West Valley View - May 25, 2016 by Times Media Group

Phoenix cop killed in line of duty

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A Phoenix police officer killed in the line of duty last week lived in the West Valley with his wife and two young children.

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

Western Sky middle schoolers take part in STEM challenge — Page 11.

A TORAH TO CALL THEIR OWN

Chabad Jewish Center of Goodyear gets a Torah — Page 12.

David Glasser was a member of the Neighborhood Enforcement Team in the Maryvale precinct, and was formerly part of the Estrella Mountain precinct on 99th Avenue near Lower Buckeye Road.

He served with the Phoenix Police

Department for 12 years.

Funeral services for Glasser will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Christ’s Church of the Valley, 7007 W. Happy Valley Road, Peoria. Procession will follow to Phoenix Memorial Park and Cemetery, 200 W. Beardsley Road, Phoenix.

Glasser was shot May 18 while responding to an emergency call near 51st Avenue and Baseline Road in Phoenix, Police Chief Joe Yahner said during a press conference.

The incident started when a man

called 911 to report his son, identified by police as 20-year-old Israel SantosBanos, had stolen his guns, Yahner said.

As police arrived on scene, SantosBanos fired at them from a van in the driveway, striking Glasser, Yahner said.

Multiple officers returned fire and killed Santos-Banos as Glasser was carried to awaiting firefighters for medical treatment, he said.

“The officers’ actions at that scene

W. Valley Food banks tap water supplies

Need for fluids grows during summer months

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

For those in need, food banks can be an oasis, not only for food but also for water.

“They have to have water. It’s a necessity, not a luxury,” said Leanne Leonard, executive director of the Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank, which has locations in Avondale and Tonopah.

The food bank is among those benefiting from the West Valley View’s 11th annual summer food drive, which continues through May 31.

The need for water only grows as triple-digit desert temperatures settle in for the Arizona summer.

Leonard said food banks do their part by providing water, which can help to prevent health issues or even death by dehydration.

People most at risk are the elderly and those who spend a lot of time outside during the summer, especially the homeless, according to Dr.

(See Water on Page 5)

Props 123, 124 pass

Education measure to put $15 million into West Valley schools right away

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Voters in the special May 17 election passed two measures that affect education and police and fire pension funds. Proposition 123, which adds $3.5 billion to K-12 public education over the next decade, was approved by a vote of 535,751 (50.93 percent) to 516,270 (49.07 percent). Proposition 124, which reforms Arizona police and fire pension funds, passed 718,696 (70.42 percent) to 301,823 (29.58 percent).

The education funding measure was created to settle a lawsuit filed in 2010 by K-12 school

districts and charters that claimed schools are owed $1.3 billion after the state failed to comply with mandated inflation funding.

Prop 123 sets the base level per-pupil funding to $3,600, which is an increase of $173. Schools will also get $625 million of the money owed in back pay. Funds will be distributed as $50 million each year for the first five years and $75 million a year in the next five years.

The plan will be partially supported by the state’s general fund, but the bulk of the money comes from the state land trust, which is the reason it needed voter approval. (See

Liberty Utilities works to comply with EPA advisory

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

A water company that serves parts of the West Valley has told officials that two wells are offline after it was determined they failed to meet a new Environmental Protection Agency health advisory for two chemicals, according to the water utility.

The president of Liberty Utilities Arizona said one of the wells has been offline for years and water from the other well had only been used during times of peak demand.

The situation went public May 19 when the EPA notified officials in Litchfield Park, Goodyear and Avondale that chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS were in some of Liberty Utilities’ wells at a level higher than recommended by a newly established health advisory.

Liberty Utilities serves all of Litchfield Park, Goodyear in an area north of Interstate 10 that includes the PebbleCreek community and Avondale’s Estrella Mountain Community College and an area around the campus, according to Matthew Garlick, president of the Arizona utilities.

Goodyear Public Works has also tapped into Liberty Utilities as a backup source during times of high usage, but disconnected from the utility last week, according to city officials.

Litchfield Park issued messages to its residents explaining the situation and assuring them there was no cause for alarm.

“Your water is safe to drink,” City Manager

David Glasser

(See Killed on Page 2)

View photo by Jordan Christopher

ED SPRING of Goodyear, an Agua Fria Food Bank volunteer, organizes donated water May 20 at the Avondale food bank.

Avondale man dies in I-10 crash in Buckeye

View report

An Avondale man died in a three-vehicle accident at about 3:40 a.m. May 20 on eastbound Interstate 10 near Miller Road in Buckeye, officials said.

Ricardo Vasquez-Vasquez, 24, died in the crash that included a semitrailer and a pickup truck, said Damon Cecil, a spokesman with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Eastbound I-10 was closed at Miller for several hours during the investigation.

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A Goodyear man is facing felony charges after allegedly shooting at police May 13 near McDowell Road and Pebble Creek Parkway in Goodyear, officials said.

King Justice Allah, 25, was released from the hospital May 21 and booked into Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail, said Lisa Kutis, a spokeswoman with the Goodyear Police Department.

Officers responding to a 911 call at about 10 a.m. May 13 found Allah lying on the sidewalk and bleeding from self-inflicted lacerations, Kutis said.

He allegedly claimed to have a gun in his possession, as well as a bomb in his backpack, Kutis said.

When officers attempted to negotiate with Allah to surrender the gun, he allegedly opened fire on police, Kutis said.

Officers returned fire, injuring Allah. He was

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

were heroic, and I’m very proud of them,” Yahner said.

Glasser was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, where he died the next day, he said.

“We as a police department and a city are doing everything we can to support [his family] and our police department family,” Yahner said. “Dave served his community, and he continues to serve right now as he is donating his organs for the betterment of people he doesn’t even know.”

Glasser was a Phoenix native and graduated from Moon Valley High School and Arizona State University, he said.

“He embodied what a Phoenix police officer is,” Yahner said. “We lost a hero, we lost an outstanding member of our community, a father and a great police officer. Dave was an inspiration to his family, his coworkers and to this community.”

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said Glasser’s death marked a dark day for the city.

“Our entire city is hurting today,” he said. “This is not the news that we had hoped for, but it is too often the reality for those who are sworn to protect us.”

To donate to the 100 Club, which helps officers and their families in times of need, go to 100club.org.

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

A teenage boy was injured after a shooting early this morning at a Chevron gas station near 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in west Phoenix, police said.

The victim told police he left a nearby house party at about 2:30 a.m. after shots were fired and went to the gas station, said Sgt. Trent Crump, a spokesman with the

View report

Police are investigating after a woman was assaulted and robbed at about 10:45 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of the Desert Sage Luxury Apartments near Central Avenue and Interstate 10 in Goodyear, officials said.

The victim was pulled from her car by a man

View report

Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred about 8 p.m. May 21 at a Verizon store near Estrella Parkway and Roosevelt Street in Goodyear, officials said.

The car used in the robbery was found near Citrus and

transported to a local hospital, where he remained for more than a week, Kutis said.

No officers were injured.

The Glendale Police Department’s bomb squad responded to the scene and detonated the backpack.

During the investigation, police learned that the weapon Allah allegedly used was a CO2 cartridge gun, Kutis said.

“This type of gun is impossible to distinguish from a real firearm until closely examined,” she said.

Allah faces five counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and one count of false emergency reporting, Kutis said.

Phoenix Police Department.

While at the gas station, the teen was shot in the foot by unknown suspects, Crump said.

His injury was non-life threatening and he did not wish to press charges, Crump said.

Approximately 20 teens were at the party when an altercation took place, police said.

Four teens were detained for questioning, but police do not believe they have the shooter.

and woman, who stole her purse, said Lisa Kutis, a spokeswoman with the Goodyear Police Department.

She was transported to a hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries, Kutis said. Witnesses also heard gunshots in the area, she said. No suspects are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing, Kutis said.

Camelback roads, but an unknown number of suspects were not located, said Lisa Kutis, a spokeswoman for the Goodyear Police Department.

A perimeter was set up with the help of the Buckeye Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Kutis said.

Former reporter accused of public defecation in Goodyear

View report

A former reporter with KPHO/KTVK was arrested May 16 after he was accused of defecating in the front yard of a Goodyear home, according to the police report.

Jonathan Lowe

Jonathan Lowe was covering a story at about 3:30 p.m. near Sarival Avenue and Durango Street when the incident occurred, the report states.

The woman who called police said a news van had been parked outside her house for about 40 minutes

when she noticed a man she recognized as Lowe get out and start collecting papers off the street before going to the side of a house across the street, the report states.

She told police that if he had knocked on their door, she would have let him use their bathroom, the report states.

When police contacted Lowe, he said he knew what they wanted to talk to him about and that he had been feeling sick all day but was stuck in the news van, the report states.

“So, I went over to that person’s yard and took care of business,” Lowe told police according to the report. “Those people who called on me just wanted to start problems.”

Lowe was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, the report states.

The West Valley View partners with KPHO/KTVK.

Former Salvation Army catches fire

View report

For the second time this year, a fire broke out at a former Salvation Army building near Dysart Road and Riley Drive in Avondale, officials said.

Firefighters responded at about 12:25 p.m. Sunday to a fire at the vacant building, said Division Chief Ben Avitia, a spokesman with Avondale FireRescue.

Debris on the southeast side of the

building caught fire and spread into the attic, Avitia said.

“It’s a very dry, very old building, so it moved fairly quickly,” he said. “The building is still standing and looks intact, but the inside and attic did have some fire damage.”

The Salvation Army no longer accepts donations at the location.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Avitia said.

Fire breaks out at Avondale apartment

View report

Firefighters responded to an apartment fire at about 4:45 p.m. May 20 near Litchfield Road and Western Avenue in Avondale, officials said.

The fire was contained to one unit at the Edgewater Apartments, but spread from the patio to the living room and

kitchen, said Division Chief Ben Avitia, a spokesman with Avondale Fire-Rescue.

One person was home at the time of the fire and he is still being interviewed by investigators, Avitia said.

Five people lived at the apartment, but nobody was injured, he said.

The cause is under investigation.

Liberty

(From Page 1)

Darryl Crossman said. “This is nothing to be concerned about at this point.”

Crossman said Liberty Utilities has been proactive in addressing the issue.

“We have an excellent working relationship with Liberty Utilities,” he said.

Liberty Utilities has 12 wells in the area and serves 18,000 clients in an area that also includes parts of Glendale and some unincorporated areas of Maricopa County.

Garlick said the EPA routinely evaluates chemicals in drinking water sources.

The health advisory issued in March reduced the levels of the chemicals perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate from 400 parts per trillion to 70 parts per trillion.

The man-made chemicals have been largely phased out but were used in products with non-stick substances such as cookware and carpeting, with high levels linked to cancer, liver and immune issues and developmental problems for fetuses and infants that have been breastfed.

In April, the EPA informed Liberty Utilities that water in two of its wells contained the chemicals above the new health advisory, news that Garlick said caught the company off guard.

“As soon as we knew something was amiss, we immediately shut off,” he said. “We want our water to be as safe as practically possible for our community.”

A well that hadn’t been used for four years tested for the chemicals at 270 parts per trillion, Garlick said.

Further testing detected the chemicals in two other wells, but at levels below the recommendation, he said.

Garlick said it’s not known how the chemicals got into his company’s wells.

Garlick participated in a conference call with the EPA when local officials were informed of the situation.

An EPA advisory is not an enforceable standard, but Garlick noted that advisories can eventually become regulations.

He said the company is working on short-term and long-term solutions to get the wells in compliance.

Javier Setovich, director of public works

in Goodyear, said the city utility tapped into Liberty water only during periods of high demand, such as when one of the city wells was being serviced.

“It’s not something we do routinely, just whenever necessary,” Setovich said.

He said the city disconnected from Liberty at the suggestion of the utility.

“We also thought it would be a good idea,” he said. “We’re glad they’re doing the right thing.”

The city has other backup sources for water, if needed, Setovich said.

He said water provided to city of Goodyear customers has been tested for the chemicals.

Setovich said about 30 percent of the city gets its water from Liberty, with Goodyear Public Works serving the rest.

“We were not part of the advisory,” he said. “We’re not concerned about the water we’re delivering on this side of the street.”

Based on 2013 testing required by the EPA, Avondale’s water supply also meets the new standards for the chemicals, according to Macy James, the city’s water resource manager.

Cindy Blackmore, public works director in Avondale, said her city’s water system doesn’t use water from Liberty Utilities.

But Liberty serves Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, where Sue Tavakoli, vice president of administrative services, said the college had no knowledge about the issues its water supplier was dealing with until questioned by the West Valley View on Monday.

She said the campus has never had problems with Liberty water and expressed confidence that the company would have provided information if there were an issue.

Crossman noted that public awareness of water quality has been heightened recently with news about the crisis in Flint, Mich., where drinking water exposed residents to lead.

“It’s one of the reasons we needed to get something out to our community,” Crossman said.

The EPA advisory affected about 60 water systems in the U.S., including Tempe and a water provider in Northern Arizona.

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

Props

(From Page 1)

“While it will provide less money than I had initially requested as part of my AZ Kids Can’t Wait! plan last September, I hope this vote serves as a first step as we work together to improve education in our state,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas said in a statement.

“Although nothing in the proposition’s language requires them to do so, I also hope our administrators and governing boards will do everything they can to ensure this money gets to our classroom teachers either in the form of salary increases or classroom size reduction.”

Local impact

School districts in the West Valley will see almost $15 million added to their budgets by June 30, and most have plans to put that toward raises for teachers after years of frozen salaries.

In the Buckeye Union High School and the Littleton, Pendergast and Tolleson elementary districts, 100 percent of the funding will be invested into their staffs, officials said.

“This funding will help us both retain and recruit quality staff by affording us the opportunity to give sustainable salary increases to current staff and also increase our base salary offerings to new staff,” said Eric Godfrey, superintendent at Buckeye. “Both of these increases makes our district more attractive to existing and potential employees.”

Teachers in the Agua Fria Union High School, Liberty Elementary, Litchfield Elementary, Palo Verde Elementary, Saddle Mountain Unified and Tolleson Union High School districts will also see raises, officials said.

“All staff will receive a 4 percent raise, only the second time in nine years there has been any raise at all,” said Mark Joraanstad, superintendent at Saddle Mountain. “Secondly, pupil opportunities will improve as teachers will be added to meet increased enrollment at Tonopah Valley High School.”

The district’s Governing Board will also consider expanding pupil electives next year, he said.

Agua Fria will also be able to fully adopt digital textbook resources in all curriculum areas for the first time and set aside seed money for some of the initial administrative and instructional staffing costs for its future fifth high school, Superintendent Dennis Runyan said.

“It is important to remember this passage will help stabilize some budget areas, but it does not replenish all long-term cuts to capital infrastructure, nor address future teacher retention needs for Arizona,” Runyan said. “We do appreciate legislative discussions and recent actions on needed educational funding and respect the range of passionate viewpoints being shared recently across our community.”

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

Water

(From Page 1)

Depanshu Garg, a primary care physician in Goodyear who is associated with Abrazo Community Health Network.

Garg said water is essential for life.

“You can survive without food for three days, you cannot survive without water for three days,” he said.

A normal, healthy person should consume two liters of liquids every day, Garg said.

While any fluid is helpful, “water is the best thing you can take to hydrate yourself,” he said.

Homeless people without a place to cook or store food can go to the Agua Fria food banks every weekday for a lunch sack that Leonard said typically includes three sandwiches, fruit, a granola bar and two chilled bottles of water.

“Even with the two bottles provided in a lunch sack, they’re still going to have to find water somewhere else,” Leonard said.

Donations from a water drive Abrazo organized last summer kept the food bank stocked through the winter, but those supplies are becoming depleted, Leonard said.

“We always welcome water donations,” Leonard said.

She noted that food bank clients frequently request water while waiting for food boxes to be assembled.

“As people ask, we’re able to give,” Leonard said. “They’re super grateful.”

The food bank also gives out coffee and tea, items Leonard said aren’t frequently donated.

Other donations sought for the summer months include caps that will shade the face and sunscreen, Leonard said.

Over at the Tolleson Food Bank, director Lucy Woodruff said water is given to clients when it’s available.

Woodruff said the bottled water is obtained from grocery stores that donate merchandise that can’t be sold after packaging is damaged.

The food bank sometimes has milk, soft drinks and Gatorade to give to clients when food is distributed on

Water drive

All Faith Community Services, which operates food banks in Buckeye and Goodyear, will benefit from a water collection drive being conducted by Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear, Abrazo Buckeye Emergency Center and the Buckeye Fire Department.

The drive is collecting cases of bottled water through June 10, when there will be a celebration as the donations are presented to the food bank.

Last year, Abrazo’s first drive collected 1,000 cases of bottled water.

This year the goal is 1,500 cases, according to Scott Morey, chief nursing officer at Abrazo West Campus, who is promoting the water drive.

“We feel it is another way to give back to our community,” Morey said.

He noted that a case of 24 bottles of store brand bottled water costs about $3.

Donations can be made at either Abrazo location or any Buckeye fire station.

Abrazo is also hosting the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive to provide hungry children with breakfast during the summer.

Donations of healthy cereal may be made from June 3 to 10 at Abrazo West Campus, 13677 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear, or Abrazo Buckeye Emergency Center, 525 S. Watson Road, Buckeye. Cereal donations will benefit Agua Fria Food Bank. Monetary donations made out to Partners for Health can be dropped off at the Caring Corner Gift Shop at Abrazo West Campus.

Tuesdays at the Tolleson Assembly of God Church, Woodruff said.

“We give whatever we’ve got,” she said of the operation she’s been involved with for 18 years.

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; 623-925-1100.

• Tolleson Food Bank at the Tolleson Assembly of God, 10 S. 93rd Ave. in Tolleson; 623-9365199. 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 food, see Page 12 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.

We remember

The following column, by Burt Freireich, chairman of the board of West Valley View Inc., was ﬁrst published in 1961 in the Sun City News-Sun, where Mr. Freireich was publisher. It is still representative of our thoughts on Memorial Day and wars of the past and future.

I remember you, Bill Goodwin.

I remember you, Bob Jones.

I remember you, Lieutenant Tomaiko, and you, John Turner.

I remember you, Bob Jones, when I joined the 78th Division. Somebody high on the totem pole had decided that we needed fewer ﬂiers and more infantrymen, and you and many of your buddies who had just ﬁnished Air Force basic training were washed out and shipped to the 309th Infantry Regiment.

You fellows all had IQs of 120 and up. The cadre men, many of them with IQs in the neighborhood of 70, had some difﬁculty in proving their superiority.

I remember the squabble you got into while on KP, and the mess sergeant asked you your name so he could report you to the ﬁrst sergeant. I remember you replied gutterally, “Aw, Jones,” and nobody believed you.

I remember hearing of your death. For us fellows in the heavy mortar platoon, the war wasn’t nearly as personal as for you boys with the water-cooled machine guns.

The German tank came right at your position, and you fired and fired and fired. And the bullets bounced off the tank. And the tank fired back. It fired until you stopped shooting. You were dead. That’s the way we heard the story, Bob. And when we got the Bronze Star after all the shooting stopped for good, we felt ashamed — because that’s all they sent your parents, and you earned so much more.

And I remember you, Lieutenant. I remember the red beard that you grew. I remember the concern you had for the men in your charge, much more concern than so many other second looies in a similar position.

Remember how we dug in on the forward slope at the Roer River? We all knew it was stupid, with the Germans looking down our throats from the heights on the other side. Remember how you sent back for permission to move and how we found unknown energy to crawl out of that valley of hell?

I remember in the Remagen Bridgehead that the inevitable piece of shrapnel caught you, but it was a horribly big piece. It shot away your buttocks, and two boys stayed with you through the few hours of horror until you died there in that strange, hilly forest so far from home.

I remember the picture you showed me — of your wife and two daughters in Massachusetts. They had felt the terror and hope against hope when the “missing in action” telegram came. A graves registration detail from the Ninth Infantry Division had picked up your body, and you were “missing” as far as the 78th was concerned because we had no body.

But we knew you were dead, Lieutenant, and sometime later so did your family.

Bill Goodwin, you lived only 19 years. You were a Boy Scout for so long a time that you found some aspects of war a pleasure — the outdoor life and communing with nature, even though the 88s scared away the wildlife.

I remember how in England you had become introduced to Damon Runyan’s colorful characters in the pocket editions. You became so intrigued with this seedy but humorous kind of life so far removed from Okeechobee, Fla., that you began talking like Harry the Horse. I wonder what your girlfriend thought when she received your letters written in the gangland style.

The letters stopped about a quarter past February, 1945, on the slope overlooking the calmly ﬂowing Roer. It was a tree burst. Nothing entered my foxhole, but 8 feet away the shrapnel found yours.

I can remember thinking elatedly, it didn’t get me, it didn’t get me. I could smell the ghastly odor of high explosive and I heard you yell, “Medic.”

You got as far as the ﬁeld hospital. They said all you could move was the big toe on your right foot. Eighteen hours later, not even the big toe moved.

I remember you, Cpl. John Turner. I remember that whenever one of us found a pack of Old Gold cigarettes in our K-rations, we gave them to you. I didn’t smoke Old Golds for more than a decade after that war, John, because the brand always reminded me of you.

I remember the night in the Siegfried Line when we were on duty together in our mortar hole from 2 to 4 a.m. Remember how each Screamin’ Meemie sounded like it was headed right for our hole? You were scared. And you frightened me, too, John. It’s a contagious disease. You didn’t learn to live with terror; you must have had a premonition.

I can remember we received our candy and cigarette ration that day, John. I ate all my candy at once except for an Oh Henry bar. I planned to save it until the next day. But you scared me, John, and I didn’t want to have a good candy bar in my ﬁeld jacket if the sun rose on my corpse. I ate it right then and there. But I lived, John.

I remember the forestry camp that we captured and how we headed for the boiler room when the inevitable shelling came. There were 12 of us there, and of the eight wounded by the direct hit, you were the only one killed.

I couldn’t believe you were dead, John. You were still breathing, but your skull was crushed. We rolled you onto a stretcher, John, and ran through the mud, the snow and snipers’ bullets and shellﬁre.

The stretcher fell from my left hand as we ran, and you rolled into the mud. I pushed you back onto the stretcher. At the ﬁrst aid station nobody came to look at you, John. I protested. But the physician said it was too late. Even though you were breathing, you were dead.

The kitchen jeep came up with chicken that night, John. My hands were caked with mud and blood. We had no utensils. I used my ﬁngers and ate the chicken.

I’m alive John and Bill and Bob and Lieutenant.

Others who fought still live, too. Others from many lands. Our Memorial Day is at hand. They must have similar days to honor their dead. Let us hope they remember, too.

If we forget your sacriﬁce, we reject you. If other boys die in their teens and 20s, you will have died for nothing. And that would be a great tragedy.

LWe are saved by God’s grace

Editor:

I was surprised by Laura Rivas letter! She seemed to be a person that had it all together, now she’s just understanding her Salvation. Wow! I shouldn’t have been surprised I’m more than twice her age and in my thirties, I didn’t have it understood that you are saved by Grace Alone! A true Faith is knowing this and you only get it from the Holy Bible.

Seeing that the View printed Ms. Rivas’s letter I’m hoping they will also print my response. Everybody (including me and Ms. Rivas) sins. How do you know? The Bible tells you so. We put ourselves before God and everyone else. This makes us sinners. Can we keep all of God’s commands, NO! Should we try to do so, Yes! God knows we can’t. That’s why Jesus came. That’s why we are saved by God’s Grace.

Today fewer and fewer people are Christians. In some cases they gave up the “Faith” because of what they observed in the Church building. Others never

accepted the idea that there is a God. More than 35 years ago I got out of the National Education Association, because they told us that we were to teach Evolution only. I’m a Christian First!

Bernard Oviatt Sr. Salome

The proven choice

Editor:

I am a lifelong Republican. As a teenager I sold jewelry to help elect Barry Goldwater. The career Republican “aristocracy” in Foggy Bottom (Wa. D.C.) have abandoned American Ideals and American voters. They are focused on maintaining their power and cushy perks just like the corrupt Democrats. I will vote for a proven winner: Donald Trump

Lenore Semmler Goodyear

We deserve better

Editor: apparently we are going to have a choice for President between The Donald with his obnoxious and deceitful personality, and former Goldwater girl Hillary Clinton, who has repositioned herself as a Progressive. Really, are those

two polarizing, serious ﬂawed and detestable individuals the best America has to offer ? If so the land of the free and home of the brave is waist deep in a pile of cow dung and it stinks !

Of all the Republicans once running for President , Trump was and still is the least qualiﬁed for the job. Hillary may well be indicted for treason for knowingly using an unsecured server to store top secret emails. Many who voted for Trump do not care if he is electable. They want ﬁrst and foremost vengeance on their own party as well as on anything Obama. The question becomes how do you exact vengeance if your candidate is unelectable

Almost all Hillary enthusiasts will vote for her even if she is indicted. Apparently their thinking is that if found guilty of treason, no problem, since as President she could pardon herself. And all the Progressives lived happily ever after. America does deserve better. It is not the fault of those two opportunists, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. If they can bamboozle enough people to vote for them, well they will take whatever they can get. Fault rests with all the apathetic and shallow thinking Americans who in the primary process voted to weaken and not to strengthen America

This election cycle will be between unqualiﬁed and unﬁt. Trump and Clinton represent the

“The noblest motive is the public good.’’ — Richard Steele

Publisher: Elliott Freireich, publisher@westvalleyview.com

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Letters

(From Page 6)

WORST America has to offer. May I suggest that either Gomer Pyle or Barney Fife would be better choices for President of the United States ?

Roy Azzarello Goodyear

Oops, they did it again

Editor:

I can’t believe you just did it again. Last week you spent the column apologizing for misspelling grisly, and now you used whither/wither wrong. When something withers away, it is spelled without the ﬁrst “h”. Whither is going some place; i.e. “whither shall we go”?

Sounds like food for another column!

Sharon Green Litchﬁeld Park

Editor’s note: She’s right. The correct word is wither. The View regrets the error.

2 party vs. no party system

Editor:

The 2016 Election is a clear test for the 2 Party System. On the Republican side the test is being held in the open, this is very unusual. The real issues in politics are usually discussed behind closed doors. The Powerful and the Rich pay the Parties to offset the playing ﬁeld in their favor. The job of the Parties is to convince the American public that the Parties are acting on their behalf. The playing ﬁeld is none other than MONEY. After World War 2 America became a “Super Power” largely because of its manufacturing prowess. The manufacturing prowess was created by the middle class and women. This gave the middle class the power to demand a fair wage for their labor. Ever since than the Rich and Powerful have been working to shift the distribution of wealth back to them. The statistics verify their

successful.

Paul Ryan has the difﬁcult task of trying to convince the American Republicans that he is working on their behalf while at the same time telling them that the Party should pick their candidate not the popular vote of the Republicans. The Party is using all the tricks that they and the Democrats have written into our voting laws to erode the power of the Popular Vote. The Democratic Party is doing the same thing by pushing an unpopular candidate down the throats of the Democrats.

The power of the Parties extends to the news coverage. TV News on this election has ignored the threatened power of the Parties simply because the 2 Party system is bringing in huge amounts of advertising money.

The 2 Parties are ﬁnanced by the Special Interests, no Parties, no Special Interests.

Art Boyle Buckeye

Coot killing makes difference

Editor:

re “Coot Killing Solves Nothing” by Steve Zielinski, WVV May 11. I assume I am one of those “old coots,” however, I do not migrate home with the birds. I have lived year around in my home in the Estrella Mountain Ranch HOA, located on the south shore of South Lake for 15 years. As a dues paying resident, I am grateful that management has finally taken the necessary action to reduce the filthy and potentially health hazard created by Coots to we humans and our pets. AND, contrary to his claim “killing solves nothing,” it has made a big difference. I also notice Mr Zielinski did not identify any of the “MANY options” he claims is available. Much research went into this solution; contacting other communities, golf courses, and appropriate experts and authorities over the problem. And, playing the guilt card is silly. Obviously, to those who Believe, God creates all creatures so I assume he has the same qualms over killing mosquitos, rats, and flies which also present a health hazard. Just get over it and enjoy the now cleaner lakes and surrounding sidewalks.

Roy Sharp Goodyear

Editor:

Backwater backrooms

In response to Chris Bright’s letter of May 11, 2016 Thank you. I have been meaning to write a letter to the WVV concerning the outrage citizens of Buckeye are experiencing over the BuckeyeGlobal water deal. I have not spoke to one person that I know or met who is not feeling ripped off by what this Mayor and City council did. Mayor Jackie Meck who characterized Global water as a “pesky water company” and was standing in the way of developing more homes and businesses in Buckeye, at who’s expense are these homes and businesses being developed? If Mayor Meck thinks he did a good thing for the people of Buckeye he is probably a Legend in his own mind. I would urge the citizens of Buckeye to Vote out this Mayor and City Council. I will be exploring the possibility of running for city council myself. If elected I would call for an audit of all Departments and look into who really beneﬁted from the back room water deal, because it sure wasn’t the folks of Buckeye.

Gary Byrnes Buckeye

Pink the new black?

Editor:

Just wondering if Hil-liar-y

Clinton goes to prison, would she be issued Sherrif Joe’s pink underwear? Bill likes any color. Ken Semmler Goodyear

The real sneaky fox

Editor:

Foxes are known for their cunning. They’re sneaky little animals hunting their prey on the sly. They can camouﬂage themselves, then pounce on their target.

The fox I’m writing about is not the fox pelt adornment that was worn around women’s shoulders in the 1940’s, but a sneakier vessel of darkness if allowed to continue in our white house and throughout our government. The fox is called Satan, the trickster and his sick cohorts.

Left wing radicals all part of the deep darkness over our land that would love to drive our Religious freedom underground. Is it the Gays with the Liberals who are doing the persecuting? What if Christians become conscientious objectors? Are there enough Gays to ﬁght the wars alone? Liberals won’t ﬁght, they jump the border like they did for Vietnam! Or has Obama allowed in our forces and ministries Muslim Imam’s who feel offended in hearing the name of Jesus? Remember they dropped their equipment and ran in Iraq! Christian Chaplains and soldiers are very much needed

in war and Muslims, gays, liberals, lesbians, progressives or whatever, need to defang their claws from persecuting Christians and concentrate on living side by side and do their jobs in peace.

Mr. President knows nothing about real soldiers except to play “the man”…

Walk towards the light.

Analie Maccree Goodyear

Pupils sound off

Editor’s note: The following letters to the editor come from pupils in Deana Therio’s seventh/ eighth grade class at Grace Fellowship Academy in Buckeye.

Editor:

Re: No lives matter, but they should. 12/08/15 You addressed that we are having some complications with the crazy people owning guns, but not everybody uses them for the wrong reasons. Even if we take away guns, that is not going to take away the fact that we all have a sin nature and we are a fallen people. Even if we take guns, murder is still going to happen. Background checking everyone and getting information before the purchase of a gun is what we both seem to think as a great idea. This topic is very debatable; not everyone uses them for the wrong reasons, but sometimes they do fall into the wrong hands. If the

(See Letters on Page 8)

Letters

(From Page 7)

usage of guns continue to be a problem then the government will address it.

Julia Bishop

Buckeye

Editor:

Dear Mr. Oviatt

I am a student in 8th grade and completely agree with what you have stated about evolution. Even though I am young I understand what you are saying. Since you have said the theory of evolution is wrong, and that God created us, my faith in God and in the world has become stronger. I now have hope, not only for the world, but for God and Christianity itself. Everyone in this world that God has created will believe in Him and that he created us.

I used to go to a school where all we were taught was that we used to be an animal, but as time went on we changed or evolved into what we are now. When I was young I knew God created the world, but I also believed that I used to be something else millions of years ago. Now that I go to a private Christian school I know the difference between God and evolution. Until someone proves Christianity wrong; which will never happen, I have complete trust in what God has told me. God has given me commands and I will carry them on forever and ever, generation after generation. Therefore I will stand by Him when evolution comes and tries to break us down.

Nic Tice Buckeye

Editor: Re: Obama has mystical powers

To: Mr. Buford Tunstall, Every mother has a child in hopes of him becoming the president or something big in life. Obama did not wake up in the morning and say he was going to be the president. He worked hard to become the president he had to go to school for many years. Many long hours of studying and working to get passing grades. God doesn’t give powers to anyone. Obama did not send a hurricane and obama deﬁnitely does not have mystical powers to make weather changes. Nobody in human form has the ability to create a hurricane.Obama did not wake up one day and have a wand in his hand to be just like God. So there is no way Obama created that madness. Obama is a good president to some and to some he is not. Some adore him some are against him but nobody should think of him as a God.

Gabriela Zaragoza Buckeye

Editor:

Dear Mr. Tunstell, Obama has Mystical Powers In the article Obama has Mystical Powers, it is stated that Obama conspired with God and a hurricane to defeat MItt Romney. This however is completely impossible. The writer does not show any legitimate proof for this. The article also states that Obama’s mother wrote a fake birth certiﬁcate when he was born in kenya. This is also completely not plausible. Where would a Kenyan woman get a Hawaiian birth certiﬁcate. Overall this article is very

inaccurate with a lack of any supporting evidence whatsoever.

Avery Sawyer Arlington

What is happening here?

Editor:

Its no mystery why our wonderful WWV had to cut back to publishing once a week . No mystery at all. Just look at all the local business losses.

Lets tally up all the local losses. One great furniture store out of business, leaving behind 9 empty stores.

A large Sports store closes 5 businesses here.

An Ofﬁce Supply store closes a number of stores leaving large empty stores starring back at us. A glaring emptiness of waste.

Several large Department Stores closing doors. A number of Markets now stand empty.

Add to all the lose, a Mall to be built has been canceled.

Having grown up in a small business this is something that is right out of a ﬁction movie to me.

It is said women work so they no longer escape to Malls just to get out away from the house Woman have been working for a long time now and this just doesn’t add up to me.

My family members now have their groceries delivered. Personally I have to see and smell the fruit and vegetables. Whats around the next isle.

My late husband use to cruise the Meat Dept. like he was cruising for for chicks.

It was the high light of his week to just be that close to all stuff, although a 17 dollar steak today may have kept him in the house.

All the empty store fronts. I don’t think all the Trumps in the world are going to change what is going on. No matter how big the mouth.

I would love some explanation and any ideas about what will go into all these empty buildings ?

Vickie Chelini Buckeye

City painted with wide brush

Editor: Re: “City gouging water customers.” Chris Bright is painting the City of Buckeye with a wide, brush.

The COB purchased the Global Water Company. I agree that Global customers should have been notiﬁed of the sale and what it would mean to them. It stands to reason that Global customers would become COB customers with all the beneﬁts/expenses incurred in providing water, sewer and garbage services to their customers. This was a business arrangement and not a ‘fee hike.’ Some of the new ‘fees’ are not city imposed fees, but government regulatory fees. Bottom line is: we live in the Desert; we do not have an unlimited supply of water for the population needs, what we do have, must be carefully monitored. This is the responsibility of the COB Water District AND every member of the community to monitor their own water use and not waste this precious commodity.

Chris talks about HOA fees going up. I served on the BOD of the HOA where I live. The COB has no involvement with the HOA increasing their fees. If the cost of utilities increases, the HOA has to manage those increases.

HOA management monitors the water usage and rates closely and reports to the Board (who are the budget decision-makers). All Expenses have to be covered in the HOA Budget. Be wary of the legislation being passed, right now, by our state ofﬁcials, that may put them in charge of HOAs, not our Boards. We don’t need more ‘government control.’ The amenities the builder provides are subject to regulations that, also, are established by the government. All for the beneﬁt of the homeowner and the community. I don’t believe anyone who lives in Buckeye would choose to live in downtown Phoenix with wall to wall concrete and asphalt.

Marilyn A. Walker Vollmer Buckeye

Business Briefcase

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Hello, readers, and welcome to the Business Briefcase.

I’m going to chalk up my recent streetlight luck to being cursed. There are two traffic signals along Van Buren Street, just east of the Agua Fria River, and one of them just went active a few weeks ago. Since that time, I’ve yet to make it through the quarter-mile stretch without getting stopped at one of them, sometimes both.

I’ve gone through a few of the stages of grief over the last few weeks on my drives in and out: denial (I’m sure to make it through this time), anger (seriously, another red?), bargaining (I’ll never speed again if I can make it through two green lights) and acceptance (I’ll never be on time again).

I’m probably a few weeks away from just reacting with maniacal laughter. If you see this, please just nod and let it happen. I’m not crazy in real life.

The day I make it through without having to use my brakes is the day I’ll throw myself a little party, complete with the little cone hats. It’s the little things in life, right?

Here’s this week’s business news.

Benevilla is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest location, Hacienda Del Rey at Litchfield Park Place, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at 12917 W. Las Cruces Drive in Litchfield Park.

Hacienda Del Ray Residential Assisted Living and Memory Care will offer various levels of care in a home environment.

The facility supports care for many conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis. The location is a bit tucked away, behind the Albertson’s store

at the northeast corner of Dysart and Indian School roads.

For information, call 623-584-4999 or visit haciendadelreyaz.com or benevilla.org.

I’ve had a few inquiries on the building going in at the Palm Valley Cornerstone shopping center on the southwest corner of Dysart and McDowell roads, behind Majerle’s Sports Grill. It’s going to be the new home of Eleutheria Wellness Center

Eleutheria, currently at 500 N. Bullard Ave., Suite 27, in Goodyear, offers yoga classes, holistic therapy services and traditional therapy services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, tutoring and speech language pathology services.

The wellness center expects to move into the new building in late August or early September.

For information, call 623-986-5110 or visit goodyearyoga.org.

Construction is under way for the new QuikTrip at the southeast corner of Dysart and Thomas roads. That’s not to be confused with the Fry’s Fueling Station on the northeast corner of the same intersection. Soon enough, both stations will have signage up, and these warnings won’t be necessary.

Fry’s Marketplace has announced it’s now hiring for the Litchfield Park location currently under construction at 13830 W. Camelback Road. One step closer to opening its doors! That’s good news for all the grocer enthusiasts out there, as well as the city’s sales tax revenue stream, I imagine.

As always, send in tips, comments or questions to smcowen@westvalleyview. com.

Everyone, stay safe out there and enjoy the three-day weekend. Be sure to take some time to recognize those military members who’ve lost their lives serving their country this Memorial Day. Take care, everyone.

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

Did We Miss You?

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Goodyear takes steps to develop wellness park

Land transferred by county could be site of project in partnership with medical centers

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

With the acquisition of 130 acres of county flood control land, the city of Goodyear is taking the first steps toward developing a project with local medical centers focused on wellness.

The land being transferred from the county to the city includes the area known as the “I-10 Basins,” six flood basins along the Interstate 10 freeway between Dysart Road and Bullard Avenue.

The city was interested in obtaining and cleaning up the land because “it’s the front door of Goodyear” when viewed from the Interstate, according to City Manager Brian Dalke.

But Dalke said the land could be more than a visually appealing gateway as Goodyear joins with medical centers to create a public-private partnership that would develop a project that focuses on health and wellness.

“Wellness parks are cutting edge,” said Dalke, noting that a study done by Arizona State University found only five projects in the United States doing something similar. “They are starting to gain momentum. We’re going to be on the front end of that.”

While the basins would continue to handle rain flows, the land could have a functional use for something such as athletic fields, Dalke said.

He said a “visioning” process done in 2014 identified other potential uses for the land, such as a recreation corridor, with trails that connect to existing paths and public gardens.

Areas on higher ground could offer space for a wellness village that could include a rehabilitation center and a

performance space, Dalke said.

The project could also have picnic and play areas, he said.

In a press release, Clint Hickman, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, called the plan “an excellent example of a public-private partnership.”

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord said the acquisition is an opportunity for enhanced economic development and quality of life.

The medical centers involved in the project are Abrazo West Campus, which is located next to the property, Cancer Treatment Centers of America and Adelante Healthcare, Dalke said.

Other partners will be sought as the project develops, Dalke said.

“This is not just for the city of Goodyear to own and manage,” he said.

In the land transaction that was approved by the County Board on May 18 and is expected to be completed in August, the county will transfer to the city at no cost 73.7 acres that is used to handle rain flows.

An adjacent 57.5 acres will cost the city $233, an amount the county said was determined by an appraisal and adjusted for consideration associated with transferring operating and maintenance responsibilities of the basins to the city.

Dalke acknowledged that the project will be years in the making, adding that in the next year, a governance structure will be established for the property.

Next steps include reviewing concept ideas and a master plan, he said.

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

WEDNESDAY

You may also pick up a free copy at our office Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Home delivery is free upon request within western Maricopa County cities of Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale 85307, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Luke AFB, Phoenix 85037 west of 99th Ave., Tolleson, Arlington, Palo Verde and Tonopah. If you live outside our free subscription area, please call for subscription prices.

presentation will introduce you to advanced robotic procedures and how this state-of-the-art technology can benefit those undergoing gynecologic procedures.

For qualified candidates, some of the potential benefits include significantly less pain, fewer complications and faster recovery time allowing you to get back to life quicker.

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West Valley to observe Memorial Day

Avondale, Buckeye, Litchﬁeld Park ceremonies set for May 30

View report

Men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces will be remembered at Memorial Day events in the West Valley.

The events are part of a national observance that began after the Civil War as Decoration Day, a day to put flowers on the graves of the war dead.

Later, Memorial Day was extended to honor all Americans who died in military service.

This year, the holiday lands on May 30 — the date that Memorial Day was traditionally observed until 1971, when the federal Monday Holiday Act moved the date to the last Monday in May. That created a threeday weekend that also serves as the unofficial start of summer.

While many Americans will likely be spending the weekend at barbecues, baseball games, pool outings or taking advantage of sales, they can mark the holiday by joining a silent tribute during the National Moment of Remembrance wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time.

Established by Congress in 2000, the minute of silence is a demonstration of national unity honoring the fallen.

Avondale

Avondale’s Memorial Day service will be from 7 to 8 p.m. May 30 at the amphitheater at the Avondale Civic Center, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale.

The event will include music, tributes and a candlelight vigil.

Master of ceremony will be U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Matt

O’Halloran, who is also a detective with the Avondale Police Department.

Speeches will include an address by Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise and a keynote speech by a representative of Luke Air Force Base.

Teen vocalist Callie Young of Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center will perform.

Ceremonial presentations will include a formal posting of colors and a POW/MIA table ceremony demonstration.

A wreath will be laid to honor the memory of fallen members of the Armed Forces on the flag-lined path that features bricks engraved with names of veterans and flags representing each of the six branches of the military.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to take lawn chairs.

The city of Avondale event is hosted in partnership with the American Legion Crandall Palmer Post 61, VFW Pat Tillman Memorial Post 40 and the Scottish American Military Society, with sponsorship provided by NextCare.

For information, call the Parks, Recreation and Library Department at 623-333-2400 or visit avondale.org/events.

Buckeye

Those who have fallen will be remembered during a Memorial Day event at 9 a.m. May 30 at the Louis B. Hazelton Cemetery, 23100 W. Broadway Road, Buckeye.

The event is a holiday tradition in Buckeye that usually attracts about 100 people, according to City Councilman Craig Heustis, a member of the organizing committee.

The hour-long ceremony will include the presentation

of colors by members of the Buckeye Police and Fire departments, the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.

Scott Lowe, director of Public Works and a veteran, will deliver the keynote speech.

Names will be read of Buckeye residents who have died in the service and there will be a bell ringing in connection with a POW/MIA table ceremony.

Mike Malcolm, Buckeye fire captain, will play “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

There will also be a 21-gun salute.

Myra Curtis, Buckeye director of community engagement, and local chapters of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Daughters of the American Revolution are involved in planning the event, Heustis said.

Litchfield Park

The Memorial Day ceremony in Litchfield Park will begin at 7 a.m. May 30 in front of the World War II Memorial on the west side of Litchfield Elementary School, 255 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park.

Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf will lead the program, which will include patriotic music, placing a floral tribute at the memorial, a prayer and a moment of silence. Taps will be played, followed by a memorial presentation.

The ceremony is expected to last about 30 minutes.

Light refreshments will be served.

For information, contact Sonny Culbreth, assistant city manager, at 623-935-9040.

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

CPR class helps Goodyear man save friend

by Glenn Gullickson staff writer

A Goodyear man who helped save the life of a tennis partner just two days after taking a CPR class is being recognized for his efforts.

Charles Kesting received a lifesaving award May 14 during an open house at Goodyear Fire Station 183.

Shortly after attending a CPR class presented by the city in March, he put what he had learned into practice when Lew Geller collapsed during a tennis match at the PebbleCreek community in Goodyear, where both men live during the winter.

Geller, 79, who plays tennis four times a week, remembers feeling light headed before he “just went out” after playing about 90 minutes.

“You could tell by the way he went down he was just out of it,” Kesting said. “I knew what was going on and that I had to give him heart compression right away.”

Kesting, 62, yelled for others to call 911 and fetch a defibrillator, which was administered by a nurse who happened to be driving by and noticed activity on the tennis court.

“Everything was lined up right that day,” Geller said about the factors that contributed to reviving him.

Kesting continued chest compressions until paramedics arrived and Geller started coming around.

presentation

award for saving

Within 30 minutes after collapsing, Geller was admitted to Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear, where two stents were inserted to open a blocked artery.

Geller, who said he had no previous health issues, left

the hospital after two days and resumed playing tennis a couple of weeks later.

Kesting said PebbleCreek’s policy of making defibrillators accessible around the retirement community played a role in the rescue.

He also credits the people who put on the CPR class, which he said provided information that was relevant to the situation.

“It just gave the basics of what to do,” he said. “What we practiced on the dummies and what I actually did was so similar, it was eerie.”

Tanja Tanner, Goodyear’s community risk reduction coordinator, taught the hands-only CPR class that Kesting attended. She also organizes classes for city employees who require certification and groups that request training.

“The very first thing I say to my students is, ‘I hope you don’t have to use this,’” she said.

Tanner said the training is important, particularly as the Arizona summer pool season begins.

“It’s the knowledge, the skill set, knowing what you’re doing and that you’re doing it right,” she said.

Tanner said her classes use information that can be obtained on the Arizona Department of Public Health Services website at azshare.gov.

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

View photo by Ray Thomas

CHUCK KESTING, left, of Goodyear listens to Lewis Geller, also of Goodyear, May 14 during an award

in Goodyear. Kesting received a lifesaver

Geller’s life during a tennis game.

Rocking the boats

Western Sky 8th-graders construct cardboard boats

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Pupils at Western Sky Middle School in Goodyear weren’t afraid to rock the boat at the end of the school year.

About 180 eighth-graders gathered in their swimsuits May 11 at the Litchfield Park Recreation Center to test out their handmade cardboard boats.

The project was part of a STEM mini-grant awarded by Arizona Public Service Co. and the Phoenix Suns to promote projects for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM.

Abbey Rodeheffer, an eighth-grade science teacher at Western Sky, was one of 26 teachers around the state who received grants up to $2,500 for their hands-on projects.

The grants are available to teachers in K-12 public and charter schools within the APS service territories, said Patrick McDermott, APS community affairs manager.

Last year, the company awarded $10 million toward charitable projects and grants, McDermott said.

STEM in schools is important because the state will need more engineers to fill a void as a large number of people retire from APS and other companies in the next five years, McDermott said.

“I think where this one hits the mark is not only the engineering component to it and the craft of building a boat with limited supplies and limited expertise, but the fact that it engaged the entirety of this group of eighthgraders,” he said about the boat project.

The eighth-graders’ assignment was to build a boat using only cardboard and duct tape, plus decorative items that wouldn’t help it float.

“Not only are we seeing some pretty ingenious engineering, but we’re seeing some pretty artistic boats,” McDermott said. “You can tell by some of these boats, some of them are not engineers and they just had a lot of fun with it. Then you see some really sophisticated boats out there, and I would have to think those kids had it in them already, so this provides an outlet and an opportunity to expand on that.”

Pupils started on the project in April, making calculations, scale drawings and models before delving

Litchfield Elementary School District is offering meals to all children 18 years and younger at no cost! No need to show proof of age, income or residency. May 23 through July 22, 2016

into the actual construction, Rodeheffer said.

“They got down to business and were totally into it,” she said. “This time of year, especially, that’s all I can ask is that they’re here with us and their minds aren’t elsewhere.”

At the pool, two pupils had to get in their boats and attempt to cross the water the fastest. The teens had to provide their own paddles, Rodeheffer said.

“Some brought in real paddles and some put cardboard on their hands,” she said. “A lot of them really wanted to do well and they put a lot of time and effort into this. I think it’s obviously going to be something that they remember and sticks in their head.”

Teammates Henry Conklin, 14, and Marcus Nieto, 14, won third place in their heat.

“I thought it was kind of crazy,” Marcus said about getting in the boat. “I felt the wobble after he had gotten in and thought there’s no way this can work.”

While their boat started out going sideways and got stuck on a buoy, they were able to right themselves and finish the race.

“I was honestly really surprised we made it across,” Henry said. “I thought we were going to sink right away, or at least halfway through.”

The fastest time of 38 seconds was won by a team made up of Lucas McBride, Brandon Le, Alex Faber, Landon Barrios and Nick Angel, with Lucas and Brandon rowing the boat.

The Titanic award for the best sinking went to teammates Alexia Vo, Ashyln Glather, Jasmine Folk, Lily Zouari and Anahi Arellano, and the best boat theme was won by Joshua Gonzalez, Christian Melendez, Victoria Figuero and Nate Castro.

BREAKFAST: 8:00-10:00am and LUNCH: 11:00am-1:00pm

The summer feeding program is 100% funded by the USDA Wigwam Creek Middle School

(5/23-7/23, Monday-Saturday) 4510 N. 127th Ave. Litchfield Park, 85340

BREAKFAST: 8:00-10:00am

Corte Sierra Elementary School (5/23-7/23, Monday-Saturday) 3300 N. Santa Fe Trail Avondale, AZ 85392

Barbara B. Robey Elementary School (5/23-7/22, Monday-Friday) 5340 N. Wigwam Creek Blvd. Litchfield Park, 85340 DINNER: 4:00-6:30pm

Corte Sierra Elementary School (5/23-7/23, Monday-Saturday) 3300 N. Santa Fe Trail Avondale, 85392 THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PROVIDER

The STEM mini-grant application process for the 2016-17 school year will open to Arizona teachers in APS service areas in mid-August.

View photo by Jordan Christopher

WESTERN SKY MIDDLE SCHOOL EIGHTH-GRADERS Mason Hillmer, left, and Eric Amaya work to get their team’s cardboard boat across the pool without sinking May 11 at the Litchfield Park Recreation Center.

View photo by Jordan Christopher

MALACHI MITCHELL , a Western Sky Middle School eighth-grader, helps build a cardboard boat May 4 at the Goodyear school.

West Valley Jewish center welcomes Torah

by Shane McOwen staff writer

Thanks to a generous donation, the Chabad Jewish Center of Goodyear officially has a Torah scroll to call its own.

The Chabad Jewish Center held a formal dedication ceremony April 3 at the Palm Valley Community Center in Goodyear to welcome the Torah to the West Valley.

“We’re glad that we’ve reached this milestone,” said Rabbi Berel Zaklikofsky, director of Chabad Jewish Center. “There’s excitement in the air. We’re looking forward to a one-of-a-kind experience of having our own Torah. There’s nothing like it.”

The scroll, which can cost as much as $30,000 to $40,000, is hand produced by a trained sofer, or scribe, and can take as many as two years to finish, Zaklikofsky said.

“The scribe is usually authorized and has to go through years and years of intense training,” Zaklikofsky said. “Every day, he’s committed to finishing the project. It’s something the scribe has to feel he’s up to doing. In other words, you can’t just do it as a side job.”

The scroll has 304,808 individual hand-written letters total, accounting for the time it takes to complete the project. The scribe uses special parchment and inks, and carefully measures out the spacing used for each letter. The slightest error could mess up the entire scroll, Zaklikofsky said.

The production and delivery of the scroll serves as a teaching tool for the scribe and the members of the synagogue, Zaklikofsky said.

“The Torah is a gift from God to Moses and the Jewish people,” Zaklikofsky said. “The same way the Jews worked hard to reach that goal, to reach that milestone for the intense preparation they had to go through [to earn the scroll], we feel the same way 3,300 years later.

“To keep that tradition, to earn it, and finally at last we have our own to call home, our synagogue is very grateful for that.”

Zaklikofsky said the West Valley Jewish population will feel more connected as a community as a result of receiving the scroll. It’s used several times each week during prayer.

“For many years, we were borrowing from other congregations,” Zaklikofsky said. “It’s difficult to run across the Valley to go borrow one, and obviously it’s a lot of responsibility, making sure you give it back in the timeslot. [Now], we don’t have to worry about that. It’s our own milestone.”

Benefactors

The Torah was made possible by Steven Castillo and

Elliot and Linda Cohen of Colorado Springs, Colo. Zaklikofsky spent time in Colorado Springs, as well as other small towns in the state, spreading his faith’s message while he was a rabbinical student.

During 2005 and 2006, he took multiple trips to Colorado, especially during important dates, such as Chanukah and Passover.

“I feel that with these donors coming forward, I feel that I contributed to their community and they’re kind of giving it back,” Zaklikofsky said. “It’s like, ‘You brought the Torah to us, you brought our tradition alive to us, now we want to help your community.’

Please Help the hungry in

American Legion

35 N. 8th St.

Avondale NAPA

519 W. Western Avenue

Avondale Public Library

11350 W. Civic Center Dr. Avondale Public Library 495 E. Western Ave.

Culver’s 1025 N. Avondale Blvd.

Manny’s Mexican Restaurant 12345 W. Indian school

West Valley View 1050 E. Riley Drive

BUCKEYE

Buckeye Pediatric Dentistry

23374 W. Yuma Rd., #102 Buckeye Valley

508 E. Monroe Hometown

GLENDALE

Desert

Apts/Mini

GOODYEAR

C-A-L

Hilgers

Manny’s

Palm

“They’re very great philanthropists, great people in the community. The fact that they’re reaching out to Arizona, [that’s] something special. It tells you something.”

Zaklikofsky said the entire community is grateful for the generous donation.

“It’s just a great honor,” he said. “Absolutely humbled by this. I think about it every day, how lucky I am to have such great people out there.”

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

community!

Morrissette

Firestone

View photo by Ray Thomas

ELLIOT COHEN of Colorado Springs, Colo., carries the newly donated Torah April 3 during ceremonies for the Chabad Jewish Center of Goodyear. The Torah was donated by Steven Castillo and Elliot and Linda Cohen of Colorado Springs, Colo.

The following three pages of West Valley View are zoned for the 05/25/16 edition.

Each zone pages 13 (13N=North, 13E=East, 13S=South, 13W=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.

Preparing students for a better future

TUHSD taking part in initiative

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

In today’s economy, a college degree is needed to get even some of the lowest paying positions, so one nonprofit is taking action to help students prepare for life beyond high school.

It’s estimated that 68 percent of jobs in Arizona will require a post-secondary education by 2020, yet only 37 percent of the state’s adult population has at least an associate’s degree, according to the Helios Education Foundation.

The organization is attempting to close that gap with a $5.1 million investment in its new initiative, the College Knowing & Going program.

Starting this year, it’s helping districts

geared toward breaking poverty cycle

such as Tolleson Union High School better assist their students with college planning.

Officials estimate it will impact about 145,000 students statewide during the next five years, said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna.

“This partnership is helping create a college-going culture across the school districts, increasing the likelihood that these students will succeed in college and career and propel our state’s economy forward,” he said.

Last month, the partnership helped Tolleson administer free ACT testing to all juniors. The college admissions test measures what students learn in high school to determine their academic readiness for college.

It was given to 2,175 11th-graders during school hours at no cost to them,

Superintendent Lexi Cunningham said.

Normally, students have to sign up to take the ACT at a testing site on their own time and pay for it themselves, she said.

The test costs $40 without the writing portion and about $57 with the additional section, according to the ACT website. Helios footed 70 percent of the fee, and the district covered the rest, Cunningham said.

“Taking it in their junior year will also allow students who aren’t happy with their scores to retest their senior year,” she said. “The data provided from the test lets them know how well they’re doing in the different areas, and could be an indicator of future academic success.”

The program will support 18 school districts throughout Arizona, many of which represent low-income, Hispanic student populations, in an attempt to help break the cycle of poverty.

Tolleson, which is the only West Valley district selected to take part, has about a 75-percent Hispanic enrollment, Cunningham said.

In addition to funding for ACT and college readiness, a portion of the money dedicated to the initiative will be used for education and student research beneficial for future educational investments and student access, Luna said.

“We are very excited to be a part of this opportunity with Helios, not only to take the test, but to have them share some of their research,” Cunningham said.

Preparing students for a better future

TUHSD taking part in initiative geared toward breaking poverty cycle

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

In today’s economy, a college degree is needed to get even some of the lowest paying positions, so one nonprofit is taking action to help students prepare for life beyond high school.

The organization is attempting to close that gap with a $5.1 million investment in its new initiative, the College Knowing & Going program.

Starting this year, it’s helping districts

such as Tolleson Union High School better assist their students with college planning.

Officials estimate it will impact about 145,000 students statewide during the next five years, said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna.

It was given to 2,175 11th-graders during school hours at no cost to them,

Superintendent Lexi Cunningham said.

Normally, students have to sign up to take the ACT at a testing site on their own time and pay for it themselves, she said.

The test costs $40 without the writing portion and about $57 with the additional section, according to the ACT website.

Helios footed 70 percent of the fee, and the district covered the rest, Cunningham said.

The program will support 18 school districts throughout Arizona, many of which represent low-income, Hispanic student populations, in an attempt to help break the cycle of poverty.

Tolleson, which is the only West Valley district selected to take part, has about a 75-percent Hispanic enrollment, Cunningham said.

“We are very excited to be a part of this opportunity with Helios, not only to take the test, but to have them share some of their research,” Cunningham said.

Preparing students for a better future

TUHSD taking part in initiative

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

In today’s economy, a college degree is needed to get even some of the lowest paying positions, so one nonprofit is taking action to help students prepare for life beyond high school.

The organization is attempting to close that gap with a $5.1 million investment in its new initiative, the College Knowing & Going program.

Starting this year, it’s helping districts

geared toward breaking

such as Tolleson Union High School better assist their students with college planning.

Officials estimate it will impact about 145,000 students statewide during the next five years, said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna.

It was given to 2,175 11th-graders during school hours at no cost to them, Superintendent Lexi Cunningham said.

Normally, students have to sign up to take the ACT at a testing site on their own time and pay for it themselves, she said.

poverty cycle

The program will support 18 school districts throughout Arizona, many of which represent low-income, Hispanic student populations, in an attempt to help break the cycle of poverty.

Tolleson, which is the only West Valley district selected to take part, has about a 75-percent Hispanic enrollment, Cunningham said.

“We are very excited to be a part of this opportunity with Helios, not only to take the test, but to have them share some of their research,” Cunningham said.

Preparing students for a better future

TUHSD taking part in initiative

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

In today’s economy, a college degree is needed to get even some of the lowest paying positions, so one nonprofit is taking action to help students prepare for life beyond high school.

The organization is attempting to close that gap with a $5.1 million investment in its new initiative, the College Knowing & Going program.

Starting this year, it’s helping districts

geared toward breaking

such as Tolleson Union High School better assist their students with college planning.

Officials estimate it will impact about 145,000 students statewide during the next five years, said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna.

It was given to 2,175 11th-graders during school hours at no cost to them, Superintendent Lexi Cunningham said.

Normally, students have to sign up to take the ACT at a testing site on their own time and pay for it themselves, she said.

poverty cycle

The program will support 18 school districts throughout Arizona, many of which represent low-income, Hispanic student populations, in an attempt to help break the cycle of poverty.

Tolleson, which is the only West Valley district selected to take part, has about a 75-percent Hispanic enrollment, Cunningham said.

“We are very excited to be a part of this opportunity with Helios, not only to take the test, but to have them share some of their research,” Cunningham said.

Spring football recaps for Millennium, La Joya and Agua Fria; Local athletes to compete in baseball All-Star games

Millennium grad earns 2nd-team collegiate honors

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

Angelique Elemen was a star at Millennium, and moving to the collegiate ranks didn’t do anything to change that.

Elemen had a stellar freshman campaign at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., earning All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Second Team accolades.

“It was pretty cool to be one of the standout players on my team this year being a freshman,” Elemen said. “It’s cool to be recognized for all the hard work I put in this year.”

Elemen led the Lady Skyhawks in five offensive categories, including batting average (.405) and homeruns (12). Elemen also drove home a team-leading 48 runs, and she was tops in total bases with 106. She said the key to her offensive success was not thinking about her at bats too much.

“I had a really good coach this year, so she helped me a lot with staying calm and not getting too much in my head about everything,” Elemen said.

Elemen hit .440 and slugged seven homers as a senior at Millennium. Her coach last year, Robynn Lee, was not at all surprised Elemen was successful this season, she said.

“She hit the ball with a lot of confidence in high school, but I feel like once you’re in the weight room and getting that muscle memory, working every day versus a few times a week on those skill sets, I think [hitting more home runs] is bound to happen,” Lee said. “She had all the strength, all the physical ability, so I think putting it all together has really benefit her.”

Elemen played in 46 of Fort Lewis’ 47 games, starting 44 of them. As a catcher, Elemen posted a .991 fielding percentage, committing just two errors in 212 total chances.

“It was pretty cool to go out and be a starter as a freshman with so many catchers on the team,” Elemen said. “I had to really stay very positive with everyone and be the leader on the team. I had to really step out and take charge of everything, kind of be the dominant one on the field.”

Lee got to witness Elemen’s leadership abilities firsthand last year.

“She shows so much maturity behind the plate and on the field; she was a natural born leader,” Lee said. “I feel like college was a good chance for her to shine, be out of her comfort level and away from the everyday stresses, and once she was able to do that, she was able to be extremely successful.”

Lee also said it was nice to see a Lady Tigers player be successful at the next level.

“It’s extremely rewarding,” Lee said. “I only had one year to be able to see her grow, but her leadership and determination to make the team be successful was always her No. 1, and I feel like getting to see her be successful is another stepping stone in the program, and I hope we’ll continue to see more girls be as successful as she has been.”

Fort Lewis didn’t have a great season, finishing 15-32 overall and just 12-22 in the conference. However, the Lady Skyhawks will look to turn it around next year as several players are returning and there are 12 incoming freshmen, Elemen said.

Shoulder injury

One struggle Elemen faced during the season was playing with a torn labrum in her throwing shoulder. She had surgery after the season and will soon begin rehab.

“I played out the season with a torn labrum and the week after the season ended, I had surgery to repair it,” Elemen said. “It’s about a three-month recovery time. I’ll go back in August to Colorado and start throwing and hitting again.”

Elemen said rehab will be rough because she doesn’t have any range of motion in her arm yet, and it’s been three weeks since the operation.

“It’s going to be a couple weeks until I can move my arm good,” she said.

Still, Elemen is looking forward to getting healthy for next season.

“I’m excited to get out there and play without being taken out because of my arm,” she said.

Casey Pritchard can be reached at caseypritchard@westvalleyview.com or on Twitter @CaseyonSports.

View photo by Ray Thomas

ANGELIQUE ELEMEN, a 2015 Millennium graduate, prepares to make a catch at home plate during high school for the Lady Tigers. Elemen had a successful freshman campaign at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., being named to the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Second Team.

Local players to compete in All-Star games

by Casey Pritchard sports editor

The West Valley will be well represented this weekend when the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association All-Star games take place at Goodyear Ballpark.

The games showcase graduating seniors getting to suit up one last time. Thirteen local players and one coach will participate in the four games.

The weekend kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday with the Division IV/V game. Tonopah Valley coach Mike Valdez will lead the north squad.

“It definitely means a lot,” Valdez said of getting to coach the all-star team. “I’ve always been a West Valley boy, grew up in Buckeye, played for Buckeye … To coach

what are considered the top 25 best seniors in Division V, it really does mean a lot.”

Additionally, Valdez will get to coach one of his players for a final time. Jesse Garcia, a pitcher for the Phoenix, was selected for the team.

“Jesse Garcia is one of those special players that doesn’t come around too often,” Valdez said. “I was able to coach him for the last two years and it definitely means a lot to coach him [at the all-star game].”

Valdez’s opposition features three Buckeye players: Andrew Roque, Randen Garrison and Jacob Colville. The trio of Hawks’ players made a deep run through the Division IV state tournament,

getting all the way to the semifinals before bowing out against Glendale Joy Christian.

Garrison led the team in several offensive categories, including average (.558), hits (48), extra-base hits (15), triples (seven), RBI (33) and runs scored (37). Garrison, a second baseman, also had six doubles and stole 10 bases in 11 attempts. Roque, the Hawks’ leadoff hitter and shortstop, hit .345, collecting 10 doubles and 13 RBI. He was a perfect 22 of 22 in stolen base attempts and scored 33 runs.

Colville hit .302 with three doubles, 19 RBI and 17 runs scored. He was also a pitcher, going 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA. He

allowed just 19 hits and six walks in 30.1 innings, striking out 32.

The lone Division III representative from the area is Estrella Foothills’ Derek Conidi, who will play for the north. The outfielder and southpaw pitcher batted .390 with four doubles, four triples, a homer and 13 RBI. As a pitcher, Conidi tossed 32.2 innings, allowing 18 hits while striking out 30. He posted a 3.86 ERA. The Division III game is at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Division I/II games

The Division II game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday and will feature five area ballplayers, including two from Tolleson.

View photo by Ray Thomas

CALEB STULL of Millennium swings at a pitch March 4 against Marana. Stull was one of two Tigers players chosen to play in the Division I Arizona Coaches Association All-Star game.

View photo by Ray Thomas

DEREK CONIDI of Estrella Foothills gets ready to throw a pitch April 29 during the state playoffs against Kofa. Conidi was chosen to play in the Division III Arizona Coaches Association All-Star game.

The following three pages of West Valley View are zoned for the 05/25/16 edition.

Each zone pages 16 & 17 (16N=North, 16E=East, 16S=South, 16W=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.

New Millennium coach inherits large returning class

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Millennium football’s spring practice session was filled with many familiar faces, but was anchored by one big change.

James Carter, the Tigers’ new football coach, is inheriting a large group of core returners in what will be his first season at the helm of the program.

Carter came over from Peoria Sunrise Mountain, which finished last season 11-1, only losing in the Division III quarterfinals to Verrado. The Mustangs went 47-20 in six seasons under Carter, making the playoffs each of the last five years.

The Tigers went 4-6 in 2015 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

The returning Tigers have shown a lot of promise to the new coach in the early happenings of the offseason, Carter said.

“We got a lot in, [and] still have a lot of work to do, but I’m pretty pleased with the kids,” he said. “They’ve had a lot of information thrown at them, getting ready for [the summer] tournaments. The kids who are showing up and buying in, they’re doing their job. I’m pretty excited about that.”

Early on, the team has had to learn quickly to be on the move at all times.

One of the trademarks of Carter’s Sunrise Mountain squads was a high-tempo attack on offense. That philosophy doesn’t stop after the drive is completed. It’s something that’s ingrained into everything the team does — from rushing between drills, to hustling through practice plays to running to and from the water cooler.

“It’s a lot different on both sides of the ball,” Carter said. “Very high tempo, running on and off the field, running between plays, running drills, getting

back to the ball on defense. That has to be coached, and by the end of the spring, we did a lot better of a job. We still have to get better at it.”

The summer will be instrumental for raising the expectation standards among the team, Carter said.

“Their work ethic, we have high expectations, so that’ll be a work in progress,” he said.

“Being on time, that kind of stuff, just how we operate now. Discipline, character, we’ll focus on that. We want athletic kids, but we also want student athletes first.

Grades, behavior, character, then football.”

Spring football

While coaches agree that nothing can be definite until the pads come on in August, the spring session is helpful in installing the basic principles on offense and defense, especially for a team installing new sets for both. Spring football also gives the coaching staff a base foundation of what to expect for the depth chart when camp rolls around in July.

The Tigers ended last season with many underclassmen playing key roles, and many have led the charge this spring, Carter said.

“There’s a ton of athletes and a ton of returning starters,” he said. “The best players will play. The kids that show up and work out in the summer time and go to camp [will have an advantage].

Obviously, no one is really going to have a starting position until we have pads on.

“Fitting into a position in the summertime is a good thing, but that can change at the drop of a hat in the fall when we get pads on.”

The Tigers currently have a three-way battle at quarterback, which includes

ERNIE PINA of Millennium sets to throw a pass during a game against Westview last season. Pina passed for 1,734 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore.

Ernie Pina. Pina threw for 1,734 yards in 2015, completing 56 percent of his passes. He had seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

“We have three good quarterbacks fighting for that job,” Carter said. “A lot of competition helps breed success, makes them work harder.”

J.J. Gayles and Melo Johnson, responsible for all but 35 of the team’s 1,839 rushing yards last season, have made solid impressions over the few weeks of spring ball. Linebacker Charles

Walker, tight end Raymond Pauwels and receiver/cornerback Cameron Taylor have each had noteworthy springs, Carter said.

“We’re excited to see how these tournaments will go in the summer,” he said. “That’s not going to judge whether you win or lose, but we’ll get our offense and defense in and fine tune things, and get ready for the fall.”

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

View photo by Mike Rincon

New Millennium coach inherits large returning class

by Shane McOwen sports writer

Millennium football’s spring practice session was filled with many familiar faces, but was anchored by one big change.

James Carter, the Tigers’ new football coach, is inheriting a large group of core returners in what will be his first season at the helm of the program.

back to the ball on defense. That has to be coached, and by the end of the spring, we did a lot better of a job. We still have to get better at it.”

The summer will be instrumental for raising the expectation standards among the team, Carter said.

“Their work ethic, we have high expectations, so that’ll be a work in progress,” he said.

FOOTBALL

“Being on time, that kind of stuff, just how we operate now. Discipline, character, we’ll focus on that. We want athletic kids, but we also want student athletes first. Grades, behavior, character, then football.”