason tournaments help you determine who’s ready and who’s not.”

Buckeye carries 17 players on the varsity roster for tournaments, and travels with 14 for regular season games. Four freshman are on varsity.

“In the past, we had, even dating back a few years, we barely had enough to fill a quality varsity team,” Alva said. “Now, we have a good freshman team, a good

Defense and pitching

Defensively, Alva likes the way his team plays, he said.

“We have a lot of talent this year,” Alva said. “A lot of girls played club ball and focus on their defense, and their offense just comes with them. I think with our veteran girls, they know they don’t have to get to every single ball, so they don’t have to press as much.”

Alva said his outfielders have a lot of speed and can cover the entire field, foul line to foul line.

Pitching wise, Alva uses two different starters, but has five girls he can go to.

The main pitchers are Aaliyah Wilson and Maddy Perkins.

“We have three other girls that can go out and throw if we need them to, but we don’t want to pull them from their defensive spots,” Alva said.

One is shortstop Makea-Al Kaluau, and the other is Blake, who also plays third base.

“Our pitchers, they get the job done, they throw strikes,” Alva said. “They don’t strike a lot of girls out, but I also think that’s what’s making our defense better, because they get a lot of repetitions. We don’t have a 10-15 strikeout girl, but we only walk maybe a batter a game.”

Alva said he was excited about Tuesday’s game at Yuma Gila Ridge. The result was not available at press time.

The Lady Hawks host Gila Ridge at 4 p.m. tomorrow in the rematch. All region foes are played twice, once at home and once away.

our

“I know Gila Ridge is going to put a quality team out there, but I feel if we play

game, we’ll come out on the winning side a lot,” Alva said.

View photo by Ray Thomas

AALIYAH WILSON of Buckeye throws a pitch during the 2016 state tournament at Rose Mofford Softball Complex in Phoenix. Wilson and the Lady Hawks won two region games against Yuma last week.

The following three pages of West Valley View are zoned for the 03/29/2017 edition.

Each zone pages 12, 13 & 14

(12N=North, 12E=East, 12S=South, 12W=West) appears in its designated geographical zone within the West Valley View circulation boundaries. For the purpose of the online edition, all zone pages appear.

Millennium softball dialing in for playoff push

Lady Tigers shake off tourney woes, sit at 4-2 in power-points games

by Shane McOwen sports writer

It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Millennium softball team this year. Fortunately for the Lady Tigers, they’re excelling in the one that counts.

SOFTBALL

Millennium is 4-10 on the season overall, but all but one loss has come in tournament play. The Lady Tigers are a tidy 4-2 in power-points games that count toward the playoff standings. They were listed as the No. 12 team in the initial 6A rankings released Tuesday.

“I’m not really concerned with those games,” said Donnie Tizzano, Millennium’s first-year coach. “Now we’re 4-2 in the power-point games. We beat Chandler, [Scottsdale] Desert Mountain at their place, and Westwood. All pretty good teams, and they were pretty good games.

“We’re preaching play defense, throw strikes, and good things will happen. We have some athletes.”

Millennium did take some lumps early to get where it is near the midpoint of the season. The Lady Tigers got off on a sour note in the Sunrise Mountain Invitational, dropping all four games they played.

Tizzano said a lot of the early season issues boiled down to growing pains of players and coaches operating together for the first time in game situations.

“We started out a little bit rough,” he said. “It’s a new coach and you’ve got a bunch of seniors and you’re not sure how they’re going to react to you. We had a little bit of an issue early in the season. It was get your feet wet, get to know each other in that first tournament.”

Millennium rebounded nicely following the tournament, winning its next two games — its first two power-points games — before losing to title contender Phoenix Xavier. There wasn’t much luck to go around in the next tournament at Desert Mountain High School. Millennium went 1-5 in the tournament against stiff competition.

“That second tournament was over spring break, so we had a lot of kids out,” Tizzano said. “Not to make excuses, because we were manhandled there. By no stretch of the imagination were we in games, but we

(See Dialing on Page 14)

Dos Rios Elementary School

2150 S. 87th Ave., Tolleson, AZ 85353

Phone (623) 474-7005

Thursday March 30, 2017

10:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 2:30pm Dos Rios Library please R.S.V.P.

91st

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

View photo by Ray Thomas

MELISSA GUTIERREZ of Millennium reaches out her glove to make a running catch in left field March 21 at Millennium. The Lady Tigers beat Chandler 3-2 and are 4-2 in power-points games.

Millennium softball dialing in for playoff push

Lady Tigers shake off tourney woes, sit at 4-2 in power-points games

by Shane McOwen sports writer

It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Millennium softball team this year. Fortunately for the Lady Tigers, they’re excelling in the one that counts.

SOFTBALL

“We’re preaching play defense, throw strikes, and good things will happen. We have some athletes.”

Tizzano said a lot of the early season issues boiled down to growing pains of players and coaches operating together for the first time in game situations.

(See Dialing on Page 14)

View photo by Ray Thomas

MELISSA GUTIERREZ of Millennium reaches out her glove to make a running catch in left field March 21 at Millennium. The Lady Tigers beat Chandler 3-2 and are 4-2 in power-points games.

Millennium softball dialing in for playoff push

Lady Tigers shake off tourney woes, sit at 4-2 in power-points games

by Shane McOwen sports writer

It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Millennium softball team this year. Fortunately for the Lady Tigers, they’re excelling in the one that counts.

SOFTBALL

“We’re preaching play defense, throw strikes, and good things will happen. We have some athletes.”

Tizzano said a lot of the early season issues boiled down to growing pains of players and coaches operating together for the first time in game situations.

(See Dialing on Page 14)

View photo by Ray Thomas

MELISSA GUTIERREZ of Millennium reaches out her glove to make a running catch in left field March 21 at Millennium. The Lady Tigers beat Chandler 3-2 and are 4-2 in power-points games.

Millennium softball dialing in for playoff push

Lady Tigers shake off tourney woes, sit at 4-2 in power-points games

by Shane McOwen sports writer

It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Millennium softball team this year. Fortunately for the Lady Tigers, they’re excelling in the one that counts.

SOFTBALL

“We’re preaching play defense, throw strikes, and good things will happen. We have some athletes.”

Tizzano said a lot of the early season issues boiled down to growing pains of players and coaches operating together for the first time in game situations.

(See Dialing on Page 14)

View photo by Ray Thomas

MELISSA GUTIERREZ of Millennium reaches out her glove to make a running catch in left field March 21 at Millennium. The Lady Tigers beat Chandler 3-2 and are 4-2 in power-points games.

Taking the next step

Agua Fria softball seeks to return to playoffs and beyond in 2017

by Shane McOwen sports writer

After reaching the playoffs last season for the first time since 2010, Agua Fria softball’s main goal is not just to return to the postseason.

This year, the Lady Owls want to advance.

“They did really well last year getting to the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but then we fell short in that home playoff game,” Agua Fria coach Javier Cabrera said. “It’s baby steps. As long as we can go one step further, we’re happy.”

The Lady Owls are well on their way to making that a reality.

After a slow start in the early season tournament, Agua Fria has picked up its play and is 5-0 in power-points games through the first few weeks, and is sitting at No. 7 in the initial 5A rankings released Tuesday.

After winning the Kick Off Classic in 2016, the Lady Owls went 1-4 in attempting to defend their title. Agua Fria lost to Surprise Valley Vista, Trivium Prep Academy and Youngker, while splitting two games with Buckeye.

The Lady Owls might not have been at full strength mentally for the tournament, Cabrera said.

“The tournament happened to be on the ACT that Saturday,” he said. “A lot of the girls were studying, but nevertheless, I told them school comes before ball. Get that done first. Even though it’s nice to go far in tournaments, school comes first.”

Agua Fria then beat Glendale Apollo, 6-3, and Glendale, 19-5, to open power-points play before competing in the Cool Nites Softball Tournament at Apollo High School. The Lady Owls went 2-2 in that tournament, and lost 3-2 in extra innings to Desert Edge in the first knock-out game.

“We went up to Apollo and started off good, going 2-0,” Cabrera said. “We ended up 2-1 [in pool play] and ended up losing in extra innings by one run.”

Agua Fria showed no signs of rust after a 10-day layoff over spring break. It began with back-to-back run-rule victories over Phoenix Sierra Linda, 14-3, and Phoenix

Tolleson

City of Tolleson

Public Notice

ORDINANCE NO. 570 N.S.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON, ARIZONA, AMENDING THE CITY OF TOLLESON CITY CODE, CHAPTER 2, ADMINISTRATION; ARTICLE 2-1, MAYOR AND COUNCIL; SECTION 2-1-60, REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS RELATED TO THE START TIME OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON, ARIZONA, as follows:

SECTION 1. The City Code of the City of Tolleson, Arizona (the “City Code), Chapter 2 (Administration), Article 2-1 (Mayor and Council), Section 2-1-60 (Regular and Special Meetings), Subsection (A) (Regular Meetings) is hereby amended to read as follows:

§ 2-1-60 –Regular and Special Meetings.

(A) Regular meetings. The Council shall hold regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. When the day ﬁxed for any regular meeting of the Council falls upon a day designated by law as a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding day not a holiday. All regular meetings of the Council shall be held in the City Hall of Tolleson.

SECTION 2. All ordinances, parts of ordinances and resolutions in conﬂict with the provisions of this Ordinance, or any part of the City Code adopted herein by reference, are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason to be held invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.

SECTION 4. The immediate operation of this Ordinance is necessary to ensure public health and safety; therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and

ARI ARREDONDO of Agua Fria gets a force out at second base and looks to first against Sierra Linda March 20 at Agua Fria. The Lady Owls are 7-5 this season and looking for a playoff berth.

Carl Hayden, 18-2.

“They’re getting better every game,” Cabrera said. “We’re doing really well. I’m excited.”

Agua Fria’s playoff-drought-breaking team last year featured seven seniors. Cabrera said a lot of the younger players have stepped up to carry on the team’s success. The Lady Owls have three seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.

“It’s a younger crowd,” he said. “We have a couple of new players out there.”

Destiny Cabrera is one of the key returning leaders to the team. The senior committed to Scottsdale Community College during the offseason, and is hitting .577.

Ieleen Guardado transferred in from California and has been a key part of the Lady Owls’ attack. She’s tied for third on the team with a .500 batting average.

“She’s a great ballplayer, great pitcher,” Cabrera said. Cassie Simmons, Nicole Tyler and Alexis Shaffer have also returned with playoff experience.

Cabrera said Avi Fuentes has impressed with her play so far this season.

“Avi Fuentes has stepped up and has had her time to shine and has been doing well with it,” he said.

Ari Arredondo made a splash as a freshman last year, and is continuing to improve in her sophomore season, Cabrera said.

“She plays a huge part in the team,” he said.

The team’s biggest strength has gone beyond any on-field statistic, the second-year coach said.

“I think it’s the chemistry,” Cabrera said. “The kids have a lot of heart. They do their thing in the classroom and then step on the field and are ready to play.

“They don’t come out here with that ‘I’m better than you’ attitude. It’s ‘run with it’ and ‘let’s get better.’”

Despite the favorable start, the team knows it needs to perform in the upcoming region games, where it can control its own destiny.

“I’m excited,” Cabrera said. “I think we’re going to be fine. We [are coming up] to the end part of the season when we start seeing some stronger teams [in region]. That’s what’s going to count.”

Agua Fria opened region play at home Tuesday against Phoenix Barry Goldwater. The result was unavailable at press time. The Lady Owls travel for a non-region game against Phoenix Sunnyslope Thursday before heading north to wrap up their series with Goldwater at 3:45 p.m. Friday.

after its passage and approval by the City Council as required by law, and this Ordinance is hereby exempt from the referendum provisions of the constitution and laws of the State of Arizona.

SECTION 5. The Mayor, the City Manager, the City Clerk and the City Attorney are hereby authorized and directed to take all steps and to execute all documents necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of this Ordinance.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Tolleson, Arizona, this 14th day of March 2017. /s/Juan F. Rodriguez for Anna Tovar, Mayor ATTEST: /s/Crystal Zamora Crystal Zamora, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM /s/ Gary Verburg Gary Verburg, City Attorney Published in the West Valley View, and the West Valley Business on March 22, and 29, 2017.

View photo by Ray Thomas

Taking the next step

Agua Fria softball seeks to return to playoffs and beyond in 2017

by Shane McOwen sports writer

After reaching the playoffs last season for the first time since 2010, Agua Fria softball’s main goal is not just to return to the postseason.

This year, the Lady Owls want to advance.

The Lady Owls are well on their way to making that a reality.

The Lady Owls might not have been at full strength mentally for the tournament, Cabrera said.

“We went up to Apollo and started off good, going 2-0,” Cabrera said. “We ended up 2-1 [in pool play] and ended up losing in extra innings by one run.”

Agua Fria showed no signs of rust after a 10-day layoff over spring break. It began with back-to-back run-rule victories over Phoenix Sierra Linda, 14-3, and Phoenix

ARI

gets a force out at second base and looks to first against Sierra Linda March 20

Carl Hayden, 18-2.

“They’re getting better every game,” Cabrera said. “We’re doing really well. I’m excited.”

“It’s a younger crowd,” he said. “We have a couple of new players out there.”

Destiny Cabrera is one of the key returning leaders to the team. The senior committed to Scottsdale Community College during the offseason, and is hitting .577.

Ieleen Guardado transferred in from California and has been a key part of the Lady Owls’ attack. She’s tied for third on the team with a .500 batting average.

“She’s a great ballplayer, great pitcher,” Cabrera said. Cassie Simmons, Nicole Tyler and Alexis Shaffer have also returned with playoff experience.

Cabrera said Avi Fuentes has impressed with her play so far this season.

“Avi Fuentes has stepped up and has had her time to shine and has been doing well with it,” he said.

looking for a playoff berth.

Ari Arredondo made a splash as a freshman last year, and is continuing to improve in her sophomore season, Cabrera said.

“She plays a huge part in the team,” he said.

The team’s biggest strength has gone beyond any on-field statistic, the second-year coach said.

“I think it’s the chemistry,” Cabrera said. “The kids have a lot of heart. They do their thing in the classroom and then step on the field and are ready to play.

“They don’t come out here with that ‘I’m better than you’ attitude. It’s ‘run with it’ and ‘let’s get better.’”

Despite the favorable start, the team knows it needs to perform in the upcoming region games, where it can control its own destiny.

View photo by Ray Thomas

ARREDONDO of Agua Fria

at Agua Fria. The Lady Owls are 7-5 this season and