|
City & SALT To Tackle
Silly Mountain Project
 Public input encouraged for preservation
and recreation project
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Apache
Junction Parks and Recreation
and the Superstition Area Land
Trust (SALT) are joining forces
in a scenic preservation and
recreation project involving
Silly Mountain, a steep peak
rising between Apache Junction
and Gold Canyon just north of
U.S. 60.
The city obtained rights to
2,000 acres on Silly Mountain
in 2006 after the end of a 20-
year Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) lease formerly
held by Central Arizona College.
With a design consulting team
already in place, City Parks
and Recreation Director Jeff
Bell said they are seeking public
participation in developing
a master plan to revitalize and
preserve Silly Mountain with a
goal of creating an environmentally
sensitive open space recreation
facility.
For years the mountain was
subjected to the abuse of motorized
vehicles and party goers
who would often strew their
trash across the mountain. Additionally,
4-wheel drive enthusiasts
would try to tackle Silly
Mountain’s steep grade, which
left an unsightly scar running up
the face of the mountain. A few
years back, large boulders were
placed across the trail, preventing
motorized vehicles from
driving up the hill; however, the
damage had been done and the
scar from the vehicles remains.
See
A-1
A Proud Military
Family
Laning family has been serving in the
Army since 1917
 By Meghan McCoy
The News
Members of an Apache Junction
family have been serving
our country since World War I in
1917. This family currently has
three children and a daughter-inlaw
in the service, as well as a
grandson who will be entering
the Army after he graduates from
high school.
The father of this patriotic family,
Robert Laning Sr., began
his entertainment career as a
Country Western singer when
he was 13 years old. He adopted
the stage name “Dusty Lane,”
which at the age of 70, he is still
known by. His wife of 17 years,
Nell Carter, has worked for local
newspapers and helped enhance
her husband’s singing career by
booking shows. The couple has
lived in Apache Junction since
1968.
Although Dusty Lane did not
join the service, due to his
entertainment
career, his message of
the military’s important role was
instilled in his children’s memories
at a young age. “We are here
to support and serve our country,”
Lane said.
See
A-1
and see Family ,
A-6
Council To Work On
Cargo Containers
 Issue set for Monday night session
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Council
will once again discuss the
controversial
issue of whether to
allow cargo containers on residential,
commercial and public
properties at the Apache Junction
City Council Work Session
at 7 p.m. on Monday, September
17, 2007.
For several months, the council
has been considering amending
the current ordinance, which
currently prohibits cargo containers
on residential properties
and on Monday evening will
review a proposed ordinance
providing conditions for the allowance
of these containers on
some residential, commercial,
industrial, public and quasi public
properties.
Also scheduled on Monday’s
agenda are discussions on the
Ride Choice Program, native
plant preservation and the posting
locations for city documents
and public notices. Presentations
will be given on the city’s
human resource information
system, the annual report for
the Arizona National Discharge
Elimination System and the
creation of a comprehensive
sponsorship program.
See
A-1
 Montanna Scott Runs
1st In Cross Country
Senior Nick Cross comes in 3rd to lead
AJHS boys
By Chuck Baker
The News
Just a sophomore, Montanna
Scott is starting to make a name
for herself in cross country circles.
Scott, who as a freshman
in 2006 was the only member
of the Apache Junction crosscountry
teams to qualify for the
4A-II State Championships by
posting a top ten finish at the
region meet, ran to a first place
finish in the team’s first home
meet of the season held at Prospector
Park last Wednesday.
For the Apache Junction boys,
senior Nick Cross posted the
team’s best finish by coming in
third place overall.
The News was unable to get
any further results for AJHS runners or
the running times or
teams’ scores prior to deadline.
Your last chance to watch the
AJHS cross country runners at
home will come this Wednesday
at Prospector Park in a
four-team meet involving teams
from Copper Canyon, Liberty,
Surrey Garden and Apache
Junction. The boys will race at
4 p.m. and are followed immediately
by the girls.
See
C-1
|
