Council OK’s Sales Tax Extension
Council unanimously approves six-year extension; manager warns action is not a cure-all
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously at its regularly scheduled Tuesday, March 2, meeting to extend the two-tenths of one percent (.2 percent) sales tax.
   Vice Mayor R.E. Eck reiterated that this is not a new tax, but an extension of one that was scheduled to sunset later this year.
   “We’re trying to use whatever means we can to keep our head above water,” Eck said about the City’s financial situation. “I think it’s very minimal—just about as minimal as you can get.
   City Manager George Hoffman repeated the importance of renewing the sales tax.
   “A month ago, I asked that you consider a means of addressing the known $1.1 million shortfall in State Shared Revenues which will occur for our next fiscal year beginning in July,” Hoffman said.
   “Specifically, I noted that the two-tenths of a cent utilized for the past 10 years for capital projects is set to expire on September 1 of this year and asked whether you would consider renewing it for the operating budget.” Two weeks prior to the March 2 meeting, the City Council gave direction to staff to prepare the ordinance.
   Hoffman said a local paper recently made three public record requests with East Valley communities to better understand how much taxpayer money is being utilized for learning and lobbying. The newspaper’s public records request pertained to members of city councils and city manager’s offices.

See A-1 and see Council Acrs, A-5

One Arrested In Shooting
Illies found in Glendale area; Larson still at large
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
A man wanted in connection with a February 17 shooting and aggravated assault in the 1500 block of South Lawson was arrested Tuesday, March 2, police said.
   Stephen J. Illies Jr., 23, was taken into custody in the Glendale/Phoenix area, according to Capt. Tom Kelly of the Apache Junction Police Department.
   “A joint investigation was coordinated with Mesa, Glendale, Phoenix and Apache Junction police departments,” Kelly said.
   “Surveillance and a perimeter team was established around the targeted location as investigators prepared a search warrant for the residence. A short while later surveillance officers noted several subjects rapidly exiting the target location. All subjects were subsequently detained and Illies was arrested with out further incident.”
   Illies was later transported to the Maricopa County Detention Center for further processing.
According to Kelly, a 25-year-old man was shot at a residence in the 1500 Block of South Lawson February 17. The victim told police that one of two men approached him at which time an altercation ensued. One man attacked the victim and the other began to strike the victim with a handgun. Moments later the victim was shot and the offenders fled the area.
   A second man is still wanted in connection with the crime. Joshua L. Larson, 26, is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is being sought for aggravated assault.
   Anyone who may have any information on the whereabouts of this subject is requested to call the AJPD Criminal Investigation Division at (480) 982-8260.

Spring Break Opportunities
Break for AJUSD is March 15-19
The City of Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Department is offering a series of low-cost acitivities for children to partake in during the Apache Junction Unified School District’s spring break from March 15 to March 19.
   Check out the below programs that will solve your child’s spring break boredom.
 Creative Kid’s Workshops are fun classes that include your imagination to create fun projects. There will be four classes held over the break with different class themes. All classes held at the Multi-Generational Center. Class are for ages 6-12 year olds. Each class cost $10. Birdhouse feeders: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 16; Wacky Science: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17; Food Creations: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday, March 18; and Kites from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 18. Eric Carle Creations is a two day class in which children will paint and create pictures using the Eric Carle method. On the first day, children will paint an array of papers. The following day, children will use the painted paper to create original designs. Participants must attend both days to complete the project. Class held at the Multi-Generational Center. Classes are for ages 8-12 year olds. Cost of the class is $10 Classes, which cost $10, are from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, March 16, and Thursday, March 18.

See A-1 and see Spring Break, A-9

Track And Field Springs Into Action
By J.J. Digos
The News
Last season, current senior Zane Morgan qualified for the 4A-1 State Championship meet for the 800 meters. This season, he is one of only two returning member of the AJHS boys’ track and field team who qualified for the state meet last year (the other is Trevor Berner in discus). Also, in the off-season, Morgan decided to make the switch from running the 800 meters to running the 100 and 400 meter events and through two track meets this season, it seems that the transition hasn’t fazed the senior. Now, this season, he is looking to capture his first individual state championship and his second team championship. (Morgan was a part of the Prospectors’ 2007 State Championship winning team his freshman year.)
   At the Prospectors first meet in Tempe this past Thursday afternoon, it was Zane Morgan, cousin Tanner Morgan, the 4x100 meter relay team and the high jump duel between Colt Grandstaff and Kyrel Parker that highlighted the day in which the Prospectors dominated points wise over host Tempe and visiting Williams Field. Grandstaff and Parker drew much attention during their final attempts against one another in the high jump and it was Grandstaff coming out on top over his fellow senior teammate with a jump of six feet, two inches. The jump was three inches from the school record set by former Prospector Shane McCullen in 2007.

See B-1 and see Track, B-2