Jason W. Brooks

The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board recognized Arizona’s first champion team in the sport of boys beach volleyball at its Dec. 10 meeting. The Perry Pumas rolled past each of …

The Chandler Unified Governing Board approved a three-year district contract with its newly hired superintendent, Dr. Anna Battle, at it March 25 meeting, to start officially July 1, as Superintendent Frank Narducci retires. Battle’s base annual salary will be $265,000, with a long list of stipends, allowances and incentives.

Kansas lead singer and keyboardist Ronnie Platt, top, encourages crowd response as violinist Joe Deninzon plays during the 36th annual Chandler Chamber of Commerce Ostrich Festival in March.

Gas prices in the Valley rose 4 cents this week to $4.82 a gallon, while the state rose 4 cents to 4.71 a gallon and the national average rose a whopping 34 cents a gallon to reach $4.39 a gallon according to AAA Arizona on Friday.

McDowell Mountain Elementary School student Henry Good scoots across the MMES floor April 27 as part of The Hovercraft Project. Students take much of a morning and early afternoon measuring, cutting and assembling the inflatable devices to see how far each one makes it across the floor.

Only three members of the Fountain Hills High School girls basketball team were at the FHUSD Governing Board meeting April 8, but coach Tom Ferrington praised the entire varsity as major contributors to the team’s state-finalist run this past season. From the left are Ferrington, Taleigha Bonnaha, MiKayla Smith and Rose Sanchez.

MESA — It's tough for every Division 1 track and field program to stay in the limelight in Arizona.

As travelers hit the road for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, gas prices slightly dropped this week around the Valley dropping 5 cents a gallon to $4.82 a gallon, according to a release from AAA.

Fountain Hills Unified School District faculty and students were recognized as Falcons of the Month at the May 6 FHUSD Governing Board meeting. Frank, the family bulldog of soon-retiring FHUSD Superintendent Cain Jagodzinski, was announced as the Falcon of the Month for the district office and transportation staff.

Gas prices around the state dropped nine cents to $4.71 a gallon, and the national average dropped 16 cents to $4.31 a gallon.