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Police Launch New
‘Approachable’ Web Site
 Public safety and animal control
information at your fingertips
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Apache
Junction Police (AJPD) Chief Glenn
Walp held a press conference Tuesday,
July 3, 2007 announcing the
launching of the new AJPD
website.
“There used to be philosophical
‘razor wire’ around our buildings,”
said Walp of police departments in
the past, adding that in this day
and age it is very important for the
police to be approachable. “Our
business is serving people,” he
said.
The new site will provide a means
for keeping the public abreast of
important public safety information,
in addition to providing a window
into the department where individuals
can experience a cyberview
of the work and the services
AJPD provides.
Dispatcher Jerry Ward designed
the new website, and with help from
the city’s Multi-Media Producer
Matt McNulty and Community Relations
Manager Pat Brenner, the
site is now up and running, though
there may be some changes and
additions in the future.
See
A-1
Two Arrested In
Undercover Case
 Pair attempted to sell motorcycle in
exchange for drugs
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- A cooperative
effort between Pinal County
Adult Probation and the Apache
Junction Police Department
(AJPD) led to the arrest of two
Apache Junction residents on July
3, 2007.
Hugh J. Russell, 39, and Lisha A.
Newman, 45, both of Apache Junction,
were arrested during an undercover
investigation that began
with plans to arrest Russell for
violation
of probation on an aggravated
assault charge.
While formulating a plan to arrest
Russell for probation violation,
authorities
reportedly learned that
Russell was allegedly attempting to sell
a Harley Davidson Motorcycle.
A contact phone number for
Russell was obtained and the AJPD
reportedly engaged in undercover
telephone conversations allegedly
involving both Newman and
Russell discussing the motorcycle.
See
A-1
and see Undercover ,
A-2
He Touched Apache
Junction
 Doug Dobson, public works director,
retiring after 26 years
By Meghan McCoy
The News
An individual who will be greatly missed
at the City of Apache
Junction is retiring next week. Public
Works Director Doug
Dobson will be stepping down after 26
years of serving the
community.
Dobson, 63, was born in Kentucky where
he spent his childhood.
He moved to East Mesa in 1980 and two
years later
moved to Apache Junction and started his
career with the city,
becoming the director of Public Works in
1993.
As director he is in charge of many
different tasks, including
street maintenance and construction,
purchase of fleet vehicles,
Utility Director of Apache Junction
Water and the City
Safety Officer.
Dobson also became an auctioneer in 1989
for Apache Junction’s surplus items.
Some of
the items he auctions off every year
are the fleet vehicles he purchases
and maintains for the city.
“I love what I do and the people I
work with,” Dobson said. “Apache
Junction has the nicest people.”
See
A-1
and see Retiring ,
A-3
A.J. Little League
All-Stars In Action
 By Chuck Baker
The News
Apache Junction Little League’s
Major (11 and 12-year-olds) All-
Stars and Junior (13-15) All-Stars
competed in their District 7 tournaments
this past week, the Majors
playing at Crossroads Park
in Gilbert, the Juniors battling it
out at Gene Autry Park in Mesa.
The Major All-Stars lost their
first two games of “pool play,” falling
to Mesa American 11-1 on
Tuesday and losing 5-0 to Mesa
Northwestern on Thursday. The
Major All-Stars still had one more
pool play game to go on Saturday
versus Mesa Southern but
the results of that game were not
available when The News went
to press.
In last Thursday’s 5-0 loss to
Mesa Northwestern, Johnathan
Converse pitched well for Apache
Junction, allowing just six hits and
three earned runs while striking
out five Mesa hitters in a complete
game effort. Converse also
got on base twice in the loss and
came up with a pair of stolen
bases.
Sean Weifenbach, Wyatt
Sweezy and Cameron Strempel
all had singles for the Apache
Junction All-Stars in the loss to
Mesa Northwestern.
See
C-1
and see All-Stars ,
C-6
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