Donations To Brighten Focal Point
Engraved bricks, lit trees will adorn Focal Point
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Apache Junction Community Development Corporation (CDC), in cooperation with the City of Apache Junction, is accepting donations from citizens, groups and companies wishing to help refurbish the downtown business district and Focal Point.
   Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the CDC to sponsor the lighting of a tree, installation of an inscribed paver, or the installation of a park bench at the Focal Point.
   “This effort has been going on for a long time with citizens working together,” said City Councilman Jeff Serdy. “Many have worked behind the scenes to help launch this start for downtown restoration. It’ll keep going and watch as these improvements are realized. These improvements will come through donations there is no City funding involved.”
   For a donation of $530, one of the trees at the Focal Point or along Phelps Drive can be lit. Trees can be lit to commemorate a loved one, celebrate an anniversary or other pay tribute to a significant person in the donor’s life. A commemorative plaque will be placed adjacent to the tree noting the person or event.
   The project, formally known as the Focal Point Restoration Project, offers the following opportunities for donating:
• Park bench, $1,500 • Lighting of a tree, $530 • Inscribed paver, $50 • Other monetary donations
are also accepted.

See A-1 and see Focal Point, A-3

Former Councilwoman Carol Urich Dies
She was part of the governing body for seven years
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
Known for her colorful golf cart, former City Councilwoman Carol L. Urich died Monday, July 5.
   Capt. Tom Kelly of the Apache Junction Police Department said Urich was found dead on Monday at her home by a neighbor. She was released from the medical examiner’s office on Thursday, July 8, to At Season’s End mortuary.
   Kelly said it appears she died from cardiovascular disease.
Urich was first appointed to the City Council on July 2, 1996, upon Councilwoman Grace Hagner’s death, according to Jan Mason, deputy city clerk. She was elected in the primary on March 9, 1999.
   Urich lost in the general election May 20, 2003, and ran again and lost March 8, 2005. She never ran again, Mason said.
   “Carol was a great lady,” said Pat Brenner, the City’s public information officer. “She loved going to community and neighborhood meetings and was dedicated to helping the citizenry. She was also a real character in a good way. When her golf cart was jammin’ down the highway, you knew something was in motion. I’ll never forget one Lost Dutchman Days day when she showed up in her cart with a giant pink pig stuffed figurine. I don’t remember where it came from but she had that for quite a while.”

See A-1 and see Urich, A-2

Fire District OKs Budget
House casts lone dissenting vote
By Betty Swanson
The News
Governing Board Chairman Todd House cast the only dissenting vote as the 2010-2011 budget of $19,721,322 for the Apache Junction Fire District was approved on July 7 by a vote of three to one.
   Board member Linda Shank was not present at the meeting.
Although he did not voice his reason for the “nay” vote at the time of the voting, House said after the meeting that couldn’t vote for the proposed budget because he felt there should have been “more cuts made this year, so we wouldn’t have to cut so much next year.”
   He also further explained a statement that he made during the meeting. He said he felt that talks with labor union representatives needed to start “soon,” citing “tough decision will have to be made next year.” The reason being, he later said, is that next year “we may have to have pay cuts made.”
   The budget that was approved for 2010-2011 left employee wages at the same rate as last year, although employees gained ground, as noted by House, from having the district cover a 12 percent raise in the cost of medical benefits for employees (approximately one percent of employee salary).

See A-1 and see Fire District, A-9

AJHS Volleyball Serves Up Summer
By Chuck Baker
The News
The month of July belongs to the Lady Prospector volleyball team. With Summer softball and basketball ending the last week of June, AJHS volleyball is as the forefront now as the Lady Prospectors compete in the Phoenix College Prep League and a series of Summer tournaments.
   Apache Junction competed on July 1 in the Phoenix College Prep League and recorded straight set wins over Surrey Garden and Horizon Honors before falling two sets to one to Glendale Independence. The AJHS girls will return to Phoenix College this Thursday, July 15 for three more matches beginning at 7:00 p.m. They will take on Valley Vista at 7:00 p.m., then have a rematch with Independence at 8:00 p.m. and close out the evening taking on Glendale Cactus at 10:00 p.m. Phoenix College is located at 1202 W. Thomas Road.
   The AJHS girls will also be competing on Thursday, July 22 and Thursday, July 29 in the Phoenix College Summer League although exact start times for matches were not available when The News went to press. You can check out the volleyball team website link on the www.ajhs.ajusd.org website.

See B-1