Dead Man’s Fiancée Frustrated With PCSO’s Failure To Find Body
Woman says ‘guardian angel’ gave her phone number for Superstition Search and Rescue
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Some days are tough for Crystal Hayes. But other days are easy, especially when she thinks of the smile that once graced the face of her nowdeceased fiance Raymond Churchill.
   San Tan Valley resident Churchill, 25, was found dead in a San Tan Valley canal at 10:40 a.m. Sunday, January 3, by Superstition Search and Rescue, who dredged the canal after, Hayes said, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies had left the scene.
   But one emotion remains the same: frustration. She is frustrated with the PCSO’s unwillingness to work with Superstition Search and Rescue.
   “The thing that upsets me the most is the relationship between the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and Superstition Search and Rescue,” Hayes said via telephone from Colorado, where she returned after Churchill died.
   “The fact that we have to notify them (SSAR) ourselves ... It wasn’t given to us that we needed to do that. I don’t know that the outcome would have been any different, but we wouldn’t have had the stress of not knowing any answers for so long.”

See A-1 and see Fiancée, A-9

City Eyeing Ways To Keep Park Open
State law prevents annexation
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
City of Apache Junction officials are weighing the options available to keep Lost Dutchman State Park open.
   “This is still very early in the process for all of us,” said the City’s Economic Development Director Steve Filipowicz. “I don’t think we have ruled anything out. City staff is doing its homework to see if we can offer a proposal that will make sense for us financially and respect the stewardship for this treasured asset that State Parks otherwise performs so admirably.
   We must stress we have made no recommendation to our City Council nor have we received any formal direction to do so.”
   The Arizona State Parks Board voted unanimously Friday, January 15, to shutter 13 state parks, including Lost Dutchman State Park, in a phased series of closures starting February 22 due to six different parks funds being swept of $8.6 million. Lost Dutchman State Park is scheduled to close June 3. In the past, the City has offered its help in running the park.
   “Last August, State Parks Director Renee Bahl wrote to Mayor (John) Insalaco, and hundreds of other public officials across Arizona, explaining the difficult financial straits that the State Parks system were in and asking that we consider exploring and expanding local partnerships with them in order to cut costs.

See A-1 and see State Park, A-8

School Closure Meeting Feb. 23
Governing board to decide schools’ fate
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Apache Junction Unified School District Governing Board has chosen Tuesday, February 23, as the meeting during which it will decide whether or not to close Thunder Mountain Middle and Gold Canyon Elementary schools.
   The governing body made the decision at its Thursday, January 28, meeting, during which the board members commented on the content of the school closure meetings held Tuesday, January 19, at Gold Canyon Elementary School and Wednesday, January 20, at Thunder Mountain Middle School.
   Board member Lucy Young said she was surprised that busing younger children with older kids was a hot topic among parents at Thunder Mountain Middle School. She stated that not many 11th and 12th graders ride the bus, so it shouldn't really be an issue.
   “I was shocked that this was the focus of the meeting,” Young said.
 Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson said he met with Thunder Mountain Middle School's parent-teacher organization and its members were, too, concerned about busing. Wilson said they were worried about young children being exposed to high school behavior. School board member Debbie Skinner agreed with Young and added that most high schoolers are on the bus concentrating on their iPods. She explained that she's not so concerned about high school students, but middle school kids who are full of energy.
   “Our expectation is when you ride our buses you behave yourself,” added board president Wendy Moore. “We expect safe behavior on our buses.”
   Skinner said she was more distressed by the increase in parking lot activity at Desert Shadows Middle School once Thunder Mountain Middle School closes. Wilson said he would work with principals who have successfully dealt with this problem in the past to solve the issues at Desert Shadows Middle School.
   Board member Jeff Cranmer explained that he received positive feedback from parents who were pleased their young children will be attending elementary school for another year. The restructuring calls for a kindergarten through sixth grade elementary school program, a seventh and eighth grade junior high and a ninth through 12th grade high school.
   Moore said she met parents who weren't initially thrilled with the school closings but were sold on the idea after the meetings were finished.
   “Some were even excited about the changes,” Moore said. “They thought that their students would be better served academically.”
   Parents who would like to comment on the closures are invited to visit the AJUSD Web site at www.ajusd.org/collegereadiness/ comment.php.

Ladies In PINK
AJHS girls raise money for breast cancer awareness and pick up another region hoops win
By Chuck Baker
The News
All in all, last Tuesday’s special night of basketball at Apache Junction High School was a huge success. With the Lady Prospector junior varsity and varsity teams donning pink jerseys in support of breast cancer awareness, the AJHS girls raised some money to fight breast cancer and both squads picked up Desert Sky Region wins on the court, beating Queen Creek.
   The junior varsity girls won their game over Queen Creek, rallying from a 31-19 third quarter deficit for a 44-40 victory behind 16 points, eight rebounds and five steals from Rachael Bonow, while the varsity girls rolled to a 50-17 victory behind 12 points and five rebounds from senior center Jessica Iniguez.
   In between the two girls games, the Prospector boys varsity team hosted Queen Creek and in a see-saw battle throughout, the Bulldogs pulled off a 71-67 victory.
   The Lady Prospector varsity team had an easy time defeating Queen Creek, so much so that Coach Brock Kearsley began emptying his bench in the third quarter, even giving some playing time to girls off of the AJHS freshmen squad.

See B-1 and see PINK, B-2