White Powder Raises Alarm In AJ
Intersection closed to traffic while Haz/Mat team does their job
By Ed Barker
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Police and public safety officials closed off two businesses and the major intersection at Apache Trail and Meridian Drive late Friday afternoon after a white powdery substance was discovered by a restaurant worker.
   The safety precautions were taken while officials investigated a suspicious white powder that spilled from a roll of pennies when they were opened, authorities say.
   Apache Junction Police Capt. Tom Kelly said an employee of the Cafe Laguna, 11518 W. Apache Trail (in unincorporated Maricopa County), opened a new roll of pennies inside the restaurant that suddenly released an unknown white powder. The employee then took the coins across the street to Bank of America, 3160 W. Apache Trail (in Apache Junction city limits), at 4:30 p.m. to exchange the pennies for a new roll.
   Kelly said the restaurant employee later complained of a burning sensation supposedly caused by the powder. Police have not released the identity of the employee.

See A-1 and see HAZ/MAT, page A-12

Severs Quits City Council
Controversial councilman steps down nearly a year after moving family to Gilbert
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- After much speculation over his actual place of residency and many calls for his resignation, controversial Councilman Joe Severs quit the Apache Junction City Council on Tuesday, October 7, 2008, in the midst of a regular council meeting.
   According to City Clerk Kathy Connelly, Severs did not submit a resignation letter.
“There was just his public statement last night,” she said on Wednesday, October 8.
   In his statement, which came early in the meeting, the self-employed contractor said his foreclosed home was auctioned off that morning because “the economy’s gotten the best of me.” He has reportedly been living with his family in Gilbert since November 2007, a move that legally requires his resignation from the council.
   “I’m surprised I wasn’t attacked tonight by some of these negative people in the community. I have an apartment that is available to me if I wish to stay,” he told the crowd.
   “This is going to be hard to say because I care about these people in the community. I care about growth, improvement, progress and stepping into the 21st century. However, the amount of resistance I’ve received in trying to accomplish some of these goals is mind boggling. I’m not a quitter but I know when to stop beating my head against the wall with no change. This is my resignation.

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

AJ ‘Habitat’ Goes Green
New Habitat for Humanity homes to be LEED certified
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Following an example set by the City of Apache Junction, Habitat for Humanity will make each future home in Ironwood Trails environmentally friendly, according to City Manager George Hoffman.
   “This is a wonderful achievement for Habitat and for Apache Junction,” Hoffman said.
   The homes, built to Energy Star standards, will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. Existing homes are and future homes will be powered by solar panels donated by SRP (Salt River Project).
   Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping Americans save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices, according to its Web site.
   “The LEED Green Building Rating System encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices,” Hoffman said.

See A-1

Prospectors Hold Off Matadors For 7-5 Win
McCullen is back; Fernando goes crazy on defense
By Chuck Baker
The News
The mark of a good head football coach is the ability to effectively communicate with your players. And as a good communicator, you must also be a good listener. So when two of his top offensive players approached Coach Rich Milligan with a suggestion during last Friday’s close game with Shadow Mountain, Coach Milligan decided to run with it, literally.
   After the Shadow Mountain Matadors missed a go-ahead 34-yard field goal attempt with just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter leaving Apache Junction clinging to a 7-5 lead in a defensive battle, the Prospectors, heading into a stiff breeze, desperately needed to put together a long drive and chew up as much of the game clock as possible.
   Abandoning the “flexbone” offense in favor of the I-Formation as was suggested by senior running back Shane McCullen and junior quarterback Nate Scola, the Prospectors put together a 15-play drive that began at their own 20-yard line and ended at the Matadors 19-yard line with Scola taking a knee as the clock expired, giving Apache Junction a hard fought 7-5 victory to improve to 6-1 on the season.

See B-1 and see AJHS, page B-4