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Face Lift For AJ Focal
Point Suggested
 Councilman Serdy suggests downtown
changes to enhance city’s image
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Newly
elected Councilman Jeff Serdy
gave an hour-long presentation,
including guest-speakers and images,
regarding proposed improvements
to city owned downtown
properties at the Tuesday, August
21, 2007 city council meeting.
Serdy’s three-phase proposed
improvement project, which he said
will reflect community pride for the
next 50 years, includes significant
changes to the city’s Focal Point at
the corner of north Apache Trail
and south Phelps Drive and also
the implementation of an “Adopt a
Median” program.
The current Focal Point was designed by
Apache Junction Parks
and Recreation Superintendent
Nick Blake ten years ago. Blake will
be included in the new and improved
redesign, should it be approved.
Phase One of Serdy’s proposed
project would be to replace the
nondescript beige colored rocks
currently in the ray-like sections at
the floor of the monument with
stones in the red and gold colors
of the Arizona State Flag. To further
enhance the state flag concept,
Serdy suggest a copper star could
adorn the center of the design.
See
A-1
and see Focal
Point ,
A-6
Man’s Body Found In
Desert
Near Idaho Rd. & Junction Dr. — Cause of
death not yet known
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- The body
of an unidentified male subject was
found in the desert northeast of
Idaho Road and Junction Drive on
Wednesday, August 22, 2007.
A resident located the body lying
amongst desert vegetation around
5 p.m. The deceased was wearing blue
shorts and white sneakers and,
according to authorities, showed
signs of exposure.
Apache Junction Police (AJPD)
officers secured the scene and
members of the Department of Public
Safety assisted AJPD detectives
with the diagram portion of the
investigation.
The individual has not been identified
and the cause of death has
not been determined, according to
AJPD Commander Jay Swart.
The case is considered pending
and anyone with information pertaining
to this case should call the
Apache Junction Police Department
at 480-982-8260.
 A Letter From
Afghanistan
Gold Canyon pilot gives an update on his
mission
By Jill Jones
The News
KABUL- United States Air Force Major
Bryan Martyn, a Gold Canyon resident,
was deployed to Afghanistan
in July and has been keeping in touch
with the community
through email messages.
Martyn, an Apache helicopter pilot, was
sent to Kabul,
Afghanistan to train and fly with the
Afghan Army Air
Corps in Russian Mi-17 helicopters. Once
there he was
asked to help reorganize and train the
Afghan Presidential
Airlift Squadron.
“It is a tremendous honor to work with
the finest pilots
in Afghanistan to support President
Karzai and to facilitate
the safe transportation of the president
and his staff
throughout Afghanistan,” said Martyn.
Martyn works with Colonel Babe Jee, a 30
year military
man, with the help of his Afghan
interpreter and on airlift
operations and requirements. He said his
normal day
involves meeting with Presidential
Security or the Corps
Commander, teaching English to the
Afghan pilots and
even washing the presidential
helicopters.
See
A-1
and see
Afghanistan ,
A-5
Dome, Sweet Dome
 AJHS crushes Sinagua 55-0 at NAAU giving
first-year head varsity coach Rich
Milligan a win in his debut
By Chuck Baker
The News
First-year Prospector head varsity
football coach Rich Milligan
was asked after Friday’s 55-0
victory over Flagstaff Sinagua
inside the Walkup Dome on the
campus of Northern Arizona
University if this was the “perfect
opener.”
“Well, we didn’t get anybody
banged up, and we won, so
from that standpoint I would
say yeah, this was the perfect
opener,” Milligan answered.
With All-State running back
Shane McCullen rambling for
182 yards and three touchdowns,
quarterback Daniel
Ambrosio completing 4-of-5
passes for 122 yards and two
scores, and a defense that held
Sinagua to just 78 total yards of
offense, the Prospectors easily
won their season opener playing
the last of four games at
NAU last Friday, all part of the
2007 Kickoff Classic.
“I’m sure that once we break
down the game film, we will
find lots of things that we could
have done better,” Coach
Milligan added. “I’m sure we
will have plenty to work on as
we prepare for Agua Fria this
coming week.”
See
C-1
and see Football ,
C-3
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