West Valley View - May 11, 2016 by Times Media Group

 SCHOOL FUNDING SPARED FROM BUDGET CUT,

westvalleyview.com — the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, May 11, 2016 (623) 535-8439

CUTTING CORNERS

STEALING FROM THE RICH

Tonopah Valley High School drama students performing The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood — Page 12.

FUEL FIASCO

Diesel fuel put into unleaded tanks at Buckeye gas station — Page 3.

BALANCING THE BUDGET

Litchfield Park expects revenue bump for fiscal year 2016-17 — Page 10.

News

LAWN MOWER RACERS zip around a corner May 7 during the

Demolition Derby at the Helzapoppin’ Rodeo Arena in Buckeye. To

this shoot, go to www.westvalleyview.com/pictures.

Bringing the right balance

Food

banks try to bridge gap for nutritious options

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Nutrition often comes down to a decision, a fork in the road between what is healthy and what is easy and cheap. For many in need, there’s only one path. Each meal is crafted out of necessity, and healthy options are all too often out of the price range for families looking to stretch the month’s last dollar.

Bulk, processed foods become the easiest, sometimes only, option for those facing financial struggles, leaving out key nutritional elements in the diet.

All Faith Community Services Director Cassie Wilkins understands that reality, and hopes local food banks can be a bridge between the two choices. That’s not always the easiest option for the food banks, though, because timing is everything when dealing with perishables.

Polling places added for special election

Changes result from problems with March primary election

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

After widespread outrage over the lack of polling places in the county for the last election, cities in the West Valley will have four additional locations for voters to cast their ballots in next week’s special election on two propositions. There will be 11 polling places in the region for the May 17 election, up from seven for the March vote, which got national attention when voters waited hours to cast ballots in the Arizona Presidential Preference Election.

need to have that, too.”

Wilkins said food banks especially welcome fruit and vegetables that have longer shelf lives and items that don’t need to be refrigerated, but can be kept in a cool, dry place.

“Think along the lines of things you set in a bowl on your counter,” Wilkins said. “Kids love bananas, but bananas don’t last very long. They love grapes, but those are things that need to be refrigerated. Those things break down pretty rapidly.”

Stamp Out Hunger

Mail carriers nationwide will pick up canned food donations Saturday on their regular mail routes for the 24th annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger food drive. The drive is limited to nonperishable food items, such as canned fruits and vegetables, soups, pasta, peanut butter, tuna, rice and cereal.

The food drive began in Arizona in 1976, and evolved into a national event in 1992. More than 2 million pounds of food was collected in 2015 across Arizona. Donated items benefit St. Mary’s Food Bank. All food collected in the West Valley during the drive will go to local food banks. For information, visit the website helpstampouthunger.com or contact Jerry Brown at 602-343-3160 or jjbrown@firstfoodbank.org.

“It’s definitely a struggle to not wind up with so many starchy items all the time, or things that are really loaded full of sugar,” Wilkins said. “We can’t necessarily handle fresh produce all the time, because it breaks down fast. We can’t take it in large quantities, [but] we

Apples, oranges, melons, carrots and potatoes are a few items that hold up well over the course of the week, Wilkins said.

“Those fruits and things like that, they have a more stable shelf life,” Wilkins said. “We can get those in and utilize them over the course of a week and not have them go to waste.”

Canned food items, while high in sodium, can also provide servings of fruits and vegetables. Wilkins said items that aren’t loaded with added preservatives are always in demand at food banks.

Many food options don’t provide the

This time around, voters will decide Proposition 123, a measure that would add $3.5 billion to K-12 public education funding over the next decade, and Proposition 124, which reforms Arizona police and fire pension funds.

For next week’s vote, Maricopa County election officials added two polling places in Avondale at the First Baptist Church Garden Lakes and First Southern Baptist Church.

Two polling places will also be added in Buckeye, in addition to another location in the city that served as a polling place in March.

The March election was conducted without a voting location with an Avondale postal address, although the polling place at Litchfield Park First Baptist Church is within Avondale’s borders.

That church will also serve as a polling place for next week’s election, as well as two locations in Goodyear, one in Tolleson, one in Tonopah and one in Waddell that were used in the earlier election.

They are among 116 polling places in Maricopa County for the election, almost double the number of voting centers that were open in March’s election.

Avondale City Councilman Lorenzo Sierra, who called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate how polling places were determined in the last election, said most of the problems in southwest Avondale have been remedied with the additional polling places.

But Sierra said he would like to see better access for voters in the Cashion neighborhood.

Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo, whose District 5 covers much of the region, has been an outspoken critic after the last election and voted against the polling place plan for next week’s election when it was presented to the County Board.

Gallardo said the county lacks a standard for determining how many polling places there should be and where they should be located.

“How do we know how many polling places there should be in Avondale?” Gallardo asked.

He said election officials should reform the process by seeking local input before establishing voting sites.

“The people of Avondale know their

View photo by Jordan Christopher

Buckeye Spring

see all photos from

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Diesel fuel put in unleaded tanks at Buckeye gas station

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Pumps at a QuikTrip in Buckeye were shut down May 5 after diesel fuel was mistakenly put into the regular unleaded tanks, but officials won’t say how long it took for the mix-up to be identified.

The gas station, 1850 S. Miller Road, reportedly reopened the next day, and QT division manager Gary Mootz said the company is taking care of customers who were affected.

However, he refused to release the time when the mix-up occurred and when the pumps were shut down.

“What do you need to know this for?” Mootz asked when he returned the West Valley View’s phone call after six hours. “We’ve already released that information and it’s been on the news. What I’ll tell you is the carrier put the wrong product in the wrong tanks and we immediately shut down the store when we found out.”

Before the station was closed, Kelly Armbrister filled up her car with what she thought was unleaded gasoline, but she later broke down during rush-hour traffic and her vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic.

“I’m fortunate enough to have more than one car, but what about all the people that don’t realize this has even happened yet?” she said.

While the mix-up likely won’t damage a vehicle’s engine, it could create a hassle for drivers, said Bill Churchill, a master technician at McFall Tire & Auto in

Goodyear.

“Diesel fuel is a lot thicker and not as flammable as regular gas, so a regular gas engine will not run it,” Churchill said. “You’ll probably end up having to drain the tank, do some fuel injection cleaner and possibly replace spark plugs.”

The cost of repairs depends on the type of vehicle, Churchill said.

“Some vehicles are harder to pull tanks out than others; some vehicles have drain plugs on the fuel tanks, and some don’t,” he said.

Max Sparkman is also among those impacted by the mistake, because his daughter’s car broke down and had to be towed.

“They’re gonna send the vehicle to the dealership to have it taken care of and told us they will cover for a rental car,” he said. “Very upsetting. I mean, my daughter works in north Phoenix and we have to worry about getting her back and forth to work and everything else.”

He said QT is going to reimburse them for the repairs, but he’ll have to cover the costs up front.

Drivers who were affected can call QT at 480-4466300.

Emily Toepfer can be reached at etoepfer@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @EmilyToepfer. KPHO/KTVK reporter Preston Phillips contributed to this article.

Buckeye men arrested in burglary case

View report

Three Buckeye men were arrested in connection to multiple burglaries of businesses in the city’s downtown area, officials said.

Police received several alarm calls from businesses during the middle of the night on April 30, and when officers arrived on scene, they apprehended two men seen running from the back of the buildings, officials said.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that John Rodriguez, 22, Jesus Sapien, 18, and Jesus Tovar Jr., 18, allegedly committed the burglaries, police said.

All three allegedly admitted to their involvement, and multiple items were recovered, police said.

They were booked into Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail and face numerous burglary and theft charges.

Goodyear PD arrests 3 teen burglary suspects

Police Department.

They were eventually located inside a perimeter set up by police, Kutis said.

Buckeye man allegedly tries to run over people

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A Buckeye man was arrested after allegedly attempting to run over multiple people with his car at a home near Rainbow Valley and Riggs roads, court records state.

William Cahill, 43, faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, theft and disorderly conduct, records state.

Deputies with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at about 11 p.m. May 1 in reference to a man trying to run someone over in front of a house in Buckeye, records state.

After Cahill allegedly drove straight toward one of the people, the man grabbed a shotgun from a nearby truck bed and fired two warning shots into the air, telling Cahill to leave, records state. He allegedly continued driving around the property at a high rate of speed until a second person fired the shotgun at his front passenger door, striking the vehicle, records state.

Cahill drove away toward his house, where his vehicle was later located by deputies, records state.

During a recorded conversation with one of the victims, Cahill allegedly threatened to return and kill everyone because his car was shot at, records state.

Cahill reportedly has a history of domestic violence. He allegedly attacked one of the victims in March and then set fire to her vehicle, records state.

A warrant was issued for his arrest days before the May 1 incident after he allegedly violated his probation and ran from police to avoid jail, records state.

Cahill was arrested May 2 at his home by the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Division, records state.

He denied attempting to hit the victims with his car and allegedly said if he wanted to run someone over, then he would. He was previously incarcerated for the same offense, records state.

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

The boys, ages 15 and 16, fled on foot,

off a

a police helicopter and K9 officers, said Lisa Kutis, a spokeswoman with the Goodyear

Three televisions, an Xbox and jewelry were reported stolen from the home, and about $2,000 in items is still outstanding, she said.

The teens were not named by police because they are juveniles.

View report

Three west Phoenix teens were arrested May 3 in connection to a burglary that morning at a Goodyear home near 144th Avenue and Indian School Road, officials said.

setting

search that involved

John Rodriguez Jesus Sapien Jesus Tovar

William Cahill

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Polling

(From Page 1)

community better than the county recorder,” he said.

Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise said the county did not contact the city about establishing additional polling places, but went back to two locations that had served as voting centers in previous elections.

While he expects fewer crowds at next week’s election, Weise said he continued to be concerned about the election process when it was revealed that there was an error in the early ballot’s Spanish translation.

He said he will be at the polls next week to see how things are managed.

The county agreed to allow Avondale to collect early ballots this week at City Hall, Weise said.

But the county had restrictions, including requiring that the ballot box be transported nightly to the recorder’s office by two people representing opposing political parties.

Ballots may be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday in the lobby of City Hall, 11465 Civic Center Drive, Avondale.

Today is the last day for voters on the Permanent Early Voters List to mail ballots so that they arrive in time to be counted.

Early ballots that weren’t mailed back in time may be dropped off at any polling place on election day.

It’s too late to register to vote in next week’s election, but those who aren’t registered can take steps to vote in two more elections scheduled this year.

Aug. 1 is the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 30 primary election, which will narrow the field of candidates for Democrats and Republicans running for county offices, the state Legislature and the U.S. Senate and House. The ballot will also include city council races in many cities.

Oct. 10 is the registration deadline for the Nov. 8 general election.

Voters who want to avoid the polling places may get ballots by mail by applying to be on the Permanent Early Voters List. Ballots are automatically mailed to voters on the list about 27 days before an election. To apply for the early voting list or for

When and where to vote

Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 17. Voters will be asked to show identification.

Registered voters can cast their ballots at any voting center in the county, including these in the West Valley:

• First Baptist Church Garden Lakes, 2517 N. 107th Ave., Avondale.

• First Southern Baptist Church Avondale, 1001 N. Central Ave., Avondale.

• Lifeway Church, 18926 W. Latham St., Buckeye.

• Buckeye Senior Center, 201 E. Centre Ave., Buckeye.

• Mt. Zion Christian Assembly Church, 1421 S. Palo Verde Road, Buckeye.

• Compass Church, 16060 W. Van Buren St., Goodyear.

• Eagles Nest Country Club, 3645 Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear.

• Litchfield Park First Baptist Church, 901 E. Plaza Circle, Litchfield Park.

• Tolleson Parks and Recreation Center, 9555 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson.

• Saddle Mountain R.V. Park, 40902 W. Osborn Road, Tonopah.

• Cotton Lane Community Church, 6240 N. Cotton Lane, Waddell.

Early voting can be done from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday at Recorder’s/Elections offices at 510 S. Third Ave., Phoenix, or 111 S. Third Ave., Phoenix.

information on voting, visit the Arizona Secretary of State’s website at azsos.gov or the Maricopa County Recorder’s website at recorder.maricopa.gov or call 602-506-1511.

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

Balance

(From Page 1)

necessary nutrition, and can often lead to health issues, even at an early age, Wilkins said.

“I think we deal with more cases of early age diabetes now because of eating so many manufactured foods, [food] processed with hormones and stuff,” Wilkins said.

Supplement

Food banks don’t have resources to provide families with the entirety of their weekly needs, but the nonprofits do their best to provide supplemental options, Wilkins said.

“We know we can’t provide everyone with a week’s worth of groceries; that’s not our intent,” she said. “We want to give a product that’s going to supplement their food sources with what they have at home.”

Items such as corn or oat flakes and whole-grain rice can be put to good use in the donation boxes, Wilkins said.

“Even breakfast bars are good, ones with a good oat coating, things like that,” she said. “Things that can provide a halfway decent breakfast meal without being loaded with all the sugars.”

Wilkins said it’s important to the food banks to try to get items that will boost nutrition, because the children who benefit from the donations need everything they can get during their developmental stages.

“We know people who are food insecure, who are working with food stamps, they’re going to try to stretch that to things that aren’t going to be 100 percent of your daily nutritional [needs],” Wilkins said. “That makes us know when we hand these boxes over, we’re helping to balance that diet and help with those growing minds and bodies.

“Zero to [age] 5, that’s when so much development is occurring in the brain. Nutrition is vital to get that started.”

Summer food drive

The West Valley View’s annual summer food drive benefits the following sites:

• Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank, 405 E. Harrison St. in Avondale; 623-932-9135. Open 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.

• Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank Tonopah site, 36827 W. Indian School Road in Tonopah; 623-932-9135. Open 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday.

• All Faith Community Services Buckeye Food Bank, 214 S. Fifth St. in Buckeye; 623-386-3513. Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

• All Faith Community Services Goodyear Food Bank — In the process of relocating. Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Avondale location, 127 E. Western Ave. in Avondale; 623925-1100.

• Tolleson Food Bank at the Tolleson Assembly of God, 10 S. 93rd Ave. in Tolleson; 623-9365199 or 623-936-1169. Open 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday for donations and gives away food from 5 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, until food is gone.

To see a list of locations where you can donate nonperishable food, see Page 21 in today’s edition of the paper.

If you donate directly to the food banks, let them know that you heard about the drive in the View so it’s counted toward this year’s total.

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

Break from school shouldn’t include break from meals

School will soon be out for summer and while some children will sleep in, spend countless days in the pool and go on vacation, others will go to sleep hungry, wondering if that will be their fate for the entire break.

These children are a big part of why we started a summer food drive 11 years ago.

Donations tend to whither in the summer, which is when many families need them most. Many families rely on the free or reduced lunch program throughout the school year to ensure their children get breakfast and lunch. They also rely on the school to look after their young children, who would otherwise require costly childcare that eats into the grocery budget, while they’re at work. These are the families who look to summer not as a break for their children, but as a large hurdle to get over before school starts back up in the fall.

Cassie Wilkins, director of All Faith Community Services Food Banks, which has locations in Buckeye and Goodyear, is soliciting child-friendly food donations such as individually packaged granola bars and fruit cups that are easy for children to open and eat without the help of an adult.

She’s also requesting sunscreen donations for children who walk back and forth to summer food program locations.

The summer food program starts up shortly after the summer break starts, but many sites only offer breakfast and lunch and are only open on weekdays. On top of that, many children don’t live within walking distance of a site.

Food banks are essential to ﬁlling these gaps in their diets.

Several businesses throughout the West Valley have partnered with us to serve as drop-off locations to make it as easy as possible for donors. A list of locations can be found on Page 21. People can also donate directly to the food banks. See the box on Page 5 for a listing.

All donations stay in the West Valley. That was something that was really important to us when we began this endeavor back in 2006. We wanted our efforts to beneﬁt those living in our own backyard, which is why we deliver the donations directly to our West Valley food banks and not to some central outﬁt to be dispersed throughout the entire Valley.

The drive runs through the end of May, which gives us exactly three more weeks to make this the most successful one yet.

Please donate if you can.

Because summer break should not be synonymous with skipped meals.

Our Viewpoint editorials represent the opinions of the West Valley View editorial board, which is composed of Publisher Elliott Freireich and Managing Editor Cary Hines.

OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS

have indicated that a majority of View readers prefer that the letters not be edited.

What can 1 person do?

Editor:

Too often people think, “I’m only one person, what can I do!” This is wrong thinking. Politics is a lot of “One Persons” seeing the same answer and voting for the right one person! Among the many classes I taught over the years were Government, American History and Arizona History. Unfortunately many of my fellow teachers were extremely liberal. Sadly, I was also for my ﬁrst six years out of A.S.U.!

Wisdom comes more with age and experience. So, let us look with “Wisdom” at the main ﬁve candidates running for President. Bernie Sanders believes, he is a Socialist. We don’t live in a Socialist country, I don’t think we want one. Mrs. Clinton broke the “rules” of her ofﬁce. She also lied about other matters. Do we want a person in as President that does follow the “Laws” and

also lies! Donald Trump maybe a business man worth a billion dollars, but does that make a good President! All I have heard from him (on T.V.) is someone that would be an embarrassment to have around me, let alone to lead a nation! John Kasich entered the campaign late. If he had been serious about wanting to be President, why didn’t he enter earlier? Ted Cruz knows all the rules. He knows Our nations Constitution. Obviously he knows more about how a Presidential campaign works than Donald Trump. I have a brother and a sister voting for Trump. I’m voting for Ted!

Bernard Oviatt Salome

Atta boy, Gordie

Editor: Regarding Gordon Posner’s letter in the April 27 issue entitled “ Roy get over yourself “ I can only reply atta boy Gordie, atta boy ! I was really worried as to whether or not my letters to the View on important political topics were still effective, since I had not been the recipient of Gordon Posner’s usual array of quips, tidbits and snippets for a long time. The thing is that if you are writing effective Conservative

letters to the View you will get ﬂack. Thank you for your letter of acknowledgment Gordon. So why has Posner’s been writing attack letters for years upon years to this newspaper? Probably because the sun rises in the East, sets in the West , he is retired and needs something to do with his time. Added to that, he is liberal he is from New York and he is an attorney. Kind of all ﬁts together. I guess it has something to do with those New York values Trump talks about so frequently. Interestingly enough, in that same issue I also had submitted a letter which was quite informational talking about Harkins theaters as well as AMC theaters, the Goodyear city council and what have you. The point is that my letter talked about substance, where as Gordie’s letter was just another one of his infamous personal attack letters upon a Conservative who must be bad because he is Conservative. As I said earlier and will repeat “ Atta boy Gordon, atta boy”. Your attacks are a wonderful barometer of my effectiveness . Please continue doing what you do so well. When you stop attacking, I will probably dry up and blow away from lack of attention

Roy Azzarello Goodyear

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

L etters to the editor are published without any editing. Any errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar are those of the author. Two online reader polls

(From Page 6)

City gouging

water customers

Editor:

Buckeye Water vs Global WaterJust look at the differences ! Water consumption has tripled in cost per 1000 gallons.

A new Environmental Fee has been added, $5.00 .

A new Sewer Consumption Fee has been added ( to the existing sewer charge) $3.75 . Arizona Tax has doubled, now $4.21 on my bill.

The Regulatory Assessment ( ?? ) is now 6 cents. So where is the regulation ?

As a recent arrival to a newer tract home here in beautiful AZ, I can tell you for certain that Enviro Fees & Consumption Fees would require Public notice ( in advance) and CommentAND – a regulatory decision in order to be implemented in my state of origin. Apparently not so here in AZ. These 2 fees just popped up this year out of the blue. No advance warning at all.

What bothers me is: my Global bill never exceeded $64, and now my Buckeye bill is over $75.

Just wait and see what else is in store for those who live in tract homes in Buckeye: HOA monthly dues increases to pay for the ( essentially) doubling of water cost for the Park amenities that the city insisted the builders install. Nobody told the home buyers that within a few years after moving into their new home that a ﬁve to ten dollar monthly dues increase (higher water rates!) would happen just to pay for Buckeye’s new luxury water department.

So now it’s a 15% HOA dues increase on top of a 20% increase in water costs for the tract homeowners in Buckeye – and my water is still as full of minerals as before.

Poorly done. Sad also. I feel cheated somehow. Anybody else agree ?

Chris Bright Buckeye

Propositions

123 & 124

Editor:

Ever wonder why were having a voting opportunity to change the Arizona Constitution in May?

That’s because whatever “They” want you to pass / vote for, wouldn’t have a snowballs chance of passing if the process was held when there would be a larger, informed voter, turnout. Rest assured, Government workers and Public Union employees will be out in force voting for these Ballot issues. Both propositions are going to cost more money. That money will come from the taxpayers. There is no free lunch.

Proposition 123 ? They say it won’t raise taxes, but it will cost Billions of dollars .

The State trust permanent fund isn’t a bottomless pit of money. (2.5% to 6.9% increase). Then where will the higher level of funding will come from?

Not one K-12 kid will get better grades if it passes, this isn’t “for the kids”. Just look where “They” propose the money is to be spent.

Prop 124? Who’s supporting this one? If politicians and public Union employees want it to pass, you, a Tax payer, can’t afford it.

In Buckeye, we have no money left for Tax increases. We need every penny we can muster just to cover our water rate increases. No on Prop 123, and No on Prop 124.

Ken Busboom Buckeye

Blame the sun, not the GOP

Editor:

I’m writing in response to the “2 Disasters” letter in the WVV of 4/27 by Alfred Molena. The second disaster mentioned is caused by those so addled by standing in the sun too long that they have lost the common sense to vote by mail as most thinking people have. If they don’t receive mail, for some strange reason... What can I say?

I’ll bet Alfred votes by mail, so why is he writing? Could it be that he just likes to bash Republicans?

Carl Deierling Goodyear

Mother’s Day

Editor:

This Mother’s Day, May 8th, many of us will celebrate the powerful bond between mother and child. Tragically, the worldwide symbols of motherhood — dairy cows — never get to see or nurture their babies.

Newborn calves are torn from their mothers at birth, so we can seize and drink the milk that mother cows produce for them. The powerless, distraught mothers bellow for days, hoping in vain for their babies’ return. The babies are kept alive elsewhere, to soon become veal cutlets.

Dairy cows spend their lives on a concrete floor, chained, with no outdoor access. To maintain their milk flow, they are artificially impregnated each year. Around four years of age, their milk production drops and they are turned into hamburgers.

This Sunday, let’s honor motherhood and our natural compassion by refusing to subsidize cruelties of the dairy industry. Let’s replace cow’s milk and its products, laden with fat and cholesterol, with delicious, healthful, cruelty-free nut or soy-based milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream offered in every grocery store. Mother cows and our own bodies will thank us.

Wilfred Wallace Litchﬁeld Park

Only 1 true god exists

Editor:

Muslims of the entire world are lost in a false religion invented by Mohommed long long ago. The image of Allah in Mecca is a black stone. If you study their beliefs there is no hope for them even if they obey perfectly every tenet of what

the Quran teaches. One of their Mantras which I have personally seen written around the top of the “Dome of the Rock” in Jerusalem says “Allah has no son” over and over. But the God of the Bible has a Son, His name is Jesus, and He offered Himself as a perfect sacriﬁce to give sinners access to the only true God!

Lenore Semmler Goodyear

Coot killing solves nothing

Editor: Amen Mr. Holmes, American Coots have flown home with the “old coots” and the conversation still exists because Mr. Holmes, who walks lakes daily: “Why kill Gods’ Creations?” This year there were very few coots, little mess. Instead, the Association, to justify the slaughter, started feeding the birds to bring more coots to the lake to justify the slaughter. They killed 97 of thousands. It solved nothing except to placate the old coots who see only “KILL” as a solution. Considering the MANY other options available, the slaughter was unjustified and solved nothing but killing birds, a few fish, cats/dogs, collateral damage. Problem is, the “old coots” who, unfortunately, dictate policy in Estrella, can only see “kill” as an option! According to Chuck Marshall, the lakes/paths are overwhelmed with coots/poop. I am there daily!!! His comments are lies! “Chuckster” used classic scare tactics “disease, filth, kids/handicapped can’t use lakes. We tried other methods, unsuccessfully”. These methods were lame, at best. There are MANY options, non 100% effective and but don’t entail killing! Guess you could call Trump to build a wall or Arpaio to “order coots back north”. Messier, disease-carrying animals are people. Have you seen the lakes after a weekend?

Politically, hearing the comments of the bigmouths who dictate the kill are: old, white, republicans, and, I bet, self-

professed Christians. You know, bigots, racists, paranoid who fear everything that is different and want to eradicate it. They are intolerant to everyone’s views but their own. Jesus stated “Be kind to all of God’s creations”. I know Jesus, who Christianity is based upon, would NOT condone killing coots. “Your kind” believe’s you are gods, pharaohs and enjoy killing. You People are not Christians but “Biblicans” (Bible + republican). Presently, killing coots solves nothing but makes a few geezers happy!

Steve Zielinski Goodyear

Street pavers doing lousy job

Editor:

Wow... really? I am deﬁnitely not an expert on street paving, however the outﬁt the City of Goodyear has contracted with is in my opinion doing a lousy job... both on the residential and main streets. Poor quality work.

Susan Hewitt Goodyear

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Welcome to the Business Briefcase, readers!

Would you look at that, temperatures were in the 70s over the weekend. Is it really May? Is the apocalypse imminent?

I was actually on the wrong end of one of the storms May 6.

I’ve vowed never to curse the rain as a native Arizonan, but it’s hard to cover a playoff softball game when everyone is hiding from the lightning in a bus. Nevertheless, I promise to never again curse our glorious wet weather, unless it interferes with my job again.

Let’s get down to business.

Inland Kenworth has relocated to a new 17-acre facility off Interstate 10 and 83rd Avenue in Tolleson. The company moved from Phoenix and has been operating there since early April, but will hold a grand opening event Friday, on location.

The trucking company’s new facility will have new and used Kenworth truck sales, parts and service support, retail space and PacLease truck rental.

Inland Kenworth is the first tenant in the 85-acre

Avondale firefighters promoted

Avondale Fire and Medical has promoted Jennifer

business park at 83rd Avenue, just west of the eastern edge of Tolleson. The business park will eventually have a Loves Truck Stop and Tire Center, Blue Beacon Truck Wash and Utility Trailer dealership, as part of a “trucking hotspot” in the West Valley. The Briefcase will pass along opening dates for the other businesses once the information comes forward.

The Tolleson Inland Kenworth location is one of two in Arizona, with six more in California and New Mexico. Inland Kenworth has 14 dealerships in Canada.

For information on the new facility, call 602-258-7791 or visit www.inland-group.com.

There are a lot of neighborhoods going up in Avondale south of Buckeye Road. One project, Del Rio Ranch, will have a new business neighbor in the not too distant future.

Family Dollar Store is slated to go in at the northeast corner of El Mirage and Lower Buckeye roads.

There’s not much there now except a lot of dirt and wild plant growth, but I imagine it won’t stay like that for much longer.

The city is currently in the process of reviewing the site plan. The store is projected to be about 8,300 square feet.

Family Dollar isn’t one of those dollar stores where everything is literally a dollar, but you’ll find plenty of those deals. It also sells name-brand products you’d recognize from any local grocer at reasonable prices.

Avondale’s newest QuikTrip (one of two, anyway) is

Becsei and Steven King to the position of fire captain. Becsei has been with the city since June 2004 and is a certified paramedic. She will be assigned to Ladder 174 B-Shift.

King has been with the city since May 1999 and will be assigned to E173 C-Shift. He has his technical rescue certification and is a certified paramedic.

Larry H. Miller employees volunteer at food bank

Almost 200 employees from several Larry H. Miller dealerships, including the one in Avondale, volunteered their time by working at St. Mary’s Food Bank, packing 1,920 boxes of food.

The day is part of the companywide Day of Service, in honor of the late company founder, Larry H. Miller.

nearing construction completion at the northwest corner of Avondale and Coldwater Springs boulevards.

The signage looks completely up on everything except the main facade. The convenience store will be 5,858 square feet, and feature 16 gas pumps.

Lastly, La Salsita Taco Shop is in the infancy stages of putting a drive-through in at its Avondale location, 113th Avenue and Buckeye Road.

The restaurant has applied for rezoning on the land just east of the building. Avondale is currently reviewing the application, no word on a response just yet.

That’s all for this week, folks.

Send questions or comments to smcowen@westvalleyview.com, and I’ll do my best to get to the bottom of it.

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

Goodyear man wins

Small Business Person of the Year

Paul A. Smiley of Goodyear has been named Arizona’s 2016 Small Business Person of the Year by the Arizona office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Smiley is the president of Sonoran Technology and Professional Services in Goodyear. His company has 235 employees in 23 states. Seventy-five percent of his employees are veterans, including Smiley himself. His company offers scholarships to Arizona State University New College and sponsors Goodyear’s small business conference.

Abrazo West Campus honored Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear was honored on April 25 by the American Heart Association for being the top Abrazo fundraiser with $16,854 for the Phoenix Heart Walk.

West Valley Women’s C Care

Shane McOwen

Jennifer Becsei Steven King

Gema Fernandez, M.D.

Maria R. DiLeo, M.D.

Kim Roberts, W.H.N.P.

Cari L. Cowling, M.D.

James M. Johnson, M.D.

Briggs J. Geier, D.O.

Raymond D. Suarez, M.D.

Money spared for new school

State budget doesn’t cut new campus funding

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Funding for a new West Valley high school was spared from the chopping block in a budget approved Tuesday by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.

A last-minute move by lawmakers lets the Agua Fria Union High School District keep funding already promised to it for a fifth campus, but also added the option for the state to defer payment if it deems the money isn’t available.

The district was awarded $33.4 million by the Arizona School Facilities Board in February for a campus it plans to build northwest of Interstate 10 and Loop 303; however, the money was up in the air during budget deliberations last month.

A cost-cutting recommendation by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee would have disqualified Agua Fria for the funding by changing the formula that determines if a new school is needed.

The district has been at the top of the list to receive the money for six years. Its four campuses have a capacity for 7,505 students, and enrollment is almost 7,950.

While the approved budget maintains new school funding, House Bill 2707 says the state can delay payment if the money isn’t immediately available.

According to the bill, if funds awarded to a district by the SFB are not available in the fiscal year following the approval, the district “may use any legally available monies to pay for the project” and be reimbursed when the state has the funds.

Agua Fria officials estimate it will cost $68 million to build a comprehensive new high school, including permits, furniture, equipment and fixtures. Land and development will add another $10 million.

The new 200,000-square-foot school, which will have a science focus, is scheduled to open in fall 2018 and would house only freshman students the first year.

If the district has to front the cost, it could use bond money, but that means putting off much-needed repairs at its other schools, said Tom Huffman, Agua Fria’s executive director of operations and safety.

Voters passed a $70 million bond last November to help pay for the new school and also cover deferred maintenance and other projects in the district.

Agua Fria has identified $131 million in existing capital costs, including air conditioning units, flooring and roofing repairs, Huffman said.

Money from the SFB would free up some of the bond funds and allow the district to start on those repairs, while also eliminating the need to build the new school in phases.

New shopping center to give Litchfield Park budget boost

Sales taxes expected from Litchfield Marketplace reflected in city’s 2017 forecast

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

The city of Litchfield Park’s budget should realize a bump in revenues thanks to the opening of a new commercial development later this year.

The fiscal year 2017 budget the City Council is expected to adopt on May 18 shows an estimated 5 percent increase in revenues due primarily to increased sales tax collections the city is expecting after Litchfield Marketplace opens.

While revenues are up, the $15.5 million in operating and capital expenses reflects a 1 percent decrease, according to Benjamin Ronquillo, the city’s finance director.

Ronquillo said the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 is similar to last year’s income and spending plan.

The city covering 3.3 square miles with a population of about 5,400 does not impose a primary property tax.

“We heavily rely on sales tax revenue, which is why the Litchfield Marketplace is important to the city,” Ronquillo said.

City sales tax and bed tax collections are expected to increase from about $4.3 million to almost $5 million.

Those increased sales tax revenues will start flowing into city coffers when stores and restaurants in the development on the corner of Litchfield and Camelback roads, anchored by Fry’s Marketplace, start opening in August.

The tax collections are part of $11.3 million in revenues that includes state-shared revenues and other income.

The city expects a more than 50 percent decrease in revenue from building permits — down from $550,000 in 2016 to $250,000 — because what Ronquillo called “high dollar permits” were collected last year for Litchfield Marketplace and new housing developments.

The city’s general fund expenses of $7.9 million include $1,339,137 for public safety, up $56,456 from last year because of increases for contracts with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for police services and the Goodyear Fire Department for fire and emergency services, Ronquillo said.

Public works maintenance expenses will increase from $2,361,861 spent this year to $2,655,099 because of upgrades in the city’s parks, including landscaping and playground equipment, he said.

That budget line also includes maintaining city rights of way, medians, sidewalks and paths, Ronquillo said.

The city’s planning services budget will jump from $213,726 spent this year to $504,294 next year because of expenses associated with planning a new development in the center of the city.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into planning before anyone breaks ground,” Ronquillo said.

An increase in engineering services expenses from $238,000 spent this year to $280,000 is attributed to increased residential and commercial building projects, he said.

The general fund also covers expenses for the offices of the city manager, clerk, attorney, finance and human resources and the city court.

Ronquillo described a $1.1 million contingency fund for operations as “kind of like an emergency fund … so we have funds available to cover every unseen need.”

In 2016, the city spent $159,339 from the contingency fund.

Recreation and community services and special events are budgeted to spend just over $1 million. Helping to cover the costs is $644,900 collected by fees for those services.

The capital projects fund includes $3.1 million for special projects and a $3 million contingency fund.

Capital projects in 2017 include $730,000 for pathway construction on Old Litchfield Road and Litchfield Road, $500,000 for citywide street repair and replacement projects and $500,000 toward reconstruction of the perimeter wall along Camelback Road across from Litchfield Marketplace.

The city will also spend $350,000 for the second half of payments for reconstructing the wall at Tierra Verde Lake.

Ronquillo said the budget does not add any new positions to the city’s staff of 79 full-time equivalents.

The city’s estimated personnel compensation for 2017 is $3.4 million, including salaries, retirement, health care and other benefit costs.

The Litchfield Park City Council meets at 7 p.m. May 18 in the Community Room at the Florence Brinton Litchfield Memorial Library, 101 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park.

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

Straight out of a fairy tale

Verrado High School presents spring musical this week

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a high school theater department began to prepare for its spring musical.

Students let down their hair and got to work, hoping the play would be ready before the clock struck midnight.

Verrado High School’s production of Into the Woods runs at 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday at the school, 20050 W. Indian School Road, Buckeye.

The musical intertwines the plots of several fairy tales, including Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Cinderella

take on the typical fairy tales.

“Characters die — there are giants going through the land, so it can’t all just be happy and cheery,” said senior Israel Daniels, 18, who plays the baker.

While Daniels said he wasn’t always a fan of the musical, since he had hopes of performing a different show, it grew on him once rehearsals started.

“The music just grabbed me so quickly,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun songs.”

WHAT: Verrado High School production of Into the Woods.

WHEN: 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday.

WHERE: Verrado High School auditorium, 20050 W. Indian School Road in Buckeye.

COST: $8 in advance at the bookstore and $10 at the door; teachers get in free.

It’s tied together by an original story about a childless baker and his wife who wish to start a family, but they have been cursed by a witch.

During their quest to break the spell, they meet several storybook characters who are dealing with the consequences of their own wishes.

“Into the Woods captures the hopes and fears that people experience at all stages of life — childhood through parenthood,” Verrado theater director Maria Anderson said. “The audience can connect to the desire of the witch to see her child make the right decision, Cinderella’s desire to have a prince or Jack’s desire to have friends.

“It’s an intimidating and relentless musical, but I wanted a challenge, both for me and the students.”

Junior Alana Alonzo, 17, plays Cinderella, complete with her evil stepsisters and glass slippers.

“I love Disney a lot, and I just love how we’re bringing these fairy tales to life,” Alana said. “I love the idea of bringing such a magical group of people that are in books together on stage.”

The audience shouldn’t expect it to end happily ever after, though, because the musical has a slightly darker

School Notes are published as space permits. The View runs these items free of charge as a service to the community and puts as many into each newspaper as possible. If you have a notice that must run by a certain date, please contact our advertising department at 623-535-8439.

School uniform program kicks off at food bank

The Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank has kicked off its annual school uniform program. Sign-ups for Avondale, Littleton and Tolleson Elementary School District

Another senior in the cast is all too familiar with those songs.

Kathryn Donovan, 17, is the “swing,” meaning she fills in when another actor can’t make rehearsal or a production, so she has to know all 27 parts in the play.

“The songs have been pretty easy to memorize for the most part, but the words definitely have been pretty difficult to get down all 200 pages of it,” she said.

Her favorite role has been the baker’s wife.

“She’s a woman that many women can connect with,” Kathryn said. “She knows what she wants — she wants a child — but along the way, she still can get distracted by other things she may have also wanted, but aren’t her primary goal.”

While the students have been working long hours to prepare for the musical, they also praised Anderson for her dedication to the theater program.

“She’s picked a lot of interesting plays that many of us haven’t even heard of, and they’ve all been quite a blast,” Kathryn said.

Tickets for the show are $8 in advance at the bookstore and $10 at the door. Teachers get in free.

“Our teachers are always free; they work too hard and get paid too little to have to pay to see their students perform,” Anderson said.

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

school uniforms will be from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday throughout May. Parents will need to provide a picture I.D., proof of residence, proof of income and birth certificates for children.

The Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank is also seeking donations for 700 school uniforms for the 2016-17 school year. A $35 donation will provide one child with two new school uniforms.

Donations should be sent to P.O. Box 845, Avondale, AZ 85323. Checks should be payable to Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank. For information, call 623-932-9135 or

all photos from this shoot, go to www.westvalleyview.com/pictures.

email aguafriafoodbank1227@aol.com.

Jennifer Huff graduates

Jennifer Huff of Avondale has graduated from Troy University online with a Bachelor of Science.

Jasmine Lhotka receives scholarship

Jasmine Lhotka of Goodyear has received a $500 Ignite Scholarship from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She is the daughter of John and Seng Lhotka of Goodyear.

The Ignite Scholarship awards $500 for the freshman year and requires a high school class rank in the top 50 and a score of 21-23 on the ACT exam.

Valerie Collier named to dean’s list

Valerie Collier of Goodyear has been named to the dean’s list at Ohio Christian University College of Adult and Graduate Studies for the spring 2015 semester.

To be placed on the dean’s list, a student must have a GPA of 3.5 with at least 12 semester hours.

View photo by Jordan Christopher

VERRADO HIGH SCHOOL drama students Alexandria Smith, left, and Gina Penuelas rehearse their roles of the witch and Rapunzel in the musical production of Into the Woods May 4 at the Buckeye school. The show will run tonight, Friday and Saturday. To see

Tonopah thespians put twist on Robin Hood

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

Students speaking with British accents at Tonopah Valley High School aren’t foreign exchange students but young actors preparing to stage a play that puts a twist on the Robin Hood legend.

The drama students will perform The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood at 7 p.m. Friday at the school’s auditorium, 38201 W. Indian School Road, Tonopah.

Drama teacher and director Darla Spain said she selected the play from several available about Robin Hood.

“This one was so funny to me,” Spain said. “It’s kind of a Mel Brooks humor, stupid, slapstick kind of thing.”

Spain said the play by Mary Lynn Dobson is a “twisted fairy tale” that retells the story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.

“We’ve got a good group of kids and they’re all using English accents,”

Spain said.

WHAT: The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday. WHERE: Tonopah Valley High School, 38201 W. Indian School Road, Tonopah. COST: $3 for students and $5 for adults for tickets purchased in advance at the school’s office or $5 for students and $7 for adults at the door.

She said the students quickly picked up the speaking style that she found difficult to demonstrate.

A majority of the cast of 15 are males, which is unusual for a school production, Spain said.

Riley Harshbarger leads the cast as Robin Hood and Roe Ostermeyer plays Maid Marian.

Other major roles are filled by Sotero Avila as Prince John and Jack Hines III as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Other students from the drama class are part of the stage crew responsible for sound, lights and sets.

“Everyone ends up being involved, even if they don’t have a lead part,” Spain said.

Sets include Sherwood Forest with trees made of Styrofoam, a throne room, Marion’s bed chamber, a tournament scene and the “dungeon of demise,” Spain said.

“It’s all a little cartoony because Robin Hood is cartoony,” she said.

Period costumes were obtained during a field trip by

the cast to Mardi Gras Costume Shop in Scottsdale.

“It’s going to be colorful,” Spain said.

But the hairstyles of some cast members may not appear authentic because some of the young men had haircuts in advance of the school’s prom, Spain said.

The show is the last production to be directed by Spain before she and her husband, John, band director at the school, retire.

The

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

PRESSMAN’S ASSISTANT

HUGE estate sale. 4 bedroom home. Everything must go! Friday, 9a.m. - 2p.m., Saturday, 8a.m. - 2p.m., Sunday, 9a.m. noon. 23773 W. Papago Street, Buckeye.

Newspaper printing press experience preferred. Must be 18 or older, able to lift heavy objects, pass background and drug screen, non-smoking. Part-time, Tuesdays 1pm to 8pm (possibly as late as midnight) and some Mondays 1pm to 8pm (possibly as late as midnight). Email resumes to publisher@westvalleyview.com

Background check and clean MVR (driving record) mandatory. Experience a plus. Please ﬁll out an application and submit all required documentation at our ofﬁces at: 1050 E. Riley Dr. on the NE corner of Elesio C Felix Jr. Way & Riley, south of Van Buren & east of Dysart. Call/ email Tina Hopkins for more details, 623-535-8439 ext 187 or thopkins@westvalleyview.com

West Valley View has openings in the Warehouse for manual inserters and stackers. Inserters assemble sections and advertising supplements into completed newspapers. Piece work pay averages $10.00/ hour with the potential to make $18.00/ per hour. Stackers supply and stack ﬁnished bundles on pallets for distribution. Must be able to lift heavy bundles. $8.05/ hourly. Hours vary from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. every Tuesday night. Apply in person at 1050 E. Riley Dr., Avondale, 85323. No phone calls please.

BRAND new /gently used furniture for sale, cheap! Ethan Allen wood hutch in excellent condition, corner cabinet, entertainment center, toddler beds, crib, linen cabinet, ﬁling cabinet, ofﬁce chairs, restaurant table / chairs, leather recliner, etc. Call /text 520-609-9328 for pictures.

You can still get your ad in the paper! If you miss our regular deadlines, at the buzzer classified ads are available. Call 623-535-8439 by 11 a.m. on Tuesday Normal Deadline: Friday, 4pm

Spain taught at the Saddle Mountain Unified School District’s elementary schools for five years before moving to the high school three years ago.

Spains previously taught in Glendale after teaching jobs in Las Vegas, Florida and Ohio.

View photo by Jordan Christopher

TONOPAH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA STUDENTS Baylie Persson, left, Anakin Airey, Mathew Witt, Riley Harshbarger, Sotero Avila, Jack Hines, Michelle Bueno, Virginia Calvillo and Caitlynn Williams rehearse their lines for The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood May 6 at Tonopah Valley High School in Tonopah. The play will be performed at 7 p.m.

Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio. He is the son of Mandy and Gary Ferreri

Victory at Verrado gives you choices like no other active adult community in Arizona. For starters, it’s part of the all-ages town of Verrado. An inviting mountain community packed with restaurants, shops, coffee houses and a year-round calendar of fun events. Plus you get a place of your own, with more charming and diverse home styles than any other active adult community in the state.

Buckeye girls tennis falls in state semis; Buckeye softball loses in quarters; Tolleson senior signs with Dartmouth

Desert Edge wins state in track and field

Scorpions bookend year with football and track titles

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

A season of firsts continued for Desert Edge May 7, but it was with a familiar cast of characters.

The Scorpions’ boys track and field team won the Division II state championship at Mesa Community College, doing so with a lineup full of football players.

Desert Edge claimed the Division III state football championship back in November 2015.

“It’s really exciting,” said track coach Rich Wellbrock, who is also the football coach. “The kids have worked really hard, had a phenomenal year. For a lot of them it’s been two state championships. They were either on the sidelines with us, or on the field playing back in November. It’s good to cap off a special year with another state championship.”

Desert Edge scored 61 points, running away with the title. Glendale Apollo was a distant second with 41.5 points, while Tucson Salpointe Catholic (35.5) was third.

Tyson Jones, a lineman on the football team, was the Scorpions’ only individual champion, claiming two titles. Jones won both the shot put and discus.

“It really means a lot to me because I’ve been working out the whole year just for this moment, and working through everything, it feels really good,” Jones said.

Jones threw 60 feet, four inches in the shot, more than six feet further than his closest competitor, which happened to be his brother Hunter. Hunter Jones, another lineman for the football team, earned runner-up in the shot, reaching 54-3.75.

“Going in, [Tyson] was the favorite in the shot put, so I think he felt a little bit of pressure,” Wellbrock said. “When he popped his 60 and got it out there, kind of set the mark, I think he was a little relieved and kind of went from there.”

In addition to taking the top two spots in the shot put, Desert Edge also had the fifth-place finisher, Dante Blissit, who was a fullback and defensive lineman. His mark was 50-0.

Tyson Jones’ winning discus throw was 173-06. Both his shot and discus marks

were personal records.

“I just tried to focus on what I’ve been taught, relax and go out there and throw my hardest,” Tyson Jones said.

Blissit placed fifth in the discus at 150-08. All told, the Scorpions tallied 32 points from its throwers alone.

“The throwers have anchored us all year,” Wellbrock said. “Their attention to detail and preparing themselves for every meet, really getting themselves ready to perform at a high level, they’ve

done a phenomenal job of that all year. The throwers and jumpers have done a really good job of putting in their work, and when the lights turn on they tend to perform very well.”

Tehran Thomas, Desert Edge’s star quarterback, was at the forefront of the Scorpions’ jumpers. He claimed two medals with second- and fourth-place finishes in the triple and long jumps, respectively.

“He’s a gamer,” Wellbrock said of Thomas. “He had struggled the year

previously in the long jump, so to watch him in the triple jump, he was so excited. He had a phenomenal day [May 4] and really set the table for us for [May 7] to be able to hold up the trophy.”

Thomas nearly took first in the triple, losing to Tempe Marcos de Niza’s Marcus Naisant by an inch and a half. Thomas’ mark was a PR at 45-9.

“The whole triple jump came down to

(See State on Page 23)

TRACK & FIELD

View photo by Ray Thomas

TYSON JONES of Desert Edge prepares to launch the discus May 7 during the Division II state track and field meet at Mesa Community College. Jones won the event with a throw of 173 feet, 6 inches, helping the Scorpions win the team state title.

Buckeye blasts Florence, advances to semis

Strong start, good pitching lead Hawks past Gophers

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

Buckeye’s baseball team has been rolling in the Division IV state tournament.

Following a first-round bye, the Hawks haven’t trailed in either of their two playoff games. The latest triumph, a 9-3 victory over No. 3 Florence May 7 at the Goodyear Ballpark complex, has Buckeye in the state semifinals.

“It means a lot, and it’s even bigger now,” Buckeye coach Danny Rodriguez said. “We’re in the final four and we’re one game away from having a chance to play for the title, so we’re excited.”

Sixth-seeded Buckeye was supposed to have already played its semifinal game, but rain May 6 flooded the fields at Goodyear’s complex, forcing quarterfinal games to be pushed back to May 7, the date originally scheduled for semifinal games. Instead, the semifinals will now be at 6 p.m. Friday, also at Goodyear, with the state championship scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Surprise Stadium.

“I like what happened to us,” Rodriguez said. “I like the fact that we only had to come play one, we didn’t have to bounce back to play another one [this weekend]. We’ll do the bouncing back for the state title, and I’m OK with that. You play the semis, you win, you bounce back and play for the state title, I’m OK with that compared to going back and forth for a quarterfinal to a semifinal.”

Buckeye’s opponent in the semifinals is a familiar one: Glendale Joy Christian. The Hawks lost an eight-inning game at Joy Christian April 5. The game was tied 1-1 until the eighth when Buckeye tallied twice in the top of the frame. However, the Hawks allowed three runs in the bottom half, losing 4-3. Rodriguez said the final two runs were scored when his outfielder lost a ball in a dark sky. Joy Christian’s field doesn’t have lights.

“We’re excited to play them again,” Rodriguez said. “We know they’re going to throw their best, and their best is pretty good, but we saw another guy today from Florence who was very good, we took him out, so we’re on a roll. It’s going to be a good ballgame next week.”

Quick start

Buckeye wasted little time in grabbing the lead against Florence, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first against starting pitcher Mathew Olsen. After a one-out walk to Demetrio Botello, J.C. Perez, Randen Garrison and Ishmel Higuera all singled, bringing home three runs.

“You score early like that on a team like this, and we get the insurance like last week, you can breathe easy,” Rodriguez said. “We’re up 9-1 at one point and it’s like, we’re going to sit back and watch this play out. It’s very

exciting, it’s very big for us to score early like that and I hope we can do it next week.”

Florence made it 3-1 in the bottom of the first, but Buckeye plated a fourth-inning run on a pair of extra base hits. Alex Esqueda led off with a triple to center, and two batters later, Austin Forrester knocked him in with a double, making it 4-1.

The Hawks opened the floodgates in the fifth, scoring four times. They added another in the sixth, making it 9-1, before Florence tallied twice in the bottom of the sixth.

“We did a great job today,” Rodriguez said. “I talked to the kids before we left and our goal was to end it in five. I felt we could get after this kid early and try to end

it in five. We tried. We came out swinging right away. We weren’t intimidated by any means. I think last week was the nerve week for us. This week, we’re ready to go, we’re ready to play for the title. We just came out swinging and I’m really happy for the kids.”

Perez had three hits for Buckeye, including two doubles, and scored three times.

“Lately, I’ve been in a slump, so getting it going, hit after hit, it’s good for the team,” Perez said.

Garrison went 4-for-4, singling every time at bat. He drove in three runs and scored twice.

“I spent most of last summer using a walker as a result of severe stenosis. I had my surgery at 1 PM, one small incision, and on the way home at 3 PM. I needed nothing for pain from that point forward. Both my wife and I cannot say enough about Dr. Lieberman’s skill and followup. I’m so happy to be playing tennis again. Thanks Phoenix Spine!”

—Mike Murray, Phoenix, AZ

View photo by Ray Thomas

ALEX ESQUEDA, 32, of Buckeye slides toward second base April 28 as Amphitheater’s second baseman fields the throw. The Hawks beat Florence 9-3 in the Division IV state quarterfinals May 7, earning a trip to Friday’s semifinal encounter against Joy Christian.

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Camp Verde rallies to beat Buckeye 12-5

eliminated in D-IV quarterfinals

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Buckeye softball couldn’t have asked for a better start to its Division IV state quarterfinal game May 6. The Lady Hawks jumped on top of No. 2 Camp Verde 4-0, working their way into a nice groove through two and a half innings.

play, but a mental gaffe kept the inning alive. The Lady Hawks took the force out at first on a ground ball, and then threw to second, but no tag was placed on the advancing runner.

A run scored on the play, and the Lady Cowboys added four more in the frame to take the lead for good, including two on a monster home run from Taya Smith.

SOFTBALL

From there, the Lady Cowboys took over, outscoring the Lady Hawks 12-1 over the remainder of the game, taking down Buckeye 12-5 at Rose Mofford Sports Complex in Phoenix.

While the Lady Hawks came up short to their ultimate goal, the girls have a lot of reasons to keep their heads up, Buckeye coach Pete Alva said.

“I know what type of group this is and I truly believe if we play our game, we can be state champions,” Alva said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t happen tonight. We just have to move forward. I was telling the girls, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Our ultimate goal is to be state champions, but being in the quarterfinals, I don’t think the softball program has made it this far. These girls have a lot to be proud of, and we have all our starters coming back.”

Buckeye led 2-0 heading to the top of the third, and with one out and one on Makea-Al Kaluau laced a triple down the left-field line, scoring Oriah Blake from second. Kaluau scored on the play thanks to an errant throw by the left fielder, bringing it to 4-0.

Camp Verde answered back in the bottom of the frame with a run, and had runners on the corners with one out. The Lady Hawks had a chance for a double

“Maybe we got a little relaxed,” Alva said. “We knew this team wasn’t done. We knew four runs wasn’t going to win the game. It seemed like their pitcher got a little stronger toward the end. She settled in and our girls were a little late on the ball. A couple of errors cost us and we just couldn’t recover.”

Buckeye’s night was extended by a 55-minute weather delay for lightning in the area, but it wasn’t enough to give the Lady Hawks a jolt to finish out the contest.

“I was hoping maybe it would make us come back tomorrow, and it would be like a refresh for us,” Alva said.

Aaliyah Wilson and Kaluau pitched for the Lady Hawks. Wilson went 2.2 innings, giving up six runs. Kaluau surrendered six runs in 3.1 innings. Smith went the distance for the Lady Cowboys, giving up only three hits in the final four innings pitched.

“Hats off to Camp Verde,” Alva said. “They’re a scrappy team. They put the ball in play. They have a good chance at being state champions.”

Alva said his girls had the talent to win the game, but it just wasn’t in the cards for them that night.

“I really feel if we played the way we did in the first two innings, we would be on the other end of this tonight,” Alva said.

View photo by Ray Thomas

STEPHANIE AMARAL, 6, of Buckeye makes a catch May 6 as Sierra Mendoza comes over for backup. The Lady Hawks lost to Camp Verde 12-5

Camp Verde rallies

Hawks eliminated in D-IV quarterfinals