New Fire Board Hits Brakes At 1st Meeting
Newly elected members want closer look at $5,000 annual lobbying dues to retired chief
By Meghan McCoy
The News
APACHE JUNCTION — A consent agenda item for the Apache Junction Fire District (AJFD) governing board, concerning a review and final approval of annual dues in the amount of $5,000 for the Arizona Urban Fire District’s Association (AzUFDA), was tabled until the next board meeting on Wednesday January 21, 2009, for further discussion.
  Newly elected board members Jeff Cross, Justin Jackson and Mike Weaver said they wanted to seek more information about AzUFDA before they approve the annual dues to make sure the association is effective for the district.
   Cross said he tabled the item until next month because he wanted to look further into AzUFDA and see if the money being spent by the district is effective. “The amount of money seemed like it was an excessive amount,” he said.
   He said he was also concerned that the past board voted for the AzUFDA to give a past employee, former Fire Chief John Flynn another $5,000.

See A-1 and See Fireboard, A-5

County Employee Arrested In Identity Theft
Florence man had access to files in Recorder’s office. Citizen complaint led to arrest
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
FLORENCE— A Pinal County employee was arrested Tuesday, December 16, on charges of stealing a citizen’s identity through his access at the Pinal County Recorder’s office, a county spokeswoman said.
   Albert Robbs, 51, of Florence, is charged with theft, taking the identity of another and impairing the availability of a public record, according to Public Information Officer Heather Murphy and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held at Pinal County’s Adult Detention facility in Florence on $25,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, December 26.
   “My office and my staff are cooperating fully with this investigation,” County Recorder Laura Dean-Lytle said in a press release issued by Murphy.
   The arrest follows a citizen complaint about possible identity theft or forgery. Robbs is linked to the daughter of County Recorder Dean-Lytle. Murphy said she did not know the extent of their relationship or the name of the daughter, who does not work for the county.
   “As an elected official, I place the public trust ahead of family matters. I have pledged my full and complete cooperation to authorities. Crimes, if they were committed, will not be tolerated,” Dean-Lytle said.
   The county attorney’s office will be referring the case to another prosecutor’s office to avoid any questions as to the impartiality of the prosecution, Murphy said.

AJ News Honored By Chamber of Commerce
Named “Small Business Of The Year”
By Meghan McCoy
The News
The Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards meeting on Friday, December 19, 2008, to present awards to the Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Ambassador of the Year and the Bob Lake Chamber Star of the Year, along with a year in review after breakfast.
   The Small Business of the Year was presented to Ed Barker and Chuck Baker of the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon News.
   Board Chairman Tony Vehon said the News has partnered with the chamber for many years in publishing new member ribbon cuttings, event notices and stories relevant to the business community.
   He added that a “special gratitude goes to the newspaper for their special issue Cowboy. With the assistance of the Apache Junction News this 2-year-old event has risen to significant recognition, putting Apache Junction on the map as a location to visit even in the summertime.”
   The News was also selected as “Business of the Year” in 1999.

See A-1 and see Chamber Awards, A-6

Aulik, Karbo Named All-Tournament
Also at the Payson Tourney, Cranmer wins 3-point contest
By Chuck Baker
The News
The Lady Prospector varsity basketball team was well represented at the Payson Invitational Tournament played December 12 and 13. The AJHS girls went 2-2 during the twoday tournament and Lady Prospectors Sierra Aulik and Katie Karbo were both selected to the All-Tournament team while teammate Sara Cranmer won the three-point shooting contest.
   Apache Junction’s two tournament losses came against some tough competition. The AJHS girls, playing against Glendale Apollo for the second time in four days, fared much better in Payson with their 38-32 loss.
   Apollo had been averaging 68 points a game this season and back on December 9 in A.J., handed the Lady Prospectors a 64-40 defeat on their home court. In that win, Apollo scored 23 of their 64 points at the foul line while attempting 34 free throws.
   “The Apollo game was close,” AJHS coach Brock Kearsley said via e-mail. “We played well but just came up short. I am proud of our girl’s defense in this game. We held them to 38 points.”
    “The first time we played Apollo, we committed a lot of fouls,” Kearsley added. “Our focus in the tournament was to move our feet, play better defense and force teams to shoot from the outside. We only committed 10 fouls this time around. I was pleased with our effort.”

See B-1 and see HOOPS, page B-3