Police Chief Controversy Falls To City Council
Supporters to voice their wishes at city council meeting
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- A public movement and petition campaign has been mounted in an effort to urge city officials to renew the contract of Police Chief Glenn Walp. His two-year contract with the city expires December 7, 2007 and supporters say they plan to attend the Tuesday, November 6, 2007 city council meeting en masse, with petitions in hand, despite public comments from Mayor John Insalaco that, “It’s over and done with.”
   The subject of Walp’s contract was discussed in a council executive session on October 9, 2007, according to City Manager George Hoffman, who sent a city-wide e-mail the next day informing recipients that the city would be conducting a national recruitment for a new chief of police.
   “The process of providing an individual with an employment agreement for the position of chief requires a recommendation from the city manager and a ratification by the city council. The city manager and the city council communicated on this matter. The result is that I will not be bringing forward a proposal for an additional agreement with Mr. Walp,” said Hoffman in the release.

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School District Asks Voters To Get Out To The Polls
Budget override will be on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 6
By Sarah Owen
The News
The Apache Junction Unified Schoold District (AJUSD) will ask voters to renew a Maintainence and Operation (M&O) budget override at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
   Voters rejected the override last May with fewer than 1,600 district residents, or about 6 percent of registered voters, turning out at the polls. District spokesperson Carol Shepherd said she is hoping to see a higher turnout at this week’s election, where the proposed override will be the only item on the ballot.
   The measure asks voters to approve a ten percent override of the district’s M&O budget. The school district has been operating on the override since 1999, and approving the measure will prevent the override from beginning to phase out next year.
   If the measure fails, the district’s budget will be reduced by approximately $950,000 each year for the next three years, with a total funding cut of nearly $2.6 million.

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‘Chop Shop’ Busted In AJ
Investigation underway -arrests pending
By Meghan McCoy
The News
APACHE JUNCTION - A search warrant was served at a local car repair shop last week after numerous stolen vehicles, vehicle parts, documents and 12 undocumented immigrant workers were allegedly discovered.
   Although no arrests were made, arrests are currently pending as the investigation continues, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials.
   The investigation began after Arizona Theft Task Force received information from a LoJack vehicle tracking system which led to a generator stolen from Arizona Frames and Fabrication, 3701 S. Meridian Road, on Friday, Oct. 26.
   The Arizona Theft Task Force is a statewide enforcement unit of DPS that investigates organized crime activity and conspiracy operations in Arizona. The task force targets theft of stolen vehicles, possession of stolen vehicles and parts, dismantling, remanufacturing and reselling stolen car parts.
   Investigators from the task force served a search warrant for Arizona Frames and Fabrication on Monday, Oct. 29.

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Prospectors Drop Season Finale But Head Back To The Playoffs
Will play on the road this Friday in first round of 4A-I playoffs against the Millennium Tigers
By Chuck Baker
The News
Win or lose their regular season finale last Friday against Tempe McClintock, Apache Junction was already assured of a playoff spot with six wins in just their first season of 4A-I ball and their first under new head coach Rich Milligan. For the Chargers of McClintock, the stakes were a little higher.
   McClintock, a veteran of 4A-I football and a bit of a mystery team this season with just three wins before Friday’s game, not only needed to beat Apache Junction for a chance at the playoffs, they also needed two other teams ranked ahead of them in Power Points to lose.
   McClintock, a pre-season Top Ten team according to Phoenix Metro magazine, has had difficulty keeping players eligible this season which has had an impact on their wins and losses, but when they are all on the field, as they were Friday at Davis Field, the Chargers can be a viable opponent as Apache Junction found out.

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