Emergency Landing!
At right, a hot air balloon was forced to make an emergency
landing in the subdivision behind the Red Sage
restaurant in Gold Canyon on Monday, December 28.
“It was quite interesting for us who witnessed it,” said
Terri Aragon, author and Gold Canyon resident. “Before
they landed, they were low enough for me to have
a conversation with them and make sure they were not
in trouble and needing assistance.”

AJ Couple Wins $1 Million
Roger and Deanna Phillips of Apache Junction stepped into the Arizona Lottery office in Phoenix Wednesday, January 6, expecting to walk away with a check for $1,000 from the Millionaire Raffle Holiday Edition—but instead were handed a check for $1 million. The retired couple is the grand prize winner of the latest Millionaire Raffle, which held its final drawing on Monday, January 4, awarding more than $3 million in cash prizes, from $500 to the single $1 million grand prize.
   On Wednesday afternoon, the couple were handed a check for $1 million, minus taxes, at a press conference and check presentation at lottery headquarters.
   Deanna Phillips said they had purchased the ticket in December as a Christmas gift to each other. On Wednesday morning, they stopped at a local Circle K on their way to the gym and checked their ticket there. The only information the clerk was able to share was that they had won a prize of at least $500.
   “We were hoping for a thousand,” Deanna Phillips told a crowded room of media and other onlookers.

See A-1

SSAR Finds Body In Canal
Sheriff’s team failed in their search for the man
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Local authorities and volunteers recovered the body of a man at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, January 3, who didn’t return home after partying on New Year’s Eve.
   “Raymond Churchill, 26, was reported missing, ” stated Tami Villar, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, shortly after Churchill disappeared.
   “Deputies (initially) looked around neighborhoods and in the area surrounding the canal, said Villar. “They located a hat and shoe, which were confirmed to be the victim’s. Our department (PCSO) used hooks to check the water and walked the banks.”
   Villar went on to report, “We set up patrols to inspect the banks and gates every hour. We made a request to drain the canal, however, the canal owner’s stated fee would be approximately $10,000. Directions were given to patrol to continue searching, hourly at the canal. Deputies used hooks again and the area was patrolled hourly during day and night. In the morning, PCSO SAR (search and rescue) had canal personnel open the gates to try and flush the body up.

See A-1 and see Search, A-9

Prospectors Win Three In Holiday Hoops
By Chuck Baker
The News
For a team that won only three games in each of the past two seasons, Apache Junction’s performance during the Copa Hoops Tournament played at Maricopa High School during the Christmas break may have been the best stretch of basketball the AJHS kids have played since 2007. The Prospectors equaled their win total from the 2009 and 2008 seasons in just two days, winning three close games against Tucson Empire, Phoenix South Pointe and Fountain Hills, before losing by ten to the host school, Maricopa.
   In their tournament opener against Empire, the two teams were deadlocked 44-44 with two minutes to play and Apache Junction went on an 8-0 run to close out a 52-44 victory. Colt Grandstaff poured in 30 points to lead the Prospectors while guard Dimario Hill netted 12 points.
   Next up for Apache Junction was the game against South Pointe, who led most of the way until Hill knocked down a three-point shot with :38 left in regulation to put the Prospectors out in front 52-50. Guard Mike Cano then came up with a steal at the defensive end and Hill sank a pair of free throws to give Apache Junction a 54-50 win.

See B-1 and see HOOPS, B-3