Deputy Dragged By Car
Show Low man arrested in AJ after multi-agency chase
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- A Show Low man was arrested in Apache Junction after he reportedly dragged a Pinal County Sheriff’s (PCSO) deputy 100 feet with his car and then engaged law enforcement in a chase through Gold Canyon and Apache Junction, in an effort to avoid arrest.
   Daniel James Wheeler, 38, was reportedly known by law enforcement to have a history of fleeing from officers and allegedly lived up to his reputation when he was stopped by a PCSO deputy around 7:55 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2008, near El Camino Viejo Road and U.S. 60.
   The deputy, who was reportedly expecting Wheeler to attempt to flee, grabbed the driver side door handle of Wheeler’s vehicle when he allegedly showed signs that he was about to bolt. With the deputy’s hand trapped in the door handle, Wheeler reportedly took off and dragged the deputy about 100 feet before the officer was thrown from the vehicle. The deputy reportedly suffered several abrasions and a laceration to his head, which required stitches.
   Wheeler reportedly continued his flight southbound on El Camino Viejo Road toward U.S. 60 and was spotted by a Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter. A PCSO deputy who was in the vicinity spotted Wheeler and attempted to initiate a stop, which Wheeler allegedly ignored, and instead reportedly continued to flee westbound on U.S. 60 towards Gold Canyon.

See A-1 and see Deputy, A-3

County Attorney Going To Court Over Chickens And Ducks
Defendant cries ‘fowl’ - questions motivation to prosecute
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- It is costing a whole lot more than chicken feed for the criminal prosecution of a Pinal County resident who is accused of removing two chickens and three ducks from her property after the allegedly repeatedly strayed onto her property causing distress to her dogs and horses.
   Cathy Veit lives in rural Pinal County within the Apache Junction Justice Court jurisdiction where she has an acreage on which she keeps horses and her dogs. Her neighbors to the south of her, Judith and Tiffany Haefner, also keep animals which include the chickens and ducks that have become the subject of the lawsuit.
   Veit says that the Haefner’s ducks and chickens would continually stray onto her property to eat the feed she provided for her horses. The presence of the birds reportedly caused her dogs to chase the animals and spook her horses, causing what she calls a dangerous situation.
   Veit claims she repeatedly asked the Haefners to keep the birds confined to their own property, but claims even to this day, the birds continue to freely walk through the fence that borders the two properties.

See A-1 and see County Attorney, A-3

Supervisor Smith To Retire
Will not seek re-election, retire at end of term in December
By Jill Jones
The News
FLORENCE- There will be no fifth term for popular Pinal County Supervisor, District 2, Sandie Smith. After 16 years of service, she will be stepping down at the end of her fourth term on December 31, 2008.
   Smith made the announcement last week, explaining that after consulting with her family; she decided not to seek a fifth term for personal reasons.
   “Being a public servant is one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences that anyone can ask for,” said Smith in a written message, saying that it was the hardest message she has ever written.
   A 37 year resident of Pinal County, Smith began her service to residents of Pinal County when she was elected to the Governing Board of the Apache Junction Unified School District in 1986 and later became the first woman ever in Pinal County to be elected to the Board of Supervisors.
   Smith is a familiar figure to District 2 residents, as she makes it a point to attend community events, functions, meetings and also attends to her duties as supervisor. She is so involved and attends so many functions; citizens often ask her if she has a clone or when she has time to sleep.
   Smith is a member of the Arizona Association of Counties and a member of the County Supervisors Association.

See A-1 and see Sandie Smith, A-5

Prospectors Have Two Final Shots At ‘W’
By Chuck Baker
The News
Hoping to avoid an “oh-for” in their first season of Desert Sky Region play, the Prospector varsity basketball team will have to beat a Scottsdale school this final week of the regular season.
   Counting losses last week to region foes Phoenix Shadow Mountain and Tempe McClintock as well as a non-region loss to Seton Catholic, Apache Junction sits at 3-19 overall for the season and 0-10 in the Desert Sky Region. The task of earning a region victory lies with road games this Tuesday at Saguaro and this Thursday at Chaparral
   This past Tuesday, Apache Junction fell to Shadow Mountain 66-52 despite 18 points from senior Andrew Cranmer, 12 from senior Jimmy Cowles and 11 from senior Robert Bohr. Junior Medi Noudali added 6 points and junior Brandon Robbins scored a bucket.
   On Wednesday of last week, Apache Junction trailed Mc- Clintock by only three at halftime, 26-23, but ended up losing by 22, 64-42. Cowles scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds for AJHS. Cranmer added 9 points, sophomore Colt Grandstaff netted 6 points to go with six rebounds and three assists, Bohr had 5 points and four assists, Robbins tallied 4 points and pulled down six boards, junior Ian Firnbach added 3 points and Noudali sank a free throw.
   Hosting Seton on Friday in “Senior Appreciation Night,” the Prospectors came up with a better effort and were tied with Seton, 33-33, at the end of the third quarter. But Grandstaff, who had scored 12 of the Prospectors 18 points thus far in the second half, fouled out of the game with just over four minutes to play, and Seton made 10-of-14 free throws down the stretch for a 54-47 win.

See C-1 and See AJHS, C-6