The ‘Wall’ Is Coming To AJ In ‘09
The American Veteran Traveling Tribute will be here March 11 through March 17, 2009
By Meghan McCoy
The News
The American Veteran Traveling Tribute (AVTT), a wall that travels throughout the United States to provide a forum for communities to come together and honor, respect and remember all those who have sacrificed their lives for our country’s freedom, will be making its way through Apache Junction on Wednesday, March 11, through Tuesday, March 17, 2009.
   Lawrence C Garrett VFW Post 7968 and the City of Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Department are sponsoring the tribute, VFW Commander Mike Ferguson said. He added that they are still looking for two more major sponsors.
   “We are proud to bring the AVTT to the community,” Ferguson said.
  The memorial wall will be erected at Prospector Park, 3015 N. Idaho Road near the back of the park by the athletic fields, providing the opportunity to visit the tribute 24 hours a day beginning on Thursday, March 12.
   The AVTT travels with nine different components that will be on display at Prospector Park; the Centerpiece, the Gold Dog Tag Memorial, 9-11 Memorials, Walk of Heroes, a nationally acclaimed art display, Tribute Panel, World War II, Korean War and a Vietnam Art Display and Information.
   The Centerpiece or the “Traveling Wall” consists of an 80 percent size replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, which contains 100 percent of the names on its 370 foot long wall that stands approximately 8 and a half feet tall at apex. The exhibit was constructed in late 1997 and started traveling in early 1998 as the largest wall replica traveling the United States.

See A-1 and see The Wall, page A-3

A Community Grows Into The Future
City of Apache Junction Development Services Part IV in a series on city government for FY 07-08
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to provide affordable housing in great cities. So when it sought new projects, Apache Junction was an obvious choice.
   During fiscal year 2007- 2008, when the project held its first homeowner’s association meeting, the city quickly Habitat for Humanity, according to CEO Roger Schwierjohn.
   “It was an excellent experience,” Schwierjohn said. “I will tell you this, when we had completed approximately eight or nine homes, we had our first HOA meeting. At that meeting, the City of Apache Junction showed up in force.”
   Schwierjohn said he was impressed that the city attorney, police chief, head librarian and city council members attended the meeting.
   “There were at least a dozen people from the City,” Schwierjohn said. “It was held at one of our homeowner’s homes. We had eight families in the subdivision at that time. Seven were there. The eighth one was working. It was a meeting to instruct the homeowners how to be a part of the HOA.
   “The City of Apache Junction is there to help them and they should feel blessed to call Apache Junction their home.”
   The Habitat for Humanity neighborhood is one of the highlights of the City’s Development Services Department’s fiscal year.
   The 20-employee department houses the building division (building inspections, permits and code enforcement), planning division (current planning, long-range planning and geographic information system administration) and grants and revenue development.

See A-1 and see Future, page A-3

Vanderpool Seeks 3rd Term
Handles about 1/2 of all criminal cases filed in county
By Ed Barker
The News
Superior Court Judge Janna Vanderpool has formally announced her candidacy for re-election for the Division 6 Superior Court judicial seat.
   Judge Vanderpool, a Democrat, has served as Superior Court Judge for the last eight years.
  Born in Excelsior Springs, Mo., in 1953, Vanderpool was raised in Casa Grande and currently resides near her parents in Gold Canyon. She has a daughter who is an attorney practicing in Washington, D.C.
   Vanderpool earned an Associate of Arts Degree in 1976 from Central Arizona College. She attended Arizona State University from 1977 to 78 and earned her bachelor of arts degree from University of Arizona in 1983. She earned her juris doctorate law degree in 1987 from University of Arizona College of Law.
   She was admitted to practice law in 1989 and was hired as deputy Pinal County attorney, prosecuting attorney, in November, 1989. She served in that capacity for 11 years, from 1989 to 2000. On Nov. 3, 2000, she was appointed as Superior Court judge pro tempore by Chief Justice Thomas A. Zlacket, Supreme Court of Arizona. Vanderpool was elected to serve on the Pinal County Superior Court bench beginning Jan. 1, 2001.
   During her first term (2001-2004), Judge Vanderpool handled a general caseload consisting of civil, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile delinquency and dependency matters. For most of that term she handled most of the juvenile matters filed in Pinal County.  

See A-1 and see Vanderpool, A-5

Football Is Back!
A.J. secondary will be tested by Washington QBs in Thursday’s pre-season scrimmage
By Chuck Baker
The News
The last time the Washington Rams visited Davis Field in 2006, their quarterback threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams 39-18 win over the Prospectors.
   Those same pass-happy Rams will make a return visit this Thursday, August 21, and will likely challenge the AJHS defensive secondary once again in a controlled scrimmage beginning at 7 p.m. at Davis Field. Admission to the scrimmage is free for those who bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to Food Bank.
   Washington lost itsquarterback from a year ago to graduation but it seems that whoever steps in to fill the void is going to drop and pass more often that not. The Rams threw for 2,829 yards and rushed for 1,318 yards in 2007 while posting a 7-5 overall record, which included a loss in the second round of the 4A-II State Tournament.
   Those passing yards were actually down from the 2006 season when Washington threw for over 4,000 during a 9-4 overall campaign. Both 2006 and 2007 seasons were under the tutelage of their head coach John Becktold, who is back to air it out in 2008. When the Rams drop back to pass, a favorite target will likely be senior wide receiver Trevor Johnson (6-2, 170), who had 26 receptions for 584 yards and four TDs in 2007.
   When the Prospectors go on offense this Thursday, they will have to wary of the Rams senior defensive end Kharyee Marshall, called “one of the best kept secrets in the West,” according to the recruiting organization, Rivals.com. In the past two seasons, Marshall (6-3, 205) has accounted for 208 total tackles and an amazing 28.5 sacks.

See C-1 and see AJHS, page C-2