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Fire District Welcomes
Four New Recruits
 By Meghan McCoy
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Four new
recruits joined the Apache Junction
Fire District after graduating
Friday, August 10 during an afternoon
ceremony at the Fire Districts’
administrative office.
Brandon Blessum, Ryan
Rodriguez, Geoffrey Shively and
Gerry Wile began working August
13, filling the three different shifts
available.
Before graduating from the district,
Blessum worked as a foreman
with Ames Construction; he is also
a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Blessum is currently working toward
an Associate of Applied Science
(AAS) Degree in Fire Science.
Rodriguez was previously employed
by Tri-City Fire District as a
firefighter and EMT and has also
worked for Black Canyon Fire Department.
Rodriguez has a Bachelors
Degree in Fire Service Management
from Arizona State University
and an AAS Degree in Fire
Science from Mesa Community
College.
See
A-1
MCSO Deputy Shoots AJ
Woman
 Woman reportedly threatened deputy with
a rifle
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- An
Apache Junction woman was shot
in the leg and is facing felony
charges of assault against a law
enforcement officer after she reportedly
drew a rifle on a Maricopa
County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)
deputy during a traffic stop in
Apache Junction.
Dorothy Preciado, 38, was driving
her Ford Explorer when she was
stopped by an MCSO deputy
around midnight on Monday, August
13, 2007, after she reportedly
sped past him on Apache Trail.
Preciado was reportedly pulled over near
Apache Trail and Meridian
Road (inside Apache Junction
city limits), where she allegedly exited
her car with rifle in hand.
Preciado was reportedly ordered to
drop the weapon and when she refused,
the deputy fired two shots,
striking Preciado once in the right
leg.
The deputy, who has been on the
force for two years, was not injured,
according to MCSO spokesman
Captain Paul Chagolla. The weapon
was later determined to be an air
rifle.
Preciado was taken to Maricopa
County Medical Center where she
was treated for non-life threatening
injuries. She was booked into
the Maricopa County detention
system for felony aggravated assault
on a law enforcement officer.
Assault Reported In
Shopping Center
 Man admits to touching girls, 12 and 14,
in new Signal Butte center
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- A Mesa
man was arrested Sunday, August
12 after he reportedly assaulted two
girls in two separate incidents at
the new Wal-Mart store at 1606 S.
Signal Butte.
Both girls, ages 12 and 14, told
store management that a man, later
identified as 27 year-old Nathan
Rouse, had touched them inappropriately.
Rouse was still in the store
when the girls reportedly identified
Rouse in a store surveillance video.
The police were called and store
employees detained Rouse until
they arrived.
Rouse reportedly admitted to authorities
that he had grabbed the
girls and tried to pick up on them,
allegedly blaming his behavior on
beer drinking and “sexual tension
associated with not having a
girlfriend.”
Rouse was booked on two counts
of felony assault, adult on minor.
AJHS Cheerleaders Soar
Again
Win Herkie Team Award at NCA Camp;
Carissa Hall named All-American
By Chuck Baker
The News
For the second year in a row
the Apache Junction High
School varsity cheerleaders
earned the “Herkie Team Award”
at the National Cheer Association
Camp held August 2-5 at
Northern Arizona University in
Flagstaff. The award is presented
to the cheer squad who
“exemplifies the qualities upon
which the NCA was founded,”
qualities that include leadership,
values and teamwork.
Also at the NCA Camp, senior
Carissa Hall was selected to the
All-American Team recognizing
individuals who exemplify the
best all-around cheerleading
skills (jumps, tumbling, motions
and overall performance during
the All-American tryouts).
The AJHS cheer squad also
earned a “Superior Ribbon” for
chants and cheers, an award
presented to a team who displays
strong technique, leads the
crowd well and performs without
noticeable mistakes, and
picked up a “Spirit Stick
Award,” acknowledging a squad
showing the most sincere spirit
and enthusiasm for the day, taking
into account criteria such as
attitude during classes, promptness,
cooperation, relationships
with other squads and leadership.
See
C-1
and see Cheer ,
C-6
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