Voters Stop School Budget Override
Issue fails by 600 votes, AJUSD will begin phase out period in 2008-2009 school year
By Meghan McCoy
The News
APACHE JUNCTION - Residents of the Apache Junction Unified School District (AJUSD) again rejected the proposed Maintenance and Operation Budget (M&O) Override renewal at the polls last week.
   The override, which has been in effect for eight years, was denied by voters last Tuesday, November 6, by a margin of 610 votes, with 2034 voting “Yes” and 2644 voting “No” (43.48% Yes - 56.52% No). Only 4,678 district residents, or about 15 percent of the eligible population, turned out to vote.
   The first time the AJUSD asked for an M&O override was in 1999, district spokesperson Carol Shepherd said. At that time, the district’s elementary schools had an average class size of 40 to 45 students per class.
   “We had to get class sizes down because it was not fair to the kids and staff, so we asked the voters to approve an M&O override,” Shepherd explained.
   In 2003 the M&O override was renewed by the voters. However, last May, with fewer than 1,600 people voting, or about 6 percent of those registered, continuation of the override was rejected. Shepherd said the district held this November’s election because they wanted a larger portion of the community to have a chance to renew the M&O override.

See A-1 and see School Budget A-3

Man Charged in Abuse of Infant
3 month-old suffered broken wrist and other injuries
By Jill Jones
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- An Apache Junction man has been arrested on charges of child abuse, which reportedly included an assault on a 3-month-old child.
   David A. Duarte, 25, of the 500 block of E. Quail Avenue, was arrested by Apache Junction Police on October 31, 2007 and booked into the Pinal County Jail on multiple counts of child abuse, child endangerment and aggravated assault on a child.
   Authorities did not elaborate on how many victims were identified, saying only that the youngest victim was 3 months old. The infant reportedly suffered a broken wrist and a variety of other injuries.
   The case has been forwarded to the Pinal County Attorney’s office and the Office of Child Protective Services.
   “Praise is extended to the county attorney’s office and our personnel for their noteworthy work in this case,” commented Police Chief Glenn Walp. “Our efforts in pursuing child molesters/ abusers has been, and will be, relentless.”

AJ Students Take 3rd In Math
10-student team from Desert Shadows place in math contest
COOLIDGE- A ten-student team from Desert Shadows Middle School recently competed in a county-wide mathematics competition at Central Arizona College (CAC) and captured the third place team award and a trophy.
   Individual “mathletes” Charis Garcia and David Van Dyke also took third place in the individual two-person team awards division.
   The seventh and eighth grade students rotated through five different areas of mathematics, taking tests for Number Sense, Geometry, Discrete Math (graphs, probabilities and permutations), Functions and Algebra. Scores were tabulated and credited to teams to come up with the team placing.
   “I am very happy and proud of our students,” said DSMS math teacher and coach Val Hoggard. “Our mathletes that participated in the competition this year at CAC really put their minds to the test and our third place finish out of eight schools made us all ecstatic.”

See A-1

Prospectors Fall In First Round Of Playoffs
AJHS held to just 105 yards of total offense as #4 seed Millennium rolls to 41-7 victory
By Chuck Baker
The News
With the first round 4A-I State Tournament playoff game winding down last Friday night in Goodyear and securely in the hands of the fourth-seeded Millennium Tigers, the Prospector Marching Band began to play a familiar tune, one which encourages AJHS fans to periodically shout out, “Apache Junction!”
   Out on the field during a timeout in the action, senior lineman Louie Crespo decided to join in. Every time the crowd was to shout out “Apache Junction,” Crespo raised his arms in celebration and salute to his Alma Mater.
   And why not?
   Sure, his Apache Junction team was trailing 34-0 at the time and about to be ousted in the first round of the playoffs, but for the senior lineman who was wrapping up an outstanding career, he let everyone know where his home is.
   Few gave the Prospector football team much of a chance to win three or four games in their very first season of 4A-I ball and even with Friday’s 41-7 loss to Millennium ending Apache Junction’s season with a 6-6 overall record, you have to look back at this season and say it was a successful one.

See C-1 and see Playoffs , C-3