City Facing Possible Lawsuit Over Vice Mayor’s ‘Road Rage’ Incident
Couple files precursor to suit against Apache Junction for $700,000
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The couple involved in what has been dubbed a “road rage incident” with Vice Mayor R.E. Eck and his son Robert E. Eck III filed a claim against the City of Apache Junction on April 1 for injuries sustained due to “the assault (allegedly by the Ecks) and wrongful charging committed on Eric Martinez by police officers employed by the City of Apache Junction,” according to a letter from their lawyer.
  But the Apache Junction Police Department (AJPD) was not involved in the October 2, 2009 incident, according to the record. The AJPD did respond to the call regarding the incident at Idaho Road and Apache Trail but “conflicted out” because the matter involved a city official and immediately turned the case over to Pinal County Sheriff’s deputies for investigation. The case was referred to Gila County for prosecution in order to avoid any conflict of interest by Pinal County. Gila County declined to charge Eck because there was “no likelihood of conviction.”
  In a letter to Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason, Mesa attorney Harry P. Friedlander is asking for $450,000 for Eric Martinez and $250,000 for Cristine Martinez. The claim is a legal precursor to a lawsuit.
  It’s frivolous, just frivolous,” said Apache Junction City Attorney Joel Stern. Attempts to reach Vice Mayor Eck for comment were unsuccessful.

See A-1 and see Road Rage, A-3

Council Honors Donor
Sanford gave $8,000 to Arizona State Park
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
A Texas winter visitor who donated $8,000 to the Arizona State Parks Foundation for the continued operation of Lost Dutchman State Park (LDSP) was honored at the 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, City Council meeting.
  Mayor John Insalaco presented Taylor Sanford Jr. with a certificate of appreciation. Sanford, who winters in Mesa, received a standing ovation.
  According to Arizona State Parks staff, this donation will keep the park open for one of the three months during the summer of 2010 that LDSP would otherwise have been closed due to a lack of funding resulting from legislative budget sweeps.
  It was one of several presentations/ proclamations during the meeting, which is held in chambers at 300 E. Superstition Boulevard.
  Also at the meeting,
• The Arizona Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association presented its $1,815 donation to the Parks and Recreation Department Scholarship Fund.
• Insalaco proclaimed April as “Fair Housing Month,” April 18-24 as “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week” and April 11-17 as “National Public Safety Telecommunication Week.”

See A-1 and see Park Donor, A-9

Help Celebrate City’s Freeway Enhancements
Designs have arrived at U.S. Highway 60 Tomahawk, Goldfield exchanges
The City of Apache Junction, recognizing highway improvements recently completed by The Arizona Department of Transportation, invites the public to attend the grand commemoration of its Tomahawk/Goldfield and U.S. Highway 60 Freeway Landform Rock Art Projects.
  Ceremonies to commemorate this occasion will be held at the Tomahawk Eastbound U.S. Highway 60 on-ramp, from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 15. The on-ramp is closed to traffic for this special event from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Light refreshments, guest speakers and a color guard will provide information and entertainment. All are invited to take part in the event. Parking is available south on Auto Center Drive and at Robert Horne Ford.
  The City of Apache Junction was previously awarded approximately $1.5 million in funding for the beautification of two U.S. Highway 60 traffic interchanges through the Transportation Enhancement Act for the 21st Century (“TEA-21”) enhancement and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) monies. Funding was approved by the Arizona Transportation Board provided through the Federal Highway Administration.

See A-1 and see Freeway, A-9

AJHS Girls Split With Queen Creek
By J.J. Digos and Chuck Baker
The News
  The Lady Prospectors softball team looked to rebound after their 8-1 loss to top ranked Tucson Canyon del Oro last week with two games against their rival Queen Creek Bulldogs.
  On Tuesday, the two teams played one another in Queen Creek. The Apache Junction offense started slow and by the fourth inning, they were down 6-1. However, in the latter stages of the game, the Lady Prospectors valiantly fought back, scoring four runs in the fifth inning, two in the sixth, and then taking the lead in the top half of the seventh and holding on in the last half, winning by a score of 8-7.
  Senior second baseman Victoria Marquez was 4-for-5 at the plate, scoring a run and also driving in a run. Jade Yost went 3-for-4, including a double and triple. The sophomore also tacked on a pair of RBI. Shelby Olson and Autumn Rhodes each tallied up a pair of base hits. Rhodes also had three runs batted in and scored a run late in the game. Lindsey Skinner also added her tenth double of the season as her only base hit.
  The season rubber-match was played on Thursday at AJHS. The Lady Prospectors were looking to win their second game in a row for the first time this season, not counting tournament play.

See B-1 and see Girls, B-2