Informational seminars Sept. 1 in Gold Canyon; Sept. 2 in Florence/Anthem

See A-1 and see Vistas, A-8

Sharon Stinard Wins ‘09 Hon Kachina Award
Founded Apache Junction’s CAAFA
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Jenny, a single mother of three, was addicted to methamphetamine and a victim of domestic violence until Sharon Stinard and the organization she started, Community Alliance Against Family Abuse (CAAFA), reached out and changed her life.
   With Stinard’s help Jenny and her children were given a safe place to live and Jenny was empowered to stop her substance abuse and go to college. Stinard, who is the Outreach Coordinator at Central Arizona College, has been helping people like Jenny for 17 years, since moving to Arizona.
   For her dedication to volunteerism she has been chosen as a recipient of the 2009 Hon Kachina Volunteer Award. Pam Betz, executive director of the Hon Kachina Council, outlined the reasons for Stinard’s win.
   “She won because of her passion for helping people that are victims of domestic violence and I also believe she set up the first domestic violence shelter (in Northern Pinal County),” Betz said. “She’s actually put her passion into action.”
   Stinard was nominated by Bernadette Miller, formerly of the Volunteer Center of Pinal County. Stinard was one of more than 70 citizens nominated for the Hon Kachina Volunteer Award.
   The Hon Kachina Council is a group of business and professional people, affiliated with St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, who promote and support community volunteerism.

See A-1 and see Stinard, A-9

Public Works Outlines Projects
Tells council of priorities
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The City of Apache Junction Public Works manager outlined to the City Council on Monday, August 17, his department’s priorities for fiscal year ’09-’10.
   According to Shane Kiesow, the Street Maintenance Goals for Fiscal Year ’09-’10 is to chipseal approximately 10 to 15 miles of streets; pave/stabilize five miles of dirt roads; reconstruct two miles of existing streets; and crackseal approximately 15 miles of streets.
   Chipseal is defined as a pavement surface treatment that combines a layer(s) of asphalt with a layer(s) of fine aggregate.
   The majority of the chipseal projects and dirt road paving/ stabilization is planned for the eastern and northern “rural” areas of the city, with more than likely, the majority of the projects happening next spring.
   The three street reconstruction/ paving projects planned for this fiscal year include Ironwood Drive from U.S. Highway 60 to 16th Avenue; Ironwood Drive from Tepee Street to Lost Dutchman Boulevard; and Delaware Drive from Apache Trail to Superstition Boulevard. There is no time frame for scheduling as of yet.  
   “As I discussed Monday night, more street maintenance projects can be expected if revenues received through the year are more than predicted,” Kiesow said.
   “The City of Apache Junction street maintenance has not been immune to the downturn of the economy as witnessed when over $1.5 million of street maintenance projects planned this last fiscal year were deferred indefinitely into the future.”

Varsity Cheer Scores At NCA Summer Camp
By Chuck Baker
The News
The varsity cheer squad from Apache Junction High School scored big at this Summer’s National Cheer Association camp held July 15-18 at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
   The AJHS girls brought home another Herkie Team Award, two SPOT awards, an award for Technical Excellence, three Superior ribbons and one Excellent ribbon for their performances, the Overall Spirit Megaphone Award voted on by other cheer squads at the camp, a Spirit Stick and a bid to the National Championships.
   As for individual awards at the NCA camp, Liz Van Dyke and Nicole Copley were chosen All-American Cheer Squad members, Chyna Gade picked up the Leadership Award, Van Dyke also earned the NCA Staff Offer, and Brittany Weese, Nicole Schmidt, Tiffani Hernandez, Lauren Stewart, Gade, Janie Hoyt, Nikki Dillon, Kara Geil, Van Dyke, Copley and Kelli Peterson were selected All-American Cheer Squad nominees.

See page B-1