Councilman’s Residency Under Scrutiny
May be violating state law— Former residence empty & for sale, family lives in Gilbert
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- The
issue of Councilman Joe Severs’ residency will be discussed at the Monday, March 17, city council work session on the recommendation of Mayor John Insalaco.
   Severs was absent from last week’s council meeting and Mayor John Insalaco said, “I would like to put this on a work session when Mr. Severs is here because I don’t want to do anything without him being present. That wouldn’t seem right. I think we might want to put it on an agenda for a work session and take it from there (before a formal investigation).”
   According to Arizona Revised Statute 38-291, an elected official must vacate his or her position if the person holding the office ceases to be a resident of the district, county, city, town or precinct for which he or she was elected.
   Severs’ home on N. Starr Road has been vacant and for sale since mid January. Meanwhile, his family is living in Gilbert; it is unclear where Severs is living. Calls to his phone went unanswered.
   An article in the East Valley Tribune last week quoted Severs as saying he moved his family to Gilbert because of the “messed up” schools in Apache Junction.
   During the Call to the Public at the March 4 city council meeting, many residents spoke for and against Severs, who was absent from the meeting due to a family obligation in California, according to City Clerk Kathy Connelly.

See A-1 and see City Council, A-3

Teen Killed Crossing Freeway
Three friends escape injury
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- An Apache Junction teen was struck and killed when she and three of her friends attempted to cross the U.S. 60 Superstition Freeway between Tomahawk and Goldfield Roads on Thursday, March 6, 2008.
   Sydney Felton, 15, was struck The News by an eastbound vehicle around 7 p.m. while running across the freeway from the south side of the road to the north side at milepost 197, according to Department of Public Service (DPS) Media Relations Coordinator Bart Graves.
   Felton sustained fatal injuries as a result and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other three teens made it across safely.
   The freeway was closed down for nearly three hours that evening while the Department of Public Service (DPS) investigated the accident.
   Officials said the driver of the vehicle that struck the girl did not appear to be impaired. Officials could give no reason why the girls were attempting to cross the freeway.

Police Commander Bids Farewell
Jay Swart leaves as his contract comes to an end
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- After two years serving as civilian commander for the Apache Junction Police Department (AJPD), Jay Swart began saying his good-byes last week before closing the door to his office for the last time on Thursday, March 6, 2008.
   For the past two years, Swart, 50, attacked his job with what some described as a “terrier-like tenacity” in his twoyear contracted role of second in command under former Chief Glenn Walp.
   Swart was immediately put in charge of media relations and administrative duties and was later given charge over Apache Junction Animal Control, which under Swart’s command, was expanded, remodeled and now offers Saturday hours.
   His work with animal control elicited a plea to city council to extend Swart’s disciplincontract from resident SuAnne Pinonieni at Tuesday’s city council meeting. “Since Jay Swart has been in charge of the Apache Junction Animal Shelter, the euthanasia rate has greatly declined. His efforts to work with Valley animal rescues to find homes for these healthy adorable, pets is to be commended. His willingness to listen to suggestions made by caring concerned citizens to install concrete flooring added to the overall and comfort for these animals,” said Pinonieni who urged council to extend his contract saying, “His two-year contract is up on Thursday, March 6, and as of today no new contract has been offered to him to continue the wonderful job he has done. . . Let’s not fix what isn’t broken. We need to keep Jay Swart.”

See A-1 and see Farewell, A-3

AJHS Boys Track One Point Short Vs. Chaparral
By Chuck Baker
The News
After the Apache Junction and Scottsdale Chaparral boys track and field teams battled against one another in last Monday’s seventeen-event meet held at Davis Field, the final outcome came down to a single point with Chaparral getting the nod, 66-65.
   Apache Junction took first place in nine events compared to eight first place finishes for Chaparral but the Firebirds more than made up that difference by grabbing twelve second place finishes.
   Junior Shane McCullen did his part once again for AJHS, winning three events, including in high jump where he tied the school record with a first place leap of six feet and four inches. Shane attempted to set a new mark with three tries at 6-5, barely missing on his third and final attempts.
   McCullen also won the 100 meters with a time of 11:11 and the 200 meters with a time of 22:59, and then anchored the Prospector winning 4x100 relay with their combined time of 44:14.
   Other multiple event winners for AJHS included Louie Crespo in shot put (47-3) and discus (145-6), Zane Morgan, who took first in the 800 meters with a time of 2:16.36 and then ran the third leg of the Prospector 4x800 meter relay team that finished first with a combined time of 9:10.67, and Josh Morgan, who won high jump with a leap of 19-7, and then ran the opening leg of the 4x100 meter relay team.

See C-1 and see Softball,  C-6