Closing Briefs Due On G.C. Sewer Hike
Testimony complete on 72% rate increase, counsel briefs scheduled for May 6
By Jill Jones
The News
Closing Briefs in the Gold Canyon Sewer (GCS) rate case rehearing, as requested by the Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO), are set for Monday, May 5 at 9 a.m. at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), 1200 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Reply Brief’s are due Thursday, May 22, 2008.
   RUCO had requested, and was granted, a rehearing in the matter last year after arguing that an ACC decision to grant a 72.02 percent increase in residential sewer rates was “not reasonable or fair” to Gold Canyon customers.
   Testimony in the case concluded on Monday, March 31, when Ruco’s policy witness was unable to testify any further due to illness. Attorneys for the parties involved agreed that no additional days of hearing would be needed and opening briefs were scheduled for April 29 and closing briefs for May 13, 2008. Those dates were later changed to May 5 for closing briefs and May 22 for reply briefs. According to Dan Pozefsky of RUCO, the brief dates are simply deadlines for the briefs and are not meeting dates.
   After the filing of the reply briefs, the ACC judge will weigh the evidence, including public comment, and submit a Recommended Opinion and Order (ROO), which will then be voted on at an open meeting yet to be scheduled. The commissioners can either accept, reject or amend the judge’s recommendation.
   No specific date has been set for a final decision, but local activist Ron Kelly has is urging Gold Canyon residents to continue to make their wishes known and also to attend any final meetings.
   “I know that many are disappointed that this (rehearing) has dragged on for so long, but that is exactly why these corporations get most of what they ask for, too many (residents) are too busy and that signals the commission that it doesn’t matter to the masses.”

See A-1

Carrying The Torch AJPD & Thunder Mountain team up for Special Olympics Students from Thunder Mountain Middle School (TMMS) accompanied Interim Police Chief Tom Kelly and Officers Tom Sliwinski and Keith Gabriel carried the Special Olympics Torch from Gold Canyon through Apache Junction on Friday, May 2 on its way to Phoenix. Danny Ramirez is pictured holding the torch with fellow classmates from TMMS and AJPD personnel.

AJHS Cadet Selected For Naval Academy Seminar
Morrissey to attend U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
Presley Morrissey has been notified that she has been selected to participate in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar (NASS) May 31 thru June 5, 2008. This program provides an opportunity for participants to become familiar with the Naval Academy experience, which includes academics, physical training and leadership programs.
   Midshipmen direct the program with oversight of active duty Navy and Marine Corps officers. More than 1,950 students from around the world attend this fast paced program each year.
   Morrissey is completing her junior year at Apache Junction High School (AJHS) and is a third year cadet in the AJHS NJROTC program. She is the first cadet from AJHS to be invited to attend the Navy Summer Seminar. Cadet Morrissey is the daughter of Jody and Angela Morrissey.

Burning Restrictions In Force
May 1 through September 30
The Apache Junction Fire District (AJFD) is now enforcing No Open Burning restrictions beginning immediately. Pinal County has suspended issuing any new burn permits based on the extreme conditions that we are expecting again this year and in conjunction with the recent change in Arizona law that affects this issue.
   Arizona Revised Statue 49-501.A was revised in the fall of 2007 to read as follows. “From May 1 through September 30 each year, it is unlawful for any person to ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited or suffer, allow or maintain any open outdoor fire in area ‘A’ as defined in section 49-541.” Area ‘A’ includes anything west of Florence Junction and north of Arizona Farms Road and continues into Maricopa County including all of the AJFD jurisdiction.
   This is not a Pinal County or AJFD mandate, but rather an Arizona State Legislative mandate. It is anticipated that these restrictions will remain in place throughout the summer months until sufficient rain has fallen to mitigate the hazardous fire conditions.
   Outdoor cooking fires utilizing charcoal or propane grills with tight fitting lids will still be allowed during this time period, however, extreme care should be taken while using these appliances.
   These restrictions apply to all city and county areas within the fire district boundaries. Any questions or concerns regarding this issue should be directed to the Fire Prevention Bureau of the AJFD at (480) 982-4440.

Region Track Champs Aplenty
McCullen wins 100 and 200 meters; Crespo wins discus and shot put; Morgan triumphs in triple jump and long jump; Robinson wins girls shot put; AJHS boys win 4x100 relay; Four others earn trip to 4A-I State Championships
By Chuck Baker
The News
Moving up to the 4A-I level for the first time this school year didn’t slow down the Apache Junction boys track and field team as they claimed six individual titles and one relay championship at last week’s Desert Sky Region Meet held at Phoenix Shadow Mountain. The seventy team points garnered from those seven first place finishes gave Apache Junction a chance to win the team championship with just past Friday evening.
   Heading into the last race of the region meet, the boys 4x400 meter relay, Paradise Valley was clinging to a half-point lead with 121 team points, Apache Junction had garnered a total of 120.50 team points, and the host school, Shadow Mountain, was in third with a 120 team points. With a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 scoring system used in each event, it all came down to the 4x400 meter relay.
   With Scottsdale Chaparral holding the lead most of the race, Paradise Valley was running second after the first two legs and held about a thirty-yard lead over AJHS when senior Josh Morgan took the baton for the third leg. Morgan, who had already won individual titles in both triple jump (44-06 feet) and long jump (21-11), ran the race of his career, not only making up those thirty yards, but giving the Prospectors a slight edge over Paradise Valley when the fourth and final leg began.

See C-1 and see Region, C-2