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West Valley View - September 21, 2016

Page 1

 AVONDALE RUNOFF ELECTION TO COST $18,000, PAGE 3

westvalleyview.com — the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, September 21, 2016 (623) 535-8439

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SPLASHING OUT

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BASED ON A TRUE STORY Westview drama students bringing 1920’s activist’s story to life in Radium Girls — Page 11.

View photo by Ray Thomas

AVONDALE CITY COUNCILMAN BRYAN KILGORE runs through the newly built splash pad Sept. 17 at Friendship Park in Avondale. The city held a dedication ceremony for the play area, which was part of a $3.5 million renovation project that included upgraded softball and soccer fields, new picnic shelters, a barbecue area, new restrooms and more parking spaces. To see all photos from this shoot, go to www.westvalleyview.com/pictures.

Luck of the draw

Avondale Donnie Gerhart moves on to Tolleson runoff election child abuser released from prison DAILY UPDATES! DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY Ballet Arizona returning to West Valley with free performance — Page 10.

News Updates and fresh Classified ads posted Monday - Friday at 4:30 p.m. online at www.westvalleyview.com Volume 31, No. 24 28 Pages 1 Section Circulation: 75,474 INDEX Classifieds .................... 24 Editorials & Letters .......... 6 Obituaries ...................... 22 Sports ........................... 12 Briefcase ......................... 5 9 Days a Week............... 21 Recycle this paper

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

For two Tolleson council candidates, months of campaigning and hard work came down to the luck of the draw during a Sept. 13 City Council meeting. Kathie Farr, who was first elected to the Tolleson City Council in 1999, lost to newcomer Donnie Gerhart in a game of high-card draw for a chance to take part in a Nov. 8 runoff election.

Out of the seven candidates vying for three open seats in the Aug. 30 primary election, only two obtained enough votes to win. Incumbents Albert Mendoza and Lupe Leyva Bandin secured seats with 420 votes and 404 votes, respectively. The race for the third seat moves on to a runoff, where the top two vote-getters among the remaining

(See Draw on Page 2)

Elizabeth Whittle completes 17-year sentence Donnie Gerhart

by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Leslie Merritt files lawsuit for wrongful arrest Avondale man names state, county, county attorney by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

Leslie Merritt Jr. spent 214 days in solitary confinement accused of being the Freeway Shooter. Charges have since been dropped, and the 22-year-old is now suing for damages he claims

were caused by wrongful imprisonment. Attorneys for the former Avondale resident submitted a 20-page complaint Sept. 13 to Maricopa County Superior Court against the state, Maricopa County and County Attorney Bill Montgomery. (See Lawsuit on Page 4)

Avondale resident Elizabeth Whittle became a household name when she severely injured her infant quadruplets almost 19 years ago. Today, she was released from the Perryville Prison complex in Goodyear after serving a 17-year sentence for the abuse. Whittle was 23 years old when the quads — then named Megan, Anthony, Robert and Elizabeth Damian — were born Whittle on Jan. 9, 1998, at St. (See Released on Page 2)


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