Former Mayor Fills City Council Seat
City Manager Takes Benefits Cut
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Former Apache Junction Mayor Doug Coleman has returned to the City Council, filling the spot left open by the resignation of councilman Joe Severs. Meanwhile, City Manager George Hoffman took a self-imposed slice in benefits to save the city $10,000 during the Tuesday, November 18, regular City Council meeting.
   In an expected move, the Apache Junction City Council unanimously appointed Coleman to the spot during its meeting. Coleman assumes Severs’ term that ends in June, unless he runs and is successful in the March election. He was sworn in Wednesday, November 19, by City Clerk Kathy Connelly.
   “Being a short term like this, if it were a longer term, I think I would have possibly voted different,” Councilman Jeff Serdy said. “I think the experience figured in. I like to use baseball analogies: At the end of the season, you don’t want to bring a rookie in for the last push.”
   Before voting “yes,” Councilman Chip Wilson said, “I believe he has got some of the best knowledge of what’s going on.”

See A-1

DSMS Student Returns From Washington, D.C.
Ewert participated in the People to People Ambassador Forum
By Meghan McCoy
The News
A seventh grade student from Desert Shadows Middle School (DSMS) recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he had the opportunity to participate in the People to People Ambassador Forum for six days this past October.
   Omar Ewert, son of Jessica and Karl, has lived in Apache Junction since he was a young boy. The 13-year-old student currently is the seventh grade student council president, along with the student editor in chief for The Lurking Shadow, DSMS student newspaper.
   Ewert’s teacher Patrick Kee made his trip to the nation’s capital possible by nominating him for his leadership skills. His trip, which was from October 6 through October 12, began at 7:30 a.m. when his delegation (Madison delegation) left and ended at 10:30 p.m. when they arrived back to the Hilton hotel.
   The People to People Ambassador Forum gave him the opportunity to visit most of the national monuments, the Jefferson Memorial, the White House, Gettysburg, along with seeing where the Supreme Court was.

See A-1 and see D.C. Student, A-7

G.C. Residents To See Lower Sewer Rates
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Beginning next month, Gold Canyon residents will see a decrease in their Gold Canyon Sewer Co. bills as the Arizona Corporation Commission voted 4-1 Thursday, November 13, to reduce the company’s rate from $60.67 to $52 per month.
   “That does not sound like a lot, but multiply it by 12 months and by the number of households in Gold Canyon,” wrote A.D.O.B.E. President Roy Fuerherm in an e-mail to The Apache Junction/Gold Canyon News. “Too bad it was not retroactive.”
   Previously, Gold Canyon residents were paying $35 per month. That is a 48-percent increase.
  The Arizona Corporation Commission originally granted the rate hike in June 2006. According to Commissioner Gary Pierce, the Residential Utility Consumer Office, a group paid for by the state that keeps an eye out for consumer interests in utility cases, appealed it. In overturning it, the commission went against the advice of its staff and Administrative Law Judge Dwight Nodes, who presided over the hearing.   Chairman Mike Gleason voted against the rate reduction. According to published reports, he called the vote “the greatest miscarriage of justice in my four years on the board.” He did not respond to interview requests from The Apache Junction/Gold Canyon News.

See A-1 and see Sewer Rates, A-5

All-Girl Stunt Team Heads To ‘State’
AJHS girls to compete January 17, 2009 in Prescott Valley at the 2008-09 AIA State Spiritline Championships
By Chuck Baker
The News
Congratulations to the Apache Junction High School All-Girl Stunt Team of Alissa Govert, Chenise Quiroz, Courtney Jackson, Desiree Stinnett and Nikki Dillon for earning the right to compete at the 2008-09 Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) State Spiritline Championships after placing 5th overall at the Agua Fria Regional qualifier held November 15 at Barry Goldwater High School in Phoenix.
   The AJHS girls scored 232 points at the qualifier to finish in 5th place behind Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (277), Tucson Sabino (269), Glendale Sandra Day O’Connor (259) and Goodyear Millennium (233), and will now compete in the 2008-09 AIA State Spiritline Championships on Saturday, January 17 at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.
   Also at the November 15 qualifier, the AJHS girls Show Cheer squad of Govert, Quiroz, Jackson, Stinnett, Dillon, Chyna Gade, Lauren Stewart, Brittany Rials, Elizabeth VanDyke, Tiffani Hernandez, Brittany Weese, Nicole Schmidt, Shawna Coolidge and Kara Geil gave a solid performance and ended up placing 10th overall.

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