Collision Kills One On Apache Trail
Rose remembered as caring person
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
A 32-year-old Apache Junction resident is being remembered as kind and caring after he was killed in a one-car collision outside of the Dash In on Saturday, July 10.
   Jason Rose died after he lost control of his truck and hit a planter box near the convenience store and the attached restaurant The Hitching Post at 2341 E. Apache Trail.
   “He was traveling southbound on (Highway) 88,” said Capt. Tom Kelly from the Apache Junction Police Department. “Witnesses said he was traveling at a extremely high rate of speed.”
   When he crossed Lost Dutchman Boulevard, the vehicle went from the southbound lane left, cut across and hit the flower box and railroad ties, Kelly said.
   “The truck went airborne and split right in half and rolled. There was no immediate indications of alcohol use or impaired driving. The cause is undetermined. He may have had some medical issues, which could have played a role in it.”
   Family friend Donna Carr
 said she will miss Rose’s caring nature.

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Vote Thrusts Legion Into National Spotlight
Organization drops Cinco de Mayo celebration
By Betty Swanson
The News
A vote by a small number of members at a meeting of the Apache Junction American Legion to drop the annual Cinco de Mayo post celebration suddenly became a political hot potato during the last two weeks and gained national attention after one unhappy attendee notified the Phoenix media.
   On Tuesday, July 6, the Arizona Republic did a short story on the vote quoting veteran Harry Warren, 86, as saying that he believed that the vote was “a backlash” to protests by Latino groups against Arizona’s recent passage of Senate Bill 1070, a controversial law aimed at finding and deporting illegal immigrants.
   The story was picked up the same day by USA Today and received national attention via the Internet. The telephone at Post 27 began ringing off the hook. Calls have been coming in from everyone from reporters and radio hosts to angry American Legion members and private citizens who wanted to air their opinions, pro or con, on the vote, said Post 27 Commander Felix Gonzalez.

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School District Opens Technology Campus
LaPrise to head up Cactus Canyon
By Betty Swanson
The News
Meet Cactus Canyon Junior High School (CCJHS)—the newest school in town.
   On Monday, August 9, the Apache Junction Unified School District will be opening the new school—a seventh through eighth grade junior high school—born as the result of two school closings and a consolidation of students. It’s a money-saving move.
   The physical plant of Desert Shadows Middle School, located at the corner of Southern Avenue and San Marcos, has been reincarnated with a new grade format, name, mascot, administrators, competitive sports program, and, most importantly, a new technology-based approach to learning.
   According to Larry LaPrise, new principal at the school, the most unique change in the learning environment is the fact that all seventh grade students will be issued a personal portable notebook computer (a smaller version of a laptop computer) to keep with them through junior high school and on through Apache Junction High School. Teachers will be furnished laptops to carry with them.

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Catching Up With Katie Corbin
Former AJHS catcher hit .420 for South Mtn. CC, drove in 30 runs and was chosen NCAA D2 All-American
By Chuck Baker
The News
Former three-time, All- Region catcher and an Apache Junction High School softball Hall of Fame inductee, Katie Corbin, recently wrapped up a successful sophomore season at South Mountain Community College.
   Katie, who also catches for SMCC, batted .420 this past Spring, drove in 30 runs, helped lead South Mountain to their first ever NJCAA National bid and was selected a NFCA NJCAA Division-2 All- American.
   South Mountain Community College posted a 37-17 overall record and was seeded sixth overall for the NJCAA D2 National Championships. South Mountain won their first tournament game played in Bloomington, Illinois over Highland Community College (Kansas) by a 12-4 score but then dropped back-to-back games to Muskegon Community College (Michigan) and Mercyhurst College (Pennsylvania) and were eliminated. Muskegon CC would go on to win the NJCAA National title.

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