October 9, 2019 • Vol. 17, No. 45
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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DVUSD breaks ground on new K-8 school near Shops at Norterra BY TARA ALATORRE
The DVUSD Governing board, Superintendent and staff along with the Maricopa School Superintendent, architects and construction crew officially broke ground on Elementary School #31 on October 3.
Photo courtesy of DVUSD
PHOENIX – The Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) broke ground on a new school in the Union Park housing development near The Shops at Norterra on October 3. The new kindergarten through eighth grade school is located north of Happy Valley Road and west of 19th Avenue, and it is scheduled to open in August 2020. However, during its first year open it will only serve grades K-7, according to DVUSD. “This new housing development will have 1,100 single family homes and 1,100 multi-family units, hence the need for a school in this new neighborhood,” Monica Allread, a spokesperson for
DVUSD stated in an email. For now, DVUSD has temporarily named it Elementary School #31 until a principal is hired, who will coordinate a selection process for the school’s name, colors and mascot. “This is an exciting time for our district,” DVUSD Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch said about the school’s groundbreaking. The Barry Goldwater High School (BGHS) marching band performed, and the BGHS student body president spoke at the ceremony last Thursday since School #31 is in the high school’s region.
SCHOOL #31 continued on page 9
West Nile virus at record high, Foothills Food Bank's shelves are bare, leads to 16 deaths in Arizona in need of food, monetary donations BY TYAUN MARSHBURN CRONKITE NEWS
PHOENIX – Spurred by a wet winter, cases of West Nile virus are at a record high in Arizona, with 156 infections and 16 deaths reported so far this year, state health reports show. The Arizona Department of Health Services blames the wetter winter for bigger mosquito populations this year. Mosquitoes carry West Nile, which is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. An ADHS report shows 156 confirmed and probable cases
CAVE CREEK – The Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center has too many empty shelves and is in urgent need of non-perishable food donations and foods for the upcoming holidays. Pam DiPietro, executive director for Foothills Food Bank, says even more families and working individuals are in need of food due to changing economic forces and work transitions. “Factors such as job change issues, the cost of living and
in Arizona, with all but 11 in Maricopa County. Last year, there were 27 cases and six deaths. Kimberly Colson recalls being infected with the virus nearly a year ago, when she lived in Mesa. “I was feeling funny. I was unable to focus,” Colson said. She kept vomiting and had a fever before medical professionals finally diagnosed her illness as West Nile. Not all cases of West Nile are dangerous.
WEST NILE DEATHS continued on page 10
The Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center is asking for food and monetary donations to help them prepare for the holiday season.
NORTH VALLEY:
CAVE CREEK:
PHOENIX:
Plant-based personal chef
Girl scouts make buddy bench
Virtual reality helps caretakers
services now available
for Desert Sun Academy
experience dementia
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FOOD BANK
continued on page 17
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
6
• Service Directory
15
• Classified Ads
18