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Former County Manager
Sentenced To 3 1/2 Years
 Prison time for Griffis started
immediately— Must pay restitution for
stolen county transportation funds
By Jill Jones
The News
PHOENIX- Former Pinal County
Manager Stanley Griffis was taken
into custody on Thursday, May 20,
2007 immediately following a decision
handed down by Maricopa
County Superior Court Judge Thomas
O’Toole sentencing him to two
1.5 year prison terms to run
concurrently
with an additional 3.5 year
term.
In January, 2007, Griffis, 64, entered
into a plea agreement, pleading
guilty to six felony charges of
credit card fraud, pension fraud, tax
fraud and to stealing more than
$426,000 from a county transportation
fund. The plea followed a
lengthy investigation into his
mishandling
of county funds. An
agreement as to sentencing was
not included in the plea.
As part of the agreement, Griffis is
to repay $639,035 in restitution; this
was in addition to $11,610.54 in
matching retirement funds that were
returned to the county from the
Arizona State Retirement System
due to his illegal attempts to increase
his state pension.
See
A-1
Police Announce School
Violence Prevention Program
 Department to partner with school
district and CAAFA
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- The
Apache Junction Police Department
(AJPD) announced plans for
an educational school violence
prevention
program, which includes
the participation of the Apache
Junction Unified School District
and Community Alliance Against
Family Abuse (CAAFA).
AJPD Chief Glenn Walp made the
announcement at a press conference
held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007
attended by members of the AJUSD
and CAAFA. Walp explained the
necessity of such a program, emphasizing
the need for a proactive
approach to stemming violence.
Incidents of violence do not occur
in a vacuum, explained Walp,
further pointing out that there is
usually a multiplicity of events that
lead up to violent behavior, which
is often only recognized in retrospect.
He said that in many instances
teachers, family members
or fellow students are aware of a
potential problem, but are not sure
what to do about it.
See
A-1
and see Prevention,
A-6
High School Teacher
Honored With “Teacher of the Year” Award
 Linda Manulow named by Apache Junction
Wal-Mart
PHOENIX – Linda Manulow, the choral
director
and music teacher at Apache Junction
High School,
has been named a “Teacher of the Year”
by Wal-
Mart stores. The award, which was given
as part of
Wal-Mart’s 12th annual Teacher of the
Year program,
comes in honor of National Teacher’s Day
on May
8. Ms. Manulow received a $1,000 grant
for her
school, a $100 gift card to buy supplies
for her classroom,
a Teacher of the Year polo shirt and a
personalized
certificate.
Over the next few days,
Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club
associates across the country are
announcing the
names of local teacher winners. One
teacher has
been selected as a “local winner” by
each Wal-Mart
store, Sam’s Club, Neighborhood Market
store and
Wal-Mart Distribution Center. Teachers
were nominated
by members of the community during
February
and selected by a committee of store or
club
associates. Nationwide, more than 4,000
teachers
are being honored by Wal-Mart’s Teacher
of the
Year program.
“The teachers in our area are superb,”
said Wal-
Mart Regional General Manager Tim
Austin. “The selection process was not
an easy
one, but we are happy to recognize
Ms. Manulow and share this great
news with our community.”
See
A-1
and see Teacher of
the Year,
page
A-6
Clark
State Runner-Up In Pole Vault
 AJHS boys 4x100 qualifies 3rd for
finals; Diamin Robinson the favorite to
win girls shot put
For the second time in two
weeks, Apache Junction High
School senior Kevin Clark finished
runner-up in pole vault
behind Higley’s Jeremy
Marcinko, the latest coming at
the 4A-II State Track and Field
Championships held Wednesday,
May 9 at Mesa Community
College.
Clark leaped thirteen feet at
both the East Sky Region Meet
two weeks ago and at last
week’s State Championships,
officially finishing as the runner-
up. Marcinko cleared
fourteen feet to win the region
meet two weeks ago and
jumped thirteen feet and six
inches to win the state pole
vault title last Wednesday.
Clark’s finish was by far the
best for any AJHS track and
field athletes on the first day
of the state Championships
and the highest finish by any
AJHS athlete since Jason Perry
captured State titles in both
long jump and triple jump back
in 2000. The only other AJHS
athlete to win a medal last Saturday
came in boys shot put
where junior Nick Tovar finfinished
in sixth place overall with
a throw of 47-00.50.
See
C-1
and see State,
C-6
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