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EEOC Dismisses Police
Employee’s Claims
Woman’s
claims of sexual harassment and
retaliation against city and police
chief are tossed
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- The City
of
Apache Junction received notification
on Wednesday, August 1,
2007 that Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC)
claims filed by city employee Jenny
Lewis, 39, have been dismissed.
Lewis filed the EEOC claims
against the City of Apache Junction
and the Apache Junction Police
Department alleging sexual harassment
and retaliation. Lewis also
filed a separate claim of sexual
harassment
with the city against Chief
of Police Glen Walp in March, 2007,
prompting an investigation, which
was conducted by the Law Offices
of Ford and Harrison, on behalf of
the city.
The investigation determined
Walp’s actions were “subjectively
innocent” based on the situation
and in light of his prior role as a
minister. Lewis indicated her
displeasure
with the outcome and sent
an email to human resources saying
that she wanted the chief terminated.
In July the city received a letter
from Lewis’ attorney alleging that
Walp had created a hostile work
environment and that he and Civilian
Commander Jay Swart commenced
a “campaign of retaliation”
against her. The attorney requested
the city to make a lump sum payment
of $300,000 within 60 days, in
lieu of facing a law suit in excess of
$2 million for damages.
The results of investigations into
Lewis’ additional claims that she
was assaulted and retaliated
against by another employee were
released just last week and also
found to be without merit by both
an AJPD investigator and a criminal
investigation conducted by the
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.
See
A-1
AJPD
Warns Against Forgery
 Arrest made but authorities believe main
characters still operating
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- The
Apache Junction Police Department
(AJPD) is asking business
owners and residents to be on the
look out for forged American Express
Travelers Cheques, cashier
checks and $20 bills that are being
passed in the area.
AJPD arrested Apache Junction
resident Michelle D. Keathly, 38,
in the 1400 block of E. 26 Lane, on
forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery
and drug paraphernalia
charges in connection with the recent
forgeries, but authorities believe
the main players may still be
operating in the area.
Additional suspects are believed
to be passing $20 dollar bills to
unsuspecting
individuals and merchants
with an emphasis on hitting
fast food operations during
the lunch and dinner rush. According
to Captain Tom Kelly, the
fraudulent $20 bills can be identified
by the poor quality of paper
used.
See
A-1
 Familiar Face Retires
From Library
Gail Graham-Fisel served the community
for 20 years
By Sarah Owen
The News
As the Apache Junction Library chugs
closer toward completion
of its largest renovation to date, a
long-time employee stepped
back from the commotion last week and
said a final good-bye to the
city landmark.
Gail Graham-Fisel, a landmark herself at
the library, has volunteered
with and been employed by the library
for nearly as long as
its doors have been open. On Friday,
August 3, Graham-Fisel retired
from her position as Library Clerk II,
after serving patrons for
nearly 20 years.
Graham-Fisel, who moved to Arizona from
Illinois in 1987, has
watched the library grow by leaps and
bounds alongside the community
of Apache Junction. The library she
first knew was built in
1986 and was less than half the size it
is today.
Now, as the library is undergoing its
second major renovation, 65-
year-old Graham-Fisel has decided it's
time for her to move on.
See
A-1
and see Retirement
,
A-5
 Play Ball!
Practice begins today for AJHS
football and volleyball players;
others to start up this week
By Chuck Baker
The News
Football and volleyball players
at Apache Junction High School
begin official team practices today
for the 2007 season while
those participating in swimming,
cross country, cheer and
golf are expected to start up later
this week.
Football and volleyball players
will also be practicing for a new
head coach this Fall. Rich
Milligan was hired back in May
to take over the football program
from Max Ragsdale who
is now an assistant coach at
Gilbert Mesquite after four
years as head coach at AJHS.
Amenda “Mendy” Gamboa, the
junior varsity volleyball coach a
year ago, is taking over the Lady
Prospector varsity team this Fall,
replacing Tayna Loftis, who resigned
her coaching position
after ten years as head coach.
Milligan is a twenty-two year
veteran at AJHS and coached
the freshmen football team to
consecutive 9-0 seasons in 2005
and 2006. He has also served
as a varsity assistant coach during
his years at AJHS and heads
up the strength and conditioning
programs.
Apache Junction athletes
are
preparing for their very season
in the 4A-I Division and the new
Desert Sky Region which also
includes the schools, Scottsdale
Chaparral, Cave Creek Cactus
Shadows, Paradise Valley,
Tempe McClintock, Phoenix
Shadow Mountain and
Scottsdale Saguaro.
See
C-1
and see Play Ball ,
C-2
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