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A look back at this week in Surprise history

Posted 9/14/22

Here is a look at Surprise history through the years on this week.

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A look back at this week in Surprise history

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Here is a look at Surprise history through the years on this week, compiled from archives of Independent Newsmedia, Newspapers.com and the city of Surprise historical records:

1937

Dysart School opens for the school year with two new classrooms expected to be added this year to accommodate the area’s development. The school will have eight teachers for the school year, double the number from last year.

1962

A 53-year-old El Mirage man was killed when the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle during a left turn on U.S. 60. It was Arizona’s 324nd traffic death of 1962 so far.

1969

Two members of Dysart’s state championship basketball team from March are killed in a head-on crash during a dust storm on Grand Avenue. Cousins Lonnie Dunbar and Chester Manning were killed in one of the cars.

1998

Surprise dedicates its second fire station at 18600 N. Reems Road, which will double as a police substation.

1999

The Arizona Department of Water Resources assures Surprise the city has enough water to supply residents for 100 years, based on 2010 population projections.

2000

Residents opposing the Sierra Montana development file a referendum at City Hall to stop it, days after the city annexed the land. The development between Greenway and Waddell roads, west of Cotton Lane and east of the Beardsley Canal, is opposed by those who want to keep the land rural. It will ultimately go in front of Surprise voters in March 2001.

2006

The City Council approves a construction contract for the $6.7 million tennis and racket facility, which it hopes to have opened by May 2007. Community and Recreation Services director Mark Coronado begins attempts to bring USTA tournaments to Surprise. The planned facility already has a director in former Wimbledon mixed doubles champ John Austin.