Apache Junction Sailor Dies in Virginia
Father: Death under investigation
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Authorities are investigating the death of an Apache Junction sailor who died aboard the USS Enterprise in Norfolk, Va., on Easter Sunday, his father said.
   The cause of death of Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice (SA) J. Seth Pickett, 19, is unknown at this point, said Jeremy Pickett. The U.S. Navy public affairs office did not return calls for comment. His services were held Friday, April 9, and he was buried at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
   “He was buried with full military honors,” said Jeremy, who chose the cemetery because he wanted Seth “close to home.” The funeral services were overfilled with guests.
   Seth was fourth generation U.S. Navy and a former state championship wrestler from Red Mountain High School in East Mesa.
   “When he died, he was 180 pounds of rompin’, stompin’ hell,” Pickett said through tears.
Born in Florida and raised in Apache Junction, Seth was raised by his single father until Jeremy met the “most awesome woman,” Cynthia Pickett.
   “He loved her dearly,” Jeremy said. “He respected the hell out of her. He called her ‘mom.’”
Jeremy said Seth as a child was a “great kid” who wanted to stay outside all of the time. Besides wrestling, his other love was bicycles. Sponsored by Mike’s Bike Chalet, Seth was a BMX state champion through Black Mountain BMX in Phoenix.

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Map Crimes With New Website
Residents can see activity up to three months prior
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Residents will be able to review what types of crimes are being reported in Apache Junction thanks to new online service through CrimeMapping.com.
   The website not only allows residents to see a map of recent crime activity, but users can also select crime types and date ranges (up to three months prior), generate reports and receive e-mail updates and free crime alerts.
   “CrimeMapping.com promotes the department’s community- oriented policing efforts by opening up a strong communication channel between the police and the public they serve,” said Police Chief Jerald Monahan.
   The crime information will reflect reports that have been entered into a Records Management System and will be updated on a 24-hour basis. However, if a resident has information regarding a specific crime, an e-mail can be sent directly to the police department from the CrimeMapping. com website.
   “With this service our citizens, business owners and anyone considering relocation to Apache Junction will be empowered with knowledge,” Monahan said.
   “This knowledge and an ongoing partnership with the police department will make Apache Junction a safer place to live.”
   CrimeMapping.com is hosted by The Omega Group Inc., a GIS software developer, and provides timely crime incident information to millions of users throughout North America.

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A Special Treasure
Whiskey cache finder Hedrick participates in ‘CC Hide-a-Case’ revival
By Betty Swanson
The News
Unarguably, there has been one actual treasure found in the Superstition Mountain locale.
   In 1978, local treasure hunter Larry Hedrick, now special projects director at the Superstition Mountain Museum, found the case of Canadian Club whiskey that was buried “near the site of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Arizona” as part of a major multi-year national advertising campaign.
   Now, 32 years later, Hedrick recently returned from an appearance at an event held at the venerable Explorer’s Club in New York City that was part of the kick-off of the resurrected Canadian Club “Hide-a-Case” treasure hunt/ ad campaign.
   It was an all-expenses invitation to present the story of his find as a part of a press presentation, but Hedrick emphasizes that the biggest thrill for him was actually speaking at the New York Explorer’s Club.
   “That was the big deal for me,” Hedrick said. “Local yokel speaks at the Explorer’s Club.”
 A sister organization of the National Geographic Society, the Explorer’s Club, located in the Lowell Thomas Building on East 70th Street, was founded in 1904 and is dedicated to promoting the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore.

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Summer Hoops Kick Off
By Chuck Baker
The News
Just one day after graduation ceremonies, the new version of Lady Prospector basketball hit the courts playing in the Mesa Skyline Summer Shoot-Out and did so with mixed result. Apache Junction, without a returning varsity starter on the court, pulled off a thrilling 36-35 victory over Casa Grande on Janae Avelar’s running bank-shot with just four seconds left in regulation in their first game, but then got schooled by an experienced Valley Christian team, 71-33, in their second game.
   The inexperienced varsity squad still had two more games to go in the tournament last Saturday, one against Queen Creek and one against Tempe Corona Del Sol but results from Saturday’s games were not available when The News went to press.
   Apache Junction fielded a second team in the Skyline tournament, likely next year’s junior varsity squad, who were shell-shocked in their opener, 57-4, at the hands of Arizona Premier, but then settled down a bit in game two, falling to the Valley Christian junior varsity team, 27-22.
   Like the varsity team, the J.V. girls also had two remaining tournament games last Saturday but results were not available at press time.
   In the varsity team’s opener against Casa Grande, guard Jade Yost, after missing her previous nine shots in the game, knocked down a three-pointer with a little over two minutes to go to pull Apache Junction to within 33-31.

See B-1 and see Hoops, B-6