Happy Trails To You
Part II— Resident Wayne Standage takes the reins on trails project
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Resident Wayne Standage feels Apache Junction is a goldmine for outdoor enthusiasts.
   “We’re not a gateway,” he said. “We’re not a portal. We’re the destination for outdoor recreation. Being a fourth-generation Arizonan, we have the most fabulous thing right here on our doorstep— Superstition Mountain. Then there are the lakes and then you got the Goldfields. Over the rise is the river. There’s riding. There’s hiking. There’s bicycling. There’s all kinds of stuff that can be done out here.”
   It was Standage’s love of horses and his wish to research his genealogy that led him to investigate the possibility of trail connectivity throughout the city.
   “What happened is I moved back over to this area five years ago,” Standage said. “I’m fourth-generation Arizonan. I attended high school in Mesa. My great-great grandfather was one of the four that founded Mammoth and Black Queen mines. My grandfather was on the highway board. It used to be called the Highway 60 Commission back in the ‘30s, which got Highway 60 through town.
   “My great-grandfather used to freight these trails out here going to Roosevelt Dam, Goldfield, when it was a mining operation, and Silver King. As I’ve been doing my genealogy, I come across this stuff. I started researching where the roads were. Then I looked at old photos. The old photos don’t match up to the current Apache Trial. Then I started on more research. I’ve gotten copies of 100-year-old USGS maps, mining claim maps, did a whole bunch of research.”

See A-1 and see Trails, A-9

Teacher Arrested For Sexual Conduct With AJ Student
Gold Canyon man taken into custody Friday morning
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a 47-year-old German/science teacher with Apache Junction High School on eight counts of sexual conduct with a minor on Friday, February 19. Jonathan Krieger, who taught at the school since 2005, is also known as John Snell and
   Johnathan Raye, said Tami Villar, the PCSO spokeswoman. He has also been a teacher at Sequoia Charter School in Mesa and Apache Trail High School in Apache Junction.
 Detectives began a week and- a-half long investigation after receiving information from a person who reported they believed there may be a “relationship” between Krieger, of the 800 block of West Tonto in Gold Canyon, and a 16-year-old student at Apache Junction High School. Villar said the investigation revealed evidence to support the accusations and several warrants were issued to include a search warrant to seize a personal computer at the school where Krieger is employed.
  Detectives took Krieger into custody early Friday morning after he left his residence for work.
Earlier in the day, Superintendent Chad Wilson sent home with students a vague letter to parents merely stating “one of our employees was placed under arrest by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office prior to coming to work. At this time, we do not have any specific information about this situation. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is not at liberty to discuss the incident with us. As always, we will work with law enforcement to continue to ensure the safety of our students.” It did not name the teacher or the crime.

See A-1 and see Teacher, A-3

Dudley 50th AJHS Wrestling State Champ
By Chuck Baker
The News
   Apache Junction High School senior Brandon Dudley became the school’s 50th individual wrestling State Champion when he defeated Louis Payne of Marana 6-0 to capture the 215-pound weight class title February 12 at the 4A-I State Wrestling Championships held in Prescott Valley.
   Dudley, the number two seed in the 215-pound class, went a perfect 4-0 at the state tournament and finished his outstanding senior season with a 35-4 overall record.
   In the first round of the state tournament, Dudley pinned his opponent from Cienega at 3:23 of the second period to advance to the quarterfinals. In the second round, Dudley won a 7-2 decision over a wrestler from Glendale Apollo to advance to the semifinals where he faced the number three overall seed, Chris Rivera, from Peoria. The semifinal match was Brandon’s closest of the tournament, and with a 4-2 decision, he advanced to the finals against Payne.
   The first wrestling state champ from AJHS was Scotty Weirs back in 1976. Since that time, Apache Junction has crowned forty-nine more individual state champs, won three team state titles, and finished runner-up as a team at State eight times in its rich tradition of wrestling success.

See B-1 and see State, B-2